July 2024

Frank J. DellaValle, 81, of 44 Harrisburg Run, Bradford, passed away, Sunday, June 30, 2024.

Born on December 3, 1942, in North Tonawanda, NY, he was a son of the late Joseph and Amelia (Nardulli) DellaValle. He was a 1961 graduate at North Tonawanda High School.

Frank was employed at the Paper Plant in Grand Island, NY, and later at Harrison Radiator in Lockport, NY, for over 25 years.

He was a North Tonawanda Live Hose Volunteer Firefighter for 50 years and was also a volunteer firefighter at the Derrick City Fire Department.

Helen Joan Empey, 80, a loving and devoted mother and grandmother, formerly of Bradford, passed away Friday, June 28, 2024 at the Lexington Premier Nursing Home in Lexington KY. 

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com

On July 1, at 5:07 pm Bradford City was dispatched for a commercial fire alarm at 72 Jackson Ave. Evergreen Elms. Burnt food is responsible for the alarm they are trying to air out the building now

Clearfield, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the following schedule of maintenance activities in McKean County the week of July 1. Crews will not work on Thursday in observance of the holiday. PennDOT performs year-round maintenance in its mission to provide a safe, efficient transportation system, and the scope of work in McKean County for the coming week is as follows:

Bridge Maintenance & Cleaning

Nikky’s Dance Studio Competition Team had an incredible week at Nexstar Nationals in Sandusky, Ohio.  The team came home with 7 National Champion Titles, 4 Big Show Champions, numerous Overall scores, an Excellence in Choreography Award, an Excellence in Entertainment Award,  Scholarships and multiple Judge’s Choice Awards. Eight dances were awarded the coveted honor to re-compete in The Big Show.  We were thrilled to share the stage with some amazing talent and studios. The team trained hard this season and they were rewarded this past week. The team is still offering private auditions for their 2025 team, contact studio director Nikky Ewing – if interested. Recreational registration will be held on August 17^th from 10-12pm at the studio in Smethport, PA.

HARRISBURG, Pa (July 1) – On Independence Day, when many families and friends will be gathered to celebrate the holiday and spend time outdoors, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is pleased to offer a statewide Fish-for-Free Day!

From 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, July 4, 2024, no fishing license is required to fish, however all other fishing regulations, including seasons and creel limits, apply.  Complete fishing regulations can be viewed using the FishBoatPA mobile app or the PFBC website (Fishandboat.com).

During the extended Independence Day holiday weekend and throughout the remainder of the summer, the PFBC reminds anglers who will be fishing from boats to follow a basic safety checklist before and during each boating adventure.  Boaters should always wear a life jacket, have a float plan to let others know when and where they’ll be boating, check the weather forecast, have proper registrations and launch permits, and never boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Need to borrow a rod and reel?  The PFBC offers a fishing tackle loaner program at dozens of locations across the Commonwealth, including many popular state parks.  A map of fishing tackle loaner sites is available online.

OLEAN, NY – Olean General Hospital (OGH) celebrated it’s first-ever cohort of nurses to graduate from the OGH nurse residency program. The year-long program celebrated the graduation of 18 nurses at a pinning ceremony held on Wednesday, June 26.

Photo 1: (from left) Ashley Ameis, RN, nurse residency graduate is presented her certificate of completion from Suzanne Soltysik, DNP, RN-BC, NPD-BC, CNE, clinical nurse educator, and Jennifer Ruggles, MSN, RN, chief nursing officer, BRMC, OGH.

Photo 2: (from left) Alicea Nickerson, RN, and Jocelyn Huselstein, RN, presenting their evidence-based research project and certificate of completion. 

The nurses that graduated from the residency program included Ashley Ameis, RN, Mackenzie Crowe, RN, Kaleigh Donavon, BS, RN, Jacqueline Farrell, RN, Jamie Higley, RN, Jocelyn Huselstein, RN, Morgan Kasprzyk, RN, Alyssah Lanworthy, RN, Ryan Malanowski, RN, Jennifer Minard, RN, Alicea Nickerson, RN, Logan Nolder, RN, Grace Norton, RN, Taneasha Schaeper, BS, RN, Rosey Thomas, BSN, RN, Mark Thornton, BSN, RN, Devin Washington, RN, and Lindsey Wind, RN.     

Four aspiring business students recently received the Chautauqua Cattaraugus Board of Realtors Scholarship at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation.

Olean’s Caroline Carter and Allegany-Limestone’s Michael Frederick as well as Trey DeMink from Maple Grove and Kimberly Delcamp from Westfield each received the scholarship for $500.

The board of realtors scholarship provides two $500 scholarships each to students in good academic standing in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties. Preference is given to students pursuing a business-related degree.

Carter plans to attend St. Bonaventure University to study marketing. Frederick will attend Washington and Jefferson College to study business. Delcamp will attend University at Buffalo to major in business. DeMink plans to attend Penn State University to study business.

Donations can be made to the Chautauqua Cattaraugus Board of Realtors Scholarship Fund at CRCF, 301 North Union Street, Suite 203, or online at cattfoundation.org.

The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation is the area’s supportive, responsive and trusted community foundation. Established in 1994, CRCF is growing good by connecting donors to the causes they care about most in the region. Grants from the foundation support many areas, including education, scholarships, health care, the arts, community development, human service, and youth development. To learn more, call (716) 301-CRCF (2723), email foundation@cattfoundation.org, or visit online at www.cattfoundation.org. CRCF is also on Facebook (facebook.com/cattfoundation) and Twitter (@CattFoundation).

Harrisburg, Pa., July 01, 2024 – UPMC has appointed Kerstin Bettermann, M.D., Ph.D., FANA, FAAN, to chief of neurology for UPMC Neurological Institute and hospital services in central and north central Pennsylvania. She will have clinical oversight of eight UPMC Neurological Institute locations serving Annville, Carlisle, Harrisburg, Hershey, Lancaster, Mechanicsburg, Spring Grove, and Williamsport.

“Our neurologists have a reputation of exceptional care, service, and innovation,” said Kim Rinehart, executive administrator, UPMC Neurological Institute, UPMC in Central Pa. “Dr. Bettermann has a track record of clinical excellence and proven leadership skills that make her an excellent choice to lead our neurology care teams in the region. With her guidance and expertise, we will continue to innovate and deliver life-changing medicine.” 

Dr. Bettermann specializes in vascular neurology and the treatment of strokes. Her research and clinical interests center around how chronic diseases like diabetes and dementia influence stroke risk, treatment, and recovery. She is passionate about holistic health care, addressing health disparities, and understanding how partnerships with interdisciplinary care teams and community organizations can influence health outcomes.

June 2024 was a beautiful month, as usual.  However, it was different. It was a dry month until the 26th when we received 2.35″ of rain in thunderstorms.  Up to that date we only had received 0.88″ of rain.  Also, we had a June heat wave with readings in the mid to high 80’s Morning temperatures were in the 50s and high 60’s.

We had ten foggy mornings, five thunderstorms and one heavy hail storm on the 26th. Areas of my lawn were covered white. I have never observed that before.

Rainfall for June was 3.72″ last year, and the June total was 3.73″ 

For the year, January through June we received 24,20″ which is 3.05″ above the 20-year average.
Up until the 26th I was concerned about the mowers. Lawns were actually turning tan. Now it looks like another good mowing month.  Pine Creek looks very healthy. 

Galeton Fireworks will look great over the lake.

Henry W. Lush–National Weather Service Observer

 Posted on: July 1, 2024

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Allegany County Department of Public Works, in conjunction with the NYSDOT, will hold a Public Information Meeting regarding the County Road 4 over Genesee River (BIN 3330760) Bridge Rehabilitation project, which is located on CR4 (East Main Street) immediately east of the intersection of CR4 (East Main Street), West Main Street, South Genesee Street, and North Genesee Street.

The meeting will be held Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at the Town of Hume Museum located at 10842 Claybed Road starting at 7:00 p.m. County Public Works and design consultant personnel will be available at this time to answer questions.

WARREN – Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC) was authorized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to offer Act 48 continuing education credits for Pennsylvania educators.

According to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, “Act 48 of 1999 requires all Pennsylvania educators holding Pennsylvania public school certification (including Instructional I and II, Educational Specialist I and II, Administrative, Supervisory, Letters of Eligibility, and all vocational certificates) to participate in ongoing professional education. Act 48 requires that collegiate courses, continuing professional education courses (offered by intermediate units), and noncredit continuing professional education programs, activities or learning experiences be ‘related to an area of the professional educator’s assignment or certification.’”

Educators seeking college credits can enroll in any NPRC academic courses beginning this summer to help fulfill their 180 continuing education requirements every five years. The institution offers guaranteed admission to anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent, and applying to NPRC for continuing education students can be completed in just two steps. These steps are: 1) create a free account, 2) complete the application. Additionally, NPRC’s Workforce Development division can deliver an Education Team and Leadership Certification course, as well as other customized professional development training courses for local school districts to assist educators in their continuing education coursework.