The Susquehanna County Career & Technology Center has once again collected gifts for local families in need. Last year, fifteen area families were sponsored by the students and staff. This year, several families will receive wrapped gifts from their wish list and, with the help of private donations, all families will receive a $100 Walmart gift card.

SCCTC Cosmetology program students who helped sponsor local families (L-R) are: front - Makenzie McDonald, Instructor Amy Bush, Jillian Gieski, Arianna DeGrote; middle - Sarah Gover, Jenna Vaow, Breanna Astacio; back - Samantha Stone, Brianna Young, Rose Walter, Alana Boom, Alayna Robinson, Adrianna Jerauld, Sierra Barnes, Erin Sherman, Paraeducator Tasha Davis.

Executive Director Dr. Alice M. Davis said, “Every year I am astonished at the generosity of our SCCTC family. This year we are able to help twenty-three families in making their Christmas a little merrier. Giving back to our community is one of the important lessons we are able teach our students. This outpouring of giving is a wonderful reflection of the caring spirit of our students and staff”.

The Penn State Master Gardeners in Susquehanna County are pleased to announce a newly-established Junior Master Gardener program and are seeking your donations to help enhance the learning experience.

A local youth, Logan Sullivan, who helped Master Gardeners build the herb spiral garden at the Harford Fair grounds

This new youth program is set to begin in the spring of 2018. The participants will increase their knowledge in environmental science and horticulture. They will develop leadership and life skills through novel, hands-on, fun and creative activities, as well as identifying community needs and volunteer opportunities.  This program will provide peer and cross generational mentoring as well as fostering personal pride and responsibility. The Junior Master Gardener program includes a study of life-skills and career exploration. Studies have shown that students develop better interpersonal relationships after participating in community based programs.  In addition, projects of this type have shown to have a positive impact on self-esteem and a stronger sense of ownership and responsibility. Learning about growing fruits and vegetables helps create a more positive attitude toward healthy eating.

Master Gardeners are seeking help from individuals or local businesses. With your help, a low cost Jr. Master Gardener program for children in Susquehanna County will be possible.  Donations of tools, books, seeds, plants, pots, potting mixes and other gardening items are most welcomed. These donations will be an integral part of the curriculum and sponsors who donate will be recognized.  Donations should be coordinated through the Master Gardener Coordinator; Lori Wallace.

The Master Gardener Program is a non-profit volunteer organization which functions on the generosity of the community as well as the dedicated, hardworking volunteers.  The mission of the Penn State Extension Master Gardener volunteer program is to utilize research-based information to educate the public on best practices in consumer horticulture and environmental stewardship.  This work is done in partnership with the Montrose Area Adult School and Salt Springs State Park by providing many low cost hands-on classes and demonstration gardens at various locations throughout the county. Free services are offered to the community such as the Gardening Hotline to help answer your gardening questions, free lab services to help confirm and identify diseases that maybe present in clients plants, or to identify insects that may be damaging their vegetables or flowers. The Master Gardeners also provide speaker services, poison prevention lessons for first graders, a free electronic newsletter, and horticultural programs at senior centers.

More details and registration announcements regarding the Junior Master Gardener Program will be available in late February. If you are interested in donating, please contact Lori Wallace, Master Gardener Coordinator at lkw17@psu.edu or susquehannamg@psu.edu or call 570.278.1158. Also, if you are interested in receiving the monthly Master Gardener Newsletter, let us know.

On December 8, 2017, Blue Ridge School Board President, Christopher Lewis (left), presented the new school district dump truck to Brian Dolan, BRSD Business Manager (right).

The New Milford Area Rotary Club hosted Ben Galvin, a student from Mountain View High School, and his family. Ben spent the past year as a Rotary exchange student in Thailand. He presented a slide show about his time there, where he lived with three Thai families, attended a Thai school, learned to speak Thai and cook Thai food, became an accomplished badminton player, and traveled extensively in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.

Pictured (L-R) are: front row: Karen Galvin, Ben Galvin, Holly Galvin; back row - Dave Palmer, Norm Kelly, and Jamie Galvin.

Also on the agenda was a presentation of a Paul Harris Fellow certificate and pin to Club President Dave Palmer by Rotary Assistant District Governor Norm Kelly.

Two boxes swathed in colorful Christmas wrapping paper and filled with more than 130 non-perishable food and household items were delivered to the Wayne County Food Pantry on December 18, along with a matching amount of funds, as promised. The Wayne Memorial Rehabilitation staff at 190 Delaware Street, Honesdale, collected donations at its Grand Reopening on December 7th and promised to match them as a holiday gift to the Food Pantry.  The Rehab staff of physical, occupational and speech therapists and aides was delighted to incorporate the Food Pantry into their celebration. “Tis the season for giving,” smiled Terri Henderson, occupational therapist and manager of Wayne Memorial Rehabilitation Services. Kathleen Chicoski, who heads up the Food Pantry, noted the need for donations is year-long but especially high when the colder months arrive. “We have a very sharing community,” said Chicoski, “and we are grateful to all those such as the Wayne Memorial staff who choose to give.”

Pictured (L-R) are: front row - Julia Blaskiewicz, physical therapist; Kathleen Chicoski, Wayne County Food Pantry; Terri Henderson, occupational therapist/manager Wayne Memorial Rehabilitation Services; Heather Ceccarelli, speech therapist; back row - Brandon Stone, physical therapist; Alyssa Young, Rehabilitation aide; Linda Moore, occupational therapist; Nancy Johannes, secretary; Karen Stump, occupational therapist.

The Food Pantry operates five pantries under the leadership of the Wayne County government. They are in Honesdale, Lakeville, Newfoundland, Lakewood, and Damascus. For more information visit waynecountypa.gov/pantry/.

December 13, 2017:  Montrose, PA – The Montrose Lions Club recently provided five grants for local community and educational support from two of the club’s charitable endowments managed by The Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains.  The Montrose Lions Community Fund has provided the following three grants: $750 to the Montrose Mobile Pantry to purchase nutritious food for its mission to battle hunger in Susquehanna County; $500 to the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center for its Photo Identification Badge Project to help ensure safety for teachers and students; $500 for the United Way of Susquehanna County for the Real Men Read MENtor program to promote childhood literacy.

The Montrose Lions Club Montrose Area School District Fund has provided the following two grants: $400 for the Lathrop Street School’s 3rd Grade Craft Days; $350 for the High School’s College and Career Fairs for 6th through 12th Grade students.  In addition to these two endowments the Montrose Lions Club also has the Martin Dillon Memorial Scholarship Fund at The Community Foundation which provides college tuition assistance to graduates of the Montrose Area High School.  Additional tax-deductible donations to the three Lions Club endowments are always appreciated to help enhance their support of local civic activities and education.  Donations may be sent to: The Community Foundation, 270 Lake Avenue, Montrose, PA 18801; or made online at www.community-foundation.org.

Mistletoe

What could bring more joy and love into your life at this time of year than some Mistletoe? This huggable boy is a Lab/Boxer mix who is waiting for someone to look his way and take him home for the holidays. We don’t know what this sweet boy has been through, but he was found wandering outside in the cold, alone, and very scared. We named him Mistletoe because we figured he could use a little holiday spirit. At around 4 years old, neutered, and extremely handsome as well as lovable, Mistletoe will bring you happiness and lots of smiles not only at this special time of the year, but every season. Won't you come in and meet this remarkable pup and stuff his stocking with the most wonderful gift of adopting him?

True Friends is presently overflowing with so many dogs and cats that would love to spend the holidays in a warm home with someone to love. Whether you can adopt or foster, please consider opening your hearts to an animal in need of some extra love.

All of us at True Friends are overwhelmingly grateful to all the wonderful people in our community who support, adopt, and advocate our animals at our local shelter. It’s because of you that we are able to save and enrich so many lives. We wish you all a very blessed holiday season.

Due to the New Year’s holiday, the deadline for all submissions will be as follows:

January 3rd issue deadline is December 27th.

The County Transcript will be closed Monday and Tuesday, January 1st and 2nd in observance of the New Year Holiday.

State Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23) recently announced several state investments for local watersheds, as well as park and trail projects throughout the 23rd Senatorial District.

The projects are part of $44 million, distributed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2), for 266 projects across Pennsylvania that will create new recreational opportunities, conserve natural resources and help revitalize local communities.

Yaw noted that local projects include the renovation of the Nippenose Valley Park in Limestone Township, Lycoming County, funding local heritage area initiatives and projects planting riparian buffers along the Susquehanna River.

“I’m happy the investments approved this week will aid to protect natural amenities and improve recreational activities for our citizens,” Sen. Yaw said. “It’s important that we continue to improve our land and water conservation practices, so that we can enjoy them for years to come.”

Local and regional grants announced across Sen. Yaw’s District include:

Endless Mountains Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc., $50,000, Construction of approximately 11 acres of riparian forest buffers along waterways in the Upper Susquehanna and West Branch Susquehanna watersheds in Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming counties. Work to include landowner outreach and engagement; buffer plantings and post-planting establishment and other related site improvements.

Endless Mountains Heritage Region, Inc., $225,000, Coordinate and fund heritage area initiatives including management of the North Branch Susquehanna River Water Trail and 2018 youth river sojourn and completing a region-wide census of cultural assets and tourism infrastructure. Work to include a written summary report.

The C2P2 Program includes the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund (Key 93), the Environmental Stewardship Fund (Growing Greener 1) and several federal funding sources. The Program provides financial and technical assistance to local governments, river and trail organizations, land trusts, and other nonprofits for planning, acquisition and development of park, recreation, conservation and greenway projects.

Following is the list of names drawn to serve as Petit and Traverse jurors for January, 2018 to appear in the Court of Common Pleas, Susquehanna County Courthouse (large Courtroom), Montrose, PA, on the 8th day of January 2018 at nine o'clock a.m. (9:00 a.m.).

Althouse, Anika Anne, Brooklyn Twp; Bennett, Brooke Ann, Jessep Twp; Bennett, Richard W, Little Meadows Boro; Benscoter, Christopher, Bridgewater Twp; Birtch, Patricia A., New Milford Twp; Bloxham, Richard R, Clifford Twp; Cain, Jessie E, Montrose Boro; Chaffee, Ruth K, Herrick Twp; Chamberlain, Matthew J., Jackson Twp; Clayton, Christine M, Franklin Twp; Cliff, Joshua M., Oakland Boro; Conklin, Ryan J., Clifford Twp; Corlew, Jj Heather, Ararat Twp; Coy, Richard E., Bridgewater Twp; Craige, Joshua E., Susquehanna Boro; Donald, Anna E., Bridgewater Twp; Fortuner Iv, Michael, Union Dale Boro; French, Joan E , Oakland Boro; Gagnon, Victor Luc, Jackson Twp; Gingerella, Mark, Susquehanna Boro; Graziano, William J, Harford Twp; Jenkins, Tammy Sue, Bridgewater Twp; Johnson, Jacob L, Lenox Twp; Jones, James David, Rush Twp; Kelly, Brian James, Rush Twp; Kelly, Mary J, Bridgewater Twp; Klach, Robert, Springville Twp; Kotowski, Carol J, Clifford Twp; Lathrop, David Alan, Dimock Twp; Leamon, Todd M., Liberty Twp; Lepro, Alan S., Tompson Twp; Lipko, Arlene M, Forest City Boro; Marshall, Sandra K, Montrose Boro; Mikloiche, Joseph, Forest City Boro; Millard, Jason S., Oakland Boro; Miller, David F, Harford Twp; Mulligan, Charles , Bridgewater Twp; Oleniacz, Cynthia Irene, Liberty Twp; Olson, Leonard K, Great Bend Boro; Palmer, David J., Lathrop Twp; Peake, Ashley L, Jackson Twp; Perico, Gary R, Susquehanna Boro; Rosenthal, Margaret E, Susquehanna Boro; Russell, Jennifer, Forest City Boro; Seamans, Daniel H , Jackson Twp; Shaulis Jr., Albert C, Middletown Twp; Sheridan, Carl J, Bridgewater Twp; Sherman, Deborah A, Herrick Twp; Sherman, Gregory J, Montrose Boro; Smith, Weldon A, New Milford Twp; Spolar, James Elvan, Bridgewater Twp; Statkun, Susan, Clifford Twp; Sussman, Melody Lee, Springville Twp; Taylor, Robert, Union Dale Boro; Teeter, Anna M., Rusth Twp; Weida, Judson W, Lenox Twp; Weida, Kymberly, Gibson Twp; Wiseman, Charles E., Great Bend Boro.