HEADLINES:
Montrose Kiwanis Celebrate 34 Years
United Way Annual Campaign Kicks Off
Local Fire Companies Receive AFG Funding

Montrose Kiwanis Celebrate 34 Years
Submitted By Debora Crisman

On November 25, 2008 the Montrose Area Kiwanis Club will be celebrating 34 years of service to the community. On Thursday, September 25, a dinner was held at Tall Pines Players Club. Attending were the Tunkhannock Kiwanis Club and Lt. Governor Megan Kuffa from Wyoming Area Kiwanis Club. To honor our outgoing officers, President Robert Remington, Secretary Sharon Norville and Sergeant at Arms Dave Zimmer were thanked for their outstanding leadership and commitment to Kiwanis. Bob and Sharon were both presented with a certificate of appreciation along with a donation in their honor to Marine Corps Toys for Tots of Susquehanna County.

As their year of leadership closes, we would like to welcome the incoming officers for 2008-2009: President Debbie Crisman, Secretary Brian Cox, continuing a second term as Treasurer Larry Allen, and Sergeant at Arms Bill Strong. Montrose Area Kiwanis would also like to acknowledge and welcome Robert Kimmel, who joined Kiwanis in August, 2008.

Kiwanis proudly sponsors Elk Lake School District K-Kids, Elk Lake School District Key Club, Elk Lake School District Bring Up Grade (BUG) Program and Montrose Area High School Key Club.

We would like to take this time to let the community know what our club will be doing in the coming months.

Our annual rose sale, helping Pennsylvania children, is an annual opportunity for the District Kiwanis Foundation to fund scholarships. You can place your order for a dozen beautiful roses, up until October 15 by contacting any Kiwanis member or by calling 278-1026. Delivery date is Thursday, October 30, you can pick your roses up at Tom Kerr Chevrolet, Grow Ave. after 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 25, Kiwanis will be hosting our annual Halloween parade and costume judging contest, starting at 2 Mill Street, Montrose, and ending up at Montrose Fire House. The parade route will leave Andre & Son, cross Maple Street, on to Cherry Street at the intersection of Cherry Street and Church Street, continue down Church Street, and up Public Avenue. Montrose Fire Company trucks, Montrose Ambulance and Kiwanis members will accompany along the parade route to ensure the children’s safety.

The annual Kiwanis Harford Fair pig raffle supports the Susquehanna County 4-H livestock sale. Drawing is Thursday, November 20, tickets are available from any Kiwanis member or by calling 278-1026. We will be raffling off two chances to win a half of pig, all ready for your enjoyment.

It's year 24 for Feed-A-Friend, and Kiwanis members are on hand to help TREHAB. TREHAB coordinates the Feed-A-Friend program in cooperation with WNEP-TV. The program helps needy county families celebrate Thanksgiving through donations of nonperishable food items. In a massive, month-long volunteer effort, food and donations are collected and baskets are readied for distribution just before the holiday. Kiwanis helps with directing traffic and assisting Key Club students carrying food baskets to participants’ vehicles.

For 28 years, the Kiwanis Club of Montrose Area, in cooperation with the Susquehanna County Christmas Bureau and Marine Corps Toys for Tots, has collected and distributed toys at Christmas to needy families throughout the county. The Kiwanis Club invites community participation in this annual service project to provide the opportunity for everyone to enter the spirit of the holiday season and help us put a smile on a child's face at Christmas. Be sure to look for our toy donation boxes in local businesses in Montrose and South Montrose (please, only new or gently used toys).

Some of our other service projects in the spring and summer of 2009 are hosting a Memorial Day chicken barbecue, and the KLR Fourth of July activities.

If you would like to become a Kiwanis member, learn more about our service to the community, or join us at our weekly meeting, call 278-1026 or visit www.pakiwanis.org.

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United Way Annual Campaign Kicks Off
Submitted By Amy Steinberg, Executive Assistant

The United Way of Susquehanna County is excited about its 2008-09 annual campaign. It is off to a phenomenal start with the help of Pennstar Bank who was this year’s pacesetter by running its campaign early in August. Pennstar Bank this year was pleased to report that they have increased employee pledges by 32% to help support United Way’s agencies and programs.

Bob Welch, VP and Regional Manager of Pennstar Bank, has agreed once again to be this year’s United Way Campaign Chairman. The United Way has set a goal for its annual campaign of $325,000. Mr. Welch also serves on the Board of Directors for United Way and is a valuable asset to the United Way by bringing lots of great ideas on how to raise campaign funds.

The local school districts have also provided outstanding support. Overall, school district employees have increased their giving significantly. These employees have really stepped up and have seen the value in what the United Way is doing in the community. They were excited to hear about the success of the programs that the United Way has created, such as OASIS which supports teenagers in grades 7-12 and the Community Outreach Project which helped a local family in desperate need of a clean, safe home. The United Way plans to continue these programs in the coming year.

The United Way has also seen an increase in the number of non-profit agencies applying for funding this year. “Amy Steinberg, Executive Assistant, says, “With prices of food and gas so high, families are struggling to stay afloat and local agencies are seeing an increased need for assistance. We are happy that we can help support so many local agencies and look forward to doing great things this year.” The United Way, with the support of local businesses, employees and residents, can make a big difference in our county. Together, we all can make Susquehanna County the best place to live, work and play!

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Local Fire Companies Receive AFG Funding

Washington, D.C. - Senator Arlen Specter, a member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that the Department of Homeland Security has approved funding for fire companies in Northeast Pennsylvania.

This funding is contained in the competitive Fiscal Years 2007 and 2008 Fire Grants announcements. The awards are administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program.

The AFG program is designed to enhance first responders’ ability to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first-responder personnel. In Fiscal Years 2007 and 2008, the AFG program is expected to award approximately $990 million directly to fire departments and EMS organizations for operations and safety programs, as well as vehicle acquisition.

Funding has been approved for the following local companies: $16,294 for Elk Lake Volunteer Fire Company; $66,975 for Little Meadows Volunteer Fire Company.

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