Ehrhardt’s pledges $5,000 for Visitors Center

HAWLEY, PA — The Hawley-Lake Wallenpaupack Chamber of Commerce has received a contribution of $5,000 from Ehrhardt’s Waterfront Resort to assist with construction of the Wallenpaupack Visitors Center.

The Ehrhardt family members, long-time supporters of this much-needed facility, are pleased to be part of this worthwhile community project.

The proposed 2,400 square foot center will be owned by the Hawley-Lake Wallenpaupack Chamber of Commerce, and occupied by the chamber and Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau, Inc.

New Sullivan ‘Data Book’ coming

MONTICELLO, NY — If you’re into statistics and want to know about Sullivan County, the county’s going to have a book for you soon.

County Planning Commissioner Alan Sorensen says the first printing of the Data Book since 1991 will be available early next year.

Sorensen says the “new and improved” Data Book includes census information and various agency data plus explanatory text for the wide variety of topics it covers.

No firm price has yet been set, but the comprehensive book will likely cost between $15 and $20 and be available by February, Sorensen said.

Goldstein and Trotta sworn in

MONTICELLO, NY — Greg J. Goldstein and Donald P. Trotta were sworn in as county legislators by County Clerk George Cooke on December 3.

The two Republicans were elected in November to fill the remaining year of the current legislative term.

Prior to the election, Goldstein had been appointed to fill the vacant District 3 seat following the resignation of former Legislative Chairman Raymond “Rusty” Pomeroy. Trotta defeated Jonathan Rouis in the November election for the District 4 seat.

Both Goldstein and Trotta will have to run again next year when the current legislative term expires.

Ten die in PA holiday crashes

HARRISBURG, PA — State Police Commissioner Paul J. Evanko reported Monday that 10 people were killed and 521 others were injured in 1,375 crashes investigated by state police during the five-day Thanksgiving holiday driving period.

Col. Evanko said two of those killed were not wearing seatbelts, and three of the fatalities were alcohol related. Of the total number of crashes, 78 were alcohol related.

During the 2001 Thanksgiving holiday driving period, nine people died and 496 were injured in 1,121 crashes investigated by state police.

State releases early-childhood quality study

HARRISBURG,PA — Gov. Mark Schweiker has released the findings of a Task Force on Early Childhood Education Care and Education.

The study, which surveyed 372 providers across Pennsylvania, found:

• • 80 percent of care in Pennsylvania has been assessed as minimal or adequate at best. Only 20 percent is rated as good;
• • Head Start’s quality was significantly higher than all other forms of early care and education. Forty-six percent of Head Start programs are of high quality;
• • Preschool programs scored significantly higher on quality than did child-care centers and homes; and
• • The quality of child-care centers and family/group child-care homes decreased since the mid 1990s.

Resident questions park access

NARROWSBURG, NY — The lack of a handicapped access at the gazebo for the new riverfront veterans park has raised questions from one wheelchair-bound resident.

Sherri Lee Barnes expressed her disappointment in a letter to Tusten Supervisor Richard Crandall, noting she was unable to do so at a Tusten Town Board meeting, since they are held at the upstairs meeting room at the town hall.

Crandall replied saying a ramp is planned for the gazebo, but recommended caution in approaching the steep decline leading to it.

He also offered to schedule the town board in the accessible basement meeting room if Barnes would provide notice prior to attending the town board meeting.

Three fire companies get federal grants

KINGSTON, NY — Rep. Maurice Hinchey announced that federal Assistance to Firefighters Grants were awarded to three Sullivan County departments on December 2.

The Federal Emergency Management Administration-managed grants include: $77,886 for Grahamsville, $49,049 for Jeffersonville and $200,401 for Monticello.

After nine rounds of awards this year, departments in Hinchey’s 26th district have received $947,329.

More than 19,500 fire departments nationwide applied for grants under the Assistance to Firefighters Program. Authorized by the federal FIRE Act, the program this year allocated $360 million for departments to purchase tools, equipment and apparatus and for the development of training and other programs.