Blight threatens local tomatoes

REGION — Late blight, the disease that caused the Irish potato famine, has been found in a large number of tomato plants that were distributed to large retail stores in the Northeast such as Home Depot and Wal-Mart.

The disease poses a threat not only to backyard growers but to any commercial growers who may be located close to them, whose plants may be infected by wind-borne spores. According to Cornell University, never before has such an extensive distribution of infected plants occurred.

Tomatoes grown from seed by gardeners or local nurseries such as Silver Heights Farm in Cochecton, NY are unlikely to be infected initially, but may catch the disease if someone nearby has infected plants.

Gardeners are encouraged to monitor tomato and potato plants for sign of the blight, which appears as brownish nickel- sized and larger spots on the leaves or stems. Infected plants should be pulled up and disposed of in tightly closed plastic bags. They should not be composted. Spraying with fungicides can be effective but only before symptoms appear.

Estimate drops on SW school roof

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — Repairing the roof of the Sullivan West Elementary School will apparently not cost as much as initially feared, according to a new proposal that will be put before the district voters on October 20.

Preliminary studies had indicated that a complete replacement would be necessary, at a cost of about $4 million. But additional studies indicate that replacing about 10 percent of the tiles will be sufficient, and cost a much lower $700,000. According to Superintendent Ken Hilton, it will not be necessary to increase taxes or debt in order to pay this amount. The October vote will be to give authorization to use money from the capital reserve fund.

Hilton also said that the district hopes to offset the drain on the capital fund by obtaining financing from state money and federal preservation grants.

Work should begin in 2011, and is not expected to require the relocation of classes.

Contract talks to resume

MONTICELLO, NY — After going without a contract since December of 2007, corrections officers in Sullivan County will once again be in negotiations with the county at the end of July. The union wishes to raise Sullivan County officers’ pay to levels comparable with that in neighboring counties.

Part of the delay had been caused by a question as to who would represent the officers in the negotiations. Some of them wished to be represented by the Correction Officers Benevolent Association instead of the Civil Service Employees Association, and submitted a petition to that effect to the Public Employees Relations Board. However, the application was later withdrawn. The county said it was unable to negotiate until the matter of representation had been settled.

Missing child case turns into attempted murder charge

MONTICELLO, NY — Cory Clarke, a 27-year-old Monticello man who reported his seven-month-old daughter missing from the Monticello Wal-Mart on Saturday, has been charged with attempted murder, reckless endangerment and falsely reporting an incident.

Clarke reported that Brook had disappeared from a double stroller she was riding in along with 18-month-old sibling Charley while he was distracted at the checkout. The store was closed while law enforcement officials searched for her. She was found about five hours later, crying face-down in the mud 150 yards from the store.

Further investigation indicated that at least some parts of Clark’s story were not true, and that Brook had not been in the stroller when he entered the store. One medical examination of the infant has been performed and a second is planned to gain more information.

Brook’s parents, Clarke and Michelle DeRocco, are not married, but had been together for three years before splitting up about nine months ago. The children are living with DeRocco.

PCPL seeks referendum on library funds

PIKE COUNTY, PA — The Pike County Public Library (PCPL) Board has asked the Pike County Commissioners to place a referendum on the November 3 ballot for a dedicated library tax of one mil. The annual cost to the average Pike County homeowner would be about $35.

Although the library allocation has remained frozen at $200,000 since 2000, the commissioners have said they cannot increase the appropriation, and have suggested that the PCPL seek voter approval for a dedicated library tax. In order to do so, PCPL must gather more than 700 petition signatures from Pike County voters. By law, the petition drive must be held between August 4 and August 25.

PCPL will host a series of community meetings to provide information to voters. The meetings will be held at 7:00 p.m. and will start on Monday, July 13 in Dingman Township, at the Volunteer Fire Department at 680 Log Tavern Road, followed by a second meeting on Tuesday, July 14 at Matamoras Borough Hall on 10th Avenue in Matamoras.

For other meeting places and times visit www.pcpl.org/calendar and select “Everyone Benefits” from the top right drop-down menu or call 570/296-8211.

Subdivision plan hearing in Damascus

DAMASCUS, PA — A conditional use hearing regarding a major subdivision plan entitled “Bluestone Mountains Estates,” which concerns a property off River Road on a hill off Plank Road, about one mile north of Narrowsburg, will be held on Tuesday, July 14 at 7:00 p.m. at the Damascus Township Building at 60 Conklin Hill Road in Damascus.

Property owners within 500 feet of the subdivision have been notified and given an opportunity to comment on the plan.