Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Susquehanna Greenway Partnership collaborating with the Susquehanna Warrior Trail Council

SHICKSHINNY –Dale Freudenberger, representing the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, attended the meeting of the Susquehanna Warrior Trail Council recently to share news on developments along the D&L Trail and the Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails and learn about plans for 2012 along the Susquehanna Warrior Trail. These and other trail organizations in the region are working towards a common goal of eventually linking together in the Luzerne County area. Pictured L-R, SWTC members Dan Shane, Bonnie Shane, Freudenberger, SWTC President Julie McMonagle, and Frank Coughlin. For information on joining the SWTC please contact Vice President Lance Kittelson at (570) 542-4543.

Thank You Max Furek, Mocanaqua,PA

ShickshinnyForward would like to send a big ‘thank you’ to Max Furek of Mocanaqua,PA.

Maxim W. Furek resides in Mocanaqua,PA.  He is an author, researcher and speaker.  Max is Director of Garden Walk Recovery, an organization promoting education and prevention strategies dealing with substance abuse.  Max and his wife Pat are avid hikers and kayakers and enjoy what the Five Mountain Region offers for outdoor adventures.

As we are developing our ShickshinnyForward organization – Max was the first to provide unsolicitated content for ShickshinnyForward.com – Max got involved and shared his message for the benefitting the – and we are grateful for Max and every community member that engages with moving Shickshinny forward.

Please visit http://www.gardenwalkrecovery.com to learn more about Max.

5K Race/ Fun Walk to Benefit Susquehanna Warrior Trail

SHICKSHINNY,PA – The 5th Annual Susquehanna Warrior Trail 5K Race / Fun Walk will be held on Saturday April 7, 2012 at 10:15 a.m. in Shickshinny,PA.  Registration will be from 9:00 am to 10:00 am at the playground pavilion located at Oak and North Canal Streets.  The 5K (3.1 miles) event will be held on the new Susquehanna Warrior Trail.  All proceeds will benefit the Susquehanna Warrior Trail.

Formerly a railroad bed, this once forgotten piece of nature has been brought back to life.  The Susquehanna Warrior Trail consists of 18.5-miles of the old Delaware – Lackawanna Railroad which passes through some of the most scenic portions of the Susquehanna River corridor, including Shickshinny, an officially designated “Rivertown Community.”

Specially designed medals will be presented to the top three runners in each age group.  Age divisions including both male and female are as follows: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-69 and 70 and over.

Race Director Max Furek stated that, “This event will be an important step in helping Shickshinny psychologically recover from the devastating flood of last year. It is one of the first races of the running season and it is highly competitive. Typically it brings out some of the best athletes in the region who enjoy the camaraderie, competition and extended running community that we offer.”

Pictured (L-R) are last year’s champions Bornfase Omurwa, Kingston,PA. and Deedra Porfirid of West Pittston,PA. Omurwa, 27, won the men’s race with a time of 17:18. Porfirid, 34, won the women’s competition with a time of 21:15. Both champions received a box of Cheerios, a tribute to Northwest Area High School running standout Christopher D. Pszeniczny, who died in 2010. Chris always ate a bowl of Cheerios before his races and wore a Cheerios T-shirt, according to Northwest coach Brian “Flash” Barchik.  The Pszeniczny family have continued the tradition, which has given the SWT 5K event a special meaning.

For information contact Race Director Max Furek at (570) 542-7946 or jungle@epix.net. Applications can also be downloaded at http://www.susquehannawarriortrail.org

Community Clean Up on Saturday, March 24 will also include local farm-produced chili, salad

The March 24, 2012 Shickshinny Youth Group Flood Cleanup Day – Muck, Gut, & Clean It Up will be held from 12PM to 3PM (meet at corner of Oak St and Canal St for the cleanup).
There will be a picnic from 330PM to 5PM at the Union Street Memorial Park (Next to the Shickshinny Borough Building).  Local farmers are coming to participate for the picnic – including apples from Heller Orchard, cheese from LeRaysville, ice cream from Hillside, Fork’s Farm hot dogs, and a visit from Dancing Hen Farm – they are bringing grass-fed beef chili and homegrown salad.

This might be a taste of future farmer’s market in Shickshinny?  Might be… but need your support to continue to build momentum.
Hope to see you Saturday – please direct questions to shickshinnyyouthgroup@gmail.com and more information is available at http://www.gacofpa.org/greatpacleanup/GPCcalendarEvents.asp?County=Luzerne

Springtime brings signs of rebirth and growth

In any river town, Spring brings a mix of trepidation and hope.  The former finds its origin in the flooding that tends to come with the Spring rains and the melting snow.  The latter…is what Shickshinny experiences today in its ongoing recovery and renewal.  As the people of Greater Shickshinny and the surrounding areas work to bolster this hope of a new path, skills and talents have been revealed and uncovered as though by the flood waters themselves.  There is nothing that can thwart the growth of such a motivated and impressive citizenry.

Shickshinny Forward will guide and follow, as needed, in the effort to raise this vibrant community to where it once was in the past…and will be in the nearest future.  A community full of the same hope and life and vibrance that comes in with every spring.

Our belief is that this hope and life and vibrance can be part of each day, every day…Spring, Summer, Winter, and Fall.

This community is like a bulb planted after the frost.  It will bloom lovely in the summer but grows more beautiful with each passing spring.  Your efforts will shine on for the many generations to come.

Like so much that is good in spring, love your community and love to watch it GROW!