Christmas trees are an iconic symbol of the holiday season. Whether they are personal trees nestled in the corner of a living room for families to enjoy or towering evergreens serving as the focal point of a town square, Christmas trees are a wonder to behold. Many people have fond memories of time spent around
READ MORE“Everyone loves you, Smokey!” So exclaimed a third-grade pupil at the Montgomery Area Elementary School, shortly after her class had its picture taken with the world’s most famous bear at a fire-prevention presentation by the Clinton Twp. Volunteer Fire Company. Each of the students were moving away after their picture, preparing for the next class
READ MOREAs a 14-year-old, Rick Strous was intensely interested in the fire service and serving his community. That interest and dedication has culminated, 50 years later, with him being named the Pennsylvania BLS Technician of the Year for 2019. Rick began his life-long involvement with the fire service in October 1969 as a member of Boy
READ MORECooler temperatures and lower humidity have ushered in the fall season, which officially began on Monday, September 23rd. Soon, the various hunting seasons we have all been waiting for will be underway, and yet, there is still a lot we can do in the area of habitat improvement over the next few months. Specifically, adding
READ MOREParticipation in sports can be an important component of a student’s overall school experience. So it should come as no surprise that the number of participants in high school sports increased for the 29th consecutive year in 2017-18, according to the annual High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the National Federation of State High
READ MOREThat kid you knew in high school – the one so far out of your clique? You thought about him the other day, nothing important. A few of his friends were your friends but mostly, he was just some kid. Still, the memory of him popped into your head and you wondered what ever happened
READ MOREVolunteer Opportunities Available at the YWCA Volunteers are what have propelled the YWCA Northcentral PA forward for the past 126 years. There are numerous opportunities for community members to get involved at the YWCA to help us eliminate racism and empower women in Lycoming County. We are looking for new volunteers for Wise Options, Liberty
READ MOREThat kid you knew in high school – the one so far out of your clique? You thought about him the other day, nothing important. A few of his friends were your friends but mostly, he was just some kid. Still, the memory of him popped into your head and you wondered what ever happened
READ MORESince 1929 the Junior League of Williamsport has been a driving force behind initiatives that have significantly contributed to the health of our community. The members of the League reflect a wide range of backgrounds, interests and professional pursuits that work together to identify unmet needs and create bridges to facilitate change. For 90 years,
READ MOREA string of bad hair days usually sends me straight to the barber’s chair. When my unruly locks grow past a certain point, I know it’s time for a good pruning, as it were. The same holds true for many of the flowering shrubs in my garden. A good percentage of blooming shrubs used in
READ MOREAs part of the national 2019 “I Ask” Campaign the YWCA Northcentral PA joins the National Sexual Violence Resource Center in empowering individuals to practice consent every day. This April, the YWCA will engage the broader community as part of its annual Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) campaign. This year’s theme, “I Ask” builds on
READ MOREIt’s time to say goodbye to winter and hello to spring. The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Howard Nursery wants to help you “spring” into the season and connect with wildlife in your backyard. Bluebird nesting boxes built by staff at Howard Nursery are available for sale at the nursery office, as well as the Game Commission’s
READ MOREI request that during that month (March) our people rededicate themselves to the splendid aims and activities of the Red Cross. ~ President Franklin D. Roosevelt, first Presidential Proclamation of March as Red Cross Month, 1943 I am a big proponent of the Red Cross. They have their issues, just like most large non-profits, but
READ MOREHow many women, if they could look into the future, would still decide to get married and have a family? There are few guarantees in this “deal.” I am awed when I consider what my mother went through. Would she still have married Sam from Rhode Island after WWII if she could have foreseen the
READ MOREThere has never been a time when so many instant communication options are available for public use. Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube are commonplace. Most everyone shares their personal stories on Facebook and uses the medium to troll for friends, often boasting about how many ‘friends’ they’ve connected with. But in reality, are those ‘friends’ really
READ MORECold weather comes with winters in Pennsylvania. It’s important to remember that a little preparation and allowing for extra time can go a long way to keep you safe when traveling this winter. Severe weather can be both frightening and dangerous for drivers. When it comes to safely traveling in any type of winter weather
READ MOREEach year, the number one and number two New Year’s resolutions for Americans are to get healthy and lose weight. But only eight percent of people felt they keep that resolution beyond a few months. It is important to start 2019 with the right types of resolutions — healthy resolutions that help you reach your
READ MOREThe Leaders in Our Neighborhood articles have not been as frequent in 2018 as in previous years, largely because of increased responsibilities in other areas (see “County Hall Corner”), but I felt a year-end feature was called for. And in keeping with the end of year mood, it seemed appropriate to announce my choice for
READ MOREIt’s not the weather that keeps your eyes open these days. It’s not the paper skeletons that appear in your neighbor’s windows or the pumpkins that grin from their stoops, either. No, what really makes you howl are all the new Halloween-themed books for everyone in the family… Candy isn’t the only thing the smallest
READ MOREGenetic testing to discover ancestry is becoming very popular. Discovering your family history can reveal unexpected connections, new storylines, and a world of new relatives. But, there’s another benefit for some specific types of genetic testing. The genes you inherit from your biological parents can help doctors determine your cancer risk, including your risk for
READ MOREThe never say die tennis legend Jimmy Connors once said he never lost to an opponent because he ran out of time. Rather, he shrugged and said he merely ran out of options. I know the feeling all too well. With cancer, you go through a few rather grim milestones. You remember the day and
READ MOREFirst and foremost, I would like to congratulate my friends at Little League International on their recent successes. The 2018 Little World Series was off the charts, and I wanted to say thanks for another great experience. Jensen and I made it over to a Lamade and Volunteer on a number of occasions. He is
READ MOREThe YWCA Northcentral PA is looking for individuals who are passionate about helping victims of domestic violence and sexual assault through Wise Options’ direct volunteer training program. Potential volunteers are required to go through 80 hours of direct service training, which begins at an initial training from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Sept. 29 at the YWCA,
READ MORENewborns at UPMC Susquehanna’s The Birthplace at UPMC Susquehanna Williamsport got into the spirit of the Little League® Baseball World Series as the nursery was transformed into a dugout, complete with the newborns outfitted in hand-sewn baseball caps, provided by UPMC Susquehanna senior program’s Knotty Knitters, and team UPMC onesies. Staff celebrated the little MVPs and their
READ MOREThere was a time in your life when you tried everything. Full-time, part-time, gig-worker, entrepreneurship, you changed jobs like most people change clothes. It’s exhausting and disheartening and author Christie Watson had the same experience: café worker, milk deliverer, video shop clerk, she tried them all but in the new book “The Language of Kindness,”
READ MOREOne of the most frequently used methods of creating a better habitat, usually in the form of a food source, is the establishment of a food plot, or perhaps, multiple food plots. The size, shape and location of any food plot are determined by topography, water sources and often the proximity of property boundaries. Consulting
READ MOREYour Habitat Management Plan should include an inventory of current desirable and undesirable bushes, shrubs and vines on your property. Additionally, include a listing of those new bushes and vines you would like to add — including how and where you plan to plant them. CURRENT UNDESIRABLE PLANTS: Over the years, government agencies and well-intended
READ MOREWriter’s note: We have previously discussed developing a Management Plan for Habitat Improvement, and now we’ll look at specifics. This is the first of a 3-part series about Habitat Improvement, which will cover: Trees, Bushes, Shrubs and Vines, and Food Plots. EXISTING TREES: To begin with, we should have done a survey that identifies the
READ MOREA few years ago, I wrote about my strategies for coping with first-time motherhood. I recently had my second child, another girl, and some of those same strategies still come into play. However, I also have a 2-year-old toddler to parent in addition to life with a newborn, so it’s VERY different the second time
READ MOREThis article will conclude our three-part series on addressing the current crisis in school shootings and how Lycoming County is doing everything possible to prevent it from happening here. The first two installments featured the Juvenile Probation Department with Brian Pick and an example of school support with the East Lycoming Area High School and
READ MORELaw enforcement in this country has been taking it on the chin lately as the result of some high visibility, controversial incidents that have been taking place in various parts of the country. In Lycoming County, law enforcement owns a good reputation and the respect of the citizens, this may be the result in part,
READ MOREWith the daytime temperatures in the mid-70s, cooler evenings and the occasional shower or two, it appears that spring is finally upon us. Beautiful sunrises greet the morning skies, and the sunsets can be spectacular, with so much to see and do throughout the day. Additionally, since the last week in May and the first
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