February 2025

The Elk County Council on the Arts announces the winners of this region’s Poetry Out Loud competition. The student winners are Rowena Pruett from Ridgway Area High School, with Antonio Brouse from Saint Marys Area High School as the runner-up.

Poetry Out Loud—presented in partnership with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation—lifts poetry off the page, creating community and connection. Through this program, high school students across the country participate in a dynamic poetry recitation competition that is designed to improve their public speaking skills, help build confidence, and teach them about literary history and contemporary life. Since the program began in 2005, more than 4.4 million students across the country have participated in Poetry Out Loud. On Thursday, January 30, 2025, more than 6 high school students participated in the Poetry Out Loud competition at the PA Wilds Media Lab in Kane, PA.

Job Title: IT Support Technician Location: Austin, PA and Galeton, PA Type: Full-time Overview: Seneca Highlands IU9 is seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic IT Support Technician to join our team supporting Austin Area School District and Galeton Area School District. This position offers an excellent opportunity to start a rewarding career in technology within an educational environment.

Key Responsibilities:
Provide first-level technical support for devices, networks, apps, and classroom technology.
Troubleshoot and resolve hardware, software, and network issues.
Assist in maintaining and updating IT documentation and inventory.
Ensure excellent customer service by being courteous, polite, and service-oriented.
Collaborate with other team members to enhance overall IT support.

Qualifications:
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
A positive attitude and a willingness to learn.
Basic troubleshooting skills for devices, networks, and classroom technology, or the ability to learn these skills quickly.

Please use this link to access – IT Support Technician

Direct questions to Ed Bell at (814) 887-5512 or ebell@iu9.org  EOE

  On January 30 and 31, 2025 representatives from the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center traveled to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to compete in the District 6 SkillsUSA competition at the Pennsylvania College of Technology. The participants were given the opportunity to show how vital career and technical education are to America’s future through their applied learning, presentations, demonstrations, speaking and employability skills. 

SkillsUSA is a nonprofit national student organization that serves students enrolled in a career and technical school. Its mission is to empower its members to become world class workers and responsible citizens, and it complements the skills training received at the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center. The advisors at the Career and Technical Center are Mrs. Katie Dynda and Mrs. Kim Mooney. 

First Place students will attend the state competition for SkillsUSA in Hershey, Pennsylvania. We are so very proud of all the student competitors that attended the District level competition, and perhaps some of our students at the Seneca Highland Career and Technical Center may advance to the national level! Attendees at District 6 Competition were the following:

Busy month ahead for Penn College athletics

February will be busy for Pennsylvania College of Technology athletics as the regular basketball and wrestling seasons end and men’s lacrosse and baseball seasons begin.

Wrestling

On Saturday, the Wildcats improved to 7-1 in dual matches with a 56-0 romp of Keystone College.

Penn College won all 10 bouts, six of them contested, getting falls from Noah Hunt of Muncy at 141 pounds, Anton Esterbrook of Wyomissing at 157, Zach Miller of Lock Haven at 174, and Nicholai Brotzman of Marietta at 285. Isaac Cory of Montoursville picked up a technical fall at 184, and Nicholas Woodruff of Woodbury added a decision at 197.

On Sunday in the Rennie Rodarmel Allstate Invitational at Lycoming College, Penn College had an outstanding showing, with 11 wrestlers reaching the podium and three of them claiming individual championships.

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. 

UPDATE: Work on this soil remediation project has been rescheduled for Monday, February 3, 2025.

Montoursville, PA – Motorists are advised of a lane restriction next week on Broadway Road (Route 254) in the eastbound lane in Turbot Township, Northumberland County, for a soil remediation due to a previous crash.

On Monday, Feburary 3, 2025, the contractor, Bressler’s Environmental Service, will be performing soil remediation along Broadway Road at the Interstate 80 overpass. Motorists can expect the eastbound right (travel) lane and shoulder to be restricted. Motorists will be diverted to the left (turn) lane. Work will be performed between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

Motorists should be alert, slow down, expect slow moving or stopped traffic, and drive with caution through the work zone.

Gertrude Hawk Candy Bar Sale: The library is selling Gertrude Hawk candy bars in various flavors. Stop at the library or Sprout’s Drug Store and get some today!

Little Caesars Fundraiser: The library will have another Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraiser from Tuesday, January 14th – Thursday, February 13th just in time for the

Superbowl! Place orders online and have the kits delivered right to your door, or order a meal kit and pick it up at a local Little Caesars! Watch our website and Facebook page for more information at the start of the fundraiser.

PennDOT Reduces Speed Limit on Interstates 80 and 180 in Northcentral Pennsylvania

Montoursville, PA – Due to the severity of the winter storm, PennDOT is temporarily reducing the speed limit on a portion of Interstates 80 and 180 in northcentral Pennsylvania.

PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 mph on the following highways:

·         Interstate 80 between mile marker 194 (Clinton / Union County line) and mile marker 247 (Columbia / Luzerne County line).

·         Interstate 180 – entire length.

On roadways with speed restrictions, commercial vehicles not affected by restrictions on these or other roadways must move to the right lane.

Although PennDOT crews have been treating roadways, the department’s primary goal is to keep roads passable, not completely free of ice and snow. PennDOT will continue to treat roadways throughout the storm until precipitation stops and roads are clear.

HEADLINE: Winter Weather Advisory issued February 2 at 1:21PM EST until February 3 at 6:00AM EST by NWS Buffalo NY

DESCRIPTION: * WHAT…Light freezing rain and snow expected this afternoon. Total
snow accumulations 1 to 2 inches and ice accumulation around a few
hundredths of an inch. Light freezing drizzle tonight.

HEADLINE: Winter Weather Advisory issued February 2 at 1:45PM EST until February 3 at 5:00AM EST by NWS Binghamton NY

DESCRIPTION: * WHAT…Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations up
to two inches and ice accumulations around a light glaze.

* WHERE…In New York, Chemung, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, and Yates
Counties. In Pennsylvania, Bradford and Susquehanna Counties.

URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service State College PA
158 PM EST Sun Feb 2 2025
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EST MONDAY…

* WHAT…A 2 to 5 hour period of snow late this afternoon and
evening across the region near and north of Interstate 80, with
lighter mixed precipitation over the Laurel Highlands. Then,
lingering light freezing rain or freezing drizzle from late this
evening through the overnight hours. Total snow accumulations of 1
to 3 inches across the Northern Mountains, with around one inch
near and just to the south of the Interstate 80 corridor. Ice
accumulations less than one tenth of an inch.

Looking for the perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your special someone or Galentine’s with your friends? Why not enjoy an evening of good food, great music, and some fun at Love in the Library, happening on Thursday, February 13th at the Togis Blue Room in Bradford, PA?

This special event offers the perfect blend of a delicious buffet-style dinner, catered by Togis, followed by local talent performing a selection of timeless love songs. It’s an experience not to be missed! Performing artists include: Lisa Auteri, Barbara Pedersen, Bailey Fedak, Jeremy Fuller, Andrew Truman, Gretchen Henneman, Lori Johnson, Jonathan Young, Daniel Nordin, along with Fred and Rebecca Feightner.

Cameron County Chamber of Commerce hosting the annual Lit & Lucky reverse raffle March 8.  Last year was the inaugural fundraiser for the chamber.  The chamber committee is expanding on the successful event that raises funds for the popular events like the fireworks during Weekend in the Wilds, and Santa’s reindeer in December.

OLEAN, N.Y., January 30 – HomeCare & Hospice recently established an agency fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation to support the mission, programming and operations of HomeCare & Hospice and ensure the continuation and enhancement of compassionate care services across Allegany, Cattaraugus, Genesee and Wyoming counties.

HomeCare & Hospice, a trusted provider in the area since 1971, offers a wide range of care services focused on improving quality of life for patients and their families.

Belmont, NY – Allegany County is aware that President Trump issued a Memorandum yesterday titled “Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs.”

Although Allegany County is a recipient of both direct and indirect Federal funding, this Memorandum does not pose an immediate threat to the level of services that Allegany County provides. All Allegany County business will continue as usual at this time.