The Rail-Trail Council of NEPA was presented a check for $20,000 for D&H Rail-Trail improvement work from the Community Grant Program of Constitution Pipeline. The mission of the CP Program is to identify and help fund noteworthy projects that directly benefit the communities traversed by their pipeline project In NY and PA.

Pictured (l-r) are Frank Brager, Ray Zrebiec, Deb McNamara, Craig Benson, Kirk Newsom, CP Engineer Craig Adams, Nancy Ross, Lynn Conrad, RTC President Bob Breuche, and Williams Public Outreach Coordinator Mike Atchie.

The presentation was Friday, October 17th at the trailhead in Union Dale.  The Council plans to use the award to build trail ramps on the D&H in Ararat Township, where a bridge once crossed over the railroad. 

The 38 mile D&H Rail-Trail connects to the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail in the Simpson area.  While the RTC is working on improvements to the north, the LHV is making improvements to the south. Combined is a 70-mile trail system.

A painting of the “Old Hurst Barn”, done by Faith G. Cavage under the direction of Mr. Justin Hayden, Art Teacher at Western Wayne High School, was donated to Forest City Nursing and Rehab Center. The painting was dedicated in memory of Faith’s Grandfather, Joseph L. Brussell. Mr. Brussell was a resident at the facility for more than 4 years until his death June 22, 2014.

Faith G. Cavage with her painting  “Old Hurst Barn”

The Horst Barn is located at the corner of Bear Swamp Road and Perry’s Road in the Seelyville and Prompton areas. Ms. Cavage found that she had a family connection to the barn as both of her great grandparents grew up in that area.

Faith G. Cavage is a senior at Western Wayne High School. The painting was done as her senior project. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Cavage and the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Irv Williams and Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Cavage.

Ms. Cavage is a member of the National Art Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, The Track and Field Team, and Cross Country Team at the school. She is an active member of the Waymart Church Youth Group and Worship Team.

Faith enjoys art, photography, music and family. Her aspiration is to attend Kutztown University next year and major in Counseling and Visual Impairment. She hopes to incorporate her love for art by using Art Therapy in her profession.

The painting will be hung in Danny’s Café at the nursing facility in memory of Mr. Brussell for staff, visitors, and residents to enjoy.

Forest City Nursing and Rehab Center would like to thank Faith for her beautiful and generous gift to the facility. 

Rosemary Devries was born on January 23rd to Rose and Fred Axel in the Bronx, New York. Rosemary is the oldest of three children; she being the only girl with two brothers. Fred worked for a Dairy Company in the Bronx while Rose stayed at home and cared for her family. Rosemary helped her Mom care for her brothers and did chores around the house.

Rosemary graduated from James Monroe High School and was employed as an executive secretary in the city. She met Robert DeVries at a bowling alley in Long Island. Soon they fell in love and married on January 6, 1955. Robert found a job at Grumman Aircraft Corporation and they were able to buy a beautiful home in Long Island. Their union was blessed with five children; two daughters, Susan and JoAnn, and three sons, Chris, Mike and Robert Jr.

Rosemary Devries

Later Rosemary and her family moved to North Jackson, Pa. Rosemary found work as a housekeeper for Barnes Kasson Hospital where she was employed for 31 years. She is a member of St. Martin's Church in North Jackson and a member of the Twilight Ladies Bowling League of Susquehanna. In the past, she also enjoyed knitting and crocheting.

Besides her five children, Rosemary is blessed with seven beautiful grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She also has a cuddly puppy named El Llee.

At Forest City Nursing and Rehab Center, Rosemary enjoys playing Bingo, and Casino with her many friends. She especially enjoys coffee time with her close friend, Carol and outings with her family.

A party in honor of Rosemary was held at the facility on October 11th with entertainment provided by Anthony Cerillio.

The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) has been a deer management/education group since 1988 and has been actively involved in deer management/education and deer habitat improvement in the Susquehanna county area since 2001. Bob Wagner, one of the founding directors of the Susquehanna Branch of QDMA, interviewed 2 Susquehanna County property owners who have become involved with QDMA and asked them why they are QDMA members.

Matt Sellers lives in Bridgewater Twp., where he and his wife, Denise actively apply qdm to their 35 acre property. Matt also works to get qdm on the ground with a 428 acre hunting club in Wyoming County. Matt says, "I became a QDMA member because I wanted to spend time with like-minded individuals and needed to learn more about what I could do to improve habitat, grow bigger bucks and a healthier deer herd. I wasn't just interested in food plots but the entire habitat package, especially the manipulating of habitat to keep deer and grow bucks on smaller parcels of land like we see here in our county. I believe in the QDMA's mission, ‘"Ensuring the future of white tailed deer, wildlife habitat and our hunting heritage."’ QDMA gives each individual Landowner/Hunter the information that is needed to manage wildlife habitat and a better age structured, healthier deer herd on their own property within the boundaries of the game laws.”

Matt was asked where he found sources for the best deer management information: "1) QDMA's Whitetail TV DVD's and their quality food plots book; 2) North-Country Whitetails DVD's and their books; (I think that a group of guys in a hunting camp would watch a DVD on habitat management together whereas they are not going to read a book together so the DVD's would reach more people); 3) Growing Deer TV and other good information from Dr. Grant Woods; 4) I found quite a few helpful wildlife habitat information handouts on the literature rack in the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service office in Montrose; 5) I always hear people say they couldn't let the young buck go because a guy over the hill would shoot it. So I think the QDMA information on starting QDM cooperatives would be helpful." 

Mike Koneski lives in Springville Twp., where he and his wife, Sam (Sue) actively apply qdm habitat improvement practices on their 108 acre property.  They are advocates for the positive results of being involved with the QDMA.

Mike offered his thoughts about sources of deer management information: ..."I wanted to know how to have better bucks on our property and the best information out there for whitetail deer is found through the QDMA. I have learned so much including the most important factors about having bigger buck and a healthier herd which are age and nutrition. There are various ways to achieve both goals, but promoting better habitat and learning how to age deer are the two simplest ways to effect those goals."

According to Wagner ..."Both families have improved their properties’ habitat with the addition of native warm season grass plantings, tree and shrub plantings, timber stand improvement projects, new plantings for wildlife food and cover, managing native habitat to create more brushy areas and adding water to different parts of their properties. These habitat improvements are quality deer management at its best."

Matt & Denise Sellers and Mike Koneski are all involved with the Susquehanna branch of QDMA as members of the Board of Directors. Mike is the branch's Vice President, Denise is the branch's Treasurer and Matt is a Board of director member. They were members of QDMA and involved with improving the habitat on their properties before they were involved with the local QDMA branch. Matt and Denise have hosted several wildlife habitat and forest improvement field days on their property. Mike and Sam have hosted annual fund raising clay bird shoots for several years, for the local branch, at their business Rock Mt. Sporting Clays. Mike is a QDMA Deer Steward II achiever (less than 400 people across the US have reached this level). The Susquehanna Branch also boasts 2 other Deer Steward II achievers and one Deer Steward III achiever.

More information about QDMA can be found on the website www.qdma.com. For more local information about the Susquehanna branch you can contact Bob Wagner at eaglexc@epix.net or write to the Branch's mailbox Susquehanna branch of QDMA PO Box 454 Montrose, Pa. 18801.