BY ADAM ATKINSONNorth Country This Week

HANNAWA FALLS -- The town of Potsdam and the Clarkson Student Occupational Therapy Department will host the second annual Postwood Polar Plunge on March 9 at 10 a.m. at Postwood Park Beach.

The town board authorized Town Supervisor Marty Miller to sign a contract with Clarkson to hold the event at the town-owned park again this year.

“We are working with the students to coordinate all the different aspects of the event, including warming tents, porta-potties, sign-ups, coordinating with the rescue squad etc.,” Town Councilwoman Allyssa Hardiman, who sits on the town recreation committee, reported to the board at their Feb. 6 meeting.

“Marty (Miller, town supervisor), Alex Wilke (village mayor) and myself are all going to jump into the water, so that will be a lot of fun. Lynn (Hall, town councilwoman) is also going to be there, so if anyone else wants to come jump in,” Hardiman said.

“I’m going to be out of town that weekend,” quipped town clerk Cindy Golliber.

There is a $10 minimum donation cost to make the plunge. Pledges are welcome. All proceeds will be donated to The Renewal House.

All participants must sign a waiver and check in with the event coordinator prior to plunging.

Plungers must have weather-appropriate clothes that can be easily donned after exiting the water.

Those taking the plunge are advised to wear warm baggy clothes until they are within seconds, not minutes, of entering the water.

No alcohol or marijuana will be allowed in the park area.

For more information on the event, email Meredith Miller at millermg@clarkson.edu .

Other Postwood news

In other developments concerning Postwood Park, where the town runs its summer recreation and swim program, Hardiman told the board that there were several improvement goals the recreation committee would like to see done at the park in the future, including campsites. However, she said they think that the main focus this year should be construction of a new pavilion there.

She said a separate town account for donations for the pavilion project could be set up so the town could save money given by supporters to the endeavor.

Hardiman said a community coloring book mural, funded by a future grant, is also being planned at the park.

Town Clerk Cindy Golliber suggested the town also plan to install wheelchair accessible ramps at the beach into the water. Golliber said such a move might help the town secure grants for other related park improvements.