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(Honesdale, June 16, 2009)…A group of private citizens in northern Wayne County made a bold generous move this week. Instead of putting the financially-strapped Lake Como Community Hall on the market, they gave it to Wayne Memorial Hospital (WMH) for essentially nothing but a promise to serve the community they loved.

      Thanks to the Old Home Day Corporation, the Lake Como Community Hall will now be a thriving medical center.  Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers, a separate entity from WMH but a clinical affiliate, will lease the building. Robert Dohner, DO, board-certified family practice physician and his staff at the Lakewood Family Health Center, part of (CHC), will move in next spring.

      “We heard that Dr. Dohner needed more space to provide much needed medical care to this rural community, so it seemed like the right decision to give the building to Wayne Memorial Hospital,” said Rick Green, president of Old Home Day.   “That way, everyone in the community could benefit from our gift.”

      Green said difficult economic times forced the Old Home Day Corporation to look for someone else, preferably an entity with a community interest, to take over the building.  “With the price of fuel and not being able to become a tax exempt organization, we realized that we would have to close the building at least during the winters, and, with the lack of use of the building during the summer, it was just not worthwhile to keep the doors open.”

      “I’m thrilled,” said Dr. Dohner, “and very thankful to the Old Home Day Corporation for providing us with a way to expand our services in this area.”

      The building, though not a community-owned building, was used for community events such as Friday night roller skating and Valentine’s Day dances. It was occasionally rented for wedding receptions. Am