Mailing blasts car wash proposal

BARRYVILLE, NY — An anonymous Monday mailing to postal customers in Barryville is calling for opposition to a proposed automatic car wash, which would be constructed at the corner of County Road 21 and Mail Road.

The mailing cites a host of possible environmental issues and calls for public input at a 7:30 p.m., August 6 public hearing before the Highland Planning Board.

For those who won’t attend, the mailing also included a form letter of opposition.

No light on new Route 6 intersection

GREELEY, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has apparently had second thoughts about a flashing traffic light that was planned at the realigned intersection of Routes 6 and 434 in Greeley.

After pitching the need for the light at township meetings in Lackawaxen and Blooming Grove in June, PennDOT reportedly issued a letter to Blooming Grove earlier this month reversing its decision to install the light.

Seventeen year old injured

GLEN SPEY, NY — According to local officials, a 17-year-old Glen Spey woman suffered minor injuries after an 8:30 p.m., July 27 motor vehicle accident on County Route 42, near Michael’s Delaware Grill.

Police said the driver, Danielle Martin, went off the left-hand shoulder before she hit a telephone pole and then struck a tree. Martin was transported to Bon Secours Hospital in Port Jervis, NY, by the Lumberland Fire Department Ambulance, where she was treated and released. No other injuries were reported.

No traffic tickets were issued. The cause of the accident is still under investigation by the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department.

—Donna Lukiw

New tower is finally in place

MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, PA — A 500-foot communications tower has finally been assembled and put in place adjoining the township building.

The tower is reportedly part of a statewide antenna system but was delayed in its assembly when workers in April found that portions of the prefabricated kit did not fit together.

Gunther’s office remains open

MONTICELLO, NY — The staff of the late Assemblyman Jacob Gunther are continuing to provide constituent services at the 98th District office on Anawana Lake Road in Kiamesha.

A statement from Gunther’s staff said they would continue his “legacy of an open door and an ever-readiness to help.”

For more information, contact the office at 845/794-5807.

The vacant seat is expected to be filled by a special election this fall.

Church chaperone charged with assault

HONESDALE, PA — A 21-year-old Hancock, NY man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl during a church-sponsored campout.

Wayne County District Attorney Mark R. Zimmer said James Passetti was arrested on July 28 and charged with aggravated indecent assault and corruption of minors.

Zimmer said that Passetti was acting as a chaperone on a June 20 Buckingham Township camping trip by the First Baptist Church of Susquehanna when the incident occurred.

House passes juvenile sex offender legislation

HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed legislation designed to help ensure that juvenile sex offenders are not released while they remain a danger to the community.

A mirror senate bill had already cleared the senate and now heads to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. The bill would authorize the county solicitor to seek an involuntary commitment of a sexually violent young adult who is “aging out” of the juvenile justice system.

The commitment, which would be for a period of one year, would be reviewed annually and could last up to 10 years.

Wayne sewage projects funded

HARRISBURG, PA — Two Wayne County sewage projects were funded last week as PENNVEST approved $76.3 million in low-interest loans and $8.7 million in grants to fund 31 drinking water, wastewater and storm water projects in 23 counties

The grants were targeted at seven prohibitively expensive projects to bring them within the financial reach of their customers.

The Beach Lake Municipal Authority was awarded a $1,052,073 loan and a $1,733,333 grant to replace existing sewage collection lines and install a package treatment plant to eliminate the use of malfunctioning on-lot disposal systems that are discharging inadequately treated waste into Beach Lake Creek.

The Waymart Area Authority won a $1,334,021 loan to upgrade and expand the existing sewage system to service the new federal correctional facility.

Challenge grant renewed

CALLICOON, NY — The Madeline Shobrys Glosten Memorial Fund has given another $5,000 challenge grant to the Delaware Community Center.

All contributions made between now and September 1, 2003 will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to that amount.

The center provides year-round programs for children and people of all ages, but memberships do not cover operating costs, grant sponsors say. This year’s insurance bill is $10,000.

Contributions can be made to the Delaware Community Center, P.O. Box 354, Callicoon, NY 12723.