Appointment announced

WILLSBORO -- Champlain National Bank's President Jon J. Cooper has announced the appointment of Matthew J. Whalen to its Commercial Lending Team. He will be responsible for commercial lending and small business development in Essex and Clinton counties.

Whalen comes to his position with nearly 10 years of prior banking experience to include sales and service associate, assistant branch manager, branch manager, business relations manager in commercial lending, and commercial portfolio management.

He can be reached at Champlain National Bank's Plattsburgh office, 32 Cornelia St., at 562-1776, ext. 616, and is available to assist those interested in small-business financing.

Champlain National Bank is a locally owned and operated bank with headquarters in Essex County.

Recycling program

PLATTSBURGH -- TerraCycle Inc. is looking for a Plattsburgh area school interested in receiving free bird feeders and an entire Ornithology curriculum to help teach their students about nature and the importance of protecting wildlife.

In early October, a representative from TerraCycle will be presenting the company's newest eco-friendly product, an entry bird feeder packaged in a reused two-liter soda bottle, at the Plattsburgh Wal-Mart.

For every three bird feeders that are purchased that day, TerraCycle will donate one feeder to the school along with the New York State Ornithology curriculum to the school.

The TerraCycle bird feeder is made from recycled or reused materials and is already filled with quality birdseed. Unlike other bird feeders, you can take it home and hang it outside immediately. No filling with seed and minimal assembly is required. The feeder is also less expensive, retailing at Wal-Mart for $4.88.

TerraCycle works extensively with schools across America by running three recycling fundraisers. The first is the Bottle Brigade, a program in which schools collect used 20-oz. soda bottles and TerraCycle donates six cents for every de-labeled bottle returned to TerraCycle. The newest collection program is for kid's drink pouches. TerraCycle pays schools one or two cents a piece for these non-recyclable pouches. TerraCycle is now working with Stonyfield Farm to collect used yogurt containers, donating two or five cents depending on size. Visit www.terracycle.net/dpb to sign up or for more information.

If you would like to sign up a school for the program or want images or samples of the feeder, contact, Jennifer Wilkie at (416) 661-9676.

Skin-care seminar

PLATTSBURGH -- The Adirondack Plastic Surgery Center will be sponsoring a Fall Skin Care Seminar on Thursday, Oct. 11, from 6-8 p.m.

Learn more about the latest advanced aesthetic procedures, treatments and products including live demonstrations. Seating is limited. RSVP by Thursday at 563-5000 or visit www.adkplasticsurgery.net