Wind knocks out power

REGION — About 18,000 PPL customers in Wayne and Pike counties were without power on Tuesday, December 29. The communities involved were Honesdale, Hawley, Indian Orchard, White Mills, Lackawaxen and Greentown. The power went off at 7:30 p,m. and did not return until midnight.

Paul Canevaari, PPL spokesman, said an insulator on a transmission line had failed. The cause was most likely the wind, he said.

In emergencies, PPL officials said the public should call 800/342-5775 or contact the PPL website at www.pplelectric.com. Click on “outage center” on the top of the page, or contact Wayne County Emergency Management at www.co.wayne.pa.us. Click on “county links” and then “emergency management.”

Ex-Empire CEO: new partner plans to edge Empire out

MONTICELLO, NY — Joseph Bernstein, the ex-CEO of Empire Resorts, who left on December 31, has filed a complaint with the state Racing & Wagering Board that alleges that Empire Resorts’ new partner, Kien Huat, is planning to muscle Empire out of the prospective St. Regis Mohawk casino.

According to Bernstein, Kien Huat, a Malaysian casino company, intends to have Empire, which is now run by consultants hand-picked by Kien Huat, to sell the 30 acres next to the current Racino to the Mohawks. The new casino would then be developed, with Kien Huat financing, on those 30 acres, leaving Empire with only the Racino.

According to Joseph D’Amato, new CEO of Empire Resorts, the allegations are not true.

Kien Huat gained a foothold in Empire Resorts last August when it invested $55 million to help keep the company afloat. It currently has just over half the company stock, but slightly less than half the voting stock.

State funding cuts hit Wayne County Historical Society

HONESDALE, PA — The Wayne County Historical Society’s museum, a main attraction on Honesdale’s Main Street, has been shuttered for the season in response to funding cuts generated by the state budget crisis.

The museum is dedicated to the preservation of Wayne County’s history, focusing in particular on the role Honesdale and the county as a whole played in the history of the American railroad. It houses a replica of the Stourbridge Lion, the first locomotive to be operated in the United States.

Normally the museum receives a $10,000 state grant, out of a roughly $90,000 annual operating budget. To compensate for the loss, the museum will be closed until April 15.

Efforts to raise more funds are planned, and the museum welcomes new members. Membership information may be found at www.waynehistorypa.org/membership.php .

Big Eddy project gets state funds

ALBANY, NY — The Narrowsburg Big Eddy Esplanade project in the Town of Tusten will receive $77,110 toward the $154,220 project. The grant will pay for a master plan and construction documents.

The public waterfront site is planned to include the esplanade, an observation deck and multi-use performance space, as well as provisions for parking and pedestrian pathway features.

The grant is one of five that have been awarded by the state for projects under the Environmental Protection Fund. The money is part of the state fiscal year 2009-2010 funding cycle.

Green energy experts to converge on Boston in March

BOSTON, MA — The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) will hold a conference and trade show in Boston from March 9 to 11 at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston. The show has a theme of “Reduce, Retrofit, and Renew,” and is expected to draw a number of attendees from the growing green business community of the Upper Delaware region.

The conference will include 63 sessions and 20 full- and half-day workshops. The tradeshow floor will feature some 160 exhibitors and the latest technologies, products and services.

Also at the conference, the winner of NESEA’s Zero Net Energy Award and the $10,000 prize will be announced. Entries, which must be received by January 15, must include a full year’s worth of energy data. A jury of green design experts will critique the entries and determine the winner. For information about the contest visit www.nesea.org/inspirationawards/zeroenergy .

For more information on the conference visit www.nesea.org/buildingenergy or call 413/774-6051.

Wayne County Conservation District fee schedule revised

HONESDALE, PA — The Wayne Conservation District Board of Directors approved a revision of the district’s review fee schedule, for Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan reviews at its December 9 meeting.

The district has been charging a fee for the review of erosion control plans, related to earthmoving activities, since 2004. The fees are used to offset the staff expenses for conducting the review and any necessary inspections. This is the first increase in fee since its inception.

Sediment remains the number one pollutant of our nation’s waterways. Virtually all earthmoving activities in Wayne County require the development of a plan outlining the methods to control accelerated erosion and resulting sedimentation. In some cases a review of the plan is required and possibly a permit.

For more information visit www.co.wayne.pa.us and look for “Conservation” under “County Links,” or call 570/253-0930.