Heating funds still available for Bethel residents

WHITE LAKE, NY — The Bethel Local Development Corporation has announced that there still is funding available for Bethel residents who are in need of heating assistance from the Citizens’ Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), a program funded by private citizen donations. It provides a one-time supplement for heating needs to qualifying Bethel residents. The guidelines have been revised to remove the requirement of the HEAP denial letter to allow for more assistance. Proof of income for all household members and proof of Bethel residency are still required.

Applications are available through the Town of Bethel website at www.town.bethel.ny.us or can be picked up at the Bethel Town Hall, 3454 Route 55, White Lake. Applications will be reviewed confidentially by the CEAP program administrators.

Federal funding restored for DRBC

WEST TRENTON, NJ — The United States Congress last week approved legislation providing $715,000 to fulfill the federal obligation to support the Delaware River Basin Commission’s (DRBC) current expense budget. It is the first time since 1996 the federal government has fulfilled this obligation.

Funding also was restored to two other mid-Atlantic river basin commissions created by compact with federal membership. Like the DRBC, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) had their operating budget support from the federal government suspended since 1996. Congress had previously authorized funding for all three commissions in their respective compacts and in the Water Resources Development Act of 2007.

For more information visit www.drbc.net .

New deal to keep raceway in Monticello

MONTICELLO, NY — A new, long-term business arrangement between Empire Resorts and Louis Cappelli’s Concord Associates, LP has been signed. Under the new agreement, which runs for 40 years, Empire will retain its existing harness racing and VGM operations at the Monticello Raceway and will also have an additional harness racing and VGM license that is expected to be issued to Concord by New York State. Previously, it had been thought that the existing racing operation would leave its current venue to be replaced by the Concord operation.

Related to the agreement, developer Louis Cappelli has joined the Empire board of directors. At the same time, four of the nine members of the board have resigned in response to pressure from major shareholders: chairman John Sharpe and members Frank Catania, Kenneth Dreifach and Richard Robbins. It is expected that three replacement members will be nominated shortly.

The new deal is contingent upon the Concord completing its construction financing.

Hinchey urges Treasury to retool AIG

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and three other House members have urged Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to assert the federal government’s ownership rights of American International Group (AIG) and address the company’s underlying problem of “incompetent and ineffective management.”

The federal government has thus far provided $180 billion dollars to AIG in order to keep the company afloat, which makes the government a majority owner with 80 percent of the company’s shares. Hinchey and his colleagues called on Geithner to use that majority ownership position to improve and retool the way AIG operates. They wrote, “We can not stand by and watch this company, which poses a systemic risk to our fragile economy, as it continues to handle taxpayer assistance in a way that is contrary to our nation’s best interest.”

Milford set up as Heritage Travel Destination

MILFORD, PA — The Pike County Economic Development Authority (PCEDA) has announced a partnership with the Milford business community to publicize Milford as a Heritage Travel destination. Last year, PCEDA purchased a membership in the Main Street Network, a membership program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which facilitates communication between organizations working to strengthen downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. Through that membership, PCEDA was offered an opportunity to participate in the Heritage Travel destination program.

The Milford Business Council, with the participation of the Historic Preservation Trust of Pike County, partnered with PCEDA to fully fund the initiative for the next two years. The next step in this initiative involves developing the material to include in the online information that Heritage Travel will promote. Ultimately, the initiative will increase travel to the area by tourists seeking trip experiences to destinations that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present, including historic, cultural and natural resources.

For more information visit www.heritagetravelinc.com .

Bust yields heroin, knife

MONTICELLO, NY — A recent police raid on an apartment in the Shaker Heights apartment complex in the Village of Monticello yielded 40 decks of heroin as well as drug packaging material, a digital scale, marijuana and a switchblade knife.

Two people, Pernell Moore, 41, and Krystle Kanaan,23, were arrested and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a weapon, felonies, and misdemeanor drug charges. Moore is at Sullivan County Jail without bail, and Kanaan had bail set at $7,500.