County Living

Your friend asked you if you were planning to go to Christmas in Montrose the first weekend in December. She said she had seen the articles in the newspapers, checked out their website and Facebook page, saw posters throughout the community to shop and enjoy the family-friendly events, but you are concerned about parking. Not to worry! The committee has planned a continuous bus shuttle to resolve concerns of the past.

On Saturday, December 2 from 9:00am to 4:30pm a Trehab shuttle will be running continuously. The following free parking lots will be serviced by the shuttle: Hinds Oil, 60 Post Street, Montrose; Diaz Manufacturing, 747 Grow Avenue, Montrose; Lathrop Street School, back lot by intersection of Lake Avenue and Route 1028; Montrose Area High School, lower 2 lots, 75 Meteor Way, Montrose.

Park your car and wait at the bus stop sign and balloons for the bus to pick you up and drop you off downtown on Public Avenue to enjoy the small-town "Hallmark Christmas movie" atmosphere. The Village Green as well as the businesses and churches offer traditional as well as new events for everyone. Visitors will find merry making with festive foods and drinks from vendors and restaurants, musical entertainment, contests, and a variety of Christmas shopping opportunities. Demonstrations and displays will spark your holiday spirit.

To get back to your car, wait at the bus stop on Public Avenue and relish the time you spent at Christmas in Montrose. Make your plans now and remember that the shuttle, the vendors on the Green and many of the activities are on Saturday only.

Did you know that the invention of chocolate milk goes back to 1680's when a physician named Sir Hans Sloane mixed milk with cocoa? He introduced his mixture of cocoa and milk as a medicine. Today, chocolate milk is loved by people of all ages. We drink milk because we love the flavor or recognize chocolate milk's link to athletes as a post recovery drink. Chocolate milk is filled with health benefits but did you know that chocolate milk can help you sleep?

Well, it's true. My name is Courtney Marvin and I am the Susquehanna Dairy Princess and I would like to challenge you to try a glass of chocolate milk in the evening to help you sleep. Chocolate milk contains tryptophan, which is a protein rich amino acid that creates melatonin and serotonin which are known as the sleepy hormones. When drinking chocolate milk to help you sleep you should drink it about 2 hours before you go to bed. So, next time you are having a difficult time falling to sleep try adding a glass of chocolate milk to your evening routine. You can drink it cold or heat it up and add some marshmallows for a delicious evening treat.

Come to Montrose December 1-3 for a weekend full of events to welcome the Christmas season. The County Seat, nestled in the Endless Mountains of Susquehanna County, captures the joy of the holiday season, and celebrates a small-town "Hallmark Christmas movie" atmosphere. The Village Green as well as the businesses and churches offer traditional as well as new events for everyone. Visitors will find merry making with festive foods and drinks from vendors and restaurants, musical entertainment, contests and a variety of Christmas shopping opportunities. Demonstrations and displays will spark your holiday spirit.

There is something for all ages to enjoy including many free events such as kids' crafts, horse drawn carriage rides, s'more-making station, pictures with Santa, story reading and free movie showing of the Grinch. The vast variety of free events are made possible by a host of generous sponsors which include the following: Coterra, Miles Supply, DT Midstream, Montrose Borough, Williams, Montrose Lions Club, June & Earle Wootton at The Community Foundation, Montrose Area Kiwanis, Andre & Sons, Leatherstocking Gas Company, Kerr Orthodontics, NBT Bank, From the Heart, Little Leaf Natural Products, Hometown Finds, Community Bank, Diaz Disposal, Nice Entertainment, DJ Dave Nice, and Anthony's Restaurant.

The Montrose Community Chorale will perform at The Presbyterian Church, Sunday afternoon at 3:00pm with a free-will offering to wrap up the holiday weekend.

Christ Episcopal Church, Forest City is pleased to announce 166 coats were distributed at no charge to recipients between October 27 and 28, 2023 at the Delaware Street church.

We would like to thank our congregates, the Forest City community and the Village of the Four Seasons for donating many coats to add to this year's collection. The coat project is sponsored by the American Legion Post 154, Montrose whose members travel Susquehanna County with coats for a "no charge" distribution. Christ Church has been distributing and collecting coats with the assistance of the American Legion for over ten years.

Christ Episcopal Church welcomes donations of new, clean and serviceable winter coats all year long. Donations of gloves, hats, scarves, blankets are also accepted. Donations may be made to the church from 8:00am to 10:30am Sundays, by contacting a church member or by calling the church, leave a message to arrange a time, 570-785-3425.

Monetary donations for coats may be made to the: American Legion Post 154, 14515 State Route 3001, Montrose, PA 18801.

Thank you everyone who donated coats this year and in the years past, the distribution was a huge success. Christ Church welcomes and serves all in Christ's name. Faith, Food and Fun – Join us on Sundays at 9:00am. Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

Every year the members of American Legion Riders Chapter 86 make Christmas a little happier for our local veterans residing at the Barnes-Kasson SNF and Turnpike Terrace and in our community.

Although our membership has declined over the years we still manage to provide Christmas gifts to these deserving military veterans through the generosity of caring donors.

If you would like to lend a hand, consider mailing a donation to: American Legion Riders Chapter 86, c/o American Legion Post 86, 1234 Main Street, Susquehanna, PA 18847.

All donations will be used to purchase Christmas gifts and monetary donations to veterans in our area.

Thank you very much for your support.

The Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association held our annual meeting on November 20th at its library in Montrose. More than 200 people showed up to cast ballots for seven nominees to fill open seats on the Board of Trustees. Many stayed to hear presentations from Association Director, Kris Ely and Historical Society Curator, Bonnie Yuscavage. The attendance was so large that many people watched on a TV screen in an overflow room.

The annual meeting began with a remembrance of Sue Stone, the Association Director for 30+ years. As many readers may know, Sue passed away just a few weeks ago and the loss weighs heavily on the hearts of library staff and patrons alike. Kris Ely and Bonnie Yuscavage then gave "year in review and the year ahead" presentations. Kathy Matis, the Treasurer of the Board, gave a financial status report for the organization. As with most libraries and historical societies, there is always so much to do and never enough resources to do it; fundraising is always front of mind when discussing Association finances.

The floor was then opened for public comment. Several people expressed their support for the library while a few expressed concerns over their children's use of library materials. Kris Ely addressed the questions and concerns brought forth and offered to speak one-on-one with them if they felt the need.

By the time the annual meeting was over, the tabulation of votes had begun. Three vote counters, Joann Reimel and Will Squier (current board members) and Tom Follert (who serves on the Susquehanna County Election Board) retired to a secure room to begin the count of 244 votes. While the votes were being counted, the Board of Trustees held their normal monthly board meeting. In addition to the normal order of business, the board awarded the snow plowing contract for the Montrose Library to Allen Shultz.

Once the votes were counted, Steve Spero, the President of the Board of Trustees announced that all seven nominees were elected to the seven open seats. Four of the seven, Eileen Baessler, Craig Benson, Kathy Matis, and Jim O'Pecko, are returning for another term. The remaining three, Lorraine Chidester, Peg Miller, and Rob Vermette, will fill seats vacated by board members who stepped off the board due to term limits. The Association thanks everyone for their willingness to serve and looks forward to the hard work these board members are sure to offer in support of the Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association.

Above all, the SCHS&FLA would like to express our heartfelt thanks to those who turned out in force to show their support for the library and historical society. Attendance at the meeting this year was unprecedented, and the support was overwhelming. We are grateful towards our community and look forward to continuing to provide our services to those who need them.

Pennsylvania's leading small business advocacy association, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), heralded the decision by the state's Commonwealth Court against entry into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), determining participation in RGGI "constitutes a tax that has been imposed… in violation of the Pennsylvania Constitution." As such, the court has declared Pennsylvania's entry into RGGI void and prohibited enforcement.

"This is a huge victory for Pennsylvanians and Main Street small businesses across the Commonwealth," said NFIB State Director Greg Moreland. "The decision by the court today will save thousands of jobs and prevent significant new energy costs for small businesses. NFIB advocacy has helped save small businesses an estimated $800 million, including efforts by members across the state who spoke out against the RGGI scheme."

In June of last year, NFIB filed an amicus brief in the case Bowfin Keycon Holdings, LLC, et al. v. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection at the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. NFIB's amicus brief challenged Regulation 7-559, which authorized Pennsylvania's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. NFIB's brief argued that certain RGGI requirements represent an unconstitutional tax, the RGGI itself is an unlawful interstate compact, and joining the RGGI will have detrimental impacts for Pennsylvania's businesses and consumers.

"Joining the RGGI would have disproportionately affected small businesses at a time when owners are managing uncertain economic conditions, including persistent high inflation. Former Governor Wolf and his team of unelected bureaucrats did not have the authority to impose a tax under the constitution," said Moreland, who noted that all states that had joined the RGGI obtained legislative approval. "The General Assembly controls the purse strings, not the executive branch. We hope and expect that Governor Shapiro will live up to his campaign promises and allow any further action on such initiatives to come properly from the legislature."

The RGGI is an initiative of New England and Mid-Atlantic states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capping and reducing CO2 emissions from electric power plants.

The NFIB Small Business Legal Center, which coordinated with NFIB in Pennsylvania to oppose the RGGI entry, protects the rights of small business owners in the nation's courts. NFIB is currently active in numerous cases in federal and state courts across the country.

The holidays are quickly approaching and finding the perfect gift for those on your list can be challenging. With many people downsizing or striving for a minimalistic lifestyle, finding the perfect gift gets even more difficult. Gifting something that is unique, useful and provides multiple functions may be the solution.

Consider gifts that help family and friends on your gift list save time and space and support their lifestyle and hobbies. These are gifts that are more likely to bring delight than end up in the donation box.

Most people, whether downsizing or not, are looking for ways to organize what they have and save space. Storage bins are often the best solution and come in a variety of styles. Those like the Mod Hod work well for gardeners, crafters and those looking to organize their pantries. Gardeners can use them to harvest their produce, wash off the soil right in the garden, and bring them into the house to store. Crafters can organize their supplies and everyone can stack and store snacks, produce, and just about anything in these.

For a more traditional look, consider the Garden Hod of wood and vinyl-covered mesh. These were originally used by Maine clam diggers to hold and rinse their catch. Gardeners use it to hold and rinse their garden produce, while crafters transport their supplies to their workstations. Those who like to entertain can fill it with and display party supplies at any event.

Help the gardeners on your list keep their seeds organized. Most gardeners have lots of open packets of seeds, newly purchased seeds, and those they have collected from their gardens. It can be challenging to keep them stored properly, safe from rodents, and organized so they are easy to find for future gardens. Management of seed inventory also saves money by preventing the purchasing of duplicate seeds.

Consider a seed-saver kit for the gardeners on your list. Make one from a plastic bin and hand-crafted dividers. Or purchase one like the Deluxe Galvanized Seed Saver Kit for avid gardeners with lots of seeds who prefer a more industrial look. The minimalist on your list may prefer a Bamboo Seed Saver Kit that contains storage envelopes, glass vials and compartments to hold everything in place. Crafters and other hobbyists in the family will also find something like this useful.

Going vertical in the garden and at home is a great way to maximize every square inch. Reaching items on the top shelf may require a step stool. Consider one that also functions as a basket and stool like the Bamboo Garden Stool and Basket Combo (gardeners.com). This sturdy basket with comfortable handles makes carrying tools to the garden, produce back from the garden or any project supplies an easy task. Once you arrive in the garden or workstation, empty the contents and flip it over so you have a comfortable seat.

Gardeners that grow vertically have lots of stakes, trellises, and other items to support plants throughout the growing season. Leaving them in the garden for winter may not be an option. Stuffing them into a shed or garage can take up valuable space needed for other tools, equipment, and the car. Contain and organize these items with wall storage. Offer to help your gift recipient install hooks on the wall to keep these items organized and out of the way. Or gift them something like the Plant Support Wall Storage container that can be mounted on the wall and is designed to hold plant supports of various sizes and shapes.

Cooks and gardeners alike can always use a cutting board. Gifting one that has multiple functions like the Do-It-All Culinary Cutting Board may eliminate the need for multiple kitchen items. This cutting board has a built-in mortar and pestle, a chopped food compartment, and a knife sharpener on two sides.

And for the person who has everything or wants nothing more, a living gift is the perfect option. A basket of forced spring flowering bulbs can brighten anyone's mood as they watch the plants grow and bloom.

Finding the perfect gift is a challenge but consider the joy it will bring. When you see the look on the recipient's face and the item in use, you'll both benefit from your efforts.

Melinda Myers is the author of more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening and Midwest Gardener's Handbook, 2nd Edition. She hosts The Great Courses "How to Grow Anything" instant video and DVD series and Melinda's Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Gardener's Supply Company for her expertise in writing this article. Her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.

The Susquehanna County DOMESTIC RELATIONS Section has outstanding BENCH WARRANTS for the following individuals as of 8:26am on November 22, 2023. Lloyd Baker, Jason J. Carroll, Jeffrey A. Fisk, Jeremy W. Hall, Charles M. Lynady III, Randy K. Manzer II, Danielle J. Norris, Jacob C. Parr, Jesse Trusky, Matthew A. Williams, Amanda E. Woodruff. Please contact the Domestic Relations Section at 570-278-4600 ext. 4050 with any information on the location of these individuals.

DEEDS as of 11-29-23

Lipschutz, Mark S (Estate AKA) and Lipschutz, Mark Steven (Estate) and Greer, Rachel E and Lipschutz, Philip M and Lipschutz, Samuel I and Lipschutz, Sophia G to Napolitano, Steve C and Napolitano, Regina M for $310,000.00 in New Milford Township.

Hunyh, Monika (NBM) and Steindel, Monika Roth to Ahmed, Inam for $470,000.00 in Clifford Township.

Rockwell, Stanley and Rockwell, Alice to Rockwell, Stanley and Rockwell, Alice for $1.00 in Lanesboro Borough.

Crowley, Jamie to Crowley, Judy and Crowley, Jamie for $1.00 in Susquehanna.

Alderson, Verne H and Alderson, Maxine L to Alderson, James R and Alderson, Melinda J for $1.00, two locations in Middletown Township and one in Choconut Township.

Kwader, Frank and Kwader, Elizabeth to Pipcho, Catherine M for $1.00 in Gibson Township.

Strohl, Daniel to Domasiewicz, Frank and Domasiewicz, Debra for $1,500.00 in Auburn Township.

Demmer, Dorothy to Holman, William H Jr and Holman, Ashley for $170,000.00 in Brooklyn Township.

Kintner, Jane M (Estate) to Tewes, Dona and Tewes, Mark for $1.00 in Hallstead Borough.

Woodruff, Irene L and Woodruff, Carl E to Woodruff, Irene L and Woodruff, Carl E and Smith, Trent M for $1.00 in Oakland Township.

Alderson, Beth to Henderson, James and Henderson, Cheryl for $385,000.00 in Silver Lake Township.

Burdick, George R to Shaw, Mary M for $1.00 in Jackson Township.

Doc's Home Services to Medrano, Jorge for $60,000.00 in Susquehanna.

Selinsky, Robert J to Mikloiche, Stephen P for $1.00 in Forest City 2W.

Selinsky, Robert J to Mikloiche, Stephen P for $1.00 in Forest City.

Luce, Joan B (Estate) to Foley, Thomas for $10.00 in Auburn Township.

Tanner, Robin L to Schau, Laura E for $55,000.00 in Susquehanna.

Interstate Storage LLC to Butler, Lynn C for $1.00 in Harford Township.

Chacona, Chris M and Chacona, Norma to Chacona, Chris M and Chacona, Norma for $1.00 in Jackson Township.

Corrective: Very, Eleanor L (Estate) to Very, Danny E for $1.00 in Lathrop Township.

Hubal, Pearena M (Estate) to Hines, Wayne for $65,000.00 in Thompson Borough.

Tierra Land Group to Reyes, Sandra for $55,000.00 in Forest City.

Bremer Hof Owners Inc to Adams, Linda for $100.00 in Herrick Township.

Wells Fargo Bank to United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for $10.00 in Liberty Township.

Cottrell, Earl E and Shay, Aileen M to Thompson Run Solar Farm LLC for $85,000.00 in Thompson Township.

Goetz, Evelyn M to Taro, Nick J and Taro, Nick J Jr and Taro, Theresa M for $375,000.00 in Silver Lake Township.

Norville, Leonard A (AKA By Atty) and Norville, Leonard (By Atty) to Norville, Jason M and Norville, Joanne L for $1.00 in Bridgewater Township.

Laduca, Salvatore and Laduca, Karen S to Stark, Kyle Eric and Stark, Alysa Cortnee for $19,000.00 in Forest City.