NORTHUMBERLAND — A West Milton pastor and a Bloomsburg University professor were among 101 people honored as “citizen journalists” by the American Civil Liberties Union’s Central Susquehanna chapter Sunday night.
More than 100 people gathered at the Front Street Station for dinner and to recognize the recipients of the ACLU’s Thomas Paine Awards. These people had letters to the editor and op-ed pieces published in The Daily Item, among other local and regional publications.
The Rev. Leah Schade, pastor of United in Christ Lutheran Church, West Milton, won the Mark McCollough Religious Leadership Award, recognizing her for her “religious leadership and exemplary and tireless efforts” to bring attention to environmental issues, particularly hydrofracking.
Wendy Lee, a professor of philosophy at Bloomsburg University, won the Clyde Peeling Critical Thinker Award, also for her work and teachings on environmental issues such as fracking.
The Thomas Paine winners who attended represented a broad range of writers and topics, everything from Pennsylvania’s voter ID law to bullying to fracking to gun control and ownership.
They were invited one by one to accept their awards and say a few words. Some simply said thank you, and others championed their causes, such as Lana Golden, recognized for an October letter to the editor in The Daily Item about pro-life issues.
“So much is going wrong today,” she told the crowd, “but write about it and see the reaction you’ll get.”
Dr. Robert Lamparter, honored for his writings about health care, advocated for more disclosure to patients about the cost of doctors’ services. Sue Laidacker, recognized for her editorial efforts about fracking, said she “wants it banned, not regulated.”
Five Selinsgrove Area High School students were among those honored. Their letters to the editor in The Daily Item were an assignment from teacher Harvey Edwards as part of their studies of “The Crisis” by Thomas Paine.
Executive Director Reggie Shuford, of the ACLU’s Pennsylvania chapter in Philadelphia, encouraged everyone to keep writing to newspapers and other media, saying such efforts have helped the ACLU in its fight against the voter ID law and with its current priority, criminal justice reform.
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ACLU chapter honors citizen journalists
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TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Shamrock Road near Paxinos
PAXINOS — A PennDOT bridge crew in Northumberland County is scheduled to complete a deck preservation project at a bridge in Shamokin Township on June 4, weather permitting.
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Youths prepare for trout release
MILLERSBURG — For the second year, the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art will help students complete their journey learning about the life cycle of trout.
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Sixth graders at Line Mountain perform play on Responsibility
From left, Riley Kieffer, Tash Schadel, the sports commentators; Ronee Teitter, coach, and Marissa Campbell, competitor in the Excuse Olympics.
TREVORTON — The Line Mountain elementary schools studied the Character Goal Responsibility as part of the Responsive Classroom initiative.
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Music and wine festival scheduled for June 1
GRATZ — The Gratz Fair Association’s second annual music and wine festival is scheduled for June 1 at the Gratz Fairgrounds. The event, from noon to 6, will benefit the fair’s competitive exhibits program.
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Vets to bring 'Moving Wall' to region in May
COAL TOWNSHIP — Vietnam veteran Sol Bidding made a vow to his fallen war comrades: “I would not forget my brothers and sisters, and I would not let my nation forget them.”
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'Sweet Arrival of Spring' event arrives Friday night
MILLERSBURG - The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art will host “Sweet Arrival of Spring” fundraiser at 7 p.m. April 26 in the Center’s galleries, 176 Water Company Road.
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Rededication service set
HICKORY CORNERS — The Fort Halifax Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, will hold a memorial and rededication service at 10 a.m. May 11 at Zions Stone Valley Cemetery, Hickory Corners.
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World War II memorial not forgotten in Herndon
The Herndon World War II Memorial.
HERNDON — Among “road closed” signs and traffic barriers in the borough maintenance building, the 8-foot-by-8-foot Herndon World War II memorial board stands, waiting for a new home.
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Ann Walshaw hopes that home is found sooner than later. -
Young American: William C. Grove
William Grove
Young Americans for April have been announced by the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce.
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Olympic gold medalist coming to Keystone Shooting Park
United States of America's Vincent Hancock celebrates after receiving the gold medal in the men's skeet event, at the 2012 Summer Olympics last summer in London.
Olympic gold medalist Vincent Hancock will host a meet and greet at 7 p.m. on April 25 at the Keystone Shooting Park as part of KSP's Open House.
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Scheeres to discuss "Untold Story of Peoples Temple"
Journalist Julia Scheeres will give the talk, "Narrating Jonestown and the Peoples Temple," Wednesday, April 3, at 7 p.m. in the Forum of the Elaine Langone Center at Bucknell University.
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Public invited to mountaintop Easter service on Saturday
PAXINOS — The public is invited to attend the annual Easter service at the “Old Rugged Cross” on the mountaintop overlooking Route 61 at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
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TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Shamrock Road near Paxinos
