Fact Finder vol 1, no. 24, June 25, 2011

THE PORT HENRY FACT FINDER

Reporting the News and Needs of Port Henry and Vicinity

vol. 1, issue #24 June 25, 2011

ANNOUNCMENT: "Port Henry, Home of the Arch" "T" shirts are HERE!

They are WONDERFUL! thanks to artist Linda Smyth! and they are only $10.00! They may be bought at Sagan's, Adirondack Hair Associates, the Town Hall, the Port Henry's Farmers' Market (Boni's Bistro's parking lot, Wed. 10-2) and Linda Smyth.

KUDOS

Linda Smyth has been artistically exceptionally busy recently. Not only did she create the design for the Arch "T" shirts and see it through to the finished product; just this week she installed her lovely mural creation, representing different aspects of our area, in the big window of the StarTrek building, aka, the old Wheelock's Garage. Another sign of welcome and caring from Port Henry to those visiting or just passing through. The projected banners for Moriah and Port Henry may have to be put on hold until next year, but Linda's beautiful design is ready and waiting.

Another wonderful addition to Port Henry's appearance and welcome to visitors: flower boxes filled with flowers on both bridges entering/exiting Port Henry, north and south. Our thanks go to Louise Belden and Bernadette Trow, who chose the various flowers to be planted; the mayor and his wife Debbie, who picked them up and planted them in the boxes; to Jack Sheldon who installed the brackets (without which there would be no place on which to place the bridge flower boxes) and to those wielding the watering cans all summer. An excellent example of big results from combining smaller efforts from each of a group.

Kudos and "Thank you" to Mac's for not only considering but acting on our letter of stated need and request for some space to place flyers and The Port Henry Fact Finder. There is a lovely new bulletin board for this use at the beginning of the produce aisle. To put our 'thanks' into actions and free space for others' use, remove out-dated event and business flyers. Please note the permanent installation of an Adirondack Weaver's mail basket to hold the Port Henry Fact Finder. It is FREE, please take one. Again, a "Thank you" to Mac's.

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SHOWCASED BUSINESS

TFCU, a little four syllable acronym for Ticonderoga Federal Credit Union's rather cumbersome thirteen syllables, is much easier to deal with on a day-to-day basis. It even gave their PR department a chance to be very clever with a new internet address: www,tfcunow,com. I finally caught on after a second or so of muttering to myself "tfcu-now?"

TFCU came to Port Henry in 2007, as the new branch of an established tree and a very welcome addition to the Port Henry scene. The attractive one-story building, solidly built of red brick, announces their intent to stay, bringing a history of trust with them. Not only is the building itself to be admired but the whole site, with its thoughtfully chosen plantings of trees, bushes and flowers. and plenty of parking space. Inside there is a casual comfort with smiling tellers and knowledgeable officers who calmly listen for as long as you feel a need to talk and answer as many questions as you wish to ask. This pleasant atmosphere can be attributed in great part to Marcy Eichen, the manager, who is one of those rare fortunate people doing exactly what they always wanted do as a career. That she is happy in her work becomes obvious when you talk with her. She began her life with TFCU September, 2002 in Ticonderoga's Loan Department; after several years she transferred to Port Henry in 2009.

When I asked her to explain the differences between a Credit Union and a Bank, she said that, basically they perform the same services but as the reasons for establishing a Credit Union stemmed from a need rather than just a desire to form a business, the beginning reasons were different so the development has been different and therefore they operate differently. The history of the Ticonderoga Federal Credit Union, originally chartered and operated as the Ticonderoga IPCO (International Paper Company)Federal Credit Union is such a part of the why of the what it has become that it seems important to include some of this history. In the early 1950's, banks were not really interested in consumer lending. The common belief that 'you had to prove you didn't need the money' in order to get a bank loan was a fact of life for the average worker at the International Paper Company's Ticonderoga Mill. Often the only access to borrowing money would be a high interest rate loan at the local finance company. Mill workers decided to investigate the concept of financial cooperatives called credit unions. They discovered that a credit union was a not-for-profit financial institution owned by the members and operated for their mutual benefit. In November, 1953, Paul Hayes, President of the mill workers' Local No. 5, began a process which ended with the first official step toward organizing a credit union for the mill workers. When nine employees each invested $5.00 for one share plus $25.00 toward membership, they had a working capital of $47.25. A cashier's check in the amount of $25.00, to cover the expense of investigation and charter fee, along with the organization certificate, was sent to the US Treasury Department, leaving a capital fund balance of $22.25. The certificate was approved February 1954 and the IPCO Federal Credit Union became a reality. A newly elected Board of Directors established a loan limit of $100.00 to be repaid at $2.00 per week and a dividend rate of 3% was declared on savings for 1954.

The name was changed to the Ticonderoga Federal Credit Union in the early 1970's when the charter was amended to include others than just employees of the paper mill and their families. Now, you may become a part of the Credit Union if: "you live, work, worship, attend school or, or a business or legal entity located in Essex or Washington Co.s or the Towns of Hague, Horicon or Chester." You may still become a member for only $5.00 and besides receiving a bit more interest and paying a bit less on certain services, there is this members' PARTY! TFCU must hold a annual meeting which is held at EMA's reception area, so, there is this PARTY for all Credit Union members with an entry fee of only $5.00 (it seems those original members set a fine example which is still celebrated). Recently the parties have had a theme and there is a $1000.00 distributed in prizes of either $50.00 or $100.00. True to the idea of one-for-all-and-all-for-one, no one person gets it all, it is shared out.

NOTES FROM THE BOARD

Fact Finder has attended Village Board meetings for a very long while and has not only decried, but not really understood, the lack of attendance by other Villagers. There has been only a small increase in regular attendees, so the seats-at-a-premium number of people at the June 13th meeting was a real surprise, until who they were became apparent. Several longtime seasonal campers (some from a distance) had come in person to discuss the probable opening date for the Port Henry Campgrounds, how the problems created by lake flooding were going to affect them personally and possible solutions to any remaining problems. After much give-and-take between the campers and the Board, concessions were made on both sides and agreements arrived at that sent the campers home satisfied and looking forward to their slightly adjusted vacation to begin on the July 1st expected new opening date.

The Fire Department responded to 15 calls in April and 10 in May, of which 14 were flood related. In fact, the flood is not truly over for the Fire Department until they receive no more calls for a basement pump-out and know that every possible source of aid has been directed to every flood victim. This underlines the need for continued training, in all areas of rescue; although, when not in use, it may seem excessive to an outside observer. Particularly relevant to our recent experiences, was the participation of six PHFD members in Water Rescue Training with the US Coast Guard and the State of Vermont on June 9th at the Basin Harbor Club and the OSHA Boat Safety/Water Rescue training, also scheduled June. This is not a case of closing-the-barn-door... but putting into practice the fact that you can never practice too much and no matter how much you know about a subject, you can always discover something new to add to your data bank.

The Community Development Block Grant Application was submitted to the New York State Office of Community Renewal. The application will be on file in the Village office for the public to view during regular office hours. The grant awards should be announced around Labor Day.

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JACKIE'S GARDENING NOTES

A healthy flower garden should not only be healthy it should look healthy. Wilting and dead blossoms detract from the appearance of a plant and they are harmful in that they draw nourishment from the plant. The solution to this problem is deadheading, removing the dead flower heads from the plant.

Daffodils, tulips and hyacinths should have the flower stalk cut after flowering has finished, but do not cut the leaves. Leaves nourish the bulb for next year's flowers; they should be left to die naturally, then they may be removed. Until then, you can roll them up and secure them with a rubber band, which presents a neat appearance while they are dieing naturally, or you can just cover up the process with hostas or other perennials

Iris, both bearded and Siberian, besides being deadheaded, should also have the flower stalk cut, when its job is done, and retain the leaves.

Marigolds, geraniums, petunias, pansies and some zinnias will re-bloom throughout the summer if you cut off the dead flowers near the stem or where you see new buds forming.

Roses do best if, after the flowers die, you cut the stem just above where five leaves are growing. Rugosa roses don't need to be cut as vigorously as tea and hybrid roses and will form rose hips if dead flowers are left on the plant.

JANUS NOTES

As all of Port Henry knows and as of June 28th Sagan's will be officially closed. It will be a very sad day for the village. To say more seems extraneous, for to try and sum up the relationship of years between villagers and Jack Woods' Sagan's is impossible and to do less seems to minimize the impact on the village of this closing. Fortunately, we are not losing Jack himself and will be seeing him around doing all the many other activities with which he kept himself extremely busy. Good Luck, Jack! From all of us.

Thursday, July 7 at 6 pm Bob White will discuss his newest book, "Hot Bed in Tranquility", at the Sherman Free Library. This is the explosive story of what happens when Big Oil tries to drill for natural gas in a Northeastern shale-field, and is burned by a feisty politician and her old flame. Come meet Bob and explore this current topic.

The Port Henry Fire Department held its 137th Annual Firemen's Banquet on June 11th at King's Inn and won Oldest Motorized Apparatus in the Crown Point Memorial Day Parade. Also, on May 12th the Fire Department accepted and endorsed William R. Blood into its membership and on June 13th the Board approved this membership by resolution.

It was hard to decide under which heading to place this report on the Lake Champlain Bible Fellowship's Community Block Party, as no one who attended would question if it had appeared under KUDOS. It was everything its advanced flyer promised and then some. There was a huge bouncing arena where gladiators jousted, there were other completive games and balloon creations and face paintings, prizes and gifts. And there was FOOD! It was biblical in the number of people fed and the food was as tasty as it was plentiful. The flyer had assured us, it was "not a fund raiser" it was "a FUN raiser!!" and truly it was "FUN" and it was truly for the community who showed up in droves, outnumbering the host members by at least 60%. The fate of this wonderful Block Party had seemed very questionable the morning of the 23rd, it was not just cloudy or even an acceptable drizzle. it was pouring rain, and it kept on pouring for much of the day, then when it needed to stop for the Block Party, it did just that. It does make one wonder, this being a church Block Party.

Church members, particularly Pauline Cheney, Jackie Cornelius and Arielle Brassard became the hunter-gatherers, hunting down hamburgers, hot dogs, buns, drinks, potato chips and any other free comestibles businesses would give them and gathering up money to pay for the jousting arena. The following businesses are to be heartily thanked for all the "glorious food": Boyea's Lakeside, Stewart's, Mac's Market, Walmart's, and Lowe's contributed an ice chest. The jousting arena was made possible by: Decker's Flats Greenhouse, Port Henry Mobil, Leroy's Service and Towing, the Fashion Corner, Celotti's Wines and Spirits, Sagan's, Geroge's Pizza, Golden Palace Chinese Restaurant, Back to Health Chiropractic, Walt's Propane, FMB Tackle, Boni's Bistro, Hyatt's Barber Shop, Adirondack Hair Associates, Mineville Oil, Port Henry Service Station, Harland's Funeral Home, Moriah Martial Arts Academy, Bill Potskowski's Law Office, and Bryant's Lumber. This is just another fine example of what can be accomplished by many separate smaller efforts working toward one goal..

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ONE of LAKE CHAMPLAIN'S GREATEST VIEWS!
Hidden! --- behind the old Witherbee Mansion
by Frank Martin
Long-time residents of Port Henry remember a time when the trappings of its wealth were everywhere...in the downtown bandstand at the junction of Broad and Main Streets, in the old theater where the village hall now stands, and at the center of it all—the majestic Second-Empire style mansion built Frank S. Witherbee in 1872. With a clear view of the lake and Crown Point, Witherbee's home, known as "Ledgeside" was one of the grandest houses in the region.

In the mid 1960s, long after the Witherbees had sold the house, a grocery store (now Mac's) was built on the Main Street side of Ledgeside. Although we are fortunate to have this store, it's wonderful to imagine having again the formal, gated garden that had been there for almost 100 years. At the Sherman Free Library there are post card albums available that offer glimpses of this beautiful shaded space and its wrought iron fences.

On the lake side of Witherbee's mansion, just next to Saint Patrick's church, the grounds were more informal with grass that swept off to the crest of the bluff. Old photos show a multi-tiered iron fountain set on axis with the entry to the house. Although the fountain is now gone, Witherbee's lakeside view is still there and open to the public today. With picnic tables and shade trees, there is a full panoramic view of the new bridge under construction and the Green Mountains in Vermont. Looking north, one can see Port Henry's pier.

Few towns can boast such an elevated park and such a grand vista. It would be nice if we could find a way to place some comfortable Adirondack chairs or benches with backs and armrests around the lawn, perhaps to recall the elegant lawn parties that must have happened here when Ledgeside was at its height.

NEWS BITS

The Lake Champlain Bible Fellowship is the recipient of a ministry by the Mount Vernon Baptist Church of Boone, NC. Each year about thirty of their congregation travel to a chosen church in need of a week of helping hands. They are ready to do anything that is in need of being done that the Fellowship has not as yet found time to do. These visitors will weld a hammer and saw as readily as clean a smudged wall. Usually the Fellowship is on the giving side, now it is their deserved good fortune to be on the receiving side.

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*Look for The Fact Finder's next issue, #25 on Saturday, July 9, 2011 at the Adirondack Hair Assocciates, Celotti's Wines and Spirits, the Library, the Moriah Pharmacy and again at Mac's on the bulletin board right before the produce aisle. 

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