When we think about organ transplants, kidney transplants are often the most common and the most successful. General surgeons frequently encounter questions from patients and families who want to better understand what a kidney transplant involves, who it is for, and what life looks like afterward. Whether you are managing kidney disease, supporting a loved one, or simply expanding your health knowledge, understanding the basics can help make the process feel less overwhelming.

Why Kidney Transplants Are Needed

Kidneys play a critical role in keeping our bodies healthy by filtering waste, balancing fluids, and regulating blood pressure. When kidneys fail, most often due to conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or chronic kidney disease, those vital functions are compromised.

For many patients with end-stage kidney disease, dialysis becomes a necessary, life-sustaining treatment. Dialysis performs important work, but it can be time-consuming and physically demanding. A kidney transplant offers another option by replacing a failed kidney with a healthy one from a donor. For eligible patients, a transplant can improve quality of life, increase energy levels, and provide greater flexibility compared to long-term dialysis.

Mahlon and Sylvia Davenport of Port Allegany celebrated 70 years of marriage on Tuesday, Feb. 10. In honor of this milestone event, Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) presented the Davenports with a citation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The couple has three children, six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) is inviting area residents to an open house at his Kane office on Tuesday, Feb. 17, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The office is located at 54 N. Fraley St., Suite 2, in Kane.

“I hope people will take the time to stop by, say hello and learn more about the services we offer,” Causer said. “We can also talk about state issues and concerns.”

Refreshments will be served. No RSVP is required.

Services available at the office in Kane, as well as the locations in Bradford and Coudersport, include:

• PennDOT paperwork, including driver’s license and vehicle registration applications and renewals.
• Information and applications for senior citizen benefit programs, including Property Tax/Rent Rebate and PACE/PACENET prescription drug programs.
• Information and applications for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
• Help with securing birth and death certificates (photo identification required).
• Information about legislation.
• Assistance with resolving matters relating to state agencies. 

For more information about Causer’s other office locations or to contact him online, visit www.RepCauser.com.

County: Carbon
Municipality: East Side Borough
Road Name: Interstate 80 East
Between: Exit 273 (PA 940/PA 437) And Exit 274 (PA 534)
Type Of Work: Pothole Patching
Work Being Done By: PennDOT Contractor
Type Of Restriction: Daytime
Restriction: Lane restriction eastbound for pothole repairs.
Start: 02/10/26
Estimated End: 02/10/26
In Effect (time of day): 09:00 AM To 03:00 PM
Will rain cause delays? No

Superintendent of Schools

BRADFORD, Pa. — The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will host “Rite in Ash,” an art exhibition by Pittsburgh-born artist Jeremy Tarr, from Feb. 19 through April 3 in the KOA Art Gallery in Blaisdell Hall.

The exhibition opens with a free public reception at noon Feb. 19.

“Rite in Ash” examines destruction as a form of creation through an installation exploring Devil’s Night in Detroit and its cultural impact across the rust belt. The work features abstracted images of house fires set by residents on the night before Halloween, framing them as acts of observance marking the collapse of the region’s social and economic ecosystem.

Tarr, who was raised in Pittsburgh’s working-class neighborhoods, draws inspiration from the Appalachian rust belt landscape and its mythologies. His practice centers on the presence of absence, the physicality of the immaterial and the complexities of unknowing as liberation.

The artist works as an instructor at Syracuse University, teaching digital sculpture in the studio arts concentration, and as a technical fabricator in the School of Architecture. He earned his Master of Fine Arts from Syracuse University and has exhibited in Pittsburgh, Berlin, Italy, New York City and Los Angeles.

Tarr has completed artist residencies at the Axel Haubrok Fahrbereitschaft in Berlin and Governors Island in New York City.

For more information, visit upb.pitt.edu/theArts or call 814-362-5113.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that all driver license and photo centers, including its full-service center in Harrisburg, will be closed Saturday, February 14, 2026, through Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of the Presidents Day holiday. 

Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications, and driver training manuals, online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website.

Geraldine Ella Howard                 “services slated”

SHINGLEHOUSE, Pa.—Family and friends may pay their respects to Geraldine “Ella” Howard, 99, a lifelong resident of Shinglehouse, from 10am to 12pm on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, 118 South Union Street, Shinglehouse, where funeral services will follow at 12pm with The Rev. Russell J. Horning, former pastor of the First Baptist Church, Shinglehouse, officiating.

Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Shinglehouse.

A reception will follow the service at the Shinglehouse American Legion Post 530 at 1pm.

Ella’s family has entrusted her care to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse.

For further information please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com

REMINDER: Live training opportunity tomorrow! There’s still time to register.

Don’t miss this live, virtual training opportunity! This training is available at no cost to all USDA Single Family Housing Guaranteed lending partners.

*Click on Photo for Link

On January 20, 2026, members of the Coudersport Rotary Club visited Coudersport Elementary School third graders to distribute student dictionaries, continuing a tradition that has been part of Rotary’s commitment to literacy for more than a decade.

Each third-grade student received a personal dictionary to support reading, writing, and language development both in the classroom and at home. Rotary members spoke briefly with students about how to use the dictionaries and encouraged them to explore new words and develop a love of learning

The Coudersport Rotary Club thanks the elementary school faculty and staff for their continued partnership and support in making the program a success.

(Pictured with the Coudersport Elementary third grade students: Front row: Mikayla Sallade, Rotarian Pat Northeimer, Mary Kay Connoly and Rotarian Ruth Sallade)

Smethport School District will operate on a two hour delay, Monday February 9th.

 Prime Food Processing LLC Issues Allergy Alert and Safety Warning Regarding Uneviscerated Dried Croaker Fish

Brooklyn, NY – Prime Food Processing LLC is voluntarily recalling Dried Croaker Fish because the product was not adequately eviscerated, as required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Fish that are not properly eviscerated may retain internal organs that can harbor harmful bacteria or toxins, posing a potential health risk to consumers.

Recalled Products

• Item #AF1410 – Dried Croaker Fish- Expiration :12-28-27

Packaging:

• Clear Packaging with Green Trim

Distribution

The recalled products were distributed to Asian grocery stores in the following states: AL, AZ, CA, FL, GA, HI, MA, MD, MO, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA. WI.

Reason for Recall

The issue was identified during routine testing conducted by the New York Department of Agriculture. The recall was initiated after the product was selected and sent for regulatory testing. A subsequent investigation determined that the problem originated from an imported product manufactured in Vietnam. At this time, no illnesses or adverse reactions associated with the affected product have been reported.

View Full Recall

Last week in review: Another double-win week moved the women’s basketball team to within one victory of tying the program season win record of 19 set during the 2005-06 campaign. The 18-win mark has only been achieved twice in program history — 2004-05 and 2007-08, both before the college entered its NCAA era in 2014.

On the horizon: This coming Saturday will be a sweetheart of a day for Penn College athletics as the wrestling team will defend its title when it hosts the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Championships starting at 10 a.m. at Bardo Gymnasium, the basketball teams wrap up their United East Conference regular seasons, the archery team competes in the USA Archery Indoor Championships at Lancaster, and the men’s lacrosse team is scheduled to open its season at Susquehanna University.

Last year at the AMCC Championship, the wrestling team, in just its second season in the conference, dominated the championships, sending 18 to the podium — eight of them champions — and finishing with 191 points in a five-team field.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Last week’s hometown highlights: In Wednesday’s 70-point win over Valley Forge, Gigi Parlante, of Williamsport, had a 22-point, 15-rebound double-double, while Mia Patterson, of Loyalsock Township, and Lexi Troup, of Huntingdon, both scored 16 points.

Cold Weather Advisory issued February 8 at 12:37AM EST until February 9 at 10:00AM EST by NWS Binghamton NY

* WHAT…For the Extreme Cold Warning, dangerously cold wind chills from 15 to 30 below. For the Cold Weather Advisory, very cold wind chills from 10 to 20 below.

* WHERE…Portions of central New York and northeast Pennsylvania.

* WHEN…For the Extreme Cold Warning, until 1 PM EST this afternoon. For the Cold Weather Advisory, from 1 PM this afternoon to 10 AM EST Monday.

* IMPACTS…The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 30 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 15 minutes. Hypothermia is also possible from prolonged exposure to the cold.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The coldest wind chills are expected over the exposed, higher elevations this morning. Wind gusts gradually diminish today, falling below 25 mph for most locations. The coldest wind chills Sunday night into Monday should occur around sunrise.

INSTRUCTIONS: Dress in layers including a hat, face mask, and gloves if you must
go outside or are traveling.

To prevent water pipes from freezing; wrap or drain or allow them to drip slowly.

Keep pets indoors as much as possible.

Issued By: NWS Binghamton NY

On February 4, 2026, the State College Police Department filed a criminal complaint charging Gavin McKenna with Felony Aggravated Assault, Misdemeanor Simple Assault, Summary Harassment and Summary Disorderly Conduct. The complaint alleges that the victim was punched twice on the right side of his face by the defendant following an exchange of words between the alleged victim’s group and the group of people with Gavin McKenna. The complaint further alleges that the victim sustained fractures to both sides of his jaw which would require surgery and that he was missing a tooth.

Follow-up by State College Police has confirmed that the victim suffered two fractures to one side of his jaw, as opposed to both sides of his jaw, and that he is not missing a tooth. The victim has had surgery and is recovering.

In order to establish probable cause for the crime of Aggravated Assault, the Commonwealth must establish that a person acted with the intent to cause serious bodily injury or acted recklessly under circumstances showing an extreme indifference to the value of human life. Both the District Attorney’s Office and the State College Police Department have reviewed video evidence of this incident and do not believe that a charge of Aggravated Assault is supported by the evidence. Accordingly, the District Attorney’s Office will be withdrawing the felony count of Aggravated Assault and correcting the record regarding the injuries suffered by the victim. A review of the video does not support a conclusion that Gavin McKenna acted with the intent to cause serious bodily injury or with reckless indifference to the value of human life.

It is important to remember that these charges are an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all cases, a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Prosecution will go forward with the misdemeanor Simple Assault and other summary charges as they relate to the serious injuries suffered by the victim.

Alfred Station, NY, February 4, 2026 – The Allegany-Cattaraugus-Chautauqua Fund for Women (ACC FFW) announces the opening of its grant application period for 2026 on February 5, 2026. Grant applications will be accepted February 5 through March 20, 2026, with award notifications on or around April 30th, 2026.

These grants are awarded to women in the tri-county region to facilitate sustained economic self-sufficiency.  The amount awarded may vary from year-to-year, based on the number of applications and funds available, up to $1,000 per grant.   Grants are awarded based on demonstration of financial need and the applicants’ plan for how the grant funds will increase self-sufficiency.  Recipients in prior years have used the funds to purchase equipment, to support business start-up expenses, or to advance skills and training.