Two vets get their (over)due

MONTICELLO, NY — On Monday, March 27, Congressman Maurice Hinchey appeared at the Sullivan County Government Center to present overdue war medals to two Sullivan County veterans.

Edward T. Pierce, who was born and raised in Cochecton Center, entered the military in 1943 at the age of 18 and served in Europe, where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He earned a Bronze Star, which was never awarded because a fire destroyed the paperwork, and he gave away his purple heart to a nurse on the ship back home. On Monday he received the Bronze Star, the missing purple heart, and replacements for other medals he had earned, including the World War II victory badge.

Vietnam veteran Steven S. Prince of Liberty also received overdue medals from Hinchey, including an Air Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and Bronze Star attachment.

Meetings to implement Mountain Laurel development get underway

LEHMAN, PA — A series of meetings has begun between representatives of the Mountain Laurel Development Group and local government officials to create a mixed-use residential overlay district for the proposed Highland Village development. The village is to have more than 5,500 residential units, which could include single-family homes, twin dwelling units, townhouses and apartments. At least 40 percent of the homes built in the development will be designated as “active adult;” that is, at least one of the permanent residents will be over 55 years old and no permanent resident of the home will be under 18 years old.

Development officials and supervisors agreed that there may be long time frames on the goals for certain phases of the development. “Realistically, we know you’re not going to get everything done in the exact time frame,” said chairman of the board of town supervisors John Sivick. “Phasing won’t surprise us.”

NY boosts river commission funds

ALBANY, NY — Lawmakers in the assembly and senate have agreed to increase funding to the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) by $123,000 to a total of $608,000. Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, who strongly supported the increase, said the funding level for the DRBC had remained stagnant for the last five years.

“This funding will allow the commission to continue to provide water quality protection, drought management and flood control for New York State residents,” Gunther said. “I urge the DRBC to concentrate this funding on programs focused on flood control and prevention.”

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) is an interstate compact between Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and the federal government.

Bears in the flats?

NARROWSBURG, NY — Two bird feeders in the yard of weekend residents Jim and Sue Powell, who own a home on Delaware Drive, were emptied and destroyed on the evening of March 24. Sue Powell reported that the heavy metal shepherd’s crooks on which the feeders were hung were bent to the ground, as was the fence surrounding her yard. Powell suspected that a bear was to blame.

The New York State Police have not had any reports of bears in the area, but they do advise residents to take in bird feeders at this time of year to avoid attracting bears.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation advises residents to store garbage cans in a secure area such as a garage, rather than an open area like a porch, to guard against bear havoc.

E-flood warnings now available

DELAWARE RIVER BASIN — The Delaware River Basin Commission has established an electronic automated email flood warning system. The program retrieves the National Weather Service’s Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) data from the Internet and compares forecast stages to station-specific flood action levels. If the forecast stages exceed the action levels, the program sends an email warning to a list server. By subscribing to the list server, individuals and municipalities can get email warnings about forecast flood events on the main stem Delaware River, the Lehigh River and the Schuylkill River.

For more information visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DRBCFloodWatch//.

Sewer projects get funding

HARRISBURG, PA — At a recent Pennsylvania Infrastructure Authority (PENNVEST) board meeting, over $100 million in funding was announced for 34 projects in 23 counties to help clean up waterways and improve sewer treatment. Monies allocated included a $1,639,614 loan and a $1,814,386 grant to Honesdale Borough for the installation of over two miles of sanitary sewers, nearly a mile of storm sewers, and new lateral lines to eliminate the hydraulic overloading of the sewage treatment plant that discharges untreated waste directly into the Lackawaxen River during wet weather. The money comes from a $50 million grant through Governor Rendell’s $2.8 billion economic stimulus program and low-interest PENNVEST loans.