Story reprinted from article first appearing in the January 26, 2006 issue of News-Enterprise.
Connection construction to begin. By Mark W. Erler

   NORTH CREEK -The first phase in connecting Gore Mountain to Ski Bowl Park will begin this spring, according to Gore Mountain General Manager Mike Pratt.
Pratt was on hand at the Jan. 17 Johnsburg Town Board meeting to highlight the status of the Gore Mt./Ski Bowl interconnect project. Pratt explained that the endeavor is planned to commence in three phases, and laid out the details of phase one.
   At an estimated cost of $1.2 million, phase one includes the replacement of a non-operational lift at the town Ski Bowl and the installation of lights there to facilitate night skiing and tubing. New snow making equipment, facility updates, and trail improvements are also part of the phase one plans.
   The Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) has partnered with the town of Johnsburg for this project and the necessary funding is derived from a series of joint efforts by the two entities.
   According to a written report shared by Pratt with those in attendance, $200,000 comes from a town land sale. Thanks to Congressman John Sweeney, $248,000 has been acquired through the Warren County Economic
  Development Corporation (WCEDC) from Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Another $750,000 is contingent upon grants from National Grid and the governor's office for small cities.
   To accompany these announcements several members of the WCEDC were on hand to describe two other' programs organized through the corporation to assist with future economic development in the town. Patricia Tatich and Jamie White described the North Creek Main Street Program and the Micro- Enterprise Program to board and audience members. They explained how both projects are designed to assist area businesses and help further boost the local economy.
  The WCEDC recently was awarded a $200,000 grant from the New York Main Street Program, Tatich said. The county plans to disseminate these funds in several forms including some financial support for North Creek businesses, assistance with the creation of new affordable residential units within commercial buildings, and municipal streetscape improvements. Interested businesses and new "start ups" are encouraged to contact the Warren Country offices for further details.
   Further meeting particulars included board votes for 		 
appointments to the Johnsburg Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) and the Planning Board. Dottie Osterhout was unanimously appointed to the Planning Board, and Marion Monroe received undivided votes for her seat on the ZBA.
   At another point during the meeting, Supervisor William Thomas took a moment to address a recent complaint regarding the highway department's use of town trucks to spread sand on roads. Thomas cited from a document prepared for the occasion by Highway Superintendent Fred Hitchcock. Hitchcock pointed out to those pl1esent that according to municipal traffic and vehicle laws, town trucks are exempt during winter months from a requirement to cover sand loads while they are engaged in or en route to necessary sanding areas. The complaint appeared as a Letter to the Editor in the Jan. 12 issue of the News-Enterprise.
  The next Johnsburg Town Board Meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7 at the Wevertown Community Center.



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