NEWS

Have you ever had the drinking water from your well, spring, or cistern tested for lead and other health-related pollutants?  If not, here’s your chance!

Over 8,600 households in McKean County get their drinking water from a private source.  These residents are voluntarily responsible for testing and treating their own water.  About half of the private water systems in Pennsylvania fail at least one drinking water standard, but many pollutants have no obvious indicators.  The only way to be certain that water is safe to drink is to have it tested routinely by an accredited laboratory.

It may be cold and snowing but plans for the 2025 Potter County Community Garden are springing into action. Applications for garden plots will be released to the public on Wednesday, January 15^th, and will be accepted until all spaces have been claimed. The Community Garden has a total of thirty-three garden beds with four being raised for handicapped or disability access. Located at 7 Water Street in Coudersport, the Community Garden will open its gates again on April 26^th for individuals and groups to utilize a free garden plot regardless of income.

Individual and group applications are now available at Ace Hardware, Hershey’s Market, Kaytee’s, Coudersport Library, UPMC Wellness Center, Coudersport Pediatrics, Potter County Food Bank, the Potter Commissioner’s office, and the Penn State Extension office. New this year, the PCCG has a website and online application at http://pottercountycommunitygarden.org. For more information, be sure to check out the garden Facebook page, Potter County Community Garden, email pccg2022@gmail.com or call 814-274-8540 x 100.

The Potter County Community Garden is a cooperative effort between the Potter County Commissioners, UPMC Cole, Penn State Extension, and Potter County Conservation. The mission of the garden is 1) to empower the community to plant, grow and harvest their own produce, 2) to provide education on the value of gardening, 3) to promote community interaction & unity, and 4) to offer solutions to food insecurity where groceries and healthy eating can be limited.

Penn College has scheduled Information Sessions for their upcoming LPN course beginning in September. When you enroll in the full-time Practical Nursing program, you’ll be on your way to a 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.  

To learn more, attend one of the Information Sessions that are scheduled for Thursdays, January 16 or February 13, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at Penn College/Wellsboro, 22 Walnut Street, or live via Zoom at the Education Council’s Coudersport office at 5 Water Street. Registration is required. For more information or to register for an Information Session, call Wendy Joachim at (570) 724-7703.

Dorothy Lucille EBERSOLD, 95, of Galeton, PA, passed away Saturday, January 11, 2025 in UPMC Cole, Coudersport.  

A complete obituary will be announced by Olney-Foust Funeral Homes & Crematory, Ulysses, PA.  

Online condolences may be expressed at www.olneyfoust.com.

Northern Pennsylvania Regional College Vice President of Workforce Development, Adam Johnson, was recently selected to take part in the National Association of Workforce Development Professional’s (NAWDP) inaugural Leadership Academy cohort. Offered in partnership with the University of Georgia’s J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, this transformative program empowers workforce professionals to elevate their leadership impact. The Academy is designed to empower and equip leaders with the essential skills, knowledge, and innovative strategies needed to drive transformational change within the workforce development sector.

NAWDP is a professional association representing individual workforce development and human resources practitioners, who connect jobseekers, educators, and companies to advance the American economy. The organization provides professional development, resources, and certification credibility to individuals seeking to thrive in the workforce development industry as thought leaders and innovators. As the leading advocate for workforce development professionals, NAWDP builds relationships and connections with other industry-leading organizations to challenge and collaborate for the advancement of the industry. NAWDP ‘s mission is to enrich the workforce development community by connecting and advancing workforce professionals through building innovative partnerships.

Catherine A. Jordan, 82, of Ridgway, passed away on Sunday, January 12, 2025, at Elk Haven Nursing Home.

She was born on August 2, 1942, in Oxford, PA, the daughter of the late Frank and Helen Marson McCory.

On June 20, 1959, she married the late Ronald B. Jordan, who preceded her in death on August 1, 2014.

Aidan Clark  and Madison Fillhart were selected through audition to participate in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 2 Jazz Band. 

The students will travel to Corry Area HS February 13-14, 2025 where they will rehearse with their band and present a public concert on Friday night at 6:00 PM.  Aidan and Madison will be working with Mr. Jerry Black, one of four guest conductors for the event.  Mr. Black is retired from the Union City School District.

ServSafe is a certification program developed by the Restaurant Association Education Foundation. The course meets certification requirements for individuals who are responsible for the safe handling of food in restaurants, schools, elder care facilities, lodges, bed and breakfasts, community centers, and other food concessions (organizations or businesses that sell or prepare food regularly). 

This course, taught by Rick Kralj, Penn State Educator, is scheduled for Thursdays, February 27 and March 6, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Education Council’s Coudersport office. The cost is $165/person. The registration deadline is Thursday, February 20^th. To register, call (877) 489-1398 or go to http://extension.psu.edu/food-safety/serv-safe.

A new country-rock musical with strong ties to Tioga County is taking the stage in New York City after over a decade of development. Originally premiering as “Smile” at the Deane Center in Wellsboro in February 2013, the production has evolved into the hit musical Music City, which opened at the West End Theater in New York City in October 2024.

Written by Peter Zinn and featuring popular country-rock hits by JT Harding, Music City tells the story of a group of songwriters navigating the challenges of the early 2000s. Set in Nashville during a time of societal upheaval, the show explores the lives of its characters as they struggle to make their mark on one of America’s most iconic music scenes.

“Set in the early 2000s, in a Nashville fractured by the American methamphetamine crisis and the Global War on Terror, Music City’s hardscrabble band of songwriters struggles to leave their mark on one of America’s wildest music scenes,” says Chloe Rabinowitz of Broadway World.

With an updated storyline and new songs, Music City features a dynamic soundtrack, including familiar hits written by JT Harding like “Smile” by Uncle Kracker, “Somewhere With You” by Kenny Chesney, “Sangria” by Blake Shelton, “Alone With You” by Keith Urban, and many more.

Mason Ashcroft, 18, of Hemlock Ave. in Kane, passed away Thursday (Jan. 9) in UPMC-Presbyterian.  Born March 24, 2006 in Twenty-Nine Palms, CA, he is the son of Bryan Ashcroft and Lindsay (Hicks) Vito.

Mason was currently employed at Walmart in St. Marys and had also worked at Lillians Ice Cream Stand.  He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that all driver license and photo centers, including its full-service center in Harrisburg, will be closed Saturday, January 18, 2025, through Monday, January 20, 2025, in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. 

Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications, and driver training manuals, online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website.

Driver and vehicle online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include driver’s license, photo ID and vehicle registration renewals; driver-history services; changes of address; driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters; ability to pay driver license or vehicle insurance restoration fee; driver license and photo ID duplicates; REAL ID pre-verification; and driver exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services.

A complete listing of PennDOT driver and photo license center closings in 2025 is available online. If you are planning to visit one of PennDOT's On-Line Messenger Service Centers, please call ahead for hours of operation during holidays.

James S. Monks, Sr. age 88, of Wellsboro, PA, died on Thursday, January 9, 2025.  He was born on May 8, 1936 in Wellsboro, PA a son of the late Hugh and Margaret (Dartt) Monks and was married to the late Kathleen E. (Maynard) Monks. 

Jim worked for the Army Corps of Engineers at the Tioga Hammond Lakes and enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping and the STPR. 

Pennsylvania College of Technology wrestling and women’s basketball teams both are coming off unbeaten weeks.

Wrestling

After a 21-day layoff, Penn College went 3-0 on Saturday in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Duals hosted by Pitt-Bradford. The Wildcats topped Alfred State 30-17, beat Pitt-Bradford 37-15 and downed Penn State Behrend 29-13 to improve to 4-0 in all duals.

Individually for Penn College, Carter Davis of York at 165, Nicholas Woodruff of Wyalusing at  197 and Nicholai Brotzman of Marietta at 285 finished the day with 3-0 records. Justin Adams of York at 125, Blake Dergham of Slatington at 133, TJ Martin of Honesdale at 149 and Travis Green of Manchester, Maryland, at 174 finished 2-1.