Riely Coopersmith Student Of The Week
The Culinary Arts Program is proud to recognize Riely Coopersmith, a senior from Port Allegany School District, as our Student of the Week.
Riely recently represented our program at the State SkillsUSA Restaurant Service Competition in Hershey, PA. Her dedication to excellence extends beyond the classroom, as she serves on the student committee at Seneca Highlands CTC, works in a local restaurant, and participates in Envirothon.
In addition to her extracurricular involvement, Riely has earned High Honor Roll, demonstrating her commitment to both academic and technical success.
Riely consistently gives her best effort and approaches every task with professionalism and pride. She is a strong representative of our program and the standards we strive to uphold.
Great job, Riely!
BRMC, OGH Monthly Star Award Winner Announced
BRADFORD, PA / OLEAN, NY – Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) and Olean General Hospital (OGH), Kaleida Health facilities, are proud to announce the winner of the 2026 April Star Award. This month’s recipient was Melissa Graves, a registered nurse in the obstetrics unit at OGH.
Melissa Graves, RN, is a dedicated employee as she has more than three decades of experience since joining the organization in 1992.
“Melissa was one of the best caregivers I encountered during my time in OB. She was consistently reassuring, supportive and helpful in every way. She was with me on my last day, what felt like the scariest moment for me, as I prepared to take my baby home and step into caring for this tiny human on my own,” read her nomination from a patient. “Melissa brought a calm, steady presence exactly when I needed it most, helping ease my nerves and build my confidence. I am incredibly grateful for her compassion and support, and I can’t thank her enough.”
The Star Award is presented monthly to an employee who demonstrates outstanding performance and inspires the same in others. Staff members are nominated for exceptional customer satisfaction, continuous performance improvement, teamwork, communication, ownership/accountability and excellence through co-worker or patient nominations.
The following were also nominated for Star Awards: Ashley Ameis, RN, second floor, OGH; Emily Olkosky, admissions, OGH; and Chris Weiss, RN, emergency department, OGH.
Star award recipients receive a chamber of commerce gift certificate, additional paid time off, a certificate of recognition and the star award parking spot.
Photo Caption: April Star Award Winner, Melissa Graves, RN, obstetrics, OGH.
Coudersport Rotary Club Welcomed Jason Childs As Guest Speaker
At its March 30, 2026 meeting held at A&W West End Grill, the Coudersport Rotary Club welcomed Jason Childs, District Manager of the Potter County Conservation District, as guest speaker.
Childs provided an overview of the Conservation District’s role and history. He explained that conservation districts were established in response to the environmental devastation of the Dust Bowl, when widespread soil erosion contributed significantly to the hardships of the Great Depression. In Pennsylvania, this effort was formalized through Act 217 of 1945, known as the Conservation District Law. Potter County holds the distinction of being the first county in the state to form a conservation district; today, there are 66 such districts across Pennsylvania.
The Potter County Conservation District is governed by a board consisting of one county commissioner, four farmers, and three non-farmers. Dr. Pete Ryan serves as Board Chair. Other board members include Commissioner Rossman, Stan Hess, Betty Long, Jeff Cady, Jon Blass, and Glenn Dunn.
Childs also highlighted the staff and their respective roles. Morgan Jones oversees dirt and gravel roads; Katy Sasala manages communications, outreach, social media, and school programs; and Tom Kisiel handles administration, permitting, erosion management, bridges, and pipes.
HANLEY LIBRARY TO HOST CHILDREN’S STEM EVENT
Hanley Library at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will hold an Architect Story Hour and STEM Activity for students in kindergarten through 6th grade from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 18.
Children and their families will listen the story “Iggy Peck Architect” by Andrea Beaty before building a gummy bear or marshmallow-spaghetti structure.
Dr. Michael Liu, assistant professor of engineering at Pitt-Bradford, has designed different STEM activities with advancing skill levels using gummy bears, marshmallows and K’Nex building toy kits. Children will try to build the longest, tallest or strongest structures. Pitt-Bradford education students will be on hand to provide support and guidance for the young architects.
This program is a part of the American Institute of Architects PA Forward Program and is sponsored by Hanley Library, the Pitt-Bradford engineering program and the Pitt-Bradford Education Club. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is appreciated but not needed at http://bit.ly/3NMszmE. For more information, contact Jenelle Jensen at jme26@pitt.edu or 814-362-7610.
Mary Jane Pierce, 88, Ormond Beach, FL, formerly of Coudersport, PA
Ormond Beach, FL – Mary Jane Piece, 88, of Ormond Beach, FL, passed away on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Gardens Health and Rehab Center, Daytona Beach, FL with her loving daughter by her side.
Born on Tuesday, July 27, 1937 in La Jose, PA, she was the daughter of Elmer Clair Hutton and Anna Mae Barbara Bacasa. On May 28, 1956, in Frederick, MD, she married John “Jack” Robert Pierce.
A lifelong resident of Coudersport, PA Mary was a homemaker until starting work at Adelphia Communications, and later providing in-home care for local residents until her retirement. She moved to Florida in 2018 to enjoy the weather and to be with her family. She loved to spend her time baking, doing puzzles, watching westerns on TV and keeping in touch with her loved ones and friends.
Donald A. Colebert, 89, Of Duke Center
Donald A. Colebert, 89, of Duke Center, passed away on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at his home.
He was born on November 27, 1936 in Olean, NY; a son of the late Harry and Mary Kerr Colebert.
He was a 1955 graduate of the former Otto High School.
On May 17, 1958 in St. Raphael’s Catholic Church, Eldred, he married Barbara J. Snyder who survives.
He was a United States Air Force veteran who served from 1957 until his honorable discharge in 1961.
He was a member of St. Raphael’s Catholic Church, Otto Township Lion’s Club, Life member of the Otto Township Volunteer Fire Department where he was a former ambulance Captain, Life member of the Moose Club and a member of the American Legion. He loved going camping in the summer at the Onoville Marina and the All Adventures Campground, Friendship, NY with his wife.
He was employed by IBEW Local 5 for 13 years prior to working for Dresser-Rand, Olean, NY until his retirement in 1999.
Volunteers Complete Fencing And Planting On SGL 62
Ridgway, Pa.: As Garrett said, “You don’t have to be a member of the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) to help us plant for wildlife; come on out and join us.” Over twenty volunteers for wildlife of all ages and walks of life showed up on Saturday, 4/11, at the SGL (State Game Lands) parking lot on SR 59. The project for the morning was to fence and plant shrubs and trees for wildlife on SGL 62. This excellent piece of landscape for wildlife was recently acquired by the PGC (Pennsylvania Game Commission) from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and is now being managed for wildlife.
Volunteers planted Gray dogwood, Arrowwood viburnum, Holly winterberry, Wild grape, and Sargent crabapple in rows previously marked by PGC employees, and then constructed fences around the four rows to protect the nutritious nursery plants from deer browsing.
Individual Bird Dog Training Clinic To Be Offered In NC PA On 5/16/26
Johnsonburg, Pa.: Do you have a new bird dog puppy and want to get started on basic training? Or do you have a mostly trained dog and want to fine-tune a few actions? The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) Upland Bird Hunt Chapter is proud to announce they will offer an individual, one-on-one, bird dog training clinic on Saturday, May 16, at the Rolfe Beagle Club in Johnsonburg, Pa.
Each dog handler who registers will receive two hours of one-on-one time with an experienced bird dog trainer. You must register your dog in advance so the proper training materials will be available at the Rolfe Beagle Club. Register with Bethany Ford at bjmf989@gmail.com.
NPRC Unveils New Third-Floor; Dedicates Space In Honor Of Founders Of Institution
WARREN, Pa. – Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC) and the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry partnered on Friday, April 10 to host a ribbon-cutting and open house dedication ceremony for the College’s new third-floor multi-use space. The dedication took place at noon at NPRC’s Administrative Center, located at 300 Second Avenue in Warren.
The third-floor multi-use space is equipped with classrooms for academic and workforce development programming, space dedicated to emergency medical services programming, gathering areas, and collaborative equipment to support in-person learning for students, staff, and even members of the community when reserved through the College’s safety and facilities department.
Rotary President Andrea Streich Welcome Newest Member Rochelle Roush
At the March 16, 2026 meeting of the Coudersport Rotary Club, held at A&W West End Grill, Rotary President Andrea Streich welcomed the club’s newest member, Rochelle Roush.
During the meeting, President Streich presented Roush with a Rotary pin, certificate, and a New Member Packet, officially marking her induction into the club. Members extended a warm welcome and expressed their enthusiasm for her involvement in Rotary’s ongoing service projects and community initiatives.
The Coudersport Rotary Club is pleased to have Rochelle join its ranks and looks forward to her contributions in the months ahead.
Pictured: New Rotarian Rochelle Roush and Coudersport Rotary President Andrea Streich
