NEWS

The 83rd Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival in Wellsboro continues this Friday and Saturday June 20 and 21 with the two-day Juried Arts and Crafts Fair and International Street of Foods and this Saturday, June 21 with the 10K Foot Race and Two-Mile Fun Run, Laurel Parade and Crowning of the 2025 Laurel Queen.  

The Juried Arts & Crafts Fair and International Street of Foods will be open on The Green with 109 vendors from Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio
this Friday, June 20 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, June 21 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

While in Wellsboro, the 24 Laurel Queen candidates will enjoy a full weekend of activities. At noon this Friday, they will gather on the Tioga County Courthouse steps for the official welcome. The young ladies will then go to Leonard Harrison State Park to visit the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.

Monies to be used for energy efficient appliances in new USDA Certified kitchen

July 19, 2025 — Cameron County Chamber of Commerce is getting support to increase energy efficiency in a USDA/FDA kitchen.  A USDA-certified kitchen is a testament to a commitment to food safety and quality, providing a pathway for local businesses to thrive in the marketplace while ensuring consumer confidence. The grant from West Penn Energy Fund totaling $65,467 will be used to purchase energy star rated equipment including an induction range, reach in refrigerator, freezer and a stirling ultra-low temperature freezer.

The chamber purchased the former Cabin Kitchen Restaurant in February.  Office space has been renovated to house Pennsylvania CareerLink and Northern Pennsylvania Regional College along with chamber staff and the artisan center.  “The final piece is renovation to the kitchen area”, according to executive director Tina Solak.  The facility will have operational approval from USDA enabling entrepreneurs to make and package shelf stable products. 

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will be closed Thursday, June 19, in observance of the Juneteenth Holiday.

The Marilyn Horne Museum and Gift Shop in Marilyn Horne Hall on Veterans Square in downtown Bradford will also be closed for the holiday. The Marilyn Horne Café, however, will be open for its regular hours from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Normal business operations will resume Friday, June 20.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service State College PA
312 AM EDT Wed Jun 18 2025
…PATCHY DENSE FOG AND LOW VISIBILITY THIS MORNING…

Areas of dense fog have developed early this morning, with the poorest visibilities (near or under a quarter mile) over the higher terrain.

Early morning commuters should stay vigilant and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions. Please slow down appropriately as conditions warrant, and if needed, allow extra time to reach your destination.

The BTC (Break the Chains) Coalition invites you to join them on Saturday, June 28 for a fun day while raising money for the 9th Annual BTC Festival.  The tournament will be held on the Town Square in Coudersport.    The event is free to spectators.  Live music will be provided by Dan Butler and CR 84.  Food will be available for purchase from the Curbside Eatz food truck.  Teams are limited to 16.  The cost per team is $40.  Prizes will be awarded to first and second places.  Registration will begin at 2:00 p.m. and bags will be scheduled to fly at 3:00 p.m.  You can also sign up by email at breakthechainsfestival@gmail.com.   All proceeds will benefit Break the Chains Coalition and their fight against drug and alcohol addiction and self harm and suicide awareness and prevention.  More information can be found on the BTC Facebook page and www.breakthechainscoaltion.com  Pictured are BTC Co-founders Lynn Keck and Amanda Miles-Rudolph.

B.J. Knefley

What’s your purpose? How would you respond to that question? To rephrase it, why are you here? Is it something you contemplate? Is it essential to know or at least have an idea? I suppose the answer will differ from person to person. A person’s spiritual state will also significantly influence the response, one way or another.

BRADFORD, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh has announced the six finalist names for its panther mascot in honor of National Mascot Day.

                Voting is open to anyone who loves the 6-foot-plus plush black panther that usually appears Winnie-the-Pooh style (no bottoms).

                The finalist names are

Jett – sleek, speedy and black as night.

Piper – a high-flying salute to the iconic Piper Cub planes that took off right where our campus now stands.

Brad – short for Bradford, long on Panther pride.

Kinzua – takes its name from the Seneca word meaning “plenty of fish.”

Blaze – Burning with Pitt pride and Bradford spark

Blizzard – Icy, intense, and unstoppable

                To vote, visit : https://www.upb.pitt.edu/name-the-panther through midnight July 7. One vote per person.

• Brenda Bonczar and Lilly Ingalls will be teaching a ‘Rubber Stamp Art Class’ for ages 8-14 on Wednesday June 18 from 1-2;30. Students will be using rubber stamps to decorate their own canvas bag. Price of the class is $25.00.  All materials provided.

• Laurie Angood will be teaching a ‘Beginner Watercolor Class’ on Friday, June 20 from 6-8pm.  In this class,a students will practice painting a summer flower wreath using gouache and transparent watercolor.   Price of the class is $35.00 and includes all materials. 

• Laurie Angood will be teaching the  ‘June Young Artisan Class,’ on Thursday, June 26 from 1 – 2:30.  This class is open to students grades 2 – 6^th.  Snack and materials provided. Price of the class is $25.00. 

• The community is invited to come to a Star Party Open House at the Potter County Artisan Co-op on Saturday, June 21 from 2:00-5:00 pm.  Join us for a sip and shop in our Gift Gallery with Art from over 50 local Artisans.  Dark Sky Themed Items Available, including photography by Curt Weinhold, as well as Deep Space Photos by Mark Casazza, dark sky watercolors by Laurie Angood, night sky oil paintings by Laurie Shear and Gary Perkins.  Local wine, live music and refreshments to enjoy.

To register for these classes or events, please call the Potter County Artisan Co-op on 814-274-8165.  The co-op is located at 227 N. Main Street.  The co-op’s hours are Monday through Saturday 9:00-5:00. 

Need an activity while visiting the area?  Potter County Artisan Co-op can arrange a private group class for you and your friends at your convenience.  Just call ahead or message us on Facebook.

Events and classes are supported in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Elk County Council on the Arts, state agencies funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

To understand the engineering challenges they had set before them, members of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Baja Racing Club needed to see a race firsthand.

The Society of Auto Engineers hold several competitions annually for college students to compete with Baja cars they have designed and fabricated themselves to race offroad.

This year’s competition was held last month in Marana, Ariz. Dr. Ovidiu Frantescu, who advises the club, and club members Hayden Goldsmith and Austin Stout Peters drove the 32-hour trip to experience the multi-day event with the goal of bringing their own car to the competition next year.

Ever since the George B. Duke Engineering and Information Technologies Building opened in 2023, members of the club have been dreaming of designing and building their own dune buggy for the Baja competition. The Duke Building has a project lab next to the machine shop that was created with this kind of project in mind.

 Club members have been tinkering with designs for the dune buggy-like vehicles, but there’s a lot to figure out – especially when it comes to meeting the strict performance and safety standards set by the engineering society.

Frantescu, an associate professor of environmental science with degrees in automotive mechanics and petroleum engineering, identifies as both a gear head and a geologist. He couldn’t resist the thought of a field trip to the race in the Sonoran Desert for inspiration and information.

The Port Allegany Rotary Club, in collaboration with Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center (SHCTC), proudly announces the completion of the Port Allegany Geocache Trail—a 1.6-mile public trail experience that blends hands-on learning, historical education, and outdoor recreation.

Launched in spring 2025, this innovative project features 12 interactive geocache locations designed and placed by SHCTC students, highlighting both local history and the diverse career and technical programs offered at the CTC. The trail winds through scenic woodland and park areas, now enhanced with newly constructed footbridges, a large trailhead kiosk, and updated signage—all built by SHCTC’s Building Construction students.

The Port Allegany Rotary Club held their weekly meeting Thursday at the Port Allegany Moose Lodge #460.  Guest speakers for the day were Amanda Miles-Rudolph and Lynn Keck.  The pair spoke on the Break the Chains Festival to be held on the Town Square on Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26.  This is the ninth year for the festival.  The goal for the BTC coalition is to reach out to local communities to ultimately break the chains of addictions, oppression, and depression.  The BTC Coalition wants to bring light, hope, and love to the broken, the hopeless, the addicted, and the depressed.  Their prayer is to see the culture changed, captives set free, and have lives transformed into who God created them to be…whole and loved.  For further information, go to the Break the Chains Facebook Page, email breakthechainsfestival@gmail.com or visit the website at www.breakthechainscoalition.com.   

The Potter County Education Council, serving Potter and McKean Counties, has an opening for a part-time Business Manager. This part-time position will be available immediately with approximately 16 hours per week. A job description may be reviewed at the Potter County Education Council Office at 5 Water Street in Coudersport, PA (814-274-4877) or www.pottercountyedcouncil.org/employment.

 The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the following schedule of maintenance activities in Potter County the week of June 16. PennDOT performs year-round maintenance in its mission to provide a safe, efficient transportation system, and the scope of work in Potter County for the coming week is as follows:

Mechanized Patching

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the following schedule of maintenance activities in McKean County the week of June 16. PennDOT performs year-round maintenance in its mission to provide a safe, efficient transportation system, and the scope of work in McKean County for the coming week is as follows:

Bridge Maintenance & Cleaning

• Route 546 at a bridge spanning Knapp Creek in Otto Township. Monday, June 16, through Friday, June 20. This work takes place off the roadway and has minimal, if any, traffic impact, however PennDOT still urges drivers to exercise caution when passing crews working along the shoulder.

Pennsylvania has some of the oldest bridges in the country, with an age of more than 50 years on average. Preventive maintenance is vital in extending the life of the structures. As such, PennDOT maintenance crews perform some bridge deck patching and structural repairs.

Minecraft Mania: Get ready for an epic adventure that will take you to the blocky world of Minecraft! Join us for an exciting camp that will challenge your critical thinking skills, ignite your creativity, and test your teamwork abilities like never before. Collaborate with your fellow campers to overcome obstacles, create solutions, and achieve your goals. But the excitement does not stop there! You will also compete in team challenges that will put your Minecraft skills to the test. Build the tallest tower, navigate a tricky maze, or solve a riddle to unlock the next level. For students entering grades 5 – 8, camp will be held on July 28 – 31, 2025; for students entering grades 9 – 12, camp will be held on August 4 – 7, 2025.

Do your plans include postsecondary education? Northern PA Regional College (NPRC) brings affordable education to you. The Summer 2025 semester begins on Monday, June 2^nd and is divided into three sections: Summer A meets once or twice a week from June 2 – July 31, 2025; Summer B meets Monday through Thursday from June 2 – June 26, 2025; and Summer C meets Monday through Thursday from July 7 – July 31, 2025.

Fourteen courses are being offered, including Introduction to Psychology, Interpersonal Communication, US Government and Politics, and Art Appreciation, to name a few. These courses are part of five associate degrees – Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Liberal Studies, and Social Sciences. If you are not interested in pursuing an associate degree at this time, NPRC’s team will help you select courses or training that meet your goals.

 The Grimes Cemetery’s annual meeting will be held on Thursday, June 19th, at 6 p.m., at the Port Allegany American Legion.

Penn State Extension educators will cover how to preserve food safely at home 

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Extension will offer in-person food preservation workshops in McKean, Potter and Jefferson counties this June and July. 

Instructors will present research-backed information to help dispel food preservation myths, point out unsafe practices and offer practical tips to ensure a positive experience when preserving food at home. 

These workshops will help attendees — whether seasoned experts or beginners — to gain valuable food-preservation skills, organizers noted. 

Workshop topics, times, dates and locations are as follows: 

B.J. Knefley

We live in a time when the celebration of material possessions has overshadowed the recognition of individuals. Their belongings and accomplishments frequently overshadow the significance of the person. However, neither truly honors the individual for who they are at their core, which connects to their inherent value and worth. 

Unfortunately, many people derive their worth from their achievements or social status. But is that enough? What happens when life changes? What occurs as they age or retire? Our entire identity can become entangled with our roles or possessions, leading us to feel lost or irrelevant when they are taken away. Being celebrated fulfills a fundamental need in everyone. When someone is celebrated, it affirms their value, worth, and significance.