It’s an important year for the Lake Champlain Transportation Company, bringing about
not one, but two anniversaries. The first of these is the 190th anniversary of the incorporation of
the company itself. As with any company that boasts such longevity, however, the company has
undergone multiple evolutions and changed hands many times over the years, and this year also
marks the 40th anniversary of the year the Pecor family gained ownership of the company. This
change in ownership immediately preceded the expansion of the Grand Isle crossing into its
current year-round service, according to Lake Champlain Transportation Company Operations
Manager Heather Stewart.
To some, the availability of this crossing is an integral part of travel that has seemingly
always been available for the community’s use.
“I’m not even a part of the Plattsburgh community anymore,” said former SUNY
Plattsburgh student and Poughkeepsie resident Chris Delano, “but I still come to Plattsburgh and
Burlington to hit concerts and see my old friends. The ferry’s always a part of the trip, and I
think it’s overlooked because a lot of people are so used to it, but it’s important and I don’t think
the area would be the same without it.”
Connecticut transplant Tiffany Rose agreed, explaining that the ferry trip offers a quirky
break on her trips to Burlington.
“Plattsburgh is in a pretty good spot with Montreal to the north and Burlington across the
lake, and Burlington already has a pretty unique atmosphere as it is,” Rose said. “The ferry ride
is something I had never experienced before I came here and it changes every time I go. It’s so
much better than your typical drive.”
But while the crossing serves its purpose as a link between communities, there is a long
history behind the company’s development that brought the Grand Isle to where it is today.
Stewart said Ray Pecor Jr. bought the company in 1976 not simply out of a desire for
profit or expansion, but out of need for a more convenient method of travel. Around the time
when Pecor purchased the company, he owned a mobile home company on both sides of Lake
Champlain, Stewart said. There were ferries operating at the time, but it was only seasonally, and
Stewart explained that Pecor dieliked driving around the whole lake during winter when there
could be a more convenient solution.
“Then the ferry company came for sale, and he said ‘I’m gonna try and buy it.’ So he
scrapped every little dime he had together and bought the company,” Stewart said.
The transition to year-round service came quite quickly after Pecor purchased the
company, and so it has remained ever since. The other crossings operated by the company
continue to remain seasonal due to their lesser usage, but Heather says the tourist season in the
summer brings plenty of people to the other ferries.
The leap from seasonal to year-round service was but one of the many changes the
company has undergone since the Pecors purchased the company, a statement that can be backed
up firsthand by Dan Landry, a veteran captain who is currently in his 41st year of employment
with the Lake Champlain Transportation Company.
Landry cited many reasons for the successful growth of the company, which, he said, has
increased significantly since he first began his stint with them in 1975. Chief among these
reasons is that the company was simply able to adjust to increased demand, which comes from
an array of travelers including commuters, tourists, medical-related travel between Plattsburgh
and Burlington, and commercial travel. A huge part of their 24/7 traffic is comprised of tractor
trailers, Landry said.
This presence of tractor trailers also prompted another type of evolution for the company
that both Stewart and Pecor mentioned: the development of boats over time to adapt to the needs
of the community. While the company has many older boats in operation at other crossings,
would need to evolve, too, to better fit an important group of stakeholders in the service. Boats
also needed redesigning to help combat the harsh weather conditions that the area frequently
experiences.
By Sean Messier
Another reason for the company’s growth, Landry said, is simple reliability.
“On any given day we might be running a few minutes late, but generally speaking we’re
a 24/7 company,” Landry said. “We’re here 365 days a year. Not much shuts us down.”
That said, the Grand Isle Crossing has had issues from time to time causing its closing.
Most of these tend to be weather-related, with ice and dangerous winds being the most common
problems. Landry recalled some less typical speed bumps in the crossing’s operation, too, such
as a fish hatchery fire that took place in the 80s that required a clearance of a mile and a half
radius in the event that the propane tanks at the hatchery exploded. This caused a three-day
shutdown for the crossing, but otherwise, Landry said, very little has come in the way of the
ferries’ daily operations over the years.
And for the time being, neither Landry nor Stewart expect a decrease in growth or
activity from the company thanks to the constant stream of traffic that now makes the Lake
Champlain Transportation Company’s Grand Isle crossing a part of its commute.
“It was really pivotal to the company that Ray took the lead to go year-round,” Stewart
said. “Year after year it just gets better and better.”
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Not your typical daycare
By Jasely Molina
A resourceful daycare provider found that it was essential to teach toddlers the
fundamentals, etiquette and confidence needed in order for them to thrive in Pre-K and
Kindergarten. After working as a warranty administrator, she felt that it was time to change up
her career path, become her own boss and be a nurturing mentor for children.
Plattsburgh Daycare Provider Courtney Claffey opened her home-based daycare business
in 2 Onondaga Lane two years ago. She has found the homonymous business to be a success.
Claffey had previous experience as a beach bus monitor. Her job consisted of ensuring that the
children were all safely transported to and from their homes. Her mother was a daycare provider
in the military. Claffey also took care of her brother and cousins. These experiences, as well
being a mother of a five-year-old boy, made Claffey feel comfortable about starting this
business.
Claffey started her business by taking CPR classes at the Joint Council for Economic
Opportunity of of Clinton and Franklin Counties, Incorporated (JCEO). Claffey started posting
fliers in local banks and convenience stores. Within two weeks, Claffey had her first student.
Claffey believes that what makes her business distinctive from other daycares are the flexible
hours. Claffey takes care of seven full time students. The ages range from four months to four-
years-old. Her first student is dropped off at 6:35 a.m. on the weekdays. At 9 a.m. Claffey waits
for the buses to arrive and drop off the rest of the students. Breakfast is served at 9:30 a.m. After
that, Claffey lets the children play for a bit. “I usually give them Play-Doh to play with. They
love Play-Doh. If it’s a good day outside, I would take them out for about an hour and then it’s
lunch time,” Claffey said. After lunch, the children have “rest time.” Claffey said that she does
not call it “nap time” because the children do not have to fall asleep. The children just have to
quietly sit on the mats and watch a movie. In the meantime, Claffey cleans up the leftovers from
lunch and sets up for the next activity. Around 2 p.m. the children are given a snack and help
Claffey with picking up the toys. At 3 p.m. the first set of parents come into pick up their
children. The last student is picked up at 5:30 p.m.
Claffey’s daycare is inside her home. When you first walk in, there are cubbies set in the
far left side of the room. The children usually place their mats there. The living room has two
small tables with three to four chairs for the children to sit on. Each chair has a different color.
There is a huge rug with books and baby toys around for the newborns. Stacked on the kitchen
tables are a series of baby bottles, coloring books and a box filled with markers . The kitchen and
living room are divided by a baby-proof gate. Claffey also has a green bin that she uses to hold
all of the children’s toys. After they are done playing, the children have to return the toys to that
specific bin.
“She has a really good handle with the kids. She has five three-year-olds. I praise her for
being able to maintain composure. That says a lot about her character,” says Becky Barnes.
Barnes leaves her two daughters, three-year-old Zoey and seven-month-old Mia, in the care of
Courtney Claffey while she goes off to work. Initially, Barnes had her daughters enrolled in
another daycare; however, when the daycare closed down, she searched for daycare providers
online and found Claffey. Barnes went through the interview process and found that Claffey was
the right choice for her children. To Barnes, what makes Claffey’s daycare stand out from other
daycares is that Claffey’s daycare “is structured more like a classroom setting.” Barnes said that
Claffey is focused on making this daycare an educational environment while some of the other
daycares “were just a free for all.” Barnes feels that what makes this daycare special is how
Courtney Claffey thinks. Barnes considers Claffey to be on the same level as her with parenting
and felt comfortable with allowing Claffey to take care of her children. “I’ve noticed that my
daughter is a lot further with her [alphabet] and recognizing letters. She knew them before but
she recognizing them more. She can also count a little higher,” Barnes said.
In order to maintain the business, Claffey has to follow specific rules. Christina Danussi
is a daycare director at JCEO. Her job is to help individuals become registered daycare
providers. Claffey has been registered as a daycare provider since October 4, 2014. According to
Danussi, every person that is interested in becoming a daycare provider must take 30 hours of
training each year. This includes CPR training. Danussi also helps the providers with filling out
their application packet. After that, providers like Claffey, receive a 35 page plan on what they
have to do. The provider is given $400 a week in order to have essentials such as fire alarms and
fire extinguishers to ensure the safety of the child. Every house is inspected. The houses are
inspected inadvertently. “Claffey’s daycare is wonderful, inviting and educational for children!”
Danussi said.
For the daycare to run smoothly, Claffey has to comply with a set meal plan for the
children and specific hygiene and safety requirements. Jennifer Cross is a home inspector for the
54 daycares in Plattsburgh. Cross said that Claffey and other providers are given a booklet. This
booklet has a series of recipes that Claffey has to follow. “For breakfast, the children are usually
given something with grain, milk and cheese in it. We provide healthy alternatives for them to
follow. It’s okay sometimes for the children to be fed chicken nuggets and fries, but we try to
push the providers to keep healthy components,” Cross said. In order for Claffey to keep her
clean record during inspections, she has to make sure that her fridge is set a specific temperature,
there are safety locks everywhere, the house is clean, there are no bug risks and that there is no
garbage lingering around.
Courtney Claffey believes that what makes her business successful is preparation and
pride. Her flexible hours also play a role in her success. She said that there are many parents that
work overtime or have early shifts and need someone to take care of their child. Her curriculum
consists of activities that will benefit the children when they go off to elementary school such as
“circle time.” In circle time, the children gather together on their mats and read books together.
To keep the children engaged, Claffey would ask them questions about the book and have them
point out certain images. She has also taught her students how to be prepared in case of
emergencies. “I had one kid that used to cry whenever he heard the fire alarm go off, now when
he hears it, he comes over to me and knows exactly what to do,” Claffey said. During circle time,
Claffey also teaches her students about keeping their hands to themselves. She typically waits for
the children to settle in before she says “criss-cross applesauce, spoons in the bowls.” This
ensures that the students are not touching each other or getting distracted. Her CPR training has
helped her with our of her students. During a birthday celebration, one of the boys was choking
on his pizza. Claffey was able to perform the Heimlich maneuver on the boy and stop him from
choking on his food. She felt that that was one of the more rewarding moments in her career
because she knew exactly what to do at the moment.
Courtney Claffey hopes to see her students grow and be able to become independent as
they develop. One of her students was kicked out a daycare for his behavior; however, Claffey
said that she never gave up on the student and that some of his actions have stopped. Claffey felt
that she was up for the challenge and refused to quit on the child. She feels accomplished when
she sees her students learning some new each day and coming back with a new ability. “I’m
proud of this business. I had been ready for this. I was working towards it. I was proud that I
could quit my job and just do this. I’m more successful now.”
A resourceful daycare provider found that it was essential to teach toddlers the
fundamentals, etiquette and confidence needed in order for them to thrive in Pre-K and
Kindergarten. After working as a warranty administrator, she felt that it was time to change up
her career path, become her own boss and be a nurturing mentor for children.
Plattsburgh Daycare Provider Courtney Claffey opened her home-based daycare business
in 2 Onondaga Lane two years ago. She has found the homonymous business to be a success.
Claffey had previous experience as a beach bus monitor. Her job consisted of ensuring that the
children were all safely transported to and from their homes. Her mother was a daycare provider
in the military. Claffey also took care of her brother and cousins. These experiences, as well
being a mother of a five-year-old boy, made Claffey feel comfortable about starting this
business.
Claffey started her business by taking CPR classes at the Joint Council for Economic
Opportunity of of Clinton and Franklin Counties, Incorporated (JCEO). Claffey started posting
fliers in local banks and convenience stores. Within two weeks, Claffey had her first student.
Claffey believes that what makes her business distinctive from other daycares are the flexible
hours. Claffey takes care of seven full time students. The ages range from four months to four-
years-old. Her first student is dropped off at 6:35 a.m. on the weekdays. At 9 a.m. Claffey waits
for the buses to arrive and drop off the rest of the students. Breakfast is served at 9:30 a.m. After
that, Claffey lets the children play for a bit. “I usually give them Play-Doh to play with. They
love Play-Doh. If it’s a good day outside, I would take them out for about an hour and then it’s
lunch time,” Claffey said. After lunch, the children have “rest time.” Claffey said that she does
not call it “nap time” because the children do not have to fall asleep. The children just have to
quietly sit on the mats and watch a movie. In the meantime, Claffey cleans up the leftovers from
lunch and sets up for the next activity. Around 2 p.m. the children are given a snack and help
Claffey with picking up the toys. At 3 p.m. the first set of parents come into pick up their
children. The last student is picked up at 5:30 p.m.
Claffey’s daycare is inside her home. When you first walk in, there are cubbies set in the
far left side of the room. The children usually place their mats there. The living room has two
small tables with three to four chairs for the children to sit on. Each chair has a different color.
There is a huge rug with books and baby toys around for the newborns. Stacked on the kitchen
tables are a series of baby bottles, coloring books and a box filled with markers . The kitchen and
living room are divided by a baby-proof gate. Claffey also has a green bin that she uses to hold
all of the children’s toys. After they are done playing, the children have to return the toys to that
specific bin.
“She has a really good handle with the kids. She has five three-year-olds. I praise her for
being able to maintain composure. That says a lot about her character,” says Becky Barnes.
Barnes leaves her two daughters, three-year-old Zoey and seven-month-old Mia, in the care of
Courtney Claffey while she goes off to work. Initially, Barnes had her daughters enrolled in
another daycare; however, when the daycare closed down, she searched for daycare providers
online and found Claffey. Barnes went through the interview process and found that Claffey was
the right choice for her children. To Barnes, what makes Claffey’s daycare stand out from other
daycares is that Claffey’s daycare “is structured more like a classroom setting.” Barnes said that
Claffey is focused on making this daycare an educational environment while some of the other
daycares “were just a free for all.” Barnes feels that what makes this daycare special is how
Courtney Claffey thinks. Barnes considers Claffey to be on the same level as her with parenting
and felt comfortable with allowing Claffey to take care of her children. “I’ve noticed that my
daughter is a lot further with her [alphabet] and recognizing letters. She knew them before but
she recognizing them more. She can also count a little higher,” Barnes said.
In order to maintain the business, Claffey has to follow specific rules. Christina Danussi
is a daycare director at JCEO. Her job is to help individuals become registered daycare
providers. Claffey has been registered as a daycare provider since October 4, 2014. According to
Danussi, every person that is interested in becoming a daycare provider must take 30 hours of
training each year. This includes CPR training. Danussi also helps the providers with filling out
their application packet. After that, providers like Claffey, receive a 35 page plan on what they
have to do. The provider is given $400 a week in order to have essentials such as fire alarms and
fire extinguishers to ensure the safety of the child. Every house is inspected. The houses are
inspected inadvertently. “Claffey’s daycare is wonderful, inviting and educational for children!”
Danussi said.
For the daycare to run smoothly, Claffey has to comply with a set meal plan for the
children and specific hygiene and safety requirements. Jennifer Cross is a home inspector for the
54 daycares in Plattsburgh. Cross said that Claffey and other providers are given a booklet. This
booklet has a series of recipes that Claffey has to follow. “For breakfast, the children are usually
given something with grain, milk and cheese in it. We provide healthy alternatives for them to
follow. It’s okay sometimes for the children to be fed chicken nuggets and fries, but we try to
push the providers to keep healthy components,” Cross said. In order for Claffey to keep her
clean record during inspections, she has to make sure that her fridge is set a specific temperature,
there are safety locks everywhere, the house is clean, there are no bug risks and that there is no
garbage lingering around.
Courtney Claffey believes that what makes her business successful is preparation and
pride. Her flexible hours also play a role in her success. She said that there are many parents that
work overtime or have early shifts and need someone to take care of their child. Her curriculum
consists of activities that will benefit the children when they go off to elementary school such as
“circle time.” In circle time, the children gather together on their mats and read books together.
To keep the children engaged, Claffey would ask them questions about the book and have them
point out certain images. She has also taught her students how to be prepared in case of
emergencies. “I had one kid that used to cry whenever he heard the fire alarm go off, now when
he hears it, he comes over to me and knows exactly what to do,” Claffey said. During circle time,
Claffey also teaches her students about keeping their hands to themselves. She typically waits for
the children to settle in before she says “criss-cross applesauce, spoons in the bowls.” This
ensures that the students are not touching each other or getting distracted. Her CPR training has
helped her with our of her students. During a birthday celebration, one of the boys was choking
on his pizza. Claffey was able to perform the Heimlich maneuver on the boy and stop him from
choking on his food. She felt that that was one of the more rewarding moments in her career
because she knew exactly what to do at the moment.
Courtney Claffey hopes to see her students grow and be able to become independent as
they develop. One of her students was kicked out a daycare for his behavior; however, Claffey
said that she never gave up on the student and that some of his actions have stopped. Claffey felt
that she was up for the challenge and refused to quit on the child. She feels accomplished when
she sees her students learning some new each day and coming back with a new ability. “I’m
proud of this business. I had been ready for this. I was working towards it. I was proud that I
could quit my job and just do this. I’m more successful now.”
Strand Theatre puts on a memorable show
By Yesenia Reynoso
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Thunderous vocals and delicate melodies fill the Strand Center
Gallery in downtown Plattsburgh. The crowd listens intently and though many come from
different walks of life, for 45 minutes everyone shares a common thread: music.
The Brown Bag Sessions are a series of new-time concerts made possible by a
collaboration between Karen Becker and the Strand Center Gallery.
Becker who is the chair for the music
department at SUNY Plattsburgh, came up with the
idea after donating her piano to the Strand, and they
expressed interest in having someone play during
their art openings. Becker made a deal and agreed to
find a pianist for the Strand in exchange for a venue
to host what would become the Brown Bag Sessions.
“It just seemed to be kind of fortuitous. They are getting something they need, which is
music during their art openings, and we get a free, high visibility venue for our kids to perform
in,” Becker said.
This exchange of resources has been particularly beneficial for Ayrice Wilson and Daniel
De Cranie-Pierre, both who performed at the Strand on March 25, 2016.
“The creation of the Brown Bag sessions has given students more opportunities to
perform,” Wilson, who is a senior at SUNY Plattsburgh, said. “It gives us the opportunity to
show the community members a new side of college students.”
Daniel De Cranie-Pierre holds note “There’s two sides to every coin,” Cranie-
Pierre, who is also a senior at SUNY Plattsburgh said. “Community members often think that the
college students are just loud and rowdy, but because of these concerts, we can shed a different
light. We can show them what we’re actually here in Plattsburgh to do.”
The lack of event interaction between community members and college students has been
an ongoing issue for the past several years.
“There aren’t many events happening that both college students and regular community
members both attend,” community member Casey Koziatek said.
“People think that there aren’t any similarities between college students and everyone
else in the town, maybe because of age or culture, but it’s important that we foster a relationship
with each other, because we all live in the same place,” Koziatek said.
The Strand Center Gallery served as a “melting pot” as a mix of college students and
community memebers watched and listened as both Wilson and Cranie-Pierre performed songs
in Italian, German, and French.
At the end of the show both Wilson and Cranie-Pierre received a thunderous applause,
with some members giving a stand ovation.
“It was our first one, and for a first event I think it went pretty well. We needed to pull out
more tables and chairs, so I’ll take it,” Becker said.
“We’re hoping to have these four times in the school year; in October, November and then
again in March and April,” Becker said.
For SUNY Plattsburgh’s music department and for community businesses such as the
Strand, music seems to be the way to unite the two sides of Plattsburgh.
“Music is the universal language that everyone understands,” Becker said. “We need to
publicize the event, and get the word out.”
“Interactions between community members and SUNY Plattsburgh students needs to
happen more,” Wilson said. “There is no way we can be an island within ourselves. We can learn
from each other.”
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Thunderous vocals and delicate melodies fill the Strand Center
Gallery in downtown Plattsburgh. The crowd listens intently and though many come from
different walks of life, for 45 minutes everyone shares a common thread: music.
The Brown Bag Sessions are a series of new-time concerts made possible by a
collaboration between Karen Becker and the Strand Center Gallery.
Becker who is the chair for the music
department at SUNY Plattsburgh, came up with the
idea after donating her piano to the Strand, and they
expressed interest in having someone play during
their art openings. Becker made a deal and agreed to
find a pianist for the Strand in exchange for a venue
to host what would become the Brown Bag Sessions.
“It just seemed to be kind of fortuitous. They are getting something they need, which is
music during their art openings, and we get a free, high visibility venue for our kids to perform
in,” Becker said.
This exchange of resources has been particularly beneficial for Ayrice Wilson and Daniel
De Cranie-Pierre, both who performed at the Strand on March 25, 2016.
“The creation of the Brown Bag sessions has given students more opportunities to
perform,” Wilson, who is a senior at SUNY Plattsburgh, said. “It gives us the opportunity to
show the community members a new side of college students.”
Daniel De Cranie-Pierre holds note “There’s two sides to every coin,” Cranie-
Pierre, who is also a senior at SUNY Plattsburgh said. “Community members often think that the
college students are just loud and rowdy, but because of these concerts, we can shed a different
light. We can show them what we’re actually here in Plattsburgh to do.”
The lack of event interaction between community members and college students has been
an ongoing issue for the past several years.
“There aren’t many events happening that both college students and regular community
members both attend,” community member Casey Koziatek said.
“People think that there aren’t any similarities between college students and everyone
else in the town, maybe because of age or culture, but it’s important that we foster a relationship
with each other, because we all live in the same place,” Koziatek said.
The Strand Center Gallery served as a “melting pot” as a mix of college students and
community memebers watched and listened as both Wilson and Cranie-Pierre performed songs
in Italian, German, and French.
At the end of the show both Wilson and Cranie-Pierre received a thunderous applause,
with some members giving a stand ovation.
“It was our first one, and for a first event I think it went pretty well. We needed to pull out
more tables and chairs, so I’ll take it,” Becker said.
“We’re hoping to have these four times in the school year; in October, November and then
again in March and April,” Becker said.
For SUNY Plattsburgh’s music department and for community businesses such as the
Strand, music seems to be the way to unite the two sides of Plattsburgh.
“Music is the universal language that everyone understands,” Becker said. “We need to
publicize the event, and get the word out.”
“Interactions between community members and SUNY Plattsburgh students needs to
happen more,” Wilson said. “There is no way we can be an island within ourselves. We can learn
from each other.”
Angelica Sanchez does it all
By Emily Gregoire
“I started singing when I was 3 years old, it’s not like a memory I remember;
it’s on a home video I watch. I know I was too young to even know what was going on,”
said Plattsburgh High School senior Angelica Sanchez.
Sanchez gets her vocal skills from her mother’s side of the family. She
recalls a time when she was so young, yet so amazed just by watching her cousins sing.
Her mother, Nancy McDonald put her in vocal lessons right away.
“She has a presence”, McDonald said.
When Sanchez was younger, McDonald was a member of the Plattsburgh
State Gospel Choir. Sanchez has always been a part of a very musical family. Each
holiday season is filled with singing and putting on shows.
“What I used to do with Angelica, when she was little, we would put on little
Broadway shows with those pretty, feathered boas and sing,” McDonald said.
Sanchez starred in her first play in 5th grade, she was living in Queens, NY at
the time. Sanchez would audition for her school’s rendition of Grease and would later be
granted the lead role of Sandy.
When Sanchez moved up to middle school, she became involved in talent
shows. In 8th grade she was preparing for a monologue which required her to really get
into character.
Sanchez noted by that time her father had already been diagnosed with cancer
and ironically the monologue was about a young women losing her father and displaying
her emotions.
“And then in 9th grade, that’s when drama club gets serious,” said Sanchez.
She started out with a small part, she practiced and grew. Sanchez came back
each year more and more prepared.
In her junior year of high school, Sanchez played the character of Marty in
another Grease rendition.
For Sanchez’s senior year, she starred in Anything Goes. She says it was one
of her downfalls in her drama club history. Sanchez had fallen ill with strep throat.
“It was one of the most fun shows I’ve ever done,” Sanchez said despite being
ill and worrying about whether or not she could perform.
Sanchez’s mother is not only her biggest fan, McDonald is also her biggest
advantage.
McDonald continues to pass her musical knowledge down to Sanchez. When
Sanchez was younger, it wasn’t always that simple.
Sanchez remembers coming home from vocal practice in the past and telling
McDonald that she was working on things that McDonald had already noted.
“There are many layers to Angelica,” said McDonald.
McDonald says that Sanchez is sensitive, fun-loving, musical, and very
artistic.
Sanchez’s younger sister, Ava even gets in on the act. When the two sing
together Ana is seen as the equalizer and balances Sanchez in just the right way.
“We did a version of the Cups song from Pitch Perfect,” Ava Sanchez said.
Sanchez is multifaceted not only because of her interest, but her personality
“The one thing I really love, is that she is so comical,” McDonald said.
McDonald envisions a bright future for Sanchez; whether that means,
moving to the city to peruse her singing aspirations, taking a shot at professional acting,
or attending school to learn about the fashion industry.
“I think she’d be great on SNL,” McDonald said.
“I started singing when I was 3 years old, it’s not like a memory I remember;
it’s on a home video I watch. I know I was too young to even know what was going on,”
said Plattsburgh High School senior Angelica Sanchez.
Sanchez gets her vocal skills from her mother’s side of the family. She
recalls a time when she was so young, yet so amazed just by watching her cousins sing.
Her mother, Nancy McDonald put her in vocal lessons right away.
“She has a presence”, McDonald said.
When Sanchez was younger, McDonald was a member of the Plattsburgh
State Gospel Choir. Sanchez has always been a part of a very musical family. Each
holiday season is filled with singing and putting on shows.
“What I used to do with Angelica, when she was little, we would put on little
Broadway shows with those pretty, feathered boas and sing,” McDonald said.
Sanchez starred in her first play in 5th grade, she was living in Queens, NY at
the time. Sanchez would audition for her school’s rendition of Grease and would later be
granted the lead role of Sandy.
When Sanchez moved up to middle school, she became involved in talent
shows. In 8th grade she was preparing for a monologue which required her to really get
into character.
Sanchez noted by that time her father had already been diagnosed with cancer
and ironically the monologue was about a young women losing her father and displaying
her emotions.
“And then in 9th grade, that’s when drama club gets serious,” said Sanchez.
She started out with a small part, she practiced and grew. Sanchez came back
each year more and more prepared.
In her junior year of high school, Sanchez played the character of Marty in
another Grease rendition.
For Sanchez’s senior year, she starred in Anything Goes. She says it was one
of her downfalls in her drama club history. Sanchez had fallen ill with strep throat.
“It was one of the most fun shows I’ve ever done,” Sanchez said despite being
ill and worrying about whether or not she could perform.
Sanchez’s mother is not only her biggest fan, McDonald is also her biggest
advantage.
McDonald continues to pass her musical knowledge down to Sanchez. When
Sanchez was younger, it wasn’t always that simple.
Sanchez remembers coming home from vocal practice in the past and telling
McDonald that she was working on things that McDonald had already noted.
“There are many layers to Angelica,” said McDonald.
McDonald says that Sanchez is sensitive, fun-loving, musical, and very
artistic.
Sanchez’s younger sister, Ava even gets in on the act. When the two sing
together Ana is seen as the equalizer and balances Sanchez in just the right way.
“We did a version of the Cups song from Pitch Perfect,” Ava Sanchez said.
Sanchez is multifaceted not only because of her interest, but her personality
“The one thing I really love, is that she is so comical,” McDonald said.
McDonald envisions a bright future for Sanchez; whether that means,
moving to the city to peruse her singing aspirations, taking a shot at professional acting,
or attending school to learn about the fashion industry.
“I think she’d be great on SNL,” McDonald said.
Joli Nails gives increased treatment
By Winta Mebrahti
At JoLi Nails & Spa, a woman standing at the cash register placed her credit card, with her well-
manicured hand, on the palms of the woman with equally well-manicured hands. As she pays for
the services she received at the salon, the conversation that ensues is nothing like the idle chit chat
between client and the worker. It's different. The salon client described her stressful life and
expected advice from the cashier. She got it — that's part of the experience at this salon.
“Sometimes I feel like a little bit of a therapist,” co-owner Van (Joey) Tran said.
JoLi Nails & Spa has been open for a year and one month now. The name comes from a
combining the first two letters of Tran's name with the first two letters of his fiancee and co-owner
of the salon Lin Phan. Although the name suggests that the couple offers spa treatments, they don't.
The name was chosen for a smoother expansion in the future. Tran said they hope to offer massages
and facials to make the salon a one-stop shop. He explained that adding the “spa” to the name later
would mean they would have to re-register with Plattsburgh City and then the state, making the
expansion a longer process.
Though they don't offer those treatments yet and there are older establishments uptown,
Phan and Tran have been able to maintain a client base. Part of what makes their business stand out
is the couples interactions with clients, Tran said. When clients sit down on the elevated chairs to
get their pedicures or manicures, they feel comfortable enough to open up themselves, Phan added.
“If they're willing to do it (talk) I'll listen,” she said and explained that she wants to build
relationships with her clients and listening is key.
But advice isn't something they volunteer, and the couple doesn't ask clients to spill their
beans. Clients usually ask for the owners opinions, and just like a conversation with a friend, the
clients ask if one of the duo has experienced anything similar to what they are going through.
However, that doesn't meant they gossip.
“One thing you have to know how to do is let it go in one way and out the other,” Phan said
gesturing to her ears.
It's something Phan and Tran learned from their years of experience in the nail salon
industry. Phan started doing nails at a shop next to her high school when she was a senior. At that
time it was a way to get quick money, but she ended up staying because she enjoyed it.
“I always liked doing my nail,” Phan said. “I've always done those types of things since I
was a little girl.”
Phan worked at nail salons on and off while she tried to complete her college education, but
decided to do it full time when college didn't pan out for her. She moved to Plattsburgh in 2005 with
her mother so her mother could work at Phan's aunt's nail salon — her parents later started their
own nail salon uptown where Phan worked.
Tran got his start at a family business. Although it wasn't something he thought he would
consider, he said the Asian culture is one where children grow up to help their parents with their
businesses. Too many employees meant less money for the family, which is why daughters and sons
end up helping their parents, Tran said.
Tran fell for the business because he liked the interactions with people from different walks
of life. And those interactions paid off. Clients from where he used to work followed him. Two of
those clients are Laura Griffin and Pamela Pelkey who travel from Malone every three weeks to get
their nails done.
“We have a lot of fun when we're here,” Griffin said. “They make it a homey experience.
They're welcoming.”
Pelkey interjected and explained that they accommodate their young children, who
sometimes get massages while their mothers are getting their nails done. Another factor to their
loyalty to Phan and Tran is that they receive exactly what they want.
“I like how creative he is with his nail polish colors,” Pelkey said. “There's a blue color that
I particularly enjoy that he created.”
Tran said he creates the colors for the clients by mixing different nail polishes because
Winta Matteous-Mebrahti
Business Profile
sometimes clients want a specific nail polish color that aren't available.
Given their willingness to accommodate all their clients, it's easy to believe that JoLi Nails
& Spa has multiple nail technicians. It don't. Phan said they've had a hard time finding someone
who does nails the way their clients are accustomed to. And though business has been good, it's
been tough for the engaged couple who are planing for their summer wedding in Pennsylvania this
year. Simple things like re-stocking their shop is hard because they have to drive down to New York
City to get the items, Tran said.
However, their busy schedule doesn’t affect their clients. If they don't feel like they can give
their clients their all, they usually refer them to the nail salon uptown owned by Phan's parents.
They always return the favor. Phan explained that they don't compete with businesses uptown
because they all have loyal clients. Tran said that he would rather send them to a different nail salon
they know the clients might like than squeeze them in to make more money. It affects the quality of
their work. And that goes against their policy — the clients comes first.
“Before you leave if you're not happy you have to let me know,” Phan said. “I don't want
you to leave the shop not happy. I want you to leave happy.”
At JoLi Nails & Spa, a woman standing at the cash register placed her credit card, with her well-
manicured hand, on the palms of the woman with equally well-manicured hands. As she pays for
the services she received at the salon, the conversation that ensues is nothing like the idle chit chat
between client and the worker. It's different. The salon client described her stressful life and
expected advice from the cashier. She got it — that's part of the experience at this salon.
“Sometimes I feel like a little bit of a therapist,” co-owner Van (Joey) Tran said.
JoLi Nails & Spa has been open for a year and one month now. The name comes from a
combining the first two letters of Tran's name with the first two letters of his fiancee and co-owner
of the salon Lin Phan. Although the name suggests that the couple offers spa treatments, they don't.
The name was chosen for a smoother expansion in the future. Tran said they hope to offer massages
and facials to make the salon a one-stop shop. He explained that adding the “spa” to the name later
would mean they would have to re-register with Plattsburgh City and then the state, making the
expansion a longer process.
Though they don't offer those treatments yet and there are older establishments uptown,
Phan and Tran have been able to maintain a client base. Part of what makes their business stand out
is the couples interactions with clients, Tran said. When clients sit down on the elevated chairs to
get their pedicures or manicures, they feel comfortable enough to open up themselves, Phan added.
“If they're willing to do it (talk) I'll listen,” she said and explained that she wants to build
relationships with her clients and listening is key.
But advice isn't something they volunteer, and the couple doesn't ask clients to spill their
beans. Clients usually ask for the owners opinions, and just like a conversation with a friend, the
clients ask if one of the duo has experienced anything similar to what they are going through.
However, that doesn't meant they gossip.
“One thing you have to know how to do is let it go in one way and out the other,” Phan said
gesturing to her ears.
It's something Phan and Tran learned from their years of experience in the nail salon
industry. Phan started doing nails at a shop next to her high school when she was a senior. At that
time it was a way to get quick money, but she ended up staying because she enjoyed it.
“I always liked doing my nail,” Phan said. “I've always done those types of things since I
was a little girl.”
Phan worked at nail salons on and off while she tried to complete her college education, but
decided to do it full time when college didn't pan out for her. She moved to Plattsburgh in 2005 with
her mother so her mother could work at Phan's aunt's nail salon — her parents later started their
own nail salon uptown where Phan worked.
Tran got his start at a family business. Although it wasn't something he thought he would
consider, he said the Asian culture is one where children grow up to help their parents with their
businesses. Too many employees meant less money for the family, which is why daughters and sons
end up helping their parents, Tran said.
Tran fell for the business because he liked the interactions with people from different walks
of life. And those interactions paid off. Clients from where he used to work followed him. Two of
those clients are Laura Griffin and Pamela Pelkey who travel from Malone every three weeks to get
their nails done.
“We have a lot of fun when we're here,” Griffin said. “They make it a homey experience.
They're welcoming.”
Pelkey interjected and explained that they accommodate their young children, who
sometimes get massages while their mothers are getting their nails done. Another factor to their
loyalty to Phan and Tran is that they receive exactly what they want.
“I like how creative he is with his nail polish colors,” Pelkey said. “There's a blue color that
I particularly enjoy that he created.”
Tran said he creates the colors for the clients by mixing different nail polishes because
Winta Matteous-Mebrahti
Business Profile
sometimes clients want a specific nail polish color that aren't available.
Given their willingness to accommodate all their clients, it's easy to believe that JoLi Nails
& Spa has multiple nail technicians. It don't. Phan said they've had a hard time finding someone
who does nails the way their clients are accustomed to. And though business has been good, it's
been tough for the engaged couple who are planing for their summer wedding in Pennsylvania this
year. Simple things like re-stocking their shop is hard because they have to drive down to New York
City to get the items, Tran said.
However, their busy schedule doesn’t affect their clients. If they don't feel like they can give
their clients their all, they usually refer them to the nail salon uptown owned by Phan's parents.
They always return the favor. Phan explained that they don't compete with businesses uptown
because they all have loyal clients. Tran said that he would rather send them to a different nail salon
they know the clients might like than squeeze them in to make more money. It affects the quality of
their work. And that goes against their policy — the clients comes first.
“Before you leave if you're not happy you have to let me know,” Phan said. “I don't want
you to leave the shop not happy. I want you to leave happy.”
Karen Bisso: 30 years of Giving Back
By Nicole Collado
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.-- Growing up on Long Island, Karen Bisso wanted to get as far
away from home as she could without leaving New York. Bisso packed up her things and
made the decision to attend SUNY Plattsburgh. Earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree
in special education Bisso knew that teaching was her calling. After 30 years of teaching
our youth at Plattsburgh high school, Bisso will be retiring this spring.
From a young age Bisso knew she wanted to be a teacher, “when other kids were
playing house, I was playing school with all of my teddy bears set up in a circle,” Bisso
said. She decided to specialize in special education because at the time two of her family
members had autism---that number has now risen to three.
After graduating from SUNY Plattsburgh Bisso spent three years in Southern
California with her husband and working as an order processing clerk for a computer
sales company. While working there she still knew she wanted to be a teacher. Bisso
spent her free time creating a plan for the company, “at that time they didn’t have Prezi,
so I was literally cutting and pasting information onto poster boards,” Bisso said, “even
when I wasn’t a teacher I was doing teacher things.” After presenting her plan to the
president of the company Bisso made her way to becoming the director of sales for the
company.
Bisso and her husband at the time decided they wanted to move back to the east
coast. They tried New York City, and going back to the area where her husband was from
but neither seemed to be the right fit for them, “we decided that going back to Plattsburgh
would be like meeting in the middle because it’s where we met,” Said Bisso. Bisso got
her job at Plattsburgh high school and never looked back.
Cara Monette, Bisso’s student in the early 2000s said, “She’s got passion behind
her, she loves her job and all of her students, they’re her children too.” Monette found out
she was pregnant in January of 2002, her sophomore year, Bisso then started
homeschooling Monette in September of 2001. Monett had her son at the end of
September and Bisso came to the hospital bearing gifts, and of course, her schoolwork.
“I was staying in Champlain for a while and Karen would come up to give me my
lessons,” Monette said, “she loved seeing my son too.” Unfortunately tragedy struck hard
and Monette’s son passed that same year.
“Karen took time from her job at school and came to my sons funeral. She made it
clear that I didn’t need to return for school until I was absolutely certain that I could do
it,” Monette said.
When able to return to school Monette just didn’t have the focus she used to after
such a hard loss, “Karen saw me struggling and wanted to help so she referred me to a
GED program, I can’t thank her enough for what she did for me with school,” Monette
said, “she was a light in my dark and she never knew it.”
Monette stayed in touch with Bisso through all these years and when Bisso
decided that she needed to do more and ran for state assembly in 2012 and 2014 Monette
voted and advocated for her.
Teaching and raising a family wasn’t enough for Bisso, “in actuality I needed to do
something more,” Bisso said. She decided to run for state assembly in 2012 and 2014.
Bisso amassed 60,000 miles on her vehicle in 2014 running for assemblywoman.
“I would drive two hours to these districts to attend their town meetings and talk to
residents to drive two hours back that same night and teach the next morning,” stated
Bisso.
For Bisso the hardest part was that whether or not she got elected she wanted to
help these people. While she obviously individually could not help everyone she did her
best. “I remember going to the volunteer fire department in Hopkinton and hearing that
one thing they really needed was an iPad for better communication and to see which
volunteers would be going to the fire so they could be more efficient,” said Bisso.
She went home that night and saw her iPad on the wall, took it down reset it to its
factory settings. She then proceeded to put it in a box, tape it up, and sent it to the
Hopkinton Fort Jackson volunteer fire department the next day. “I only used it for music
anyway,” Bisso said.
Steven Parker, Fire Chief at Hopkinton’s volunteer fire department said, “We
were really hoping she win would because we felt she was genuine in her desire to help.”
Parker spoke about all of the visits that Bisso made to the station for training, and
fundraisers and how involved she was when she visited. Then of course there was the
iPad, “when dispatch tones us out to a call the app sends calls to our phone and allows the
chief to see who has responded,” said Parker, “this way we don’t have to wait until we
get to the scence to see if we need to call nearby town stations for backup.”
The app Parker spoke about is called Active 911 and it allows the fire department
to save valuable time, “in the case of structure or motor vehicle accidents 5 or 10 minutes
is a big difference between good and bad,” Parker said.
It clear that in Bisso’s life there are two central factors, family and community.
Bisso’s youngest child Lisa Bisso who attends SUNY Plattsburgh said, “My mom is the
most hardworking person I know. She perseveres and is brave and does things that not
just anyone can do,” Bisso’s daughter continued, “I hope one day I grow up to be the
caring and strong person that everyone knows her to be.”
----end----
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.-- Growing up on Long Island, Karen Bisso wanted to get as far
away from home as she could without leaving New York. Bisso packed up her things and
made the decision to attend SUNY Plattsburgh. Earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree
in special education Bisso knew that teaching was her calling. After 30 years of teaching
our youth at Plattsburgh high school, Bisso will be retiring this spring.
From a young age Bisso knew she wanted to be a teacher, “when other kids were
playing house, I was playing school with all of my teddy bears set up in a circle,” Bisso
said. She decided to specialize in special education because at the time two of her family
members had autism---that number has now risen to three.
After graduating from SUNY Plattsburgh Bisso spent three years in Southern
California with her husband and working as an order processing clerk for a computer
sales company. While working there she still knew she wanted to be a teacher. Bisso
spent her free time creating a plan for the company, “at that time they didn’t have Prezi,
so I was literally cutting and pasting information onto poster boards,” Bisso said, “even
when I wasn’t a teacher I was doing teacher things.” After presenting her plan to the
president of the company Bisso made her way to becoming the director of sales for the
company.
Bisso and her husband at the time decided they wanted to move back to the east
coast. They tried New York City, and going back to the area where her husband was from
but neither seemed to be the right fit for them, “we decided that going back to Plattsburgh
would be like meeting in the middle because it’s where we met,” Said Bisso. Bisso got
her job at Plattsburgh high school and never looked back.
Cara Monette, Bisso’s student in the early 2000s said, “She’s got passion behind
her, she loves her job and all of her students, they’re her children too.” Monette found out
she was pregnant in January of 2002, her sophomore year, Bisso then started
homeschooling Monette in September of 2001. Monett had her son at the end of
September and Bisso came to the hospital bearing gifts, and of course, her schoolwork.
“I was staying in Champlain for a while and Karen would come up to give me my
lessons,” Monette said, “she loved seeing my son too.” Unfortunately tragedy struck hard
and Monette’s son passed that same year.
“Karen took time from her job at school and came to my sons funeral. She made it
clear that I didn’t need to return for school until I was absolutely certain that I could do
it,” Monette said.
When able to return to school Monette just didn’t have the focus she used to after
such a hard loss, “Karen saw me struggling and wanted to help so she referred me to a
GED program, I can’t thank her enough for what she did for me with school,” Monette
said, “she was a light in my dark and she never knew it.”
Monette stayed in touch with Bisso through all these years and when Bisso
decided that she needed to do more and ran for state assembly in 2012 and 2014 Monette
voted and advocated for her.
Teaching and raising a family wasn’t enough for Bisso, “in actuality I needed to do
something more,” Bisso said. She decided to run for state assembly in 2012 and 2014.
Bisso amassed 60,000 miles on her vehicle in 2014 running for assemblywoman.
“I would drive two hours to these districts to attend their town meetings and talk to
residents to drive two hours back that same night and teach the next morning,” stated
Bisso.
For Bisso the hardest part was that whether or not she got elected she wanted to
help these people. While she obviously individually could not help everyone she did her
best. “I remember going to the volunteer fire department in Hopkinton and hearing that
one thing they really needed was an iPad for better communication and to see which
volunteers would be going to the fire so they could be more efficient,” said Bisso.
She went home that night and saw her iPad on the wall, took it down reset it to its
factory settings. She then proceeded to put it in a box, tape it up, and sent it to the
Hopkinton Fort Jackson volunteer fire department the next day. “I only used it for music
anyway,” Bisso said.
Steven Parker, Fire Chief at Hopkinton’s volunteer fire department said, “We
were really hoping she win would because we felt she was genuine in her desire to help.”
Parker spoke about all of the visits that Bisso made to the station for training, and
fundraisers and how involved she was when she visited. Then of course there was the
iPad, “when dispatch tones us out to a call the app sends calls to our phone and allows the
chief to see who has responded,” said Parker, “this way we don’t have to wait until we
get to the scence to see if we need to call nearby town stations for backup.”
The app Parker spoke about is called Active 911 and it allows the fire department
to save valuable time, “in the case of structure or motor vehicle accidents 5 or 10 minutes
is a big difference between good and bad,” Parker said.
It clear that in Bisso’s life there are two central factors, family and community.
Bisso’s youngest child Lisa Bisso who attends SUNY Plattsburgh said, “My mom is the
most hardworking person I know. She perseveres and is brave and does things that not
just anyone can do,” Bisso’s daughter continued, “I hope one day I grow up to be the
caring and strong person that everyone knows her to be.”
----end----
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
The man behind the march
By Winta Mebrahti
Excited Bernie Sanders supporters in Plattsburgh get to watch the senator on TV, behind his
modest podium, debating against Wall Street and Trans-Pacific Partnership. They see him
advocating for fair wages and tuition-free colleges. On the streets of Plattsburgh and on Facebook,
they see Adam Guillette, co-organizer of “March for Bernie,” who fights for Sanders to make those
plans a reality. They see him marching and honking for a new America and a new world.
“This is definitely the time to capitalize on that (excitement),” Guillette said. “To sustain the
movement and grow the movement, this is probably the best time to get into activism or politics.”
After Sanders announced his candidacy, Guillette decided to dedicate most of his time to
political activism. Guillette and two locals he met on Facebook organized the local version of the
national “March for Bernie” event in February and they've planned the “Honk for Bernie” event in
March 26.
Patty Blanchard, co-organizer of the events, said she Adam and Wendy Bridges — the third
co-organizer — met on the comment section of a photo posted on the “Upstate NY for Bernie
Sanders” group. She said that the lack of political activity in the area and their will to change that
brought the trio together. The March for Bernie event was Guillette's first big event he co-organized
— one they pulled off within eight days.
“The Bernie campaign has given him a politician he believes in,” Guillette's girlfriend, Liz
LaRosa said.
Guillette is a Plattsburgh State graduate who, growing up, “didn't like politics much,” but
who has always had an ambition to change the world.
“Adam was the one who was more apt to listen and come up with a fair judgment that would
be the most appropriate for everyone,” Guillette's father, Michael Guillette said. “That showed me
he really cared about people and their well being. He made sure they were really happy and
satisfied.”
It was a trait that stayed with him until now LaRosa said.
Despite his feelings about politics, the Morrisonville native started out his college career as a
political science major, but quickly decided to switch to sociology. It was in the sociology major
that he learned about how local actions have a global impact. His major was also where —
specifically his philosophy class — Adam's interests and personality eclipsed.
“It spins the way you think,” Adam said. “You think more globally. That it's important to
make sure every body has the highest standards of living, and that people aren't suffering.”
Lead by those sentiments, Adam, a senior at that time, got involved in “Occupy Plattsburgh”
in 2011. It was a local march in response to “Occupy Wall Street” in New York City and one of the
first activist rallies he participated in. There, he met like-minded people whom he kept in touch with
and whose help he used to organize the “March for Bernie” event.
After college Adam felt the need to continue working to better his community through event
planning, so he joined AmeriCorps in Morrisonville. There he worked in the preparedness
department with children and senior citizens for a year. Adam planned educational events about
safety and disaster preparedness, among other things, and was known to the kids as Scrubby Bear
guy. It was a nickname he got from teaching the children how to wash their hands. He loved it.
Because of his new found love for working with kids and his interest in helping his
community members, Adam thought school counseling was his calling. A semester into the graduate
program, Adam dropped it discouraged by the toll working with mistreated children took on his
future colleagues.
“I think I would like to help them, but I just thought that it would take a toll on me being
around that much pain and negativity.” Adam said. “I figured that if I was going to work with kids, I
want it to be more fun and positive.”
Though he left the program to escape negativity, Adam does realize that it's not always
going to be easy being a political activist. When Hilary Clinton won five states at once, Adam was
disheartened.
“If you actually believe in creating a long lasting political revolution or a political
movement, you can't have one tough night take any wind from your sails.” he said. “You just got to
keep pushing the next day and every day after.”
Excited Bernie Sanders supporters in Plattsburgh get to watch the senator on TV, behind his
modest podium, debating against Wall Street and Trans-Pacific Partnership. They see him
advocating for fair wages and tuition-free colleges. On the streets of Plattsburgh and on Facebook,
they see Adam Guillette, co-organizer of “March for Bernie,” who fights for Sanders to make those
plans a reality. They see him marching and honking for a new America and a new world.
“This is definitely the time to capitalize on that (excitement),” Guillette said. “To sustain the
movement and grow the movement, this is probably the best time to get into activism or politics.”
After Sanders announced his candidacy, Guillette decided to dedicate most of his time to
political activism. Guillette and two locals he met on Facebook organized the local version of the
national “March for Bernie” event in February and they've planned the “Honk for Bernie” event in
March 26.
Patty Blanchard, co-organizer of the events, said she Adam and Wendy Bridges — the third
co-organizer — met on the comment section of a photo posted on the “Upstate NY for Bernie
Sanders” group. She said that the lack of political activity in the area and their will to change that
brought the trio together. The March for Bernie event was Guillette's first big event he co-organized
— one they pulled off within eight days.
“The Bernie campaign has given him a politician he believes in,” Guillette's girlfriend, Liz
LaRosa said.
Guillette is a Plattsburgh State graduate who, growing up, “didn't like politics much,” but
who has always had an ambition to change the world.
“Adam was the one who was more apt to listen and come up with a fair judgment that would
be the most appropriate for everyone,” Guillette's father, Michael Guillette said. “That showed me
he really cared about people and their well being. He made sure they were really happy and
satisfied.”
It was a trait that stayed with him until now LaRosa said.
Despite his feelings about politics, the Morrisonville native started out his college career as a
political science major, but quickly decided to switch to sociology. It was in the sociology major
that he learned about how local actions have a global impact. His major was also where —
specifically his philosophy class — Adam's interests and personality eclipsed.
“It spins the way you think,” Adam said. “You think more globally. That it's important to
make sure every body has the highest standards of living, and that people aren't suffering.”
Lead by those sentiments, Adam, a senior at that time, got involved in “Occupy Plattsburgh”
in 2011. It was a local march in response to “Occupy Wall Street” in New York City and one of the
first activist rallies he participated in. There, he met like-minded people whom he kept in touch with
and whose help he used to organize the “March for Bernie” event.
After college Adam felt the need to continue working to better his community through event
planning, so he joined AmeriCorps in Morrisonville. There he worked in the preparedness
department with children and senior citizens for a year. Adam planned educational events about
safety and disaster preparedness, among other things, and was known to the kids as Scrubby Bear
guy. It was a nickname he got from teaching the children how to wash their hands. He loved it.
Because of his new found love for working with kids and his interest in helping his
community members, Adam thought school counseling was his calling. A semester into the graduate
program, Adam dropped it discouraged by the toll working with mistreated children took on his
future colleagues.
“I think I would like to help them, but I just thought that it would take a toll on me being
around that much pain and negativity.” Adam said. “I figured that if I was going to work with kids, I
want it to be more fun and positive.”
Though he left the program to escape negativity, Adam does realize that it's not always
going to be easy being a political activist. When Hilary Clinton won five states at once, Adam was
disheartened.
“If you actually believe in creating a long lasting political revolution or a political
movement, you can't have one tough night take any wind from your sails.” he said. “You just got to
keep pushing the next day and every day after.”
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