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OLEAN, N.Y., November 25 – The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation is gearing up for its annual day of giving, Cattaraugus Gives, with a prize pool exceeding $29,000.

Scheduled for December 2, Cattaraugus Gives has become a vital initiative to encourage community-wide support for local nonprofits. This year’s prize pool – the largest in the history of Cattaraugus Gives – is expected to drive even greater participation and amplify the impact for nonprofits serving Cattaraugus County.

Last year, participating nonprofits raised over $331,000 for their respective causes during the day.

Confirmed prizes for Cattaraugus Gives to date are as follows:

BRADFORD, Pa. — The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will present its annual Vocal Arts Ensemble winter concert at noon Dec. 2 in the Bromeley Family Theater. The event is free and open to the public.

The ensemble invites audiences to get into the holiday spirit with an afternoon of festive music performed by Pitt-Bradford student vocalists. This performance will feature a blend of traditional and contemporary selections chosen by both the director and ensemble members, creating a varied and engaging program for listeners of all ages. Selections include “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Stille Nacht/Silent Night” and “The Prayer of Saint Francis.”

December 13, 12pm-3pm–Santa in the Shay: Santa will be in the cab of the museum’s Shay locomotive to listen to your holiday requests. Take an instant pic with St. Nick and make a special ornament for your tree. See the Eastern Loggers model railroad in operation. Cookies and hot cocoa will be served in the museum program room.  Admission is $5 per person, Children under 4 are free, Museum Members are free.

Coudersport Public Library is pleased to acknowledge the following donors to the Library’s 2025 Fall Mailing campaign. This event, which continues through Dec. 31, is the Library’s major annual fundraiser. Persons or businesses wishing to make a contribution, or a donation in memory of, or in honor of, an individual, may do so by dropping it off at the Library or mailing to Coudersport Public Library, 502 Park Ave., Coudersport, PA 16915. Donations are also accepted through PayPal, by clicking the “Donate” button on the Library’s webpage, www.coudersportlibrary.org. The following list includes donations made through November 24.

Memorials:

In memory of Judy Castano by Tom and Teresa Kisiel; in memory of Helen Tingley by Street Machines Auto Body & Paint; in memory of Terry Kinley by Mark & Michelle Kinley; in memory of Lewis Glassmire and Daniel Glassmire VI by Eloise Daisley; in memory of Amy Mosch Buttery by Gretchen Songster; in memory of Dr. Richard Larsen by Patrick Larsen; in memory of Kirk Newton by Dawn Newton; in memory of Amy Mosch Buttery by Mary Larsen; in memory of Joyce Renko by Kathy & David Erway; in memory of Paul Alexis Limeburner by Steve Limeburner; in memory of Barb Neefe by Amber Fowler.

Life, is it fair or unfair? How do you determine the answer to that? How is it measured? What are the parameters used to decide what is fair and what isn’t? Unfortunately, fairness is more about opinion than fact.

Consider for a moment how someone from a third-world country might judge fairness compared to someone from this country. Or how a wealthy person might see fairness versus someone raised in poverty. Fairness can seem random. It changes based on a person’s background and socioeconomic status. What one person finds fair might seem unfair to another. Life can be tough and sometimes feel unfair, but is it really? Maybe the issue isn’t with life itself, but with how I view it.

We have one week left collecting toys and gifts for our 25th Gift of Memory program at the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home in Shinglehouse, which benefits the Christmas House in Coudersport. These gifts are distributed to area families throughout the county that need help during the Christmas season. We will collect items until Monday, December 1, 2025. Pictured are Kevin Dusenbury, funeral director/owner and his granddaughter, Gwynne.

Saturday, December 6^th, 2025

12:00 P.M.-2:00 P.M –All About Otters– Stop by the Wildlife Center anytime during the program hours to learn where and when to look for otters in the park, and their status in Pennsylvania. A park naturalist will be on hand to present mounts, pelts, and other biofacts as well as answer any questions you may have. There will even be an Otter craft for kids to make and take home!

Operation Safe Holiday runs through January 1 with crackdown on impaired drivers and unbuckled occupants

Over 1,100 crashes, 31 fatalities from drug and alcohol related crashes last holiday travel season

Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) came together to remind drivers to wear their seat belts, drive sober, and eliminate distractions behind the wheel.

Operation Safe Holiday kicked off on November 10 with the “Click It or Ticket” (CIOT) Thanksgiving Enforcement Mobilization running through November 30. The Holiday Season Impaired Driving Campaign began November 19 and runs through January 1.

The McKean County District Attorney’s Office has confirmed that District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer has filed a legal notice that the District Attorney’s Office will seek the death penalty against Tyler PRESCOTT. PRESCOTT is charged with Criminal Homicide, Rape of a Child, and other charges in the death of his minor child in August.

The document advises the defendant that the Commonwealth is seeking a sentence of death if he is convicted of Homicide by 1st degree Murder. 

Pennsylvania law identifies 18 factors that support a sentence of death if an offender is convicted of Murder in the 1st degree (premeditated/intentional killing). The only other possible sentence other than death for an offender convicted of Murder 1st is life in prison. Murder 1st is the only crime for which death is a possible sentence in Pennsylvania.

The Commonwealth lists the following factors from the statute that it will submit for sentencing upon a conviction for murder 1st in the case: (1) The victim was a child under 12 years of age; (2) the killing occurred while the defendant was in the perpetration of a felony; (3) the death was committed by means of torture; and (4) the killing occurred while the defendant was committing a felony under The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act.

… * WHAT…Heavy lake effect snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 6 and 12 inches with locally higher amounts possible. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph.

* WHERE…McKean and Warren Counties.

* WHEN…From 1 AM Thursday to 1 AM EST Saturday.

* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday morning and evening commutes.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

DESCRIPTION: * WHAT…Heavy lake effect snow expected. Total snow accumulations
12 to 20 inches in the most persistent lake snows. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph will produce blowing and drifting snow.

* WHERE…Wyoming, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Southern Erie
Counties.

* WHEN…From 1 AM Thursday to 1 AM EST Saturday

IMPACTS…Travel will be very difficult with deep snow cover on roads and poor visibility. The hazardous conditions will impact Thanksgiving holiday travel. Gusty winds will down tree branches and cause isolated power outages.

INSTRUCTIONS: Heavy snow will fall in relatively narrow bands. If traveling, be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions and visibilities.