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HEADLINES: Ruth Donnelly learned firsthand that a stroke couldn’t dampen an artist’s talent or passion. Ruth attended the Susquehanna Co. Health Fair in November and won the raffle drawing, receiving an original pencil drawing by Taffie Smith. Taffie has maintained her enthusiasm for life despite suffering a stroke. A stroke can impair a person’s physical mobility, their speech and comprehension. Through hours of hard work in physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, stroke survivors can re-learn skills needed for everyday living.
Pictured (l-r) are Ruth Donnelly being presented with an original drawing by Taffie Smith, artist/resident of Meadow View Senior Living Center. Despite ongoing physical and speech challenges, Taffie continues to be an inspiration to so many of the residents of Meadow View Senior Living Center. She’s regained her infectious laughter. She has always remained the pride and joy of her family, her husband of 48 years, George Smith, their three children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Since her stroke, Taffie has gotten back to bowling, drawing and of course, shopping on QVC.
The Starrucca Bag Ladies A few women gathered together in March, 1990, in the social rooms of the Starrucca Baptist Church to form a branch of My Brother’s Keeper, which Flo Wheatly originally formed. A process was devised by Flo Wheatley to make sleeping bags from scrap material and discarded clothing. When she assembled the first bag at her kitchen table in 1985, it’s for sure she had no idea how many bags would follow. Every week a group of volunteers – men, women and children, gather to make Ugly Quilts (sleeping bags) made from scraps of old clothes, bedspreads, sheets, etc. for the homeless in various cites to keep them warm until they are helped or healed by others. When the quilt is finished, it is filled with toiletries, socks, gloves, hats and scarves, all of which are donated. They are then bundled and bound with men’s ties. All the material comes from donations; please remember this wonderful outreach and do not throw away items that can be used. They use long-sleeved pullover shirts, socks, underwear, old blankets and towels, just about anything that can be cut up and used for fill (no jeans). Pillow cases to put items into, neckties to tie the bags and personal items such as combs, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste are also put in the bags when available. The Bag Ladies meet in the Starrucca Baptist Church Social Hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. Volunteers are always needed and truly welcomed. Anyone interested in volunteering to help in making the bags or giving donations, please contact Joy Mead at 727–2518 or Marie Swartz at 727–2802. No experience necessary.
Tourism Projects Grants Available December 5, 2006 Tunkhannock - Non-profit organizations in Susquehanna County can now apply for grant monies available through the county’s room tax fund to help finance their tourism-related projects. Room Tax money is collected by lodging establishments from their overnight guests and is used to promote tourism in the Endless Mountains Region. Applications will be accepted for cultural, historical, and recreational projects – such as special events, exhibits, or publicity initiatives – as well as for marketing and promoting projects, wayfinding aides, and historical preservation projects that will increase tourism to an area and/or attraction. The deadline to submit applications is Thursday, January 25, 2007. Grant applications and program requirements are available through the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau and may be obtained by calling the bureau at (570) 836–5431, or stopping by the office, 4 Werks Plaza, Tunkhannock.
Susky Fire Dept. 150 Club Winners Following are the Susquehanna Fire Dept. 150 Club winners for October and November. 10/7: Sean Hennessey, Kathy Wagner, Catherine Adornato. 10/14: Helen Towner, Joe Adornato, Jean Hall. 10/21: Ed Wilmot, Dolores Brown, Dick Hennessey. 10/28: Marge Wood, Sue McFadden, Janet Denny. 11/4: Sandy Babcock, Alec Mazikewich, Lois Murch. 11/11: Larry Hanrahan, Viola Ficarro, Grace Schell. 11/18: Ron Whitehead, Helen Towner, Paul McCormick. 11/25: Candy Kuiper, Mag Stackowitz, Erika Fisher.
Engagement Announced Burdick – Osterhout Mr. Jon C. Burdick, Susquehanna, announced the engagement and upcoming wedding of his daughter, Joanna Burdick to Bill Osterhout, both of Jackson, PA. The future bride is also the daughter of the late Mary Ann Burdick.
Joanna and Bill. The bride-elect is a 1994 graduate of Susquehanna Community High School and earned a Bachelors degree in Special Education from Mansfield University. She is an Adult Instructor for The Trehab Center, Great Bend, PA. The prospective bridegroom is the son of Tonia Osterhout, Susquehanna and Albert Osterhout, Hallstead. He is a 1994 graduate of Susquehanna Community High School and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Management Science and Information Systems from Penn State University. He is a Software Engineer at Lockheed Martin, Endicott, NY. The wedding is set for April 28, 2007 at 2 p.m. at St. Martin of Tours Church, Jackson, PA.
County Farm Bureau Receives Top Award Susquehanna County Farm Bureau, again this year, won the prestigious All-Star Award during PA Farm Bureau’s annual meeting in Hershey November 13 – 15. The All-Star Award goes to the cream of the crop among the 54 county Farm Bureaus in PA. “To win the All-Star Award, two years in a row, is truly a testament to the dedication to membership and this organization,” said PFB President Carl T. Shaffer. We received the first place Overall Achievement Award, thanks to Al Roszel, for his untiring dedication as Membership Chairman to reach goal. We received top program awards in Local Affairs, Policy Development, Political Education, Ag Commodity and Contract Services. We received Honorable Mention for Membership, Organization Structure, Public Relations and Information, Women’s Program, Promotion and Education and National Legislative Program. On Tuesday, Bill Bayne was present, to receive the PFB Distinguished Local Affairs Leader Award. SCFB members Al and Barb Roszel, Donna Williams, Kathie Shelly, Cheryl Matulevich and Janice Webster represented us well, on the delegate floor and at programs presented during the annual meeting. PA Farm Bureau is a voluntary organization, with a membership of more than 40,000 farm and rural families, representing farms of every size and commodity across the Keystone State.
Friends Donate To Flood Relief The Friends of Susquehanna County have donated more than $18,000 to the B-K Health Center for restoration of the office site located in the Mountain View Plaza, Hallstead. The office was completely destroyed by the summer flood of 2006.
Pictured (l-r) are: back row – Suzanne Cobb, Lillian Klym, Pat Heller, Sandra Llewellyn, Beverly Updyke; front row – Colleen Wilkes, Alice Deutsch – Friends of Susquehanna County Treasurer, Robert Page – B-K Health Center Board of Directors President, Frederick Jackson – B-K Health Center Executive Director, Nancy Hinkley – Friends of Susquehanna County Chairperson. The B-K Health Center Great Bend/Hallstead office has been providing medical care to area residents since 1994. To satisfy the growing patient volume, the site was physically expanded in 2002. Monies provided by the Friends of Susquehanna County will purchase replacement computer and medical equipment. Currently, the center is operating at a temporary facility next to Rob’s Market; however, plans to return to the former site are in development. The new equipment will be utilized in both the temporary and permanent facilities. “The Friends of Susquehanna County/Friends of BK have, for many years, been one of the driving charitable forces within the County,” said Frederick Jackson, Executive Director of the B-K Health Center. “We are grateful for their long-standing support of Barnes-Kasson and particularly their help in revitalizing our Great Bend/Hallstead Health Center.” According to Jackson, the office annually provides more than 10,000 patient encounters. “The equipment purchased through this funding is vital to the daily operations.” Established in 1997 as the Friends of BK, the Friends of Susquehanna County have provided several pieces of large medical equipment, along with a fully furnished chapel, to the Barnes Kasson Hospital. For the last four years, the Friends have worked closely with the Susquehanna County United Way, the area chapter of the national philanthropic organization, contributing $15,000 in matching funds for the establishment of the chapter. Through the United Way, the Friends have donated thousands of dollars to various area charities including an endowment fund for the local United Way organization. “We are very pleased to be able to use the remaining funds for Barnes-Kasson for the start up of their flood damaged Hallstead/Great Bend Health Center,” stated Friends Chairperson Nancy Hinkley. “We know many people depend on this service. We know the community who donated these funds will approve of the use of them to help bring back to the community a very vital and necessary service,” she added. For additional information on the Friends of Susquehanna County contact Alice Deutsch at (570) 756-2044.
Growing Greener Grants Awarded HARRISBURG – Rep. Sandra Major (R-Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming) announced that three Growing Greener grants have been awarded in Susquehanna County. The grants, which are administered by the Department of Environmental Protection, include: Hop Bottom Borough, $173,000 for stream bank protection on Martin’s Creek. Susquehanna County Conservation District, $15,000 to restore 24,000 feet of unstable stream channel in the Mattes Branch in Choconut Township, using natural stream design techniques. Susquehanna County Conservation District, $10,000 for the Northern Susquehanna River Watershed Association start-up. The original Growing Greener legislation was signed into law by Gov. Tom Ridge in 1999. Called the Environmental Stewardship and Protection Act, funds were allocated for farmland preservation, state park and local recreation projects, waste and drinking water improvements and watershed restoration programs. Growing Greener II, enacted in 2005, continues and expands the programs that tie together economic and community development with environmental initiatives.
Magisterial District Judge Peter M. Janicelli was again certified for service as a member of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System after successful completion recently of continuing legal education coursework. Conducted by the Minor Judiciary Education Board (MJEB) and the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC), the educational facility for magisterial district judges is held in Harrisburg, 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 supervise 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 Commercial Vehicle Safety Regulations, Life and Work Balance, Minor Court Rules Update, Protection From Abuse, Safety in the Court, PennDOT Forms – Driver Records, Booking Procedures, Underage Drinking and Drug Abuse, and Consumer Protection as it relates to Identity Theft. Continuing education course work is required by statute of each of the more than 500 Pennsylvania magisterial district judges, with approximately 50 magisterial district judges attending one of 13 such classes at some time during the year.
On Veterans Day, Susquehanna American Legion Post 86 held a benefit for Hallstead–Great Bend Post 357. Shown above is the presentation of a check for $4,200.00 raised at the benefit. Pictured (l-r) are Eric Upright of Peoples National Bank; Tom Hurley, Post 86 Trustee; Rick Rood, Commander Post 357; Joe Bucci, Commander Post 86. Peoples National Bank was a major contributor for this benefit. Post 357 suffered approx. $350,000 damage to their building as a result of the June flooding.
Mary Mazikewich, Darlene Slocum, Sue Sickles, Pam Hennessey, Alice Evans, Cora Cameron and Toni Romanofski, Susquehanna Community Development Association volunteers, are taking on the role of Santa’s helper. They continue the tradition of lighting up Main Street by decorating the Victorian poles with Christmas lights and wreaths that were created by Susquehanna Elementary School children. Along with the traditional Main St. decorating, the tree lighting ceremony and breakfast with Santa, SCDA members are also launching a Main Street holiday decorating contest to get all Susquehanna merchants involved in the holiday fun. Judging for the contest will be held December 20.
Hallstead-Great Bend Lions Club Is Active The Hallstead-Great Bend Lions Club would like to take this time to thank the surrounding communities for their support over the past year. The club has been supporting the community for over 50 years. As times change and we move into a new era, we are still active in the community in the following ways: senior citizen dinner; Christmas tree sales; children's Easter; assisting purchasing eyeglasses; assisting in purchasing hearing aids; Rte, 171 road cleanup; Caring Café ( United Methodist Community Church, Great Bend); Sam Waite Memorial Award at Blue Ridge High School; Gerald Dunham Award; party tent rentals; supporting our community, students and individuals in time of need; PA Lions Beacon Lodge Camp. Each year The Hallstead-Great Bend Lions Club is able to meet the above mentioned goals by the support of the community through our fundraisers. If anyone is interested in joining The Hallstead-Great Bend Lions Club, please feel free to contact any member listed for more information, Vic Arnold 879–2219, Pete Dubik 879–4729, Jack McGoldrick 879–4333, Carol Lutchko 879–4926.
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