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Press-Repubtican-^Tuesday, August 14; t*84 3—— Free view This is the view from Route 9 looking southerly toward the Stardust Drive-in, which shows X-rated films. The drive-in owner has reportedly agreed to block the •view from the highway. Meanwhile, people are trespass- ing on the property north of the drive-in, property the owner is trying to sell. (PR staff photo by Dave Paczak) Town weighs legislation to control drive-ins By MONICA BARTOSZEK Staff Writer PLATTSBURGH - Town of Pittsburgh of- ficials are considering legislation to update the licensing of drive-ins. Meanwhile, the owner of the Stardust Drive-in, *hich features only X-rated films, has reported- ly agreed to block the view of the screen to Route 9 motorists. As of Monday, though, no work toward block- ing the view is visible. The issue was brought to light recently after a televised report. Despite numerous attempts, the owner of the drive-in, Lillian Henry of Boynton Avenue, could not be reached for comment and did not return several phone calls. Sadie Reynolds, who lives in the West Chazy area, owns the adjoining vacant property lot to the north of the Route 9 drive-in. That parcel of property is zoned for commercial buildings and is now for sale. At one time, the Reynolds family owned nearly all of the property in that area. The Reynolds farm included what is now the drive-in and the bowling lanes. Reynolds said that despite the no-trespassing sign, she knew people were venturing onto her property. It is evident by the tracks. However, she didn't know that drive-in employees were chasing out the trespassers who were sneaking a free glance at the screen. When that fact was brought to her attention by television reporter Jonathan Miles of WPTZ-TV, Reynolds said it was then she registered a com- plaint. She called the county sheriff to find out if any of his off-duty deputies, several of whom are employed by the drive-in, were on her property chasing people off. The only way to keep people off the lot is to put up a gate across the length of the property on Route 9. Reynolds said she is not about to do that. In the meantime, Reynolds says she would rather that drive-in employees did not go onto her property because someone \is liable to get hurt.\ But the issue.has caused the town of Platt- sburgh to take notice of the problem — a problem of which town officials had never been notified. Plattsburgh Town Supervisor Arthur LeFevre said the town is in the process of updating its licensing fees and now the town is investigating spelling out what drive-ins can and should do. The town has obtained a copy of the local law from Lancaster, N.Y., governing the licensing of drive-in theaters. The town is using the multi- page law as a model to draw up its own law Although it is the Stardust that brought the town to consider such a law, the town does have a second drive-in within its boundaries in the Super 87 Drive-in near the intersection of Route 22 and Interstate 87. LeFevre said that the current law \does not necessarily spell it out as thoroughly as it should.\ LeFevre said he contacted Henry, owner of the Stardust, and told her she should make every ef- fort to correct the problem, so the view of the screen is not visible from Route 9. According to LeFevre, Henry has agreed to do construction on the northside of the screen. Dealers in used cars see inequity in new lemon law ByKENKLEPPER ... Staff Writer PLATTSBURGH - A newly -igned lemon law intended to i rotect buyers of used cars in >>w York state will also hurt :''iem by driving used car prices W, That's the view of used-car dealers in the Plattsburgh area. \To some extent, this is going to decrease the (trade-in) value of high-mileage cars and will in- rease the (dealer's) selling , rice. The buyer will no longer be •ble to say. Ill buy it as is,' \ -aid Peter Allen, owner of Peter -Jlen Ford Inc. in Dannemora. Stan Bordeau, a co-owner of Dordeau Brothers Used Cars in Peru, said that jacking up the price on some of his cars seemed inevitable just to maintain a de- cent margin of profit. He said that on a 11,500 car he might have to raise the price several hundred dollars just to be safe. Major engine work, if re- quired, would cost almost as much as the car, he said. The law, which will take effect in November, was signed by Gov. Mario Cuomo Aug. 3 and is reportedly the first such law in the country. It will require dealers to provide 100 percent warranties, under certain condi- tions, that will protect buyers of defective cars. Cars with fewer than 36,000 miles must be guaranteed for 3,000 miles or two months, whichever comes first. Cars with more than 36,000 miles must be guaranteed for 1,000 miles or one month. Only people selling at-4east~~ ji three used cars a year must com- ply with the law and cars sold for under $1,500 are excempt. The four dealers interviewed agreed in the belief that most North Country dealers have gone out of their way to please customers, even without such a law. Because of the small size of North Country communities and the correspondingly small base of consumers, the used-car dealers depend on repeat business, according to them. But, they were also concerned that the law gives individuals, who are not restricted by the law, an unfair advantage when they bringjheir old cars to dealers for trade or when they sell privately. \The law always protects peo- ple against business, but not against individuals ... In- dividuals (when selling their us- ed cars) have nothing to regulate them. The dealer is (also) not protected. There are not many people who will tell (what's wrong with) a car when selling it to a dealer or trading it in,\ said Bryan Lapier, owner of Bryan Lapier Motors Inc. David Reeves, a co-owner of Autoworks, said that a dealer taking a car on trade has little choice but to accept the word of the person trading it in. He said there is a higher risk that used cars are more likely to have hid- den defects and flaws. That unreliability of the product may be the reason for the public's poor opinion of used car salespeople, he said. Cars at Autoworks are given the New York state inspection, but that cannot cover every possible pro- blem, according to him. Lapier said that some people have unrealistic expectations of what they will be getting for a us- ed car. \Some expect as much out of the dealer for a $1,000 car as for an $8,000 car,\ he said. Bordeau said he objects to the law and said it will only hurt the customer, because dealers will be forced to raise prices to cover the increased maintenance cost of the warranty. The law mandates that war- ranties must cover engine, brake, transmission, radiatoi, steering, drive axle and alter- nator problems. If the car cannot be repaired after three attempts by the dealer, or if the car is held for repairs for more than 15 days, the buyer is allowed a full refund or another car of equal value. /\Aan accused as rapist free on bail PLATTSBURGH - Edward C. Champagne Jr., 35, of Platt- sburgh is free on bail after his ar- rest Monday on a warrant charg- ing him with felony rape. According to state police, Champagne of 69 N. Catherine St. was arrested on a warrant Justice Roger Dashnaw. The warrant was issued on the complaint of a 16-year-old girl, iroopers said. Champagne, who ran for Platt- sburgh town supervisor last year and was defeated by incumbent Supervisor Arthur LeFevre by less fewer than 100 votes, ap- jeared before Dashnaw and was released on $1,000 bail. Edward C. Champagne Jr. He is scheduled to reappear Thursday for a felony hearing. Champagne also has a charge of driving while intoxicated pen- ding in City Court. ire damages bedroom CUMBERLAND HEAD — Fire everely damaged a bedroom in -he Dale Matott home at 10 ^eneca Drive in Champlain Park »n Monday afternoon. According to Cumberland 4ead Fire Chief Ronald Foster, ^e department was called about -55 p.m. He said firefighters jund qune a iot of flames in a •?ar bedroom of the home. Firemen *ere able to knock fie fire down within five rinut^s, Foster said, but smoke lad traveled throughout the -joi'se and. with the hot humid -en-the*, had to be removed with ejectors. There was also extentive water damage to the carpets throughout the house, he said, because Champlain Park homes are built on slabs which allow the water to run from room to room. He said the fire started near a dresser in the corner of the room, which belonged to one of the children. The room's door was closed and the fire apparently smoldered for some time before it broke into flames. That caused intense heat in the room, melting everything above chest level, he said. The cause of the fire has not been determined. There was no electrical outlet or appliance in the area where it started L Bf i Digit! Kim Holtyn, an anthropology major at Plattsburgh State, examines an unearthed artifact during a re- cent archeological expedition in Clayburg. Holtyn and five other students are participating in the ex- cavation of an iron ore mining community active dur- ing the mid 1800s. The metal posts in the foreground are parts of an abandonned triphammer platform us- ed in the refining of iron ore. (PR staff photo by Jack Downs) I here was aiso extentive water inearea wnereit started. t/uwna/ ?ogerSenecal improves, leaves ICU By MONICA BARTOSZEK a turn for the worse. Doctors put Little did the eld^r Senecai trying to nr By MONICA BARTOSZEK Staff Writer PLATTSBURGH - Liver- :rar>spiant recipient Roger Senegal, who was put back in the lospira! intensive-care unit on Fndav was released from the jr>: :r Monday, his condition im- -o-.*<\ I: -i<i just three weeks ago Mc-r.cay :ha: the 10-year-old -eceivec a i.ver transplant at Pit- •srnreh Cr.iidrer. s Hospital He j ^ee- wa?t.-«g for the right ' • - '-r '\•: T ary rr.or.lhs ~~>r* > af:er the operation. -*-.*a was re:eased from the ,rter.*:ve-care unit and was said • • t-+ doi-g Tiuch better z :* z- Fr.dav Aug. *0 he took a turn for the worse. Doctors put him back in intensive care and his condition was listed as serious. The youngster's father. Roger, said that a tap was put into his son's lung to drain off fluid that was gathering there. Senecal said that the boy was also suffering from shght liver rejection — part of the liver was not digesting food The condition was being treated through medication Earlier MUmday. Seneca! said be was hopeful that his son would be out of intensive care soon He *a>d doctors were trying to get his son back on his feet Littie did the eld^r Senecai know his hopes were being answered Later Monday, his wife Pat called from* Pittsburgh Children s Hospital She said that Roger wa« re:eased from mten sive care and ai! of the in- travenous tubes were removed My wife said she s hoping to be home soor» Seneca! said Monday night. \Tests are ?how--.g \\.e • young Roger :s ;~?rc\. :r.g :re faire- said. Mearwhr'.e. Sereca'- said he :> trying to keep the phor>e b:'.'^ down. He wants to get hac* to Pittsburgh to see r.;s >>r. and :s trying to make the trip next week But the trip costs $260 for airfare and $28.20 for cabfare from the airport to the hospital, and funds are short at this time for such an expense Pat Senecal is still staying m her son'sjtospztal room Senecal said that after Roger is released his wife and son will have to find housing in the area for another two to four weeks Seneca! said that doctor? con- sider a couple of months ;r, a h ospita 1 a short sta y The recoverirg bey is st*i'. a-:- ceptug cards at P-ttsburgr. Chi-dren $ Hospital. 125 Desoto St Pittsburgh Pa 15213 Town zoning board eyes sign variances BySUEBOTSFORD Staff Writer PLATTSBURGH - The issue of signs raised its head Monday night during the town of Platt- sburgh Zoning Board of Appeals meeting. Syracuse Supply of the Kastner Road, off Hammond Lane, re- quested a variance to erect a sign m excess of 50 square feet (the allowable footage in that district). Arthur Rock explained to the board the company, which recently moved out of the city for economic reasons, wanted to use the same sign it had had on the Trttf building. That sign is 88 square feet, including a second smaller sign. Rock said under the company's license with the state Depart- ment of Motor Vehicles the com- pnay's full name and the full name of its leasing business must be displayed. Rock further said that the way the part of the building that Syracuse Supply rents is situated, only a part of the sign can be seen for a very brief distance from Hammond Lane Dr. Robert Heins said the little sign cannot be seen from Ham- mond Lane. Syracuse's request was unamiousiy granted. Such was not the case with J.D. Hulbert, situated in the Akey Building on Route 9 north John Hulbert. representing the business, had had a sign painted on the side of the building with Frank Akey's permission That sign has a total square footage of 159 — that's 10* feet in excess of the 50 allowable Zoning Officer William Fiynn exptaifved to the board &at Hurlbert had not been taken to court for being in violation because it was the first time and the sign is painted on the building so it was not just a question of taking it down until the issue was settled. According to figures compiled by Flynn, there are five other signs on that property — Monaghan Medical Corp. has two signs totaling 98 square feet, the ARC has two signs totaling 53 square -feet and Print Pad has one sign of 42 square feet. Adding in the Hurlburt * sign, total signage on the property is 352 square feet. Hurlbert argued that his business is so far from the road that he needs a big sign to attract attention to it. Acting Chairman George Clif- ford pointed out that the zoning laws say 50 square feet, with the board of appeals being authoriz- ed to increase that to 250 square feet with a variance. But that's the limit, he said. Several board members er pressed the opinion the property owner should have been aware of the signage problem because he appears regularly on behalf of his leasees. Board member Gary Amell asked Flynn to make Akey aware of the problem and Flynr agreed. In the Hurlbert situation, a mo- tion was made and unamiousiy passed that 250 square feet of signage be allowed on that building and that Flvnn and Hurlberfwork that out with Akey and the others who lease the building. Flynn said lie had measured the Hurlbert sign and can see how it can be -modified to bring the square footage into line Board members indicated to Hurlbert that if signage on other businesses could be reduced his sign would not have to be made that much smaller. Man pleads to reduced charged in court PLATTSBURGH — A Plattsburgh man pleaded guilty in City Court on Monday to a reduced charge. Rene Prevoveau. M. of Lakeview Towers, who had been charg- ed with driving while intoxicated as a felony, was allowed, with the consent of the district attorney to piead guilty to a reduced charge of DWI as a misdemeanor He was fmed U50, assessed a S10 surcharge, his license was revoked for three years and he was placed on probation for three years Alderman in hospital in serious condition PLATTSBURGH — Ward 2 Alderman Peier Blumette the oddest member on the Common Council is in the CVPH Medical Center suffering frorr. a heart-reiated problem According to a hospital spokesman .ate Monday nigh;. Biuraette was iisted in senows but subie condition m the hospital s coronary care unit \
