Tick Borne Diseases Task Force Receives Award

Pike County's Tick Borne Diseases Task Force received an Environmental Partnership Award in October from the Northeast Environmental Partners during a dinner held at the Woodlands Inn and Resort, in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Pictured above at the awards dinner, from left to right, are Tick Borne Diseases Task Force members: Pike County Commissioner Ronald Schmalzle, Kelly Stagen of Hemlock Farms Conservancy, Task Force Chair Rosemarie Schoepp of Kids Play Today, Pike County Commissioner Matthew Osterberg, Dr. Cathleen Mattos of Dingmans Medical Center, Task Force Liaison Brian Snyder of the Pike County Planning Office, Jill Gamboni of Rep. Michael Peifer's Office, and Michele Long of the Pike County Conservation District.

The Tick Borne Diseases Task Force is an initiative of the Pike County Commissioners. The task force is focused on decreasing the number of tick borne illnesses by building community awareness through education, support, and advocacy. The award recognizes the Task Force for its strong partnerships with numerous organizations to raise the level of awareness and education regarding ticks and tick-borne diseases through school nurse tick removal protocols, legislation, and testing.

The Northeast Environmental Partners is comprised of Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, PPL Corporation, Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company, and Wilkes University.

Meetings of the Tick Borne Diseases Task Force are held on the fourth Thursday of each month (unless otherwise indicated) at 10:00 a.m., at the Pike County Administration Building, 506 Broad Street, in Milford. New members are welcome.

 For more information about the Tick Borne Diseases Task Force, email Community Planner Brian Snyder at call 570-296-3569.