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Tourje Family Fund Helps “Lead The Way” The Jesse Osgood Tourje Memorial Fund has donated $900.00 to help fund Project Lead the Way at Susquehanna Community School District. The Tourje Fund, administered by The Community Foundation of Susquehanna & Wyoming Counties, provides grants to several area school districts to help with special projects. Project Lead the Way is helping the SCSD upgrade its Industrial Technology Program by providing funding to implement an engineering and design curriculum for Middle and High School students. Project Lead the Way is a joint effort between Penn State University and Rochester Institute of Technology to instill in High School students an interest in math, science, and engineering. The Tourje family of Forest City, proprietors of North-Eastern PA Telephone Company, established this fund several years ago in memory of their family’s matriarch to provide support for special projects in the Blue Ridge, Forest City Regional, Mountain View, and Susquehanna Community School Districts. The Tourje Fund also provided assistance to Project Lead the Way in 2009. Those interested in contributing further assistance may contact Superintendent Bronson Stone at 853-4921 extension 1304, or Community Foundation President Peter Quigg at 278-3800. For more information on this and other projects of The Community Foundation, please visit www.community-foundation.org.
Sacred Heart Hospice Available In County Hospice of the Sacred Heart, with headquarters in Wilkes Barre, will now be available in Susquehanna County with local employees working with Hospice of the Sacred Heart staff and volunteers. They will be available to provide 24 hour, 7 days a week, care for those needing this service. Hospice care provides comfort, care for the physical needs of each patient, hope for quality time with family and assistance for the care givers. The launch of this new service for the county was held on June 24 at the Community Foundation of Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties building in Montrose. This gave Chief Executive Officer Diane Baldi and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ralph DeMario the opportunity to become acquainted with county health care providers, Area Agency personnel, members of the banking community, Foundation board of directors as well as State Senator Lisa Baker, State Representative Sandra Major and County Commissioner Michael Giangrieco. Community Foundation chairman Earle Wootton and wife, June, President Peter Quigg along with a friend of Sacred Heart Donna Cosmello worked with Sacred Heart staff to introduce this service to Susquehanna County.
On June 8 we weeded the Memorial Garden. Weeding the garden is a thank you to the church for letting us use the Lecture Hall. After weeding David started the meeting. Everyone said pledges. Next, Autumn took attendance and read the Secretaries Report. Everyone signed a get well card for Mr. Mitchell telling him to get better and that we miss him. For our fundraiser we might have a bake sale and Julie Harvatine will get more information from the bank in Hop Bottom. David Bradshaw did his demonstration on internal combustion engines. He showed us how it works and what everything is called. Cory will be the next one to do his demonstration. News Reporter: Alyssa Clarkson
Late Blight Update Here we are in the midst of summer. Perfect for picnics, all sorts of outside activities, and enjoying the freedom this season brings. We have celebrated Independence Day and the weather forecast is great. The summer, so far, has been much better than last. Remember? Lots of rain, lower than average temperatures, and a disappointing growing season for the home gardener. Even worse, this time last year, we were plagued by late blight. While weather does play a part in the development of the disease, the pathogen, Phytophtora infestans, has to be present in order for late blight to develop. In parts of Pennsylvania there have been confirmed cases of late blight. Late blight is a disease that can kill plants and wipe out crops in a few days if conditions favor disease growth. Those conditions described the 2009 growing season - cool to moderate temperatures with wet weather. Once you have seen late blight wipe out a garden or field, you begin to understand how important preventative measures are to protecting your home garden. Late blight affects primarily potatoes and tomatoes, not other garden crops. Spores can blow for many miles, land on a wet tomato or potato leaf and start a new infection. So the disease can quickly spread from one garden to another. Infections can be prevented by regular spraying with fungicides containing chlorothalonil or mancozeb, but applications must begin before the disease gets started and continue through the growing season every 7 days to protect new growth. If weather is dry, you can stretch this interval; but if we have heavy rains, you may have to shorten it. Gardeners should be spraying fungicides on their tomato and potato plants to prevent infection. Keep in mind that fungicides prevent infection they do not cure it. All plant surfaces should be covered with fungicide before conditions favor infection. Do not wait until after the rain stops to apply fungicides - they should be sprayed and dry before rain starts. Thorough coverage of all plant surfaces is needed for good control. Remember, fungicides are to be used and handled according to labeled instructions. For more information on late blight, please contact the Penn State Master Gardener Helpline in Susquehanna County at 570-278-1158.
Demonstrations Abound At Harford Fair Whenever anyone thinks about the Harford Fair, food, rides, animals, displays and entertainment immediately come to mind. In addition, a unique feature of the fair is the many demonstrations which can be enjoyed during the third full week of August in the relaxed country setting in the northeast corner of Susquehanna County. Local artists as well as international award winning demonstrators will be featured this year at the fair. A wide variety of crafters can also be seen throughout the week in the Carriage House and the Crafts ‘n Things buildings. Some of the crafted items include the jewelry, decorative embroidery, sewing, china painting, wooden bowls, candles, and decorative painting. Other demonstrations to be enjoyed by fair-goers while strolling the beautifully groomed grounds with paved walkways are the beekeepers, sheep shearing, wool spinning, PA bluestone cutting, and wood working. An old-fashioned ice cream maker will be churning out treats for hungry visitors and maple products will also be available. The new log cabin, just inside the main gate to the right of the secretary’s office, features a different demonstrator each day of the week beginning Monday with Charlie Ahearn, an instructor in the Montrose Area Adult School, weaving reed baskets. Tuesday will feature Ingrid Rogler with the Wyoming County Cultural Quilting Society and Wednesday will be painting and diversified calligraphy by the artists, Ann Marie Margotta and the Thursday Painters. Bill Schleif, a member of the Lehigh Valley Woodturners, will display a variety of delicately turned wooden items such as bowls, ornaments, peppermills, and vessels, and will demonstrate his skill in designing and making them on Thursday. Ginny John will demonstrate her talent with Why Knot Macramé items on Friday and Al and Bambi Schack will show off their team wood carving talents on Saturday. Barbara Gallagher, a retired elementary school art teacher, has been demonstrating her wool spinning craft at the fair for years and will continue her demonstrations every day of the fair again this year. So plan to attend the truly agricultural Harford Fair, August 16-21, and enjoy the wealth of demonstrations and perhaps even buy a crafted treasure to take home as a memory of your visit to the fair. All of the demonstrators are very proud of their unique crafts and are always eager to explain or answer any questions from you, the visitors. Some of them may even encourage you to try your hand at their craft.
Early Education Makes A Difference Quality early learning programs in Pennsylvania are making a difference in lives of young children and their families, especially when it comes to preparing children for school success. Based on assessments of youngsters involved in programs during the 2009-2010 school year, Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts, Keystone STARS and Head Start Supplemental are effectively preparing children for the start of kindergarten. The statewide report shows each program has helped preschoolers develop the language, numeric and social skills needed to succeed in Kindergarten, while providing a variety of services to prepare children and their families for transition into the school environment. Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts is a state funded initiative that offers free high quality pre-kindergarten to 11,800 at-risk students. Three facilities in Susquehanna County provide Pre-K Counts classrooms: Forest City Regional School District; Mountain View School District; and Treasure House Child Development Center, Montrose. The assessment results across the state show nearly every child in a Pre-K Counts program (over 98%) showed age-appropriate or emerging age-appropriate skills this spring. When the children started last fall, the number was around 18%. Keystone STARS facilities are reporting similar results. The program promotes quality among child care providers by designating a STAR rating based on the program meeting certain standards. STARS range from STAR 1 to STAR 4. Those with STAR 3 and 4 ratings report major growth from fall 2009 to spring 2010. Nearly all children now have age-appropriate or emerging age-appropriate skills needed to start school. In Susquehanna County, three facilities have a STAR 3 rating: Children’s Palace, Hallstead; Kim’s Kids, Uniondale; and Treasure House, Montrose. Head Start Supplemental provides comprehensive early education and family support services to high-risk three and four year olds. Assessment results show children in these programs are making the gains needed to succeed in school. The results demonstrate the investments made in early education are paying off now, and will reap dividends later by increasing student achievement and workforce development while decreasing special education and needs for public assistance. For more information on these programs contact Susquehanna County CARES at (570) 465-5040.
Festival Accepting Books And More The 31st Annual Montrose Blueberry Festival (first Friday and Saturday in August) is the major fundraiser for the Susquehanna County Library and Historical Society. You can help now with your donations. The White Elephant sale (Friday, August 6, collectibles only; Saturday, August 7, all items) is accepting good-quality items Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon at the barn at the corner of Maple St. & High St. in Montrose. The last collection date will be July 26. Jewelry and collectibles sell best. Clothing, electronics, exercise equipment, and large furniture/appliances can't be accepted. If you are unable to bring items at these specific times, please phone 570-278-2923 to make other arrangements. Book donations can be brought to the Main Library in Montrose until Saturday, July 24. Blueberry Festival organizers are also looking for handcrafts of any type, special items for the Silent Auction, and baskets for the Basket Raffle - all can be brought to the library. Volunteer blueberry pickers, bakers of blueberry muffins and other baked goods, adult workers for the many booths and kids to run the Children's Games will also be needed. Call 570-278-1881 or visit www.montrosepablueberryfestival.org for more information.
Beta Rho Members Attend State Convention Seven members of the Beta Rho Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International attended the Alpha Alpha State Convention at the Nittany Lion Inn in State College. The theme of the convention was “Start from the Heart, Rekindle the Passion” and members’ heartsongs were shared throughout the weekend as inspirational messages. Pat Arnold, Susan Lee, Joan Peters, Cindy Reynolds, Lansdale Shaffmaster, Dr. Nancy Simon, and Dr. Ann Way attended the three-day convention along with 276 other society members from across the state. All participated in both society workshops as well as personal and professional workshops; attended two general sessions where state level items were discussed and voted on; and viewed committee Info Fair displays. The weekend began with a session for first timers, recognition of 25 state members in the Album of Distinction, an executive board session, and then the Fun Night where $638.00 was raised for the NE Regional Conference which will be held at the Hershey Convention Center in July, 2011, and hosted by Pennsylvania. Saturday morning began early with the First General Session where Cindy Reynolds, state Research Committee Chairman, presented her report to the assembly. She also presented a society workshop and had the honor of designing the cover for the program booklet which was done as a watercolor painting.
Susan Lee, immediate past president of the Beta Rho Chapter, and Dr. Ann Way, incoming president of the chapter, participated in the presidents’ procession just prior to the banquet on Saturday evening at the Alpha Alpha State Convention in State College. Joan Peters, a member of the State Personal Growth and Services Committee, represented Committee Chair Carol Goodman, also a member of the chapter and unable to attend the convention. The committee presented a portion of the Program of Work Society Workshop and The Spiritual Unity Service early Sunday morning. She was also recognized at the Celebration Luncheon for her 50 year membership in the Society. Pat Arnold sang in the Alpha Alpha State Chorus during their delightful musical presentations throughout the weekend. Lansdale Shaffmaster, a member of the State Leadership Committee, participated in the training workshop for chapter presidents. Lucille Robson was recognized at the Celebration of Life Ceremony on Sunday morning. She was a charter member of the Beta Rho Chapter and passed away on July 22, 2009. Fourteen scholarships and enrichment grants were awarded to members across the state following the Honors Breakfast on Sunday morning. Delta Kappa Gamma is an international society of women educators whose membership is by invitation only and provides a variety of opportunities for women educators internationally. The International Convention will be held this summer in Spokane, Washington, July 20-24. The next Beta Rho meeting will be at Dreyer Hall in Montrose on Thursday, October 7, at 4:30 p.m.
Farm Bureau Reaches Membership Milestone (Camp Hill) - Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) has reached a membership milestone, surpassing the 50,000 member mark for the first time in the 60-year history of the state’s largest farm organization. PFB increased its overall membership by 3,587, bringing total membership to 50,284. Special activities are being planned as part of the membership celebration, which will culminate November 15 through November 17 during PFB’s annual meeting in Hershey. “The success of the membership drive is largely due to the efforts of volunteer family farmers who recruit others in their community to join Farm Bureau. Farmers understand the importance of belonging to an organization that represents their interests and the benefits they receive as a member,” said PFB President Carl T. Shaffer. PFB noted that more and more farmers understand how important it is for them to present a unified message to policymakers at the state and national level and also to be responsive to legitimate concerns from the public. “Whether it’s defending the rights of agriculture as part of new Farm Truck Driver regulations, fighting back efforts to place onerous tolls on Interstate 80, making sure the interests of farmers are included as part of the solution to Chesapeake Bay Watershed efforts or proactively spreading the word about the numerous benefits of Pennsylvania produced food in local communities and the state’s economy, our members see Farm Bureau as a vital organization that helps advance the well-being of farm families,” added Shaffer. Pennsylvania Farm Bureau secured a fourth voting delegate to the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting by eclipsing the 50,000 member plateau. “The additional delegate means Pennsylvania will have more influence in representing the interests of Northeast Agriculture at the national level,” concluded Shaffer.
New Dairy Princess My name is Olivia Mitchell and I am the new Susquehanna County Dairy Princess. I have been promoting the dairy industry in Susquehanna County for the past 2 years as a Dairy Ambassador. I am 16 years old, and a student with the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. I plan on starting college my junior year of high school, with the hopes of having a career in the medical field. When I am not promoting the dairy industry, I am busy competing with the Helene Yelverton Dance Team in tap, jazz, ballet and production. I am also a member of the Franklin Hill Community 4-H club, and enjoy showing my horses. I am very involved in my church youth group and fine arts team, which qualified for nationals this year in sign language, puppetry and drama. I come from a long family history of dairy farmers. My great grandfathers, grandfathers, and father were all dairy farmers. In fact, while doing the Goff family history on my mother’s side of the family, we were surprised to discover that the original Goff farm in the 1700’s is in fact part of the Mitchell family farm on my father’s side of the family. So the heritage of the family farm is important to me. It is so sad to see family farms disappearing at such a rapid pace. Dairy farmers, please know that I appreciate each and every one of you who continue to work so hard and have such pride in your work. I know our family enjoys the fruits of your labor when we eat our 3 servings of dairy every day, and I thank you. Last year I went on my first mission’s trip with my youth group to El Salvador. This trip changed my life greatly, and especially made me appreciate our hard working dairy farmers and the great supply of fresh dairy products. Having any kind of dairy product in El Salvador was considered a rare treat and only given to honored guests, and even then was in short supply and not the best quality. In promoting the dairy industry here in Susquehanna County it is my desire to not only teach children the importance of getting 3 servings of dairy every day, but helping them understand that in getting your 3 servings they are supporting our hard working dairy farmers and ensuring that this nation has a healthy plentiful supply of dairy products. I hope to never see hungry, sad eyes look at me in this nation like I saw in El Salvador. June is dairy month and a perfect way to kick off your summer! This year I look forward to educating children, young people, and adults of all ages the benefits of dairy in their diet, as well as encouraging farmers to keep up the good work. I look forward to meeting with many farm families across our county and getting to know them better. Please thank a farmer today because without them we would not have such a wonderful, healthy, dairy supply available to us. Remember to get your 3 every day of dairy!
Purple Boxes & The Emerald Ash Borer Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is an exotic, invasive wood-boring insect that is threatening to infest and kill all North American ash species from the genus Fraxinus like Green Ash and White Ash (the more common ashes), as well as Black Ash and Blue Ash. The borer does not infest the unrelated American Mountain Ash, which is in the genus Pyrus. Government agency and Cooperative Extension staff have been monitoring the borer and trying to slow its movement across the USA since it was first sighted in Michigan in 2002. The Cooperative Extension would like to explain a bit about the purple monitoring boxes that you might see as you travel across the state and give you some tips on how you could help slow down the borer’s spread. So far the Cooperative Extension has been hearing some interesting stories about the boxes. They range from “I have no idea what they do” to “they attract beetles that attack ash trees and kill the beetles.” To help clear things up, below is some information from a blog maintained by Robert Hansen, Extension Forester, Tioga County Extension office. You can visit his blog at http://www.mypawoods.blogspot.com. The “Purple Boxes” are back in Pennsylvania’s landscape. Cooperating agencies have again hung the purple emerald ash borer “traps” in key areas of the state. Many of them are located along major roads and highways and parks (since people are one of the principle transporters of this insect). The traps are treated with a substance that attracts emerald ash borer to the trap where they get stuck on the sticky surface. Technicians will periodically check the traps for emerald ash borer adults. Remember these traps do not attract the emerald ash borer into non-infested areas. The purpose of the traps is to determine if the insect is already present in the area. If you see these traps in your travels, please do not disturb them. They can best do their job if they are left undisturbed. And please encourage anyone who may mention them to you to please leave them alone. If you suspect that you have seen emerald ash borer damage or an adult emerald ash borer, contact your local Cooperative Extension office, Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry office or Regional Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture office. For more information on emerald ash borer go to http://bradford.extension.psu.edu/nresources/forestry.html and scroll down to the emerald ash borer photo and click there. The purple boxes are not control measures. Their purpose is not to kill the beetles. Their purpose is to monitor to see if the beetle is in the area. To keep up with happenings about emerald ash borer and other forest related topics, visit Hansen’s blog listed above. Now, here are some tips on how you could help slow the spread of the borer. Do not move firewood. That is one of the primary ways the emerald ash borer moves into uninfested areas. Buy your firewood locally when you get to your campsite. Do not plant ash trees. Monitor ash trees on your property and be prepared to remove them if them if they become unhealthy or infested. It is recommend that you use a certified arborist in your area. For help in finding a certified arborist visit the website www.PATrees.org or call your local extension office.
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