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HOMES EVERY WEEK! Valley News

August 24, 2019

suncommunitynews.com

• EDITION •

NYSEG seeks rate increase Residents question 23% hike By Tim Rowland STAFF WRITER

KEENE VALLE Y | New York State Electric & Gas is asking the state for a 23 percent rate increase that company officials say is needed to ward off the effects of climate change and move the state toward greater reliance on green energy. At a public hearing at Keene Valley last week, officials said the increase, if approved, would add $11.30 a month to the average electricity bill. Even with the increase, they said NYSEG’s power would still be the cheapest in the state. Consumers would also have a chance to recoup some of these costs due to a conversion to smart meters that will allow them to keep better track of their electricity use. NYSEG is also asking for a 2 percent increase in the price of natural gas, which would add about $2 to the average bill. NYSEG provides electricity to portions of Clinton, Essex and Hamilton County, and gas to parts of Clinton County, including Plattsburgh. At the hearing before state Department of Public Service Judge Michelle Phillips, NYSEG customers said they were concerned about how the rate increase would affect residents, particularly on the poor and those on fixed incomes. “This will hurt the lowest income residents the most,” said Michelle Bashaw, homeowner counselor for the Housing Assistance Program of Essex County. People on Social Security received a 2.8 percent cost of living adjustment this year, and the rate increase “would take half of that increase away.” Customers also voiced concerns about tree cutting around power lines, power outages and a general lack of response from NYSEG over consumer concerns. Keene Valley resident Bunny Goodwin said the company has not been helpful to residents who are trying to replace streetlights with more efficient LEDs. Joe Syta, NYSEG’s controller and treasurer, said the rate increase will pay for upgrades to a rapidly changing industry. Most notably, increasing storms brought on by climate change are blowing down more trees and disrupting service. New York was battered by 123 major storms between 2012 and 2018, and half of all power outages are attributable to downed trees as a result of those storms. See NYSEG » pg. 2

PRESCRIBING WELLNESS Local farmers including Bryan Briscoe of Bucksberry Farm, seen here at the Keene Valley Farmers Market, are enthusiastic about Wellness Rx and the local movement launched through Elizabethtown Community Hospital to prescribe fresh food. “We are happy to be a part of Wellness Rx and support the health of our community,” Briscoe said last Sunday. All Farmers Markets in Essex County and many in Clinton County are now accepting Wellness Rx program vouchers. Photo/Elizabeth Rogers, ECH

ECH launches prescription program for farm market food By Kim Dedam STAFF WRITER

ELIZABETHTOWN | Medical personnel and nutritionists at area hospitals have a new prescription to use here: fresh, local produce. The University of Vermont Health Network - Elizabethtown Community Hospital and Essex County’s Well Fed project launched Wellness Rx this summer.

The signed “prescriptions” are actually vouchers for fresh food from local farmer’s markets and area retail stores. Patients redeem the voucher at an area retail market or farm stand and the card is then returned to the Wellness R x prog ram coordinator at ECH for reimbursement.

“EC H pr i ma r y care providers refer patients to our diabetes educator or to a nutritionist. Once a patient completes an educational session, they receive up to four vouchers per monthly visit.” See FOOD » pg. 2

Boquet Valley Prop. 4 library tax extends to entire district By Kim Dedam

Proposition 4 was included on the school budget ballot in May to raise $18,000 for the Elizabethtown Library.

It was the first time in the library’s 135 year history that they had sought taxpayer resources. Language in the proposition did not state that taxes would be levied only from residents of Elizabethtown. But Prop. 4 passed 304 yes to 106 no votes, a total of 410 of the 414 people who voted marked their ballot.

STAFF WRITER

Photo by Tim Rowland

to patients with or at risk for chronic diseases like childhoold obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes.”

“ T he prog ra m goal is to make fresh produce more accessible to patients with or at risk for

Westport residents will see Elizabethtown Library costs on tax bills

Panelists from NYSEG discuss a proposed rate hike with residents at a public hearing in Keene Valley.

chronic diseases like childhood obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes,” ECH spokeswoman “The program goal Elizabeth Rogers told the Sun in a is to make fresh prorecent interview. duce more accessible

WESTPORT | Taxpayers across the Boquet Valley Central School District will receive bills for the newly established Elizabethtown Library fund, despite school “Community Report” information that said expressly “Proposition 4 only applies to taxpayers in Elizabethtown.”

Westport Library Association had asked the School Board to continue raising funds for the Westport Library at $15,000, and the Wadhams Free Library, at $7,000, stipulating that taxes only come from parcels in the (then current) Westport Central School district. See BVCS » pg. 2

Holzer appointed interim supervisor in Wilmington served in the role over the past month.

Holzer will seek election in Nov. against indie newcomer

A nominating committee of town officials also submitted Holzer’s name on the People’s Party line to take Preston’s spot in a bid for supervisor on the November ballot. Despite the immense sense of loss, Holzer said, the important step is to pull together, keep the community moving forward and regroup.

By Kim Dedam STAFF WRITER

WILMINGTON | The Town Council here has appointed Roy Holzer interim supervisor until the November election.

“I’m working on getting the office sorted and organized,” Holzer said last Wednesday morning in an interview with the Sun.

Holzer was selected by the council at the August Town Council meeting after the community lost longtime Supervisor Randy Preston, who died of cancer on July 18. Deputy Supervisor Darin Forbes has

“I appreciate the vote of confidence from the Town of Wilmington and I look forward to working with the town board and the people of Wilmington to move ahead. I See HOLZER » pg. 2

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Roy Holzer (right) was sworn in by Town Clerk Gerald Bruce (left) Tuesday as interim supervisor for the Town of Wilmington. The community lost longtime supervisor Randy Preston after a long battle with cancer took his life in July. Photo provided

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