December 2022

Hamilton-Gibson Productions is presenting the 18th Annual “Messiah”: A Community Sing this Sunday, Dec. 11 at 2:30 p.m. in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Pearl Street in Wellsboro. It will last about an hour.

The “Messiah,” composed by George Frideric Handel in 1741, is the signal work of the Christmas season for millions of people around the world, mainly because of the “Hallelujah” chorus.

The music is beautiful and Handel took text from the Bible to tell the Christmas story.

Everyone is welcome to come and sing the five choruses or listen.

Audience members who want to sing the choruses are encouraged to sit in the soprano, alto, tenor and bass vocal sections this Sunday. Musical scores will be provided or participants can bring their own.

There will be plenty of room for audience members who choose to listen to all of the music but not sing. 

Conducting is Lindsay Kate Brown, a Mansfield University graduate who studied both Music Education and Vocal Performance from August 2008 to December 2012. While attending MU, Ms. Brown sang the solo “O thou that tellest” for the H-G Messiah Community Sing. Currently living in Upstate N.Y., she travels to all of her professional appearances.

Mansfield University students singing the solos are: sopranos, Madison Felpel of Lititz, Pa. and Rachael Karwowski of Lock Haven, both seniors; mezzo-soprano Taylor Stevens of Waynesboro, Pa., a junior; and baritones, Andrew Clark of Owego, N.Y., a senior, and Cody Ranck of Harrisburg, a sophomore. Tenor soloist is MU faculty member Jordan Schreiner.

Father Edward K. Erb will perform on harpsichord. Also featured will be a string quartet including Kenneth Sarch and Jared Vamvakias, both on violin; Alex Knauth on viola and Ruth Stokes on cello.

Bob and Marsha Chesko are sponsors of this event. Admission at the door is Pay-What-You-Can. Proceeds will benefit the Hamilton-Gibson Children and Youth Choirs. No reservations are required. 

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) voted today to investigate a rate increase request filed by National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (National Fuel), which provides natural gas distribution services to approximately 214,000 customers in northwest Pennsylvania.

The Commission voted 5-0 to investigate the request, which was filed on October 28, 2022.

The changes proposed by National Fuel would produce an annual overall revenue increase of approximately $28.1 million (9.2%).  National Fuel is also proposing a three-year Energy Efficiency pilot program that would recover an additional $1.2 million from residential customers annually.  The program would offer residential customers rebate incentives to install high-efficiency space heating appliances in place of standard equipment.

National Fuel’s proposals would result in the total monthly bill for a residential customer, using 84 ccf per month, increasing from $99.93 to $109.67 (about 9.7%).  In its filing, National Fuel is also proposing increasing its monthly residential customer charge from $12 to $18.

Today’s action by the Commission suspends the rate increase request for up to seven months and the c…

View this press release on our website

Oswayo Valley Historical Society will hold their annual Christmas get together on Monday, December 12, 2022 @ 7 PM in the History Room at the Oswayo Valley Memorial Library. 

Belmont, N.Y. – The Allegany County Administrator and the Office of Economic Development is
requesting proposals for a consultant to develop a comprehensive five-year strategic plan to achieve
workforce development, economic growth and job retention and expansion in Allegany County.
Proposals Due By: 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 13, 2023.
Proposal Submission Instructions and Due Date: Proposals should be submitted in a sealed envelope
addressed or hand delivered to County Administrator Carissa M. Knapp, 7 Court Street, Rm 213, Belmont,
NY 14813 by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 13, 2023. In addition, applicants are required to email a pdf scan
of their complete proposal to County Administrator Carissa M. Knapp at Carissa.knapp@alleganyco.gov
by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 13, 2023.
• For More Information: The complete RFP packet is listed on the County’s website
www.alleganyco.gov. To request a hard copy of the application, call the County Administrator’s
Office at 585-268-9217 or email jodi.adams@alleganyco.gov.
• Questions & Answers: Questions can be submitted in writing to Carissa.Knapp@alleganyco.gov
and responses will be provided until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 13. Please be advised that no
questions will be accepted or responded to after this date.
Allegany County in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and New York
State Labor Law; Article 8 – Public Work, Section 220e hereby notifies all contractors that it will
affirmatively ensure that any contracts awarded as a result of this proposal solicitation will be awarded
without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex or natural origin.

RIDGWAY, Pa– Dickinson Center, Inc. (DCI) is currently working on their 12^th annual Pat Work Memorial Christmas Project to provide gifts to children in the region.  This project was named after Patricia “Pat” Work who was a therapist at Dickinson for many years prior to her passing in 2003.  Pat worked with children and always made an extra effort at Christmas to make sure they had gifts.

This year, DCI has 103 children who are participating in the project.  Children are referred based on their need by DCI employees.  The children or their families provide wish lists that include both toys and clothing sizes.  Then angel trees are developed based on those wish lists and shared with staff, board members, and local community supporters to fill the wish lists. The DCI employees who made the referrals will deliver the gifts during the week of December 19^th.

So far this year, in addition to numerous DCI staff and their family members, there are several community organizations and generous local donors who have supported the project.  Supporters include local schools, banks, manufacturers, and community donors. In order to fill all 103 wish lists, more support is needed.  If you’re interested in supporting this project, please contact Heidi Thomas at 814-776-0224.  Monetary donations are also welcome – checks should be made payable to “Dickinson Center” and mailed to 43 Servidea Drive, Ridgway, PA 15853 (attention Heidi Thomas).

Dickinson Center, Inc. is committed to the communities we serve and strives to help individuals reach their full potential by providing a comprehensive spectrum of behavioral health, intellectual disability, and prevention services.