FSA backs off some office closings; Sullivan still targeted

WASHINGTON, DC — In response to pressure from Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), other elected officials, farmers, and local organizations, the state director of the U.S. Farm Service Agency (FSA) in New York has backed off the proposed plan to close the agency’s Broome County field office as well as four others. However, the updated FSA plan still calls for the closure of the Sullivan County field office along with those in Albany and Yates counties. Hinchey has vowed to keep fighting the FSA to keep the Sullivan and other offices open.

“The farmers in Sullivan County deserve to have the same convenient access to federal farm assistance and support that farmers in Broome County will continue to enjoy. We’ve made great progress in getting the FSA to back off its original plan to close eight offices, but saving five of those offices is not enough. We must continue our fight to save all eight New York field offices that were originally targeted for closure,” said Hinchey.

As part of the closure plan, the FSA also suggested moving the Orange County field office closer to Sullivan County in order to make it more convenient for Sullivan County farmers.

Workforce development officer Gina Anderson, 38, dies

YULAN, NY — Gina Anderson, fiscal officer for the Sullivan County Workforce Development Board and the full charge bookkeeper for the Center for Workforce Development, was found dead on the floor of her home on October 4 by her 17-year-old daughter, Ashley. She was 38 and had been at home ill, according to county colleagues.

The cause of death had not been determined at press time.

Services were held at the Gray-Rasmussen Funeral Home in Barryville, where it was reported that 300 people were in attendance. A memorial reception followed at the Eldred town hall on Tuesday, October 9.

New York files suit against SCHIP limitations

ALBANY, NY — The states of New York, Illinois, Maryland and Washington have filed a lawsuit against the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to challenge its action in imposing new rules governing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Arizona, California, Connecticut, New Hampshire and New Mexico are submitting friend of the court briefs in support of the action, and New Jersey filed a similar lawsuit.

SCHIP provides affordable health coverage for children in families that cannot afford to buy private health insurance. The original SCHIP statute was designed as a federal-state partnership that allows states flexibility in how they provide health insurance coverage to children. Last week, President Bush vetoed a reauthorization of the program that had passed both houses of Congress by a wide bi-partisan margin.

New rules that would be imposed without the new legislation would limit eligibility for SCHIP to families earning no more than 250 percent of the poverty level. New York wishes to raise that level to 400 percent.

Public meeting scheduled to discuss multi-municipal plans

LACKAWAXEN AND SHOHOLA, PA — Lackawaxen and Shohola townships are working together to prepare a multi-municipal comprehensive plan and a multi-municipal open space, greenways and recreation plan. The planning process began in January of 2007 and will be completed in the spring of 2008. These planning efforts are based upon the collaboration and cooperation of the townships, citizens and property owners.

The second public meeting to discuss these plans is scheduled for October 25 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Shohola Township Volunteer Fire Department on Route 434.

Jeffersonville dam to undergo repairs

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — Repairs to the dam at Lake Jefferson are expected to take place during the month of October. Lower lake and creek levels may be observed during the construction period. The repair period is expected to be 10 to 14 days and is weather dependent.

The spillway surface and discharge area were damaged during the June 2006 flood. The repairs done this month will address the eroded creek bed beneath the spillway. Dam safety personnel at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation have been involved in assessing and approving the repair plan, which was designed by the private engineering firm Clough Harbour Associates of Albany, NY.

The dam at Lake Jefferson is privately owned by Jeffersonville Hydroelectric, a micro-hydro which has the capacity to produce 70kw of renewable energy from local water resources.

Byway communities complete projects

REGION — Municipalities along the New York State Route 97 Upper Delaware Scenic Byway have accomplished 10 projects under a $60,000 Legislative Member Item grant secured by Senator John J. Bonacic (42nd District) for local byway improvement initiatives.

Townships completing projects were the Town of Delaware, which engaged in selective vista clearing on Route 97 in the hamlet of Callicoon to open up views of the Delaware; the Town of Deerpark, which made improvements at the Route 97 parking lot adjacent to the Mongaup River and published a book titled “Hawk’s Nest: A Newspaper History of the Road;” the City of Port Jervis, which renovated the Park Avenue Observatory on Route 97; the National Park Service, which used its funds toward a viewshed analysis in connection with the proposed high-voltage transmission line; the Village of Hancock, which made improvements at the Village of Hancock Fishing Access Site at Junction Pool; the Minisink Valley Historical Society, which published a book titled “Perseverance & Vigilance: A History of the Old Decker Stone House;” the Town of Highland, which constructed a portable eagle observation shelter at a Route 97 roadside pull-off area in the hamlet of Minisink Ford; the Town of Lumberland, which completed a rock garden beautification project in the hamlet of Pond Eddy; and the Village of Hancock, which purchased picnic tables and benches for the public park at the Village of Hancock Fishing Access Site.

For more information visit www.upperdelawarescenicbyway.org.