HEADLINES:
Engagement Announced
Engagement Announced
Waiting For You
It’s A Girl!
Engagement Announced
Susky Plans For Future Improvemennts
Realtors Workshop Very Successful
MILC Program For Dairy Producers
Former Local Appears In PBS Documentary

Engagement Announced

Briar – Ready

William and Debra Briar of Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, announce the engagement of their daughter, Mandi Jo Briar, to Tammy Renee Ready, daughter of Tom and Judy Ready of Norristown, Pennsylvania. The two became engaged on February 4, 2006.

Mandi is currently a student at Kutztown University working on her BA in psychology. Tammy is a 2004 graduate from Kutztown University with a BA in English and a minor in Women's Studies.

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Engagement Announced

Fitch – Jackson

Cindy Fitch of Binghamton, NY and Frank and Penny Fitch of Hop Bottom, PA announce the engagement of their daughter, Sarah, to William M. Jackson.

The future bridegroom is the son of Lucy Vaccaro Jackson of Binghamton, formerly of Susquehanna, PA and the late Harry C. Jackson.

WILLIAM and SARAH

Miss Fitch is a graduate of Susquehanna Community High School and Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA. she is employed as a Registered Nurse at United Health Services of Binghamton.

Mr. Jackson is a graduate of Susquehanna Valley High School, Conklin, NY and is employed at Maple-Vail, Inc. of Kirkwood, NY.

A June 3, 2006 wedding is planned.

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Waiting For You!

This is Odie! He’s a two-year old, male rabbit who enjoys being petted and would make a rabbit-loving person very happy. Won’t you come and give this big, fat bunny a hug?

He’ll be waiting for you at the Susquehanna County Humane Society Shelter in Montrose, (570) 278–1228.

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It’s A Girl!

Jeremy and Erika Mills, Susquehanna, are proud parents of a daughter, Sophie Ann Mills, born in Wilson Memorial Hospital February 16, 2006, at 10:18 p.m. Sophie was seven pounds, twelve ounces and twenty inches long at birth.

Maternal Grandparents are William and Debra Briar, Oakland, PA.

Paternal Grandparents are Glen and Maureen Mills, Susquehanna, PA.

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Engagement Announced

Hilkert – Stone

Announcement is made of the engagement and upcoming marriage of Jennifer Elaine Hilkert and Daniel Robert Stone, both of Thompson, PA.

The bride-elect is the daughter of Frank and Judy Hilkert, Lanesboro, PA. Ms. Hilkert is a graduate of Susquehanna Community Schools and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Binghamton University. She is employed as Business Manager at Mountain View School District, Kingsley, Pa.

The prospective bridegroom is the son of Dolores (Tootsie) and Warren Stone, Thompson, Pa. Mr. Stone earned a degree from Ohio Diesel Schools. He is employed as a machine operator and Dirt Track driver by Stone’s Excavating, Thompson, PA.

A June, 2006 wedding is planned.

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Susky Plans For Future Improvements

Mayor Denise Reddon and SCDA’s Chet Walker were thrilled with the large number of residents that turned out to discuss funding and plans to improve neighborhoods and quality of life in Susquehanna Borough. Mayor Reddon stated that citizen participation was vital to strengthening neighborhoods and their ties to the Main Street business district.

Ideas flow at a visioning meeting for Susquehanna Borough’s neighborhoods.

Approximately 30 residents attended the meeting to discuss the PA Department of Economic Development’s “Elm Street” project and the five-point approach to successful revitalization. Topics of discussion included assets and constraints in the areas of housing stock and economic restructuring, clean, green and safety issues, image and identity, recreation, importance of strong organization and design and beautification projects.

Residents shared ideas for solutions for pedestrian safety, parking, improved sidewalks and curb appeal, façade and litter maintenance, blighted buildings, absentee landlords, expanded recreational opportunities and historical preservation.

The TREHAB Center has partnered with Susquehanna Borough and the SCDA to strategize with community members to craft a workable plan for neighborhood renewal. The plan will be submitted to the PA Department of Economic Development for possible funding under the “Elm Street” program.

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Realtors Workshop Very Successful

The first annual Realtors Workshop put on by the Susquehanna County Conservation District was well received. The event brought a full house with over forty in attendance at the County Office Building on Thursday, March 9. Representatives from the Conservation District spoke on topics including regulations associated with ponds, wetlands, logging operations, stream permits, construction activities and more.

Jim Garner, SCCD District Manager, addresses the audience at the Realtors Workshop.

District Manager, Jim Garner gave an overview of the Susquehanna Conservation District, District programs, and staff in his introduction. Jen Morelli followed with a presentation on the Erosion and Sediment control issues that are regulated by state and federal agencies. Jen is responsible for organizing this workshop as well as the upcoming workshop designed for contractors involved in earth disturbance activities. Willie Keeney spoke on wetlands, pond building, stream encroachment issues, and the role of the Conservation District delegated by state and federal law. “We are not the regulators,” said Keeney, “We like to think of ourselves as educators who help people understand what they need to know to stay in voluntarily compliance with the law and avoid potentially expensive regulatory interactions.”

Jen and Willie fielded many questions from the audience of realtors who were significantly pleased that such an event was being put on to help them and their clients. Not only was the workshop very educational, but it also provided a chance to inform an important group of people who interact with the community about the public services the Conservation District has to offer. The District plans to make the Realtors Workshop an annual event.

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MILC Program For Dairy Producers

Montrose, PA – Walter Aicher, Acting County Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Susquehanna County announced that dairy producers can sign up for the extended Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program from March 13 to May 17, 2006.

“From October 1, 2005 through August 31, 2007, a dairy operation’s monthly payment will equal the milk quantity sold in that month multiplied by 34 percent of the difference between $16.94 per hundredweight and that month’s domestic class I milk price,” said Aicher. “The 2002 Farm Bill originally set the payment rate factor at 45 percent.”

Program payments will begin following sign up. Participating dairy operations must select the month they want to start receiving payments for eligible production. Producers may retroactively select any month beginning December 2005 through April 2006 for sign up on or before May 17, 2006. Sign up will continue after May 17, 2006, throughout the duration of the program. However, after May 17, 2006, producers will NOT have the option to select a retroactive month for payment for which the payment rate has already been announced.

“FSA will make payments on an operation-by-operation basis, up to a maximum of 2.4 million pounds of milk produced and marketed by the dairy operation per fiscal year,” Aicher added.

Eligible dairy producers are those who commercially produce milk in the United States. To receive program approval, producers must enter into a contract with USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation to provide monthly marketing data.

Dairy producers can apply for MILC at local FSA offices.

For further information on MILC, contact the Susquehanna CountyFSA office at RR7 Box 7113, Montrose, PA 18801, phone- (570) 278-1197 Ext. 2.

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Former Local Appears In PBS Documentary

Former local resident, Mary Frances Culnane, will appear in a documentary titled “Shipping Out: The Story of America’s Seafaring Women.”

The film will air during Women’s History Month (March) on PBS affiliate stations across the nation. Check your local listings for viewing schedules. Female ship pilots, marine engineers and captains in the film talk about why the ocean lured them despite the challenges of entering a profession dominated by men.

Mary’s family took a trip to West Point to see a formal review (parade) when Mary was only seven years old and it left a lasting impression on her. The federal military schools like West Point and Annapolis opened their doors to women for the first time in 1976 and Mary entered the US Merchant Marine Academy upon graduating from Susquehanna Community High School that year. She shipped out as a Chief Engineer on an oil tanker for ten years and now manages the engineering department for the Water Transit Authority (ferry boats) in San Francisco.

Mary is the daughter of Mary Stapleton and the late Tom Culnane, sister to Tom, Bill and chuck Culnane. She resides in San Francisco.

During the Premiere Party for the documentary, Mary was clad in her full Chief Engineer’s Celtic uniform and was quoted as stating, “Well behaved women rarely make history.”

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