Concerns deepen for Mountain Laurel

By DAVID HULSE and CHARLIE BUTERBAUGH

MILFORD, PA — Anticipated state funding that was supposed to support the 2005 performance schedule for the Mountain Laurel Performing Art Center in Bushkill has not been forthcoming and officials are concerned.

At the conclusion of their March 16 meeting, Pike County Commissioners Harry Forbes and Richard Caridi cautiously discussed the problem and their remarks had the tone of a eulogy.

“It’s unfortunate that this facility cannot get off the ground,” said chairman Forbes. “We’ve been supportive. We’ve done everything we could.”

Caridi explained that officials had agreed to provide $500,000 in state funding, $125,000 each through the efforts of two state senators and a matching $250,000 from Governor Ed Rendell. “The match from the governor has not been forthcoming,” Caridi said.

The cash, along with the anticipated revenues leveraged from the new hotel tax, was crucial for the center’s scheduling of talent for a performance schedule. Caridi had explained earlier that the commissioner’s February timing for their approval of the new tax was vital in this regard.

Failing to receive the governor’s portion of the funding, Caridi said arts center officials had made an unsuccessful attempt to get additional funding from the Pocono Mountain Vacation Bureau and finally the commissioners. “We were the last stop on the bus,” Caridi said, but the commissioners could not comply. “Our good faith and leadership has helped keep it afloat, but the tax money is too much of a risk,” Caridi said.

Based on the county’s refusal, Caridi said that the Mountain Laurel directors would meet to decide on the project’s future.

Mountain Laurel Executive Director Richard Bryant said he was waiting for “definitive word” from the state before the next move is made. No word had come as of this Monday. “We need to book our acts and get this last piece of funding so we can do it and do it right.”

Commenting carefully on the county position, Bryant said the commissioners had responded with the best information they had and expressed disappointment that there is no support from the state. “We’re still hopeful,” he said.

Forbes said the county was also waiting to hear from the governor. “We’re waiting for a callback from the governor’s finance person as to why they’re holding off. There was a lot of earlier discussion based on [Rendell’s] reorganization,” Forbes said.

Adding additional defense for the room tax, Caridi said its approval was “not just for Mountain Laurel.”

It included viability for Mountain Laurel, he said, but was also for the hotels and their marketing to increase mid-week occupancy.

Bryant said the room tax funding was vital but would not benefit the center until July. “We’re at a crossroads moment, basically,” he said.