2025

Congratulations to Dr. Jill Owens, who was recently presented with the SARAH Award (Securing Achievable Results in Advancing Healthcare) from the Bradford Hospital Foundation. The SARAH Award was created in memory of Sarah Blaisdell Dorn, who contributed so much to our community.

It was an honor for Senator Cris Dush and me to present Dr. Owens with congratulatory citations from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Pennsylvania Senate. This is very well-deserved recognition for Dr. Owens who, through exemplary leadership and compassionate care, has saved many lives in our community. Congratulations and thank you, Dr. Owens!

Original post HERE

January 2025 may be best described as Cold and dry. It was rather harsh  in many ways. Temperatures were 7 to 9 degrees below average and rainfall was substantially below average and the same for snowfall. January, of course, is the coldest month of the year.

Morning readings ranged from a high of 35 degrees to a low reading of minus 8. Afternoons remained cold and some very windy days.

We had 30 days with 1′ or more snow on the ground. The average snow depth was 1.3″  with the greatest depth of 3″ on the 4th.

This year the total rainfall and melted snow was 0.71″ ( probably a record). Last year the total was 5.62″. Snowfall this year was 7.5″ and last year it was 21.1″. 

This was just enough snow to allow cross country skiing and snowmobiling. Lyman Lake was frozen solid which allowed many fishermen to get out for ice fishing. 

Pine Creek is mostly frozen and low.   The days are getting longer and spring is just around the corner but keep the snow shovels ready.

Henry W. LushNational Weather Service Observer

SHINGLEHOUSE, PA.  Mr. Erich Zaun, Principal, has announced the following students, grades six through twelve, have been named to the Honor Roll for the second nine-week grading period at the Oswayo Valley Jr./Sr. High School.  Students named to the High Honor Roll have maintained an average of 93% or above, while those on the Honor Roll have averaged 87% or above.

Five members re-elected

Olean, N.Y., January 31 – The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation board of directors recently elected Theresa Raftis to its board for a three-year term and named its slate of Foundation officer for 2024.

Raftis, a retail services officer at Community Bank, last served on the CRCF board in 2023.

CRCF board members are allowed to serve three consecutive three-year terms so long as they are re-elected after each term. After three consecutive terms, board members are required to take one year off, said Kirk Windus, CRCF executive director.

There will be a special Committee of the Whole meeting immediately following our Legislative Board meeting on Wednesday, February 12.  The estimated start time is 3 p.m.  It is my understanding that the entire meeting will be held in executive session to discuss the proposed acquisition or lease of real property.

The Farmers Market will be the first Saturday of each month until May, held in the Riley Gallery, next to the Crittenden, on Saturdays from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm (NEW HOURS). The next market will be this Saturday, February 1st. Here is a list of who plans to be there and what they plan on bringing to the Market:

[NOTICES: 

*  STARTING JANUARY 4TH,  NEW WINTER MARKET HOURS ARE 11AM TO 2PM. 

*  Beginning in January the winter Farmers Market will be the first Saturday of each month until May. The Saturday dates are January 4, February 1, March 1, and April 5.  In May, the market will again be on the square

*  Market times have been established after many trial times over the years.  If you are not able to visit us and would like something particular from one of the vendors, please contact them directly.  They are willing to try to accommodate your request.

 *  If you are interested in joining the market this year or have any questions please contact …. Netra Baker, 814-598-0649 netrabaker2@gmail.com]

Wellsboro is celebrating winter with a variety of activities and entertainment for all ages on three Wellsboro Winter Weekends, February 8, 15, and 22.

Next Saturday, Feb. 8, is Ice and Spice Weekend. Love will be in the air in downtown Wellsboro. Seven different ice sculptures symbolizing love and romance carved from 19 blocks of ice weighing 300 pounds apiece or 2.85 tons will be on display on sidewalks in front of Main Street businesses.

Kyle Soltis, Eli Novak and Freddy Grosser will transport the ice from Elegant Ice to Wellsboro and assemble five of the seven ice sculptures.

Adventurous weekend warriors of any age who enjoy testing their skills are invited to participate in the Mt. Tom Challenge next Sunday, Feb. 9. It is free and open to anyone who wants to give it a try. Sponsor is the Tyoga Running Club based in Wellsboro.

Registration from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and the 9 a.m. start are both at the bottom of Mt. Tom. Participants run, climb or scramble up Mt. Tom’s 1,100 vertical feet of trail to its summit. After catching their breath and taking in views of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon and west nearly to Galeton, they continue a short distance along the ridge before descending Mt. Tom using a forest road.

NPRC Holding Inaugural Fundraiser for Student Scholarships

WARREN – Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC) is hosting an inaugural fundraising event – Denim and Diamonds – on Saturday, March 29 to help raise funds towards student scholarships at the institution. The fundraiser is slated to be held at the Timber Haven Event Center at the Cable Hollow Golf Club, located at 405 Norberg Road in Russell from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and will include dinner, a live auction, silent auction, and a giving tree; with a cocktail hour from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.

With more than 10 years of commitment to serving the region, initially under the Education Consortium of the Upper Allegheny, NPRC is the local community’s partner in education. The institution is dedicated to responding to the critical needs of local employers and enhancing the skills of the region’s workforce.

In-Person and Telephonic Input Hearings Scheduled for Mid-February

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced a series of in-person and telephonic hearings to gather public input regarding the proposed acquisition of Frontier Communications (Frontier) by Verizon Communications (Verizon).

The joint application submitted by Frontier and Verizon seeks PUC approval to transfer control of Frontier and its wholly owned subsidiaries to Verizon.