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COMMUNITY
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Undoubtedly, one of the strongest forces drawing us back to this area from
Metro Boston was the rural lifestyle, and sense of community.
Even as a nine year old "city kid" transplant, it was easy to recognize that being
neighborly was more than a simple nicety - families' income and ability to feed
themselves sometimes depended on it.
Cows probably don't really care much about electricity or whether they are milked by
hand or electric milking machines. One way or other, they do however, demand milking twice daily.
Similarly, hay would be content to lie wet in a field.
To hay, it probably doesn't matter if it decomposes slowly on it's own, or
if it's hastened through a cows' stomachs on it's way to becoming soil again.
Memories of helping neighbors with milking chores during power outages, or taking in hay
before impending rain, engender a sense of common responsibility;
recognition that we are all accountable to forces larger, stronger, and more
consequential than each other.
For better or worse, most of our neighbors are now retired from farming; we are rarely
called upon to take in hay, and havn't milked a cow in years.
We now express our sense of obligation to each other by contributing services to the
following organizations.
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Elk Mountain Area
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www.elkmtnarea.com
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Hill View is proud to develop and host the elkmtnarea.com website.
Activated in 1997, elkmtnarea.com was created in anticipation of the need for an
information portal to our community.
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Susquehanna County Community Information Network
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www.susquehannacin.net
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Sometime during 2002 our spirits were lifted when, while travelling on Route 81,
we saw a roadsign that said "susqco.com" - sure evidence that Susquehanna County
was embracing the Internet.
We could only imagine the positive exposure the hillview.com website name would have if
it were listed on the county's website. How many thousands of autos passed that sign
each day?
Sadly, when we contacted the county to be listed on their site, we were told that they
lacked the facilities to list all the Susquehanna County businesses on their site, and
to maintain the list effectively.
Looking for other avenues to promote the Hill View website business, we found that
Internet searches for Susquehanna County businesses returned anemic results. One site
however, kept coming up - The Susquehanna County Historical Society & Free Library
Association.
We found that this one Susquehanna County brightspot on the Internet was essentially
the result of one person's efforts - Susquehanna County Librarian Hilary Caws-Elwitt.
After phone calls discussing the current situation, and the potential for collaboration,
Hilary made the trek to Hill View, and arrived at our door on a cold winter's day
with a bright smile, and a plate of brownies.
After a lengthy discussion, and a few brownies, Hilary left with parts of a database
program we were writing, and a pledge of support from Hill View.
Hill View is proud to donate the server space and domain name for the susquehannacin.net
website, and provide support when needed.
Hilary integrated the database program with an open-source program called Mambo, and
continues to do the "heavy lifting" of the website maintenance tasks.
The current situation? As is the case with many success stories in America, a few
dedicated individuals sharing a common vision have delivered a necessary service
to the benefit of many.
Over 1700 Susquehanna County businesses are listed on the CIN - free of charge.
Being listed on the elkmtnarea.com and the susquehannacin.net websites is absolutely
without a doubt the most economical, effective way for a Susquehanna County business
to become visible on the Internet.
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Clifford Township Bicentennial Celebration
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www.cliffordpa.com
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When asked to become a member of the Clifford Township Bicentennial Committee, it was too good
an opportunity to pass by - to be involved in a once in a lifetime project while working with
an interesting and talented group of community members!
Not having grown up in Pennsylvania, Meg had little knowledge of the area's history. That has
changed quickly! By designing and maintaining the Clifford Township Bicentennial web site,
we've been able to read many interesting stories about life in our area while enjoying the
old time photographs that will soon be published in a bicentennial history book.
The Celebration itself, scheduled for 30 June - 3 July 2006, continues to take shape and promises
to be an outstanding event!
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Mountain View Garden Club
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www.mountainviewgardenclub.org
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The Mountain View Garden Club was formed in December 2004. The club's members have had many busy and productive years in fulfilling their ambitious
mission to share their knowledge and love of gardening while beautifying the Elk Mountain Area
and surrounding communities.
As the club's Chairperson of Community Projects, Meg has organized and participated in
clean-ups under the "Adopt-a-Highway" program, garden plantings at the Clifford Township Volunteer
Fire Company, the Union Dale Post Office and the Herrick Township Building.
She also serves as the Project Manager of the Clifford Township Tree Grant by coordinating and
assisting with tree plantings and grant reporting.
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Ride for Diane
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www.ridefordiane.com
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In the spring of 2000 during a trip to Blueberry Hill Farm Greenhouses for bedding plants for
our garden, we learned that Diane Mustica Curtis, a member of the family that owns and operates
the greeenhouses, was battling cancer.
Diane was a wife and mother of two young children and part of a loving extended family who
understood how cancer affects the whole family.
In 2003, Diane's brother John Mustica and his friends organized "Ride for Diane" a benefit
motorcycle ride to raise money to assist cancer patients with medical expenses. Each year since
that first ride, the ride committee has donated the proceeds of the event to an area family.
We have always admired the dedication and hard work of John, his family and friends as they help
others who are facing the challenges of cancer.
Diane lost her battle with cancer on November 7, 2004. The rides continue in her memory each year
and we are honored to assist the committee with their cause by providing the "Ride for Diane"
web site.
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Elk Mountain Ski Club
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www.elkracing.org
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"The older I get, the faster I was." "Gravity... not just a good idea - it's the law!"
Skiing, and ski racing is sometimes viewed as a frivolous, expensive, elitist pursuit.
It should also be recognized as an activity that allows one to explore their limits,
become acquainted with camaraderie and the discipline required to excel in a competitive
environment, and develop a love and a healthy respect for the combination of
snow, ice, and gravity.
In short, ski racing is a great teacher of life lessons.
Elk Mountain has produced some of the best ski racers and coaches in the country.
Indeed, some of the same neighbors that we competed with as youngsters
continue to pursue professional careers in the outdoor industry.
The Elk Mountain Ski Club provides the organizational support to continue
this great tradition; their FARE program provides necessary resources to local youths
to compete in ski races virtually insuring a robust local talent pool.
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