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LAST WEEK'S WEATHER Hi Lo Tues. 34 16 Wed. 29 20 Thurs. 20 10 Pri. 18 -2 Sat. 22 6 ..„„,»„ Sun. 29 10 0.50snfcice Mon. 11 -2 o VOL. 136 NO. 51 A PARK NEWSPAPER COURIER & FREEMAN, (USPS135-460) POTSDAM, N.Y.-TUESDAY, MARCH 7,1989 28 PAGES Developer unveils shopping center plans. See story this week. , 35 CENTS Video Would Have Decided Controversial Hoops Game SKATING SHOW - Skaters of all sizes will be at Pine Street Arena this weekend for the Potsdam Figure Skating Club's annual ice show. Developer Unveils Plans For New Potsdam Mall BYTHOMPARDOE The Bella Vista Group, Inc., a Buffalo-based commercial development corporation will get Village of Potsdam water and sewer service for a shopping center the firm wants to build north of the village. At the Monday Village of Potsdam Board of Trustees meeting, the trustees approved a resolution to provide water and sewer service to the propsed 124,000 square foot shopping center under the condition that the village and Bella Vista complete a mutual •i»iinff^ftasra maps, runs behind the Sears building and the houses next to it on Route 56 and has roughly 1,000 feet of frontage on Route 56. The pro- perty also extends back all the way to the Racquette River. The shopping center itself, ac state to lay the water mains along Route 56, as well as bonding from the Department of Tranportation to cut into the highway. The shopping center will also have to get ap- proval for the project from the county planning board and the * «»^# t?*jlV£Sf ***£» VVI1VV1 ibQ^l&f a v -^vt+irnvj |/iuilllUlig WC4J. VI UllU Vlll> cording to Worstell, will be set back Town of Potsdam planning board about 1,000 feet. It will feature, he and zoning board of appeals. In other board business, the W-^SAMSS that Bella Vista is willing to pay to extend the necessary water and sewer mains the approx- imately 1,600 feet outside the village limits to the site of the shop- ping center and to maintain those lines until the village can annex the property as village property. According to Village Ad- ministrator Robert R. Burns, one of the usual requirements of pro- viding the village's water and said, two \anchor\ stores: one 60,000 square foot department store and a 40,000 square foot super- market. The two anchors have already been chosen, according to Worstell, but he would not say what stores they are. The remaining M,6M square feet wttl be uaed by approximately 10 smaller stores, IWU „• .A, . J H*th>' Jr'ntn/inrf' 'i\*ftiit*iiii ; |; *tnv ~ mopping center depends on whether or not the com- pany will get the village water and sewer service: \We can't do anything until we get the utilities,\ he told the board. The company has already looked at the possibilty of buying the Potsdam Plaza, he told the trustees, but the company that owns the plaza in which JCPenney and the P&C Grocery Store are located is difficult to deal with, he other board trustees approved a resolution to hold a public hearing issues concer- ning municipal parking on March 20 at 6:30 p.m. Some of the issues for discussion include changing one-hour parking meters to two hour* and the designation tlenal parking spaces. BY BETSY BAKER The controversial first quarter scorer's error that may have cost the Potsdam Sandstoners boys basketball team the state regional game against Beekmantown last Wednesday night could have been resolved by using the game videotape, according to a referee who officiated the game. But, according to Section 10 Coor- dinator James Michaelson, the use of video is prohibited by the Na- tional Federation of High School Athletic Associations' rule book — the rule book used by boys high school basketball teams in New York state. Richard Bennett, who with James Luckie officiated the Potsdam-Beekmantown game, said Michaelson told him and Luckie at halftime that the video could not be used. The error, which saw two points deducted from the Potsdam score and two points added to the Beekmantown score, resulted in a four-point swing that became the final margin of victory for the Plattsburgn-area team. The Stoners' loss knocked them out of further contention for a state title bid in the \B\ division, after a 22-1 season and a Section 10 overall championship. Bennett said Monday that the; er- ror \definitely would have been taken care of if we had had that op- tion (video).\ \There is no question in my mind that no matter whose video it was, it would have decided it,\ Bennett said. Michaelson said that while a video could be useful in determin- ing what had occurred, there might be questions over what constitutes an official video. \What is an official video?\ Michaelson asked. He suggested that in some situations, several videos taken from different angles might be needed to resolve ques- tions. Coach Steve Kmack immediately sore shown on,the said he was tora to r ,'jatdown «r risk a technical foul. account and a decrease in the library contingency account in the sum of $300 was approved by the board. Village Mayor Paul Claffey has been granted permission by the board to execute a lease on behalf of the village with Potsdam Parents' Nursery Inc., for the use of the basement area of the Civic Center from June 1,1989 to May 31, 1990, incorporating the same terms tt the rule book says. The great official would have looked at the video rather than allow this game to be decided by the careless mistake of an adult in- stead of by the players,\ Coach Kmack said. Michaelson said that the error may have been called to Coach Kmack's attention by someone else, but Kmack said he was \im- nett said, he and Luckie had to base their judgment to continue the game on the scorers' books. All three scorers' books — the Potsdam High book, the Beekman- town book and the official Section 10 book — showed the same wrong score, and the fourth scorer; the person in charge of the elec- tronically controlled Scoreboard, also had the wrong score posted. \We couldn't pinpoint it, we didn't have definite knowledge of what had transpired,\ Bennett said, adding that the rule book states there must be such \definite knowledge.\ Bennett said, \if there had been one scorer with a discrepancy, maybe something could have been done.\ Bennett said that despite the fact that radio and newspaper people in the press box were waving and pointing to the Scoreboard, that Stoners' Coach, Kmack was argu- ing the score, that fans in the stands were questioning the score, and that, at halftime, two other referees told him and Luckie that an error had been made, it was not possible to correct the error. He said the two officials had \too much responsibility for the 10 players on the floor to look at the Scoreboard,\ and that they can't be aware of fans or others in the gym. They had to go by the official scorebook, he said. \At the time, nothing could be done,\ he said. But, Bennett said he will pursue the matter of using video so that a similar problem won't occur again. \Jamie (Luckie) and I worked our rear ends off that night,\ he said. \We knew we did everything in our power, but we also knew it wasn't enough.\ \I'm going to follow up on it, write to the state committee, find out who the appropriate person to contact is. It's unfortunate that this hit Potsdam, but I hope to hell we can do something to keep it from happening to others. I think we owe it to thosfjkLtaL'' Bennett uld. Bet*OtlS<Jri»e would wege others — Michaelson, Coach * Kmack, former basketball coor- dinator Jerry Hourihan, members of the media — to seek approval for use of videos. Bennett said he has great respect for Coach Kmack and the Potsdam of fairness to the kids. They get the short end of the stick.\ Could Have Protested? Michaelson agreed that a mistake was made, but said that \nothing can be done about it.\ He said that for the tournament, individual schools could choose their own scorekeepers. Potsdam, for example, used a student scorekeeper. Section 10, however, had an of- ficial scorekeeper, an adult, at the game. Michaelson said he has sug- gested, and will suggest again, that schools use adult, rather than stu- dent scorekeepers. And Michaelson said that he will bring up the matter of using videos at the state basketball committee meeting later this week. He said that subject has been discussed before at the state level. Michaelson also said that Coack Kmack could have protested the game in the first quarter-by stating he was playing under protest, and signing the scorer's book, thus trig- gering an Immediate appeal. Kmack said, however, that ac- cording to the rule book, \there was supposed to be a protest com- mittee assembled\ at the tourna- ment, but there was no committee. \Who was I supposed to protest to? \he asked. Coach Kmack said he believes \Section 10 people showed a lack of support for their representative in the state tournament.\ \If there was to be a protest, why didn't Michaelson come to the scorers' table, grab me and say 'Let's protest this.'?\ Kmack ask- ed. Kmack also said Michaelson was unsure of the video rule. Michaelson told him last Thursday that video couldn't be used, and on Friday told him it could be used, Kmack said. Kmack said the official scorekeeper, not the student scorekeeper, should bear the lty fr tbetrror. \It's unbelievable and in- conceivable that three officials (a third referee was on standby at the scorers' table in case of injury or il- lness to the two on the floor) and an adult scorekeeper who was the of- ficial scorekeeper were not aware vicuna wie villages water ana wuaieu is uuucuu w aeai wiui, ne isnw, uicuruuraung me same terms WBI ™» •>»»\> \\Y* \»• •••• sewer services outside the village said. Worstell said the ideal situa- and conditions as contained in the mediately aware of the error and is the eventual annexation of that \\\ * \\ \*' ' \ *\\ \ —-^««»*»i »«* *« ••*.». =«>~™ 1 property. The village, however, can only annex property that is contiguous or directly adjacent to the village limits. According to Worstell, Bella Vista holds an option on 75 acres of land Just north of the village, adja- cent to the Potsdam Plaza. The parcel of land, according to his 8 Seeking Norwood Posts tion for Bella Vista would actually be to buy the Potsdam Plaza. \We would prefer to do that,\ he said. There was a positive feeling among board members about the proposed shopping center. When Worstell told the trustees that Bella Vista was willing to have the pro With the agreement from the village on the water and sewer ex- tension, Bella Vista must now get easements from the town and the current lease with the nursery. The trustees authorized the transfer of $1,100 from the general fund contingency to the part time wages fund to cover the cost for March and April for part-time help in rewiring the Civic Center. The trustees also approved the transfer of $3,500 from the general self-contained air compressor for airpacks. The receipt of the grant money was reported at the Feb. 6 board meeting. should immediately went to the scorers' table.\ Video Would Have Showed Error Bennett, who viewed the game video last weekend, said that in this case, the video showed both the scoring that should have been situation, but it could help in the In the absence of the video, Ben- future,\ Snell said. \It's a matter program. \The way his kids ? f *? ^correct score when people behave, it's a pleasure to be on the k«je stand S iu» E!i r 0| floor with them,\ he said. \I just were aware of it, \Kmack said, enjoy being around those Potsdam „„, ,., , , ... people \ lts ridiculous in a state tourna- Potsdam Superintendent of ment <° ?*«* £ he blame on a 17- Schools Gary Snell said Tuesday year-old Icid who was not the of- that the use of videos should be fl«alscorekeeper,\hesaid allowed. \I do intend to have my ,. It , 6 hard to envision i n tnis age of technology. We're not two hillbil- teams in the 1860s keeping score the mud, we had all the 'In this juncture:''any video ^SXe 0 .^ ° f MaxCy Hal1 would have sufficed,\ he said. avauaDie. Snell said he is also concerned nf th p f nilpnn i n * cwina that the third official at the scorers' ~ Of . he ' OU F-P.°? nt swln 8> Bush To Speak In North NORWOOD — Norwood voters will go to the polls March 21 to pick a new mayor and two new village trustees and also to decide on a pro- position to purchase a new fire truck. Democratic candidates are: Rupert Palmer, mayor; Patricia Gilbert and incumbent Richard Boprey for trustees. The Republican candidates are: incum- bent trustee Mark Tebo for mayor; and Roderick Cota and incumbent John Murray for trustee. There are also two independent candidates: Willard Smith is vying for mayor and Joseph Bregg, Jr., for trustee. According to Tebo and Palmer, each party's candidates are runn- ing on unified platforms. Palmer said that the Democrats haven't yet come up with a full platform, but that one of their main issues will be getting a village recycling program off the ground in Norwood. Tebo said the Republican plat- form deals mainly with improving Norwood's image outside of the village and emphasizing Nor- wood's positive aspects. Independent candidate Smith's platform covers a wide range of issues including lower taxes, un- proved public works and better Ieaderhslp on the part of the village board. The proposition before the voters will be to consider approving a measure to finance a new pumper fire truck, with the cost not to ex- ceed $90,000. CANTON - What do you do when you can't seem to arrange a visit by U.S. President George Bush to the far reaches of New York state and St. Lawrence County? visit and address local politicians. That is exactly what the St. Lawrence Republican County Com- mittee is doing next month as they host Jonathan Bush, brother of President Bush to speak at a GOP fundraiser. lege Fund, and the Emmanuel Church. He is a former board member of Inwood House (the home for unwed «r v i i ,« - ^, .. mothers), the Eye Bank for Sight How about inviting his brother to Restoration, the Yale Alumni Fund sit and address local nnlitif inns an( i the Boy's Club of New York. Since 1983, Bush has served as Finance Chairman of the New York Republican State Committee. He is the fourth of five children of the late Senator Prescott Bush of Connecticut, and graduated from St. Lawrence Republican County Yale University in 1953, where he Chairman John R. Feeley announc- won three varsity letters and was a ed today that the 'other' Bush \will member of the Yale Glee Club and be the guest speaker at a'Salute To \ ~ Victory' Fund Raising Dinner scheduled for Thursday April 27 at Chaney Dining Center, State University of NeW York College of Technology at Canton. \I am honored that Jonathan Bush has graciously accepted our invitation to be the guest speaker at our Annual Dinner,\ said Feeley. \His presence in the North Country to join in with others honoring his brother reflects the President's deep commitment to rural America,\ he added. Tickets for the dinner, which' the Whiffenpoofs. Following graduation, he served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Bush spent the next four and a half years in professional theatre appearing in some 20 productions on the stage and on television. He is a former member of two actors' unions — Actors Equity Assoc. and AFTRA. ., go for County , begins promptly at 8 p.m. $50 each. Call the County Republican Office for details at 764- 1023. In 1979 and 1980, Jonathan Bush served as co-chairman of the Na- tional Finance Committee' of George Bush for President. During the 1988 presidential race, he cam- paigned in 22 states, setting up committees, organizing fund rais- ing events, and making public ap- pearances on behalf of his brother. Bush has been active in the in- vestment field since 1960. He found- ed J. Bush and Co., a New York in- vestment management business in 1970 and serves as its Chief Ex- ecutive Officer. He also serves as a director of Russell Reynolds Associates, the United Negro Col- becomes critical. It changed whole complexion of the game.\ \In the fourth quarter, instead of a one-point lead and 30 seconds to play, we would have had a five- point lead with 30 seconds to play,\ Coach Kmack said. \Don't you think we would have done some things differently?\ Coach Kmack said he doesn't want what happened on Wednesday to take away from what the team accomplished during the season. \The kids have had a great year, twenty-two and one going into that game. I'm very proud of what they accomplished, and I want them to put this behind them, not let it be a cloud hanging over their heads. They have to realize it's not something they could have con- trolled.\ Kmack said he has talked to both referees. \They are not only fine officials, they are fine people — they feel as bad as our players do,\ he said. Joint Meeting Set There will be a meeting of the joint Town and Village of Potsdam/Village of Norwood Com- mittee at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Tues- day) in the town offices, 35 Market St. A representative from AT&T wi give a presentation on a joint p] system. * JONATHAN BUSH GIFT TO SQUAD — John Bantow, left, presents a cheek for $1,000 from the Potadam Netr Car Dealers Association to Potsdam Volunteer Rescue Squad President George Kahn. The check is part of a larger donation that will fo toward the purchase of a new vehicle. (Betsy Baker photo) In The Courie •Arts Page 7-9 DChurch Page 12 • Classifieds Page 24-27 DEdltorials Page4 DEvents Page 2,3,5 DLetters Page4 • Local News .... Pages 1,5,15 DObituarles Page 12 •Sports Pages 19-23 •Weddings PageB \ 1 i M i
