This photograph shows the section of stairs from Cottage to Irving

Photo contributed by the Borough of Honesdale

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Wayne County announces municipal grant program

HONESDALE, PA — The Wayne County Commissioners awarded the first $120,000 in matching grants through a new program created for local municipal infrastructure investments under the American Rescue Plan.

The commissioners plan to offer each municipality a $30,000 grant opportunity that allows township supervisors and borough council members to make the decisions about the best use of these funds in their communities. Each municipality is asked to demonstrate matching funds for its project. So far, Preston, Lebanon and Lehigh townships have received grants for building projects, and Dreher Township was granted funds for an update of its Act 537 plan. Each demonstrated the funding needed and the commitment to complete their selected projects, according to a statement.

Pike County Commissioners establish women’s commission

MILFORD, PA — With the passing of Resolution No. 22-26 at its August 3 commissioners meeting, the Pike County Women’s Commission (PCWC) was established.

The commission will work toward the advancement of women and girls of all backgrounds in Pike County, its townships and the commonwealth, the commissioners said. The PCWC will advise the Pike County commissioners on the concerns of women and girls in the county and offer recommendations on how to meet those concerns. Christa Caceres, a Pike County resident, will build this initiative and invite others to participate, commissioners added.

Stairway closure necessitated by emergency repairs

HONESDALE, PA — The pedestrian stairway from Cliff Street to Riverside Drive is closed for necessary emergency repairs, according to Honesdale borough officials. The stairs were installed many years ago and have been replaced during that time. The current concern is that deterioration and shifting concrete necessitate immediate repairs.  

“We understand that during the school year (late August until early July) the stairs convey a significant amount of pedestrian traffic. We also understand that there is not a safe and practical detour for this ‘school year’ pedestrian traffic,” said Gene Ruzanski of Construct Engineering LLC, which was contracted by the borough to assess the stairs’ condition. “For these reasons, we recommend that emergency—interim—repairs be performed to these stairs as detailed further within the correspondence. These proposed repairs would allow the stairs to be re-opened for the upcoming school year.”

Cooperage Project’s pop-up club grows future entrepreneurs

HONESDALE, PA — Creating and supporting entrepreneurs to grow jobs and fuel economic development in the community stands as a core strategy of Wayne Tomorrow!, according to a news release. The Stourbridge Project nurtures new and expanding businesses, but at the Cooperage Project, the focus is on the children.

The pop-up club provides hands-on learning opportunities for middle school students, focusing on STEAM subjects—science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. The Cooperage Project connects the students with local businesses, artists, makers, educators and other professionals in the community to engage them in learning entrepreneurial skills, problem solving and more.

The programs begin Tuesday, September 20 for Western Wayne and Wayne Highlands and on Tuesday, October 4 for Wallenpaupack middle-schoolers. Students may join the pop-up club at any time during the school year, and homeschooled students are welcome as well.

Students can sign up at school or by contacting the Cooperage Project’s youth-program manager Amanda Masters at amanda@thecooperageproject.org.

New opportunity for wind and hydroelectric projects

ALBANY, NY — Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced the third solicitation under the large-scale renewable energy procurement program known as Competitive Tier 2. The program is designed to retain New York’s existing renewable energy resources, according to a statement.

Through its third Competitive Tier 2 solicitation, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is seeking proposals to procure Tier 2-eligible renewable energy certificates from existing privately owned hydropower and land-based wind generators in New York State that entered commercial operation prior to January 1, 2015. NYSERDA’s procurement approach provides the opportunity to increase the amount of locally produced renewable energy under contract with New York State, the statement said, while still allowing the best price and termsfor energy supply, products and services to be negotiated for customers.

Conversion therapy discouraged in Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, PA — Gov. Tom Wolf signed executive order 2022-2 to protect Pennsylvanians from conversion therapy, according to a news release. Conversion therapy, it said, is a practice that attempts to alter an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. “This discriminatory practice is widely rejected by medical and scientific professionals and has been proven to lead to worse mental health outcomes for LGBTQIA+ youth subjected to it,” said Wolf. “This is about keeping our children safe from bullying and extreme practices that harm them.”

The executive order directs agencies to discourage conversion therapy in the commonwealth. It directs those agencies to take steps to actively promote evidence-based best practices for LGBTQIA+ individuals that are supported by the scientific and medical communities. It directs agencies to make updates to policies and procedures to better support LGBTQIA+ employees and the Pennsylvanians they serve, the release said. And it directs taxpayer funding and state resources away from conversion therapy.