Signs to boost awareness of watershed

UPPER DELAWARE RIVER — The Delaware Riverkeeper Network has sponsored construction of “Welcome to the Delaware River Watershed” highway signs in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York as part of its new Remember the River campaign. The campaign is aimed at increasing the stature of the Delaware River in the minds of the public and decision makers. Other elements of the campaign are a three-minute movie about valuing the Delaware River, river bracelets, lapel pins, a new educational brochure and a web page, which can be accessed through www.delawareriverkeeper.org.

“For people to transform their everyday actions in a way that will benefit the river, knowing they are within the watershed is absolutely the first step—that is what the highway signs are all about,” said Delaware Riverkeeper Maya van Rossum.

Damascus man killed in motorcycle accident

LEBANON TOWNSHIP, PA — An 18-year-old man from Damascus was killed on July 14, when he drove his motorcycle into a John Deere tractor on Route 191 in Wayne County.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, Chadwick Sykes, who graduated from Honesdale High School this spring, was pronounced dead at the scene by the county coroner.

Sykes, who was driving a 2002 Kawasaki Ninja ZX6 motorcycle, was wearing a motorcycle helmet when the accident occurred at about 10:30 in the morning.

Sykes and the man driving the tractor, 61-year-old Harvey Bates, were both thrown to the pavement as a result of the collision. Bates walked away from the incident without injury. No charges were filed against him.

See obituary on page 9.

CARI, Utica file objections to NYRI request of guaranteed profit

REGION — Communities Against Regional Interconnect (CARI), a coalition of counties and citizen’s groups working together to find solutions to meet New York State’s energy needs, has joined forces with the City of Utica to oppose New York Regional Interconnect’s (NYRI) guaranteed rate of return request of 13.5 percent filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

The City of Utica and CARI hired an economic expert to refute NYRI’s claims that a rate of return of 13.5 percent was justified. In addition, NYRI’s application to FERC is premature. In order to qualify for FERC incentive rates, a project must have completed “a fair and open regional planning process” and “received construction approval from an appropriate state or state siting commission.” Neither condition has been met by NYRI.

Several stakeholders, including Con Edison and Dynegy Northeast Generation, have expressed concern over the adverse effects of the NYRI project on the electric grid. In addition, NYRI has failed to meet all required statutory criteria required to apply for incentive rates.

For more information visit www.caricoalition.org/documents.html.

Five-year-old saved from drowning

MILFORD, PA — A five-year-old girl who was participating in a day camp group from the Pocono Environmental Education Center was saved from drowning by a counselor and National Park Service lifeguards at Milford Beach on the morning of Wednesday, July 9.

The girl, along with several counselors and other children, was swimming in about five feet of water about 10 to 15 feet from the beach.

A counselor who was within arm’s reach noticed that the child was struggling and brought her in to the beach.

The two on-duty lifeguards met the counselor and the girl, who was unconscious and not breathing, at the water’s edge. Lifeguards administered back blows and opened the girl’s airway. Her breathing was restored and she regained consciousness. Administration of cardiopulmonary respiration was not necessary.

The child was transported to Bon Secours Community Hospital by the Milford Ambulance Corps. She was later transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit in a Morristown hospital. She was treated and has been released.

YMCA branch to be built in Sullivan

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Thanks to some funding secured by state senator John Bonacic (R/I/C-Mount Hope), a branch of the YMCA will soon be constructed in Sullivan County.

Currently, the YMCA is offering programs for people of all ages at Monticello High School in the Town of Thompson, with about 1,740 members. There is also a seven-week day camp for about 200 boys and girls.

The state funding of $500,000, along with a commitment of 12 acres in Rock Hill from RH Land Development, LLC, will allow for the construction of a separate facility and an expansion of services.

Linda Cellini, YMCA development director, said, “This is a project that started over 20 years ago, when I was asked by the late Walter Rhulen to join a committee to bring YMCA to Sullivan County. I am pleased and excited to see the support and continued progress as we move forward to bring this dream to reality. We cannot thank Senator Bonacic enough for bringing this dream closer to reality.”

Handler to leave Sullivan County BOCES

LIBERTY, NY — Sullivan County BOCES Superintendent Martin Handler will leave his position to take a job as superintendent of the Brandywine Heights Area School District in Pennsylvania, near Reading.

The school board of the Brandywine Heights district was scheduled to vote on the contract for Handler on Tuesday. It had not done so by press time, but was expected to approve the contract, which becomes effective on August 18 and runs for four years.

Handler has been the Sullivan County BOCES Superintendent for 10 years, and has served as an interim BOCES superintendent in Orange County for a little over a year.