Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great holiday season. I am most thankful for the time I had with my family. We did a few day outings and spent quality time together playing games, bowling and catching up on some television marathons. It may not sound very exciting, but the quiet time together is what we most cherish. I wish all of the readers a happy and healthy 2016.

On behalf of Christina Richardson and Robyn Schreiber, thank you to all alumni and friends who participated in the Vespers service at the Brick Church. A special thank you to Deb Feaster, Shirley West, and to the church for hosting.

Also congratulations to Katelyn Taylor, a Montgomery student from Allenwood who was recently named the 4-H’er of the month for Lycoming County. She is on the honor roll and a member of the yearbook committee and plays softball for Jersey Shore and Warrior Run in the Amateur Softball Association.

Much thanks goes to Patty Miller for coordinating everything for Santa’s workshop this holiday, one of Montgomery’s longest traditions. With the help from Wayne Dunn of Riverside, and several businesses and organizations contributing, it is now completed and good for another 50 years!

The Montgomery Alumni Association is holding a fundraising event at Wendys in Muncy on Tuesday, January 28 from 5 to 8:00 p.m. Questions can be directed to Leona Dewalt.

Winter sports are in full swing. Be sure to check out a game or match with a local team.

January is blood donor month. Maintaining a sufficient blood supply for patients is difficult at this time of year because extreme winter weather and seasonal illnesses often impact donor turnout. The Red Cross encourages eligible donors to resolve to give blood regularly, beginning in January. Donors with all blood types are needed, especially those with types AB, O, B negative and A negative.

Please consider following @MASDnews on Twitter or via our YouTube channel, The Raider Tube. Both of these digital mediums are created and maintained by the high school Broadcasting class. The intention is to help share Montgomery news and events with our community if they are unable to attend an event.

The next “Revitalize Montgomery” meeting will be Wednesday, January 6th at 10 a.m. at the Valley Rehab building on Main Street. The meeting after that will be Wednesday, January 20th at 6 p.m. at the Tickle’s Music Store. Trish Cruthers from the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership has offered to come to one of the next RM meetings to discuss opportunities via DCNR, relative to the Peer to Peer grant. More ideas are encouraged for these revitalization efforts and what kind of projects to do in town such as signage projects, walking trails, a new boat launch or ball field are some suggestions. You can go to the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership website to get ideas of what other towns are doing.