PIKE COUNTY, PA-Pike County Commissioners Matthew Osterberg and Ronald Schmalzle look forward to their campaign for re-election in 2023. While serving the residents of Pike County, the team of Osterberg/Schmalzle has developed important and meaningful initiatives to improve and save lives, including:
* An Emergency Medical Services Matching Grant Program that has reduced ambulance response time in Pike’s municipalities by 30%
* Bringing urgent care facilities to Pike County
* Dedicating $2,000,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for the creation of a Pike County Medical Foundation
* Increasing senior housing
* County Job Fairs
* An award-winning Tick Born Disease Task Force
* Reopening the Mott Street Bridge in Milford
* A new modern and safe County Courthouse
* An infrastructure program to repair and replace county bridges and roads, most recently completing the repair of the Kimbles Bridge, and paving of Owego Turnpike. Future projects include repair or replacement of Springbrook Road Bridge, Shohola Creek Bridge, and Creek Road Bridge in Lehman.
* Embracing technology to create more efficient operations for county employees and improved delivery of services to residents and visitors
* Recruiting and retention of quality personnel with competitive wages and benefits to serve residents and visitors
*Seeking all available state and federal grants and funding opportunities to keep taxes stable
Under the leadership of Team Osterberg/Schmalzle, Pike County sued Opoid Manufacturers before the state because it was the right and practical thing to do. Their forward thinking resulted in Pike being awarded additional funds for addiction prevention, treatment and recovery.
COVID was one of the worst pandemics in world history and Team Osterberg/Schmalzle pledged to protect Pike County by upholding the Pocono Promise! They worked hard to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of Pike residents, employees, and visitors by following federal, state, and local guidelines. They also prioritized acting swiftly and creatively to support the Pike business community with needed cash flow and practical guidance to help keep doors open.
What is in the future?
Osterberg and Schmalzle know how important medical services are needed in Pike County. They have committed to improving medical services and soon county residents will see that hard work pay off with the opening of two new Urgent Cares serving the county. A recycling center/transportation hub will be opened on the former PennDOT Bennett Avenue property in Milford. This recycling center will provide focus on employment opportunities for the intellectual and physically disabled.
Team Osterberg/Schmalzle will continue to prioritize responsible infrastructure development, sustainable job creation, healthcare and emergency service, introducing and embracing technology, and beneficial partnerships with all Pike County municipalities, neighboring counties, state and federal agencies.
Matthew Osterberg and Ron Schmalzle have proven themselves as county leaders. They are looking forward to running for another term to continue serving the county and all its residents. In the coming months they will be setting up a campaign committee and will be asking for your support. If you would like to help, please contact Matt at 201-281-1161 or mattosterberg@gmail.com, and Ron at 570-647-7198 or ron@ski-bigbear.com.
About Matthew Osterberg: Matt has been married to the former Carol Colaiaco for 38 years. They have two children, Stephanie and Michael. Stephanie Kozminski, a 2009 Penn State graduate resides with her husband Tom in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania. They have one daughter, Ava. Michael, a 2011 Penn State graduate and a 2015 graduate of Roger Williams Law School, resides with his wife Christine in El Paso, Texas. They have two daughters, Aria and Sabrina.
Matt was born in Staten Island, N.Y. in 1957. He graduated from Delaware Valley High School in 1976 and from Penn State University in 1983 with a BA in History. Matt worked locally for Luhrs Hardware in Milford for 35 years while going to school and after graduation. This career in small business trained him to respect small-town values and to assist residents with their everyday issues. Working in a hardware store also taught him how to solve problems. As a county commissioner and community leader that is exactly what Matt has done since 1987 when he started on the Milford Borough Council.
Matt served a total of 25 years on the Borough Council, 22 years of which he spent as President. As Borough President, Matt tirelessly worked to protect Milford’s historical character and small-town charm. In 1998, he led the way in establishing the Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) to ensure the preservation of Milford’s historic legacy. He provided instrumental efforts in securing countless grants that rejuvenated sidewalks, street corners and parks throughout the Borough.
In 2011, the people of Pike County elected Matt to his first term as Pike County Commissioner. He is currently serving his third term, bringing years of dedicated service to local residents.
Matt has had the honor to work with five different talented and distinguished County Commissioners: Karl Wagner, Rich Caridi, Ron Schmalzle, Steve Guccini, and Tony Waldron. For much of his time on the board, Matt served as Chairman, leading the meetings and setting the agenda for the County. Through his decade of service, his fellow commissioners and he accomplished many important goals. Highlights include: The construction of a new County Courthouse to better serve and accommodate our growing county, the refurbishment of the Mott Street Bridge to preserve a historical landmark and provide better, safer access to the area’s natural beauty, the creation of the Tick-Borne Disease Task Force to provide public health resources to the community, and the expansion of senior housing to fill the need for affordable and accessible accommodations for area senior citizens.
Matt is an active member of Saint Patrick’s Church in Milford. He also belongs to the John Paul II Knights of Columbus and the Port Jervis Elks Club. He previously served as the Chairman of Pike County United Way and currently serves on the boards of the Minisink Valley Historical Society and the Pike County Chamber of Commerce. Matt also serves as President of Milford Community House Association where he organized the effort to bring a much-needed visitors center to the eastern region of Pike County.
In addition to his many civic responsibilities, Matt has also authored five local history books: Matamoras to Shohola: A Journey Through Time, Port Jervis, Dingmans Ferry, Port Jervis: Then and Now, and The Delaware and Hudson Canal and Gravity Railroad. In 1999, Matt was given the coveted Upper Delaware Heritage Alliance Award for his book Matamoras to Shohola: A Journey Through Time. In October of 2022, Matt was inducted into the Delaware Valley High School Hall of Fame. This distinguished award recognizes his many years of community service.
About Ronald Schmalzle: Ron is a fourth generation Pike County resident and his wife of 39 years, the former Maryann Callahan, a retired second grade teacher, have four adult children, Stephanie, Jonathan, Rachel and Carter, and four grandchildren. Ron has lived in Pike County his entire life and has built a career developing first generation businesses in the county. Ron’s desire to live and raise his family here was the driving force in creating his family of local businesses with his brother Randy, and with the support of his parents Robert and Anne.
These companies and management contracts employ more then 750 seasonal, part-time and full-time people and create the opportunity for many young people to have their first work experiences. The family operates two of the main tourist attractions in the county and one of the largest homeowner community associations. Ron, himself, has been the Executive Director of the largest children’s summer camp in the county for more than 25 years. As a business owner and manager Ron acquired a myriad of varied skills and most are common to both business and government operations.
“Through hard work, creativity and a steadfast commitment to a high level of service and product in all our businesses, I am fortunate to be in a position to serve the community and provide leadership and involvement in many volunteer based activities and organizations. I am also able to step away from the businesses because of the partnership with my brother and a very capable management team. I would like to continue serving the community further as a Commissioner and believe I can continue to be a dynamic and forward thinking leader with a keen focus on what is best for the people who live and visit Pike County. There are a number of initiatives and goals that I would like to complete in another term and also many new things that will benefit the residents of Pike County,” said Schmalzle.
Ron was appointed as Commissioner in 2018 and then elected to a four-year term in 2019. Ron’s previous and current organization and volunteerism involvement in Pike and Wayne counties include:
* Chairman of the Pike County Hotel Tax Board
* Board of Trustees Wayne Memorial Hospital and Wayne Memorial Healthcare Systems
* Chairman of the Pike Marcellus Shale Task Force Economic Committee
* Past Campaign Chair and Board Member of Pike County United Way
* Pennsylvania Ski Area Association Committee Member
* 35 year PIAA Soccer Official, Chapter President, Chapter Interpreter and District 2 Interpreter
* Coach and Past League Organizer, Wallenpaupack Youth Basketball and Soccer programs
* Volunteer Coach Wallenpaupack High School Varsity Boys Basketball & Varsity Boys and Girls Track
* 2018 honoree of The Richard L. Snyder Excellence in Business Award that recognizes outstanding corporate philanthropic leaders in Pike County.
* Wayne County Athletic Hall of Fame
* Board Member – Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management District
* Board Member – Pike County Conservation District
* County Commissioner Representative to Pike County Planning Commission