Tusten highway building dedicated

NARROWSBURG, NY — About 75 Tusten residents turned out to the dedication of the highway building on August 1. A plaque was unveiled which bears the words, “This facility was dedicated in 2009 in honor of Nathaniel R. ‘Skip’ Feagles III in loving memory for recognition of his commitment and dedication to the Town of Tusten and the Tusten Highway Department – 17 years as superintendent.”

Feagles was remembered with much reverence as a man who’s family sacrificed so that he could be out on the roads dealing with the ice and snow and many other conditions that have an impact on roadways. Feagles was also the motivating force behind the construction of the highway barn.

House approves funds for local health

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) has secured House approval of funds for local health programs. The Sullivan County Dental Health Project has been allocated $400,000 and Catskill Regional Medical Center $300,000.

The Sullivan County Dental Health Project will use the funding to increase access to dental health care services for low-income adults and children in Sullivan County. Catskill Regional Medical Center will use the funds Hinchey secured for its emergency room (ER) expansion and renovation project. The current ER was originally designed in 1977 and in need of a major overhaul. The ER was designed to treat 17,000 patients annually, but currently provides 26,000 patients with care. The construction project will expand ER facility beds from 13 to 20 and is expected to provide 80 local construction jobs.

The Senate now needs to take up its own version of the fiscal year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill.

Pike County Library petition drive underway

PIKE COUNTY, PA — A petition drive is currently underway requesting that a question be placed on the November 3 ballot asking voters whether they support a dedicated tax to improve and expand Pike County Public Library’s (PCPL) services countywide. In order to ensure that the library tax question is placed on the November 3 ballot, PCPL must gather more than 700 petition signatures from Pike County voters between now and August 25.

Pike voters can sign the petition at any PCPL branch—in Dingman Township (100 Bond Court, just off Log Tavern Road, 570/686-7045), Lackawaxen Township (St Luke’s Center, 223 Route 590, 570/685-3100) or Milford Borough (201 Broad Street, at the corner of Harford and Broad Streets, 570/296-8211).

“Without the dedicated tax, library services will be cut beginning in 2010,” says library director Ellen Schaffner.” The average cost of the tax per household would be $35 per year.

For more information visit www.pcpl.org/everyonebenefits or call 570/296-8211.

Work starts on conservation subdivision

LAKE WALLENPAUPACK, PA — Ground has broken for a conservation subdivision on Route 507 on Lake Wallenpaupack. Sunset Harbour on Lake Wallenpaupack is a mixed-use residential development offering single-family homes. Seven homesites are planned, five level to the water lakefronts with private docks, and two hillside homesites featuring use of a community dock and lake rights.

The development is characterized by common open space and clustered compact lots. The purpose of a conservation subdivision is to protect the natural resources while allowing for the maximum number of residences under current community zoning and subdivision regulations. Conventional lot-by-lot subdivisions spread development evenly throughout a parcel without consideration to environmental or cultural features.

Construction of the infrastructure (Phase One) has already begun, with work to be done by Grassie and Sons out of Mount Cobb, PA. The investment in the infrastructure is estimated to be $500,000.

Police plan speed enforcement blitz

PIKE COUNTY, PA — The Eastern Pike Regional Police Department today launched a tough new speed enforcement blitz for the Borough of Matamoras and the Township of Westfall under the tagline: “Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine.”

In 2005, speeding was a contributing factor in more than a third of all fatal crashes in the United States and more than 13,000 lives were lost in such crashes, according to the latest data available from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Fully 86 percent of all speeding-related traffic fatalities occur on local roads where the posted speed limits were 55 miles per hour or under.

For more information visit trafficsafetymarketing.gov/ .

Executive order calls for 80 percent emissions reduction

NEW YORK STATE — Governor David A. Paterson has signed Executive Order 24, which sets a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in New York State by 80 percent below the levels emitted in 1990 by the year 2050. The order also creates a Climate Action Council, with a directive to prepare a draft Climate Action Plan by September 30, 2010. The Climate Action Plan will assess how all economic sectors can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change, as well as identify the extent to which such actions support New York’s goals for a clean energy economy and help to create jobs for New Yorkers.

Though it is anticipated that reductions in greenhouse gas emissions will be paramount, the Climate Action Plan will also include adaptation measures that will safeguard people, the environment and our infrastructure from expected climatic changes.