December 12

COOKIE WALK: Sat., Dec. 12, Clifford Community Youth Group Cookie Walk, 9:00 am until Noon or until cookies are gone, Clifford UM Church.

December 13

DINNER: Sat., Dec. 13, Spaghetti & Homemade Meatball Dinner, 4:00 – 7:00 pm,  Knights of Columbus Hall, Great Bend.

December 15

CHRISTMAS PARTY: Tues., Dec. 15, Community Neighbors Connecting Annual Christmas Party, Noon to 2:00, St. Marks Community Center, games, cookie exchange. Lunch is provided.

December 19

LUNCH: Sat., Dec. 19, Good New Lunch, Noon, St. Mark’s Church, New Milford, Free Meal, All are welcome.

December 20

CHOIR: Sun., Dec. 20, Endless Mtns. Childrens Choir, 3:00 pm, South Gibson UM Church.

Mon., Dec. 14: lemon pepper chicken, rice pilaf, broccoli with red peppers, crackers, berry crisp.

Tues., Dec. 15: bbq pork chop, sweet potatoes, coleslaw, biscuit, ambrosia.

Wed., Dec. 16: cheeseburger,  vegetable barley soup, oven baked fries, ww roll.

Thur., Dec. 17: macaroni & cheese w/ham, stewed potatoes, peas, grapes.

Fri., Dec. 18: chicken & biscuits, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, chocolate brownie.

Thompson, Pennsylvania is a small, diamond-shaped village on Starrucca Creek with a population just under three hundred. Despite its small size, however, Thompson is hosting several festive holiday events and everyone is welcome to join as we sing, celebrate, create, and play.

On Sunday, December 6 at 2:00 PM the Thompson Methodist Church will present a “Noel Celebration,” a telling of the Christmas story through music and narration, as performed by the community choir. The Methodist Church is located on the corner of Jackson and Main Streets at Thompson’s main intersection.

Children of all ages are invited to attend the Thompson Toddlers Christmas party on Saturday, December 12 from 2:00-4:00 at the Masons’ Freedom Hall on Jackson Street. There will be snacks and Santa Claus will be visiting to hand out holiday stockings and listen to the children’s Christmas wishes. The party is free and all are welcome. This year this annual event run by Thompson Toddlers, a charitable organization of the Masons, is offering the children the opportunity not only to receive gifts, but to make them—for the birds. The children will smear peanut butter on pine cones and then take them across the street and hang them on a Christmas tree for neighborhood birds as part of the official opening of the new Thompson Playground.

The playground is a joint effort conceived by several Thompson citizens, notably Bob and Terri Segerstrom, John Anderson, Doug Sheldon, and Bill Wallace, who wanted to provide a safe, friendly place in town where people could gather. With funding provided primarily by grants, along with some private contributions, the playground will have swings, a climbing structure, and other equipment. It is located on the corner of Jackson and Willow Streets, right across from Freedom Hall.

Later that same day, Saturday, December 12, Thompson Baptist Church, also on Jackson Street, is hosting a Carol-in from 7:00-9:00 PM. “We’re calling it a Carol-in,” explained Pastor Tim Holtz, “instead of caroling, because we’re inviting people to come in and sing Christmas carols.” There will be piano accompaniment and everyone is welcome.

The boro of Thompson invites all of good cheer—or in need of some good cheer—to join the festivities.

As we anticipate enjoying the blessings of Thanksgiving with our families, our thoughts also look forward to the Christmas holidays.  The joy of the Christmas Spirit is in sharing with loved ones and with those who are in need. Christmas is a special time of the year, especially for the children in our families.  How sad it would be if even one child in our midst did not experience the joy and excitement of opening gifts on Christmas.

There can be no better way to express the love we share during the Christmas season than to help a child enjoy the holiday with toys found under their Christmas tree.  The Kiwanis Club of Montrose Area wants to provide just such an opportunity to the people of Susquehanna County.

For the past 35 years the Montrose Area Kiwanis Club has conducted their annual Christmas Toy Drive. Last year, over 760 children in our area were able to enjoy Christmas in a very special way because of the generosity of so many caring neighbors and organizations that contributed to the Toy Drive.  Over 4000 new and reusable toys were donated or purchased for the program.  We expect to help at least 700 to 800 children this year.

The Kiwanis Club is asking for the public’s help and support again this year in this worthwhile community service project. Donations of new toys and reusable toys in clean condition are requested.  Cash donations are urgently solicited and gladly accepted so that we can purchase new toys in order to meet our goal of giving at least one or two new toys to each child.

Please forward cash contributions to the Kiwanis Club of Montrose Area, PO Box 275, Montrose, PA 18801.  Donations can also be given to any Kiwanis member or to Ed DeWitt, Toy Drive chairman.

As we enter the Christmas shopping season please consider purchasing an extra toy or two and bring them to one of the drop-off sites. Toys are being accepted now through Monday, Dec. 14, and may be dropped off at any of the following locations: Tom Kerr’s Garage, Grow Ave, Montrose; Lee’s Radio Shack, Church Street, Montrose; The Montrose Country Club, 870  Lake Ave., Montrose.  For additional information, please contact the Montrose Kiwanis Club at 570-278-3537.

The Susquehanna County Christmas Bureau, a program affiliated with Interfaith of Susquehanna County, will coordinate the registration of recipients and distribution of the toys.

The guiding principal for Interfaith is “Caring People Reaching Others”. Christmas toys and food baskets will be given out on Thursday, Dec. 17 at the Montrose Bible Conference, Lake Ave., Montrose. The Kiwanis Club of Montrose Area invites everyone to participate in this annual service project.  Please help us make a Christmas dream come true for the needy children in our area.

In an effort to provide convenient access to state services, Rep. Sandra Major (R-Susquehanna/Wayne) has announced her monthly satellite office and veterans assistance hours for the month of December.

“The state’s LIHEAP program opened last month to help folks who may be having trouble weathering the season’s colder temperatures. Remember, my office can help fill out applications for anyone who may need assistance with paying their heating bills or getting broken heating equipment repaired,” said Major. “Furthermore, the state’s Property Tax and Rent Rebate program filing deadline is Dec. 31, so if you think you may be eligible for a rebate and haven’t sent in an application, my staff can also help with filling out those forms. We are here to help in any way possible.”

On Thursday, Dec. 10, at the Preston Township Building on Crosstown Highway (Route 370) in Lakewood the satellite office will be open from 10 a.m. to noon and provide mulitiple services.

In addition, assistance for veterans seeking information on VA benefits and services can talk with a department service officer with the American Legion in Major’s Honesdale district office on Monday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The office is located at 32 Commercial St., Suite 300, in Honesdale. Anyone interested in speaking with the department service officer should call the office at (570) 253-5533 to schedule an appointment.

Some of the services available to veterans and their dependents include assistance with compensation, pension, death benefits, education and health care, as well as any issues pertaining to veterans benefits. An individual requesting service does not need to be a member of the American Legion.

In addition to the Lakewood and Honesdale offices, Major also has a full-time office in Montrose, Susquehanna County, at 16501 S.R. 706, Suite 2. The phone number is (570) 278-3374 or toll free at 1-800-418-5048. Major can also be contacted via her website at RepMajor.com, email at SMajor@pahousegop.com or on Facebook at Facebook.com/RepMajor.

Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) said that her satellite offices in Lawton and Laporte will be open for residents of the 110th District in December.

“With the holiday season as busy as ever, I am hopeful that anyone in Sullivan or Susquehanna counties who needs assistance with state government services can stop by these satellite locations during the month,” Pickett said. “We will also have available forms for the 2014 Property Tax/Rent Rebate program, which has a deadline of Dec. 31.”

To help veterans navigate the complexities of government programs and services designed specifically for them, Dan Falls from the American Legion will be meeting with veterans and/or their family members from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17. Falls can help veterans and their family members with compensation, pension, death benefits, education and health care, as well as any issues pertaining to benefits. Veterans do not need to be a member of the American Legion to receive these services, and appointments can be made by calling Pickett’s Sayre office at (570) 888-9011.

Pickett’s full-time offices are located at 321 Main St., Towanda, phone (570) 265-3124, and 106 West Packer Ave., Sayre, phone (570) 888-9011. More information is available 24 hours a day on Pickett’s website at www.RepPickett.com or on her Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/RepPickett. Residents can also sign up via her website to receive a weekly email about local and state activities.