Scout charged in stabbing

NARROWSBURG, NY — State police say a 17-year-old boy scout stabbed a fellow camper in a dispute over noise and the use of a tent.

Police were called to Camp Aquehonga at the Ten Mile River Boy Scout Camps at 8:45 p.m. on August 14.

They charged Termaine Brown of Staten Island with felony 2nd degree Assault, alleging that Brown used a scout penknife to stab another 13-year-old scout in the back and stomach.

The younger boy was transported to Wayne Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released.

Brown was arraigned and committed to the Sullivan County Jail in lieu of $2,000 bail, pending an August 21 court appearance in Tusten Town Court.

Input wanted for promised land

HARRISBURG, PA — The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is seeking public comment on a natural resource management plan for Promised Land State Park in Pike County.

“Two lakes and almost 3,000 scenic acres in the heart of the Poconos combine to draw more than 424,000 visitors annually to Promised Land State Park,” said Bureau of State Parks Director Roger Fickes. “We are hopeful many of these visitors will give us feedback from which we can profit by reading the park’s proposed management plan and commenting on it at an upcoming public meeting.”

DCNR staff will be available to discuss the park’s natural resources management plan from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, August 25, at Wallenpaupack South Elementary School, Route 507, in Newfoundland.

Those unable to attend the meeting can submit written comments up to 30 days after the meeting. For more information on Promised Land and other Pennsylvania state parks, call 888/ PA-PARKS or visit the PA PowerPort at www.state.pa.us, PA Keyword: “state parks.”

Binder and Kunis win union endorsement

MONTICELLO, NY — Sullivan County legislators Leni Binder and Bob Kunis have both been endorsed for re-election by the Ulster, Sullivan, Delaware & Greene Counties Building and Construction Trades Council.

Both are two term Democrat incumbents, running this year for the first time as Republicans.

Binder represents District 7, which serves the towns of Fallsburg and Neversink. She was  named the body’s first chairwoman last year. A former teacher, Binder is now the office manager at B Petroleum.

Kunis is vice chairman of the county legislature. A longtime administrator of Sullivan County BOCES, he also formerly owned and operated Catskill Discount Beverage and Smoker’s Choice.

Technical grants available

ALBANY, NY —Governor Pataki last week announced that $350,000 in Technical Assistance (TA) grants are available for eligible local communities across the state.

The TA grants, administered through the Governor’s Office for Small Cities (GOSC) Community Development Program, are provided to help local communities prepare strategic plans for community development.

TA grants allow communities to apply for up to $25,000 to use in developing a strategic plan to identify steps to achieve specific community development goals and objectives.

The application deadline for the TA grants is September 17, 2003. For more information on the Small Cities Program, please visit the governor’s Office for Small Cities’ website at www.nysmallcities.com or call 518/474-2057.

Poll shows moderation of ban

PRINCETON, NJ —Gallup polling data suggests that most Americans do not embrace the campaign to make public establishments completely smoke free.

When given the alternative of establishing special smoking areas in each location, less than a majority would ban smoking altogether in restaurants, the workplace, hotels or bars

According to Gallup, Americans’ support for bans on smoking in public places, especially in restaurants, grew more widespread through the 1990s, but has leveled off since 2000. Even for restaurants, public support for a complete ban remains under 50%, while a majority favors making some accommodation for smokers in the form of special smoking sections, or having no restrictions at all on smoking.

Sullivan hospitals get aid

HARRIS, NY — The Catskill Regional Medical Center and Grover Hermann Hospital were among nine hospital recipients of state aid in the 42nd state senate district, Senator John Bonacic announced last week.

CRMC will receive $194,469 under the program, which totaled nearly $2 million across the entire district. Grover Hermann Hospital was separately awarded $214,763.

Bonacic serves as co-chair of the Senate Task Force on Health and Wellness.

New law protects communities
from juvenile sex offenders

HARRISBURG, PA — County solicitors will be able to seek the involuntary commitment of sexually violent young adults who are aging out of the juvenile justice system under a bill recently signed into law.  The commitment would be reviewed annually and could last up to 10 years.

According to a statement from the House of Representatives, the law makes Pennsylvania a national leader on the issue, as no other state has a statute specifically designed to address the civil commitment of sexually violent young adults. The measure was designed to ensure juvenile sex offenders are not released while they remain a danger to the community.