There is a campaign going on by the DEC to eliminate a very destructive pest called the Spotted Lanternfly. This very colorful little fly does more damage to trees and plants than I can do to the menu at my local Carvel store!

The Spotted Lanternfly which originated in Asia has already been identified in several counties in New York. It primarily feeds on the Tree of Heaven a common shade tree that was brought to the United States from Asia in the early 1700's but now the critters are feeding on a wide variety of plants and fruit tree and grapevines.

According to a recent study published in 2019 by Penn State University the Spotted Lanternfly has already caused over $50 Million dollars of agricultural damage in fourteen counties in Pennsylvania and the loss 484 agriculture related jobs. This is especially bad for New York State that has huge agriculture investments in apples and grapes that generates $360 million dollars into our local economy.

It's a true virulent pest and highly destructive. Evidence has been found by the DEC of adult Lanternflies in fifteen of the sixty-two counties in New York State—all of which are near Pennsylvania.

As part of the community educational and conservation efforts the Cornell Extension will be sponsoring a seminar called Tracking the Spotted Lanternfly on Saturday, January 25th at 10:30 at the Crawford Library in Monticello. The presenters will be Dan Snider and Brenda Miller Field Managers from the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership.

The seminar is free, and registration is required in advance. For more information go to sullivancce.org or email sullivan@cornell.edu or call the Extension's campus at 845-292-6180.

Congratulations are for local business owner John Pizzolato of Barryville on his recent appointment to the Board of the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway representing the Town of Highland. The organization promotes the businesses, arts and natural river related attractions and promotes tourism along route 97 and our river towns.

Johnny will bring a wealth of marketing experience and the many remarkably successful events and new organizations he has worked with over the years that have built up and beautified the community of Barryville all due to his hard work and visionary planning.