DAM weighs in on foie gras ban

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Hudson Valley duck farmers, organized as the Catskill Foie Gras Collective, announced on December 15 that the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (DAM) has ruled that New York City’s proposed ban on the sale of foie gras in city restaurants and retail stores violates state law. The department has issued an order directing that New York City “immediately comply with the provisions of Section 305-a of the Agriculture and Markets Law” and refrain from taking any action “that would restrict [the farmers’] ability to sell their product in the New York City market.”

The ban is currently subject to a preliminary injunction placed during the course of a separate lawsuit, and has not gone into effect. New York City has 30 days to challenge the DAM order, according to Catskill Foie Gras Collective.

Volunteers sought for ag protection board

MONTICELLO, NY — The Sullivan County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board (AFPB), established in 1992, seeks two volunteers to help preserve and promote the use of farmland throughout the county. The AFPB generally meets quarterly, with occasional visits to properties to evaluate their inclusion into the Agricultural Districts; the board also oversees the implementation of the county’s agriculture and farmland protection plan.

At this time, there are two volunteer spots available: one position for an active farmer, and one position for an active farmer and/or other agricultural stakeholder and/or stakeholder from an organization dedicated to agricultural land preservation. Terms are four years, upon appointment and confirmation by the Sullivan County Legislature. Volunteers must live in Sullivan County.

Potential volunteers should send a letter of interest and statement of qualifications to AnnMarie Martin, Clerk to the Sullivan County Legislature, Sullivan County Government Center, 100 North Street, PO Box 5012, Monticello, NY 12701 or annmarie.martin@sullivanny.us by January 13, 2023.

Pike County physician convicted

SCRANTON, PA — The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Dr. Martin Evers, age 64, of Pike County, was found guilty on December 5 for unlawfully distributing controlled substances resulting in death. Evers was an employee of the Bon Secours Charity Health System and practiced as a primary care physician in Milford.

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Evers was found guilty on 71 counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances, as charged in the superseding indictment. The jury found that Evers repeatedly prescribed oxycodone and other opioids outside the usual course of professional practice and not for legitimate medical purposes and as a result, addiction and death occurred. One of the counts of which Evers was convicted involved the unlawful distribution of oxycodone and fentanyl that resulted in the death of a 48-year-old Monroe County woman on February 11, 2019.

Helping local governments go green

ALBANY, NY — Gov. Kathy Hochul on December 15 announced the launch of the Green Purchasing Communities program. It is meant to recognize local governments that commit to buying sustainable products, helping to protect public health and the environment. The program highlights local governments that commit to follow the state’s GreenNY purchasing specifications. All local governments in New York State are eligible to participate in the program, and can do so by updating purchasing policies to require purchasers to follow the state’s GreenNY purchasing specifications, and by submitting a copy of updated purchasing policies along with the one-page application.

Food insecurity declines in PA

HARRISBURG, PA — On December 15, Gov. Tom Wolf’s Food Security Partnership published a final report that cited a 37 percent decrease in food insecurity since the beginning of the Wolf administration. Data from Feeding America’s Meal Gap Report indicated that, when Wolf took office in 2015, there were an estimated 1.8 million food-insecure Pennsylvanians and 564,440 food-insecure children. As of the 2022 report, 1.13 million Pennsylvanians and 347,720 children are estimated to be food insecure, a decrease of 37 percent and 38 percent respectively.

Wolf additionally signed an executive order creating the Pennsylvania Food Policy Council. The duties of the council will include developing recommendations on improved partnerships to better reach those at the highest risk of hunger and expand food and nutrition delivery systems, developing recommendations to reduce food waste across Pennsylvania, and developing and implementing strategies to expand the use of Pennsylvania agricultural products in public and private food assistance programs.

Holiday crackdown on careless driving

ALBANY, NY — The New York State Police will participate in the “Drive High Get a DUI” national campaign and New Year’s impaired-driving enforcement to crack down on impaired and reckless driving this holiday season. The enforcement campaign runs from December 14, 2022 through Sunday, January 1, 2023. Drivers can expect to see sobriety checkpoints, along with more troopers on roadways during the campaign.

During last year’s campaign, State Police arrested 522 people for DWI and issued 35,016 tickets, including 12,285 tickets for speeding, 840 for distracted driving and 289 for the “Move Over Law.” State Police also investigated 14 fatal crashes.

A new home for the arts

HONESDALE, PA — The Wayne County Community Foundation has approved a $75,000 matching grant to the Wayne County Arts Alliance for the purchase of a new headquarters building at 959 Main St. in Honesdale. The grant will be issued from funds in the Community Foundation’s Florence Longmire Treat Fund, established from a bequest by Jane Cable in 2021, and is contingent on the Wayne County Arts Alliance raising a total of $75,000 in community support by February 28, 2023.

Menorah lost and found

NARROWSBURG, NY — On December 13, it was reported on the Upper Delaware Community Network that the menorah on the main deck in Narrowsburg had gone missing. The menorah was found and returned to the deck the following day.

Resorts World goes to Orange County

NEWBURGH, NY — The grand opening of Resorts World Hudson Valley (RWHV), the state’s newest casino, will take place on Wednesday, December 28, company executives announced. Located in Orange County at the Newburgh Mall, just 60 miles north of Manhattan, RWHV will feature 50,000 square feet of gaming and hospitality space, including 1,200 slot machines and electronic table games, as well as the Resorts World Bet Sports Bar.

Resorts World Hudson Valley is third entertainment destination operated by Genting Group in New York, joining Resorts World Catskills in Monticello and Resorts World New York City in Queens. Across its three properties, Genting has invested more than $1.2 billion, including $50 million in RWHV.

Rail infrastructure receives $26 million

HARRISBURG, PA — Gov. Tom Wolf announced the approval of 24 rail-freight improvement projects that will enhance freight mobility while creating or sustaining more than 340 jobs across Pennsylvania. The state transportation commission voted to approve $26 million for a number of projects through the Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) and the Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP). The Redevelopment Authority of Luzerne County received $524,000 to rehabilitate approximately 2.5 miles of track by replacing ties, replacing a switch, and improving a grade crossing for Lackawanna and Luzerne counties; the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad received $1.1 million to rehabilitate three bridges and a culvert on the Carbondale line for Lackawanna and Monroe counties.

Lackawanna receives substance abuse and mental health services support

SCRANTON, PA — On December 15, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-08) announced that $250,000 in federal funds have been awarded to Lackawanna County from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The funds will support the De-escalation and Crisis Intervention Collaboration Project, a cooperative effort between Lackawanna County and the Advocacy Alliance.

The project aims to train a total of 600 police officers and related professionals over a five-year period in de-escalating mental health and addiction-related crises in the field. The trainings will provide strategies and tactics to law enforcement professionals to reduce the use of deadly force as well as provide them with resources and skills to manage their own mental health and the emotional demands of the job.