Environmental education grants available

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) mid-Atlantic Regional Office is accepting applications from Pennsylvania organizations seeking funding to help develop environmental education programs. EPA will take applications through December 15.

The EPA’s Environmental Education Grant Program allows the agency’s regional offices to award grants up to $50,000. Grants over $50,000 and up to $200,000 are awarded by EPA headquarters in Washington, DC.

Organizations seeking funding should submit proposals to EPA Region 3, Attn: Kathleen Kirkland (3PA00), Office of Public Affairs, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Proposals postmarked after the due date of December 15 will not be considered. The grant solicitation notice announcing the grants program is available at www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants.html.

For more information email kirkland.kathleen@epa.gov or call 215/814-5176 or 800/352-1973.

Plans for Santos property sought

MILFORD, PA — The Pike County Commissioners are seeking input on the development of a master site plan for the recently purchased 89-acre Santos property in Milford Township. The county has applied to the state for funds to assist with the development of a master site plan for the parcel. The plan will identify the kinds of uses that might be allowed over the long term, the conservation values on the parcel which need to be preserved, and a timeline for the financing needed to develop, operate and maintain any type of recreational or nature facilities which might be identified for the parcel.

Any person or organization having ideas on the possible uses and/or conservation preservation values for the parcel should submit them to the Pike County Board of Commissioners, 506 Broad Street, Milford, PA 18337, and should clearly reference “Input on Santos parcel,” by December 18. The commissioners are also asking for names of interested residents who might be willing to serve on the site planning committee. Interested parties should send a letter of interest to the commissioners at the above address. It is anticipated that the committee will meet monthly in Milford throughout 2010.

Group seeks to restore Milford Theatre

MATAMORAS, PA — There will be a “Let’s Bring Back the Magic” community meeting, discussing the restoration of the Milford Theater, on Thursday, December 3 at 7:00 p.m. at the Delaware Valley High School Auditorium on Routes 6 and 209 in Matamoras

At the meeting, the financial aspect of the project, support and community involvement and various committees that will be needed will be discussed, and there will be a Q&A session.

Following the meeting, the Milford Theater Trust will keep interested parties informed on progress via email, social media, radio, print media and occasional community meetings.

Three river towns get UDC checks

NARROWSBURG, NY — The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) presented checks for $8,125 each to the towns of Fremont, Delaware and Lumberland on November 27, representing their shares of a $75,000 Community Projects State Grant funding program.

The Town of Fremont’s $8,125 grant was used to develop a design for a new, energy efficient Town of Fremont Municipal Building to be located in Fremont Center. The New York State LEED-certified administration building and senior center will replace the aging and cramped Joseph Winkler Municipal Building. The Town of Delaware spent a total of $8,849 to install or repair electrical services at the new Delaware Town Hall in Hortonville and the Callicoon Creek Park in Callicoon. The Town of Lumberland constructed a building at the town-owned Glen Spey Cemetery located on Hollow Road to use for gravesite identification purposes. Visitors may review maps and obtain information to cross-reference the location of specific burial plots.

For more information visit www.upperdelawarecouncil.org.

Impatient patient makes off with ambulance

HARRIS, NY — Tammy Diescher, 40, of Livingston Manor, was arrested for driving off from Catskill Regional Medical Center (CRMC) in the ambulance in which she had been brought on November 30. The charge was Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 4th Degree, a felony.

Diescher had been transported to the hospital from her residence at about 11:30 in the morning. She was registered at the hospital at about 12:00 noon. While waiting to be seen, she grew impatient and left the hospital through the emergency department, then got into the same ambulance that had brought her, which was running with the key in the ignition, and drove away.

Police agencies were alerted and Diescher was apprehended on Old Route 17 in Liberty. Diescher has been returned to CRMC for a mental health evaluation.

Mohawk vote invalidated

MONTICELLO, NY — A vote held by the St. Regis Mohawks on November 21 to stop pursuing an off-reservation casino in Monticello has been reversed.

The vote was later appealed and found not to have met a 30-day public notice period for referendums. According to Aimee Benedict of the tribe’s public information office, there will be another referendum.

Interested parties now have their eyes on the new Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, to see if he will reverse the anti-off-reservation gambling policies of his predecessor, Dirk Kempthorne. It is expected that he will make a decision before the end of the year.

If the Mohawks’ vote is still “no” after the second referendum, Empire is expected to look for another tribe as partner.