FEBRUARY 18

Good News Lunch: Saturday February 18, starting at noon at the St Marks Church in New Milford. All are welcome, free meal.

FEBRUARY 25

Lincoln Day Breakfast: Saturday, February 25 from 9:30am to Noon at the Harford Fire Hall, Fair Hill Rd., Harford. The Susquehanna County Republican Committees Lincoln Day Breakfast will be held.

FEBRUARY 26

Alaska, The Lure of The Land: Sunday, February 26 at 2pm at Salt Springs Park. Sandy Babuka spent the summer of 2016 working as a tour bus driver and guide in Denali National Park, Alaska. She will describe and illustrate with jaw-dropping visuals of the mountains and camps, her moose and bear encounters, the Native American Athabaskans and their culture, the Teklanika and Toklat rivers and so much more. Free and all are welcome.

MONDAY: CENTER CLOSED- PRESIDENT’S DAY

TUESDAY: Cheeseburger, oven baked potatoes, cabbage, wheat sandwich roll, fresh fruit cup.

WEDNESDAY: Rosemary chicken, brussles sprouts medley, herbed rice, berry crisp.

THURSDAY: Baked fish, scalloped potatoes, broccoli, wheat roll, diet mandarin orange gelatin.

FRIDAY: Roast beef, mashed potatoes, wheat roll, apple bread pudding.

Announcement is made of the engagement and upcoming wedding of Victoria Page Hartt to John Ryan Salinkas, both of Oakton, VA.

Victoria and John

The bride-elect is the daughter of Jerry and Karen Slamas Hartt, Lakeview.  Vikki is a graduate of Blue Ridge High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree Magna Cum Laude from Marywood University. She earned a Master of Professional Studies degree from Georgetown University. She is a Communications Specialist at Georgetown University, McCourt School of Public Policy, Center for Education and the Workforce, Washington, DC.

The prospective bridegroom is the son of John and Judi Salinkas, New Milford.  John is a graduate of Blue Ridge High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State University, State College.  He is an Environmental Geologist at Environmental Consultants & Contractors, Chantilly, VA.

The couple met in preschool!

The wedding is set for June 24,2017 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Great Bend.

“The mountains are calling and I must go,” wrote John Muir to his sister in 1873. Sandy Babuka has also been called by nature to love, appreciate, and protect it—no matter where she is. In 2016 she spent five months in Alaska’s Denali National Park and Preserve as a tour bus driver and guide. Before she returns later this year she will spend a couple hours over two afternoons at Salt Springs sharing her adventures, stories, and memories with us and encouraging anyone thinking of going to go, to go now.

Join us on Sunday, February 26, at 2 pm in the Wheaton House at Salt Springs Park for Part I: Alaska, the Lure of the Land. Sandy will describe and illustrate with jaw-dropping visuals the mountains and camps, her moose and bear encounters, the Native American Athabaskans and their culture, and the Teklanika and Toklat rivers. She will tell stories about Adolf Murie and the wolves, and she’ll talk about the importance of the Alaskan Railroad and the Savage River, where the real wilderness begins.

Part II of Sandy’s presentation, Environmental Impacts of Climate Changes at Denali, will be held on Sunday, March 5, again at 2 pm in the Wheaton House. Here she will shift her focus to the changes she has witnessed and learned about since her first trip in 1978.

As Sandy recently noted and will elaborate on, “So much has changed, particularly in the past 20 years. Yes, the permafrost is melting and the mountains are having ‘slides.’ The tree line has risen from 2,700 to 3,000 feet. There are so many ecological changes happening as we speak, and Denali Park Road has become more and more questionable as the climate changes. The road sinks in some places annually and has to be repaired. Last summer, with the August rains came rock and mudslides that covered the road and trapped some buses and campers in the far end. Geology researchers have been documenting the instability of the area, due to climate change, more and more each year.”

Join us for a richly illustrated and entertaining yet educational presentation on a vast stretch of American wilderness—Denali National Park and Preserve. The two-part presentation is free, but we will pass the hat for donations. Contact the Friends of Salt Springs Park for further information at 570-967-7275 or by email friends@epix.net.

The Susquehanna County Conservation District is seeking a 2017 Summer Intern.

The Susquehanna County Conservation District has partnered a successful internship program with many students and universities. Internships provide valuable experience to the students and afford the Conservation District staff assistance with projects. Many of the students who have utilized the internship program with the Conservation District have found employment with Conservation Districts or other agencies. An internship is a great way to network, meet professionals in natural resources conservation, and gain experience in a work environment.

The purpose of the Susquehanna County Conservation District’s Internship Program is to provide students with the opportunity to explore and experience working with an agency in natural resources conservation. Internships are beneficial to all three parties: the student, the district, and the university.

It is estimated that 50% of the intern’s time will be in the field. The intern will also assist conservation district staff in their day-to-day responsibilities.

The student should have completed at least one year of college studies in a natural resources program at an accredited university. The student must be obtaining this internship for college/university credit.

Resumes and Applications will be accepted until March 31st at 4pm. Application and Position Description may be found at www.suscondistrict.org.

Join the festivities at the 28th annual Susquehanna County Ag Day on Friday, March 3rd and take part in several free programs. Educational programs are hosted by Penn State Educators, EMRCDC members and our local beekeepers and run throughout the day. Ag Day features 75 Ag vendors & displays, nearly 20 health service exhibitors, a pie baking contest and auction and a delicious lunch (Call to register 278-1158 for lunch). And of course free cheese, local ice cream and milk from the Susquehanna County Dairy Promotion and Dairy Princess. The event takes place from 10 am to 3:30 pm at the Elk Lake High School.

This year you can take part in these great programs; Removing Honey Bees From Buildings; Harmful Algae Blooms in Your Pond; Solar Power to the People- Solar Energy Benefits, Costs & Funding; Rearing Steer Calves From Birth to 300lbs; Biomass Alternatives and Opportunities in NE PA- Grass Pellet Initiative and Biomass Conversion Rebate Program **One $500 rebate available toward pellet stove purchase; Review of Pest and Weed Issues in 2016 and Pesticide Storage and Security, 1 category credit, 1 core pesticide credit offered; The Nutrition and Economics of Dairy Beef Steers in the Feedlot; What’s New in Agronomic Weed and Pest Control and Pesticide Recordkeeping and Notification Requirements, 1 category, 1 core pesticide credit offered; Webinar: Using Vegetative Windbreaks for Air Quality on Poultry Farms.

If you are interested in baking a pie for the pie contest give us a call. All proceeds benefit the Susquehanna County 4-H Dairy Program and Dairy Princess Promotion Program.

Guidelines for the 2017 Ag Day Pie Contest are as follows; One pie per participant; There will be two divisions: adult and youth (under 18); Pie should be in a 9-inch aluminum pie plate; Pies must be entered by 11:00 a.m.; please bring them to the stage in the gym at Ag Day; The top six pies will be recognized and receive special recognition; Please pre-register for the contest by calling 570-278-1158; Anyone is eligible to enter youth or adults, farm or non-farm folks.

 Please join the excitement as the pies are auctioned off at 2:30 pm by bidding. You will have a delicious pie to take home and will have supported youth of Susquehanna County!