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HEADLINES: Community Foundation Congratulates Graduates The Community Foundation of Susquehanna & Wyoming Counties is happy to announce that forty-seven students will receive tuition assistance from college scholarships that are administered by The Foundation. Through affiliated School District Foundations, $46,735 will be provided to graduates from the eight High Schools in Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties. Furthermore, The Community Foundation’s participation in the Pennsylvania PATH program will allow students who matriculate at Pennsylvania colleges to be nominated for potential matching funding. The Community Foundation thanks the donors who have established these permanent scholarships and wishes good luck to all the scholarship recipients on the next phase of their education. For more details about the scholarships and their recipients please visit The Community Foundation’s web site at www.community-foundation.org.
Visitors Bureau Contest Continues Tunkhannock PA - There is still time to submit photos for The Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau 2011 Photo Contest. Anyone can enter the contest, whether a visitor who collected photo memories while vacationing in the area, or a resident who has captured life in the Endless Mountains through the camera’s eye. This year, the visitors bureau is looking for photos that depict the unique and special attributes of the Endless Mountains. Photos may be submitted in one of the following categories: Fairs & Festivals; Animals/Birds in the Wild; Winter Fun; Fall Foliage; Best Memory in the Endless Mountains. The photos must be taken in the Endless Mountains region, which covers Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wyoming counties. Entries need to be submitted in digital format through the bureau’s website, www.endlessmountains.org. An entry form, also found on the website, must accompany each submitted photo. First, second, and third place winners in each category will receive a monetary prize: 1st - $25; 2nd - $15; 3rd - $10. A grand prize winner, chosen from the first place category winners, will receive $100. First place and grand prize winning photos will be featured in the 2012 Endless Mountains Visitors Guide. All photos entered may be used in future Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau publications or other marketing projects - so everyone’s a winner! The deadline to submit photos is September 30. Winners will be chosen and notified in October. The Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau is the state-recognized tourism promotion agency for Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wyoming counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and has been promoting the Endless Mountains as a vacation destination for over 45 years. Complete details of the contest can be found on the bureau’s website. Questions can be directed to the visitors bureau at 570-836-5431, 800-769-8999, or shelley@endlessmountains.org.
Dead At Seventeen Editor’s Note: The following was submitted to us by Mr. Francis Hadnagy, Thompson, PA who asked if we might publish same to remind local teenagers of the risk and responsibility associated with their driving privileges. Agony Claws my mind. I am a statistic. When I first got here I felt very much alone. I was overwhelmed by grief, and I expected to find sympathy. I found no sympathy. I saw only thousands of others whose bodies were badly mangled as mine. I was given a number and placed in a category. The category was called "Traffic Fatalities." The day I died was an ordinary school day. How I wish I had taken the bus! But I was too cool for the bus. I remember how I wheedled the car out of Mom. "Special Favor," I pleaded. "All the kids drive." When the 2:50 p.m. bell rang, I threw my books in the locker... free until tomorrow morning! I ran to the parking lot, excited at the thought of driving a car and being my own boss. It doesn't matter how the accident happened. I was goofing off - going too fast, taking crazy chances. But I was enjoying my freedom and having fun. The last thing I remember was passing an old lady who seemed to be going awfully slow. I heard a crash and felt a terrible jolt. Glass and steel flew everywhere. My whole body seemed to be turned inside out. I heard myself scream. Suddenly, I awakened. It was very quiet. A police officer was standing over me. I saw a doctor. My body was mangled. I was saturated with blood. Pieces of jagged glass were sticking out all over. Strange that I couldn't feel anything. Hey, don't pull that sheet over my head. I can't be dead. I'm only 17. I've got a date tonight. I'm supposed to have a wonderful life ahead of me. I haven't lived yet. I can't be dead. Later I was placed in a drawer. My folks came to identify me. Why did they have to see me like this? Why did I have to look at Mom's eyes when she faced the most terrible ordeal of her life? Dad suddenly looked very old. He told the man in charge, "Yes, he's our son." The funeral was weird. I saw all my relatives and friends walk toward the casket. They looked at me with the saddest eyes I've ever seen. Some of my buddies were crying. A few of the girls touched my hand and sobbed as they walked by. Please somebody - wake me up! Get me out of here. I can't bear to see Mom and Dad in such pain. My grandparents are so weak from grief they can barely walk. My bother and sister are like zombies. They move like robots. In a daze. Everybody. No one seems to believe this. I can't believe it, either. Please, don't bury me! I'm not dead! I have a lot of living to do! I want to laugh and run again. I want to sing and dance. Please don't put me in the ground! I promise if you give me one more chance, God, I'll be the most careful driver in the whole world. All I want is one more chance. Please, God, I'm only 17.
Diabetes Walk Raises Over $7,000 Over 50 walkers, representing hundreds of sponsors, participated in the 13th annual Memorial Walk to Cure Juvenile Diabetes, held on Saturday, May 14. Walkers took a 3.5 mile round trip on the Endless Mountains Riding Trail, starting behind the Pump 'n Pantry. Walkers either raised money ahead of time or self-sponsored on the day of the walk. Paper sneakers were sold the months before the walk at the Main Library and branches, Rob's Market in Montrose and JDE Hair Salon and Spa. Many other local businesses also supported the walk with donations. This was a transition year for the Walk - new organizers Nicole Zaleski and Deb Chidester shared duties with the co-workers, family, and friends of the late Valerie (Holmes) Shook, who had run the walk in her memory for the first twelve years. Adding together donations, sponsors, and sneaker sales, $7,000 was raised locally for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Photos from this year's walk are on display at www.walktocurejuvenilediabetes.org. Next year's date is Saturday, May 12 (always the second Saturday in May). Contact Nicki at 570-289-4062 or Deb at 570-289-4957 if you would like to help next year. To get updates, register for the email list at the website.
Pictured above are proud great great grandfather, Fred H. Williams; great grandmother, Hope Williams Cottrell; grandmother, Marcia Cottrell Karhnak; mother, Misty Karhnak; and baby Keden Myles Chapman, born April 22, 2011.
USDA Assistance For Farmers And Ranchers TOWANDA, PA. - Sheryl L. Potocek, Farm Loan Manager for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Bradford and Susquehanna Counties announced that Farmers in these counties are eligible for low interest emergency loans from USDA because New York State and Pennsylvania counties were designated as primary natural disaster because of losses caused by severe storms, tornadoes, high winds, hail, excessive rain, flash flooding, flooding, lightning that occurred from 03/07/2011 through 06/12/2011. “The designation was signed on 06/10/2011 which means farmers have until 02/10/2012 to apply for the loan,” said FLM, Potocek. “FSA will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability.” According to FLM Potocek, emergency loans can be used to: restore or replace essential property; pay all or part of production costs associated with the disaster year; pay essential family living expenses, reorganize the farming operation; and refinance certain debts. In addition to requiring that a farmer own or operate land located in the counties declared by the President as a disaster area or designated by the Secretary of Agriculture as a disaster area or quarantine area, FLM Potocek says producers need to demonstrate they are an established family farm operator and have sufficient farming or ranching experience; are citizens or permanent residents of the United States; have suffered at least a 30-percent loss in crop production or a physical loss to livestock, livestock products, real estate, or chattel property; have an acceptable credit history; are unable to receive credit from commercial sources; can provide collateral to secure the loan; and have repayment ability. “Producers can borrow up to 100 percent of physical losses, to a maximum of $500,000,” says FLM Potocek. “The current interest rate is just 2.75 percent.” FLM Potocek says loans for crop, livestock, and non-real estate losses are normally repaid within 1 to 7 years; depending on the loan purpose, repayment ability, and collateral available as loan security. In special circumstances, terms of up to 20 years may be authorized. Loans for physical losses to real estate are normally repaid within 30 years. In certain circumstances, repayment may be made over a maximum or 40 years. USDA has also made other programs available to assist farmers and ranchers, including the Emergency Conservation Program, Federal Crop Insurance and the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. “Interested farmers may contact us at 200 Lake Rd, STE D, Towanda, PA 18848 or phone 570-265-6969, Ext. 2,” said FLM Potocek. “Additional information is also available online at: http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.”
CARES Continues With Commitment To Children Susquehanna County CARES continues in its mission to enhance the quality of early care and education for county residents. As the state funded non profit group wraps up this fiscal year, it is time to reflect on the major accomplishments during the last 12 months. The Annual Report Card to the Community found in this publication shows it has been a busy year for Susquehanna County CARES (Childcare, Agencies, Resources and Educational Services.) Thanks to the dedication of early learning practitioners, school administrators and community leaders, as well as financial support from area school districts, and partners such as United Methodist Community Church in Great Bend, nearly 600 “School Readiness Activity Packs” were distributed this spring in Susquehanna County. The backpacks were given to families with children heading to school for the first time in the fall of 2011 as they registered their children to begin this important educational journey. Families with children starting Kindergarten received an activity pack that included a book to read together titled “Kindergarten Rocks!,” a guide for parents to help prepare youngsters for those first days, a “Kindergarten, Here I Come!” calendar, and a special music CD “Tuning Up for School.” Families with children starting in a Pre-Kindergarten program also received a backpack full of school readiness materials. This activity pack included a book titled “Froggy Goes to School,” a list of ideas to prepare children for the classroom, a “Learning is Everywhere” calendar, and the music CD “Tuning Up for School.” In October, CARES provided programs promoting the state initiative “Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children: Because Every Child is Pennsylvania’s Future.” Families gathered for a special “Night of STARS” event that featured TV star MC Julie Sidoni of WNEP, children’s author/illustrator star Lindsay Barrett George, star gazing with Kopernik Observatory and child care providers who promote quality through Pennsylvania’s Keystone STARS program. In April, CARES focused on celebrating our young children by working with area businesses on a countywide “Young Artists’ Display.” Families also joined in by participating in the “CARES Young Children’s Fair” at Blue Ridge Elementary School. In May, young children and their families gathered for a fun-filled day in Moosic, as they enjoyed “Early Education Day with the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees.” These are just some of the highlights from the last fiscal year. CARES is already looking ahead to 2011-2012. Studies show children who receive a quality educational start before the age of 5 increase their chance of success later in life. Susquehanna County CARES will continue in its efforts to help our children receive that important start. For more information about CARES’ mission or any of their projects please call (570) 465-5040, email stcares@epix.net or find CARES on facebook.
Friends Of Natural Gas Inform Local Residents BRADFORD, Pa. - Local residents in Pennsylvania’s Northern Tier region learned about the benefits of safe and responsible natural gas development at a community discussion Tuesday evening, June 28, at the Blue Ridge School in New Milford. Friends of Natural Gas, an organization comprised of Pennsylvania and New York residents and natural gas workers, held the community discussion, “What’s Next: Seizing the Natural Gas Opportunity,” to offer residents a look inside the natural gas industry and the steps it is taking to ensure safe and responsible development. The Marcellus Shale, one of the largest sources of natural gas in the United States, has brought the natural gas industry to the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania, and Tuesday night’s event focused on the industry’s responsibility to the community. Representatives from Williams Companies and Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. explained how the companies are working with communities to ensure environmental safety and to maximize job creation and economic development. “In the Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania, the industry and community are working together to derive both the economic and environmental benefits that come from clean energy in an environmentally responsible way,” said Janice Lobdell, a landman with Cabot. “Individual companies seek out opportunities to support programs and projects that make a real difference in the communities in which they work,” added Helen Humphreys, senior communications specialist for Williams. “What’s Next” also featured a showing of the film “Marcellus Shale Voices,” which delves into the economic benefits the Marcellus Shale has had on the region. William H. Kelley, owner of Taylor Rental South Montrose, discussed the positive impact natural gas growth has had on his local business. “Marcellus drilling has had a tremendous impact on our business community,” Kelley said. “When the gas wells came to town, I threw away my business plan and went to the gas industry. The commodities business has become more than 50 percent of our business in less than two years. I look back on my business plan from 2010, and in a year and a half, I’ve already far exceeded projections.” This community discussion was the first of three that will be held in the Northern Tier this summer. For more information on this event, natural gas development or to RSVP for an upcoming event, please visit www.FriendsofNaturalGasPA.org or www.FriendsofNaturalGasNY.org.
Grant Applications For Tourism-Related Projects Tunkhannock - Non-profit organizations in Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties can now apply for grant monies available through that county’s room tax fund to help finance their tourism-related projects. There is only one grant round each year, making this the only opportunity to apply for funds for 2012 projects. The Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau is accepting the applications to help fund cultural, historical, and recreational projects - such as special events, exhibits, or publicity initiatives - as well as for marketing and promoting projects, wayfinding aides, and historical preservation projects that will increase tourism to an area and/or attraction. All submitted grant applications must be postmarked by Monday, September 26. Grant applications and program requirements are available through the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau and may be obtained by calling the bureau at 570-836-5431, emailing jean@endlessmountains.org, or stopping by the office (4 Werks Plaza, Route 6 East, Tunkhannock). The same information can also be found on the visitors bureau website, www.EndlessMountains.org, under the “media” section. Room Tax money is collected by lodging establishments from their overnight guests and is used to promote tourism in the Endless Mountains Region. For more information, contact the visitors bureau at the number listed above.
Mt. View High School Class Of ’81 Reunion The Mountain View High School Class of 1981 is planning its 30th reunion and is looking for class members. Members of the Class of ‘81 are currently planning for the reunion, which will be held in August or September at Emberz Restaurant, Montrose. For more information e-mail renn.thomas@yahoo.comor; send your name, address and phone number to Thomas Renn, 151 Rose Hill Rd., Lake Como, PA. The Class of ‘81 is also collecting information on what class members have done with their lives after graduation. Send a photo, along with information about your family (wife/husband, children), your career or work, your greatest achievement after high school, what you miss most about school, how you think you’ve changed and what you plan for the future to any of the above. If you know of someone who graduated from Mt. View High school in Kingsley, PA, in 1981 please pass this along.
New Service At The Harford Fair For years the Harford Fair has increased the number of paved paths around the fairgrounds in order to make moving around the fair easier for everyone. In addition to this, this year the fair is adding another service so that everyone can come to enjoy all that the fair has to offer. A space will be available this year renting units for easy mobility. There will be power chairs, manual wheelchairs, and baby strollers. The units can be rented on a daily or hourly basis.
Dr. David Robinson To Visit Guatemala Dr. David Robinson, formerly of Susquehanna, son of Mrs. Carrine and the late Robert Robinson, Laurel St., will soon leave with his church group for the second time to Guatemala. This trip will also include his son Adam (who is in medical school) and son-in-law Timothy Holtzman. They will be visiting a very poor district where Dr. Robinson will perform dental work, Adam will perform medical work and Timothy will do construction work.
Volunteers Welcome At Harford Fair The residents of Harford enjoy a simple, quiet existence for fifty-one weeks a year. However, everything changes during the third full week of August when approximately 65,000 visitors from near and far come to celebrate a long standing tradition, the Harford Fair. This year will mark the 154th anniversary of one of the few truly agricultural fairs which still exists. Based on tradition, this event takes year-round planning, work, and preparation by countless individuals. One change that has occurred over the past two years is a substantial decrease in state funding. With this concern in mind, and yet wanting to provide the same quality fair as in the past, the organizers of the fair are again looking for individuals willing to volunteer to help with some of the work of the fair. Specific departments seeking volunteers include Fine Arts, Floral Hall, the Little Red School House, and Vegetable Hall. A variety of jobs are available, especially sitting for at least a 3-hour shift in a department during the week of the fair, August 22-27. Volunteers will receive a complimentary one day pass to enter the fair the day they volunteer. If you are 18 or older and are interested in volunteering, please call the fair office at 570-434-4300. When you call, please be prepared to give your name, a telephone number where you can be contacted, and in which department you are interested in volunteering.
North Jackson Ag The North Jackson 4-H Club held their third meeting on June 4at the Onyon home. Prior to the meeting, several of the club members and the leaders met at the bowling alley in Great Bend for some bowling and pool games. What a fun time we all had! Kim Klim led the pledge to the American flag and TJ Loomis led the pledge to the 4-H flag. Eric Onyon, treasurer, gave an update on the current balance. Sign ups for good production practices were due on June 3. Good production practices were due on June 25. Our club will be decorating the dairy barn again this year with flowers. A big thank you to anyone who donates flowers in a pot! Don’t forget that your flower pot might get broken, so please don’t bring a special pot. It is time to start thinking about our clubs spirit award. This award is chosen by our club members, not our leaders. If you show livestock or dairy, every club member must make a poster to be displayed in the 4-H building. During our next meeting the following club members have volunteered to do their demonstrations: Emory, Gavin, Emily and KayLeen. Casey Gorick gave a demonstration at the recent meeting on her senior art project. Pictured above is Casey Gorick with her senior art project. News Reporters: KayLeen Conklin and Emily Supancik Sizzlin' Steaks On Saturday, May 28 the Sizzlin' Steaks 4-H club went to Old Mill Village to plant flowers for Memorial Day weekend. The 4-H members who attended this community project were David Bradshaw, Holly Harvatine, Olivia Zick and Alyssa and Evan Clarkson. We planted flowers by the school house, under the flag pole, in the well and around a tree. Also, on June 17, we held a bake sale at Peoples National Bank in Hop Bottom. The bake sale was a success - we sold everything and made $189.35. News Reporter: Alyssa Clarkson Sizzlin’ Steaks The last meeting that we had was held on June 20 at the Whitehead estate. Holly Harvatine, David Bradshaw, Corey Borove, and Autumn and Blaize Whitehead attended this meeting. Our president, David Bradshaw, called the meeting to order. We said our pledges and passed a paper around to serve as roll call for Alyssa Clarkson. The group thanked everyone who helped with flower planting at Maplewood Cemetery and Old Mill Village, everyone who helped bake and work at the bake sale, and Jeanette Brainard for picking up the flowers to plant in the cemetery and inquiring about the bill. Our bake sale at Peoples National Bank raised $189.35. Jeanette is looking into which date is best for our picnic and hike at Salt Springs. The dates she is looking at are July 16, July 30, July 31, August 13, and August 14. We are looking to purchase something special for all of the members in appreciation for all of their dedication and hard work. The ideas so far are shirts, jackets/sweatshirts, doing tie-dyes again, hats, towels, blankets, chairs, or something from the 4-H catalog. Blaize Whitehead played and explained how his guitar works. He has been taking lessons for about a year. Autumn Whitehead showed us her bunny and explained some basic dos and don'ts about bunny care. The rabbit's name is Stitches. The July 28 meeting will be at the Brainard/Bradshaw home and August 11 will be at the Harvatine home. The meeting was adjourned and the Whiteheads served lemonade, muddy buddies, and chocolate covered strawberries for snack! Some kids enjoyed some time on the trampoline, since swimming was questionable because it seemed as though it might storm. News Reporter: Alyssa Clarkson
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