January 12

INDOOR ARCHERY LEAGUE, Thursdays, beginning January 12, 6:30 p.m. at Hallstead-Great Bend Rod & Gun Club. For info call 607-427-4157. Fee.

MUSIC by West Branch Ramblers with Steve Youngs, Thurs., January 12, 6:00-9:00 p.m. at Kirkwood Elks Lodge.

January 13

DINNER, Fri., January 13, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Kirkwood Elks Lodge.

Monday, January 16: roast pork, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, ww dinner roll, spiced apples pineapple juice.

Tuesday, January 17: breaded fish filet, broccoli, corn chowder, sandwich roll, chocolate pudding.

Wednesday, January 18: chicken parmesan, Italian green beans, rotini, Italian bread, lemon sorbet.

Thursday, January 19: roast ham, lima beans, parslied potatoes, rye bread, peach cobbler.

Friday, January 20: shepherd’s pie, garden salad, grain dinner roll, pears.

Susquehanna County has been blessed with natural resources. Among them is natural gas. Natural gas is a clean burning fuel that can provide our country, especially the eastern seaboard, with a big part of our energy needs. The economic impacts in a time of need have been enormous with investment and jobs benefiting our area as the resource is developed. Ironically, Susquehanna County’s occupants cannot benefit from natural gas to fuel their businesses, schools, public buildings, hospitals and homes.

To just primarily harvest this gas and transport it out of Susquehanna County without adding value reduces our long-term benefit to maximize utilization of this very valuable resource. Natural gas service in Susquehanna County paves the way for intelligent economic development in forms of energy for business feed stock; compressed natural gas for vehicles and energy generation as a long-term economic solution. But without local distribution nothing can happen.

In November 2011 Leatherstocking Gas Company LLC filed an application with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to supply natural gas service to the public in northern Susquehanna County. This includes the townships of Bridgewater, Forest Lake, Great Bend, Harmony, New Milford, Oakland and Susquehanna.

Users of natural gas can save up to 40% of fuel oil costs with energy efficient appliances and equipment. Unfortunately, on December 27, 2011 a competitor, UGI Penn Natural Gas, Inc. has objected to Leatherstocking’s application to the PUC. UGI Penn Natural Gas, Inc. has stated that the application does not provide sufficient information to demonstrate a public need in northern Susquehanna County. This is confusing, since local natural gas service does not exist.

In an effort to inform the public of the benefits of natural gas, Leatherstocking Gas Company will present its plan to provide natural gas services to the general public on two occasions - Friday, January 20, from 7 - 9 p.m. at the Montrose High School auditorium and Monday, January 23, from 7 - 9 p.m. at the Blue Ridge High School auditorium. Presentations will be held to further inform the public of the plan and benefits.

Please make an effort to attend one of these meetings to inform yourself of the project.

Anthony J. Ventello is the Executive Director of the Progress Authority, Industrial Development Corporation and Industrial Development Authority, contracted to provide economic development services for Susquehanna County.