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The Clover Pups 4-H Dog Club will have a sign-up/informational meeting on Monday, March 14. All parents and children are invited to attend. You don’t need to bring your dog to this meeting. Stop by the United Fire Company in Montrose anytime from 6:00-9:00 p.m. to learn about this 4-H dog club. If you have any further questions call club leader Renee Coy-Daly at 278-3154 or email her at reneecoydaly@live.com.
Megan’s Law Changes Protects Children HARRISBURG - The state House recently voted to make some much-needed changes to Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law, according to Rep. Sandra Major (R-Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming). Adopted in 1995, Megan’s Law requires the Pennsylvania State Police to establish and maintain a registry of sex offenders and sexually violent predators who reside, attend school or are employed in the Commonwealth. The law also requires a website to provide public access to the information. “The public safety information presented on the Megan’s Law website is only as good as the law that both requires that information and gives authorities the ability to enforce those requirements,” Major said. “Recent court cases highlighted some loopholes in the law that we are correcting with these bills. I am hopeful the Senate will act quickly to send them to the governor’s desk.” According to Major, the measures address the problems identified by the courts by outlining a process for homeless offenders (transients) to register every 30 days with the Pennsylvania State Police. The transients must be photographed and provide information about where they may be located, such as parks, public buildings, restaurants or libraries. The measure also corrects a technical error in the original Megan’s Law bill by ensuring the criminal penalties for failure to register apply to all registered sex offenders. It specifically addresses penalties for sex offenders required to register in their home states who subsequently move to Pennsylvania and are required to register for a lifetime. House Bills 68 and 75 now go to the Senate for consideration.
PennDOT Seeks Input On County Projects Dunmore - The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is proposing to replace two bridges in Susquehanna County, Route 1011 in Harmony Twp. and Route 1033 in Hallstead Borough/Great Bend Twp. These projects are being advanced in accordance with PennDOT’s overall goal to reduce the number of structurally-deficient bridges within the district over the next several years. The public is asked to review the project information listed below and discuss it with their municipal officials at their regularly-scheduled meetings in order to provide input to PennDOT. Information of interest includes access for emergency services during construction; possible presence of private utilities; local events that could be impacted by construction; other items requiring special coordination. Project Description: Route 1011, Section 552, Harmony Twp., Susquehanna Co. Replacement of the bridge over Deep Hollow Brook. Constructed in 1958, the current structure is a single span, steel I-beam bridge. The span is 30’ long and has two 10 ft. lanes with no shoulders. The proposed construction will be a single span pre-stressed concrete spread box beam bridge. Proposed lane width is two 10 ft. lanes with 2 ft. shoulders. This project will be built using a single-lane temporary roadway controlled with stop signs during construction. The temporary roadway will be west of the existing structure and will consist of a 10 ft cart way with 2 ft shoulders. Subject to available funding, the earliest possible time that construction can begin is Spring 2013. Project Description: Route 1033, Section 551, Hallstead Borough/Great Bend Twp., Susquehanna Co. Replacement of the bridge over Dubois Creek. Constructed in 1953, the current structure is a two-span, reinforced concrete T-beam bridge. The span is 50’ long and has two 11-ft. lanes with 2-ft. shoulders. The proposed construction will be a single span pre-stressed concrete spread box beam bridge with integral abutments. Proposed lane width is two 11-ft. lanes with 5-ft. shoulders. An alternate bridge barrier will increase the sight distance of nearby driveways. This project will be built using half-width construction. A single lane of traffic will be maintained. Subject to available funding, the earliest possible time that construction can begin is early Spring 2013. Questions regarding either project may be directed by March 11 to PennDOT project manager Chris Tomaszewski, (570) 963-3326.
Peoples Neighborhood Bank, headquartered in Hallstead, has generously provided more than $71,000 for local education for the 2010-2011 academic year. This funding was provided via the Pennsylvania Education Improvement Tax Credit program administered in this region by The Community Foundation of Susquehanna & Wyoming Counties.
Pictured (l-r) above: Peter Quigg, President, The Community Foundation of Susquehanna & Wyoming Counties; Alan Dakey, President & CEO, Peoples Neighborhood Bank. $24,000 of this funding was provided to Susquehanna Community School District to support the advanced engineering and design program Project Lead The Way in the High School’s Industrial Arts Department. The remainder of the funding assisted The Community Foundation in providing tuition assistance to local low and moderate income families who send their children to various Pre-Schools and tuition-based Elementary and Secondary schools. In all, nearly 100 students received assistance who are attending 22 schools or programs in Lackawanna, Susquehanna, and Wyoming Counties. Peter Quigg, President of The Community Foundation states that “Peoples Neighborhood Bank continues to exhibit genuine care and concern for local education and we sincerely thank the bank and staff for their continued assistance.” Alan Dakey, President & CEO of Peoples Neighborhood Bank believes that “our investment in education is an investment in the future of the communities we serve. We are confident that our support will make a difference in our communities.”
Rewards Program Benefits Library The Susquehanna County Historical Society & Free Library Association was recently presented with a ShurSave Community Rewards check for over $4,000 by Rob Robinson of the Rob's Market stores in Hallstead and Montrose. This amount - a whopping $4,174.86 to be precise - was accumulated pennies at a time by shoppers who registered their Gold Cards to benefit the Library and Historical Society. For each Shur-Fine and Western Family product purchased, three cents is donated to the Association at no cost to the shopper.
Pictured (l-r) above: Susan Stone (Administrator Librarian), Gladys Bennett (President of the Board of Directors), Rob Robinson (Rob's Markets), and Flo Whittaker (Chair of the Library Friends). "This is the largest check we've received so far - and it represents just six months of the program!” says Administrator/Librarian Susan Stone. “We are so grateful for the support of the ShurSave program and Rob’s Market, as well as the thousands of Gold Card users who have registered.” If you have a Gold Card but haven’t registered it, you can stop by any county library or visit www.susqcolibrary.org/goldcard to fill out a form.
United Way Holds Annual Celebration Thanks to the on-going support of the generous people in our community, the United Way of Susquehanna County is proud to report that they have reached their 2010 campaign goal of $300,000. On Tuesday, February 15, more than 40 community members gathered at the Community Foundation Building for the United Way of Susquehanna County’s annual celebration to commemorate the contributions raised for programs and agencies over the past year. The donations raised during this year’s campaign will be used to fund programs offered by the 19 United Way partner agencies. This year’s guest speaker, Douglas Sivers, Case Manager for the Susquehanna County Literacy Program, spoke about the number of people in our county who are in need of services and the issues and obstacles they face everyday. The literacy program offers many ways to help the 5,300+ Susquehanna County residents that lack basic literacy skills. If interested in learning more about these resources or volunteering please contact sclp@epix.net or 465-2880.
Dave Alamo, Baden-Powell Council, presents Jesse E. Borosh, Eagle Scout, a United Way Certificate of Recognition. Many individuals and businesses were honored for outstanding volunteer work as well as for generous contributions. Among those honored was Eagle Scout, Jesse E. Borosh. Dave Alamo, Baden-Powell Council, Boy Scouts of America District Executive, spoke about the work that an Eagle Scout must accomplish in order to receive this honor. Alamo presented Borosh with a Certificate of Recognition from the United Way of Susquehanna County. In addition, Pat Acker from the Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania spoke about the upcoming birthday of the Girl Scouts. On March 12, 2011, the Girl Scouts will be celebrating their 99th birthday. To celebrate girl scouts will be doing a day of service. Acker hopes to have the girls volunteer for local agencies and programs. Tammy Bonnice, from Montrose Publishing Co. Inc. served as the United Way’s Campaign Chairman. Bonnice announced that this year’s goal will be to raise $350,000. For more information about the United Way or to learn more about upcoming events please visit www.UnitedWayofSusquehannaCounty.org.
Cutting Woody Browse Helps Deer Survive This winter has seen a variety of weather conditions that have brought a continuous supply of snow, cold and a thick crust on top of the snow. During a winter with heavy snow cover or ice covered snow pack, deer must rely of the forested and brushy woodland areas to find food and shelter. A diet of woody browse develops a certain type of bacteria in the deer’s stomach that digest this roughage food that is found in the forests where there are shorter trees and/or in brushy wildlife areas. If landowners, sportsmen, hunting clubs and those interested and concerned about deer during a rough winter wonder what they could do to help, the answer would be to cut trees. By cutting trees and bringing the branches and tree tops down to where the deer can eat them you will provide them with food that the deer can readily digest. If you are doing some planning for the future woodpile, you may want to consider trees that are also good for firewood. Trees that may meet both requirements are as follows: white ash, maples, apple, black and yellow birch, oaks, and hickory. Trees and shrubby type trees/bushes that are on the deer’s preferred list would include: cedars, apple, maples, witch hobble, flowering dogwood, basswood and staghorn sumac. A bit further down the list are: elderberry, red berried elder, high bush cranberry and blueberry, willow, silky and red osier dogwood, nannyberry, hemlock, black cherry, choke cherry, shadbush, wild grape and hazelnut. There is still time to get outdoors and do some good for your local deer herd and local woodland. Researchers have found that the most critical time of year, as it pertains to food, minerals and overall health for deer (especially pregnant does) is from late February through early April. If you want more information on winter deer foods, browse and deer management visit the following websites: The New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC), www.dec.ny.gov; and the Quality Deer Management Association, www.qdma.org.
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