Byway signs dedicated

NARROWSBURG, NY — The Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, Inc. (UDSB) and Sullivan County Department of Parks, Recreation and Beautification held a public dedication ceremony on December 6 to unveil new interpretive panels recently installed in Narrowsburg through the New York State Scenic Byways Program Model Signage Initiative. Signs are currently installed at the Eagle Observation Deck on Main Street, the Upper Delaware Council office on Bridge Street and Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History on NYS Route 97/Kirk Road.

Participating in the dedication were Bill Douglass, Upper Delaware Council, left; Grace Johansen, Tusten Historical Society; Annie Hayes, Wayland Design; John Conway, Sullivan County Historian; Linda Dexter, Fort Delaware; NYS Assemblywoman Aileen M. Gunther, 98th District; Kristin Porter, Sullivan County Parks; Vidal Martinez, National Park Service; Glenn Pontier, Sullivan Renaissance; Robert Meyer, Sullivan County Division of Public Works; Ben Johnson, Town of Tusten; David Sager, Sullivan County Legislature District 1; Larry H. Richardson, UDSB; Wanda Gangel, Narrowsburg Beautification Group, and Peter Osborne, UDSB and master of ceremonies. For more information visit www.upperdelawarescenicbyway.org.

Funds available for farm stands

HARRISBURG, PA — Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff has extended to December 29 the deadline for a state-administered federal grant program that helps Pennsylvania farm stands and farmers markets grow their business and better serve their local communities.

Grants of up to $7,500 are available through the Direct Farm Sales Grant program to promote new or existing farm stands or farmers markets managed or operated by Pennsylvania-based businesses, non-profit organizations, farmers and local governments.

“The grant program supports the efforts of the state’s farm stands and farmers markets by providing these businesses a greater opportunity to reach out to local consumers and provide fresh, quality produce from Pennsylvania farmers,” said Wolff.

Each grant applicant must provide at least 25 percent of the grant amount in matching or in-kind services.

Completed applications must be delivered or postmarked by Monday, December 29 to Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Distribution, 2301 N. Cameron St., Room 401, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9408.

For more information visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us and select the “Direct Farm Sales Grant Program” link under “What’s New.”

Cochecton receives grant for salt shed

NARROWSBURG, NY — The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) presented a check for $8,125 to the Town of Cochecton on December 12 representing its share of a $75,000 Community Projects State Grant funding program that Senator John J. Bonacic secured for the UDC’s eight New York State member towns.

The grant enabled the Town of Cochecton to eliminate a potential source of ground pollution by constructing a new salt storage building on town-owned property in Cochecton. The Cochecton town board hired Werlau Enterprises of White Sulphur Springs as the contractor to build the salt shed. Construction was completed on September 13, 2007.

The funding enabled the Town of Cochecton to offset some of the costs incurred for the building, which was designed to complement the existing town highway garage. The shed will prevent salt from leaching into a nearby wet area that could eventually make its way into the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River.

Police score major drug bust in Hawley; two still at large

HAWLEY, PA — Charges have been filed against 10 individuals as a result of an investigation into the distribution of crack cocaine, heroin and illicit prescription drugs in and around the Hawley area of Wayne County. The charges stem from a four-month investigation conducted by the State Police Vice Unit during which numerous controlled purchases of illegal drugs were made.

Law enforcement officers from the Pennsylvania State Police, Hawley Borough, Honesdale Borough and the Wayne County District Attorney’s Office took action on December 10, serving arrest warrants at five different locations and executing a search warrant at a home located at 54 Aspen Ridge Road, Hawley.

Eight of the individuals were arrested at that time; however two, Alexis Erazo Martir and Jonathan Diaz, pictured above, were still at large as of press time. Should anyone have information regarding the whereabouts of either, they are asked to notify the Pennsylvania State Police at 570/253-7126 or the Wayne County District Attorney at 570/253-4912. The public is cautioned not to approach either man or attempt to apprehend them on their own.

In addition to the arrests, the police also seized 17 packages of crack, 24 bags of heroin; marihuana, drug paraphernalia and approximately $1,100 from the residence at 54 Aspen Ridge.