CANTON — Since moving to the area from Seattle, Amanda Stopa Goldstein has become enamored with the north country. Now, she has found a way to combine her newfound love for the area with a longtime passion for running.

With the help of Dwight Stevenson, Mrs. Stopa Goldstein has organized The Maple Run, a half-marathon and 5K that will help participants rid themselves of the cabin fever endured during the long winter months and will also honor the tradition of producing maple syrup.

“I am not from here but I love it up here. I love the history of maple and I love that the maple run is a literal thing. And winter here is a literal thing that is just not a word in a book,” Mrs. Stopa Goldstein said. “I wanted to celebrate this end of winter.”

The race is scheduled for April 22, which is a few weeks removed from the end of the annual maple run where family run sugar shacks and hobby farms and major producers alike collect sap to make the coveted New York maple syrup. Mrs. Stopa Goldstein said the race is later this year to work out all the details in the event’s first year, but will likely be scheduled for earlier in April in coming years.

“In the future, we are going to try to move it back closer to the beginning of April so we are actually honoring the end of the true maple run,” she said. “It is not just ‘The Maple Run’ as a cute title, but we are actually honoring the end of winter in the north country.”

“The course actually goes by two maple producers. It goes by Hurlbut’s and it goes by Parker’s Maple. So it is also recognizing the Northern New York tradition and honoring the fact that we are hardy enough to live in an environment where people are running when it is 6 degrees out,” Mrs. Stopa Goldstein continued. “We are a very hardy people here in Northern New York.”

Both the half-marathon and 5K will begin and end at Taylor Park Road, off Miner Street Road.

Those running the 5K will turn right onto Miner Street Road from Taylor Park and head north toward the village before running a one-mile stretch of the woodland trails at St. Lawrence University before returning to Taylor Park.

Half-marathon runners will take a left and run south on Miner Street Road until it intersects with Eddy-Pyrites Road. Participants will travel to County Road 17 from Eddy-Pyrites Road and cross the Grasse River before turning onto County Road 21. The course leads runners from County Road 21 onto County Road 25 and eventually onto County Road 27 which will lead back into the village. Runners will take Maple Street back to Miner Street Road and return to Taylor Park.

According to Mrs. Stopa Goldstein, running is about community. She said she has been running competitively for 17 years, since the age of 12.

“Runners have such a special bond,” Mrs. Stopa Goldstein said. “People hate running, right? Yet genetically, evolutionarily, we are meant to run. So you get to be surrounded by a bunch of people that like it and I just think that is great.”

As with many running events, the Maple Run will give proceeds to an organization. According to Mrs. Stopa Goldstein, though, the benefactor of this race is a rare funding recipient.

All of the money made on The Maple Run will go to the cross-country teams at St. Lawrence University, SUNY Canton and Canton Central School.

“I didn’t want to make money from it. I really wanted it to come from this organic wanting to give back to other runners,” Mrs. Stopa Goldstein said. “I had a lot of opportunities I wouldn’t have had without running. A lot of opportunities. So when I was honest with myself and said ‘why do you want to do this? Why put on a half-marathon?’ It was ‘I want to give back to these programs.’”

Mrs. Stopa Goldstein said she decided to donate to the closest teams to her because donating to her alma mater squads was not feasible from 3,000 miles away.

“It makes sense to give that money to these programs here, where I am now,” she said.

Mrs. Stopa Goldstein said many running programs at schools are underfunded because there is a lack of recognition for the sport.

Many programs seem to think runners just need a pair of shoes and are able to fully compete, but Mrs. Stopa Goldstein wants to help local runners achieve more.

“These kids deserve to be on the road and they deserve to be put up in hotels at competitions,” she said. “I had a lot of opportunities I wouldn’t have had without running. So when I was honest with myself and said ‘why do you want to do this? Why put on a half marathon?’ It was, ‘I want to give back to these programs.’”

Many cross country programs are also still coed, which makes giving to the teams more inclusive.

“The teams actually travel together consistently. They have the same coaches consistently, they do the same workouts consistently,” Mrs. Stopa Goldstein said. “I get to give back to single programs and I think it is really important that we still have these programs where men and women compete together.”

Mrs. Stopa Goldstein hopes to raise $500 for each of the three teams. She said more sponsors are welcome and would help organizers contribute more money to each program. She also said she has been pleasantly surprised at the number of racers already signed up for The Maple Run.

“We have already had more signups in January than we expected to get for this entire race,” Mrs. Stopa Goldstein said, noting that about 100 runners have registered.

Bucc Wild Run Club members will be volunteering to coordinate the event. Registration for the race will last at least through April 14, but Mrs. Stopa Goldstein said she hopes to extend it to the day of the race. Registration fees for the 5K are $30 while the half-marathon costs $40. For more information, including a course map, or to sign up or learn about sponsorship, visit the event website, themaplerun.com.

MASSENA — New Testament Church is keeping up with the times, but some of its recent changes have had some in the community concerned that the church was closed.

Among the changes were the move of former youth pastors Greg and Jessica Hurlbut into the role of lead pastors of New Testament Church Massena. Their role as youth pastors was taken over by Josh White. The Hurlbuts have worked at New Testament Church since 2005 and served as youth pastors for 11 years.

“We ran the youth building downtown. My wife was on the staff first. I came on full-time in 2012. We’ve always done youth work,” Mr. Hurlbut said.

They were set in as elders in the church in spring 2013 and fully ordained in July 2014. They took on the role of lead pastors in September.

The Rev. Don and Mary Curry, who have served as lead pastors of New Testament Church Massena, recently planted a church in Plattsburgh. They will continue to serve the Massena community, along with Mr. and Mrs. Hurlbut, and are working on establishing a lead pastor for New Testament church Plattsburgh.

New Testament Church Plattsburgh opened on Sept. 11 at the First Baptist Church on the corner of Oak and Court streets, and draws about 40 to 45 people for each week’s service.

“We feel really peaceful about this transition,” the Rev. Mr. Curry said.

They’re also expanding the base of people being an active part of the church, Mr. Hurlbut said. A Celebrate Recovery group that meets Wednesday evenings in Massena has also been set up in Plattsburgh. The Plattsburgh group meets Tuesday nights at 365 Clinton St.

In another change, the old sign that was near the entrance to the church on Andrews Street was taken down and replaced with a modern version, which is the same design as the sign for the Plattsburgh church. Mr. Hurlbut said the old sign was down for about three months, and that caused some concern in the community that the church was closed.

“It was the original sign from 1982. They only noticed it because it changed,” he said.

The new sign has now been in place for about three weeks.

The sights and sounds of construction inside the church mean more positive changes, with rooms being built for the nursery and meetings and a balcony being installed to overlook the lower level. Meanwhile, the church can still comfortably seat the approximately 300 people who participate in services every Sunday.

“We’re doing renovation here. Now it’s more intimate. Part of it was kind of rebranding,” the Rev. Mr. Curry said.

While there may be a new sign outside and some construction going on inside the church, the mission of New Testament Church remains the same as it has been, according to Mr. Hurlbut.

“We’re still here. We have services at 10 a.m. (Sundays). Everyone is welcome. Most Sundays we have 100 kids. Nothing is changing here at the church at all. It’s just the next generation,” he said.

MASSENA — A part of history came alive for Massena Central elementary school students on Friday.

They were treated to an interactive performance from Native American singers and dancers from the Akwesasne Ratirennenhawi traveling group.

The group, which included some elementary and high school Native American students, gave presentations to four separate groups from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. While three of the presentations were for Jefferson Elementary School students, the fourth was a combined session for students from Jefferson, Madison and Nightengale elementary schools.

“The fourth-grade social studies curriculum includes New York state history,” including the history of Native Americans in the state, Jefferson Elementary Principal Duane Richards said.

He said Friday’s event was set up by Michelle Lazare, Jefferson’s Native American literary specialist and liaison for Native American students.

The event was significant for Jefferson Elementary, according to Mr. Richards, who said about 12 percent of their population is Native American students, the highest percentage among the elementary schools.

While November was the official time for Native American Heritage Month, he said it was important to celebrate that history, even if it was three months later. It was something that had previously been on the school’s calendar.

“We figured it was better late than never,” he said.

For students in grades one through six, it was an opportunity to participate in social singing and dancing while learning about the Native American culture. Among the dances they took part in was the Round Dance. Standing in a circle and moving right signified all of the positive things in life. Moving left represented all of the negative things in life.

For students in grade four, it was a little bit more, as they were treated to some facts, like every U.S. highway in the U.S. once serving as a trade route. They were also quizzed on what they had learned in class, like the names of all of the tribes in New York state.

Mr. Richards said it had been a while since they have held a Native American social, but it wouldn’t be the last.

“We look forward to getting back into it again, he said.

POTSDAM — It’s important for all types of family members to have access to food in times of financial distress — this includes Fido, Zoe and Duke.

While there are food banks to help address the needs of humans across the north country, pets are often overlooked.

This is not the case at the Potsdam Humane Society.

The shelter has implemented a “food pantry” for pet owners who have temporarily found themselves not able to make ends meet.

“Sometimes people fall onto tough times, which is understandable,” Humane Society Director Alysia M. Maynard said. “If we can help out in some way, we do.”

Local retailers occasionally donate cosmetically damaged containers of dog food, cat food and cat litter to the shelter they deem unsellable. Other times, local pet owners will drop off opened bags of pet food to the shelter because either their pet will turn their nose at it or their pet recently passed away.

“What donated products we can use, we use in the shelter. The other products go to the food pantry,” Mrs. Maynard said. “We accept really any brand of food.”

The shelter doesn’t use the donated food for the shelter animals, as they are in a partnership with Hill’s Science Diet for its supply of dog and cat food. Mrs. Maynard said it’s important for the shelter animals to maintain a consistent diet because it “helps keep their systems in check.”

Mrs. Maynard said this program is intended not only to help those in times of need, but also to prevent pets from being surrendered to the shelter.

“If we can help them keep their pets fed, they can keep them in their home. I think it’s a great program,” Mrs. Maynard said. “We understand, things happen and we don’t want to see any pet go without food. This is one way we try and keep animals out of the shelter.”

The shelter asks that the food bank not be used as a regular source of food, but as a solution to a temporary problem.

“We’re not here to judge anybody,” Mrs. Maynard said. “If someone comes in a couple of times, we do ask to see the pet’s rabies information.”

Mrs. Maynard said they are always accepting donations of other items as well. The shelter has a “wish list” of items — including pet toys, treats and beds, cleaning supplies and office supplies — on their website, www.potsdamhumanesociety.org.

If interested in donating food or other items, call the shelter at 315-265-3199.

OGDENSBURG — City officials have met with representatives of a company that specializes in helping governments and businesses save money on energy costs by using the latest technologies to find new efficiencies.

Ogdensburg officials met with representatives from SmartWatt Energy Inc., Clifton Park, on Monday. The company specializes in identifying and implementing ways to save taxpayer money through more environmentally friendly and efficient energy systems.

Although talks with the company are only in the preliminary stage, the recent meeting showed enough promise for city officials to request a free feasibility assessment, according to Ogdensburg City Manager Sarah Purdy.

Ms. Purdy said it makes good sense to look at what the company offers to determine whether there is a way for the city to save money on energy costs without having to invest local taxpayer dollars.

“They do everything from looking at your HVAC and your energy usage to also looking at the LED lighting and street lights,” Ms. Purdy said. “So, this may have some interesting potential.”

Ms. Purdy said SmartWatt Energy has two different programs that the city is interested in learning more about. She said one program deals with converting the municipality’s street lights to LED lighting, which is more energy efficient.

The other program, she said, involves a comprehensive energy audit that is offered through National Grid. The latter program looks at energy efficiencies that can be found through boiler upgrades and other structural improvements such as tightening up building envelopes.

Both options have the potential for significant long-term savings, according to city officials. With both programs there are no up-front costs, according to the company’s website, and projects are paid for through energy saving upgrades that can include capital deferred improvements.

ALEXANDRIA BAY — The issue of River Hospital’s parking is not yet put to bed as the hospital’s modernization and expansion proposal, long in the making, is finally on the horizon.

At its monthly meeting on Thursday, the Alexandria Bay Village Zoning Board of Appeals delayed a decision on a new River Hospital building as it continued its review of parking regulations.

The proposed hospital design, which replaces temporary modular units and an outdated mental health office with a 26,000-square-foot integrated primary care building, includes 200 parking spots, 28 more than it currently has. However, the design is at least 40 spots away from complying with the village’s standing zoning policy, set in 1990.

Hospital advocates looking for a variance said the number of spots laid out in the design suited the hospital’s needs and helped the village.

According to hospital CEO Ben Moore III, the delay wasn’t entirely unexpected.

“One of the parties with objections submitted something at the last minute,” Mr. Moore said. “And that’s fine, it gives the board a chance to look at everything.”

The zoning board asked the hospital to submit additional paperwork, including letters from owners of private off-site parking who have agreed to let the hospital use its spaces.

Some in attendance were opponents, like attorney Matthew Norfolk, of Briggs Norfolk, Lake Placid, who represents C.A.P. Marina Inc., which owns Horizon Marina on Sisson Street, near the hospital. He argued the site didn’t meet existing zoning rules, the hospital’s application was incomplete and that the project may exacerbate parking issues in the village’s downtown.

Horizon Marina owner and Alexandria Bay resident Michael L. Chavoustie took out a large advertisement in the Feb. 1 edition of the Thousand Islands Sun, explaining that he was against the project going forward in its current location due to the hospital’s impact on village parking. Not all local business owners feel the same way.

Tom Mitchell, co-owner of Bay House Artisans, LLC. located near the hospital on James Street, says his shop doesn’t feel the effects of the hospital’s parking constraints.

“Certainly they take up a lot of parking. Optimally, if choosing a location in 2017 you wouldn’t take up prime waterfront real estate, but the fact remains it’s there, and it would be many, many millions of dollars to place it somewhere else.” Mr. Mitchell said.

One woman at the meeting, Linda Schnittger, argued the hospital should move out of the village and onto Route 12, due to her difficulties getting to the hospital through busy James Street.

“Do you have 50 million dollars?” asked board member Damon Shangraw.

Mr. Mitchell also sees another, more aesthetic benefit of the proposed construction.

“Parking aside, those modular units are really ugly and they sit adjacent to Scenic View Park and getting rid of them would make it that much more attractive,” Mr. Mitchell said. “It’s a positive thing. How many small communities like us are lucky enough to have a medical facility like that? We’re very fortunate.”

Gary Williams is an Alexandria Bay Chamber of Commerce board member and small business owner. Mr. Williams runs Skiffs Bar and The Korner Pizza.

“We’d have a bigger problem than parking if we didn’t have the hospital. It brings a lot of business,” Mr. Williams said.

Mr. Moore was also asked by the board to provide a written commitment from the hospital, which has agreed to allow the village to use its out-patient service parking when the clinics are closed in the evening, on weekends and holidays.

Mr. Williams questions the accuracy of the parking need estimates when, he says, in reality hospital employees are not there all at once — many work nights and weekends. He also said he knows many nurses and a couple doctors who walk to work, and at least four nurses who carpool together from Clayton.

“The hospital already allows the village to use their parking,” Mr. Williams said. “Everyone does business off the hospital and it’s saving lives, too. It’s the biggest key to the village and if it wasn’t there, then maybe I wouldn’t be here today.”

Owner of Uncle Sam Boat Tours Ronald G. Thomson spoke up at Thursday’s meeting, offering the use of his 200-space, private parking lot to the hospital Monday through Friday, year-round. Mr. Thomson uses the lot for weekend tour patrons and feels strongly about the hospital’s importance.

“Be careful what you ask for, you know,” said Mr. Williams. “It’s a long ride to Watertown.”

The fifth straight year of decreased economic impact and soldier levels at Fort Drum has raised some concern about the potential effects for the local community.

During the five-year streak of reduced value, the post’s economic impact has fallen about 17.8 percent, from about $1.44 billion in 2012 to $1.18 billion in 2016. The post’s soldier levels, a key part of the post’s economic impact, is about the lowest level since 2005.

The post’s soldier cuts comes as the Army drops personnel through its own planning and through federal sequestration budget cuts, from a peak of 570,000 active-duty soldiers to a current target of about 476,000.

F. Anthony Keating, civilian aide to the secretary of the Army, said the reductions like those at Fort Drum can be seen at posts nationwide.

“We are not experiencing anything that other installations of our type and size haven’t experienced the last four or five years,” he said. “I think the key is while it’s something for us to be concerned about and monitoring, we’re not suffering disproportionally.”

The post’s statistics, released this past week, tell the story of how the military’s direct spending plays a key role in the community, primarily in the salaries paid to soldiers based locally.

Among the highlights for the 2016 fiscal year:

n The post has 15,069 soldiers and 3,786 civilian workers, down from 15,457 soldiers and 3,857 civilian workers the previous year.

n Total payroll for soldiers and workers on post is $979,566,710, down from $1,004,120,079 the previous year.

n Federal impact aid to local schools was $31,078,996 in 2016, down 23 percent from the $40,619,075 in the previous year.

n Fort Drum awarded 81 contracts valued at $14,888,765 to tri-county contractors, more than double the value from the 63 contracts valued at $4,734,099 the year before.

Post officials indicated the post’s economic impact could be stabilizing.

“Based upon what we know today, we anticipate our force structure to remain relatively constant over the next several years,” said Col. Bryan J. Laske, the post’s garrison commander, in a statement released with its report.

During a Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization meeting at the beginning of February, Col. Laske said the post may even see some increased training from outside units which could help boost the post’s economic value.

Some observers had varying outlooks on the drop and its local effects.

David Winters, president of the Watertown Downtown Business Association, said there’s still business opportunities around the city connected to military personnel.

“Walk around any time during the day, and you’re seeing people in uniform walking around,” he said.

Scott A. Gray, chairman of the Jefferson County Board of Legislators, said he’s noticed a “tightening of a budget” in the last few years on a federal level that has affected the post. The activity of soldiers is a key factor in the county’s sales tax revenue, he said.

He said the new administration of Donald J. Trump left him optimistic.

“A new administration is in there, and things may change,” Mr. Gray said.

Watertown city Councilman Cody J. Horbacz said one potential area of impact is in housing, as landlords struggle to compete with newer complexes for the reduced soldier population.

To avoid other areas of the market from being hit, he argued the city and area had to do more to attract new businesses before it was too late.

“We’ve relied so heavily on Fort Drum, and there hasn’t been a contingency plan. Hopefully this is a wake-up call,” Mr. Horbacz said. “The region needs to come together and figure out what to do to cushion the fall.”

Brian E. Ashley, the FDRLO’s executive director, said even with the decline, the post’s impact on the economy was substantial.

“You can’t dismiss a $1.2 billion impact,” he said.

Mr. Ashley added the Trump administration’s interest in increasing soldier levels could positively affect Fort Drum, which he argued could handle additional numbers. Though soldier levels were expected to fall to about 450,000 in the 2018 fiscal year, that number is currently in flux.

“We could see the impacts go the opposite way in the foreseeable future,” he said.

The FDRLO is completing its own study showing the secondary impact of the post and the value not shown in the post’s direct spending calculation.

CANTON — During the three years Mary E. Rain has served as St. Lawrence County’s district attorney, 20 assistant DAs have quit or resigned, including nine last year alone.

The high turnover rate is concerning to county legislators who in December voted 12-2 in favor of a resolution asking Ms. Rain to resign from office “as soon as possible.”

“When you have rapid personnel turnover it’s hard to do a good job, no matter what the occupation is,” said Legislature Chairman Kevin D. Acres. “There is nothing we can do about it. The board has authorized the filling of those jobs. For whatever reason, people are not applying for the jobs, or they’re not staying.”

The county legislature’s resolution also asked Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to initiate an investigation into Ms. Rain‘s office for her possible removal.

Mr. Acres said the legislature does not have authority to remove Ms. Rain, a registered Republican who defeated former DA Nicole M. Duve, a Democrat.

Ms. Rain did not respond to a request for a comment on this topic.

Ms. Rain’s four-year term expires Dec. 31. She is paid $183,000 a year, the salary paid to DAs throughout the state.

Mr. Acres said none of the ADAs who left sent letters to legislators explaining their reasons for departing. He speculated that a heavy workload and internal problems within the office may be partly responsible.

“It is a big job and we have 37 local courts that are covered by the DA’s office,” Mr. Acres said.

Mr. Acres said he is mainly concerned about felony criminal cases being dismissed as a result of the staffing turmoil in Ms. Rain’s office because they’re not being prosecuted in a timely basis.

“The worry is that the efforts of law enforcement officials is being diminished,” he said.

During their election campaign, Ms. Rain criticized Ms. Duve for having a high turnover rate.

Responding to a request, the county’s Human Resources Department provided a list of all the ADAs who have left the office during Ms. Rain’s tenure and the date they left.

Human Resources Director Paul M. Smith said the reason for leaving was provided on forms submitted by Ms. Rain.

Contacted earlier this week, Mr. Haggard disputed records that indicate he was fired. He said he submitted a resignation letter in April 2016.

The list includes the following attorneys and their employment end date:

Andre Botts; 1/2/2014, resignation

Lloyd Grandy; 1/2/2014, resignation

Viacheslav Mareyev; 1/2/2014, resignation

Brenna Ryan; 1/26/2015, terminated

Patricia Campbell; 2/13/2015, terminated

Otis Simon; 4/17/2015, resignation

Grace Witte; 6/26/2015, resignation

A. Michael Gebo; 9/11/2015, resignation

Abigail Hind; 11/6/2015, resignation

Ramy Louis; 12/31/2015, resignation

Shadi Masri; 1/15/2016, resignation

David Haggard; 4/14/2016, terminated

Jonathan Jirik; 4/27/2016, resignation

Matthew Hogestyn; 5/6/2016, resignation

David Park; 5/6/2016, resignation

Sara Clothier; 6/25/2016, resignation

Marquetta Christy; 7/1/2016, resignation

James Andes; 8/11/2016, terminated

Frank Cositore; 11/18/2016, resignation

Peter Stroe; 2/10/2017, resignation

Snowtown USA kicked off Friday night with a fireworks display.

SUNY Potsdam to host a capella competition

POTSDAM — SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music will host the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, presented by Varsity Vocals. The a cappella competition will be held at 7 p.m. on Feb. 25 in Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall.

Nine a cappella groups from the United States and Canada will compete in the quarterfinals at the Crane School of Music for one of two spots in the ICCA semifinals.

North country performers include: A Sharp Arrangement; Stay Tuned; Potsdam Pitches and the Potsdam Pointercounts, all of SUNY Potsdam; and the UltraVioleTones of Clarkson University.

Tickets for the event are $15 for students and $18 for the general public and can be purchased at www.freshtix.com/events/icca-central-quarterfinal-at-suny-potsdam-2017.

Mike and Gaylene Pomeroy needed every second of the head start they got.

They live in Yuba City, California, and on Sunday they were among the nearly 200,000 people who fled the Oroville Dam spillway emergency. Their son-in-law is a police officer in neighboring Marysville, so he called them a half-hour before officers went through neighborhoods with bullhorns.

The Pomeroys are both in their 60s. Mike has post-traumatic stress disorder. His wife uses a walker to get around on good days and a wheelchair on bad ones. They spent a half-hour rushing to gather their medicine, their clothes and their dog. Then they got into their car and drove 90 miles to a niece’s house.

The next day, a son checking on their home delivered good news and bad: Their house was still dry, but it had been hit by burglars.

The Pomeroys discovered the full extent of their loss when they got back the next day.

The burglars “just trashed our whole place - I think they were looking for anything they could get,” Gaylene Pomeroy told The Washington Post. “They did steal a couple guns. And they stole my jewelry.”

They also made their way to the back of the couple’s bedroom closet, where a suitcase contained Mike Pomeroy’s war medals, commendation papers and bittersweet memories.

“He just looked at me and said they were missing,” Gaylene Pomeroy said. “He was pretty upset about it. Very emotional. All of the commendations are still there. All of the descriptions are still there. They just stole the medals. He had not opened that briefcase in I don’t know how many years.

“When he was looking through it, he was seeing things that he had forgotten about,” she said.

Mike Pomeroy spent the late 1960s in Vietnam, his wife said. He was an Army helicopter medic, dropping into combat zones to do what he could for the wounded.

“I read some of the commendations, and it was just like what you would see in a movie today,” Gaylene Pomeroy said.

One was written by a commander, who explained how Mike Pomeroy earned his Purple Heart, according to Sacramento Fox affiliate KTXL.

Five decades ago, his air ambulance responded to a military aircraft down behind enemy lines, the news station reported. When they got there, they found the craft on fire and the pilots trapped inside. Mike Pomeroy lowered himself to the ground and saved the men.

He left the Army with a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star Medal and several pieces of mortar shrapnel that doctors couldn’t remove from his arm.

Gaylene said her husband didn’t talk much about the war, but his memories didn’t stay locked away like the medals. He’d received some psychological help from the government over the years, but mostly he kept to himself.

Gaylene Pomeroy said her husband wanted to pass the medals down to their grandchildren, hoping they’d illuminate a part of their grandfather’s life that he had trouble articulating.

The suitcase “hasn’t been opened hardly in 50 years. They’ve never seen it,” Mike Pomeroy told KTXL before breaking down. “It’s not something you talk about. One day, you’d be able to tell them, but . . .”

“Almost everything you can replace. There’s things you can’t. And that’s what really, really gets to you,” he said.

Yuba City police have not made an arrest in the case. On its Facebook page, the Marysville Police Department urged anyone with information to contact authorities.

“Those who take advantage of others during times of emergency and unrest are some of the lowest form of criminal,” the department posted. “But to steal military medals, including a Purple Heart and Medal of Valor, from a Vietnam Veteran who dedicated and put his life on the line for our country is utterly disgusting.”

NORWOOD — Two people have been transported to Canton-Potsdam Hospital following a motor vehicle crash near the intersection of Austin Ridge and River roads at approximately 12 p.m. on Saturday.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation. No other details were provided.

As part of their efforts to make the penal law more responsive and realistic, two local assemblymen and a state senator have introduced a bill to add a new felony assault charge to the penal code.

Assemblymen Bob Oaks, R-Macedon and Will Barclay, R-Pulaski and Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Oswegatchie have introduced legislation that would creates the Class E felony crime of aggravated assault in the third degree.

The impetus for this law was an assault on a female bartender in the town of Oswego in July 2016. During the course of this incident, two men brutally attacked her and despite major injuries that required corrective surgery, the crime did not meet the standards for a felony.

The district attorney’s office could prosecute the assailants only for a misdemeanor offense of assault in the third degree.

A new penal law section, 120.80, would turn a misdemeanor third-degree assault charge into felony aggravated third-degree assault charge if the defendant is aided by another person who is physically present during the altercation.

The bills are Assembly bill 5268 and Senate bill 4022.

Oswego County District Attorney Gregory Oakes approached the Oswego County state legislators because the DA couldn’t even apply felony gang assault to the incident because that law also required the victim to suffer serious physical injury as well as the defendant being aided by two or more people.

“Unfortunately, the present law is simply inadequate and doesn’t hold defendants fully accountable,” said Oakes. “I want to thank our legislators representing Oswego County for listening and taking leadership on this issue so that prosecutors can obtain real justice for victims who are assaulted by multiple attackers.”

“Under the proposed law, aggravated third-degree assault would require only a single accomplice,” said Oaks, the lead sponsor in the Assembly. “It would give district attorneys an important tool, allowing cases where two assailants attack a single victim to be prosecuted as a felony. It would hold defendants accountable to the level of the harm they caused.”

“I am proud to have worked closely with Assemblyman Oaks, Senator Ritchie and District Attorney Oakes to draft this much needed legislation that will close a loophole in the law and assure dangerous criminals face the consequences of their actions,” said Barclay, a co-sponsor of the bill in the Assembly.

Ritchie is the main sponsor of the legislation in the state Senate. “It’s critical that those who break the law — and viciously attack another person, like in the instance that prompted this legislation — feel the full weight of justice. Through this measure, we can provide district attorneys with a new tool that will ensure that the punishment matches the crime, as well as help victims begin the healing process.”

CHAMPION — Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department announced the arrest of Dwayne R. Kelly, 52, Champion, in connection with a recent sex abuse investigation.

Mr. Kelly was charged with one count of second-degree sexual conduct against a child, one count of second-degree sexual abuse and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. He is being held in the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building in lieu of $20,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond following his arraignment in front of Watertown City Court Judge Catherine Palermo.

Mr. Kelly’s appearance before a grand jury is currently pending. Further details of the case were not given.

WATERTOWN — City police charged Michael R. Davis, 34, and Sherman E. Sweet Jr., 32, both of 710 Hancock St., with petit larceny Thursday afternoon at Thrifty Shopper, 1222 Arsenal St.

Police said Mr. Davis and Mr. Sweet stole $100 from Thrifty Shopper while they were working.

Mr. Davis and Mr. Sweet were released with an appearance ticket to City Court.

History buffs re-enacted the Battle of Ogdensburg on Saturday.

WATERTOWN — Two Watertown men were charged with drug offenses following a raid of their Cedar Street home on Feb. 10.

David J. Wallace, 55, and David L. Wallace, 37, of 212 Cedar St., were each charged with single counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony.

The Metro-Jeff Drug Task Force said in a news release that they executed a search warrant of their home and found 39.5 grams of crack cocaine, worth a street value of $4,000, and $7,900 in cash.

The pair were arraigned in Watertown City Court and each remanded to the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building on $10,000 bail. They have since posted bail.

The task force’s news release said additional charges are pending against the two following further investigation.

OGDENSBURG — State officials are continuing to give advice to Ogdensburg City Manager Sarah Purdy regarding the fiscal belt-tightening needed to get the municipality back on sound financial footing.

Ms. Purdy, who recently attended the three-day New York Conference of Mayors meeting in Albany, said she used the opportunity to meet with representatives of both the state Department of State and the Office of the State Comptroller.

The purpose of meeting, she said, was to impress upon state officials that with no additional state aid, and with a tax cap below 2 percent, that the City of Ogdensburg continues to struggle with hard fiscal times.

“Obviously, since the Comptroller’s Office came last fall and did a review of our budget, I was looking for any other information that either of the agencies might have on other services or revenue possibilities that the city could take advantage of,” Ms. Purdy said.

She said state officials advised the city to continue its current path of trying to “right-size” its local government to better fit the needs of residents within the constraints of community’s tax base.

“We are on the right track in terms of making the reductions that they want to see, but there is more that we need to do,” the city manager said.

Ms. Purdy said her plan is to continue reducing expenses by consolidating the duties of municipal employees as positions become vacant. She said constantly searching for new and more efficient ways to deliver services to residents is key to improving the city’s fiscal health.

“City Council is fully aware that we are going to take a look at whether we refill vacancies as they occur and that we will try to combine functions and cross-train as much as we can,” Ms. Purdy said.

During last year’s budget cycle, the city raised taxes by more than 13 percent and made considerable cuts to municipal departments and outside agencies. City Council has also asked department heads to keep a close eye on expenses like overtime.

Ms. Purdy said rather than sugar-coating Ogdensburg’s financial stress, she has decided to bring the issue to the attention of state officials whenever possible, such as the recent NYCOM conference in Albany. She said Ogdensburg’s notoriety is not bad.

“I was encouraged that some of the folks that I talked to had already heard my name and that Ogdensburg is already on their radar in Albany,” Ms. Purdy said. “It’s not a bad thing. When you know you are going to need assistance you might as well take a positive view and ask for help rather than have someone show up and knock at your door.”

In its review of the city’s budget last year, the state Comptroller’s Office found that the municipality appropriated an average of $348,592 of fund balance each year from 2011 to 2016 to help cover operating expenses — a move that kept the tax rate from climbing but depleted cash reserves. The comptroller’s report identified four concerns involving the city budget, including the fact that Ogdensburg was rapidly approaching its constitutional limit on taxation.

CHICAGO — Die-hard water-skier and wake-boarder Jay Fieser has his sights set on buying a boat in a few years but the super-tricked-out, six-figure models he’s been eyeing just aren’t in the 20-year-old’s budget.

Not only is this a problem for Fieser, but it’s also a challenge for the boating industry, whose typical customer is the more deep-pocketed baby boomer.

Like most consumer-driven industries, boat manufacturers and dealers are working hard to reel in that coveted 18-to-34-year-old set.

U.S. retail sales of recreational boats, marine products and services totaled $36 billion in 2015. Recreational boat sales plunged 60 percent during the recession but are now 20 percent shy of pre-recession levels, according to Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, a trade group.

Boat makers want to leave those kind of numbers in their wake, and hope to do so by upgrading boat design and technology and promoting boat clubs and boat sharing to appeal to a generation that in recent surveys has shown more interest in cycling and camping than fishing and water sports.

But there’s one problem the industry acknowledges it can’t fix: Many millennials are saddled with college debt and still living at home. They are marrying and buying homes later, and some are in no rush to buy a car, much less a discretionary item like a boat. While some models can be had for as little as $15,000, prices can easily jump to $95,000 with all the bells and whistles.

That’s where boat sharing, part of the so-called sharing economy, comes in.

“What we are seeing — boat rentals, boat clubs, boat sharing — are ways that we are working to get millennials on the water,” Dammrich said. “If we get them hooked on boating now, sooner or later they’ll want to buy a boat.”

John Giglio, CEO of Freedom Boat Club, a boat-sharing club with 117 locations across the country — the nearest to Northern New York are Buffalo and Lake George — has seen his millennial membership grow from 5 percent five years ago to 20 to 30 percent last year.

“Millennials in general have a rap as a group that don’t want to own anything,” Giglio said. While baby boomers are focused on ownership as a status symbol, millennials are “content with having access to boats or cars because the endgame is usage,” he added. “If they have access to it, they don’t necessarily need to own it.”

Millennials make up about one-third of the clientele for Fleet Boat Club, Webster, said owner Kenneth J. Dens.

Mr. Dens said the number of young boaters who purchased his rental memberships have increased in the past five years because they only have to pay for the membership and fuel, saving them thousands of dollars. Memberships, according to the company website, range from $2,525 to $3,825 depending on the number of reservations at a time.

“It gives them a lower-cost option for boating,” Mr. Dens said. “Lower cost, less hassle.”

Mr. Dens said his open-bow style boats are popular with his millennial customers because of their speed, comfortable lounge seating and “snappy” design. Mr. Dens offers 20 rentals across his three marinas at Canandaigua Lake, Irondequoit Bay and Braddock Bay, Rochester.

“That millennial group — I think — tend to be more active,” Mr. Dens said. “(Open bow is) a bit more of a versatile boat.”

Tagged the “Uber of boats,” boat rental website Boatbound offers boat rentals from roughly $200 per day for a fishing boat to as high as $7,500 per day for a captained powerboat, with a galley and shower, that fits up to 12.

When it does come to considering a purchase, younger buyers are discovering these aren’t their parents’ boats.

Manufacturers are creating sexier products, such as wake sport boats built specifically for an active, younger generation.

The Clayton Chamber of Commerce will feature several new models with these upgrades at its 43rd annual Clayton Spring Boat Show.

Michael G. Hooson, event coordinator for the chamber, said about 20 dealers from across the state, primarily in the Thousand Islands region, will showcase anything from $6,000 jet skis to $70,000 runabouts. A few popular brands dealers will feature with some of the latest technology include Avalon pontoon boats, G3 Suncatcher pontoon boats, Boston Whaler runabouts and Yamaha runabouts.

The Clayton Spring Boat Show will run from 1 to 8 p.m. April 7, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 8 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 9 at the Cerow Recreation Park Arena, 615 East Line Road.

“We’ll have so many different kinds of boats and a wide range of styles that would be appealing to millennials,” Mr. Hooson said.

Updated technology on sport boats includes large state-of-the art speakers and models that come with a wristwatch that allows someone on a wake board or water skis to control the boat’s wake.

Fewer millennials browse north country boat dealerships because they have less disposable income and more debt, many dealers claim.

Larry C. Foster, who owns Chalks Marina and Boat Sales LLC, Fishers Landing, and Schermerhorn Harbor, Hammond, with his brother, Robert T., said only 20 percent of their customers are millennials, citing debt and a lack of stable jobs in the area. Wendy L. LaLone, who owns Hutchinson’s Boat Works, Alexandria Bay, with her husband, Mark C., said millennials make up only 10 percent of her customer base.

“While they don’t have disposable income, they grew up with a boat.” Mrs. LaLone said. “We’re not seeing the young crowd, but they come back when they’re settled,”

Tyler J. Forger, who owns Clayton Marina Sales and Services Inc., with his father, Jerry T., said the nationwide issue of attracting young customers has not affected his business.

The dealership’s proximity to Fort Drum and the Thousand Islands region provides his dealership with enough customers of all ages to sustain his business, he said. Mr. Forger also said he believes more millennials are pursuing trade careers, relieving them of college debt and allowing them to spend more disposable income.

Millennials are “no big market share” for Tyler Forger’s dealership, he said, adding that his primary customer base consists of middle-class families.

“It doesn’t seem to affect us that much,” he said.

Having stereo speakers, Bluetooth, USB ports, plugs and other equipment that attract potential millennial buyers have become standard for several models sold by boat dealers in Upstate New York.

Robert Foster said he and Larry Foster sell Grady White brand runabouts with stereo speakers and dashboard GPS navigation and Boston Whaler brand roundabouts with updated center console technology. Mrs. LaLone said her dealership sells the SLX line of Sea Ray brand boats that feature stereo speakers, Bluetooth and USB ports.

Bruce M. Walker, who owns Reiter’s Marina Inc., Sandy Creek, said most of his fishing boats, which range from $20,000 to more than $100,000, contain USB ports, Bluetooth, MP3 player connectivity and monitors that can connect with his customers’ phones.

“I haven’t seen a boat built today that doesn’t have USB connections,” Larry Foster said.

In addition to these modern installations, Mrs. Lalone and Tyler Forger both sell models that have LED lighting, which is popular with millennials who can afford more expensive models. Monk A. D’Agata, CEO of Fremac Marine Sales and Service Inc, Bridgeport, said one of his company’s $70,000 Yamaha turnabouts has a solar-powered battery.

“This is the stuff millennials want,” Mr. D’Agata said. “It’s expensive.”

In addition to the latest bells and whistles, Larry and Robert Foster said several of their newer models have more efficient engines and additional lounge seating, which attract more active young customers.

“(Newer boats are) a lot more fuel efficient,” Larry Foster said. “A lot more dependable.”

The latest design trends also come with several models sold at north country boat dealerships.

Tyler Forger said his Yamaha models have sharp designs and Nautic Star models have bright baby blue and white designs. Mrs. LaLone said her Sea Ray and Starcraft models come in several vibrant colors that appeal to her millennial customer base.

“People buy with their eyes,” Tyler Forger said.

While speedboats and turnabouts have the latest technology and sleek designs, several upstate New York boat dealers say their few millennial clients with less disposable income purchase pontoon boats, a type of boat they recommend to entry-level boaters.

Larry Foster said he and Robert Foster sell affordable pontoon boats, including Misty Harbor brand pontoon boats at about $30,000, that also feature bright orange and green designs that appeal to younger customers, as well as affordable personal watercraft boats. Mr. Walker said he sells Grumman brand pontoon boats that start at $20,000.

Mr. D’Agata said his least expensive boats are pontoon boats, including 20-foot Sunrise model pontoon boats that he sells for $19,999.

“Pontoons have taken off,” Tyler Forger said. “It’s like driving a living room down the river.”

Looks matter, too — many of the newer models geared toward millennials come in bold colors with sparkles and bright stripes meant to turn heads on the water. The newest sporty model from Master­Craft has sleek silver racks meant for holding equipment such as water skis and wake boards.

At the same time, for younger consumers who are not yet in their prime earning years, manufacturers are making more affordable personal watercrafts. Some water scooters, such as BRP’s Sea-Doo Spark, start around $5,000.

Among the exhibitors at the show was SkipperBud’s, a Northern Illinois boat dealer.

“We do have millennial customers,” said Betsy Arvai, the dealer’s director of marketing. “They are just finding out that they can own a boat and live in Chicago and be able to do what they want and enjoy themselves for not so bad an entry price,” she said, pointing to a $16,000 Bayliner speedboat.

Slightly less expensive models can mean monthly payments of between $150 and $170, depending on the down payment. “I was talking to a customer the other day who said, ‘I spend $150 a month at Starbucks,’” Arvai said.

Dealers and industry watchers compare buying a speedboat to buying a car, with financing and low interest rates.

That’s promising for Fieser, who grew up boating near his family’s home in Hebron, Ind.

His plan is to buy his own boat in the next two years or so, something faster and cooler than what his parents have, he said. He’s considering buying a boat in the $15,000 range and probably a used one, he Fieser said.

“It depends on what I can find,” he said. “Some of the bigger boat companies are coming out with boats that are more ... affordable ... with good technology at a good price.”

Manufacturers and dealers hope that strategy — equipping snazzy-looking boats with technology — catches the eye of more consumers like Fieser.

On some craft, iPads control lights, the speedometer, fuel gauges and other essentials. Some models are synced for Bluetooth and include extra USB plugs for passengers’ devices. And in some, a joystick is installed to make docking easier.

MasterCraft just introduced a watersport boat that will allow wake-boarders, wake-surfers and water-skiers to create or “sculpt” their own wakes from software on the boat. Still, at an aspirational starting price of $80,000, it is more likely to be purchased by parents of water-loving young people than the millennials themselves, according to Chris Sullivan, MasterCraft’s business development manager for the Northwest region.

The recession was crushing to the boating industry, according to Jeff Nielsen, sales manager at Nielsen Enterprises in Northern Illinois.

Since the election, however, Nielsen has seen a spike in sales, he said. “They are climbing. They are coming back.”

Times staff writer Marcus Wolf contributed to this report.

MASSENA — Massena’s winter history will be display during an open house Monday at the Celine G. Philibert Cultural Centre and Museum, 79 Main St., Massena.

The open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. is part of this year’s Lake St. Lawrence Winter Chill, which runs from Feb. 18 to 26 in Massena, Louisville and Waddington.

“We wanted to do it on Monday. We didn’t see anything that was happening on the Winter Chill schedule,” Massena Town Historian MaryEllen Casselman said.

It’s a chance to come in from the cold and see exhibits of Massena’s past.

“We’re going to have hot cocoa and donuts,” Ms. Casselman said.

Visitors to the open house will still have an opportunity to see a display from the Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg. That will be at the museum until March. But the focus for Monday’s open house will be on winter activities in Massena.

“We have one (exhibit) about ice harvesting,” she said.

Ms. Casselman said Horton’s Ice House on George Street was the site of Massena’s ice harvest every year. Ice blocks were typically cut 44 inches on a side. The ice blocks, which were cut from the Grasse River, were then placed on a hand-operated moving belt, which carried them to the ice house on the river bank.

She said there are a number of items in that exhibit, including tongs that were used to grab the ice, ice augers, saws and photographs of ice harvesting operations.

In another part of the museum, where a display of Massena’s timeline is set up, Ms. Casselman said visitors will see more Massena winter items. “We’ve marked them with a little snowflake,” she said.

That exhibit includes more ice harvesting tools, maple sugaring buckets, taps for the trees and other items.

Ms. Casselman said visitors have been steady at the cultural centre and museum, which had its grand opening in November.

“I think we’ve had a lot more people than we had at the other place (on East Orvis Street),” she said.

The facility is named in honor of Dr. Philibert, a native of France who came to the north country to work at SUNY Potsdam and settled in Massena with attorney Randy Peets. After she lost her battle with cancer, Mr. Peets sought a way to honor the woman he had shared his life with, as well as her love of art and culture, and chose to fund the purchase of the former SeaComm building in her memory. He then donated the building to the town to use as a cultural center and the new home of the Massena Museum.

Its normal operating hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.