Senior wants
an even break

MONTICELLO, NY — Eldred resident Andrew Valenti says the Sullivan County seniors deserve the same respect in the state park system as seniors elsewhere in New York.

Valenti came before the county Legislature’s Public Works Committee on August 7 to request that Sullivan County amend its admission pricing schedule to allow seniors the same access to Lake Superior Park as granted by other state parks.

In parks managed directly by the state, senior are admitted free except on weekends and holidays. But Lake Superior is a state park managed by the county and no senior program exists in Sullivan County.

Valenti, who is running for a town board seat in Highland, said there would no additional cost to the county.

“The water is there. It exists whether or not 100 bodies dunk into its cool refreshing wetness or 150 bodies do,” he wrote in a letter to the committee.

Legislator Kathy LaBuda (D-2) asked that the Division of Public Works look into the question and chair Rodney Gaebel (RC-5) said they would.

In other business, the committee tabled a scheduled discussion on policy for display of art in the government center lobby. Gaebel said the issue would return to the agenda in September.