On March 23, seven Susquehanna County 4-Hers took place in Penn State University’s Spring Dairy Judging Contest. Though it was very cold, Susquehanna County had a “hot” day, and brought home several top awards.

In the junior division, team members Katelyn Supancik, Garrett Peters, and Emory Bewley were third place overall. Emory Bewley was the high individual in the junior contest with a score of 258 out of 300. In the intermediate division, Jamie Supancik did a great job, receiving a 33 on her set of oral reasons. In the senior division, team members Evan Castrogiovanni, Trevor Tompkins, and Emily Supancik were the first place team overall. Evan Castrogiovanni was the high scoring individual in the senior contest, and was also the first place individual in the oral reasons contest, receiving 96 out of a possible 100. Emily Supancik was the fourth individual in the senior competition. Great job to all of our Susquehanna County 4-H Dairy Judgers! The Susquehanna County team is coached by Cathy and Owen Bewley, and practices are hosted by JoSan Farms, Joe and Sandy Pavelski.

Pictured are Jamie Supancik, Emily Supancik, Katelyn Supancik, Trevor Tompkins, Emory Bewley, Evan Castrogiovanni and Garrett Peters.

Dairy Judging is a competition that allows 4-H members to first practice, and then tests their skills at evaluating dairy cattle. Contestants are required to place four dairy animals from first to fourth based on the ideal standards. At Penn State, members evaluated six classes of different aged dairy cattle. Then senior and intermediate contestants have to give “oral reasons” to justify their placing. Dairy judging teaches public speaking and critical thinking, and allows contestants to better understand what a judge may be looking for in their project animals at the local fairs. This competition is open to all 4-Hers, ages 8-18. If you have any questions about dairy judging or Susquehanna County 4-H, please call the Extension Office at 278-1158.

Five members of the Beta Rho Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International received their 25 year pins of membership at the March chapter meeting.

Pictured are Nancy Wilson and Carol Goodman from Wyalusing, Rose Borgna from Binghamton, and Mary Ann Cunningham from Montrose. Philippa Follert from Montrose was absent for the photo.

The DKG is an international professional honor society for women educators.  The meeting was held at the newly renovated Center for Anti-Slavery Studies in Montrose.

The Susquehanna Community School District, at the suggestion of former High School Principal Robert McNamara, recently transferred the Mariano And Maria Lampazzi Fiaschi Nursing Scholarship to The Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains to continue administering the permanent college scholarship. Established in 2003 by Colonel Peter Fiaschi to honor his parents the scholarship provides assistance to Susquehanna students who score well on their SAT tests, will attend college to study nursing, and show initiative to contribute in a meaningful way to the health and welfare of their community.

Maria and Mariano Fiaschi

Mr. and Mrs. Fiaschi were both born in Italy and as young children immigrated with their families to the United States in the early part of the 20th century. Married in Sayre, they soon afterwards settled in Susquehanna where Mr. Fiaschi worked for the Erie Railroad and PennDOT. Eventually they would purchase the Hotel Lorraine which they operated from 1923 to 1971. They were always very active and supportive of various community and civic endeavors. Mr. Fiaschi died in 1983 and Mrs. Fiaschi passed away in 1989. They had two sons; Joseph and Peter.

Colonel Peter Fiaschi would become a decorated military nurse who served his country for twenty six years in such locations as Vietnam and the Walter Reed Medical Center. Upon his passing his estate established this scholarship to honor his parents and provide perpetual assistance to generations of students from his home town. The scholarship endowment is currently valued at more than $190,000 and this year will provide a $4,000 award that is shared by a 2013 Susquehanna graduate as well as three preceding graduates still in college who have remained students in good standing attending nursing programs. For more information about this and the other 140 charitable funds currently administered by The Community Foundation please visit www.community-foundation.org.

On Saturday, April 6th, nine Susquehanna County 4-Hers took part in the PA Pork Producers Youth Expo at the Lebanon Ag Expo Center, Lebanon. Participants challenged their swine knowledge through a Swine Skill-a-thon contest and the Pork Bowl contest. Members in the Skill-a-thon had to work individually to identify breeds of hogs, parts of the pig, good production practices, livestock equipment, judge pork products, and as well as identifying common hog feed ingredients. For the Pork Bowl competition, members worked together as both a team and individuals to answer trivia questions about all different aspects of pork production.

Pictured are Team members Tyler Peterson, Katelyn Supancik, Emily Supancik, KayLeen Conklin, Evan Aldrich, Eli Aldrich, Jamie Supancik, and Emily Shevchuk are all smiles after a great day at the PA Pork Producers Expo!

Pictured are Team members Emily Supancik and Tyler Peterson hard at work in the Skill-a-Thon competition.

Members that participated were Emily, Jamie, and Katelyn Supancik, KayLeen and Garrett Conklin, Eli and Evan Aldrich, Emily Shevchuk, and Tyler Peterson. In the Junior Skill-a-thon contest, Jamie Supancik placed 3rd, KayLeen Conklin, 4th, Tyler Petersom, 5th, Emily Shevchuk, 10th, Garrett Conklin, 13th, and Katelyn Supancik, 14th. There were sixteen junior competitors! In the senior division, Emily Supancik was 5th. For the Pork Bowl, our senior team with members Emily Supancik, Evan Aldrich, Emily Shevchuk, and Jamie Supancik placed second after a close lightning round. The junior team with members KayLeen Conklin, Tyler Peterson, Eli Aldrich, and Katelyn Supancik stood fourth! All the team members showed that their hard work and studying really paid off with their excellent finishes!

The Susquehanna County Pork Bowl is coached by Robert Supancik and Abby Onyon, and begins each year in February. We are always open to new members, and would love to have any kids take part that may be interested in learning more about pigs! For more information on next year’s competition, feel free to contact Penn State Cooperative Extension at 278-1158.

The newly remodeled Center for Anti-Slavery Studies in Montrose provided a lovely setting for the March meeting of the Beta Rho Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. President Carol Goodman conducted the business meeting. Four ladies were present to receive their 25 year membership pins, given and recognized by Membership Chair, Ann Gay. They are Rose Borgna, Mary Ann Cunningham, Carol Goodman, and Nancy Wilson. Philippa Follert was absent for the presentation. Eleven prospective women educators were announced and the membership voted affirmatively for the ladies to be initiated at the October 3rd meeting at 4:30 PM at Dryer Hall in Montrose. An orientation meeting will be scheduled for the new initiates prior to the October meeting. The chapter is composed of key women educators from Bradford, Susquehanna, and Wyoming Counties.

Pictured Professional Affairs Committee members Pat Carpenter, Rachael Gilleran, and Agnes Massacesi presented the program “Current Events and Professional Issues” for the March meeting of the Beta Rho Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International in Montrose. The committee members presented current information on School Safety Issues, the Teacher Effectiveness Evaluation System, and How Legislation Could Affect Pensions.

Other items of business included the vote to award two $200.00 Grant-in-aids to Julia Sherry and Tiffany Carpenter. Both are juniors at Keystone College. Members were encouraged by Becky Place, the scholarship chair, to apply for state or international scholarships as well as enrichment grants. It was announced that members had purchased and donated materials to support early career educators. With the volume of donations received, some will be taken to state convention in June and the remainder of the items will be distributed to new teachers locally.

Following the business meeting, three members of the Professional Affairs/US Forum/Grant-in-Aid committee chaired by Agnes Massacesi presented a very informative program entitled “Current Events and Professional Issues.” Pat Carpenter, a Title 1 and Gifted Education teacher in the Lackawanna Trail Elementary School, began with information about safety in the schools. She read a poem “Eleven Days Before Christmas: a poem about the shooting in Sandy Hook School” which moved many to tears visualizing the horror of that day. Pat discussed the present actions and policies in the schools in an attempt to make them more safe and secure. She also talked about the new Act82 – Teacher Effectiveness System, which appears to have a lot of additional paperwork for teachers as well as administrators. Only time will tell if such measures will insure better performance and learning on the part of the students. She distributed hand-outs which gave more specific information about her presentation.

Committee member Rachael Gilleran, a Title 1 Reading Teacher in the Susquehanna Community Elementary School, expanded on the issue of school safety and school climate. She distributed resource materials to use with students and parents which included websites where more information can be secured. Chairman Agnes Massacesi focused on both retired and active teachers’ concerns about their pensions. Her knowledge was evident as she gave highlights of possible things that could happen. She distributed a helpful sheet, “Stay in contact with Your Legislators.”

Much discussion was generated by the program and continued as the members gathered for and enjoyed a lovely luncheon buffet prepared by Beta Rho member, Cynthia Wooden and her husband, Sherman.

The next Beta Rho meeting will be a Tri-Chapter meeting with Alpha Zeta and Phi Chapters to be held on April 13th at the Pink Apple Restaurant in Tunkhannock. The Alpha Alpha State President Louann Shrader will be the guest speaker. She will bring greetings and updates to the chapters from the state. There are presently sixty-three Delta Kappa Gamma Chapters across Pennsylvania and during her biennium the president’s goal is to visit all chapters.

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International is a professional honor society for women educators with more than 115, 000 members. Established in 16 member countries around the world, the Society defines its mission as promoting professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. Upcoming events include the State Purposeful Seminar “Living in Color,” April 26-28, 2013 at the Best Western Plus Country Cupboard Inn in Lewsiburg. This will be a weekend to rejuvenate and explore possibilities of living in color. Alpha Alpha State convention will be held June14-16, 2013 at the Nittany Lion Inn in State College. The NE Regional Conference will be held in Portland, Maine July 24-27, 2013, and is one of five regionals held by the Society. Beta Rho members are always encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about the Society by attending the functions beyond the chapter level.

Mustafa

Mustafa is our pet of the week. He is a neutered male senior dog and would love to have a home of his own. He likes to go for a walk and enjoys dinner time. He is good natured, friendly and likes to sleep alot. If you would like to adopt or foster a senior dog or cat please call or come into the shelter. Quality time counts much more than length of time so give a senior a chance. We are looking for part time kennel help. Come to the shelter for info and an application. The weather is finally cooperating and now is a great time to add a companion to your family. Dedicated dog walkers needed also. If you can spare a morning or afternoon on a regular basis we would love to see you. Walkers must be 18 or over.