Siobhan (SHIV-on) Barton is reporting in the Register Star the Columbia County Board of Supervisors Wed., Mar. 11, authorized the transfer in ownership of Pine Haven Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center to Premier Healthcare Management. The Long Island-based, for-profit company has offered $6.5 million for the facility. Pine Haven is a 120-bed nursing facility located in Philmont, now owned and operated by the county and licensed by the New York State Department of Health. Supervisors Clifford “Kippy” Wiegelt, Raymond Staats and Edward Cross cast the only dissenting votes on the resolution to privatize the facility. Al Wassenhove, community activist and chairman of the "Save Pine Haven" Committee called it a sad day. He said, "I'm ashamed of my county government." Prior to the vote, Wassenhove made a final appeal to the full board, and requested the decision be put off for 30 days. He predicted a staff reduction of at least 25 percent at the facility following the sale. Read the full story in the Register Star.