Northeast Section

Counties Bradford Schuylkill Carbon Sullivan Lackawanna Susquehanna Luzerne Tioga Monroe Wayne Pike Wyoming

Section Council Chair Cindy Campbell, Chair Regional Planner Department of Community & Economic Development 409 Lackawanna Avenue, 3rd Floor Scranton, PA 18503-2025 570-963-4574 fax 570-963-3439 ccampbell@state.pa.us Vice-Chair Christine Dettore Monroe County Planning Commission 1 Quaker Plaza, Room 106 Stroudsburg, PA 18360 570-517-3100, fax 570-517-3858 cdettore@co.monroe.pa.us Treasurer Jesse Ergott Lackawanna Valley Heritage Authority 1300 Old Plank Road Mayfield, PA 18433 570-963-6730 Ext 8203 jergott@lhva.org Secretary Janet Sweeney Pennsylvania Environmental Council – NE Office 175 Main Street Luzerne, PA 18709 570-718-6507, fax 570-718-6508 jsweeney@pecpa.org Peter Wulfhorst AICP, Professional Planner Penn State Cooperative Extension 514 Broad St. Milford, PA  18337 (570) 296-3400 fax (570) 296-3406 ptw3@psu.edu Ed Coar, Professional Planner Wayne County Department of Planning 925 Court Street Honesdale, PA 18431 570-253-5970 Ext 4060 fax 570-253-5432 ecoar@co.wayne.pa.us Marta Kovacs-Ruiz, Citizen Planner Wyoming County Planning Commission RR 6, Box 113 Tunkhannock, PA  18657 570-836-4769 kovacsruiz@yahoo.com Carolyn Doolittle, Citizen Planner Choconut Township Planning Commission RR#1 Box 1494, Friendsville PA 18818 570-553-2146 (w) 570 278-2601 fax 570-278-1838 rdoolittle2@stny.rr.com Jack Varaly, Professional Planner Varaly Associates 50 Finn Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18705 (570) 829-6261, 570-829-1090 fax jvaraly@ptd.net Dr. Marv Brotter, Professional Planner Brotter Consulting Services 1900 Cleveland Avenue            Scranton, PA 18505 570-341-2215, fax 570-342-5068 m_brotter@yahoo.com Steve Pitoniak, Professional Planner Lackawanna County Regional Planning Commission 200 Adams Avenue Scranton, PA 18503 570-963-6400, fax 570-963-6364 spitoniak@hotmail.com Mary Liz Donato, Professional Planner Lackawanna County Regional Planning Commission      200 Adams Avenue Scranton, PA 18503 570-963-6400, fax 570-963-6364 Tim Ference, Citizen Planner Conyngham Borough Planning Commission       P.O. Box 495 Conyngham, PA 18219 timfer@epix.net

American Planning Association Audio Conference
AICP Practicing Planner Series
Planning Law for Planners & Planning Officials
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
4:00 - 5:30 PM
Lackawanna Valley Heritage Center, Business Route 6 Mayfield, PA
Cost - $15.00/person
Click here for more information

State Planning Board Breakfast Forum
Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - POSTPONED
NEW DATE WILL BE DETERMINED IN THE FUTURE
Refunds will be given to those who have already registered.
9:00 -Noon (Registration @ 8:30 AM)
Monroe County Conservation District
8050 Running Valley Road, Bartonsville, PA
Cost - $5.00/person
Click here for more information

Joint Urban Studies Center (JUSC) Regional Indicators Forum
With a Special Presentation from David Thornburgh
A partnership between College Misericordia, King's College, Luzerne County Community College, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, University of Scranton, & Wilkes University

The 2007 Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties Indicators Report tracks data and trends that are critical to the region's future. The project measures the region's progress over time on key economic, education, public safety, health and human services, environment, and infrastructure measures portraying the quality of life in our region. This is the second Indicators report produced by the Joint Urban Studies Center (JUSC). It is going to be released to the public on April 26, 2007 at a regional forum at the Quality Inn in Pittston. The 2006 report data will be used as a baseline to track changes and each of the four task forces formed at last year's event will provide an update on their activity since the 2006 forum.

The report brings together in a single document a wealth of social, environment, and economic data that contributes to building civic agendas by providing a common information base for policy makers, non-profit leaders, and civic entrepreneurs. This thought provoking document sets a solid baseline as to where the region has been, where we are, and where we are going. The most important outcome should be the resulting dialogue that stimulates specific action in moving this region forward, in a thoughtful way and drives future priorities to improve conditions needing special attention. Twenty-four new indicators have been added to this year's report.

The forum will include a presentation on the indicators and the opportunity to participate in two of four concurrent workshops on education & workforce development, jobs & economy, housing, and land use & transportation.

This year, David Thornburgh, President & CEO of the Alliance for Regional Stewardship, will be the luncheon keynote speaker. The Alliance for Regional Stewardship was created in 2000 to serve as a coach and advisor to regional leaders and civic entrepreneurs around the country on the strategies and tactics that lead to results. Thornburgh is the former Executive Director of the Southwest Pennsylvania Economy League.

Panelists include, Mayor Chris Doherty, Mayor Tom Leighton, and Penny Cannella, participating in the jobs & the economy workshop. The panel will be facilitated by Glenn Pellino of the Lackawanna County Office of Economic Development. Dr. Tim Gilmour, President, Wilkes University will be joined by Peter Balsamo, Ph.D., Luzerne County Community College, Nancy Tkatch, Superintendent of Schools at Northwest Area School District, and Peg Moreck, Director, Apple Tree Nursery and Primary School, will discuss education and workforce development. Tom Lawson from Borton Lawson will facilitate the panel on Land Use and Transportation Planning. He is joined by Bill Letwinsky, Mericle Development Corporation; Cindy Campbell, Pennsylvania Chapter of APA, Nancy Snee the Lackawanna and Luzerne County Metropolitan Planning Organization, and Angela Watson of PennDOT. Joseph Terrana, Director of the Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania Partnership Office of Fannie Mae, will facilitate the panel on housing. Michael Johnson from Lewith & Freeman and Mike Hanley from United Neighborhood Centers will serve as panelists.

All elected officials, local government staff, business leaders, and non-profit organizations are encouraged to participate. For more information or to request a registration package, please contact the JUSC at 408.9850 or info@urbanstudies.org.

JUSC is a regional research based think tank created by six institutions of higher education in the region. JUSC's mission is to assist cities and counties with planning based on best practices and to direct implementation of revitalization and sustainability initiatives for economic growth and prosperity. The measures based upon best practices and applied research are designed to lessen the burdens of local government while creating a higher standard of living and quality of life for residents in NEPA