Are you turning 65 or have a disability and are about to go on Medicare? Are you confused about which Medicare or prescription plan to sign up for? Are you inundated by confusing mail and information coming at you from all directions? Are you having trouble obtaining your medicines at a reasonable cost or not able to get them due to the high cost? The Area Agency on Aging for the counties of Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Tioga has staff that can walk you through these confusing topics. Staff and volunteers can talk with you about your questions and your options.
Area Agency on Aging (AAA) staff is trained to understand the ever changing Medicare and Medicaid rules, and how they might apply to you. AAA staff will work with you to evaluate your situation, answer your questions and help you find answers. All counseling sessions are free of charge and confidential.
After a recent counseling session an individual stated “this office is the best kept secret in Susquehanna County.” The individual further stated that we needed to get the word out that the Area Agency on Aging was an “asset to the community” by providing the necessary counseling to people struggling with insurance and Medicare issues.
Sometimes just sharing your questions and concerns is a sense of relief in itself. The counselors are also well versed in the many other programs offered by the Agency and will make appropriate referrals for services if necessary.
For additional information contact the Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-982-4346. If possible, your questions will be answered over the phone. If necessary, you can schedule an appointment for answers to your questions.
Directors from the Harford Fair, office staff, and the Harford Fair Queen and her parents recently joined 1,653 other fair personnel from across the state for the 100th Pennsylvania State Fair Association Convention in Hershey. As a part of the celebration, all participating fairs had the opportunity to win a brand new John Deere Gator, golf carts, computers, printers and other office equipment.
Ken Adams, 2011 Harford Fair Ambassador and former fair director along with directors David Tyler, Cindy Reynolds, Jason Miller, and Dr. Mike Kowalewski, board president, pause for a picture with the 2011 Harford Fair Queen, Daisy Matulevich. They represented the Harford Fair at the 100th PA State Association of County Fair’s Convention in Hershey.
The 2011 Harford Fair Queen, Daisy Matulevich, a junior at Mansfield University majoring in nursing, proudly represented the Harford Fair throughout the week. Her parents, Cheryl and Gary Matulevich of Hop Bottom, attended the Coronation Banquet on Saturday evening along with two of Daisy’s four siblings, Meadow and Levi Matulevich. She competed with 56 other queen contestants from fairs across the state. The West Lampeter Fair Queen, Drew Brubaker, was crowned the 2012 PA State Fair Queen at the banquet, the culminating event of the convention.
The convention affords fair personnel from the 115 fairs the opportunity to attend round table discussions as well as educational seminars presented by national speakers. The information will be utilized in planning and making improvements for the 2012 Harford Fair, August 20-25. Communications Competition in the areas of premium books, billboards, placemats, brochures, creative fair ideas, and overall fair displays were judged. In addition to informational sharing, there was a vast trade show with over 155 vendors which offered ideas and samples of food, ribbons, entertainment, amusements, and other things associated with fairs.
Other Harford Fair personnel and Susquehanna County members in attendance at the convention included directors Dr. Michael Kowalewski, president; Dale Grant; Jason Miller; Cindy Reynolds; and David Tyler; Barbara L. Kelly who handles sponsorships for the fair; Brian Tyler who works in the fair arena; Renee Tyler who manages the First Aid Station; and Michelle Kowalewski, Dairy and Ag Enterprise Educator, Susquehanna County Cooperative Extension.
One of the major changes that occurred and was announced at the convention was the sponsorship for the chocolate contests at the fairs. Hershey will no longer sponsor these contests state wide. This is somewhat ironic since the state fair convention has been held at the Hershey Convention Center for years. The new sponsor is PA Preferred, a state-wide agricultural marketing program sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Also announced was the theme for the 2012 fairs - “A Century of Celebrating Fairs and Agriculture.” Harford Fair plans to use this state-wide theme for its premium book, advertising, and commercial and vendor space competition.
Ira Foote retired from the Hallstead Post Office on December 31, 2011. He worked for the Postal Service for 26 years. In recognition of his years of service, the Hallstead employees hosted a dinner for him at Maloney’s Restaurant. Ira will be missed by all. Even at 78 years young, he still plays golf and travels! Pictured above, Hallstead Postmaster Gail Adams presents Ira with his retirement certificate.
