greene county legislature

A bulls-eye rash characteristic of Lyme Disease. Photo by Hannah Garrison via Wikimedia Commons.

The Greene County Legislature's education committee got an earful about the dangers of Lyme Disease yesterday from a Cornell educator who is convinced that the tick-borne disease has reached "epidemic" proportions in New York state.

Richard Burstell, an Agriculture & Natural Resources Program Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension, told Greene County legislators that he has had trouble raising awareness about the disease, according to the Daily Mail:

“There has been a large increase of Lyme disease cases and preventative measures are needed ... This problem continues to grow. We have sought out some economic help. We try to offer classes for physicians but they prefer to send people to us."

Burstell suggested that counties that rely on tourist dollars may be reluctant to spread the word about a disease that's hiding in their bucolic landscapes:

Burstell said he understood the sensitivity of the subject because of the Hudson Valley’s strong dependence on tourism.

“I understand this affects commerce. We do want to bring people here but I want them to be educated,” Burstell said.

Greene County already has a Lyme Disease awareness program, as you can see here. But Burstell is right -- according to the New York State Department of Health, there have been more confirmed cases of Lyme Disease in New York than in any other state -- over 95,000 since 1986.

Last fall, the Daily Freeman took a look at what Lyme Disease can do to a person in an article about Eric Rutulante, who writes about living with Lyme Disease in Ulster County on his blog, LymeBites. A few weeks ago, Rutulante described the way his every waking moment is colored by the disease:  Read more

The law against serving alcohol to minors, that is, which Keith W. Valentine voted for in 2007.

According to the Daily Freeman, Valentine and his wife threw a combination graduation and 4th of July party last month where drinks were served to 18-year-olds.  Valentine, who is the Republican majority leader of the Greene County legislature, was arrested along with his wife yesterday after being turned in by a neighbor whose 18-year-old son was at the party. That neighbor, Pam Marchesani, was also willing to talk to the Freeman  Read more

So said a spokeswoman for Gov. David Paterson's office today, after Greene County appointed an interim treasurer at a meeting last night. According to Daily Mail reporter Susan Campriello, this is an abrupt turnaround for the Governor's Office, which said yesterday that it was fine for Greene County Legislature to go ahead and appoint an interim treasurer:

Governor’s Office spokeswoman Jessica Bassett said Wednesday evening that counsel believed the county could make the appointment; Thursday morning she said counsel had reconsidered whether state or local laws left the decision up to the County or the the Governor.

This has put Greene County in quite a bind, according to its attorney, Carol Stevens:

Stevens said she was unaware of a similar controversy over an appointment to fill a vacancy in an elected office and was not expecting a large dispute.

“I really wasn’t expecting the Governor to take an opposite position,” she said.