Recital to benefit library

SHOHOLA, PA — Violinist Elliot Rosoff will be performing in Twin Lakes at a May 8 benefit recital for the Pike County Public Library.

Rosoff, the former Concert Master at the New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center, has performed as a soloist at all of New York City’s major venues and as a recording artist as a soloist and with performers including Barbara Streisand and Tony Bennett.

Rosoff said the benefit, given at a private home, would aid the library, which has suffered cuts in public funding. Library president Barbara Buchanan is “a friend who has done a great deal for me,” he said.

The program will include the Frank Sonata, a Mozart Sonata, four Brahms Hungarian Dances, a Spanish Dance by Manuel deFalla and several Fritz Kreisler pieces.

Tickets are $50 and seating is limited. For more information and directions call Buchanan at 570/296-7704.

Residents object to dog shooting

GLEN SPEY, NY — A Decker Road couple says a Lumberland Constable did not have cause to shoot their dog during a late-night call at their property on April 10.

Residents Michael and Elvira Isfan said their 85-pound, Labrador-shepherd mix ranges free outside the home, but has never attacked anyone. Several neighbors agreed.

Supervisor John LiGreci said the shooting was justified, that the dog did attack Constable Mike McCoey when the officer responded to a 10:30 p.m. complaint of illegal parking on the road outside the Isfan residence. LiGreci said McCoey and his partner had been unable to get a response from the residence, where a party was in progress, when the dog approached. The officers retreated to their vehicle and McCoey fired his weapon as the dog prepared to lunge, LiGreci said.

The dog, wounded in the nose, survived the shooting.

Home inspection at issue

ELDRED, NY — A Yulan resident says he wants the Town of Highland to pay for corrective measures in the construction of his home, which he says resulted from inadequate inspections by the town during its construction.

Following a closed, executive session on April 13, Town Attorney Walter Garigliano offered homeowner John Watters a conference in the coming week to include supervisor Allan Schadt, councilman Joseph McDonald, and the town’s code enforcement contractor Al Fusco Engineering of Middletown.

Watters claims the $120,000 house at Timber Lakes Estates has massive problems related to poor construction, which should have caught by inspection. “One builder told me to just level it and begin again,” he said.

Schadt said the local builder has already replaced and corrected principal flaws in the home and Watters is now making claims on accessory issues not related to safety inspections. “I expect that we’ll get sued,” Schadt said.

Mighty M construction sprinting to the finish line

MONTICELLO, NY — More than 170 construction workers are working 10 hour shifts at the new “Mighty M Gaming” to make sure the facility meets its projected June 30 opening.

Installing the state lottery’s racino, Mighty M Gaming is renovating the 47-year old building to accommodate 1,743 video gaming machines (VGMs), a 350-seat buffet, food court and the Lava Lounge.

The raceway also will continue its live harness racing and daily simulcasting throughout construction and after completion.

If you want to view the construction progress, you can do so by visiting empireresorts.com and clicking on the “Live Construction Cam” button on the right hand navigation.

Fremont man killed in collision

OBERNBERG, NY — A County Road 95 collision claimed the life of a 45-year-old Obernberg man on April 18.

The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department reported that Thomas Schick died when his 1995 GMC pickup was struck, head-on, by a 2003 Ford pickup, operated by 25-year-old Shane Kinney of Hortonville.

Schick was pronounced dead at the scene of the 8:30 p.m. accident.

Schick’s son, 16 year-old John Schick, was ejected from the vehicle and suffered head and leg injuries. He was evacuated by helicopter to the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY.

Kinney and his passenger Stephen Mootz, 19, of Callicoon Center, were said to have suffered minor injuries and were treated at the Grover Hermann division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Callicoon.

The police investigation is continuing.

Motorcyclist dies in Wayne crash

DREHER TOWNSHIP, PA — Pennsylvania State Police say that a 49-year-old East Stroudsburg was killed on April 18 after he lost control of motorcycle on State Route 191.

Police said Bruce A. Brennan was northbound on SR 191 when he drove off the shoulder, and struck a drain pipe which sent the 1991 Harley-Davidson airborne, landing back on the highway and skidding on its side through the intersection of Peet Road, and coming to rest about 30 feet from the southbound lane.

Brennan, who was not wearing a helmet at the time of the 8:30 accident, was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.

Local woman honored

NEW PALTZ, NY — Diane Atkins of Liberty has been honored for her efforts that led to ban of the gasoline additive, MTBE in New York State.

The Cancer Awareness Coalition of New Paltz made the presentation to Atkins, who they described as “a modern day heroine.”