January 2013
What’s driving the development of natural gas?
A New York Times article of December 6, 2012 by Clifford Krauss was headlined, “Report Bolsters the Case for Large U.S. Natural Gas Exports.” The title tells it all. The report was based on a study prepared by National Economic Research Associates (NERA) for the U.S. Department of Energy. Read more
Email this pageA little moral outrage, please
Severe weather events in 2012 apparently have swayed a lot of skeptics about climate change in the U.S. One poll completed a month ago indicates that 80% of Americans now believe in global warming, another poll shows a 75% response.
And there are more changes in perception about climate change. Young people and businesses are coming to the table to advance the conversation in a way they have not done before. Read more
Judge Schick sworn in; From legal aid to the bench
The swearing in of Judge Stephen Schick offered a look back at 30 years of jurisprudence in Sullivan County. Schick, who had served as executive director of Sullivan County Legal Aid and as a legal aid attorney, was sworn into office on December 29, at the county court house in Monticello. He is now New York State Supreme Court Justice for the Third Judicial District, which serves Sullivan County, as well as Ulster, Green, Albany, Schoharie, Rensselaer and Columbia counties. Read more
Concord project on track again; Cappelli out, EPR Properties in
The project to turn the former Concord Hotel site into a destination resort seems to be moving forward again. A company called EPR Properties (EPR), formerly Entertainment Properties Trust, is in the driver’s seat, and developer Louis Cappelli, who was formerly driving the project, is now on the sidelines. Read more
Shohola to hold public hearing; Tax abatement law considered
Shohola Township supervisors have approved advertising a public hearing for a proposed local tax abatement law.
“The law could give Shohola a fighting chance to compete for businesses that are seeking to locate in the Tri-State area, and specifically in Shohola, by giving such companies a tax break,” said Michael Sullivan, director of the Pike County Economic Development Authority (EDA).
The hearing will be held at the beginning of the township council meeting on February 14 at 7:30 p.m. Read more
Pennsylvania launches PennWATCH
HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania has launched the website PennWATCH, which officials say is “your window into Pennsylvania state government.” The site allows visitors in-depth information about the state budget and revenues, how that money is being spent and the results that the tax dollars are achieving.
Governor Tom Corbett signed the Pennsylvania Web Accountability and Transparency Act into law on June 30, 2011, providing for the establishment of a “searchable budget database-driven Internet website detailing certain information concerning taxpayer expenditures and investments.” Read more
Sullivan Renaissance Annual Conference & Expo
Sullivan Renaissance will hold its “Annual Conference, Local Market & Expo” on Saturday, March 9 at the CVI Center in Ferndale.
The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Peter Tarlow, an international consultant on the positive effects of community beautification, who has been assisting Sullivan Renaissance for the past two years. Dr. Tarlow will also present a workshop focused on youth leadership. Read more
Honesdale business owner charged with illegally burning and burying waste
State officials have filed criminal charges against a Wayne County man accused of illegally burning and burying waste in Wayne County. Attorney General Linda Kelly identified the defendant as Joseph Bunnell, 50. Bunnell is the owner of Bunnell Waste Removal Inc., 267 Tryon St., Honesdale.
According to the complaint, from January 2009 through February 2012, Bunnell allegedly obtained thousands of dollars from customers by misrepresenting that their waste was being disposed of properly at a landfill. Read more
Deal reached for Delaware Valley School; Proposed sale for $1.16 million
An agreement has been reached by the Sullivan West School Board to sell the shuttered Delaware Valley School building and campus to Emily Wu for $1.16 million. The board voted five to two to go ahead with the deal at a meeting two weeks ago.
Wu was first mentioned as a buyer back in September in a presentation by Nora Manzolillo, who said that Wu owned a private school in Queens and had made a verbal offer to buy the facility for $950,000. Wu’s plans also included purchase of additional acreage adjacent to the school because she intended to build a dormitory on it. Read more
Washington extends 2008 Farm Bill
WASHINGTON, DC — Leaders in the Senate and House Agriculture committees on the last day of 2012 announced that they had reached a deal to extend the 2008 Farm Bill for a year. The agreement had not yet been voted by the full House and Senate, but they were expected to pass it.
Failure to pass it would mean that the formula used to price milk would revert to one that is decades old, and milk prices would skyrocket in the region and across the country. Read more
