Despite the fact that it’s still autumn, winter came roaring in with a spectacular bang on Thursday, November 15. After a record-breaking summer of punishing rain storms that left the valley deluged, I wonder if we’ll see a repeat performance of wild weather this winter.

For those of you who want to know the amount of snow we have but don’t want to venture out into the cold to measure it, the Montgomery Borough Emergency Management just installed a brand new SNOWCAM. They have a measured diagram set up and a camera that takes live pictures of the amount of snow and posts them on their website. It came in handy this past week! Please visit their website at www.montgomeryboroughema.org to see the SNOWCAM. The website also includes images of the current weather patterns for our area.

You can also follow the Emergency Management’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MontgomeryEmergencyManagementAgency/ or on Twitter at @montgomeryema. Personally, I find it really handy to follow their Facebook page. If you follow the page (in addition to simply “liking” the page) you will get a notification every time they post a weather update. It certainly came in handy this summer when so many flash flood warnings and rising river levels were posted. Also, if you follow their page they have a link to their website posted on the side so it’s easy to click and get all of the information on their web page.

Since this week is Thanksgiving, I want to express all of my thanks and appreciation to everyone in town and the surrounding areas who volunteer in some way to serve the community. Whether you are up in the middle of the night to keep an eye on the river levels, running into burning buildings to save strangers, pulling people from totaled cars, preserving our town’s history, improving educational opportunities, running local government, organizing Christmas presents and dinners for others, organizing parades, or scattering candy at the park the day before Easter, you are all making this town a better place. I couldn’t do all of your service justice in one column, but please know that your efforts are noticed and appreciated.

THOT “Thanksgiving is the holiday of peace, the celebration of work and the simple life a true folk-festival that speaks the poetry of the turn of the seasons, the beauty of seedtime and harvest, the ripe product of the year – and the deep, deep connection of all these things with God.” Ray Stannard Baker

Happy birthday to Megan Emery, who is marking her special day on November 22.

Birthday wishes go to Lindsay Dalrymple who will be celebrating on November 27.

The Montgomery Area Public Library will be closed November 22-23 for Thanksgiving.

The Clinton Township Office will be closed November 22-23.

The Montgomery Borough Office will be closed November 22-26.

The Montgomery Christmas Parade will be held on Saturday, December 8 at 1 pm. Please preregister floats with George Nash at 570-244-6715.

If you want to help make little spirits bright this season, please consider donating some toys to the Montgomery Christmas Committee. The Toys for Tots boxes have been placed throughout town and all toys that are donated in Montgomery stay in Montgomery.

If you would like to become a member of the Montgomery Area Public Library Board please call the library at 547-6212 or drop in to learn more.

The Montgomery Lions Club is accepting new members. Please contact Roger McRae at (570) 971-2825 for more information.

The Montgomery Volunteer Fire Company needs volunteers to assist in different ways. Please call 547-1380 if you want to find out how you can help.

The Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Company would like new volunteers. If you would like to learn more please call 547-1000.

If you would like a birthday, anniversary, or special event recognized in this column, please leave a message at The Luminary Office at 584-0111 or e-mail it to news@muncyluminary.com. Please specify that it belongs in the Montgomery column.

Montgomery Events

Mon. Nov. 26 The library will have Teen Canvas Painting from 1-2 p.m. Ages 12-17 are welcome.

Mon. Nov. 26 Family Story Time will be held at the library from 5-6 p.m.

Mon. Nov. 26 The Clinton Township Supervisors will meet at the Municipal Building at 6:30 p.m.