The Susquehanna County Farm Bureau awarded a $1,000 grant to Dr. Elaine M. Chichura, Mountain View School District, Family and Consumer Sciences teacher. The grant was payment for her attendance at the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization’s (NAITCO) National Conference called ‘Show Me Agriculture!’ The conference was held June 20-23, 2017 at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center in Kansas City, MO.

Along with Dr. Chichura, more than 450 kindergarten through 12th grade educators from around the country participated in traveling workshops of nearby agribusinesses and research facilities, attended workshops and heard from keynote speakers such as agriculture broadcaster Tyne Morgan, United States Department of Agriculture/The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA/NIFA) Director Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy and Greg Peterson of the Peterson Farm Brothers who rose to fame by posting music videos about farming using social media.

Pictured (L-R) are: Jim Barbour, 1st Vice President; Donna Williams, President; Dr. Elaine Chichura; Dave DeLeon, 2nd Vice President.

On Wednesday, October 4, Dr. Chichura made a presentation to the Susquehanna County Farm Bureau at their Annual Fall Dinner Meeting, which was held at Dreyer Hall in Montrose, PA.  There were approximately seventy-five people in attendance.

Pictured (L-R) are Queen Eliza Bosscher and King Cody Oswald

Pictured (L-R) is the Elk Lake High School Senior Homecoming Court: front row- Grasyn Bushnell, Faythe Caines, Rose Warner, Cassey Dudock, Eliza Bosscher, Taylor Howey, Mallorie Brown; back row- Kenny Filer, Cam Welsh, Caleb Ely, Cody Oswald, Brett Carney, Kyle Hitchcock, Brandon Gibbons.

Pictured (L-R) are Princess Maddie Gustin and Prince Jake Kelley.

Pictured (L-R) is the Elk Lake High School Junior Homecoming Court: front row- Maddie Gustin, Brooke Deacon, Dana Nunemacher, Reilly Shingler, Tiffany Toth, Kelsey Day, Shyanne Bennett; back row- Jake Kelley, Nate Preston, Joe McAleer, Ben Hoal, Adam Anderson, Kevin Valvano, Peyton Jones.

Dave Palmer and Kate Kurosky of the New Milford Area Rotary Club of New Milford recently presented a $500 check to Charles Cesaretti, of the Tri-Cities Opera of Binghamton. The donation will help cover the cost of a special performance for students from the six High Schools in Susquehanna County of Glory Denied, an opera about the longest held American prisoner of the Vietnam War.

Pictured (l-r) are: Kate Kurosky and David Palmer, President of the New Milford Area Rotary, presenting Charles Cesaretti, Vice Board Chair of the Tri-Cities Opera, with a $500 check to support county high school students to attend opera.

Glory Denied is based on the true personal story of Vietnam Veteran, Jim Thompson, who was an American Prisoner of War (POW) for nine years, from 1964-1973.  It recounts his time as a POW and the issues he faced when he was released in 1973.

A generous gift of LTC Robert Wert (RET) will cover the costs of bussing the students to the Tri-Cities Opera Center.  Thanks to Madonna A. Munley and Kate Farrell Kurosky, retired staff of Mountain View High School, the students will be prepared with a multi-disciplinary curriculum that address the historical and cultural context of Glory Denied.

Tri-Cities Opera (TCO) was founded in 1949 as a singer’s workshop. By 1952, it had grown from presenting opera excerpts to producing fully staged,complete operas. In 1979, TCO partnered with SUNY-Binghamton to offer an Opera Emphasis Master’s Degree. Winner of the Governor’s Award, NY State Council on the Arts, TCO has produced four world premieres. TCO Alumni teach, perform and direct opera. Scenery and costumes produced by TCO rent throughout the USA and Canada.  TCO is a non-profit, 501 (c) 3 corporation.

There will also be a free performance for veterans on Veterans Day, November 11. Organizations or individuals wishing to help support these performances are invited to contact Charles Cesaretti at 973-699-7347.

Dreyer Hall in Montrose was the setting for the annual Harford Agricultural Society’s banquet.  Over 100 members from the association and guests enjoyed the evening with a fall theme and greeted by Alivia Hughes, Susquehanna County Dairy Ambassador who served cheese and crackers and punch as they gathered in the lobby.  Alivia is part of the County Dairy Princess and Promotion program.  A moment of silence to remember those killed and injured in Las Vegas at the mass shooting that day was offered followed by Bill Tyler saying grace.  The group then enjoyed a delicious buffet dinner. 

Following dinner, the group assembled in the Chapel Room where Dr. Michael Kowalewski, president of the Board of Directors, welcomed everyone and reported that it was a good year for the fair with a total attendance of over 60,000.   He then introduced each of the fair directors who were in attendance which included Jason Miller, first vice-president, Cindy G. Reynolds, second vice president, and Mark Pease, treasurer, directors Brandon Bennett, Matt Holbrook, Ron Stiles, Heidi Stephens Pavelski, David Tyler, and Brian Tyler.  Directors Adam Diaz and Kurt Kulick were unable to attend but were recognized. 

He then reflected on the 2017 fair and talked about the many improvements made this year on the fairgrounds.  He then recognized the office staff which works so hard behind the scenes and includes LouAnn Kiefer, office secretary; Christine Jones Martech secretary; and Toni Graytock, commercial space secretary.  He introduced Abby Onyon Cook who will take LouAnn’s place when she leaves in November.  She has been the 4-H coordinator for the county for nearly ten years and has a background in agriculture and works well with the youth.  He thanked all of the superintendents in attendance as well as acknowledging the volunteers and paid employees who help to make the Harford Fair the success that it has been for 160 years.  He said that planning for the 2018 Harford Fair began during the week of this year’s fair and will continue throughout the year.

The Harford Agricultural Society recently presented ten $1,000 scholarships at its annual fair banquet held at Dreyer Hall in Montrose.  Because several of the recipients were away at college, parents or siblings accepted the scholarship awards on their behalf.  Pictured (l-r) are: front row- Chad and Chrissie Haley for their son, Evan; Robert and Diane Supancik for their daughter, Jamie; Amanda Gawel 2017 Harford Fair Queen; Debora and Robert Noldy for their daughter, Leah; Rebecca Longacre for her brother, Ryan; and Sandy and Earl Marvin for their daughter, Brooke Marvin; back row- Mark and Kristine Cross for their daughter, Heidi; and Michael and Jim Swartley for their son, Zebulun. Absent from the photo and scholarship recipients were Samantha and Taylor Sebring.

Dr. Mike then introduced Amanda Gawel, the 2017 Harford Fair Queen, who spoke briefly and thanked everyone who helped her the week of the fair.  She is looking forward to representing Harford Fair at the Pennsylvania Association of County Fairs (PACF) Convention in Hershey in January. 

This is the eighth year that the scholarships will have awarded a total of $54,000.00 to fifty-nine students.  The money for the scholarships is raised through the auction of the first and second place winners in each of the baked goods pies, cakes, and breads categories held each year at the fair on Monday afternoon.  The auction on Saturday of the wood carvings crafted throughout the week by the chainsaw carver adds to the fund.  Individual donations also contribute to the fund.  Dr. Mike expressed appreciation to all who contributed to make the scholarships possible.  The applications were due August 31, 2017, and the twenty that were received were reviewed by the scholarship committee chaired by board president Dr. Michael Kowalewski and comprised of directors, Cindy Reynolds and Ron Stiles, along with association members Ginny Beeman. Stanley Kalafut and Owen Bewley are on the scholarship committee but were unable to attend the selection meeting.  The committee members agreed that all applicants were strong and worthy of receiving a scholarship.  However, the twenty applications (sixteen new ones and four who already had received scholarships in the past) had to be narrowed to ten.  New applicants were given priority as is noted in the scholarship guidelines. 

Dr. Mike then presented each of the ten $1,000 scholarships to college students who have been involved with the fair for many years.  Winners included Amanda Gawel (2017 Harford Fair Queen) who is a freshman at Marywood University and studying pre-physician assistant.  Accepting for the other recipients were Kristine and Mark Cross, the parents of Heidi Cross who is a freshman studying Bible Ministry at the Word of Life Bible Institute.   Chrissie and Chad Hoadley accepted for their son Evan Hoadley, who is a freshman at Temple studying neuroscience.  Accepting for Ryan Longacre who is a sophomore at Bob Jones University studying computer science was his sister Rebecca.  Sandy and Earl Marvin accepted for their daughter Brooke Marvin, a freshman studying nursing at Le Moyne College.  Deborah and Robert Noldy accepted for their daughter Leah, a freshman at Lehigh University majoring in bioengineering. Accepting for Jamie Supancik, Youth Board President and freshman at Pen State Berks studying ag and extension education, were her parents Diane and Robert Supancik.  Michael and Jim Swartley accepted for their son Zebulun Swartley, a freshman at Pennsylvania State University majoring in chemical engineering.  The Sebring twins were awarded scholarships but because of a death in their family were unable to attend and accept their scholarships.  Samantha is a freshman at Mansfield University studying business administration and Taylor is a freshman at Penn State Berks studying animal science.  Recipients represented six area school districts and home schooling.  Dr. Mike noted again the quality of the applications and the variety of the fields of study of the applicants and their involvement at the Harford Fair.

Laura Graytock, news reporter and Youth Board member, was then introduced.  She thanked their advisors Toni Graytock, Lynn Stiles, Brain Tyler, and Nancy Tyler for all of their guidance and help with the projects that the Youth Board has been involved in which include Farmer for a Day; transporting the trophies to the arena stage from the Information Center as needed; landscaping and planting flowers before the fair; various painting projects on the fairgrounds; distribution of brochures at the July 4th parade in Montrose; preparing and submitting the scrapbook for the 2016 Harford Fair to the state communications competition; and designing and making the signs for the parking lot.  She then introduced the power point prepared by Nancy Tyler assisted by Youth Board members Laura Graytock, Josiah Hricko and Maggie Kowalewski.

The audience especially enjoyed the entertainment because most of those in attendance don’t get to see many of the events during the fair because they are working within their own areas.  It was a great overview of the 2017 Harford Fair with photos taken by Austin Graham, Maggie Kowalewski, John Mitcell, Lynn Stiles, Mark Terry, and Nancy Tyler.  A good time was had by all.

Pictured (L-R) are Blue Ridge Middle School student's of the month for September, 2017: Principal Supko, Jada Palmer, Connor Cranage, Lilly Bleck, Dalton Rutter, Alexis Parks, Hunter Thomas.

Pictured (L-R) are Blue Ridge High School student's of month for September, 2017: Principal Supko, Garrett Mansfield, Katelyn Bower, Luis Tobon, Lydia Andusko, Ben Bleck, Elizabeth Smith, Mason Conklin.

Mr. Bronson Stone, Superintendent of the Susquehanna Community School District, announces the "Student of the Month" for September, 2017 for Grades 5 and 6.

Pictured (l-r) are: row 1- Ashlee Sanchez Salinas, Olivia Steffens, Rilynn Groover, Sydney Donahue; Row 2- Nicholas Fox, Joseph Burke, Kalynn Steinel, Paytyn Sellitto, Mr. Stone.

Austin French, of Susquehanna, Pa., has been elected to the Student Government Association (SGA) by the Susquehanna University Student body. French will hold the position of treasurer for the 2017-18 academic year.

The SGA is a representative student organization that ensures an active student voice and role in governing the university. The Student Senate, the legislative branch of the association, provides a forum for student opinions. It deals with matters of concern to the entire student body and seeks solutions to campus issues. SGA representatives serve on university committees and on the Board of Trustees to promote communication and cooperation among students, faculty and the administration.

French is a business administration major in the Class of 2018. A 2014 graduate of Blue Ridge High School, he is the son of Larry and Margie French.

Students in Philadelphia College of Pharmacy at University of the Sciences received their white coats at a ceremony on Saturday, September 23, 2017. The white coat ceremony is an annual rite of passage for students in their first professional year (third year) of Usciences' six-year pharmacy program, and symbolizes their dedication to the profession of pharmacy and to care of other.

Ryan Lavin, of Clifford Township and Robert Perry, of Uniondale were both receipents of the honor.