Sean LeStrange seeking election as Magisterial District Judge

WAYNE COUNTY, PA — Retired Honesdale Police Detective Sergeant Sean LeStrange is seeking election as Magisterial District Judge for District 22-3-04. He has obtained signatures on nomination petitions to be on both the Democrat and Republican ballots. The jurisdiction covers Starrucca Borough, Bethany Borough, Dyberry, Clinton, Berlin, Buckingham, Damascus, Lebanon, Manchester, Oregon, Mount Pleasant, Preston and Scott Townships. 

LeStrange completed the Police Academy at Lackawanna College in 1996. According to a press release, throughout his career in law enforcement, “LeStrange had the privilege of serving others and found that being in a position to help people was the most rewarding part of the job. His frequent interactions with the courts and his constant contact with the various Magisterial District Judges is what led to an interest in this position.”

LeStrange was born and raised in Wayne County. He resides in Northern Wayne County with his wife, Marion, of 22 years and his two children, Seth and Ava. He currently is the owner-operator of a contracting business in the region providing residential and commercial painting, drywall and various home improvement services. 

The primary election will be held Tuesday, May 18. 

Wayne County Food Pantry distribution dates

WAYNE COUNTY, PA — The Wayne County Food Pantry Program conducts monthly distributions of supplemental food items at each of its five locations during the month of April.

Friday, April 9, the Newfoundland Area Pantry will distribute groceries from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dreher Township Building, located at 899 Main St. in Newfoundland.

The Honesdale Pantry location at the Tri-County Beverage Building, 214 Willow Ave., will be serving registered families Tuesday, April 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 pm.

The Damascus Pantry at the township building on Conklin Hill Road provides groceries on Thursday, April 15 from 1 to 3 pm.

The Lakewood Food Pantry at the Northern Wayne Health Center, located at 412 Como Rd. in Lake Como, distributes food on Wednesday, April 21 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. 

On Thursday, April 22, the Lakeville Pantry will hold a food distribution from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To receive food assistance from the Wayne County Food Pantry, call the Area Agency on Aging Office at 570/253-4262 to register. For more information, visit www.WayneCountyPA.gov.

Cartwright announces 2020 service academy nominations

WAYNE COUNTY, PA — Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-08) has announced the students from Wayne County nominated for appointments to attend the United States Service Academies. Each student nominated by Rep. Cartwright will go through the academies’ competitive application process. If offered an appointment, the students will join their respective academy’s class of 2025. These students are among the 20 total nominated by Rep. Cartwright to apply for U.S. Service Academy appointments in 2021: Matthew Michael Brown of Hawley, Jody Troy VanDunk of Hawley Township and Samuel David Kier of Newfoundland.

Pre-K scholarships from Greater Pike

MILFORD, PA — Greater Pike Community Foundation is offering pre-K scholarships thanks to a $10,000 donation from Highmark Life Insurance Company, made possible through Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit program. Pre-K scholarships will provide full or partial tuition for local children attending summer or school-year programs at the Center for Developmental Disabilities (CDD), or Green Trees Early Learning Center in Pike County.

Applicants must reside in Pennsylvania and have children between the ages of 3 and 6 attending an approved Pre-K program. Household income must be less than $92,160 annually, plus $16,222 for each dependent child in the same household. Applications are available at participating schools, on Greater Pike Community Foundation’s website at  www.greaterpike.org (click on “Grants” and drop down to “Pre-K”); or by emailing Gail Shuttleworth at scholarships@greaterpike.org. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

For more information on the Greater Pike Community Foundation, contact Executive Director Jenni Hamill at jennihamill@greaterpike.org or 570/832-4686.

Civil air patrol cadet earns prestigious Mitchell Award

SWAN LAKE, NY — Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Cadet Christian Vargo recently earned CAP’s Billy Mitchell Award. This award is presented at the culmination of two and a half years of work.

Only 15 percent of CAP cadets earn the Mitchell Award. The award marks the cadet’s entry into phase three of the cadet program where they are expected to lead other cadets in the squadron. With the award comes a promotion to cadet second lieutenant. 

For more information, visit nyw.cap.gov or www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com.

SC Public Health: ‘Stay vigilant, COVID’s on the rise’

LIBERTY, NY — COVID-19 cases are on an upward track, and Sullivan County Public Health Services is urging everyone, vaccinated or not, to take proper precautions.

Community transmission is widespread, and nearly 28 percent of the local March cases thus far are among those 24 years old or younger, making young people the most affected age group by COVID-19 in Sullivan County currently. 

Based on population density, the spread can be attributed not to specific places, but to human behavior and congregation of susceptible people. The most important and vital measure people can take to prevent the spread and potential overwhelming of the health care system is to get vaccinated when they are eligible, regardless of which vaccine is available. The vaccines are all equally proven to drastically reduce the chances of serious illness, hospitalization and death. Additionally, it is still imperative to wear a mask in public spaces and practice good hand hygiene, as well as social distancing.

For more information, visit www.sullivanny.us/departments/publichealth.

COVID-19 vaccination clinics scheduled in Pike,Wayne

PIKE AND WAYNE COUNTIES, PA — As the Pike County Commissioners continue to partner with Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers on COVID-19 vaccination clinics, the following dates for first dose shots of the Moderna vaccine are scheduled at the Pike County Training Center, located at 135 Pike County Blvd. in Lords Valley: Tuesday, April 13; Wednesday, April 21 and Wednesday, April 28.

More than 4,000 doses will be provided in Pike County through these clinics. The dates for second doses will be provided by Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers.

In addition, there are first dose COVID-19 vaccine clinics upcoming in Wayne County, where more than 5,000 doses will be administered: Friday, April 9; Saturday, April 17; Saturday, 24; and Friday, April 30 at the former Rusty Palmer facility at the intersection of Routes 6 & 652, near Honesdale. 

To register for an appointment at any of the clinics in Pike or Wayne counties, visit www.wmh.org and click on “COVID Vaccine Registration” at the top of the page.

SUNY Delhi receives $230,000 gift from Roscoe Nursing Home

DELHI, NY — The College Foundation at SUNY Delhi has received a gift of more than $230,000 from the dissolution of the Roscoe Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to support SUNY Delhi’s nursing students and programs.

Half of the donation will create an endowed scholarship, the Roscoe Community Nursing Home Endowed Scholarship, which will award scholarships to students pursuing careers in geriatric nursing or closely related fields. The second half of the donation will create an endowment to provide perpetual support for nursing program development. As the rapid aging of the population presents challenges and pressures on health care needs and delivery, this endowment creates a source of funding for research, curriculum enhancements, technology updates and training opportunities that benefit nursing issues specific to treating geriatric populations.

For more information on the gift, contact SUNY Delhi Vice President for College Advancement Michael Sullivan at 607/746-4538 or sullivmt@delhi.edu.