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200 Millionth Book Milestone

Dolly’s gifting a special bookmark to seven children in her Imagination Library program as part of  “200 Million Reasons to Celebrate”

Coudersport, PA. – July 17, 2023 – Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is turning over a new chapter in The Imagination Library legacy – celebrating 200 million books gifted globally since inception in 1995. The early childhood book-gifting program mails a high-quality, free book each month to children from birth to age five. The Potter/McKean DPIL Program is excited to celebrate with every child/family enrolled locally. Since its beginning in March 2022, over 700 children have been enrolled in the program!

To celebrate this global 200 million book milestone, seven enchanting Dolly bookmarks will be randomly hidden inside Imagination Library books gifted during International Literacy Month (September) to children/families currently enrolled in the program. (Children must be enrolled by July 31, 2023, to receive Imagination Library books in September).

Montoursville, PA – A bridge preservation project will continue this week on Route 15 at the northbound structure over the Mill Creek Reservoir between Route 6 (Mansfield / Wellsboro) interchange and Route 287 (Tioga / Tioga Junction) interchange in Tioga Township, Tioga County.

On Monday, July 17, 2023, the contractor, RAM Construction Services of Michigan, Inc., will begin work in the left (passing) lane of the structure.  Motorists can expect the left (passing) lane to be restricted. Motorists are reminded of a 19-foot lane restriction is still in effect and is expected to be lifted in September of 2023.

RAM Construction Services of Michigan, Inc., is the primary contractor for this $1.2 million bridge preservation project.  Work on this project includes deck patching and placing a new epoxy overlay on the structure. Work is expected to be complete in September 2023.

Motorists should be alert, slow down, expect delays, watch for stopped traffic, and drive with caution through the work zone.

Christmas House has a proud tradition of providing Potter County children in need with new shoes to go back to school each fall. This distribution of new shoes is made possible by annual financial support of the N.D.H.P. Motorcycle Club.

Only parents and legal guardians may apply for the shoes for their children. This year shoes will be provided for children in pre-school through grade 12. Parents should be prepared with the proper shoe size for their children. In-person applications are preferred but we will accept phone applications during our business hours on Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (814-274-0825). Deadline for applications is Tuesday, August 8. 

School shoes will be distributed Tuesday, August 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

Christmas House is located in the basement of First Presbyterian Church, 402 N. Main Street in Coudersport.

Those with questions should call 814-274-0825 for more information. Please leave a detailed message and your call will be returned during our business hours.

Special thanks to the N.D.H.P. Motorcycle Club. They presented a generous check to Christmas House representative Charlene Smith on Saturday, July 10.  On behalf of Potter County families, we say thank you to these fine folks. 

Northern Pennsylvania Regional College is hosting a virtual Information Session on Tuesday, July 18 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Those interested in attending are encouraged to sign-up on NPRC’s website.

Attendees will learn about the College’s history and mission, receive information and resources regarding tuition rates and how to pay for college, along with more details about NPRC’s academic and workforce development offerings.

NPRC offers affordable associate degrees, certificates, and workforce training to the region. Many classroom locations are within 15 miles of most residents in the service area. Associate degrees include business administration, criminal justice, early childhood education, liberal studies, and social sciences. Several of these programs are eligible for financial assistance through your local CareerLink®.

“College can be intimidating for anyone,” says NPRC’s Assistant Director of Community Engagement, Kelsey Angove. “But at NPRC, we work to ensure that each one of our students, no matter their background or stage of life, has the resources and support needed to be successful. This virtual Information Session is a great opportunity for our curious community members, employers, and prospective students from around our region to hear first-hand about our institution. We are excited to welcome everyone and host a great event.”

In addition to this upcoming Information Session, NPRC will also hold a session this fall on Tuesday, October 24. More information regarding the fall event will be released at a later date.

For more information or to sign up to attend NPRC’s Summer Information Session, visit https://bit.ly/InformationSession_July18.About NPRC: Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC) is authorized by the PA Department of Education to award associate degrees and certificates in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. NPRC is an open-admission, two-year institution of higher education. The College’s mission is to provide affordable and accessible post-secondary education to the residents of northern Pennsylvania. NPRC brings affordable education to a nine-county region (Cameron, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, McKean, Potter, Venango, and Warren). With flexible scheduling options at numerous instructional locations, attending Northern Pennsylvania Regional is an excellent option for individuals interested in furthering their education close to home. With a growing team of high-quality industry-leading instructors directing our classrooms, students are empowered by a welcoming community to change their lives and brighten their futures. NPRC is actively pursuing accreditation. https://regionalcollegepa.org.

Air Quality Alert Message
Relayed by National Weather Service State College PA
503 PM EDT Sun Jul 16 2023
…AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT EDT MONDAY NIGHT…

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has issued
a Code ORANGE Air Quality Alert for all of Central Pennsylvania.

A Code ORANGE Air Quality Alert means that air pollution
concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for
sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include children,
people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung
diseases, and the elderly. The effects of air pollution can
be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors.

For more information on ground-level ozone and fine particles,
visit www.airnow.gov.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission again is seeking input from the public in surveying wild turkeys this summer. The Annual Pennsylvania Wild Turkey Sighting Survey is underway and runs through Aug. 31.

Participation is important for turkey population management. Survey data allow the agency to determine total wild turkey productivity and compare long-term reproductive success within Pennsylvania and across states, as this is a standard methodology used across the country. Data also are used in the turkey population model to track population trends.

Turkey sightings can be reported through the Game Commission’s website https://pgcdatacollection.pa.gov/TurkeyBroodSurvey. The mobile app is no longer available. The agency recommends saving this link to your favorites for quick access to report turkey sightings.

On the website, participants are requested to record the number of wild turkeys they see, along with the county, township, wildlife management unit (WMU), date and contact information if agency biologists have any questions. Participants may also simply drop a “pin” on the map for the location data to automatically populate. Location data are used only for the survey, not for law enforcement and are not shared. Viewers can also access the raw data and reports from previous years.

“The turkey survey enhances our agency’s internal survey, which serves as a long-term index of turkey reproduction and is used in our turkey population model,” said Game Commission Turkey Biologist Mary Jo Casalena. “Participants should report all turkeys seen, whether gobblers, hens with broods, or hens without broods.”

Many factors, including spring weather, habitat conditions, previous winter food abundance, predation, and last fall’s harvest affect wild turkey productivity.

Statewide, reproductive success last summer and in 2021 were above average (3.1 poults per hen). At the WMU level, reproductive success in 2022 either improved or was similar to the previous three-year average in 17 of 23 WMUs. It declined to below the previous three-year average in only six WMUs (compared to declining in 11 WMUs in 2021). Units that declined were WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 4C and 5D, with a slight decline in WMU 2D.

Like many other states this survey includes input from both agency personnel and the public. “Thanks to the large sample size from all corners of the Commonwealth, we have high confidence in the results,” Casalena emphasized. “Let’s maintain these results in 2023 and even increase participation,” she added.