May 11
Treehouse 10k and 5k Run/Walk on the Saranac River Trail
All proceeds benefit the Max Moore Memorial Treehouse on the SRT.
www.plattsburghrecreation.com

June 15
Second Annual Tiki Torch Zumbathon at Plattsburgh City Beach
All proceeds benefit the Max Moore Memorial Treehouse on the SRT. Zumba, s’mores, a bonfire, cocktails from the tiki bar, and much more!
Click here for more information or email ashley.cousens@gmail.com

Official 2013 Mayors Cup T-Shirts
A portion of proceeds from the sales of 2013 Mayor’s Cup t-shirts are earmarked for the design and construction of the Max Moore Memorial Treehouse.

For more information and to order go to www.mayorscup.com

Watch April 11, 2013 on PBS. See more from Mountain Lake Journal.

As part of Vision2Action’s quarterly community forums, the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, a division of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, will revisit its Destination Master Plan, originally unveiled in December 2010. The Visitors Bureau will share successes in tourism and community development as it relates to history, agritourism and outdoor recreation. Community leaders, industry representatives and stakeholders will help showcase the progress along with the volunteers who are making it happen.

A new and exciting collaborative project with SUNY Plattsburgh and PenAir promoting the Adirondack Coast, will also be announced.  A reception will follow the program and feature local food, cider, beer and wine from Amazing Grace Vineyard and Winery, Champlain Wine Company, Vesco Ridge Vineyards, ELF’s Farm, Winery and Cider Mill, Legend’s Bistro, Parkers Family Maple Farm, Northern Orchard, McCadam and Rulfs Orchard.

WHAT:                 Destination Master Plan Community Forum, a part of the Vision2Action Community Forum Series

WHEN:                 Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 5:30pm – 7:00pm, immediately followed by a reception featuring local fare

WHERE:               Stafford Theatre at Clinton Community College, 136 Clinton Point Drive, Plattsburgh, NY
RSVP  at 518-563-1000 by April 8th to attend!

January 28, 2013

Vision2Action issues progress report

DAN HEATH Press-Republican

PLATTSBURGH — Converting vision to action.

That’s the idea behind Vision2Action, an outgrowth of the Partnership for Community Development’s Vision 2040 forums. Vison2Action members recently presented a progress report on ideas that arose during a series of four public forums on the importance of the arts, recreation, transportation and education to community growth and sustainability.

Partnership for Community Development co-Chair Devi Momot of Twin State Voice-Data-Video told a large crowd at the Strand Theatre that Vision2Action is a grassroots group that is working to turn the ideas gathered during the partnership’s Vision 2040 forums into action.

”One of our main goals is to attract 3,000 families to the region by 2040,” she said.

SERVICE GAP

Colin Read, an economics professor at SUNY Plattsburgh, said that during the Vision 2040 forums that led to Vision2Action, it became clear the region’s aging population was likely to increase by 2035-2040, while the number of young and middle-aged are likely to decline.

That would leave a gap in the number of people able to provide services needed as workers retire.

The question became: “How do we attract those vibrant professionals, those young families to this area?” he said.

That was where the idea for the four public forums arose, Read said.

LIFE OF LEARNING

Clinton Community College President John Jablonski outlined progress made on the THRIVE public/private partnership to improve the cradle through career approach to education. It is an effort to create increased partnerships between education, industry, economic development, and health-care and human-services providers.

He said that while everyone recognized how education affects a community, it has become increasingly apparent how a community can affect education.

A leadership council has identified six community-level, long-range goals, from making sure every child is prepared to enter school through to encouraging people to remain committed to life-long learning once they have a career.

Before, Jablonski said, the various entities focused on their own goals. The goal is now to have them work toward a common goal.

”We want to reach this point where there is perfect symmetry.”

HEALTHY PURSUITS

Luke Cyphers, a member of the Saranac River Trail Advisory Committee, presented progress in the area of recreation. During the recreation forum, he said, it became clear that the use of recreation resources was important for the health of the community but also for its economic development.

”The best way is the simplest — use what we have,” Cyphers said.

The Plattsburgh City Beach had its best attendance in many years, he noted. There was also continued development of the Saranac Land Trust and increases in programs at the city, town and county recreation departments.

The Saranac River Trail now covers 1.3 miles and has room to expand through the towns of Schuyler Falls, Plattsburgh and Saranac.

Although 2012 was a big year, 2013 will be even bigger, he said.

SAFER MOTION

Town of Plattsburgh Planning Department head Philip Von Bargen detailed progress on the Complete Streets initiative. It is an effort to make roads safer not only for cars and trucks but also cyclists and pedestrians.

One example is an extension of sidewalks along Rugar Street from the city to the Ampersand Drive intersection. The county has also decreased the speed limit along a portion of Tom Miller road to from 55 to 40 miles per hour, he said.

A number of intersections along Route 3 are slated for crosswalk improvements, Von Bargen said. The Complete Streets Steering Committee will soon release its initial report, he said.

”In the short term, we hope to focus on the three E’s: education, engineering and enforcement.”

BLOSSOMING ARTS

Joshua Kretser of p.o.d. studio focused on ROTA Gallery, the North Country Cultural Center of the Arts and the Strand Theatre in his arts presentation.

ROTA Gallery began as a sole proprietorship in February 2011 and has since grown into a collective organization, a space anyone can use to bring their ideas to fruition. Because of increased participation, the gallery has moved to a larger space at 50 Margaret St.

The Center for the Arts continues to develop new programs, Kretser said, including more offerings for seniors interested in the arts.

The Center for the Arts is preparing to change its name to the Strand Arts Center as theater renovations near completion, expected this summer.

“The Strand Theater is a landmark of historical and cultural importance,” he said.

Kretser said that in addition to its role as the anchor to a downtown arts corridor, it is expected to create about 80 jobs once open.

Email Dan Heath: dheath@pressrepublican.com

http://pressrepublican.com/monday/x1525008916/Vision2Action-issues-progress-report

Jump to about 10:15 to see V2A panelists John Jablonski, Leigh Mundy, Colin Read, Bruce Carlin and  Luke Cyphers talk with Thom Hallock of Mountain Lake PBS.

Watch January 17, 2013 on PBS. See more from Mountain Lake Journal.

The PCD has a big task ahead of it. Vision2Action, an offshoot of an earlier series of forums called Vision2040, was created by the PCD to put in place the mechanisms and institutions that the community needs to become sustainable during the next three decades. During the Vision2040 forums, it was determined that in order for Clinton County to maintain its current size, approximately 3,000 families would need to be attracted to the area.

Bob Smith and Devi Momot, past and current chairs of PCD, have been leading a group of concerned citizens determined to influence the region’s destiny. This ever-widening group has been meeting monthly for the last couple of years. They have taken the overarching theme from Vision2040 – that families are attracted to regions that offer a high quality of life and good job opportunities – and have helped create a critical mass in a number of areas significant to our community.

The areas that PCD has focused on in 2012 are the arts, education, recreation and transportation. Strides have been made in all these areas, and at the Jan. 24th presentation, PCD will report on the community’s progress. In advance of this community event, a special edition of Mountain Lake Journal will feature members of the PCD in a panel discussion on Thursday, Jan 17 at 8 pm on Mountain Lake PBS.

One of the greatest objects of pride for Vision2Action and this community is the progress made on the Strand Theater during the past year. The historical facility is nearly completely renovated thanks to the many individuals who have donated money and materials during the restoration project.

To highlight the nearly-completed renovation, PCD will unveil its Vision2Action Report Card to the public at the Strand Theater. The organizers of Vision2Action will share why a proactive community is essential to sustain Clinton County’s quality of life. The economic introduction will be followed by a fast-paced presentation of new things that have become possible over the last year. The event will also include a surprise performance that will highlight the excellent acoustics of the Strand Theater.

The evening will close with a short open discussion about future facilities, events, and institutions that will make the region even more attractive.

Vision2Action

By Amy Kretser

The North Country is a fantastic place to live. The cities and towns that define the region still have a small town feel. Cars still stop to let the elderly cross the street. If the wrong mail gets delivered to a box, it generally gets walked across the street. People have access to a lake that offers world-class sailing and water recreation. The mountains of the Adirondack Park present four seasons of sports, hiking and thousands of acres of pristine wilderness. The schools are staffed with hard working, talented educators, and the hospitals, colleges and business community are vibrant and eagerly expanding.

There is no question that this region is a wonderful place to start a career, raise children, retire and enjoy the beauty and bounty of the North Country. Yet, the recent economic downturn gave many community leaders and concerned citizens reason to pause.

Read the rest of this article here: http://www.sbmonthly.com/?p=3123

Watch October 25, 2012 on PBS. See more from Mountain Lake Journal.

TO THE EDITOR: This letter aims to increase awareness of important conversations and events happening in our community.

Maybe you heard about Vision2040, Vision2Action or the Partnership for Community Development. All have one goal in common: to attract 3,000 new families to our region by 2040.

A number of volunteers in the community are already actively engaged in specific areas of interest, and there is ample room for more. Our community is our responsibility; I’m encouraging participation in these important discussions.

We have had three sessions, so far, with grassroots community involvement; the first focused on arts and culture, the second on recreation, and the third on transportation.

This October Vision2Action is addressing educational attainment — one of the most important factors for a strong economy and sustainable quality of life in our region.

We encourage you to attend one or all of the events and become engaged in this collaborative effort so residents thrive individually and as a community.

At 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, watch a roundtable discussion hosted by Thom Hallock on “Mountain Lake Journal” on Mountain Lake PBS. Join the conversation: facebook/vision2action.

At 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, attend the Community Forum at Clinton Community College, Stafford Center. A panel of experts, moderated by Paul Sands, will discuss the community’s state of education. Community questions and comments are encouraged.

At 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, watch a special edition of “Mountain Lake Journal” or join us at the studio at PBS. Thom Hallock will talk with panelists and take questions from the audience and viewers at home. Join the conversation at facebook/vision2action.

We hope students, parents, teachers, administrators, employers, elected officials and others will participate in the above events. Check out www.NCVision2Action.org for more on what’s been done and details on the upcoming sessions.

DEVI CURRIER MOMOT

Volunteer vice chair

Source: http://pressrepublican.com/0200_opinion/x1475177707/Letters-to-the-Editor-Oct-9-2012