BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

MASSENA — The Town of Massena and St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES have finally come to an agreement on a long standing lawsuit surrounding health insurance payments to the now former Massena Memorial Hospital.

According to Town Supervisor Sue Bellor, the settlement is for $1.6 million.

Town officials signed off on the settlement during an executive session following the town board’s Jan. 18 meeting.

POTSDAM-- Amvets Post 282, 6771 US Highway 11, will hold an open house from noon to 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10. The event is open to all veterans.

The Syracuse VA Medical Center will be on hand to answer questions about VA healthcare enrollment and related issues and help register for ID cards and file claims. If you are a veteran and not enrolled with VA Healthcare, you must bring a photo ID and copy of your DD214.

The Watertown Vet Center van and DAV transportation vans will be on site.

This winter is projected to be a cold and bitter one in New York State, with many regions already experiencing record chills and snowfall. The Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) reminds New Yorkers to follow some essential safety tips when heating their homes this winter.

Fire departments usually see an uptick in home fires during the winter, with nearly half of all home heating equipment fires occurring during December, January and February. Carbon monoxide (CO) exposure and poisonings also increase during these months.

OGDENSBURG — Pro Musica, a community choir that began in Ogdensburg over half a century ago, has begun preparations for their annual spring concert and held their first meeting of the spring Jan. 25.

Ogdensburg’s Pro Musica Chorus will meet at the First Presbyterian Church on the corner of Ford and Franklin Streets in Ogdensburg from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday evenings.

The 25+ member chorus, once again under the direction of Diane McEntee, will sing traditional and modern songs for their spring concert in May 2023.

CANTON — The St. Lawrence County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board’s Feb. 2 meeting has been rescheduled to Thursday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. in the 2nd floor conference room at the County Public Safety Building, 49 ½ Court St.

The meeting was rescheduled so the board can convene a joint meeting with the County Planning Board.

Leslie RussekPOTSDAM – Clarkson University Professor Emeritus of Physical Therapy Professor Leslie Russek recently led an international team of researchers and expert clinicians in publishing an article titled “Presentation and physical therapy management of upper cervical instability in patients with symptomatic generalized joint hypermobility: International exp

STOCKHOLM — Three individuals have been charged with drug related offenses after a traffic stop in Stockholm.

Donald E. White, 59, of Winthrop, Rebecca A. Cloutier, 39, of North Lawrence and Michelle A. Delosh, 38, of Winthrop, were all charged following the stop, police say.

According to state police, a trooper observed a black Ford Escape on County Route 49 using a turn signal in a strange manner.

Police say a check of the NY registration showed the vehicle was involved in a hit and run accident in the village of Massena.

To the Editor:

When former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s scandals surfaced, Rep. Elise Stefanik made multiple attacks, such as calling him, “America’s worst governor.” As details emerged, she was joined by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer, President Biden, and at least 85 other prominent Democrats from either Congress or New York State in rightfully calling for Cuomo’s eventual resignation.

But, in contrast with these Democrats who show willingness to “police their own,” Stefanik repeatedly shows she only cares about ethics when it involves a Democrat.