Deadly season continues with fourth drowning

MINISINK FORD, NY — In the fourth drowning incident on the Delaware River this year, Salvatore Valenziano Jr., 20, of Staten Island, was pulled under by the current on Friday, July 18 when he tried to swim across the river with four friends near Minisink Ford.

The friends crossed successfully, and pulled Valenziano from the water and commenced CPR. Valenziano was taken to Bon Secours Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at around 7:00 p.m.

Another drowning took place in the same section of the river over the Fourth of July weekend. The river reaches depths of up to 12 feet at this point. Safety officials caution swimmers to wear life jackets when wading or swimming in the river. Neither Valenziano or his friends were wearing life jackets.

Dave Jones, owner of Kittatinny Canoes, reported that he spoke to the group a few hours before the incident and warned them not to try to swim across the river.

Road crews in PA file police reports

DUNMORE, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has created a Police Arrest Report Form to be used by highway workers from District 4-0, which includes Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties. Using the forms, highway workers can report motorists who violate speed rules in work zones.

“We want to send out a strong message—we will hold drivers accountable for putting the lives of our workers in danger,” said George Roberts, PennDOT’s district executive. “We ask motorists to slow down for safety’s sake.

Using the form, state and local police have cited approximately 90 drivers for violations in work zones. In some instances, fines have totaled as much as $1,000.

Since 1970, 10 workers from PennDOT District 4-0 have lost their lives in the line of duty. Statewide, 78 PennDOT workers have died in the line of duty since 1970.

Goodman urges energy savings

MONTICELLO, NY — Legislator Jodi Goodman has circulated a memo calling for simple measures to help Sullivan County government offices to conserve energy in the short run. Noting that the Energy Conservation & Generation Commission is studying long-term savings, the memo names a number of simple measures that can be taken immediately.

Measures named by Goodman include turning off computer monitors when not in use, shutting down computers at night and raising the thermostat a few degrees so that rooms are not over-air-conditioned. Goodman also suggests retrofitting options that could be implemented in the near future, such as installing occupancy sensors like those in the CVI Building in Liberty that automatically turn off lights when no one is in a room.

Chamber urges members to support property tax cap

MONTICELLO, NY — The Advocacy Committee of the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce is encouraging the members of the chamber to endorse the work of the Property Tax Coalition, a coalition of individuals, associations and businesses formed to support Governor Paterson’s proposed property tax cap.

The cap was recommended by the Commission on Property Tax Relief. The cap would limit the growth in school property tax levies to 4 percent or to 120 percent of the rate of inflation, whichever is less.

Legislators in Albany appear to be split over the proposal, with Republicans largely favoring it and Democrats opposing it.

Funds available to buy out flood-stricken properties in Catskills

ALBANY, NY — The New York State Housing Trust Fund Corporation is now accepting Requests for Proposals for the Greater Catskill Flood Remediation Program, giving homeowners the opportunity to relocate from areas vulnerable to flooding. The 2008-09 state budget includes $15 million for the program.

Eligible counties in the Southern Tier and Catskill regions will apply to purchase one- or two-family homes that have been damaged by floods since April 1, 2004 and are determined to be at future risk, allowing homeowners to relocate to areas outside of these flood zones.

In order to qualify for the program, the home must be the primary residence of the owner with a family income up to 150 percent of the area median income, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Homes purchased would be condemned and property dedicated for open space, recreation, wetlands or flood mitigation purposes.

For more information visit www.nysdhcr.gov.

Wayne County bridges to receive repairs

HARRISBURG, PA — Seven bridges in Wayne County will be repaired through recent legislation to invest $350 million in repair of bridges in Pennsylvania.

The Wayne County bridges are Fork Bridge Road over the west branch of Wallenpaupack Creek in Salem and Sterling townships, Beaver Dam Creek Bridge #1 in Damascus Township, Ariel Creek Bridge in Salem Township, Little Equinunk Bridge in Manchester Township, Middle Creek Bridge #2 in South Canaan Township and State Road 3037 Bridge over Middle Creek in Cherry Ridge Township.

Under Governor Rendell’s Rebuild Pennsylvania program, a combination of federal and state funds will underwrite bridge projects that will be included in the state transportation improvement program.

None of the bridges are owned by the county.

“We have a long way to go,” the Governor said. “Pennsylvania has more than 6,000 structurally deficient bridges—the most of any state—and the price to fix all those bridges is in excess of $11 billion.”