Tug Hill Times is published semimonthly by the Tug Hill Commission for its board members, staff and associates, and the local representatives of the region's communities.

In this issue

January 29, 2009ower Authority Offers Program The registration fee for the Biomass Boot SdyBO CreeksOT C EBMAM PPublic TO AMtg.DD RESS Camp is $75 and includes a catered lunch PRCommunityACTICA PlanningL APP LGrantsICAT ION OF and a biomass resource manual. The manual FortRE DrumNEW GrowthABLE Briefing BIOM ASS will include case studies, links to online ImportanceFOR of H PlanningEAT resources, and a biomass primer detailing the Boonville Snowmobile Races topics discussed during the Boot Camp. In this issue The region’s abundance of biomass as a Advance registration is required. NovemberTraining 18, for2010 Floodp lainrenewable Admin In thisfuel sourceissue could help Sponsorship to make the conference possible businesses, Januaryschool 29,districts, 2009 non-profit is provided by the Development Authority of institutions, and municipalities to reduce the , St. Lawrence Resource Boot Camp on Biomass and stabilize their heating costs. The Conservation and Development Council, and DrumPower AuthorityCountry OffersBiomass Program Working Group the Biomass Energy Resource Council. Rec. Trail Grant Apps andndy the Creeks Black EBM PublicRiver-St. Mtg. Lawrence Local Leaders Institute CountyCommunity Resource Planning Conservation Grants and For a detailed agenda and registration Development Council (RC&D) are information, visit: Growth Briefing sponsoring a one-day, focused http://www.rickhandleyassociates.com. Importance of Planning orientation program to enable Directions to Fort Drum are included on the participantsBoonville Snowmobile to make Racesmore informed registration website. Easy public access to decisionsraining foras Floodplainto whether Admin. biomass may be Fort Drum only requires a current driver’s

a viable option for their school, license or other valid identification. business, government building, or other facility. Called a ‘Biomass Boot Camp,’ the session will be held on Wednesday RECREATIONAL TRAIL GRANT December 1, 2010 at the Commons at APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED Dillenbeck Corners, Building P-4350, Euphrates River Valley Road, Fort Tug Hill Commission staff provided Drum, NY. assistance in the preparation and submission of several grant applications to the New Expert panelists will address a broad York State Office of Parks, Recreation and range of topics, including: types of Historic Preservation for funding under the biomass fuels, sustainability, the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). Four economics of converting to biomass, grant applications were submitted, including carbon emissions, financing, and the all- three for trail maintenance equipment for To contact the important question, “Why biomass?” three area snowmobile clubs and a trail Commission: Participants will have the opportunity to underpass project in the Town of Trenton. view various technologies and fuel Phone toll free sources. Exhibitors will include Curran In order to provide safe, groomed trails for within the region: Renewable Energy, ACT Bioenergy, the many snowmobilers in the Tug Hill Thayer Corporation, USDA Rural Region, three area clubs requested funding 1­888­785­2380 Development, the Development from the RTP for the purchase of a new trail or e­mail: Authority of the North Country groomer. The Missing Link Snowmobile [email protected]@tughill.org (DANC), the Biomass energy Resource Club, which maintains trails in the Carthage Center, Honeywell, AFS Energy area, requested $155,800 in grant funds. Our website: Systems, and several engineering and Plateau Riders Snowmobile Club, with trails www..tughill..org support service companies dedicated to centered around the Towns of Martinsburg, renewable heating solutions.

Turin and West Turin, requested $153,920 in grant River Falls, the Salmon River Fish Hatchery, the funds. Valley Travelers Snowmobile Club, which Redfield Reservoir, the Lee Town Hall, Pixley Falls, maintains trails in the Towns of Harrisburg, and Whetstone Gulf. Montague, Martinsburg and Lowville, requested $156,000 in grant funds towards the purchase of their Participants also met at Café Mira in the village of new trail maintenance equipment. Adams for a discussion on the region’s economy on November 17th. Eric Virkler, director of Lewis The Town of Trenton requested County’s Office of Economic $200,000 from the RTP to build Development and Planning, and a recreational underpass culvert Check your mail . . . Michelle Capone, senior project (RTU) in conjunction with the development specialist, presented State Department of Early bird postcards announcing the group with information about Transportation’s (DOT) the Commission’s 22nd Annual economic trends and challenges scheduled project entailing Local Government Conference set in the Tug Hill Region. replacement of their bridge on for March 31, 2011, are now in the near mail. The next session of the Local the intersection of NYS Route 12 Leaders Institute will be held on and Old Poland Road. The underpass is a Diverse December 1st at the Jefferson County Cooperative Use project, providing access for both motorized and Extension offices. Participants will meet with Dick non-motorized recreation. The underpass would Halpin, executive director for Jefferson County CCE, provide a safe crossing for bicyclists, pedestrians, and to discuss leadership styles and challenges. snowmobilers, and would link current and planned trail systems in the Town of Trenton that are now separated by busy four lane NYS Route 12.

The Recreational Trails Program grant applications were submitted on November 5, 2010. Award announcements are expected in the spring.

TUG HILL LOCAL LEADERS INSTITUTE CLASS OF 2010-2011 UNDERWAY

The 8th annual Tug Hill Local Leaders Institute Class is underway. This year there are four participants from the villages of Castorland and Lowville and the town of Wilna.

The Local Leaders Institute is designed to provide local leaders with a better understanding of the regional issues and trends to help them be more effective. To that end, participants met with Commission Executive Director John Bartow, on September 29th to hear about the history of Tug Hill and the Commission and to learn more about the region in general.

Class members also participated in a tour of Tug Hill on October 2nd. In addition to traveling through all four counties in the region, this full-day tour included stops at the village of waterfront, Salmon