Twenty eight Susquehanna County 4-Hers recently traveled to Penn State, University Park, to participate in the Spring Animal Judging Workouts. The animal judging contests give members an opportunity to judge livestock, dairy animals, and horses, as well as practice their skills on giving oral reasons, to justify their placings. Susquehanna County was well represented and had a great day.

Pictured (L-R) are: Susquehanna County 4-H Educator explains lamb judging to members Zachary Chisek, Nick Gardner, and Alexis Sebring.

Participants in the dairy judging contest were Rierdan Reyan, Vicki Clark, Emily Supancik, Michayla Stahl, Emory Bewley, Kyle Vanderfeltz, Allana Warner, Garrett Peters, Jason Farley, Brooke Arnold, Olivia Voll, Kieran Curley, Corey Vanderfeltz, Amanda Voll, and Gavin Bewley. In the senior competition, team members Rierdan Reyan, Vicki Clark, Emily Supancik, and Michayla Stahl were first place overall! Rierdan Reyan placed 8th, Vicki Clark placed 9th, MIchayla Stahl was 13th, and Emily Supancik was 14th. In reasons, Emily Supancik placed 4th overall, Rierdan Reyan was 6th place, and Vicki Clark was 19th. In the intermediate division, team members Emory Bewley, Kyle Vanderfeltz, Jason Farley, and Garrett Peters also placed 1st overall. Individually, Kyle Vanderfeltz was 1st place, Allana Warner was 8th, Garrett Peters was 12th, and Jason Farley was 19th. In reasons, Kyle Vanderfeltz took 1st place, Emory Bewley was 3rd, Allana Warner tied for 6th place, Jason Farley and Brooke Arnold tied for 8th, and Garrett Peters tied for 12th.  In the Junior contest, teammates Gavin Bewley, Kieran Curley, and Corey Vanderfeltz were 4th place. Indvidually, Olivia Voll was 1st place overall, Kieran Curley was 6th, and Kyle Vanderfeltz was 17th. What a great job by all the Susquehanna County 4-H Dairy Judging Teams, who are coached by 4-H Leaders Cathy and Owen Bewley.

Pictured (L-R) are: Junior Advanced team members Sarah Carpenetti, Alan-Michael Strohl, and Mercedes Strohl are all smiles after their first place finish in the Horse Judging Contest.

Taking part in the Horse judging contest were 4-H members Sarah Carpenetti, Alex Carpenetti, Mercedes Strohl, Alan-Michael Strohl, Rylie Gilbert-Hewitt, Lorna Watkin, and Skylar Hird. In the Junior Advanced division, the team of Mercedes, Sarah, and Alan-Michael was 1st place overall! In halter, Mercedes was first, Sarah was second, and Alan-Michael was 7th. In performance, Sarah was 3rd, Mercedes 5th, and Alan-Michael was 7th.  Overall, they were the 1st place team in halter, 2nd place in performance, and 1st in reasons. Sarah was the 1st place individual, Mercedes was 2nd, and Alan-Michael was 7th.  In the Beginner division, teammates Lorna, Rylie, and Skylar were 7th place overall. They were 6th in halter and 8th in performance. Overall, Skylar was 15th, Rylie was 18th, and Lorna was 27th. Excellent job to our horse judging members on doing so well!

Lastly, six members took part in the Livestock Judging competition. They were Taylor and Alexis Sebring, Nick Gardner, Jamie Supancik, Zackary Chisek and Amanda Gawel. The advanced team of Taylor, Jamie, and Amanda placed 10thoverall. Individually, Jamie Supancik was 18th, Amanda Gawel was 24th, and Taylor Sebring was 50th. The team also placed 18th overall in reasons. In sheep, they were the 17th place team, in pigs they were 6th place, and in beef they placed 10th overall. Younger members Alexis Sebring, Nick Gardner, and Zackary Chisek took part in the contest by participating in educational workshops in the morning. For the morning sessions, they attended workshops and learned key points about livestock; including how to give reasons, take notes on a judging class, how to determine a muscular animal, what a proper structure looks like, and what EPDs mean in regards to livestock. In the afternoon, they were given a chance to judge the classes, and then have the correct placing explained to them.

Animal judging teaches critical thinking and public speaking, 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.

At the invitation of Susquehanna Depot Borough Council and Susquehanna Community School District’s Administration, County District Attorney Robert Klein addressed an audience of residents and parents concerned about the increasing drug problem in Susquehanna County. The co-hosted event was held at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 11 in the Susquehanna Community High School Auditorium.

D.A. Klein provided context on the growing problem of drug abuse in Pennsylvania, and particularly in this county. He noted that on a per capita basis Susquehanna County has an opiate overdose problem second only to Philadelphia County. The District Attorney’s message was hard-nosed and unambiguous, “Drug dealers are NOT welcome in Susquehanna County. Drug activity will NOT be tolerated in Susquehanna County. We will find you and fully prosecute you!”

Pictured (L-R) are: Susquehanna School District Superintendent Bronson Stone, Susquehanna Co. District Attorney Robert Klein, Susquehanna Councilperson Susan Crawford.

By “we” District Attorney Klein meant the extensive network of law enforcement at his disposal--various State agencies, as well as State Police; the County Sheriff’s Office; local law enforcement officers; and his own staff in the District Attorney’s Office. Theirs is a combined and cumulative effort to significantly degrade and destroy the drug cartel in Susquehanna County. D.A. Klein went on to discuss new programs through which residents may participate in exposing drug activity in their neighborhood. One such program is the online drug activity reporting form. Local municipalities with websites are increasingly sharing the link to this form so that illicit drug activity can be reported easily and perhaps more significant, anonymously.

District Attorney Klein minced no words in explaining that 70% of prescription drug abusers got their start from medicine cabinets, either at home or a friend’s house. Opiate-based prescription drugs should be kept in a locked container or stored where they cannot be obtained by anyone other than the patient for whom prescribed. Unused, unguarded, unsecured, out-dated prescription drugs are ending up on the streets.

Every person can be a part of the solution. You may not have observed drug activity in your neighborhood--yet, but keep alert to the possibility it may be going on around you, and report it if you do see it.  If you take opiates prescribed to you, keep them safe from theft or misuse by others. If you no longer need them, or they are out-dated, turn them in. The Prescription Drug Drop-off Program has scheduled Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as the next time prescription drugs may be turned in, no questions asked.

On April 30th from 10 AM to 2 Pm the locations for drug drop-offs are as follows: Montrose - Courthouse, Sheriff’s Entrance; Forest City - Emergency Building; Susquehanna Depot - Schneider’s Market; Gibson - State Police Barracks; Great Bend - Police Department.

Tess

This lovely lady is Tess, a 2 year old beauty who would not only be a faithful companion but a great exercise buddy as well. Active, alert, eager to please, this friendly girl is spayed, UTD, micro chipped, and ready to start a new life with her best friend.

Tess was a young mom and all her pups were adopted leaving her wondering why she got left behind. Tess is good with male dogs but we recommend a meet and greet with any potential female housemates.

The past has not been easy for this affectionate pup, but we are hoping the future will be bright and the road ahead will lead right to you and a lifetime of happiness.

Fun Fact: Science shows that dog owners are less stressed thanks to hormonal and chemical changes that occur from spending time with their pups. All the more reason to snuggle with a shelter buddy!

Finally, consumption of whole milk (both white and chocolate) is being advocated by different dietary groups.

Recently a teacher at North Pocono High School in Daleville, Pennsylvania asked me to come to the school and address the value of whole chocolate milk to her public speaking class. What an experience! These students were very critical of the skim milk they are forced to drink (or in many cases, throw away). North Pocono School has the same problem as our Elk Lake School and every other school has, that is, the USDA is forcing all our schools not to use whole milk in our school lunch program.

However, when I addressed the students at North Pocono High, everyone welcomed the whole chocolate milk that they drank. Some of the students claimed the whole chocolate milk tasted like a good milk shake.

These students certainly noticed the difference in taste of whole milk.

Well, the milk they drank came from Manning Dairy, located a few miles northeast of Dalton, Pennsylvania, and the butterfat was somewhere around 3.8%. The milk is definitely pasteurized, but the components in the milk are left alone, just as the milk comes from the bossy cow.

It was rewarding to listen to these students. All of them want whole milk back in our schools. Are our elected officials going to start listening to our school students?

Last Friday I attended the Lycoming County Grange’s Legislative dinner. Again whole chocolate milk was made available to the crowd by Valley Farms in Williamsport, Pa.

It was rewarding first to see how our students wanted whole chocolate milk, and then a few days later to witness our older generation want whole chocolate milk. It’s time all for all of our wishes to be listened to.

However, a very rewarding surprise was when an article was brought to my attention by one of our members in Westfield, Pa. that appears in the annual bulletin from the American Dairy Association in Syracuse, NY. The article was entitled, “Taking a fresh look at whole milk.” The main thrust of the article centered on Nina Teicholz, the author of the book, “The Big Fat Surprise”. Nina, on her own time has become (by far) the leading proponent for consumers including all of our students concerning the benefits of whole milk.

We strongly urge the American Dairy Association to have our dairy princesses pass out whole milk (both white and chocolate) at their events.

At the Grange dinner I credited the dairy princesses and their advisors for using whole milk as they made their milk punch. I certainly told the crowd that the girls were using whole milk.

It is catching on. Our Pro-Ag organization is one of the leading organizations fighting to get whole milk back in our schools. Let’s work together to obtain whole milk back in our schools.

United Way of Susquehanna County (UWSC) announced its partnership and the launch of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Susquehanna County. This game-changing initiative will provide a FREE, high-quality, age-appropriate book each month to all children enrolled in the program. It is designed to dramatically increase literacy rates and is open to all children in Susquehanna County under the age of five, regardless of household income.

The need for the program is such that findings of a recent study prepared by The Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development indicated 81% of children in Susquehanna County under age five are living in economically at-risk families and are at moderate risk of school failure. “The Imagination Library has the potential to rewrite our community’s story,” said Kim Merithew, Director of Corporate and Community Giving of United Way of Susquehanna County. “It has achieved spectacular results in communities around the world. We couldn’t be more excited to bring this initiative to Susquehanna County.”

Pictured (L-R) are: back row - Cindy Page, Susan Stone; front row - Kim Smith-NBT Bank- Susquehanna Market Manager, AVP and UWSC Campaign Chair, Zoie Donahue and Tonianne Smith. Photo courtesy of Robin Cobb

The announcement marks the beginning of a new direction and change in mission for the United Way of Susquehanna County, said Tammy Bonnice, Advisory Committee Chairman. Moving forward, UWSC is investing generous donor dollars towards programs that “Help Children Do Well” specifically programs that emphasis academic readiness, mentorship, childhood wellness and family stability and can effectively measure outcomes.

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library was created by recording artist Dolly Parton in 1996 to ensure that every child would have access to quality books, regardless of income. It currently provides books to nearly 900,000 children in almost 2,000 local communities across three countries.

Once children are registered for the Imagination Library age-appropriate books, selected by a blue ribbon panel of experts, are mailed in a child’s name to his/her home each month from the time of birth until the child turns five years of age. The books are the child’s to keep.

While the program is open to all children under age 5, there is a significant cost to operate it; therefore, the greatest focus will be on enrolling families who have limited access to resources like new books.

Southwestern Energy (SWN) was the first to invest in this initiative. Mike Narcavage, Community Relations Manager, said this, “At Southwestern Energy, we understand the vital role reading serves in a child’s overall educational success. That is why we are excited to work with UWSC, to provide young families in Susquehanna County with a resource to build their own libraries at home, and introduce a new generation to all of the joy and wonder that reading can provide. I urge the community to support this important initiative.”

Tonianne Smith from Springville and her daughter, Zoie Donahue, who just celebrated her 2nd birthday on March 23rd, was the first to enroll in the program. Tonianne said she is grateful to have Zoie enrolled in this program to help instill the love and importance of reading to her daughter.

 “Reading to young children is the most effective way to increase their intellectual capacity and the results affect their entire lives,” said Cindy Page, RN., Maternal and Family Health Services- Nurse-Family Partnership program. “Children’s brains develop most rapidly between birth and age five. This is when we can lay the foundation for a lifetime of learning and foster the desire and readiness to learn that result in long term success. It is vital that children are proficient at reading by third grade if we want to prevent them from falling behind and staying behind for the rest of their lives.”

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library will help children with educational achievement as measured by standardized tests and will help families by encouraging one-on-one time and reading in the home.

The Imagination Library has produced remarkable results in other communities. Nearly 75% of families involved in it read more to their children after joining the program.

Susan Stone, Administrator/Librarian, Susquehanna County Historical and Free Library Association, agrees that by introducing books at an early age, children have a greater propensity for academic success. Stone expressed her optimism that these little readers and their families will grow up to be lifelong patrons of the library and access the plethora of services available to the community to help enrich lives.

This roll out coincides with the annual celebration of the Week of Young Child™ (April 11-16) sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children which focuses attention on needs of young children and their families and recognizes early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

The Imagination Library is open to all children in Susquehanna County under the age of five. To sign up, parents or caregivers need only to submit an official registration form to United Way of Susquehanna County. Forms are available by contacting United Way of Susquehanna County at 570-465-3868 and are also available online at www.unitedwayofsusquehannacounty.org

Additionally, United Way of Susquehanna County will be holding a special fundraiser in fall 2016 with details to follow. Individuals and businesses who would like to make a donation or learn more about fundraising sponsorship opportunities can contact UWSC at 570-465-3868.

About United Way of Susquehanna County:
United Way of Susquehanna County is a champion of “Helping Children Do Well”. United Way focuses on the building blocks for a good life: Education, Income and Health. Additional information about United Way of Susquehanna County and its programs and initiatives can be found at www.unitedwayofsusquehannacounty.org

Mary Baker

On April 16th, 2016 Mary Baker celebrated her 99th  Birthday! Many will remember Mary as the red-haired, Irish Lass with the beautiful smile and singing voice, who was a Secretary in the Susquehanna Community High School Office for many years. She now resides in a personal care home in Lanesboro and still attends services at St. John’s Catholic Church every week.

Happy Birthday Mary—We’ll be looking forward to wishing you a Happy 100th!