CANTON – Twenty-five students from China, Russia and other countries have traveled to the North Country this summer to immerse themselves in American culture and take part in SUNY Canton's international summer program.

The students arrived on Sunday, July 11 and will be on campus for almost a month. They are visiting from Kazan State Finance and Economics Institute and Lomonsov Moscow State University, both in Russia, as well as Guangdong Women's Polytechnic College in China.

Congressman Bill Owens voted Tuesday to provide assistance to victims of 2011 flooding disasters, including homeowners in upstate New York who were recently denied individual assistance by FEMA to recover from flood damage this spring.

The measure failed (http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll561.xml) on a mostly party-line vote, 181-244.

POTSDAM – The village’s economic developer has left to join the Adirondack Park’s oldest economic development organization.

Jim Murphy began his duties this week as the new executive director of the Adirondack Economic Development Corporation (AEDC). He comes to the AEDC with an extensive background in regional economic development and has participated in several initiatives designed to bring people together to improve the quality of life in the North Country region.

COLTON – The North Country Library System will offer computer classes at the Colton Hepburn Library Thursday, July 14.

At 10 a.m. Computer Basic for Beginners will be offered, followed at 11 a.m. by Basic Email Skills.

Then, on Thursday August 11, Downloading EBooks From Your Library will be presented at 10 a.m.

To reserve a spot, call 261-2310.

POTSDAM – Telephone service throughout St. Lawrence County has been disrupted this afternoon, with many landline phones unable to receive or make calls.

Slic Network Solutions and Nicholville Telephone officials said they and other phone service providers are “experiencing issues with calls outside of their own networks.”

The situation is only affecting phone service, not e-mail and Internet service, they said.

Slic and Nicholville Telephone said they are working to restore services as quickly as possible.

To the Editor:

Last week, Albany backed down from a plan to ban the age-old practice of selling hand-cut cheese at Farmers Markets. The issue arose when bureaucrats decided to reinterpret a 40-year-old rule that had never before been applied in this way.

As soon as I heard about the change, I started drafting legislation to exempt Farmers Markets from the rule. Like the practice of cutting fresh cheese, Farmers Markets have been around for years, but they are becoming increasingly popular, as consumers are looking for ways to buy more locally produced foods.

POTSDAM -- State Sen. Joe Griffo will be in Potsdam Thursday for the start of Summer Festival.

The Potsdam Chamber of Commerce says he will be visiting Foxy Roxy’s Diner and Sergi’s Italian Restaurant. Foxy Roxy’s was named the chamber’s business of the year this year, and Sam and Carmela Spagnolo, proprietors of Sergi’s, were recently awarded the Potsdam Rotary Club’s Service Above Self Award.

He will also stroll Market Street between noon and 1 p.m.

LISBON -- Students at Lisbon Central School recently participated in a Lego Robotics Camp offered by Clarkson University.

This camp was made available through a federal grant, according to Melanie Barkley, program coordinator, who submitted this photo.

COLTON -- The Higley Association will hold its annual ice cream social and fireworks display on Saturday, July 16 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the fireman's field on Gulf Road.

Music will be provided by the band Impulse.

The fireworks begin at dark.

The event is free except for any purchase of ice cream or cake.

Donations towards the fireworks will be accepted with gratitude.

In the event of severe weather, the social and fireworks show will be held Sunday, July 17.