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Issue Home September 29, 2010 Site Home

HEADLINES:
Stephanie Ostir Awarded At Fair
Definition Of The Simple Life
It’s A Boy!
Major, Pickett Announce Grant For Susq. County
Outstanding 4-H Members Recognized
County Retirement Board Meets
Quigg Distinguished Citizen Of The Year

 

Stephanie Ostir Awarded At Fair

Stephanie Ostir has been winning ribbons at the Harford Fair for many years. However, this year her entries were recognized with two Grand Champions and two Best of Shows. The eleven-year-old’s artistic talents were rewarded when her entry in the Design the Cover Contest was selected as the Best of Show and will be featured on the cover of the Harford Fair Premium Book for 2011.

Stephanie Ostir displays her two Best of Show entries and her two Grand Champion entries.

During an interview with Stephanie about the cover design, she said that she worked on it for several months. The actual design came to her when she was putting together a jigsaw puzzle at home. In addition to the puzzle design, her cover features all of the areas enjoyed by people who come to the fair. Her love for drawing and making things led to her prize-winning entry.

But this is not the only area of her talents. She also won a Best of Show ribbon in the youth category for her scrapbook page in the Fine Arts Department. She has also been involved with 4H for many years. This year she won two Grand Champion Awards in that department for her scrapbook and a coordinated sewing project. Her denim dress also won first place in the Regional 4H show earlier this year.

Stephanie is the daughter of Jeff and Lori Ostir of Clifford Township and is a seventh grade student at Mountain View. She is not only talented in the areas evidenced by her ribbon winning entries, but she is also an excellent student and is very active in her church. She sings and participates in athletic events as well.

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Definition Of The Simple Life
Submitted By Susquehanna County Dairy Ambassador Mariah Tompkins

During my reign as the Susquehanna County Dairy Maid and this year as Dairy Ambassador my favorite dairy promotion is “Day on a Dairy Farm.” This event is my favorite because the public gets a chance to experience a day in the life of dairy farming family. Many people think of dairy farming as the “Simple Life.” The definition of simple is ordinary, easy, common, uncomplicated, and requiring little effort.

The so called “Simple Life” on my dairy farm starts around 2:30 a.m., although I’ve never started that early, but my Dad does. First the entire barn must be cleaned and 80 cows and many calves must be fed. Then the milking starts at 5:00 a.m. When milking is completed we travel several miles to our heifer barn which houses another 58 heifers that need to be fed and bedded.

Susquehanna County Dairy Ambassador, Mariah Tompkins and her 4-H dairy project heifer, Black Beauty.

On a good day we eat breakfast at 10:00 a.m. Then back out to the main barn to feed cows again at 12:00 noon. So far things are going pretty smooth, right? Walking back to the barn my Dad discovers one of our cows is calving and needs help, so off he goes to assist her. After delivering a healthy bull calf, the calf’s mom comes down with milk fever. So my Dad walks back to the barn to get medicine, only to find the silo unloader has just broken! Now he must climb a 60 foot silo to make the repairs. By the time the unloader is repaired it’s afternoon and time to repeat all those chores over again.

Remember, farmers work 7 days a week 365 days a year. So now what is your definition of the “Simple Life?” Is it Dairy Farming? Maybe not, but it is simple to get your “3 Every Day,” three servings of milk, cheese or yogurt, because the farmer has done all the work for you!

My family and I would like to invite everyone to come to our farm for Susquehanna County Dairy Promotion’s 9th annual “Day on a Dairy Farm” event, October 9, 11:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. being held at our farm. Our farm is located on Mitchell Road just three miles from Montrose. You will get to tour the dairy barn and learn how milk gets from our cows to your dinner table. There will be games such as dairy trivia, kids can make shaker pudding or butter, visit the petting zoo or take a horse drawn or tractor drawn hayride around our farm and there will be lots of other things to see and do. Plan on having lunch with us at the farm, lots of homemade food will be available.

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It’s A Boy!

On August 8, 2010 at 4:55 p.m. Gavin Layne Travis was born to Kenny and Denise Travis of Lenoxville, PA at Geisinger Hospital in Wilkes-Barre. Gavin weighed in at seven pounds, seven ounces, and was 18 1/2 inches tall. Both Denise and Gavin did great!

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Major, Pickett Announce Grant For Susq. County

HARRISBURG - Susquehanna County will receive a grant of $37,350 under the Department of Environmental Protection's County Planning Grant Program, announced Reps. Sandra Major (R-Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming) and Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna).

The funding will be used for the reimbursement of up to 80 percent of the costs to revise the county's solid waste management plan.

"Solid waste management is a vital component of every county's infrastructure and this grant will help ease the financial strain of upgrading the county's plan," said Major. "With shifting populations, the upgrading of sewage plans is a continuing challenge for counties."

"Revising such a plan is an expensive undertaking, especially for a rural county," Pickett said. "That is why I am pleased there are state resources available to help reimburse such a large part of the cost of updating the plan and ensuring that solid waste in Susquehanna County is managed in the best possible ways."

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Outstanding 4-H Members Recognized
Submitted By Michelle Kowalewski, Dairy/Ag Enterprise Educator

The Susquehanna County 4-H Livestock Program and the Paul Baldwin family recognized four outstanding 4-H members for their accomplishments at the recent Susquehanna County 4-H Livestock Sale held in conjunction with the Harford Fair. The four recipients include Nicole Holofchak, Brackney; Daisy Matulevich, Hop Bottom; Allie DePue, Montrose; and Katherine Webster, Hop Bottom.

Robert Supancik, President Susquehanna County 4-H Livestock Leaders presents the Paul Baldwin Memorial 4-H Citizenship Award along with members of the late Paul Baldwin family. From left to right: Robert Supancik; Daisy Matulevich; Heather Demarest, member of the late Paul Baldwin family; Katherine Webster; Steven Demarest, member of the late Paul Baldwin family; Nicole Holofchak; and Brenda Demarest, member of the late Paul Baldwin family.

Nicole Holofchak, Brackney is a member of the Borderline 4-H Club. She has completed four years of the swine project and has also held the office of president for two years. Nicole has received this award because she is very watchful and helpful of other 4-H members no matter if they are younger or older. She is prompt, courteous, and willing to do things that need to get done. Nicole is knowledgeable about her 4-H project and was able to answer the questions received from visitors at the Harford Fair. She has gone above and beyond the duties of being a great 4-Her for the four years she has participated

Daisy Matulevich, Hop Bottom consistently goes above and beyond as a 4-H member. She has worked with the Cooperative Extension office staff to reorganize 4-H County Council, which is now a very functional group of youth members. County Council has helped with 4-H Leader’s Banquet, Rotary on the Green and One Day Camp with direction from Daisy. In addition, she is currently President of the Born to Show 4-H Dairy Club and the Baconeers 4-H Club and has served as a good role model for younger 4-H members. To keep members of her Baconeers 4-H Club well informed, she started a monthly newsletter.

Allie DePue, Montrose is a member of the Born to Show Dairy 4-H Club. She has participated in dairy and dairy beef projects, and held the office of club vice president. Allie DePue received the award because she has been active in many 4-H related programs, and goes out of her way to help other 4-H kids with their projects. Allie has many responsibilities on her family’s dairy farm, and is able to balance these responsibilities with 4-H opportunities.

Katherine Webster, Hop Bottom is a member of the Baconeers Livestock 4-H Club. She has completed nine years of the swine project and had also held the position of secretary. Katherine was recognized with the award for the following reasons: she has participated in several 4-H club community service projects, and is able to balance 4-H with her other extracurricular activities. These include sophomore and junior class secretary, senior class president, volleyball, softball, and basketball. Katherine is a determined and ambitious young woman who loves a challenge.

The Paul Baldwin Memorial 4-H Member Citizenship Award was established in 2009 to recognize members who exemplify citizenship, leadership, and enthusiasm throughout his or her 4-H career. Additionally, recipients go above and beyond to help younger members and leaders with 4-H livestock activities. The award is given in memory of the late Paul Baldwin, past owner of Wyalusing Livestock Auction and proud supporter of the Susquehanna County 4-H Livestock Program.

For more information about the Susquehanna County 4-H Program contact Penn State Cooperative Extension at 570-278-1158.

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County Retirement Board Meets
Submitted By Sylvia Beamer, Chief Clerk

On Wednesday, September 8 the Retirement Board of Susquehanna County met with their consultants from The Seneca Group of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. The 3 months ending in August saw a continuation of the uncertainty in the markets with the S&P 500 falling over 3% resulting in a negative return of 4.62% YTD. The County pension however posted a positive return of 1.52% during the same 3 month period out pacing its benchmark by over 1.8% and 1% YTD. The plan continues to be ahead of its benchmark for the trailing 3 years, 5 years and since inception with the Seneca Group. The consultants were also pleased to inform the Retirement Board that the pension plan’s returns have ranked in the top quartile of public pension plans despite its small size since The Seneca Group was hired through June, according to data provided by Wilshire Associates. The Seneca Group described the markets as being at a critical juncture with the possibility of breaking to either the upside or downside. Upcoming economic data, a change in tax policy or the upcoming elections, could all weigh on returns in the short term. They remained cautious and recommended continuing to keep the retirement plan at the lower end of the investment policy limits for equities to minimize the downside risk to taxpayers. Hank Stiehl of The Hay Group, the County’s actuary, also met with the Retirement Board to discuss the recent developments involving public plans and the IRS Determination Letter issue.

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Quigg Distinguished Citizen Of The Year
Submitted By William Albrecht

The Baden-Powell Council is proud to announce Peter Quigg as its 2010 Distinguished Citizen of the Year of Susquehanna County. Peter is the son of Tom and Shirley Quigg and brother of Scott Quigg. Peter is a graduate of Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, NH, and he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bennington College in Bennington, VT, and a Master of Arts degree from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA.

Peter joined The Community Foundation of Susquehanna & Wyoming counties in 2005 after having worked for fourteen years as Dormitory Supervisor, English Teacher, and Director of Student Life at The Killington Mountain School in Killington, VT. Peter is responsible for the daily operations of The Community Foundation and works closely with individuals, families, organizations, and schools in providing charitable, philanthropic, and education assistance in The Foundation’s two-county service area. Currently The Community Foundation administers 115 philanthropic endowments that support a broad array of charitable and educational causes. In addition, The Community Foundation also administers the Pennsylvania Education Improvement Tax Credit Program, which since 2003, in partnership with local corporate donors, has provided nearly $1,000,000 in education assistance for Pre-K through 12th tuition assistance and also improvement projects in the public schools. Peter also serves on the Lackawanna College New Milford Center Advisory Council, The Blue Ridge School District Strategic Planning Committee, and the Pennsylvania 4-H Development Council. He and his wife Therese live in Franklin Township.

To celebrate Peter’s achievements and dedication to the communities of Susquehanna County, the Baden-Powell Council will be hosting a dinner in his honor on October 1 at the Summit Tea Room, Rte. 11, New Milford. For more information or to submit a reservation please contact Lori Moore at Peoples National Bank at (570) 879-2175 ext. 217.

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