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May 09, 2003 Reporter's notebook Elections official doesn't want the cash? Lawmakers are giving the Board of Elections $15,000 extra to hire part-time people to help get ready for the fall election. Both elections commissioners say the office is way behind because it hasn't received all the data for redistricting. But getting the extra money didn't sit well with Democratic Elections Commissioner Tim Hill, who is suing the county for eliminating two elections clerks in December. Hill showed up for a general services committee meeting with the two former clerks, Debra Gabriel and Mary Jo Oppenheim. Both said they would like the option of coming back to work full time for the county. Hill says both full-time clerks are needed and the county had no authority to eliminate the positions. Republican Commissioner Fran Thalmann has been lobbying lawmakers for temporary help and didn't join the lawsuit. Hill said lawmakers made the move to protect themselves. A Supreme Court judge may rule against the county on June 19, saying lawmakers cut too much out of the budget. And that could cost the county thousands of dollars in back pay and benefits to the two former clerks. "In 17 years, I've never been provided funds I didn't ask for," Hill said. "If you don't want it, fine," said GOP Majority Leader Rodney Gaebel. Sales Tax Down to Wire Lawmakers were all set to enact a sales tax increase yesterday. Only problem is the governor has not signed the home rule legislation that would enable the county to increase the tax to 7.5 percent from 7 percent. County officials have scheduled another meeting for today to enact the tax. The measure has to be completed by today for the tax to kick in by June 1. Otherwise the county will have to wait until the next quarter on Sept. 1. The tax is expected to raise $3.2 million annually. More Classes Offered Sullivan County Community College plans to offer more upper division courses in the fall through a partnership with SUNY New Paltz. These may include sociology, criminology, psychology, social work, education, nursing and accounting and management courses, said Dr. John Watson, vice president for academic and student affairs. The college already offers some upper division courses in nursing. The new classes will be paid in part by a $250,000 grant secured by state Sen. John Bonacic, R-New Hope. Deadbeat parents watch out The county is considering hiring a collections agent to track down deadbeat parents who owe child support. Sullivan tries to collect money owed to the county when the deadbeat's former spouse has to go on public assistance. The county normally collects the money after trying other methods, like suspending the deadbeat's license or intercepting their state or federal tax refund, said Robert Kuhn, deputy commissioner of Family Services. The collections agent would go after a parent who owes more than $500 and is three years in arrears, Kuhn said. The county has identified 22 deadbeat cases, totaling $85,000, that would qualify. Lobbyist Hired A large coalition formed to lobby for casinos in Sullivan County will hire Albany lobbyist Ed Arance of Arance & Co. to be their point man in the state Capitol, Thompson Supervisor Tony Cellini said. Sullivan lawmakers voted yesterday to join the coalition and contribute no more than $500 a month through January 2004. One Sweet Dave Matthews World? So Ben & Jerry's is producing its One World, One Heart music festival at the Woodstock festival site in Bethel on Aug. 23 and 24. Could Dave Matthews be rocking those rolling hills? Well …ØMatthews joined with Ben & Jerry's last year on its One Sweet Whirled campaign to fight global warming. Matthews happens to be in the area Aug. 24 and 25, playing the Continental Arena in Jersey. But he's free Aug. 23. By the numbers Each week Sullivan Notebook will check out the numbers throughout the county. So, how many instant lottery tickets are sold each week at the North Monticello Stewart's Shop? Four thousand. The most popular $1 ticket is Lucky 7, followed by Loose Change. Store manager Nicole Ihlefeldt says, "a customer once asked me, 'are you running a convenience store or a casino?'" Showcasing black church's history Don't miss the new showcase by the front doors of the Newburgh Free Library. Inside is a collection of historical photos and documents explaining the past of the AME Zion Church, Newburgh's oldest black church. The church was established in 1827 and is celebrating its 176th anniversary this year with a series of events. Who were those people? About halfway through an informational hearing Monday night at Newburgh Town Hall about a proposed change in the Anchorage on the Hudson waterfront project, someone in the audience asked town officials why speakers weren't being asked to identify themselves. Town officials explained it was not a formal hearing. If the change from a restaurant to condominiums is pursued, a formal hearing record, including names of speakers, will be kept then. But Sandra Kissam, head of the Stewart Park and Reserve Coalition, still wasn't satisfied. Toward the end of the hearing, she pointed out speakers at meetings are always asked to state their name and address, even during ordinary public comment periods at the beginning and end of every Town Board meeting. "Why is this evening different from all other evenings?" Kissam asked. Kissam didn't get an answer, but Town Clerk Andrew Zarutskie did note someone should have raised the question at the beginning of the hearing. Going Green in New Paltz You can measure the political distance the Green Party in New Paltz has traveled – literally and figuratively – in the four years since the last mayoral election. This year, three Green candidates gained a majority on the Village Board through a combination of old-fashioned shoe-leather campaigning, crowd-pleasing stunts and get-out-the-vote efforts on election day that brought hundreds of SUNY New Paltz students into the voting booth. Mayoral candidate Jason West, a seasoned campaigner at the age of 26, is now mayor-elect of the village. Four years ago, another young newcomer, SUNY student Russ Ferdico, ran a spirited independent campaign against Mayor Tom Nyquist and came close to winning. The Green Party was but a blip on the electoral radar back then. Their write-in candidate for mayor that year was Mumia Abu-Jamal, the convicted killer of a policeman. Abu-Jamal received 29 votes that night, hardly an early indication of the party's current political success. Hudson Valley hot list Top three Mother's Day gifts this year, as sold at Handmade and More in New Paltz: 1. Diamonds are still a girl's best friend. Jewelry of all kinds was the top seller. 2. Boyd Bears: a fluffy friend holding seasonal banner messages, "Happy Mother's Day" being this week's favorite. 3. Flowered tea pots. Maybe it's harkening back to days of old, or maybe the kids notice mom's improved mood after she's had a moment to collect herself. Either way, teapots decorated with flowers made their way into the store's signature purple-tissued boxes this week. With God as my handicapper … By Sunday morning, the Kentucky Derby was over. Horse racing fans, and other assorted sinners, were filing into church to spend some time in the presence of God. Nonetheless, Sears Hunter thought it noteworthy to tell the small congregation at the United Church of Christ in Blooming Grove that fellow parishioner Dave Kingstrom scored big betting on the Run for the Roses. Kingstrom – a management consultant from Goshen and amateur trotter racer – had won a raffle at a Massachusetts horse track to put $5,000 on the race. After some quick handicapping, Kingstrom picked a few of his favorite combinations. What luck! Funny Cide Ø…Ø Empire Maker Ø…ØPeace Rules Ø…Ø and Atwhatimtalknabout finished in the top four. The pay out: $3,700. "Wow," pastor Craig Cowing said from the pulpit. "You're going to donate all you're winnings to the church, right?" Said Kingstrom: "I'll take it under advisement." Walkers needed to raise money The Matthew Dudgeon memorial walk will raise money for the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation at 9 a.m. tomorrow starting at the Chester train station on the Heritage Trail. Registration is at 8:30 a.m. The fee for adults is $17; children, $7. For further information, call 469-5702 or 496-5745. Visit the Web site at www.themattyfund.org. Everything you wanted to know Questions or complaints about how the Town of Monroe government is operating? Bring them on. Supervisor Sandy Leonard will step into the breech Monday night with an informal discussion at the Monroe Senior Center at 101 Mine Road. The forum kicks off at 7 p.m. Leonard, who took office in 2002, said she set up the session to speak more extensively with residents than she can under the time constraints at Town Board meetings. She hopes to have similar forums two to four times a year, she said. "I just wanted the ability to sit and talk to everybody," Leonard said. "Hopefully, we'll get a better exchange of ideas." Leonard will be joined by Planning Board Chairman Charles Finnerty and Town Attorney Kevin Dowd. Budget hearing postponed Now, want to sound off on Monroe-Woodbury School District's $104.7 million budget proposal? May 27 is the new date to do so. The school board had scheduled a public hearing for Wednesday this week, but moved it ahead almost three weeks after the state postponed school elections until June 3. The school board will be all ears for comments on the spending plan at 7:30 p.m. May 27 at Sapphire Elementary School, 159 Harriman Heights Road, Monroe. Budget summaries will be available May 20. To get a copy, call James Rathbun, assistant superintendent for business and management services, at 928-2321, Ext. 208. Deja Vu The Tuxedo School District has also postponed its budget hearing to May 20. Residents who want to weigh in should file into the George Grant Mason Building at 7:30 p.m. The adopted budget proposal is $11 million. But that might be trimmed slightly at a special board meeting to be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the same location, said Superintendent Joseph Zanetti. For a copy of the budget, call John Staiger, assistant superintendent for business, at 351-4799, Ext. 12. Bullville.com touts 900 square feet It's a quaint, century-old storefront at the five-corners intersection in Bullville, but what catches your eye is the modern-day sign in the window: Bullville.com. Who knew that this corner of the Town of Crawford had its own Web site? Actually, the Web site is an ad for the 900-square-foot building, which is for rent. It's the work of owner Jeff Montanye, who got the old shop and a nearby garage last year when he bought the neighboring house that he now calls home. Montanye is restoring the building, which last saw customers as a hardware store in the '50s. But there's more work to do than Montanye's computer job allows for. There's new plumbing, electric and heat. Sheetrock and insulation work remain. There have been bites from proprietors of an antique shop and a massage parlor, among others, but it's not yet fit to rent. Montanye says he's willing to take rent in trade if any potential tenants are particularly handy. Speaking of contrast Head north on Goshen Turnpike from Route 211, then make a quick right on to Foster Road and you'll catch a glimpse of the Town of Wallkill's split personality. Apartments and condos line the street, but paved road quickly turns to gravel. On a recent weekday afternoon, three riders sat atop a string of three horses moseying along the road. This is the country. But the zoning is R2, the same as in nearby suburban Scotchtown. So, unless they're living in sin, those horses need at least 20 acres on which to shack up. But apparently some equine-loving property owners and real estate agents want to see that changed to 10 acres. There's a tentative public hearing set for the matter at 7:25 p.m. May 22 at Town Hall. Making room for Maurice He used to represent Middletown: City native and retired Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman during a benefit May 2 for the Lower Hudson Interactive Museum said, "When [Orange County lawmaker Jeffrey Berkman] introduced me it was a much nicer introduction than I used to get at the Town Hall meeting – 'And now for the latest dope from Washington, Ben Gilman.'" Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-Saugerties, took over some of Gilman's turf in redistricting, including Middletown. During a visit to his Middletown office last week (to announce $320,000 in federal funding for improved senior bus service), Hinchey said, "We're going to be opening up an office in Middletown City Hall in the next couple of weeks." On the third floor of City Hall, 16 James St., downtown. "We have furniture and everything," a Hinchey staffer told a reporter on the way out. Fund-raisin' fruit The fund-raiser, held at SUNY Orange, for the Lower Hudson Interactive Museum featured not only Gilman but the work of young artist Paul Rodriguez, 16, of Middletown. He showed off a sculpture made from recycled materials, a central spike with arms holding representations of fruits. "It's a Fruitmobile," the teen said. "It was supposed to come out different." Another was an ostrich. "It just came into my mind." He said he likes museum activities that teach about things. "It's kinda interesting." Kinda? "Well, it is," he said. "You can be free and express yourself." Lillian O'Brien, president of the museum's board of trustees, said the money raised will go to fix up the museum. It recently signed a deal with the city for a 50-year lease of 23 Centre St. at $1 a year. Call 344-3131. Next best thing to dairy queen Kristen O'Dell, 16, of Minisink was crowned Orange County Dairy Princess Saturday at the Gardens on Catlin Creek on Route 6 in Slate Hill. "I want to promote dairy products to the public and make them aware of the benefits of dairy in the diet," O'Dell said yesterday. "I go to events, parades, classroomsØ…Ø. A lot of my friends are doing it too." Stephanie Bonfanti, Kristin Frangione, Kelle Hufcut, Ashley Post and Bobby Wickham round out the court. The new Dairy Princess enjoyed her evening Saturday. "It was awesome," O'Dell said. Priorities were straight, too. Milk punch was served before dinner. 40 Mulberry Street * PO Box 2046 * Middletown, NY 10940 Telephone 845-341-1100 or 800-295-2181 outside the Middletown, N.Y., area. Powered by THRNewMedia.com
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