HEADLINES:
Local Farm Bureau Get Top PA Awards
Bridge Of Honor For Sea Scouts
PARSE Meets
Janicelli Recertified Magisterial Judge
Gift To Garden Club
Flower Show Awards
Turnpike Senior Center Update
Local Farm Bureau Get Top PA Awards
Susquehanna County Farm Bureau (SCFB) won an unprecedented ten awards, including the prestigious All Star Award during PA Farm Bureau’s 55th annual meeting in Hershey, PA.
The All Star Award is the most coveted award a county Farm Bureau can receive. It goes to the cream of the crop among the 54 county Farm Bureaus in PA. “The overall effort from members of Susquehanna County Farm Bureau was remarkable, with volunteers putting forth outstanding efforts in a wide variety of program areas,” said PFB President Carl T. Shaffer. Pres. Shaffer presented nine other awards to SCFB on November 14, at the program award membership recognition dinner. First Place Overall Achievement Award for outstanding performance in the nineteen program areas, first place in Organization Structure, Public Relations and Information, Women’s Program, Promotion and Education, Policy Development, PA Friends of Ag Foundation, Ag Commodity Program and Contract Services.
Pictured (l-r) at the annual meeting are: Richard Ebert – PFB V. Pres.; Kathie Shelly – SCFB V. Pres., Promotion/Education; Carl Shaffer – PFB Pres.; Janice Webster – SCFB Ag Communicator; Donna Williams – SCFB Pres.; Cheryl Matulevich – SCFB Women’s Committee; Barb Roszel – SCFB Membership Processor; Rick Empet – SCFB Young Farmer/Rancher.
Susquehanna County Farm Bureau also received Honorable Mention recognition for accomplishments in Membership, National Legislative Program, Local Affairs, Political Education and Nationwide Insurance.
Program and achievement awards were among many items on the agenda during PA Farm Bureau’s 55th annual meeting. Several hundred farm bureau members, from across the state met to set policy on issues affecting farm and rural families. Farm bureau members were “pulling together for agriculture.”
Susquehanna County Farm Bureau members attending were Al and Barbara Roszel, Donna Williams, Rick Empet, Kathie Shelly, Cheryl Matulevich and Janice Webster.
PA Farm Bureau is a voluntary organization with a membership of more than 37,500 farm and rural families, representing farms of every size and commodity across the Keystone State.
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Bridge Of Honor For Sea Scouts
The crew of Sea Scout Ship North Star, New Milford, PA, held their 60th Bridge of Honor on November 21, in the Sea Scout Hall, Division Street, New Milford.
Bell time of 7:00 p.m. was struck on the ship’s bell and the bugler sounded assembly for the crew to muster on board the land-ship. Skipper Chuck Jaget was then piped aboard by Boatswain Mate Ben Fisher. After a uniform inspection of the crew by the skipper and Boatswain Dave Navickas and officers’ reports by the ship’s quarterdeck, Sea Scout rank and awards were presented by Skipper Jaget and First Mate Marvin VanCott. In addition to service stars, merit badges and long cruise arcs awarded to the crew Sea Scout rank of Apprentice Seaman were awarded to Dan Gall, Maria Preston, Tim Gall, Phil VanCott and Josh Neary. Earning the next rank of Ordinary Seaman was Ben Fisher.
Seabadge recipients (l-r) were First Mate Marvin VanCott and Skipper Chuck Jaget.
Commodore Ron Hall of the Sea Scouts and Commander Eddy Arnold of the Great Bend VFW were then piped aboard. Commodore Hall presented the Ship’s Charter to Committee Chairman Don Johnson of the Sea Scouts for another year (Ship 90 will be 63 years old in March, 2006). Commodore Hall recognized the earning of the prestigious Seabadge sliver trident emblem by Skipper Charles (Chuck) Jaget and First mate Marvin VanCott. They attended the Northeast Region Sea Scout Seabadge Conference held this past October at the Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay, Baltimore, MD. Seabadge requires a prerequisite of venturing and Sea Scout officers’ training courses and other requirements before you can be nominated by the local BSA Council.
Eddy Arnold, the VFW Commander congratulated and encouraged all the Sea Scouts to keep up their hard work in the crew as good role models and citizens in the community. Commander Arnold felt right at home aboard the land-ship being a retired Chief Petty Officer from the US Navy.
Silver Award recipients (l-r) were Ben Fisher and Dave Navickas.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of two Silver Anchor Awards to two very deserving Sea Scouts of the crew. Boatswain David Navickas and Boatswain Mate Benjamin Fisher were presented the Silver Anchor medals and certificates by Skipper Chuck Jaget. They both hold Ordinary Sea Scout rank, have taught many of the classes on boating and seamanship skills to the crew and have participated in many canoe trips, sailing small and large sailboats and numerous other activities of Ship 90.
Fellowship and refreshments followed the bridge of honor. Young men and women between 14 and 20 who are interested in joining should contact Skipper Chuck Jaget at 756–2805 or Commodore Ron Hall at 465–3218.
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PARSE Meets
By Cynthia Sims
The Pennsylvania Association of Retired State Employees met on Election Day, November 8, at the Lutheran Church in Dushore.
Regional Vice President, Clara Smith reported on the PARSE state officers’ meeting. She stated that future meetings will be two days. Also, the bylaws and constitution will be rewritten. President Arnold thanked Mrs. Smith for keeping our chapter so well informed about the state level meetings. Jesse Bacon attended the state meeting. He reported that probably nothing would be done on the House Bills for Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), until after the legislative pay raise conflict is resolved. He said the money is there for the raise, but must be approved.
Membership Chairman Helen Benio stated that she is now taking 2006 membership dues. She may be contacted at RR 1 Box 188, Montrose, PA 18801. Phone, (570) 278–2380. In order for the PARSE organization to be heard on all issues facing retires, we urge that all new retirees join the organization. We would be glad to see you at the December 13 meeting.
As listed above, the December meeting will be on the 13th at the Towanda Gun Club. To make reservations or to receive more information, contact Susquehanna County Vice President John Benio at (570) 278–2380
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Janicelli Recertified Magisterial Judge
Harrisburg – Magisterial District Judge Peter 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 magisterial district judges is held in Chambersburg, PA.
The weeklong instructional program is designed to ensure that magisterial district judges remain current in a variety of legal topics and management techniques required to fairly adjudicate cases and effectively run a district court office. Included in this year’s curriculum are updates on Civil and Criminal Law and the Motor Vehicle Code; and information pertaining to Interpreters in the Justice System, Search and Seizure, Court Security, Advanced Communication Technology, Public Access and Adolescent Issues.
Magisterial district judges represent the “grassroots” level of Pennsylvania's judicial system. In counties other than Philadelphia, district judges 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. Magisterial district judges 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.
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Gift To Garden Club
The generosity of a former Montrose couple has benefited The Garden Club of Montrose in its efforts at civic beautification.
Barbara and Ted McLaughlin grew up in Montrose and graduated from the local high school. Upon retirement they purchased a home in Montrose, spent summers here and involved themselves in the community. The hanging baskets in town were a gift from them. From 1992-1995, Barbara was president of the garden club.
Recently the McLaughlins made a donation of $5000 to establish “The Garden Club of Montrose Presidents Fund”. They further proposed that they would also match any monies the club could raise up to another $5000. The fund would be administered by the Community Foundation of Susquehanna County and would provide yearly interest to be used for civic beautification projects by the club.
Family members of past garden club presidents have been notified of the efforts to raise money for this worthwhile cause. Club members themselves have been very generous in giving. All contributions are tax deductible and will be used for civic beautification.
Donations may be sent to: Community Foundation of Susq. Co., 36 Lake Avenue, Montrose, PA with “GC Presidents Fund” indicated.
Please consider joining the McLaughlins and The Garden Club of Montrose in beautifying our area.
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Flower Show Awards
The Garden Club of Montrose continued celebrating its 100th anniversary with a Small Standard Flower Show on November 18-19 entitled “Moments to Remember.” Twenty- five members and guests entered horticulture specimens and designs.
In the Horticulture Division, there were thirty-nine entries of cut branches and container plants. Shirley Andre’s Leucothoe, a broadleaf evergreen, was awarded the Arboreal Award and Ken Lattimore’s orchid won the Award of Merit and the Award of Horticultural Excellence in the container-grown plants section.
Stacie Rechlicz was awarded a blue ribbon and the Designer’s Choice Award for “Yellow Submarine” in the 1955-1980 era in the Design Division. Shirley Andre won a blue ribbon and the Pennsylvania Special Recognition Award for her small design of dried plant material titled “Can You Hear Me Now?” in future designs of 2005-3005. Other blue ribbon winners in the Design Division were Debbra Nagle for her design in the era of 1905-1930, “Pack Up Your Sins”, Hedi Randall for her functional table “We’re in the Money” of the 1930-1955 era and Lora Freifeld for a design on a pedestal for the 1980-2005 era. Other small designs (future era) earning blue ribbons were Gladys Bennett’s “Ode to Montrose” for an all-fresh design and “Montrose Winter” for a fresh and dried design.
Also winners in the Design Division were: Barbara Clifford, Jennifer Clifford, Joanne Decker, Diane Docherty, Carolyn Doolittle, Nancy Famolari, Kathleen Harwood, Carol Lake, Pam Oleniacz, Ellen O’Malley, Connie Page, Ann Vitale, Debbie Wood.
Flower show visitors were encouraged to vote for their favorites. The “Miss Carrie Award” for design was given to Staci Rechlicz for her “Yellow Submarine.” Ken Lattimore received the “Garden Glove Award” for his outstanding orchid.
Judges from Pottstown, Wyomissing, New Ringgold, Shoemakersville, Dallas and Reading came to lend their expertise to the flower show. They awarded the Educational Silver Award to a special exhibit titled “A History of the Garden Club of Montrose” prepared by the show chairmen, Shirley Andre and Gladys Bennett. They also awarded the Staging Award for the excellent work done by the staging committee, Joanne Decker, Sue Seamans and Pam Oleniacz, who converted the CASS house into a wonderland of twinkling lights and grapevine boughs, dried hydrangea blooms and seeded eucalyptus, ribbons and candles.
Garden club members and their guests were delighted with the ambiance, music, food and drink at the Gala which followed the closing of the show on Saturday evening. Music was provided by “The Third Nine,” a lively jazz trio. The Montrose House provided a delicious assortment of hot hors d’oeuvres and beautiful displays of fresh fruits and vegetables. Dianne Roza served as guest sommelier for the evening, describing and serving select wines. The Gala committee would like to extend its thanks to all who graciously gave of their time and talents to make the evening a true “ Moment To Remember” - the grand finale of the Garden Club’s 100th anniversary celebration year.
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Turnpike Senior Center Update
By Mary Heesh, Mgr.
Greetings from Turnpike Terrace!
We had our monthly council meeting the first Wednesday of the month. We had twelve people there, including the officers.
Anna Napolitano resigned as Secretary and Mary Diaz as Treasurer; we will miss them.
November 8 was our brown bag day – we went to Walmart and out to lunch. We had a good time.
On November 10, we had a speaker – talking about hard of hearing and deafness. It was interesting. Also, after lunch we had a Chinese Auction. We had a lot of nice things there and quite a crowd showed up. It was a lot of fun. Then, in the evening we had Bingo.
Betty Powers was elected as our new secretary and Ruth Ellen Price is our treasurer. Good luck to you, ladies.
We are starting crafts for the Christmas season. It’s nice to see the ladies from town at bingo. Nice weather today, we all hope it keeps it up.
We started the crafts and all enjoyed the fellowship. We got one part done and will start another next time we get together. We really get a lot done and have a lot of laughs. We had a really nice bunch of ladies helping on this project.
Played dominoes Friday – we decided to only play one game at a time, instead of two – we don’t want to get tired of it. We have a great time playing together.
Well, Thanksgiving came and went. We hope you all had a great time, wherever you were.
We are all getting ready for Christmas now! There’s decorations on the doors and some of us have our apartments decorated. Jack put the front entry lights up and we have a nice snow-globe out front. The halls will be decorated soon and the dining room. It will look so nice when it’s done.
Well, that’s it for now – see you in December!
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