Local News

The Visit and the Answers By James Webb A week ago, on Sunday morning, the alarm clock made its high pitch squeal at 4:30 a.m. Normally you wouldn’t look forward to a 4:30 wake-up call, but this morning was different. I had planned a 5:30 a.m. departure for New York City to answer questions about what happened to FDNY Ladder 11 on that fateful day in September, two years ago.

.As I prepared to go, even though I was very anxious, I was also very hesitant. Just not knowing what to expect was unnerving. A 9:00 a.m. arrival would be just right as that is their scheduled shift change. Lt. Steve Marsar was our contact as he was the officer in charge of Ladder 11 for the shift. Lt. Jim Rollis was going off duty but stayed to talk with us. He is the senior lieutenant on Ladder 11 and has been in the department over 17 years.

September 11, 2001 was Primary Election Day in New York City. Like in Central PA, 9/11 dawned as a gorgeous, clear day with bright sunshine. Lt. Michael Quilty was at the station on East 2nd Street preparing to start the day’s routine and paperwork required of the officer in charge. In just a few short minutes, the destiny of Ladder 11 would be cast along with the lives of 337 of their brothers from other stations.

At 8:47 a.m., the first alarm was sounded as a plane struck the North Tower at the World Trade Center Complex. Shortly thereafter Engine 28, Ladder 11’s running mate, was dispatched to the North Tower of the WTC complex. Upon arriving on the scene, they would enter the North Tower and work their way up to the 30th floor. Either a directive by an assistant chief or their own decision would keep them out of harm’s way.

At 9:03 a.m. the South Tower was hit by a second plane. At this point, the die was cast that would lead to a chain of events that would not and could not be reversed.

At 9:05 a.m. an additional dispatch was sent instructing Ladder 11 and Ladder 7 to respond to the North Tower at the WTC complex. While Lt. Mike Quilty was getting his gear on, Richard Kelly, the driver, was sliding behind the wheel of the 100 ft. Seagrave aerial ladder. The engine came to life as Matthew Rogan, John Hefferman, Ed Day and Michael Cammarata assumed their positions on the apparatus. Ladder 11 pulled out of the station onto 2nd Street and headed south to the WTC. The decision was made that only the on-duty crew would go with Ladder 11, a move that would save a number of lives. As other off-duty Ladder 11 firefighers arrived at the station to gather their turn-out gear, they were led by Lt. Jim Rollis who commandeered a private bus to transport them to the WTC complex. They arrived just as the North Tower was collapsing and were spared the fate of the on-duty Ladder 11 crew.

Lt. Steve Marsar, today a Lieutenant at Ladder 11, was a fire fighter assigned to Ladder 7. He was on vacation that day and heard what was happening on his car radio. Like so many off-duty firefighers, he headed to his station at the time, Ladder 7. He along with other off-duty firefighers commandeered a city bus to take them to the WTC complex.

Upon arriving, smoke was billowing out of both the North Tower and the South Tower. Ladder 11 along with Ladder 7 was given instructions to evacuate the Marriott Hotel which occupied space on the southwest corner of the complex. FDNY Fire Command obviously had concerns whether the fire raging in the North Tower would be able to be controlled or whether the North Tower could be saved.

The guys from Engine 28 were already well into their climb up the North Tower as the crews from Ladder 11 and Ladder 7 were preparing to evacuate the Marriott. The hotel was either 22 or 23 stories high, depending on how you counted the first level as a basement or the 1st story. Off-duty firefighers from Ladder 11, Engine 28 and Ladder 7 were en route.

Although the South Tower was the second to be hit, it was the first to collapse. The Engine 28 crew inside the North Tower was not immediately aware of the collapse of the South Tower. Anyone who has been in the fire service and especially officers responsible for the safety of the men under their command has an inner sense. You often push the envelope knowing you are on that delicate edge between a successful operation and a disaster waiting to happen. Engine 28’s Lieutenant Brian Becker and the driver Bob Salvadore considered their options as they climbed the North Tower. An inner sense tells you that you have done as much as you can do and it’s time to look out for the crew. The decision was made to exit the North Tower and reestablish contact with Fire Command. They were unaware an order had already been issued at 9:32 a.m. for all crews to come down to the lobby. The Assistant Chief who issued the order got little response. As they exited the North Tower, they became aware of the collapse of the South Tower. As they continued their exit, the North Tower began its collapse as the crew scattered for whatever protection they could find. As the dust cleared, Lt. Becker started the search for his crew and after many anxious minutes was able to hook up with all his men. Their engine was destroyed, but all the men made it. Little did they know that the crew from Ladder 11 was not so fortunate.

The last known contact from the Ladder 11 crew was a radio transmission. It was a message from Ladder 11 to Ladder 7 that they were proceeding to the 22nd floor of the Marriott. When the South Tower collapsed, it fell on the Marriott, striking it right in the middle. Only a small portion of the two ends remained, and they would be finished off by the collapse of the North Tower.

So quickly things can go so terribly wrong. The pain and emotions that are unleashed are beyond description. The duty roster hanging in the station’s engine room from 9/11/01 remains unchanged to this day. It shows Lt. Michael Quilty as the officer in charge, Richard Kelly as the driver along with firefighers Matthew Rogan, John Hefferman, Ed Day and Michael Cammarata.

As with other victims of this disaster, the search continued for days that turned into weeks and then months. Only two of the Ladder 11 crew were found. Eventually, four of the six men from Ladder 7 were recovered.

The pain and emotion of 9/11 is still etched very deeply in the faces of the men at Engine 28 and Ladder11. It’s something you never forget and it never goes away. The reminders are constant from the unchanged roster board of 9/11/01 to the Truck Eleven placard from the side of the destroyed ladder truck. Each of the remaining members of Ladder 11 has dealt with the disaster in his own way. For some, I believe, it helps to talk about it. Others have dealt with it in their own ways and are beyond talking about it. Most realize they were a part of something that went far beyond vacation days, on duty or off duty, a new trainee fresh out of the fire academy or the most experienced and veteran officer. A catastrophe of this type cuts across all lines from the Chief of the Department to the department’s Chaplain on down to the newest fire fighter. There is no explanation for why one fire fighter makes it and another does not. Why the crew on Engine 28 made it and the Ladder 11 crew did not.

For one departed member of Ladder 11, Williamsport was no stranger. Michael Cammarata was here in Williamsport when he played in the 1991 Little League World Series on the South Shore Little League team from NYC. His team finished third in the world. It’s hard to imagine that in 10 years he went from playing Little League baseball to making the supreme sacrifice in trying to get others out of harm’s way.

The trip home was filled with many thoughts, from the hospitality they gave two guys from Central PA asking questions, which I am sure they have been asked a hundred times in the last two years, to sharing lunch with us of true "Fire House Chili".

Out of all the cities on the face of the earth, only one, New York City, could have handled such a catastrophe. From the mayor down to the newest fire fighter, it was the finest hour of courage and bravery beyond anything that could be expected.

For the fire department, only FDNY, could have risen to the most terrible act of terrorism ever perpetrated against our country. The courage and heroism goes far beyond anything that can be described by mere words. After losing so many and so much, their ability to pick up and go forward seemed next to impossible. But they did it. Whatever was needed to re-strengthen their ranks and at the same time to look after the families of their departed brothers, should be revered and respected. It was their finest hour. BACK TO THE TOP

Upromise program can help students

HARRISBURG—Pennsylvanians can pay help pay off their educational loans with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) Upromise program.

In an effort to assist borrowers with the growing cost of education, American Education Services (AES) has formed a partnership with Upromise Inc. to help borrowers repay their student loans easier and faster.

Borrowers can register a credit card, debit or check card at the Upromise Web site. Upromise monitors spending on registered cards and provides a rebate of up to 10 percent of qualified purchases made on the cards. The program is applicable to student loans as well as loans obtained by parents.

Upromise also offers rebates at participating businesses. When borrowers use a registered credit or debit card at a participating company, an additional percentage of spending is credited back into a Upromise account automatically. Companies like ExxonMobil, AT&T, General Motors, and McDonald's provide additional money back to pay off educational loans.

Program participants' savings will collect in the Upromise account. When at least $50 is accumulated in the Upromise account, it automatically transfers the funds on a quarterly basis to the registered AES account. Borrowers must log into their Upromise account to indicate where funds should be transferred, to have the saving applied to their school loans.

For a complete list of contributing companies, an informational CD-ROM about the program, and to set up a Upromise account, visit www.upromise.com/aes. BACK TO THE TOP

Online grant application for fire, rescue companies

HARRISBURG—Volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance companies can apply online now for their share of the state's new $25 million Volunteer Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Program. The application deadline is Dec. 31.

The Web-based application is now available and will help streamline the application process by allowing applicants to file their grant project information online and receive verification that the information is complete, valid and entered into the grant system. Paper submissions will also be accepted, but they are not recommended.

Under the program, volunteer fire companies can receive grants of $2,500 to $15,000, and ambulance units can receive grants from $2,500 to $10,000. Eligible projects include construction and/or renovation of a company's facility; purchase or repair of fixtures and furnishings necessary to maintain or improve the capability of the company to provide fire, ambulance and rescue, emergency medical, or basic and advance life support service; purchase or repair of firefighting, ambulance or rescue equipment; debt reduction; and training and certification of members.

The State Fire Commissioner has mailed application packets to each company. If a company has not received the package, they should call 546-2084. For more information, visit the Office of the State Fire Commissioner Web site at www.osfc.state.pa.us. BACK TO THE TOP

Through the Years
Compiled By Lou Hunsinger Jr.

Gazette and Bulletin
April 24, 1911
FIRST DEFENDERS HONORED
AT BIG SUNDAY MEETING
Repasz Band Plays Old Wartime Tunes

Old Glory floated everywhere in Williamsport yesterday in honor of the 50^th anniversary of the departure of the Woodward Guards and the Williamsport Rifles, the first troops sent from this city for the seat of the Civil War. A half a century has wrought many changes, but it had not in the least dimmed the enthusiasm or patriotism of the people of this city and the many flags displayed and the immense concourse of people who gathered to attend the 50^th anniversary meeting at Association Hall testified fully to this.

The Repasz Band and the veterans gathered at their respective quarters and at 3 p.m. J.M. McMinn, who was to preside over the meeting started with the survivors of the two companies and the band for Association Hall. Only six of the survivors had put in an appearance and as they passed up Third Street to William and out William to Fourth and then to Association Hall, one could not help contrasting the slow step and the whitened locks with the sturdy manhood of the 165 men who 50 years ago yesterday assembled in Doebler’s Hall which stands upon the site of the present Orpheum moving picture show house, and marched to the tune of "The Girl I Left Behind," up Third to Pine out Pine to what is now the Pennsylvania Railroad, where fully 4,000 people gathered to see the departure of the troops.

Arriving at Association Hall the survivors were joined by three others, making nine in all who participated in the ceremonies of the afternoon.

The survivors present were: Repasz Band—-S. Mack Taylor and Albert Martin; Woodward Guards—-John Higley, William Slack, Edward Held and G.W. Collins; Williamsport Rifles—-Seth T. Foresman, Joseph Espenshade and Charles A. Kolb.

The survivors stood by companies and were greeted by wild applause by the audience.

The band then played a medley of wartime airs and as one after another of the old familiar songs were played they brought back to the old veterans the days that are now just memories. BACK TO THE TOP

Local man threatened by California wildfires
By Lou Hunsinger Jr.

Brent Stahlnecker, an Allenwood native, has what he thinks is a dream job as the Assistant Western Region Director for Little League Baseball in San Bernardino, Calif., but that dream almost became a nightmare for Stahlnecker two weeks ago when the raging California wildfires nearly took both his home and his place of work.

"It was definitely an experience," Stahlnecker said. "I have never experienced anything like this before. Just seeing a fire like this was surprising to me."

Stahlnecker said the fires started Oct. 21 and were initially were about 10 or so miles away from him but by Oct. 25 the fires had made their way to about two or three miles from his apartment. He said the bright light of the blazes at night made the fires appear even closer.

He and others in his neighborhood started to pack things in preparation for a possible evacuation, mainly because of the extremely large amount of smoke and ash in the area.

"The smoke and ash is overwhelming. You can’t imagine what it’s like," Stahlnecker said.

He said the fires were driven by strong winds know as the "Santa Anna Winds."

He then went to Little League’s Western Regional headquarters complex to see what could be done there as well as possibly staying there.

"Four of five of us stayed there to help out, "Stahlnecker said. "The fire came pretty close to the complex. Several nearby houses were affected by the fire and we weren’t sure that the fire might reach into the regional center as well, but fortunately it didn’t."

He said the scariest moment came when the fire came as close as 200 yards north of the complex. He said several houses to the east were completely destroyed. Thankfully, he said, none of the Little League regional staff were injured or their homes burned.

He was able to return to his apartment by the evening of Oct. 26 as the fire threat to that area subsided somewhat.

Since the California wildfires started some 3,570 homes have been destroyed and 22 persons have been killed. At the height of the blazes more than 80,000 people were evacuated from their homes. BACK TO THE TOP

2003 election roundup
By Lou Hunsinger Jr.

It was an election of upsets at the county level in this year’s Nov. 4 election. Two political newcomers knocked off two incumbent office holders.

Democrat Ernie Larson defeated fellow Democrat and incumbent county commissioner Joe Neyhart by a little more than 300 votes.

The votes for Lycoming Commissioner were:

Rebecca Burke, Republican 15,365

Dick Nassberg, Republican 12,878

Ernest Larson, Democrat 8,539

Joseph Neyhart, Democrat 8,329

In another upset, Republican Krista Rogers defeated 15-year incumbent County Controller Dave Raker with a vote count of 12,316 to 10,704.

In the race for county judge for the seat of the retiring Clinton Smith, Republican Richard Gray defeated Charles "Skip" Greevy by a count of 14,081 to 10,554.

In the city of Williamsport Councilwoman Mary Wolf handily defeated long-time city councilman Tom Bailey, 3,541 to 1,619.

Two newcomers will be sitting on Williamsport City Council convenes in January. They are Bill Hall and Jamie Gilbert. Two incumbents, council president Tom O’Connor and Councilwoman J. Marlyne Whaley retained their seats.

The votes for Williamsport City Council were:

J. Marlyne Whaley, Republican 3,171

Thomas O’Connor, Republican 3,169

James Gilbert, Republican 2,244

William Hall, Republican 2,217

Thomas Mnick, Democrat 2,147

John DeSantis, Democrat 2,047

Daniel Ogden, Democrat 1,175

Numerous school board, borough council and township supervisors races also were decided at this year’s election. In Jersey Shore voters there opted to change their school tax from an occupation tax to an earned income tax. BACK TO THE TOP

New technology keeps Jersey Shore Hospital on the cutting edge
By Michelle Renner

It’s a big hospital in a little town.

That’s the image Jersey Shore Hospital is trying to project, with all the latest technology and services available right there at the hospital, so patients do not need to travel anywhere else for tests and treatments.

The hospital just installed a new MRI unit this summer, to save patients a trip out of the area for a scan and to save them from having to wait for the portable MRI’s next visit to the hospital.

Now, MRIs are available every day, instead of the six days a month previously with the visiting portable unit.

Edward Sowul, radiology director for Jersey Shore Hospital, explained that there was definitely a need for an MRI unit at Jersey Shore. "The mobile unit was always booked. We’d end up having to send patients to Williamsport because we couldn’t fit them in."

Since its installation the number of tests has gone up each month, Sowul explained. The leased GE machine will pay for itself if Jersey Shore Hospital does just 100 more scans each year than was done with the mobile unit, he said.

The new unit uses a shorter tunnel than traditional MRIs, so the patient will always have either their head or their feet out of the tunnel, and mirrors allow the patient to be able to see into the room, to decrease the claustrophobic feelings associated with MRI.

Sowul explained that he traveled to Milwaukee, Wis., for a week of training to use the machine and eventually all the CT scan technologists in the hospital will be trained on using the MRI.

Rachael Ulmer, director or marketing and public relations for Jersey Shore Hospital, explained that the mission of Jersey Shore is to have all the latest technology for the patients it serves.

"They don’t want to go to Williamsport or State College," she said, and the hospital is acquiring equipment to ensure they don’t have to travel.

Another piece of new equipment at the hospital is the multi-slice CT scanner, which uses four detectors for imaging instead of the traditional single detector units.

"That was our first major piece of equipment," Sowul said, adding that Jersey Shore Hospital was the first one in the area to have the advanced technology. Scans are much quicker, taking less than five minutes for some, and the images are clearer, to help ensure a more accurate diagnosis.

Doctors can read the images 24 hours a day, with the hospital connected through a teleradiology system that can send images to Williamsport Hospital to be read by a radiologist via a computer screen. Patients no longer have to wait for a diagnosis, Sowul explained.

Sowul added that the hospital leases most of its equipment from GE, which not only is more cost-effective, but also helps the hospital keep up with all the latest technology, since the equipment is upgradable.

The hospital also has added a new mammography unit and a full-body bone density scanner as part of what it calls its "commitment to women’s health." Ulmer explained that bone density scanning is recommended in conjunction with a yearly screening mammogram.

The new mammography unit can perform a mammogram with the patient lying down, which is a benefit for some women with limited mobility. The equipment also is upgradable and has been getting a lot of use, according to Holly Thompson, chief technologist.

The hospital performs about 55 mammograms per week and offers evening hours two nights per week to make it more convenient for working women to have their yearly mammogram.

"The major patient benefit is that screening mammograms save lives," Thompson said. "Screening is the majority of what we do."

Carol Muthler, who operates the full-body bone density scanner, has been busy, too, since the machine was installed in June this year.

"The numbers increase every month. Now, we average about five per day," Muthler said, adding those patients from 20 years old and up are screened and the machine determines three ranges of bone density, normal, low and osteoporosis, which is a high risk for fractures. Men and women can be screened.

Ulmer explained that the hospital offers a free heel-bone density screening as a public service, and those whose density is low with that scan are often recommended to have the full-body scan. And, Muthler explained that Medicare covers the cost of the scan every two years if no problems are present and more often if there are density problems. Often, patients don’t know there is a problem unless they fracture a bone, but fractures can be prevented with nutrition and drug therapy if bone density is low.

Ulmer explained that often people don’t like to go to the hospital for tests because they view it as an unhappy place. With the equipment to do the testing on the premises, she said it often decreases anxiety because patients don’t have to be referred to other facilities; their test can be completed on the spot with a minimal wait. BACK TO THE TOP

Imperial Teteques Band to present fall concert on Sunday

By Lou Hunsinger Jr.

One of this area’s oldest and most enduring musical bodies will present its fall concert Sunday afternoon at the Scottish Rite Auditorium.

The Imperial Teteques Band will have as its theme for the 2 p.m. Nov. 16^th concert "Show Tunes and More." During this salute the band will highlight such venerable show business personalities as Bob Hope, Louis Armstrong and Spike Jones. Hope will be honored in a special musical work called "A Salute to Bob Hope," which includes his signature song, "Thanks for the Memories," as well as themes from several of his movies including the famous "Road" pictures in which he starred with fellow legend Bing Crosby. Hope, who died earlier this year at the age of 100, made a memorable appearance here in Williamsport at the 1989 Little League Baseball Congress.

The show tunes to be played will include selections from "South Pacific" and "The Sound of Music" as well as "The Magic of Andrew Lloyd Webber."

Teteque concerts are not complete without a few stirring marches and patriotic airs and this concert will feature "Conway," a march composed by a longtime Teteque Band member and manager of band who died in 1980.

The Imperial Teteques Band is one of the world’s oldest Masonic bands. John King Hays, Herbert Russell Laird, Clarence Else and Truman P. Reitmeyer helped to form the band in November 1894. They rented several wind instruments and soon became proficient enough for public performances. They were billed as the "Triple Tongue Quartet." From the first letter of these words—TTQ—the band derives its unique name.

J. Walton Bowman, the man for whom Bowman Field is named, became the band’s business manager and financial angel and the band won acclaim wherever the Masons sponsored instrumental music. As Bowman’s "pampered darling" the band built up an inventory of $100,000 worth of instruments and a vast musical library.

The band continues to entertain audiences today under the able baton of Edward "Bud" Uangst. BACK TO THE TOP

Shelter dogs get a second chance
By Bethany J. McClain

Seemingly unwanted dogs are given a second chance to serve as a vital part of another being’s life with Eagles Wings Service Dogs, based out of the Lycoming County SPCA, 2805 Reach Road.

During the course of two years, the organization has placed one special dog and has others joining the ranks of full-fledged service dogs.

Dogs are, in a sense, rescued from the SPCA to participate in the Eagles Wings program. The animals’ backgrounds vary from abuse, starvation, neglect or just being homeless on the streets. Not all dogs are candidates for the service-dog lifestyle.

Donna Brink, secretary of the Eagles Wings board, is one of five volunteers keeping the special organization running. Brink explained that an animal's temperament is the first and major contributing factor to the future of a dog in the program.

Expanding upon a temperament test the SPCA conducts with healthy dogs, Eagles Wings’ tests include a food test to see of they can take food from a dog. Also entailed in their testing is touching the dog for its reaction and a sort of staring contest. If the dog stares back, barks or jumps up, it’s a sign of aggression that Eagles Wings finds undesirable. The group needs the dogs to respond to people around it instead of environmental elements and the animal must have a good retrieval response. The dog also must be a medium- to large-size dog and be easy to care for.

If it is thought the dog might make a good candidate for the service program, a volunteer will take the dog into their home for a week or two to see how it responds to the indoor element. It’s difficult to say how long it will take the dog to progress through this portion of its testing.

Ann Sanders, vice president of Eagles Wings, commented that this portion of the dog’s training could be a little tricky. The goal is to teach a dog from the SPCA house manners.

"A lot of these dogs have problems," Sanders said. "They’re abused, neglected and we have to take care of those issues first. Some aren’t even house trained and some haven’t lived in a house."

Not all dogs are acceptable. Eagles Wings has had two out of five dogs rejected during its two-year running period, something that Sanders said can happen any time during their training.

"We have to be able to give them time because each dog is different," Sanders said.

Once the dog has reached a level of comfort inside the home of one of the volunteers, it is signed up for obedience classes through a course at the SPCA. Simple things such as come, sit and stay are taught here."

Understandably so, it will take months of training to reach the level where the dog is introduced into a public setting. Eventually social skills are taught to the dog by taking it into places where it will interact with people and other dogs.

Brink said the dogs are taken to parks, libraries and the Lycoming Mall. In advance training, the dogs are taken to restaurants and churches.

"We try to get them into every conceivable situation they might run into," Brink said.

The dogs also practice wearing their uniform. Each dog is required to wear a special cape while in public identifying it as a service dog. Their ensemble is complete with a patch that says ‘Please do not pet me, I’m a service dog.’"

In order to be a service dog, the animals must learn skills, things that will make it invaluable to a potential owner. The dog will learn to pick things up, retrieve items and open doors. More than that, service dogs can be trained to pay for a purchase at counters and turn lights on and off.

"They’re also acquainted with wheelchairs, walkers and canes so they’re not afraid of them," Sanders said.

For those with mobility problems, the dogs are taught to brace in case their person loses their balance or just needs help standing. They’re also taught to walk in a harness in order to give their person balance when walking.

After completing this rigorous process, the dog is then matched up personality-wise to any applicant in waiting. But the series of tests does not stop there.

The applicant themselves also must enter a battery of interviews, paperwork and even their own three-week training period. It is here that the person will meet the dog and the two will work together to become a team in every sense of the word. Eagles Wing members are with the dog and applicant every step of the process for the duration of testing.

Eventually, the two will be taken out into public to see what their compatibility is like in the outside environment, in real-life situations such as restaurants.

Before doing so, the dog and applicant are required to take what is called a public-access test before entering the public on their own. This test includes a number of tasks such as the dog opening a door for its person and loading and unloading from a vehicle together.

If things go smoothly and the two pass the tests, the applicant may then take home their service dog.

Eagles Wings members do not drop contact with their graduate dog once it has left their program.

"We keep in touch with them with a follow-up routine," Sanders said. "We’re in contact every single day for the first week, then once a month, then monthly. We wean them off and make sure everything is going smoothly."

Afterwards, there is a yearly public-access test that must be renewed.

The group’s first success story was with a mixed breed dog named Jasmine who spent two years in the Eagles Wings’ program before being placed in September with a local man who is permanently confined to a wheelchair. Jasmine was trained not only to pick up and carry things for her person, but also to alert him of people approaching.

Currently there are two dogs in training with the program. The service dogs are especially useful to individuals who are mobility impaired, having trouble walking or navigating because of to illness or disease.

"It’s been really fun doing this," Brink said. "I don’t think I’ve experienced as much satisfaction as when I turned Jasmine over to her new owner and saw the look on his face."

Eagles Wings Service Dogs may be contacted by calling the SPCA at 322-4646. BACK TO THE TOP

The tales of a well-traveled Kat
By Michelle Renner

If Kat could talk, she’d have many tales to share.

But, Kat is a cat, so she can’t talk, and her owner has to fill in on telling the many tales of this 23-year-old well-traveled cat.

It all started back in the early 1980s when Eric Hartshaw was working for the United States Forestry Service on the Corral Hill fire lookout tower in the Selway District in the Nezperce National Forest in northern Idaho.

Hartshaw explained that one of his co-workers had a cat that had kittens. About six months later as that man was moving on, the foresters were able to catch the mother cat but not her kittens. The federal government frowns on having domestic animals living wild on national forest land, Hartshaw continued, so he and his co-workers were ordered to catch the kittens or somehow "dispose" of them.

So, the crew rounded up the cats, which were at that time about 2 years old, and found homes for them, but Kat was still on the run for about another year. When she was finally caught, the crew decided Hartshaw needed company in the fire tower, and she would be his companion—a 2-year-old wild cat. Hartshaw said he didn’t really name the cat at first, but had to come up with something when he took the calico to the vet. Kat was the final name.

Hartshaw, now pastor of Montoursville Brethren in Christ Church, said he grew up with a cat, but really wanted a dog at that time. But, he also didn’t want to see the cat die, so he decided to keep her. Besides that, he said, "you needed someone to talk to in that tower or you’d go crazy."

Hartshaw doesn’t regret keeping her. He brags she became a great pet and acted almost like a dog. She went jogging with him and kept him company, he said.

Not long after she was given to him, Kat had a litter of six kittens, Hartshaw said. He was done for the season in the fire tower, so he brought most of the kittens back East with him as he returned to Pennsylvania for the winter. By the time it was time to head west again, he found homes for most of the kittens, but kept one—E.T., who had an "extra toe."

Not long after Hartshaw and his furry companions returned to Idaho, Kat disappeared for a few weeks, only to have another litter of kittens shortly thereafter. A local waitress adopted E.T., and Hartshaw had Kat and her five kittens with him the rest of the summer in the fire tower, until he found homes for the kittens.

Then it was time again to head east for the winter. And, Kat lived with Hartshaw’s parents in Valley Forge while he drove truck for the winter. Then Kat traveled west again when Hartshaw went to Colorado.

"She’d sit on my shoulder while I drove," Hartshaw remembered about the drive to Colorado.

Kat went to live with Hartshaw’s parents, Horace and Gertrude, once again when he married his wife, Sherri. He now has his dog, a beagle named Wendell and a cat named Tigger that actually belongs to his 13-year-old daughter, Yvonne. He also has a son, Garrett, 11.

Kat continues to live with Horace and Gertrude in Marsh Hill, where they moved several years ago.

"She’s enjoying her retirement now," Hartshaw said. "She goes out and sits on the porch of their log home and soaks up the sun, but she doesn’t go too far. She’s an old cat, and she looks old, but she was such good company to me." BACK TO THE TOP

Home care month
By Bethany J. McClain

More than just care, Susquehanna Home Care and Hospice is a service available for people from all walks of life and from all spectrums of health.

From women with high-risk pregnancies and newborns with birth defects to the elderly or those who are terminally ill and wish to spend their final days at home, this local service is there to lend a caring hand.

Vicki Killoran, director of referral relations at Home Care, said one of the biggest benefits to caring for an individual in their own home is that the patient does not have to give up his or her identity and they feel more comfortable.

As part of its hospice service, the organization cares for individuals who have been diagnosed with a terminal disease and are given only six months or less to live. The hospice program allows the patient to stay in the comfort of their own home where their lives have grown and memories linger. There is no need to pack and stay in unfamiliar surroundings because a volunteer aid or nurse visits the home regularly

In a hospice situation, the patient’s caregiver is educated on how to care for their loved one who is dying. On the emotional front, they’re taught how to deal with certain aspects of a death and are offered a shoulder to lean on, support they may not otherwise have.

"Death is scary," Killoran said. "Most people don’t know how to deal with it when it comes up."

The hospice program encourages and teaches families to do as much for themselves as possible and trained nurses show caregivers how to monitor their patient’s condition. Killoran said many volunteers would come to sit with the patients and their families or stay in the home while the caregiver can run errands or simply take a walk.

"It would be a great benefit to me knowing that someone was coming in to show me how to take care of the person I love," Killoran said. "It’s a lot to deal with."

Because November is "Home Care Month," Susquehanna Home Care and Hospice is striving to educate the public of its services. There are caregiver courses available to the community as well as other educational demonstrations.

"My goal is to educate the community that they can achieve medical independence in their own home," Killoran said.

She added that the misconception of home care and hospice is that the public, and even surrounding doctors in the community, don’t understand at what a high level of service the organization provides to more than 170 individuals. Visiting nurses can get into some pretty complicated procedures from the home front, such as infusion services and dressing changes for wounds. Such things would normally require the patient to return time-and-time again to the hospital.

An example of a short-term situation where Home Care might come into play would be for individuals who just had open-heart surgery. With a visiting nurse to assist them, the person is able to return home to heal.

"Our goal is to go in and help the patient, help them get well and help their conditions," Killoran said. She said aids also help their home-care patients to take their medication and read the labels on their foods.

For example, a person who has a lengthy illness or is a long-term catheter patient has special needs and the goal of the nurse visiting would be to help them manage their condition.

Mildred "Millie" Kimble, 62, of Williamsport, said she wouldn’t know what to do without Susquehanna Home Care. Diagnosed with Lou Gehrig Disease, Kimble’s aid visits her from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. six days a week, helping with household chores such as making her breakfast and cleaning the bathroom. More importantly, Kimble’s aid assists her with her exercises and getting her showered and dressed.

"They’re wonderful help," Kimble said. "I don’t know what I’d do without them. It’s a wonderful service."

She has received help from the organization for two years and is grateful for everything they provide to her.

"All I know is they’re a big help to me," she said. "It would take me a lot longer for me to do what I have to do."

Any person who would like to volunteer their time caring for another individual may contact the hospice volunteer coordinator at 320-7690. Killoran said those who donate their time might give as many or as little hours as they are willing to. Susquehanna Home Care and Hospice is located at 1100 Grampian Blvd. More information is also available by visiting online at shscares.org. BACK TO THE TOP

Covenant Builders meeting your countertop needs

Kitchen and bathroom countertops are among a homeowner's most important items for creating a pleasing aesthetic look to their home. Meeting these homeowners’ needs is what Covenant Builders, 613 East Third St., does best.

"We offer the whole package in countertops from creating and designing to remodeling them to their complete installation," said Connie Neff, one of the owners of the business. "We also fabricate our own countertops."

The company features hundreds of colors and can accommodate any design or specifications you might have. They custom cut at the business and offers many brand names in countertops and cabinetry including KraftMaid and Aristokraft.

Covenant Builders has been around for three years; the business was the former T and M Kitchens and is now under the management of Earl and Connie Neff, as well as Jim and Amy Pardee. Earl brings more than 20 years of experience in countertops and cabinetry to the business and other employees offer extensive experience in with these products. Connie said she believes this is another major asset that Covenant Builders has. There are five employees at Covenant and they also do some subcontracting.

"We try to offer reasonable and competitive rates to the products we offer, along with the extra features that we offer in addition to our standard features," Connie said.

She said they could take care of the entire process from helping the buyer design their countertops and cabinetry to showing them the materials and then doing the installation process. They build with integrity.

Covenant Builders is in the process of a warehouse clearance and inventory sale of cabinetry and countertops and will be holding a grand opening kick-off sale on Nov. 15.

Showroom hours for Covenant Builders are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For further information call 327-1924. BACK TO THE TOP

United Way campaign in final stages

Heading into the final stretch of the 2003 Lycoming County United Way campaign, officials are facing a "good news, bad news" scenario.

"Many of you have heard the expression, ‘We got a long way to go and a short time to get there.’ That’s exactly the journey we’re facing in the days ahead," said Frank Concino, Lycoming County United Way campaign chairman. "It is great that we’ve raised $887,507 (63 percent of goal) thus far and we’re thankful for the support we’ve received. But, much more still needs to be raised to meet this year’s $1,415,000 goal.

"This past week has seen contributions rise significantly. We need that kind of momentum to continue. Final results are beginning to come in from many of our work place campaigns. In some instances, people have just delayed making their contribution. To those who haven’t already done so, please take a moment and make your United Way gift. 47 vital human service programs and thousands of people helped by United Way are counting on us," Concino added.

Larson Design Group tops the list of those completed work place campaigns, with a 39 percent increase in employee contributions. Among thus reporting increases are WNB Bank, 33 percent; Sam’s Club, 25 percent; The Legacy Bank, 24 percent; Wal-Mart, 21 percent; Woodlands Bank, 18 percent; Giant Food Stores, 14 percent; BonTon, 10 percent; and West Company-Montgomery and Jersey Shore State Bank 9 percent.

Campaign sections already exceeding their goals include East Lycoming Business, 218 percent; Montoursville School District, 120 percent; Jersey Shore Residential, 105 percent; and Montgomery School District 104 percent.

This year’s campaign will conclude with the annual Celebration Dinner, Monday, Nov. 25 at the Radisson Hotel. BACK TO THE TOP

Homecoming of the Soul: A Celebration of Women

Homecoming of the Soul, a women’s retreat slated for Nov. 14^th at the Genetti, will welcome women from various regions of Pennsylvania to Williamsport to be pampered for the weekend.

Contemplative meditations, yoga classes, creativity classes and spiritual workshops have been designed to nurture the soul.

According to organizer Tonya Anderson, "Our bodies will be pampered with chair massages, rose petal foot massages, reiki treatments. We will experience the sacredness of Native American traditions with Julia Small Voice," she added. "Women in the past used to have tea parties and quilting bees to be supportive of each other. Our retreat will be an updated version of the ancient art of women caring for and sharing with each other in a beautiful, joyful environment."

The keynote luncheon speakers will be Jacque Benton on "Nutrition for the Soul" and Dr. Richard Dowell on "The Journey of Healing." Noted songstress Henrietta Hadley and Anderson will present a special performance. The Rev. Ken and Evelyn Hayden will facilitate a ceremony recognizing and honoring the work of all women. Presenters represent a large range of ideologies, cultures and backgrounds.

Presenters are: Dr. Rachael Hungerford, "Writing your Life, Memoir and Memory"; Michele Morgen, "Goddesses Within, Connecting to Sacred Archetypes through Art Therapy"; Donna Wolfe, "Humor Through the Journey"; Vanessa Hunter, "God Is Calling", Darlene Baclawski, "The Art of Loving Yourself"; Jenna Melissas, "Voice as the Vehicle for Healing and Wholeness," Kundalini Yoga with Sat Jivan Kaur and Gurudass; Prof. Lynn Reitz, "Finding Your Authentic Voice"; and Jacque Benton, "Optimal Health by Detoxifying the Body."

The organizer's intention is to go beyond demographics, prejudices and judgments and find a common ground as women, and women helping women.

"Together, as a community of women, we will be able to create healthier and more nurturing relationships in our families, friendships, businesses and communities all the while having a great time," Anderson said.

An Open House will be held in the Terrace Room during the weekend, honoring artists Jeane Ryersbach, Deb Parsons, Grace Dooris, Sylvia Denger and vendors beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday and continuing through Sunday. The Junior League will have a table to share with attendees their activities in Williamsport. Old Lore and More booksellers Joe and Yvonne will be showcasing feminine literature beginning Friday at 3 p.m.

On Nov 15th, at 7 p.m., the women of the retreat and their guests will be attending the murder-mystery dinner theater produced and directed by Bob Taylor, "Murder Ahoy" by Craig Sodaro, in the Garden Ballroom of the Genetti. Tickets are $25 per person. Tickets may be purchased at the Genetti.

The cost for the retreat is $200 and includes all meals, the opportunity to select five classes, Kundalini yoga, reiki, chair massage and rose petal foot massages. Day rates are $100. Class /speaker rates are $30.

Credit cards and payment arrangements will be accepted. Please call Anderson at 323-2950, Evelyn Hayden at 320-0233 or Vanessa Hunter at 327-1787. Hotel arrangements must be made separately. BACK TO THE TOP

Flood management topic of public meeting

TROUT RUN—The Lycoming Creek Watershed Association will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Trout Run Fire Hall. The discussion on "Flood Management—Where is Your home?" will be presented by Mary Ellen Rogers of the County Planning Commission.

Rogers has been employed in positions involving research, community outreach and community organization. She is the community development/hazard reduction planner for the Lycoming County Planning Commission (LCPC). While with LCPC, she has been responsible for aspects of Project Impact, Flood Prone Property Acquisitions and Floodplain Management.

She has worked with local municipalities and property owners to help them understand the personal implications as the Federal Emergency Management Agency updates the Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Lycoming County.
As the deadliest and most damaging of U.S. weather hazards, floods have long been the focus of dreadful fascination by the public.
Flooding actually occurs from a range of causes and conditions, not always the ones that first come to mind. For example, few people appreciate that inland flooding has been the cause of more than half the deaths arising from hurricanes in the last three decades. Of the 56 people who died in 1999's Hurricane Floyd, 50 drowned from inland flooding. Torrential rains can accumulate when a storm becomes "stalled" in a certain location, even hundreds of miles from the coast. Of course, river flooding is the kind we think of most commonly. Heavy rains or rapid snowmelt on upstream watersheds cause rivers to rise, more so at choke points or where tributaries converge.
A flash flood is really any sudden, severe flood event, and they can have a variety of causes, although large sudden downpours are the main ones. The effects of a downpour are worsened when terrain will not absorb water. Reasons vary: soil type (e.g. clay), lack of vegetation, steepness, extensive pavement (urban areas), frozen or ice-covered soil or the saturation of soil by previous rains.

Another cause of flooding in some areas is ice jams. In colder northern areas, ice sheets form on the surface of a river during cold winter months of low flow. Warmer weather and higher flows cause the ice to break up into huge slabs that the current pushes downstream. When these slabs pile up against some obstacle, they form a dam that causes water to pool upstream and flooding results.
Floods typically get the most headlines when waters are about to crest. But there are important post-flood stories that need telling as well. Members of a flood-stricken community need all kinds of information to avoid pitfalls and deal with problems. For example, failure of normal sewage and drinking water systems means people need advice about how to find safe drinking water. They need to avoid pumping out flooded basements too quickly to prevent water pressure from destroying foundations. They need to understand and address the problems of mold and mildew in waterlogged buildings. And of course they need advice on how to connect with disaster-aid agencies.
Other interesting facts include: Just six inches of rapidly moving floodwater can knock a person down and 80 percent of flood deaths occur in vehicles when drivers try to navigate through flood waters. A mere two feet of water can float a large vehicle or even a bus. Flooded bridges are so damaged that any vehicle trying to cross has only a 50 percent chance of making it. BACK TO THE TOP

Acclaimed author Scott Weidensaul to present Lycoming Audubon Society program

Scott Weidensaul, a Pulitzer Prize-nominated author of more than two dozen books on natural history, will present a program on his latest book at the Nov. 19 Lycoming Audubon Society meeting.
In the program, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Little League Baseball's Recreation Hall in South Williamsport, Weidensaul will discuss "The Ghost With Trembling Wings: Science, Wishful Thinking, and the Search for Lost Species," regarding the search for
animals that may or may not be extinct.
Other books Weidensaul has written include "Mountains of the Heart: A Natural History of the Appalachians" and the Pulitzer Prize-nominated "Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere With Migratory Birds."
Weidensaul writes regularly for Smithsonian magazine, and his work appears frequently in such publications as The New York Times, Natural History, International Wildlife, Orion and Audubon.
He is a founding board member of the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art in Dauphin County and serves on the board of Audubon Pennsylvania. He lives in Schuylkill County, where he bands hawks, owls and hummingbirds each autumn. BACK TO THE TOP

Learn how to find reliable health information on the Internet

The Internet abounds with medical information. But, how do you know what information is correct and can be trusted and what is false and misleading?

Valerie Gross, community health resource librarian at Geisinger, will answer that question Nov. 18 at the James V. Brown Library when she presents "Access to Electronic Health Information on the Internet."

The hour and a half-long program will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the library’s computer lab. Registration is required and is limited to 10 participants. To register, call 326-0536 and ask for library services.

Gross will provide an overview of health information available on the Internet. She also will demonstrate the health related databases in PowerLibrary and demonstrate six trusted health web sites.

The program is funded through an award from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. More information is available on the Brown Library’s web site, www.jvbrown.edu, or by calling 326-0536. BACK TO THE TOP

Library to present 'Retirement Plans for the Nonprofit Agency'

Nonprofit organizations, like small businesses, often struggle to provide benefits for employees, but benefits are not necessarily out of reach for nonprofits. Nonprofit staff and trustees can learn more about the available benefits Nov. 23 at the James V. Brown Library.

Brian Burk, a senior consultant with Mutual of America, will present "Retirement Plans for the Non-Profit Agency" at 2 p.m. in the library’s Reference Room.

Burk will provide a brief history of retirement plans and ask the all-important question, "Why offer a plan at all?" He will explain who should benefit from the plan, the factors to consider in plan design and the benefits versus the costs of offering a plan. Finally, he will describe the types of plans available to nonprofit agencies.

Burk joined Mutual of America in 1996 and has been in the employee benefit field since 1992. He is a graduate of Clarion University with a degree in business management. Burk also is a certified employee benefit specialist, a designation he received through the Warton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.

The program may also include information about health benefits available for nonprofit organizations. There is no cost for the program, but registration is required. To register, call 326-0536 and ask for library services. BACK TO THE TOP

Divine Providence Hospital Auxiliary donates $31,000

The Divine Providence Hospital Auxiliary presented checks totaling $31,000 to the Kathryn Candor Lundy Breast Health Center and Susquehanna Home Care and Hospice.

A $15,500 check to the Breast Health Center will pay off the second new mammography unit the center has received in the past 18 months.

Past auxiliary donations have helped Susquehanna Home Care and Hospice convert to a new financial system, and the $15,000 donated to Home Care will help it with further investments in technology.

The Divine Providence Hospital Auxiliary organizes fundraisers including AutumnFest, clothing and jewelry sales and the annual Lights of Love to support hospital services throughout the year. BACK TO THE TOP

Health System board member retires

James H. Lamade, a member of the board of directors of the Susquehanna Health System and the Northcentral Pennsylvania Health System, has announced his retirement. Lamade has served on the board of directors of SHS since its inception in 1994. He has served on the NCPHS Board of Directors since 1969.

Dr. Davie Jane Gilmour, president of the Pennsylvania College of Technology and a member of the Williamsport Hospital and Medical Center Board of Managers since 1999, has been appointed to replace Lamade. She will remain on the Williamsport Hospital board of managers.

Additionally, Robert B. Lytle, president of Canteen Vending Co. in Williamsport and a SHS board member since 2000, will replace Lamade on the SHS executive committee. BACK TO THE TOP

Muncy Valley Hospital ER team wins quality award

MUNCY—A team from the emergency room at Muncy Valley Hospital received the Susquehanna Health System’s 2003 Chairman’s Quality Award for a project that demonstrated a systematic, process-focused analysis of the patient flow through the emergency room.

The team analyzed data, drilled down to the root of patient flow issues and creatively explored solutions that would meet the needs of their customers and provide high quality services. Through the implementation of a Triage process and the implementation of bedside registration, it has been able to decrease average "door-to-booth time" from 15 minutes to nine minutes.

More than 95 percent of the patients are triaged with 15 minutes and in 12 months, the department has transitioned from no bedside registration to 90 percent of all patients registered at bedside. BACK TO THE TOP

Cancer Society to host follow-up

The Youth Tobacco-Free Leadership Institute, an initiative of the American Cancer Society, will hold a one-day interactive training for students in grades 9 to 11 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Old Lycoming Township Volunteer Fire Company Social Hall, 1600 Dewey Ave.

Teams of five students from each participating school district will be provided the skills and knowledge needed to become advocates, peer educators and community activists for key tobacco control issues in their schools as well as their local communities.

For more information call Jan Ulmer at the American Cancer Society at (888) 227-5445, extension 3106. BACK TO THE TOP

PennDOT reminds homeowners to prepare mailboxes for winter

PennDOT would like to remind homeowners living along state routes that it is not too early to prepare their mailbox for the winter.

They offer these tips to help eliminate the possibility of being damaged this winter:

* Place a 6- to 8-inch piece of reflective tape on the mailbox to help snow plow operators to see it at night.

* Remove snow from around the mailbox, but avoid throwing it back on to the road.

* If damage was experienced in the past, homeowners may want to consider relocating the mailbox before this winter.

Taking steps to ensure the visibility and stability of mailboxes will help PennDOT and postal carriers deliver their best this winter. BACK TO THE TOP

Governor honors state's school retirees, proclaims appreciation day

Gov. Edward Rendell has proclaimed Nov. 16 as School Retiree Appreciation Day in Pennsylvania.
Rendell is responding to the more than 40,000 public school retirees who endorsed his candidacy leading up to the election a year ago. The members of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees (PASR) endorsed the Rendell bid to become governor after he had been interviewed and found to be very close to the PASR legislative objectives.
In Lycoming County nearly 600 persons are members of the Lycoming County Chapter of PASR and have decided to use the Rendell proclamation as a way to tell their story to the county public.
"We need to tell the people of the county who we are and what we are about," said Chapter President William "Bill" Byham. "The PASR is an organization like no other for public school retirees. While the majority of the members were classroom teachers, PASR welcomes all the people who worked in the schools. Nurses, secretaries, administrators, maintenance personnel, cafeteria employees. You name it and they are eligible for membership in PASR. Other school employee retiree organizations limit who can and can not be included in their membership."
Charles Tice is chairman of the community service committee that is gaining much respect for the success that is being recorded throughout the county. There are LCC members in almost every area of the county where volunteering is needed. Last year the committee followed chapter members as they volunteered and learned that those volunteers contributed 133 thousand, 238 hours of their time in such places as hospitals, schools, care homes, sight services and churches. They were found dealing with home visitation, working a Meals on Wheels route, ushering at the local theaters or doing needed clerical work in a church.
The committee, using state PASR guidelines, put a price on the volunteer hours from 2002 and showed that those LCC volunteers had "earned" more than $2,300,000 volunteer dollars
"That is something we are very proud of since so many of our members have taken serious, the act of volunteering," Byham said. Charlene Blanchard and Eleanor Love chair the social service/ memorial honor fund committee, charged with taking care "of our own."
Each chapter member is remembered by the total membership when they are in need of help. With the help of funds supplied from the state PASR, the SSMHF Committee sees to the needs of those in the chapter. A prime example at this time concerns LCC/PASR member Martha Matchen, who has just reached 100 years of age. One of her loves had been reading but her failing eyesight prohibits her from following that desire as she once did. The SSMHF committee, in an attempt to solve that problem, is taking her case to the North Central Sight Services so she can be "read to" with their special radio reading service.
With 33 other chapter members 90 years of age or over, the social services committee is kept busy keeping in touch with their needs.
Every year the chapter raises funds for a $750 scholarship assistance to a graduating senior who has decided to major in education.
Dr. Paul Grove heads up that committee that has one school retiree from each of the county public school districts participating. The committee members work with high school guidance directors in offering the scholarship to potential senior graduates. Those students fill out an application that is then studied by the guidance people as well as the committee. One of the applicants is chosen for the scholarship with a key condition being they will declare a major in education.
There are six Lycoming countians who have claimed that scholarship and all of them are doing well in their respective colleges.
LCC President-elect Philip Thomas conducts an annual pre-retirement seminar that has become successful. Started for school employees contemplating retirement, Thomas now sees persons from other areas of employment come in for the information given by his panel of expert professionals who deal with items such as social security and investment planning.
One other key part of LCC PASR is the legislative committee chaired by Dr. Oscar Knade.
This committee stays in constant touch with what is happening with the legislature in Harrisburg, especially in matters involving the state retirement systems and pension funds.
Gov. Rendell praises the PASR membership for their long service to the public schools of Pennsylvania. "It is time to say 'Thanks' in recognition of the tremendous service these individuals provided the Commonwealth as public school employees and that they continue to provide as volunteers." BACK TO THE TOP

Salvation Army celebrates holidays with Festival of Trees
By Kate A. Griffith

In the time-honored tradition of the season of giving, the Lycoming County Salvation Army has begun a new tradition -- the Festival of Trees. The festival is a display of decorated Christmas trees donated by area businesses, organizations and groups.

The Salvation Army is accepting entries for the inaugural festival through Nov. 21. The event will be held at the Lycoming Mall from Nov. 30 to Dec. 13.

Auctioneer Michael Roan will auction trees and the donated incentives live at the Lycoming Mall at 7 p.m. on Dec. 13. The tree that goes to the highest bidder will win an award, as well the tree that nets the most votes from shoppers. Mall-goers can vote for their favorite tree for $1.

Lycoming Mall and Backyard Broadcasting sponsor the event. The entry fee of $50 includes the six-and-a-half-foot tree and signage at the mall. Mall staff will erect the trees and signs. The business or organization purchasing the tree is responsible for decorating it and offering an incentive to boost auction bids.

Maj. Marie Harris of the Salvation Army said the fund-raiser is modeled after a similar festival in Ohio. "We were looking for something that would be a little different, something that we could build on and grow with," she explained, adding that she would like to see at least 30 entries. However, the mall can accommodate many more trees.

Some of the businesses that already have entered include Lycoming M, Backyard Broadcasting, Montgomery Plumbing, Wal-Mart, Horsepower Harley Davidson, Pepsi, Twin Hills Health Center, the Lycoming Creek and Newberry Lions clubs and the Hemlock Girl Scout Council. Several mall stores, including Outlook for Hair, Snells Candle and Fashion Bug also are sponsoring trees.

"All proceeds will go to the Salvation Army, which will assist us in our on-going needs," Harris said. "Need knows no season."

The Salvation Army also is looking for volunteers to ring bells around the county during the holiday season. Harris said individuals, groups and families are welcome to take time at a kettle for a day or half a day, whatever they can do. "Ringing the bell for Salvation Army is a nice way of sharing to help those that are less fortunate at Christmas time," she said.

The organization also is taking applications for Christmas assistance for those who will be in need during the holiday season, Harris said. Those in need can call 326-9187 to schedule an appointment for any Thursday through Dec. 11.

Anyone who wishes to sponsor a tree for the Festival of Trees or wishing to ring a bell also can contact the Salvation Army at 326-9187. BACK TO THE TOP

Salvation Army looking for ‘angels’ to help the less fortunate
By Kate A. Griffith

During the season of giving, it’s important to think of those who are less fortunate. That’s why the Salvation Army has Angel Trees on display at several area businesses.

Families, groups and individuals--anyone who wants to help a child in need--may make the Christmas season bright for a child in need by choosing his or her name from an Angel Tree at Wal-Mart, M&T, Sovereign or Woodlands banks or St. Lawrence Church in South Williamsport.

The nametag includes the children's ages, clothing sizes and toys they wish to have for Christmas.

According to Maj. Marie Harris, donors can get a child one thing off the list or complete the entire list. "Some people just pick one thing off the child’s list, while others buy everything," she said. "I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for businesses and groups to take on a child and provide that child’s Christmas. There’s no better joy than knowing that a child has had a Christmas because of your generosity. Christmas is about giving."

When done shopping for an angel, people may take the items along with the tree tag back to the location of the Angel Tree. The gifts are distributed on Dec. 23.

Harris said the need for Christmas assistance is on the rise. "There are more people out of work this year and we are finding that some people have very low-paying jobs and by the end of the month they don’t have enough money to pay the rent and feed their families," she explained. "When it comes to Christmas, there’s no extra money to be able to enjoy this festive time with their family."

The Salvation Army not only is looking for people to help out the children and families, it also is looking for additional businesses that are willing to display an Angel Tree. "The Salvation Army is the vehicle for the community to help these families," Harris said. "We can only provide as our community helps us to do so."

For more information call The Salvation Army at 326-9187. BACK TO THE TOP

Local Elections Analyzed
The Politics behind the News
By Jonathan Williamson, Ph.D.

The clearest picture emerging from last week’s elections in Lycoming County and Williamsport was that partisanship is alive and well even in local politics. In elections for county judge, county commission, county controller, Williamsport mayor and Williamsport city council, the only Democrat to win office was Ernest Larson, who defeated Joseph Neyhart to fill the county commission seat protected for a member of the minority party.

Polling of Lycoming County voters on the judicial race I conducted with my students before the election indicated that a full two-thirds intended to vote for the candidate for judge affiliated with their party. In the county, 60 percent of those registered in one of two major parties are registered as Republicans.

The story of the election is more than a story of partisanship, however. For example, if pure partisanship had defined the election, it would have lead to different outcomes in Williamsport where Democrats have a slight advantage with 50.5 percent of party registrants. In addition to the role party played, the election was shaped by turnout differences between the two parties and candidate effects.

To demonstrate how these three factors combined to shape the election results, consider how individual candidate’s voted percentages compared to party registration figures in the adjacent table. The figures represent how much more or less each candidate received as a percentage of the vote compared to the party registration in the county or city respectively. Comparisons between candidates provide a sense of how much of a candidate’s support is partisan based, how much is based on strong (or weak) turnout by party supporters, how much related to the candidate him or herself and his or her campaign.

Regarding turnout, the consistently negative results among Democratic candidates for county commission and city council indicate the Democratic Party failed to reach its full potential likely because turnout among Democratic voters was lower than among Republican voters. We do not yet have access to final turnout figures for each party so one must infer the pattern, but the pattern is consistent. In fact, the only Democrats to outperform their party’s registration percentages were Greevy and Raker, but both are easily explained in what follows.

Beyond turnout, candidate effects also appeared in several races. Greevy outperformed his party (and in a two-person race, Gray by definition underperformed) based on an advantage Greevy held in name recognition related to his family’s long history in the county’s judicial system. Nassberg (compared to Burke) underperformed likely due to the polarizing stances he has taken on several county issues. Raker outperformed Democratic registration as the incumbent controller with the increased name recognition that brings. Bailey underperformed in part because of the inconsistent campaign he ran in the weeks leading to the election. Finally, comparing O’Connor and Whaley to Hall and Gilbert, the former outperformed the Republican Party in the city on the basis of their heightened name recognition resulting from their status as incumbents. That the figures for Hall and Gilbert are fall close to zero indicates that voters were unfamiliar with the two candidates, but supported them because of their party affiliation.

—Williamson is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Lycoming College.

BACK TO THE TOP

Where will they lead us?
By Stephen M. Shope

The future progress and development of our communities now rests squarely on the shoulders of four individuals: County commissioners Rebecca Burke, Dick Nassberg and Ernie Larson will soon join Williamsport’s mayor-elect, Mary Wolf, in the daunting task of revitalizing Lycoming County.

Throughout their respective campaigns they have sought to convince us of their solid work ethics, commitment and ability to lead. With our votes we have given them a mandate to improve our quality of life over the next four years. It is our responsibility to hold them accountable every step of the way.

The array of social, political and economic difficulties that plague our communities demands a change at the top levels of our government. We should no longer be content with the "business as usual" approach to our livelihoods. We need leaders with a dynamic vision and the ability to assess, manage and mobilize the area’s existing resources. We need our elected officials to stand on the steps of the courthouse or city hall and deliver a proclamation to the people. We need visionaries with the boldness and creativity to present the public with worthy and feasible goals.

Factories are closing and other businesses are moving out of the area. Production and manufacturing workforces are shrinking leaving many without work. We so desperately need a vision for economic growth and vitality in Lycoming County.

We are fortunate to have two highly esteemed colleges in our area but do little to retain their students after they’ve graduated. Our own children often relocate to other areas in search of the opportunities that we fail to create for them. We need a vision for cultivating more productive relationships with our colleges and the students.

We are plagued with statistics indicating that the majority of our youth frequently engage in destructive behavior. Drug use, crime and sexual promiscuity are rampant among our children and the prevention and intervention systems currently in place are inadequate. We need a vision for an effective and cost efficient system of delivering social and human services to our citizens. This will require true grit because the whole process starts with the admission that the current system is flawed at best.

Our county is home to miles of beautiful blue waters but little exists to provide visitors with recreational access to them. Our area is rich in history and has many landmarks that would be of interest on a national level, but few are aware of it. We need a vision for realizing the full potential of our travel and tourism industry.

If this great valley is to see another boom era, it will require drastic changes. Those changes can only begin with a vision for bigger and better things. President Kennedy pledged to put a man on the moon by the end of 1969. He challenged and inspired men and women to meet that goal. And they did. Kennedy himself possessed no knowledge of rocket science. He simply offered the vision.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired one of the greatest civil rights movements in the history of our country when he delivered his "I Have A Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. His vision was radical, even dangerous but it inspired people. Their goal was realized. It started with a vision.

We need leaders in Lycoming County that will inspire us with a vision, not promises. We need leaders that will offer accountability, not excuses. In short, we need individuals who will not just manage our problems, but lead us through them into a bright and prosperous future.

None of this is to say that we should rely entirely on the manpower of these four elected officials to achieve our goals for us. It is quite the contrary. It is when politicians make promises, no matter how well intended they are, that they place the burden of progress solely on themselves. The public cannot share ownership in promises. By developing a clear, unified vision for Williamsport and Lycoming County they would create a movement that each of us can and should engage in. If we fail, we fail together. If we succeed, we all share in the success together.

If the county commissioners and mayor of Williamsport are sincere in their pledges to lead us into better times, and I believe they are, we should expect an outline of their vision within the first 100 days of the commencement of their terms. If this doesn’t happen it would be a pretty good indicator that our hopes for a better future have been placed in the "business as usual" file.

— Shope is a marketing and development consultant. He can be reached for comment through his website www.SteveShope.com. BACK TO THE TOP

Information on unpaid local taxes
By Dottie White

Oops. I forgot to pay my tax bill. What happens next?

All tax bills have been issued for the current year. This includes Real Estate (County, Municipality and School District) and Per Capita bills if your area still issues them. Only Jersey Shore still had the Occupational Assessment Tax this year.

All tax bills issued for the year 2003 are now in the penalty stage. Taxes not paid by Dec. 31^st are turned over the Lycoming County Tax Claim Dept, when the Tax Collector settles in January. School Districts generally contract with a collection agency for unpaid Per Capita bills.

There is still time to pay. You may contact your specific tax collector to see what hours they may have between now and the end of the year. Tax collectors will accept payment until postmark of Dec. 31, 2003, unless otherwise written on their individual bill.

Tax notices are mailed to the last address recorded at the assessment office or the address on the last recorded deed. Failure to receive a tax notice does not relieve the taxpayer from liability or change the due dates. Notify the Lycoming County Assessment office if your mailing addresses changes, so that you get your mail correctly.

Watch each year for your bills—generally the first week of March and July.

Next month: Frequently asked questions regarding real estate taxes. Send your questions and comments to taxlady@chilitech.net.

— Dorothy "Dottie" White is the Loyalsock tax collector and president of the Lycoming Coming Tax Collectors Association BACK TO THE TOP

Penn College announcements
Floral Design Show

Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Floral Design Show, an event that featured the artistry of four alumni designers, grossed more than $4,000 recently to benefit student scholarships.

The invitation-only event, "The Colors of the Holidays," was attended by a crowd of 285 alumni, friends of the College and area garden-club members. Proceeds from the $10 admission cost – as well as an auction of the designers’ and students’ creations – will benefit the School of Natural Resources Management Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Serving as commentator for the event was Christine Fink, a floral-design instructor and floral-event coordinator at the College. Fink has more than 40 years’ experience in the floral industry and is an American Institute of Floral Designers certified candidate. The premier designer for the show was Daniel Vaughn, owner-operator of Colonial Florist and Gift Shop, Mount Union, who serves as president of both the Pennsylvania Florist Industry Association and the Northeast Region of the AIFD. He is also a member of the American Academy of Floriculture.

Student Excels in ‘Game of Logging’ Competition
A Forest Technology student at Pennsylvania College of Technology finished fourth in the recent 2003 National Collegiate Game of Logging competition held at Penn State Mont Alto.

Justin A. Snyder, 255 Parallel St., Pleasantville, competed against 15 students from seven other colleges. The competition featured five events: speed cut, precision bore, precision stump, spring pole and tree-felling.

Snyder will compete next year in Game of Logging’s landowner competition, to be held in Wisconsin.

Game of Logging, which focuses on safe and productive timber-harvesting techniques, also holds a professional logger competition, which was won in 2002 by Snyder’s father, Kevin. During school breaks, Justin, a second-year student, works for his father and uncle at Snyder Logging, Pleasantville.

Students Receive ‘Plastics Pioneers’ Scholarships

The Plastics Pioneers Association, a society of plastics-industry leaders and innovators, awarded $1,500 scholarships recently to four students in the Plastics and Polymer Engineering Technology bachelor-degree major at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

The four Penn College students are among 12 nationwide to receive the scholarships from the association, whose 250 members have been employed in the plastics field for at least 30 years and have made significant contributions in the areas of new technology, education, organizational leadership, polymer development and processing-machinery innovation.

The Penn College students receiving scholarships for the 2003-04 academic year are: Neil P. Deskevich, 1312 Benshoff Hill Road, Johnstown; Ryan R. Romberger, 129 N. Pine Alley, Pillow; Nathan E. Weaver, RR 1, Box 93, Gaines; and Adam R. Wrench, 7260 State Route 654, Williamsport.

To be considered for the scholarships, students must submit a resume, a transcript, a list of extracurricular activities, a letter of recommendation and an essay describing their interest in a career in plastics.

Web Site for Off-Campus Housing
A Web site developed by Pennsylvania College of Technology provides a wealth of information and resources for students who live off campus, as well as the landlords who offer apartments for rent in the community.

The site, www.pct.edu/och/, features a list of landlords and available apartments, accessed through the College's Student Information System. Upon acceptance to the College, students are given access to the online Student Information System and the private housing information.

For more information about Residence Life at Penn College, call (570) 320-8023, send e-mail to reslife@pct.edu, or visit www.pct.edu/reslife/. BACK TO THE TOP

Willis honored by Black Conference on Higher Education

LOCK HAVEN—The 17^th annual Robert D. Lynch Student Leadership Institute organized by Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education was held Oct. 24-26 at Lake Harmony, and was attended by 500 minority students and nearly 100 faculty members from 47 colleges and universities throughout the Commonwealth.

A highlight of the conference was the honoring of Dr. Craig Dean Willis for his continuous active support of the conference since its inception, for his encouragement and support of Robert Lynch as he founded the Student Leadership Institute (now known as the Robert D. Lynch Student Leadership Institute) and advancing the causes of minority students, staff, and faculty at the University. During his two decades of tenure at the University, the number of minority students, faculty and staff at the University has significantly increased.

"I’m pleased and honored to be recognized by this organization that is an important one in higher education," Willis said. BACK TO THE TOP

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