HEADLINES:
Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk
Engagement Announced Cassidy - Stone
Mt. View PTO Donates To Endowment Fund
Restoration Of Hours At Branch Libraries
Lawmakers Honor Ira T. Reynolds
Continued Support Makes The Difference

Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk

DUNMORE - PennDOT District 4-0 and other state and local highway safety and law enforcement officials remind everyone to designate a sober driver if they plan to be drinking alcohol on Super Bowl Sunday.

Super Bowl Sunday is one of America’s biggest and most entertaining national sporting events as friends and families gather to socialize and watch the big game. Yet, it has also become one of the Nation’s most dangerous days on the roadways due to impaired driving.

According to research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2008, fatalities in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes accounted for 32 percent of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities. On Super Bowl Sunday (February 3 to 5:59 am February 4), 49 percent of the fatalities occurred in crashes where a driver or motorcycle rider had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .08 or higher.

Additional tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration follow. To learn more information you can also visit www.stopimpaireddriving.org.

If you are hosting a Super Bowl party:

Remember, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served ends up in an impaired-driving crash.

Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers in advance, or help arrange ride-sharing with other sober drivers.

Serve lots of food and include lots of non-alcoholic beverages at the party.

Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game and begin serving coffee and dessert.

Keep the numbers for local cab companies handy, and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving while impaired.

If you are attending a Super Bowl party or watching at a sports bar or restaurant:

Designate your sober driver before the party begins and leave your car keys at home.

Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast. Pace yourself - eat enough food, take breaks, and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks.

If you don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home; call a cab, friend, or family member to come and get you; or just stay where you are and sleep it off until you are sober.

Never let a friend get behind the wheel of their vehicle if you think they are about to drive while impaired. Remember, fans don’t let fans drive drunk.

Always buckle up - it’s still your best defense against other impaired drivers.

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Engagement Announced Cassidy - Stone

Announcement is made of the engagement and upcoming wedding of Brandy C. Cassidy to Brion J. Stone, both of Montrose.

Brion and Brandy. Photo courtesy of Kris Morahan Photography.

The bride-elect is the daughter of Larry Cassidy of Uniondale, and Bridget Graver of Windsor, NY. She is a graduate of Susquehanna Community High School. Brandy earned a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education from Kutztown University and a Master’s degree in Education from Mansfield University. She currently teaches Art at Elk Lake High School.

The prospective bridegroom is the son of Joseph and Debra Stone of Thompson. He is a graduate of Susquehanna Community High School and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special Education from Mansfield University. He currently teaches Special Education at Mountain View High School.

The wedding is set for August 6, 2010 at the Inne of the Abingtons, Dalton.

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Mt. View PTO Donates To Endowment Fund

The Mountain View School District PTO has donated $250.00 to that school’s Library Endowment Fund, administered by the Community Foundation of Susquehanna & Wyoming Counties.

The Mountain View School District Library Endowment Fund was created in 2009 to support the elementary and high school libraries. Sandra and Mark Wilmot, residents of the district, started the fund to ensure the libraries had ample funding to purchase needed supplies, books and other items for the students. The Wilmot’s chose to create an endowment fund because it will provide aid to the library into the future.

The PTO donated $500 to the fund last year, and their support has helped to increase the granting capabilities of the fund.

“We’re happy to provide funding for our libraries,” said Kim George, PTO Co-President. “Imagination is the key to invention. It is of the utmost importance that we continue to provide that opportunity to our students at Mountain View.”

Donations, which are tax deductible, can be made by anyone wishing to support the school district libraries and can be sent to the Community Foundation, 36 Lake Ave. Montrose, PA 18801. For more information on this fund and others at the Foundation please visit www.community-foundation.org.

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Restoration Of Hours At Branch Libraries

In December, all staff hours at the Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association were cut by 10% due to reductions in state funding and other sources of revenue. This resulted in the elimination of evening hours at the three branch libraries in Forest City, Hallstead/Great Bend, and Susquehanna. The Board of Directors and the branch librarians agreed to revisit the schedule of hours periodically. After reviewing input from patrons and evaluating usage, the branch librarians recommended reopening one evening hour per branch, and the Board agreed. Starting February 1, the Hallstead-Great Bend Library will stay open until 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, and the Forest City and Susquehanna libraries will stay open until 6 p.m. on Thursdays. For more information, please visit www.susqcolibrary.org.

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Lawmakers Honor Ira T. Reynolds

HARRISBURG - Lawmakers representing Susquehanna County presented legislative citations to Ira T. Reynolds of Susquehanna on the occasion of his 108th birthday on January 2.

Reps. Sandra Major (R-Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming) and Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/ Sullivan/Susquehanna) sponsored the House citation, and state Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20) sponsored a citation from the state Senate.

Pictured above, Rep. Sandra Major and state Sen. Lisa Baker present citations from the House of Representatives and state Senate to Ira T. Reynolds.

It is believed Reynolds is the oldest living male in Pennsylvania.

He has been involved with the Boy Scouts since he was 12 years old and has enjoyed a long affiliation with the Masons.

Reynolds is the recipient of the Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in the Scottish Rite and the Silver Squirrel Award from the Boy Scouts of America. He is the father of one child and has three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

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Continued Support Makes The Difference

Another year has come to an end and the Hallstead Great Bend Lions Club would like to thank everyone for their support through the last three months of the year.

The Club would like to thank area businesses who helped sponsor their Fall Raffle, which was a great success.

The Club’s Annual Senior Dinner was held in December and a special thanks goes out to the following groups and or individuals for their support on this very special day: Carl Tanner and Friends, Jackie Lynch and the Blue Ridge Middle School Leos Club, Troupe 89 Boy Scouts and fellow Lions Club members and families, who helped in serving over 200 meals. The Senior Dinner is an event that was started over 20 years ago, and with help from the community the Club hopes to continue this annual event.

Pictured (l-r): Dr. Gerald Evans with Lion Vic Arnold.

The Hallstead Great Bend Lions also presented Dr. Gerald D. Evans, DC of New Milford, PA with a Community Service Award for his continued sponsorship of their Golf Tournament in July. Dr. Evans has graciously sponsored this annual event for over the last 5 years and the club looks forward to his support in upcoming years.

In closing, the Hallstead Great Bend Lions Club would once again like to say thank you for everyone's support throughout the past year and into the future. The Club values the community’s support through these troubled times.

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