The Elk Lake Chapter of the National Honor Society recently inducted twenty-seven new students into the prestigious organization with a candlelight ceremony in the high school auditorium. These students earned this distinction by exemplifying the principles upon which the National Honor Society proudly stands, namely scholarship, service, leadership, and character. These are cardinal qualities worthy of encouragement in all schools across the nation. The ceremony was followed by a reception in A Touch of Classrestaurant in the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center. This year’s National Honor Society officers, who are President, Ryan Wilson, Vice-President, Lacy Marbaker, Secretary, Shante Mowry, and Treasurer, Matthew Horvath, assisted with the ceremony. Speakers included Secondary Principal, Dr. Kenneth Cuomo, and National Honor Society Advisor, Mr. Jeff Horvath. Photography was provided by Secondary Librarian, Mrs. Kris Morahan.

Pictured are: Seated (first row)- Tyler Arnold, Christian Sprout, Alexander Manzek, Cooper Cole, Tanner Reyan, Matthew Sterner; Seated (second row)- Rachel Manzek, Paige Parkhurst, Sonya Griffiths, Emily Herring, Kateline Graves, Samantha Boner, Kristy Krishak, Ali Canfield, Kayla Krishak, Miranda Silfee, Amanda Silfee; Standing (third row)- Danielle Callas, Taylor Watkins, Brooke Seamans, Matthew Woolcock, Zachary Moon, Diana Root, Rebecca Fick, Elizabeth Trowbridge, Tori Ackley.

Students earning this distinction are Seniors Diana Root and Amanda Silfee along with Juniors Tori Ackley, Samantha Boner, Rebecca Fick, and Miranda Silfee. Sophomores include Tyler Arnold, Danielle Callas, Ali Canfield, Cooper Cole, Katelin Graves, Sonya Griffiths, Emily Herring, Kayla Krishak, Kristi Krishak, Alexander Manzek, Rachel Manzek, Zachary Moon, Paige Parkhurst, Tanner Reyan, Brooke Seamans, Christian Sprout, Matthew Sterner, Elizabeth Trowbridge, Taylor Watkins, Matthew Woolcock.

Following are the Elk Lake High School April, 2012 Students of the Month.

Pictured: Front row - Jessie Williams, Ayla Capwell, Melissa Bird, Brittany DeLancey, Veronica Head, Kayla Adams, Samantha Telesk; Back row - Kenneth F. Cuomo, Ed.D, High School Principal, Dalton Miller, Jason Vermeulen, Dylan Carroll, Joey Campbell, Courtney Erat.

Kenneth F. Cuomo, Ed.D., Elk Lake High School Principal is pleased to announce the following students who were selected as April 2012 “Student of the Month”.

Students of the month are selected by nominations of any student in grades 10 - 12 by a teacher for outstanding achievement. The student must show individual effort, community and school wide effort, as well as effort in the classroom.

Other important criteria includes: a showing of personal growth, skill development, dedication, leadership, academic growth and improvement, school service and community service. Academic growth and improvement are also part of these criteria.

A couple hundred people turned out on a lovely late Spring evening in the park in New Milford to hear what must have been the first band concert from the pavilion in many years. Some 25 musicians of the Blue Ridge High School band in tuxedos and long black gowns performed for the relaxed crowd lounging on the immaculate lawn. Led by the new band director, Mr. LoRusso, they struggled to be heard over the sounds of motorcycles and mufflers passing by on Main Street.

Mr. LoRusso leading the band

Mr. LoRusso and the band receiving the crowd's applause

Announcing the event on May 23rd as "hopefully the first annual" concert in the park, Mr. LoRusso led his players in 8 numbers, a mixture of patriotic and popular, with a special performance by the High School Percussion Ensemble rat-a-tat-tatting on bright orange 5-gallon paint drums.

One selection, a rendition of the old hymn known as Nearer My God to Thee, was dedicated to the memory of the late Cheryl Manchester, a teacher at Blue Ridge for 30 years who passed away recently. Her husband, John Manchester, was, in Mr. LoRusso's words, the "preeminent" band director at Blue Ridge until he became principal and then retired.

The crowd seemed comfortably settled in for more, and sang along with the last number, Irving Berlin's God Bless America, when the concert ended after only 30 minutes. Performing the band's Spring concert in a public park was the inspiration of the students themselves. It was greatly appreciated by all who heard them.

Wilkes-Barre, Pa. - King’s College held its 63nd Commencement Exercises on May 20. King’s students from our area who were among 481 to receive their degrees are: Bachelor of Arts, English, Tamara M. Sager, Susquehanna and Bachelor of Science, Biology, Alyssa Nicole Hickey, Hop Bottom.

Dallas, PA - The following are local Misericordia University students who applied and were eligible to participate in the spring commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 19, 2012: Robert Johnson, Jackson, Physical Therapy, MS; Suzanne Nowalk, Hop Bottom, Nursing, BS; Rachel Rolison, Dimock, Nursing, BS; Christine Van Tassel, Starrucca, Psychology, BS.