Rouses Point train station welcomes stimulus funding

Local News

Discussion

PLEASE NOTE: There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

ALSO NOTE: Derisive name-calling of an individual or group will result in the entire comment being deleted. This includes the terms "stupid" and "idiot" and similar references.

Welcome to our new online comments feature. Before you can join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address.

Once you do, your comments will post after they have been reviewed by a moderator.

We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean.

Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified, at the newspaper’s discretion, for a number of reasons. Here are some typical practices to avoid in trying to get your comment printed:

There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

Don’t state as a fact something that is unsubstantiated or that our editors wouldn't know to be true.

Don’t presume someone’s guilt in a case when it hasn't been established by a court.

Don’t assail or impugn an identifiable individual or group. If you have that kind of criticism, sign your name and submit it as a Letter to the Editor. (There is some leeway on this in connection with public officials, but it is not unconditional.)

Don’t use profanity. This includes the term “tea bagger.”

Don’t be incendiary or tasteless. Those qualities are subjective, of course, and our editors will be the arbiters.

Do not identify yourself in the main content area of the article content form. Only by enforcing this rule can the moderators prevent unscrupulous commenters from falsely identifying themselves as someone they are not.

Don't type in all caps. It is considered the Internet equivalent of shouting.

In sports articles, do not criticize officiating.

Remember, moderators are not allowed to edit any article comments. If an article comment fails any of the above criteria, the entire comment will be deleted.

We monitor comments Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Approval of comments outside these times may be delayed.

comments powered by Disqus

April 2, 2009

<a href="mailto:mbesaw@pressrepublican.com">By MICHELLE BESAW</a> The Press Republican Thu Apr 02, 2009, 05:14 PM EDT

ROUSES POINT — The historic train station here has been awarded $832,500 in federal stimulus funding, Gov. David Paterson announced Thursday.

That money, in addition to the $95,000 in federal funds secured by Rep. John McHugh, will be applied to the restoration of the building, which was acquired by the village after years of abandonment.

“The first area seen by our visitors on the train is a visual disaster, providing poor welcome to the United States,” Chamber of Commerce President Gary Douglas said in a news release.

“(That is) something which this restoration project will do much to reverse. And we’ll have a proper facility that can potentially support train-related inspections by U.S. Customs.

“We thank the Governor for this important commitment to completing our vision for a multi-modal Port of Excellence at the Champlain border.”

Rouses Point Mayor George Rivers said the village is working with Barton & Loguidice, an engineering firm based out of Syracuse, which will send the project proposal soon. They plan to go out for bids by the end of this month.

“Let’s face it, I’m on cloud nine right now,” Rivers said.

He said he’s sure this funding will complete the project, which aims to turn the old building into a museum and an Amtrak waiting room.

“A lot of people deserve huge pats on the back.”

Those people, he said, include Douglas; Community Development Consultant Melissa McManus; Barton & Loguidice; and the Rouses Point and Champlain Historical Society.

Rouses Point is a current Amtrak stop on the New York City-Montreal line but has no actual station for passengers.

E-mail Michelle Besaw at:

mbesaw@pressrepublican.com