The Forest City Nursing & Rehab Center is pleased to add Dr. James W. Kramer to its staff of professionals. A practicing general surgeon for 10 years, Dr. Kramer is a wound care specialist who cares for the residents of Forest City Nursing & Rehab at the facility.

Jacqueline Tyson, Director of Nursing with Dr. James W. Kramer

Having a wound care specialist on staff is a huge advantage to the residents who require such care. Residents previously had to be transported off site to various physicians for treatment.

Dr. Kramer joined the Vohra Wound Physicians Group in 2012, and is a graduate of the Medical College of Virginia. He is a resident of Duryea.

Applications are available for the 2013 farmland preservation program.

The Susquehanna Country Agricultural Land Preservation Board was established by the County Commissioners in 1989 to help preserve farmland in Susquehanna County by administering a program to purchase agricultural conservation easements from landowners in the county. Local funding comes from an annual allocation by the Susquehanna County Commissioners. These county funds are then matched by the State program.

Agricultural Conservation Easement is defined as: A legal agreement the property owner makes that restricts the land to agricultural production in perpetuity while retaining private ownership. As the private ownership changes, the restrictions remain with the land.

To date 29 farms containing almost 5900 acres have been preserved in Susquehanna County. The Susquehanna County program is part of the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Program. Pennsylvania’s program is first in the nation in number of acres preserved and is continuing to preserve farmland at a faster rate than any other state. 4,342 farms consisting of 468,092 acres have been preserved in Pennsylvania.

To be eligible, farms must be located in an Agricultural Security Area (ASA); be at least 50 contiguous acres; 50% of soils must be class IV or better; the land use must be 50% harvested cropland, pasture or grazing land and the land must be part of a normal farming operation generating farm income.

The Application period for the Susquehanna County program starts November 15, 2012 and ends January 15, 2013. Each application is ranked against all other eligible applicants. A farm’s rank is based on the quality of the soils, stewardship of the land, and the likelihood of the conversion of the farm to non-agricultural uses.

For an application and/or more information, contact the Susquehanna County Conservation District at 570-278-4600-ext 280.

(StatePoint) Better than any toy, trinket or fruit basket, what if you could give a gift that would actually make a profound difference in someone’s life?

The holidays are the perfect time to reach out to the less fortunate. Here are a few ways you can help this holiday season:

Work at a Soup Kitchen

Many people have made it a yearly tradition to volunteer at a soup kitchen during the holidays. You can help the homeless and hungry get a hot meal and give them the small gift of a full stomach. Contact your local soup kitchen to see how you can help. If you don’t have time to volunteer, consider donating non-perishable goods, as many soup kitchens have a food pantry as well.

Help a Family in a Crisis Zone

A gift from the mall is nice, but donating to a philanthropic organization on behalf of a loved one is a much more meaningful way to celebrate the holidays.

There are an estimated 40 million people around the world who have been uprooted from their homes by war and disaster. They live in limbo, struggle to survive and have no place to call home. By purchasing a Gift‚ to honor friends and family in lieu of store-bought presents, you’ll be contributing to critical supplies and services for vulnerable families.

The International Rescue Committee‚ as Rescue Gifts offer a wide variety of gifts at various price points. For example, you can opt to help fund a year of school for girls in Afghanistan, contribute to gardening tools and seeds to help families in need grow food, or help train Burmese refugees, to deliver basic health care. In so doing, both you and your recipient gain a true sense of the kind of work your gift is supporting.

These gifts have a tangible impact on the lives of refugees and others who have been displaced by conflict, political upheaval and natural disaster around the world, says Kay Bellor of the International Rescue Committee. They help families to survive and thrive and last a lot longer than a box of chocolates.

For more information or to give Rescue Gifts visit www.Rescue.org/gifts.

Donate Toys

Unfortunately, there are countless children out there whose families cannot afford a gift-filled holiday that many of us take for granted. By donating unwrapped toys and books to charity, your generosity will undoubtedly brighten up a child‚ this season.

As you enjoy the holidays, take the time to help out someone less fortunate. Just a small bit can go a long way.

Zeus

We are sad to announce that our beloved mascot, Zeus, passed away on Nov. 20th. He was with us for years as no one adopted him. He had personality plus and gamely put up with all of us. He had a few quirks, as we all do and he was a part of our family and our daily life. We cannot measure how much we will miss him. Zeus was an ambassador for all shelter animals and a great representative of his breed. If you would like to honor him, another shelter animal or one of your own please consider a donation to your local shelter.

We are also still trying to meet our goal of 1000 raffle tickets sold for the Dec. 8th drawing - Santa Claus for Needy Paws. Tickets are still available, with cash as the prize. Stop in and get one.

Thank you for your support.

Zeus, we will see you on the other side.

(StatePoint) With winter approaching, many Americans miss a few small, but crucial, ways to prepare their homes for the colder season.

Some homeowners occasionally forget to or don’t realize they should winterize their homes, says Leonard Kady, Principal of Leonard Kady Architecture, Interiors & Planning and chair of the American Institute of Architects Small Projects Practitioners committee. Prepping your home properly for the season could save you the expense of repairing and painting after a harsh winter.

To help you prepare, Kady offers some helpful advice:

Check Fireplaces

Make sure you keep fireplace dampers closed to protect against drafts. Leaving a damper open is the equivalent of leaving a window open.

Installing glass panels over the fireplace will also help keep drafts to a minimum and ultimately save you money on heating costs.

Clean the Gutters

During winter, ice can build up in gutters and in order for the ice to melt and drain properly, the drains must be clear. Take time to clean your gutters now to prevent them from clogging or even bursting once colder temperatures set in.

Clear Outdoor Watering Systems

Water trapped in an outdoor faucet or irrigation system can cause a pipe to burst if ice settles inside. Make it part of your winterizing routine to ensure that outdoor plumbing and pipes are clear before the temperatures start to drop. It can be a tricky task, so you may want to bring in a professional to help.

Keep Off the Snow

Keeping your exterior walls clear of snow, especially on homes that have wood siding, could mean the difference between having to do another paint job or replace siding once the snow melts. This water damage can be easily avoided with regular maintenance.

Use Programmable Thermostats

Installing a programmable thermostat is a great way to prepare for winter. They are reasonably universal to install and allow you to program temperatures that make sense for your home -- such as keeping it cooler during the day when no one is home.

Get Help

An architect can check your home for pockets of energy inefficiency.

Preparation now can save you time and money later. This season, don’t forget to winterize your home.