In recognition of 30 years of serving their residents, the employees of the Forest City Nursing Center hosted a blood drive on September 5th. The idea was to give back a pint of blood for every year in business. Through the combined efforts of the Forest City Nursing Center employees and the community, the Red Cross collected 31 pints of blood: 30 pints for the 30 years, and 1 to grow on.

Pictured (l-r) are Forest City Nursing Center employees who were happy to donate blood: Sue Stalker, Jackie Tyson, Amanda Christison, Lori Houman, Lisa Bibalo, Misty Thorn and Mia Crotti.

Of the 31 donors, 12 were first time donors: 38% of the total!

A very large assortment of home baked items, all donated by employees of the Nursing Center, were available for all donors, along with a free t-shirt and discount card to Monro Muffler. There was also a drawing for several door prizes, all donated by Nursing Center employees. The staff of the Forest City Nursing Center wishes to thank all who donated blood, baked goods and prizes to make this blood drive a success.

Cassie Clark, 17, Springville won the Overall Master Showman Contest at the 155th annual Harford Fair. Clark is the daughter of Charlie and Kim Clark and is a Senior at Elk Lake Jr./Sr. High School. She is a member of the D.E.S. 4-H Club and shows beef, swine and dairy. To earn her spot in the Master Showman Contest, Miss Clark was selected as the Overall Beef Master Exhibitor of the Susquehanna County 4-H Beef Roundup. Devin Hollenbeck, 19, Kingsley was name the Reserve Champion Overall Master Showman. Hollenbeck is the son of Chad and Shelly Hollenbeck and garnered top honors in the Susquehanna County 4-H Sheep Show in order to receive the honor of competition in this special event. He is a member of the Bowbridge Shepherds and Baconeers 4-H Clubs.

Master Showman Contest participants Sabrina Clark, Cassie Clark, Devin Hollenbeck, and Emily Carney

Other competitors in this event included Sabrina Clark, 15, Springville the winner of the Overall Master Exhibitor Contest in the Swine Show and Emily Carney, 15, Waymart the Overall Master Exhibitor of the 4-H Goat Show.

During the competition each individual must show a lamb, hog, steer, and goat to the best of his or her ability. The judge ranks the individuals on his or her showmanship skills with each animal species and then points are totaled. The competitor with the highest amount of points in the end is the winner of the Master Showman Contest. This fun event gives youth the opportunity to try his or her showmanship talents with a variety of animals and is held annually on Wednesday evening at the Harford Fair.

One hundred and nine market hogs were judged on Thursday, August 23rd at the 155th Harford Fair Open Swine Show in Harford, PA Gina Walsh, Dalton, exhibited the Grand Champion Hog. Her pig weighed 270 pounds. Evan Aldrich, New Milford, exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Hog, which weighed 260 pounds.

Pictured is Gina Walsh of Dalton with Judge Andrew Dice and her Grand Champion Market Hog in the 2012 Harford Fair Open Swine Show.

Pictured is Evan Aldrich from New Milford smiling along with Judge Andrew Dice after being named the Reserve Grand Champion of the Open Swine Show at the Harford Fair 2012.

The hogs were judged over five weight divisions: lightweight, medium lightweight, medium weight, medium heavyweight, and heavyweight by Andrew Dice of Chambersburg, PA. The lightweights ranged in weight from 145 to 225 pounds. The Champion lightweight was exhibited by Daniel Sheruda, Dalton and the Reserve Champion lightweight was shown by Greg Kowalewski of Forest City. The medium lightweights weighed between 227 and 241 pounds. The Champions in this division were Samantha Hunsinger of Montrose, and Dempsey Hollenbeck from Kingsley. The medium weight hogs ranged from 242 to 248 pounds. This division was won by Daniel Sheruda, Dalton and Trenton Finch of Springville. The medium heavyweights weighed between 250 and 260 pounds. Evan Aldrich of New Milford exhibited the Champion, and Cassie Clark of Springville showed the Reserve Champion. The heavyweight hogs weighed between 262 and 280 pounds. The Champion was shown by Gina Walsh of Dalton, and the Reserve Champion was shown by Sabrina Clark of Springville. Congratulations to all the exhibitors on an excellent show with many quality animals.

Also, a big thank to all the volunteers who helped to make the Open Show a success! There were a lot of hogs exhibited, and it takes many hands to run the show! Be sure to make plans to attend the 156th Harford Fair next August and be there on Thursday to watch the Open Pig Show!

The 42nd annual Susquehanna County 4-H Livestock Sale was held recently in conjunction with the Harford Fair in Harford, Pa.

A total of 162 lots containing 15 market lambs, 18 market goats, six dairy beef feeder steers, 28 market steers, 91 market hogs, and four gallon of milk from the champion dairy cows were sold. Ninety-eight buyers supported youth by purchasing animals at the sale. The sale grossed over $223,000; a new record for Susquehanna County 4-H!

The sale started with recognition of 4-H livestock program members Jordan Noldy, Hop Bottom and Nicole O’Dell, Montrose receiving three special awards including the Susquehanna County 4-H Livestock Scholarship, the Paul Baldwin Memorial 4-H Member Citizenship Award and the Glynn Corey Memorial Scholarship.

Pictured (l to r) are Steve Pavelski, Patrick Curley, Delaney Curley, and Jenna Sprout representing the Friends of 4-H group that purchased Patrick Curley’s gallon of Milk from his Champion Colored Breed Cow at the 2012 Susquehanna County 4-H Livestock Sale.

Pictured (l to r) are Luke Woodmansee, Honesdale National Bank; Emily Supancik, Jamie Supanick, and Randy Donovan, Honesdale National Bank. Honesdale National Bank purchased the Grand Champion Market Lamb at the 2012 Susquehanna County 4-H Livestock Sale.

The sale kicked off with the Grand Champion Dairy Beef Feeder Steer exhibited by Katelyn Supancik, New Milford sold for $2.25 per pound and was purchased by Black’s Country Store, Hop Bottom. The Reserve Champion Dairy Beef Feeder Steer was exhibited by Doug Brooks, Springville. Doug’s steer was purchased by Chesapeake Oil & Gas for $3.00 per pound and was donated back to the 4-H Livestock Scholarship Fund. Other businesses that purchased Dairy Beef Steers for donation included: Shevchuk Brothers Farm to the Glynn Corey Scholarship Fun and Honesdale National Bank to the Harford Agricultural Society.

The Grand Champion Market Steer and Champion Homebred Steer was exhibited by Sharon Snyder of Greenfield Twp. and was purchased by B&S Quarries, Montrose for $3.50 per pound. The Reserve Grand Champion Market Steer was exhibited by Brieanna Stankiewicz, Kingsley and was purchased by Stankiewicz Farm, Kingsley for $5.00 per pound. The Reserve Champion Homebred Market Steer was shown by Emory Bewley, Susquehanna and was purchased by B&S Quarries for $3.50 per pound.

The Grand Champion Market Lamb was exhibited by Emily Supancik, New Milford and was purchased by Honesdale National Bank, Honesdale for $8.00 per pound. Honesdale National Bank donated this animal back to the 4-H Livestock Scholarship Fund. The Reserve Champion Market Lamb was shown by Brandon Weaver, Montrose. Brandon’s lamb was purchased by The Boys Meat Plant, Montrose for $11.00 per pound. The Champion Homebred Market Lamb was exhibited by Michael Hardisky, Hop Bottom. Michael’s market lamb was purchased by Matt, Mike, Jessica and Daniel Sheruda for $17.50 per pound and was donated back to the Susquehanna County 4-H Endowment Fund. The Reserve Champion Homebred Market Lamb was raised by Jacob Hayes. His lamb was purchased by Charps Welding, Hallstead for $7.75 per pound and was donated back to the 4-H Livestock Scholarship Fund. Wilder Diamond Blades, Clifford Twp. also donated an animal to the Susquehanna County 4-H Endowment Fund.

The Grand Champion Market Hog was exhibited by Sabrina Clark, Springville and was purchased by Charps Welding, Hallstead for $7.00 per pound. This animal was donated by Charps Welding to the Susquehanna County 4-H Endowment Fund. The Reserve Grand Champion Market Hog was shown by Gina Walsh, Dalton. Gina’s pig was purchased by Barton Supply Company, Tunkhannock for $4.25 per pound. The Champion Homebred Market Hog was raised by Trenton Finch, Springville and was purchased by B&S Quarries for $8.75 per pound. The Reserve Champion Homebred Market Hog was exhibited by Cierra Demarest, Montrose and was purchased by Chesapeake Oil & Gas for $8.25 per pound. The following businesses donated the resale of a market hog to special fund: Buck Ridge Stone, Cabot Oil & Gas, Montrose; Cochecton Mill, Cochecton, NY; Bingham’s Restaurant, Lenox; and Flynn’s Stone Castle, Lawton.

Callie Curley, Montrose auctioned a gallon of milk on behalf of her Grand Champion Holstein Cow at the 2012 Susquehanna County 4-H Dairy Roundup to Friends of Callie Curley represented by her uncle, Bill Curley, for $1,150. Patrick Curley, Mountain Top auctioned a gallon of milk on behalf of his Grand Champion Jersey Cow at the 2012 Susquehanna County 4-H Dairy Roundup. Before selling his gallon of Milk, 11-year old, Patrick took the microphone and announced he planned to donate the proceeds of his milk sale back to the 4-H Endowment Fund. Patrick’s gallon of milk was purchased for $1,100 by Friends of 4-H. Emily Supancik, New Milford sold her gallon of milk on behalf of her Reserve Champion Holstein Cow to Cochecton Mills, Cochecton, NY. Kyle Vanderfeltz, Lawton sold a gallon of milk on behalf of his Reserve Grand Champion Colored Breed at the 2012 Susquehanna County 4-H Dairy Roundup. Kyle sold his gallon of milk for $1,250 to Denise and Gene Hubbard, Dimock.

The Grand Champion Market Goat was exhibited by Emily Carney, Waymart and was purchased by Wyalusing Livestock Market, Wyalusing for $7.75 per pound. The Reserve Grand Champion Market Goat was exhibited by James Dommes, Scranton and was purchased by Chris Fiorentino, South Montrose for $7.00. The goat was donated back to the Susquehanna County 4-H Endowment Fund. Other businesses that donated market goats back to special funds included: Charps Welding, Hallstead; Bill Burrier Purchasing, California; Buck Ridge Stone, Montrose; Diaz Stone & Pallet, Kingsley; Rock Meadows Farm, Nicholson; and Shevchuk Brothers Farm, Hop Bottom.

Several animals were donated for resale for special funds including the Susquehanna County 4-H Endowment Fund, 4-H Livestock Scholarship Fund, Glynn Corey Memorial Scholarship, and the Harford Fair. These donations totaled over $9,500. The 2012 Susquehanna County 4-H Livestock Sale High Volume Buyer was B&S Quarries, Montrose.

Thank you all 4-H livestock sale buyers for their support of the livestock sale, and to Bingham’s Restaurant for donating the meal served to the buyers during the sale’s appreciation luncheon and to Shevchuk Bros. Farm for donating drinks served during the sale.

Special thanks and appreciation also goes to the auctioneers that donated their time at the sale: Ralph Brenneman, Leon Button, Jacob Hottle, Michael Lopatofsky, Gerald Pennay, Sr., Jerry Pennay, Jr., Ken Rivenburg, Ronald Sands, and Wayne Weaver.

For more information about the Susquehanna County 4-H Livestock Program contact Penn State Extension in Susquehanna County at 570-278-1158.

The weather these days seems to be more volatile than ever -- swinging from record-setting heat waves to deep freezes, seemingly from one day to the next.

With the weather more varied and unpredictable, homeowners nationwide have learned lessons from the past year and are taking steps to ensure their houses can efficiently withstand whatever Mother Nature dishes out.

It’s all about keeping homes sealed tightly, so water and wind cannot leak in and tempered air doesn’t leak out -- causing heating and cooling bills to rise.

Beware of Foundation Cracks

Water is the enemy of your homes foundation. A change in moisture content of the soil around your home allows water to put pressure on the foundation, causing cracks and leaks.

Dry weather can cause the soil to shrink, while wet periods can cause it to soften. Poor drainage from your roof or improper ground slope around your home can funnel water against the foundation.

Make sure gutters are clean and that downspouts extend away from your home. Check that the soil, grass or pavement properly slopes away from your foundation.

Insulate Effectively

Upgrading a homes insulation is an effective, easy way to increase energy efficiency while decreasing heating costs. The attic is a great start, but to achieve maximum efficiencies, don’t overlook areas such as basements and rim joists.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates homeowners could save an average of at least $250 yearly in heating costs by insulating basement walls. And by insulating crawl spaces and rim joists, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates homeowners can save up to 20 percent on energy bills.

Opting for stone wool insulation, which is made from a combination of natural basalt rock and recycled slag, may provide greater benefits than traditional fiberglass insulation. One such thermal insulation is Roxul ComfortBatt, a fire resistant, water repellant and sound absorbent insulation that is well-suited for use in exterior walls, attics, crawlspaces and basements. It also has a unique fiber composition and density that provides for an optimal fit between studs, joists, around ductwork, electrical boxes and plumbing. As another consideration for insulating, Roxul also offers SafeSound, another stone wool insulation product well-suited for soundproofing interior walls and ceilings between rooms. Its unique stone wool composition reduces sound transmissions by trapping sound waves and vibrations.

Inspect Your Roof

Nothing can ruin a home faster than a leaky roof. Once yearly, check for signs of damage, such as sagging, aging, cracking, curling, tears or missing shingles. Pay particular attention to areas obscured by shade or vegetation.

Replace shingles that are lifting up or that have rot or heavy moss. Also inspect gutters, vents, overhangs and flashing. Repairs should be made as soon as you see a small problem, before it becomes a larger one.

Don’t attempt to climb a roof that is steeply sloped. Instead, turn to a professional roofer or home inspector.

Winner of the Lottery Free Raffle sponsored by St. John’s Pro Life Org. was Bruce Moorehead. A sincere thank you to all who participated.

A little girl awoke one morning very excited. Her mother and older sister were downstairs making pancakes and her father and brothers were already up milking cows and taking care of things on the farm. Today was a very special day. Today would be her very first day of school. It was still dark out but there was an oil lamp lit and some water had been heated to wash with. She quickly got dressed and brushed her bobbed hair. After breakfast, she helped clear the table and ran upstairs to get a sweater. No, she wasn’t going to have to walk to school but, she wasn’t getting into a heated school bus either. “Mudge, the kid wagon is ready.” She had watched her brothers and sister get in that wagon many times and now it was finally her turn. She ran breathlessly down the stairs, kissed her mother goodbye, and climbed in. Slowly the horse started. It was seven miles to Harford to the school. It would take about an hour and a half, but Mudge didn’t mind. She was going in that kid wagon to a totally new adventure.

The Kid Wagon

The kid wagon had ten rows of seats with room for twenty people and a driver. It had a canvas roof for shelter from sun and rain. There were also rolled up sides that were let down when the weather was really bad. Mudge especially liked those days because it was like being in a covered wagon. Sometimes, Mudge’s father had a lot to do at the farm and then her mother would put on her blue woolen coat, pull the collar up around her ears, and take over the duties of driving the horse. There was an extra benefit to this because she could usually spend the day in town visiting friends. It was also Mother who kept the canvas oiled to keep it weather proof.

That fall, Halloween was especially memorable. Carved pumpkins were always lit and put around the home. But there was no dressing up and going door to door for treats, especially for the kids who lived too far out of town. For Mudge, Halloween was memorable because of the trip on the kid wagon afterward. Harford seemed to be transformed into a disaster area. Toilet paper was draped over every tree, outhouses were turned over, and once a wagon had been completely dismantled and put on the roof of a barn.

There were no snow days for Mudge. The kid wagon was converted to a sleigh and school went on. Oh yes, it was cold. Blankets and heated soap stones made things more comfortable on the way to school but, on the way home, the soap stones were not heated.

Days were filled with Latin, English, reading, math, science, history, music , and home economics. Cooking and sewing were taught in home economics but Mudge says she thought she already pretty much knew how to cook. Once, when she was about 11, she was competent enough to cook dinner for her family and the hired workers on the farm when her mother was away being a midwife.

So the kid wagon rolled from winter to spring and back to fall again and soon Mudge was old enough to drive the family carriage or sleigh to school with her brother. Their horse would be retired to a neighbor for keeping for the day while school was in session and the kid wagon was retired permanently for Mudge. She would eventually grow up to marry a childhood classmate who she wouldn’t even think about having anything to do with while they were in school because, “you know how boys are”.

That little girl is now 96 years old, still looking forward and certainly not stopping . I definitely wouldn’t want to put my memory up against this 1934 valedictorian of Harford High School in any contest. Marjorie Peck Brainard is truly something special in Harford. Thanks, Mudge, for sharing what going to school was like nearly a century ago.