National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

NEW YORK — For the second consecutive year, NYSEG and AAA New York State are partnering together during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month to remind passenger and commercial drivers about the dangers of distracted driving. The companies urge drivers to take charge of eliminating distractions by focusing on the road ahead as visual and mental attention is key to safe driving.

According to AAA, more than 22 percent of distraction-affected crashes involved confirmed use of a smartphone. Texting and driving can have the same consequences as drinking and driving: deaths and injuries. In fact, distracted driving kills an average of 9 people and injures over 1,000 every day in America.

The companies jointly urge drivers to use caution when operating motor vehicles by increasing awareness, keeping mobile devices out of sight to prevent temptation and taking advantage of the “Do Not Disturb While Driving” setting. 

Takeout Thanksgiving meals available

HONESDALE, PA — The Thanksgiving Together Program will offer its annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner for local residents. This year, it will be takeout only due to COVID-19 restrictions. Advance orders are required.

The pickup of the traditional turkey dinners will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. only on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, outside of the Grace Episcopal Church Parish Hall, located at 827 Church St. The dinners are free, although donations will be accepted. Requests for the takeout dinners are due by Friday, November 20. To register, email Sue Erb at suerb@aol.com with “Thanksgiving Meal Reservation” in the message line or call her at 570/241-2684 (after 4:30 p.m. weekdays or weekends) to make your request. You also can mail your request to Sue Erb at Grace Episcopal Church, 827 Church St., Honesdale, PA 18431. The following information is needed: Name, number of meals requested, phone number and email address. Masks and social distancing will be required for those assisting with and picking up the dinners.  

Those interested in volunteer opportunities with the project can contact Sue Erb at suerb@aol.com and indicate when you would be available for advance preparation or Thanksgiving Day takeout assembly and distribution. Due to social distancing requirements, the number of volunteers will be limited and the volunteer schedule must be determined in advance. Volunteers will be limited to adults or older teens.

Donations for the Thanksgiving Together year-round program may be sent to Grace Episcopal Church, 827 Church St., Honesdale, PA 18431. Checks should be payable to Grace Episcopal Church with Thanksgiving Together on the memo line.

Pike County wins PA Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence

PIKE COUNTY, PA — On October 26, Pike County was one of 10 communities and eight individuals from across the commonwealth recognized as part of the 24th Annual Governor’s Awards for Local Government Excellence. Three Pike County initiatives garnered a 2020 Governor’s Award in the Building Community Partnerships category: the Opioid Task Force, Tick Borne Diseases Task Force and Reentry Coalition.

Governor Tom Wolf and the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) noted Pike County’s dedication and commitment to strengthening the community and better serving residents by fostering collaboration among public and private entities to create innovative solutions to three challenging issues.

The 2020 awards ceremony, originally scheduled for last April as part of “Local Government Week” in Harrisburg, was held virtually October 26 via webinar due to COVID-19.

Monticello Elks donate $2,000 to homeless

MONTICELLO, NY — Monticello Elk Lodge (MEL) #1544 has donated $2,000 to the Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless, a not-for-profit organization established in 1987. It provides food and advocacy to individuals and families in crisis situations. The funding is from a 2020 Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant made possible by donations from Lodge members. 

Gary Silver to receive 2020 SYDA Foundation Community Service Award

SOUTH FALLSBURG, NY — The SYDA Foundation has announced that Gary Silver of Liberty, NY has been selected as the recipient of the 2020 SYDA Foundation Community Service Award. This prestigious award includes a certificate of merit for outstanding service to the Sullivan County community and a monetary gift to be distributed by the recipients to the charities of their choice.  In 2020, in honor of the 35th anniversary the Community Service Award initiative, the monetary gift has been increased to $6,000. 

Since 1986 the SYDA Foundation has sponsored this annual award to recognize and honor local citizens for outstanding community service. The selection committee, comprised of past award recipients and local civic leaders, chose Gary Silver to receive this year’s award in recognition of his many years of service to the community of Sullivan County. Gary’s primary service focus is leading projects to support the basic requirements of those in need, including addressing food insecurity; participating on humanitarian missions to provide clean-water filtration systems; and supporting organizations that coordinate and deliver emergency local and global disaster relief.

Due to ongoing pandemic concerns, this year the SYDA Foundation Community Service Award will be presented in a virtual format. The virtual award presentation will take place on Thursday, November 19 at 10:15 a.m. via videoconference. To request the link to participate, email csa@syda.org.