A group of senior citizens staged a protest Monday morning at a gas well site on the Geyer property. At left is Diane Sipe and at right is Laurel Colonello. The group of seven sat at a gate leading to five wells on the property.

ADAMS TWP — Seven senior citizens used their rocking chairs Monday to protest the gas well drilling on the Geyer property.

The group participated in a “rock to block” event at the gate leading to the five wells off Route 228. Others who disagree with gas drilling in general or with the Geyer wells because of their proximity to the Mars School District campus also attended the rainy protest.

The seniors sang Christmas carols in their rockers with the lyrics changed to show their stance that the wells should not have been permitted 0.6 miles from the nearest Mars school.

Diane Arnold said from her chair that the Adams Township police came to the protest in the morning, but told the group they could not order them to leave because no signs prohibiting trespassing were posted there.

The group’s intention to block trucks coming into the wells was negated as Rex Energy had completed vertical drilling over the weekend. Patrick Creighton, Rex Energy spokesman, said the next step, horizontal drilling, has not yet been scheduled.

The fracking and production stages will follow that.

Creighton said he does not know when the entire process at the Geyer well will be finished.

Protester Laurel Colonello, who is a Middlesex Township grandparent, does not want the “toxic industry” in the community.

“The gas industry and local officials have consistently chosen wealth over the health and safety of our community, especially our children,” Colonello said in a press release.

The release stated that the group of senior citizens organized the protest as a holiday gift to the children who will be “exposed to the health and safety risks inherent in fracking.”

Creighton said Rex Energy’s highest priority is the safety of its employees and the communities where the company operates.

“At this specific site, Rex has provided regular operational updates to the Mars Area School Board, has limited truck traffic during peak school hours, and implemented a ‘right-in, right-out’ policy to mitigate any Route 228 traffic concerns,” Creighton said, “among other efforts beyond what’s required.”

Creighton reiterated that safety is paramount at Rex Energy.

“We will continue to meet or exceed all local, state and federal regulations,” he said.