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Nearly 600 young people descended on State College, PA, during the first weekend of February for the Pennsylvania 4-H State Leadership Conference and Junior Leadership Conference. The weekend afforded the youngsters is an opportunity to come together for leadership training, networking, and learning experiences.
The weekend, themed “Leadership in Overtime”, kicked off with welcome addresses by the Director of Pennsylvania 4-H Dr. Joshua Rice and Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding. The Pennsylvania 4-H State Council — a premier group of young people selected from around the state to be the official spokespeople for the Pennsylvania 4-H program – and the Pennsylvania 4-H State Office coordinated the weekend event.
Saturday was a full day of leadership workshops for the 13-18 year-old attendees of the leadership conference. Those workshops included topics such as teambuilding, stress management, understanding leadership styles, etiquette, interview preparation, and many others.
The Junior Conference for the 10-13 year-old participants gave the younger members a small glimpse of what they can expect to see when they are older. The workshop topics included communication and being a positive role model.
One of the highlights of the Conference was the keynote speakers. The juniors enjoyed an entertaining talk by Katina Hunter, 4-H alum and current volunteer in Pennsylvania. Friday’s keynote speaker, Clint Pulver, entertained the older teens with his comedy and message about leaving a mark and making the best for the world instead of best in the world.
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| Lackawanna County 13-18 year-old 4-H members attending the leadership conference were, l-r, Maria Parola, Moscow; Ava Davis, South Abington; Hannah Albano, Dunmore; Meghan Graham, Clarks Summit; Julia Mazur, Olyphant; and Faith Hosie, Jessup. |
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| Lackawanna County Junior attendees were, l-r, Emmy Jones, Factoryville; Katie Jones, Factoryville; and Nora Evans, Dalton. |
For more information on 4-H, contact Sandi Graham, 570-963-6842.
Irene Cinquegrani, center, a resident at Green Ridge Health Care Center, Dunmore, recently celebrated her 108th birthday. The milestone occasion was marked with a certificate of recognition from the Lackawanna County Commissioners.
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| L-r, Ann Wentland, niece; Ms. Cinquegraqni and Lackawanna County Commissioner Patrick M. O’Malley. |
Based on current cold weather information, the Lackawanna County Commissioners are declaring a “Code Blue” frigid weather alert.
Utilizing forecasts from the National Weather Service at Binghamton, NY, and in consultation with the Lackawanna County Emergency Management Agency, a “Code Blue” is in effect for Lackawanna County, beginning at 6 PM on Friday (today) and ending at 1 PM on Sunday, February 10.
A “Code Blue” alert is issued when the forecasted temperature in Lackawanna County (including wind chills) is expected to reach 20 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. If necessary, based on weather conditions, an extension of the alert may be issued.
The goal of this notification is to: make people aware of the extremely cold conditions; provide information related to health and wellness in the cold weather; and publicize the locations of emergency homeless shelters that are operated by area social service agencies.
During a “Code Blue” alert, homeless individuals can access an emergency shelter at the following locations:
- Anthony’s Haven, 409 Olive Street, Scranton (hours: 7:30 p.m. to 8 a.m.)
- Community Intervention Center, 445 North 6th Avenue, Scranton (hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
Information on personal health and safety during freezing weather can be found on the Lackawanna County homepage by visiting www.lackawannacounty.org and clicking on the “Code Blue Alert” icon on the right side of the screen. Alerts will also be posted on the County’s social media outlets for the duration of the advisory period.
The Lackawanna County ARTS Engage! Task Force is seeking local groups, schools, businesses, and individuals to paint ceramic butterflies for a community arts program on the theme of transformation.
The public is being encouraged to use the project as a means of sharing stories of individual or community transformation on social media. Future activities will focus on storytelling, art health and wellness, and community connection.
The program, which will launch this Spring, will showcase the “works of art” outside the County’s Courthouse.
There is no charge for the butterflies, which should be done with acrylic paint. Art supplies will be made available for groups if they are unable to obtain them. To request butterflies, please contact Maureen McGuigan, Deputy Director of Arts and Culture, at 570.963.6590, ext. 102, or at arts-culture@lackawannacounty.org, or through Facebook at Lackawanna Arts and Culture Department.
The ARTS Engage! Program was created in 2008, through a partnership between the Lackawanna County Arts and Culture Department and the Lackawanna County Office of Youth and Family Service (OYFS) as a means of providing access to and supporting public arts programming that can build pro-social skills in youth. The success of this venture led to exploring how the arts can collaborate with other agencies, community groups and schools to help solve social issues, build community and increase equity. In 2016, an ARTS Engage! Task Force was launched with a mission of “improving the quality of life for Lackawanna County residents through access to and participation in artistic, creative and cultural experiences.”
ARTS Engage! Task Force Members include: Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging, Lackawanna County Department of Planning and Economic Development, Lackawanna County Youth and Family Services, Lackawanna County Office of Information Technology, Lackawanna-Susquehanna Office of Behavioral Health/Intellectual Disabilities/Early Intervention Program, Lackawanna County-Susquehanna Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs, Outreach Center for Community Resources, The Deutsche Institute, Verve Vertu Art Studio, and the Veterans’ Resource Coalition of NEPA.
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