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Blue Ridge Senior Center Update Let's see what happened in April of '06. It was a rather a slow month. We had a bake sale on Good Friday at People's Bank. Always a success and this year the same. You all know we like to eat, and this month it was to Niko's on Court St., in Binghamton. Not as many as usual went, but those that did had a great time. We had an evening covered dish dinner here at the center, everyone enjoyed the good food, fellowship and conversation. We had one of our classes with the representative from A.C. Moore. A large group (15) made spring centerpieces. They were lovely, each one a treasure, and of individual design. It was a fun afternoon and hope we can do it again soon. Speaking of classes, our card-making group met again. Shirley Gillett comes all the way from Marietta, PA, to instruct us; she held a class one Monday. Our group is growing, believe we had eight out this time. The cards are always so beautiful and original. We had our birthday party for the following who have birthdays in April – Goldie Small, Jim Bender, Don Rittner, Ruth Button, Mary Maston, Helen Elbrecht, Irma Bender. The cake was delicious. Hope all had a great day, and will have a wonderful year. Happy Birthday! We continue to be busy at the center; many play dominoes, there are a couple of card groups, and exercise is really picking up, more and more are coming and we welcome all of you. Remember, if you need to just get out and mingle with people or need someone to talk to, come to the Center. We meet in the Great Bend Municipal Building right in back of Methodist Church. See you all the next time.
Annual Diabetes Walk Raises Over $9,000! Almost 40 walkers, representing hundreds of sponsors, participated in the eighth annual Valerie (Holmes) Shook Memorial Walk to Cure Juvenile Diabetes, held on Saturday, May 13. Walkers took a four-mile round trip on the Bridgewater Riding Club trail bed.
Walkers at the 2006 Valerie (Holmes) Shook Memorial Walk in Montrose. Walkers either raised money ahead of time or self-sponsored on the day of the walk. Paper sneakers had been sold in the months before the walk. Many local businesses also supported the walk with donations. Valerie's co-workers, family, and friends organized the event and made sure everything ran smoothly. Adding together donations, sponsors, and sneaker sales, with some money yet to come in, over $4,600 was raised locally for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Additionally, regional sneaker sales and online donations are "credited" to our Walk by the regional JDRF office, raising the total to $9,000 for the organization that does the most research on diabetes. JDRF representative Andrew Witzel joined the walk this year, and said he looks forward to the day when he can say he was fired from his position – because a cure was found! Photos from this year's walk are on display at www.susqcolibrary.org/walk. Next year's date has already been set, so mark your calendars for Saturday, May 12. Coordination of the Walk is handled through the Susquehanna County Library (570-278-1881).
Local Web Initiative Wins State Acclaim Librarian/programmer Hilary Caws-Elwitt is proving that a rural community can rise to a leadership role in the Digital Age.
Systems Librarian Hilary Caws-Elwitt. Photo by Shannon Gregory-Smales. Recently, the Susquehanna County Community Information Network (www.susquehannacin.net) was recognized with a Best Practice for Library Systems award from the Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA). Each year, this statewide organization reviews innovative and ingenious developments in library programs across Pennsylvania, and honors those institutions who have shown the most outstanding initiative. As primary sponsor of the SCCIN, the Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association is one of the 2006 recipients! For over three years, the user-friendly SCCIN has been helping bridge the technology gap between businesses (and non-profits) and their existing customers, their potential new customers, and their fellow businesses and organizations. Though it was modeled on similar projects elsewhere, the SCCIN designers have customized the local CIN to meet the needs of our own community. "This is an inspiring moment for us," says Caws-Elwitt, who has overseen most of the library's automation projects since joining the staff in 1991. "This award emphasizes the importance of what we're doing, in applying technology toward helping local people and the local economy." As a public service of the Susquehanna County Library, the SCCIN operates at no cost to its users. In addition to its economic impact, PaLA officials note that the SCCIN makes it easier for community members to make connections to local events, non-profit organizations, and public services. PaLA cites the 250-visit-per-day rate – a high number for a rural area – as proof of the project's success. For more information about the CIN or the Susquehanna County Library's other technology services, please contact Hilary Caws-Elwitt at info@susqcolibrary.org or at (570) 278–1881.
Locals Attend DAR State Conference
Three members of the Montrose Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution attended the recent DAR State Conference at the Hilton Hotel in Valley Forge, PA. They are (pictured above, l-r): Mrs. Marleta Shadduck, chapter treasurer; Mrs. Myrtle W. Carlson, chapter regent; Mrs. Nan Baker, chapter delegate.
Penn Dixie Performs In Winchester, VA
Barney Wilkins and his Penn Dixie band represented Northeastern PA at the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, VA recently. Pictured (l-r) are: Dean Houck (drums), Mike O'Connell (piano), Rev. Tim Williams (Trumpet), Jerry Kaminski (Clarinet), Barney Wilkins (Trombone), and Paul Vansant (Bass/Tenor Banjo). Well over 50,000 people were in attendance at this, one of Virginia's largest festivals. Penn Dixie will appear locally on June 17 in Thompson, July 1 in Clifford, July 4 in Montrose, and July 14 in Both Susquehanna and Forest Lake.
SDAHS Summer Activities Bicycles in your life? Come to the June 15 meeting of the Susquehanna Depot Area Historical Society and learn the history of bicycles. Bud Kaiser will be making the presentation. Members and visitors are encouraged to attend the meeting at the Susquehanna Boro building at 7:00 p.m. New members are always welcome to attend meetings. SDAHS meets monthly, March through November. The July 20 picnic will be at Kirkwood Park. Bring a covered dish and your table service. A musical program will follow the 6 p.m. picnic. For further information about the Historical Society, contact President James Beavan 879-2508, or Secretary Janet Hartt 756-2003.
Stinky Boys Sponsor Community Cleanup
The Stinky Boys motorcycle club, along with a determined group of family and friends (pictured above) participated in their fourth annual community trash pickup on Sunday, May 21. Despite rain showers, the group managed to pick up approximately 100 bags of litter from area roads in three hours. Debbie Norris, organizer of the event, stated, "This is our best turnout yet. Everyone was very enthusiastic, even with the rain pouring down. We really take pride in Susquehanna and hope the roads will stay clean of litter." The Stinky Boys began the trash pickup as part of their annual Memorial Day tribute. Lanesboro mayor Chris Maby and police officer John Record helped to patrol the roads and ensure the safety of the litter crew. George Cernusca provided free pizza, wings, and refreshments for the participants after the pickup.
New Director At Visitors Bureau For everything there is a season, and with the hiring of Jean Gasper as executive director of the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau, this is the season for the bureau to take some positive steps in promoting the region as a vacation destination. Gasper, who resides in Tunkhannock, took over the reigns at the visitors bureau earlier this month. She brings with her a strong marketing and management background, along with a desire to promote the Endless Mountains Region. Presenting a strong marketing strategy and public relations effort directed toward the neighboring states, area residents, and bureau members is a priority for Jean and her staff. Educating the general public of the visitors bureau’s role in the community and how area businesses can benefit from its services is also an ambition for the non-profit organization. The Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau has been promoting tourism for Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wyoming counties for over 40 years. It publishes an annual visitors guide, which highlights the region’s attractions, history, scenic sites, lodgings, dining establishments, antique and specialty shops, a variety of recreational opportunities, and local events put on by member businesses and area non-profit organizations. Over 120,000 copies are printed and distributed through the visitors bureau’s brochure distribution program, PENNDOT Welcome Centers along the interstates, travel and tourism shows in the East Coast of the U.S. and Canada, member businesses, neighboring visitors bureaus, and individual requests received via the bureau’s website, PA Travel Planner, and 1-800-VISIT-PA toll-free visitor information line. The bureau also prints a spring/summer and fall/winter calendar of events brochure that is distributed in the same manner as the visitors guide. Any non-profit organization in the region may submit events for this publication by going to www.endlessmountains.org and filling out the online event form. Over the past several years, the bureau has worked closely with its county tourism committees to help fund local tourism-related projects with room tax money collected through the area’s lodging establishments. For more information on the visitors bureau contact Jean Gasper at 570-836-5431 or 1-800-769-8999 or email her at emvbexec@epix.net.
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