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Joint Courtroom Complex Completed

The Village and Town of Clayton are pleased to announce an Open House will be held at the newly renovated Justice Court Facility at the Clayton Municipal Building on Thursday, June 17, 2010 from 5-7pm.  The public is invited to attend.  Light refreshments will be served.

 
DEC Finishes Cleanup at Frink America in Clayton
Comprehensive Cleanup Turns Polluted Site into Community Asset

Media Release via Newzjunky.com

CLAYTON, N.Y., Feb. 5, 2010 — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced that the cleanup of the former Frink America snowplow manufacturing site in Clayton (Jefferson County) is complete, clearing the way for the 8-acre parcel along the St. Lawrence River to return to productive use.

The cleanup of the site was made possible by $1.5 million in grants from the Environmental Restoration Program (ERP). The DEC-run program helps municipalities stuck with cleaning up abandoned industrial sites when the former site owner or other responsible party cannot be forced to pay for remediation, and developers willing to take over the cleanup cannot be found.
“The contamination of this site took decades. But by working in close collaboration with local officials, we completed a comprehensive cleanup in a few short years,” Commissioner Grannis said. “The former Frink America site – attractive because of its location on the St. Lawrence River, near the town docks and with beautiful views of the islands – can now return to productive use. That’s good news for the environment, public health and the local economy.”

Local officials have proposed mixed-use development for the site. This may include park areas, green space and light commercial development.

“Any time a small local government like the Town of Clayton takes on a major project like this, collaboration is essential,” said Clayton Supervisor Justin A. Taylor. “We've benefited from the help of many partners, including the Clayton Local Development Corporation, the Village of Clayton, Jefferson County, the Development Authority of the North Country, the state Department of Health and the DEC on this project. All of those involved were positive and pro-active and that has brought the task at hand to a successful completion. The Clayton community and the region will benefit from this for decades to come.”

“This project provides a great example of how we can work together at the state and local level to ensure contaminated properties are made safe and productive once again,” said Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine. “This cleanup project has created the conditions needed for private investment on this site to create jobs and contribute to the local tax base for generations. As a cornerstone in this village, a redeveloped Frink site will be a welcome addition here, where town and village officials have done a great job fostering development along the beautiful St. Lawrence River. I want to thank the DEC for its role in the process and Commissioner Grannis for recognizing the significance of this project.”

“The return of this site to productive use will greatly benefit the local economy,” said Assemblywoman Addie Russell. “Our river frontage is one of our best assets and the proposed mixed use will provide wonderful opportunities for everyone while preserving the viewshed. I commend all of the local officials who worked so hard to complete the site cleanup in such a relatively short period of time, and to Commissioner Grannis and the DEC for understanding the importance of this project for Clayton and the surrounding communities.”

The site, located at the intersection of Webb Street and Riverside Drive, historically had been used as a rail yard and an ice house, and at times served as a storage area for lumber and coal, among other uses. It became the home to Frink America in the 1920s when Carl A. Frink moved his burgeoning snowplow business to the property. Previously a local tire shop owner, Frink launched his new company after he successfully constructed a steel snowplow to clear a bus route from Clayton to Watertown. Frink America operated at the site until 2000.

The snowplow fabrication process involved the cutting, welding, rolling and painting of raw steel. Unfortunately, the process resulted in soil and groundwater contamination that included metals, non-chlorinated solvents (toluene and xylene) and petroleum (releases from on-site fuel tanks and a petroleum bulk storage operation). While DEC was negotiating the remediation of these issues, the facility was sold to a Quebec company that abruptly closed the factory. The town later acquired the site through foreclosure and applied for ERP assistance in 2005.

The comprehensive cleanup included demolishing structures that contained paint waste and asbestos, digging out petroleum tanks and waste-storage tanks and removing contaminated soils – approximately 20,000 tons of soil were excavated at depths ranging from two to eight feet below the surface.

Following the completion of these actions, the town conducted a follow-up investigation of soils, surface water and groundwater, and soil vapors. Based on the results, DEC, in consultation with the state Department of Health, determined that the site no longer poses a threat to human health or the environment.

Official: Senator Aubertine
 

 

JCJDC honors Clayton restaurant

By Nancy Madsen, Watertown Daily Times

Sunday, January 31, 2010

A pasta maker, chairs and dishes.

That's how Lyric Coffee House & Bistro owner Katalin I. Danielson said she'll spend the $1,000 prize from the New Business Venture Award she won Friday afternoon.

The Jefferson County Job Development Corp. presented the restaurant with the award during its annual membership meeting at the Black River Valley Club. Ms. Danielson credited her employees and customers for the award.

"I really feel that a business is only as good as its employees," she told a crowd of JCJDC members. "And the customers are the ones that direct us in what we do."

The coffee house and restaurant opened in 2006 at 246 James St., Clayton. Ms. Danielson renovated the former Lyric Theatre using her background as an interior designer. Putting the energy and investment into the renovations and restaurant has made the eatery successful, she said.

"My dad once said to me, 'Find a need and fill it and you will be successful,'" she said. "I think our customers have told us what to do and we've done that."

The Lyric Coffee House & Bistro and three other nominees also receive a year's membership in JCJDC and entry fees waived for the Creative Core Emerging Business and Agribusiness Competitions, which have a $200,000 prize.

The other nominees were Cross Island Farms, Wellesley Island; Chiropractic Wellness Center of Northern New York, Evans Mills and Sackets Harbor, and Vision Center II, Watertown.

"Our nominees this year were from all over the county," said Mary Anne Hanley, JCJDC director of marketing. "For us, as a county economic development agency, this is huge."

The nominees must be in Jefferson County, in operation for two to four years and show how the business has implemented its business plan and grown.

"What we're looking at here is the future," JCJDC Chief Executive Officer Donald C. Alexander said. "Folks like them can overcome a lot of issues that businesses traditionally face. Businesses can be successful in Jefferson County."

Lyric Coffee House will continue to grow. The restaurant will add more events, including wedding receptions and rehearsal dinners, Ms. Danielson said. She also will expand the outdoor seating area.

"We just want to be better at what we do," she said.

ON THE NET

Lyric Coffee House & Bistro: www.lyriccoffeehouse.com

 

Clayton Community Band Concert Dec. 1 to Benefit Hospices of Jefferson & St. Lawrence Counties

Clayton Community Band to Play Benefit Concert for Local Hospices

Ushering in Clayton’s week of pre-Christmas holiday excitement, the Clayton Community Band will fill the Clayton Opera House with the joyous sounds of holiday music on Tuesday evening, December 1st at 7 PM, as the Band presents its “Bringing in the Holiday Spirit” concert. The Clayton Community Band, Resident Ensemble of the Clayton Opera House, will present their annual holiday concert as a dual benefit for both Hospice of Jefferson County and Hospice of St. Lawrence County.

 Under the direction of Gloria Hvizdos Musser, the Clayton Community Band has prepared a program of upbeat and exciting wintertime and Christmas holiday favorites for its December 1st program. Included in the concert will be two Mannheim Steamroller arrangements: “Carol of the Bells” and “O’ Little Town of Bethlehem”; Leroy Anderson’s well-known “Sleigh Ride”; vocalist Rick Badour (who also plays trumpet, tuba or baritone saxophone with the Band) singing “White Christmas” with the Band; husband and wife duo (Band members Tom and Mary Eder) performing a cornet - flute duet arrangement with the Band for "Baby, It's Cold Outside"; a lively jazz waltz arrangement of “God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen”; “Carol of the Night” based on the familiar “Silent Night”; and many selections which are medleys packed full of seasonal Christmas favorites, including “Rudolph’s Christmas Overture”, “A Most Wonderful Christmas”, “Snow!” and “A Christmas Festival”. The Band will once again invite the audience to join them for a joyous Christmas sing-a long.

[Photo by Jan Brabant] Shown here is a recent concert picture of the Clayton Community Band under the direction of Gloria Hvizdos Musser.

The Clayton Community Band continues its tradition of performing its concerts as benefits for charitable organizations. On Tuesday, December 1st at 7 PM, the Clayton Community Band invites you to come and enjoy its “Bringing in the Holiday Spirit” concert at the Clayton Opera House, and at the same time, to support Hospice for the invaluable, compassionate care it provides.

 Admission for the December 1st Hospice Benefit Concert at the Clayton Opera House is $5.00. Students will be admitted free if accompanied by an adult. The program is open to the public, and the Opera House is both heated and handicapped accessible. Tickets are available at the Opera House. 
 
 
 
 

Town of Clayton

405 Riverside Drive | Clayton, NY 13624 | Phone: (315) 686-3512 | Fax: (315) 686-2651

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