Grounded in Monroe

Monroe County Has Protected 131 Farms. Monroe County has 131 farms and 8,690 acres permanently preserved from development, at a cost of about $27.7M, according to the Pocono Record. The most recent addition is the 21-acre crop and livestock farm of Robert W. Field in Hamilton Township, the county easement we reported in our April 27 edition. It drew $213.8K in county money and $13.4K from the state. Pennsylvania leads the nation, with 6,781 farms preserved since voters backed the program in 1988.

Dozens Gathered for the "I Am Jane Doe" Rally. The rally we previewed Friday took place Saturday (Oct. 24) at the Monroe County Courthouse Plaza in Stroudsburg, according to WNEP. Dozens attended to raise awareness about sexual violence and show solidarity with every "Jane Doe," part of rallies held across the country after the accusations against fraternity members at Cornell University. Organizer Julia Rettle told WNEP that women have been telling her how meaningful the event is to them. If you or someone you know needs help, Safe Monroe's 24-hour hotline is 570-421-4200.

Have a great week, Monroe County.