Leonard M. Fermenic, age 87, of Wellsboro, PA, died on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
He was born on October 12, 1937 in Blossburg, PA, a son of the late Michael and Mary (Lynough) Fermenic and was the husband of the late Valerie (DeMusz) Fermenic. Leonard served in the US Army, was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Wellsboro, PA and had worked for many years at Mergenthaler, Wellsboro, PA.
April 5, 2pm–Birch Still Hike: From muscle rubs to soda, birch oil was vital to historic Potter County. Join volunteers from the PA Lumber Museum at Lyman Run State Park as they hike to the foundation of a birch still and learn about its history along the way. The hike will be about 0.75 miles off-trail, over muddy, slightly hilly ground. Please wear appropriate footwear. All ages welcome, meet at the Schott Pavilion in the Daggett Day Use Area at Lyman Run State Park. Questions? Call Susan at Lyman Run State Park at 814-435-5010 ext. 2 or email lymanrunsp@pa.gov
Throughout the month of April, Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) and Olean General Hospital (OGH), Kaleida Health facilities, are offering a variety of classes and support groups designed to provide health education, encouragement and community connection.
Whether you are managing a health condition, navigating a loss or caring for a loved one, programs offer valuable guidance and are open to the public.
If you are scheduled for total joint replacement surgery, join our Total Joint Care Class. This class provides an overview of your procedure, the recovery process, and the rehabilitation you will need. It is led by an experienced member of our outpatient rehabilitation team. This month, the class will be held on Wednesday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the OGH Education Center on the first floor. To register, please call (716) 375-7481.
Linda A. Safran, 76, of St. Marys, died at Elk Haven Nursing Home on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Lynch-Green Funeral Home.
The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has launched a contest to name its costumed mascot, a 6-foot-plus plush black panther that usually appears Winnie-the-Pooh style (no bottoms).
The university is accepting nominations for names through May 4. A committee will select and announce six finalists on National Mascot Day, June 17. Then a public vote will decide the big cat’s cognomen, which will be announced as part of Alumni and Family Weekend festivities in September.
The contest came about after a mascot gathering for all five Pitt campuses in support of Pitt Day of Giving. Every other campus’s athletic ambassador had a name, except for Pitt-Bradford’s panther, which was just The Panther. That felt a bit like telling the vet your cat’s name is “Kitty.”
If you’ve got a name in mind, submit it at upb.pitt.edu/name-the-panther. While it’s never had a name, Pitt-Bradford’s mascot has always been a panther.
In an unprecedented show of unity and shared mission, two Bradford churches are swapping buildings this spring — not out of necessity, but out of calling.
Open Arms Community Church and First Baptist Church of Bradford will exchange church buildings in a move that both congregations believe is divinely inspired and strategically aligned with their respective visions for ministry. The change, first announced in May of 2024, becomes official on Palm Sunday, April 13, when both churches will hold their first services in their new locations.
Open Arms will begin worshiping at 71 Congress Street, the historic downtown church that has been home to First Baptist for generations. First Baptist will relocate to 1289 East Main Street, where Open Arms has held services since its early years of rapid growth.
“This isn’t just about buildings,” said Pastor Zoe Hatcher of Open Arms. “Being among the people in the downtown area of Bradford is the most exciting part of this move. We love our city and believe that God has a plan for it. As a ministry, we want to place ourselves in the middle of God’s will, which for us is to reach those to whom He has sent us.”
A senior at Port Allegany High School, Raelin Meacham, earned first chair 1st Clarinet and highest clarinet score overall at the PMEA Region II Band Festival to win a spot in the PMEA All-State Concert Band. Raelin will travel to the Kalahari Resort in Pocono Manor, PA April 9-12, 2025. The ensemble will be under the direction of Jason Noble, conductor of the Columbia University Wind Ensemble. A public concert will take place at the convention center on Saturday, April 12 at 2:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased through pmea.org. Raelin was also selected to attend the PMEA All-State Concert Band in 2024.
Anne Catherine (Hinz) Recio of Riverview Heights passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at Highland Park Nursing Center surrounded by her family.
The following obituary was written by Anne herself.
Anne was born in her home on October 13, 1929. She was one of sixteen children born to Andrew and Louise Hinz in Muenster, Saskatchewan, Canada. Anne graduated from St. Elizabeth’s hospital in Humboldt, Saskatoon as a registered nurse in 1954. She then nursed in hospitals in Hamilton, Bermuda, Phelps Memorial Hospital in Tarrytown, N.Y., Sloan Kettering Hospital on 68th St. New York City, and then part time for 26 years in ICU at Jones Memorial Hospital.
Dorothy E. “Dot” Bauer, 89, of Smethport, passed away Thursday (April 3, 2025) at UPMC-Cole, Coudersport.
She was born July 1, 1935 in Mars, PA. On November 22, 1973, in Saxonburg, PA, she married Barton “Mel” Bauer, who died December 5, 2018.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) reminds anglers that the statewide Opening Day of Trout Season is this Saturday, April 5! Anglers may begin fishing at 8 a.m.
Throughout the 2025 season, the PFBC will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 691 streams and 130 lakes open to public angling. These figures, which are consistent with the number of trout stocked over the past decade, include approximately 2.4 million Rainbow Trout; 693,000 Brown Trout; and 125,000 Brook Trout. As with past practice, the average size of the trout produced for stocking is 11 inches in length with an average weight of .58 pounds.
Melvin L. “Juny” Shaw Jr., 36, of Erie, and formerly of Kersey, passed away on Sunday, March 30, 2025 in the Erie County Prison.
He was born on October 20, 1988, in Saint Marys, a son of Melvin Shaw Sr. of Florida, and Connie Ginther of Kersey.
Melvin always enjoyed playing sports, including basketball and football. He also enjoyed fishing and spending time outdoors.
A Memorial Service for John C. VanSlander, who died February 24, 2025, will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 11 AM at the Lynch-Green Funeral Home.
Family and friends will be received at the funeral home on Saturday, April 5, 2025 from 10 AM until the time of the service. Military honors will be accorded by the St. Marys Servicemen’s Burial Detail.
Lynch-Green Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 151 N. Michael Street, St. Mary’s, PA, 15857 is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Unleash your productivity and take control of your data! Do you manage large sets of numbers, names, dates, or other pieces of information?
If so, then you need to know how to create worksheets to manage, store, organize, and even analyze this information. Excel, Microsoft’s powerful spreadsheet software, is the most widely used program for these tasks, and most workplaces want new employees to have a basic understanding of Microsoft Excel.
Frederick C. Galbreath, 75, of Bolivar, passed away on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at Olean General Hospital with his family by his side. He was born March 28, 1950, in Shinglehouse, PA, the son of Arthur and Minnie (Bouer) Galbreath Sr. On October 11, 1997, in Bolivar he married Valerie “Lynn” Stives who survives.
Fred was raised in Shinglehouse, PA and New York City, and was a 1968 graduate of Glens Falls High School. He was first employed by Chris Perkins Contracting, and for many years he was a truck driver and heavy equipment operator for the Town of Wirt. He enjoyed watching NASCAR and the Yankees, and loved spending time with his grandchildren.
On April 2nd, at 8:06 pm Roulette Ambulance was dispatched to Fishing Creek Rd. for a psychiatric emergency
Robert “Jerry” Gabel, 76, of 1289 High Street, Bradford, passed away Monday, March 31, 2025, surrounded by his family.
Born May 5, 1948, in Meadville, he was a son of the late Rex and Inez (Winima) Gabel. He was a 1966 graduate of Bradford High School.
Jerry worked for Bradford Pipe and Supply, then 17 years as Production Supervisor at Graham Packaging until his retirement in 2010. He later did landscaping with Dom Piganelli “Always Green” Landscaping.
The Port Allegany High School will present The Addams Family School Edition on Friday, April 4 and Saturday April 5 at Port Allegany High School Auditorium. Show time is 7 p.m. The book is by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. Music and lyrics are by Andrew Lipa. Premium Reserved Adults ($10) Students and Seniors ($8); Reserved Adults ($8) and Student/Seniors ($6).
On March 20, 2025, at approximately 1201 hrs, the City of Bradford Police Department responded to a call at Chatauqua Place regarding a reported intoxicated male. Upon arrival, officers observed the individual, identified as James White, consuming alcohol from a can. It was apparent that White was intoxicated and failed to comply with officer commands. In an effort to take White into custody for public intoxication, officers attempted to apprehend him. However, White resisted arrest, leading to a struggle. During the altercation, an officer’s Taser device was broken off of their duty vest. After a brief struggle, White was taken into custody and subsequently arraigned by Magistrate Luther.
He was remanded to McKean County Jail on $10,000 cash bail. Preliminary hearings have been scheduled in the matter. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The City of Bradford Police Department is committed to maintaining public safety and upholding the law. We appreciate the cooperation of the community in helping to ensure a safe environment for all citizens. Location 26 Chatuaqua Place Bradford, PA 16701
Local organizations have received grants from four donor-designated funds at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, a total of $13,955.
The donors who established these four funds – Luella Potter Endowment Fund, Kay and Oliver Williams/Rushford Endowment Fund, Jim and Gail Olson Mercy Flight Fund, The Rev. Leo J. Gallina Endowment Fund for St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church – designated organizations that matter to them to receive annual support from their funds.
The Kay and Oliver Williams/Rushford Endowment Fund makes possible annual grants to eight organizations that support the identity and long history of the Rushford community.
Grants made in March include:
Award-winning musician coming April 7
Potter County Creative Council (PC3) presents a live performance by award-winning musician Hubby Jenkins at 7 pm on Monday, April 7, in the lodge at Denton Hill State Park. Local musicians Anne Acker and Mike Aucott will open Monday’s show with a casual set at 6 pm.
Jenkins will first appear for a matinee at Northern Potter School as part of PC3’s ongoing mission to expose students to professional musicians and artisans.
As part of its commitment to Potter County agriculture, PC3 has arranged for food vendors Fiammata Pizza and Frosty Hollow Bed and Breakfast to be set up, offering menu items with locally produced ingredients such as gourmet mushrooms, micro-greens, cheeses and meats.
A talented singer and multi-instrumentalist, Jenkins revels in sharing his love and knowledge of old-time American music. He has followed the thread of African American history through its traditional music forms and now shares it during dynamic solo performances and engaging workshops.
Whether accompanied by banjo or steel-string guitar, each selection is introduced with narrative that wends its way through country blues, ragtime, Americana and traditional jazz. Jenkins has performed around the world, earning himself both Grammy and Americana award nominations. He is no stranger to Potter County, having appeared at Austin Dam Show in 2011.
Linda V. Burks
Linda V. Burks, 74, of Shinglehouse, passed away in her home with her loving family by her side on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, after a long illness.
Funeral arrangements, entrusted to the care of Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse, are incomplete and will be announced with a full obituary.
