NEWS

For an exciting opportunity to view bald eagles from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. this Saturday, April 8, on Sunday, April 16 and/or Saturday, April 22, join Leonard Harrison State Park Naturalist Bob Edkin at the Pine Creek Rail Trail Darling Run Access located 5 miles from the park on Route 362. 

Other wildlife, including river otters, ospreys, waterfowl and songbirds, may also be seen. 

Binoculars and spotting scopes will be provided. 

The address is Leonard Harrison State Park, 4797 Route 660, Wellsboro, PA 16901-8970. 

To get to Darling Run from Wellsboro or Galeton drive on U.S. Route 6, turn onto Route 362 and go about 1.5 miles to the Pine Creek Rail Trail parking lot at Darling Run in Ansonia.

The Eagle Watch will be held if there is only light, intermittent rain but not if it is a steady downpour.

Tom Prestash named as District 2 Executive

Clearfield, PA – A leadership change took place recently in the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) Engineering District 2, which covers nine counties in the North Central region.

Effective April 1, Tom Prestash is serving as District Executive for District 2, moving from the same position in District 9. Prestash succeed Tom Zurat who retired March 31, after more than 33 years with PennDOT.

“We’re thrilled to see Tom move to his home district to lead a talented team,” said Acting PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “We believe that our partners and customers across the region will benefit from Tom’s years of experience and leadership—making for a seamless transition.”

Prestash will now be responsible for planning and supervising the state highway system in PennDOT’s Engineering District 2 that covers Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Juniata, McKean, Mifflin, and Potter counties. Within the nine counties, PennDOT owns and maintains 3,731 miles of state highway and 2,186 bridges.

How many times do we encounter hearing impaired people and wish that we could communicate with them? As we age, we gradually lose some of our hearing. Sign language can help. Also, mothers of pre-lingual children can use sign language as a tool with their little ones. Here is your opportunity to learn basic sign language that could help you or someone you care about.

This course will cover beginning sign language, the alphabet, conversational phrases and a variety of commonly used signs. In addition, basic facts essential to the correct use of the language will be addressed. A dedicated student could learn as many as 800 signs and understand signing and interpreting rules, basic deaf culture, and medical situations that cause deafness and loss of hearing. An intermediate course may be offered depending on interest.

This course will be taught by Sheri Greene and is scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 25 – June 8, 2023 (not meeting the week of May 15^th) from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at the Education Council’s Coudersport office. The cost is $160/person. The registration deadline is Tuesday, April 18^th. To register or for more information, visit www.pottercountyedcouncil.org or call (814) 274-4877.

On The Road Again

By

Pastor B.J. Knefley

I’m traveling now, going to different places, visiting family, and meeting new people. So far, I’ve been to six states covered over 1000 miles and seen a lot of beautiful scenery. I try to live with the idea that life is to be lived on mission. This ties into the idea that life has a purpose and it’s not about a career, retirement or even family. I believe that we all are created with a purpose. None of us are a mistake.

Living on mission means that every day has a plan. His! Living it out means listening. I’m not always good at that part as I have many squirrels running through my head that distract me, but I try. When I go into a store I’m asking, “Is there something I’m to do in here other than picking up what I think I’m going in for?” You’d be surprised how many times I have encountered someone that turned into a God moment. This past week has had many such adventures. However there has been an interesting observation that I’ve made with many people. They like God and Jesus, but not the church. I’m not necessarily surprised by this, but I was surprised about how many times it came up.

People are fed up with the “church” and they don’t have good things to say about it. But Jesus and God, they’re interested and willing to talk about it. Why do you suppose that is? Any ideas? For one, several have said that they see too much hypocrisy from the church. One even said that he didn’t see the church doing what Jesus said it to do. What he’s saying is that we’re good at going to church, but not good at being the church. That is a major issue. Sadly, I agree with his observation. So how do we address this. I’m glad you asked.

The simple answer is to “Be the Church”. Find ways to be the Church wherever you are. While you’re working or playing make it a part of your life. After all faith should be about a lifestyle not something that you practice just on Sunday. Could you imagine what would happen if every church throughout the country would be the church in their communities? What changes would we see? Think about it.

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Revolution Farms Announces the Voluntary Recall of Lettuce Because of Possible Health Risk

Revolution Farms of Caledonia, Michigan is voluntarily recalling the listed products packed between 3/3/23 and 3/11/23, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Abraham Lincoln: A Fresh Perspective

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

The Barbara Moscato Brown Memorial Library is excited to welcome Susan Cannavino, from “Presentations with Pizzazz,” for a special presentation about Abraham Lincoln on Monday, April 17, 2023 from 5:30-6:30 pm.

Please join Cannavino and library staff for a unique presentation that focuses on Lincoln’s PERSONAL life and familial relationships during his presidency. The program will explore the dynamics of his relationship with his wife, Mary Todd, as well his spiritual challenges.

You will be amazed by fascinating details about his death. This is Lincoln like you have never seen him before!

The program will be a hybrid virtual/in-person session with the option to join us in the library as we enjoy the presentation on a large screen, or virtually by joining in the zoom session. All attendees will be able to interact with the presenter to ask questions.

A light snack will be provided for those who join the in-person program.

Susan Cannavino, from “Presentations with Pizzazz,” offers audiences a series of biographical presentations which are exciting, educational and entertaining. She reveals who these people are as individuals with personal desires, ambitions and challenges. She is a John Carroll University graduate, former English teacher and published poet. She is also a guest lecturer for Case Western Reserve University’s Siegal Lifelong Learning Program.

To register for this program online follow the link on our Library Programs tab at www.barbaramoscatobrownlibrary.org. Only those who plan on joining in-person will have the option of registering by contacting the library directly at 814-486-8011.

For questions about the program contact library staff during the library’s regular business hours.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is alerting area motorists that traffic signals at the intersection of Route 255 and Shaffer Road in DuBois are operating normally to ease traffic flow through the area.  

The signals had been in flash red mode since late March, when a crash damaged the signal controller cabinet. The signals changed back to normal status earlier this afternoon. Stop signs at the four points of the intersection have been removed.

Motorists may find that the signals do not cycle in the exact time sequence that they are used to and are asked to be patient. Traffic delays are still possible. Crews will return to the intersection in the coming weeks to fine-tune the communication technology within the system.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

Injections Well Applications Warrant Robust Public Participation Process, Say Supervisor, Residents, and Advocacy Organizations

Today, township supervisors, concerned residents, and advocacy organizations submitted a letter to the Department of Environmental Protection calling on the agency to conduct a proper Public Participation Process for an injection well in Potter County. Regulators may be close to issuing a permit to Roulette Oil & Gas LLC for a Class II-D injection well in Clara Township despite the fact that the public has not had an opportunity to comment on the project or even review the application for the project. 

Many of the letter’s signers have been asking for a public meeting to ask questions about the project since they first learned about it last month. The agency has offered to have a conference call with a small number of invitees and has set a deadline of this Friday to submit questions. 

The signers and their supporters maintain that a proper public meeting is open to anyone who would like to attend and ask whatever questions they have or that occur to them over the course of the meeting. 

The public would be challenged to submit questions in advance given the paucity of information available. Similar projects are listed on the Underground Injection Control Wells page of the agency’s website. Some listings include links to permit applications. The Roulette well does not appear on the page at all.

“On October 1, 2018, the Department held a public hearing in Plum Borough, Allegheny County to solicit comments related to Penneco Environmental Solutions’ permit application to convert the Sedat #3A (Sedat) well from a production well to an injection disposal well. Why have the residents of Plum been offered opportunities during the permit process that residents of Potter County, PA  have been denied?  Besides the obvious income differences, Potter County is rural & under-served by many services. All residents of Pennsylvania should be treated equally by Department of Environmental Protection employees,” said Laurie Barr, Save Our Streams PA.

“The decision made by the Department of Environmental Protection to not hold a public comment period, meeting or hearing for Clara Township, Potter County is wrong. Why did Plum Township in Allegheny County have a public notice, a public comment period, a public meeting and a hearing? Clara Township residents deserve the same opportunities and equal rights,” said Steven Mehl, Clara Township Supervisor.

“Structural failures, well integrity issues, leaks are common in injection wells. Just as with all other oil & gas infrastructure, injection wells threaten water quality, air quality, public health, and safety. The public has a right to ask questions and register any concerns they have. DEP’s clock should be set by the people the agency exists to serve, not oil & gas companies,” said Karen Feridun, Better Path Coalition.

Montoursville, PA – Motorists are advised that a roadwork project will take place next week on Interstate 80 in Northumberland County.

On Tuesday, April 11, 2023, through Thursday, April 13, 2023, a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) maintenance crew will be performing side dozing along Interstate 80 both eastbound and westbound between mile marker 211 and mile marker 214, which is located east of the Route 15 interchange. 

Motorists can expect alternating lane restrictions where work is being completed.  Work will be performed during daylight hours, weather permitting.

Side dozing is the removal of excess material build that builds up under the guide rail.  Removing the material improves drainage and allows water to flow freely away from the roadway.

Motorists should be alert, slow down, watch for lane changes, expect delays in travel, and drive with caution through the work zone.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has a new deputy executive director of administration.

                Deana Vance, who recently had been serving as the director of the Bureau of Automated Technology Services, stepped into her new role on April 1.

                Vance fills the vacancy created when former deputy executive director Thomas P. Grohol retired on March 31.