HEADLINES:
Another One Bites The Dust
It’s A Girl!
Library Cuts Back
Lions Club Elects Officers
25 Years On The Delaware River
Sea Scouts Earn Silver Award
Photo Contest Winners Announced

Another One Bites The Dust

Through a coordinated effort of The Susquehanna Community Development Association (SCDA), Trehab, the Borough and the DCED, another blighted building has been removed on Grand St. This is the fourth blight removal project in the designated Elm Street district in Susquehanna. SCDA is continuing the neighborhood cleanup effort with two additional blight removal projects over the next few months. All of these projects have, along with sidewalks and façade grants, had a huge impact in the ongoing neighborhood and downtown improvements in Susquehanna.

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It’s A Girl!

Evelyn Grace Soules was born October 27, 2009 at 7 pounds, 10 ounces, 21 inches to Kenneth and Holly Soules.

Evelyn has three sisters, Shawnee, Samantha and Taylor and one brother, Brandon.

Maternal grandparents are William and Carlene Vanteges, and Michael Meadows.

Paternal grandparent is the late Muriel Soules.

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Library Cuts Back

Because of the cut in state aid and the effect of the economic downturn on other sources of income, the Susquehanna County Historical Society & Free Library Association is facing a serious budget shortfall. The Board of Directors is in the process of making some very difficult decisions. Hours of operation are being reduced (with a salary cut for all employees) and fees will be increased or added. This will be done as fairly as possible across locations and departments. Despite rumors that have been flying around, no locations will close.

As part of the first wave of cuts, the Main Library, Outreach Services, and Historical Society will be closed on Fridays starting in December. The branches (Forest City, Hallstead/Great Bend, and Susquehanna) will close at 5 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday; will close at 1 p.m. on Friday; and will be closed on Saturdays. (All locations are already closed on Sundays.)

Effective December 1st, the Main Library will be open 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday. The Historical Society's hours will be 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday and Thursday, and 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. Outreach Services hours will be 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday. The branch libraries will be open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Friday.

Please be aware that grant funds must still be spent on the specific purposes for which they were awarded - the Association is not legally able to use that money for operating expenses. The same is true for capital campaign donations. Although the new building project has slowed in this economic climate, it is not possible to draw from that account to benefit the operating fund.

Cutbacks are also affecting the state District Library Centers; the Northeast Pennsylvania Library District is eliminating the databases shared by member libraries, including HeritageQuest, Ancestry, and downloadable audiobooks and video. InterLibrary Loan will be limited to holdings in the state catalog.

The Board thanks the residents of Susquehanna County for their understanding during this difficult time. Donating to the annual Support Drive is especially important. If you did not receive a support card in the mail, you can get one at any county library or by visiting www.susqcolibrary.org/support.

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Lions Club Elects Officers

The Hallstead Great Bend Lions Club is proud to announce that the following officers were elected and sworn into office for the 2009-2010 year. President Lion Pete Dubik, Vice President Lion Victor Arnold, Treasurer Lion Carol Lutchko and Secretary Lion John Manchester.

The Hallstead Great Bend Lions Club has been dedicated "to serving our community" for over 54 years. Without the support from the community, which includes businesses, friends, neighbors and the local population, the Lions Club could not have reached their goals over the past years.

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25 Years On The Delaware River
Submitted By Christian Chludzinski, Boatswain

Sea Scout Ship 90 has taken an annual canoe trip on the Delaware River for many years, and 2009 was no exception. Eight scouts and leaders made the three-day trek this year, and we all had a lot of fun.

After practicing paddling during the spring on a pond, we began to prepare for the trip in early June. Once all the food, paddles, life jackets and tents were collected in the scout building, canoes were loaded on a trailer and the scouts set off on their adventure.

We launched from Damascus at about nine in the morning. The large amount of rain that northeast PA experienced in the weeks before the trip made the river very high and very fast, so after going through the Skinner’s Falls rapids, we pulled in to our campsite earlier than scheduled. Highlights of the day included finding a rattlesnake near the camp, exploring an old railroad bridge and staying up until one in the morning playing cards.

The next day we set out from the campsite early in the morning, and passed through several major rapids, having a blast in every one. The award for most flippings or sinkings had to go to Austin Chludzinski and Chris Powers, who flipped or sunk in just about every large rapid. Along the way, we sighted several bald eagles, and even rescued some stranded canoeists. We got to our campsite later than planned, and went to bed after swimming for a while.

On the last day, my canoe buddy and I flipped through some four-foot waves, and spent a half hour getting to shore and bailing the water out of our canoe. After jumping into the river off a ten-foot rock, we sighted our destination and raced to the shore. Once we loaded our canoes and gear, we sped off to McDonald’s for lunch, and then drove home.

We all had a great time, and will continue to make this an annual tradition. If you’re is interested in canoeing and sailing with a great group of fun teens, why don’t you join us? For more information, call Ron Hall at 570-465-3218.

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Sea Scouts Earn Silver Award
Submitted By Ron Hall

The venturing Silver Award requires a Sea Scout to earn the Ordinary Seaman Rank, Bronze Sea Scout Award and Gold Award; to actively participate in sailing/boating and community activities; and complete leadership, first aid and CPR training.

Pictured (l-r): Austin Chludzinski, Christian Chludzinski and Tim Gall.

The six sea scouts of Sea Scout Ship 90, New Milford, PA who have earned the Silver Award are: able seaman Austin Chludzinski, ship’s purser, Thompson, PA; able seaman Christian Chludzinski, ship’s boatswain, Thompson, PA; able seaman Tim Gall, past boatswain mate, Susquehanna, PA; ordinary seaman Brittany Birtch, starboard crew leader, New Milford, PA; ordinary seaman Josh Warner, boatswain mate, New Milford, PA; and ordinary seaman Tiffany Spencer, port crew leader, Hallstead, PA.

Pictured (l-r): Brittany Birtch, Josh Warner and Tiffany Spencer.

Twenty one sea scouts make up the crew of Sea Scout Ship 90, the North Star, and several will be attending the Sea Scout Northeast Regional winter training held at the Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland, in January 2010 to work on the highest rank of sea scouting - the Quartermaster Award!

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Photo Contest Winners Announced

Tunkhannock PA - The Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau has chosen the winners of its 2009 photo contest. The contest kicked-off in May and ended September 30. It was open to anyone - local residents and visitors alike - who wanted to send a photo of a special memory, scene, or time spent in the Endless Mountains. First, second, and third place winners received monetary prizes in each of six categories and may have their work published in future visitors bureau promotional campaigns.

Local contest winners include: John Reynolds, New Milford, first place scenic category; Barbara Yavorosky, Hop Bottom, second place scenic category.

A grand prize winner was chosen out of six first place winners. That award went to John Reynolds, whose winning photo was of snowy winter scene in Susquehanna County.

The Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau is the state and locally recognized tourism promotion agency for Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wyoming counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania. For information on the 2010 photo contest, visit www.endlessmountains.org.

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