Leadership Pike Open House Set For Feb. 3

MILFORD – Leadership Pike will hold an Open House & Reception on February 3, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Pike County Chamber of Commerce on 209 East Harford Street in Milford.  This Open House will provide an opportunity for individuals, organizations and businesses to learn first hand from Leadership Pike Alumni and Instructors about the benefits from participating in this highly successful certificate course.  Leadership Pike is a comprehensive leadership development program which offers individuals the potential to sharpen their leadership skills while networking with existing and future Pike County leaders.  The program also provides the ability to learn about Pike County’s assets, as well the major challenges facing the county.  For a comprehensive overview of the program or to download an online application, go to www.pikechamber.com.

The Pike Leadership program is a collaborative effort between the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, Delaware Valley School District, Northampton Community College and the Pike County Cooperative Extension. For more information about the Leadership Pike Open House & Reception, please contact Peter Wulfhorst at the Pike County Cooperative Extension office at (570) 296-3400.

Leadership Pike Seeks Applicants

MILFORD – The fourth Leadership Pike class will start on March 26, 2010. It is a comprehensive leadership education program designed to develop and sharpen leadership abilities. The program is a collaborative effort between the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, Northampton Community College and Pike County Cooperative Extension.

Leadership Pike offers a win-win learning opportunity

Students gain enhanced personal and professional leadership skills, develop a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing Pike County, and build a network of valuable contacts including classmates, alumni, community leaders and instructors.

Employers can offer employees valuable professional development training at a fraction of the cost, and gain more knowledgeable, well-connected employees with energy to get involved in community affairs.

Classes will meet the third Friday of each month from March through November from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at various locations throughout Pike County. Tuition is $450 and includes program materials and lunches. Scholarships are available for those who qualify. For more information on Leadership Pike, scholarship donations, or to obtain applications, please contact Penn State Cooperative Extension at (570) 296-3400 at 514 Broad St. in Milford, PA, e-mail PikeExt@psu.edu or visit pike.extension.psu.edu/Programs.html

Progressive Health Wins Display Contest

Danielle Jordan, Chamber Executive Director, David Wineburg, Chamber’s Marketing Committee, Beth Povanda, Progressive Health’s VP of Outpatient Services, Matt Dorcas, Chamber’s Marketing Chair and Amy Bridge, Chamber’s Marketing Committee.

MILFORD – The Pike County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that the winner of the first Milford Holiday Display contest is Progressive Health, located at 112 East Harford Street in Milford.

“Progressive Health showed their true holiday spirit along with keeping the Victorian theme of the building,” stated the Chamber Marketing Chair, Matt Dorcas.  The local business holiday displays were judged by the Chamber’s Marketing Committee based on the following criteria: Creativity; Captures the spirit of the season, Entertainment and Professionalism.

Progressive Health of PA, Inc. is a community based brain injury rehabilitation program owned and operated by Paul Brooks, CEO.  Celebrating their 15^th year of operation in Milford, they provider services to 50 clients and have a staff of 150 employees. Each year, representatives of their clients and staff come together to decorate their offices.  Decorating for the holidays has become one of the many traditions included in the Progressive Health experience.

Chamber Event Benefits Food Drive

The Pike County Chamber of Commerce rang in the holidays with a big party on December 15^th at the Hotel Fauchere’s chic and trendy Bar Louis. The entrance fee was a bag of food or a monetary donation, which all of the proceeds went to the Chamber’s collaboration with the Pike County United Way’s Food Drive.  Donations can still be made through the online food drive at pikechamber.com until January 1.  Thank you to all who were so generous in their donations.

Milford Tree-Lighting Dec. 5

MILFORD – The Pike County Chamber of Commerce announces that the annual lighting of the Holiday Tree and Star on The Knob will be held on Saturday, December 5, starting at 5 p.m. at the Community House / Library on the corner of Broad and Harford Streets.  Come and see the thousands of twinkling white lights in the trees along the streets of historic Milford decorated by the Milford Lions Club.  Members of the Milford Business Council will provide hot chocolate and cookies and the Dingman Delaware Choir will be performing holiday selections.

Simultaneously at 5:30 p.m., Milford’s Mayor Quinn will preside over the official Knob lighting and Milford Lion Bill Harkness will preside over the town tree lighting.  Then the moment that each child looks forward to as Santa Claus arrives in town on a Milford Department fire truck to listen to their holiday wishes and give them candy canes.

The retail shops and restaurants along Broad and Harford Streets as well as the Old Lumberyard, Upper Mill and Apple Valley will be offering huge specials, holiday sales and discounts during the evening and will be open until 9 p.m.  The businesses will also be decorating as they compete for the title of “Best Holiday Display” in the Chamber’s first holiday window decorating contest, assuring that window shopping is more delightful than ever!  The Chamber is asking all businesses to turn lights on by December 2 and to be a part of the community lighting ceremony. For more information contact info@pikechamber.com or (570) 296-8700.

Joining Together To Help

The United Way of Pike County and the Pike County Chamber of Commerce are collaborating in a joint effort to raise awareness and collect food during this holiday season, which will be donated to local food shelters.  In addition to can and non-perishable food items, personal items such as: toothpaste, bath soap, shampoo and toilet paper are also being encouraged.

“Hunger is a community wide problem that is not that visible,” said Christine Obser, President of the United Way of Pike County.  “By joining the efforts of our organizations, we hope to help more local people.”

You can help this holiday season by donating at any of the following locations in the Milford area: The United Way  located at 105 W. George Street, The Pike Chamber of Commerce at 209 E. Harford Street and the Pike County Human Development office on 107 W. High Street.   The Chamber will also be collecting items at the Holiday Tree lightening on December 5 at 5 p.m. at the Community House in Milford and at the Chamber Holiday Party at the Hotel Fauchere on December 9 from 5-7 p.m.  To have large donations picked up contact the Chamber at (570) 296-8700.

In addition, donations can be made online at www.pikechamber.com.  With the Online Food Drive, the food banks can obtain items that they need and can also stretch your dollars by purchasing overstock and closeout items.   In many cases, they can buy over four times as much as you can at the grocery store for the same money!

Chamber Hosts ‘Business of Flu’ Talk

The Pike County Chamber of Commerce has collaborated with Bon Secours Community Hospital to hold presentations by Dr. Joseph Cirello, titled: “The Swine Flu:  Implications on You, Your Staff, and Your Business.”

Dr. Cirello, a family physician with Bon Secours Charity Medical Group, will speak at the Pike County Chamber November board meeting to share information and to advise local community business leaders.  In addition, a free, half hour presentation will be open to the entire business community and to the general public on Tuesday, November 17 at 10 a.m. in the Chamber conference room located at 209 E. Harford Street in Milford.

“Being prepared with knowledge is the first step in protecting your business from the flu,” advises Danielle Jordan, Executive Director of the Chamber.  “If a blizzard was expected in our area, the businesses would be preparing themselves.  Taking the time and effort to prepare an Influenza Pandemic Plan is no different in protecting your business.  Here at the Chamber, we have prepared in case there will be a need for work-from-home strategies so that we can conduct our business remotely.”

“In addition, should the local public health officials recommend social distancing to reduce the spread of the flu, it will tremendously affect the local business community,” continues Jordan, “If the schools and child care programs close, that alone is a huge issue for a large segment of the working population.  Many events such as large business-related meetings and community gatherings will also be canceled.”

Jordan also advises, “I’m not sure how to overcome the social awkwardness of this issue, however, the business greeting of a handshake may need to be reconsidered during the flu season.”

Dr. Cirello, a board certified family physician, earned his undergraduate degree from  Fairleigh Dickenson University,  his Medical Degree from St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine and completed his Residency at Overlook Hospital in Summit, N.J.   Dr. Cirello has recently opened his practice, seeing patients of all ages, at the Bon Secours Health Center, 510 Routes 6 and 209, in Milford.  If you would like more information, please contact the Chamber at (570) 296 – 8700.

Leadership Pike Program Begins in March

The fourth Leadership Pike class will start on March 19, 2010. This comprehensive leadership education program is designed to develop and sharpen leadership abilities. The program is a collaborative effort between the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, Northampton Community College and the Pike County Cooperative Extension.

Leadership Pike offers a win-win learning opportunity. Students gain enhanced personal and professional leadership skills, develop a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing Pike County, and build a network of valuable contacts including classmates, alumni, community leaders and instructors.  Employers can offer employees valuable professional development training at a fraction of the cost, and gain more knowledgeable, well-connected employees with energy to get involved in community affairs.

Classes will meet the third Friday of each month from March through November from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. at various locations throughout Pike County. Tuition is $450 and includes program materials and lunches. Scholarships are available for those who qualify. For more information on Leadership Pike, scholarship donations, or to obtain applications, please contact Penn State Cooperative Extension at (570) 296-3400 at 514 Broad St. in Milford, e-mail PikeExt@psu.edu or visit pike.extension.psu.edu/Programs.html.

Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.

Local Candidates Respond To Chamber Survey

In an effort to provide information to the business community, the Government Affairs Committee of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce submitted four business based questions to all of the 2009 Township and Borough Candidates. The Pike County Chamber of Commerce is a non-political, non-sectarian organization and does not support directly or indirectly, the nomination or election of any candidate.

The following questions were posed:  What is your vision for business growth for Pike County?  Do you have a plan to manage the Pike County business growth?  How do you envision the co-existence of our precious environment and current and future economic development?  What is the most important current legislative issue concerning our Pike County local businesses?

The following candidates responded (in alphabetical order): Vincent Accordino, candidate for Milford Borough Council; Robert Cocchi, candidate for Lackawaxen Township supervisor, George Fluhr, candidate for Shohola Supervisor; Michael McGonigle, candidate for Milford Borough Council; Paul Menditto, candidate for Lehman Township supervisor; Matthew M. Osterberg, candidate for Milford Borough Council; and Denise Wagner, candidate for Milford Borough Council.

The candidate responses to the questions can be viewed on the Chamber’s Web site:  www.pikechamber.com

Chamber Hosts Legislative Breakfast

A state legislative breakfast will be held at Ehrhardt’s Waterfront Restaurant on Friday, October 9 at 7:30 A.M.  This legislative update is presented by the Wayne County, Southern Wayne Regional, Hawley – Lake Wallenpaupack and Pike County Chambers of Commerce.

This joint chamber event is open to the public and is an excellent opportunity to hear first hand about the issues that affect the area where we live and work.  Updates of the state budget will be presented and a limited amount of questions will be taken from the audience.

The legislative panel will include Senator Lisa Baker, Representative Sandra Major, Representative Michael Peifer, Representative John Siptroth and Representative Edward Staback.   The guest moderator for the event is George Roberts, TV-13 Senior News Anchor.

The sponsors for this legislative event are Boucher and James Inc., The Dime Bank, Ehrhardt’s Waterfront Banquet Center and Stephens Pharmacy.  The cost for a ticket is $12 in advance and $15 at the door.  Reservations are highly suggested and can be made by contacting the Wayne Chamber of Commerce at (570) 253–1960.