Funds will help pay for justice court operations

MONTICELLO, NY — Ten justice courts in the 98th Assembly District have been awarded funding grants under the State’s Justice Court Assistance Program. Justice courts in six towns and four villages within the district will be receiving between $390 and $3,420 to purchase equipment needed to facilitate their operations. In Sullivan County, the Town of Bethel will receive $2,059.97, the Town of Highland $3,420, the Town of Liberty $2,006.33, the Town of Mamakating $3,379.33, the Village of Liberty $390, the Village of Bloomingburg $1,006.33, the Village of Monticello $551.36 and the Village of Woodridge $737.67.

Justice courts often have few resources, reflecting the budgetary limitations of the towns and villages that support them. Recognizing this, the state legislature in 1999 established the Justice Court Assistance Program to provide supplementary state assistance to the town and village justice courts.

Trash burning heats up Tusten town meeting

NARROWSBURG, NY — A quality of life issue arose at the October 9 Tusten town board meeting. It came in the form of a letter from Tim Erson, a local resident, which concerned the open burning of household waste, especially cardboard. According to Erson, because of the bleach and glue used in the manufacture of cardboard, smoke from the burning cardboard is extremely dangerous to breathe. In response to Erson’s call for a legal ban, Tusten supervisor Ben Johnson said that while residents are already required to get a permit to burn household waste, at this time there would be no way to enforce a local ordinance concerning exactly which materials are permitted to be burned. He added that he will consider the issue and steps that might be taken to deal with it.

Other business on the agenda included setting the Halloween curfew, which will be in effect this year from October 27 through 31. All persons under the age of 18 must be off the streets from 9 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. unless accompanied by an adult.

Neversink gets large parcel tax break back

NEVERSINK, NY — The Sullivan County Legislature will not vote on a resolution to opt-in to the Large Parcel Method of Taxation for fiscal year 2007. The designation, which increased taxes in the Town of Neversink by double-digits last year, would have required an affirmative vote by the end of October in order to be enacted.

When the resolution was brought up for discussion during the Real Property Committee meeting on October 12, District Three Legislator Elwin Wood read a letter from the bill’s sponsor in the assembly, Assemblyman Paul Tonko, stating that he was considering changes to the bill to correct the watershed designation issues. Wood then asked the committee not to pass the resolution, to allow assemblyman Tonko time to correct the legislation. Real Property chairman Rodney Gaebel asked for a motion to vote on the issue, but the bill did not have enough support to pass it through the committee for consideration by the full board.

CRMC to get $500,000 in state aid

HARRIS, NY — Catskill Regional Medical Center (CRMC) will receive $500,000 in state aid to enhance patient services and upgrade equipment.

“Our hospitals don’t turn people way. They are open 24/7, taking anyone and everyone who walks through the door seeking assistance. They are the difference between life and death and they need our support,” said State Senator John J. Bonacic (R/I/C - Mount Hope), who was instrumental in obtaining the funding.

Sullivan agritourism gets a boost

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — The “Made in Sullivan County Catskills” project, submitted to New York State by the Sullivan County Visitor’s Association for an agritourism grant, has been awarded $50,000 to expand its promotion of the county’s farm markets and locally grown farm produce.

The Sullivan County Visitors Association has partnered with the Sullivan County Cooperative Extension for several years to enhance the positioning of the Made in Sullivan County Catskills Products program. For the last three years, they have produced a brochure promoting the county’s farm markets. Even with limilted resources, the brochure has proven successful in informing summer visitors about local opportunities to purchase farm-fresh produce. This grant will allow for enhanced marketing of the program and the creation of new collateral material to reach both local and visiting consumers.

Wayne County tourism grants

HONESDALE, PA — The Wayne County Tourism Committee announced a grant program which is made available to qualified organizations and will be funded through the Wayne County hotel room tax.

The 2007 grant program will provide $30,000 in assistance for tourism-related entries within Wayne County to help fund marketing and advertising programs and capital projects that will enhance the tourism experience in the county.

A workshop will be held on Thursday, November 2 at 4:00 p.m. in the commissioner’s meeting room, third floor, at the Wayne County Courthouse for any interested parties.

The deadline to submit applications is December 5, 2006. For more information, call 570 253-5970.

Disaster aid deadline extended

NEW YORK STATE — Registrations for the New York State Individual and Family Grant Program, as well as programs administered by the Empire State Development Corporation, will now be accepted through Monday, October 30. The deadline for federal disaster aid has also been extended through Monday, October 30.

For the New York State Individual and Family Grant Program call 888/769-7243, or register online at labor.state.ny.us.

For Empire State Development Corp. programs, call 800/STATE-NY, or visit empire.state.ny.us/flood_grant.

For federal programs, contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency registration number at 800/621- 3362, or register online at fema.gov.