January 2025

All Four Potter County Senior Centers (Coudersport, Galeton, Oswayo Valley & Ulysses) will be closed Wednesday 01/22/2025.

Stay home – stay warm – stay safe.  There will be no home delivery meals.

The Frank Varischetti Foundation recently made a significant contribution to Dickinson Center, Inc. (DCI), an affiliate of Journey Health System, by presenting a check in support of the “Building for Tomorrow” capital campaign. This generous donation plays a pivotal role in helping DCI reach its ambitious $1.5 million goal, alongside the support from local businesses, organizations and individual community members.

“Dickinson Center, Inc. provides such important resources to the area, and we are proud to support this endeavor,” said Barbara Varischetti, president of The Frank Varischetti Foundation. “The Frank Varischetti Foundation is built on the philosophy of enhancing the quality of life for area residents, which aligns perfectly with Dickinson Center’s mission to serve St. Marys and bring transformative change to the community.”

As a nonprofit organization, Dickinson Center expresses profound gratitude to the community for their overwhelming support. Thanks to these contributions, the new St. Marys facility will ensure that over 1,200 children and adults will continue to receive high-quality behavioral health services each year. This facility will enhance the organization’s capacity to meet the growing demand for crucial mental health services in the region.

With a roster that includes a three-time All-East Team honoree among four key returnees and a program-record 25 freshmen loaded with talent, Pennsylvania College of Technology archery coach Dustin Bartron has plenty of reason for optimism.

The Wildcats are scheduled to open their season on Saturday at the Easton Collegiate Tournament in Manheim.

“It’s great and refreshing to have students that want to be involved again!” Bartron said of the turnout for his fifth edition.

“Practices have been going well, very productive. We have the largest number of student-athletes (30) since I have started coaching in the range every day, working hard. These athletes have made a commitment to the school, team and themselves. Their hard work, along with endless hours of studying, training, practicing and working on equipment, prove this commitment,” the coach said.

District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer provided the community report for the medication drop boxes that were collected and weighed at the recent pickup.  Boxes located at the City of Bradford Police Department, Kane Borough Police Department and Sheriff’s Department (located inside the jail) were collected on January 7, 2025 by the County Detectives. 

The respective weights of medication collected from the boxes based on location was as follow: Bradford City:  85.5 lbs; Kane Borough: 13.0 lbs; Sheriff’s Office: 15 lbs for a total of 113.5 lbs.  Other boxes are available at the Bradford Township Police Department and the Pennsylvania State Police-Lewis Run Barracks.  The County Detectives with the District Attorney’s Office collect the medication from the county’s boxes and they are collected by members of the National  Guard and Attorney General’s Office for destruction.  The boxes are important because it allows everyone to get rid of their unused medication to keep it out of the hands of those other than to those for whom it was prescribed.  Before the installation of the boxes, we had to wait for annual drop off days. 

But unused medication getting in the hands of others is often seen as one avenue that leads to drug abuse so the constant availability of the boxes is very beneficial.  The boxes were sponsored by the District Attorney’s Association and PA American Water Company.    If you suspect illegal drug activity, please call the McKean County Drug Task Force at (814)887-3312 or McKeanDA.org. 

Smethport–Donald J. Russell, 89, of Moody Hollow, Eldred, PA, passed away at his home on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 surrounded by his family.

He was born May 10, 1935, in Turtlepoint, PA. He was the son of Frank and Martha Gross Russell. On June 11, 1955, in Coryville he married the former Carolyn Milliron, who survives.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (January 21) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will hold its quarterly business meeting on Monday, January 27, 2025, beginning at 10 a.m., at its Harrisburg headquarters, located at 1601 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110.  The meeting is open to the public. 

Doreen M. WEISS, 63, of Ulysses, PA, passed away Tuesday, January 21, 2025, after a brief, but aggressive battle with cancer.  Born November 4, 1961, in Coudersport, she was the daughter of Gary L. and Amy Moe Empson.  On May 28, 1983, in Galeton, she married Kris J. Weiss, who survives.

Hebron Center Christian School will be operating on a 2 hour delay Wednesday January 22.

Smethport will be operating on a 2 hour delay schedule for Wednesday, January 22nd due to forecasted cold weather.

How many times do we encounter hearing impaired people and wish that we could communicate with them? As we age, we gradually lose some of our hearing. Sign language can help. Also, mothers of pre-lingual children can use sign language as a tool with their little ones. Here is your opportunity to learn basic sign language that could help you communicate with someone you care about.

Saturday, February 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the  Chili and Chowder With A Chance For Chocolate Taste-Off there will be 15 different types of chili or chowder to taste at 15 sites in downtown Wellsboro and an opportunity to win a fun and unique basket of chocolate at each of those 15 locations. 

In addition, taste-off passport holders are welcome to stop in at Century 21 Gold Star Real Estate to spin the wheel for a surprise. 

Who are you? How would you answer that question? What do you use to define yourself? Are you defined by your profession, parents, or children, or is there some other matrix? Some define themselves by their accomplishments. Some do it by their failures and mistakes.