HEADLINES:
4-H Club News Four Seasons
Amy Rood To Make NYC Opera Debut
NEP Telephone Supports K-12 Scholarship Program
Vehicle Maintenance Now Means Big Savings Later

4-H Club News Four Seasons

Members of the Four Seasons 4-H Club enjoy a game after their meeting.

The Four Seasons 4-H Club met in January for a fun night and short business meeting. During the business meeting, the club voted to tour the State Police Station for an educational trip. The club also decided to visit a nursing home for a community service. After the meeting, everyone enjoyed a couple hours of games and food.

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Amy Rood To Make NYC Opera Debut

Former Hallstead resident, Amy Rood, will perform her New York City Opera debut in the comic operetta “Die Fledermaus,” composed by Johann Strauss, from March 5 through 8. Ms. Rood is a soprano and will sing the role of one of the main characters, Rosalinda. The performance is produced by Opera Manhattan and will be held at The Players Theater, 115 MacDougal Street, NYC. Ticket information is available at www.operamanhattan.com.

Amy Rood, formerly of Hallstead will make her New York City Opera debut in a production of “Die Fledermaus.”

Amy is the daughter of Therese Stukas-Quigg of Montrose, PA and Jack Rood of Apalachin, NY. She graduated from Blue Ridge High School in 2000, where she studied with music teachers Nino Bennici and Jeff Burkett, and also took voice lessons from Sarah Turner Williams and flute lessons from Georgetta Maiolo and Elizabeth Updike. During that time, she competed at the state and national levels for vocal and musical performance. She was also a member of the Binghamton Youth Symphony Orchestra. Amy earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy and a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia and has worked with terminally ill patients as a Board Certified Music Therapist. She has performed in various venues throughout Europe and America, and is currently studying voice with Nancy Stokes Milnes. Ms. Rood’s website is available at www.AmyMarieRood.com.

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NEP Telephone Supports K-12 Scholarship Program

The North-Eastern Pennsylvania Telephone Company has provided a generous contribution of $30,000 to the K-12 Scholarship Program administered by The Community Foundation of Susquehanna & Wyoming Counties. NEP Telephone had previously given $30,000 for the 2007-2008 school year. These donations help local students achieve their educational goals by assisting with tuition for private schools, as well as tuition for the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center, and other programs for grade school through high school aged students.

This year’s donation will help The Community Foundation provide scholarships worth close to $90,000 to over 120 local students attending 11 schools and programs. During the five years The Community Foundation has administered these scholarships, more than 600 kindergarten through twelfth grade students have received tuition assistance to attend over 20 local schools and educational programs.

Without the assistance of companies like NEP Telephone, many of these children might not receive these opportunities. Peter Quigg, President of The Community Foundation states, “We very much appreciate this exceptional contribution from NEP Telephone Co. The Tourje family, who controls the phone company, has shown sincere concern for local families and their children.”

In addition to this donation for K-12 scholarships, the Tourjes also hold the Jessie Osgood Tourje Memorial Fund with The Community Foundation, which is intended to provide grants to the Blue Ridge, Forest City Regional, Mountain View, and Susquehanna Community School Districts for special projects in the local schools. Most recently, this endowment has assisted the new Andrew F. Sienko Sr. Memorial Nature Trail at Blue Ridge, and helped provide additional support for the newly established Mountain View School District Library Endowment. The Tourje family, and the employees of NEP Telephone, have exhibited substantial support for local schools, students, and families.

For more information about Community Foundation activities, visit www.community-foundation.

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Vehicle Maintenance Now Means Big Savings Later

(NewsUSA) – Our parents used to tell us the same thing – "Take care of your toys, and they'll last longer." Well, our parents were right, not just about bicycles and video games, but also about grown-up "toys" like Toyotas, Hondas and Fords.

In today's tough economy, consumers might try to save money by putting off routine vehicle maintenance. But according to AAA, spending a little to take care of your car now can save you from more costly repair bills down the road. "While it's true that today's models require less frequent maintenance and are more reliable on the road, it is still important not to take our vehicles for granted," said John Nielsen, director, AAA Approved Auto Repair Network. "A small investment of time and money can mean big savings in the long run."

AAA offers these suggestions to help avoid big repairs.

Stick to your vehicle manufacturer's maintenance guide. In your owner's manual, you can find information that will help you maintain your vehicle.

Flush your cooling system. Manufacturers typically recommend a cooling system flush every 40,000 to 100,000 miles – and for good reason. If the coolant is not flushed and replaced, it can corrode the radiator and other components. Corrosive fluid can also interfere with lubricating agents and wear down the water pump. You can spend several hundred dollars to replace a radiator. Replacing a water pump will set you back another $100 to $300 dollars.

Have your hoses checked. If a hose fails, your vehicle can overheat, and your engine can suffer damage.

Get your transmission serviced. If you overlook regular transmission service, transmission fluid can deteriorate and erode crucial internal parts. Replacing transmissions proves pricey, but avoiding the expense couldn't be simpler.

Replace your timing belts as needed. Mechanics typically replace timing belts every 50,000 to 60,000 miles. Why? A worn timing belt can snap, leaving you stranded. Worse yet, when a timing belt breaks, it can bend your engine's valves, leading to more costly repairs.

The best way to ensure high-quality maintenance work? A high-quality repair shop. All AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities guarantee that their certified technicians meet strict guidelines for professional conduct and quality repairs. To find a repair shop near you, visit AAA.com/Repair.

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