The Harford Fair Open Beef show was held on Thursday, August 25 during the 154th Harford Fair. Judge John Harnish of Troy PA evaluated 58 entries in breeding and market classes.

Andrew Bledsoe (pictured above), Montrose, exhibited the Supreme Champion Female, a Three Year Old and Older cow that was champion of the Crossbred division.

The Grand Champion Market Steer was exhibited by Dan Sheruda, Dalton, weighing 1,241 lbs. The Reserve Champion Market Steer was exhibited by Dempsey Hollenbeck, Kingsley, weighing 1,220 lbs. The Champion Dairy Feeder was exhibited by BJ Zembrzycki, Herrick Center, weighing 850 lbs. and the Reserve Champion Dairy Feeder was exhibited by Whisperlynn Jagget, Taylor, weighing 478 lbs.

Other Champions included: Champion Angus Female, Cherry Knoll Fundy Lady 002, exhibited by Elizabeth Trowbridge, Meshoppen; Champion Limousin Female, Tiny Whiskey Lullaby, exhibited by Cassie Clark, Springville; Champion Red Angus Female, Quicks Slimer, exhibited by Ashli Quick, Tunkhannock.

One hundred and seven hogs were exhibited at the 154th Harford Fair Open Pig Show. Ken Fetterhof, of Beavertown, PA, served as the judge for the show. Sabrina Clark of Springville, exhibited the 263 pound Grand Champion hog. Dempsey Hollenbeck, Kingsley, showed the Reserve Grand Champion, which weighed 280 pounds.

The 2011 Harford Fair Queen Daisy Matulevich smiles as she awards plagues and ribbons to two of the winners in the Open Hog Show at the fair. Sabrina Clark of Springville exhibited the Grand Champion Medium Weight Hog and Dempsey Hollenbeck of Kingsley won Reserve Grand Champion with her Heavyweight Hog.

The pigs were judged over five divisions: lightweight (167-227 pounds), medium lightweight (230-242 pounds), medium weight (245-256 pounds), medium heavyweight (257-268 pounds), and heavyweight (270-300 pounds). The Champion lightweight was shown by Samantha Hunsinger, Montrose, and the reserve lightweight was shown by Daniel Daly, Springville. The Champion medium lightweight was exhibited by Evan Aldrich, New Milford, and the reserve champion was shown by Cierra Demarest. The Champion medium weight went to Emily Shevchuk, Hop Bottom, and the reserve medium weight went to Kennidy Finch, Springville. The Champion medium heavyweight went to Sabrina Clark, Springville, and the reserve was shown by John Walsh, Dalton. The Champion heavyweight was exhibited by Dempsey Hollenbeck, Kingsley, and the reserve champion was shown by Michael Shevchuk, Hop Bottom. Congratulations to all the exhibitors for a great show with lots of quality pigs being shown!

Though it was a rainy day, it was a successful show, thanks to many great volunteers. It takes a lot of people to run a pig show, and Susquehanna County has no shortage of excellent volunteers! Be sure to make plans to come to the 2012 Harford Fair, and to be there to watch the Open Pig Show!

The Susquehanna County 4-H Horse Judging Team placed first at the 2011 State Achievement Days. The horse judging team consists of Stephanie Koloski, Katelyn Kveragas, Nathan Moyer and Samantha Turner, and is coached by 4-H Leader and 4-H summer assistant Kelli Agler. Kelli brought the team together in early summer, which began the many practices and hard work of learning to judge classes, practice giving reasons, and learn the rules of horse judging contests.

Pictured above: Kelli Agler, Coach; Samantha Turner; Nathan Moyer; Katelyn Kveragas; Stephanie Koloski; and Christy Bartley, 4-H Youth Development Program Leader.

The team worked very hard and went on to compete at State Days where they won the Horse Judging Contest as a team. This advances the team on to two national level competitions - the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio, and the Eastern National Horse Roundup in Louisville, Kentucky. Through sponsors and fundraising, the team plans to attend both contests. Best of luck to the Susquehanna County Horse Judging Team 2011!

Also, the Susquehanna County Sr. Shotgun Team placed 4th in the state. The senior team consisted of Christopher Jordan, Anthony Whitney, Allison Kiefer and Matthew Coy. Christopher Jordan placed 3rd in the senior division with his individual score of 45 out of 50 targets. This qualifies Christopher to go to the 2012 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational in Grand Island, Nebraska (June of 2012). Chris will be attending this national event. There were also two junior age shooters from Susquehanna County who participated in State Achievement Days - Zach VanWinkle and Callie Curley. Zach’s score of a 48 out of 50 targets actually placed him first in the junior division and 2nd overall both senior and junior shooters.

Also taking part in 4-H Fashion Revue at State Achievement Days was Olivia Everitt and Theresa Staats. Congratulations to all who took part!

TOWANDA - In the aftermath of the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Lee, many residents are in need of contractors to help with home repairs and Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) is cautioning homeowners about repair scams and to learn all they can before work begins.

“Every year, thousands of Pennsylvanians file consumer complaints about home improvement contractors who take money and fail to perform satisfactory construction or repairs,” Pickett said. “I strongly urge consumers to research a contractor before giving them money and allowing them to do any work.”

There are several things consumers should look out for to protect themselves from disreputable or fraudulent home improvement contractors.

Contractors who come to a home and point out specific problems should be met with caution.

If contactors arrive in an unmarked truck or van and refuse to provide proof of insurance, it is safe to say they may not be reputable contractors.

Consumers should make sure the contractor can provide at least three or four references and is registered with the state and local government.

Consumers should obtain a written contract that includes a start and finish date and a three-day, right-to-cancel notice. Penalty clauses for late completion have also proven helpful in ensuring timely projects.

Individuals should never sign a blank contract or hire a contractor who does not have a business card or local phone number and address.

Final payments should be withheld until work is finished and homeowners are completely satisfied.

In 2008, the Legislature passed the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act. The law requires that all contractors who perform at least $5,000 worth of home improvements per year register with the attorney general’s office.

A contractor’s registration number must appear in any advertisement used by the contractor. For more information on consumer protection and a list of registered contractors, visit the Pennsylvania attorney general’s website at http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/hic.aspx.

Pastor Bob and Janet Harris recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary by traveling to Carthage, Missouri to see the Precious Moments Chapel and to Branson. Along the way they visited historic sites, sites of natural beauty, and also relatives and friends. On their anniversary, September 21, they attended the Dixie Stampede.

Do you know an exceptional high school student that volunteers or works part time in the health care industry? The Northern Tier Workforce Investment Board and the Northeast Healthcare Industry Partnership are sponsoring the fourth annual Student Health Care Hero Award for high school students.

This contest honors Northern Tier students in grades 9 through 12 who are contributing to the health care field through volunteer service or paid part-time work in a health care setting. Nominees are required to have a genuine interest in the field, a commitment to learning, and the desire to pursue a career in health care.

Nomination requirements include:

Must be a student in grades 9-12 from the Northern Tier Region which includes Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming counties. Home-schooled students are eligible.

The student must volunteer or work part-time in a health care setting.

Students may be self-nominated or nominated by a third party (employer, school, or organization).

The student must have parental consent if under the age of 18.

Entries must conform to all essay requirements.

The first, second and third place winners will receive cash awards of $200, $100 and $75 respectively. The essay contest entry deadline is October 21. No late entries will be accepted. Additional guidelines and submission forms are available through your high school guidance counselor, school nurse, or on the website at www.northerntier.org.

For more information contact Sherry Felten, Workforce Program Manager at Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development Commission, 570-265-1516 or toll-free at 888-868-8800 or email Felten@northerntier.org.

The goal of the Student Health Care Hero contest is to raise student awareness of the important and rewarding job opportunities in the heath care field.

SEEDS (Sustainable Energy Education & Development Support) announces a program to help families save electricity called "Kick the Watt, a SEEDS 350 Project." It is the next generation of last year's "350 Saved Project" that saw 36 families save 113,492 kilowatt hours and almost $16,000.00 on their electric bills.

"SEEDS thought last year's success called for a continuation of the program," says Katharine Dodge, who, with a committee of active SEEDS members, has designed this new generation of the savings program. They have added a catchy new name: “Kick the Watt, a SEEDS 350 Project." There will be monthly prizes based upon the percentage of savings comparing a month this year to the same month the previous year, with a year-end grand prize for the biggest saver.

"The goal here is to save electricity, and, as a result, have cleaner air for us all to breathe," says Ms. Dodge. "There is the added benefit of saving cash, and who can argue about the benefits of that?"

There is no cost to sign up, but, participants must be PPL customers living in Wayne, Pike, Susquehanna, or Lackawanna County to be eligible.

Anyone wishing to join can go to Seedsgroup.net and click on "Kick the Watt" and scroll down to sign-up. If you do not have access to a computer, you may call Kathy at (570) 698-6173.

Starting in September of 2011 and continuing through September of 2012, participants will receive a monthly e-mail with tips on how to save electricity and money. After receiving their monthly electric bill, participants simply report the amount they used that month. There is a very easy reporting tool on the SEEDS website to do this.

PPL makes it easy to see one's data either on their cutting-edge website where customers can sign up to see a detailed profile of their energy use and billing history, or on their paper bill which shows thirteen months of usage.

"I created a tutorial on our SEEDS website to help you find what you need on the PPL site," says Jason Bohenek, the SEEDS intern helping with some of the technical aspects of the program. "The sooner you sign up during this year-long program, the sooner you will be eligible for the monthly prizes," he adds.

SEEDS has a presentation about Kick the Watt that the committee will be happy to present to school and community groups. To request a free presentation, send an e-mail to Kathy@seedsgroup.net or call (570) 698-6173.

SEEDS is a non-profit 501C-3 organization based in Northeast Pennsylvania. The group holds public forums on various renewable energy and energy efficiency topics. Go to their website at seedsgroup.net to learn about programs and future events.

On September 22 the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania (LWVPA) came to visit Susquehanna County for a Marcellus Shale “See for Myself” tour before heading to the Citizens Marcellus Shale Commission hearings in Towanda. Their group was welcomed by Cabot Oil & Gas and given a thorough tour of one of their well sites. The League extends its gratitude to Cabot for their graciousness and the extensiveness of the tour. Pictured above, LWVPA State President Ms. Olivia Thorne was presented with a piece of the Marcellus Shale.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - As Pennsylvanians return to their water-damaged homes, they come face to face with a new threat - mold. Mold can cause serious, long-term health problems. Recovery specialists urge disaster survivors to protect themselves by treating or discarding mold - and mildew-infected items.

The following individuals are at higher risk for adverse health effects from molds: infants, children and the elderly; immune compromised individuals (people with HIV infection, liver disease, in chemotherapy, etc); pregnant women; individuals with existing respiratory conditions such as allergies, multiple chemical sensitivity, and asthma. People with these conditions should consult a physician if they are experiencing health problems. Typical symptoms reported from mold exposure include respiratory problems (such as wheezing and asthma attacks); burning or watery eyes; nose or throat irritations; skin irritations such as rashes or hives; and nervous system disorders such as headaches, memory loss and mood changes.

"Taking the time to clean thoroughly is the most important step a homeowner can take to prevent illnesses from mold," said Commonwealth Coordinating Officer John Forr. Mold and mildew start growing within 24 hours after a flood, and can lurk throughout a home, from the attic to the basement and crawl spaces. The best defense is to thoroughly clean, disinfect, and dry the affected areas.

Porous materials - things that absorb water-can trap mold forever. Moldy paper, rags, wallboard, and rotten wood should be discarded. Survivors also may need to throw out moldy carpeting or upholstered furniture. "It can be hard to get rid of a favorite armchair, your child's teddy bear or any other treasures that have developed mold," said Federal Coordinating Officer Thomas J. McCool. "To safeguard the well-being of your loved ones, though, a top-to-bottom home cleanup is your best defense."

"Remember, when in doubt, throw it out," Forr said.

Protect yourself during cleanup. Wear gloves and a filter mask. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends using an N-95 respirator which is available at hardware and home improvement stores. Be sure the area is well ventilated.

Clean wet places immediately using these suggestions: Mold cannot grow without moisture. Eliminate the source. Discard porous materials that already have mold growth (i.e. carpets, drywall, ceiling tiles).

Thoroughly clean non-porous materials (glass, ceramic, metal and plastic), with a solution of household bleach, soap or detergent, and water. Wash down walls, floors and other mold contaminated areas. When using bleach remember: wear rubber gloves and other protective clothing including goggles and air filter masks; make sure the area is well ventilated; and never mix chlorine liquids (bleach) and ammonia. Remove damaged wallboard at least two feet above the water line. Change heating and air conditioning filters. Have ductwork inspected by a professional. Monitor the area for new mold growth and signs of moisture.

For large problems, or if you are allergic to mold, have a professional do the work. Disturbing mold while cleaning it can cause exposure. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that everyone avoid unnecessary exposure to mold, especially anyone at high risk for infection. For more information on mold or mold cleanup visit their website at www.cdc.gov/mold/cleanup.htm.

More tips on what to do after a disaster are available online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Registering for disaster assistance will not affect other benefits you may be receiving disaster officials say.

"If you receive disaster aid from the Commonwealth or the Federal Emergency Management Agency, it does not affect your Social Security or other benefits," said Commonwealth Coordinating Officer John Forr. "Also," he added, "the disaster assistance is not taxable."

The amount of disaster assistance an eligible applicant receives is based on two things. One is the amount of loss and damages caused by the storms and flooding. The other is the amount of the applicant's insurance settlement.

"Regardless of how much money you make, if you live in one of the presidentially-declared counties and were affected by either Hurricane Irene or Tropical Storm Lee, you should register with FEMA," said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Thomas J. McCool. "If you are eligible for a disaster-assistance grant, the money does not have to be repaid as long as it is properly spent for your disaster recovery."

The only way to know if you are eligible for disaster assistance is to register with FEMA. Register by calling 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. If you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362. Operators are multilingual and calls are answered seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CDT. You also can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

After you register, you may receive a U.S. Small Business Administration application in the mail.

"If you receive a disaster loan application, you should complete and return it as soon as possible," Forr said. "If you qualify for a low-interest SBA disaster loan, you don't have to take it, but completing and returning the loan application form is important. If you don't return it, your disaster-aid process stops right there. If you do complete and return the form, you may qualify for additional assistance."

More information about this disaster is available at www.FEMA.gov.

Hayley Pompey, a first grader in the Mountain View Elementary School, proudly shows off her first place winning entry in the Harford Fair. Her magic marker art was done as a kindergarten student in Mrs. Light's class last year.

Peoples Neighborhood Bank has been named one of the Best Places to Work in PA for 2011. The awards program, created in 2000, is one of the first statewide programs of its kind in the country. The program is a public/private partnership between Team Pennsylvania Foundation, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the Pennsylvania State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management, and the Central Penn Business Journal.

This survey and awards program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places to be employed in Pennsylvania, benefiting the state’s economy, its workforce and businesses. Employers are categorized based upon the total number of employees they have in the United States, 25 to 249 employees and 250 or more employees. The complete list of the 2011 Best Places to Work in PA award recipients can be found at www.bestplacestoworkinpa.com and at www.centralpennbusiness.com.

Companies from across the state entered the two-part process to determine the 100 Best Places to Work in PA. The first part of this process was evaluating each nominated company’s workplace policies, practices, philosophies, systems and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. This part of the process was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process.

PNB will be recognized at the Best Places to Work in PA awards banquet on Thursday, December 1, at the Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster, PA. Rankings will be revealed at the ceremony.

The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Tioga counties, along with the PA Department of Aging, is inviting long term care facilities to partner with them as they celebrate National Resident’s Rights Month.

Residents Rights Month will be celebrated during October with this year’s theme: “Welcome Home. Creating Connections Between Residents and the Community.” This year’s theme challenges all of us to take a look at how “connected” residents are to the community that surrounds them and explore ways that we could work together to enhance and sustain those connections.

The local AAA Ombudsman and Volunteer Ombudsman Program work with residents and long term care facilities to promote quality of care and quality of life. AAA Ombudsman and Volunteer Ombudsman visit long term care facilities interacting with residents and staff to enhance awareness of resident rights and assist with problem resolution associated with care, treatment and rights of residents. The Ombudsman and Volunteer Ombudsman are a voice and advocate for residents.

To learn more about the AAA Ombudsman or Volunteer Ombudsman Program, contact Carol Dieffenbach, AAA Ombudsman at 1-800-982-4346 (toll free).

The Susquehanna Conference of The United Methodist Church is actively involved in the current flood recovery response. Rev. Doug Sivers is the Disaster Relief Coordinator for the counties in Northeast Pennsylvania. He may be reached at 607-725-3086. More than 1,500 clean up buckets and 1,000 health kits have been brought into many local communities including Lanesboro, Susquehanna, Great Bend, Hallstead, New Milford, Tunkhannock, Meshoppen, Towanda, West Wyoming, West Pittston, West Nanticoke and Shickshinny. There are many on-going needs that the community can elect to adopt during this long-term process. As recovery happens, needs change and evolve. Doug can help you connect where your abilities match needs.

Additional clean up buckets need to be assembled. Listed below are items that are needed for the buckets. These items can be dropped off at Montrose United Methodist Church at 526 Church Street in Montrose: liquid laundry detergent - 25oz. or 50 oz. bottles; liquid household cleaner 12-16 oz. liquid cleaner to be mixed with water, no spray cleaners; dish soap - 16-28 oz. bottle any brand; can of air freshener - aerosol or pump; insect repellant spray 6-14 oz. aerosol or spray pump with protective cover; scrub brush - plastic or wooden handle; cleaning wipes - handi-wipes or reusable wipes, no terry towels; sponges; scouring pads; clothespins; clothesline 50 or 100 ft. cotton or plastic; heavy duty trash bags; dust masks; disposable waterproof gloves; work gloves - cotton or leather.

Donations may be left in the boxes in Fellowship Hall (off upper parking lot.) and in the Wesleyan Room (off Jessup Street). Empty, clean 5 gallon buckets with lids are also accepted.

Volunteer work teams or individuals may call Doug Sivers to coordinate where their help will be most effective. This is a long term relief mission. Continue to remember and support our “neighbors” in need.

HARRISBURG - Sabrina Clark of Springville bested 140 intermediate showmen at the 14th Youth Showmanship Contest at the 2011 All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg. A record number of juniors - 354 - vied for top showman honors in this year’s show, for youth ages eight to 21.

Clark (pictured above) showed Abby, a winter calf owned by a friend, as intermediate division champion. Showmen don’t need to be exhibiting animals at the show to compete in the showmanship competition. This was Clark’s first time competing in the contest. She is the 14-year old daughter of Charlie and Kim Clark. She is a member of the DES 4-H Club and Susquehanna County Jr. Holstein Club. In addition to showing dairy animals, she also shows market hogs. Clark is in the ninth grade at Elk Lake High School and is an excellent athlete, playing soccer and basketball.

Emily Yeiser of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, evaluated the intermediate division of the popular showmanship contest.

Clark received a savings bond, embroidered chair and neck ribbon. Other top 10 finalists received a blanket and cash prize.

The 48th All-American Dairy Show, the world’s largest dairy show, ran Sept. 17-22 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. This year’s show featured 23 shows in six days, the nation’s only all-dairy antiques show, more than 2,400 animals and 935 exhibitors from 24 states and Canada. For more information, visit www.allamerican.state.pa.us or call 717-787-2905.

Last month 11 sea scouts of Ship 90, New Milford, embarked on an exciting high-adventure sailing trip on the Atlantic Ocean, August 2-5. Their adventure took place aboard the “Mystic Whaler,” a 110 foot gaff-rigged schooner, which is based in New London, Connecticut.

Several other sea scouts from the northeast region sailed with Ship 90, for a total crew of 20 sea scouts aboard! This was the largest vessel the sea scouts of Ship 90 have sailed since 1997, so they were anticipating this trip for quite a while. They were excited to see what they would learn and experience on the cruise. Though the Mystic Whaler has a professional crew, the scouts were taught the crucial aspects of running a large sailing vessel at sea. Such skills of handling 3,000 square feet of sails on two masts, raising the anchor, navigation, manning the helm, marlinspike seamanship, emergency drills and galley duty name just a few of the nautical skills required of a sailor!

Some of the fun activities that the crew participated in were swimming over the side in Long Island Sound, climbing the 90 foot mast to the crows nest and talking to the crew members about their lives as professional crew aboard the Mystic Whaler. Scouts also got to visit several ports along the way, including Greenport, Long Island and the scenery was breathtaking. All in all it was an awesome sailing adventure and all the sea scouts had a great time while earning their Qualified Seaman Rating. Though some times the work and classes were hard, all agreed that it was an experience no one would have wanted to miss.

Sea Scouts attending from Ship 90, the North Star, included: Christian Chludzinski, bo-sun; Josh Warner, bo-sun mate; Chris Powers, Austin Chludzinski, Tiffany Spencer, David Stude, Katie Green, Zoe Gauthier, Coral Brady; Chuck Jaget, skipper; and Helen Reed, first mate.

If you are between 13 and 20 and interested in having the chance of going on trips like this, join Ship 90 by calling skipper Chuck Jaget at 756-2805; first mate Helen Reed at 756-2584; or commodore Ron Hall at 465-3218.

For nine days 11 sea scouts and two leaders from Sea Scout Ship 90, New Milford, lived and sailed the “Swan,” a 30 foot sailboat and the “Coup de Tete,” a 32 foot sailboat. Sailing on the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean, the scouts learned sail handling, navigation, helmsman ship, docking and anchoring. They also did galley duty and practiced teamwork and leadership.

The group also had fun trips to Ocean City and Rehoboth Beach. The two sailboats were provided by Sea Scout Ship 109 “Eagle” of Lewes, Delaware. The dock master at Lewes was so impressed with the sea scouts of Ship 90, the “North Star” from New Milford, that he presented them with the Lewes City flag.

The 13 sea scouts attending from Ship 90 were skipper Chuck Jaget, first mate Helen Reed, bo-sun Christian Chludzinski, bo-sun mate Josh Warner, Katelyn Grub, Destiny Sterling, Austin Chludzinski, Diana Stude, David Stude, Katie Green, Antony Miller, Chris Powers and Tiffany Spencer.