Another look at
2001 in Sullivan

By DAVID HULSE

MONTICELLO — The economy and unexpected ramifications of the September 11 disaster were the biggest news in Sullivan County in 2001.

Having set aside casino gambling as an immediate target and gone on to other economic goals, the county found itself in a “famine to feast” situation when both goals apparently became attainable last fall.

After years of waiting, September 11 prompted New York State’s hurried Halloween approval of up to three Catskills sites for casinos. This came after Alan Gerry unveiled his $35 million development plan last June for a performing arts center in Bethel, and after Sullivan broke ground for the Emerald Corporate Park in Rock Hill, last August.

With all that yet to come, legislators were conservative in January when developer Louis Capelli came looking for $22.5 million in bonds to fund construction of a 78,000 square-foot convention center adjoining his $290 million Resorts at the Concord. No county commitment was made.

But the uptrend continued into the summer as Governor Pataki announced approval of an Empire Economic Development Zone in Sullivan County during his visit to the new Kohl’s distribution center in Wurtsboro. The center will bring 900 new jobs.

Another important private initiative in 2001 was the Sullivan Renaissance program, which set hundreds of volunteers into a successful, summer-long community cleanup and grants competition. Some of the results locally included: Bethel’s Kauneonga Lake Gazebo, Highland’s town hall belltower, landscaping and benches at the Narrowsburg library and Jeffersonville’s award-winning Main Street renovation.

Most of the county’s problems this year were in personnel. After considerable pressure, Legislator Steven Kurlander (RC-9) resigned in May. Kurlander had relocated to Florida and commuted to monthly meetings.

The Legislature’s majority Democratic caucus replaced him, to the distaste of Republicans, with Sean Reiber, who was defeated in a special election in November by Republican-Conservative James Carnell.

In October, Gordon MacKinnon died after a long illness, leaving his District 4 seat open. This time the Democratic caucus split between MacKinnon’s widow, Joann MacKinnon, and the Mamakating Democratic Committee choice, Jonathan Rouis.

In an ironic turnabout, the Legislature’s three Republicans controlled the choice and supported MacKinnon’s candidacy.

Another notable passage in 2001 was the late May death of former State Senator Charles Cook of Delaware County.

Among some of the towns: Lumberland Supervisor John LiGreci’s year has been dominated by an ongoing effort to increase his town’s tax base by reducing the tax-exempt acreage held by not-for-profit agencies. LiGreci’s lobbying effort has prompted support from several neighboring towns.

In Highland, the election season warmed up with the addition of Rose Paolini’s candidacy. Paolini, who had become outspoken at town board meetings during several months of discussion related to zoning violations and community cleanup concerns, was the subject of a controversial censure by board when she was escorted from the room by a constable. Paolini later ran for the town board in November but was defeated, along with incumbent Ed Van Tuyl, by Robert Burrow.

Tusten used its $6,250 Upper Delaware Council (UDC) grant to place a gazebo on a scenic overlook of the eddy in Narrowsburg.

Actor Richard Castellano’s legal problems dominated local news around Tusten during the winter and spring. In late May, Castellano was sentenced to a year in jail for grand larceny charges resulting from his use of funds obtained from his acting students and elsewhere.

After years of fundraising and organizational effort, the relocated Cochecton Station, now at its new Route 97 home, was dedicated in August.

The fall local election in Cochecton had a frightening twist when two Republican candidates were spattered during a drive-by paintball incident in October. No one was injured.

The valley towns spent the year jointly completing an application to add Route 97 to the state’s list of “scenic byways.” While Fremont balked at participation, the project is expected to win state approval in January of 2002.