Local dairy wins I Love My NY Farmer Contest in New York

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — Dawn and Peter Erlwein of Jeffersonville are winners in the Dairy category of the fourth Annual NY Farms! I Love My NY Farmer Contest.

In the contest, the New York public is asked to nominate farmers who live and sell within New York State, produce a quality product, are good stewards of the land and good neighbors. Entrants are asked to justify their nominations in 250 words.

The Erlweins were nominated by Barbara Hahn, who wrote, “I love the way the entire Erlwein family all go the extra mile, involving themselves in many community activities including the Methodist Church, the Jeffersonville Journal, beautification efforts for Jeffersonville Enhances More of Sullivan, and the Sullivan West Central School athletic and music programs, making it hard to imagine how they fit in doing various chores for elderly neighbors.”

Sullivan County cited for financial reporting excellence

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Sullivan County has received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). Its 2006 comprehensive annual financial report, or CAFR, was found deserving of “the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and finance reporting,” and the GFOA felt “its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.”

As the designated official who is “primarily responsible for the County having earned the Certificate,” Sullivan County Treasurer Ira Cohen will receive an Award of Financial Reporting Achievement.

The award provides a welcome contrast with recent history: in 2004, Sullivan County’s $13 million unreserved fund balance was reduced to about $6 million when the county auditors’ 2003 annual report revealed that $7.2 million in state and federal aid had been posted twice. Cohen was elected as treasurer in 2006.

Gunther to sponsor clone-labeling bill

ALBANY, NY — Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (D/C-Forestburgh) will sponsor legislation requiring clear and prominent labeling on food derived from cloned animals. The bill is a response to the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) statement, released last week, that it will not require labeling of meat and milk derived from animal clones and cloned offspring.

“Given the FDA’s decision, I believe New York State should move to protect the consumer’s choice,” said Gunther. “We have no idea yet if, in the long run, products from cloned animals are safe. Certainly New York consumers have the right to be informed when buying milk or meat derived from cloned animals.”

A Consumers Union study in May of 2007 found that 89 percent of Americans want to see cloned food labeled.

Additional funds released to help with heating costs

WASHINGTON, DC — An additional $82,315,613 in increased federal funding that will help low-income New Yorkers pay for heating costs was included by Congress as emergency contingency funding included in the Omnibus Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2008, according to Congressman Maurice Hinchey.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps pay the winter heating bills or summer cooling bills of low-income and elderly people on fixed incomes. Two thirds of the families receiving LIHEAP assistance have incomes of less than $8,000 a year.

The appropriations bill contained $2.57 billion in funding for LIHEAP, including $590 million in contingency funds to be released at the president’s discretion. The administration agreed to release about $450 million in LIHEAP emergency contingency funds last week. Hinchey has supported the full and immediate release of the contingency LIHEAP funds.

“The high cost of energy is making it extremely difficult for low-income people, particularly elderly low-income people, to pay their energy bills, and also to meet their other needs,” Hinchey said. “We want to make sure that the money that was appropriated in the Omnibus Appropriations bill for the LIHEAP program is fully released by the White House and used this year so that people do not suffer as a result.”

The LIHEAP contact in Sullivan County is the Sullivan County Department of Social Services in Liberty, 845/292-0100.

In Pennsylvania, the Wayne County LIHEAP hotline is 570/253-7118, and the Pike County hotline is 570/296-6114.

Extensive construction planned for Sullivan airport

BETHEL, NY — Arcadia Aviation has acquired the assets of Woodstock Aircraft Services, Inc., the sole fixed base operator at the Sullivan County International Airport. Arcadia will continue to provide all ground-support services for aircraft owners while improving the airport’s capacity to cater to corporate and private aircraft.

The company is developing a $25 million, 200,000-square-foot corporate hangar and office complex that will ultimately include eight 20,000-square-foot hangars, each with 3,600 square feet of attached offices. The initial phase of the project will begin immediately.

Arcadia Aviation president Robert Garrett Jr. said, “Our Sullivan County location is strategically located to support New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area corporate flight departments. This latest acquisition fits well with the company’s objective of offering a more affordable hangar and fuel alternative to the highly congested metropolitan area airports, while offering an affordable, high quality of life for crew and support personnel.”