Stafford Owens Piller Murnane Kelleher & Trombley PLLC

05/09/2024

Here's today's PHOTO OF THE DAY!!! This photograph takes us over 100 years into the past for a rare glimpse of one of Plattsburgh's "lost landmarks:" the original "Smith W**d Bridge" on Cumberland Avenue! Generations of Lake City residents came to know this as the "tickle bridge" or "old humpy," so called for the abrupt arch of its span over the train tracks below. Constructed in 1881, the little wooden and iron bridge was so stoutly built that the local newspaper prophesized it would probably be standing "a thousand years after the lake dries up." Though a bit shy of that mark, the W**d Bridge would ultimately serve travelers for nearly a century, long outlasting the days of the horse and buggy for which it was designed. The narrowness and grade of the antiquated span would give some residents pause for concern as the decades passed however, but the fate of the bridge was ultimately decided by the railroad. In July, 1974, the Delaware and Hudson demolished the old crossing to accommodate their newer and larger rail cars, immediately sparking an intense controversy. Its replacement, the present "Smith W**d Bridge," would take five years to design and complete, finally opening to the public in June of 1979. What little remains of the "tickle bridge," the old limestone abutments, can still be seen today if you know where to look, covered in vines and mostly forgotten beside the roadway.

12/05/2020

On Saturday, December 12, 2020, Stafford Owens is teaming up with three of our locally-owned coffee shops. Between 9:00 am and 11:00 am, we will provide 50 cups of coffee or tea to customers at each shop.
After you enjoy your coffee, we ask that you visit another locally owned business, and see what they have to offer.
Our partners for this event are:
Chapter One Coffee and Tea
Koffee Kat Espresso Bar
Adirondack Coffee Roasters

04/14/2020

Here's today's PHOTO OF THE DAY!!! This great "then and now" photo shows the former "Smith W**d Mansion" here in Plattsburgh, New York, located on the corner of Cumberland and Sailly Avenue. Seen in the 1890s and the present. This local landmark is also part of our series on the haunting connections between Plattsburgh and the sinking of the ill-fated liner "Titanic," which struck an iceberg in the cold North Atlantic 108 years ago today! Click on the photos in the comments below to read the tale (be sure to select "newest" so they're in order), just one of the many remarkable links we'll be sharing this week between the North Country and the Titanic disaster.

09/03/2019

Are you experiencing delays in securing a renewal of your L-1 Visa? If you are handling it on your own without assistance of a consultant or an attorney, CBP has announced that all re-applications have to be filed with USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Service) and that could take up to six months to be approved. We can tell you from practicable experience some of our clients have, in fact, been successful in going directly to the consulate in Montreal and securing the renewal. This happened several months ago; we have not heard of anyone doing it since.

The obvious message here is that you need to be looking at this at least eight months before so that you can file in advance of the six-month window.

If you have any questions, please call our office and speak to Brendan Owens or William Owens.

06/11/2019

Former Congressman, Bill Owens was the key note speaker at the 25th Anniversary of the CANAM Border Trade Alliance Conference in Ottawa Canada on May 5th, 6th and 7th. There were over 200 attendees at this event Mr. Owens serves as a Member of the Senior Advisor’s Board which consists of several Ambassadors and the leaders of the Canadian Border Service Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
The focus of Mr. Owens’ remarks were on the state of US/Canada trade, as well the status of the US/Canada/Mexico Agreement (USMCA) and its path towards passage. Mr. Owens noted that the legislation was 40 to 80 votes short at the time he spoke, that the steel and aluminum tariffs are holding back passage in Canada and Mexico (which have subsequently been removed) and that the administration had finally approached Speaker Pelosi in an attempt to resolve issues that the Democratic caucus has with the legislation.

NOTE: Since the presentation of Mr. Owens’ remarks, a number of issues have arisen, and what impact these will have on passage both in the United States and Mexico is at this juncture unknown.

06/11/2019

Former Congressman, Bill Owens was the key note speaker at the 94th Anniversary of the placing of an American Memorial at Fort Chambly Quebec. This is an event that is co-sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution, Parks Canada and the Royal Canadian Legion. Mr. Owens’ address was entitled “Our Canadian Friends, Neighbors and Brothers in Arms.” He discussed the long history, dating back to World War II, of the relationship between the Canadian Armed Forces and the United States military, particularly the Canadian participation in D-Day on the beaches of Juno and Sword ( the letter they shared with the British) describing Canadian casualties and following that theme through the 18 year long Afghan war. Mr. Owens also spoke briefly to the issues involving US/Canada trade. He also described the nature of our friendship and working together as neighbors, noting that since 1933 American Presidents have made forty trips to Canada which is almost one every two years. We must never forget the nature of our relationship with Canada is not one solely focused on trade, but it is one that is heavy with experiences in battle, as well as on beaches, mountains and lakes which we all share in our region.

06/06/2019

We will be at the Business Expo all day!

05/28/2019