The Blue Ridge Education Association/Cheryl Manchester Memorial Fund recently provided more than $1,000 to support eight unfunded projects in the Blue Ridge School District.  The BREA/Manchester fund is a component of the Blue Ridge School District Foundation which is affiliated with The Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains.  Cheryl Manchester was a popular and long-time teacher at Blue Ridge and when she passed away in 2012 her family and friends established this permanent endowment to honor her memory and to continue serving the schools and students that were so important to Cheryl.  Blue Ridge teacher, Melody Pauly, adds that “Cheryl’s memory is ever-present to those who had the privilege of working with her.  Through this grant our students who didn’t know her are being touched by her passion for education and excellence.  We are grateful to and blessed by the Manchester family for this opportunity to honor Cheryl.”  The endowment provides annual support to special unfunded projects in the various Blue Ridge schools.  The following projects have been funded by this recent grant for the current academic year.  Another round of funding will occur in the autumn semester of 2014.

Pictured (l-r) are Teachers Melody Pauly, Nancy Burkett, Becky Williams, Brandy Gaylord, Kimberly Davenport, John Manchester former Blue Ridge Principal and husband of the late Cheryl Manchester, Peter Quigg of The Community Foundation.

Grades 11 and 12 Advanced English Teachers: Kimberly Davenport, Rebecca Williams.

Grades 1, 3, 4, and 5 ADHD and Autism programs Teacher: Brandy Gaylord.

Grade 12 Advanced Placement Biology texts Teacher: Nancy Burkett.

Grade 1 Family Celebration materials Teacher: Cheryl Farrell.

Grade 2 Mathematics Materials Teacher: Tricia Gilboy.

Grades 2 and 6 Buddy Project Teachers: Ashley Goff, Tricia Gilboy.

Grade 1 Character Education Week materials Teacher: Cheryl Farrell.

Grade 12 Advanced Placement Calculus Exam Preparation material Teacher: Melody Pauly.

Constitution Pipeline Company, LLC and Leatherstocking Gas Company, LLC today announced plans to install four delivery taps along Constitution’s proposed pipeline route to facilitate local natural gas service in southern New York and northern Pennsylvania as early as late 2015.

Leatherstocking is evaluating delivery point locations for local distribution of natural gas to homes and businesses in Delaware, Otsego and Susquehanna counties and one tap location that would provide service to the Amphenol Aerospace Plant in Sidney, N.Y. Last month, the Delaware County Industrial Development Agency awarded a grant of $750,000 for the construction of a natural gas pipeline from the proposed Constitution Pipeline to Amphenol Corporation’s existing facility in Sidney, N.Y., as well as a new planned manufacturing facility.

Specific tap locations will be finalized once the pipeline route is confirmed, currently pending final federal regulatory approval.

“The Constitution Pipeline can create a backbone for Leatherstocking Gas Company to extend the development of local natural gas distribution franchises in rural communities along the pipeline route in northern Pennsylvania and southern New York,” said Leatherstocking CEO Mike German. “We are excited about the possibilities for local service that this new pipeline infrastructure can provide.”

Leatherstocking’s vision encompasses development of local distribution systems to introduce natural gas service to locations within Broome, Chenango, Delaware, and Madison counties in New York and Susquehanna County in Pennsylvania that currently have no such service. Leatherstocking has franchise agreements in 10 municipalities within Delaware, Otsego, Chenango and Broome counties in New York. The New York State Public Service Commission must grant certificates of public convenience to Leatherstocking in the identified areas before distribution system development can begin.

“We believe working with Leatherstocking is a great opportunity to potentially provide gas service to communities along the pipeline route,” said Constitution Pipeline Project Manager Matt Swift. “The members of these communities who do not have access to local natural gas service will greatly benefit from this affordable, U.S.-produced, cleaner energy resource.”

Amphenol Aerospace, a division of Amphenol Corporation, is one of the largest manufacturers of interconnect products in the world for the military, commercial aerospace, and industrial markets. Amphenol’s manufacturing operations were established in the Town of Sidney in 1925 and remain a major employer in the region.

“The accomplishment of affordable and clean energy is a key element in Amphenol’s ability to compete in today’s global economy,” said Amphenol Vice President Gary Anderson.

The availability of local gas service from the proposed delivery taps represents one of many direct benefits presented by the Constitution Pipeline project. A study developed by a third-party research firm found that of the $683 million Constitution Pipeline would spend during the initial three-year planning and building process, approximately $166 million will directly benefit the five-county region of Susquehanna, Broome, Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie counties. Once operational, the pipeline’s economic impact is anticipated to result in about $13 million in annual property tax revenue. Property taxes, which accrue to different levels of government in different proportions, are paid to school districts and local governments. Approximately 60 percent of taxes paid by this project will go to local school districts along the pipeline route.

The Constitution Pipeline project – which involves the construction of a 30-inch natural gas pipeline from Susquehanna County, Penn., to Schoharie County, N.Y. – is currently being reviewed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). In February 2014 the FERC issued the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed project, concluding that environmental impacts would be reduced to “less than significant levels” with the implementation of proposed mitigation measures by the company and FERC. A final Environmental Impact Statement is expected this summer. Construction on the pipeline is scheduled to begin as early as late 2014.

Forest City Personal Care employee, Marie Britton, Activities Director, took part in Read across America at the Forest City Elementary School on March 3rd in honor of Dr.Seuss' The class was presented with gift bags donated by Forest City Nursing and Rehab Center and Forest City Personal Care. This is Marie's 8th year of participation in this program.Birthday. Marie read "The Treasure" by Uri Shulevitz to Mrs. Gobens’ fifth grade class.

Marie Britton

The class was presented with gift bags donated by Forest City Nursing and Rehab Center and Forest City Personal Care. This was Marie’s eighth year participating in this program.

Sadat Associates, Inc. (SAI) is pleased to announce the opening of a new branch office in Montrose, Pennsylvania, in the heart of one of Pennsylvania’s natural gas regions.  According to SAI’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Marwan M. Sadat, P.E., “SAI has been looking forward to taking this step for some time now.  We have established a reputation in our 28 years as a creative, innovative environmental consulting firm.  Our new office in Montrose helps us expand our business and gives us the opportunity to serve our clients and prospective clients better with their operations in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

SAI is a full-service environmental science and engineering consulting firm headquartered in Trenton, NJ, and now with offices in Montrose, PA. Founded in 1986 by Dr. Sadat, SAI  handles a wide variety of environmental and civil engineering projects in the areas of geotechnical engineering, brownfield redevelopment, solid waste and landfill design/closure, surface water and groundwater management, air quality analysis and regulatory compliance.

The firm’s strengths come from the outstanding engineering and scientific background of its associates and staff and a thorough understanding of federal, state and local regulations and policies. SAI will be offering its expertise in site engineering, water management and wetlands to the oil and gas industry. SAI also will be drawing on its 28 years of experience in landfill engineering and waste management to provide services to Pennsylvania’s solid waste management sector.

Our success is a result of our commitment to project quality and Client service. The firm prides itself on its ability to recognize and understand a Client's needs and goals and subsequently work within the regulatory framework to meet these objectives as efficiently and effectively as possible.

SAI’s new office is located at 100 Wilkes-Barre Turnpike, Montrose, PA, 18801. For more information, or to discuss how SAI can help your Pennsylvania business endeavors, please contact Dr. Sadat at (570) 278-9600 or by email at mmsadat@sadat.com.

Citing her ability to deliver legislative results and her deep involvement in issues crucial to the future of the region, state Senator Lisa Baker announced she is running for re-election.

“It is a privilege serving the hard-working people of a great area that has always been home for me.  I strive every day to solve problems, protect local interests, and create opportunities for families and communities.  I will present my record and my priorities for action and hope to earn the trust and support of the voters for another four years,” Baker stated.

“As I travel across the district, meeting with individuals and groups, people tell me that they appreciate my willingness to listen and take into account different points of view, and they appreciate that I work in a bipartisan manner to bring about reform.  They want their elected officials to be reliable, reasonable, and responsible, and that is what I have tried to be,” she added.

“There has been substantial progress in recent years, but much remains to be done in controlling the growth of state government, especially on the spending side, and enacting reforms.  We owe it to taxpayers to vote on measures they want to see, such as eliminating property taxes and cutting the size of the General Assembly,” Baker said.

Senator Baker has voted to hold the line on state taxes, control state spending, limit state borrowing, and provide tax relief for farmers and small businesses to help them stay in operation.  She has also been successful in securing state funding for a wide range of local projects and priorities, including sewer and water systems, parks and recreation facilities, libraries, and senior housing.

As chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, Baker is noted for her determined efforts to connect veterans with the benefits they have earned and to enable communities to retain and attract volunteer responders on whom they depend.  “Those who serve in the military and those who are involved in emergency services sacrifice a lot in protecting us.  Pennsylvania must fulfill its obligations to these devoted individuals,” she said.

Baker’s legislative accomplishments include:

Sponsoring three laws in response to the Kids for Cash scandal, assuring the right to counsel for juveniles, requiring judges to put on the record the reasons for their decisions, and prohibiting the routine shackling of juveniles.

Sponsoring a law that extends the definition of perpetrator, part of a far-reaching child protection package legislators approved in the wake of the Sandusky abuse scandal.

Sponsoring a measure expanding the Good Samaritan Law to encourage life-saving intervention.

Sponsoring a well-site safety law designed to protect workers, emergency responders, nearby residents, and the environment.

Pushing through a Veterans Trust Fund to provide emergency assistance in the form of food, clothing, and shelter.

Advancing a law to allow victims to offer in-person testimony before the Board of Probation and Parole

This will be the first election held in the redrawn 20th Senatorial District, which includes substantial parts of Luzerne and Susquehanna counties and all of Pike, Wayne, and Wyoming counties.

Two residents at Forest City Nursing and Rehab Center worked as nurses at Read Memorial Hospital in Hancock, N.Y. in the late 1960s. This picture beshows Pat Green RN and Iona Kellam RN caring for a patient bitten by a rattle snake on his farm in Deposit, NY.

Pat Green and Iona Kellam caring for their patient

Our 2 nurses were truly angels of mercy and both worked many years at their profession. Read Memorial Hospital closed and is now used as senior living apartments.

This photo appeared in the Hancock Harold at the time of the incident.

This past winter, 2013-2014, has seen a variety of weather conditions that have brought some snow cover and bitter cold temperatures to Northeast Pennsylvania and the Southern tier of NY.  During a winter with heavy snow cover or ice covered snow deer must rely of the forested and brushy woodland areas to find food and shelter. A diet of woody browse (stems, twigs, leaves, tender shoots of trees and shrubs) develops a certain type of bacteria in the deer’s stomach that digest this roughage. This is the type of wildlife food that is found in the forests where there are shorter trees and/or in brushy wildlife areas.

If landowners, sportsmen, hunting clubs and those interested and concerned about deer during a rough winter wonder what they could do to help, the answer would be to cut trees. By cutting trees and bringing the branches and tree tops down to where the deer can eat them you will provide them with food that the deer can readily digest. If you are also doing some planning for the future woodpile you may want to consider trees that are also good for firewood.

Trees that may meet both requirements are as follows: White ash, maples, apple, black and yellow birch, oaks, and hickory.

Trees and shrubby type trees/bushes that are on the deer’s preferred list would include: cedars, apple, maples, witch hobble, flowering dogwood, basswood and staghorn sumac. A bit further down the list are: elderberry, red berried elder, high bush cranberry and blueberry, willow, silky and red osier dogwood, nannyberry, hemlock, black cherry, choke cherry, shadbush, wild grape and hazelnut.

There is still time to get outdoors and do some good for your local deer herd and local woodland. Researchers have found that the most critical time of year, as it pertains to food, minerals and overall health for deer, especially pregnant does, is from late February thru early April.