The Blue Ridge Lady Raiders Basketball Team recently finished their season with a gym filled Lady Raiders vs. alumni and staff game on March 31st, benefiting a local boy fighting a rare kidney cancer.

Presenting the check to Michael and Bray Dibble (kneeling) were Lady Raider Basketball team members pictured (l-r): Anna Bonner, Kalynne Meyers, Isabella Cosmello, Emma Mangel, Ashley Torres

The day after Bray Dibble turned three years old, the Blue Ridge High School gym was filled to capacity to watch our Lady Raiders take on 31 Blue Ridge Alumni and staff members for an amazing and fun night of community support.  The night began with Pennsylvania State Police from the Gibson Barracks surprising Bray with a birthday gift and letting him explore one of their cruisers.  Continuing his birthday celebration, the Susquehanna County Dairy Princesses were scooping out ice cream to go along with the Hulk cake (theme of the night) from Lisa Carpenetti.  T-shirts were sold and worn by the Lady Raiders highlighting the Team Bray, Hulk themed shirts designed by Mark Wayman.

The event was an amazing show of talent by all 31 alumni and staff taking on our Lady Raiders.  Coaching the teams were Mrs. Liz Benedict for the alumni and Coach Jim Barbour for our Lady Raiders.  Officiating the game were Mr. Button and Mr. Nebzydoski representing Blue Ridge administration along with Mrs. Decker playing while the McCain’s ran the clock. Wes Parks was the announcer keeping everyone entertained as they watched the inspiring athletic competition.  It was a true Raider Nation event with many helping out ahead of time along with the Blue Ridge Education Association (BREA) donating many of the raffle prizes, the maintenance staff helping out before and after with set up and the office staff and teachers selling tickets and distributing posters.

Thanks to our Blue Ridge Girls Basketball Booster Club members for organizing and running the event, making the night such a success.  A special thank you to all who were involved with the event through sponsoring raffle prizes, purchasing t-shirts, playing, purchasing raffle tickets or volunteering, making it a very successful community event.  We are so fortunate to live in a community that jumps in and supports such wonderful causes when asked.  Thanks to all involved, over $2,000 was raised, joyfully presented to Bray Dibble and his father Michael by members of the Lady Raiders Basketball Team.

Former Harford Fair Queen Rachael Grosvenor watches as Michayla Stahl sings the National Anthem to begin one of the main events in the Harford Fair main arena during the 2016 fair

The Harford Fair Youth Board is again organizing the competition to perform the National Anthem to begin each of the main arena events. For more information, contact hfairyb@nep.net .

Did you go to the Harford Fair last year? Were you intrigued by the National Anthem at the beginning of the main arena performances? If you were, come audition for the chance to show off your talent! It doesn’t matter if you sing or play an instrument solo or duet, you just need to want to be a part of the 160th Harford Fair during the third full week in August, 21-26. The Harford Agricultural Society Youth Board will be holding a competition for the chance to be a part of the largest agricultural event held in Susquehanna County. This event holds an opportunity to show your talent in front of hundreds of fairgoers. The competition will be held on June 11, 2017 from 1-4 PM at the Harford fairgrounds in the dining hall. If you are interested please contact the Youth Board at the above, or (570) 434-4300.

The Susquehanna Community Development Association’s Membership Drive is in full swing. If you have previously been a Member, you know how important your participation is to the various annual events and numerous projects within the Borough of Susquehanna Depot and surrounding areas.

Plans are in the works for the “Ira Reynolds Riverfront Park”, as well as the continuation of the beautification of our commercial and residential areas. In addition, a tourism brochure highlighting bits of local history, businesses and attractions that may be of interest and use for those traveling through our area will be available in the near future.

All of these are in addition to the annual “Easter Egg Hunt”, “Hometown Days”, “5K Run/Walk”, “Breakfast With Santa”, with more exciting projects being planned. If you would like to join, there are several Membership Categories to choose from, such as: Individual ($15.00), Family ($25.00), Bronze ($50.00), Silver ($100.00), Gold ($250.00) and Platinum ($500.00+). You may also wish to make a contribution in honor, or in memory of someone special who may live or have lived in our area. You may send your check, made payable to Susquehanna Community Development Association or “S.C.D.A.” to the Association, at P.O. Box 347, Susquehanna, Pa. 18847.

If you would like to volunteer your time and talents and work with the S.C.D.A., we would be thrilled to have you join us. Remember, it is with your purchases or involvement, that you help us continue the events that you and your family have come to enjoy. We look forward to seeing you at our Spring Flower Sale on Thursday, May 18th and Friday, May 19th at Schneider’s Market as well as thank-you in advance for supporting the Association.

This is Paisley, a special needs cat.  One of our True Friend’s heroes, Makala, found Paisley as a little kitten in a snow bank by the side of the road, where she had been run over, her pelvis fractured, nerves severed and her tail broken. She was dying. Unable to urinate or feel that part of her body, little Paisley was assisted by Makala, who learned how to help manually express the urine from her bladder. Paisley is now able to urinate on her own, but can’t always control when it comes out. She knows to use the litter box to defecate and seems to know this is where she should urinate as well, but her little body doesn’t always cooperate. It is possible that Paisley will gain more control of her bladder – she has been progressing – but there are no guarantees, and for now she does have accidents. She is a very good-natured cat, who seems to have an appreciation for life, having come so close to losing it.  We are hoping for someone with the time, patience and, understanding of her situation to foster or adopt this sweet cat.  If you could be that special someone please stop by and meet Paisley. 

True Friends presently has several  dogs and cats that could really benefit from being in a home.  If you are interested in fostering, please stop by or give us a call.  They could really use their own angels!

Fun Fact: The world's richest cat is worth $13 million after his owner passed away and left her fortune to him. Adopting a special needs kitty like Paisley cannot be measured in monetary amounts, but the joy she will bring is reward enough.

County Commissioner Vice-Chairman Elizabeth “Betsy” Arnold (R) attended the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania’s (CCAP) Spring 2017 Conference in Harrisburg as county leaders from throughout Pennsylvania participated in workshops and training sessions and discussed state and federal policies that impact services to residents.

Arnold also proudly took part in the new Women’s Caucus for women commissioners and chief clerks, organized by Sullivan County Commissioner Donna Iannone.

“The goal is just for a chance for women to network and bounce ideas off of other women,” Iannone, a Democrat, said recently.

Almost 35 women, all county commissioners or chief clerks, attended. As of the 2015 election cycle, statewide there were 39 women commissioners out of over 250 top county officials.  Iannone said that the Caucus next plans to meet at CCAP’s early August meeting in Erie.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Associate Justice Sallie Updyke Mundy (R) appeared as a keynote speaker at the breakfast session.

“As dedicated public servants, it was interesting to discuss our shared belief that public institutions are at their best when they reflect the perspectives and thinking of a range of people, and women are critical to that success,” Mundy said in a recent statement.

By comparison to the county government system, 29 percent of Pennsylvania’s active judges are women and three women sit on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.  Women form the majority of judges of both the Superior and Commonwealth Courts and are the president judges of both courts.

“At the Caucus, I met women who have been serving as county commissioners for over 20 years. They had a lot of insight and wisdom to impart. I’m looking forward to networking and building healthy relationships with these commissioners’ through out the state. There is no better teacher than those who have experience, “Arnold said.  

Wyoming County Commissioner Ron Williams, that county’s minority Democrat, applauded the idea of a women’s caucus, saying that he thought it was “a great thing to do.”  His colleague, Wyoming County’s Vice Chairwoman Judy Mead, also took part in the Caucus.

“I am really looking forward to some suggestions from the women, I really am. I think we’ll get some refreshing ideas,” he said.

Construction is progressing on the new Susquehanna County Library in Bridgewater Township. Library director Susan Stone said that work at the site, located near the Montrose Area Jr./Sr. High School, is scheduled to finish May 29, with the opening of the $4.5 million facility anticipated in mid-July.

Fundraising continues for the building project, with an additional $500,000 needed.

Library officials decided they wanted a unique way to show appreciation to their generous donors and worked with local woodworker and artist George Manns to create “The Giving Tree.” Made entirely from local walnut and cherry wood, this eight by eight foot sculpture will function both as  an art installation in the new library’s lobby and as a way to acknowledge the donor support to make the building a reality.

A group of Harford area library supporters, the Ladies of the Lake book club, raised the funds to make this project possible.

Included will be a key that will have each donor’s name laser engraved on maple tags, and will show by its placement the donor’s level of support. The leaves will range from a single leaf shape to a broad five cleft leaf with a flower bud to the five levels of donor support, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000, $50,000, to over $100,000.

Patrons and friends of the library are invited to be part of this unique sculpture by making a contribution. Contact the Susquehanna County Library at (570) 278-1881, or info@susqcolibrary.org for more information or to make a contribution.

With the rapid pace of new developments in smartphone technology, it can be hard to keep up with all the changes, especially if you grew up in an era when phones were attached to a cord.

Phones these days aren’t what they used to be -- but that’s for the best, as smartphone technology can actually improve your life. Here are three easy ways that seniors can get more from smartphones:

1. “Read” audiobooks.

Whether your hands are tied up gardening or cooking, or you simply want to give your eyes a rest, consider listening to books on your smartphone. You can purchase audiobooks a la carte or opt for a subscription plan, which offers deals, such as unlimited selections for a flat monthly fee.

Features like bookmarks and back buttons make it easy to “flip through” a digital audiobook.

2. Use health apps to manage conditions.

Well-designed health apps can help patients manage their conditions. For example, ArthritisPower, a free app for patients with arthritis, allows users to track symptoms and treatment outcomes, and share the information with their doctors.

Created by CreakyJoints, a go-to resource for arthritis patients and their families, in collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the app is also a data-gathering tool for researchers. Via informed consent, user data is helping researchers better understand how different treatments work for different people.

“One out of every five U.S. adults of all ages lives with doctor-diagnosed arthritis and it’s important that patients actively engage in managing their own treatment plan,” says Seth Ginsberg, President and Co-Founder of CreakyJoints and Principal Investigator of ArthritisPower.

To download the free app or learn more, visit arthritispower.org.

3. Video chat with loved ones.

Talk and see grandkids and other far-flung friends and loved ones between visits with video chatting. It’s the perfect way to ensure you don’t miss important milestones.

Many such video communications services are free, even internationally, and can present affordable alternatives to placing long-distance calls on a landline.

Your smartphone is the world at your fingertips. Make great use of it. (StatePoint)

Senator Lisa Baker, R-20th, announced that Field Representative Tom Yoniski will be available for consultation from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3 at the Susquehanna Depot Borough Building, 83 Erie Boulevard, Suite A, Susquehanna Depot.

He will also be available from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17 at the Forest City Borough Building, 535 Main St., Forest City and from 1-3 that same day at the Lenox Township Municipal Building, 2811 State Route 92, Kingsley.

While appointments are recommended, walk-ins are welcome.

Constituents are encouraged to visit with any questions or problems relating to state matters and no appointment is necessary though they can be scheduled. Concerns may also be addressed by visiting Senator Baker’s district office at 22 Dallas Shopping Center, Dallas, by visiting her website at www.senatorbaker.com or by calling (570) 675-3931.