Home → County Living ( February 4, 2026 )
The Susquehanna Chapter of PASR (Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees) presented a $250 Grant to Choconut Valley Elementary School Principal Madison Moyer at the Board meeting of January 12th. The money will be used to revive a Science Fair at the school.
Pictured (l-r) are: John Manchester, Susquehanna Chapter President PASR and Madison Moyer, Principal, Choconut Valley Elementary School
The funds will help students with supplies for projects, and provide prizes for different categories. The objective is to foster a love and interest in science education at Choconut Valley.
Shivaun O'Donnell, RN
The monthly Insulin Pump Support Group meets at the Abington Community Library the third Thursday of each month at 6:00pm. Meetings are free and open to the public to individuals who are using an insulin pump for diabetes therapy or are interested in learning more about insulin pump therapy. The February 19th meeting is pleased to once again have Shivaun O'Donnell, RN and a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) with Tandem Diabetes, to speak to the group. She brings both professional expertise and personal experience to her work, having lived with type 1 diabetes for over 40 years. She has been using insulin pump therapy for more than two decades and will share information about Tandem insulin pump therapy. She also has expert knowledge about all types of pump therapy.
Shivaun's journey into diabetes care began in 2011, when she decided to leave her previous career, return to school, and become a registered nurse. Inspired by her own experiences, she pursued her passion to support and educate others living with diabetes, ultimately becoming a diabetes educator.
Shivaun joined Tandem after using the Tandem products for about six years, and having had the burden of diabetes eased greatly with their automated insulin delivery products. She used the Tandem Tslim X2 and is now on the newest Tandem Mobi.
Today, she works closely with people using pump therapy, helping them learn how to use the Tandem insulin pump products, and to find ways of managing their diabetes to get the best possible results.
She lives in Dallas, PA, with her husband Chris and their three beloved cats.
The Internal Revenue Service opened the 2026 tax filing season on Jan. 26 and began accepting and processing federal individual income tax returns for tax year 2025.
The IRS expects about 164 million individual tax returns for tax year 2025 to be filed ahead of the Wednesday, April 15, federal deadline. Taxpayers can find a range of tools and filing options on IRS.gov to help them prepare and file their returns.
"As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, the IRS and its employees are excited to once again serve American taxpayers in meeting their tax filing obligations during the 2026 filing season," said IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano.
"Not only does 2026 commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but it also coincides with the 40th anniversary of electronic filing," Bisignano said. "Just as we did back in 1986, today the IRS encourages taxpayers to speed the processing of their returns by using e-file, instead of paper. And to speed the processing of any refund due, we also encourage the use of direct deposit," he added.
Filing electronically and choosing direct deposit remains the fastest way to receive a refund.
More than half of taxpayers use a tax professional to prepare and file their tax returns. The IRS encourages taxpayers to review tips for choosing a tax preparer and learn how to avoid unethical "ghost" return preparers.
Direct deposit is the fastest way to receive a refund. Additionally, in accordance with Executive Order 14247, the IRS began phasing out paper tax refund checks on Sept. 30, 2025, meaning most taxpayers must provide their routing and account numbers to receive refunds directly deposited into their bank accounts.
Taxpayers can track refund status using Where's My Refund?, the IRS2Go app, or their IRS Individual Online Account.
While the IRS issues most refunds in fewer than 21 days, some returns require additional review and may take longer.
The IRS expects most refunds for the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit to be available in bank accounts or on debit cards by March 2, 2026, for taxpayers who chose direct deposit and have no other issues with their returns. Some taxpayers may receive their refund earlier, depending on their financial institution. Where's My Refund? will provide projected deposit dates for most early EITC/ACTC refund filers by Feb. 21, 2026.
For more information and tools to help file a complete and accurate return and avoid errors that can delay refunds, visit IRS.gov.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released the final Environmental Justice (EJ) Policy that will improve environmental safeguards throughout the commonwealth by enhancing opportunities for public participation and emphasizing proactive community engagement across all of DEP's programs. The final EJ Policy is not only a milestone in updating the over 20-year-old policy, but will be used to guide DEP protections for communities most vulnerable to environmental challenges.
"Vulnerable communities exist in every region of the Commonwealth – rural and urban alike. This updated policy builds on DEP's commitment to proactively educate, engage, and empower Pennsylvanians living in EJ areas," said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. "Addressing environmental justice challenges is part of our mission, and with this policy, we are demonstrating our commitment to protecting the environment for all of Pennsylvania's communities."
The updated EJ policy directs how DEP's inspection, compliance, and enforcement efforts can better include criteria and concerns of Pennsylvania communities most at risk from pollution and other environmental impacts. Furthermore, the policy outlines the ways in which DEP plans to increase outreach across Pennsylvania and build long-lasting relationships with communities impacted by environmental challenges.
In 2023, DEP announced an interim final policy and collected feedback from communities throughout Pennsylvania. During the extensive comment period, DEP received over 700 comments which were extensively reviewed and are addressed in a Comment Response Document.
The updated policy will continue to place a large emphasis on public participation and proactive conversations among DEP's EJ staff that have been engaging with communities in designated environmental justice areas, based on 32 environmental, health, and socioeconomic indicators. This enhanced public participation helps to improve environmental safeguards for communities without extending beyond existing statute or regulation by empowering Pennsylvanians to learn more about specific projects and the environmental factors impacting their communities, and help those seeking a permit to better understand community concerns. This engagement allows DEP to be more efficient when receiving public comment, improving permitting processes.
Upon taking office, Governor Josh Shapiro elevated environmental justice by creating the first Special Deputy Secretary for Environmental Justice position and growing the office by adding an Environmental Justice coordinator to each of DEP's six regional offices.
DEP has also updated PennEnviroScreen, a state-of-the-art mapping tool used to identify EJ areas across Pennsylvania, using the most updated data available and the 2020 Census geographical boundaries. It is more user-friendly, with clearer visual outlines, short data descriptions of all the environmental justice indicators, and more useful data supplements to allow Pennsylvanians to use PennEnviroScreen for education, research, local governance, and community development. This approach, in the environmental justice context, continues to help DEP improve permitting processes while continuing to cut down on wait times.
For more information about the final EJ policy, please visit Office of Environmental Justice | Department of Environmental Protection | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's website, or follow DEP on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, or LinkedIn.
The Susquehanna County DOMESTIC RELATIONS Section has outstanding BENCH WARRANTS for the following individuals as of 9:00am on January 30, 2026. Lloyd Baker, Edmond G. Carroll, Richard R. Forba, Charles M. Lynady III, 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.
Malkoski, John R (Trust By Trustees) and Malkoski, Pamela B (Trust By Trustees) to Birchard, Chapin for $100,000.00 in Forest Lake Township.
Miller, Wayne L and Miller, Roxanne M and Feher, Frank A and Feher, Susan G and Grieger, Edward and Greiger, Sylvia A and Greiger, Charles S (Estate AKA) and Greiger, Charles (Estate) to Acre Alliance LLC for $160,000.00 in Choconut Township.
Greiger, Edward and Greiger, Sylvia A and Miller, Wayne L and Miller, Roxanne M to Acre Alliance LLC for $30,580.00 in Choconut Township.
Domasiewicz, Frank and Domasiewicz, Debra to Domasiewicz Irrevocable Grantor Trust for $1.00, two locations in Auburn Township.
Monroe Realty Company to Pennsylvania Commonwealth of -Dept of Transportation for $1.00 in New Milford Township.
Pothier, Carol M (AKA) and Pothier, Carol to Lee, Christopher W and Lee, Eileen LaBonte for $325,000.00 in Silver Lake Township.
Wood, Cindy G (FKA) and Gerchman, Cindy L and Wood, Frank E to Wood, Cindy G and Wood, Frank E for $1.00 in Jackson Township.
MacConnell, Amy Anderson and MacConnell, Patrick A to MacConnell, Paige M and MacConnell, Gwen J for $1.00 in Bridgewater Township.
Defazio, Sharon and Defazio, Jasper to Defazio, Jeffrey J for $1.00 in Clifford Township.
Defazio, Sharon and Defazio, Jasper to Defazio, Jeffrey J for $1.00 in Clifford Township.
Bevacqua, Janice M and Bevacqua, Mark S to Bevacqua, Jeffrey for $350,000.00 in Lenox Township.
Bloxham, Raymond J to Bloxham, Raymond J and Scott, Ashley for $1.00, one location in Uniondale Borough and one in Herrick Township.
Abbott, Chavaugh R to Abbott Living Trust for $1.00, one location in Jessup Township and one in Bridgewater Township.
Barber, Brian W and Barber, Kathleen M to Barber Living Trust for $1.00 in Choconut Township.
Batzel, Chad and Batzel, Kara to Lowe, Kaila and Lowe, Justin for $214,900.00 in Lenox Township.
Rothweiler, Kenneth M and Rothweiler, Linda Angelo to Rothweiler, Kenneth M Jr and Rothweiler, Ian A for $1.00 in Clifford Township.
Gelatt, Carl (By Sheriff) and Snyder, Leslie A (By Sheriff) to US Bank and Manufactured Housing Contract Senior/Subordinate and Pass-Through Certificate Trust 1998-8 for $1,576.78 in Liberty Township.
DiPrinzio, Deana M (Trust By Trustee) and DiPrinzio, Deana (AKA) and DiPrinzio, Deana M to DiPrinzio, Deana M for $1.00 in Auburn Township.
Underwood, Sherry C (Estate) to Underwood, Jerry P for $237,876.00 in Forest Lake Township.
Maholick, Stephanie to Decker, Jeffrey M and Decker, Amy M for $275,000.00 in Harmony Township.
Reimel, Alan L and Reimel, Joann D and Reimel, Matthew P and Reimel, Wendy M and Reimel, Paul C and Reimel, Jeffrey M to Reimel, Matthew P and Reimel, Wendy M for $1.00 in Silver Lake Township.
Sweazey, James David (Estate AKA) and Sweazey, James D (Estate) to Sweazey, Nancy for $1.00 in Jackson Township.
Palma, Nicholas J Sr and Palma, Mary Jo and Palma, Nicholas J Jr and Palma, Anita and Palma, James M to Palma Irrevocable Land Trust for $1.00 in Rush Township.
Palma, Nicholas J (AKA) and Palma, Nicholas J Sr and Palma, Mary Jo to Palma Irrevocable Land Trust for $1.00 in Rush Township.
Palma, Nicholas J Sr and Palma, Mary Jo and Palma, Nicholas J Jr and Palma, Anita to Palma Irrevocable Land Trust for $1.00 in Rush Township.
Stento, Nathan and Glover, Jennifer (NBM) and Stento, Jennifer to Carr, David E for $150,000.00 in Oakland Borough.
Dolinak, Patrick to Parry, Kimberly Ann for $1.00 in Forest City.
Newport Land Company LLC to Sinawa, Jami G and Sinawa, Harry Frances for $35,000.00 in Ararat Township.
LaRue, Clyde Jr to Woodhouse Irrevocable Trust for $1.00 in Dimock Township.
LaRue, Clyde Jr to Woodhouse Irrevocable Trust for $1.00, two locations in Dimock Township.
LaRue, Clyde Jr to Woodhouse Irrevocable Trust for $1.00 in Dimock Township.
Hancock, Sara E (NKA) and Gross, Sara E to Waters, Billy and Waters, Melinda for $210,000.00 in Gibson Township.
Wolf, Lee J and Wolf, Barbara J to Stark, Brady Raymond and Grover, Jessica Marie for $137,000.00 in Susquehanna.
Cathy, Allen E and Cathy, Pamela A to Cathy, Allen E and Cathy, Pamela A for $1.00 in New Milford Township.
Mickiewicz, Leon John Sr and Mickiewicz, Suzanne M to Mickiewicz, Leon J Jr for $1.00 in Clifford Township.
Kemp, Amanda and Kemp, Matthew to Smith, Todd W and Smith, Deborah for $110,000.00 in Liberty Township.
Venuti, Joseph A (Trust By Trustee) to Lucchi, John for $457,500.00 in New Milford Township.
Fortnum, Mark D (Estate AKA) and Fortnum, Mark D Sr (Estate) to Fortnum, Mark Daniel Jr and Fortnum, Allan F for $1.00 in Dimock Township.
2848 Main LLC and Lightning Strikes Twice Holdings LP to Bannon, Cynthia and Bannon, Thomas P Jr for $400,000.00 in Rush Township.
Fiori, John P to Schriver, Robert G and Schriver, Lisa R for $450,000.00 in Silver Lake Township.
Robbins, Randy R and Robbins, Diann N to Bolen, Jonathan and Bolen, Scott and Bolen, Alyssa for $495,000.00 in Jackson Township.
Key West Homes Inc to Universal Classic Building Solutions LLC for $89,900.00 in Forest City.
Ely Family Agreement (Trust By Trustees) to Richmond, Annette for $10.00 in Bridgewater Township.
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.