Liberty receives wastewater grant

ALBANY, NY — The Town of Liberty will receive $6,916,000 in short-term interest-free financing, plus a $6,916,000 grant from the bipartisan infrastructure law general supplemental funds, as well as a $4.5 million Water Infrastructure Improvement Act grant, to expand and upgrade the Swan Lake wastewater treatment plant. This funding comes as part of a $176 million package of New York State financial assistance for water infrastructure improvement projects that, according to a press release, reduce potential risks to public health and the environment. The Liberty project and a project in the City of Newburgh are the first to receive clean water infrastructure funding under the bipartisan infrastructure law.

New Honesdale YMCA facility gains support

HARRISBURG, PA — A project to build a new YMCA wellness center in Wayne County received $279,563 in funding from the Neighborhood Assistance Program. The current physical plant of the YMCA is old, in need of significant building improvements and with limited opportunity for facility growth and expansion of programs and services. According to a press release, the construction of a new YMCA wellness center to serve Wayne County will provide an affordable opportunity for year-round access to a quality recreation experience, the opportunity for access to facilities like an indoor pool and an affordable high-quality location of child care.

Mental health pilot program comes to Pennsylvania schools

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania school districts can opt in to a web-based counseling program by Kooth without cost to students, parents or the district. The program is funded by a grant through the Department of Human Services in the FY 2022-23 state budget.

Kooth’s digital mental health and well-being platform, according to a press release, has been designed to offer choice and encourage users to engage and seek help on their own terms. School districts that would like to opt in to the no-cost program can request more information by emailing pennsylvania@kooth.com or visit us.kooth.com/.

Scam alert for Sullivan County

MONTICELLO, NY — Laura Quigley, commissioner of the community resources division in Sullivan County, alerted Sullivan County legislators during a government services committee meeting on November 3 to a scam taking place in Sullivan and Orange counties. Multiple instances had occurred of individuals setting up a table and telling people they could get free phones and tablets in exchange for Social Security numbers, benefits cards and more.

New DWG superintendent chosen

BUSHKILL, PA — National Park Service (NPS) northeast regional director Gay Vietzke has announced that Doyle Sapp will be the next superintendent of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DWG) in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Sapp is a 29-year NPS employee, who has served as a superintendent for over 12 years. Sapp comes to the DWG most recently from Richmond National Battlefield Park and  the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, both in Richmond, VA. He has served at the DWG as acting superintendent since August.

New law supports PA military families

HARRISBURG, PA — A new law advanced by Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20) clarifies that a spouse’s move to follow their active-duty husband or wife will not be considered voluntary if it is determined that continued employment would be impractical or unreasonably difficult. Previously, the resignation could have been considered voluntary, and they might not have qualified for benefits. Signed earlier this week by Gov. Tom Wolf, Act 156 takes effect immediately.

Operation Green Light

MILFORD, PA ― In advance of the upcoming Veterans Day holiday, the Pike County Veterans Affairs office announced that the Pike County Administration Building, located at 506 Broad St., will be illuminated in green light through November 13 as part of Operation Green Light. The operation is a new national initiative; Jesiah Schrader, Pike County director of veterans affairs, encouraged residents and businesses to participate in Operation Green Light by changing one light bulb in their house to a green bulb.

Dr. Don Simkin wins SYDA award

HURLEYVILLE, NY — The recipient of the 37th SYDA Foundation Community Service Award is Dr. Don Simkin. Simkin has been a leader in many community engagement and public health initiatives over several decades including: the Sullivan County Health Advisory Council, the Lazare and Charlotte Kaplan Foundation and the Livingston Manor Rotary Club. The SYDA Foundation will present Simkin with the award on Thursday, November 17 at 1 pm on a zoom webinar; contact Kanta Kraseski at CSA@syda.org for information about the event or to RSVP.  

Honesdale fire companies funded

HONESDALE, PA — Two fire companies in Wayne County will receive funding through the the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighter Grant program. Hose Company No. 1 will receive $705,000 to purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs), vehicle extraction equipment and mobile and portable radios; and Texas No. 4 Fire Company will receive $35,000 to purchase turnout gear.

Avian Flu detected locally

LIBERTY, NY — The Sullivan County Department of Public Health has been notified of an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) within a multi-species flock in Sullivan County. This was laboratory-confirmed to be of the H5N1 influenza strain.

The flock includes chickens, ducks, geese and guinea fowl, who possibly were exposed via contact with wild waterfowl. As of this notification, more than 100 birds have succumbed to the infection, with the remainder of the 116-bird flock being euthanized this past weekend. Click here for more information.

Corrections

The article “Helping the Helpers,” published in the October 27 - November 2 edition of the River Reporter, characterized a planned housing development in Rock Hill from developer Robert Berman as an “affordable housing complex.” That characterization was incorrect; according to attorney Steve Vegilante, the development will consist of market-rate, private apartments.  

The candidate listings included in the November 3-9 edition of the River Reporter listed State Supreme Court Justice candidate Thomas Marcelle as a Democrat; he is running on the Republican and Conservative lines.