ST.LAWRENCE COUNTY IDA VICE CHAIRMAN ERNIE LABAFF OF POTSDAM TOLD 99 NEWS ANYONE NOT SUPPORTING THE CHASON AFFINITY COTTAGE PILOT "HAS GOTTA BE NUTS"—Labaff told 99 News in an interview this morning 25 construction and 6 post-construction jobs, plus an overall an economic benefit of 2.5 million dollars are too great to pass up. Chason wants to build cottage-styled housing on Outer Main Street that would be marketed primarily to college students. The company is seeking a tax abatement package facilitated through IDA that needs the approval of the Village, which was given Monday; the Town of Potsdam, Potsdam School District, Potsdam Library District, and St.Lawrence County must also approve for the deal to happen. Town Councilwoman Judith Rich says Chason made an idle threat by saying it will pull out of the project without the PILOT; she believes it will build anyway because students are a captive audience and are capable of paying what Chason needs to make the project viable. Labaff says the housing is in keeping with the county's long-range plan to create what he calls an “education zone.”

POTSDAM SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, SUNY POTSDAM COLLEGE COUNCILMAN, MASSENA HOUSING AUTHORITY DIRECTOR PATRICK REGAN EXPIRES—Patrick Regan, Jr. of Norwood, the brother of Potsdam Trustee George Regan who passed away last November, died this week of complications following open heart surgery. Patrick was 60. Arrangements are with Buck Funeral Home, Norwood.