Sorensen mulling Assembly run

MONTICELLO, NY — Sullivan County Commissioner of Planning Alan Sorensen is weighing a run for the state Assembly.

Sorensen, 38, confirmed on August 19 that he was considering a race against Aileen Gunther for the remaining year of the late Jacob Gunther’s term.

Sorensen, who is registered without party affiliation, has been meeting with Republican and Conservative party officials.

If he runs, Sorensen would have to leave his $97,000 a year position with Sullivan County.

Judge tosses elections  lawsuit

MONTICELLO, NY — A Supreme Court Justice has tossed out a lawsuit by Sullivan County Elections Commissioner Tim Hill based on the county Legislature’s elimination of two clerks positions in Hill’s office.

In an August 18 decision, Justice Nicholas Clemente ruled that Hill had failed to show that the Legislature’s budgetary action had rendered the elections office incapable of administering its duties or that the Legislature acted in an arbitrary, capricious or unlawful manner in their budgetary decision.

District may retain bus garage

ELDRED, NY — After failing to win support for building a replacement or finding an alternative building to rent as a bus garage, Eldred Central School officials are negotiating to use Bruce Frazier’s building on County Road 32 again.

Superintendent Candace Mazur said the district would install a rest room at the facility at its cost and Frazier has agreed not increase the $26,400 annual rental cost.

ECS had planned a new $1.25 million garage project on school grounds, but voters rejected the plan last May.

Weinstein pulls out of judges race

MILFORD, PA — Milford Attorney Michael Weinstein has withdrawn from the race for judge of the Pike County Court of Common Pleas.

Weinstein, who had won the Democratic Party nomination in the May primaries, made his decision known in a letter to state Board of Elections earlier this month.

He reportedly followed up the decision with a telephone call to his Republican opponent, now apparent judge-elect, Joseph Kameen.

Red Cross needs blood donors

NORTHEASTERN PA — The American Red Cross is fighting annual summer vacation blood donation shortages and is asking for help from donors.

For a safe supply, Red Cross wants to have a three-day supply of all blood types on hand. However, through most of August, that supply has been at one day’s level.

Wayne and Pike blood drives are scheduled in Newfoundland on August 29, in Hemlock Farms on September 5 and in Honesdale on September 25.

For more information call the Red Cross at 800/GIVE-LIFE.

Thompson wants to lead environmental study

MONTICELLO, NY — The Town of Thompson wants to assume the lead agency status for environmental review of the Stockbridge-Munsee casino project planned at Bridgeville.

The town held a preparatory scoping session and review of the project on August 19.

A public hearing is planned for the first week of November. Lacking significant impacts, officials said the project would be free to move ahead by year’s end.

Other state and federal approvals are still pending.

Clothing and footwear tax waived through Labor Day

ALBANY, NY — Governor Pataki is urging New Yorkers to take advantage of the sales tax-free week on clothing and footwear purchases of less than $110 per item.

New Yorkers can enjoy the savings from the sales tax free week through Monday, September 1.

Pataki proposed four clothing sales tax-free weeks in his budget this year, and the Legislature incorporated two as part of its budget.

There will also be a second sales tax-free week from Monday, January 26, through Sunday, February 1, 2004.

The exemption waives the State’s 4.25 percent sales tax on clothing and footwear, and also allows counties and cities across the state to exempt their local portion of the sales tax.

Sullivan County has voted to participate, but Orange County has not.

Free brochure listings offered

NARROWSBURG, NY — The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) is offering free listings to eligible river corridor businesses in its “Visitor Information Map and Guide for Touring the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River: New York and Pennsylvania.”

The deadline for submissions is September 26.

The popular brochure will be revised in time for the Spring 2004 tourism season.

For more information, contact Laurie Ramie, public relations specialist, at 845/252-3022, or email udcramie@ezaccess.net.

Four Sullivan residents in second NYS firefighters group for Montana

ALBANY — Four Sullivan County men are among a second team of highly trained firefighters that New York State is sending to Montana to help combat wildfires occurring in the state.

This second group left Albany by air for Missoula, Montana on August 23. The team of 20 includes Forest Ranger Timothy Carpenter of Barryville, Forest Ranger Robert Morse of Grahamsville, firefighter Larry Arnold and firefighter Joseph Roe, both of Bloomingburg.

The state’s first 20-person crew returned on August 22 after 18 days in Montana.