WASHINGTON — More than 62,000 pounds of beef have been recalled due to possible contamination with E. coli, according to a release sent on Wednesday from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Safety Inspection Service.

The problem was discovered during traceback activities in response to random sample testing by the service, the release stated. To date, there have been no confirmed reports of people becoming ill from consuming the meat.

E. coli is a possibly fatal bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps within days after someone is exposed, according to the service. Anyone with health concerns has been urged to seek medical care.

The beef was packed by Aurora Packing Company, Inc. on April 19, and include a range of cuts, including steaks and ribs. The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 788” inside the USDA mark of inspection. Those items were shipped nationwide for further distribution and processing.

Consumers with questions can contact the packing company at 630-897-0551.

CANTON — Plans to restore the iconic fountain in the village park have finally moved a step forward.

Village Superintendent Brien E. Hallahan said he met with a contractor Friday who is willing to do the structural repair work at an affordable price.

“They’re going to start it later this summer and it’s going to be finished by Oct. 1,” Mr. Hallahan said. “I don’t have the price nailed down yet, but it’s going to be something we can afford.”

He declined to release the contractor’s name or the cost until an agreement has been signed.

“I’m negotiating for the church. Until the contract is signed, the less we say the better,” Mr. Hallahan said.

The work will include plumbing and electrical upgrades. A new foundation and fountain liner will be installed. The stone walls surrounding the fountain will be removed and put back up.

The village put out requests for bids three previous times with the expectation that the village would sign the work contract. Twice the bid price submitted was too high and one time the contractor was unable to obtain a performance bond.

This time, it was decided that the contract should be an agreement between the contractor and the First Presbyterian Church, which owns the park. The village maintains the park, which is the community’s main gathering place for festivals and other community events.

The Rev. Michael P. Catanzaro, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church and cochair of the Canton Park & Fountain Fund, said so far $124,308 has been raised toward the project. He said the only expense has been a $100 application fee for a grant that was awarded.

In 2016, recurring leaking problems at the fountain prompted Mr. Catanzaro and interested community members to embark on a three-phase plan to repair the fountain and surrounding walkway.

The phases include structural improvements to the fountain, removal and planting of trees in the park footprint, and installing new stone pavers.

On Friday, Mr. Catanzaro said he was grateful for the patience and generosity shown by individuals, businesses and organizations who have donated funds toward the project.

“I would personally like to apologize for the slow pace of progress and absence of informational updates. Simply put, we had no news to share,” Mr. Catanzaro said. “The job has been put out to bid three times in the past year, twice in recent months and each time we came up empty handed.”

He credited Mr. Hallahan for his assistance in moving the project forward.

“Brien Hallahan has been tireless in his efforts to secure a contractor and wisely adept in his understanding of what the job will require,” Mr. Catanzaro said.

He also expressed gratitude for the enthusiasm the community has shown for the project.

“The outpouring of support for the restoration of the fountain has been nothing short of inspiring and the members of the fundraising committee, the First Presbyterian Church and village of Canton officials are profoundly grateful for the incredible generosity which has been shown from almost every corner of the Canton community and beyond,” Mr. Catanzaro said.

Earlier this spring, the Northern New York Community Foundation awarded $20,000 toward the fountain restoration project.

The contribution included a $10,000 matching challenge grant. The Foundation will match all gifts made as part of the second phase, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000. So far, $9,772 has been raised. The second piece of funding is a $10,000 grant to establish a permanent endowment fund at the Community Foundation for future upkeep, maintenance and enhancements related to the project.

CANTON — St. Lawrence County sheriff’s deputies on Friday charged Philip A. Alcontra, 19, Brooklyn, with felony second-degree assault after he allegedly assaulted a corrections officer at the county jail.

Deputies charge at about 3 p.m. on Thursday at the St. Lawrence County jail at 17 Commerce Lane in the town, Mr. Alcontra struck a corrections officer in the face during the book-in process causing a laceration to his lip. The officer was treated at Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Potsdam, and was later released after receiving stitches.

Mr. Alcontra was arraigned in Canton Town Court and was returned to St. Lawrence County Jail on $2,000 cash bail.

WEST CARTHAGE — A West Carthage man with a history of robbing banks has again been charged with bank robbery, this time in Oneida County.

Walter C. Parker, 71, who lives on North Broad Street, was charged Friday by Oneida County sheriff’s deputies with second-degree robbery and second-degree criminal use of a firearm, both felonies.

Deputies said that on May 8, Mr. Parker traveled from West Carthage to the Oriskany Falls area where he allegedly robbed Berkshire Bank on North Main Street. Police said the robber was wearing a cowboy hat and displayed what appeared to be a handgun, demanding money before fleeing on foot with an unspecified amount of cash.

Police were able to recover articles of clothing worn during the alleged crime, as well as determine the make and model of a vehicle used in the robbery. Further investigation by the sheriff department’s Criminal Investigation Unit led to Mr. Parker being identified as a suspect. Police said Mr. Parker was familiar with the Oriskany Falls area because he lived in the nearby towns of New Hartford and Kirkland in the 1980s.

DNA evidence obtained from the clothing found at the robbery scene was confirmed by the state police’s crime lab as that of Mr. Parker. Oneida County sheriff’s deputies, with the assistance of Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies and West Carthage village police, came to West Carthage Thursday and Friday, locating Mr. Parker at his place of employment, where he was taken into custody and his vehicle was impounded. He is currently being held at the Oneida Correctional Facility.

Mr. Parker formerly owned Walt Parker’s Auto Collision two doors down from his former residence at 108 W. Rutland St. in Black River. In April 2005, he was convicted after a five-day trial in U.S. District Court, Binghamton, of four counts of bank robbery and of using a firearm in one of the robberies.

In those cases, he was accused of: taking $6,733 from Charter One Bank in DeRuyter, Madison County, on April 5, 2004; $3,730 from Alliance Bank in Cincinnatus, Cortland County, on May 13 that year; $9,960 from NBT Bank in Whitney Point, Broome County, on June 2, 2004, and $13,779 during a July 21, 2004, robbery at First National Bank in Groton, Tompkins County.

He was sentenced in March 2006 to 130 months, or nearly 11 years, in federal prison for those crimes. He was released from prison Dec. 27, 2013, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons website.

OGDENSBURG — A Philadelphia, Pa., man faces allegations that he knowingly transported two people who were in the country illegally.

Jaswinder Singh, 30, is charged in U.S. District Court, Syracuse, with transporting aliens in the United States knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that the individuals were in the country unlawfully.

According to a criminal complaint filed with the court, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine helicopter pilot observed a boat with multiple passengers cross the St. Lawrence River from Canada and land in the town of Waddington at about 9:30 p.m. on May 20. Given the time of night and that the area the boat landed in was not near a designated port of entry, the pilot relayed to a Border Patrol agent on land that he had observed the boat’s occupants get into a vehicle and drive away.

About 30 minutes later, the agent saw a vehicle with Pennsylvania license plates and several passengers pass his location. As the vehicle passed, “it braked suddenly, and a passenger looked back at the Border Patrol vehicle,” the complaint states. The agent followed the vehicle, which was registered to someone in Pennsylvania, and observed the vehicle traveling at a speed well below the posted speed limit and crossing the road’s fog line “in an apparent attempt to encourage the Border Patrol vehicle to pass.”

The vehicle was stopped by the agent in Ogdensburg and the driver, later identified as Mr. Singh, said that his passengers were his mother and cousin, neither of whom spoke English. He also said that his passengers were from India and had no identification, according to the complaint.

The passengers allegedly admitted that had entered the country illegally. During a pat-down, $2,200 in cash was found in Mr. Singh’s jacket pocket and he allegedly admitted that the money was payment for picking up the aliens and driving them to Philadelphia.

Mr. Singh was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge David E. Peebles and ordered held pending resolution of the charges. The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

DEFERIET — Many of the villages in the Carthage area have monuments to their fallen service members.

In the village, next to the municipal building, residents erected a monument to honor their World War I and World War II war dead.

Originally dedicated May 1, 1976, the monument’s bronze plaque did not list the names of all the servicemen who paid the ultimate sacrifice in World War II. Therefore, in about 2010, a new granite monument replaced the original monument and plaque memorializing the 13 men who died during the two wars.

The three men who died during World War I are Elias Getman, Lenard Ripton and Thomas Wilton. During World War II, 10 men perished — John Czoper, Carl Meyer, Maurice Petrie, John Powell, Kenneth Salzbrun, Joseph Schreck, brothers Alexander Siedlecki and Julius Siedlecki, Vernon Stanford and Maurice Ward.

According to village mayor and former historian Janet M. Zando, Vernon Stanford and Julius Siedlecki are buried in the same cemetery at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Belgium.

The former historian said, “For many years, Ann Marie (Tookie) Eddy, who was 2 when her father, Vernon Stanford, died in Europe, planted flowers at the monument as a tribute to him.”

Stefan Powell, a great-nephew of John Powell and son of James and Karen Powell, Calcium, chose for his Eagle Scout Service Project to erect a pergola above the Deferiet War Monument. With a number of volunteers and many donations, Stefan completed the pergola in 2012. There are two plaques, including an Eagle Scout Service Project plaque, on the pergola to signify young Mr. Powell’s accomplishment.

“Since then, to honor their uncle, John, the Powell family have planted flowers in time for Memorial Day,” said Ms. Zando.

In 2015, the village dedicated a historical World War II marker obtained through the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.

The Syracuse-based foundation’s objective is to “preserve local history throughout New York State with roadside markers, which includes honoring community’s efforts during World War II.”

The marker sits near the entrance to the village on Route 3.

Deferiet always celebrates Memorial Day with a service on the Sunday before the Monday holiday with a parade, laying a wreath at the monument in honor of their war dead and a community picnic. This year, they will celebrate Memorial Day on Sunday, May 26 at noon.

GLEN PARK — Fire investigators are trying to figure out what caused a fire that destroyed two Jefferson County Highway Department dump trucks and damaged a third one on Friday afternoon.

Glen Park Fire Captain Ed LaFountain said one tandem axle dump truck caught fire, spreading to two others. They were parked in a lot behind the county building on County Route 190.

“The middle one caught fire and it spread to two on either side,” he said.

A county employee who pulled into the highway garage property noticed smoke at about 1:30 p.m., saw the fire and called Jefferson County dispatch. It took less than 10 minutes to get the fire under control, the fire captain said.

No one was injured.

The truck had not been used on Friday prior to the fire. The three trucks were lined up in a row among several others.

State and county fire investigators were still on the scene late Friday afternoon investigating its cause.

Two of the trucks were a total loss, while the third could possibly be repaired, Captain LaFountain said.

CANTON — Sentenced to prison for drug possession, Hillary L. Gilson was told by a St. Lawrence County Court judge Friday that she played a role in the destruction of the community.

Ms. Gilson, 33, of 75 Morley-Potsdam Road, was sentenced as a second-felony offender to five years in prison and two years of post-release supervision for her Oct. 29 guilty plea to felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance in a plea deal with the district attorney’s office.

She was previously convicted on June 18, 2012, in St. Lawrence County Court of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Prior to her sentencing, she was allowed to vacate a felony plea to a second count of the charge as part of the deal.

Ms. Gilson had previously applied to the court’s Judicial Diversion Program, but the members of the program declined to accept her because they felt “protection of the community was required and the only way to do that was through incarceration,” County Judge Jerome J. Richards told her Friday.

He told her that she should feel guilt for her “being responsible for bringing people from out of the county and out of the state to deal drugs in the county.”

In her July 19 indictment, Ms. Gilson was charged along with Dieuville Derosema, 36, of 224 Sussex Ave., Floor 1, Newark, N.J.

The indictment charged that on June 8 in the town of Canton, Mr. Derosema was in possession of eight ounces or more of cocaine with the intent to sell it.

During that same time, Ms. Gilson was charged with possessing a half-ounce or more each of cocaine and heroin, with the intent to sell them, while also possessing glassine envelopes and/or any other materials suitable for packaging of individual quantities of narcotic drugs or stimulants, with intent to use said material for the purpose of unlawfully manufacturing, packaging, or dispensing of a narcotic or stimulant.

One of the 65 people indicted by the state Attorney General’s office in their latest drug sting known as “Operation Central City,” Ms. Gilson is also facing seven years in prison out of Onondaga County Court where that case is being prosecuted, her attorney told the court Friday.

Her defense sought a judicial mandate to the prison’s shock incarceration, a substance-abuse treatment program that involves six months of military-style shock incarceration, with the remainder of the sentence completed on parole.

Judge Richards agreed, but said that Ms. Gilson would only be eligible for the program if it is also mandated out of Onondaga County and after she serves a period of her prison sentence.

“You’ve been directly involved in destroying our community,” Judge Richards told her. “I don’t know if you feel any guilt but you should feel tremendous guilt. It’s not anything to be proud of.”

WATERTOWN — The owner of the Masonic Temple plans to revamp facade restoration efforts in early June.

Workers have been conducting interior renovations for temple owner Augusta Withington, who also owns Fourth Coast Inc., Clayton, during the winter, but frequent rainfall has inhibited exterior work to the 104-year-old building this spring, said Robert J. Campany, a partner in the Clayton engineering firm.

“We’re getting ready to resume construction efforts soon,” Mr. Campany said. “Our focus is to resume work on the front portico.”

Ms. Withington purchased the Masonic Temple for $32,439 in 2013 to save it from demolition.

The two business partners want to transform the Greek Neoclassical structure into a tourist destination and the second floor Masons’ grand meeting room into a performing arts center.

The state awarded $500,000 in Restore NY funds toward restoration efforts in 2016 and $2.2 million from the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant awarded to Watertown in 2017 for the performing arts center. Mr. Campany said they haven’t experienced issues in funding that would halt renovations.

Timothy P. Sweeney, general manager for Tunes 92.5/104.5 FM WBLH Radio, the first tenant of the temple, said he has been working with Ms. Withington and Mr. Campany to facilitate events at the space such as conferences, meetings and formal gatherings. A wedding ceremony was also recently held there.

“We’re trying to do our best to advocate the building,” Mr. Sweeney said.

CONSTABLEVILLE — The opening day of historic Constable Hall’s 200th anniversary year was under blue skies with cooperation from area high school students.

South Lewis School District sent a bus of FFA members, agriculture students and seniors performing public service as part of their government class accompanied by the FFA adviser, RachelHumphery.

The 35 students helped Hall volunteers give the grounds a spring cleaning, gathering fallen branches, sweeping off picnic tables, spreading top soil and preparing the triangular sections of the formal garden that has existed as long as the hall itself.

Ms. Humphery said the FFA has been sending student volunteers for the past 10 years, but with the addition of the government class students, this is the largest group the school has sent.

The opportunity to jump out of the classroom and onto the bus to do something different was the main motivation for many of the students, but for some, being at the Hall for the first time made them want to know more.

Hall Executive Director Sandra Roberts said this year she has begun an “Adopt-a-Triangle” program seeking groups to adopt and care for each triangle in the garden throughout the season.

“We have wonderful volunteers but not enough to keep the garden up for the whole time,” Mrs. Roberts said.

Caring for an adopted triangle involves sending someone from the group every week to ensure it is weeded and watered and looks well-loved.

Ms. Roberts said she is targeting groups like clubs, church groups, families and teams because they would more likely to be able to honor their commitment for the duration.

“We know how busy people get in the summer and it can be hard for one person to show up every week,” she said.

Group members would ideally be able to provide back-up for each other so that their triangle gets what it needs.

Of the 16 triangles that composed the original garden, Ms. Roberts said 12 have been rehabilitated and are ready for adoption.

Built by William Constable Jr., Constable Hall was completed in 1819. According to Constable family lore, Clement Clarke Moore wrote “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” otherwise known as “The Night Before Christmas,” based upon his visit to the Hall in 1821 or 1822.

To commemorate the Hall’s 200th anniversary, a celebration will be held July 14.

The next event at Constable Hall will be an Arts and Crafts and Car Show on June 16.

Constable Hall is open to the public all summer from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.

For more information go to www.constablehall.org or call 315-397-2323

OGDENSBURG — Now that voters have rejected a tax increase for the Ogdensburg Public Library in a 340 to 226 vote, the library’s executive director Penny Kerfien will be looking at her budget to weigh options for the future.

“We’re OK for 2019,” Ms. Kerfien said. “That budget is already in place. It will all depend on what the city does for us in 2020.”

The first time the library went directly to taxpayers was in 2017, when the organization sought an initial $50,000. Last year, another referendum was held for an additional $75,000, bringing the levy to $125,000.

The request this year was for $75,000, making the total library tax levy an even $200,000.

The city currently supplies $300,000 to the library budget of $518,000. But, Ms. Kerfien said that is down about $200,000 since 2016.

“Our budget is bare bones now,” Ms. Kerfien said. “If the city decides to cut more, I don’t know what we will do.”

The library is open 55 hours per week, which is the minimum hours it can be open and maintain its Central Library status.

As a Central Library, Ms. Kerfien said, the library receives federal funding to purchase nonfiction materials and make them available to 63 libraries in the North Country Library System.

The North Country Library System has two Central Libraries — Ogdensburg and Flower Library in Watertown.

If the library faces cuts to its 2020 budget, some difficult decisions would have to be made, Ms. Kerfien said.

The tax money goes into the operating budget which goes to books and materials, programming activities and supplies, utilities and building maintenance and staffing expenditures.

“Staffing could be an issue, books could be an issue,” she said about the 2020 budget.

Ms. Kerfien said the library staff consists of seven full-time equivalent positions and five part-time employees working 20 hours a week or less.

While being a central library provides funding for nonfiction material, the library must buy its own fiction, large print editions, and everything else such as DVDs and items for its seed catalog and baking bin.

MASSENA — State police charged Christina L. Pitts, 48, of Brasher Falls, with third-degree hindering prosecution at 12:10 p.m. Friday on Liberty Avenue in the village of Massena.

She was ordered held. No further information was available on Saturday.

CANTON — State police charged three individuals with driving while intoxicated in separate incidents on Friday.

Kathryn E. Cleavland, 27, of Bolton Landing, was charged at 10 p.m. on U.S. Highway 11 in the town of Potsdam. She was released on an appearance ticket.

Andrew J. Reed, 42, Norwood, was charged at 10:35 p.m. on state Route 56 in the town of Norfolk. He was released on an appearance ticket.

Richard R. Chase, 7, Hermon, was charged with DWI and failure to keep right at 9:15 p.m. on East Dekalb Road in the town of Hermon. He was released to a third party.

The drivers’ blood alcohol levels were not reported. State law says a level of at least 0.08 percent constitutes intoxication.

WINTHROP — St. Lawrence County sheriff’s deputies have charged Terri L. McGregor, 31, of 94 Grantville Road, Norfolk, with harassment in a Dec. 9 incident at state Highway 420 in the town of Stockholm in which she allegedly struck someone in the face.

Deputies reported Saturday that Ms. McGregor was arrested Monday on a warrant issued after several attempts to locate her.

She was arraigned in Hopkinton Town Court and released on her own recognizance, to reappear at a later date in Stockholm Town Court. An order of protection was issued in favor of the victim.

Earlier this month, the House passed the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, H.R. 299, to make it easier for Navy veterans to obtain benefits after being exposed to Agent Orange. Now advocates for the bill are throwing their support behind a Senate version introduced by Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand — and rejecting the House version of the bill.

“The language on the Senate bill is different from the House bill,” said Susie Belanger, a resident of Gansevoort.

Mrs. Belanger’s husband Ernie was part of the blue water Navy during Vietnam, and she works with both the Military-Veterans Advocacy, Inc. and Blue Water Navy Association, which have been major supporters of the bill. Over the last 20 years, she has been working on this issue; she has worked with both U.S. Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, and Sen. Gillibrand on legislation.

In January, advocates won a major victory when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled in Procopio v. Wilkie that Navy veterans who served within the 12 nautical miles of territorial seas in Vietnam are entitled to a presumption that they were exposed to Agent Orange.

The ruling in Procopio used a broad definition of which naval service members would be included. According to testimony from John B. Wells, executive director of Military-Veterans Advocacy, the House bill now contains a more restrictive definition of what counts as territorial waters than what was included in the Procopio decision, including a list of what Mr. Wells argues are now unnecessary geographic markers.

Both the Military-Veterans Advocacy and Blue Water Navy Association withdrew support on April 26 over this. But the Senate bill, introduced by Sen. Gillibrand on April 11, does not include the geographic definition and still has their support.

“Senator Gillibrand is thankful that the bipartisan Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act unanimously passed the House yet again,” wrote Gillibrand spokeswoman Johanna Kichton to the Times. “She is urging the Senate to follow suit and pass this legislation quickly so that our Blue Water vets can finally be guaranteed the benefits they have earned and deserve. This legislation has strong support from both Democrats and Republicans, and there is no reason it shouldn’t be put on the floor for a vote immediately.”

More than 20 million gallons of Agent Orange, an herbicide, were sprayed to remove jungle foliage during the Vietnam conflict. Exposure to the chemical has resulted in health issues such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, various cancers, Type 2 diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease.

Garry Parrigan served from 1971 to 1975, including off the coast of Vietnam on the USS Savannah, a supply ship. In four years, he said he visited 16 countries, including transporting barrels of Agent Orange,

Now, Mr. Parrigan said, he has a range of health issues, including diabetes, nodes and scarring on his lungs and heart troubles — including a diagnosis earlier this week of congestive heart failure.

“My medical record was over 900 pages long,” he said.

According to Gillibrand’s office, in 1991 Congress passed a law requiring the Department of Veteran Affairs to provide presumptive coverage to all Vietnam veterans who had diseases linked to Agent Orange. In 2002, the VA decided to exclude Blue Water veterans.

This meant that when Mr. Parrigan applied for benefits related to Agent Orange exposure, he was denied.

“You had to have boots on the ground, and we didn’t,” he said.

Mr. Parrigan is now a resident of Ohio, but is very supportive of Sen. Gillibrand.

“She has been more open and direct than anyone,” he said. “She knows it’s the right thing to do.”

The current Senate bill has 55 cosponsors, and seems poised to pass.

“If it gets to the Senate side, we have plenty of support there,” Mrs. Belanger said.

If the Senate passes a different version of the bill from the House, the bill will have to be conferenced between the two chambers and go back to each for final approval. Even if it is passed, it may act as little more than re-enforcement for the Procopio decision.

Mrs. Belanger, though, thinks that this is important for the future — especially for veterans returning from exposure to burn pits and depleted uranium in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The other reason we are fighting so hard for this, I don’t want our younger warriors ... to be in our position” in another few decades, she said.

From staff reports

OSWEGO — Repairs on the west arrowhead breakwater in Oswego will continue with the awarding of a $4.7 million contract.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District awarded the contract May 15 to Dean Marine and Excavating Inc., of Mount Clemens, Mich. The contractor is anticipated to begin workthis summer, including a 600-foot repair along the lake side of the breakwater.

During 2018, the Corps of Engineers repaired 475 feet of the 2,700 feet Oswego Harbor west arrowhead breakwater. This contract award will allow repair work to continue this year. The breakwater will allow for safer passage for commercial and recreational traffic, while also serving as a means to dissipate wave action in Oswego Harbor.

“This funding will ensure Oswego Harbor remains open for both commercial and recreational business,” said U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y. “With the threat of high water and damaging waves expected to continue along Lake Ontario, I will continue to work in Congress to secure funding that will make our shores more resilient.”

“The Port of Oswego is a vital navigation channel that connects commercial ships and recreational boats from the Great Lakes to Central New York, helping to drive local tourism and contributing to the economy,” said U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. “The completion of the arrowhead breakwater repairs will help ensure that ships can continue to safely navigate through Oswego Harbor, and I’m glad that this project is moving forward.”

“The Port of Oswego is vital to the economy of our entire region. In Congress, I’ve consistently advocated for funding so that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is able to keep this port functional and open for business,” said Rep. John Katko, R-Camillus. “Repairing the breakwall will ensure commercial and recreational boaters are able to safely navigate the Port, and I applaud the Army Corps for prioritizing this project.”

Oswego Harbor is a deep draft commercial harbor interconnected with seven commercial ports, supporting more than 250,000 tons annually. It is home to 536 recreational slips, six boat launches and 29 charter boats. It generates $19 million in economic benefits and supports a total of 209 direct, indirect, and induced jobs.

“Buffalo District is proud to be able to contribute to the safety of Oswego Harbor through this repair of the west arrowhead breakwater,” said Lt. Col. Jason Toth, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District commander. “We are thankful for all of the advocacy and support we receive from Sen. Schumer, Sen. Gillibrand and Rep. Katko to continue assisting with these projects and taking care of the American people.”

Even when facing high waters, cold weather and seemingly-endless rainfall, waterfront businesses are staying afloat for Memorial Day weekend, which kicks off the area’s tourism season.

The International Joint Commission, which oversees regulation of the Great Lakes as well as the St. Lawrence River, said the water level on Lake Ontario Monday was 29.5 inches higher than average, just 2.4 inches below the 2017 record high. In response, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo declared a state of emergency on Monday in eight counties along the lake and river, including Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Oswego.

Many boat docks have been submerged by the water, or close to, as heavy rainfall poured down on Saturday, but it didn’t deter tourists from climbing aboard a boat tour, shopping on the main strip or having a river-side bite to eat in Alexandria Bay.

Peter Cavallario, owner of Cavallario’s Bayside Pizza, said he was getting nervous with the rising waters this week, but now feels optimistic.

“It seems like the water is starting to recede a little bit,” Mr. Cavallario said. “If that happens in the next couple weeks, we should be having a good summer.”

If the water levels continue to rise, Mr. Cavallario said the pizzeria gets plenty of traffic from campers and cars to make it through the summer. But, he admitted a lack of boaters would sting for their profits.

“We would surely miss boat traffic if it gets higher,” he said.

During the 2017 flooding, he said it hurt their business for the first two months of summer, but they were able to recover in July and August.

On the opposite end of James Street at Riley’s on the River, General Manager Kathy Hunter said two years ago they weren’t affected as badly as others.

“We are very fortunate that people get off the boats and we’re the first restaurant, so a lot of people come here,” Ms. Hunter said.

This year’s high waters hasn’t affected them much either, Ms. Hunter said, with their first month of business “normal.” But if the lack of sunshine continues, she said it could impact their foot traffic.

“If we get a nice, warm, sunny summer, there will be people here for everybody,” Ms. Hunter said. “That’s when the tourists show up.”

In Clayton, the wishful thinking continues, even with some obstacles.

Ken E. Cupp, co-owner of DiPrinzio’s Kitchen, said for his restaurant it’s less about the flooding threat and more about the constant rain.

“We have an outdoor patio, so when it rains that cuts half of my seating,” Mr. Cupp said.

In perspective of the village, Mr. Cupp said Clayton’s overall atmosphere is lowered as well.

However, Mr. Cupp said it’s not “killing the economy” for the 1000 Islands region, and there are still plenty of things for people to enjoy.

“It’s unfortunate, but people will still come here,” Mr. Cupp said. “Clayton is continuing to thrive.”

Michael J. Hazlewood, owner of Wood Boat Brewery, echoed Mr. Cupp, saying though people are noticing the inclement weather, it won’t dampen their profit. “The high waters aren’t shutting Clayton down. Everyone’s open for business,” Mr. Hazlewood said. “it hasn’t stopped us in the past, and it’s not going to stop us now.”

MASSENA — The president of United Steelworkers Local 420-A said members in Massena voted overwhelmingly on Friday to give their negotiating committee the authority to implement a strike against Arconic and Alcoa if necessary.

No numbers were available on the final vote count. But Mark Goodfellow said the union was “organized and mobilized” and would not allow Alcoa or Arconic “to bully us into accepting anything less than the fair contracts we have earned and deserve.”

“These jobs are worth fighting for, and we intend to keep it that way,” Mr. Goodfellow said.

He said the vote doesn’t necessarily mean that a strike is a certainty. He said that, although the union would prefer to resolve outstanding issues without a work stoppage, “the membership has delivered a clear message through its overwhelming support for strike authorization.”

Union members were notified on Tuesday that the International Union had authorized Local 420-A to conduct the strike authorization vote. Voting was done from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at the union hall, 24 Woodlawn Ave., with separate ballots for each company.

The approximately 357 Alcoa employees and about 132 Arconic employees have continued working under the terms and conditions of a contract that was set to expire on May 15. The negotiating committee, Alcoa, and Arconic agreed to extend the contracts while negotiations proceeded, subject to termination with written notice by either party.

Union officials have said the companies are demanding “major economic and non-economic concessions that the union considers excessive and unnecessary.” Among the issues are proposed changes to pensions and health care.

International Vice President Tom Conway, who chairs the negotiations, has urged Arconic and Alcoa management to recognize workers’ contributions to their success.

“USW members have dedicated years of hard work and personal sacrifice to keep these facilities operating efficiently and profitably,” he said, adding that “corporate executives and shareholders are reaping the benefits” while Arconic and Alcoa continue to “demand concessions too broad and too deep for their families to absorb.”

The last strike was in 1986, and United Steelworkers were set to strike again in 2010 as they awaited word of a last-minute contract with Alcoa. However, that never took place, as members across the country voted on June 24, 2010 to accept a four-year labor contract with Alcoa Inc. Nationally, 68 percent of the 4,496 workers who voted were in favor of the plan. Workers in Massena voted overwhelmingly in favor of the pact.

Since then, Alcoa Inc. split into two publicly traded companies — Alcoa Corp. and Arconic — meaning separate contract negotiations for the two companies.

The United Steelworkers represents 850,000 men and women employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in public sector and service occupations.

The gist of it

n WHAT: Members of United Steelworkers Local 420-A voted overwhelmingly on Friday to give their negotiating committee the authority to implement a strike against Arconic and Alcoa if necessary

n WHEN: Contracts for both Arconic and Alcoa were set to expire on May 15, but the negotiating committee, Alcoa and Arconic agree to extend the contracts while negotiations proceeded

n CURRENT SITUATION: Steelworkers continue to report to work under the terms and conditions of the contract that was set to expire until the extension was agreed upon

The New York State Zoo at Thompson Park Zoo hosted its annual ribbon cutting ceremony at the Heather A. Freeman Butterfly House on Saturday.