Fanslau cites extenuating circumstances for Empire Zone notices

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Following a recent audit by the State of New York of the Empire Zone Program, 51 businesses in Sullivan County have been put on notice that they are failing to satisfy the goals outlined when they were accepted into the zone.

Sullivan County Manager David Fanslau noted that the state’s press release reporting the notices failed to acknowledge extenuating circumstances not apparent from the tax returns from which the audit gathered its data.

“Flooding is obviously an extenuating circumstance that impacted some of our businesses, while others, like the Villa Roma Resort, were dramatically impacted by a fire or disaster. Also, at least two manufacturing companies were impacted, and thereby unable to expand, by the steel shortage of 2005,” said Fanslau.

The county program has already set up a new set of benchmarks for new entrants to the program, and will also continue to encourage the businesses that were put on notice to invest their capital and to hire locally.

Bethel Woods appoints new CEO

BETHEL, NY –The Gerry Foundation has announced that Peter Lane has been named CEO of the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

Lane has considerable experience with concert venues, having most recently served as president and CEO of the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, summer home for the Philadelphia Orchestra, in Philadelphia, PA (1997-2007). He has also held positions with The New York Pops, the San Francisco Symphony and the Oakland Symphony.

Alan Gerry, founder of Cablevision Industries and Chairman of the Gerry Foundation, Inc. who developed Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, said, “Peter brings the kind of experience in programming, operations and fundraising necessary to make Bethel Woods continue to grow and flourish… Peter will take the lead toward accomplishing the objectives of the long-range strategic plan for Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, which includes developing arts, educational and cultural opportunities in the region.”

Hinchey, Feingold introduce censure bills

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) and U.S. Representative Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) have introduced two censure resolutions in their respective chambers condemning the president, vice president and the attorney general for misconduct regarding our military involvement in Iraq and for their repeated assaults on the rule of law at home. The House resolutions have 19 original co-sponsors.

“From misleading this country into invading Iraq to establishing a warrantless domestic spy program, this White House has continuously misled and deceived the American people while disregarding the rule of law that guides our democracy,” Hinchey said. Among the particulars cited in the resolutions are undermining acts of Congress with signing statements indicating intent to disregard the law, and making misleading statements regarding civil liberties abuses under the Patriot Act.

“While it will take time to get our country back on the right track, we in Congress can act now by passing these censure resolutions to hold the White House accountable and to let the historical record show that an equal branch of government found the actions of this administration undeniably reprehensible,” Hinchey said.

Funding secured for flood study

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Congressman John Hall (D-NY), and Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) have secured the House’s approval of $700,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a comprehensive study to identify ways to prevent future flooding of the Upper Delaware River Watershed. Of the $700,000 appropriation, up to $300,000 will be used to address the severe flooding problem along Little Beaverkill Creek, especially in the hamlet of Livingston Manor in the Town of Rockland. The funds are part of the Energy and Water Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2008.

“The past few years have been absolutely devastating for the people who live near the Upper Delaware River, which is why we need some of the best experts in the country to come to the area, examine the watershed, and determine what we can do to prevent future flood damage,” Hinchey said. The study will expand upon the Army Corps Reconnaissance Study that was completed for the Upper Delaware River, which addressed the multiple purposes of flood damage reduction, ecosystem restoration, water quality control, comprehensive watershed management and other allied purposes.

House approval does not ensure that the funds will be appropriated, but is considered a crucial step.

Flood victim’s body found

HANCOCK, NY — A body discovered on the banks of the Beaverkill River on Saturday, August 4 has been identified as Barbara Cooper, 74, one of the people reported missing on June 20 as the result of a flash flood in the Town of Colchester.

The remains were found roughly 12 miles downstream from Colchester. Cooper’s sport utility vehicle had been found overturned near Hodges Pond shortly after the flood.

Of the four missing persons after the flood, two others have been confirmed dead: Fred Shutts, 81, and his 79-year-old wife, Marjorie, whose house was swept away. According to police a fourth, Gertrude Melvin, an elderly woman visiting her daughter at the time of the flood, is still missing and presumed dead.

Clean energy amendment sponsored by PA Congressman passes

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. House of Representatives passed an energy bill on Monday that included the Udall-Platts amendment, co-sponsored by Pennsylvania Congressman Todd Platts, whose passage had also been strongly endorsed by Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell. The amendment would require utilities to produce 15 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind by 2020. Utilities will be permitted to meet the requirement through the purchase and borrowing of renewable energy credits. Federally owned and municipally owned utilities, as well as rural electric cooperatives, would be exempt from the standard.

Last week Governor Rendell sent letters to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation supporting the amendment. He argued that the law would support the alternative energy law the commonwealth passed in 2004, mandating the use of clean and alternative forms of energy, and requiring that 18 percent of all retail electricity sold in the commonwealth come from such sources by 2021.