Greenway voting members considered

ALBANY, NY — Should New York State agencies have voting power when the Upper Delaware Greenway finally comes into existence? Senator John Bonacic said that giving state agencies such as the Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Office of Parks voting privileges regarding Greenway matters might make some local officials reluctant to join the Greenway. He has therefore introduced legislation that would create a board made up of six to eight voting positions that would be filled by local officials, and four non-voting members representing state agencies.

However, Bonacic said the state senate would first pass assemblywoman Aileen Gunther’s bill, passed by the assembly in February, that would create a 12-member board, allowing state agencies to vote. He would then introduce an amendment to change the structure of the board. Bonacic thinks that with former Governor Eliot Spitzer now replaced by Governor David Patterson, there will no longer be resistance to having the voting power reside in the hands of local officials.

If signed into law, the Greenway legislation would provide funds to improve the scenic, natural, cultural, historical and recreational assets of Delaware River Valley communities including Port Jervis, Hancock, Deerpark, Lumberland, Highland, Tusten, Cochecton and Delaware.

School board workshop to be held

LIBERTY, NY — The Sullivan County School Boards Association will hold an orientation workshop for residents who are interested in becoming school board members. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, April 9 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Sullivan County BOCES Board Room at 6 Wierk Avenue. The session is free but reservations should be made by Tuesday, April 7.

To be qualified for a board of education position, the candidate must be able to read and write, a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years of age and a resident of the school district in question for one year.

For more information email krisroth@toast.net with your name, telephone number and school district, or call 845/292-9039.

Ticketmaster only for Bethel Woods

ROCK HILL, NY —Steve’s Music Center in Rock Hill, which has sold tickets to performances at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts at for the past couple of years, will no longer be doing so. Bethel Woods told the owners of Steve’s Music Center that it would not be asking them to sell tickets again in March, and plans to replace their services with a Ticketmaster venue expected to open in Monticello at an undisclosed location later this year.

Because the store did not charge a processing fee, the tickets at Steve’s were $8 cheaper than the price for which they can typically be purchased at Ticketmaster.

According to the owners, the ticket-selling gig did not bring extra business to their store, but they enjoyed being of service to the community.

Suspect resists arrest, injures officer

PORT JERVIS, NY — Port Jervis police officer Kevin Moscatiello was assaulted by a suspect resisting arrest early on Friday, March 28.

Moscatiello was in the process of arresting Matthew Jacobson, 32, of East Windsor, NJ, for a misdemeanor assault on a female. Jacobson is reported to have struck Moscatiello repeatedly on the face and shoulder. Pepper spray was used to subdue him.

Moscatiello was sent to Bon Secours Community Hospital where lacerations and bruising to his face, shoulder and knees were treated. The female, who had sustained injuries to her wrists, was also sent to the hospital. Moscatiello was released but is still under treatment and has been removed from the patrol roster. The female has been released in good condition.

Jacobson, who was charged with felony assault on a police officer and misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and assaulting the female, is in Orange County Jail. Bail has been set at $10,000.

Legislation would increase competitive bidding in PA

HARRISBURG, PA — Legislation is being drafted that would prevent the awards of contracts by the Pennsylvania state government worth more than $100,000 without competitive bidding, following controversy surrounding the revelation that over $1 billion in contracts had been awarded without participation in the competitive bidding process. Another bill would amend the state’s right-to-know law to require information about the contracts and why they were not put through the bidding process to be posted online.

According to the Department of General Services, $246.3 million in no-bid contracts have been approved so far this year.

Beach Lake fire claims life

BEACH LAKE, PA — A fire that occurred early in the morning of Friday, March 28 at a house in the 500 block of Perkins Pond Road claimed the life of 11-year-old Adam Erickson. When firemen arrived at the blaze around 2:30 a.m, the bedrooms were on fire and flames were already through the roof and windows, according to Beach Lake Fire Chief Tony Franklin. The boy’s father and brother escaped the fire and then tried to get back in to get him, enlisting the help of neighbor Glenn Voss, but were unable to do so. They were taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor burns and smoke inhalation. The boy’s mother and daughter were taken to the hospital as well.

The blaze was extinguished by about 2:45 a.m. Adam was pronounced dead at the scene. See obituary on page 8.

Five fire companies and two ambulance companies responded to the emergency, with over 100 personnel arriving at the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal, but it is believed to have been accidental.