State buys forest tract

WESTFALL — You’re invited to celebrate the conservation of the Polatnick property, 708 forested acres in Pike County. The Pike County Scenic Rural Character Preservation Board and the Pike County Commissioners are hosting a Sept. 21, 1 p.m. program, with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The purchase was funded through the county’s Scenic Rural Character Preservation Program, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and other private funders. The Polatnick tract, recently acquired and now maintained by the DCNR Bureau of Forestry, expands the existing wildlife area, extends the northern oak forests by adjoining protected state lands, and protects the headwaters of the Bush Kill (Millrift) Creek. It also opens the ridgeline for recreational uses and scenic enjoyment. DCNR Acting Secretary, John Quigley, will highlight how this acquisition fits into the Pocono Forest and Waters Conservation Landscape Initiative. Gather at the top of Cummins Hill Road, near the Stairway Lake parking access. Outdoor attire is recommended and carpooling is encouraged as you explore this newest piece of “green” in Pike County. For more about this event, please contact the Pike County Office of Community Planning at 570-296-3500 or by email planning@pikepa.org .