October 2025

This piece was written in October 1969 by W.D. Fish, appearing in his popular “Golly” column in The Potter Enterprise. Mr. Fish passed away in December that year at the age of 94. He is writing of Halloween pranks.

Golly has seen many of these nights. He remembers his arrival in town in 1914 in early November. Scattered over the courthouse lawn were the pieces of boards and timbers that had been a band stand. Halloween destruction! Coudersport has never had a band stand since then. Maybe there is no need for one.

Golly remembers Halloween of 1923 especially. That was the time our daughter Barbara, now Mrs. Joe Heimel, was born at the hospital on South East Street.

Retiring home on North Main Street was really like running an obstacle course. Everything that was loose was piled in the street. Doorsteps galore were in the jumbles along with pieces of porch furniture, bundles of shingles, rolls of barb wire and everything that was loose. What a mess greeted Sunday morning a few hours later. We believe it was that year Ed Stevens, small grocer, lost his wheeled popcorn or peanut cart from the front of his store. It fell off the East Second Street bridge. It never came back.

Then there was a change. Coudersport Rotary Club was established. The club took the matter in hand, organized a costumed parade for the youngsters, gave them a treat and sent them home. There was no hell-raising. All the years Rotary has performed this duty there has been no destruction.

The thanks of the whole town go to Rotary.

Kathy Duell and Deb Barr are pictured with some of the baskets available for prizes at the WOTM (Women of the Moose) Fourth Annual Holiday Basket Raffle to be held November 8 at the Port Allegany Moose Family Center.  Doors open at 11:30 and the event begins at noon.  The cost of tickets are $20/each and they entitle the ticket holder to entry for each basket and a light lunch.  There will be over 48 baskets .  Proceeds benefit Mooseheart, Moosehaven and local charities.  

The Town of Ripley announced today that the water conservation order issued for Water District customers on October 10, 2025 has been lifted.

Town Officials and water operators have confirmed that the reservoir has returned to near normal levels for this time of year, and the creek that flows into the reservoir is no longer dry. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to conserve water.

“The Town would like to thank all of our customers for doing their part to conserve water while this order was in effect,” said Town Supervisor Laura Pless. “We would also like to thank all of the volunteer fire fighters and Companies that helped us with trucking water and North East Township for allowing us to draw water from their system”.
Residents may return to normal water use at this time.

Chautauqua County does still remain under a drought warning, stay updated on drought conditions across New York State here:
https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/water/water-quantity/drought/current-drought-conditions

The S. W. Smith Library annual dinner auction will be held November 8 from 4-9 p.m. at the Star Hose Co. #1 in Port Allegany.  Theme for the 36th annual event is A Night in the Country.  Those in attendance are encouraged to wear their cowboy gear – boots, flannel shirts and jeans along with cowboy hats – and enjoy dinner, drinks, music, games of chance and live and silent auctions.  Tickets are available at the library or online.  Donations are still being accepted for the live and silent auction.  This event is for 21+ only.  Pictured putting together what has become an annual tradition to donate to the library auction, are PAWC members as they fill the piggy bank which will be raffled off at the event.  They are (front row, left to right) Lori Chase, Pat Dunn; (back row) Anna Fair, Sylvia Cole, Sharen Horvath, Debbie Johnson and Gloria Ours.    

Last week in review: In a mid-week United East win at Cedar Crest College, coach Kyle Hawk’s women’s volleyball team secured its first five-win season since 2016 and picked up its second conference win in a season for the first time since 2017.

On the horizon: Playoffs begin this week for the fifth-seeded men’s and third-seeded women’s soccer teams, the United East Conference men’s and women’s cross-country championships are set for Saturday, the women’s volleyball team will play its final two regular-season matches, still hopeful of a postseason berth, and the college’s wrestlers step into action for the first time on Saturday.

 “Tickets available at the door or by calling 814-203-7615”

It’s time to buy the PERFECT clutter free gift! Get it for your friends, your family, your postal carrier, your hairdresser, or anyone else you would like to show your appreciation but just aren’t quite sure what to get them.

Coudersport Rotary Club Lottery Calendars are $25 each.  

You have two chances to win each day of the year. Look at the back of the calendar for the possible winning amounts. No need to track numbers – we track them for you and send you a check in the event that you win. See the calendar rules on the calendar fronts.

Contact your Coudersport Rotary Club member for your Rotary Lottery Calendar or look for us next to the movie theater during Coudersport’s Small Town Saturday

Coudersport Rotary Club welcomed Librarian Teri McDowell to our September 15, 2025, meeting at A&W West End Grill. Teri McDowell has been the Librarian at Coudersport Public Library for 10 years. For 25 years she worked as a journalist and writer for local newspapers and he has a bachelor’s degree in Library

Science and two Masters degrees.

Teri is Chair of a regional library association and President-elect of the Pennsylvania Public Library Association. She is a former Rotarian until she couldn’t attend due to work. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of A Way Out.

Pike Township’s Dump Facility located in Galeton, PA will begin Winter hours of operation on Sunday, November 2, 2025. The dump will operate each Sunday from 9am-3pm and each Wednesday from 12:30pm-4:30pm. Only Pike Township residents / dwelling owners have access to the facility. For additional information or municipal resources, please contact the Secretary at 814-433-2333 or by email at piketownship20@gmail.com. 

Kristy Carlson is a proud mother of two, an active community member, and a strong advocate for teamwork and progress. As one of the organizers of the 5K for Fireworks and a committed member of Parks and Recreation, Kristy has shown her passion for bringing people together and creating opportunities for our community to thrive.

In addition to her local involvement, Kristy proudly serves in the United States Air Force, where she’s gained invaluable leadership, organization, and problem-solving skills that she’s eager to bring to the School Board.

Kristy believes in supporting our teachers, empowering our students, and fostering open communication between families, schools, and the community. With her dedication, service, and collaborative spirit, Kristy Carlson would be a strong and steady voice working to ensure our schools continue to grow and succeed.

Vote Kristy Carlson for School Board — Leadership, Service, and Heart for Our Community.

Coudersport, PA ] — The Potter County Artisan Center invites local youth to discover the beauty of the natural world through art and observation in the upcoming Kids’ Nature Journaling class, held Tuesday from 3:30 to 5:00 PM at the Artisan Center in Coudersport.

Led by an environmental educator from Lyman Run State Park, this indoor program encourages participants to observe nature closely, ask questions, and record their discoveries using words, pictures, and numbers in a personal journal. Students will spend time observing bird activity through a live bird feeder camera and then engage in guided journaling activities using natural materials brought into the studio.

The Mt Jewett Rotary Club welcomed guest speaker Russ Swanson, Nebo and Bridgeview Cemetery Board Member. Russ

provided an overview of cemetery operations, maintenance requirements, and upcoming projects. Russ has been integral to

keeping these historic cemeteries in tip-top shape for decades. Thanks to Russ and the entire cemetery board for all of their

hard work!  At the conclusion of the meeting, the Club presented Russ with a one-thousand-dollar check to support the

ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the cemeteries. The Club has been a supporter of both cemeteries for many years.

The Mt. Jewett Rotary Club meets on Wednesday evenings at the Barrel House Restaurant at Lantz Corners at 6:15 p.m.  We

are neighbors, community leaders, and global citizens uniting for a common good.  With you, we can accomplish even more.

If you would like to sponsor a wreath for a veteran, visit WWW.WREATHSACROSSAMERICA.ORG.

Choose Sponsor a wreath. $17 each.

Choose the cemetery where the wreath will be placed. (Card Creek, Fishing Creek, Hill, Lyman or Sartwell Creek.)

Choose Customization.

Choose In Honor/In Memory of, then enter the name.

If you prefer to order locally, please contact me, Angela Milford or Kassie Shumac to place your order with a check payable to Wreaths Across America.  Cut off to order locally is November 20.

Ceremony will be held Saturday, December 13, 2025, 10:00am Riverside Methodist Church, Roulette PA.

          BRADFORD, PA / OLEAN, NY – Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) and Olean General Hospital (OGH), Kaleida Health facilities, are proud to announce the winners of the 2025 October Star Awards. This month’s BRMC and OGH recipients were Joe Warner, PTA, and Katie Weaver, RN, respectively.

Joe Warner starting at BRMC in 2011 as a physical therapist assistant in the outpatient rehabilitation services. He was honored as the BRMC October Star Award recipient.