Public meeting to be held on library

MILFORD, PA — Pike County residents will have an opportunity to review progress and plans for the new Pike County Public Library (PCPL) headquarters during an informational public meeting on Thursday, October 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the courtroom of the Honorable Joseph Kameen, in the Pike County Courthouse at 412 Broad Street.

At the meeting, hosted by PCPL board members, staff and members of the Library’s all-volunteer building committee, architect Fred Schwartz will present current plans for the new library headquarters and its community center, including landscape and small business resource center plans, both of which are a direct result of community input. PCPL Building Committee member Ed Brannon will moderate the session.

Plans for the new library headquarters have been altered significantly over the past year to reflect input from the community and a series of informal workshops held among members of the PCPL Building Committee, the Milford Borough Council and the Architectural Review Board.

Red Cross and NYSEG announce energy assistance program

BINGHAMTON, NY — The Southern Tier Chapter of the American Red Cross and NYSEG will provide a new energy assistance program funded by a $500,000 contribution from NYSEG. Called the Matching Incentive Payment Program, it will aid NYSEG residential customers with energy emergencies across the company’s upstate service area.

The program will provide grants of up to $600 to eligible NYSEG residential customers who are facing service disconnection due to nonpayment, and will match any additional payments customers make toward past-due amounts, up to $400. NYSEG residential electricity and natural gas customers whose household income is less than eight percent above the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) income guidelines are eligible to participate.

For more information visit nyseg.com and click on “Your Account,” then “Pay Your Bill” and follow the “We’re here to help” or “Service and Assistance” links.

Monticello man charged with stealing food from apartment

MONTICELLO, NY — Arsenio Jacobs, 20, of Monticello, was charged with felony burglary after entering an apartment on Prince Street through a window. He was reportedly found taking food from the refrigerator by the apartment’s occupant, who arrived home at around 3:00 a.m. Jacobs left the apartment before police could arrest him, but was later picked up when he was seen engaged in an argument with someone on Broadway.

Jacobs was put in the Monticello police lockup pending arraignment.

HEAP outreach effort coming to Narrowsburg

NARROWSBURG, NY — In an effort to reach people in all parts of the county, members of the Sullivan County Division of Health and Family Services will be at the Tusten Town Hall on November 13, to take applications for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which helps residents pay their winter heating bills.

Maximum HEAP benefits for eligible families or single residents have been increased from last year from $550 to $800 for people who heat with oil or gas. People who heat by other methods will have a maximum benefit of $550.

At the Tusten town meeting on October 13, Supervisor Ben Johnson urged residents to take advantage of the outreach, and sign up for benefits. He said there will likely be a greater need for them this season because of increased fuel prices.

The state does not begin taking applications for the HEAP program until November 3, at which time people will be able to apply online at www.otda.state.ny.us/main/heap/default.asp or by calling 845/807-0142.

Fake check scam hits Sullivan County

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — The Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office is warning residents of a scam masquerading as a prize from Publisher’s Clearing House, sponsored by Martha Stewart Living magazine. Fake checks have been sent to residents along with letters telling them they are winners of a $15 million prize. The recipient is told to call a phone number to obtain a security code. The operator they speak to instructs them to cash the check and send back a portion to a company whose name and address they are given. The fake check bounces but the money sent to the company is lost.

The operation is one of a number of similar scams that have circulated around the region lately. Favorite targets are senior citizens and college students.

Grant to help protect critical watershed

MILFORD, PA — The Pinchot Institute for Conservation has received an $82,500 grant from the Philadelphia-based William Penn Foundation to complete a project titled “Common Waters: Clean Water, Healthy Forests, and Sustainable Communities.” The mission of the Common Waters project is to preserve clean water, natural places and working lands through cooperation, education and research.

The grant, along with support from the National Park Service’s Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, will be targeted at conducting a demonstration project that identifies lands that serve both to protect critical watersheds, and those areas most important for water quality protection. The second phase will be a forum in which participants can explore how to work in partnership with governmental and non-profit agencies to advance the agenda of the project.