Officials on hand for record $300,000 library fundraiser

Dingmans Ferry n A number of elected officials were on hand to lend support at “Enchanted April,” the April 14 fundraiser dinner-dance in Dingman’s Ferry to help fund the new Pike County Central Library. State Senator Lisa Baker attended with her husband, as did State Representatives John Siptroth, and Mike Peifer. Congressman Chris Carney was represented by Paul Maknosky, and Pike County Commissioner Karl Wagner by his wife Denny and daughter Joy. Milford Mayor Merritt Quinn attended. The event, which raised over $300,000 marked the official launch of the fundraising campaign for the construction of the Dorothy E. Warner Building. Barbara Buchanan, longtime President of the Board of Directors of the Pike County Public Library, was honored at the dinner. While chairing the library Board, she established the building task force, now charged with raising the funds for, and implementing and overseeing the construction of the new building on the Harford St. site purchased in 2005 with the Warner bequest. Since her retirement from the Board in January, Barbara has co-chaired the task force, which Maleyne M. Syracuse chairs. Barbara herself continues to work tirelessly on behalf of the library as well as innumerable other community charities, including Bon Secours, the United Way, Grey Towers, and the Pike County Historical Society, which honored her at another dinner, on April 27. “While I was very touched to have been recognized at the dinner,” said Buchanan, “it meant even more to see present so many supporters from both political parties. The new library is critical to the continued improvement in the quality of life in Pike County, where I have lived for almost 20 years. I am particularly thrilled by the amount we raised--$300,000— it reflects such a strong commitment by numerous individuals and families. “Many people who could not come to the dinner still sent contributions, in amounts from $50 to $5000. The proceeds from the dinner are about three times the amount ever before raised in a single night in Pike County, and are a testament to the importance that people attach to having a good library, as well as to the generosity of our corporate and in-kind donors, and of our volunteers, who have donated thousands of hours working to make the new library a reality, she said.” The objective of the evening was to raise funds for furniture and equipment for the 2,500 square foot Children’s Room in the new library. A generous donation from the Litzenberger Family Foundation matched the first $100,000 raised at the event. Corporate sponsors for the event included: Wayne Bank, The Biondo Group, Century 21-Roy B. Hull, PenTelData, Pike County Power and Light, L. R. Costanzo, Bon Secours, and Pocono Interiors. In-kind donations were made by Royal Doulton, Randy Auman and Jim VanDevender, Altec Lansing Technologies Inc., Carmichael Productions, Inc., Hotel Fauchere, Christine Taylor Collection Fabrics, Dawny’s Soup Kitchen, Le Gorille, Home Depot, Fretta’s Grand Union, Amy Jesaitis, Just Add Sugar, Mikasa, Pike County Dispatch, Myer the Florist, Seventh St. Coffee on Broad, Prime Time Meats, Price Chopper, Bonnie Zaruba, Walmart, Woodloch Pines Resort, and Woodloch Spa.