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What a great day today celebrating the reopening of the now-expanded Wellsboro VA Clinic at 1835 Shumway Hill Road. Our veterans have given so much of themselves to protect our freedoms and keep us safe. We owe them nothing but the best in the way of care and support!

You may remember the clinic and Veterans Affairs office were forced to move out nearly two years ago due to a water pipe that burst. Now the building is reopened and better than ever! Many thanks to the dedicated staff, as well as to our Tioga County PA Commissioners and Congressman Glenn Thompson, for helping to make this project a reality.

Check out tomorrow’s edition of the Community Connection for more information. Not signed up yet? Visit www.RepOwlett.com!

Original Post HERE

Attention snowshoe hare hunters, what color is your hare? We need your help this season!

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is tracking where snowshoe hares are found and if they are all white. Traditionally, snowshoe hares turned white to blend in with the snow, which helps them escape predators.

However, Pennsylvania is one of the few states where brown hares have been reported in winter and where unique winter pelt patterns, such as brown eye rings and brown ears, have been detected.

Join the agency’s snowshoe hare cooperator program and let us know where your hare was found and what it looked like. Here’s how to join: Email your CID number or name, mailing address, and phone number to hares@pa.gov.

Mr. Nick Wilfong is a Junior member of the Gator football team playing primarily cornerback and wide receiver. He has also played point guard on the varsity basketball team and shortstop and pitcher for the baseball team. He also spent one year competing on the Gator wrestling team. At this point Nick has earned 7 varsity letters in his athletic career.

Nick has been an all star in the North Allegheny Baseball League and the D9 Football League. He was also a Big 30 All star for football.

Outside of athletics Nick is involved in his church Youth Group and is a new inductee into the National Honor Society. His favorite classes are English and Gym. His favorite teachers are Mr. VanGorden and Mr. Clark.

Nick has looked up to his older brother and 2024 PAHS graduate, Levi. Levi played football, basketball and track & field in his years at PAHS. Nick’s favorite athlete is Tim Tebow because “he never gives up and is strong in his faith.”

From Coach Bienkowski:

“Nick Wilfong is a vital part of our success on the football field. He has established himself as a premiere cornerback in District 9. More importantly, his selfless attitude and ability to make adversity into a positive make him a stellar choice for this recognition. He’s an even better student and human being, which makes Nick an asset to any team or organization that he is a part of.”

A coaching message that has remained with Nick is to “listen to the message…not how it’s being delivered.”

His advice to future Gators is simple: “Hit the weight room.”

Nick plans to attend a 4-year college after his graduates from Port Allegany High School and play baseball.

December 14, 12pm-3pm–Santa in the Shay: Santa will be in the cab of our Shay locomotive to listen to all your holiday requests. Take an instant pic with St. Nick and make a special ornament for your tree. Cookies and hot cocoa will be served in the museum program room.

Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) will again serve as Republican chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for the 2025-26 Legislative Session.

“Energy needs continue to grow here in the Commonwealth, across the country and around the world,” Causer said. “Pennsylvania can play a significant role in meeting this increasing demand, if only government would get out of the way by reducing burdensome regulations and permitting. My goal as chairman is to continue advocating for policies that help realize our untapped energy potential.”

Addressing the reliability of the state’s electric grid is a top priority in the coming session. At a committee hearing in the fall, members were told government subsidies and regulations that

incentivize particular energy sources, especially renewable sources like wind and solar that are less reliable, can threaten the free market design of the energy industry that has historically allowed Pennsylvania to be an energy powerhouse with low costs for consumers.

Isabella Rees from the Early Childhood Education program was selected as the Student of the Week from the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center for the week of December 2nd. Izzy is a senior at Austin High School and has been involved with the Early Childhood Program for three years. She is currently working on her CDA (national credentialing program sponsored by the Council for Professional Recognition) and plans on taking the CDA (Child Development Associate) in the spring of this academic year. Izzy is currently assisting in the preschool and kindergarten classrooms at Austin Elementary to gain her hours needed to apply for her CDA.

She is currently a member of Basketball, Volleyball, National Honor Society, Student Council President, and Class Secretary. She was a candidate for the 2024 Laurel Festival. She has been on the Student Committee at the CTC and is in the National Technical Honor Society. 

Izzy works very hard in her Early Childhood class and is always willing to help the instructor or assist her peers. Izzy is friendly and extended herself while enrolled at the CTC by taking Psychology 111, and PennWest dual enrollment classes. She plans on attending college for Early Childhood Education and becoming an elementary teacher in the future.

McKean County has been awarded grants in direct federal funding for an amount of $12,826 under Phase 42 of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP). Each phase requires a separate application and will be voted on separately.

The National Board is comprised of representatives from health and human service agencies across the country.  The United States Congress appropriates funds annually to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas nationally.

The local board, made up of representatives from McKean County, will determine how the funds will be distributed.  Local agency representation includes The Salvation Army, McKean/Potter Counties Chapter of the American Red Cross, United Way of the Bradford Area, Catholic Charities, Ministerial Association, local government, the McKean County Housing and Redevelopment Authority and the YWCA of Bradford.  These representative will determine how the funds awarded to McKean County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area.  The Local Board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds made available under this phase of the program.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 2 invites the public to vote on seven plows decorated by high school students in five counties as part of the annual Paint the Plow program. Paint the Plow is a statewide outreach aimed at promoting winter driving safety and fostering appreciation for high school art programs and student creativity. 

Earlier this year, students from schools in District 2 designed and painted PennDOT plow blades based on the statewide theme “Use your reason when it’s freezin’.” The theme was chosen to remind motorists to practice safe driving during the winter season. 

Students from Bellefonte Area High School, Central Pennsylvania Institute of Technology, DuBois Central Catholic, Elk County Catholic, Galeton Area School, Johnsonburg High School, and Sugar Valley Rural Charter School participated.

Ignite Church to meet at former Catholic church

Ignite Church, a growing congregation in Lewis Run, will begin meeting at its new location on Sunday, Dec. 15.

The church will hold its Sunday experience at the historic Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church at 35 Lafayette Ave., Lewis Run, at 10 am. Ignite Church offers a dynamic worship experience that includes music, a relevant message, engaging children’s activities, prayer, and fellowship opportunities.

“We are thrilled to have a permanent home for Ignite Church,” says Pastor Greg Newkirk. “This move will allow us to better serve our growing community and provide a welcoming space for worship, fellowship, and spiritual growth.”

The building boasts a spacious worship area, and work is underway to have a dedicated fellowship area, a children’s ministry space, a library, and an office. Leaders closed on the former Catholic Church building last week. 

Previously, Ignite Church met at the Lewis Run Volunteer Fire Hall. The new location offers a dedicated space for the congregation to continue its vision of “To be a place of Love, Hope, Healing, and Belonging in Jesus Christ.”

Ignite Church began as a Bible study in the living room of Pastor Greg and Nancy Newkirk in the fall of 2023. Since then, the church has experienced rapid growth, averaging around 30 attendees per worship experience.

“We are a different type of church. Bible preaching, Spirit-led, outward-focused church,” Newkirk said. 

To learn more about Ignite Church, visit their website at https://ignitechurchlr.onechurchsoftware.com/. The website also offers access to past sermons and other resources.

Another successful Rotary Purse Bingo is in the books following Sunday’s event held at the Veteran’s Memorial, Inc.  The event included 12 games with designer purses as prizes.  There was an early bird drawing for those purchasing tickets before November 14; a basket raffle; a drawing for a Christmas tree, a mystery bag and a Vera Bradley Luggage Set.  MC for the event was Rotary Club President Jim Young and Susan Flint, coordinator of the event. 

Kim Nelson of Howard Hannah Professionals and Ed Vicic of Eddie’s on Main recently hosted a two-day event featuring food, vendors and a fundraiser to benefit the Pastor Randy Headley Memorial Award for Community Service.  The awards are presented each year to students in grades 7-12 at Port Allegany High School.  Nelson and Vicic are pictured presenting the proceeds of $700 to Makayla Alcorn of Headley’s Headliners.  

Ms. Sophia Behringer is a Senior member of the Gator cheerleading squad. She is a foreign exchange student from Germany and is participating in her first Gator sports.

Aside from cheerleading and her academics Sophia is involved as a member of the Yearbook staff. Her favorite class in school is Sociology and her father is her biggest athletic influence.

From Coach Austin:

“Sophia brings so much love and kindness to our squad, and everyone thinks the world of her. She had never cheered before, as they don’t have a cheer squad where she is from, but you would never be able to tell because she is a fast learner and makes it look so easy.”

Sophia’s message to younger athletes in Port Allegany is to “enjoy it and listen to your coach. She or he knows what they are doing.”

After Sophia’s year in Port Allegany she plans to attend college and volunteer in Africa.

Original Facebook Post HERE

Joyce K. Bennett, born December 30, 1937, in Olean, NY, passed away peacefully on December 4, 2024, at the age of 86. A longtime resident of Rixford, PA, Joyce leaves behind cherished memories and a legacy of love.

She was predeceased by her parents, Albert A. and Dorothy B. (Dibble) Bennett; her brother, Leonard Bennett; and her sisters, Norma Johnson and Marjorie Childs (Lance). She is survived by her brother, Tom Bennett (Debbie), of Rixford, PA; her sister-in-law, Jean Bennett, also of Rixford, PA; her brother-in-law, John Johnson; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Joyce will be laid to rest at McKean Memorial Park alongside her parents. In keeping with her wishes, there will be no public viewing, and the family will hold a private service for family members only.

Joyce will be remembered for her warmth, kindness, and devotion to her family. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com

Ridgway, Pa- Dickinson Center, Inc. (DCI) is currently working on their 14^th annual Pat Work Memorial Christmas Project to provide gifts to children in the region this holiday season. This project was named after Patricia “Pat” Work who was a therapist at Dickinson for many years prior to her passing in 2003. Pat worked with children and always made an extra effort at Christmas to make sure they had gifts.

This year, DCI has 75 children referred to the project. Children are referred by DCI employees based on their need. The children or their families provide wish lists that include both toys and clothing sizes. Angel trees are developed based on those wish lists and shared with staff, board members, and local community supporters to fill the wish lists. The DCI employees who made the referrals deliver the gifts to the families before Christmas. 

For the past few years, Dickinson has received very generous donations from the employees of Morgan Advanced Materials. Employees from both the St. Marys and Coudersport Morgan locations support the project by purchasing a large variety of toys, games, etc. Their support has been critical in the project’s success.