Sullivan DMV: sign up to be an organ donor

MONTICELLO, NY — Sullivan County’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is partnering with Donate Life New York State to recognize April as National Donate Life Month, an annual observance highlighting the need for increased organ, eye and tissue donations. In particular, the DMV Office is hosting a tree-planting and flag-raising ceremony on Friday, April 9 at the government center in Monticello at 1 p.m.

“Our office urges everyone to learn more about donating life-saving organs and to say ‘yes’ to being an organ donor when completing transactions via the DMV,” said Sullivan County Clerk Russell Reeves, whose office oversees DMV operations in Sullivan County. “Nearly 9,000 New Yorkers are currently waiting for a life-saving transplant...We can do something about that!”

Less than half of all New Yorkers are enrolled in the State’s Donate Life Registry, the electronic database that documents a person’s consent to be an organ and tissue donor at the time of their death, the second-lowest percentage in the country.

New Yorkers can also enroll when applying for health insurance or via www.donatelife.ny.gov/register.

Peters Road to close

NORTH BRANCH, NY — Sullivan County Division of Public Works is closing a portion of Town Highway 37 (Peters Road) in the Town of Fremont to replace County Bridge 431. The bridge is located approximately 1.6 miles north of the intersection of County Road 121 (North Branch Road) and Pleasant Valley Road.

This section of Peters Rd. is scheduled to be closed to all traffic starting at 8 a.m. on April 19 and will remain closed for approximately eight weeks.

USDA retroactively provides $712 million to PA

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is doling out $712 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to Pennsylvania’s poorest residents, part of a recent settlement agreement.

In 2020, Congress passed the Families First Act which directed the USDA to provide SNAP recipients with additional food assistance during the pandemic. The way the agency interpreted the law, it did not have to provide any additional help to the program’s neediest families who were already receiving the highest monthly allotment pre-pandemic. In practice, this meant that 60 percent of SNAP recipients got additional help during the pandemic, but the 40 percent of families who were already receiving the maximum allotment did not receive anything extra to get through the pandemic.

U.S. District Judge John Milton called this approach “illogical” and said it ran counter to Congress’s legislative intentions. As part of the settlement agreement, the USDA is changing its policy nationwide.

Wayne sets deadline for hospitality relief

HONESDALE, PA — Applications for the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program must be submitted to Wayne Economic Development Corporation (WEDCO) by 4 p.m. on Friday, April 9. The grant guidelines and grant application form are found at www.WayneEconomic.com.

Businesses within the hospitality industry that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for grants from $5,000 to $50,000 to help alleviate revenue losses and pay eligible operating expenses.

Wayne County received approximately $580,000 in funding to provide grants to eligible businesses through this program.

The business must meet certain eligibility criteria to apply, such as operating since February 15, 2020 within the accommodations or food and drink service industry subsectors, and having a reduction in 2020 revenue that meets program requirements. Other eligibility criteria are found within the program guidelines.

Emergency rent relief available in PA

PIKE COUNTY, PA — Qualifying renters in Pike County who have experienced hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic can now apply for Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funds to help with rent and utility costs.

ERAP funds may be used to assist tenants with up to 12 months of rent and utility expenses incurred between March 13, 2020 and the time of application. ERAP funds may also be used to assist tenants with forward costs for rent and utilities in three-month increments. There is a twelve-month cap on total assistance.

Pike County received $3.8 million in ERAP funds, which are administered through the Pike County Human Services Department. Applicants must be below 80 percent of the county area median income. They must also either provide documentation proving they experienced a reduction of income due to COVID-19; have qualified for unemployment benefits; or incurred significant financial hardship due to COVID-19.

Pike County residents can apply at www.PikeRentHelp.com or contact their human services department at 570/296-3434. For rent relief in Wayne County; residents can find more information at www.waynecountypa.gov.

Sullivan welcomes new citizens

MONTICELLO, NY — Sullivan County Clerk Russell Reeves and Supreme Court Judge Stephan Schick announced that they were pleased to swear in 14 new American citizens on March 31 in the Sullivan County Government Center in Monticello.

“I’m filled with joy, happiness and gladness to see so many new faces becoming citizens of our wonderful country,” Judge Schick said. “Our country is indeed a great melting pot... which makes our country so diverse and so rich. It’s a wonderful thing to behold.”

Reeves called it the best part of his job “to stand witness to the culmination of months and even years of effort to gain the precious status of citizenship.”

Because of COVID-19, family members were unable to attend, so Sullivan County Director of Communications Dan Hust recorded the event.

Carbondale death ruled homicide

CARBONDALE, PA — On the afternoon of March 29, a woman named Suzanne Pauswinski, 55, of Carbondale, was found deceased in her residence after sustaining stab wounds. An autopsy was performed on March 30, ruling the death a homicide. The Troop R Criminal Investigative Unit is actively investigating the incident. Anyone with any information is urged to call PSP Dunmore at 570/963-3156.