March 2024

Learning To Ask Questions

By

Pastor B.J. Knefley

Has anyone ever said that you don’t listen? What about being accused of not loving another, or that you don’t care? These statements and others are often said to us by the people around us. How do you respond? What is your answer? If you’re like me you’ve probably learned that no matter what I say or how I respond doesn’t work. So, what does? How do you respond? I believe that answer is learning to ask questions.

Often when someone says that we’re not listening we have a tendency to argue the point. What would happen if we asked a question? For example, suppose we asked, “If I were listening, how would you know?” Their answer would help you to act in a manner that communicated that you were listening. In my case it might be that I need to put down my book or my phone. Ultimately, we need to find a way to communicate that we’re listening in a manner that the other person understands.

If you’re accused of not loving the other person, the same principle applies. Ask a simple question like, “If I were loving you, how would you know? Their response would help you to know what their love language is. You might be surprised that the issue of listening comes up again.

What I have learned over the years is we respond to those around us according to our understanding. Often, it’s directly related to how we were brought up, our family of origin. It’s not then a surprise when two people clash over an issue. Their frame of reference is often very different. How we learned to communicate within our individual families is always different. In some cases, we might just as well be speaking a different language.

Learning to ask questions needs to be learned. Yet if we can practice learning how, we often will find that our relationships will be better off because of it. Remember, even Jesus asked questions. It causes people to think. Think about it.

It is with mixed emotions we announce the sale of three of our locations to Rite Aid. It was a decision we did not reach lightly.  Due to poor insurance reimbursement, independent pharmacies across the country are being forced to close their doors. Pharmacy organizations representing all sectors of retail pharmacy have been aggressively asking legislators to address these issues with the pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) for quite some time. Unfortunately, they have been slow in taking action. It simply is not a sustainable business model when total reimbursement is less that the costs we pay for medications.

Thank you to everyone in surrounding communities that have supported our business over the years. We appreciate you. It has been our pleasure to take care of your prescription needs.

A huge thank you to ALL of our employees, both past and present.  We value each and every one of you. You are what made our business successful for over 40 years. 

We are grateful that Rite Aid remains committed to serving rural Pennsylvania and has offered employment to all of our current staff in Potter and McKean counties. No action is required on your part to transfer your prescriptions. All of the prescriptions from our Eldred and Smethport locations will be automatically transferred to Rite Aid in Port Allegany and all of the prescriptions from our Coudersport pharmacy will be automatically transferred to Rite Aid in Coudersport. The last day of business in our Smethport location will be Monday April 8th, Eldred will be Tuesday April 9th, and Coudersport will be Wednesday April 10th. 

Please note that there is no change to our Westfield and Elkland locations. With a more diverse and better payor mix in Tioga County, those stores will continue to remain open and it will be business as usual. Once again, we are continuing to operate our stores in Westfield and Elkland.

We sincerely appreciate the support of our valued patients over the past several decades. It has been a privilege to serve you.

Buchanan Brothers Pharmacy

National Weather Service State College
456 AM EDT Sat Mar 23 2024
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM EDT THIS
AFTERNOON…

* WHAT…A period of freezing rain through the mid morning. A change to mixed precipitation then wet snow will occur later this morning. Snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches occurring after a light glaze of ice accumulation.

* WHERE…Potter and Tioga Counties.

* WHEN…Until 2 PM EDT this afternoon.

* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission remind motorists to adjust speeds based ondriving conditions as winter weather impacts Pennsylvania roadways.

          On a blustery, snowy afternoon at their home turf, the Otto-Eldred Bird Dawgs fell to the Bradford Youth Trap Team with a score of 169 to 173. Even with the terrible weather conditions, athletes exhibited positive sportsmanship and attitudes.

          The top shooters for the Bird Dawgs were Gavin Silvis (senior) and Sebastian Zona (senior) each with an almost perfect score of 24; Nick Brown (senior) earning a 23; Abram Austin (senior), Isaiah Cover, and Korrie Turek (senior) each receiving 20; and Bryce Fessenden and Bryin Roberts with a 19 each.

          For the Bradford Youth Trap Team, Brayden Dach had the top position with a perfect score of 25; Kaine Salada earned a 23; Evan Emore earned a 22; Andrew Giordano, Lillian Millett, and Sean Ward each received a 21; while Derek Cullen and Andrew Magee each earned 20.

          After two weeks off, the Bird Dawgs will travel to Coudersport to take on Black Forest Falcons on Tuesday, April 9 while Bradford Youth Trap Team will host Smethport Trap Team on March 26.

A writing group, loosely structured under guidelines developed by poet, essayist, teacher, and novelist Natalie Goldberg, is being put together in Coudersport. Plans are to meet on Fridays, beginning in April, for one hour to write together with an opportunity to read the work to one another.

The Purpose of the group is to write in community with others who share a similar passion. The Frequency and time of the Friday gatherings will be determined by the participants. If this concept interests you, please respond to Jane via email at cellojani@hotmail and put writing group in the subject line. 

Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans today testified before the House Game and Fisheries Committee and presented the agency’s annual report.

To view a copy of the agency’s annual legislative report, please visit www.pgc.pa.gov and click on the link under “About Us” on the homepage.

Burhans’ testimony before the House Game and Fisheries Committee follows:

“Good morning Chairwoman Kulik, Chairman Maloney, and members of the House Game and Fisheries Committee. I am pleased to share with you what the Pennsylvania Game Commission has accomplished over the past year.