"It's kind of complicated," and full of acronyms, but it means that lunch prices at Blue Ridge may have to rise next year for the first time in 2 years. In short, the federal "Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 requires School Food Authorities (SFAs) participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to provide the same level of financial support for lunches served to students who are not eligible for free or reduced price lunches (i.e., paid lunches) as for lunches served to students eligible for free lunches." (A reasonably clear description of the issue from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.) This is known as "price equity."

Food Service Manager Linda Cole-Koloski briefed the Blue Ridge School Board at its workshop on June 4th on her recommendations for boosting lunch prices next year. Ironically, Blue Ridge is the only district in the area that is not actually required to comply this year, because it's the only one with money in the bank, and still with some of the lowest prices, too. Most districts in Pennsylvania operate food service at a loss.

One of the objectives of the program is to ensure that federal lunch price support money for low-income students is not used to subsidize prices for others. Since Ms. Cole-Koloski has consistently been able to balance her books without support from the District's general fund, she is not required to increase prices next year. However, she's not sure what will happen after that. "I'm afraid," said she, that if she doesn't do it this time, the increase required in following years may be higher.

According to Ms. Cole-Koloski, nearly half of Blue Ridge students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. And Blue Ridge has provided free breakfasts for all elementary school students for many years, which will continue. But she is recommending an increase of 10 cents for paid lunches for elementary pupils, and 20 cents for middle and high-school paid lunches. She says she doesn't need the money – it would represent a nearly negligible rise in her total revenue – but the idea is to forestall greater increases the following year.

While Ms. Cole-Koloski doesn't expect to need subsidy from the District's general fund next year, she did say that access to surplus foods that supplement her purchases is getting tighter. And District Business Manager Brian Dolan allowed that, "at some point we may have to subsidize" food service from the general fund.

The Board also heard from Megan Sommer and Madison Welsted, accompanied by faculty Adviser Michelle Allen on a constitution they have drafted for the Student Council, which apparently hasn't had one up to now. Ms. Sommer is the newly elected President of the Council for next year; Ms. Welstead is the Chair of the Council's committee that drafted the new constitution.

Blue Ridge High School, 2018 Student Council: Megan Sommer, Student Council President (left), Madison Welsted, Chair of the Council's Constitution Committee (center), and faculty adviser Michelle Allen addressing the School Board

School Board President Chris Lewis asked the students why the Student Council seems to be led only by juniors and seniors. Under the constitution, only upperclassmen are eligible to sit on the Council, and officers are elected only from among council members. If the Student Council represents all students, why not allow all students to vote for their representatives? Experience and awareness seem to be the criteria, according to Mss. Sommer and Welsted, and officers are generally elected from an organization's membership.

Mr. Lewis also announced that the Board had held an executive session to consider replacing Middle/High School Principal Peter Supko, who has resigned.

And School Police Officer Greg Deck attended the workshop to review his first year on the job in the county District Attorney's program to place armed security officers in the schools.  Mr. Deck described it as a good year overall, and, since he's at the schools every day, is always available to discuss and answer questions.  He may appear regularly at Board meetings next year.

Three young gentlemen from Boy Scout Troop 89 out of Great Bend approached Council and the Mayor offering their services that would go towards earning their Eagle Badges during the New Milford Borough Council's meeting held on June 7th.

Pictured (l-r) are: Scout Master Jim Glatzel, Thomas Gudykunst, Mayor Scott Smith, Benjamin Gudykunst, Matt Glatzel

The first young man, Thomas Gudykunst asked for five hundred dollars to pay for materials to paint the pavilion, paint or treat existing picnic tables, fix the window in the pool shed, and clean and do maintenance on the grills. Matt Glatzel asked for a thousand dollars to build three new six-foot picnic tables, and purchase umbrellas for the tables. Benjamin Gudykunst requested five hundred dollars to repair the scoreboard, and build a planter box underneath. Council President Rick Ainey said he was very proud of the young men to pick New Milford for their Eagle Scout Project. Mayor Scott Smith and the remaining Council members thanked the Scouts and unanimously approved the requests.

Council received a letter from the Blue Ridge Triplets, they are not dissolving their association since they still have a cheer section, but they no longer need the field for football. Blue Ridge Youth Soccer will be using the field, from August 1st until October 1st every Saturday, from 7am until 4pm and Wednesdays, from 5:30pm until 7:30pm.

Van Cott's Nursery & Landscaping provided a quote to maintain the bank at the park which was unanimously approved. Council commented the work they have done so far looks great.

Eleanor Lempke passed along information from her husband, Chuck stating the lifeguard stands are all completed and ready for the summer season. Council and the Mayor thanked Mr. Lempke for the work he did on the stands.

Susquehanna County Planning Commission sent a letter to notify Council they had approved a ten thousand square foot building for the New Milford Hardware store to build. The site where the building will be erected is not in the flood plane, and they will send the final approval once New Milford Council signs the approval letter. Council unanimously approved the plans.

Mayor Smith thanked Council for a wonderful job on the Midtown Festival held on June 2nd. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate but the Festival was a success none the less.

The article we published on the Mt. View String program in The County Transcript on Wednesday May 30 stated that the elemaIt was a typical debate at a Great Bend Borough Council meeting on June 6th: 5 conversations going on all at once, most of them concerned with some aspect of the topic at issue, in this case, the condition of VFW (aka Recreation) Park.  It was brought to Council's attention by a local resident involved with the Little League association that uses the park heavily in the summer months.

Council has been dickering with the Little League for some time to determine who is responsible for what when it comes to maintenance of the park and its ballfield.  Representatives of the ball players have agreed to maintain the field inside the outfield fence, while the Borough agreed to take care of the rest of it.  Apparently the problem, as it often does, arises on the borders – in this case, who takes care of trimming along the fence line?  It was asserted that ticks, and possibly snakes, could lurk in the uncut weeds, and "something should be done about it."

The ensuing discussion revolved around the performance of the Borough's maintenance employee, what he is supposed to do, how he is supposed to do it, and how his work is supervised and accounted for.  Council member Mike VanGorden is his nominal overseer, but he seems to recognize his colleagues' ambivalence when it comes to decision-making.  No obvious, clear decision was taken at the meeting, but the concerned resident was assured that something would be done.

Council and the Little League association were to have exchanged signed "contracts" settling some of the issues, but Borough Secretary Sheila Guinan said that she hadn't yet received a signed copy from the league.  She is also expecting a schedule of games and practices from the association so that she doesn't rent the park to anyone else when the players need the field.

Council is also trying to get some electrical work done at Greenwood Park, and the Borough building.  And they want to install a concrete floor in the extra, smaller garage.  Council member Jerry MacConnell said that the same contractor will probably handle both jobs in one way or another.  And Council voted to spend no more than $2,000 for the concrete floor.  The question to be decided before next winter: what to put in the garage versus what will fit.

Police supervisor Jon Record asked Council to place a more visible one-way sign on Williams Street.  Borough solicitor Frank O'Connor has a building on that street and seconded the request.

Mr. Record also reported that the higher cost of new tires for the Crown Victoria police car (about $250 each) could be attributed to the number of years since the last set was purchased for the 11-year-old vehicle that is no longer manufactured, as well as the special tires required for such use.

Council is trying to get its ordinances refurbished and in line with current laws and regulations.  They hired a codes enforcement officer (CEO) from a neighboring municipality to review the situation, and until now he has remained nameless.  Ms. Guinan said that she expects him to appear at the July Council meeting to make a report.

Council agreed to reappoint James Vogel as its representative to the Hallstead-Great Bend Joint Sewer Authority (HGBJSA).  Bret Jennings, the Council member most involved with the sewer authority said that Mr. Vogel doesn't know yet that he would be appointed.

Ms. Guinan reported no response from RHL to the Borough's inquiry about how to handle the brush pile at Greenwood Park.  This triggered a discussion about mulch, since RHL is thought to be big in mulch in the area.

A nice glass-fronted case has been installed in the Borough Building to house historical artifacts related to the town.  It's been empty so far, and residents are encouraged to loan or donate items that might be of interest to the community for the miniature museum.

The next public meeting of the Great Bend Borough Council is scheduled for Thursday, July 5, 2018, beginning at 7:00pm at the Borough Building on Elizabeth Street.

entary level of the program was ending was in error. The elementary level will be offered again in September and will be funded by Dr. Christine Plonski Sezer. The school is currently having difficulty finding an intermediate teacher, so the school is hoping to find a solution so the students could continue (intermediate level) by transporting them to Marywood to join the other intermediate students for lessons and orchestra once a week.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

A motion was made by Thompson Township Supervisor Alex Komar to turn over all township permit responsibilities to JHA Companies with the one exception of driveways. Supervisor Susan Jenkins seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved. Secretary Kim Wallace will prepare the Resolution to be adopted at the next scheduled meeting. Currently, JHA provides specific permits, with the township granting the remainder. Supervisors feel it would be in the best interest of the residents to have professionals responsible for approving permits, since JHA personnel have the information of ever changing codes.

Supervisor Komar provided the Road Department Report during the June 6th meeting. He reported they are cleaning ditches, sluice pipes are being replaced as needed and grading the roads is being completed.

One permit was issued the past month by JHA for a pole barn at Wrighter Lake.

Supervisors unanimously agreed to change the next scheduled monthly meeting on July 4th to be held on Wednesday, July 11th at 7:00.

The Pennsylvania State Police, Gibson Barracks is attempting to locate Paige Grunewald, who was last seen at her residence in Carbondale. Grunewald left her residence and may have been heading towards the Allentown area for work related reasons.

Grunewald is described as being a 19 year old white female, 5'4", 220 pounds, blue eyes, black hair and normally wears glasses with a large red frame.

If anyone has information on the current location of Grunewald, they are urged to contact PSP Gibson at 570-963-4295.