NEWS

   Kevin and Patty Dusenbury, of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse, are once again grateful for the extreme generosity of many donors to their Gift of Memory program this year.  Toys and gifts in excess of 900 items were delivered to the Christmas House in Coudersport, marking the 24th year of the program.

      Delivering the toys were Kevin and Patty, Carl and Ronda Dickerson, and the Klesa family, who have graciously embraced the Gift of Memory program to honor their son and brother, Jon, having themselves brought almost 330 gifts and toys donated by their family and friends this year.

     Dusenbury said, “We have donors from the first year that continue to donate and new donors every year.  We had several donors who contributed very generous amounts of monies which allowed us to shop for specific needs to purchase items for the older children”. 

     Dusenbury, who is the owner and funeral director of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home in Shinglehouse and the Potter County Coroner stated, “we are once again amazed by the generosity of so many people.  We truly THANK each person who donated, assuring that many less fortunate individuals and families will have a brighter and happier Christmas. We wish everyone a beautiful, blessed and very Merry Christmas.”

     Pictured with a sampling of this year’s gifts are the Klesa family along with some of their friends, plus Carl and Ronda Dickerson, and volunteers from the Christmas House. 

The following donated toys and gifts in memory of their loved ones:

William Hervey HAND, 83, of Harrison Valley, PA, died Monday, December 23, 2024 in his home.  

Arrangements will be announced by Olney-Foust Funeral Homes & Crematory, Ulysses, PA.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.olneyfoust.com. 

A local organization was recently recognized for its exceptional efforts in drug and alcohol prevention. Alcohol & Drug Abuse Services, Inc.’s prevention team was nominated by its Director, Angela Eckstrom, for the prestigious award from the Department of Drug Abuse Programs. Only two organizations were recognized statewide for the Prevention in Action Award. The other award winner is Compass Mark, a Lancaster-based organization.

Mrs. Eckstrom nominated her prevention team based on their exceptional commitment to bringing evidence-based prevention programming to individuals, families, schools, and communities. The team is led by Sheri Larson, Prevention Program Manager.

Upon discussion with Sheri Larson, it was learned that the organization conducts annual needs assessments for Cameron, Elk, and McKean counties. According to Ms. Larson, “The needs assessment determines what obstacles our communities are facing.

“Once the community needs are determined, then we must determine what services are currently being provided to address those them. It is at this point we come in and try to fill gaps, either through partnerships or evidence-based programs of our own,” said Larson.

Since assuming her role, Larson has expanded services within local school district, having 90% of her staff based out of local schools. “The prevention team has doubled in size to meet the services now being requested.  The need was always there but obstacles of funding caused our communities to be underserved. The prevention department now consists of 9 staff members, including myself. Growth is a process.  We are always looking for new partnerships, funding and ways to expand our programs.” 

In addition to school based programs ADAS’ prevention liaisons can be seen in the community.  Prevention Staff does educational presentations, they share resources and information at events, and they also do fun alternative programming.  Not to mention, they do evidence-based program such as Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) and Strengthening Families 10-14 are provided for parents and families.   Larson says, “Our programs are provided at no cost to residents of Cameron, Elk and McKean, there is no income requirements or other hoops to jump through.  We would love to have more people benefiting from our programs. They more participants the more programs we can offer”

For more information on local programs follow their page on Facebook at Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, Inc. or call Sheri Larson at 814-486-0653. 

Linda L. Porter

Linda L. Porter (77), of Pittsfield, was called home on December 7^th with her loved ones at her side. She was born February 24^th 1947, to the late Allen and Ida (Messinger) Porter.  

Linda loved nature and was an avid animal lover. Her Christian faith was very important to her. She enjoyed reading, gardening, cooking and listening to classic country music. After her father’s passing in 1974, Linda took over the family dairy farm where she lived the majority of her life.  

6 Minute Read

Medically Reviewed by UPMC

October 21, 2024

You’ve likely heard about GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy for managing diabetes and obesity.

These medications continue to make headlines for their weight loss properties, due in part to a rise in popularity among celebrities and online influencers.

But what are GLP-1 medications, and how do they work?

According to a report in StatPearls, research shows GLP-1 drugs are highly effective for people with certain endocrine diseases. However, they’re not designed to be a quick fix or a “miracle” weight loss solution.

It’s critical to weigh the benefits and risks associated with GLP-1 drugs — or any new medication — before deciding whether they’re right for you.

Follow the link for the full article.: Are GLP-1 Medications Right for Me? | UPMC HealthBeat

The Dusenbury family, owners of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home in Shinglehouse, held their annual
Candlelight Remembrance Service on Saturday, December 21, 2024. A candle was lit in memory of all
those they have served since last year’s service.

   Kevin and Patty Dusenbury, of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse, are once again grateful for the extreme generosity of many donors to their Gift of Memory program this year.  Toys and gifts in excess of 900 items were delivered to the Christmas House in Coudersport, marking the 24th year of the program.

      Delivering the toys were Kevin and Patty, Carl and Ronda Dickerson, and the Klesa family, who have graciously embraced the Gift of Memory program to honor their son and brother, Jon, having themselves brought almost 330 gifts and toys donated by their family and friends this year.

For a complete list of documents please visit the following link: Board Minutes – Common formatting and phrases:

For a complete list of documents please visit the following link: December-20-2024-Board-Packet-with-resolutions-to-come-off-the-floor.pdf

For more information please visit the following link: 12.18.24-Planning-and-Econ-Dev-Agenda.pdf

Please visit the following link for more information: 12.18.24-Human-Services-Agenda.pdf

Please Visit this link for more information: 12.20.24-Ways-Means-Agenda.pdf

It’s the Week Before Christmas

By Pastor B.J. Knefley

I wanted to write something catchy for this Christmas, but I’m afraid it just isn’t there. Perhaps you’re like me—tired and overwhelmed with too much to do before the holiday. Between the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, I hardly know where to start. How did we get here? Sixty years ago, it was just the two of us. I guess having children was in our future, but I don’t think we ever really thought about it back then. The joy of being newlyweds filled our lives, and we didn’t have much time for anything else. Little did we know that within that first year, I would be involved in the Vietnam conflict. We didn’t realize that by the time I got out of the service, we would have two children and I would need to find a job. We didn’t worry much about life; we just took it as it came. The only thing we planned for was what we would have for dinner. Those were wild days.

My first Christmas as a family didn’t happen because I was away, living on an aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Tonkin, located in the South China Sea. Christmas felt like any other day. There were no special holiday treats, although I’m sure they did their best. Mess hall food was still mess hall food, no matter how much garland you put on it. But you know what? We made it through those years of separation and trials.

We got through the 60s and 70s without a lot of care. Were things easier back then? Did we worry less? I don’t know. What I do know is that we survived. There were hard times, of course. I experienced a period of unemployment that lasted almost a year. I took odd jobs to support my family, and even our third child was born during those lean times. In the end, I think we were better off than many others. Why? Perhaps it was simply because we believed we could make it. We were never defeated. Even without a strong faith, we believed that God would provide for our needs, and He did.

And so here we are, the week before Christmas, in the twilight of our years. Somehow, we will find ourselves where we need to be at the right time, and we will have all the gifts ready. Worry? No, things will come together just as they are meant to. Think about it.

Open Arms Community Church invites the community to join in their annual Christmas Eve’s Eve service. The event will take place on Saturday, December 23, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the church’s location at 1289 East Main Street in Bradford, PA.

The evening will feature a heartfelt blend of music, a children’s ministry skit, and an inspiring message. There will be refreshments and transportation provided. The event will conclude with a moving candlelight rendition of Silent Night, a moment that Pastor Zoe Hatcher describes as “a beautiful opportunity to reflect on the peace Christ brings into the world.”

This years’ service will be especially meaningful, as it will be the last Christmas Eve’s Eve service to be held at the East Main Street location. The church will be relocating as part of its building swap with First Baptist in the spring of 2025.

“This season is a gift for us,” said Pastor Hatcher. “It’s a time to gather together, celebrate, and reflect not just on the holidays but on the transformative gift of our Savior’s birth. I will be sharing about the opportunity we have to share that Good News with others, and what a joy it is to share that with our community.”

Meghan Harer – not only a great mother, aunt, sister, niece, friend, and co-worker, she is a complete badass of a woman!! This woman has been dealt more pain, bad luck, and heartache than one single person should ever endure in a lifetime.

On top of losing her mother to cancer in 2022 and her father to an accident shortly after, she works full-time as a social worker and is a single mother to her 4 kiddos! In the past months, she has dealt with all of this on top of her own health problems. She just had her 3rd major surgery and has been diagnosed with 3 different cancers. She has a PET scan scheduled for Christmas Eve and at least one more major surgery coming up in the near future, along with her port insertion to start chemo and radiation.

Her FMLA is running out and she needs our help!! Please find it in your heart to make any contribution you can – this will go towards gas, occasional hotel stays, food, paying for bills, and allowing her to stress a little less♡

Link To Go Fund Me HERE