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Clearfield, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that surface treatment operations, more commonly known as “oil and chip,” will result in delays on several roads in Potter County next week. This maintenance treatment seals the road surface to keep water out, restores the surface friction, enhances traction, and extends the pavement life between resurfacings.

Weather permitting, PennDOT Potter County Maintenance crews plan to complete these operations on the following roads the week of August 25:

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to safely prepare food in large quantities! It’s not like food preparation at home. This program helps organizations and their volunteers understand the risks of preparing large volumes of food and the important food safety practices that must be implemented to ensure a safe event.

Even if your organization has been preparing food for years, things change, and volunteers must be up-to-date and knowledgeable about rules and regulations governing food safety. Don’t risk your customers’ health or your organization’s reputation. This program is for volunteers preparing food for events such as church fundraisers, fire company barbecues, booster club food sales, and many other types of events where food is served to the public. Volunteers will learn the causes of foodborne illness as well as safe food handling practices related to: Preventing Cross Contamination; Controlling Time and Temperature; Good Personal Hygiene; Cleaning and Sanitizing; and Planning a Successful Food Event. This course, taught by Rick Kralj, Penn State Educator, is scheduled for Wednesday, August 27, 2025, from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Education Council’s Coudersport office. The cost is $50 per person or $75 per organization (an unlimited number of participants can attend for $75). The registration deadline is Monday, August 25^th. To register, go to https://extension.psu.edu/cooking-for-crowds

OLEAN, N.Y., August 22 – Five recent area graduates have received awards from the Jonathan Teuscher Scholarship and the Joseph and Cecily Higgins Scholarship, funds stewarded by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation.

Gavin Straub of Allegany-Limestone Central School, Daphne Gobien of Hinsdale Central School, Alana Rowand of Olean High School and Anna Keeley of Portville Central School received the Jonathan Teuscher Scholarship.

The Jonathan Teuscher Scholarship, established by Steve and Donna Teuscher in memory of their son, Jonathan, is given to students from Olean, Hinsdale, Portville and Allegany-Limestone who have faced challenges while maintaining a positive attitude. The scholarship of $625 is renewable each year of continued education up to four years, for a total of $2,500.

ServSafe Food Safety Certification

ServSafe is a certification program developed by the Restaurant Association Education Foundation. The course meets certification requirements for individuals who are responsible for the safe handling of food in restaurants, schools, elder care facilities, lodges, bed and breakfasts, community centers, and other food concessions (organizations or businesses that sell or prepare food regularly). 

Thomas G. Plume, 75, of Convington, passed away on Friday, August 22, 2025, at his home. He was born on July 6, 1950, in Hagerstown, MD, son of the late William L. and Grace E. (Stover) Plume. He married the former Bonnie Cruttenden on December 27, 1968, and celebrated over 40 years of marriage until her passing on October 19, 2009.

Tom graduated from South Hagerstown High School and worked as maintenance and a repairman for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Tom was a Navy veteran, serving during the Vietnam War.  He was also a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and volunteered for Habitat for Humanity.  He was a train enthusiast and enjoyed travelling, woodworking, tinkering, and spending time with his grandchildren. Tom also had a talent for working with computers.

Beginning August 23^rd the pool at Sizerville State Park will be closed until 11AM on Saturday, August 30^th. The pool will then be closed for the season at 7PM, Monday, September 1^st.

Five recent Franklinville Central School graduates were awarded memorial scholarships via funds managed by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation.

Trinity Garrey received the Jen DeLong Memorial Scholarship for $1,000.

The DeLong scholarship, established in memory of Jen DeLong, is for a graduating senior from Ten Broeck Academy/Franklinville Central School District who is pursuing a career in or demonstrates excellence in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) and music subject areas, with preference for a female student.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the following schedule of maintenance activities in McKean County the week of August 25. 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

• Route 1011 (West Eldred Road) at a bridge spanning Fowler Brook three miles north of Coryville in Eldred Township. Monday, August 25, through Friday, August 29. PennDOT will implement a detour using Route 346 and Route 446.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the following schedule of maintenance activities in Potter County the week of August 25. PennDOT performs year-round maintenance in its mission to provide a safe, efficient transportation system, and the scope of work in Potter County for the coming week is as follows:

Mechanized Patching

• Route 6 starting at Rock Run Road in Ulysses Township and continuing eastbound approximately two miles. Monday, August 25, through Friday, August 29. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.

Mechanized patching is used to patch limited roadway areas that have extensive potholes, large areas of cracked pavement, and depressions. If mechanized patching was not performed, the damaged road surface would further deteriorate, resulting in PennDOT needing to completely rebuild the road or perform more costly corrective measures.

Environmental Education Programs

Weekend of August 23^rd

Program Title: Dragonflies & Damselflies

Date: Saturday, August 23^rd

Time: 3:00 PM

Location: Environmental Learning Center

Description: Do you know the difference between a dragonfly and a damselfly? If not, come to this program and find out! Short talk followed by a craft session to make and take home your very own dragonfly!

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Program Title: Film in the Forest: River Otters & Fishers

Date: Saturday, August 23^rd

Time: 8:00 PM

Location: Campground Amphitheater

Description: A short talk on the river otter and fisher reintroduction in Pennsylvania will be the main topic of this program.  Mounts, pelts, and skulls will be available to see, along with a river otter movie presentation—feel free to bring snacks and a blanket!

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Additional Information:

Sizerville State Park Calendar of Events Website: https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/sizerville_state_park

To register for a program, go to the DCNR Calendar of Events website, search Sizerville State Park, find the program listed, and click on the Register button right under the program date, time, and location.  For more information or questions about registering, please contact the Environmental Learning Center at (814) 486-5609.

In case of thunder, lightning, or extreme weather conditions programs may be moved or cancelled.

If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the park office at (814) 486-5605.

With a minimum of one week notice, interpreters for people who are deaf or hard of hearing are available for educational programs.

Additional programs and events happening throughout the year can be found on the DCNR Calendar of Events Website.  For more information or questions about programs at Sizerville State Park, please contact the Environmental Learning Center at (814) 486-5609.

The Willow Creek Sportsman’s Club is hosting their first Pennsylvania Hunter-Trapper Education Course on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at 9:00 AM at their location at 3307 W. Washington Street in Bradford. 

To sign up, click the link below. This is a six-hour training class required by law for all first-time hunters and trappers before they can buy a license. You must pass a certification exam at the end of the class to complete this training. Please note you must be at least 11 years old to sign up for this course. 

https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/233365?fbclid=IwY2xjawMRuJZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE4dFpRTlFGV1JDdDU0cXI4AR43KYKV1b7o3Te0ovu4k76A7xtQslA5joZgcfVR-CJqNo-xCPZHYOKB_PT11w_aem_7LHZOcZXKtEEM5tiIIM0Ow

For more information, visit the Willow Creek Sportsman’s Club Facebook page. 

Warren, PA: Northern Pennsylvania Regional College has announced students who achieved Dean’s List recognition for the Summer 2025 term.

Students take classes at one of our over 20 in-person instructional locations or online. Students from the area include:

Cameron County

    EMPORIUM – Emma Bennett

Crawford County

    MEADVILLE – Anastasia Ploski

Erie County

    ERIE – Mekenzie Morgan

Potter County

    COUDERSPORT – Jonathon Suladie

The Dean’s List recognizes the academic achievements of students who remained in good academic standing and earned a 3.0 GPA or greater during the Summer 2025 term. This outstanding scholarship contributes to the high reputation for excellence at NPRC. An official press release can be found online at https://regionalcollegepa.org/nprc-deans-list-for-summer-2025/.

Olean, NY – The nursing recruitment and retention committee at Olean General Hospital (OGH), a Kaleida Health facility, recently awarded three $750 nursing scholarships to current OGH employees who are planning to attend an RN program or are currently enrolled in a nursing program.

The three recipients, Kami Carpenter, Mikayla Keis and Abbie Kohler, were presented with this year’s scholarships.

Through various fundraising activities throughout the year, the OGH nursing recruitment and retention committee is able to present this scholarship annually. Applicants must be current OGH employees in good standing and be enrolled in, or enrolling in, a nursing program.

Change Is In The Air

By

Pastor B.J. Knefley

I just finished a walk with Molly, my dog. It’s interesting to see how she has changed over the past few years that I’ve had her. Initially skittish and quiet, she’s become a very headstrong dog. She bugs me to go for a walk in the morning, but rarely asks for food or snacks. Wherever I go, she follows. If I enter the bathroom, she’s right behind me. If she isn’t sitting nearly on my lap, she’s watching every move I make and won’t let me out of her sight. If I lie down, she prefers to be under the blanket where it’s warmer. She’s a muscular 55-pound dog who doesn’t do well as a lapdog, but she tries.

Autumn is quickly approaching, and I’m noticing more leaves on my lawn. We’ve had several warm weeks, but we know this will change soon. Although it seems like weeks away, we’ll start feeling the frost in the air. Some may not want that to happen, but it will occur regardless of our wishes. Life works that way. Change comes, often when we least expect or plan for it.

The other day, I had ten tons of stone delivered to my house. As is my habit, I grabbed my rake and shovel because it needed to be spread. What’s wrong with me? What am I thinking? Do you have any idea how many shovels of stone make up ten tons? A lot! I’m not 20 years old; in fact, I’m not even 60. So, what am I doing thinking I can move ten tons of stone by myself? Now, can I do it? The answer is that over time and with a lot of effort, I could move that much, but why should I? As the saying goes, work smarter, not harder. So why do I, or even we, think we can do everything ourselves? Maybe because we’ve learned somewhere along the line that if you want something done, do it yourself. Old habits are hard to break.

Sometimes, the hardest change to handle isn’t the one that happens around us, but the change that needs to happen inside us. Maybe the change in the air is the change that must take place within us. Think about it.

Celebrate the last weekend of summer with a visit to Sinnemahoning State Park! All programs are free to the public

Friday, August 29th, 20258:00 P.M 9:00 P.M –Campground Movie: The Incredible Journey of the Butterflies– Join a park naturalist for a showing of The Incredible Journey of the Butterflies and learn about the Monarch Butterfly’s long migration down to Mexico.Meets at: Campground Amphitheater

Saturday, August 30th, 202510:00 A.M 12:00 P.M –Ride the Rail Trail– Enjoy a guided ride through the park on the Lowlands Trail. Bring your own bike or check out one of the park’s loaner bikes. A park educator will lead the trip. Pre-registration is required if you plan to use one of the park’s bikes

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that its Potter County Maintenance Organization will start work to excavate and remove abandoned utility lines along Route 1003 (Loucks Mills Road) between Galeton and Ulysses boroughs in Potter County on Monday, August 25. Crews will complete this work as part of a project that includes full-depth roadway reconstruction, drainage improvements, and guide rail updates that will remove a 10-ton weight limit posting from nearly 3.5 miles of roadway.

While the crews excavate and remove the utility lines, flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours for approximately two weeks. PennDOT urges drivers to exercise caution in all work zones, obey flaggers, posted speed limit and other work zone signage, and always buckle up.

Additionally, the project’s contractor will begin mobilizing equipment, installing traffic control devices, and performing drainage upgrades. In early October, the contractor will implement a detour using Routes 6, 449, 1001 (Fox Hill Road), and 1008 (Cross Road). PennDOT will issue an update before implementing the detour.

This roadway reconstruction project is the result of an Upgrade Partnership between PennDOT and Greylock Production, LLC., of Charleston, WV. Under the terms of the partnership, PennDOT and Greylock will each pay 50 percent of the $3.4 million contract. Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc., of State College, PA, is the contractor. PennDOT anticipates project completion in late December, but all construction schedules are tentative due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that its McKean County Maintenance Organization will close a portion of Route 4003 (Bingham Road) in Lafayette Township on Wednesday, August 27, for what it expects to be a one-day pipe replacement project. Replacing the 42-inch pipe located approximately 1.5 miles north of the intersection with Route 59 will prevent uncontrolled water flow from damaging the pavement and extend the service life of the road.

While the road is closed, traffic will follow a detour using Routes 646, 770, 219, and 59 around the closure. In the event of rain on August 27, PennDOT will start the work on Thursday, August 28. The department expects to complete this project in a day, but all construction schedules are tentative due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

The Potter County Farmers Market will be outdoors AT OUR NEW LOCATION on the Courthouse grounds, at the corner and across the street from the square, every Friday (weather permitting) from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm. The next market will be this Friday, August 22nd. Below is a list of who plans to be there and what they plan on bringing to the Market:

*  We’re back on our summer schedule of Friday markets, BUT AT OUR NEW LOCATION due to renovations on the square.  We’ll be across the street from the square, along the sidewalk to the right of the courthouse entrance, and around the corner on East Street to the driveway.

*  The outdoor market is held each Friday from May through October (weather permitting; on very rainy days, we will relocate into the Riley Gallery (if available)).  In November, the farmers market goes indoors for the winter market.

*  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]

BLU IVY will be a vendor Friday.  I will be bringing tutus, tulle dresses, crochet market bags, chap stick holders, 5 pc kitchen towel sets and more. I accept cash and cards.

MIKE THOMPSON will be a vender at market this week bringing a variety of fresh vegetables. Yellow Squash,  Zucchini, Cucumbers, Leeks, Juliet Grape Tomatoes, Chocolate Pear Tomatoes, Mixed Vegetables, Bell peppers, and Hot Peppers.   I accept, FMNP and WIX CHECKS as well as Cash.  Knife sharpening will be available while you wait or shop other venders.

BLUE MARBLE FARM will hopefully be at the market with local, organically grown beautiful produce.  We will have Heirloom Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Haricot Verts (French Green Beans), Squash, Italian Sweet Peppers, Hot Peppers, Green Onions, Beets, Cucamelons and more. Fresh Cut Flowers. Sustainable Wood Crafts made from wood harvested on our Farm. We accept cash, checks, FMNP checks and credit cards. For more information, contact Lisa at bluemarblefarm@outlook.com, 814-320-1308 or bluemarblefarm.weebly.com  

MILL CREEK MARKET will be attending with a variety of Fresh Mushrooms and Lion’s Mane Grow Kits. Accepting cash, check, and Venmo. Find directions to our farm, links to shop, and more at: www.papreferred.com/Member/Index/1429  

C & V SOAP AND CANDLES plans on attending Friday. Be bringing handmade soaps made with natural ingredients and hand poured candles!

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has been named to The Princeton Review’s “2026 Best Colleges: Region by Region.” This is the 22nd consecutive year that the education services company has recognized the university.

“For 22 years, we’ve been recognized on this list, and that’s thanks to our outstanding faculty and staff who go above and beyond for our students,” said Rick Esch, president of the university.

“I’m especially pleased by our strong financial aid ranking. Pitt-Bradford was built to give students access to college who might not have had it otherwise, and generous financial aid is one of the key ways we keep that promise today.”