HEADLINES:
Blue Ridge Senior Center Update
4-H News
Firefighters Receive Grant
Gene Merli Vets Feted In Susky
Bridge Committee Meetse=

Blue Ridge Senior Center Update
By Ruth VanCott

Last month I reported that Betty Kegelman, manager had resigned. Well, we welcomed a new manager, Donna Cosmello, from New Milford. She has many ideas to make our days enjoyable and informative at the center. Hello and welcome from all of us.

Closed on Labor Day, but ready and anxious for the balance of the month. We were rather busy, had some surprises and, in general, a full month. One of our surprises was a birthday party for Marion Smith; her family, including grandchildren arrived with cake, balloons, and ice cream for all of us to help celebrate Marion's 90th birthday. We were so glad to share in this special event, Happy Birthday, Marion and may you celebrate many more. Speaking of birthdays, we had a few more this month, namely – Mary Ann Doyle, Ruth Allard, Mark Allen , and Gussie Chandler. We celebrated with cake and ice cream and sang the birthday song.

We had another doll show, and it went over wonderfully. Many, many dolls were brought in for us to enjoy. There were a few different ones than the last time. Such an exciting afternoon, so many ohs and ahs.

There was a bus trip to Clifford for dinner at the restaurant there. Quite a few went, and one hears different views on the experience. Some remarked it was wonderful, others were a little disappointed, but in all it was a nice time. One afternoon Angie Wolfe from the Hallstead-Great Bend Branch Library was with us and we had a book review/discussion. The book was "The Lighthouse Keeper" by James Michael Pratt. Several of us read it, and there were different takes on liking or not liking the book. It was a good discussion, and we enjoyed tea and cookies while this was going on. Ruth Leonard spoke at council meeting about forming a widow/widowers group to meet here once a month. After some discussion it was shelved for the time being.

We had a hoagie sale for our fundraiser this month. They were put together here by the volunteers, and a great job was done. I had one and it was delicious, large and very full of everything.

Some illness reported; Betty Goff, Bob Nichols and Al Maholick all had stays in the hospital, and Helen Wagner is a guest at the Beverly Nursing Home in Tunkhannock. Maybe a card would be nice.

We continue to play dominoes, cards, and exercise. There is always room for more to come and share the many events we have. Come on in – we meet at the Great Bend Borough Building right behind the Great Bend United Methodist Church.

‘Til next month.

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4-H News

Cassie Clark Top in the State

D.E.S. 4-H member Cassie Clark achieved something that some 4-H members will never see. At only age 10, Cassie won Grand Champion at the State 4-H Dairy Show on September 16 in Harrisburg PA. Cassie took this award with her Senior 2-year old cow Kozy Kountry Julia-ET.

Cassie Clark and Kozy Kountry Julie-ET.

Every year 4-H members who show dairy animals work very hard to get their animals ready for County Roundup. At County Roundup they can qualify for the District Dairy Show by how their animal places. Then at Districts they can qualify for the State Show. You must get a blue ribbon for type to qualify for States. Being able to show at States is quite an accomplishment in itself, not to mention a lot of hard work. But for Cassie, qualifying was only part of the equation this year.

This year Cassie took her cow to States and won, which is something to be very proud of. Throughout the showing season this year, Cassie has placed first in every class with Julia and has taken Senior Champion, Reserve Senior Champion, Best Bred and Owned, Grand Champion of the Ayrshire show at Districts and then finally, Grand Champion of the Ayrshires at States.

Cassie moved on to competition in Madison, Wisconsin on October 3. Cassie is a young 4-Her with lots of showing years ahead and I am sure we will see many more great moments from her in the future. Congratulations Cassie!

Submitted By Louann Kiefer

D.E.S. 4-H Club

The D.E.S. 4-H Club has had a very busy summer. In July we had a cookout and pool party at the Sprout’s, and our 4-H leader checked our books to make sure they were ready for Dairy Roundup. Also in July and August, eight 4-H members met for six weeks to take part in the cake decorating project. The girls then entered decorated cakes at the Harford Fair for judging, with six of the girls getting blue ribbons for their projects.

In August we had Dairy Roundup, District Dairy Show, and both the Harford and Wyoming County Fairs, which pushed us right into September. In September the grand finale of our showing season is the State 4-H Dairy Show in Harrisburg.

At our County Roundup, D.E.S. had a great showing with 16 out of 21 members qualifying for districts. Also at County Roundup, our club President, Tom Greenwood took Grand Champion of the Colored Breed Show which made him eligible to sell a gallon of milk representing his cow at the Susquehanna County 4-H Livestock Sale at the Harford Fair. At the District show in Honesdale all 16 members of our club who participated qualified for States. Finally, at the State show, three of our members were unable to participate, but the remaining 13 took various placings, with one member, Cassie Clark, taking Grand Champion of the Ayrshire Show.

So, as you can see D.E.S. 4-H Club has had a very busy summer. Upcoming fall plans include having a hayride at the Clark Farm in October. We will be adopting a family through Interfaith for Christmas as part of our Community Service Project. We will be going bowling in December, and hopefully will do some sleigh riding in January.

Before you know it we will be back to spring again and thinking about next year’s dairy shows.

News Reporter: Allison Kiefer

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Firefighters Receive Grant

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced $91.8 million in direct assistance grants to 860 fire departments and first responder organizations through the department’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. Additional phases will soon be announced that will total $485 million in AFG grant awards to approximately 5,000 fire-related organizations nationwide.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program includes a grant to the Forest Lake Volunteer Fire Company, Montrose, for Operations and Safety, in the amount of $19,855.

The AFG program awards grants to firefighters, emergency response personnel and first responders throughout the country to enhance response capabilities and to more effectively protect the health and safety of first responders and citizens in their communities. AFG grants provide resources for training, first responder health and safety programs, and response equipment and vehicles.

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Gene Merli Vets Feted In Susky

Susquehanna American Legion Post 86 and its Auxiliary honored ten vets on Thursday, October 5, in their memorial hall.

Those honored were: Marines - John Rapoch and John Brady; Army - Bill Tucker and James Stefin; Navy - Mike Cummings; Air Force - Elder Santos and Len Dembrosky; U.S. Coast Guard - Roy Fels; Army–Air Force: George Gatto.

Aides accompanying the vets were: Michael Rapp, Sal Mauro and Ann Marie Scopelliti; and bus driver, Ron Smith. Representing the Scranton American Legion Auxiliary was Jean Warner.

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Bridge Committee Meets
By Carol Rockwell, Secretary

A meeting of the Susquehanna County Veterans Memorial Bridge Committee was held at the Lanesboro Community Hall on September 27. After a light lunch, chairman Tony Napolitano called the meeting to order at 12:45 p.m., followed by the tribute to the flag and a moment of silence for those veterans who have given their lives for our freedom. The poem, “The Bridge Builder” was read.

There were nine members present, Tony Napolitano, Carol Rockwell, Chuck Glidden, Gerry Vail, David Hughes, Evan Price, Robert McNamara, Lois Singer and Beverly Everett; and two guests, Jeanette Price and Debra Singer. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The treasurer’s report was read and accepted.

A discussion about the assessment dues of the three boros was held. Susquehanna and Oakland already have the bill approved in their budget, not sure about Lanesboro. The bridge was pressure-washed before Memorial Day 2006 and the plaques on the bridge will be cleaned before Memorial Day 2007. The flags are flying high. The picture plaque is now hanging in the hall of the Susquehanna Boro Council room. New Christmas flags were purchased and will be put up at the proper time. The next meeting will be held on June 7. The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.

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