Energy fair provides info on rate changes

HAWLEY, PA — There will be an energy fair on January 15 from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. at Woodloch Pines Nightclub to help prepare Pennsylvania residents for the upcoming deregulation of electricity rates. PPL representatives will be present to provide the public with information on energy efficiency, explain the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan (EE&C) and discuss the availability of rebates and other money-saving opportunities.

PPL representatives will also provide participants with information about alternative electricity suppliers, though they will not make recommendations as to which companies to choose.

Information that allows consumers to compare rate offerings is available at www.oca.state.pa.us/Indus try/Electric/elecomp/PPL.pdf .

Bonacic, Gunther in farm bureau’s ‘Circle of Friends’

ALBANY, NY — The New York Farm Bureau, the state’s largest general farm advocacy organization, has named 84 state legislators to its “Circle of Friends” for the year 2009. The award is an indication of the individual lawmaker’s support of New York agriculture and the Farm Bureau. Included on the list are New York State Senator John Bonacic and New York State Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther.

“The Circle of Friends award is based upon each legislator’s voting record on issues of importance to New York agriculture and other evidence of legislative support, including sponsorship of bills that Farm Bureau has either supported, or opposed, throughout the Legislative session,” stated Dean Norton, New York Farm Bureau president.

Red meat facility plan updated

MONTICELLO, NY — The red meat processing facility planned for the Village of Liberty has been re-designed. The new layout provides an expanded area where the discarded animal parts can be composted with wood chips. It also provides more space where farmer’s trucks carrying livestock can be accommodated.

The proposed plant will also be built on a slightly different lot within the 29-acre parcel adjacent to the Liberty sewer plant than had previously been proposed. A new five-acre lot was selected to minimize the amount of earth moving and grading that will have to be done to make the lot viable.

Walter Garigliano, the attorney for the Sullivan County Industrial Development Agency (IDA), presented the new plans at the government center on January 12. Garigliano said the IDA has secured funds from five different sources totaling about $1 million for construction of the facility, but the project won’t be viable unless another grant of $800,000 is approved by the federal government.

The county has been pursuing the project since 2004.

Town of Highland gets organized

ELDRED, NY — The Town of Highland’s new supervisor, Andrew Boyar, has announced that 2010 will be the year that the town will focus on taxpayer relief. “The town’s primary financial goal will be to contain spending and costs and, at a minimum, come in with a zero increase budget,” said Boyar. To prove his point, Boyar’s first motion, made during the town’s organizational meeting on January 5, was to reduce his salary from $19,240 to $19,000. Town attorney Michael Davidoff’s salary was also reduced from $19,760 to $17,500. Other compensation set forth in the budget included $5,683 for each of the four board members, $27,864 for the town clerk, $45,020 for the highway superintendent, $11,072 for each of two town justices and $28,840 for the sole assessor. Other designations were made and individuals appointed to standing committees during the meeting. Boyar was designated as delegate to both the Upper Delaware Council and the Scenic Byway. For more information visit www.highlandnewyork.net or call 845/557-6085.

Pocono bureau tightens belt

STROUDSBURG, PA — The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau has announced that it plans to reorganize in the upcoming year with a smaller staff after difficult economic times have taken a bite out of state and local funding.

The bureau is a nonprofit marketing organization that promotes tourism in the Poconos. Over the past year, the bureau lost about $500,000 in funding from decreased state money and a local hotel tax, according to Carl Wilgus, president and CEO of the visitors bureau. Though membership has risen, it has not done so enough to offset the loss of government funding.

Part of the reorganization involves leaving three open positions unfilled and eliminating the position of deputy executive director Mathilda Sheptak. Sheptak had been with the bureau for 45 years, but her current position of second in command was eliminated in the interests of efficiency.

Heating assistance program extended

PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will now be accepting applications until April 2. The LIHEAP program is administered by the Department of Public Welfare (DPW), and helps income-eligible households pay for heat during the winter months. Although the program was originally slated to close on March 15, circumstances have allowed it to continue through April 2. The program’s cash grant amounts have also increased by $100.

DPW anticipates assisting approximately 600,000 families with grants during the 2009-10 program year. Applications are available at county assistance offices, local utility companies and area agencies on aging. The Pike County Area Agency on Aging can be reached at 570/775-5550; the Wayne County Area Agency of Aging can be reached at 570/253-4262.