Southern Ulster Times May 25 2016

TIMES SOUTHERN ULSTER Vol. 13, No 21 3 MAY 25 - 31, 2016 Lloyd Councilmen Mike Guerriero and Kevin Brennie have been researching towing issues in town since auto repair/ towers Jerry Erichsen and Troy Tortarella charged that their peer Joey DiBlanca, of Autos by Joseph, has been receiving more calls because he has four companies on the tow list. Guerriero said before the town established a list “all the tow guys were racing to the accidents and there were fights and arguments so they set up the town ordinance to make it fair and all of them would be on a rotational list.” He said there is presently an “imbalance on what’s going on,” which has led to a review of the entire matter. Guerriero said tow operator (DiBlanca) is using one Department of ONE DOLLAR Great Gatsby Dukes tune up Page 22 Page 48 SERVING HIGHLAND, MARLBOROUGH AND PLATTEKILL Towing controversy continues in Highland By MARK REYNOLDS [email protected] 3 Transportation [DOT] number to operate three other businesses. “According to what we found out, that is against federal and state law,” he said. “When you fill out an application for a DOT number, you have to register your DOT number and you have to put your tax ID number on that also. So now you have three other businesses assigned to the Skartados faces challenge Rev. Bill Banuchi kicks off run for NY Assembly Continued on page 4 Talented waitstaff By MARK REYNOLDS [email protected] Mark Reynolds The waiter’s race attracted participants of all ages to the Highland Springfest 2016 Saturday. More photos on pages 24-26. WWW.SOUTHERNULSTERTIMES.COM Surrounded by family, friends and allies from both side of the political aisle, Rev. Bill Banuchi announced last Sunday at the Changepoint Church in Poughkeepsie that he is a Republican candidate for the New York 104th Assembly District. He is hoping to unseat the Democratic incumbent Frank Skartados. The district, which mostly hugs the western shore of the Hudson River, encompasses much of Ulster and Orange counties and the cities of Poughkeepsie, Newburgh and Beacon. Banuchi was introduced by former Newburgh Mayor Nicholas Valentine who spoke on ‘Principled Leadership’ along with Ruben Estrada and Rev. Nelson McAllister who highlighted the concerns of the Hispanic and AfricanAmerican communities in the district. Singer Ava Aston set the tone for the announcement by singing the ‘National Anthem’ and ‘We the People.’ Rev. Curtis Whitted presented the candidate to the audience, saying it is comforting “to know that someone is running for office that knows God and wants to serve God…We need people like you Bill to go there [Albany] and defend for us. May God bless you.” Banuchi took to the podium, saying his Continued on page 2