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Issue Home February 4, 2003 Site Home

HEADLINES:
Locals Attend Inauguration
Artist Designs AAA Neighborhood Logo
It's A Boy!
Dead Battery Eye Safety
New Year For Garden Club
Janicelli Recertified As District Justice
Logging On A Very Cold Day
Peoples Announces Record '02 Earnings
Volunteers Needed
 

Locals Attend Inauguration

Area Democrats were represented at the Inaugural Ball for Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell held Tuesday, January 21, at the PA Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. A large number of friends attended the concert and ball. The inaugural and parade was held at the State Capital, also on Tuesday.

Pictured (l-r) are Tom Hurley, Governor Ed Rendell, Joey Franks.

Attending from Susquehanna County were Democrat State Committeeman Tom Hurley of Susquehanna; County Chairman Joey Franks, of Hallstead; Vice Chairman Nancy Hurley; Secretary, Rick Franks.

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Artist Designs AAA Neighborhood Logo

Artist, Marybeth Bolt, Bradford/Sullivan County volunteer Coordinator for the B/S/S/T Area Agency on Aging has created a new logo for the agency, based on her vision of an organization which is not institutional but, rather, part of a friendly neighborhood. It is a neighborhood with residents of all ages, including older citizens.

Marybeth states, "Many people hear the word ‘agency’ and think of something institutional or cold. That’s not the case at all with the Area Agency on Aging. We try to work with people in the security and comfort of their own homes. We also try to help people in other locations better their lives."

The Area Agency on Aging serves older citizens of all income levels wherever they are – at home, at long-term care facilities like personal care homes, and at other locations – all part of the Area Agency on Aging neighborhood.

Area Agency on Aging programs promote the independence of older adults, enabling them to remain in their homes with in-home services. For those who must relocate to a supervised living arrangement like a personal care home or nursing home, the Area Agency on Aging helps them identify the appropriate type of care and informs them of their rights in the long-term care setting.

Marybeth modified the Area Agency on Aging original logo, which consisted of three A’s, to portray a neighborhood of three homes with the three A’s for rooftops. A flag, a rocking chair, and curtains in the windows give the homes touches of warmth and comfort.

"We try to encourage seniors to be a part of the community," Marybeth says. "For example, our volunteer program encourages older individuals to remain as active as possible."

The B/S/S/T Area Agency on Aging, a nonprofit organization, is expanding outreach on its programs and other available help to all communities and rural areas in Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Tioga Counties. The goal of the agency is to assist older citizens with their immediate needs and inform others of available options and choices of assistance to help them plan for the future.

Look for the neighborhood logo and remember the Area Agency on Aging as a friendly community resource for older citizens, family members, and other concerned persons.

For more information, contact the B/S/S/T Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-982-4346.

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It’s A Boy!

Pictured (with mom) is Barnes-Kasson Hospital’s first baby of the new year, Devyn William Benson, born January 12, 2003 weighing seven pounds, eight ounces, to Rachael Benson, of Lanesboro. Proud grandparents of this handsome little fellow are Jerry and Sandy Benson, Lanesboro.

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Dead Battery Eye Safety

Incorrectly jump starting a dead battery can cause eye injuries or blindness. Statistics show that thousands of eye injuries occur each year from accidents resulting from exploding batteries. The US Consumer Project Safety Commission estimated that 5,536 battery-related eye injuries occurred in 1990 - many of which resulted in permanent visual impairment or blindness.

North Central Sight Services, a United Way Agency, stresses the importance of battery safety and recommends the following battery jump starting procedures to prevent serious eye injuries.

For maximum eye protection, wear safety goggles. Anyone working with car batteries or standing nearby should wear protective eye wear to keep fragments and chemicals out of the eyes should an accident occur. Before attaching cables, extinguish all cigarettes and flames. Make sure cars cannot touch. Set both cars’ parking brakes and automatic transmissions to park (manual transmissions to neutral). Turn off ignition. Add battery water, if needed; replace caps. Cover battery with damp cloth, if available. Do not jump start unless both batteries are negatively grounded and the same voltage. American cars are either 12-volt or 6-volt; check your owner’s manual. Never jump start a frozen battery.

Attaching the cables (do in order listed): clamp one jumper cable to positive pole of dead battery. Then clamp cable’s other end to positive pole of good battery. At good battery, clamp second cable negative pole. Then clamp cable’s other end to dead car’s engine block. Keep jumper cables away from carburetor, fuel line, any tubing, or moving parts. Stand back from both vehicles. Start car with good battery first, then start the disabled car. Remove cables in reverse order, starting with the engine block and other car’s negative pole. Then remove cable from positive poles.

Should an accident occur and battery acid gets into the eyes, flush them immediately with water continuously for 15 minutes. Consult a doctor immediately.

North Central Sight Services offers a free vinyl adhesive backed sticker listing step-by-step safety instructions that can be placed under the hood or in the glove compartment. This sticker tells a stranded motorist with a dead battery how to jump start the car safely. For a free sticker, send a self-addressed business size envelope to: North Central Sight Services, 901 Memorial Avenue, Williamsport, PA 17701.

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New Year For Garden Club

A new year is here and The Garden Club of Montrose is already hard at work. New and interesting programs are being scheduled, plans are being made for a flower show and ideas for civic beautification are being discussed.

Assisting other garden clubs is also a way in which the local club helps. Several members recently attended a meeting of The Back Mountain Bloomers Garden Club in Dallas, PA. Brenna Aileo, president of the Montrose club and current District III Director, shared information from the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania. Gladys Bennett, vice-president and past District Director, held an installation ceremony for the new officers of the Bloomers club. Shirley Andre, Master Flower Show Judge and Horticulture Chairman, gave ideas to assist the Bloomers in their upcoming garden tour.

At the present time, a young man from the area is attending college with monetary help from The Garden Club of Montrose. The club hopes that more students will contact Shirley Andre, Scholarship Chairman, for information about the scholarship project. Her contact number is 278-1814. She will be happy to hear from young and/or older students.

The Garden Club of Montrose welcomes visitors and guests to attend its meetings. Dates and times may be obtained from Brenna Aileo at 278-9703 or Gladys Bennett at 278-3106.

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Janicelli Recertified As District Justice

Harrisburg – District Justice Peter M. Janicelli was again certified for service as a member of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System after successful completion recently of continuing legal education course work. Conducted by the Minor Judiciary Education Board and the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC), the "school" for district justices is held in Chambersburg, PA.

The week-long instructional program is designed to ensure that district justices remain current in a variety of legal topics and management techniques required to fairly adjudicate cases and effectively run a district justice office. Included in this year’s curriculum are updates on Civil and Criminal Law and the Motor Vehicle Code; an overview of Consumer Protection Law; and a presentation by the alliance for the Mentally Ill of Pennsylvania.

Continuing education course work is required by statute of each of the more than 500 Pennsylvania district justices, with approximately 45 district justices attending one of 14 such classes at some time during each year.

District justices represent the "grassroots" level of Pennsylvania's judicial system. In counties other than Philadelphia, district justices have jurisdiction over summary, criminal and motor vehicle cases; landlord-tenant matters; and other civil actions where the amount claimed does not exceed $8,000. District justices may also accept guilty pleas in misdemeanor cases of the third degree under certain circumstances. They also have jurisdiction to issue arrest and search warrants and to hold arraignments and preliminary hearings in criminal cases.

Established by constitution, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts provides support to the Supreme Court in exercising its supervisory duties over each of the other state courts. The Minor Judiciary Education Board was established by legislative act to administer the continuing education program for district justices and Philadelphia bail commissioners, as well as certifying courses for district justices, bail commissioners and other minor court judges.

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Logging On A Very Cold Day

Friday, January 23. At 7:30 this morning I greeted Dan Hartranft, Game of Logging instructor in the Paul Oleyar driveway. He was taking his chain saw toolbox into the warm garage for a Game of Logging, level two session. I had brought coffee and doughnuts for the class. Our hosts, Paul and his son, Skip, had been joined by early bird Walt Vosefsky from Hart Lake. Walt recognized me from last fall, when he came to our farm for level one.

We were meeting in the basement garage. A wood stove had taken the chill off the room, but talk turned quickly to the bitter cold. Dan asked how deep the snow was. In Montoursville, it was an ideal three to four inches, he said. Paul reported it was about halfway up to his knees, making outdoor work possible, but not easy. Dan had heard that the loggers were shut down in Vermont, where the snow cover was four to five feet.

Art Lucarelli arrived, and the talk continued, as we waited for latecomers. Art showed us a scar on his leg. "Chain saw kissed me," he said. "I was cutting a sapling on the hill, and I slipped. I didn’t even have my hand on the trigger, but you know how the chain will still keep on turning? It didn’t even bleed," he continued, "but it was wide, the width of the chain. I drove to Scranton, to the emergency room and they put in six stitches." Dan remarked, "The chain is so hot, it cauterizes the blood vessels so they don’t bleed." Dan continued that the bar oil can be bad on the wound. Art said he bought chaps the very next day, and decided to take the safety training.

Paul pulled out a Carhart coverall, his battle scar. He was lucky. The chain didn’t touch his skin. There was a V of silver duct tape over the left knee area, and a patch inside. He, too, had come to the course after a narrow escape.

Dan had everyone bring in their saws to get started. Since this was level two, the class would spend about two hours in the warmth, learning chain saw maintenance before felling and limbing trees and dealing with spring poles in the bitter cold.

Skip brought out his saw diffidently. Did Dan mind if he used it today. It didn’t have a chain brake. He was planning to get a new saw. Dan said okay, but that he’d advise a new saw – for safety.

The class got down to business. I went home to write announcements about future courses.

The February 22 class at Pease’s in Jackson Township is changed to a level one. Level three is being held February 8 at Nagle’s in Dimock. The Nature Conservancy is giving classes in Monroe County through our grant. Level one February 15 has a waiting list; level two March 15 is close to full. They have asked for more dates. "Game of Logging is catching on, and the grant period will close this June," said Bob Hotchkiss of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. "If you’re serious about taking it, now is the time to call."

To register or for more information, call the NRCS office at (570) 278–1011, ext. 101.

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Peoples Announces Record ‘02 Earnings

The Board of Directors of Peoples Financial Services Corp. (PFSC) increased the regular quarterly dividend on common stock to $0.24 per share at the January 3, 2003 meeting. The dividend will be paid on February 14, 2003 to shareholders of record on January 31, 2003. This marks the third time in the last four quarters that dividends have been increased.

Record net income recorded at $5,015,000 compared to $4,836,000 in 2001 led to the increase in dividends. The policy of the Company is to share earnings with the holders of common stock.

Peoples Financial Services Corp. is the parent company of Peoples National Bank headquartered in Hallstead PA. Community offices are located in the Hallstead Shopping Plaza, Hop Bottom, Susquehanna, and Montrose in Susquehanna County; Nicholson, Tunkhannock, and Meshoppen in Wyoming County and in the Price Chopper Super Market, Norwich, Chenango County, NY.

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Volunteers Needed

Volunteers are needed to deliver meals to the homebound elderly in Susquehanna County. Volunteer time is approximately one day per week, two hours per day, between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., with mileage reimbursement. Drivers are currently needed at the Lanesboro Senior Center, Mondays; substitutes are also needed for all routes. For information, call Barnes-Kasson Senior Services at 1-800-763-8925 or 278-3277.

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