July 2023

Christmas House has a proud tradition of providing Potter County children in need with new shoes to go back to school each fall. This distribution of new shoes is made possible by annual financial support of the N.D.H.P. Motorcycle Club.

Only parents and legal guardians may apply for the shoes for their children. This year shoes will be provided for children in pre-school through grade 12. Parents should be prepared with the proper shoe size for their children. In-person applications are preferred but we will accept phone applications during our business hours on Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (814-274-0825). Deadline for applications is Tuesday, August 8. 

School shoes will be distributed Tuesday, August 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

Christmas House is located in the basement of First Presbyterian Church, 402 N. Main Street in Coudersport.

Those with questions should call 814-274-0825 for more information. Please leave a detailed message and your call will be returned during our business hours.

Special thanks to the N.D.H.P. Motorcycle Club. They presented a generous check to Christmas House representative Charlene Smith on Saturday, July 10.  On behalf of Potter County families, we say thank you to these fine folks. 

Northern Pennsylvania Regional College is hosting a virtual Information Session on Tuesday, July 18 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Those interested in attending are encouraged to sign-up on NPRC’s website.

Attendees will learn about the College’s history and mission, receive information and resources regarding tuition rates and how to pay for college, along with more details about NPRC’s academic and workforce development offerings.

NPRC offers affordable associate degrees, certificates, and workforce training to the region. Many classroom locations are within 15 miles of most residents in the service area. Associate degrees include business administration, criminal justice, early childhood education, liberal studies, and social sciences. Several of these programs are eligible for financial assistance through your local CareerLink®.

“College can be intimidating for anyone,” says NPRC’s Assistant Director of Community Engagement, Kelsey Angove. “But at NPRC, we work to ensure that each one of our students, no matter their background or stage of life, has the resources and support needed to be successful. This virtual Information Session is a great opportunity for our curious community members, employers, and prospective students from around our region to hear first-hand about our institution. We are excited to welcome everyone and host a great event.”

In addition to this upcoming Information Session, NPRC will also hold a session this fall on Tuesday, October 24. More information regarding the fall event will be released at a later date.

For more information or to sign up to attend NPRC’s Summer Information Session, visit https://bit.ly/InformationSession_July18.About NPRC: Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC) is authorized by the PA Department of Education to award associate degrees and certificates in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. NPRC is an open-admission, two-year institution of higher education. The College’s mission is to provide affordable and accessible post-secondary education to the residents of northern Pennsylvania. NPRC brings affordable education to a nine-county region (Cameron, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, McKean, Potter, Venango, and Warren). With flexible scheduling options at numerous instructional locations, attending Northern Pennsylvania Regional is an excellent option for individuals interested in furthering their education close to home. With a growing team of high-quality industry-leading instructors directing our classrooms, students are empowered by a welcoming community to change their lives and brighten their futures. NPRC is actively pursuing accreditation. https://regionalcollegepa.org.

Air Quality Alert Message
Relayed by National Weather Service State College PA
503 PM EDT Sun Jul 16 2023
…AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT EDT MONDAY NIGHT…

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has issued
a Code ORANGE Air Quality Alert for all of Central Pennsylvania.

A Code ORANGE Air Quality Alert means that air pollution
concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for
sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include children,
people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung
diseases, and the elderly. The effects of air pollution can
be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors.

For more information on ground-level ozone and fine particles,
visit www.airnow.gov.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission again is seeking input from the public in surveying wild turkeys this summer. The Annual Pennsylvania Wild Turkey Sighting Survey is underway and runs through Aug. 31.

Participation is important for turkey population management. Survey data allow the agency to determine total wild turkey productivity and compare long-term reproductive success within Pennsylvania and across states, as this is a standard methodology used across the country. Data also are used in the turkey population model to track population trends.

Turkey sightings can be reported through the Game Commission’s website https://pgcdatacollection.pa.gov/TurkeyBroodSurvey. The mobile app is no longer available. The agency recommends saving this link to your favorites for quick access to report turkey sightings.

On the website, participants are requested to record the number of wild turkeys they see, along with the county, township, wildlife management unit (WMU), date and contact information if agency biologists have any questions. Participants may also simply drop a “pin” on the map for the location data to automatically populate. Location data are used only for the survey, not for law enforcement and are not shared. Viewers can also access the raw data and reports from previous years.

“The turkey survey enhances our agency’s internal survey, which serves as a long-term index of turkey reproduction and is used in our turkey population model,” said Game Commission Turkey Biologist Mary Jo Casalena. “Participants should report all turkeys seen, whether gobblers, hens with broods, or hens without broods.”

Many factors, including spring weather, habitat conditions, previous winter food abundance, predation, and last fall’s harvest affect wild turkey productivity.

Statewide, reproductive success last summer and in 2021 were above average (3.1 poults per hen). At the WMU level, reproductive success in 2022 either improved or was similar to the previous three-year average in 17 of 23 WMUs. It declined to below the previous three-year average in only six WMUs (compared to declining in 11 WMUs in 2021). Units that declined were WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 4C and 5D, with a slight decline in WMU 2D.

Like many other states this survey includes input from both agency personnel and the public. “Thanks to the large sample size from all corners of the Commonwealth, we have high confidence in the results,” Casalena emphasized. “Let’s maintain these results in 2023 and even increase participation,” she added.

PUBLIC NOTICE

 Notice is hereby given that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, beginning at 5:30 PM at the F.W. Gunzburger County Office Building auditorium, located at 1 North Main Street, Coudersport, PA, 16915. Doors will open and onsite registration will begin at 5:00 PM.

 The purpose of this hearing is to take testimony concerning the Roulette Oil & Gas Company, LLC (ROGC), application to convert the Clara Field # 20 gas well into an oil and gas waste disposal well (solely for ROGC conventional well waste) in Clara Township, Potter County. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an Underground Injection Control Permit (PAS2D050BPOT), effective January 14, 2022, to authorize the operation of the Class II-D Injection Well.

 The DEP will accept and record testimony concerning ROGC’s application. Those wishing to present testimony during the hearing should contact the Regional Communications Manager, Megan Lehman, at 570-327-3659, before noon on Monday, July 24, 2023, to register. There will also be an opportunity to sign up to testify at the door before the start of the meeting. Organizations are encouraged to designate one witness to present testimony on behalf of the organization. Persons unable to attend the public hearing can submit a written statement to the DEP by close of business on Tuesday, August 8, 2023. Written statements should be sent via the U.S. Postal Service to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Northwest Oil and Gas District, 230 Chestnut Street, Meadville, PA 16335, emailed to RA-EPOILGASDROPBOX@pa.gov. Each written statement must contain the name, address, and telephone number of the person submitting the comments, identification of the permit application (Clara Field # 20), and a concise statement of the objections to the permit application and the relevant facts upon which the objections are based.

 Individuals in need of an accommodation as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 should contact Megan Lehman or the Pennsylvania Hamilton Relay Service at 1-800-654-5984 (TDD) to discuss how DEP may accommodate your needs.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 23-935. Filed for public inspection July 14, 2023, 9:00 a.m.]