The “stars” came out Friday, October 21 at Susquehanna Community Elementary School. As part of a “Night of STARS” event, families enjoyed an evening of information and entertainment based on a stars theme.

While children kicked off the evening making lightening bugs using soda bottles and glow sticks, parents learned about several quality early learning initiatives in Pennsylvania including Keystone STARS and Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts. The programs are making a difference in the lives of young children. Keystone STARS is a voluntary initiative that gives star rankings to childcare providers who go beyond basic health and safety measures while Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts allows families to enjoy free quality pre-k.

Families continued on their “star” journey by learning about our solar system from Tish Bresee of Kopernik Observatory. Even though cloudy skies prevented star gazing, everyone had fun making rockets and using drinking straws to fire them into the air.

“Star” Children’s Author Irene Breznak offered insights into her book “Sneezy Louise.” Every family left with a copy of the book along with several other goodies. WNEP-TV “Star” Julie Sidoni acted as the evening MC.

“Night of STARS” was sponsored by Susquehanna County CARES. It would not have been possible without the support of several volunteers including teachers and high school students from Susquehanna Community School District and staff from area learning and development centers.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The losses following Pennsylvania's storms and flooding last month may be magnified for the elderly. Seniors previously living on their own may be dependent on others for food, shelter and the necessities of daily living. Those used to assisted living may face upheaval in their normal routines or a change in their usual caregivers. Additionally, the stress of the disaster itself can cause significant challenges.

Symptoms of stress unique to the elderly include:

Reliving events in their lives when they were traumatized or suffered severe losses.

Fear of losing their independence or self-sufficiency.

Fear of a decline in health and limitations on mobility.

Worry about limited financial resources, time, and physical ability to rebuild.

Fear of being put in an institution.

Withdrawal and isolation from family and friends.

When working with older adults after a disaster, it is important to:

Provide consistent verbal reassurance.

Assist them in recovering their physical possessions.

Return them to familiar surroundings with friends and acquaintances as soon as possible.

Make sure they have needed medical and financial assistance.

Help them re-establish social networks.

Monitor their nutritional and medication needs.

For more information about behavioral health services available in your area, contact your county crisis hotline or mental health office. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Additional information about this disaster is available at www.fema.gov, and www.readypa.org.

For the fifth consecutive year First Liberty Bank & Trust has contributed to the Pennsylvania Education Improvement Tax Credit Program administered by The Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains, formerly known as The Community Foundation of Susquehanna & Wyoming Counties. For the 2011-2012 academic year the bank has donated $10,000 which will help The Community Foundation provide tuition assistance to more than 200 students from low and moderate income families who attend 14 tuition based K-12 schools and programs in northeastern Pennsylvania such as private schools, career & technology programs, elementary science programs, and college dual-enrollment classes.

Pictured (l-r) above: Robert Matley, President First Liberty Bank & Trust; Peter Quigg, President The Community of the Endless Mountains.

The Community Foundation has administered the Education Improvement Program since 2003 and in that time has raised more than $1,500,000 for education assistance for 1,700 students attending 37 pre-K through secondary schools in four counties, as well as funding projects in two public school districts. Since 2007 First Liberty Bank & Trust has generously contributed $50,000 to assist The Community Foundation’s K-12 tuition assistance program.

Community Foundation President, Peter Quigg, states that “We appreciate very much the consistent support that First Liberty Bank & Trust has provided in the past five years. They have greatly assisted the educational goals of many students in our region.” First Liberty President, Robert Matley, says “What better investment of dollars is there than in quality education for our children? After all, they are our future.” First Liberty Bank & Trust has 26 branches in northeastern Pennsylvania, including six in the service area of The Community Foundation; Tunkhannock, Laceyville, Lawton, Little Meadows, Meshoppen, and Montrose. For more information about the work of The Community Foundation please visit www.community-foundation.org.

Dreyer Hall in Montrose was the setting for the annual Harford Fair banquet. Over 100 members of the association and guests enjoyed the evening with a fall theme which began with a family-style dinner.

Following the dinner, the group assembled in the Chapel Room for a special presentation. Five college students who have been involved with the fair over the years were each awarded a $500.00 scholarship. The money was the proceeds from the auction of the first and second place winners in each of the baked goods categories held at this year’s fair on Monday afternoon. The auction money from a beefer which was donated back to be resold was added to the amount. A total of $2500.00 was raised and used for the granting of scholarships.

Pictured (l-r) above: Warren and Rosemary Cosner of Springville who received the award for their daughter Angela Jane Cosner; Wanda and Wesley Harris from New Milford who received the scholarship for their daughter Rebecca; Eric Giangrieco from New Milford; Daisy and her parents Cheryl and Gary Matulevich of Hop Bottom; and Bethene Summers of Hallstead who accepted the scholarship for her daughter Cassandra.

To apply, the applicants had to be attending college and were involved in some way with the Harford Fair. The applications were due the first of September and those received were reviewed by the committee chaired by Dr. Michael Kowalewski and comprised of directors, Cindy Reynolds and Ron Stiles, along with association members Ginny Beeman, Stanley Kalafut, and Owen Bewley. The committee members agreed that all applications were strong and worthy of receiving a scholarship. However, because of the money available, only five of the applicants could be selected to receive the scholarship money. Recipients included Angela Jane Cosner, Eric Giangrieco, Rebecca Harris, Daisy Matulevich, and Cassandra Summers. Daisy and Eric were at the banquet with their parents to receive their scholarships. Angela, Rebecca, and Cassandra were unable to attend and their parents received the awards in their place.

Angela attends Clarkson University and is studying mechanical engineering. Eric is studying heating ventilation and air conditioning at Johnson College. Rebecca attends Wilkes University and is majoring in pre-pharmacy/pharmacy. Daisy is working toward a bachelor of science in nursing at Mansfield University. Cassandra is at Elizabethtown College majoring in psychology with a minor in music therapy.

Applications for next year’s scholarships will be available at the fair office or on the fair website (www.harfordfair.com). Applicants who were not selected this year are eligible for and encouraged to reapply next year. Anyone interested in contributing to the scholarship funds for next year can do so by contacting the fair secretary at 570-434-4300.

Following the presentations by Dr. Michael Kowalewski the assembly enjoyed a slide show set to music comprised of photos taken by Jack Maynard, Cindy Reynolds, and Nancy Tyler at this year’s fair. Everyone enjoyed viewing the pictures which gave a great overview of the 2011 Harford Fair.

Harrisburg - Magisterial District Judge Peter M. Janicelli was again certified for service as a member of Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System after successful completion recently of continuing legal education course work. Conducted by the Minor Judiciary Education Board (MJEB) and the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC), the education program for Magisterial District Judges is held in Harrisburg, PA.

The week-long instructional program is designed to ensure that Magisterial District Judges remain current in a variety of legal topics and management techniques required to fairly adjudicate cases and effectively supervise a district court office. Included in this year’s curriculum are updates on Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code; Civil Law/Blighted Property; Bail; Bankruptcy; Accommodations of Litigants in Court; ADA; Employment Law; FMLA; UJS Non-Discrimination Policy; Social Media; Weighted Caseload & MDJS Reports; MDJS Rewrite Update; Court Security; Criminal Law Update; Drug Identification; Magisterial District Court Veterans Diversion Program; Truancy; Mental Health Law; and Digital Stalking.

Continuing education course work is required by statute of each of the more than 500 Pennsylvania Magisterial District Judges, with approximately 50 Magisterial District Judges attending one of 13 such classes at some time during each academic year.

Magisterial District Judges represent the “grass roots” level of Pennsylvania’s judicial system. In counties other than Philadelphia, District Judges have jurisdiction over summary, criminal and motor vehicle cases; landlord/tenant matters; and other civil actions where the amount claimed does not exceed $12,000. Magisterial District Judges may also accept guilty pleas in misdemeanor cases of the third degree under certain circumstances. Magisterial District Judges also have jurisdiction to issue arrest and search warrants and to hold arraignments and preliminary hearings in criminal cases.

Established by Constitution, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts provides support to the Supreme Court in exercising its supervisory duties over each of the other state courts. The Minor Judiciary Education Board was established by legislative act to administer the continuing legal education program for Magisterial District Judges, Philadelphia Traffic Court Judges and Philadelphia Arraignment Court Magistrates, as well as certifying courses for Magisterial District Judges, Philadelphia Traffic Court Judges and Arraignment Court Magistrates and other initial jurisdiction court judges.

HARRISBURG - Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) announced that Pennsylvania’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) was to begin accepting applications for cash grants November 1. Crisis grants were also to be available on that date.

LIHEAP helps low-income people pay their heating bills through home energy assistance grants and crisis grants. Cash grants are awarded based on household income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Crisis grants are provided in the event of a heating emergency, including broken heating equipment or leaking lines that must be fixed or replaced, lack of fuel, termination of utility service or danger of being without fuel or of having utility service terminated. In most counties, assistance with home heating crisis situations is available 24 hours a day.

Applications will be available at the County Assistance Offices:

Bradford: 1 Progress Plaza, P.O. Box 398, Towanda; phone 570-265-9186 or 1-800-542-3938.

Sullivan: 918 Main St., Suite 2, P.O. Box 355, Laporte; phone 570-946-7174 or 1-877-265-1681.

Susquehanna: 33 Spruce St., P.O. Box 128, Montrose; phone 570-278-0056 or 1-888-753-6328.

Applications are also available from local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies.

Income eligibility for cash grants begins at $16,335 for an individual. The maximum eligibility limit for a family of four is $33,525. For each additional household member, the income limit increases $5,730.

For complete eligibility requirements and additional information about LIHEAP, visit Pickett’s website at RepPickett.com and click on “LIHEAP Information.”

Three Penn State Master Gardeners in Susquehanna County have recently had their pollinator gardens officially certified by Penn State as a “Pollinator Friendly Garden.” Rosi Barnhart, Friendsville; Shirley Krayeski, Springville and Judith Marsh (Master Gardener Apprentice), Uniondale all were certified this year. Rosi, Shirley and Judith’s gardens had to meet criteria such as: 1. provide food, which includes having plants, shrubs and trees that are diverse for pollen and nectar sources; 2. provide water sources, such as a birdbath, pond, spring or butterfly puddling area; 3. provide shelter, such as spaces of bare ground, rock piles, dead wood or bee boxes; 4. safeguard pollinator habitat, such as removing invasive plants and reducing pesticide use.

Pollinators need our help; both native and domestic bee populations are declining, which are affected by habitat loss, disease and contact with pesticides. Penn State Extension Master Gardeners are taking action to protect pollinators by planting pollinator friendly gardens and providing education for the gardening public. You can join this effort by providing food and habitat for native insects/animals. Pollinators will, in turn, provide the pollination needed to protect our plant diversity and food sources. Certifying your property as “Pollinator Friendly” will help support a healthy ecosystem for our community and our future.

Does your property already qualify? Find out by going to: http://ento.psu.edu/pollinators/public-outreach/cert. If you qualify you will receive a certificate verifying that your landscape is pollinator friendly. You will then be eligible for the Penn State Master Gardener Pollinator Friendly Garden sign. Both the certificate and the sign show your commitment to conserve pollinator habitat. It also helps support Penn State Master Gardeners continue their quest of educating the public about the importance of providing habitat for pollinators. For more information or an application contact Penn State Extension in Montrose at 278-1158.

The Susquehanna Chapter of PASR (Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees) held its fall meeting at Dreyer Hall, Montrose on Tuesday, October 4, with 35 members in attendance. Prior to the meeting, members had the opportunity to meet and greet candidates for County Commissioner and Auditor in the upcoming November election.

Entertainment was provided by the “Sweet Adeline’s” from the Elk Lake High School under the direction of Mrs. Barbara Holbert. An informative travel program was presented by representatives of Boscov Travel.

Community Service chair, Linda Lee, presented the “Volunteer of the Year” award to Cindy Reynolds of Kingsley. Ms. Reynolds has given countless hours of service to local and state organizations including the Harford Fair, Delta Kappa Gamma, CARES, the Literacy Council, the Montrose Adult School, and PASR. A retired educator from the Mountain View School District, Reynolds was to be honored at the Region 3 meeting of PASR on October 18.

Pictured (l-r) above: Cindy Reynolds, Volunteer of the Year and Linda Lee, Community Service Chair.

The John Dillon Award recipient for 2011 is Ellen Holdredge. She serves as the Educational Support chair for the local chapter. The Social Service Memorial Honor Fund, chaired by Barbara Bush, conducted a Memorial Service for 13 members and friends who passed away during the past fiscal year.

New officers and committee chairs, for 2012 and 2013, were installed by Joan Peters. They include President Robert McNamara and President Elect Douglas Wilcox. Nine local chapter members were in attendance at the State PASR Convention, October 9-11, in Valley Forge PA.

The Educational Support committee will continue to donate baskets of books to the Blueberry Festival and the Apple Literacy Festival as raffle items in 2012. Also, an Educational Support Grant of $150 will be presented to an educator in the Mountain View School District, along with a $300 Teacher Enrichment Grant to an elementary educator in the Elk Lake School District. A committee has been formed to develop plans for an additional scholarship to a graduating senior along with our existing rotating scholarship.

Members voted to donate $100 to the New Milford National Guard unit to assist with funding for their memorial to fallen members of the unit.

A delicious buffet luncheon, provided by the Montrose Bible Conference, was enjoyed by all following the meeting.

PASR includes all retired employees of the public schools of Pennsylvania, who are former teachers, administrators, counselors, nurses, aides, secretaries, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and maintenance staff. Contact current President Robert Orner, 278-2630, to learn more about PASR or visit www.pasr.org.

Dreyer Hall in Montrose was the setting for the October meeting of the Beta Rho Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. President Ann Way, assistant superintendent in the Tunkhannock School District, conducted the business meeting. The highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the third Beta Rho Achievement Award. Carol Goodman, who is cochairman of the committee, began the presentation by giving a few highlights of the member’s dedication and involvement at not only the chapter level but also at the state level of the Society. When the recipient, Pat Arnold, a retired teacher from the Mountain View Elementary School, was announced she was completely surprised and was warmly acknowledged with a standing ovation. Pat was initiated in the Alpha Zeta Chapter in 1981 and became a charter member of the Beta Rho Chapter when it was installed twenty-seven years ago at Shadowbrook in Tunkhannock.

Carol Goodman presented Pat Arnold with the Beta Rho Achievement Award at the fall meeting of the chapter in Montrose.

Pat and Carol initiated the award three years ago. Fashioned after the Alpha Alpha State Achievement Award, the chapter award is given to recognize and honor a member who has given distinguished and outstanding service to Beta Rho Chapter and has promoted the purposes and policies of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. Pat is exemplary in these qualities as are former recipients Joan Peters and Cindy Reynolds. Each proudly wears the beautifully designed gold pin with the chapter name engraved and a rose with a red center, the symbol of the Society.

Joan Peters was recognized as a 50 year chapter member of the Society at the meeting. Mary McCormick, a reserve member of the chapter, was also recognized as a 50 year member but was unable to attend the meeting. Joan thanked the chapter and said that she and Mary were initiated together in 1960 into the mother chapter, Alpha Zeta.

Other business conducted during the meeting included a discussion about the international DKG Project, Schools for Africa. The chapter has chosen Little Dresses for Africa as their project and will hear more about this at the December meeting when Jan Cohen, the Family Resiliency Educator at the Penn State Extension in Susquehanna County, will talk about her visit to Africa this summer. The 4-H groups in the county had made the little dresses out of pillowcases and Jan delivered them on her trip. The Beta Rho Chapter will provide postage to ship more dresses for the ongoing project. The chapter will purchase and ship books as well.

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International is a professional honor society for women educators with more than 115, 000 members. Established in 16 member countries around the world, the Society defines its mission as promoting professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. The December 3 meeting will be at the First Presbyterian Church in Montrose at 9:45 a.m. In addition to the speaker, the Wyalusing High School Chorus will perform holiday selections and engage the membership in a holiday sing-a-long.

The Penn State Extension office in Montrose was festively decorated for National 4-H Week, October 3-7, with prizewinning pumpkins from Susquehanna County 4-Hers! As part of the 4-H pumpkin project, members got the chance to grow their own pumpkins, chart their progress and enter their pumpkins in many fun categories to showcase their talents.

Zeb and Geovanni Swartley shown with their prizewinning pumpkins.

Zachary Chisek won a Grand Champion for his smallest pumpkin, which weighed in at only a half of a pound! Zeb and Geovanni Swartley entered pumpkins in the largest, smallest, best pair, carved and painted categories. They also entered in a category called “pumpkin people,” where they made 2 pumpkin people who represented the community service projects they had both done with the Borderline 4-H Club. Geovanni received a Grand Champion for his best pair of pumpkins and he and his brother Zeb also won a Grand Champion for their pumpkin people. All the participants are already planning for next year’s pumpkin crop and are excited about exhibiting their pumpkins at Roundup! For more information on joining 4-H please contact the Penn State Extension office at 278.1158.

HARRISBURG - To help Susquehanna County with the costs of maintaining its recycling program, Reps. Sandra Major (R-Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming) and Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) announced that a state grant worth more than $22,000 will help the county’s recycling program.

“County budgets are strapped, and that has a direct impact on the services they are able to provide to area residents,” said Major. “With this funding, the recycling coordinator position will be properly funded and the county will be able to continue offering a variety of recycling programs.”

“Recycling has become a daily part of most residents’ lives, even in rural areas like ours,” Pickett said. “The value of recycling isn’t just about tossing a glass jar or plastic bottle into a recycling bin but about protecting our natural resources. Grants like this help ensure recycling programs are maintained.”

The grant is part of the Department of Environmental Protection’s County Recycling Coordinator Grant Program.

The funds granted to Susquehanna County will be used to reimburse 50 percent of the county recycling coordinator’s salary and expenses.

More information about recycling efforts in Susquehanna County is available online at SusquehannaRecycle.com.

HARRISBURG - College students who have suffered severe loss as a result of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee are encouraged to complete and submit a Casualty Loss Form with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) for possible reconsideration of funding through the State Grant program, said Rep. Sandra Major (R-Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming), a member of the PHEAA board of directors.

“Many of those in our region suffered great loss during the storms in September. If that loss affected their financial standing, then they may be eligible for reconsideration of funding through the State Grant program,” said Major. “I encourage anyone who was financially impacted by the storms to fill out a form or call PHEAA to see if he or she is eligible.”

Major said PHEAA always gives special consideration to a student’s State Grant application when it is determined that the family’s ability to finance educational costs have been reduced because of losses incurred due to fire, storm or other unforeseeable circumstances.

A Casualty Loss Form can be accessed through Major’s website at RepMajor.com. State Grant recipients can also call 1-800-692-7392 with any questions they may have.

The Susquehanna Community High School Class of 1971 held their 40th class reunion the weekend of October 15. An icebreaker started the activities Friday evening at the American Legion Post #86. Saturday, a mass was held at St. John the Evangelist Church in memory of the deceased members of the class. A cocktail hour, dinner, dancing, awards and 1971 trivia was then enjoyed by all at the American Legion. Entertainment was provided by DJ, John Ord. Attending were Judy Gordon Rood, Marion Corse Seamans, Darlene French Slocum, Delores Downton Martin, Tim Orr, Ted Sartell, Linda Plutino Norris, Dick Hennessey, Doug Slocum, Linda Brooker Bedford, Bob Keyes, Gay Williams Keyes, Don Norris, Chet Beamer, David Fortune, Johnine Haggerty Barnes, Dan Murphy, Eugene Price, Donald Whitmore, Pat Ahearn and Graydon Wayman. Future plans have begun to celebrate the members’ 60th birthdays.

The Hands On Helpers, part of the Community Options/IDD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) Department of NHS Human Services, sponsored a yard sale and luncheon to benefit the Susquehanna County Historical Society & Free Library Association on September 17. They brought in $687 from the sale of donated items, hot dogs, soda and baked goods. "Please help us thank all the participants who donated, organized, and worked at this event - and everyone who shopped, too!" said Administrator-Librarian Susan Stone. Pictured (l-r) above: front - Theresa Phelps, NanciJo Brown, Cindy Augustine, Francine Geertgens, Victoria Bennett, Aimee Oswald; rear - Christine Raines, Stephanie Young, Heather Hall, April Fowler.