Members of the Beta Rho Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (DKG) have been contributing items for baskets to be given to support teachers early in their teaching career.  This international project of the society is called S.E.E. (Support for Early Career Educators).  The project was selected because statistics now show that early career educators are leaving the teaching profession after only three to five years.  Hopefully, with strong support from long-time career educators as well as retired teachers, new teachers will commit to staying in teaching.

Beta Rho Chapter member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, Agnes Massacesi (right) presented a basket of school supplies to Jeanette Shao (left). 

The most recent recipient of a S.E.E. basket of teaching supplies was Jeanette Shao.  She was thrilled to receive the gift.  She is excited to begin her first contracted year as a teacher.  It is wonderful to see that in a new teacher again.  Jeanette is a graduate of Tunkhannock Area High School and then Penn State University, Class of 2015.  In 2014, she received Beta Rho's Grant-in-Aid.  Jeanette is currently teaching Calculus and Geometry at Tunkhannock Area High School.

DKG is an international society of women educators whose mission is to promote personal and professional growth of women educators and excellence in education.  Beta Rho Chapter members represent Bradford, Susquehanna, and Wyoming Counties.

Extreme temperatures -- hot or cold -- can send your energy bills through the roof while also creating an uncomfortable living space for your family.

Almost two-thirds of American adults live in a home that needs weatherization, according to a recent online survey, commissioned by Duck brand, conducted by Harris Poll. To bring down energy costs and make the temperature in your home more comfortable, consider defending your home with helpful tools like Roll-On Window Kits, Double Draft Seals, Socket Sealers and Attic Stairway Covers. You can also adjust ceiling fans, install a programmable thermostat and open or close curtains to leverage sunlight and shade.

To learn more about weatherization products and ways you can make your home more comfortable and efficient, visit duckbrand.com/weatherization.

Don’t resign yourself to high energy bills and an uncomfortable living space. Weatherizing is simple, affordable and effective. (StatePoint)

“Wow,” said an amazed second grader as they walked into a dairy barn for the first time.

Every year two second grade classes from Mountain View Elementary School come to my family’s farm, JoSan Farm. While the kids are at the farm, we teach them about different aspects of life on the farm.

Mountain View Elementary second graders enjoying a nutritious lunch after touring JoSan Farm’s dairy barn

When the kids arrived we greet them as a family. My grandma, Sandy Pavelski, welcomed everyone to the farm and they met my Jersey cow, Dora. I have shown Dora at various dairy shows, and she is one of my favorite cows in the barn. Once everyone had a chance to meet Dora, they split into different groups. The groups included my mom, Cathy Bewley, teaching the kids about feeding calves. They were amazed at the size of a calf’s baby bottle. My cousin, Ian and my brother Gavin taught the kids about taking care of sick cows. They showed the kids how big a cow Aspirin can be. My grandma, Sandy, explained all of the equipment in the milk house to the kids. They even got to look into the bulk tank, which is where milk is stored. My uncle, Matt showed the kids how to milk a cow. They got to see the milk flowing. Finally, I did coloring books with the kids, and we colored different dairy products in the pictures.

After the stations, everyone enjoyed lunch and chocolate or white milk from Readington Farms, which is the creamery where our milk is shipped. After lunch, of course, comes dessert. I prepared shaker pudding for the kids, and they really enjoyed shaking up the milk to create pudding. Thankfully, zero exploded. Afterwards, we went on a hayride and circled our property.

After the hayride all the kids got to enjoy ice cream sandwiches. Sadly, we had to say our goodbyes, because the kids had to go back to school. We hope the kids had a great time and they learned about the farm, including how we treat our animals. Everyone in our family is confident that the kids learned that their “milk comes from a good place.”

Cute-some Two-somes and Darling Duos Part 2…  This week we are featuring our bonded cat pairs.  Just like their canine friends, cats develop strong attachments and are often devastated when separated from their bonded buddy. Adopting two kitties will benefit both them as well as you by keeping them occupied, helping them to adjust more easily to their new environment, and in general lowering their stress level and keeping them happy and healthy. Won't you give our delightful duos a chance and bring double the love into your heart and home?  Pictured is Laverne & Shirley who are just one example of our bosom buddies waiting to be adopted at our shelter.  Most of our our fabulous felines are already altered, UTD, and microchipped.  Plus we are running an ongoing special, “ Adopt One, Get One” for all bonded pairs. So why delay?  Stop in and find out why two is better than one!

A very special thank you to The Conklin Family as well as their family, friends, and community who hosted the 2nd Annual Kelly Conklin Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit our shelter.  We were all so surprised and amazed by their generosity in honor of Kelly.  You are all so special to us!!!

Fun Fact: Humans greet each other by shaking hands; cats greet one another by touching their noses together. Take home a kitty and see for yourself how very adorably sweet they are!

Bench Warrants

The Susquehanna County DOMESTIC RELATIONS Section has outstanding BENCH WARRANT’S for the following individuals as of 10:00 a.m. on September 16, 2016 Todd A. Andrews, Kenya J. Bentler, Tonya S. Birchard, Allen S. Bowman, Michael J. Burger, Joshua Burns, Melanie M. Button, Tina Dolan, David J. Fischer, Jeffrey J. Gamble, Jonathan L. Hollister, Brandon Housen, Bradley M. Huzzard, James Krauss, Todd J. Layton, Charlie J. Legere, Steven J. Leiser, Michael P. Lepre, John J. Liepinis III, Scott J. McGarrigle, Peggy J. Mills, Timothy Murray, Matthew J. Peters, Brian T. Phillips, Bruce A. Schurr, Desiree L. Shifler, Jason L. Shores, Robert Staff, Charles Vanwinkle, Jr., Jeffrey Warner, Matthew C. Whitney, Please contact the Domestic Relations Section at 570-278-4600 ext. 4050 with any information on the location of these individuals.

Deeds

Vincent R. Jr and Cynthia A. Branning to David and Dawn Irwin in Susquehanna for $64,660.00

Dawn M. and Lynn B. Haskins to Amber L. Peterson, Aimee L. Archer and Andrea L. McCavley in Silver Lake Township for $1.00

Bonnie J. and Ronald White, Dawn M. and Lynn Haskins to Steven J. Swingle in Silver Lake Township for $140,000.00

Clair S. Jr and Richard E. Swingle to Steven J. Swingle in Silver Lake Township for $1.00

James P. and Annamarie Prawdzik to Louis G. Schreiner in Harmony Township for $72,500.00

Christopher Meyer to Christopher Meyer in Thompson Borough for $1.00

Theodore W. Jr and Carly B Batzel to Elwin S (TRUST) and Sharon E. (TRUST) Decker in Harford Township for $25,900.00

John J. Stager to Todd M. and Sharon A. Glover in Ararat Township for $1.00

Diane M. Frye to Joseph Gerard Frye and Beatrice A. Place in Thompson Township for $1.00

Robert Todd Traver, Sara Oliver Traver (AKA) Sara Oliver to Sara Oliver Traver (AKA) Sara Traver in Auburn Township for $1.00

Corey C., Kelly, David C., Cynthia C. and Craig A. Bryant to Maureen D., Timothy M., and Branwen L. Ellis in Thompson Township for $210,000.00

Margaret E. Nichols to Bryant T. and William E. Owens in Clifford Township for $78,000.00

John P. Fitzgerald to Steven Fitzgerald in Susquehanna for $1.00

PS Bank (FDBA) and Peoples State Bank of Wyalusing to Montrose Borough in Montrose 2W for $60,000.00

Ann Copeland to James T. Copeland in Middletown Township for $1.00

Louis Augustine to Susan L. English in Silver Lake Township for $1.00

Richard (AKA) Richard F., Rosemary Chase to Debra M. Oakes in Montrose 2W for $128,250.00

Martha A. and Jeffrey W. Broad to Raymond H. and Karann E. Mead in New Milford Township for $126,500.00

Kenneth W. and June D. Walters to Walters Living Trust in Gibson Township for $1.00

Lawrence M. Rolnick and Kimberly A. Sorrentino to Steven C. and Cheryl J. Wilson in Dimock Township for $22,500.00

Ryan M. and Tobie L. Vantassel to Ryan M. and Tobie L. Vantassel in Friendsville Borough for $1.00

Andrew M. Genneken to Christian W. Genneken in Gibson Township for $1.00

Andrew M. Genneken to Andrew S. Genneken in Gibson Township for $1.00

Andrew M. Genneken to Catherine F. Genneken in Gibson Township for $1.00

Donna Lee Holbrook to Dean R. Holbrook in New Milford Township for $27,927.00

Jessica R. Coulombre to Lisa Y. Rhineback (FKA) Lisa Y. Colwell in Susquehanna 2W for $1.00

Bremer HOF Inc to Stephen G. and Jenay L. Burck in Herrick Township for $100.00

Michael E. and Kathleen J. Baier to Michael E. and Kathleen J. Baier in Franklin Township for $1.00

Raymond Decker to Margaret A. Taylor in Lathrop Township for $1.00

John L. (ESTATE AKA), John L. (ESTATE), Sharlene Inman-Vanous (AKA) Sharlene Inman Vanous to Sharlene Inman-Vanous (AKA) Sharlene Inman Vanous in Great Bend Township for $1.00

Gail L. Abbott to Mark, Catherine Coleman-Moore (AKA) Catherine Coleman Moore in Lanesboro Borough for $1.00

Nancy E. Pordon to Nancey E. Pordon in Brooklyn Township and Lathrop Township for $1.00

William J. Sparks III to Jack J. and Heidi Thullen in Ararat Township for $35,000.00

Endeavour Acquisitions LLC to Appalachian Clean Energy LLC and Lightning Creek Holdings LP in Lathrop Township for $10.00

Raymond J. Jr and Jody Cooper to Robert Pail Yannotta in Harford Township for $67,500.00

Matthew Gesford to Carutt LLC in Dimock Township for $1.00

Robert W. and Sharon A. Van Cleaf to Edward T. and Deborah Vandermaas in Harford Township for $241,000.00

Francis (AKA) Francis E. and Chris J. Shadduck to Jesse Lee and Carrie Jaye Shadduck and Brett Wennille Erikson in Middletown Township and Apolacon Township for $1.00

William, Carrie, William III and Brooke Ann Paulin to William, Carrie and William Paulin III in Forest City for $1.00

Jennings B. Jr (TRUST BY TRUSTEES) and Betty M. (TRUST BY TRUSTEES) Birch to Jennings B. and Betty M. Birch in New Milford Borough for $1.00

Jennings B. and Betty M. Birch to Jennings B. III and David A. Birch in Franklin Township and New Milford Borough for $1.00

Ann E. Markley (NBM), Ann E. and Colin M. Branca to Jason Angelides, Sean M. and Heidi Z. Weston in Herrick Township for $267,000.00

Lightning Creek Holdings LP and Appalachian Clean Energy LLC to Diaz Family Limited Partnership in Bridgewater Township for $300,000.00

Jeffery S. and Diane Marie Carson to William F. Meyers in Lathrop Township for $100,000.00

Diaz Family LP to Lightning Creek Holdings LP and Appalachian Clean Energy LLC in Bridgewater Township for $300,000.00

Joseph Steuer and Erin Fitzgerald to Jordan W. Brand in Liberty Township for $190,000.00

Joseph Swierk to Bremer HOF Owners INC in Herrick Township for $100.00

Michael and Kelly A. Gombita to Mauro Giannetti in Herrick Township for $20,000.00

Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (BY TRUSTEE) to Michelle Labonte in Hallstead Borough for $8,500.00

Richard M. and Helene P. Hennessey to Sean M. and Kiera C. Hennessey in Harmony Township for $1.00

Christopher E. Vogel to Sharon M. Wolf in Hallstead Borough for $95,744.00

Barbara Schlasta to Janet Watson in Gibson Township for $12,000.00

Gary Wilson to Gary Wilson and Lidia P. Pires in Great Bend Township for $1.00

Bess C. (ESTATE AKA), Bessie C. (ESTATE AKA) Nolt and Bess C. (ESTATE) Weiner to Diane Wiener-Lester in Jackson Township for $120,000.00

James Caldwell to Joseph Zawisky in New Milford Township for $55,000.00

Bremer HOF Owners INC to Robielyn Sweet in Herrick Township for $100.00

Bremer HOF Owners INC to Marion and Patricia Woodward in Herrick Township for $100.00

Bremer HOF Owners INC to Wayne and Judith Rezac in Herrick Township for $100.00

Matthew Thomas to Timothy and Stephanie Thomas in Harford Township for $1.00

Worthington W. and Michelle L. White to Michelle L. White in Harford Township for $1.00

June Skasko to June and Tammy Skasko (AKA) Tammy Sutton in Lanesboro Borough for $1.00

June Skasko to June and Tammy Skasko (AKA) Tammy Sutton in Lanesboro Borough for $1.00

David B. (TRUSTEE) and Susan M. (TRUSTEE) Payne and Lydia Payne Hoover Strickley (TRUSTEE) to Quaker Lake Cottages Association in Silver Lake Township for $1.00

Quaker Lake Cottages Association to David B. (TRUSTEE) and Susan M. (TRUSTEE) Payne and Lydia Payne Hoover Strickley (TRUSTEE) in Silver Lake Township for $1.00

David B. (TRUSTEE) and Susan M. (TRUSTEE) Payne and Lydia Payne Hoover Strickley (TRUSTEE) to Quaker Lake Cottages Association in Silver Lake Township for $1.00

Delores Obert (ESTATE BY SHERIFF) to LSF8 Master Participation Trust in Dimock Township for $2,823.21

Genevieve K. (BY SHERIFF) Meagher to Wells Fargo Bank and Soundview Home Loan Trust in Clifford Township for $1,00.41

Shane R. and Julie A. Rumage to Dakota Brown in Great Bend Township for $92,000.00

Mary L. (ESTATE AKA) Mary Prezelski to Marissa Lynch in Forest City for $65,000.00

Terry L. an Mard Cindy L. Holdridge to Edward T. and Joan B. Bennett in Auburn Township for $200,000.00

Marcia A. and Floyd J. Stout Jr., Vito Cataldo and Tara Giantrate, Paul and Ann Marie Palombaro to Oakland Borough in Oakland Borough for $1.00

Floyd J. Jr, Maqrcia, Brian J. and Wendy Stout to Borough of Oakland in Oakland Borough for $98,000.00

Robert M. and Carla A. Pittsley to Appalachian Basin Minerals LP, Pennmarc Resources II LP, Wildes Mineral Interests LLC and McCrow Energy Partners II LLC in Brooklyn Township for $1.00

Bertie F. Lacount to Appalachian Basin Minerals LP, Pennmarc Resources II LP, Wildes Mineral Interests LLC and McCrow Energy Partners II LLC in Bridgewater Township for $1.00

The Susquehanna Chapter of PASR ( The Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees) held its fourth annual " Not Going Back to School Picnic" on Thursday, September 1, at Salt Springs State Park. There were 48 members and guests in attendance, from the County's school districts.

The retirees enjoyed a cool fall like day to visit with former co-workers, meet new friends, and partake in an excellent picnic lunch. A special thanks goes to Dennis and Karen Holbrook for providing their grill, and to Walt Dahlander for cooking the hamburgers and hot dogs.

Community Service Chair, Janet Small collected over 50 non-perishable food items for the Susquehanna Food Bank at the Tre-Hab office in the Montrose area. There were also 63 pair of socks collected at the picnic, in addition to an earlier collection of over 200 pair. They have been given to Interfaith for their " Socks for Tots and Teens" program. Our Chapter has been supporting this program for at lest 10 years. Thanks to all of our members for their generosity.

At the Susquehanna County's Library raffle, held August 20, our Chapter was a lucky winner in the second round of tickets that were drawn. The $362 amount was donated back to the Library for their building fund. The fall General Membership meeting will be held on Thursday, October 13, at the Montrose Bible Conference, beginning at 10:30. Please call President John Manchester , 570-879-4937, for reservations. PASR includes all retired employees of the public schools of Pennsylvania, who are former teachers, administrators, counselors, nurses, aides, secretaries, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and maintenance staff. To learn more about PASR, visit www.pasr.org

The Montrose Kiwanis presented a check to the Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association on Tuesday, September 13.

Library Association Board Treasurer Rob Vermette, with incoming Montrose Kiwanis President Madison Moyer during a donation presentation

The generous $5,000 contribution will go towards the new library building fund. Construction of the new library began in August and is expected to be completed in spring, 2017.

Mountain View Title I Teachers, past and present recently gathered at State Street Grill, Clarks Summit celebrating 25 years of service to Mountain View Elementary Schools.

Pictured (l-r) are: front - Janet Karhnak, Tracy Bazil, Andrea James, Connie Schulte, Ellen Holdredge; back - Maureen Beamish, Mary Ann Beeman, Sharon Kinney, Mary Harrison, Anna Aten, Mary Walker, Leslie Gossage, Karen Voigt. Missing from photo was Alicia Waters.

August was a busy month for the Jackson Pin Thimblers 4-H Club. They began the month by meeting on August 13th and discussing their projects for the Harford Fair. They spent the next week putting finishing touches on their projects, including: bowling, cake decorating, woodworking, crafts, riflery, archery, cooking, sewing, biking, scrapbooking, public speaking and more. Their efforts were rewarded! The club's members received a total of nineteen purple Grand Champion ribbons, in addition to other ribbons, on their projects. The club was also awarded Reserve Grand Champion for their 4-H banner. This was a great way to top off the 4-H season!

The 2016 Architectural Treasure Hunt, sponsored by the Susquehanna County Historical Society, was a great success!

For those who may not know, in 2011 the Montrose Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is comprised of 386 contributing buildings and two sites built between 1812 and 1935. A map of the District can be found at the bottom of the steps leading up to the museum. For the last three years, we have presented the Architectural Treasure Hunt as a fun and exciting way to show people our historic area.

Winner of third place in the Children’s Category of the Architecture Treasure Hunt was Alyse Sargart, RD, Susquehanna

This year in our hunt we put our focus on the buildings along Church Street. The hunt started in June and ended August 5th at the Blueberry Festival, giving people plenty of time to search. We handed out over 200 treasure hunt brochures and 25 were returned with correct answers, making us draw our final winners from a hat. We also had many people come into the museum, with this year’s hunt, looking for the three clues (items) that were in the museum. Quite a few of these people, during their hunt, told us they had never come in to see the museum before and were excited to see everything while they were looking.

Our winners under the Adult category were: 1st Place – Ann Stone, 2nd Place - Bob Alexander, 3rd Place – Jill Lunger. And under the Children’s category our winners were: 1st Place – Thomas Llaguno,  2nd Place – Abigail Alexander,  3rd Place – Alyse Sargent.

From everyone here at the Susquehanna County Historical Society we would like to congratulate all of our winners for a job well done, and thank everyone for their interest in local history and participation in our hunt. For those who are interested, you can find printable versions of all three hunts and their answers on our website at http://www.susqcohistsoc.org/architectural-treasure-hunt

Photo(c) Blue Eye Brown Eye

(StatePoint) Being at the helm of a small business can be overwhelming. Whether you’re already your own boss or are thinking of making the leap, these tips from small business owners can help you get organized and boost productivity.

Make it Official

“If you’re thinking of starting a business, the simple act of making business cards will make you feel so much more official,” says Laura Essl, owner of “Blue Eye Brown Eye,” a calligraphy and design service.

Essl, who recently partnered with Staples as part of their #MakeMoreHappen campaign to help small business owners learn about resources to help them get things done, suggests the Staples Copy & Print Center as a go-to destination for business cards, note pads and other customized supplies. Like others too busy to go to the store, she calls their online ordering system and takes advantage of free delivery for orders over $49.99 as “the cherry on top.”

Make the Effort

If you are newly taking a crack at operating a business, you may quickly notice the little things you took for granted as an employee. No longer relying on someone else to provide basics like pens, paper and file folders, it’s important to supply your office cost-efficiently.

Buying supplies haphazardly while you happen to be grocery shopping, for example, as interior designer Anissa Zajac, owner of House Seven was doing at first, is neither a good strategy for staying organized or on-budget.

“I spend most of my time visiting clients and so I don't need a lot of supplies, but I’ve discovered that making a special trip to an office supplies retailer is well worth it for the money I will save in the long run,” says Zajac.

Get Professional

When working from home, it can be tempting to let things lapse into chaos. But if you video conference, meet with clients or just want to get serious, it’s important to differentiate your home office from your home, at least mentally.

“What I previously called my office was a makeshift desk in my son's playroom. It worked fine for me, as my requirements and hours were flexible, but now that my husband is working from home and conducting online business meetings and conference calls, we quickly discovered that toys in the background was just not a professional look,” says Shannon Peterson, lifestyle blogger behind “Much Most Darling.”

When upgrading your office, Peterson suggests stretching dollars by taking advantage of resources like the Staples Rewards program, which offers rewards on purchases, cash back on recycled ink cartridges and special coupons and deals. She also points out that you can enjoy further cost-savings when opting for the generic store brand, which, in most cases, is as high quality as name brand alternatives.

More cost and time efficient ideas for small businesses can be found by visiting Staples.com and by following #MakeMoreHappen on social media.

When money and time is tight, as it often is when running a small business, turn to smart strategies to take your business further with fewer resources.

Photo(c) Monkey Business Images - Getty

Parents care for and guide children into adulthood. But as parents age, sometimes the roles are reversed.

Establishing a plan will help everyone feel more at ease about the years ahead. Here are four common concerns you may face with aging parents and tips to manage each conversation.

Plan Living Arrangements

Multi-level homes and complicated floor plans can make everyday living difficult and dangerous for seniors. However, convincing parents to move into a more manageable home or assisted living may be tough. Suggest the transition early, while parents are still active to help them ease into the idea. If they insist on staying put, consider homecare and installing assistive equipment, like handrails.

Focus on the Road

Driving can be a sensitive topic because for many, it’s a key part of remaining independent.

Take 90-year-old Vivian Cash who started driving in 1949. While always priding herself on her safe driving -- in fact, she’s never had an accident -- she recently pulled into her driveway and stopped too close to a telephone pole, ultimately needing help moving her car. That was when she decided it was time to stop driving.

“If I’m driving and I had a problem, I could hurt someone or myself. It just isn’t worth it,” explained Cash.

Of course, not everyone will be willing to hang up their keys, so approach the topic before noticeable problems surface, such as with vision or dexterity, and agree to certain warning signs that might indicate it’s time to rethink transportation.

When it is time for parents to stop driving, help them map out ways to get to all their activities.

Update Important Documents

Most people don’t like discussing wills and life insurance. As a result, they’re often written and not revisited. However, both need to be updated periodically, especially when major life changes take place, like marriage, death or divorce.

Ensure your parents have a will that’s been updated in the past five years. If not, it should be revised to reflect their current wishes. Establish who will be in charge of executing the details, and determine where documents will be stored.

Any updates to wills need to be reflected in life insurance policies, since beneficiaries take precedence over whatever the will specifies. Consider working with a trusted advisor who offers both life insurance and retirement planning, such as an Erie Family Life insurance agent, to ensure parents and family members are covered for the future every step of the way.

Gather Financials

Finances need to be discussed -- from retirement planning, debt consolidation and payment to logistics like where important documents are placed (digital and hard copies). Even if parents don’t want to divulge all their information, getting a general sense of the situation will make things easier when decisions need to be made.

Help your parents create a list of bank, benefits, pension and other accounts, as well as usernames and passwords. Keep this information in a safe place, such as a fire-resistant safe. Know where items like tax files, car titles and the key to the safe are kept.

Aging isn’t easy. Address everything now to leave your family at ease for the changes ahead. (StatePoint)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications to help producers improve water and air quality, build healthier soil, improve grazing and forest lands, conserve energy, enhance organic operations, and achieve other environmental benefits.

NRCS will be able to provide funding assistance directly to Pennsylvania farmers and landowners in Fiscal Year 2017 to help them implement conservation practices through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program, and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Interested local producers should call or visit the Montrose NRCS service center for sign-up information at 17089 State Route 706, Ste 3 Montrose, PA (570) 278-1011 ext. 103 (Attn Welmon).

“USDA conservation programs offer farmers and forestland managers a variety of options to conserve natural resources while boosting production on their lands,” State Conservationist Denise Coleman said. “This conservation investment helps improve environmental health and the economy of Pennsylvania’s rural communities.”

EQIP, RCPP and AMA provide financial assistance for a variety of conservation activities, such as nutrient management, reduced tillage, field buffers, rotational grazing systems and much more. RCPP focuses on public-private partnerships in designated geographic areas to help state or local governments, conservation districts and non-government partners with an established history of working cooperatively with producers, invest in conservation efforts to help keep our private land resilient and water clean.

When considering home renovations, it’s important to be choosy, as some projects can end up costing you a pretty penny with little return on investment.

Some fast facts can provide answers to this age old consideration. Here are three compelling reasons to think fireplace.

• A gas fireplace will add between 2,950 to $5,900 to a home’s value, according to the “Marshall & Swift Residential Cost Handbook.”

• New homebuyers rank fireplaces as the number one most desired decorative appearance product in a new home, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

• Today, homeowners have an opportunity to differentiate their homes with a fireplace in different ways. Both traditional and modern fireplaces are now offered with innovative technologies that push the boundaries of where fire can go and how it can look. Consider brands that designers, architects, builders, and remodelers trust, such as Heat & Glo, which leads the industry in design and innovative technology.

More information about how a fireplace can improve home value and differentiate spaces is available at www.heatnglo.com.

For those looking to renovate, a fireplace presents an attractive choice -- whether a sale is in the cards or you simply want to enhance appeal and comfort. (StatePoint)

Registration is now open for this year’s Susquehanna County Reads. The 2016 selection will be Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline, a novel that explores the 19th- and early-20th Century program where homeless and orphaned children were relocated out west for adoption.

Participants may register at any Susquehanna County Library Location in Montrose, Hallstead-Great Bend, Susquehanna or Forest City, as well as the Pratt Memorial Library in New Milford. The $3 registration fee includes a copy of the book and will cover the cost of all the events this fall.

Several exciting activities and a guest speaker are planned. The first event planned is Oct. 1 at the Solder’s Orphan School Museum in Harford, so don’t delay and register today at your local Susquehanna County library.

Back by popular demand.  Get a jump on next year.  Tired of those flimsy cages you buy at the box stores?  Want something better?  Make your own extremely sturdy tomato cages that will last for years.  The first session begins with a short lecture on tips for growing tomatoes.  Then the fun begins as we make cages.  Each cage is approximately 5 feet tall by 2 feet round.  Be sure to bring a vehicle they will fit in.

The second half of the class will teach you how to extend your growing season by using a variety of methods.  You will learn how to make low tunnels in this hands-on experience and purchase and bend hoops (maximum space hoops should be 30 inches; how many you need depends on the length of your bed).  The hoop is approximately 4 feet wide and 4 feet tall.  If you don’t want to make cages or hoops, just come and listen and gather a few good tips.  Deadline for this class is September 26th.

To register visit: Montrose Adult School www.montroseadultschool.org. Click the Classes link. You can print out a registration form under the HOW TO REGISTER section. To see what classes are offered, click Nature and Country Living to see the Master Gardener classes. Simply mail the form to the Montrose Adult School. For more information or help registering call the Penn State Extension Office at 570.278.1158.