The Boro & Towne News

Who’s Running Who’s Not

Page 8

It’s Your Community!

Read All About It! Volume II, No. 3

Boro & Towne PMSD Goes to Four Days

t h e

Page 4

New Supervisor for Tobyhanna

Page 12

n e w s

Distributed

FREE! To Over

23,500 Readers

Blakeslee - Coolbaugh - Long Pond - Mount Pocono - Pocono Lake - Pocono Pines - Pocono Summit - Tobyhanna © 2021 A Rogue Operation LLC

Mount Pocono

March 24 - April 8 2021

FREE!

Community Calendar Submit your event to News@TheBoroNewspaper.com

Soccer Registration is Open

Intramural soccer Spring 2021 Registration is Open. Spring Season begins mid-April. Coaches and Assistant Coaches needed for Spring, background checks are required. The Club’s intramural program focuses on developing core soccer skills, building endurance and enhancing social skills. The Club currently offers programs for school-aged children 6 to 13. Our programs increase the opportunity to play intramural soccer within the appropriate age group. All games are local, intra-club, and do not require travel. We utilize trained and paid referees to help children learn and reinforce the rules of the game. For more information and to register, go to fcpocono.org.

She Nailed It!

Sunday, May 16, 2021 1 – 4 PM She Nailed it is an intense women’s nail hammering competition! Each competitor fund raises $250 to support MCHFH. Then she practices with her team in hopes of winning the coveted golden hammer! She Nailed It is a fun filled day for the whole family with Entertainment, food stands and vendors. Free admission for spectators! She Nailed It will take place at the Shawnee Inn on Sunday May 17th! Help Habitat to nail safe, decent living in Monroe County! More information: https://www.habitatmc. org/she-nailed-it-2020

Volunteer Day at Pomeroy

Sat, April 17, 9am – 12pm. Join Pocono Heritage Land Trust at Pomeroy McMichaels Creek Nature Preserve, Hickory Valley Rd, Stroudsburg to pull some invasive plants and enjoy early spring wildflowers. Group will meet in the parking lot of Hickory Valley Park at 1303 Hickory Valley Rd, Stroudsburg, PA 18360. To RSVP & for more information: phlt.org.

Farmhouse Bee Painting

Fri, March 26, 6 pm. Includes canvas, artist instruction and all materials to complete. Template provided along with step by step artist instructions. The studio is located in the Ribbon Factory Building, Stroudsburg. Age of 13 and up for public evening events. BYOB your favorite beverages and snacks. $35 pp. Creative Canvas Studio, 925 Ann Street Suite 101, Stroudsburg. Tickets: occ.sn/rXFbLn97

SPRINGFEST!

Sat, April 3, 8am - 2 pm. This outdoor event is open to all and designed for you to bring your family! Come check out the yard sale, play on the bounce houses, and enjoy food and music. You can participate in the community yard sale for FREE! First Baptist Church, 160 N. Courtland Street, East Stroudsburg, 570-421-7662 To reserve a spot and for more information: fbces.org/springfest

Moonlight Walk

Sat, March 27, 7:30-9:30 pm. This FREE event is open to adults 21 & over. Hike the vineyard and back woods of Eagles Rest Cellars under the full moon. The walk is guided along short, easy trails which begin and end at the winery. Warm up by the outdoor fire pits and enjoy a glass of wine. Wear hiking shoes. More info: eaglesrestcellars.com, (570) 242-3224

Good Friday Fish Dinner

Fri. Apr 2, 4-7 pm. This will be a takeout only, drive thru event. $10/meal which includes piece of breaded fried fish or 2 seafood cakes, french fries, homemade macaroni & cheese, choice of cole slaw or applesauce and choice of homemade dessert. No preorders so please come early so you don’t miss out! Gouldsboro Volunteer Fire Company, 490 Main Street, Gouldsboro.

For more information: 570-842-2663.

An impromptu memorial to Sam DeJesus, 18, and his older sister, Desiree Tobon, 22, at the Center Avenue spot where an accident claimed their lives last week. A steady stream of relatives, friends, and co-workers left flowers, messages, candles, and even a soccer ball. More on Page 5. (Boro Photo)

Mount Pocono Borough

Mayor Orchestrates Council Upset Neville Follows Script for Ousting President (Boro/Matt Hensel Photo)

Racial Motives Alleged MOUNT POCONO - This month, Mount Pocono Borough Council held an unusual meeting, on an unusual day, in an unusual location. But it was business as usual for this council - dysfunctional & disruptive.

The regular Monday meeting was canceled at nearly the last minute, then rescheduled two days later for the United Methodist Church in the Borough.

The cancellation was the result of the borough’s mayor, Michael Penn, countermanding the Borough Manager and Council President’s public notices of a virtual meeting. Borough Manager Joshua Walker had posted notice of the virtual meeting in the borough building and sent the notice to the webmaster for publication on the website.

Penn ran interference on those notices and ordered the webmaster to ignore Walker’s instructions. In a snippy exchange of emails, Penn and Council President Claudette Williams argued over the mayor’s interference with council prerogatives to set its own meeting schedules, with Williams accusing Penn of trying to take control of the borough and just “showing you can get your way.”

For his part Penn complained that at the Zoom meetings participants were muted by Williams. In fact, it was Walker who controlled the meetings and, in accordance with what has be-

“Sure, put the white guy in charge”

- Claudette Williams

come the nearly universal convention in this year of online meetings, participants are automatically muted on entry. On the Zoom platform, participants can always unmute themselves when they wish to speak.

When the meeting finally did happen, council member Tom Neville attempted to make a motion to remove Williams as president. Neville, reading from a script handed to him by Penn, was gaveled down by Williams,

who ruled the motion out of order. She said Neville did not have the floor.

Neville repeatedly interrupted Williams during the council president’s report. Six times during the report Neville tried to stop Williams and was rebuffed.

Williams launched into a defense of the claims against her, suggesting that there were racial overtones to the actions of

Submission Deadlines for April 9 Issue

Inside The B&T

Calendar Announcements should be emailed to news@theboronewspapeer.com Deadline: Apr 1 2020, 4 pm

News Releases & Editorial Submissions

should be emailed to news@theboronewspapeer.com Deadline: Apr 2 2020, 4 pm

Advertising

to advertise, 570-589-0803 or advertising@theboronewspapeer.com Deadline: Apr 2 2020, 4 pm

See BOROUGH UPSET page 11

Business Cards 10 Service Directory 11 Classifieds 11 Comics & Puzzles 9 COVID in County 12 Get Out! 10 Lives Lived 2 Meeting Calendar 8 Opinion/Letters 6 PMSD News 4-5

The Boro & Towne News

2

March 24 - April 8 2021

Lives Lived EFRAIN COLON (1930-2021), 90, Tobyhanna, passed away Thursday morning, March 4, 2021, at his home.

He was born in Manati, Puerto Rico, on March 11, 1930, to the late Ignacio Colon and Demetria (Ayende) Colon. Efrain was educated in Manati. As a young man he migrated to New York City in 1954, where he was employed in the cabinet industry as a cabinet maker.

Following his retirement, he relocated to Tobyhanna.

Efrain was of the Christian faith.

He enjoyed wood working and was known as a jack of all trades. He attended secondary school and later incorporated himself in the work field as a skilled welder, electrician, and carpenter. He was a lover and collector of music (mainly Salsa), sports, and a good game of dominoes.

His hobbies were creating items made out of wood, such as a dominoes table, baseball glove, airplane and windmill just to name a few.

Preceding him in death in addition to his parents was a son, John, and a brother, Ramon Antonio.

Efrain leaves to mourn his loving wife of 61 years, Maxima (Reyes) Colon, Tobyhanna, sons, Efrain Jr. “Savior” of Saudi Arabia, Wilson, Tobyhanna, Daniel Velez, Brooklyn, Jason (Dennien), Tobyhanna, and Michael (Brenda),Naples. Also mourning are his 29 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, plus many nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.

His surviving siblings are Arturo (Theresa), Bronx, Elizabeth Robledo, Brooklyn, and Milagros Alvarado, Long Island, New York.

MELBA FEYJOO (1953-2021), 67, Blakeslee, passed away March 4, 2021, with her family at her side. She was born to the late Angel L. Feyjoo and Rosa E. Feyjoo on May 19, 1953, in Manhattan.

Melba graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School.

She is survived by her fiancé John Popovic, and her five children, Iris Zambrana, Hellertown, Richard Silva, Northampton, Antonio Santiago, Allentown, Maria Novak, South Carolina, and Michael Santiago, Blakeslee, as well as 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She will be truly missed by all and forever in our hearts.

FLORENCE YASENCHOCK (1939-2021) 82, Pocono Lake, died Thursday, March 4, 2021, at home. She was the loving wife of Eugene Yasenchock, with whom she shared 56 years of marriage.

Born February 9, 1939, in Mary D (Schuylkill Township, PA), she was a daughter of the late Anthony Jr. and Agnes (Burnett) Kotula.

Florence was a 1956 graduate of Tamaqua Area High school and a 1959 graduate of the Pottsville Hospital School of Nursing. As a Registered Nurse she worked at the former Pocono Hospital in East Stroudsburg as well as in area nursing homes and as a visiting nurse.

Throughout her years she enjoyed going to the movies, in her younger days with her mother, and in her later days with her children. She loved nature, especially watching the birds at her backyard feeder. She was a friend of St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in Pocono Summit, and attended the former Our Lady of the Lake Church in Pocono Pines. Florence was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society, and the Democratic Party Club.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children Michael and Patrice, Pocono Lake; siblings Patrick Kotula (Judy), and Nelle Stremick (John), Mary D; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation or the ASPCA.

Prepare for power outages with a Generac home standby generator REQUEST A FREE QUOTE!

877-595-0673

FREE

7-Year Extended Warranty* A $695 Value!

Offer valid February 15 - June 6, 2021

Special Financing Available Subject to Credit Approval

*To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions.

TONI D. PURCELL (1987-2021), 33, of Long Pond, died, Sunday, March 14, 2021, as a result of a motor vehicle accident. She was the wife of Jeffrey Purcell.

Born May 19, 1987, in Bronx, she was the daughter of Harold James, Long Pond, and the late Dolores W. (Tharp) James.

Toni worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse at Brookdale Rehab Facility in Scotrun.

In addition to her husband, and father, she leaves behind her children Noah, 11, and Autumn, 5; brother, Michael James, Long Pond; and several nieces and nephews.

Interment was at St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow. The family has established a memorial fund for the benefit of her two young children: gofundme.com/f/toni-purcell-memorial-fund

JOHN CLARKIN BARLIEB (1941-2021), 79, Tobyhanna, died on March 9, 2021 in the family home where his mother was born. He was the loving husband of Mary Mallard Barlieb, with whom he shared 47 years of marriage.

Born in Scranton on August 20, 1941, he was the son of the late Calvin and Margaret (Clarkin) Barlieb.

John attended the former Coolbaugh High School and the University of Scranton. He served in the Pennsylvania National Guard and several terms on the Coolbaugh Township Board of Supervisors. For many years, John was a member on the Board of Directors for Pocono Mountain Industries. Since his Christening, he was a devout member of the Church of St. Ann in Tobyhanna, and was a member of Most Holy Trinity Parish in Cresco.

John was a long time member of the East Stroudsburg Elks Lodge No. 319 and also very active in the Pocono Builders Association for a time.

As a principal in Pobar Enterprises Inc., together with his business partner, Claude Pope, John helped develop Pobar Estates and Lexington Woods in Tobyhanna.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Major Anne M. Barlieb U.S. Army Retired, Alexandria and his two nephews. Very important and special to John were two dear friends, Bob Rossick, since the first grade, and Claude Pope, his business partner and morning coffee companion. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his son, William John Barlieb and his sister Margaret Urda.

Interment was at St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow.

The family suggests memorial donations to the Pocono Mountain Public Library, P.O. Box 405, Tobyhanna, PA 18466 or PayPal at the library website at poconolibrary.org.

THERESA C. AKUS (1937-2021), 83, formerly of Pocono Lake, went to be with her Lord and Savior on March 4, 2021, while under hospice care at Old Orchard Health Care Center in Easton where she was a resident since 2018. She was the widow of Albert Akus who died August 3, 2018.

Born on December 1, 1937 in Brooklyn, NY, she was a daughter of the late William and Mary (Malverty) Davis.

Theresa worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant at the Monroe County General Hospital. She loved to dance before her illness and is now dancing on Streets of Gold.

For over thirty years she and her late husband spent summers at the French Creek Marina in Clayton, NY. She was a devout Catholic and parishioner of the former Christ the King Roman Catholic Church in Blakeslee.

Surviving are four children, Cheryl Silfee (Paul), Florida, Adele Hineline (Tim), Stroudsburg, and Laura Longyhore (William Thomas Jr.), Jim Thorpe, Albert Akus (Linda), Stroudsburg; seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, a brother, William Davis. Palmerton; three nieces; and her lifelong friend, June Hubert, Scranton.

She was preceded in death by two children, Andrew Akus and Linda Kern, and a brother, Albert Malverty.

Interment was at Laurelwood Cemetery in Stroudsburg.

Call now to get your ADT security system starting at $19.99/mo.* Plus get $100 off installation† when you call today!

1-844-468-5381 *$19.99/month + †$100 off Installation: Requires 36-month monitoring contract with a minimum charge of $28.99/mo. (before instant savings) (24-month monitoring contract in California, total fees from $695.76 (before instant savings) and enrollment in Easy Pay. Service and installation charges vary depending on system configuration, equipment and services selected. Offer includes (i) $9.00 instant savings per month applicable only towards monthly monitoring charge for the first 12 months of initial contract term (total value of $108.00) and (ii) $100 instant savings on installation with minimum purchase of $449 after promotion is applied. Traditional Service Level requires landline phone. Excludes ADT’s Extended Limited Warranty. Upon early termination by Customer, ADT may charge 75% of the remaining monthly service charges for the balance of the initial contract term. Limit one offer per new ADT customer contract. Not valid on purchases from ADT Authorized Dealers. Expires 4/15/2021.

General: Additional charges may apply in areas that require guard response service for municipal alarm verification. System remains property of ADT. Local permit fees may be required. Prices and offers subject to change and may vary by market. Additional taxes and fees may apply. Satisfactory credit required. A security deposit may be required.

Simulated screen images and photos are for illustrative purposes only. ©2021 ADT LLC dba ADT Security Services. All rights reserved. ADT, the ADT logo, 800.ADT.ASAP and the product/service names listed in this document are marks and/or registered marks. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. Third-party marks are the property of their respective owners. License information available at www.ADT.com or by calling 800.ADT.ASAP. CA ACO7155, 974443, PPO120288; FL EF0001121; LA F1639, F1640, F1643, F1654, F1655; MA 172C; NC Licensed by the Alarm Systems Licensing Board of the State of North Carolina, 7535P2, 7561P2, 7562P10, 7563P7, 7565P1, 7566P9, 7564P4; NY 12000305615; PA 090797 DF-CD-NP-Q121

March 24 - April 8 2021 CARMINE J. NAPOLITANO (1929-2021), 91, Tobyhanna, and Murrells Inlet, SC, passed away on February 27, 2021 at Waccamaw Community Hospital.

Born March 20, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York, he was employed by the NYC Board of Education as a teacher of machine tool technology. Carmine taught at East New York Vocational High School for 36 years. During his career, he was called upon to assist in the redesigning of the school. He wrote a new curriculum and renamed the school East New York Transit Tech High School. It is the only school in the country that teaches students how to repair subway cars by bringing rail cars in on removable tracks. He also assisted in the redesigning of Eli Whitney Vocational High School.

Carmine was elected to represent staff as the UFTC chapter chairman and went on to become an NYC delegate, NY state delegate and a national delegate. After school he became a “U” rating advocate for the union in the Brooklyn office. He remained involved in chapter building after retirement.

Upon moving to Pennsylvania, he became very active in his community. He was a member of the senior club, chaired the entertainment committee, rewrote the bylaws of the senior club, was a member of the rules enforcement committee, building and architecture committee, created the escape route for “J” section, was one of the originators of the neighborhood watch committee and ran the Nickels club.

When the winters became too cold for him and his wife, they decided to spend the winters in South Carolina. He and Dorothy spent six months at their condo on the ocean.

In addition to his parents, Carmine is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Dorothy. He is survived by his daughter MaryEllen Stonehill, (Jeffrey) and grandchildren Samantha and Jeffrey, Jr., of Chambersburg, PA.

ANTHONY “TONY” MELE (1953-2021), 67, Tobyhanna, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 surrounded by family. The husband of Laura Rita Mele, the couple was married on May 24, 1986.

Born in Jersey City on July 17, 1953, he was the son of the late Anthony Gerard Mele and the late Mildred Bickens Ryan.

Tony worked for many years as a photo engraver at Allied Signal Aerospace / Honeywell before retiring.

His favorite pastime was listening to his music while playing video games. And twice a week, he could be found watching professional wrestling, cheering for his favorites and deriding the rest. He will be greatly missed for his sense of humor, and his knack for making just the right comment at just the right time. He loved to spend time with his family and his pets, Charlie, Mike, and Riley. He also enjoyed camping and rafting down the Delaware river with his family and friends, and vacationing with family in Florida, Nassau, Cancun, Aruba, and the Dominican Republic.

Tony served his country in the US Navy as a boiler technician on the USS Kennedy from 1971 to 1973. He often spoke of traveling through Europe during this time. He visited Italy, Germany, France, Greece, and especially loved Spain, calling the city of Palma the most beautiful place he had ever seen. As a life long “foodie,” he fondly remembered sampling the local cuisine of every country he visited. In fact, he would savor filet mignon with the same enthusiasm as a well prepared hot dog.

In addition to his wife Laura, Tony is survived by his children Meghan, Tobyhanna, and Anthony (Chiara), Hoboken; siblings Robert (Nancy), Clifton, Trudi Zaccone (Fred), Clifton, and Kelly Terrana (Joseph), Bayonne. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces, and nephews, and the lifelong friends he called his brothers. He was preceded in death by his sister, Patricia Ryan.

As per Tony's wishes, there will be no services at this time. A Mass of Christian Burial and a “celebration of life” party will be held at a later date, when all of his family and friends can meet safely. Just as Tony would want, there will be good food, his favorite music, and sharing memories of his life, with laughter and tears in equal measure.

MARILYN J. (HANN) SAUER (1938-2021), 82, Williamstown, N.J., passed away on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. She was the widow of Willis D. Stapleton, Sr., and Frederick H. Sauer, who died in 2007. Born in Camden on September 17, 1938, she was the daughter of Russell and Genevieve (Eleanor) Hann.

Marilyn was residing with her daughter Sharon McGough for the past

The Boro & Towne News 15 years and prior to that she resided in the Tobyhanna area for 24 years. She worked as an office assistant for the Pocono Elementary Center for several years. She was a born again Christian and proud of it.

Marilyn is survived by 2 daughters Sharon, Williamstown, N.J., and Jenny L. Hotalen, New York City, and a son Willis D. Stapleton Jr., Mountain Top, PA, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Interment was the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, PA. MICHAEL J. CASSIERI (1947 - 2021), 73, Pocono Summit, died unexpectedly, Tuesday, March 9, 2021, at home. He was the loving husband of Darlene (Smith) Cassieri, with whom he shared 44 years of marriage.

Born August 25, 1947, in Manhattan, he was a son of the late John and Anna (Vidmar) Cassieri.

A proud Veteran, Michael served in the United States Army.

In his youth, he played and ran softball leagues in Staten Island.

He worked for the New York Department of Sanitation. After retirement, Michael and his wife moved to the Poconos, where they have resided for the last 16 years.

He was an avid baseball and football fan and loved the New York Yankees and New York Giants.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Christopher and Elena, Staten Island, and Ryan Cassieri, Old Bridge; sisters: Anne Marie Santiago, Barbara Valente, and Maryanne Guadagnino, all of Staten Island; two grandchildren and a great grandchild.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Joanne Besignano, and brother, John.

THOMAS D. COSTELOW (1940-2021), 80, Pocono Lake, died Wednesday, February 24, 2021, at home. He was the loving husband of Karen (Gabbert) Costelow.

Born October 19, 1490, in Morgantown, W.V,, he was a son of the late Joseph Earl and Mabel Ruth (Watkins) Costelow.

A proud Veteran, Thomas served in the United States Air Force. After his honorable discharge, he spent most of his working career working for U.S. Steel as a Millwright.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons Brian, Morrisville, and Gary (Lori), Levittown; four grandchildren and one

3 great-grandchild.

WALTER V. HAFNER (1925-2021), 95, who resided in Pocono Summit for many years, died Monday, March 1, 2021. He was the husband of the late Florence E. Hafner.

Born in Brooklyn on October 31, 1925, he was the son of the late Valentine and Lillian (Irving) Hafner.

He graduated from Brooklyn High School of Automotive Trades and worked for the Yellow Cab Company and Stroud Ford. He was a lifelong NY Giants football fan.

He is survived by two daughters, Ellen Meli and her husband, Robert, of Effort and Lynda Stewart of Tobyhanna; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Interment was at Gilbert Cemetery in Gilbert.

PETERSON JAMES “SONNY” DESMOULIN (1966-2021), 54, Tobyhanna, passed away Wednesday evening March 3, 2021, in St. Luke’s Hospital Monroe Campus.

He was born in the Caribbean on the island of Dominica on July 14, 1966. Sonny was the last child of Marie (Shillingford) Desmoulin and the late Reville J. Desmoulin, both of Dominica.

Sonny received his early education and graduated from trade school on the island of Dominica before spending his working career in the British Virgin Islands and the US as a self-employed carpenter.

He was a member of the Shawnee Tabernacle Church, Tobyhanna, and was very enthused by cars, especially his own. Sonny was known as a Jack of all trades.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife Roxanne (nee Jordan), Tobyhanna; children Sharee, Brooklyn, Curvin, Philadelphia, McKeino, Pompano, Deangelou (Cody) Desmoulin, Tortola, BVI, Wesley, Grenada, and Gracie, Florida; three grandchildren; and siblings Marlene, Bronx, Robbie Bell, St. Croix, USVI, Mayva Hodge, Virgin Gorda, BVI, King George Bell, Tampa, Pearl, Bronx, Joseph, East Stroudsburg, and Sheryl, Tobyhanna. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews in the USA, Dominica, BVI and Guadeloupe.

Interment was in Pine Grove Cemetery, South Sterling.

The Boro & Towne News

4

March 24 - April 8, 2021

PMSD Brings Students Back Four Days a Week SWIFTWATER – On March 3, the Pocono Mountain School District Board of Directors unanimously voted to return all students to in-person classes four days a week beginning March 15.

Board President Rusty Johnson was not at the meeting.

Two days after CDC director Rochelle Walensky warned the country that “now is not the time” to lift public health restrictions in the face of new variants and continued substantial community spread in many places (including Monroe County, see “Better, But Not Good”, p. 12), the school district administration recommended returning all students to full four-day a week classes in all buildings starting March 15.

‘6-foot Distance Thing’ In making their recommendation, the administration revealed that they were planning to depart from “that six-foot distance thing,” as Kathleen Smith. Ed.D., the district’s Co-Pandemic Coordinator/Executive Director Human Resources, referred to the CDC’s well-known social distancing measure.

Instead, she told the board that the district would be going down to as little as three feet distancing, particularly in classrooms.

She referred to guidance by the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pedi-

atrics, who both condoned the lesser distance. Besides, she said, the CDC only recommended sixfoot distancing “if possible.” If they allow all students to return at the same time “that won’t be possible,” Smith told the board.

At the meeting, the administration said that the most number of students on a bus run would be 31 in a 78-capacity vehicle. CDC guidance for school buses places one student per seat in alternate rows, resulting in a maximum capacity of 12 or 13 students, depending on configuration. That capacity does not include students from the same household who may sit together.

Following the meeting, the district declined to provide the seating configuration of their buses “due to student safety and privacy concerns,” according to a district spokesperson. Bus manufacturers publicly post their

Using PA Department of Health daily case data, The Boro & Towne created this chart to show the relative status of the COVID epidemic in Monroe County at key points in the PMSD 20-21 School Term. The line shows the 7-Day moving average of new COVID cases here. From Left to Right along that line are the following points in time: September 1, PMSD is 100% virtual; September 30, students are offered hybrid options of two days in school, three virtual; March 3, the PMSD decides to go to a 4-dayin school schedule; and the final flag shows the state of the pandemic in the county when the 4-day decision went into effect. (Boro Chart) district said there would be an average of 20 students assigned to a bus and that most “will have 14-17 students”.

On the day after the meeting, an administration spokesperson told B&T that they were not able to say where, in addition to the classrooms, it would not be “possible” to adhere to the six-foot

A PMSD photo featured on their website depicts a very socially-distanced East High School class “ready to start the 4 day in person school week.” configuration charts, which confirm a maximum capacity of 13, not including siblings.

After the meeting, responding to this newspaper’s inquiry, the

rule.

Besides setting aside the CDC recommendations, the administration justified the move by noting that a majority of parents voted in a survey for a return to in-person classes four days a week.

No Chance for Public Comment In a departure from the usual practice, the superintendent choose to delay announcement of the recommendation until nearly one and a quarter hours into the meeting – after the public comment portion of the meeting had concluded. As a result,

One solution for oxygen at home, away, and for travel Introducing the INOGEN ONE It’s oxygen therapy on your terms No more tanks to refill. No more deliveries. No more hassles with travel. The INOGEN ONE portable oxygen concentrator is designed to provide unparalleled freedom for oxygen therapy users. It’s small, lightweight, clinically proven for stationary and portable use, during the day and at night, and can go virtually anywhere — even on most airlines. Inogen accepts Medicare and many private insurances!

Reclaim Your Freedom And Independence NOW!

PDE Says 6-foot Distance Rule is Still a Thing The district’s decision appears to be contrary to the current policies of the Pennsylvania Departments of Health and Education. Their current guidance is based on the level of COVID transmission in a district’s county. Where, as in Monroe County, that level is at the highest, called “Substantial”, districts are supposed to stay in virtual mode.

In November, 2020, the state eased that requirement somewhat. Districts in communities experiencing substantial transmission were permitted to employ a hybrid system if they certified to the state that they would adhere to the CDC rules for schools. The PMSD executed it’s “attestation” and submitted it to the state on November 29. It was signed by Johnson and the superintendent.

Asked to comment specifically on the PMSD plan to depart from “that six-foot thing”, Pennsylvania Department of Education Press Secretary Kendall Alexander said that “school entities should continue to follow the protocols of DOH such as maintaining a social distance of at least six feet to the maximum extent feasible, masking, and proper sanitation” (emphasis added).

Each Monday the PDE updates the county classifications.

On March 15, the day PMSD brought students back to in person classes, Monroe County was still classified as having “substantial” community spread of the disease.

A Smarter Way to Power Your Home.

Power your home, save money and be prepared for utility power outages with the PWRcell, a solar + battery storage system.

REQUEST A FREE QUOTE!

ACT NOW

TO RECEIVE

Call Inogen Today To Request Your FREE Info Kit

A $300 SPECIAL OFFER!* (833) 989-0357

1-877-537-0082 © 2020 Inogen, Inc. All rights reserved.

the parents, teachers, and community members at the meeting were deprived of an opportunity to comment on the proposal prior to board action.

However, Tom Brogan, Pocono Mountain Education Association President and an eighth grade math teacher in the district, had submitted a written statement, read by an administrator, during the public comment section.

In his statement, Brogan pointed out that, thanks to the then recently announced state plan to vaccinate teachers, “within a couple of weeks hundreds of staff will have been vaccinated.

We ask that you postpone any change until the next school board meeting.” The official response was a curt, “Thank you for your comment.”

At the time of the decision, the district had already announced it would receive 479 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which would be administered by March 22. With about 745 teachers in the district, the initial allocation of the one-dose vaccine would be enough to protect over 60% of that staff. Shortly after the board meeting, the Governor announced that doses were secured and plans in place to ensure that all teachers in the Commonwealth could be vaccinated by the end of March.

Parents in the district were given the option of keeping their children home using either full virtual instruction or the district cyber program. Unlike during the hybrid system, parents would not be permitted to change their minds after making their decision, absent extenuating circumstances.

$0 DOWN FINANCING OPTIONS!** MKT-P0108

*Offer value when purchased at retail. **Financing available through authorized Generac partners.

Solar panels sold separately.

March 24 - April 8, 2021

The Boro & Towne News

Pocono Mountain School District

Tragic Accident Claims Pocono Summit Siblings

Notes & Kudos

PJAS Winners: Region 2 of The Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) held its 60th Annual Regional Competition earlier this month - a virtual competition this year. East High School students winning the “First Award” were DANIELLA ERLANGER, ALEXANDRA BOCK, ALEXA PETROFF, KATHERINE GUDE (perfect score), EDDIE LOCKIE, ALYSSA KING (also awarded the Lacawac Fellowship), and EMMA THOMPSON, taking home “Second Awards” were MADISON RIOS, GLORIA-GABRIELLE GONZALEZ, PATRICIA OLSEN, and ROSHAN FORDE. Seniors recognized with the “Perseverance Award” were EMMA THOMPSON (6 years), PATRICIA OLSEN (6 years), and ROSHAN FORDE (5 years).

West Winter Winners: West teams winning the Monroe County Division this season were Coach Williams and the West Boys Basketball Team; West Boys Basketball clinched the Monroe Division Championship; Coach Campos and the West Girls Basketball; and Coach Vavra the West Boys swim team!

East District XI Championship Results: Boys Basketball made it to the 5A Quarterfinals, where they were defeated by Pottsville. Girls Basketball was defeated by Northampton in the 6A Quarterfinal round.

In wrestling, KEEGAN DEMAREST finished 4th and was the first alternative for Regions, while CAEL HARMON finished in the 5/6 spot.

The Competitive Spirit team took the bronze in the DXI Small 3A Division. In swimming, TORI FENN got 3rd in the 50 Free and 2nd in the 100 Free!

Kindergarten Registration & Orientation: Pocono Mountain School District Kindergarten Orientation will be held the week of August 9 th each day at Clear Run Elementary Center, Swiftwater Elementary Center and Tobyhanna Elementary Center. Also, Kindergarten registration is underway. Parents may begin the registration process through the link provided on the District website: pmsd.org.

Cafeteria Staff Appreciation: Representatives from Giant Markets in Bartonsville thanked the Swiftwater Intermediate School Chartwells cafeteria staff for all their efforts by presenting them with a cookie tray and gift card.

WHS Triple Crown Pride Award: West High School had 131 students qualify for the Triple Crown Pride Award after marking period two. This award recognizes students for who achieved perfect attendance, zero discipline, and distinguished honor roll for the first half of the school year.

Read Across America: Clear Run Elementary Center celebrated Read Across America Week with several fun activities for the CREC faculty, staff and students. Chartwells prepared a delicious, Green Eggs and Ham luncheon for CREC students. In addition, several members of the administration, school board, faculty, and staff recorded themselves reading books, that were shared with the students during their lunch periods and the Clear Run community through ClassDojo.

MOUNT POCONO - As he had many times before, on Thursday, March 10, Samuel DeJesus picked up his older sister Desiree Tobon, 22, following her shift at the Mount Pocono Shop Rite at around 5:30 pm.

They headed towards the Pocono Summit home shared with their mom, Marisa DeJesus, Sammy’s dad, Samuel DeJesus, as well as their sisters Brianna,

5

enue, the car spun out, hitting a tree on the North side of Center.

Within seconds of the crash, at 5:45 pm, a 9-1-1 call was made.

By 5:47 Pocono Mountain Volunteer Fire Company Chief Logan Evans arrived on the scene.

Evans immediately ordered a life flight, rescue units, fire units, and EMS. Five minutes later, additional first responders showed up, soon to be joined by two rescue units and a fire truck. More trucks and personnel continued to arrive until over a half dozen rescue and fire vehicles, plus the ambulances and Pocono Mountain Regional Police SUVs, shut down Center Avenue.

As darkness began to fall, supplemental lighting was installed around the vehicle as numerous rescuers worked together to extract the two from the car.

Once out, Sammy and Desiree

Desiree Tobon 16, and Emory, 2.

Desiree was probably already thinking about feeding her cats.

“It’s the first thing she did when she got home,” said Maggie Montalvo, grandmother to the two siblings. “She just loved animals.”

But someone else would be feeding Desiree’s cats that night.

For yet unknown reasons, about 15 minutes after leaving Shop Rite, Sammy lost control of his 2001 Honda Civic as it was traveling at high speed West on Center Avenue in Mount Pocono.

According to police, as Sammy and Desiree approached the intersection with Manor View Av-

An inscribed soccer ball, one of the numerous tributes left at the spontaneous Center Avenue memorial for Desiree and Sam. (Boro Photo) were transported by Pocono Mountain Regional Emergency Medical Services ambulances to the Mount Pocono Airport where they were Life-flighted to Lehigh Valley and Geisinger Wilkes-Barre hospitals respectively.

Desiree’s father, James Tobon, of Clifton New Jersey, and her grandmother went to Geisinger.

There, held by her grandmother, Desiree succumbed to her mas-

Samuel DeJesus sive injuries, according to Montalvo.

Sammy was taken to Lehigh Cedar Crest, where he died Friday morning, according to the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office.

Desiree was well-known to shoppers at Bill’s Shop-Rite, where she worked. On social media, many remembered her bright, friendly disposition “I made it a point to go to her register because she was so sweet and I enjoyed talking with her,” Toni Morrison said in a comment on the GoFundMe page set up to help the family deal with the funeral expenses for their two children. Desiree, who would have turned 23 this month, was a graduate of Clifton High School in New Jersey.

Sam worked at the Mount Pocono McDonald’s for the last two years. Store Manager Megan Gallagher enjoyed working with him. “Sammy was a great kid - very funny. And always on time,” Gallagher said. Gallagher thought the 18-year old 2020 Pocono Mountain East graduate “was on the right track” and was proud to have recently purchased his own car.

The Boro & Towne News

6

March 24 - April 8 2021

Opinion Under the Bridge/Tom Ford MOUNT POCONO - So, we’ve made some changes. More are on the way.

New Moniker The biggest change is that we are now “The Boro & Towne News”. The Boro worked when we started out covering only Mount Pocono. Soon, we responded to the demand for coverage of neighboring townships. The new name more accurately reflects the current scope and mission of the newspaper.

Nice Racks!

The ‘Mount Pocono Show’ Should Not Go On When he was a Harvard professor, Henry Kissinger once famously said of internal university affairs, “the politics are so vicious because the stakes are so small”.

To which Mount Pocono Borough Council can reply, “Hold my Beer.”

As far as we know, Kissinger never attended a municipal government meeting. What he therefore couldn’t say was that the reason small-town councils can get bogged down in the small issues is because they come into office woefully unprepared to handle the real needs of even the smallest town. So, they latch onto issues they can really sink their teeth into.

Mount Pocono has some very real long-term problems: this council has managed to take a town with a nearly 100-year history of fine, respectful relationships with borough employees, and created a viper’s nest in which employees felt compelled to call in the Teamsters; the budget is a shambles, ‘balanced’ only because of a conjurer’s act of (quite possibly illegal) transfers to the general fund of non-tax revenue from one-time developer fees; they have reduced police service and still haven’t paid their police bills yet this year; and they can’t even manage to keep the streets clear of shopping carts, or be bothered searching for long-term solutions to roads too dangerous for pedestrians or bicyclists, much less the family trying to cross the street downtown.

Instead of rolling up their sleeves and setting to work, council has elected to get down in the mud and whine about unreturned phone calls, personal slights (real and imagined), who shared what email with whom. They hire a Borough Manager, and then refuse to let him do his job. They routinely have the longest meetings – by hours – of any municipality in the area. They use those hours to squabble with one another, vie for who can signal the most virtuousness, and find ways to delay important decisions. Famously, they once had a nearly four-hour long meeting in which they accomplished nothing other than appointing a student member to council and sending a letter supporting a non-profit’s grant application. And don’t even mention three years talking about chickens.

This untenable situation is exacerbated by a mayor, appointed out of spite (another long tale), only recently moved to the area, who has as his apparently singular goal the consolidation of all authority, and who seemingly believes officiousness is laudatory. Putting aside his vanity, in the course of making himself the Sun around which the borough orbits, he has manipulated council members to the point where he actually hands them scripts to read at meetings. He worked hand in glove with council president Williams for two years, and when she balked at his attempt to, as she put it, “run the borough”, he used his control over council to jettison her. He now sits on numerous committees of counsel, has secured the chair of the Planning Commission, and sits on the Municipal Authority.

He hand picks citizen nominees to boards and committees, as well as council candidates.

This is not the way the system is supposed to work. Karl Davis, former council member and council president, spoke the truth when he told us that this counsel is embarrassing.

Mount Pocono has become a running joke in the Top of the Mountain Community, and in the County.

Sadly, it is a joke that will leave residents in tears when they are forced to foot the bill for the last several years of incompetence, self-aggrandizement, and outright falsehoods perpetrated by council and the mayor. Residents need to attend the meetings, speak out, write letters to the editor, and work to get names you know, and people you trust, in elected office.

The Boro & Towne News

A ROGUE OPERATION, LLC PUBLICATION 3308 Route 940, Suite 104 Mount Pocono Pennsylvania18344 Tom Ford, Editor

570-589-0803

tom@theboronewspaper.com Advertising Information Press Releases/News/Obituaries advertising@theboronewspaper.com theboronewspaper.com/advertise news@theboronewspaper.com theboronewspaper.com/classifieds Subscriptions - Delivered free to homes & businesses in the Top of The Mountain Community.

Mail Subscriptions $60/year. Newsstand First Issue Free, Others $1.00.

Published bi-weekly and delivered to homes and businesses in Mount Pocono, Coolbaugh, Tobyhanna, Long Pond, Pocono Pines, Pocono Lake, Pocono Summit, and Blakeslee.

The Boro is printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks.

mailed - 12,335

total circulation - 14,985

readership-23,540

We have increased our distribution points and invested in new racks to display The Boro & Towne in most of those locations. Elsewhere in this issue there’s a list of everywhere you can pick up a copy.

The new racks will also serve our transition away from free mail delivery. The next several issues will be mailed to a rotating list of carrier routes, each about one-third of the full list. With our expanded coverage area, the increasing postage fees are just too high for a little community paper like us.

We will soon be offering very affordable subscription options, as well as increasing distribution points.

If your favorite establishment does not offer the newspaper, let us know and we will add them to our list.

It’s Election Season The most important mission of a community newspaper is providing information and context citizens can use to self-govern. That’s why in our pages you find more than merely the minutes of a meeting. The minutes don’t always tell the story of what really happened. We try to give you the context necessary to make the information useful.

The municipal primary is May 18. Today we are running some candidate announcements and welcome more. Municipal elections may not have the glitter of statewide and national contests, but they carry heft in their impact on your day-to-day life.

Look no further than the decisions on reopening schools for evidence. We hope you’ll pay attention and then vote.

We welcome letters supporting candidates. Send them to me at news@theboronewspaper.com. Keep them to about 150 words and get them in ASAP. We’ll be running the letters as space permits.

Tom Ford, editor of The Boro & Towne News, lives in Mount Pocono, where he enjoys the view from Under the Bridge - Mount Pocono’s gateway to the Top of the Mountain Community.

Write to him at Tom@TheBoroNewspaper.com.

Letters to the Editor Donald Struckle Candidate for Council To the residents of Mount Pocono: I have decided to run for borough council because I love the community were I live and would like to give back to those who have supported me.

For 56 years, I have lived in the Pocono Mountains. Eleven of those years have been in Mount Pocono Borough.

I graduated high school from Pocono Central Catholic and went on to attend King’s College, where I received my degree in Business Administration.

For 30 years I worked at Roadway Express Inc., starting at Tannersville and retiring as terminal manager in New York City.

After retirement, my wife and I took over her family business: The Casino Theatre. We are in our 15th year running the business.

I feel that since I have grown up in this area, I have an understanding of what this community needs from a borough council member.

I feel with my experience in working in the public and private sector, I can bring a lot of knowledge to the table so that council can work as a team. We may have our individual opinions, but at the end of the day we all need to come together as one. The residents concerns should be our top priority.

Our community comes first. I will work diligently for the needs of my constituents.

Sincerely, Donald Struckle, Sr. Mount Pocono Business Owner for Mt Pocono Tax Collector To The Residents Of Mount Pocono, I have decided to run for tax collector for the Borough of Mount Pocono.

Having lived in the Poconos for 56 years, 11 of those years in Mount Pocono, I feel I would like to give back to the residents of the borough.

I graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Scranton in Business Administration.

My work experience has included: 47 years at our family business, the Casino Theatre and 15 years at the accounting firm of Riley & Company.

The last 15 years at the Casino Theatre I have been President and an owner of our company.

Working with the public has been a very gratifying experience. Owning my own business has given me a great deal of experience including interacting with customers and solving customer problems which will be very useful in the position of tax collector.

It is not just about collecting taxes, it is also about relationships with our community.

Respectfully, Karen Struckle Mount Pocono Lamantia Seeks Reelection in Coolbaugh To the Editor: My name is Anthony (Tony) LaMantia. I am a proud resident of Coolbaugh Township.

I am presently a Coolbaugh Township Supervisor holding the Title of Vice-Chair, member of the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Commission. Served on the PMREMS Committee, and worked with our Township Zoning and Code Enforcement Dept. on our property maintenance enforcement. Helped introduce and pass a Short Term Rental Ordinance, Nepotism Ordinance and others.

Presently working on a Fireworks Ordinance which gives our Code Enforcement Dept. the power to enforce.

I Graduated Allentown High School, Monmouth County Vocational School, Middlesex County Fire Academy, Monmouth County Police Academy and attended Rutgers University for Government Services completing courses in Duties of Elected Officials, Budgeting, Finance, Labor and Public Relations.

Mayor of the Borough of Jamesburg in N.J. serving for 12yrs., also as councilman for 5yrs. serving as Police Commissioner, Public Works Director and Council President. A Member of Emergency Management, taking Federal ICS courses in Emergency Disaster Training, Emergency Response and Disaster Funding.

Inducted into the New Jersey League of Municipality Mayors Hall of Fame in 2010.

If Re-elected I will continue to help control our Property Taxes, continue to improve our Property Values, and being Business friendly to help increase our Retable’s, all in the best interest of Coolbaugh Township Residents.

Any Questions please contact me at: lamantia@ptd.net Anthony (Tony) LaMantia Coolbaugh Township

The Boro & Towne News

March 24 - April 8, 2021

7

Talking Retirement

That Old Three-Legged Stool Franken Sense Presidential Cliches/Bob Franken Just Isn’t What it Used to Be How is the first hundred days of a presidency like Valen- Speed,” which was approved and

by MIKE RAUB Have you ever heard of the “three-legged stool” of retirement? If you have, it probably was a while ago. Once considered the ideal retirement model, the three-legged stool has fallen out of favor because one of the legs—defined benefit pensions—is not as stable as it once was, and the future of Social Security is often wound up in political maneuvering in Washington.

Consider the following:

—According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, just 51% of private sector employers offer defined contribution or defined benefit pension plans, and only 8% offer traditional defined benefit plans, thereby eliminating a guaranteed source of lifetime income.

—Social Security benefits replace about 40% of the average worker’s salary. What’s more, the Social Security trust fund is expected to deplete its reserves by 2034 and will be able to fund approximately 77% of benefits after that. Fortunately, there are ways to reinforce the third leg of the stool—retirement savings and other personal assets— so that you can still enjoy a long and fulfilling retirement. While each person’s financial circumstances are different, here are two proven funding sources you may want to consider if you need to compensate for any shortcomings:

—With people living longer than ever, it’s important to make sure the money you have set aside will last the rest of your life. While Social Security provides a lifetime supply of income, it may not be enough to support your desired lifestyle. If you think you’ll need additional income and do not have a pension, a lifetime income annuity can be an excellent way to make up the difference.

—Although the primary purpose of life insurance is to deliver death benefit protection, many permanent life policies accumulate cash value. If your need for protection decreases over time, you can borrow against this cash value—tax-free in most cases—and use the money to supplement your retirement lifestyle. (Loans against your policy accrue interest and decrease the death benefit and cash value by the amount of the outstanding loan and interest.)

While the three-legged stool of retirement may be a bit wobbly, the good news is that a secure future is still within reach. The main difference these days is that you will most likely have to build it yourself.

Michael Raub, Agent, New York Life Insurance Company has an office in East Stroudsburg. You can contact him at (570) 994-5536 or mraub@ft.newyorklife.com.

Christoffersen Runs for PMSD Board To the Editor: My name is Christian Christoffersen I am running for Pocono Mountain School Board of Education Region 1.

I am running for school board because in a modern era we need modern thinkers and modern solutions.

I am a current graduate student at East Stroudsburg University attending classes online due to Covid-19. I have seen the struggles of trying to obtain a quality education online outside of the classroom.

While we must follow state guidelines on schools being opened or closed we do have the power to change the quality of education they receive online. I want to work with local institutions like East Stroudsburg University and others to create a quality online education program that propels our students forward and doesn’t leave them behind.

Increasing the opportunities for higher education is another area that needs focus. Students in high school need to be offered the chance to go into college with credits earned. Increasing dual enrollment at our local community college while still succeeding in high school classes is a balance we must create. Additionally we need to bring in courses for students to take that will help resolve issues locally and better our community.

Now of course one person cannot know everything and fix everything on their own. I would like to invite you to follow my Facebook which will be going active in the next couple of days and message me and tell me your concerns and areas we need

to address. To find my page please type in Facebook @Christianforschoolboard I am always available to talk. It is going to take a lot of different opinions to fix the challenges we face. Electing me will help ensure that those opinions are heard and the general public have a say. After all it is your tax dollars and your children’s future. I would appreciate your vote in May and look forward to speaking to you throughout this campaign. Together we will create a better future for the next generation. To do this we must elect a new generation of leaders and be forward thinkers so that we aren’t held back by old ideas. Please remember to vote in the primary May 18th.

Christian Christoffersen Pocono Manor

The Boro Letters Policy Letters should be related to our community and be exclusive to The Boro & Towne. We do not publish open, anonymous, or third-party letters.

We encourage a diversity of voices and views in our letters.

They should be 150 to 175 words, and must include the writer's name, address, e-mail, and phone number (we only publish your name & municipality). No attachments, please. Letters may be edited and shortened for space.

Send them to news@theboronewspaper.com, or mail to 3308 Route 940, Suite 104 Mount Pocono, PA 18344.

tine’s Day? Valentine’s is a Hallmark concoction; the first hundred days is a news concoction -- a reason for papers, magazines, broadcasters, narrowcasters, social media and anti-social media to ramp up entire sections of their papers and fill the screen with graphics and analyses that have catchy titles like “Biden His Time -- 100 Days.”

It’s arbitrary, particularly since, to quote then Vice President Joe Biden whispering in President Barack Obama’s ear as he signed health care reform into law, a “big f***ing deal” has taken place in half that time. At 50-ish days, the Biden team has successfully passed through Congress a nearly $2 trillion pandemic rescue plan called, cleverly enough, the American Rescue Plan, with almost no Republican support.

Expect a nonstop victory lap. In fact, it has already started.

The legislation became law a day early when the legal scutwork went faster than expected, so President Biden signed it right away. “We want to move as fast as possible,” said chief of staff Ron Klain.

Then it was on to the nationwide TV speech in prime time.

Was it gloating when he promised to have enough vaccine available for every arm in America by May 1? Not IN everybody’s arm, that will take a lot of time. But still, by July 4 we should be on our way, said the president, to “not only mark our independence as a nation, but we begin to mark our independence from this virus.” The keyword here is “begin.”

That was not to say that they skipped the White House celebration with every Democrat in the world present. That may be a slight exaggeration, but the way it laid out, after the bill was signed, it got not one, not two, but three televised news hits. That was not counting the Sunday talk shows and, the following week, a bunch of as many photogenic events across the country as President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris can cram in before people get tired of hearing about COVID relief.

Lost in all this is the fact that the key vaccines to all this had been developed under a remarkable “Operation Warp

pushed by the administration of President Donald Trump. He may have foolishly bungled the response, but Warp Speed was a Donald Trump production.

Still, Republicans are busy changing the subject, talking about anything but the highly popular pandemic package.

But a politician’s work is never done, and soon it will be on to the next issue, where the two sides will work on a mammoth infrastructure package. Or the one side, if bipartisanship turns out to be impossible there too. Whichever, the Biden people have been around the track a few times, so they know to take advantage of momentum. And they also know how to stick it to their opponents, reminding them that it was the tumultuous Trump administration, particularly its leader, that was singularly responsible for the half-millionplus COVID deaths in the United States. Many, if not most, of them could have been prevented by decisive action early on. Instead, we got ignorant bumbling over the warnings of experts, personified by Dr. Anthony Fauci, who, if he was that kind of person, could say, “I told you so.”

That’s why the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring a pandemic was so somber in this country. Trump’s response was to shut down U.S. cooperation with WHO’s efforts.

Still, we in media latch on to the political cliches, like a hundred days and 50 days and, one more, a president’s “honeymoon.” That one may be valid, considering how the honeymoon with Joe Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, lasted about one day, if that, when he picked his first fight over inauguration crowd size.

Bob Franken is an Emmy Award-winning reporter who covered Washington for more than 35 years with CBS, CNN, and MSNBC.(c) 2021 Bob Franken, Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

The Rich Lowry Column

COVID Checks Unnecessary/Rich Lowry Joe Biden has signed what may well end up being the biggest accomplishment of his presidency, an enormous $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill.

With his other priorities likely to molder in the Senate, the spending will probably stand as a signature statement of Biden’s approach to governance -- and it should be a damning one.

The legislation is a misnomer; it is neither a COVID nor a relief bill. Only a tiny portion of the spending in the bill goes toward vaccinations and other priories directly related to the pandemic.

Much of the rest of the spending is not well-suited, or even designed, to respond to current economic conditions, which are increasingly favorable.

Democrats are telling themselves that it’s like 1933, when we were in the midst of a depression, whereas it’s more like 1983, when we were coming out of a punishing recession.

Or to put it another way, the Biden bill is reacting to the wrong spring. It is no longer the cataclysmic spring of 2020, with the economy shuttered and nothing to fight the virus except social distancing and masks, but the much more hopeful spring of 2021, with the economy opening back up, COVID cases steeply declining and vaccinations ramping up massively.

Jobless claims have decreased, and personal incomes are higher than when the pandemic started. Both the Congressional Budget Office and Goldman Sachs are projecting rapid economic growth in 2021. As states open back up, nearly 20% of the U.S. population has received at least one vaccination shot.

This isn’t to say that all is well. There is an estimated $420 billion hole in the economy, although, as even center-left critics of the bill have noted, you don’t need a $1.9 trillion bill to fill it.

The latest bout of spending is spread around willy-nilly on Democratic priorities and constituencies.

Take public education, where Democratic-allied teacher unions dominate. It’s not clear why any additional spending is necessary, given that tens of billions of education funding from prior COVID relief bills are still unspent, even as many

districts have already begun to reopen for in-person instruction.

Nonetheless, the bill spends roughly another $130 billion on K-12 education, which will be spread out over years. The CBO projects more spending for elementary and secondary education will occur in fiscal year 2026 than this fiscal year.

The $350 billion in aid to states and localities comes despite state and local tax revenue being down only a tick through much of 2020 compared with the year before. According to widely cited Moody’s economist Mark Zandi, the state and local funding gap will be roughly $60 billion through fiscal 2022. Still, states and localities will be showered with money, after more than $500 billion in aid to states and localities last year.

The bill spends $86 billion bailing out union-negotiated multi-employer pension plans.

Transportation gets tens of billions of new spending, which by its nature doesn’t happen quickly, and more than $30 billion goes to expanding Obamacare, a long-term Democratic policy goal.

It’s doubtful that the checks of $1,400 to individuals are necessary; it is more supply -- i.e., businesses being closed or supply chains disrupted -- than demand that is hampering the economy now.

The continued elevated unemployment payments make unemployment more lucrative than employment for many people, and will discourage a return to work at the margins.

For all that, the bill is popular. From where Biden sits, why not spend as much as possible under the rubric of “COVID relief”? To paraphrase Rahm Emanuel, a pandemic is a terrible thing to waste.

Assuming the bill doesn’t cause some disastrous unintended consequence, it will allow Biden to take credit for a roaring economic recovery that is already building.

This might be shrewd politics, but it is not evidence-based or bipartisan governance. It’s getting while the getting is good, and assuming that no one will notice.

Rich Lowry is editor of the National Review. (c) 2020 by King Features Synd., Inc.

The Boro & Towne News

8

2021 Municipal Elections

See Who is On the Ballot, And Who Isn’t

The municipal primary election is May 18. March 9 was the deadline for local and county candidates to file their petitions for party nominations. Here’s a rundown of who filed and which incumbents have removed their hat from the ring. (“I” signifies an elected incumbent office holder; “A” signifies an appointed incumbent.)

County Wide Coroner (4-Year Term) Democratic Thomas A. Yanac, Jr. (I) Republican Ed Kmetz Michael McCormack Treasurer (4-Year Term) Democratic None Republican Theresa Johnson (I)

Coolbaugh Township Supervisor (6-Year Term) (Two Seats) Democratic Anthony Tony Lamantia (I) Joseph Rogan Alma Ruiz Smith (I) Republican Brian Visakay Tax Collector (4-Year Term) Democratic Gratz Washenik (I) Republican None Auditor (6-Year Term) Democratic Phyllis Williams (A) Republican None Auditor (4-Year Term) Democratic None

Municipal Meeting Calendar COOLBAUGH TOWNSHIP Township Municipal Office 5520 Municipal Drive, Tobyhanna, PA 18446 570.894.8490 coolbaughtwp.org Currently, all Coolbaugh Township meetings are being held remotely online. Connection information is on the township’s website.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS – Board meetings are the first and third Tuesdays of every month. Work sessions begin at 6:00 PM and regular meetings beginning immediately after.

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL – The Environmental Advisory Council holds meetings on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 6:30 PM PLANNING COMMISSION – The Planning Commission holds meetings on the second Monday of every month at 6:30 PM PARKS & RECREATION – The Parks and Recreation Commission hold meetings on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 6:30 PM. MOUNT POCONO BOROUGH Mount Pocono Municipal Building 1361 Pocono Boulevard, Mount Pocono, PA 18344 570-839-8436 mountpocono-pa.gov Meetings are held on the second floor of the municipal building. Some meetings may be online. The official website is not usually up to date, so call the offices or check The Boro online for more information.

BOROUGH COUNCIL - The Borough Council holds a work session followed by a regular meeting at 6pm on the first and at 7pm on the third Monday of each month.

PLANNING COMMISSION – Meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month 7:00 P.M. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION – Meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:00 P.M. Regular meetings are held in the oddnumbered months, work sessions (as needed) in even months.

MOUNT POCONO MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY - The Municipal Authority meets in regular session at 7 pm on the second Thursday of the month, with a work session at 5 pm on the fourth Thursday. Meetings maybe via Zoom.

Check with the MPMA or The Boro online calendar for changes.

TOBYHANNA TOWNSHIP Government Center 105 Government Center Way, Pocono Pines, PA 18350 570-646-1212 tobyhannatownshippa.gov Currently, Tobyhanna Township meetings are all conducted using the GoToMeeting program. Check the website or contact the township secretary for connection information in advance of each meeting.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS - The Board of Supervisors meets the first and third Mondays of the month at 6 pm.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY - The EDA meets the first Wednesday of each month, at 6 pm.

FIRE COMMISSION - The Fire Commission meets the third Thursday of the month, at 6 pm.

PLANNING COMMISSION - The Planning Commission meets the first Thursday of the month at 5:30 pm.

OTHER MEETINGS POCONO MOUNTAIN REGIONAL POLICE COMMISSION - Pocono Regional Police Headquarters Building, 2454 Route 940, Pocono Summit, PA 18346.

All meetings are scheduled for the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm.

POCONO MOUNTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICT - All meetings of the Pocono Mountain School Board will be via Zoom for the remainder of 2021.

Meetings are the first and third Wednesdays, at 7pm.

MOUNT POCONO ASSOCIATION - Open to businesses & organizations in Blakeslee, Coolbaugh, Mount Pocono, Pocono Lake, Pocono Pines, Pocono Summit, and Tobyhanna. Meetings are the last Tuesday, at 10 am, usually at Pocono Rocks, but check in advance.

March 24 - April 8 2021

Republican Brian Visakay(A) Auditor (2-Year Term) Democratic Kelsey Beehler Hovi Republican None Judge of Election Coolbaugh One (4-Year Term) Democratic Barbara Dolhansky Republican None Inspector of Election Coolbaugh One (4-Year Term) Democratic None Republican None Judge of Election Coolbaugh Two (4-Year Term) Democratic Margaret Williams (I) Republican Robert S. Carvell Inspector of Election Coolbaugh Two (4-Year Term) Democratic None Republican Robert S. Carvell Judge of Election Coolbaugh Three (4-Year Term) Democratic None Republican None Inspector of Election Coolbaugh Three (4-Year Term) Democratic None Republican None Judge of Election Coolbaugh Four (4-Year Term) Democratic None Republican None Inspector of Election Coolbaugh Four (4-Year Term) Democratic None Republican None

Republican Karl E. Davis Ronald Emilie (A) Donald Struckle Mayor (4-Year Term) Democratic Michael Penn (I) Republican Randy Altemose Tax Collector (4-Year Term) Democratic Damon Keeler Republican Karen Struckle Judge of Election (4-Year Term) Democratic None Republican Colleen McGuire Inspector of Election (4-Year Term) Democratic None Republican None Tobyhanna Township

Mount Pocono Borough Councilmember (4-Year Term) (Three Seats) Democratic Patricia Bucco (A) Ann Marie Harris Michael Penn Stacy Stewart-Keeler (I)

Supervisor (6-Year Term) (One Seat) Democratic Tia Marie Fritz Republican Joseph C. Colyer Rachel A. Schickling (A) Edward Tutrone Incumbent not seeking reelection: John J. Holahan, III Tax Collector (4-Year Term) Democratic None Republican Linda L. Woehrle (I) Auditor (6-Year Term) Democratic None Republican Tom Schultz Judge of Election Tobyhanna Eastern (4-Year Term) Democratic None Republican None Inspector of Election Tobyhanna Eastern (4-Year Term) Democratic None Republican None Judge of Election Tobyhanna Western (4-Year Term) Democratic None

MaurRocks Jewelry Designs

Unique Handcrafted Sterling & Stone Jewelry Made with Love to Last a Lifetime I make each of my handcrafted pieces as if it is a gift for my daughter.

Because I use the finest, most reliable of materials, and assemble with precision, my handcrafted pieces are guaranteed for life.

- Maureen Cosgrove Jewelry Artist

Handmade in Mount Pocono with Gemstones from around the world paired with the finest sterling silver.

One-of-a-kind pieces for all of the one-of-a-kind jewelry lovers in your life. Shop online today

www.MaurRocks.com

Republican Alfred Kerrick (I) Inspector of Election Tobyhanna Western (4-Year Term) Democratic None Republican Marlies Kerrick (I) Pocono Mountain S.D. Board of Director (4-Year Terms) Region One (Barrett, Paradise, & Pocono Townships) (Two Seats) Democratic Christina J. Grape Garvey Nathan Strunk Republican Christian Chrisoffersen Christina J. Grape Garvey Nathan Strunk Incumbents not seeking reelection: Annabella Lastowski, James Gamble (A) Region Two (Jackson, Tobyhanna, & Tunkhannock Townships) (Two Seats) Democratic John Coyle (I) William Nathan Marion Pyzik Bert Rinehimer Republican John Coyle (I) Marion Pyzik Bert Rinehimer Incumbent not seeking reelection: Frank Pecci Region Three (Coolbaugh Township & Mount Pocono) (One Seat) Democratic Anna Lopez Michael A. Stern (I) Republican Anna Lopez Michael A. Stern (I) According to the CDC, it is likely that the coronavirus will still be in our community at the time of the primary. Whether you are concerned about public gatherings, have to work, or might not be able to get to the polls on May 18, you can vote from home using the new voteby-mail system. The so-called “no-excuse” mail-in ballot was passed by the majority Republican state legislature and first went into effect for last year’s June primary.

Any qualified voter can request a mail-in ballot (except those who qualify for an absentee ballot, who still must request that one). There is no difference, however, between the way the absentee and the mail-in ballots are cast or handled.

Voters can apply for mail-in ballots on line at the state voter website, VotesPA.com, or by calling the Monroe County Elections Bureau at 570-517-3165.

The final day to apply for a mail ballot is May 11, 2021 and they are due by 8 pm on election day, May 18.

Online voter registration is also available at VotesPA.com.

Today we are running some letters to the editor from candidates announcing their campaign. together with any position. Candidacy announcement letters should be limited to 250 words or be subject to editing.

All announcements, letters, headshots, & or other materials can be sent to NEWS@TheBoroNewspaper.com. They will be printed in the order received, as space permits.

March 24 - April 8, 2021

The Boro & Towne News

9

Answers to Today’s Puzzles on Page 10

March 24 - April 8, 2021

The Boro & Towne News

10

Eight PMSD Athletes Conference All Stars

Hiking & Outdoors

Get Out!/Maureen Cosgrove The ‘New’ Nothstein Trails Do you ever get the feeling that you know a place pretty well and then realize that you have been missing something pretty obvious and therefore don’t really know it well at all. I had that very experience myself while hiking a few weeks ago in the Nothstein Preserve in beautiful Paradise Township.

On more occasions than I can count, I have enjoyed hiking one or another of the loop hikes in that preserve. Because several bridges had been washed out sometime in the past and these stream crossings were necessary to complete it, I was never able to complete the main two mile loop trail.

That was, until this particular day when out of the corner of my eye I saw new trail blazes and a sign indicating a viewpoint. I

followed them to a beautiful view of the confluence of several streams, but more importantly, the blazes continued to the right to the first of two new bridges.

I didn’t immediately realize the implications of this new feature, but would shortly.

First things first, you can get to the Nothstein preserve from

Answers to Today’s Puzzles

Mount Pocono by heading east on Route 940 for four miles to the junction with Route 191 north where you turn left for 0.7 miles to Cranberry Creek Road where you can only turn right for about a half mile. The small parking lot will be on the left. Park and pass through the gate and follow the yellow blazes about two tenths of a mile to the first large wooden bridge over Cranberry Creek.

After crossing the bridge turn left and continue along the creek keeping it on your left. Just before you start to climb a significant incline look to your left to see the yellow trail blazes to the aforementioned viewpoint.

After the viewpoint the trail continues to the right a short distance to a second much smaller wooden bridge. After crossing the bridge it can be a little harder to see the trail but if you lean slightly right and look for the blazes, the trail hugs the edge of a small hill for a few tenths of a mile.

Next it comes out to a less wooded area and meanders slightly left down towards the steam. The blazes then lead you right alongside the creek and curves left to another beautiful wooden bridge over the beautiful Cranberry Creek.

Here you will scramble just a bit up hill for several tenths of a mile all the while along the edge of a ravine. Next you will cross a short open area and continue until you come out to a wide dirt road. Here you turn left and continue another tenth of a mile or so until you come to the old

SWIFTWATER - Michael DelGrosso, Athletic Director, Pocono Mountain West High School, released the list of Pocono Mountain School District athletes named to 2020-2021 All-Star teams by the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.

Christian Fermin, West High School, was named County MVP for the Boys Basketball Division.

Joining him on the first team was Justin Smith (West); named to the second team were Matt Campbell (West), Colin Castillon (East), Tamir Thompson (East).

On the ladies’ side, Vatijah Davis (West), Isabella Horvath (East), and Azahni Simmons (West), were named to the Girl’s Divisional All Azahni Simmons, All Star (Boro Photo) Stars First Team. quarry. I prefer to turn right just where you can look down into the old quarry.

I really enjoy the views of the Paradise Price Preserve Ridge from the ridge of the old quarry.

Continue along the small ridge to the other end of the quarry where the trail connects with another dirt road and here you turn left. After a short distance the trail leaves the dirt road and turns left again. The yellow blazed trail meanders right and then left all the while generally down the hill. The trail descends significantly in some places, but only for a short distance each time.

Finally the blazes will bring you back to the same wide trail that you walked in one just about a tenth of a mile from the parking lot, so at this point you are only steps from your car and have completed almost all of the beautiful two mile loop Nothstein Preserve hike.

Hope you had fun.

An avid hiker, Maureen Cosgrove lives in Mount Pocono, with her three shelter dogs, and her husband, Tom Ford. Maureen has hiked trails across the country and around the world. When not hiking and enjoying the out doors, Maureen is a nurse at LVHN-Pocono.

A & E PAinting & WAllcovErings intErior/ExtErior

(570) 972-6837 This Space Can be YOURS for only

$11.75 an issue!

Call us 570-762-2163

The Boro* Business Card Directory Place Your Business card into the hands of

23,540

Readers with a Business Card Ad in The Boro for only

$40

Now, That’s ALOT of Card Exchanges!

Duffy Services Same Location for 35 years!

Tax Preparation Bookkeeping & Payroll 441 Old Route 940 Pocono Pines, Pa. 18350 New phone 570-355-7310 Fax 570-355-7311 cdono1948@gmail.com

Christine Donohue

The Boro & Towne News

March 24 - April 8, 2021 BOROUGH UPSET from page 1

the council. She claimed that a recently-discharged employee, terminated because of racial and misogynistic slurs directed at Williams, who is a person of color, was defended by Neville and council member Patricia Bucco,

11

Williams and Walker confirmed that Walker has not signed any checks and is not an authorized signatory on the bank accounts.

Nevertheless, O’Boyle moved to terminate Walker immediately, and Neville seconded. Emilie said he agreed with the move.

“Get Off My Neck!” who supposedly did not agree that the slurs were proper cause for termination.

For his part, the mayor complained that Williams did not respond to his emails and phone calls. Williams said the mayor’s communications were “excessive” and she responded to what she could.

Penn rejected Williams’ claims that his move to have her replaced was racially tinged. He prompted catcalls from the audience, however, when he chose to adopt slogans associated with last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests in his remarks, such as when he repeatedly told Williams to “Get Off My Neck!”

Neville was finally recognized to make his motion, which passed with Neville, Bucco, Ron Emilie, and Fran O’Boyle voting in favor, and Williams, Stacy Stewart Keeler, and Aida Montanez against.

As part of his motion, Neville named O’Boyle to replace him, prompting Williams to sarcastically remark, “oh, sure, put the white guy in charge.”

Three meetings before, Neville moved against then vice-president O’Boyle, convincing council to remove him as vice-president saying he was not up to the task.

O’Boyle was replaced with Bucco. Ironically, it was Williams who, at the following meeting, defended O’Boyle and convinced council to re-instate him.

Asked why he felt O’Boyle was not capable of being vice-president in January, but in March thought he was competent enough to serve as president, Neville said it was part of his “strategy” to replace Williams with O’Boyle.

O’Boyle accepted the position, despite having previously argued that it was illegal to remove him as vice-president mid-term. He said he hoped to use the position to bring council together.

After Williams turned down a suggestion by Montanez that she be vice-president, Bucco made a motion to make Neville vice president. With Neville, Emilie, and O’Boyle behind it, the motion passed 4-3.

Borough Manager Attacked During the borough manager’s report, council members brought out the fact that the manager had not yet secured a bond, which was a condition of his office. O’Boyle, Neville, and Emilie said he should be fired for the failure.

Williams explained that it wasn’t Walker’s fault. Usually, she said, it is council president’s responsibility to start the bonding process. She noted that was the process followed with the recently-hired borough treasurer. Obtaining Walker’s bond was initially overlooked, but when they realized the mistake, the application was made and is pending.

The bond protects the borough for any checks that the borough manager improperly issues.

- Michael Penn

Penn handed notes to Neville, who reviewed them with Emilie and O’Boyle before O’Boyle’s motion. He refused a citizen’s request to explain the papers he was handing out to council members, saying only they were his “personal notes”.

Then the solicitor stepped in, saying termination would “be a little harsh”, particularly under the circumstances when it wasn’t Walker’s fault and he is not in a position to cause any harm to the borough accounts anyway.

O’Boyle persisted, but eventually agreed to withdraw his motion.

In a compromise solution, Montanez moved to “demote” Walker to borough secretary until he obtains a bond, and gave him until the end of March to do so.

Website Contract Rescinded Last month, council awarded a Blakeslee man endorsed by the mayor, Chris English, the contract to redesign the borough website.

At the March meeting, Williams complained that council was not told English was a sole proprietor. She also accused the mayor of improperly instructing the treasurer to send a check to

Scenes from the Mount Pocono Borough Council meeting. Top row, L to R: O’Boyle telling Borough Manager Joshua Walker why O’Boyle wants him fired; Penn telling Williams “Get off my neck!”; Emilie seated while Neville (standing) asks council to replace Williams with O’Boyle. Second Row: Bucco speaking against Williams; Williams defending herself; Walker answering questions; Bottom row, treasurer Danielle Hewitt, at podium, seat ed at council table, L to R, Montanez, Stewart-Keeler, and Bucco. (Boro Photos) English as a deposit on a contract which had not yet been signed.

Williams moved to rescind the award of the design job. The motion passed 4-3 with Bucco, Neville, and O’Boyle opposed.

In giving the job to English, council had rejected the borough manager’s recommendation of Proud City, an award-winning designed of government websites and platforms.

No recommendation on a replacement was made.

Treasurer’s Hours Increased

In contrast to the harsh treatment given to Walker, council decided to give their part-time treasurer more money than she was requesting.

Council hired Danielle Hewitt as a part-time treasurer to replace Lori Noonan. Noonan was fired by the council after thirty years of service, a move that resulted in the council paying a large settlement to resolve litigation over the termination.

(Walker was also hired to do part of the job Noonan was performing as borough secretary.)

Previously, Hewitt was scheduled for 16 hours a week at $25 an hour,

or $400 a week. Hewitt told council that she needed 28 hours to perform all of the tasks of treasurer, but that she was not looking for an increase of her weekly $400 pay. Hewitt proposed reducing her hourly rate to $14.28 to keep the cost the same.

Instead, Montanez moved to increase Hewitt’s hours to 28 without a change in hourly rate, for a total of $700 a week.

The motion passed 5-2 with O’Boyle and Neville opposing.

Council also voted to drop their appeal of a Right to Know request by this newspaper, which they lost in Monroe County Court.

Classified Information DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company.

Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait!

Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-877-5140641 www.dental50plus. com/boro #6258

DEBT RELIEF - The COVID crisis has cost us all something. Many have lost jobs and financial security.

Have $10K In Debt? Credit Cards. Medical Bills. Car Loans. Call NATIONAL DEBT RELIEF! We can help! Get a FREE debt relief quote: Call 1-888-586-0614

GUTTERS - Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debrisblocking gutter protection.

Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase.

10% Senior & Military Discounts.

Call 1-855-877-4006

AT&T TV - The Best of Live & OnDemand On All Your Favorite Screens.CHOICEPackage, $64.99/mo plus taxes for 12months. Premium Channels at No Charge for One Year!

Anytime,anywhere.Some restrictions apply.W/24-mo. agmt TV price higher in 2nd year. Regional Sports Fee up to $8.49/mo. is extra & applies.

Call IVS 1-866-597-1273

Boro Classifieds start at $10.

The Classifieds are one of the MOST READ parts of your community newspaper. It is also THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE way to reach your target market.

For More Information:

Advertising@theboronewspaper.com 570-589-0803

When you Need an Expert, The First Place to Look is The Boro Directory!

The Boro & Towne News

12

COVID in Monroe County

Better. But Not Good MONROE COUNTY Mar 19 2021 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pennsylvania is second in the nation in percent of the population which has received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine.

The CDC reports that nearly a quarter of Pennsylvanians have received at least one shot and about 12% are fully vaccinated.

Vaccine data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health shows that Monroe County lags the state and surrounding counties, with about 13.5% of its 0ver 170,000 residents having received at least one dose.

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health categorizes Monroe County as presenting a “very high risk” of infection with the coronavirus. That’s the second highest classification and certainly better than the “extremely high risk” level the county sustained from November through February. But it is still not good. The next level down from where we are now is still “high risk”.

Vaccine Info Online HARRISBURG– To learn if you are eligible for a vaccine and find a provider, use the state’s “Your Turn” tool online at pa.gov/guides/get-vaccinated.

Individuals without internet access can call 877-PA-HEALTH and speak with a representative to determine eligibility. If an individual is eligible, the representative will help the individual locate nearby vaccine providers and provide contact information so the individual can make a vaccine appointment directly with a provider.

Unfortunately, since the beginning of March, the trend has been up. An average of 42 cases per day were reported in Monroe County over the last two weeks, a 27 percent increase from the average two weeks ago.

After dipping below 10% briefly, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Monroe’s positivity rate - the percent of COVID tests which came back positive over a seven-day period - is over 11%. That is very high and the DOH says it suggests that cases in the county are under-counted.

Hospitalizations are down, but ICU occupancy has been high, with 80-90% of the available ICU beds in use over the last two weeks. Deaths have remained at about the same level. Deaths tend to lag weeks behind reported cases. Since cases have recently increased here, that could mean a rise in deaths will follow.

Pre-COVID an average of

15,000 people commuted daily to New York City. Most have resumed their commute and that is concerning for the county because cases in the city are on the rise.

According to city health department data, most of the new cases are being caused by variants, with 45% coming from the exceptionally contagious new one known as B.1.526. Anthony Fauci, MD, the director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the chief medical advisor to the president, has expressed concern over indications that the new variant may be more resistant to current vaccines.

National and state health officials have cautioned that, as the vaccine program continues to ramp up, to avoid a ‘fourth wave’ it is vital to remain vigilant and continue to follow mitigation practices, including masks and social distancing.

Aggressive Drivers Targeted Local and state police are participating in a regional aggressive-driving enforcement program from March 18 through April 25.

As part of the Aggressive Driving Enforcement and Education Project, the wave will concentrate on reducing the number of aggressive driving related crashes, injuries, and deaths on roadways throughout the state. Any aggressive driver stopped by police will receive a ticket.

The enforcement campaign will focus on speeding, distracted driving, and work zone awareness. Motorists exhibiting other unsafe behaviors, such as driving too fast for conditions, following too closely, or other aggressive actions will also be cited.

Municipal police agencies that participated in last year’s campaign wrote 43,349 citations, including 22,353 for speeding, 1,003 for occupant protection violations, 3,077 for red light violations, and 126 impaired driving arrests.

The enforcement is part of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Aggressive Driving Enforcement and Education Project and is funded by part of the department’s investment of federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

BACKED BY A

March 24 - April 8, 2021

Tobyhanna Township

Schickling Tabbed for Vought Supervisor Seat POCONO PINES - Rachel Schickling has been selected by the Tobyhanna Supervisors to fill the vacancy left by the sudden resignation of supervisor Lloyd Vought last month.

According to Sara May-Silfee, Monroe County Director of Elections and Voter Registration, Schickling will serve until a successor is elected in November.

Schickling, along with Joseph C. Colyer and Edward Tutrone, is a candidate on the May 18 primary ballot for the Republican nomination for township supervisor, along with Tia Marie Fritz, the lone Democratic Party candidate for the seat. However, that is the seat now held by supervisor John Holahan, who has not filed as a candidate in the primary.

According to Silfee, an additional supervisor seat will be placed on the ballot in November. The winner of that seat will take office in January and fill out the remaining four years of Vought’s term.

Schickling was appointed on a vote of 3-1, with Holahan opposing. Voting in favor of Schickling were supervisors John Kerrick, David Carbone, and Brendon Carroll. Kerrick initially tried to abstain, but voted for Schickling when the solicitor said that the nomination would fail unless three votes were cast in favor.

In addition to Schickling, Fritz, Mike Erlsten, and Joe Crandall submitted letters of interest in the position.

The supervisors once again deferred action on short term rentals (STR) in the township.

During the discussion some supervisors expressed concern over the burden that permitting and regulating STRs would place on the township staff and payroll.

The solicitor noted that, based

on the estimated number of STRs in the township, the fees generated would be enough to finance up to three full-time employees.

Among the suggestions made to reduce burdens and “keep it simple”, were to have property owners self-certify compliance.

Township Manager Robert Bartal noted that if they went with self-certification, they should include provisions permitting the township to inspect a property in the event of a complaint or as a random spot-check, in order to encourage compliance.

Several owners of STRs in the township encouraged the supervisors to move forward with some kind of permitting, since currently STRs are technically not allowed in the township.

Bruce Freeman has a home in Pocono Pines which he rents.

He represents the Lake Naomi Vacation Home Alliance, which he said has about 100 property owners. “Many of us want to retire (to our STRs)”, he told the supervisors. “Our main concern here is to get this approved and licensed as soon as possible.

Ricky Cortez noted that the Poconos “was built on” STRs, with the county taking in $18 million in hotel taxes, and at least “$1.8 million of that coming from Tobyhanna Township alone.”

The supervisors intend to take the matter up at their next worksession.

The supervisors also held a hearing on the request of Ahart’s Market to transfer a liquor license belonging to Velma’s on Sand Spring Road in Barrett Township, to their Blakeslee store for the sale of beer and wine. Following the hearing the supervisors unanimously granted the request.

YEAR-ROUND

CLOG-FREE GUARANTEE EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME OFFER!

15

% & OFF

YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE *

5

A

TO THE FIRST 50 CALLERS ONLY! **

WE INSTALL

YEAR-ROUND! LIFETIME

all telephone consultations

Promo Code: 285

Subject to credit approval. Call for details.

A FREE ESTIMATE

24 hours

FEES INCLUDE

WARRANTY

1

CALL US TODAY FOR

LLCs $395 formed within

FINANCING THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET!

2

R GU

% OFF

SENIORS & MILITARY!

OFF

1

RD

TE

1

’S

GU

T

E

NATIO

N

TH

+

10

%

1-855-877-4006

Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST *For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. **Offer valid at time of estimate only 2 The leading consumer reporting agency conducted a 16 month outdoor test of gutter guards in 2010 and recognized LeafFilter as the “#1 rated professionally installed gutter guard system in America.” CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 7656 License# 50145 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# 218294 WA UBI# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License# 2705132153A License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 Registration# IR731804 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# PA069383 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H License# 2705169445 License# 262000022 License# 262000403 License# 0086990 Registration# H-19114

name clearance certificate of organization operating agreement federal tax id

(state filing fee not included)

Protect Your Personal Assets Enjoy Available Tax Benefits for Your Business Income TOM FORD BUSINESS LAW OFFICE, PC Mount Pocono Aggressively Representing Businesses for Over 35 Years!

(570) 762-2163