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HEADLINES: Blue Ridge Senior Center Update Summer is almost over, school is in session, and the trees are starting to show some color. Remember, the school buses are on the highway, letting off passengers. There was an AARP Driver’s Class held here during July. Good turnout. Our manager, Donna Cosmello was on vacation and Betty Kegelman was here in her absence. It was good to see Betty again. Some good news! Nettie is home from the hospital and doing well. We missed you. And also welcome to Anne Fisher of Hallstead and Jane Zick of New Milford, they are both new volunteers. Thanks for being here, our volunteers are greatly appreciated and needed so much. We have a new food service. The first day was September 2. There is a change in making reservations. If you wish to come for a meal, you must make the call before 10 a.m. of the day before. Say you want to come on a Wednesday, the latest you can call is on Tuesday before 10 a.m. Remember, there will no longer be any walk-ins or call-ins. I was in on Tuesday and took a look at the food and it really looked good. The menus are posted for the month. The Extension Office sent a Master Gardner and we worked on a project. Flower pots were decorated and herb seeds planted. Good luck! Must not forget the birthdays, we had a large number in July celebrating and not so many in August. We had our usual cake and ice cream party, which we all enjoy. The following were those honored in July: Joan Gathany, Jane Kitner, Jenny Paungarden, Bertha Archer, Velma Hall, Alice Parillo, Lena Trowbrige, Alice Smith, Bill Wagner. Then in August we did it all over again we honored the following: Louise Ackley, Ruth Leonard, Bill Roosa, and Alice Hall. Hope each and every one of you had a special treat on your special day. Our monthly bingo party was held, and Lena Hartford was the jackpot winner. We are looking forward to the fall and the coming holidays. Come on in and try out our new menus. Take care.
Historical Throw Fashioned By Cemetery Association
At the 2008 Memorial Day meeting, the Starrucca Cemetery Association directors voted to have a fundraiser by selling a historical throw to help with the increasing expenses of maintaining the cemetery. A committee was formed to select photos for the historical throw, depicting the history of early Starrucca. This committee included Tom and Alice Sampson, Charlie Levchak, Alice Rhone, Marie Swartz, Dorothy and Harvey Boughner. They had many wonderful photos to choose from, and finally decided on thirteen pictures from all around town. The photos included Buck’s Falls, Major Strong’s house, Starrucca School, the depot and water tower, the Sheffield Creamery, the Dairymen’s League Creamery, S.C. Barnes & Son Feed Mill, the Starrucca Baptist Church, the Methodist Church, St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, the pump house/stone bridge, Koehler’s Hardware, and the Grand Union/Post Office. These places played an important part in the early days of Starrucca and many of them are still in use. Major Strong donated the land for the churches. His daughter, Louise married Doctor Downton who then started a hospital in the house. Presently, Marie and Lou Gurske live in Major Strong’s house. When the Grand Union grocery store closed, the Starrucca post office moved into that area of the building. The Erie Railroad Company owned and operated the depot and water tower. The Sheffield Creamery and the Dairymen’s League Creamery were located near the depot and water tower to ship milk by rail to New York City. The committee decided on three different colors, cranberry red, hunter green, and Williamsburg blue. People interested in purchasing a Starrucca Historic throw can contact Marie Swartz at 727-2802 or Alice Rhone at 727-2807. Orders for Christmas are due by September 29, and will be ready to be picked up or to be mailed by the first part of December. During the recent year, the Starrucca Cemetery Association completed many projects. A new road entering from the Starrucca Creek Road through the cemetery was completed and made possible by the many generous donations. Section signs, parking area signs, and entrance sign for the new road were purchased and have or are in the process of being placed.
United Way Hosts Community Project During the summer, the United Way of Susquehanna County held its first annual Day of Caring. They chose a community project to help a fellow neighbor. Residing just off of Route 11 is a family made up of a grandmother and grandchild. The grandmother is a lifelong resident of the community, who has worked all of her adult life. Due to poor health and having undergone open-heart surgery, she is unable to work and presently lives on a fixed income of Social Security. Her grandson is a special needs student presently in the sixth grade at the local elementary school. Providing for the care and needs of her grandchild and herself, this family was living in deplorable, substandard conditions. Unable to maintain, nor afford repairs to her home over time, the property had fallen into significant structural decay. Many people and businesses donated their time and resources. With the help of these fine business and many other volunteers, the United Way made a huge difference for this family. The United Way distributed collection cans for neighbors to help with some of the costs of the project. People could also purchase a $5 raffle ticket for their chance to win $250 in gas. After weeks of obtaining proper permits, testing, and removal of the old property, the family will be moving into their new home this Fall. The family is thrilled about their newer trailer and reconditioned appliances, which had been donated by caring individuals. The family is overwhelmed with gratitude for all that was done for them and would like to thank every individual who had a hand in this incredible blessing. With the help of the community and the support of local businesses, a decent, safe and sanitary home for this family became a reality. For more information on programs that United Way of Susquehanna County offers, please call (570) 278-3868.
4-Hers Place Well At Achievement Days From August 5-7, Susquehanna County 4-H sent seventeen delegates to the annual 4-H State Achievement Days hosted by Penn State University. While there, members participated in the Service Learning Project on Tuesday afternoon where they compiled care packages for soldiers, blankets for local shelters, and worked on several other projects. Also on Tuesday evening, State Days officially opened with a ceremony and a motivational speaker.
Pictured (l-r) are Dairy Quiz Bowl Team Winners: Chris Schuler, Nate Oleniacz, Amos Lyon, Mackey Wright. On Wednesday, members participated in a variety of activities ranging from Dairy Bowl to Shotgun to Riflery to Fashion Revue to the Career Exploration Program. Dairy Bowl is a general-knowledge quiz bowl where the participants are tested on their understanding of the dairy industry. In Shotgun, the junior and senior teams competed in both trap and skeet competitions, and in riflery, participants shot targets in a variety of positions. In Fashion Revue, competitors were judged on the garments they hand-made and modeled in a show on Wednesday evening. And in Career Exploration, participants selected different career paths and spent the day with PSU faculty learning about that career. The Awards Ceremony was Thursday morning, and Susquehanna County brought home several honors. The Dairy Bowl team, consisting of Chris Schuler, Amos Lyon, Mackey Wright, and Nate Oleniacz were first place. They are coached by Dr. Michael and Michelle Kowalewski and Nicole and Jeremiah Fearnley. Because of their first place finish, they will be able to compete at the National Dairy Bowl Competition held at the North American International Livestock Expo in Louisville, KY. Hannah Cronk, of Montrose, placed in the top twelve for Fashion Revue out of 46 participants. Hannah sewed a jacket, blouse, and pants outfit that put her at the top of the competition. Issac Mitchell was the eighth place winner in the Junior Riflery Competition. The Junior Shotgun team, made up of Leon Sidorek, Cody Ellis, Christopher Jordan and David Rodriguez, placed third overall, with Leon Sidorek being the third high individual. Also, Angela Cosner entered a photograph, and was the first Honorable Mention picture. Other participants were Isabelle Standefer from Lackawanna County, Nik Mattocks, Kenny Kiefer, Matthew Mosier, Matthew Forba, and Erin Caterson. 4-H members ages 13 and up are invited to participate in 4-H State Achievement Days. There are a wide variety of activities, ranging from animals, to shooting sports, to fashion revue, to large tractor operating, to cooking. If you are interested, call the Extension Office at 278-1158 with any questions about the 2009 State Days.
Angel Food & Pie Contest Winners Harford Fair is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s baking contests. The fifth annual Angel Food Cake Contest winner was Diane Foster of Thompson, with her Peppermint Patty Angel Food Cake. The Angel Food Cake Contest is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Egg Quality Assurance Program (PEQAP) and the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs. The fair also held its annual Blue Ribbon Apple Pie Contest. The judges choose from the first place winners in the Traditional and Non-Traditional apple pie categories. Amy Klim of Kingsley won this contest with her Apple and Blackberry Pie. All contest winners are eligible to compete at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show in January, 2009.
B-K Receives Diabetes Education Funding The Barnes-Kasson Hospital has received notification that it has been awarded $75,000.00 for the time period of September 1, 2008 – August 31, 2009 and a like amount for the year September 1, 2009 – August 31, 2010, through the Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Program. The project will address issues of patients with Diabetes needs through patient education, care and services. Project funds will support education for certification of a diabetes educator for the Barnes-Kasson Hospital facility and its patients. The project funds will also be utilized to provide group education and written materials for patient education. Patients interested in diabetes education or educational information are requested to contact the hospital at extension 276 after October 1, for a schedule of classes and educational information available. Barnes-Kasson Hospital is pleased to have had the opportunity to provide the Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration with this winning competitive proposal. Barnes-Kasson’s winning submission was prepared by Mrs. Erika Fisher.
Conservancy Invites Land Stewardship Nominations “Do you like what your neighbor's doing with his land? If you do, please tell us about it!" asks Mary Felley, Executive Director of the Countryside Conservancy. The Conservancy, based in La Plume, invites nominations for its thirteenth annual Stewardship Awards. The awards honor those who maintain their properties in a way that respects the conservation values of the land and brings enjoyment to the community. Awards are made in three categories: Working Farm, Residential, and Special Uses. Past farm winners have included dairy and beef cattle operations, sheep and horse farms, orchards, and other farms both traditional and non-traditional. The farms must give attention to protecting the environment, including the local waterways that drain to the Chesapeake Bay, and should also embody the farming heritage of our region. Residential awards in the past have gone to homeowners in towns such as Montrose, Waverly and Tunkhannock as well as in rural areas such as Brooklyn and Union Dale. Homes may be new or old, but should pay respect to and fit harmoniously into their surroundings. The "Special Uses" category takes in a wide range of other land uses. Past winners include shade tree associations, art galleries, watershed associations, summer camps, restaurants featuring local produce, garden clubs, public libraries, cemeteries and more. The only requirement is that they be good stewards of their lands and their environment. Owners of properties in the Tunkhannock Creek Watershed and surrounding areas are eligible for consideration. The search area takes in northwest Lackawanna County, northeast Wyoming County, and much of Susquehanna County. Anyone is welcome to nominate a property for an award. Nomination forms are available by contacting the Conservancy at 945-6995 or at cconserv@epix.net. Nominators are encouraged to submit photos of nominated properties, which may be used in the awards slideshow. The deadline for nominations is September 30. Award winners will be honored at the Countryside Conservancy’s annual meeting in spring, 2009. The Countryside Conservancy, a nonprofit organization founded in 1994, is dedicated to conserving lands and waters in and near the Tunkhannock Creek Watershed for the public benefit now, and for the future.
Dairy Showmanship Contest At The Fair The ninth annual Dairy Showmanship Contest sponsored by Pennfield Feeds was held at the 151st Harford Fair. Participants’ showmanship skills were judged in five different age divisions by 4-H member Nathan Oleniacz from Montrose. Nate was the Senior Champion Master Exhibitor at the Susquehanna County 4-H Dairy Round-up and this earned him the opportunity to judge the showmanship contest at the fair. The bleachers were full as the contestants began showing off their showmanship skills.
Gathered to watch the remaining part of the Showmanship Contest are three show participants (l-r): Emily Supancik, Katelyn Supancik and Gavin Bewley. Katelyn was very proud of her third place ribbon in the eight years and under division. Participants in the Showmanship Contest included current and former 4-H dairy project members from Susquehanna and neighboring counties as well as first time participants. The contest is open to anyone attending the fair. The Harford Fair Queen and her alternate, Jessica Craige and Kristina Klein each took part, showing their heifers like pros. The first three placings in the 8 years and under division were Trenton Finch from Springville, Dana Nunemacher, Dimock and Katelyn Supancik, New Milford; 9 through 12 division winners were Kennidy Finch, Springville, Emily Supancik, New Milford and Alex Bonavita from Meshoppen. The first place winner in the 13 to 15 year old division was Kaitlyn Depew, Springville followed by Evan Castrogiovanni, Montrose and Eric Giangrieco, New Milford. The 16 to 21 year old division was won by Beth Giangrieco of New Milford, followed by Abby Onyon, New Milford and Michael Greenwood from Montrose. Winner in the over 21 division was Dennis Pease, Jackson, with Steve VanKuren, Montrose placing second and Cathy Bewley from North Jackson in third place. Look for this contest to continue at the Harford Fair again next year.
Engagement Announced Gillette – Rood Denise Gillette of Hellertown, PA is pleased to announce the engagement of her daughter, Elizabeth, formerly of Catasauqua, to Jeffrey Rood.
JEFFREY and ELIZABETH Jeffrey is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Rood of Susquehanna, PA. Elizabeth graduated from Millersville University and is a Rehabilitation Coordinator in an outpatient counseling center. Jeffrey also graduated from Millersville University. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Chemistry at the University of Notre Dame and is to graduate in May, 2009. Both reside in South Bend, IN. A May 30, 2009 wedding is being planned.
Hershey Baking Contest Results Harford, PA – Mmmm…. chocolate. All of those mouthwatering chocolate cookies and cakes at the Harford Fair this year looked and tasted delicious. Our own hometown master chefs created tempting creations and were competing in Hershey’s Cocoa Classic baking contest at the 151st Harford Fair. Hometown bakers outdid themselves this year with their sumptuous chocolate creations. This year’s Hershey’s Cocoa Classic cake contest winner is Amy Hine, from New Milford, with her Hershey’s Kissables Cake. Not to be outdone by the decadent cakes, the contest featured equally tantalizing cookies, brownies and bars. This contest was strictly for the young at heart, showcasing the talents of competitors between the ages of 8 and 18. The head chef in this baking arena was Emily Swingle from Montrose, with the winning recipe of Hershey’s Dream Bar Cookies. Hershey’s Cocoa Classic is co-sponsored by Hershey Foods Corporation, a leading snack food company and the largest North American manufacturer of quality chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery products, and the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs. More than 100 fairs across the state are offering cash prizes as part of the Hershey Cocoa Classic. Harford Fair’s contest is a preliminary competition that leads to the selection of the final Hershey Cocoa Classic blue ribbon winner, held each January at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show.
Kiddy Tractor Pull Contest Winners 4-H Dairy Club members Allison Kiefer, Allie DePue, Drew Nunemacher and Austin Greenwood worked with Doug Puzo, creator of the pulling tractors and weight sled and John Puzo, announcer to bring the 17th annual Kiddy Tractor Pull event to the Harford Fair.
Allison Decker, winner in the eight-year old division, is congratulated by Fair Queen Jessica Craige, Alternate Kristina Klein and Susquehanna County Dairy Princess Eileen Walker. About 90 young contestants, ages 4 through 10, participated. Enthusiastic children pulled, as parents and other spectators cheered them on. Children from all across Susquehanna County took part in the pull, as well as children from neighboring counties and as far away as the state of Maine. Eileen Walker, Susquehanna County Dairy Princess, Dairy Ambassador Olivia Mitchell, and Dairy Maid Madeline Mitchell were on hand to present awards and hand kids a coupon for a free glass of milk, compliments of Susquehanna County Farm Bureau. The Harford Fair Queen, Jessica Craige and Fair Queen Alternate, Kristina Klein were also present at the event, cheering the participants on and helping with presentation of ribbons. In the junior division, the four-year old first place winners were Elizabeth Davidson and Bradley Cottrell; five-year old winners were Sierra O’Dell and Jesse Flaherty; six-year old winners were Tosha Shay and William Bowen; Maggie Kowalewski and Wyatt Everitt were winners in the seven-year old division. In the senior division, the eight-year old first place winners were Allison Decker and Hunter Bomersheim; nine-year old winners were Audrey Shay and R J Arnold; 10-year old winners were Darci Warner and Elisha Newhart. Six-year old Tosha Shay and seven-year old Wyatt Everitt received the Junior Champion Awards. The Senior Champion awards went to ten-year olds Darci Warner and Elisha Newhart. The Harford Fair is a great fair for everyone, and the Kiddy Tractor Pull is an excellent event for young children to take part in while attending the Fair. The cheers and applause heard from the spectators indicated this event was once again well received. Look for the event to continue at the Harford Fair next year.
Livestock Scholarship Winners Announced The 151st Harford Fair was the setting for the 2008 Susquehanna County 4-H Livestock Sale on Saturday, August 23; the sale kicked off with the announcement of the 2008 Susquehanna County 4-H Livestock Scholarship recipients. Four members received scholarship awards toward their post-secondary education: Holly Carey, New Milford; Zachary Matulevich, Hop Bottom; Nathan Palmer, Montrose; and Matthew Sheruda, Dalton.
Pictured (l-r) are: Gary Matulevich for his son Zachary, Holly Carey, Dwayne Palmer for his son Nathan, and Matthew Sheruda, recipients of the 2008 Susquehanna County 4-H Livestock Scholarships. Holly Carey of New Milford is an 11-year 4-H member of the North Jackson Ag and Community 4-H Club. Holly is the daughter of Stuart and Carol Carey. She is a 2008 graduate of Blue Ridge High School and will be attending Johnson College to study Veterinary Technology. Holly has completed a variety of 4-H projects throughout her career, including dairy, swine, rabbit, vegetable, wildlife, cake decorating, and wood working, just to name a few. Zachary Matulevich of Hop Bottom is a nine-year 4-H member of the Baconeers 4-H Swine Club. Zachary is the son of Gary and Cheryl Matulevich. He is a 2008 graduate of Mt. View High School. He joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard last October and is currently at Basic Training. Zachary is in the College First Program and will be attending Slippery Rock University in 2009 after his Basic and Advanced Individual Training to study communications. Zachary has shown market hogs for the past seven years, and has served as a 4-H camp counselor and junior camp director for 4-H Camp Brule. Nathan Palmer, Montrose is a seven-year 4-H member of the Delmonico’s 4-H Club. Nathan is the son of Dwayne and Barb Palmer, and was a 2008 graduate of Elk Lake High School. He has taken projects in the area of market steers, breeding beef, market hogs, and dairy. Nathan is attending Mansfield University to study music education. Matthew Sheruda of Dalton is a nine-year 4-H member of the Elk Mountain Community 4-H Club. Matthew is the son of Michael and Beverly Sheruda. He is a graduate of Scranton Prep and will be attending Keystone College this fall to study Business Administration. He has taken 4-H projects in the area of beef, sheep, and swine. Scholarships are awarded to 4-Hers based on number of years showing livestock, 4-H projects, 4-H/school/community activities, leadership skills, and future educational plans. For more information about the Susquehanna County 4-H Livestock Program, contact Penn State Cooperative Extension in Susquehanna County at 278-1158.
“Oregon Or Bust” At Harford Fair
Kasandra Whitney of Montrose, a member of the Country Kids 4-H Horse Club captured the “Best of Show” award at the Animal Costume Contest held at the Harford Fair. Kasandra and her horse, Tuffy are headed to Oregon with Tuffy carrying all the supplies needed for their trip. Kasandra competed with other costumed horse entries as well as cows, sheep, goats and even a Chihuahua entry to win the “Best of Show” honor at the Fair. Pictured with Kasandra (l-r) are: Harford Fair Queen Jessica Craige, Dairy Ambassador Olivia Mitchell, Dairy Maid Madeline Mitchell, Dairy Princess Eileen Walker.
Turnpike Senior Center Update Hello from Turnpike Terrace. I hope I am home for awhile. I spent a week in Vermont, and I just got back from two weeks in Colorado. I went to see my daughter, Melody and her husband, Bob. I had a great time. We saw Dolly Parton and went to a dinner theater – I got a kiss from an Elvis impersonator. We saw a Rockies and Diamondbacks baseball game. We had a real good time. My friend, Rena is feeling better. I had spies checking on her while I was away. Bob the bird is back and seems so much nicer, but that could change shortly. We have a few new tenants up here. We also lost two, my friend Mary Ryder and Al Fenescey. My heart goes out to their families. Pauline Wilder is in a nursing home in Forest City. Her daughter, Susan from Texas is visiting her. We are going to have a new food service in our dining room. We have a schedule for each meal. They sound good, we will see. Some of us went to town for the tent revival. We listened to Soulfire and the great messages. We heard from all that were there. We had a ceremony out front to dedicate a bench in memory of Jack Haley. We put a tree in front last year for him. The maintenance men from some other senior and housing facilities attended, also some of Jack’s family. A new wooden bench with a plaque was put by the tree. We miss him and his sense of humor. See you next time.
Wind, Waves & Dolphins In June, the Sea Scouts of the SSS North Star, New Milford ran the rapids of the upper Delaware River for four days between Hancock, NY and Matamoras, PA, a 75-mile run through rapids such as Skinners Falls, Hawks Nest, Mongaup and Stairstep to name a few. Boatswain Dan Gall of Ship 90 and Jessica Hopkins, the Boatswain of the Sea Scout Ship Eagle, Lewes, Delaware and the northeast Regional Boatswain Mate for Sea Scouting may have had the most fun, as they sank four times in the rapids! 13 Sea Scouts ran the rapids this year. Jessica Hopkins is submitting a story to the Telegraph, the regional newsletter about Sea Scouting, about her exciting run through the whitewater of the Delaware River. July saw ten Sea Scouts aboard the 46-foot ketch rigged sailboat, the “Der PeLiKan” for a seven-day voyage of the Chesapeake Bay. The seven days of sailing included anchoring in Annapolis to tour the U.S. Naval Academy and to have dinner at Buddies, an all you can eat seafood and steak restaurant. Sailing between the Solomon Islands and Annapolis, the Sea Scouts on board the Der PeLiKan sailed through some very heavy weather, with winds gusting to 60 miles per hour and ten-foot waves for five hours – that put us ahead of our schedule! In August, eight Sea Scouts traveled to Lewes, Delaware to sail three of the four sailboats that the Sea Scouts of the SSS Eagle own. They range in length from 25 feet to 30 feet; we used the “Sea Angel,” “Eagle,” and the “Swan.” Ship 90 sailed only two sailboats the first two days, but on Wednesday the crew from the SSS Eagle joined us for an evening sail and three sailboats sailed on Delaware Bay, and we sailed with many dolphins, jumping and swimming by our sailboats. The Sea Scouts practiced sailing maneuvers, tacking and coming about, and sail racing. Thanks to Boatswain Jessica Hopkins, Skipper Al Herman and Chief Executive Officer Bill Sharp of Sea Scout Ship Eagle for the use of their sailboats to sail Delaware Bay, and for the watermelon! The Sea Scouts also got to go to the boardwalk at Rehoboth Beach and swim in Delaware Bay. Ship 90 returned to New Milford after four days. Sea Scouts and officers who sailed and canoed with Ship 90 this year were Dan Gall, Jessica Hopkins, T.J. Gall, Tim Gall, Ben Fisher, Dave Navickas, Brittany Birtch, Josh Warner, Ed Stone, Trinity Spencer, Tiffany Spencer, Mike Lloyd, Austin Chludzinski, Christian Chludzinski, Skipper Chuck Jaget, First Mate Marvin VanCott, and Commodore Ron Hall. If you did not have a summer as exciting as this, why not join the Sea Scouts? Call 465–3218. All young men and women between 14 – 20 are welcome.
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