The Catskill Chronicle

NEW YORK STATE (June 24, 2014) – Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently reminded parents that while the school year is drawing to a close, thousands of children remain eligible for free, nutritious meals at hundreds of sites around New York State this summer. State agencies are working with nonprofit and private partners to increase awareness of the Summer Food Service Program, which fills a gap for families that rely on free and reduced-price school meals during the school year to help feed their children. The Governor also issued a proclamation marking July as Summer Meals Month in New York State to highlight the issue.

“No child should have to go hungry – and through the Summer Food Service Program we are working to feed hundreds of thousands of children who normally depend on their schools for free and reduced-price meals,” Governor Cuomo said. “This program is vital to New Yorkers all across the State, and our administration is committed to making sure that it reaches as many families in need as possible.”

The federally-funded Summer Food Service Program, administered by the New York State Education Department, provides free nutritious meals and snacks at participating sites, including schools, parks, recreation centers and other neighborhood locations. The program benefits children 18 years old and younger from low-income households, as well as to young adults over age 18 that are enrolled in school programs for persons with disabilities.

Approximately 400,000 children a day will receive meals through the program this summer. Many summer meal sites also offer fun activities, so children and teens can stay active and spend time with friends while enjoying healthy meals.
A recent study by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) notes that while the number of New York students participating in the program last year increased five percent over 2012; only an estimated three out of ten eligible students are being fed.

Various government agencies and non-profits are partnering to spread the word about the program, holding everything from local outreach events to disseminating information on social media using the #summermeals hashtag. The New York State Education Department has an interactive map online with information on all the summer meal sites in New York State that can be accessed here. The New York State Department of Health’s Growing Up Healthy Hotline, 1-800-522-5006, can also help locate a summer meal site in your community.

"Only one in three families who rely on a food pantry or soup kitchen in New York City participate in the summer meal program – many simply do not know that free and nutritious meals are available for their children when school is out," Margarette Purvis, President & CEO of the Food Bank For New York City and the Chair of Governor Cuomo’s Anti-Hunger Task Force. "Hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation and thanks to the leadership of Governor Cuomo, neither will our efforts to provide New Yorkers the resources and information they need to feed themselves and their loved ones."

State Education Commissioner, Dr. John B. King, Jr. said, "Good nutrition is essential to learning. That’s why we provide breakfast and lunch to needy students throughout the school year. But the need for healthy meals doesn’t end in June when school lets out. So we’re happy to help coordinate The Summer Food Service Program here in New York, ensuring that children have access to nutritious meals at many sites throughout the State — from schools to summer camps to migrant programs."

Editor’s note: Additional information on local food programs will be shared during the upcoming week. 

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NEW YORK STATE (June 21, 2014) – In Albany, Governor Cuomo and Legislative Leaders have announced an agreement on a bill that will establish a medical marijuana program for New York State. The legislation includes provisions to ensure medical marijuana is reserved only for patients with serious conditions and is dispensed and administered in a manner that protects public health and safety.

Video of the Governor’s remarks is available on YouTube HERE.

Transcript of the Governor’s remarks:

“Good afternoon, everyone I want to welcome Senator Klein and Speaker Silver back. We also have with us today the Superintendent of the State Police, Joseph D’Amico. We also have the acting Health Commissioner Dr. Zucker, Terrence O’Leary and Mylan Denerstein who is the counsel. We are also joined by Senator Diane Savino and Assemblyman Dick Gottfried who have been working on this issue very hard for a very long period of time on the issue we are about to discuss which is medical marijuana. I would also like to welcome the senate minority leader, Andrea Stewart- Cousins who is very supportive and her conference is supportive of this bill so I want to thank her for being here also. We are here to talk about marijuana which is a very important topic and we are going to be sending up a bill shortly that we believe strikes the right balance.”

“Medical Marijuana has the possibility to do a lot of good for a lot of people who are in pain and who are suffering and are in desperate need of a treatment that can provide relief. Some of these cases are the most heart wrenching cases you’ve ever heard. You’re dealing with children with epilepsy, babies, so there are certainly significant medical benefits that can be garnered. At the same time, there are also risks that have to be averted, public health risks, public safety risks and we believe this bill strikes the right balance. It’s taken a lot of time, it’s taken a lot of work, it’s taken a lot of compromise, but we believe it strikes the right balance.”

“It’s taken a lot of time, a lot of work, a lot of compromise, but we think it strikes the right balance. I’m going to ask the health commissioner and the superintendent of the State Police to give you a quick breakdown of the bill, the bill will be going up shortly, but until the bill is fully in print, I wanted to get a sense of what is in the bill and an outline of the bill, so I’m going to ask them to go through it. A couple of high points on the bill: first, from my point of view given the conversation that we’ve been having, the bill does not allow smoking which is important. As a public health risk, the diseases that are covered, we believe are appropriate, but not overly-expansive. It will be limited to doctors who are actually administering the program which gives us a higher level of confidence because doctors are obviously highly educated, highly regulated profession. It gives the Department of Health the appropriate authority to run the program.”

“It has criminal penalties for people who defraud the program. Somebody said to me today, ‘How can you be passing a heroine bill yesterday and a medical marijuana bill today?’ Well if this is administered properly, we’re confident that only benefits will occur. And, we have criminal penalties in the bill if people try to defraud the system, they will be punished. We also have a ‘fail safe’ in the bill, which gives me a great deal of comfort – which basically says, the governor can suspend the program at any time on recommendation of either the State Police Superintendent or the Commissioner of Health if there is a risk to the public health or public safety. So, if we find that there were unintended consequences and they were negative, we can suspend the program. Which to me is a bottom-line fail safe provision in this bill, which actually increases my comfort level a great deal. With that I will turn it over to the commissioner of health Dr. Zucker."

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NEW YORK STATE (June 18, 2014) – US Congressman Chris Gibson (NY-19) called on the New York State Senate to act on the legislation recently passed unanimously in the New York State Assembly. That legislation allows for medical treatment for chronic Lyme suffers, a critical gap in current Lyme Disease treatment.

"All across Upstate New York, we have constituents suffering from chronic Lyme who need immediate relief. While certainly we have much more to learn about tickborne diseases, and I am working aggressively in Congress to bring more resources and policy changes to do just that, we can take action now in New York State to bring some help to chronic suffers and their families. The New York State Senate should act on the Assembly-passed bill immediately," said Congressman Gibson.

Congressman Gibson most recently authored H.R. 4701, the Vector-Borne Disease Research Transparency and Accountability Act of 2014. The bipartisan legislation requires the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to audit available research on vector-borne diseases including Lyme disease, forming at least two working groups on high-incidence diseases to develop a scientific framework on how to move forward to fill gaps in research and patient care.

The working groups would include relevant federal officials, non-federal physicians who treat Lyme, non-federal scientists, researchers, members of the patient community, and additional members appointed by Congress to ensure a diversity of perspectives and balanced representation.

In addition, Congressman Gibson is a cosponsor on additional Lyme legislation in the House of Representatives and has fought successfully for funding on tickborne illnesses.

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LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY (June 17, 2014) – They walked in groups and as a team, they walked alone, they walked with strollers, and they walked with  dogs. Over 30 teams were registered to walk at the 2014 Relay for Life held at SUNY Sullivan in Loch Sheldrake. They were walking, as they have done so many times before, to raise funds to fight cancer.

According to Gayle Clark-Irving, one of the organizers, the event raised over $55,000, with more to come in the months ahead.

Sponsors for the Relay for Life were Crystal Run Healthcare, SUNY Sullivan, Thunder 102, Hurleyville Fire Department, Jeff Bank, New Hope Community and Rock Hill Pharmacy.

The color purple was everywhere – on T-shirts that said “Finish the Fight,” on the arch of balloons marking the Relay’s start, on signs, on lanyards, and on costumes of feather boas and hair decorations.

There was a “survivor’s” lap, and a “caregiver’s” lap. There were lots of tears, but also lots of laughs and hugs and hope. And there was even a group of helpers from AmeriCorps. The group is staying at Frost Valley YMCA, where they are working on trail maintenance.

At night, hundreds of luminaria lighted the pathways. The lumimaria were decorated in honor of a loved one who was either battling cancer or in memory of a loved one who had lost the battle.

Here are some photos from the day’s and evening’s activities. Click on the link below the photos for the entire album of photos, which can be viewed and/or purchased on the Chronicle’s Zenfolio page.

Relay for Life photo album

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NARROWSBURG, NY (June 16, 2014) – The Board of Directors of The Delaware Company has announced the first recipients of two new recognition awards that will be presented annually by the group in the future.

The awards were presented at the Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History during The Delaware Company’s recent architectural/historical bus tour.

The President’s Award, which is selected by The Delaware Company’s president, recognizes that individual who is deemed to have contributed over a long period of time to the support and promotion of the history and the historic landmarks of the region. 

The 2014 President’s Award has been presented to the architect Robert Dadras of Liberty, who first initiated the idea of an annual architectural/historical tour and has served as the organizer and narrator of each of the 19 annual trips conducted so far.

The James W. Burbank Memorial Award was presented to Debra Conway, the current Director of the Fort, for her vision, enthusiasm, perseverance and skill in advancing the appreciation of the history and historic landmarks of the Upper Delaware River valley in the true spirit of the former County Historian and founder of Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History for whom the award is named.

Burbank’s daughter, Peggy McIntyre, who as a teenager worked with her father at the Fort, was among those in attendance in the Fort’s pavilion, which had been dedicated last summer as the James W. Burbank Memorial Pavilion. Mrs. McIntyre’s two daughters and grandson were also present.

The Delaware Company is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote and support the history and historic landmarks of the Upper Delaware River Valley through education, outreach and fundraising. It is named for the group of Connecticut farmers who established the first permanent European settlement in the Upper Delaware River Valley in 1755.

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(LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY (June 15, 2014) – The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, which fosters children’s love of reading and creative expression in our diverse culture, has awarded mini-grants to 60  educators at public schools and libraries in 27 states across the country. Now in its 26^th year, the Foundation awards each recipient with up to $500 for specific programs.

Five grants were awarded in New York State, one of which was awarded locally to the Livingston Manor Library for the two-week long summer Regards to the Man in the Moon Puppet Program. Ezra Jack Keats (1916-1983) wrote and illustrated Regards to the Man in the Moon in 1981. Program participants in grades 2 to 4 will sew their own puppets and produce their own dramatic interpretation of this imaginative adventure, in which children build a spaceship out of found objects and pretend to fly to the moon. Dollmaker Naomi Hurst will lead the program, which will take place from August 4 to 16. Registration is currently open.

For Keats, the preeminent author-illustrator, whose book The Snowy Day broke the color barrier in mainstream children’s publishing, it was at the public library that he found a haven that introduced him to the wonders of art history. The Foundation fosters children’s love of reading and creative expression by supporting arts and literacy programs in public schools and libraries; cultivating new writers and illustrators of exceptional picture books that reflect the experience of childhood in our diverse culture; and protecting and promoting Keats’ work.

For more information about the Foundation, please visit www.ezra-jack-keats.org. To learn more about the Livingston Manor Library’s Regards to the Man in the Moon Puppet Program, call 439-5440 or go to www.rcls.org/liv.

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NEW YORK STATE (June 12, 2014) –New York State Senator John Bonacic has announced that legislation he introduced, Senate Bill 2016, requiring that certain mandated reporters who phone in child abuse or maltreatment reports to the statewide child abuse hotline be immediately referred to local child abuse investigators, has passed in the New York State Senate.

“The need for this bill stems from a 1998 incident where a child was murdered by his mother and others responsible for his care,” said Senator Bonacic.  “Area newspaper reports indicated that a call had been made to a child abuse hotline by a professional, but the description did not rise to what was perceived to be ‘abuse,’ and the call was never transmitted to local child protective services.  Had that been transmitted, this child may be alive today.  I know this bill will serve as the voice of our most vulnerable children, and it will save lives,” adding, “This is the 6^th time that this bill has passed the Senate, but has yet to receive a vote in the Assembly.”

Mandated reporters include physicians, registered nurses or registered physician’s assistant, social workers, psychologists, or law enforcement officials, and such telephone calls shall not be screened by the hotline but shall be immediately transmitted to the appropriate child protective service for investigation.

The bill also provides for the child protective service of each county to establish procedures for communication and cooperation with local hospitals and law enforcement to better protect the interests of at risk children and to better provide essential services to their families.

The bill now moves to the Assembly for a vote again this year.

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NEW YORK STATE (June 11, 2014) – New York State has begun a statewide initiative to combat the rise of heroin use. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced the multi-faceted approach, which includes the addition of 100 experienced investigators to the State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), nearly doubling the number of troopers currently serving in the unit in order to more aggressively combat heroin trafficking.

Additionally, the State will launch an unprecedented effort to make supplies of naloxone, a leading overdose antidote, available to all first responder units in the State. The Governor also announced a targeted awareness campaign that will take place on all on all public college and university campuses.

“Today, New York State is taking a major step forward in the fight against heroin. By nearly doubling the State Police’s drug enforcement units with the addition of more than 100 seasoned investigators we are going above and beyond to combat this deadly drug,” Governor Cuomo said. “Additionally, providing supplies of naloxone to all first responder units and raising awareness through our SUNY and CUNY campuses will save lives in communities across the State.”

There are five regional CNETs deployed across the state to assist local police with areas blighted by drug trafficking and related street crimes. Through CNET, specially trained State Police undercover narcotics enforcement personnel are available upon request to assist any police agencies north of New York City. CNET personnel fill a critical void for many rural, suburban and small city police departments, which typically lack the personnel or resources to maintain their own trained undercover narcotics units.

The addition of 100 experienced investigators will enable the CNET units to combat heroin trafficking and cases on a wider scale, including by conducting more long term and sophisticated cases, deploying an increased number of undercover personnel, and expanding successful K-9 units dedicated to CNET.

State Police Superintendent Joseph D’Amico commented on the initiative: “Heroin use, heroin sales and related heroin drug overdoses have become a widespread problem that simply must be addressed. A crisis this large must be combated on all fronts. I am pleased that the Governor has committed the necessary resources needed to meet that challenge.”

Naloxone is an emergency treatment that blocks the effects of opioids on the body, and can reverse the effects of an overdose. It works by temporarily reversing the effects of the opioid, whether illicit or prescription, allowing the individual to regain consciousness and resume normal breathing. When administered to a person suffering an opioid overdose, naloxone can reverse the overdose in a matter of minutes in a vast majority of cases saving the lives of those involved. It poses no danger to persons who otherwise might come into contact with it and it is not the kind of medication that can be abused.
In addition to the increased State Police presence, the Governor also announced the launch of an awareness and support campaign involving all SUNY campuses that includes:

· Making heroin and opioid awareness part of every incoming student orientation, as well as at other key moments in students’ college experience;
· Training all resident assistants and other support staff who deal with students on a regular basis in the warning signs of possible prescription drug or heroin abuse, including recognizing the risk factors and signs of heroin and opioid abuse when they seem them and clearing up misconceptions about the signs and severity of heroin and opioid use and abuse;
· Ensuring that all students who are seeking treatment for prescription drug or heroin abuse receive all necessary services, including through the launch of a hotline/textline and encouraging anonymous and no-fault reporting when someone needs help;
· State Police will assist all University Police and community college law enforcement departments on trafficking patterns, signs of prescription drug and heroin abuse, and best practices in handling those believed to be under the influence of either substance, and;
· Training University police and health centers in how to administer naloxone and ensuring access to a supply for use by trained staff.

Heroin is a highly addictive depressant, with users representing a variety of ages, races and other backgrounds. Fatal overdose, the contraction of HIV/AIDS and addiction and dependence are among a plethora of negative side effects that can result from heroin use. In addition to physical danger, heroin use threatens a user’s social life – often straining family bonds, friendships and professional relationships.

Across the nation, heroin abuse has been increasing at dangerously high rates in recent years. In 2013, there were 89,269 cases of heroin and prescription opiate treatment admissions in New York State alone, an increase from 63,793 in 2004. During this same time period, the drug also disproportionately impacted New Yorkers ranging in age from 18 to 24. Nationally, as many as 467,000 people were reportedly abusing heroin or suffering from heroin dependence in 2012.

Video of Gov. Cuomo’s remarks are available here.

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SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY (June 9, 2014) – United Way of Sullivan County is accepting applications for Community Impact funding from not-for-profit agencies within Sullivan County, NY, that serve Sullivan County residents and meet the grant criteria.

Organizations must have a paid Executive Director, community based Board of Directors and, agencies with an annual budget more than $100,000, must submit an annual audit prepared by an independent CPA.

Requests will be accepted for programmatic needs as they relate to advancing our Community Impact initiatives, which are identified by our Community Needs Assessment.

Grants for 2014 should focus on Helping Children and Youth Succeed and will include such initiatives as keeping youth actively engaged in physical and social activities and helping youth avoid unsafe activities and behaviors.

United Way of Sullivan County’s Community Impact initiatives address three focus areas, which rotate each year:

2014: Helping Children & Youth Succeed
2015: Fostering Financial Stability & Self-Sufficiency
2016: Health & Well-being

Applications are available by calling 845-794-1771.

Questions about grant eligibility, criteria or application process may also be emailed to unitedwaysullivan@verizon.net.

The deadline for submission to the Community Impact Committee is the close of business on July 28, 2014.

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NEW YORK STATE (June 9, 2014) – Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced that the locations of more than 450 spring and summer farmers’ markets across the state as well as locations of licensed nursery growers and greenhouses are now available on the state’s open data website, found at www.data.ny.gov. This comprehensive data website provides New Yorkers in the market for locally grown products with a user-friendly avenue to find them quickly in their area.

“Buying locally grown products is an easy way to support area farmers and businesses, and through our open data website it is easier than ever for New Yorkers to find farmers’ markets and greenhouses in their area,” Governor Cuomo said. “The Empire State is home to some of the most nutritious, highest quality home-grown products in the world, and I encourage all New Yorkers to check out data.ny.gov this summer and explore all that our State’s agricultural sector has to offer.”

The Governor’s Open NY initiative is aimed at increasing citizen engagement with their government, and encourages New Yorkers to visit the State’s comprehensive data transparency website, Data.NY.Gov, which highlights an array of resources and services for New Yorkers. With the summer tourism season rapidly approaching, some of the great things that can be found on the website include top fishing spots; wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries; and places of historic significance.

The Farmers’ Market Dataset includes information detailing the hours of operation and location of markets as well as the name and phone number of the market manager.

A map of farmers’ markets across New York State can be found here, or by county here.

A listing of nursery growers and greenhouses across New York State can be found here.

The State Department of Agriculture and Markets will continue to provide updated information on farmers’ market locations for the website as they continue to arise throughout the summer. To confirm the hours and location before traveling, please contact the local market.

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NEW YORK STATE (June 5, 2014) – Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has directed that flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff on Friday, June 6, in honor and remembrance of the 70^th Anniversary of D-Day.

Governor Cuomo said, “As we approach the 70th anniversary of D-Day, we pause to remember the brave men and women who served in our Nation’s armed forces both on this fateful day and throughout World War II. Those who risked their lives on battlefields and military installations around the globe performed heroically in the service of our nation, and they are true portraits of American courage.

“Of the 900,000 New Yorkers who fought during the war, nearly 37,000 of them did not return, and we remember their sacrifice with honor. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I express my utmost gratitude to these Veterans as we pause to reflect on the significance of their accomplishments.”

A central force involved in D-Day was Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the son of President Theodore Roosevelt, the oldest man in the invasion force at 56 and the only general officer to land on D-Day. He was the Assistant Division Commander of the 4th Infantry Division at Utah Beach, and he received the Medal of Honor.

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GOVERNOR CUOMO THANKS NEW YORK’S HARD WORKING DAIRY INDUSTRY AND CELEBRATES JUNE AS DAIRY MONTH IN NEW YORK STATE

NEW YORK STATE (June 4, 2014) – Recently, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo thanked all the people who make New York’s dairy industry such an important sector of the state’s economy in celebration of Dairy Month in New York State and across the country. As the State’s leading agricultural sector, dairy accounts for approximately one-half of the state’s total agricultural income. New York is the third leading producer of milk in the country and also the largest producer of yogurt, cream cheese, sour cream and cottage cheese in the nation.

“New York’s dairy industry is thriving thanks largely to the men and women who work so hard to produce the world-class dairy products enjoyed by customers across the nation," Governor Cuomo said. "We will proudly continue to work with our partners in the dairy industry to keep the progress going. This State’s dairy farmers and milk processors are the best of the best, and I congratulate them on their achievements these past few years.”

New York is the third largest milk-producing state in the nation and accounts for 6.7 percent of national production. In 2013, there were over 5,000 dairy farms in New York and 610,000 dairy cows across the state, with the average dairy farm had 121 cows producing 2.67 million pounds of milk per year. From 2010 to 2013, New York saw a 6.1 percent increase of pounds of milk per cow, compared to a 3.2 percent increase at the national level.

New York is a net supplier of milk to the Northeast region, with 2.8 billion pounds of milk shipped from farms to out of state plants in New England, Pennsylvania and New Jersey in 2013. The state has also experienced a 16.4% increase in dairy-related employment from 2010 to 2013 (16,466 to 19,160 total jobs).

New York State’s dairy industry had an economic output of $14.8 billion in 2011, according to a 2014 study published by Professor Todd Schmit of Cornell University. The report also noted that for each extra dollar of dairy industry output, $.42 is generated in additional economic activity.

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Photos by Carol Montana

LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY (June 3, 2014) – The 11^th Annual Trout Parade, Sullivan County’s own version of Mardi Gras, will be held on Saturday, June  14 in Livingston Manor, rain or shine. Attendees can expect to find lots of fishy fun along Main Street from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., including an arts-and-crafts fair, children’s activities, and specialty foods from local vendors. Entertainment will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Main Street, including a musical performance by Karen Hudson, face painting by Miss Sunshine the Clown, and stilt walking by Brett Keyser and Tannis Kowalchuk of the NaCl Theatre.

The parade will step-off promptly at 1:00 p.m., led by the 2014 Grand Marshals Bud and Marlene Wertheim. Designer and builder of puppets, including the famous Giant Brook Trout Puppet and beloved local legend Johnny Darling, the  Wertheims have been a core part of the parade’s spirit from the very beginning. Bud’s puppets are big in scale, drawing on regional lore and requiring several people to operate, making his artwork a public community effort.

They will be followed by a wide variety of antique and classic cars, music, entertainment, and floats representing local businesses, organizations and performance groups from this area and beyond, including the magnificent puppets of Catskill Puppet Theater and Bud Wertheim’s famous Giant Brook Trout. Sullivan County citizens and benefactors such as Roscoe Beer Company, the Catskill Fly Fishing Center, and the Livingston Manor Rotary will march and enter floats, while cultural organizations and shows like NACL Theatre’s “The Weather Project” will turn heads with spectacular costumes and showmanship.

This year’s event has a "steampunk" theme, with a wild combo of retro 19th-century style, old-school science fiction, and crazy design that is only limited by your imagination. (Think Jules Verne on Mars, or Sherlock Holmes with a steam-powered robot sidekick.) Feel free to run with it–whatever you do, let your mind run amok! Tally-ho!

All during the festivities, Wilkes and Bernard Photography will provide instant portraits at the CAS Arts Center, located at 48 Main Street. All proceeds will benefit the nonprofit Catskill Art Society and support its exhibits, classes, and cultural programming. Professional photographs will be taken and prints made on the spot. Also at CAS, the Livingston Manor Library will hold its Services Auction, filled with useful bids donated by local businesses and vendors.

T he Catskill Art Society is producing this year’s Trout Parade in partnership with the Livingston Manor Chamber of Commerce and with support from businesses and individuals from around the community. Proceeds from the parade will benefit the Arts and Music Programs at the Livingston Manor Central School and the nonprofit Catskill Art Society.

For more information and details on how to become a sponsor or to participate in the Trout Parade, contact the Catskill Art Society at 845-436-4227, email info@catskillartsociety.org, or visitwww.troutparade.com. You can also find the Trout Parade on Facebook at www.facebook.com/troutparade.

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LIBERTY, NY (June 2, 2014) – On May 29, Sullivan BOCES unveiled its first wind turbine, which is located at the Rubin Pollack Education Center on Ferndale-Loomis Road in Liberty.   

During the event, students talked about their current projects and demonstrated how they will use the turbine to create energy for future renewable energy programs.  

The Wind Turbine Project, part of BOCES STEM initiative, was created for the 9th and 10th grade Pre-Tech Program.  

The students are planning to use the wind turbine to generate energy to construct a Mobile Renewable Education Unit (Tiny House), which will be used to  educate other Sullivan County students on renewable energy technologies.

The initiative doesn’t stop with the wind turbine; the students are also working with renewable products to create biogas generators, wood-gas generators, hydroponics, aquaculture systems, and micro-hydro systems.

Participants of the event also had the opportunity to participate in the SkillsUSA Chicken BBQ Dinner prepared by the Career & Tech Culinary Arts students.

For more information on the programs available through the Career and Technical Education Center, visit www.scboces.org.

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WASHINGTON, DC (May 28, 2014) – Congressman Chris Gibson (NY-19) has condemned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for refusing to grant a rehearing on new energy capacity zones that will raise electric rates for Upstate New Yorkers.

“The heads of FERC are apparently unwilling to listen to the people they work for,” said Congressman Gibson. “Raising electricity rates after the winter we just had is outrageous, and yet this agency persists with plans to further raise energy bills for hard-working families and small business owners in the Mid-Hudson Valley. I sincerely hope the courts will act favorably and on our behalf.  We have real issues that need to be addressed in our energy marketplace in New York. FERC is given the responsibility to weigh the costs and potential benefits.  In this case, the commission’s decision to ignore the concerns of ratepayers and their elected representatives shows flawed judgment at the commission as well as a broken process in need of reform.  I reject the notion that the only way to lower rates, which are among the highest in the nation, is to raise them first.”

Last month the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) and Central Hudson Gas & Electric secured a ruling by the United States Court of Appeals that called on FERC to issue a decision on a rehearing of the capacity zone proposal.

FERC announced this week that it would not hold a rehearing, but the Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear further arguments on the matter June 3.

The capacity zones are expected to raise electricity rates for customers in the mid-Hudson Valley between 3% and 10%.

Earlier this year Congressman Gibson co-authored legislation that would prohibit FERC from moving forward with the implementation of the new zones. A bipartisan coalition of elected officials from virtually every level of government in New York has also resisted efforts by federal regulators to increase energy costs.

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HASBROUCK, NY (May 28, 2014) – A team of trained ghost-hunters will search this summer for wayward spirits and unhappy spooks at the Old Stone House in Hasbrouck, NY.

The historic building, now a regional center for arts education and exhibits, was the site of the mysterious 1840 murder of prominent local politician Anthony Hasbrouck. Some say his lingering specter, even today, is responsible for the strange sounds, odd drafts of wind, and eerie glows of light on dark nights in and around the house.

“It’s a really historic building,” says Alana Sherman, who heads a group running the center, “and sometimes weird things do happen in old places even without the presence of ghosts. But,” she adds, “in just a little while, we may know more.”

The Old Stone House was originally constructed in the 1700s – back when the largely forgotten French and Indian War raged throughout the Catskills – and since then has undergone numerous renovations and additions. Over the decades, it served as a boarding house, restaurant, creamery, post office and school. That wide range of activities, says Sherman, “opens a thousand opportunities for ghosts to linger behind, and sometimes make themselves known in modern times.”

At a recent public meeting, supporters agreed that the question of other-worldly activity should finally be explored. A team of experts from NYS Tri-County Paranormal, one of nearly 2,700 similar groups nationwide, offered to look into the various tales. They assured the group they will conduct their investigation with “an open mind” on all things spiritual.

Special monitoring equipment will be set up before twilight on the evening of June 21, designed to “catch” signs of the spirit realm even if they appear for just a fleeting moment. Both visible and audible traces will be sought, the researchers say, with full-spectrum recordings maintained for subsequent detailed study.

After analysis is complete, results will be presented and discussed at a July 31 gathering at the building, with or without any ghosts in attendance.

Since 1977, The Old Stone House has been the site of classes in art, ballet and pottery, and presents monthly exhibitions of paintings and sculpture.

A 501(c)3 organization, it is supported almost exclusively by community contributions and occasional fund-raising events. Located at 282 Hasbrouck Road, in the wider community of Fallsburg, it’s conveniently reached from Grahamsville, Monticello, Liberty and Ellenville, plus the surrounding area.

Directions and additional information can be found on the web site at www.TheOldStoneHouseOfHasbrouck.org.

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Governor Cuomo urges New Yorkers to be prepared for any severe weather

NEW YORK STATE (May 27, 2014) – Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has designated this week as Hurricane Preparedness Week in the Empire State and urged New Yorkers to know the risks of hurricanes and take appropriate precautions for the possibility of extreme weather. New Yorkers can prepare for the 2014 hurricane and coastal storm season by reviewing their family emergency plans and checking on emergency supplies they have at home, in their cars and at work.

“From Hurricanes Sandy and Irene to Tropical Storm Lee, we have seen firsthand how Mother Nature can quickly disrupt lives and damage communities,” Governor Cuomo said. “Those storms taught us valuable lessons about the importance of planning ahead when a disaster strikes, and with another hurricane season approaching, I am urging all New Yorkers to prepare themselves and their families for any possible emergency. Together we can be the first responders in our own homes and neighborhoods and ultimately build a stronger, more resilient New York.”

NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jerome M. Hauer said, “The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1st and ends on November 30th. Hazards from hurricanes come in many forms including storm surge, heavy winds and rain, inland flooding and even tornadoes. Make sure you are prepared for all hazards, including long term power outages. Building a kit and being prepared with a practiced plan will make your families and communities safer and more resilient.”

Hurricane Sandy is the most costly disaster to ever hit the shores of New York State. 61 residents lost their lives, more than two million people lost power, more than 300,000 housing units were damaged or destroyed and more than 400,000 residents of New York City and Long Island were evacuated from their homes.

Governor Cuomo is encouraging all New Yorkers to take the time before a storm occurs to learn the appropriate actions that can protect their homes and loved ones before, during and after a hurricane:

· Know how to contact all family members at all times. Identify an out-of-town friend or family member to be the “emergency family contact.” Then make certain all family members have that number.
· Designate a family emergency meeting point, some familiar location where the family can meet in the event the home is inaccessible.
· Prepare an emergency phone list of people and organizations that may need to be called, including schools, doctors, child/senior care providers, and insurance agents.
· Know the hurricane / storm risks in their areas, and learn the storm surge history.
· Learn their community’s warning signals and evacuation plans.
· Make sure your family has an evacuation kit with supplies for the entire family as well as pets, well in advance of an emergency.
· Stock up on emergency supplies, non-perishable food and water. Try to plan for 7-10 days without access to basic lifesaving supplies.
· Make arrangements on where to relocate pets during a storm.
· Have your family learn basic safety and first aid measures. If you can, stock up on prescribed medicines and have supplies for persons with special needs such as the elderly and infirm.
· Practice the Plan!

Additionally, New Yorkers should familiarize themselves with basic hurricane related terms such as:

· Tropical Depression: A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind speed is 38 mph or less.
· Tropical Storm: A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind speed ranges from 39 mph to 73 mph.
· Hurricane: A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind is 74 mph or more.
· Hurricane Warning: An announcement that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are expected somewhere within the specified area. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the hurricane warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds.
· Hurricane Watch: An announcement that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are possible within the specified area. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the hurricane watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds.
· Tropical Storm Warning: An announcement that tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are expected somewhere within the specified area within 36 hours.
· Tropical Storm Watch: An announcement that tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) is possible within the specified area within 48 hours.

For more information on hurricane preparedness, lists of emergency supplies and how to build a “go kit” and what you can do to protect yourself and your family, visit the DHSES website at: http://www.dhses.ny.gov/oem/event/hurricane-safety.cfm.

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SULLIVAN COUNTY & SURROUNDING AREAS (May 27, 2014) – Issued By:  NWS Storm Prediction Center (Storm Prediction Center – Norman, Oklahoma)

Affected Jurisdictions:  Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Schuyler, Steuben, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins Counties.

A severe thunderstorm watch means that the potential exists for the development of thunderstorms that may produce large hail or damaging winds.

When a watch is issued, you should go about your normal activities, but keep an eye to the sky and an ear to the National Weather Service’s weather radio or local radio and television stations for further updates and possible warnings.

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SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY (May 27, 2014) – With loads of thanks to our faithful readers and fans, The Catskill Chronicle would like to share some amazing statistics on the occasion of our 5th anniversary:

– The Catskill Chronicle has published over 1,700 articles on 20 different pages.

– We have over 487,000 all-time views and over 700 comments.

– Our best day ever for views was August 29, 2011 as we reported on “yet another flood in Livingston Manor.”

– Our best month ever was that very same August 2011.

– In the past year, we have had visitors from over 150 countries.

– We have 161 subscribers on WordPress, 345 Twitter followers, and 880 on Facebook.

– Our Zenfolio photo site has had 5,127 visitors and nearly 16,000 photos.

A huge thank you to all our fans. We appreciate the confidence you have in our ability to bring you community news. Thank you, thank you, thank you from: Barry Plaxen, Joe Di Bello and Sharlene Hartman (music, opera and theatre reviewers), Grayce Goin (Twice Divorced), Jude Waterston (The Scrawny Gourmet), Janet Waterston (Elder Berries), Mort Malkin (Gadfly), and Carol Montana (editor).

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CATSKILL MOUNTAINS, NY (May 26, 2014) – On Tuesday, May 20, Catskill Mountainkeeper joined the Nature Conservancy, Catskill Center, NY Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC), the Catskill 3500 Club and

New York/New Jersey Trail Conference to celebrate the acquisition of 590 pristine acres in the Catskill Park.

This land includes three parcels on the slopes of 3,600-foot Balsam Mountain, one of the 35 peaks over 3,500 feet in the park.

Thanks to the efforts of the Catskill Park Coalition (CPC), and especially Alan White of the Catskill Center, this property was transferred from the Nature Conservancy to the NYSDEC, and added to the Catskill Park Forest Preserve.

This acquisition follows the successful “Catskill Park Awareness Day” on February 25, when 49 coalition members met with the Governor’s office, DEC and multiple State Senators and Assembly Members to advocate for the Catskill Park. The Awareness Day legislative agenda included this priority land protection project, as well as the urgent need for additional forest rangers in Catskill Park, and budget requests for the Catskill Interpretive Center, the Environmental Protection Fund and the Catskill Association of Tourism Services.

Mountainkeeper citizen activists, Melissa Gould, William Gutmann and Carolin Walton-Brown joined in on the Awareness Day.

Catskill Mountainkeeper also announced the launch of the new Catskill Park Coalition website, which you will find at www.catskillparkcoalition.org.

The Catskill Park Coalition was formed in 2013 by Catskill Mountainkeeper, the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, and The Natural Resources Defense Council. The coalition has since grown to include more than 25 member groups, all united in the goal of securing funding and resources to preserve the Park’s historic and scenic integrity, while strengthening the recreation-based economy of surrounding communities in the region.

The new website includes news articles that explain the Coalition’s origins and activities, including the first broadscale Catskill Park Awareness Day on February 25, as well as a moving essay on what the Catskill Park means to all of us, whether locals or visitors from across the State and Nation.

There is a section titled “Our Catskills,” which at the moment is a static site, but will be converted to an interactive blog in which anyone and everyone can offer comments, share stories, upload images, call attention to situations in the Park deserving attention and rally us all to action.

There will be regular updates to the website, including announcements of future actions. Visit the site at www.catskillparkcoalition.org.

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SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY (May 21, 2014) – Dear Reader: Once again there is some family business, and attendance by the editor of The Catskill Chronicle is mandatory.

There will be no posts (except for emergency notifications, and those only if the editor has Internet service) until Monday evening at the earliest, Tuesday evening at the latest.

While we’re on hiatus, please enjoy some of our archived stories such as:

Elder Berries: https://thecatskillchronicle.com/elder-berries/

Gadfly: https://thecatskillchronicle.com/gadfly-opinion/gadfly-archives/

Special Section Archives: https://thecatskillchronicle.com/special-section-archives/

Sullivan Faces: https://thecatskillchronicle.com/sullivan-faces-2/sullivan-faces-archives/

The Scrawny Gourmet: https://thecatskillchronicle.com/tales-from-the-scrawny-gourmet/tales-from-the-scrawny-gourmet-archives/

AND

Twice Divorced: https://thecatskillchronicle.com/twice-divorced-advice-column/

https://thecatskillchronicle.com/twice-divorced-advice-column/twice-divorced-archives-2/

~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for your patience and understanding. See you soon.

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Delaware Highlands Conservancy Releases Short Film

Upper Delaware River Region, PA / NY (May 21, 2014) – The Delaware Highlands Conservancy has released a new short film about the inter-connectedness of our vibrant local community, our thriving farm and forest economies, and the ways in which shopping local—and utilizing the resource www.ShopLocalSaveLand.com, can make a big difference. View the video at www.ShopLocalSaveLand.com or www.DelawareHighlands.org.

Produced in our Upper Delaware River region, the video features Keith Fitzpatrick (Hillside Woodworks), Larry Zampino (Zampino Arts), Emily Montgomery (Calkins Creamery), Andy and Kristin Curtis (Journey’s End Farm), and Pete Comstock (The Homestead School), and highlights the many ways in which supporting local businesses both connects us to the land and improves our quality of life.

ShopLocalSaveLand.com is an easy-to-use, one-stop resource for finding local businesses and providers for farm and forest products in the Upper Delaware River region. This means consumers can easily find fresh, healthy, local foods, as well as local sources for building, decorating, and heating their homes.

The whole community benefits when agricultural lands stay agricultural lands. Studies have shown that eating locally grown foods means eating healthier. Hills of rolling farmlands add to the scenic beauty of the region and bring visitors here who support not only locally produced farm products, but other local businesses as well. This gives farmers the economic resources they need to maintain their farmlands as agricultural lands.

Similarly, ShopLocalSaveLand.com creates a well-connected network of local wood products providers, forestry professionals, conservation organizations, and the general public to foster the sustainability of healthy and economically productive forestlands. The healthy forests of our region protect vital drinking water sources for us and for over 15 million people downstream. Supporting local forest products businesses means supporting our locally sustainable forest economy and assuring that our valuable forests will be here for future generations.

The Shop Local Save Land video project was funded in part by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation Community Conservation Partnerships Program administered through the Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s Pocono Forest & Waters Conservation Landscape Conservation Assistance Program.

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy works in partnership with landowners and communities to protect the healthy lands and forests, clean waters, eagles and eagle habitat, locally sustainable economies, and quality of life in the Upper Delaware River region. For more information on the Conservancy and how it connects people to the lands where they live, work, and play, visit www.DelawareHighlands.org.

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SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY (May 20, 2014) – Step right this way. The award-winning Delaware Company, in collaboration with The Museum at Bethel Woods and the Liberty Museum & Arts Center, will present the annual architectural-historical bus tour from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on June 7, 2014.

Coinciding with Governor Cuomo’s designated “Path Through History” Weekends, The Magical History Tour: Revolution to Revolution™ will be narrated by Sullivan County (NY) Historian John Conway and renowned architect Robert Dadras.

Riders will board an air-conditioned motor coach at The Museum at Bethel Woods, on the site of the 1969 Woodstock festival, and travel a route past the Mackenzie Mansions of Glen Spey (Sullivan County’s Newport,) along the NYS Upper Delaware Scenic Byway (Route 97, paralleling the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River) to the former Newburgh-Cochecton Turnpike, all the while hearing stories of The Great Pumpkin Flood, elk drives from the Erie Railroad, Boss Tweed and the local bluestone industry and much, much more covering the ground of the American Revolution of the 1760s to the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s.

Stops will be made at the Sullivan County-owned Minisink Battleground Park, site of the only Revolutionary War battle in the Upper Delaware, the National Park Service-owned Delaware Aqueduct (Roebling Bridge, where interpretive rangers will be on hand to describe the revolutionary technology of this part of the Delaware & Hudson canal,) Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History (a living history museum where lunch will be served by costumed docents) and back to the Museum at Bethel Woods for another tour and the grand finale:  LIFE magazine photographer Bill Eppridge’s work, “America Meets the Beatles.”

The cost is $45 which includes all admissions and lunch. Reservations and advance payment are required by mailing a check, made payable to The Delaware Company, to John Conway, PO Box 185, Barryville, NY 12719. Since several are already accepting “the invitation to make a reservation,” the bus is filling up fast. So don’t hesitate.

The deadline for paid reservations is June 1 and no money will be collected the day of the tour.

For further information, call 845-557-0851 or email: jconway52@hotmail.com.

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SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY (May 20, 2014) – The 41st Annual Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Recognition Day Luncheon was held on Monday, May 12 at the Villa Roma Resort & Conference Club House in Callicoon.

Deborah Allen, Director of the Office for the Aging, welcomed the 200+ crowd that gathered to honor the seniors, Caryn Mathews, Director of RSVP gave opening remarks, and Pastor Bob Kersten gave the invocation.

Additional remarks regarding the 41-year success of RSVP in Sullivan County were given by Scott Samuelson, Chairperson, Sullivan County Legislature and Cindy Kurpil-Gieger, Sullivan County Health Chairperson Health & Family Services

A total of 283 RSVP volunteers performed over 58,800 hours during 2013. Ten volunteers served over 1,000 volunteer hours during 2013 and received a special award certificate. Members of the “1,000 Hour Club” were presented to: Barbara Burns – 1,000, Patricia Curtis – 1,200, Margaret Ippolito – 1,172, Tina Greenberger– 1,530, Annette Rein– 1,081, Sonny Smith – 1,295, Marcelle Wagner – 1,232, Marlene Stoutenburg – 1,036, Barbra Viele -1,157.

Special Service awards were presented to the community “TOUCHSTONE” program, which provides telephone reassurance to homebound seniors in our community.

A Certificate of Appreciation was presented to Michelle Semerano and Mike Sakell from WDNB Thunder 102.1/Bold Gold Media Group for announcing the RSVP volunteers birthdays each morning on the radio and their continued on-air support of the RSVP program. During 201 there were 338 RSVP volunteers’ birthdays announced.

Each Legislative District chooses a “RSVP Senior of the Year”(Listed below). One senior is chosen as the Sullivan County RSVP Senior of the Year.

The Senior of the Year Award for Virginia “Ginger” Rasulo“ was awarded posthumously in recognition of all her diligent efforts, for her tireless devotion and constant commitment to excellence in her service to the Sullivan County Community.

District Senior of the Year Award Winners:

District#1 Senior of the Year: Patricia A. McArthur lives in the Town of Bethel she has been an RSVP Volunteer for 4years and has donated 2551 hours. She is a volunteer in our Community priorities focus area and does needlework for a variety of programs RSVP Supports with Handcrafted Items.

District# 2 Richard Harding lives in the Town of Forestburgh he has been an RSVP Volunteer for 3.5 years and has donated 268 hours. He is a volunteer in our RSVP Medical Transportation Program.

District# 3 Weldon “Dean” Calloway lives in the Town of Rockland he has been an RSVP Volunteer for 6 years and has donated 571 hours. He is a volunteer in our Healthy Futures Focus area and is a volunteer and peer trainer for Sullivan/Orange County Hospice program.

District# 4 Senior of the Year: Barbara Haggerty lives in the Town of Mamakating she has been an RSVP Volunteer for 3 years and has donated 125 hours. She is a volunteer in our Community priorities focus area and does crafts for a variety of programs RSVP Supports with Handcrafted Items as well as our telephone reassurance “Touchstone program”.

District# 5 Senior of the Year: Alice Schlichting lives in the Town of Delaware she has been an RSVP Volunteer for 3 years and has donated 1435 hours. She is a volunteer in our Community priorities focus area in the I.O.U thrift shop in Callicoon.

District# 6 Senior of the Year: Justina Constable lives in the Town of Liberty she has been an RSVP Volunteer for 2 years and has donated 749 hours. She is a volunteer in our Homebound Meal Delivery assistance distribution.

District# 7 Senior of the Year: Marcelle Wagner lives in the Town of Fallsburg she has been an RSVP Volunteer for 25 years and has donated 44,000 hours. She is a volunteer in our Community priorities and does needlework for a variety of programs RSVP Supports with Handcrafted Items.

District# 8 Senior of the Year: Ruth Owens lives in the Town of Fallsburg/ Thompson she has been an RSVP Volunteer for 5 years and has donated 1,200 hours. She is a volunteer in our Community priorities focus area in the Noah’s Arc thrift shop of the United Methodist Church in Monticello.

District# 9 T’shara D’Das lives in the Town of Thompson she has been an RSVP Volunteer for 5.5 years and has donated 425 hours. She is a volunteer in our Literacy Volunteers of America Program in Monticello.

Special Congratulations to: Joseph Carr, Town of Lumberland. Anita Hartmann, Town of Neversink. Susan “Sue” Kohler, Town of Callicoon. Dorothy Schultz, Town of Cochecton Tina Greenberger, Town of Highland.

If you are interested in getting involved in RSVP, call Caryn Mathews, RSVP Project Director at 807-0251 for more information.

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Monday, May 12 – Friday, May 16

Town of Mamakating: VFW Post 4947 will place flags on the following cemeteries: New Vernon, Bloomingburg Rural Free, Burlingham, Poplar Grove at Phillipsport. Cemetery services will be held at these cemeteries between 5/21 – 5/23.

Sunday, May 25

Woodridge: – 4:00 p.m. – Memorial Services at Veterans Park on Roosevelt Avenue in Woodridge. If it rains, we will meet in the Village Hall.

Bloomingburg: – 12:00 p.m – V.F.W. Post #4947 will have Memorial Day Services at the Bloomingburg Cemetery.

Tusten, Highland, Lumberland: VFW Post 6427 will have cemetery ceremonies to honor our deceased veterans at 11:00 a.m. – Lava Cemetery, 11:30 a.m. – St. Francis Cemetery, and 12:00 p.m. – Glen Cove Cemetery. 2:00 p.m. – Town of Tusten, Ceremony at the Old Tusten Church.

Monday, May 26

Forestburgh: 9:00 a.m. – “Memorial Day” Services will be conducted at the Veterans Triangle, Route 42 South, Forestburgh: Sponsored by the Town of Forestburgh, the American Legion, the Jewish War Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars…all locally based Monticello organizations. Refreshments to follow at the Pavilion. Master of Ceremonies – Al Etkin

Monticello: 10:30 a.m. – “Memorial Day” Services at the County Government Center, Monticello. The service is sponsored by the American Legion, the Jewish War Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, all Monticello organizations. Keynote Speaker will be Jane Wagner, Team Leader, Middletown Vet Center. Refreshments to follow at the Monticello Elks Lodge on North Street. All are invited. Master of Ceremonies: Al Etkin

Liberty: 10:00 a.m. – Line-up on West Liberty Street and North Main Street. On behalf of The Town of Liberty and Cpl. Russell D. Sprague American Legion Post #109, the Parade will start at 10:30 a.m. and travel through the business district in the Village of Liberty, proceed down Church Street, and end at the Liberty Veterans Cemetery on Cold Spring Road. At the cemetery, there will be a short service to honor our War Heroes. Guest Speaker will be the Hon. Harold Bauman.

County Service: Liberty: 1:00 p.m. – The Veterans Service Agency will provide a Memorial Day Service and Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery, Sunset Lake Road, Liberty. The Keynote Speaker will be Richard R. Keiser, Past NYS Commander, American Legion. Mr. Keiser was inducted in the NYS Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame in 2013. Master of Ceremonies: John Crotty

Wurtsboro: 1:00 p.m. – The American Legion Post #1266 will sponsor a Memorial Day Parade – (12:30 p.m. – Line-up on Pine Street in front of the Post). Parade will end at the Veterans Park in Wurtsboro. The Guest Speaker is Gary Greenwald: At the conclusion of the service there will be a BBQ at 92 Pine Street, the American Legion Home.

Town of Mamakating: V.F.W. Post #4947 Boy Scout breakfast – 7:00 a.m., Wurtsboro Community Church. Dedication at Summitville Fire House at 9:00 A.M. and finally joining in the Memorial Day Parade in Wurtsboro (hosted by American Legion 1266). Line-up is at 12:30 P.M. and we will step off at 1:00 P.M.

Bethel: 11:00 a.m. – Services at Town of Bethel Veterans Park, Kauneonga Lake. Flag Dedication will follow at the Bethel Senior Citizens Center.

Fremont Center: 130th Annual Fremont Center Memorial Day Parade: 9:00 a.m. promptly for line-up just above the Fremont Center Community Church. Special Memorial Service at New Veteran’s Park (next to town barn) at 9:30 a.m. The Parade route will be through Fremont Center to the baseball field.

Long Eddy: 1:00 p.m. – The Allan Milk Memorial Post #7276 will have services in Long Eddy Catholic Cemetery, luncheon to follow at Long Eddy Firehouse.

Obernburg: 3:00 p.m. – Services at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at County Rd. 95, refreshments to follow in Church Hall.

Neversink: 11:00 a.m. – Flag Ceremony at the Flag Pole, Grahamsville Rural Cemetery. Flag Exchange: Flag for Calvin Drown will come down and be exchanged for George Coombe’s Flag.

Eldred: 9:00 a.m. – American Legion Post #1363 will conduct a Memorial Service at Eldred Cemetery, Route 55.

Barryville: 9:30 a.m. – American Legion Post #1363 will conduct a Memorial Service at the Barryville Cemetery, Mail Road.

Glen Spey: 10:00 a.m. – American Legion Post #1363 will conduct a Memorial Service across from the Town Hall in Glen Spey.

Roscoe: Parade starts at 10:00 with the memorial Ceremony following immediately after at The Roscoe Fire House.

Livingston Manor: 10:00 a.m. Line-up at the Livingston Manor Firehouse, Parade starts at 10:30 a.m.

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SUMMITVILLE, NY (May 18, 2014) – Sullivan County’s Division of Public Works Chair Kathy LaBuda has announced that Sullivan County’s Interpretive Center for the historic Delaware and Hudson Canal will begin its summer season on Friday, May 23, through the weekend of the May 26 Memorial Day holiday.

The center, located north of Wurtsboro on Bova Road just off US Route 209 in the Town of Mamakating, features exhibits of historic photography and memorabilia for adults, teaching aids for younger children, and a gift shop where canal period publications and souvenirs are available.

This year, new exhibits are underway and will be added during the spring and summer season.

In addition to exhibits indoors, historic Lock 50 of the D&H canal is adjacent to the center and visitors may view canal features and trail exhibits on a short walk that also includes a portion of the original towpath used by mules which pulled canal boats for some 70 years during the 19^th century.

For those wanting more of a walk, Bova Road also provides the northern access to the county’s D&H Canal Linear Park, which combined with a section owned by the Town of Mamakating stretches 4.5 miles south to the Village of Wurtsboro.

The center’s schedule has been expanded in 2014. It will be open through the summer: on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays from noon to 5 p.m., and by appointment on other days.

For more information about the interpretive center, call the Sullivan County Division of Public Works at 845-807-0261. Visit http://co.sullivan.ny.us/?TabId=3191 for more information and a map of the linear park. For images, search Delaware and Hudson Canal Linear County Park in Google Maps and click “more info” in the map’s info balloon.

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SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY (May 18, 2014) – Issued By: NWS Binghamton (South Central New York and Northeastern Pennsylvania)

Affected Jurisdictions: Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Madison, Oneida, Otsego, Schuyler, Steuben, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins Counties

Frost Advisory In Effect From 2 AM To 8 AM EDT Monday… The National Weather Service In Binghamton Has Issued A Frost Advisory…Which Is In Effect From 2 AM To 8 AM EDT Monday.

Locations…Twin Tier, Western Catskills And Mohawk Valley.

Hazards…Areas Of Frost.

Temperatures…In The Middle 30S.

Timing…Early Monday Morning.

Impacts…Tender Vegetation May Be Damaged By The Cold Air And Light Frost.

A Frost Advisory Means That Frost Is Possible. Sensitive Outdoor Plants May Be Killed If Left Uncovered.

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Photos by Carol Montana

MONTICELLO, NY (May 14, 2014) – Senior Citizens get have been celebrated with their own prom in Monticello for the past seven years.

The Annual Alice Kreiter Senior Prom had an Under the Sea theme this year, with many of the attendees wearing blue, and many of the door prizes having an ocean motif. And the dinner was, of course, a delicious meal of salad, bread, vegetables and fish.

Held at the Monticello  Firehouse, the event is a true intergenerational prom, organized by a committee of adults from the Monticello Senior Club, along with the leaders and children from the Boys & Girls Club.

Here are some photos from the prom. To see more photos or to purchase prints from the 7th Annual Senior Citizen Prom, visit the Catskill Chronicle on Zenfolio.

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NEW YORK STATE (May 13, 2014) – During American Stroke Month in May, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) asks all Americans to learn three things that may save a life from stroke.

Know the risk factors for stroke. Know the stroke warning signs. And know what to do in a stroke emergency.

Stroke is the number one preventable cause of disability and the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the AHA/ASA. Someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds, yet 80 percent of strokes are preventable.

“Knowing if you are at risk for stroke is highly important, because many risk factors can be modified and controlled,” said Jason Greenberg, MD, Director of Stroke Rehabilitation at Helen Hayes Hospital and American Stroke Association Board Member, “The number one stroke risk factor is high blood pressure. Nearly 78 million Americans have high blood pressure and many more aren’t even aware that they have it. It’s important to check your blood pressure regularly and talk to your doctor about healthy levels for you.”

Other risk factors that are controllable include cigarette smoking, diabetes, artery disease, Atrial fibrillation, high cholesterol, poor diet and inactivity. Risk factors that can’t be changed include family history, age, race and gender. African-Americans have a much higher risk of death from a stroke than Caucasians.

Women have more strokes than men, and stroke kills more women than men. Women have unique risk factors for stroke including use of birth control pills, pregnancy, history of preeclampsia/eclampsia or gestational diabetes, oral contraceptive use, and smoking, and post-menopausal hormone therapy.

“More people need to know the signs and act quickly when they recognize it,” said Greenberg, “Stroke doesn’t have to mean death or disability. Quick recognition and action by bystanders to get the victim medical treatment will reduce chances for long term damage. A victim may have one or all of the signs. It’s important to call 9-1-1 as soon as possible.”

The ASA’s Together to End Stroke initiative, sponsored nationally by Covidien, uses the acronym F.A.S.T. to help people to recognize a stroke and what to do if one occurs:

· F – Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.

· A – Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

· S – Speech Difficulty: Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like, “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?

· T – Time to call 9-1-1: If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.

Additional stroke signs include: Sudden severe headache with no known cause; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; or sudden confusion or trouble understanding.

At signs of a stroke, quick treatment is critical. Delays can result in death or permanent disability like paralysis, memory loss, loss of brain function and speech impairment. Unfortunately, more than a third of stroke patients don’t get to the hospital by ambulance, even though that’s the fastest way to get there, according to research in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal.

Studies show that EMS transported victims have earlier arrival, quicker evaluation with brain scans and faster treatment including use of clot-busting drugs. Emergency rooms are alerted by EMS and can have the stroke care teams ready when the ambulance arrives. Time is critical when it comes to stroke survival.

Together to End Stroke offers a free “Spot a Stroke F.A.S.T.” mobile app for iOS and Android, including the warning signs and a searchable map to find local hospitals recognized for heart and stroke care.

Get your free stroke risk assessment at http://strokeassociation.org/strokemonth to get your personalized action prevention plan or call 914-640-3260. Follow #StrokeMonth on Facebook and Twitter to add your voice to the conversation.

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LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY (May 10, 2014) – Believe it or not, it’s not just about kites. The annual Kite Festival at SUNY Sullivan in Loch Sheldrake is also about fun and art and films.

The Kite Festival was held in front of the college, and the art show in the halls of the buildings, while the Fisher Film Festival took place in the Seelig Theatre.

There were vendors galore selling crafts, books, food and more, charity organizations and community groups handing out information. There was music, too, and many different kinds of food. And even a few beauty queens.

Here are some photos from the Festival, and even a shot from a special film about iconic SUNY Sullivan Professor Thomas Lambert. A link to see more photos is at the bottom of this story.

To see more photos or to purchase prints from the 2014 Kite Festival, visit The Catskill Chronicle on Zenfolio.

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