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            BRADFORD, Pa. – Demolition of the former Bradford Central Christian High/St. Bernard Elementary School will begin next week.

            The former school, its property and playing field are owned by the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, which bought the building in 2020 after the plans of developer Goldenwest Group LLC fell through.

            Bob Cummins Construction will perform the demolition, which is expected to last several months. Neighbors can expect increased truck traffic and noise during the day. Previously, the university had asbestos removed. Utilities will be turned off and any remaining hazardous materials removed before demolition begins.

            Parts of the building – such as scrap metal and concrete – will be recycled. Once the site has been cleared, the university plans to repave the circular drive and another road to provide parking for the practice field on the property. In the short term, part of the site will be used for a community garden. University officials will continue to assess the best use of the property going forward.

In 2018, the university considered buying the property directly from St. Bernard Parish and using the facility to house its engineering and information technology programs. However, architects hired by the university determined that the total estimated cost to renovate St. Bernard School to meet the university’s program needs as well as all building code requirements would exceed $34.1 million. By contrast, the George B. Duke Engineering and Information Technologies Building, which opened in January, cost $24.5 million to build.

In 2019, the Catholic Diocese of Erie closed what was then St. Bernard Elementary School. A year later the university bought the building from Goldenwest, which had hoped to renovate the building.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the university made the former school available as a site for community vaccination clinics.

The university also collaborated with alumni of the Bradford Central Christian High School to remove trophies, trophy cases, yearbooks and other historical and sentimental items for inclusion in a small museum.

Other items, such as desks, bookshelves and filing cabinets, were donated to members of the community.

Pitt-Bradford is also raising money toward a Bradford Central Christian/St. Bernard Legacy Scholarship Fund to supply scholarships for Pitt-Bradford students in need and honor the schools’ legacies.

To make a tax-deductible gift to the fund, contact the Pitt-Bradford Office of Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement at 814-362-5091 or www.givetoUPB.org.

HARRISURG – Five Northern Tier lawmakers are encouraging customers of Frontier Commonwealth to weigh in on a proposed settlement agreement recently filed with the Public Utility Commission (PUC) by the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA), Office of Small Business Advocate (OSBA) and Frontier.

The settlement was negotiated in response to a formal complaint filed by OCA and OSBA against Frontier earlier this year for its failure to provide reliable service to residential and business customers.

Reps. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Wyoming), Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford), Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter), Jonathan Fritz (R-Susquehanna/Wayne) and Joe Hamm (R-Lycoming/Sullivan) represent thousands of residents and businesses that receive telephone and/or internet services from Frontier. They issued the following statement about the proposed settlement:

“Our goal from the start of this process has been to hold Frontier accountable to the people it serves. Paying customers deserve reliable telephone and internet services, responsive customer service and proactive efforts by the company to invest in the maintenance of its infrastructure.

HARRISBURG – Following a public hearing Monday on legislation that would drastically increase setback requirements for drilling natural gas wells, Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter), Republican chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, called the bill a threat to the state’s energy production, jobs and consumers.

“Every single day, we all rely on various sources of energy produced right here in the Commonwealth, including abundant amounts of natural gas,” Causer said. “It is disturbing that some legislators would even propose a bill that would effectively place a moratorium on one of our largest sources of energy and a major economic engine in the Commonwealth.

TODAY: Lawmakers, Advocates Respond to Democrats’ Self-Destructive Energy Policies

WHAT:     House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Joshua D. Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), Republican Chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter), energy advocates and others will highlight the Democrats’ self-destructive energy policies.

WHO:       Kail; Causer; David Callahan, president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition; and Robert Bair, president of the Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council.

WHEN:     Monday, Oct. 30, at 12:15 p.m.

WHERE:  Matthew J. Ryan Building Atrium, State Capitol Complex, Harrisburg.

LIVESTREAM: Barring any technical difficulties, the press conference will be streamed online at www.PAGOPPolicy.com, www.PAHouseGOP.com and www.RepKail.com.

Penn College has scheduled several Information Sessions for their upcoming LPN courses. When you enroll in the full-time Practical Nursing program, you’ll be on your way to fulfilling career in just one year. With skilled faculty, hands-on learning labs, 1,546 hours of instruction, and access to Penn College student services, you’ll be confident and ready to take the Practical Nursing licensing exam (NCLEX-PN), and if you want to advance your career, we have pathways to get you there.  

BRADFORD – Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) is again offering area veterans the opportunity to work with a representative from the American Legion to ensure they get the services and support they need.

Due to changes initiated by the American Legion, appointments in the Bradford and Kane offices will be conducted virtually via a tablet.

Appointments are required for meetings with the Legion representative, whether they are in person, by phone or by tablet. The schedule is as follows:

• Coudersport office: Thursday, Nov. 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Coudersport office is located at 107 S. Main St. Please call 814-274-9769 to schedule an appointment.
• Bradford office: Wednesday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Bradford office is located at 78 Main St., first floor. Please call 814-362-4400 to schedule an appointment.
• Kane office: Wednesday, Nov. 29, from 9 a.m. to noon. The Kane office is located at 54 Fraley St., Suite 2. Please call 814-837-0880 to schedule an appointment.

Assistance is available with issues such as compensation, education, pension, health care and death benefits. Veterans need not be a member of the American Legion to participate.