April is Alcohol & Drug Abuse Awareness Month, and with prom & graduation seasons coming soon, it is important to remember that those events have been incorrectly viewed by generations as a rite of passage for teenagers to be introduced to alcohol, according to Dave Ramsey of the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Council of Delaware County:
(Dave Ramsey 4-24-14)
Ramsey pointed out that in recent years, new York state has instituted “Social Host Laws” making it illegal to serve alcohol to minors at parties at home, and making the party’s hosts liable for any damage or fatalities that may occur by serving minors alcohol.
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Tomorrow is “Paint The Town Purple” to raise awareness about cancer. Helen Gregory of the American Cancer society explains:
(Helen Gregory 4-24-14)
Gregory said that a “Relay For Life” event will be held this weekend in Delhi, and the Tri Town Relay for life will be held in General Clinton park in Bainbridge Friday may 2nd to Saturday may 3rd.
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U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand called on FEMA to grant another extension to Sandy victims who still need to file flood insurance claims. Under the National Flood Insurance Program, Sandy-impacted homeowners must file a “proof of loss” form, a statement on the amount the homeowner is claiming under a flood insurance policy. The 1st deadline was last October 29th, in order to be eligible for coverage for flood damage, but many were unable to meet the deadline. With the new April 28th deadline approaching, Schumer and Gillibrand are calling on FEMA to grant another extension.
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The Delaware County Board of Supervisors voted to implement a bed tax at its meeting yesterday in Delhi. Funds from a 2 percent hotel, motel and bed and breakfast room tax in Delaware County will be used to promote tourism. The resolution will now go before the state Legislature to be assigned a bill
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State Police arrested 30-year-old Tory Brown of New Berlin for Criminal Contempt, Criminal Obstruction of Breathing, Unlawful Imprisonment, Criminal Mischief and Harassment. The arrest occurred after troopers responded to a dispute in Columbus. Brown is accused of grabbing the victim by the throat, damaging a cell phone & violating an order of protection. Brown was arraigned in the town of Norwich Court and sent to the Chenango County Jail on $10,000 bail.
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Home sales were down 1.8% statewide in the 1st quarter of the year after reaching a 6-year high in 2013, according to the state Association of Realtors. The report showed 18,790 closed sales statewide in the first quarter of 2014, down from 19,143 in the same period of 2013. Pending sales also fell 5.6% in the 1st three months this year, while new listings dropped 7.6% from a year ago. The median sales price for homes sold statewide was $227,000, a 5.1% increase from 2013’s first quarter.
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Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo introduced a bill that would allow farmers in New York to grow hemp, which is used to make fabric, rope, paper, oil, soap, lotion and food. A provision of the new Federal Farm Bill legalized the growth of hemp for research, it had been banned because it stems from the same plant as marijuana, but industrial hemp and marijuana are genetically distinct varieties of cannabis & it is not possible to extract a drug from hemp. If the legislation passes, New York would become the 11th state to produce hemp.
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The National Weather Service has issued a red-flag warning until 8:00 PM due to the increased risk of fire. The breezy conditions and low humidity could lead to fast spreading grass & brush fires, the DEC burn ban runs through May 16th.
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