Member News- April 28, 2021
Montour Solar One Announces Commitments for $1 Million Community Benefits Program
The Montour Solar One team of Pattern Energy and Talen Energy announced the initial partners for the first phase of its Community Benefits Program, which will contribute $1 million to local organizations over the life of the project. This first phase includes a one-time donation to the Montour Area Recreation Commission (MARC) towards the Montour Preserve.
“As we look to become long-term neighbors within Montour County, we are aiming to make strong, long-lasting positive impacts on the community by supporting vital local organizations, especially those focused on veterans and agricultural interests,” said Joey Shannon, senior manager, renewable energy & battery storage development for Talen Energy and member of the Montour Solar One team. “Following extensive communications with community stakeholders, these three recipients stood out as especially important to the greater Montour County community and we are honored to partner with them.”
For the first five years, Montour Solar One has committed to the following annual contributions which will commence at the start of commercial operation of the solar project:
-Columbia Montour Area Vocational Technical School- $12,000 annually for 5 years
Focused on its agricultural program and building critical greenhouses
-Montour Veterans Emergency Fund $12,000 annually for 5 years
Supporting Montour’s Veterans in need
-Northern Montour Recreation Association $6,000 annually for 5 years
Contributing to the Anthony Township neighborhood pool and recreational offerings
-Montour Area Recreation Commission $30,000 one time
For the Montour Preserve, donated at the start of construction
Following Montour Solar One’s first five years of operation, the facility manager for the solar project will
coordinate future local giving based on community need and priorities at that time.
“We greatly appreciate what Montour Solar One and the Pattern and Talen teams are doing to support
young people in Montour and Columbia County,” said Ken Kryder of Columbia Montour Area
Vocational Technical School. “This much-needed funding will be critical to our agricultural program and
help build new greenhouses that will greatly improve the learning experience of our Agricultural Plant
Systems & Technology Program.”
Lisa Hartman, President of the Northern Montour Recreation Association added, “It is especially wonderful that Montour Solar One is helping an Anthony Township nonprofit and one that impacts so many families in our area. We are very appreciative of this partnership.”
“The support of Montour Solar One is invaluable as the Preserve continues our mission to provide free family-oriented outdoor activities,” said Bob Stoudt, Director of MARC. “The Montour Preserve is a jewel for the community and their support will go a long way to helping us continue our operations and serving the residents of Montour County and the region.”
Montour Solar One’s $30,000 a year contributions will equate to more than $1,000,000 during the life of
the project.
Montour Solar will also bring an economic boost to the area and create up 125-175 construction jobs over
the one-year construction period. More information regarding the Montour Solar One project can be
found at https://montoursolar.com/.
Service 1st Announced Newly Appointed Board Members and Celebrated Employee/Volunteer Achievements During 2020 Annual Meeting
Service 1st Federal Credit Union held their 2020 Annual Meeting virtually on Wednesday, April 21, 2021. This was the second consecutive year Service 1st elected to host the meeting using a virtual format in an effort to lessen the spread of COVID-19. Members had the opportunity to register to attend the virtual meeting live. The credit union also provided a full recording of the meeting on the Service 1st website.
Service 1st President/CEO Bill Lavage thanked the Credit Union’s members, volunteers and employees for working together throughout the past year.
“There are three main reasons for our continued success,” stated Bill Lavage, President/CEO, Service 1st. “Our Board of Directors and volunteers are one of the reasons. They selflessly volunteer their time to set our course, provide leadership and support. Another key component in our success is our employees. They have been resilient throughout the pandemic. We had to change our business model quickly, we closed our lobbies two times in 2020 and they remained reliant and resilient all while dealing with COVID-19 at work and home. The third key component for our success is the non-wavering support of our members. You continued to support us during the most challenging time in the history of Service 1st.”
Lavage added, that Service 1st will continue to manage any challenges due to the pandemic, while focusing on the safety of their team, their members, and the community.
Newly elected board members were announced and a number of volunteers and employees were honored for their years of service during the online event.
David Cutright, Treasurer; Deborah Petretich Templeton, R. Ph., MHA, Secretary; and Kathy Linn, Director were re-elected; each to 3-year terms on the Service 1st Board of Directors. Other members of the Service 1st Board of Directors include: Steven Endress, Chairperson; Tracy Shirk, Vice Chairperson; Eric Polczynski, Director; Lori Wilson, Director; Barbara Criswell, Director; and Greg Burke, MD, FACP, Director.
Service awards representing a combined 330 years of experience and dedication, were presented to volunteers and employees. Volunteers honored included Jonathan Fellin, Supervisory Committee, 5 years; Mike Fleming, Supervisory Committee, 5 years; Tom Culver, Nominating Committee, 15 years; Dave Macko, Nominating Committee and Annual Meeting Committee, 20 years; Barbara Criswell, Board Member, 35 years; and Randi Spayd, Annual Meeting Committee, 45 years.
Employees honored for 5 years of service included: Jennifer Daddario, Regional Vice President; Rachael Herb, Assistant Market Manager, Corporate Center; Brandi Hoffman, Financial Service Specialist II, Corporate Center; Mary Klock, Member Service Representative II, Shamokin Dam Office; Seth Loff, Business Relationship Specialist; Mandi Stallman, Training & Audit/Compliance Specialist; and Missy Thomas, Assistant Market Manager, Bloomsburg.
Employees honored for 10 years of service included: April Campbell, Financial Service Specialist II, Shamokin Dam Office; Tom Rambo, Vice President Danville Market; Paulette Renner, Financial Service Specialist II, Mifflinburg Office; and Heather Shannon, Member Engagement Specialist, Contact Center.
Employees honored for 15 years of service included: Eileen Cizewski, Financial Service Specialist II, Bloomsburg Office; Wayne Hawley, Information Systems Specialist; and Brett Johnson, Vice President Lending.
Employees honored for 20 years of service included: Donna Bennick, Member Engagement Supervisor, Contact Center; Elisabeth Taylor, Vice President Audit & Compliance; and Barbara Zlotorzynski, Operations Support Supervisor.
Seleca Solomon, Operations Specialist, was also honored for 25 years of service.
For more information, call our Contact Center at 800.562.6049 or visit www.service1.org.
Susquehanna Nuclear Donates Command Trailer to Columbia-Montour SWAT Team
Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC (Susquehanna), a division of Talen Energy, recently donated a command trailer to the Columbia-Montour SWAT Team for use in partnership with communities and agencies throughout the region. The SWAT Team will use the command trailer in a variety of ways including: as an incident command center for law enforcement training activities; as a general command post in the event of a large-scale incident; in activities coordinated by local Emergency Management Agencies (EMAs) in Columbia, Montour and Northumberland counties; and as a resource to fire companies in the region.
Columbia-Montour SWAT Commander Chief Allen L. Breach (second from right), 20+ members of the Columbia-Montour SWAT Team, Columbia County EMA Director Jennifer Long (third from left) , Montour County EMA Director Ed Burkland, and Northumberland County EMA Director Stephen Jeffrey, as well as the Columbia County Sheriff Tim Chamberlain gathered at Susquehanna Steam Electric Station to witness Commander Chief Breach formally receive a command trailer donated by Talen Energy’s Susquehanna Nuclear division. Representatives from Susquehanna Nuclear, including Chief Nuclear Officer Berryman and Talen’s Corporate Security Superintendent Mike Palmer were on hand to officially present the command trailer to the SWAT Team.
“Our senior leadership team discussed who could best use the trailer and immediately, our local SWAT organization and EMAs rose to the top of the list,” said Susquehanna Chief Nuclear Officer Brad Berryman. “They have supported Susquehanna, and our Montour generating facility in Washingtonville, for years and it seemed fitting that we provide them with this trailer to support the community in the best ways possible.”
“We borrowed the trailer recently and used it as an incident command center during an active shooter exercise we conducted in Danville,” said SWAT Commander Chief Allen L. Breach. “Our intention is to use it on a region-wide basis. The closest units like it are in Schuylkill County and in Williamsport, so having our own trailer will allow us to respond more efficiently. It honestly provides us so much flexibility – we’re really pleased to have received it from Talen,” Breach continued.
Susquehanna Nuclear LLC is one of Talen Energy’s generating affiliates. Talen Energy Corp. is one of the largest competitive energy and power generation infrastructure companies in North America. The Company owns or controls approximately 13,000 megawatts of generating capacity in well-developed, structured wholesale power markets, principally in the Mid-Atlantic, Texas and Montana. Talen is developing a large-scale portfolio of renewable energy, battery storage, and digital infrastructure assets across its expansive footprint. For more information visit www.talenenergy.com.
Bloomsburg Children’s Museum Announces May Programming
The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum, 2 West Seventh Street, Bloomsburg is pleased to announce its May programming.
The Children’s Museum follows the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s guidelines for COVID mitigation. Masks are required for entry for anyone over the age of 2. The Museum has enacted a strict sanitation schedule to maintain a safe and healthy environment for our guests. You can learn more about our efforts at: https://the-childrens-museum.org/.
The Children’s Museum is open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
For a complete listing of all programs, visit https://the-childrens-museum.org/
In order to maintain a safe public space for our guests and comply with our community standards, masks are required for entrance to the Museum. The Children’s Museum has increased sanitation of all touchable surfaces, removed many loose exhibit pieces to reduce touchable surfaces, instituted “Discovery Bags” to still allow hands-on participation for individual learners, and increased air exchange in the Museum.