Brasher Falls, NY, Nov 20, 2012 — Looking for that local touch for your Thanksgiving table? Try cranberries, fresh from a bog in northern St. Lawrence County. Peter Paquin owns Deer River Cranberries in Brasher Falls.

He says local sales of his cranberries have grown fivefold. He sells to North Country apple orchards and stores in Potsdam and Lake Placid. Paquin says people even drive up to the farm to load up coolers full of berries. "Yeah, they basically come in with coolers and we fill 'em up, basically 50 pounds in a cooler," says Paquin. "We've probably sold to 20 different people in the area, a hundred pounds each. We're moving a lot of berries locally."

Paquin says the hot, dry summer and the recent freezing nights have meant a late harvest. But he says cranberries remain as lucrative a crop as ever. David Sommerstein visited Paquin's cranberry bogs in 2008.  Go to full article

Gananoque, ON, May 18, 2009 — The 1000 Islands Playhouse in Gananoque has opened their season with Forever Plaid running through June 13. Resident theatre critic Connie Meng was at the opening and has this review.  Go to full article

Nov 01, 2005 — The works of 14 artists from across the region are on display at the Frederic Remington Museum in Ogdensburg. The 2005 International Juried Art Exhibit includes paintings, drawings, photographs and sculptures. Todd Moe talks with Remington curator Laura Foster and Canton artist and printmaker Roger Bailey about the show. Bailey culled through 178 images from 63 artists. He chose 19 for the show which will be on display through January 8th.  Go to full article

Oct 24, 2005 — People with terminal illness are eligible for hospice care. Hospice patients usually live at home, sometimes in nursing homes. Hospice organizations give nursing care, pain management and counseling. But New York State will only reimburse hospice expenses for people with six months or less to live.
A local hospice organization is starting to offer what's known as palliative care to patients with longer life expectancy. Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley received a $25,000 grant from The Alcoa Foundation to help launch a two-year pilot program. They'll be offering palliative care to outpatients at Claxton Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg.
Gregory Warner spoke with hospice executive director Brian Gardam.  Go to full article

Oct 05, 2005 — Part of a state highway closed by flash floods in St. Lawrence County last month may reopen by the middle of November. Route 56, a main connecting route between the Adirondacks and the St. Lawrence Valley, washed out in two places near South Colton. Martha Foley reports.  Go to full article

Aug 25, 2005 — Two prominent environmental groups disagree about the best route for a new power line from St. Lawrence County to Tupper Lake.

The New York Power Authority is developing plans for the electric line, which will end power shortages and blackouts in the village. As Brian Mann reports, one group says a historic right-of-way might allow the line to cut through state forest preserve. But critics say the plan would violate the state constitution.  Go to full article

Jul 02, 2004 — This weekend, towns and villages around the north country will celebrate the 4th of July with glorious fireworks displays. Rockets and sparklers are a holiday tradition, but they're also an ancient form of art, dating back nearly two thousand years. Brian Mann traveled to Montreal last Saturday for the 20th annual International Fireworks Competition. He sends this audio postcard.  Go to full article

Jun 22, 2004 — In these final hours of the legislative session, North Country lawmakers are hoping to push through a bill that would allow local governments to drill for water on state forest preserve land. If approved, the legislation would launch a lengthy process to amend New York's Constitution. Brian Mann has our story.  Go to full article

May 25, 2004 — In the North Country, homelessness often means something different than sleeping on a park bench or under a bridge. A family who can't afford a home may move in with relatives, then a month later into a motel room, then into a low-rent apartment, and on and on. Each time the family moves, the children have to get used to new surroundings, new people, and new routines. And in many cases, they have to go to a new school. Preliminary studies show up to a third of the students in many districts don't end the academic year in the same school they started. On the second day of our series, Close to Homeless, we look at how transiency affects kids' education and the schools they attend. David Sommerstein has our story.  Go to full article

May 19, 2004 — A Syracuse-based company hopes to build a major aviation maintenance hub at the old Plattsburgh Air Force Base. On Friday, Precision Jet signed a memorandum of understanding with officials in Clinton County that brings the project one step closer to reality. But some critics say the company's reputation -- and their demands for tax relief --- raise serious questions about the deal. Brian Mann spoke with Joe LoTemplio, a reporter with the Plattsburgh Press Republican who has been following the story.  Go to full article