Price to be EMS director and EMS ground breaking to be held

HONESDALE, PA — Wayne County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) director Frank Smith, who is retiring, will be replaced by Steve Price, the assistant EMS director, effective May 25.

Wayne County will be breaking ground for the new EMS and Communication Center building on Friday, May 22 at 9:30 a.m. at the site next to the county recycling center located at 43 Volunteer Drive on Route 652 near Beach Lake.

The project is being funded with a $1 million grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, a $187,500 grant from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and proceeds from the 2007 County Bond Issue which was set aside for the project.

Federal agency launches database of toxic chemicals

NATION — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a new online database that collects information on more than 500,000 man-made chemicals from over 200 public sources. The Aggregated Computational Toxicology Resource (ACToR) database allows easy access to hundreds of data sources in one place. The database is part of ToxCast, a program to develop faster methods to evaluate potential human toxicity for thousands of chemicals using computer modeling and advanced molecular biology techniques, helping EPA prioritize future testing of chemicals.

Sources of information include the EPA, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and other federal agencies; state databases; the World Health Organization; and non-governmental organizations, private companies and universities. For more information visit actor.epa.gov/actor or epa.gov/ncct .

Port dealers hit in car franchise closings

PORT JERVIS, NY — Two Port Jervis car dealerships have been hit by the recent franchise closings announced by Chrysler in its bankruptcy plans and GM in its attempts to avoid bankruptcy: Phil’s Jeep Eagle and Rea Buick.

Rea says he will fight GM’s decision to not renew his contract in October of 2010 when it expires. Rea argues that he meets all the criteria to be a dealer, and that there is no reason not to have a Buick dealer in Port Jervis.

The law firm Bellavia Gentile & Associates, which represents a group of Chrysler dealers fighting the Chrysler franchise closures, maintains that in New York State, franchise agreements cannot be terminated without a material breach of the agreement. But GM maintains that there is nothing to stop it under law from renewing or failing to renew an agreement with an individual dealer.

First swine flu case in Sullivan

FERNDALE, NY— The first case of H1N1, or swine flu, has been confirmed in the hamlet of Ferndale in Sullivan County. On May 19, county manager David P. Fanslau said in a press release, “Late last night the NY Department of Health informed Sullivan County that a Sullivan County resident has tested positive for the H1N1 influenza, more commonly known as swine flu. This person… is an employee of New Hope Community, in the Town of Fallsburg. There is a second probable case, also a New Hope Community staff member, whose primary physician has already started her on a course of Tamiflu.”

According to New Hope Community Executive Director Daniel Berkowicz, the infected staff person had not traveled outside of the United States, but did travel to New York City on Sunday, May 10, 2009. This person first experienced symptoms on May 13, 2009, and was treated at Crystal Run Healthcare. As soon as a positive Type A influenza diagnosis was determined last week, New Hope Community immediately began a course of Tamiflu for the residents of the residential home where the infected staff member worked; all residents of New Hope Community are being monitored and their temperatures taken twice a day.

Monticello building inspector suspended for driving infraction

MONTICELLO, NY — Sue Flora, the Monticello building inspector, was suspended by acting village manager and mayor Gordon Jenkins, after driving a village vehicle without a valid New York State driving license.

Flora’s license had been revoked six months ago in connection with a charge of driving while intoxicated. She said she had completed the paperwork necessary to have it reinstated and expected to have it back within a couple of weeks.

The village has no one else to do inspections during the suspension, and it is not clear how long it will last. Jenkins says he thinks it is unlikely the village board will fire Flora, but there will be a civil service hearing on the issue.

Sorensen pushes for green industrial park

MONTICELLO, NY — Now that the decision has been made not to expand the County Landfill, Sullivan County Legislator Alan Sorensen is proposing to turn the site into a “green” light industrial business park.

Sorensen, a planner by profession, said, “We owe it to the taxpayers who have seen their hard-earned tax dollars squandered on this mismanaged and poorly planned landfill to get a return on their money and make a ‘garbage’ investment into one that will help pay the long term debt obligations off.”

With the recent announcement of initial plans by the New York Department of Transportation to establish a Compressed Natural Gas station at the landfill, which is located near Exit 106 of Route 86, Sorensen is proposing using the station as an anchor to draw new, green industries to Sullivan County that could use the cheap renewable energy being converted at the landfill.