E-mail your "Community Events" to us: susqtran@epix.net; no phone-ins, please. We will publish events in the two issues prior to the event, free of charge for nonprofit or community events.

We regret that we cannot be responsible for keeping track of regular monthly events. Each must be submitted separately and are listed as space permits.

JUNE 17

CHICKEN BBQ: The East Ararat Church will be holding a Father's Day Chicken BBQ. All orders will be pre-order only. We will be having half chicken, macaroni salad, pickes, bake beans, roll and snack. Please call January Roney 570-727-2051 or Jackie Burrows 570-766-5322 to place an order. Can also contact any member of the women's club or on the East Ararat Church Facebook page.

SUMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION PART I and II: The celebration will be at Salt Springs Park in Franklin Forks on Saturday, June 17. Part I is from 1PM to 4PM. There will be ongoing demos and activities that will include solar viewing and lessons. Guests are welcome to bring picnics and blankets to sit on. Part II begins at 7PM. There will be a drummers circle and campfire. Story telling will begin at 8PM. Guests are encouraged to bring snacks to share.

JUNE 18

FATHER'S DAY BREAKFAST: The Thompson Hose Co. will be holding a Father's Day Breakfast Buffet on Sunday, June 18th from 8AM-11AM. The breakfast will include pancakes, sausage, sausage gravy and biscuits, scrambled eggs, home fries, french toast, coffee, tea, juice and milk.

JUNE 22

WIMPIE SUPPER: A wimpie supper will be held at the Starrucca Baptist Church social room on Thursday, June 22nd. Serving starts at 5PM. All are welcome.

JULY 1

SHEHAWKEN FESTIVAL: The Shehawken United Methodist Women will be holding their annual Shehawken Festival, rain or shine. Located at the Shehawken United Methodist Church, Dixie Hwy and Scott Center Road, Starrucca, PA. From 11Am to 1PM, come enjoy the delicious homemade deli and bake goods, craft items, vintage Shehawken yard sale items, walk-away tacos, hot dogs and more. Proceeds to benefit the Women's Mission Projects.

MONDAY: Meatloaf, green beans, mashed potatoes, whole wheat dinner roll, baked cinnamon apples.

TUESDAY: Chef salad with chicken, fresh vegetables, potato salad, whole wheat dinner roll, mandarin orange delight gelatin.

WEDNESDAY: Yankee pot roast, vegetables, mashed potatoes, whole wheat dinner roll, oatmeal raisin cookie.

THURSDAY: SENIOR PICNIC APLARON PARK, TROY. CENTERS CLOSED.

FRIDAY: Salisbury steak, peas and carrots, mashed potatoes, whole wheat dinner roll, fruit cocktail.

Does your organization have trouble finding or retaining your volunteers? Does your organization recognize your volunteers? Does your organization have policies for volunteers that protect your organization from risk of using volunteers?

Volunteers provide critical services, for non-profit and faith-based organizations, as well as municipalities. Many organizations couldn’t function without volunteers.

Volunteer 4-H Leader Robert Supancik at a 4-H Livestock Clinic

Penn State Extension is offering a class for organizations that rely on volunteers to help carry out their mission.  The class, ‘Tools for an Effective Volunteer Program’, will be conducted on July 12, 2017 from 1-4 pm at the Penn State Extension office in Towanda.

Fire companies, faith-based groups, neighborhood civic organizations, youth athletic associations, environmental advisory committees, and many human service organizations are challenged to find volunteers to help carry out their programs. 

Tools for an Effective Volunteer Program helps managers of volunteer programs improve volunteer recruitment and orientation, identify and manage risks, and plan recognition of volunteer efforts appropriate to the organization and the volunteers themselves.

Register for the workshop online at http://extension.psu.edu/managing-volunteers

For more information, contact Peter Wulfhorst at 570-296-3400 or by email at ptw3@psu.edu

The Kiwanis-Lions-Rotary (KLR) service clubs of Montrose are please to announce that they have chosen the theme "Celebrating Rural America 4th" for this year's Independence Day Festivities to be held in Montrose on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.

The KLR chose this theme as a way to protect and preserve the image of Rural America as the birthplace of solid character and sound values. Rural America is a place where people go to church, work hard, and help one another in ways unknown in the cities and suburbs of America. Every one of us depends on Rural America everyday of our lives. The people of Rural America exemplify the values of faith and family, honesty and responsibility, hard work and toughness against adversity, keeping your word, giving back to your community, and treating folks with respect, even if you disagree with them. For Rural Americans, there is a sense of pride in where they live.

The KLR is honored to announce that this year's Grand Marshall will be the 4-H Clubs of Susquehanna County. The 4-H emblem is a 4-leaf clover with a white "H" in each leaf standing for Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. 4-H clubs provide experiences where young people learn by doing. Kids complete hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and citizenship, in a positive environment where they receive guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to take on positive leadership roles.

The July 4th festivities in Montrose provide a number of daylong activities to celebrate our Nation's freedom and independence. The Endless Mountains Independence Day Races will begin a one-mile Fun Run (no registration required), will start at 7:45a.m., followed by the 5K, starting at 8:10a.m. and the 10K race starting at 8:20a.m.

The first 400 5K and 10K registrants will get a commemorative gift. In addition, awards will be presented to many age groups for both men and women. Timing and results will be handled by Fast Track Timing of South Kent, CT. Racers may pre-register on-line and check race results by going to our website, www.montroseklr.com.

Over 120 top quality arts and craft exhibitors will be set up on the Village Green starting at 8:00a.m. Vendor spaces are still available, contact Dan Regan at 570-278-4427 if you are interested in renting a spot "On The Green". In addition, many food and soda booths will provide a vast variety of "goodies" to satisfy any palate. A chicken bar-b-que dinner will also be available starting at 10:00a.m.

The highlight of the day will be the Patriotic Parade, which steps off at 11:00a.m. As in years past, the theme will be used as a guide to decorate the floats that will participate in the Parade. The floats that best depict this year's theme, "Celebrating Rural America", will be awarded cash prizes as follows: 1st-$200, 2nd-$150, 3rd-$100, 4th thru 6th-$50 each. In addition, the Kiwanis Club of Montrose will present the Ted Brzuska Memorial Award for the float that best depicts "Service to Children". The prize is $100. Floats will be judged during the parade for how they best present the them for this year. All floats that wish to enter the contest must be pre-registered. To register, contact Dave Spence, at 607-725-1285.

The parade will follow its customary route of travel from the east end of Grow Avenue near Lake Montrose to Church Street and up Public Avenue to the village green. Public safety officials said temporary "No Parking" signs will be posted on streets designated for emergency vehicle acccess. Violators risk fines and towing costs. There are many off-street parking lots identified for guest parking, as well as lawn and driveway spaces provided by Montrose Residents.

The day will conclude with a gigantic display of fireworks. The Montrose Area Chamber of Commerce will present this annual July 4th tradition on the ground of the Montrose Area High School beginning at dusk.

Additional information can be obtained by contacting the following telephone numbers: General Info 570-278-3537; Arts and Crafts 570-278-4427; Parade 607-725-1285; Races 607-727-7167 or www.montroseklr.com.

Art in Bloom is fast approaching.  The Mountain View Garden Club and Rail Trail Council are joining forces in presenting a festival featuring perennials, art and so much more.

The event will take place at the Rail Trail and Susquehanna Studio in Union Dale on Saturday, June 24 from 11am til 6pm.  At 2:30 the garden club will be selling perennials grown in local gardens as well as offering the public the opportunity to exchange two perennials from their own garden for two plants of like size or value.  This is the 13th year for the garden club’s Plant Exchange & Sale which has provided reasonably priced perennials to area gardeners and has been so well received by our community.   Please pot and label your perennials.  If you are thinning out your perennial beds and have additional plants you would like to share, they can be brought to the Rail Trail office on Friday, June 23 between  9am and 2pm.

2nd Hand Rose is a mini flea market area that has been a feature at our Plant Exchange & Marketplace in past years.  The ladies will have lots of goodies and gadgets again this year and will be housed in the Masonic Building.

Over thirty vendors and artisans will be selling their wares including paintings, photography, jewelry, pottery, clothing, garden gadgets and supplies and different food items.

Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your gardening questions and Raves Garden Center will be distributing milkweed seed packets and sharing information about Monarch butterflies.

Art students from both Forest City and Mountain View Schools will be displaying art work which you, the public, will judge.  Cable’s Deli will be selling food and the ladies from the Phoenix Club will be having a bake sale.  Lucchi Family Wine Cellar will have wines for tasting and there will be a beer tasting by Iron Hart in Carbondale.  Live music by Jim Carro & Friends will add to the festivities, starting at 3pm.

You will also have the opportunity to learn more about the historic town of Union Dale with a guided walk back in time with Pat Peltz and Lynn Conrad at 11am, or enjoy a class on nature photography by Sherry Sparks at 1pm.  And the kids can explore what lives in the water near the trail with watershed specialist Cheryl Nolan at 2:30.  That will give the kids something to keep them entertained while you check out the perennials.

There will be parking on the trail with overflow parking at the Union Dale Firemen’s Picnic Grounds.  A shuttle service will be provided.

For more information, contact the NEPA Rail Trail at 570-679-9300.

Back by popular demand "The Old Time Fiddlers" bluegrass group will perform at the Forest City Area Historical Society, corner of Dundaff & Main Streets, Friday, June 23rd at 8:00 P.M. The group consists of nearly twenty musicians and singers from Northeastern Pennsylvania. The group has performed at the Historical Society Concert Hall over the last several years to large enthusiastic crowds. The group performs a wide range of folk and bluegrass music that you just don't want to miss. Admission to this fund raising event for the Forest City Area Historical Society concert is $5.00 for adults, Children under 12 Free.

Old Time Fiddlers

While at the Historical Society, view the many historical displays of the communities of Forest City, Vandling, Browndale and Richmondale. Doors open one hour before the concert.