Rendell petitioned for state
of medical emergency

HARRISBURG, PA — In a move to quicken the process for solving the Commonwealth’s looming health care crisis, Rep. Kerry Benninghoff has begun circulating a petition among his House and Senate colleagues urging Gov. Edward G. Rendell to declare that the Commonwealth is in a state of medical emergency.

The petition also asks Rendell to convene a special session of the General Assembly, to draft, debate and enact solutions to the medical malpractice insurance crisis. Signatures from the majority of members in both chambers would force Rendell to convene the special session. Lawmakers are planning to unveil legislative proposals next week to be considered during a special session.

Weinstein, Kameen are running

MILFORD, PA — In separate announcements this week, attorneys Michael Weinstein and Joseph Kameen are announcing their candidacy for the open judge seat in the Pike County Court of Common Pleas.

The vacancy comes with the retirement of 25-year incumbent President Judge Harold A. Thomson earlier this month.

Weinstein is a former Pike District Attorney now in private practice.

Kameen is the current first-assistant DA, and is also in private practice.

Weinstein announced on January 27 and Kameen is scheduled to follow suit on January 31. Other candidates are also expected to run.

Caridi seeks Pike commissioner’s job

BLOOMING GROVE, PA — Richard Caridi, warden of the Pike County Correctional Facility has announced his candidacy for the office of Pike County Commissioner.

Caridi has lived in Blooming Grove Township for the last thirty years and has an extensive history of public service, including service in the U.S. Marines, and locally on the Wallenpaupack School Board and the Blooming Grove Board of Supervisors.

Caridi holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in business management and a Masters Degree in business administration. He is married and the father of three children.

Snowmobiling fatality

PANTHER LAKE, PA — A late afternoon January 23 snowmobile accident in Berlin Township took the life of a Lackawaxen businessman and seriously injured a Beach Lake man.

State police at Honesdale say Ronald Meling, 46, of Hawley was killed in a 5:30 p.m. accident at the intersection of township roads 417 and 419.

Also seriously injured was Eric Erhardt, 45.

In a media release, state police said “details are few” and sought the assistance of any possible witnesses to the accident, asking that they call state police at 570/253-7126.

Meling was a co-owner of Holbert Explosives in Lackawaxen.

Mamakating community leader
dead in car crash

SLATE HILL, NY — Elsa Greenwald, a long-time Wurtsboro, Mamakating area community leader was killed in a January 25 traffic accident in Orange County.

Greenwald, 63, was fatally injured when the car driven by her husband, former Mamakating Supervisor Dennis Greenwald, was struck by a car driven by Anthony Auteri, 88, of Middletown. Auteri reportedly ran a stop light at the intersection of County Road 49 (Waywayanda Avenue) and Route 6.

Dennis Greenwald was said to have suffered a broken hip in the collision and was admitted to Good Samaritan Hospital in Goshen.

Auteri was not seriously injured.

Mrs. Greenwald served as deputy supervisor for 20 years, and had long ties with the Mamakating Ambulance Corps, United Way and other charities.

Lumberland board meeting
time change in February

GLEN SPEY, NY — The next meeting of the Lumberland Town Board will start an hour later than usual.

At the request of Supervisor John LiGreci, the February 12 meeting at the town hall will begin at 8:30 p.m.

Senior tax assistance in
Wayne County now available

HONESDALE, PA — The Wayne County Area Agency on Aging has announced plans for the annual senior assistance tax program.

AARP Tax Counseling provides assistance with federal and state returns for county residents aged 55 and older.

To schedule an appointment, call the aging office at 570/253-4262.

Meeting on regulations to
prevent wasting disease

ALBANY, NY — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) last week announced a series of statewide public meetings to inform the public of measures to prevent the introduction of chronic wasting disease (CWD) into the New York’s deer herd. The meetings will aid in DEC’s development of permanent regulations for CWD.

“The meetings will present the most current information available on CWD and provide an opportunity for hunters, outdoor enthusiasts and other members of the public to share their views and concerns about our efforts to keep the disease out of New York,” Commissioner Erin Crotty said.

For the full text of the regulations see: www.dec.state.ny.us/website/regs/part189.htm on the DEC website.

The only meeting scheduled for the Region 3 area is on Thursday, February 13, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Granite Associates auditorium, 1 Cablevision Center, Sullivan Avenue, in Ferndale.