May 2023

Liberty Township 

ATTENTION LIBERTY TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS: The township is going to have to cancel the blacktopping of Coleman Mills Road that was scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday until further notice. Very sorry for the inconvenience!!

A SENIOR EXPO  will be held at the Coudersport Arboretum located at 201 South West Street, Coudersport, on Monday, July 31st from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Rain date will be Tuesday, August 1st. The SENIOR EXPO is sponsored by the Coudersport Arboretum Association and in collaboration with Potter County Human Services Area Agency on Aging.

Various agencies and businesses will set up tables displaying their services and products that assist older adults. No political campaign set-ups will be featured. There is no cost for vendor set-ups, however donations to the Coudersport Arboretum Association are gratefully accepted.

Vendors will set up along the paths that meander through the beautiful memorial Arboretum displaying a variety of flowers, trees and bushes on the historic C&PA railroad grounds. Stroll along the Honor Walk bricks inscribed in memory or tribute to loved ones and visit the Veteran’s Honor Wall while visiting vendor’s tables.

There are plenty of memorial benches throughout the Arboretum to relax and enjoy the day. Door prizes and refreshments will be available.

Potter County Human Services Area Agency on Aging will have a table set-up with information pertaining to their services. Farm Market Nutrition Program checks will be available.

The Coudersport Arboretum Association is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. The Arboretum is maintained by volunteers, donations and grants. Anyone wishing to make a general donation or memorial donation should send it to the Coudersport Arboretum Association, 201 South West Street, Coudersport, PA 16915.

Vendors interested in reserving their spot (limited spots available) or for more information contact Donna Foust at 814-274-9887 or email wcfoust@gmail.com.

Disclaimer: The Coudersport Arboretum Association, Coudersport Borough and Potter County Human Services Area Agency on Aging do not endorse or promote any of the vendor set-ups.

The Hamilton-Gibson Children and Youth Choirs Spring Concert is This Sunday, May 21 at 2:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church at 130 Main Street in Wellsboro.

“We did not choose a yearlong theme but in the world we live in we were drawn to the songs that offered hope, and that hope is in recognizing how we are alike,” said Thomas Putnam.

“Many of the songs we’re singing explore our connectedness with each other, we are one,” he said.  “We can’t make it through these challenging times without sticking together.

The concert will open with all three choirs singing “Amazing Grace,”  “I Wanna Be Ready” and “Building Bridges.”

The Children’s Concert Choir for fifth through eighth graders and Youth Choir for ninth through twelfth graders, both directed by Thomas Putnam of Wellsboro, will then perform “Because All Men Are Brothers” followed by the Children’s Concert Choir singing “Yellow Submarine,” “Circle Round the Moon” and “Niska Banja” and the Youth Choir, “Yesterday,” “Eleanor Rigby” and “Hey Jude.”

The Children’s Concert Choir and Youth Choir will then join in performing “Let It Be” and “If Not Now, When?”

Choir Too for youngsters in the second through fourth grades directed by Cheryl Hein Walters of Mansfield will sing “Bombalina” and “Ear Worm.”

The Children’s Concert Choir and Youth Choir will perform “Draw the Circle” and “We Are Not Alone.”

Closing the concert will be the Children’s Concert Choir and Youth Choir singing “Song for Justice,” “Sisi Ni Moja” and “Scottish Blessing.”

Piano accompanist for the concert is Gary Citro.

Tickets at the door are $10 for adults and $5 for children and students, 18 and under.

Wellsboro, PA — The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced that construction has begun on key infrastructure improvements at Leonard Harrison State Park.

“We are pleased to get this long-awaited infrastructure improvement project underway at Leonard Harrison,” State Parks Director John Hallas said. “Projects of this nature help keep our wonderful state parks system safe and enjoyable for all visitors. We appreciate the patience of the public as work is done to improve the park and are excited for what’s in store for the future.”

The large scope of the project will cause temporary closures of the main day-use and parking areas, including the spectacular overlook area starting on May 15, 2023. The closure is anticipated to last for the summer, with the goal of full access to the 585-acre park in time for the fall foliage season starting early September.

Work will include making improvements to the park entrance, pedestrian walkways and expanded parking areas. An electric vehicle (EV) charging area in the new parking lot with space for four electric vehicles as part of a statewide initiative to support EV infrastructure in state parks and forests.

Additionally, there will be new walkways for pedestrians from the parking area to a newly renovated Leonard Harrison State Park Visitor Center, which includes exhibit hall, a PA Wilds Conservation Shop and outdoor seating.

The Leonard Harrison Turkey Path will remain open that connects the park to the Pine Creek Rail Trail. The campground will also remain open, with existing reservations being honored.

Site conditions may be noisy and dusty while contractors are performing the work, therefore campers with existing reservations will be offered an opportunity to cancel or transfer reservations. and no further reservations will be taken during this closure timeframe.

During this construction project, DCNR is asking park visitors to avoid active construction areas and visit other local State Parks.

Colton Point State Park on the western rim of the Pa Grand Canyon has five overlook areas and is a great alternative spot to enjoy spectacular views of the Pine Creek Gorge.

Another alternative local attraction is Hills Creek State Park, where visitors can enjoy the 137-acre lake, public beach, hiking trails and concessions this summer season.

Relocation of the existing PA Wilds Conservation Shop mobile unit to Hills Creek from Leonard Harrison has also occurred to serve visitors to the region during the summer season.

Construction is set to begin as DCNR is working to address its $1.4 billion infrastructure needs. Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget would address outdated facilities and public safety preparedness across the state.

The Governor’s budget would provide $112 million to maintain and improve infrastructure in parks and forests, which would be the single largest investment in decades. In addition, the budget proposes $2.8 million to support operating needs for the management and safety of our public lands.

“We are pleased to begin work on this existing project and are eager to get working on other infrastructure needs across our 124-state park system,” DCNR Deputy Secretary John Norbeck said. “Just like at Leonard Harrison, our state parks and forests contain not only natural areas, but many roads, bridges and structures. Much of that infrastructure was built more than 50 years ago and we are working to address those critical needs.”

If you have questions, or need any additional information, please contact the Leonard Harrison State Park Office weekdays from 8am to 4pm; telephone 570-724-3061.

Find out more information about Leonard Harrison State Park on DCNR’s website. Check out DCNR’s Calendar of Events for events on public lands. For information on other state parks in the PA Wilds regionOpens In A New Window, visit the PA Wilds website..

The Northcentral Forest Landowners Association is hosting a free program. Join us for a wildlife habitat tour on PA State Gamelands #44, near Ridgway.

PA Game Commission staff will lead the tour with various stops highlighting forest management and wildlife habitat improvements. The tour will also show early successional habitat and field management for pollinators and other wildlife.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 9:00 am.

We will meet in the parking lot at the top of Mead Run.  Parking lot is along Mead Run Road, 1.5 miles from Shawmut Road. (Mead Run Road is on the west side of Shawmut Road, 0.6 mile north of town of Drummond, which is west of Route 219 and south of Ridgway.)

Please Pre-register by May 26 by calling 814-887-5121 (leave a clear message with your name and phone number) or by email ncfla2@gmail.com  Registration is required to ensure there are enough participants to hold the event.

The workshop is free and open to all.

Event is sponsored by the NCFLA and PA Game Commission.