The Pike County Dispatch

01/16/2025

River Of The Year – Vote For The Delaware River
PIKE COUNTY — There are only a few more days to vote for the Delaware River as PA’s 2025 River of the Year! This distinction helps raise awareness about the significance of rivers, their conservation needs, unique history and their recreational and economic impact on watershed communities. The DRBC is happy to support this nomination. The Delaware River Sojourn Steering Committee – which plans the annual paddling and camping trip along the Delaware River – submitted the nomination for the Delaware to help commemorate the Sojourn’s 30th Anniversary in 2025. If the Delaware River wins PA River of the Year, the steering committee (as the nominating organization) will receive a $10,000 grant. The funds would support the 2025 Sojourn program and hold several partner-focused events to promote awareness of, stewardship for and communities' connections to the Delaware River. We all know the Delaware River is worthy of this honor, but to be named PA River of the Year, the Delaware River needs your vote! Please visit https://pawatersheds.org/vote-for-a-2025-river-of-the-year/ to vote for the Delaware by January 24. ANYONE can vote, you don’t have to live in PA. The only rule is one vote per email address. Thank you for your support!

Learn more about the Nominees.Review the nominees, click on your choice for 2025 River of the Year, and press Enter! Alternate Voting Options: If this link does not appear, you can vote here. Voting ends January 24, 2025!

01/10/2025

Free Community Lunch
MILFORD — Come together on Thursday, January 16, and every third Thursday of the month, for a free community lunch at Good Shepherd Parish Hall (corner of W. Catharine and 5th Streets in Milford) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There is no cost, no registration, and everyone is welcome! Bring a friend, enjoy a delicious meal, and celebrate community through friendly conversation.
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. with coffee and tea available.
Lunch served at 12 p.m.
This event is part of the Ecumenical Food Pantry of Pike County and Good Shepherd Episcopal Church outreach program.
Visit the Ecumenical Food Pantry’s website at www.ecumenicalfoodpantry.com to learn how you can volunteer, donate, or use the pantry’s services.

Ecumenical Food Pantry of Pike County, PA, a choice food pantry, whose mission is to fight food insecurity by providing nutritious supplemental & emergency groceries and toiletries, is committed to responding to the needs of our county through food distribution, education, and advocacy.

12/23/2024

Santa Spreads Good Cheer
Stella Provenzano and Santa Claus in front of the Law Offices of Ohliger and McIntyre, Milford, PA. Santa Claus made an appearance and spread good cheer at the request of the Firm.

12/12/2024

Milford Seeking Interest For Interim Mayor
The Milford Borough Council has released the following message: Residents of Milford Borough (one year or more residency required) are invited to submit a letter of interest in serving as interim mayor through 12/31/2025. Please submit your letter by noon on Monday, 12/16/2024 to [email protected].

11/25/2024

Hospice To Deliver Thanksgiving Meals To Homebound Patients For 19th Year
SCRANTON — On Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 28, Hospice of the Sacred Heart will deliver meals to patients and their families. This is the 19th year the hospice will provide this service project. Over 700 meals complete with roasted turkey, all traditional Thanksgiving sides and pumpkin pie will be prepared by Mansour’s Market Café in Scranton, packaged, and delivered by hospice staff members and volunteers.

11/21/2024

Do Not Block Leaf Piles
MILFORD — The Milford Borough would like to remind residents: Please do not park in front of the leaf piles because this makes it impossible for the DPW to pickup with the leaf machine.

11/19/2024

Outdoor Burning Inadvisable
MILFORD — The Milford Fire Department has highly recommended that you cease outdoor burning at this time. While a burn ban is not in place, due to current dry conditions it is inadvisable to continue outdoor burning.

11/14/2024

Left: An honor guard lines the walkway to the Soldiers & Sailors Monument in a Veterans Day commemorative service at Kiehl Park in Milford on Monday. Right: An honor guard sets up for Veterans Day ceremonies at the Soldiers & Sailors Monument.
(Photos by Lori Strelecki)

10/17/2024

See Bee Seen Campaign And Harvest Festival
PORT JERVIS — The Harvest Festival was held on Saturday at Riverside Park. This annual festival is completely free of charge and brought to the public by the City of Port Jervis, Police Department, Police Benevolent Association, Dept. of Public Works, Recreation Department, Outdoor Club of Port Jervis, ADAC of Orange County, and ShopRite and Orange and Rockland Utilities.
Representatives from various community organizations were present providing fun, interactive activities throughout the Day including face painting by the PJHS Haunted house Crew, cider and donuts provided by Shop Rite, , hot chocolate provided by the Salvation Army, music and games by the Outdoor Club of Port Jervis, s’mores at the fire pit, pony rides along the Delaware River provided by Pied Piper stables, hay rides, pumpkin patch, and waffles on a stick provided by Everly and Bros, water safety and environmental education provided by the National Park Service, fun games, activities and health and safety information provided by Bon Secours Community Hospital, Frontier Communications, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council of Orange County, Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Port Jervis Fre Department, Port Jervis Ambulance, Orange County Health Dept, RECAP Project Head Start, Fearless! of the Hudson Valley, and Health First.
The weather was beautiful attracting hundreds of participants of all ages from the tri-state area who enjoyed the festivities and helped promote community partnerships along the Delaware River!

10/10/2024

Harvest Festival
PORT JERVIS — The City of Port Jervis is hosting the annual Harvest Festival Event at beautiful Riverside Park on October 12 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
This no cost event includes autumn-related activities for families and children including hayrides, music, a children’s pumpkin patch, pumpkin painting, face painting, public safety displays, a small petting zoo, fun activities and games, public safety information, displays and a touch a truck from police, fire, EMS, DPW and other community service providers. This year, Port Jervis PD and ADAC of Orange County will be promoting our Anti-Drug and Violence Campaign funded through a 2024 SNUG Grant offering wonderful activities and prizes to participants.
Refreshments will be served by Shop Rite including cider and donuts, hot chocolate, and s’mores at the fire pit!
If an organization would like to participate and provide an interactive activity and/or display, please call PJPD at 845-858-4065.

10/10/2024

Gallery Announces New Exhibit
MILFORD — The ARTery Gallery announces the featured exhibits of two of its members, Marie Liu and Liza J. Smith-Simpson in October, titled ‘The Language of Beauty.” Both artists are well versed in paintings of beautiful and meaningful images that focus on the beauty of the world around us, here in the tri-state region.
Marie Liu, longtime member and current Director of the ARTery has been painting images of the Poconos, its unique landscape and history, for over a decade and is well-known for her depictions of the many waterfalls in the region.
For Liza J. Smith-Simpson, visual language has been very natural to her, as she grew up in an artistic household. She sold her first oil painting of a vase with daisies at the age of 9, but her curiosity also led her to an interest in the spatial relationship of abstract collage, which she still creates with her ‘Flight Paths’ and ‘Pieces’ series, using vibrant handmade collage pieces and acrylic skins.
The public is encouraged to attend the wine and cheese reception on Saturday, October 12 from 6 – 9 p.m. to meet the artists and see the work of the other members of this cooperative gallery in the historic Forest Hall Building.
The ARTery Gallery is located at 210 Broad St, Milford, PA 18337. Show dates will be from October 10-November 4; hours are Thursday-Monday, 10-6 p.m.

06/04/2024

Artful Bear Design Entries Due
Applications for bear sculptures for this fall’s Black Bear Film Festival are due by Wednesday, June 5, at noon.
The festival’s Board of Directors will decide which designs will become Artful Bears this year and artists will be notified June 7.
For those who would like to be an Artful Bear Artist, email [email protected].

06/04/2024

Hollywood Split Man To Perform
MILFORD — Andy Gross’ performance is filled with comedy, magic and ventriloquism. On Saturday, June 8 at 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.), he’ll bring the fun to the Milford Theater at 114 East Catharine Street, Milford, PA! Millions have seen his Split Man act, where he cuts himself in half, now you can see it for yourself! His magic and comedy are one-of-a-kind and his shows are engaging and full of audience participation.
Gross is a nationally known entertainer with over 700 million online views and counting of his videos and has been featured on The Ellen Show, CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX, MTV, VH1 and more for his mind-blowing antics. Some of Gross’s amazing feats you may witness live include the ability to actually throw his voice, read minds, levitate an audience member, split himself in two, make a signed $100 bill vanish and reappear inside of an orange and he even turns an audience member into a human puppet! Millions of people have witnessed his incredible magic online, now come see him live!
For more information, call 570-300-5990 or visit online at https://themilfordtheater.com.

06/04/2024

Fork And Cork Dinner Party
LAKE ARIEL — The Lacawac Sanctary will be holding their Fork and Cork Dinner Party on Friday, June 7 at the William E. Chaltos Environmental Education Center at 6 p.m.
Join us for a scrumptious evening to indulge in your taste buds for a culinary experience to benefit Lacawac’s new Environmental Education Center.
Indulge in a culinary extravaganza with Chef Keegan Marchand from the French Manor for hors d’oeuvres and a 4-course fundraising dinner on Friday, June 7 at 6 p.m. at Lacawac’s William E. Chatlos Environmental Education Center. Craft Cocktails by mixologist and restauranteur Chris Cykosky.
Savor a delectable menu curated by the maestro himself, showcasing the finest flavors and techniques. Join this gastronomic journey, where each dish serves a purpose—to fundraise and educate local students. Elevate your taste buds while contributing to environmental education.
Reserve your spot for an evening that combines exquisite dining with a great cause. Only 75 tickets available for this event and can be purchased online at www.secure.qgiv.com/for/icj2pe/event/forkandcorkdinner.
A donation can be made in lieu of dinner reservations.

06/04/2024

Sixth Upper Delaware BioBlitz Announced
NARROWSBURG — The public is invited to experience first-hand the diversity of life in our natural world on a unique parcel of land in Wayne County and to meet renowned scientists and accomplished amateur naturalists who will document their findings, during the sixth Upper Delaware BioBlitz on June 28 and 29.
During a 24-hour event, biologists and volunteers will collect, identify, and catalog as many living things as possible on a demarcated property owned by the Highlights Foundation Retreat Center in Boyd’s Mills, PA.
Eight teams of researchers will focus on specific species including birds, botany, fish, fungi, reptiles and amphibians, terrestrial invertebrates, aquatic macroinvertebrates, mosses and lichens, and mammals.
The public will have the opportunity to meet scientists of different disciplines, see what they have collected, and take a tour of the site to learn how different species live and thrive in the context of the overall property.
Bring the family on Saturday, June 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to view the specimens, talk to the experts, and enjoy a tour, all at no charge. Teams and sponsoring organizations will provide information and offer programs on their areas of expertise.
Hunt for and get help identifying mushrooms with the Delaware Highlands Mushroom Society. Explore the site’s natural wonders on a short foraging walk with Laura Silverman of the Outside Institute. Enjoy a nature- and climate-oriented theater performance by the acclaimed local theater troupe, Farm Arts Collective. Join botanist Sarah Chamberlain of the Pennsylvania Native Plant Society to search for native plants and learn how to start your own garden.
The scientists will identify what they find down to the species level. Some of this work will be done in the field through visual identification and documented with photos. Other items will be brought back to the collection tables for further identification through careful analysis. Some of the items will be identified through high-powered microscopes available on-site.
All the data will be compiled into an inventory of species collected during the event. This information will be publicly available and may help future scientists understand what was living on the site at this specific time. If rare or endangered species are found, they will be added to the Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory database.
Wayne County Community Foundation has made a grant to the 2024 BioBlitz and is the fiscal agent for the event. 2024 Sponsors of the BioBlitz include the Upper Delaware Council, Wayne Conservation District and Friends of the Upper Delaware River. Individual donations can be made through the Network for Good at: https:/bit.ly/2024BioBlitzSupport
This year’s BioBlitz will follow from five successful events we held in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2021 in the Upper Delaware River Watershed. Visit upperdelawarebioblitz.com or www.facebook.com/UpperDelawareBioBlitz for additional event information and directions to the site, or email [email protected].

05/23/2024

03/01/2024

Olsommer Selected By GOP Delegates For Special Election

The Pike County Dispatch. Your Community Newspaper in Pike County, Pennsylvania.

02/23/2024

Therapeutic Riding Sessions
Registration is now open for GAIT’s spring Therapeutic Riding Session! Classes are 30 minutes per week of riding for 7 weeks (weekday evenings and Saturdays available). Lessons are taught by a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) who teach basic riding skills to participants, with the assistance of trained volunteers. Benefits of riding include sensory integration, core strengthening, and improved balance/centering. Space is limited, so call 570-409-1140 or email to reserve your spot ASAP. Program applications must also be completed prior to participation. GAIT Therapeutic Riding Center is located at 314 Foster Hill Rd, Milford, PA 18337.