County Living

The world had to wait a few days for the first baby born at Wayne Memorial Hospital (WMH) but, oh, it was well worth the wait. Adorable little Adaline delighted everyone during the early morning hours on January 3rd at WMH's New Beginnings Birthing Suites.

She is the daughter and first child of Carroll and Jordan Tice. Adaline was 6 lbs. 10 oz. and arrived at 1:06am Saturday morning. The delivery was facilitated by Dr. Sheila Hockman of the Women's Health Center, Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers. Everything was "wonderful" according to the couple. "They are an amazing team," added Carroll. The family received a big congratulatory First Baby basket full of goodies.

The American Red Cross is teetering on a blood shortage this winter, which could lead to a disruption in lifesaving care. Donors are urged to make an appointment to give blood or platelets now.

The Red Cross blood supply is under pressure following a busy holiday season when winter weather and packed schedules made it even tougher to ensure hospitals have the blood products needed for critical care. Without immediate action, doctors may have to make difficult decisions about which patients receive blood transfusions and who will need to wait. Donors with types O, A negative and B negative blood are especially needed now.

Don't wait – make an appointment to give blood or platelets now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.

For the seventh year, the Red Cross and the National Football League (NFL) are partnering in January for National Blood Donor Month to urge individuals to kick off 2026 with a blood donation. As a thank-you to donors for helping address the need for blood during the critical post-holiday time, those who come to give Jan. 1-25, 2026, will be automatically entered for a chance to win an exciting Super Bowl LX giveaway. The winner and guest will get to enjoy Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, access to day-of in-stadium pregame activities, tickets to the official Super Bowl Experience, round-trip airfare, three-night hotel accommodations (Feb. 6-9, 2026), plus a $1,000 gift card for expenses. For full details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl.

The Red Cross and Pro Football Champion and blood donor Saquon Barkley are teaming up to remind donors that the best offense against a winter blood shortage is making and keeping blood donation appointments. The blood supply can drop quickly – now's the time to get in the game and give blood or platelets.

"I gave blood once in college and that was the only time I had ever been asked to give, until the Red Cross reached out this fall," said Barkley. "It was a no-brainer for me to give again. It only takes about an hour and once you realize in that short amount of time how much help it can bring – it's a beautiful thing."

A local upcoming blood donation opportunity is as follows: January 23, from 12:00pm - 5:00pm, at Forest City Emergency Services, 380 Railroad Street, Forest City.

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Susquehanna County are once again helping community members learn how to grow the foods their families eat. Seed to Supper is an eight-week beginner vegetable gardening course for adults. The program aims to build a more food-secure community by providing the knowledge and encouragement for individuals to learn how to successfully grow a portion of their own healthy produce on a limited budget. Applications are currently being accepted for the program that begins on February 24 in New Milford.

Classes will cover vegetable gardening fundamental topics: Planning Your Garden, Getting Started with Healthy Soil, Planting Your Garden, Caring for Your Growing Garden, and Harvesting Your Bounty. Trained Master Gardener volunteers will instruct and demonstrate practical, low-cost techniques to tend to a successful vegetable garden, including growing vegetables in containers. Participants will be encouraged to make budget-friendly decisions in their gardens. The program also includes companion nutrition education and healthy recipes. In addition to classroom instruction and hands-on demonstrations, each participant will receive a 150-page coursebook, an assortment of garden seeds, seed starting mix, and more.

Seed to Supper classes are scheduled for eight consecutive Tuesdays, February 24 – April 14, at the St. Mark's Episcopal Church community building in New Milford. Attendees can select to attend either the morning classes at 10:00am to 12:00pm or the evening classes at 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

Advanced registration is required. Seed to Supper is offered free of charge to those on a low-income budget. The program fee for other participants is $35 to help defray the cost of supplies and materials. Registration is available online at https://pennstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3O5yvvnLazszHaC. For additional information or to request a paper application, contact the Master Gardeners at 570-666-9003 or susquehannamg@psu.edu.

Penn State Extension Susquehanna County is located 88 Chenango Street, Montrose, PA 18801.

Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.

The Internal Revenue Service announced Monday, January 26, 2026, as the opening of the nation's 2026 filing season. This year, several new tax law provisions of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill become effective, which could impact federal taxes, credits and deductions.

Taxpayers have until Wednesday, April 15, 2026, to file their 2025 tax returns and pay any tax due. The IRS expects to receive about 164 million individual income tax returns this year, with most taxpayers filing electronically.

IRS.gov has online tools and resources taxpayers can use before, during and after filing their federal tax return. One, Big, Beautiful Provisions provides information that could help lower tax bills and potentially increase refund amounts.

"President Trump is committed to the taxpayers of this country and improving upon the successful tax filing season in 2025," said Acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent. "Prior to the passage of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, which delivered working families tax cuts, Treasury and IRS were diligently preparing to update forms and processes for the benefit of hardworking Americans, and I am confident in our ability to deliver results and drive growth for businesses and consumers alike."

"The Internal Revenue Service is ready to help taxpayers meet their tax filing and payment obligations during the 2026 filing season," said IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano. "As always, the IRS workforce remains vigilant and dedicated to their mission to serve the American taxpaying public. At the same time, IRS information systems have been updated to incorporate the new tax laws and are ready to efficiently and effectively process taxpayer returns during the filing season."

IRS Individual Online Account. Taxpayers can access their individual online account information, including balance due, payments made or scheduled, tax records and more.

New Schedule 1-A. Taxpayers will use the new Schedule 1-A to claim recently enacted tax deductions, such as no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on car loan interest and/or the enhanced deduction for seniors.

Enroll in a Trump Account. Parents, guardians and other authorized individuals can establish a new type of individual retirement account for their children. To learn more, visit trumpaccounts.gov.

Open a bank account. The IRS strongly encourages taxpayers to establish a bank account to receive their tax refunds via direct deposit, because the IRS is phasing out paper tax refund checks due to the executive order, Modernizing Payments To and From America's Bank Account.

Forms 1099-K and 1099-DA. Taxpayers should visit IRS.gov and learn what to do if they receive either of these forms. Form 1099-K, Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions, is used to report payments received from credit cards, payments apps and online marketplaces. Form 1099-DA, Digital Assets, is used to report digital asset proceeds from broker transactions. Taxpayers must report all taxable income on their federal tax returns, even if they don't receive either form.

Where's My Refund? Refund status information is generally available around 24 hours after e-filing a current-year return, or four weeks after filing a paper return.

Be aware of tax scams and fraud. Taxpayers can learn how to prevent, report and recover from tax scams and tax-related identity theft on IRS.gov.

Choose a tax preparer. Taxpayers should review IRS guidance for Choosing a Tax Professional, including tips on choosing a reputable preparer and how to avoid unethical preparers.

Taxpayer Assistance Centers. Taxpayers should make IRS.gov their first stop to get help. If taxpayers cannot resolve their issue online, they can get help by making an appointment to visit a Taxpayer Assistance Center.

IRS Free File and Fillable Forms. The IRS Free File program will begin accepting individual tax returns starting Friday, Jan. 9 for qualified taxpayers. Taxpayers comfortable preparing their own taxes can use IRS Free File Fillable Forms starting Jan. 26, regardless of income.

MilTax. Military members and some veterans can use the Department of Defense program, MilTax, for free return preparation and e-filing software.

IRS-certified volunteers. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs offer no-cost, basic tax preparation to qualified individuals.

Join the Susquehanna County Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution as we celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary with these events that led up to the American Revolution and culminated with the signing of the Declaration of Independence:

Did you know?

Two leading patriots that aided the war in vastly different ways were Eiza Lucas Pinckney and Mercy Otis Warren.

Eliza was 16 when her father left her in charge of the family's 3 South Carolina plantations. As he was gone for years fighting in the Anglo-Spanish War, she had time, finances, forward-thinking, entrepreneurial spirit to ensure her lands produced unique products and long-term success. Eliza herself was well-educated in England, and in turn, educated her slaves and her sister, as well as acted as a lawyer for her neighbors. It was said that she read every book in both French and English that she could get her hands on. She successfully experimented with multiple crops including ginger, cotton, alfalfa, cassava, and figs, but her favorite was indigo. She said, "I want to plant something that grows well and can be sold all over the world." Indigo, with its rich blue color, was praised for its beauty, and became the biggest pre-Revolutionary cash crop in South Carolina. During the war, it was used in uniforms.

Eliza married Charles Pinckney and raised two sons and a daughter after his death. She lived to witness one son elected as a delegate to the Continental Congress, and the other become the South Carolina governor. Both served under Washington. Even though her plantations were ransacked by the British, she never lost her patriotic spirit. When Washington learned of her death, he said, "I want to be a pallbearer for this fine, patriotic lady." And he did.

Mercy Otis Warren had the advantage of a quality education at a time when it was neither common nor expected for women to be well-educated. She was allowed to "sit in" when her brothers' tutor was preparing them for Harvard.

After her marriage to James Warren, a Continental Army spy and general, their home became a gathering spot for such friends as John Adams, Sam Adams, and John Hancock. Mercy became an ardent supporter of the Revolution.

Mercy's ink and quill were more powerful than any musket. She could write and write she did! Poems, plays, letters and newspaper articles were sent to Congress, state governors, and newspapers, attempting to sway public opinion from Britian to the American cause. After reading her articles, many became supporters of the colonists. When Congress received her account of the British destruction of Boston and the fighting at Lexington and Concord, troops were sent to defend the citizens.

Her articles "symbolized and promoted the ideals and principles upon which the United States was established during the Revolution." Her legacy as the first female historian of the US was solidified with the 1805 publishing of her 3-volume series of books, The Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution.

Eliza said, "I am planting oak trees for the future. I think someday our country will need oak to build great fleets of ships…so I plant them now." Both Eliza and Mercy's forethought to the material needs and required historical documentation of a new nation proved them invaluable in their service.

United Way of Susquehanna County (UWSC) is announcing that qualified 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organizations that serve residents of Susquehanna County, PA may apply for United Way SafetyNet funding. Qualified organizations may apply for Safety Net funding for programming that provides emergency aid to individuals and families who face an immediate threat to their well-being as a result of a crisis.

Members of the United Way of Susquehanna County volunteer Allocation Committee will determine which agency programs best align with our mission and have the greatest likelihood of demonstrating improved quality of life through services and assistance provided. For those agencies interested in applying for funding, applications can be downloaded from the United Way of Susquehanna County website, UnitedWayofSusquehannaCounty.org. A training session for interested applicants will be held at 9:00am on Monday, February 2, 2026 at Susquehanna County Interfaith, 526 Church Street, Montrose, PA. It is encouraged that representatives from interested organizations participate in this training session. For details, please contact UWSC at 570-432-0901 or info@unitedwaysusqco.org.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is encouraging Pennsylvania businesses to help keep the Commonwealth beautiful through the department's Sponsor-A-Highway program. The 2026 tourism season – including the NFL Draft, PGA Championship, FIFA World Cup, MLB All-Star Series and America250PA – is expected to bring more than 209 million travelers to Pennsylvania, providing an opportunity for even more people to see the businesses sponsoring roadside cleanup along many of the Commonwealth's most heavily traveled roadways.

"From the World Cup to the MLB All-star Game, the NFL Draft and the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, 2026 will put Pennsylvania centerstage," said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. "With so many travelers coming to our cities, now is the opportunity to show the world what makes the Commonwealth the Great American Getaway."

Governor Josh Shapiro's 2025-26 budget invests $50 million to make sure the Commonwealth is prepared to host the millions of visitors that will be traveling to Pennsylvania in 2026 – including $10 million to support the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.

Through PennDOT's Sponsor-A-Highway program, local businesses and organizations can secure agreements with a PennDOT vendor who uses skilled maintenance forces to remove litter on roadways such as interstates and expressways, especially in areas where volunteer litter groups cannot safely pick up litter. Sponsors are recognized with a roadside acknowledgement sign displaying their business name and logo, and also listed on PennDOT's website.

The program signs have been redesigned to feature the "Let Freedom Ring" design Governor Shapiro unveiled last year. The department's vendors are replacing signs on sponsored roadways and will install them for new sponsors.

"With 2026 putting Pennsylvania on the world stage, we get one chance to make a first – and lasting – impression," said Department of Community and Economic Development's Deputy Secretary of Tourism Anne Ryan. "Roadside signage may seem simple, but it's one of the very first touchpoints that tells visitors who we are, what we value, and what the Great American Getaway stands for. This investment helps us welcome millions of travelers with pride, clarity, and a sense of place the moment they cross our borders."

The program began in 2000 and currently, 55 businesses in Pennsylvania participate in the program, accounting for more than 375 miles of roadway that are cleaned throughout the year. Beginning in 2026, Sponsor-A-Highway vendors will increase litter clean ups along sponsored roads from six to eight times per year.

In addition to the Sponsor-A-Highway program, individuals and civic groups have multiple opportunities to beautify Pennsylvania through volunteer programs. More information can be found on the PennDOT's "Apply to Clean Up a Roadway in Your Community" webpage.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,200 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.

Subscribe to local PennDOT news or statewide PennDOT news on the department's website.

Find PennDOT news on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Following are December, 2025 sentences as handed down by Susquehanna County Court.

Francisco Vasquez, 28, of Windsor, NY to 6 months of probation, the first 5 days of which shall be served on home confinement, pay a $300 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $25 EMS fee, pay $150 PA Department of Transportation Trust Fund fee, pay $100 Act 198 fee, obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation, complete the Alcohol Highway Safe Driving School Program, not to utilize alcohol or controlled substances while on supervision, not to enter any establishment whose primary purpose is the sale of alcohol, submit to random drug and alcohol screenings, complete a CRN evaluation, abide by the standard terms and conditions of supervision for Driving Under the Influence on October 20, 2024 in Jessup Township.

Zachary Dean Swire, 34, of Oneonta, NY to 5 years of probation, to run concurrent with Wyoming County's sentence, pay a $500 fine, pay cot of prosecution, $50 Criminal Justice Enforcement Act fee, submit a DNA sample for Fleeing or Attempting to Elude the Police on November 25, 2024 in Choconut Township.

Brock Tyler Freer, 48, of Forestport, NY to 2 days to 6 months incarceration, with credit for time served, pay a $300 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $100 Act 198 fee for Driving While Under the Influence on March 21, 2021 in New Milford Borough.

Tyler Christopher Fiske, 53, of Hallstead, PA to 24 months of probation, the first 60 days of which shall be served on home confinement, pay a $100 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee, pay restitution to the Victim in this case, continue with drug and alcohol treatment, not to utilize alcohol or controlled substances while on supervision, not to enter any establishment whose primary purpose is the sale of alcohol, submit to random drug and alcohol screenings, not to possess any firearms while on supervision, submit a DNA sample, abide by the standard terms and conditions of supervision for Receiving Stolen Property on March 6, 2025 in Hallstead Borough. Mr. was also ordered to pay a $100 fine, the cost of prosecution and pay the $100 Act 198 fee for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia on April 3, 2025 in Hallstead Borough.

Robert William Staff, 56, of Springville, PA to 24 months of probation, to run concurrent with any sentence currently being served, pay a $100 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee, obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation, not to utilize alcohol or controlled substances while on supervision, not to enter any establishment whose primary purpose is the sale of alcohol, submit to random drug and alcohol screenings, abide by the standard terms and conditions of supervision for Tampering with Physical Evidence on August 11, 2025 in Springville Township.

The following were accepted into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition Program: Storm A Visage.

The Susquehanna County DOMESTIC RELATIONS Section has outstanding BENCH WARRANTS for the following individuals as of 8:20am on January 9, 2026. Lloyd Baker, Richard R. Forba, Charles M. Lynady III, Tyler J. Nelson, Paul Newhart III, Christopher M. Stephens. Please contact the Domestic Relations Section at 570-278-4600 ext. 4050 with any information on the location of these individuals.

DEEDS as of 01-14-26

Brewster, Sandra L to McVicker, Constance M for $1.00 in Silver Lake Township.

Gallagher, Abraham Joseph (AKA) and Gallagher, A J and Castoro, Jaime and Castoro, Frank (AKA) and Castoro, Francis to Gallagher, William for $300,000.00 in Clifford Township.

Castoro, Jaime and Castoro, Frank and Gallagher, William Jr and Gallagher, Abraham Joseph (AKA) and Gallagher, A J to Gallagher, William Jr and Gallagher, Abraham Joseph for $44,824.00 in Gibson Township.

Gallagher, Abraham Joseph and Gallagher, William F Sr (Estate) and Gallagher, William Jr and Castoro, Jaime and Castoro, Frank to Gallagher, William Jr and Gallagher, Abraham Joseph for $1.00 in Clifford Township.

Marks, Paula J and Marks, Frederick P Jr to Leon Joe Jimmy LLC for $200,000.00, two locations in Gibson Township.

Oakes, Marianne R to Bunnell, Ralph for $160,000.00 in Jessup Township.

DiPhillips, Kenneth and DiPhillips, Ellen and Koloski, Diane C and Koloski, John to Dishaya Ventures LLC for $650,000.00 in Jessup Township.

Upset Sale: Susquehanna County Tax Claim Bureau and Lupyak, Susie (Estate By Tax Claim Bureau AKA) and Lupyak, Susie (Estate By Tax Claim Bureau) to Bellas, Nealey for $11,000.00 in Forest City.

Castle, Jacqueline A (Estate) to Campbell, Wesley E for $140,200.00 in New Milford Borough.

Dougals, Deanna Sue to Douglas, Deanna Sue and Smith, David Dean for $1.00 in New Milford Township.

Brown, Therese (AKA) and Sepiol, Therese to Bremer Hof Owners Inc for $100.00 in Herrick Township.

Corey, Barbara (FKA) and Black, Barbara to Phillips, Kevin for $65,000.00 in Hop Bottom Borough.

Gruen, Maxine to Gruen, Robert and Gruen, Maxine for $1.00 in Lanesboro Borough.

Gruen, Robert and Gruen, Maxine to Gruen, Robert and Gruen, Maxine for $1.00, one location in Harmony Township and one in Lanesboro Borough.

Soden, Brandon Jeffrey and Houlihan, Megan Jean to Williams-Hallisey, David (AKA) and Hallisey, David Williams for $150,000.00 in Ararat Township.

Reitz, Marlene K to Ball, Jason and Ball, Brenna for $102,000.00 in Silver Lake Township.

Lang, John D and Lang, Theresa A to Lang, John D for $1.00 in New Milford Township.

Walls, Sherwood M and Walls, Anne N to Walls, Sherwood M (Trust) and Walls, Anne N (Trust) for $1.00 in Silver Lake Township.

Perry, Sigrid and Miller, Christopher K to Perry, Sigrid and Miller, Christopher K and Perry, Christian P for $1.00 in Harmony Township.

Worrell, James L (Trust By Trustees) and Worrell, Marjorie S (Trust By Trustees) to Smith, Genna and Dovin, Tyler for $250,000.00 in Forest Lake Township.

Yadlosky, Timothy K and Yadlosky, Jean to Ritchie, Jared for $147,000.00 in Herrick Township.

Konzman, Patrick to Konzman Family Irrevocable Trust for $1.00 in Clifford Township.

Luschen, Stacie (NKA) and Luschen, Erich and Grubb, Stacie to Luschen, Stacie and Luschen, Erich for $1.00 in New Milford Township.

Fiedorczyk, Stanley J and Fiedorczyk, Stephen E to Fiedorczyk Family Irrevocable Land Trust for $1.00 in Rush Township.

McCormack, Linda and Albert, William to Rockwell, Cody A and Rockwell, Jessica L for $151,000.00 in Oakland Borough.

Turnage, Frances L (AKA) and Turnage, Frances to Bremer Hof Owners Inc for $100.00 in Herrick Township.

Otasevic, Rebecca to Drake, Brian for $169,900.00 in Hallstead Borough.

Pennay, Gerald R (Estate AKA) and Pennay, Gerald (Estate) to Pennay, Ruth L for $1.00 in Brooklyn Township.

Schirico, Philip and Schirico, Leola to Pinkowski, Luke Michael (By Custodians) for $20,000.00 in Jessup Township.

Burke, Anikta to Carey, Alan for $100,000.00 in Auburn Township.

Muller, Ann M (Estate AKA) and Muller, Ann Marie (Estate) to Muller, Kent M for $1.00 in Auburn Township.

Foote, Richard J and Foote, Mary Jane to Ellis, Gerald Jr and Ellis, Tammy for $200,000.00 in Bridgewater Township.

Birchard, Casey to Birchard, Eric A for $1.00 in Silver Lake Township.

Platt, Gretchen B to Kerr, Julie L for $265,000.00 in Bridgewater Township.

Kuang, Peiping to Magnotta, Joseph for $353,000.00 in Clifford Township.

Bell, Chadwick to Bradley, Matthew for $242,000.00 in Springville Township.

Zenzel, Michelle to Zenzel, Jeffrey D for $1.00 in Middletown Township.

Estate, Rena L to Evans, Richard W for $133,350.00 in Lenox Township.

WMP 2 LP to EAS7 Realty LLC for $90,000.00 in Great Bend Township.

Smith, Diane C to Smith, Diane C for $1.00 in Liberty Township.

Bailey, James P to McCarey, Jason for $314,437.50 in Montrose.

Watts, James E and Watts, Pamela Moss to Moore, John and Moore, Stacy for $125,000.00 in New Milford Borough.

Wootton, Earle A and Wootton, June to Bognatz, Stan R and Bognatz, Joyce T for $169,200.00 in Herrick Township.

Jones, Cyerah V to Cramer, Thomas C (Trust) and Cramer, Theresa R (Trust) for $2,000.00 in Clifford Township.

Colwell, James W to Pennsylvania Commonwealth of -Dept of Transportation for $1.00 in Harford Township.

Benedict, William A and Valentine, Diane to Lakeside Realty Group LLC for $210,000.00 in New Milford Township.

Mills, Frederick P and Mills, Deborah A to Mills, Frederick P and Mills, Deborah for $1.00 in Bridgewater Township.

Bednash, Matthew to Carey, Alicia L for $190,500.00 in Forest City.

Marean, Robert S to Ball, Jason for $700,000.00 in Silver Lake Township.

Gardner, Sarah A and Dietz, Wayne R to Beaulieu, Peter and Beaulieu, Pamela for $219,000.00 in Uniondale Borough.

Turner, Richard to Coles, Jordan for $70,000.00 in Forest City.

PS Bankn to Strohl, Daniel for $52,500.00 in Dimock Township.

Burchell, Donald R and Burchell, Elaine S to Bond, Jeff and Bond, Lynn for $650,000.00 in New Milford Township.