The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency will ease insurance regulations on fresh apple producers in St. Lawrence County and the rest of New York State.

The rule change will help New York apple producers cut costs and boost efficiency in the record-keeping of their production and distribution, allow them to receive the best possible crop insurance, and end discrimination against smaller apple producers.

POTSDAM -- Volunteers from the SUNY Potsdam Wilderness Education Program recently joined members of other community groups to conduct maintenance in the Stone Valley Cooperative Recreation Area.

In addition to the SUNY Potsdam students, faculty and staff, representatives from the SUNY Canton Outdoor Adventures Club, the St. Lawrence Mountain Bike Club (SLIMBA) and the Laurentian Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club participated, along with other community members, for two days of trail work and clean-up.

CANTON – The 366th Engineer Co. Army Reserve Family Readiness Group has several fundraising events going on over the next few weeks.

A lottery tree raffle is now underway and will continue through Nov. 23 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 45 W. Main St. The prize is $30 worth of Lotto tickets.

A bottle drive will begin Nov. 15 and run through Dec. 8 with drop-offs accepted at the same address from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A bake sale will also be held there Friday, Nov. 18 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

POTSDAM -- The Potsdam Recreation Department begins twice-weekly community swim sessions Tuesday, Nov. 15 and Thursday Nov. 17 at SUNY Potsdam’s Merritt Hall pool.

The sessions are every Tuesday and Thursday (except Thanksgiving) from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. The cost is $1 per swimmer; kids 5 and under get in for free.

For more information, call the Recreation Office at 265-4030.

CANTON -- The St. Lawrence University women's cross country team, ranked 11th in the nation, won its third consecutive NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship Saturday on the Ronald C. Hoffman Cross Country course in Canton, NY.

The Saints join runner-up Geneseo State as the automatic qualifiers for the 2011 NCAA Championship race, which will be held next Saturday, November 19 in Winneconne, WI.

CANTON -- The St. Lawrence University men's cross country team, ranked 11th in the national standings, captured the program's first Atlantic Regional title since 2000 Saturday afternoon.

With the victory, the Scarlet and Brown have earned an automatic berth into the field at the 2011 NCAA Championships next Saturday, November 19 in Winneconne, WI.

FREDONIA -- Fredonia State (4-2-1, 2-2-1 SUNYAC) scored three goals in each period en route to a 9-1 victory over a young SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (2-3, 1-3) on Saturday night.

Billy Sanborn and Brian Ross each recorded a hat trick to lead the Blue Devils.

Sanborn scored the first two goals of the contest at the 2:58 and 4:22 of the opening period, with the second coming on the power play. Brian Ross made it 3-0 five minutes later.

Freshman Jeremiah Bunton scored on a sliding shot after the ball was knocked away from the goaltender to record his first career game-winning goal as St. Lawrence University's men's soccer team rolled past SUNY Maritime College 4-0 in the opening round of the 2011 NCAA tournament on Saturday.