(Canton, N.Y.)- The SUNY Canton men’s ice hockey team captured the Blizzard at Buffalo Tournament beating the host and 18th-ranked University of Buffalo 3-0 Saturday night at the Northtown Center at Amherst in Amherst, N.Y.

Jimmy Merrow (Plainsboro, N.J.) turned aside all 21 shots he faced to post his first shutout of the season helping the Roos improve to 17-3. SUNY Canton, ranked 21st in the latest ACHA Division I rankings, wrapped up their first semester having won nine of their last 10 games.

COLTON -- Members of the St. Lawrence Mountain Bike Association and Adirondack Mountain Club, local residents, and students and faculty from the four local universities made significant improvements recently to trails at the Stone Valley Recreation Area.

In one weekend last month, almost 400 man hours were volunteered to help improve the trail system. With an average turnout of 30 volunteers per day, many projects were completed.

CANTON -- Linda Potter will lead “A Year Of Intentional Living” from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13. Rather than making resolutions that don’t work, retreat participants will set intentions for the new year. Women will use journaling exercises, group discussion and collages to visualize how their year can unfold around their intention in meaningful ways. Cost per woman is $75 which includes monthly coaching circles with Potter. To reserve a spot, contact Potter at 386-4364 or [email protected].

POTSDAM –Lawrence Avenue Elementary School will hold its Book Fair on the following dates and times: Tuesday, Dec. 7, 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 8, 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 9, 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 10, 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 11, 9 a.m. – noon; Monday, Dec. 13, 8:30 a.m. – noon.

NORWOOD – Norwood Library’s annual Christmas party will be held Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m., beginning with stories around the Christmas tree.

The prizes for the Children’s Holiday Reading Contest and the Fill-a-Mug contest will be awarded.

The winners of the Friends of the Norwood Library raffle will be announced. There will be trivia with prizes, and refreshments will be served.

All books read for the Children’s Holiday Reading Contest must be returned by 9 p.m., Dec. 7. These books must have been borrowed from the Norwood Library to be counted.

By MAUREEN PICHÉ

POTSDAM – Uninsured or underinsured people needing services at Canton-Potsdam Hospital have a little-known ally on their side when it comes to paying the bill: the hospital’s financial assistance program.

Karen Edwards, the hospital’s new director of the revenue cycle, says self-pay patients who don’t qualify for Medicaid may be eligible for the non-profit’s equivalent, which covers hospital costs on a sliding scale depending on need—sometimes up to 100 percent.

POTSDAM – The Potsdam Humane Society has set up a “giving tree” in the office of Potsdam Animal Shelter on Madrid Avenue to benefit the shelter.

People can stop by, choose a gift tag from the tree, then purchase and return the gift along with the tag to enter a drawing for a potted Norfolk Pine.

Items on the tags include a dog dish, dog treats, litter pans, cleaning supplies, monetary donation or a sponsorship to adopt an animal from the shelter.

MASSENA – A murder mystery “The Santa Claus Killer” will be performed to benefit the Louisville Summer Bash committee at The Village Inn Restaurant, Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $10 presale or at the door. A cash bar and limited menu will be available.

The event requires audience participation to solve the case.

Some of the local personalities performing include Virginia Gettmann, David Frary, Lori Curran and Shauna Cecot.

For more information or tickets, contact Joanne at 764-7473 or Nancy at 769-6960.