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Issue Home December 16, 2003 Site Home

HEADLINES:
Five Generations!
It's A "Community Memorial Bridge"
Centerpieces Delight At Holiday Workshop
Dairy Princess Visits Jones Family Farm
We're Here For You!
ASSETS Graduates Honored At Ceremony
RDC Discusses Tourism
Topics To Discuss With Your Aging Parents

Five Generations!

The Kenneth Colwell family recently reached its fifth generation, with the birth of Aydyn Wyatt Tweedie. Pictured (l-r) are: great-grandfather, Robert B. Colwell; grandmother, Denise a. Everett; mother, Kelly D. Tweedie holding baby Aydyn; great-great-grandfather, Kenneth C. Colwell.

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It's A "Community Memorial Bridge"

In an effort to bring together local communities, Great Bend Township recently sponsored a "Name the Bridge" contest, to provide a name for the new bridge on Route 11 over the Susquehanna River. They had a wonderful response to the contest (over 160 entries) and would like to thank everyone who took the time to submit a name. Thanks are extended to the three principals at the Blue Ridge School District for sharing the contest information with their students and allowing the committee to come into the school to present the awards. They also recognize and thank Peoples National Bank for their generous donation of $225 towards the purchase of the winners’ savings bonds.

Each of the following winners will receive a $100 savings bond: Blue Ridge Elementary School – "Endless Mountains Bridge" – Emily Guinan; Blue Ridge Middle School – "Endless Mountains Gateway Bridge" – Erin Dayton; Blue Ridge High School – "Hallstead Great Bend Memorial Bridge" – Harold McKinney; General Public – "The Community Memorial Bridge" – Bill and Sandy Llewellyn.

Pictured (l-r) are Supervisor George Haskins with the grand prize winners, Sandy and Bill Llewellyn. Chairman Robert Squier is in the background.

From these four entries, "The Community Memorial Bridge" was chosen as the Grand Prize winner. The Llewellyn’s received an additional $500 savings bond and their winning name will be forwarded to Representative Sandra Major so she can pursue the legislation necessary to officially name the bridge, "The Community Memorial Bridge."

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Centerpieces Delight At Holiday Workshop

Gold, silver, red, green, white, even purple – these were the colors that brightened the Holiday Centerpiece Workshop sponsored by The Garden Club of Montrose on December 10 at Montrose Square. Over twenty participants created lovely arrangements that will last the entire season using fresh greens, painted plant materials, ribbon and candles.

Happy participants at the garden club’s Holiday Centerpiece Workshop.

Gladys Bennett, vice-president of the garden club, was the instructor for the workshop. Other garden club members assisted and served delicious homemade Christmas cookies with tea and coffee. Those attending were delighted with their ability to create beauty from nature’s bounty. They look forward to impressing their families and enjoying their handiwork during the coming holidays.

The Garden Club of Montrose is a member of the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania and National Garden Clubs, Inc. Education and public service are two of their many important goals.

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Dairy Princess Visits Jones Family Farm

I have chosen to spotlight Scenery View Farm, owned and operated by Bill and Vicky Jones and their family, in Friendsville.

Bill was raised on this farm and although Vicky was not, her grandfather was a farmer. Bill and Vicky along with their sons, Casey and Bill and daughter, Julie Chilson and their families all work on the family farm. They also have four part-time workers.

They have recently increased their herd size, added a solar style, free stall barn which holds 200 animals and a slurry store. The total herd consists of 240 milking Holsteins and 160 Holstein calves and heifers. Jones’ have three freestall barns and own 250 acres of land and rent additional acreage. Jones’ harvested 238 acres of corn and about 300 acres of hay.

Three generations of the Jones family pictured with Dairy Princess Shana Mack in the newly built solar style free stall barn.

The parlor is an eighteen parallel, where they milk three times a day. Milking times are 2:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. This is a four generation farm; currently three generations work the farm. The Jones family have received several DHIA milk production awards.

I would like to thank the Jones’ for letting me visit their farm and I wish them luck with their new dairy operation.

Dairy Fact: Milk offers a powerful package of calcium and eight other essential nutrients. Recent studies have shown that the nutrients in dairy foods are effective in preventing osteoporosis, obesity, certain cancers and also reducing and preventing high blood pressure. This scientific research provides even more evidence that milk and dairy foods are a great value for consumers.

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We're Here For You!

Hi! My name is Tyson, I’m a six-month old male Shepherd/Rottie mix puppy who loves the world and everyone in it. That’s why I can’t understand why I’ve been here so long (too long). Please come see what a sweet-tempered, loving and handsome boy I am. I’ll be waiting.

I’m Buddy, the perfect Benji dog for some special person or family. I’m a one-year old male gray/black Terrier mix who has also been here much too long. A small to medium size sweetheart of a dog, I am quiet and well-behaved with a wonderful, loving nature. Won’t someone come and adopt me as their own special Benji?

Find your perfect pet at the Susquehanna County Humane Society Shelter in Montrose, (570) 278–1228.

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ASSETS Graduates Honored At Ceremony

Montrose – ASSETS is all about making a personal change through a program focused on helping a community change. This program, run by TREHAB, graduated a class of 23 budding and/or growing entrepreneurs at a dinner ceremony held at the Tea Room of the Montrose Bible Conference on November 13, with some 40 graduates, guests and program trainers in attendance.

The ASSETS Program (A Service for Self-Employment Training Support) is a training, mentoring and technical support program for persons in the process of starting up or expanding a small business. Dennis Phelps, Trehab's Executive Director, welcomed the graduates, whose businesses range from a barbershop to woodworking supply store and from day care to a medical billing service.

Mary Anne Waddington, ASSETS Program Coordinator introduced the graduates and presented each with a certificate of completion of the program.

The guest speaker for the event was Pennsylvania Representative Sandra Major. In congratulating the graduates she emphasized the importance of community participation, from starting up a business to voting, and of giving back to the community to make it better.

Other guests included outgoing County Commissioners Cal Dean and Lee Smith, whom Dennis Phelps thanked for their support for the program’s development.

Speaking on behalf of the graduates was Wanda Caster who presented a personalized, welcome bluestone to Rep. Major in thanks for her speech. Ms. Caster, along with husband, James, are the owners of Caster’s Creations, crafters of specialty painted products.

The other graduates of this ASSETS class are: Betsey Arnold, barbershop; William Arnold, stone quarry; Diane Brueilly, agricultural/produce; Cathleen Case, tea room; Millard VanDerMark, leather motorcycle apparel; Pam Walker, family recreation; William Wellman, internet sales; Mary Zalewski, health care info via mailings; Zlatko Lemut, farming; Cynthia Cleveland, medical billing service; Barb Dolny, women’s motorcycle clothing; Alexandra Giemsa, blue stone specialties; Donna Gleason, bed and breakfast; Angela Harris, day care; James Jones, woodworking supply store; Raymond Kemble and Lorna Schopperth, tire and towing; Lynnette Ryman, day care; Rebecca Silfee, accounting services; Michelle Stonier, bed and breakfast; and Raymond Telnock, investigations process and computer forensics.

ASSETS offers formal training in the form of a Business Design and Management course that includes marketing, finances, record keeping, legal and tax issues, management, insurance and advertising. Mentoring is also offered through the volunteer services of area businesspersons or other professionals. The ASSETS program coordinator also offers case management and follow-up to assist in business plan completion, locating loan sources, and making referrals to other support groups.

Anyone interested in learning more about the ASSETS-TREHAB program should contact Mary Anne Waddington at 278-5228 or 1-800-982-4045, ext. 5228. The next ASSETS class will be held in the spring.

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RDC Discusses Tourism

Tourism is the second largest industry in Pennsylvania, and the second largest industry in Susquehanna County. The tourism industry generates approximately 90 million dollars in Susquehanna County. When properly planned for, tourism can be a low impact, sustainable industry that preserves the rural character of the area, while increasing revenue and tax dollars.

Tourism was the main focus of the Rural Development meeting held on November 18. The RDC is exploring if there is a role that it can fill with regards to tourism, whether that function is as an educational vehicle, or as an advocate. There was a power point presentation on tourism facts and figures, and a discussion among the members. The members agreed that there was much potential for tourism in the County.

The following partner organizations were represented: Susquehanna County Soil Conservation District, Susquehanna County Literacy Program, Susquehanna County Planning Department, Habitat for Humanity, Montrose Restoration Committee, Susquehanna Economic Development Department, Chamber of Commerce, and Penn State Extension.

To learn more about tourism in Susquehanna County and to let your opinion, views, and ideas on tourism be heard, attend the Susquehanna County Planning Commission’s Community Forum on Tourism, January 14, 7 p.m. in the downstairs conference room of the County Office Building.

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Topics To Discuss With Your Aging Parents

It is said that love is the greatest gift of all. As many families gather together during the holiday season, it may provide a good opportunity to express how much we care through a frank and open discussion with older relatives about their well-being. As we age and live longer, financial legal, health care and long term care issues affect families, not just individuals.

The Eldercare Locator, a nationwide service funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging that links older consumers and their families to local aging services, has compiled a special guide to help families "face the facts" about these important topics. The following overview addresses some key areas of concern, suggested questions to ask, and ways in which families might initiate conversations about these often difficult to discuss topics with their aging parents.

Find out what financial benefits are provided by your parents’ Social Security and pension. Determine if they are eligible for other financial programs.

Be certain each family member has a living will. Know where all your parents’ insurance policies, wills, trust documents, tax returns, investment and banking records are located.

Understand that Medicare generally does not cover long term care, such as nursing home or extended home care, and Medicaid pays for nursing home care for low income individuals.

If you and your older family member are interested in obtaining long term care insurance, investigate what type of long term care insurance coverage may be best for your parents or for yourself. Generally, premiums are lower when policies are purchased at younger ages.

Identify what community services are available that can help your parents maintain independence in the home for as long as possible – such as home modification programs that can install assistive devices, such as bathroom rails and entry ramps, and home health and chore assistance. Learn whether housing options are available to meet their changing needs.

To obtain a free copy of the guide, "Face the Facts: Topics to Discuss Now with Your Aging Parents," or for more information on available resources for older citizens and their families, contact Joyce McClary at the B/S/S/T Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-982-4346.

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