October 12

WING NIGHT, Wed., October 12, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Kirkwood Elks Lodge.

October 14

DINNER, Fri., October 14, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Kirkwood Elks Lodge.

October 15

PUMPKIN DAY, Sat., October 15, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Salt Springs State Park.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS EVENT, October 15, 10:00 a.m. at Bridgewater Baptist Church. Bring questions and concerns.

October 17

GLASS GUILD MEETING, Mon., October 17, 6:30 p.m. at Tingley Glass, Dickson City. For info/to rsvp call 570-342-2320.

October 19

DINNER, October 19, 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Clifford UM Church. Eat in or take out.

MEMBERSHIP MEETING: Endless Mountains Heritage Region, Wed., October 19, 4:30 p.m. at Montrose Bible Conference. For info/registration call 570-265-1528.

October 21

SPAGHETTI SUPPER, October 21, 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Hallstead-Great Bend Rod & Gun Club. All you can eat.

EXHIBIT OPENING RECEPTION: A Collaborative Exhibit of Writing & Visual Arts, October 21, 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Butternut Gallery and Second Story Books, Montrose. Exhibit to run October 21 - November 20.

October 22

AMBA BLOOD TESTING PROGRAM, October 22, 6:00-10:00 a.m. at Hallstead American Legion. For appt. call 1-800-234-8888. Fee.

October 21-23

HALLOWEEN THEATRE EVENT: "The Strange Case Book of Dr. Lazarus," October 21-22, 7:00 p.m. and October 22, 3:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Montrose.

October 22

BUFFET DINNER, Sat., October 22, 4:30-6:00 p.m. at Gibson UM Church. Eat in or take out.

HARVEST SUPPER, Sat., October 22, 4:00-7:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s, Kirkwood.

FALCONRY PROGRAM, October 22, 2:00-5:30 p.m. at Hallstead-Great Bend Rod & Gun Club. Free, all welcome. For info call 570-432-0101.

PROGRAM: How to Prepare a Trophy, October 22, 6:30-9:00 p.m. at Hallstead-Great Bend Rod & Gun Club.

October 23

TREASURE PERFORMANCE, music of praise and worship, Sun., October 23, 3:00 p.m. at Susky UM Church. Refreshments to follow.

Monday, October 17: hamburger, carrot salad, dilled potato salad, ww sandwich roll, chunky applesauce, chocolate chip cookie.

Tuesday, October 18: baked macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, garden salad w/ garbanzo beans, grain bread, fruited jello, salad dressing.

Wednesday, October 19: crabcake, steamed green and wax beans, boiled new potatoes w/parsley, ww sandwich roll, spice cake.

Thursday, October 20: chicken w/ peppers and onions, black bean soup, Spanish rice, ww tortilla, tropical fruit w/ toasted coconut, sour cream.

Friday, October 21: stuffed cabbage roll, mixed vegetables, buttered noodles, ww dinner roll, ice cream w/ fruit topping.

HARRISBURG - Rep. Sandra Major (R-Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming) would like to inform volunteer fire companies and ambulance services that the deadline to apply for the 2011 Volunteer Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Program (VFCVASGP) has been extended to Nov. 4.

The original grant deadline has been extended two weeks to 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4, due to the extensive flooding that has affected many residents statewide.

The grants may be used for construction or renovation of a unit’s station, the purchase or repair of equipment, training or debt reduction. The maximum grant amount is $15,000 for volunteer fire companies and $10,000 for volunteer ambulance services. A total of $25 million will be awarded through the program.

Grants to eligible fire companies will be contingent on their agreeing to participate in and report information using the Pennsylvania Fire Information Reporting System (PennFIRS).

For more information, visit Major’s website at RepMajor.com and click on “Fire and Ambulance Grants.”

They were blessed with two daughters, Barbara and Gary Stone and Susan and Frank Koncak, along with three granddaughters, Amanda and Andrew Rice, Becky Stone and Beth Stone.

A private dinner with immediate family and their bridal party will be held to honor this occasion.

If you would like to share with them on this day, please send cards to PO Box 400 Hallstead, PA 18822.

October 17-24 is Federal Radon Action Week according to The Surgeon General. Health agencies throughout the United States have joined forces to promote awareness of the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers. The American Lung Association, Centers for Disease Control, and National Cancer Institute all agree that radon is a National health problem and encourage radon testing during the October awareness drive.

Radon is a naturally-occurring, invisible and odorless radioactive gas. One in 15 American homes contains high levels of radon. Millions of Americans are unknowingly exposed to this dangerous gas. In fact, a recent study by Harvard University ranks radon as America’s #1 in-home hazard. By taking simple steps to test your home for radon and fix if necessary, this health hazard can be avoided.

Radon gas is not isolated to certain geographical areas or home types. Radon problems have been detected in homes in every county of the U.S. It caused more American fatalities last year than carbon monoxide, fires, and handguns combined! If a home hasn't been tested for radon in the past two years, EPA and the Surgeon General urge you to take action. Contact your state radon office for information on locating qualified test kits or qualified radon testers.

The federal commitment made by EPA, the General Services Administration, and the departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, and Veterans Affairs will focus efforts on radon reduction and mitigation in homes, especially those of low-income families, many of whom do not have the resources to make the simple fixes necessary to protect their homes and loved ones. Learn more about the Federal Radon Action Plan at www.RadonPlan.org.

True Friends Animal Welfare Center has announced a Blessings of Pets and Open House for Saturday, October 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. Father Paul Walker of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Montrose, and Father Randy Webster of St. Mark’s, New Milford and Christ Episcopal Church, Susquehanna, will be available to offer blessings for pets that come to visit the center. Visitors may also adopt a new pet and receive a blessing as well! Refreshments will be provided. Donations of canned or dry dog or cat food, as well as dog and cat treats, will be welcomed. True Friends Animal Welfare Center is located at Routes 706 and 29 in Montrose, PA.

True Friends began in December 2010 following the Pennsylvania SPCA decision to close the Montrose Animal Shelter in March of the following year. The organizers contacted the management and negotiated an agreement that allowed local residents to take over management of the shelter. In April of 2011 True Friends was born. True Friends management is a dedicated team with a driven purpose to keep the shelter open for protecting the lives of our homeless animals. Among their goals they strive to be a non-kill shelter, committed to reducing homeless pets by means other than euthanasia. The center’s success requires a united community, especially through financial donations. Tax deductible donations can be sent to The Community foundation of the Endless Mountains, 270 Lake Avenue, Montrose, PA 18801. To volunteer or for further details you may contact Dory Browning at 570-396-6011 or True Friends at 570-278-1228.

Harrisburg - The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry reminds residents in 27 eligible Pennsylvania counties of upcoming deadlines for filing Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) claims. The deadlines vary by county.

An Oct. 14 deadline applies to residents unemployed due to the effects of Hurricane Irene in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Sullivan and Wyoming counties.

An Oct. 14 deadline applies to residents unemployed due to the effects of Tropical Storm Lee in Adams, Bradford, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Union, Wyoming and York counties.

An Oct. 27 deadline applies to residents unemployed due to the effects of Tropical Storm Lee in Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Northampton and Philadelphia counties.

Disaster unemployment assistance is intended to help individuals who are not eligible for benefits under a state’s regular unemployment insurance program. Persons living or working in counties under the disaster declaration may be eligible for 26 weeks of assistance if they are out of work because of August and September’s flooding. Farmers and self-employed individuals may also be eligible.

To apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, call 1-877-FILE DUA (877-345-3382), 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Individuals using a text telephone (TTY) may call toll free at 888-344-4046.

Applicants should be prepared to provide a Social Security number and, if possible, any documents that show earnings and employment for the tax year that ended prior to their unemployment as a result of the disaster.

The deadline to apply for disaster unemployment assistance is separate from the deadline to apply with FEMA. Nov. 14 is the deadline to call 1-800-621-FEMA and apply for federal and state disaster assistance.

It's October, the leaves are turning, the air is getting crisper, the days are getting shorter. It's getting time to put the garden to bed. "Oh, no,” you say. “I've been digging in the dirt for six months now and I'm tired of it! I think I'll just let the garden put itself to bed." This is not a good idea, folks - you and your plants will be thrilled in the spring that you did the right thing now. Just follow these steps.

For vegetable gardens: Remove all dead plant material and till the soil. Add compost or fresh manure to the top of your soil (don't till it under). Clean your tools with a 10% solution of bleach and water. Say "goodnight."

For flower gardens: Cut the perennials down to 4-6 inches above the soil, remove the annuals, compost or toss the plant material, weed, add mulch, sprinkle on a weed inhibitor such as Preen (water or rake it in), clean your tools with a 10% bleach and water solution. Don't use the weed inhibitor if you plan on planting seeds in the spring. Say "goodnight."

Before adding any fresh amendments (manure) to your soil, it's a good idea to get a soil analysis. Your Penn State County Extension has soil sample kits available for a small fee.

Join the Susquehanna Penn State Master Gardeners for a hands-on workshop on "Putting Your Garden to Bed" on Saturday, October 15 at 10:00 a.m. at the fountain on the green of Montrose. Rain date is Saturday, October 22 at 10:00 a.m.