Latest news with #MichaelCashman
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Supervisor praises community response to Cliff Haven fire
PLATTSBURGH — The unsung hero of Wednesday's house fire on Champlain Drive in the Town of Plattsburgh's Cliff Haven neighborhood was the water department, a township supervisor said. As the fire engulfed the house and firefighters put stress on the water system to put it out, a water main break occurred and disrupted service for 47 Cliff Haven households. 'Without hesitation, our Water Department mobilized, isolating the issue and initiating repairs,' Town Supervisor Michael Cashman said Wednesday night. 'These moments are never easy, and solutions take time but I have no doubt in their priorities: Public health, safety and restoration. Their commitment is quiet but profound, and today it deserves to be celebrated as well.' The several local departments that showed up to put down the blaze as quickly as they did need their flowers as well, Cashman said. Cashman said the South Plattsburgh Fire Department led the charge with automatic aid quickly arriving from the Plattsburgh City and Peru fire departments. 'Their swift response was joined by a network of mutual aid from District #3, Morrisonville, Beekmantown, and Keeseville Fire Departments, with Cumberland Head and Keeseville standing by to cover the region,' he said. 'Emergency medical support from CVPH, support from CCOES Car 7 and investigators and crucial coordination from NYSP, NYSEG and Town Code Enforcement helped keep operations running smoothly and safely.' No injuries were reported in the blaze that displaced two adults. Volunteers with the American Red Cross provided immediate emergency aid to two people, organizers with the Northeastern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross said. According to Red Cross leaders, financial assistance has been provided two adults to be can used for shelter, food and clothing. Volunteers also offered health services, comfort kits containing personal care items, and blankets. Both residents are eligible for Veterans' services, officials said. In the coming days, Red Cross staff and volunteers will remain available to help those affected by the fire. Cashman said earlier this week, he attended a joint fire training session with several of the local departments that left an impression on him. 'Watching those men and women commit themselves to readiness left a lasting impression and today, their training was put into action. The outcome speaks for itself,' he said. 'As thick smoke filled the air this morning, I stood alongside first responders and watched as our region's did what it does best respond in times of crisis.' On scene Wednesday, Cashman said the fire was called in by a local resident. 'Early calls save lives. Community vigilance is one of our strongest defenses. Today was difficult, but it was also a powerful reminder of what makes this community special. Volunteers. Public servants. Neighbors. All stepping forward in unity,' he said.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Town, City of Plattsburgh Memorial Day parade to honor fallen veterans
PLATTSBURGH — Plattsburgh's rich military history, in both the town and city, made holding the upcoming joint Memorial Day parade together May 26 an easy choice. Town Supervisor Michael Cashman and city Mayor Wendell Hughes said during a news conference Wednesday the parade was another way in which the region can honor its veterans. 'Our community and our region does it best by continuing to celebrate and to honor these individuals,' Cashman said. 'I think we have a moral and ethical responsibility to continue to highlight the ultimate sacrifice that our veterans have contributed.' 'To be able to have a parade to honor all of our fallen veterans and — Clinton County has so many veterans and this is the 30th year of the Plattsburgh Air Force Base closing — to do this with the town's partnership is such an honor for me to stand here,' Hughes said. The parade will begin at noon Monday, May 26 at the West Side Ballroom, located in the Town of Plattsburgh, proceeding right onto New York Road, entering the traffic circle and continuing straight on New York Road before concluding at the U.S. Oval in the City of Plattsburgh. Following the parade, attendees are invited to gather at the U.S. Oval for a ceremony at 1 p.m., for a performance of the National Anthem by the Plattsburgh High School a cappella group Encore. Several food trucks will also be serving up food and drinks. To maintain the focus on honoring veterans, businesses will not be permitted to participate in the parade, city officials said. This is to ensure the event remains a respectful tribute rather than a promotional opportunity. Nonprofit organizations, schools and community groups not affiliated with the military were welcome to register and show their support. The deadline to register was May 15. Deputy Town Supervisor Chuck Kostyk, who went to Hughes in January and pitched the idea of a parade on a 'whim,' said a parade in Plattsburgh was something that needed to happen. 'It was a missing piece in an area that was so steeped in history, so steep in the love of country and the love of the veterans groups throughout the county. and really, we have to remember this day, to me, is really a civics lesson, and a parade should be a civics lesson,' Kostyk said. 'We have to put aside partisanship. We have to put aside any divisiveness. It's about recognizing those that made that ultimate sacrifice. We are so pleased from the town to be able to work with the City of Plattsburgh and make sure that we put on an event that we truly hope is going to grow and grow and grow.' The parade is among Plattsburgh's latest efforts to honor its veterans. In recent years, the town has made significant progress on its large Battlefield Memorial Gateway project. The town was also named the North Country's first Purple Heart Town. Greg Lee, an advocate for the local Disabled American Veterans Chapter 179, said the DAV will host a ceremony at the Plattsburgh Barracks Veterans Park, which the chapter has been caretakers of for almost 20 years, on the U.S. Oval after the parade. 'We'd just like to have everybody come out, show their support, honor our fallen,' he said. 'That's what it's all about.' Barrie Finnegan, executive director of the North Country Honor Flight, which, since 2013, has taken more than 900 area veterans on 59 flights to Washington to visit the war memorials of each conflict the nation has been involved in over the years, praised the town and city's collaboration efforts on the parade. 'A lot of conversations take place, and nothing ever happens. To have a conversation take place and see this thing come together and come to life is a great thing,' Finnegan said. 'The North Country of New York has the highest population of veterans in the state, and per capita has got some one of the highest considerations of everybody in the country. So for us to get a chance to memorialize on Memorial Day, all the people that didn't come home out of that population, is a great sense that we should we should all take pride in so we hope this comes out really well.' Joe Patnode, representing the American Legion as the fourth district commander for New York, similarly called the parade an honor. 'It's an honor to be able to take part in the first Memorial Day Parade we've had in Plattsburgh in many, many years,' Patnode said. 'I'm hoping that it turns out to be an educational moment for our youth, because people tend to forget Memorial Day is to honor our fallen. Veterans Day is to honor our veterans. So hopefully we can make this a learning evolution and keep our young people informed and keep people in tune of where we need to be.' Cashman said it's possible the parade may spur more collaboration and events between the town and city going forward. 'We're one large region, and I think it's important not to just create new initiatives for new initiative sakes,' Cashman said. 'You have to be strategic. It has to be purposeful and you have to also identify the resources.' The cost of the parade will be shared by both the town and city, he said. 'As it grows, we will probably have to recalibrate the expectations moving forward, but right now, low impact, high honor,' Cashman said.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Town of Plattsburgh approves dog tether law
PLATTSBURGH — The Town of Plattsburgh has approved its own dog tethering law after a local woman's efforts to get a Clinton County-wide law have yet to be successful. According to the town law, dog tethering or tying a dog outside during a weather event that poses 'an adverse risk to the health or safety of a dog based on breed, age or physical condition' for longer than 15 minutes is now prohibited; this includes tethering during temperatures above 85 degrees and temperatures below 32 degrees. However, the temperature aspect is dependent on the 'breed of dog' and its 'tolerance to the heat or cold.' Town Supervisor Michael Cashman said the town's law was modeled after the one put forth by Jennifer Jewett, a long-time advocate for a county-wide dog tether law that would ban tying dogs outside 24/7. The town's law, though, did not outline a 24/7 tether ban or any specific time limit beyond the 15-minute ban during a weather event. 'We are extremely grateful that Town Supervisor Mike Cashman and his board members took the time to create and approve their own Dog Tether Law,' Jewett said. 'There are so many ways to write a dog tether law. Some are stricter than others, but if a tether law provides added protection for chained dogs, we'll accept it as a win. We do hope that in the future the Town of Plattsburgh will tighten up their law, so that it stops 24/7 dog tethering.' Cashman said he had hoped the county would pass a tether law, so each of the 17 municipalities in the county would have the same, uniform law, but when that didn't happen, he knew the town would get its own done. 'It is a means by which to further protect man's best friend or person's best friend,' he said. 'I jokingly said a number of times … what do you call a dog? A North Country doorbell, because everybody's got one. So this law ensures that dogs have the habitat and resources, and that they're not susceptible to all of the conditions where they could be harmed.' The law now states that it will be unlawful in the town of Plattsburgh to: - Endanger such dog's health, safety and well-being. - Limit the movement of such dog because it is too short for the dog to move around or for the dog to urinate or defecate in a separate area from the area in which it must eat, drink or lie down. - Deny such dog the opportunity to exercise and engage in normal social interactions on a regular basis. - Leave any dog tethered to a fixed point, attached to an overhead dog run, or trolley system or placed in a dog enclosure unattended on vacant or abandoned property. - Leave a dog without access to shade, food, clean, fresh and potable water, shelter and dry ground without becoming entangled. There are also specifications on tethering restraints and enclosures including: - A dog shall not be tethered to a fixed point, running line, pulley or trolley system or any other system by means of a pinch collar. - A tethered dog, or dog confined to an enclosure must have access to appropriate shelter that will allow the dog to remain dry and to be protected from the elements. According to the law, a violation of any provisions of it can carry fines and eventually even jail time, with increasing consequences for each offense: - First offense carries a fine of $250 and/or an educational component at the judge's discretion. - Second offense carries a fine of $500 and/or an educational component at the judge's discretion. - Third offense carries a fine of $1,000 and/or imprisonment for no more than 15 days, or both, surrender of the dog, if ordered by the court, and costs of investigation and prosecution. Being the biggest municipality in the county, Cashman said he hopes other towns, which may still be hesitant to pass a law, will eventually follow the Town of Plattsburgh's lead. 'It is a milestone, but again, it goes back to … we would have wished for a county-wide law,' Cashman said. 'We were asked, and it didn't occur, but we had an opportunity to act, so we did that. As everybody knows, I'm a dog lover. I have three dogs myself.'
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NY announces plan to revitalize Plattsburgh waterfront
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (ABC22/FOX44) – Plattsburgh residents may be looking at a very different landscape downtown within the coming years. The New York Department of State (NYDOS) announced Monday that a plan for the future of Plattsburgh's waterfront has been completed. The Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) plan identifies 31 potential projects ranging from additional signage and art displays and a seasonal ice rink to a new fishing pier. The plan also recommends improvements to a trail on the shore of Cumberland Bay. With the completion of this plan, the city now can apply for funding from the state to implement any of the recommended projects. The full plan is available on the NYDOS website. Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor Michael Cashman called the plan 'a big step forward not just for the City, but for the entire region.' Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, was enthusiastic about the city's progress. He said, 'The completion of the city's waterfront revitalization plan is a major advance. 'It positions Plattsburgh for substantial new progress toward enhancing our connections with Lake Champlain and the Saranac River as major assets for the community's future economy and quality of life.' Any town in New York State with a waterfront, whether on a river, lake, or ocean, is entitled to begin the planning process for an LWRP project. Towns that already have such plans approved include Saranac Lake, Malone, Wilmington, Essex, and Whitehall. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Town of Plattsburgh adopts CHAMP Law to aid future housing development
PLATTSBURGH — CHAMP is leading the way for housing development in the town of Plattsburgh. CHAMP, which, in this instance, stands for 'Creating Housing Acceleration Measures for Plattsburgh' and not the Lake Champlain folklore monster, is Plattsburgh's newest solution to the North Country housing crisis. Adopted this year, the CHAMP Law reformed the town's zoning code, making it easier for existing developments to expand and for new developments to begin. 'We all know that New York state is facing a housing crisis, and the North Country is no exception,' Plattsburgh Town Supervisor Michael Cashman said at a news conference at Emerson Place Tuesday, a new housing development on Kansas Avenue. 'But, here is the difference in the Town of Plattsburgh: we are not waiting on solutions. We are creating solutions with CHAMP. We are removing outdated barriers and modernizing our zoning to expand housing options.' Some of the key highlights of the CHAMP Law include • Permitting multi-family housing in A2 and SC zones. • Allowing for duplexes and infill conversions and walkable T4 and T5 zones. • Increasing density in the MDR zones with a minimum of one unit per 5,000-square feet. • Streamlining the site plan and permitting process. 'These reforms position us to accommodate approximately 2,600 new housing units here in the town of Plattsburgh,' Cashman said of the new law. 'This is a smart, intentional development that strengthens our future. It is focused on specific districts, cutting through regulatory clutter (and) it is based on the real demand and real project proposals. It reduces the need for variances, saving both money and time for our developers, and it also preserves the neighborhood characteristic. It also increases property value by boosting the opportunity and density for a strong return on investments as well.' PROOF OF CONCEPT One housing development, Emerson Place at 89 Kansas Ave. which is being built by K&M Taylor Properties, served as a learning experience for the town as they created the new CHAMP Law. Kerry Taylor of K&M Taylor Properties said when they began the process of developing the land, they had to go through the town's variance process, which she said was long and costly. 'I commend the town of Plattsburgh for being proactive in changing the zoning on some of these areas, because it's going to make it so much easier for developers to come in and build the housing we need,' Taylor said. 'Like Michael said, we need all levels (of housing) … it's not just the affordable (housing).' When construction is finished, Emerson Place will have six buildings and 28 units in total at market rate rent. For example, the news conference Tuesday was held in a two bedroom, two full bath with a garage and attic above it — Taylor said rent for that unit will be $2,050 a month. She said most of the units are already rented and they aren't even finished being built yet. 'So if that tells you the demand … it's kind of scary when you think about it,' Taylor said. BREAKING BARRIERS Cashman said the town wanted to make it easier for developers like K&M Taylor Properties to build and expand in the future like they are already doing. 'We have that responsibility, with our local developers that want to do business here, to break down barriers. That's what this law is about,' Cashman said. 'In addition to that, though, this law is also about showing investors that we have ample opportunity for people to put shovels in the ground, to build here.' 'This new law … this changes everything,' Taylor said. 'It really does. I mean, it's such a huge opportunity for the area, and this is addressing the housing crisis dead on.' Cashman said the main takeaway from the updated law is that he wants developers to know the town remains open for business. 'Come build with us. There is ample amount of opportunity here in the town, and we are positioned to work with people to continue to lead the way in our corner of the North Country.'
