In this Issue:
Town Government News
Town of Rochester supervisor seeks better Internet access for residents
Gambling On Another Form Of Gambling
Accord woman charged with assaulting toddler
Police Blotter
Big Thanks From The Rochester Food Pantry!
Town Government News
At the January organizational meeting, Supervisor Chipman indicated that one of his goals for the year is to rejuvenate Accord’s Main Street and to clean up Accord and many of the vacant/dilapidated houses around town.
He also indicated that he would like to promote business development through a continuous rail trail that connects to the larger county-wide network that is being developed. He envisioned encouraging the many visitors to the Shawangunk Ridge down into the Rondout Valley. He indicated that infrastructure improvements were necessary for business development, including high speed internet.
Supervisor Chipman also indicated that flooding in Accord (Route 209) continues to be a problem, which will be reduced with the construction of a new bridge starting in February. He also indicated an interest in looking at the water and sewage problems in the hamlet of Accord.
Councilwoman Sherry Chachkin reported on a joint Planning Board meeting with Wawarsing to discuss the proposed Dollar General store that straddles the town line.
Supervisor Chipman reported that he had met with Marbletown’s rail trail committee to discuss a potential intermunicipal agreement that would benefit both towns.
At the conclusion of the meeting Supervisor Chipman reminded residents that disposal of electronic goods is unlawful and suggested that residents bring these items to stores that sell and recycle these goods safely. The town’s transfer station continues to have a designated recycling bin for the disposal of electronics.
The Town’s Environmental Conservation Commission attended an intermunicipal meeting with their counterparts in Rosendale and Marbletown.to discuss what the towns could do to improve the water quality of the Rondout Creek and its tributaries.
Town of Rochester supervisor seeks better Internet access for residents
By William J. Kemble,
ACCORD > Town of Rochester Supervisor Carl Chipman hopes 2015 will be the year when broadband Internet access becomes available for rural areas that still lack service.
“I’ve been working with Legislator [Lynn] Archer [on] that,” Chipman said of seeking help from Ulster County officials. “She’s finally got them working on a county vision because no one in town can get Internet all around. ... It’s just too much, especially for a little rural town like us.”
Chipman said the lack of broadband, or high-speed, Internet access impacts people who have a home business and children who need online access for their school work.
“There is a woman who has a wholesale wine warehouse,” Chipman said. “She could work at home, but she lives in an area where she has to use a dial-up connection. She has to go to New York [City] every week but would be living here full time if she had high-speed Internet.”
Chipman said the coming year also will include efforts
Other efforts in Rochester during 2015 will include working toward improving conditions for new businesses in the town, Chipman said.
“We have to start looking to expand our commercial base, especially on Main Street in [the hamlet of] Accord,” he said. “I want to look to get [municipal] water and sewer [service] in Accord so that we can have so kind of growth there.”
Among town issues that will carry over into 2015, Chipman said, is whether to keep the town transfer station open in light of the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency adopting new rates that will make it more expensive for residents to dispose of solid waste.
“It’s going to stay open for now, and we’ll adjust as things happen,” the supervisor said.
“We’ll try and run things as efficiently as we can,” he said. “One of the things I’ve done is [combined] the transfer station and the Buildings and Grounds Department into one unit. That’s saves us about $160,000 a year, and it was done through attrition as people retired, and going down to three days a week at the transfer station has allowed us to have fewer employees.”
Looking back at 2014, Chipman noted the end of Rochester’s effort to move any town programs into the former Rosendale Elementary School under a shared-services deal with Rosendale and Marbletown.
“Our residents just don’t want to drive that far,” he said, noting the size of the town and long driving times between some points. (Freeman 12/30/14)
Gambling On Another Form Of Gambling
Cahill, Other Legislators Ready To Push For Ulster VLTs
By Terence P. Ward
RONDOUT VALLEY – With the county's shot at getting a casino torpedoed, area resort owners are again talking about obtaining state permission to install video lottery terminals.
When the idea was first broached by general partner Eliot Spitzer of the Hudson Valley Resort and Pinegrove Ranch owner David O'Halloran, it was met with a lot of pressure to allow the gaming license process to play out first. With Ulster County casino supporters now licking their wounds, however, VLTs are receiving a warmer response.
Soon after the gaming commission awarded a casino license in Sullivan County, Assemblyman Kevin Cahill called for the measure to be considered during a special legislative session towards the end of last year.
"It appears that Ulster is left without a casino for the foreseeable future. With the award of a license in Sullivan County, the competitive advantage of some of our existing destination resorts may be diminished," he said in a statement released at the time. "That is why I am calling for the state legislature to reconvene immediately to consider my legislation that would authorize video lottery terminals for two locations in Ulster County."
Cahill had introduced the bill during the regular session, and a companion bill was backed by State Senator Seward, but it did not reach the floor for a vote. As the legislature did not return for a special session, it got no traction at the later time, either.
Since then, resort owners have been developing a robust plan to ensure that VLTs would be seen as being beneficial to the local economy. For one, Spitzer has suggested that the legislation also include two Wawarsing resorts — Honor's Haven and the Nevele. In addition, he and O'Halloran have proposed a rewards program to encourage VLT-focused tourists to get out and about in the area.
By using the video lottery terminals, win or lose, players would receive "reward dollars" which would be redeemable at any Ulster County business — with the exception of the resorts themselves. They would work like a debit card so business owners would know how they were getting paid, and as often happens with gift certificates, the users will likely spend some of their own money, as well.
"This unique program will encourage guests to leave the four resorts and redeem their Reward Dollars in the towns, villages, shops, restaurants and farm stands," said a statement the pair released. "VLT Resort Reward Dollars is a community program capable of lifting all boats, not just the resorts and their employees."
"This allows Ulster County some seat at the table," said Cahill when he was reached for comment on the idea. While he was not aware at that time that another two resorts had been suggested for inclusion, he said he would not object to such an amendment if the owners did not. The bill he proposed last year requires local community support, which given the positive feelings about a casino may not be difficult to achieve. "This legislation would allow for those who want to visit the Catskills and enjoy all that we have to offer to also participate, in a limited way, in gaming. The economic impacts are well established — for every two VLTs, one new job is created or an existing one protected."
Other elected officials were in the process of studying the issue.
Jeff Bishop, communications director for Senator Seward, said that the senator "would be reviewing the legislation and contacting local resort owners to gauge their reaction to it."
Senator John Bonacic, who chairs the senate committee overseeing gaming, released a short statement, saying only, "While no Senate companion bill has yet been introduced for this session, I believe that the idea of locating video lottery terminals (VLTs) at resorts in the Catskills deserves review and consideration."
Senator George Amedore's staff advised that he had not yet had time to review last session's bill as he settles into his new position, and Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney's office did not have a statement by press time.
Spitzer said that the proposed legislation is designed to piggy-back on rules permitting the devices in Nassau County, and could provide an important revenue stream that would give local resorts the competitive edge they need, particularly during the mid-week lulls when few overnight guests check in.
"It is disappointing to see that Ulster County was not selected by the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board for the operation of a casino at any of our existing venues," he is quoted as saying in Cahill's press release. "At the County's request, we waited patiently for the decision on Nevele's application and with the strong support of Assemblyman Cahill proactively crafted and introduced legislation during the 2014 Legislative Session intended to serve as a backup plan that would allow for a limited number of video lottery terminals in Ulster County. Now that a final verdict has been rendered and Ulster County is left with no casino, it is essential that we pass this measure as soon as possible that will enable the two existing resorts in Ulster County to do their part in creating hundreds of jobs, attracting more visitors to the region and boosting the overall health of the struggling local economy."
Reached directly for comment, Spitzer added, "People need the right reason to come someplace that's twenty minutes off the exit. This could be done early this year if there's enough support from the public." (Shawangunk Journal 1/29/15)
Accord woman charged with assaulting toddler
KINGSTON > An Accord woman who allegedly assaulted an 18-month-old child while in Kingston is facing a felony charge, police said Friday.
Anne Marie Knapp, 35, was arrested Thursday by state police, Ulster Count sheriff’s deputies, Ulster County Child Protective Services and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office on behalf of the Ulster County Family Child Advocacy Center and charged with felony assault and the misdemeanor of endangering the welfare of a child, according to state police.
An investigation found Knapp subjected the child to physical abuse, police said.
Knapp was arraigned in Hurley Town Court and sent to the Ulster County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.
The child’s condition was not immediately available.
Police Blotter
• DWI: Dell S. DeAngelis, 20, of Kerhonkson, was arrested by state police at Wawarsing at 12:40 a.m. Wednesday on U.S. Route 209 and was charged with drunken driving and driving with a blood-alcohol level exceeding 0.08 percent, both misdemeanors. DeAngelis was released with tickets for Rochester Town Court. (Freeman 1/22/15)
• DWI: William J. Richter, 36, of Hurley, was arrested by state police at Ellenville on U.S. Route 209 Wednesday at 9 p.m. on a misdemeanor charge of drunken driving. Richter was released on tickets for Rochester Town Court. (Freeman 1/2/15)
• DWI: Luis A. Santiago, 26, of Kerhonkson, was arrested by state police at Ellenville on Berme Road Thursday at 3:46 a.m. on misdemeanor charges of drunken driving and operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content exceeding .08 percent. Santiago was released on tickets for Wawarsing Town Court. (Freeman 1/2/15)
Big Thanks From The Rochester Food Pantry!
On behalf of the Rochester Food Pantry, I would like to thank Zali Win and the members of the Rochester Residence Association for their fantastic support. Their annual end-of-the-year fund drive was a resounding success and will help keep the pantry afloat in the coming year. We received 120 donations attributable to the fund drive. The $1,000 matching grant from the association was met many times over, resulting in donations of more than $14,000. This outpouring of support comes at a time when it is so needed.
Grant funding for local food pantries continues below levels of previous years, and we will not receive any federal grant money in 2015. At the same time, the cost of food has increased a substantial 30 percent from 2010 to 2014. As a nonprofit organization, the pantry has been able to serve those in need in the town of Rochester for more than 20 years. During 2014, the Food Pantry provided food sufficient for nearly 35,000 meals for 2,889 people belonging to 727 households. Within those households, about 40 percent are children and 8 percent are seniors.
Thanks again to the Rochester Residents Association, to all those who responded to the appeal and to all those who support our efforts throughout the year.
Margaret Bonner
Kerhonkson