State tosses out math regents

ALBANY, NY — After analyzing results of June testing where uncharacteristically large numbers of students failed, New York State Education Department Commissioner Richard Mills announced Tuesday that the state had made mistakes in the preparation of the Math A exam.

Mills went on to announce that for juniors and seniors local course grades could be substituted for exam results, and that scheduled August Math A testing is suspended while a panel of mathematicians determines what went wrong with the exam.

Freshman and sophmores may retest next year, but the review also may lead to re-grading of the tests.

The high failure rate had produced large numbers of seniors who would not have met standards for graduation. The Math A regents exam will not be given again until January.

Pike County gets advanced life support

DINGMAN TOWNSHIP, PA — Pike County Advanced Life Support (PCALS), the county’s newest emergency medical service started on May 21.

PCALS is based at the Dingman Township fire station, currently employing one chase vehicle with one shift of paramedics on call to service the county 24/7. In the first three weeks of operation, PCALS has responded to 59 calls and assisted 23 patients en route to a hospital.

More substations are planned and the not-for-profit agency is seeking public support to offset costs. Their mailing address for donations is PO Box 384, Dingmans Ferry, PA 18328.

Gunther diagnosed with cancer

ALBANY, NY — Assemblyman Jacob Gunther has been told that he has cancer.

The 50-year-old Forestburgh resident told the Times Herald-Record that doctors in Albany found a germ-cell cancer in a lymph node in Gunther’s neck.

The extent of the cancer’s spread was initially uncertain, and Gunther traveled to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan last week for further tests. In general the successful treatment rate for this type of cancer is about 90 percent, according to Gunther’s doctors.

Too much money for Wayne

HONESDALE, PA — The Wayne County Commissioners last week balked at a regional planner’s $5,000 funding request for a multi-county, long-term transportation plan.

PennDOT has contracted with the Northeast Pennsylvania Alliance to plan for Wayne and four other rural counties. The state and federal governments are picking up $275,000 of the expected $300,000 study cost.

Each county was to provide the same matching funding amount, but Commissioners questioned the fairness of Wayne paying the same amount as a more populous county like Monroe.

The commissioners took no final action on the proposal.

Roads to be paved

SHOHOLA, PA — Three Shohola Township roads will be seeing new construction this summer, if the weather allows it.

Township supervisors earlier this month approved a $45,757 paving low bid from Wayco Construction of Waymart. The projected work would include portions of Parkers Glen, Little Walker and German Hill roads.

World War II plane exhibit proposed

MATAMORAS, PA — A Matamoras resident has proposed that mothballed World War II fighter plane be developed into an exhibit at the borough’s Airport Park.

Peter P. Kozak has told the borough council that a Navy F6F Hellcat fighter plane is currently in storage in Maryland and could be available for Matamoras.

To conform with the borough’s insurance carrier’s requirements, the plane exhibit would be fenced to prevent injury from those who might climb on it.

The fighter plane would be in addition to the newly undertaken Pike County Veterans Park and Education Center being developed at the park.

Byway panel to meet

NARROWSBURG, NY — The newly incorporated Upper Delaware Scenic Byway Board of Directors will meet on Monday, June 30, at 7:00 p.m. at the Upper Delaware Council office, 211 Bridge St., Narrowsburg, NY. The public is welcome.

Elected officers are Chairperson Alan J. Sorensen, representing Sullivan County; Vice-Chairperson Larry H. Richardson, representing the Town of Cochecton; and Secretary-Treasurer Peter Osborne, representing the City of Port Jervis.

For more information, contact the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, Inc. at P.O. Box 127, Narrowsburg, NY 12764 or call Sorensen at 845/ 794-3000, ext. 5028.

Kern seeks district 5 seat

NORTH BRANCH, NY — Joan Kern, a four-year resident of North Branch and owner of La Serayna Bed and Breakfast has announced her candidacy for the District 5 seat in the Sullivan County Legislature.

Prior to relocating to Sullivan County, Kern was active in community affairs in Long Island. Kern was the founder and director of the Long Island Planning Council, where she directed community efforts towards achievements such as the Jones Beach Bikeway and preservation of 2,200 acres of the Nassau Watershed. She lobbied successfully for several Town of Hempstead tree preservation laws.

Kern has been active locally in the Sullivan County Tobacco Free Coalition (SCTFC), with the goal of promoting smoke free environments.

Kern holds a Bachelors Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Adelphi University and a Ph.D. in Natural Science from Clayton University.