It was two years ago when the Beta Rho Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International first heard about the Dresses for Africa Project.  At that time, Jan Cohen, the Penn State Extension Family and Consumer Sciences/Family Resiliency Educator in Susquehanna County, presented a very informative power point program which highlighted her trip to Africa and the Little Dresses for Africa Project done with the Susquehanna County 4-H.   At that time the International Project for DKG was “Schools for Africa” and members discovered that building schools wasn’t all that the children in Africa needed.  They needed clothes to wear so they could attend school.  The chapter offered support by paying the postage to ship the dresses.  As time went on, chapter members wanted to take a more active part in the project and so they began making some of the Dresses for Africa.

Some of the members of the Beta Rho Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International spent a day in Hallstead working on the Dresses for Africa Project.  The members are (l-r) Pat Arnold, Carol Goodman, Debbie Stevens, Cindy Wooden, Lansdale Shaffmaster, and Sheri Wolfe.   Taking the photo was member Cindy Reynolds who also worked on the dresses that day. 

The story behind the dresses is an interesting and heart-warming one.   Little Dresses For Africa is a non-profit Christian based organization that is committed to showing girls that they have worth through the simple act of providing them with something that makes them feel special.  These girls can now attend school proudly. 

In early October, a day was set aside for Beta Rho Chapter members to work on the dresses at the Mason’s Lodge in Hallstead.  Seven members came together, some with sewing machines, others with fabric and scissors, and some with an iron and an ironing board.   It was a fun and profitable day for chapter members Pat Arnold; Carol Goodman, Chapter President; Cindy Reynolds; Lansdale Shaffmaster; Debbie Stevens; Sheri Wolfe; and Cindy Wooden.  It will also benefit some little girls in Africa.

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International is a professional honor society for women educators with more than 100, 000 members.  Established in 18 member countries around the world, the Society defines its mission as promoting professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education.  The Beta Rho Chapter is one of sixty-three chapters in Pennsylvania whose members are key women educators in Bradford, Susquehanna, and Wyoming Counties.  In addition to the Dresses for Africa project, the chapter is supporting early career educators (S.E.E.) by providing teaching supplies and materials for teachers at all grade levels early in their careers.

The Susquehanna Borough Council and the Susquehanna Community Development Association “SCDA” sponsored the 2013 Christmas Decoration Contest for businesses and residents who helped to brighten up the Christmas season with some outstanding lights and decorations.  

Pictured (l-r) are: top row - Business Winners: Jeannie Roe of TJ’s Auto (2nd Place); Joan French & Aubrey French of French’s Auto (1st Place); Coleen Wilkes, Candy Roosa, Cindy Cordner, Dan Cordner of NEPA Community Health Care (3rd Place); bottom row – Home Winners: Brian and Becky Lewis (2nd Place), Rick Tingley 1st Place, Kathleen Fox (3rd place) and Darlene Slocum, SCDA.

With the help of secret judges, Darlene Slocum of the SCDA was able to present the winners with certificates and a small gift.   

Jodi Kozlevcar Gaunt, a native of Union Dale, found more than a career during her time at Misericordia University. She discovered a passion.

Gaunt, 28, is a 2008 graduate with a master’s degree in occupational therapy. She works in the field today, serving as an occupational therapist for the Methacton School District in Eagleville, Pa., near her home in King of Prussia.

While Gaunt’s degree from Misericordia landed her a career, the University’s passion to help those less fortunate instilled in her a deep commitment for the cause. A year after Gaunt graduated from MU she volunteered with Operation Christmas Child, a nonprofit organization that delivers shoeboxes filled with gifts to children around the world. The group works with local churches and civic organizations to donate the shoeboxes as a means to “share God’s love around the world,” Gaunt says.

For the Misericordia graduate, Operation Christmas Child was a perfect match.

“It really fits with Misericordia’s mission,” says Gaunt, who personally collected 236 gift-filled shoeboxes in 2013. “Through the shoeboxes, we can show God’s love in a tangible way and we can take it to all areas of the world – 130 countries, regardless of race and religion.”

Last May, Gaunt experienced that firsthand when she was selected to join a group of volunteers and travel to Ndola, Zambia to distribute the gift-filled shoeboxes. Gaunt spent a week in Zambia and said it was a life-changing experience.

Pictured is Jodi Kozlevcar Gaunt posing for a picture with children in Ndola, Zambia after distributing gifts from Operation Christmas Child.

“One day we went to a children’s hospital where every patient was being treated for AIDS or HIV. That was very humbling,” says Gaunt, who married her husband, Peter – a banker with Wells Fargo and a 2007 graduate of the sport management program at MU – in 2010. “It makes you realize how blessed we are.”

Each box is filled with school supplies, hygiene items and toys. For many of the children, it represents their first gift – ever, according to Gaunt.

The children, though, are not always the only ones on the receiving end. One of the poorer communities that Gaunt and her group visited was so thankful for the gifts that the leader of the village decided to show their gratitude by giving the group several sacks of grain and nuts along with a live chicken. To turn down the gifts would have been an insult, Gaunt said, so the group accepted them and donated everything to their driver who had a large family.

“This was a village that really had nothing, yet they chose to give us what they could,” says Gaunt, a community relations specialist for the Operation Christmas Child team in the Philadelphia, Pa., area. “That meant a lot.”

The Zambia trip was not the first time Gaunt has traveled far from home to help others. While at Misericordia, she joined a group of classmates in Gulfport, Miss., and assisted in the cleanup efforts from Hurricane Katrina.

“After you graduate and leave Misericordia, you establish what you want to do for a job, but you also find yourself wanting to do something in terms of volunteering,” Gaunt believes. “I found Operation Christmas Child and it is something that fits right in with the University’s mission. I truly love it.”

FAST FACTS: Operation Christmas Child is a nonprofit organization that packs gift-filled shoeboxes for children around the world. Since 1993, more than 100 million boys and girls around the world have received a shoebox gift. In 2013, Jodi Kozlevcar Gaunt collected 236 shoeboxes and the Philadelphia area put together 34,586. Overall, 6,549,826 shoes boxes were assembled in the United States in 2012.

To make a donation, please e-mail Gaunt at kozlevcj@yahoo.com

Officials for the Leatherstocking Gas Company recently celebrated the company’s first residential natural gas customer.

Leatherstocking installation and inspection crew members presented a fruit tray to Mr. and Mrs. John Cherundolo, Old County Road, Montrose, PA.

Pictured (l-r) are Mr. John Cherundolo, Leatherstocking’s 1st Residential Customer and Mario Martello, Leatherstocking Construction Manager Construction Manager.

Mr. and Mrs. Cherundolo’s home was the first residential installation for Leatherstocking’s new natural gas supply division. Over thirty additional residential and small commercial customers have applied for natural gas service now being offered by Leatherstocking in the Bridgewater Township and Montrose areas. They are currently in the process of installation.

Leatherstocking is currently adding residential customers and began service to the new Endless Mountains Hospital and the Montrose Junior-Senior High School last month. Further expansion of the Bridgewater and Montrose system is expected in 2014.

“We’re excited to begin to fulfill the Leatherstocking mission we’ve promised,” said Leatherstocking President, Mr. Mike German. “The natural gas we’re supplying is low cost, abundant and clean burning. We’re proud to provide local gas to local people.”

Paul Bozon was chosen as November resident of the month at Forest City Nursing and Rehab Center. He was honored with a party at the facility on November 15th.

Paul Bozon

Paul was born on June 23rd to Pauline and Custer Bozon of Binghamton, NY. He has two brothers, David, who now resides in California and Daniel and his wife, Joan who live in Binghamton NY.  Daniel and Joan support Paul in all of his endeavors, and attended the party in his honor.

Paul enjoys playing the keyboard and entertains residents, staff and visitors at Forest City Nursing and Rehab Center with lovely melodies. He attends daily exercise classes and helps lead the class with various exercises. Paul also enjoys watching his favorite television shows and spending time with his many friends at the facility. He likes to draw and enjoys helping with decorating the facility for the holidays. His art work also delights many of the staff and other residents. The facility’s shopping trips and ice cream excursions rank high on Paul’s list of things to do. He is also an avid Yankees fan and watches every game..

Paul is a considerate and generous man, and we are proud to have him as our resident of the month.

For the tenth consecutive year Pennstar Bank has made a generous contribution to the Pennsylvania Education Improvement Tax Credit Program administered by The Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains.  For the 2013-2014 academic year the bank has contributed $12,000 which will help provide tuition assistance to approximately 300 students from low and moderate income families who attend Pre-School and tuition based K-12 schools and programs in northeastern Pennsylvania as well as funding special programs in the public schools. 

Pictured (l-r) are Peter Quigg, President The Community Foundation; Robert Welch, Senior Vice President & Market Manager Pennstar Bank.

The Community Foundation has administered the Education Improvement Program since 2003 and in that time has raised nearly $2,000,000 for education assistance for more than 2,300 students attending 37 schools in four counties, as well as funding projects in two public school districts.  Since 2004 Pennstar Bank has contributed more than $84,000 for education assistance in northeastern Pennsylvania. Community Foundation President, Peter Quigg, states that “Pennstar Bank has been a consistent supporter of education in our region and their generosity over the years has been a great help to local families and schools.”