Rep. Massa Attacks Wind Farm Stimulus Funding (VIDEO)
Ted Fioraliso


October 6, 2009

Rep. Eric Massa has sent a letter to President Obama urging the Government Accountability Office to investigate stimulus funds awarded in Steuben County.
The government gave First Wind nearly $75 million in stimulus money for the wind farm project in Cohocton. But Massa calls the transaction "alarming."
In his letter to the president, Massa writes, “Constituents in our region see these projects as criminal actions."
Massa says the government should *not* be rewarding first wind, because he says the company has abused the public's trust.
“I am very concerned about the award of these monies when there are so many other projects and requirements throughout the Southern Tier that I believe are higher priority than that $75 million grant to a private and potentially foreign-owned corporation,” said Massa.
In response, First Wind spokesman John Lamontagne tells WENY-TV News, “There were very strict standards in the recovery bill, and our project met them…The funds will serve as a stimulus for further investment in renewable projects -- not just by First Wind, but by others in the industry as well."
Cohocton town supervisor Jack Zigenfus is angry with Massa's letter to the president. He says the wind project has brought in jobs and lowered taxes -- the town has even paid off its debt.
“We’ve bailed out automakers, we've bailed out banks that do business all over the world, and now we get money locally for something that has created something in his own congressional district – I don't know what the guy is thinking,” said Zigenfus.
No word yet if Rep. Massa's heard back from the White House.

Video link below:


http://www.weny.com/News-Local.asp?ARTICLE3864=9148228

Atlanta teen wins Cohocton contest

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By Justin Head
The Evening Tribune
Mon Oct 05, 2009, 03:08 PM EDT

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Cohocton, N.Y. -

After all the ‘hangin’ around three remained.

Three of the nine people participating in the annual Cohocton Fall Foliage Festival Tree Sitting Contest proved they could endure the worst weather possible and stay put for two consecutive days over the weekend, according to Keryn Shaver, chairman of the tree sitting committee.

“The weather was horrible Friday. It rained for eight to nine hours and into Saturday and that was the worst. Three people quit the first night because of that, but we had a group hang on like always,” said Shaver.

Shaver said when the 480-hour time limit expired only Rick Denley, 48, of Wayland, David Lucas, 15, of Atlanta and Vanessa Howard, 15, of Wayland were still suspended from a tree in front of the Wayland-Cohocton Elementary School.

Howard and Lucas were in a tie for first place with perfect 48-hour time. Denley took an instant third place finish because of a three-second subtraction to his final time for a bathroom break.

In the end, Howard and Lucas were pitted against each other again in a three-event, two person final show down to determine the winner.

According to Shaver, the pair competed in a basketball court free throw event to see who could make the fastest shot, completed a 11-piece jig saw puzzle and played a plinko-type game in which they had to drop a ball on a maple leaf.

After all of the events were completed they added their completion times together and the person with the lowest time was declared the winner.

Lucas beat Howard’s time by three seconds and was proclaimed the 2009 Cohocton Fall Foliage Festival Tree Sitting Contest champion.

Lucas was awarded a $300 cash prize provided by the First Wind company, Howard was awarded a $250 cash prize awarded by the Wayland American Legion and Denley was given a $200 cash prize from Five Star Bank and the Laf-A-Lot bar on Loon Lake.

Cold, wet night weather no help for tree sitters - Hornell, NY - Hornell Evening Tribune

Cold, wet night weather no help for tree sitters - Hornell, NY - Hornell Evening Tribune

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Fall Foliage Festival about more than leaves - Corning, NY - The Corning Leader

Fall Foliage Festival about more than leaves - Corning, NY - The Corning Leader

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