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PRES5RfcP»A PLATTSBURGH.N.Y. B PAGE A-3 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5,1995 Fire razes storage on Route 22 ByMARKHOLLMER Staff Writer - Fire ped through a storage barn ,Qff\Route 22 Saturday after- noon, burning most of the stfiicture to the ground. iSIore than 15 fire depart- ments were either called to fi'gM the fire or stand by if jS^d je,S^ '•'•'JStjpi one was injured in the blaze, said District 3 Fire Chief Charles Rivers. The fire's cause seemed to be elec- irifral, he said. • Rivers valued the contents of the building at up to $50,000, including a number of washers and dryers. He said the building's owner lives in Montreal, though he was un- i .sure of his name. The building was used as storage space for a number of tenants, including a cardboard recycling business, Rivers said.\ Another tenant was Platt- sburgh resident Jake Sher- man, who watched the barn burn. He said he had stored more than $15,000 worth of motorcycles in the building, as well as furniture and carpeting. The building, behind Snip- pers Hair Salon and Lawson Office Products, was : spewing thick, sppty smoke around 4 p.m. Within 20 minutes, the rear portion of the bam and its roof fell in, leaving jagged, charred pieces of wall stan- ding. The remainder of the roof soon followed, as firefighters tried to soak the front portion of the building to. keep the blaze from spreading to a side shed storing more than $30,000 worth of copiers. Rivers said the shed was sav- ed. Alongside the building, bales of folded cardboard boxes were either smoldering or burning. The smoke could be easily seen from the Cadyville ex- pressway. Fire Departments respond- ed or were on stand-by from: District 3, MorrisonviUe, Beekmantown, Rescue Hose 5, Clinton County Car 7, West Chazy, Cumberland Head, Cadyville, Peru, Chazy, Dan- nemora, South Plattsburgh, Keeseville, Saranac and Altona. Leadership Conference speaker calls for self-respect By JEFF MEYERS Staff Writer OF INTEREST . PLATTSBURGH - We all have leadership qualities; we just have to find the courage and desire to use them. That's one of several messages delivered by attorney Keith Boykin during a presentation for the Student Association Lead- ership Conference being held at SUNY Plattsburgh this weekend. Boykin, the executive director for the National Black, Gay and; Lesbian Leadership Forum and a former political consultant for, Bill Clinton, gave a spirited pre- sentation Friday night, telling! the 100 or so people on hand that they have the power to \make a difference.\ \Leadership is not about stan- ding up and being a leader of groups,\ he said, paraphrasing an idea introduced by Martin Luther King nearly three de- cades ago. \Leadership is about service; it's\ about what you do for your community. \Few of us will have the power to.move oceans,\ he added. \But each time we stand up we create ripples, and when thousands stand up, those ripples will create great waves.\ Finding self-confidence But to stand up for what we believe in, we first of all have to believe in ourselves, said Boykin, who is openly gay. We have to itaff'Phbtb/Jeff Meyers Keith Boykin look inside ourselves and find the leadership qualities that may lie hidden deep within the heart. To illustrate the concept of self-confidence and self-worth, Boykin described his organiza- tion's efforts, to participate in the recently held Million Man March in Washington, D.C. \The questions ,we heard day in and day out was did we want to associate with an event whose leader (Louis Farrakhan) is so outwardly bigoted,\ he said. \But we formed our own group and made ourselves welcome.\ Members from Boykin's group did march in Washington, and their cries of \We're black, we're gay, we wouldn't want it any other way,\ literally \parted the sea of black men,\ Boykin said. \We learned that when we have the courage to be proud of ourselves, the community will respect us more,\ he added. \As a leader, you have to assert your role; expect to be welcomed, ex- pect to be respected, or you won't be.\ Developing courage One of Boykin's most difficult responsibilities he has had as an adult was as a law student at Harvard University when he decided it was time to call his mother and tell her he was gay. It was one of the most \heart- wrenching\ experiences he's fac- ed, he said. \But my mother responded favorably, in part because I had spoken to her with confidence. The lesson I learned was a lesson of empowerment, a lesson that I should not be ashamed of myself if I expect others not to be ashamed of me. \Many of you have that same power, that same ability, that same courage. Look inside yourself and find that courage. Lead by example.\ Courage was vital for Boykin when he was faced with an im- portant .career decision after graduating from Harvard Law School. The young attorney had an opportunity to earn $60,000 annually practicing law. But he decided to join the election cam- paign of former Arkansas Gov- ernor Bill Clinton. A year later, he became a special assistant to the president. Knowing yourself \I've followed my heart,\ he said. \That is one of the principal demands of leadership. You've got to do what you think is right for you.\ Boykin highlighted several other qualities he believes are essential to good leadership. First and foremost, you have to recognize and then exercise your power. He asked the students in attendance how many believed they had power, and only a hand- ful raised their hands. He told them they should all feel for the power they do have. Leaders must welcome failure, he added. They cannot be afraid to fail but must be able to turn that failure into positive action. Finally, leaders must be dreamers, must challenge themselves to come up with goals and ambitions that will lead to changes in their lives and in the lives around them. Boykin, who has left the Clin- ton administration to write a book about being black and gay in America, was at SUNY Platt- sburgh as part of the President's Series of Lecturers. GED exams being offered at high school PLATTSBURGH - On Nov. 17 and 18, Plattsburgh Senior High School will be offering the GED high-school equivalency examination. The test will be given Friday from 3 to 9 p.m. and Saturday at 8 a.m. The last test of 1995 will be given on Dec. 15 and 16. Preparation classes are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Stafford Middle School and Mondays and Thursdays from 6:15 to 9:15 p.m. at the Keeseville Civic Center. All are welcome. Courses offered at Stafford Middle School are English as a second language, high-school equivalency and adult basic education. Stu- dents from all classes will be instructed in the use of computers. Courses at the Keeseville Civic Center include adult basic educa- tion and high school equivalency preparation. The classes are free of charge. For further information, call Bob Scoski or Karen Breyette at 563- 0110. No city garbage collection Nov. 10 PLATTSBURGH — There will be no garbage collection by the City pubjip Works Department Friday, Nov. 10. That day's collection will be done Thursday, Nov. 9, instead. The coHiecTionsTfbrthetest of the week-^wilUbllow the-Tegular schedule, Housing Authority commissioners to meet PLATTSBURGH — The Plattsburgh Housing Authority Board of Commissioners November meeting will be held Monday, Nov. 13, at noon instead of the regular 1 p.m. time at the Robert S. Long Com- munity Room at 39 Oak St. Right to Life holding annual banquet PLATTSBURGH - Champlain Valley Right to Life will hold its 6th-annual banquet on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. A buffet dinner will be served at the Royal Savage Inn, Lake Shore Road, Plattsburgh. Donation is $15. Phone Bart Gaffney for reserva- tions. Food package available to all PLATTSBURGH — Registration for the November Food Coopera- tive will be accepted through Monday, Nov. 13. Registration is accepted at all JCEO Community Outreach Centers and the main office at 54 Margaret St. The package cost is $13.75 payable in food stamps or cash. There are no income guidelines or limitations on the number of packages sold. The November package will be: cranberry sauce, egg noodles, gravy, canned corn, stuffing mix, green beans, pumpkin mix, roaster chicken; bulk sausage, broccoli, celery, onions and potatoes. Additions or substitutions may occur. A bonus non-food item will be included. SUNY Plattsburgh calendar different next year PLATTSBURGH — For several years now the fall semester classes at SUNY Plattsburgh have started the week before Labor Day. How- ever, next year's academic calendar will begin one week later and end a week later in May 1997. Dr. Thomas Moran, vice president for academic affairs, says the change in the calendar will allow the college to begin classes the day immediately following Labor Day. Classes will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1996, following registration on Labor Day. \In 1996, Labor Day is early enough in September that we can start classes after that date and end before the holidays,\ stated Moran. \That won't always be the case, but for the next two or three years we will be able to accommodate the change.\ Winter commencement will be held Dec. 20 in 1996, as compared to Dec. 15 this year. The spring semester will start on Jan. 22, 1997, and end with commencement on May 17, 1997. Bedford bazaar Photo/Gareth Plumadore Browsers enjoy finding just the right thing at the Third-Annual Craft Bazaar held Saturday at Assumption of Mary School in Redford. Dannemora budget pinches Chateaugay Water District By SUE BOTSFORD Staff Writer DANNEMORA — Taxpayers in the Town of Dannemora living in the Chateaugay Water District will'•' see a hefty jump in taxes while the rest of the town won't notice much change under the proposed budget. The jump from $1.93 per $1,000 of assessed value to $2.69 is attributable to the district having to pay back legal fees. This should be a one-time hike and the rate should drop in 1997. The highway-budget tax rate went down from $6.65 to $6.36. That was because there is a fund balance that will be carried over to 1996. Taxes to support the general fund increased one cent to $5.46. The tax rates for the Lyon Moun- tain Lighting District ($4.09), Lyon Mountain Fire Protection ($1.01) and Lyon Mountain Fire Company ($1.15) remain the same. Dannemora Fire Protec- tion went from $2.04 to $2.27. The town clerk will receive a $1,200 raise in 1996 while the highway workers and the secre- tary to the supervisor will get 4- percent raises. A person with a home assessed at $40,000 will pay $472.80 in general and highway taxes under the proposed budget. That same person living in the Chateaugay Water District will see taxes go from $550 in 1995 to $580.40 under the proposed budget for general, highway and water district. The public hearing on the budget is scheduled for Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. Hearings on the fire con- tracts will be held at 6:40 and 6:50 p.m. SUNY Plattsburgh adopts new evaluation process for academic staff PLATTSBURGH — A new evaluation procedure for appointment and performance review of the academic staff at SUNY Platt- sburgh was agreed upon recently. The agreement between college officials and the local chapter of the United Universi- ty Professions ensures that all employees will abide by a standardized procedure for faculty appointments and promotion. The agreement establishes a review pro- cess for reappointment, continuing appoint- ment and promotion. It outlines the composi- CLEANUP Continued from Page A-l tion of peer review groups or organizational units, procedures for access to review files and specific timelines to be followed. In addition, the process is outlined for promotion of faculty to the rank of professor and librarian and distinguished professor or distinguished librarian. The agreement requires all participants to submit written reasons for personnel rec- ommendations. It also allows those being reviewed to res- pond in writing to the recommendations at each level of review and the opportunity to make improvements yi areas suggested. The document calls for election of qualified members to the peer review groups. All group members must hold continuing ap- pointment at the academic rank of associate professor/associate librarian or higher. Ballots will be available shortly in the of- fices of academic affairs, deans offices and from UUP. V fit Tell us about your business The Press-Republican staff is hard at work preparing its an- nual Progress edition, an inventory of economic progress made during the past year in the North Country and a look ahead to 1996. We encourage participation from business owners in Clin- ton, Essex and Franklin counties. If you have achieved mile- stones, introduced changes, added new product lines or services, or attained any other noteworthy goal that might be of interest to our readers, send us the information and we will include it in the Progress edition. Please follow the following format: Business name: Owners name(s): Location of business: How, long in business: Product or services offered: In 100 words or less, toll us what you have accomplished during the past year: • Send the information, to Bruce,Rowland, business editor, in of the Press-Republican, P.O. Box 459, Plattsburgh, N.Y., i 22 of 40 sites cleaned . Originally, 40 sites were listed for cleanup on the base, in- cluding old landfills, hazardous chemical spills and lead-con- taminated firing ranges. So far, 22 have been com- pleted, and workers are now diving into the others. \You're going to see a lot of ac- tivity over the next three years,\ Sorel said. \By the year 2000, we should only be concentrating on long-term maintenance, making sure our pumps are operating and samples are being taken.\ Land-exchange restrictions The Air Force cannot turn over any land to the local community where cleanup efforts have not begun. However, if the cleanup is started, and the work seems to be effective in removing the en- vironmental danger, the Air Force can sign the property over before the cleanup is finished. Underground gas plume For instance, a big plume of gasoline-tainted groundwater is now sitting underneath the flightline and a large portion of the proposed industri- al-development area on the New Base. The plume stretches about 1 Vi miles from where it originated on the far side of the flightline. \We'll be involved in installing sentry wells on the perimeter of the plume to find out if the plume reaches certain areas,\ Sorel said. \We'll also be doing some very extensive computer modeling to determine what's going on. Is it moving or staying where it is? Is it collapsing? Nature tends to take care of a lot of things on its own.\ After the research gives engineers a better picture of what the plume is doing, a plan will be developed to remediate the problem. The plume is at a site where Air Force firefighters practiced putting out fires from 1970 to 1989. Airmen would place fuel on the ground, ignite it and then ex- tinguish the flames. Spills Hazardous spills at two other sites will also be cleaned over the next few months. Workers will use a machine that pumps air into . the ground, forcing toxic vapors from the ground. The vapors will then be treated and the chemicals removed. Engineers recently completed a project at the former gas sta- tion on base. Tanks at the station had apparently leaked a few years ago, and workers have just removed the contaminated soil. Another spill near the central heating plant has also been removed. Police want firing range Engineers are also searching for lead levels on the base's new firing range. A few years ago, lead was removed from an older firing range, but officials aren't sure what they're going to do with the newer site. New York State Police has ex- pressed interest in using the site as a firing range, and an exten- sive cleanup would remove ear- then berms needed for the range. The Air Force will discuss the site's future with State Police, Sorel said. , Cleanup Cleanup activities have been conducted on base since 1984, with more than $29 million going toward environmental improve- ments. In fiscal 1996, the Air Force plans to funnel another $5.9 million into cleanup.
