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The Potter-Tioga Maple weekend is celebrating their 21st year of hosting the art of maple syrup creation. There are 17 participating farms and educational experiences throughout the two counties on March 15 and 16 from 10 AM - 4 PM. Photo by Andy Lychalk, Jr.
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Elkhorn Valley Packing Recalls Boneless Beef Chuck Product Due to Possible E. coli O103 Contamination
WASHINGTON, March 24, 2023 – Elkhorn Valley Packing, a Harper, Kan. establishment, is recalling approximately 3,436 pounds of boneless beef chuck product that may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O103, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
The boneless beef chuck items were packed on Feb. 16, 2023. The following product is subject to recall [view label]:
Various weights corrugated boxes containing “Elkhorn Valley Pride Angus Beef 61226 BEEF CHUCK 2PC BNLS; Packed on 2/16/23.” The complete list of serial numbers and box count numbers for the boneless beef chuck product that are subject to recall can be found here.
The product subject to recall bears establishment number “EST. M-19549” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to distributors, federal establishments, retail locations, and wholesale locations, which includes hotels, restaurants, and institutions, in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
Thank you to Kane Rotary for inviting me to be their guest speaker for Monday’s luncheon. I appreciated the opportunity to provide an update on my efforts to work on behalf of rural Pennsylvania. I am pictured here with President-elect Kate Kennedy and Jill Grosch, Rotary program chair and manager of my Kane office. Thank you to all Rotarians for the great work you do in the community!
It was a pleasure to meet with local Pennsylvania Game Commission Wardens Helen Karp and Justin Slomian. Helen is new to the commission and covers portions of eastern McKean County and western Potter County, while Justin serves the western part of McKean.
Timber, Orphan Well Plugging Focus of Budget Hearing Questions
As chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, I was in Harrisburg this week to participate in state budget hearings with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
I questioned DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn about the importance of timber harvesting and proper forest management. I also pressed for answers on forest conservation easements. Watch the exchange.
I also questioned DEP’s Acting Secretary Richard Negrin about the agency’s ongoing failures when it comes to plugging orphan wells in the Commonwealth.
Additional budget hearings this week focused on education and agriculture. To view completed hearings, or check the schedule for next week, click here.
In-Person Help for Unemployment Claimants
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) is extending its program that enhances Pennsylvanians’ access to the Unemployment Compensation (UC) system by offering in-person appointments to claimants in communities throughout the Commonwealth.
The program, now called UC Connect, has served nearly 34,000 UC claimants with in-person appointments at 58 PA CareerLink® locations since its launch in May 2022 with grant funding through the U.S. Department of Labor.
In-person services for UC claimants are designed to assist individuals who do not have proper technology, equipment or technical skills; individuals without access to home Internet or broadband; and individuals with limited-English proficiency. To schedule an appointment, claimants should contact a PA CareerLink center directly. More information about UC Connect, including how to find your local CareerLink, is available here.
The UC system failed miserably during the pandemic, and I am hopeful this program continues to provide our citizens with the assistance they deserve.
Grab That Rod and Reel!
Just a reminder that this Saturday, March 25, is Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day across the Commonwealth.
To participate, youth anglers (those under the age of 16) must have either a free Mentored Youth Permit or a Voluntary Youth Fishing License. More information about the mentored youth program, as well as a link to obtain a permit or license, is available here.
Next Saturday, April 1, is the first day of trout season. If you haven’t already, be sure to buy your fishing licenses and permits and get your gear organized. Visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) online at fishandboat.com or the FishBoatPA mobile app for more information.
PFBC Offers Grants to Inspire Interest in Fishing and Boating
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is seeking applicants for grants to support education programs that promote new and renewed interest in fishing and boating.
The grants aim to connect Pennsylvanians with the fun of Commonwealth waterways by teaching fishing and boating skills and providing quality locations where these activities can be enjoyed. Organizations are encouraged to engage groups under-represented in the fishing or boating population to learn the benefits of these activities, including community, wellness and taking advantage of the outdoors.
The grants will reimburse qualifying organizations up to $25,000 for eligible expenses for the period of July 1 to June 30, 2024. The grants require a minimum of 25% match of total project costs. The deadline to submit applications is April 14.
More information, including the application, can be found on the PFBC R3 Grant Program page on the PFBC website.
New Military-Themed License Plates Now Available
Three new military-themed license plates are now available from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT): the Air Medal license plate, Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans license plate, and Blue Star Family license plate.
Applicants for the Air Medal plate and the Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans plates must submit a completed Form MV-150, along with a legible photocopy of their DD214. The Air Medal plate contains the standard Pennsylvania license plate colors and depicts an image of the Air Medal.
The Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans plate is offered only to veterans who served in both theaters of operation. The license plate contains the standard Pennsylvania license plate colors and depicts images of both the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Operation Iraqi Freedom Medal.
Applicants for the Blue Star Family plate must submit a completed Form MV-920 and certify they are a family member of an active-duty, Reserve or National Guard service member. The license plate contains the standard Pennsylvania license plate colors and depicts an image of the Blue Star Family flag, which has a red border around a white background with a blue star in the center.
All are available for passenger cars or trucks with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds for a fee of $23.
More information about these and other specialty plates is available here.
Description: Environmental Health & Safety violation issued on 3/23/2023 to REPSOL OIL & GAS USA LLC in Columbia Twp, Bradford county. SWMA 301 – MANAGEMENT OF RESIDUAL WASTE – Person operated a residual waste processing or disposal facility without obtaining a permit for such facility from DEP. Person stored, transported, processed, or disposed of residual waste inconsistent with or unauthorized by the rules and regulations of DEP.
On Tuesday 3/21 Station 10 and Ambulance 10 with Ambulance 5 were dispatched to W Main St. for unresponsive patients, possibly Carbon Monoxide. Chief 10 responded with command. Rescue 10 responded with a crew. Upon arrival there were 3 patients. Chief 10 called for Station 20 to set up landing zone at the Legion Ball Field. Ambulance 16 from Smethport and Medic 1 from Bradford also responded to scene to assist. We do not and can not disclose any further information.
However,
We would like to take this time to remind everyone of the importance of CO detectors in your homes and garages. These can save lives and should be checked every few months along with your smoke alarms.
Station 10 is teaming up with Ambulance 10 to see how we can assist those in our community with getting a detector in their homes. Details will follow.
“The Journey Matters” grief support class will be held Saturday, April 1st from 10-11:00am at the Thomas Fickinger Funeral Home, 210 N. East St., Coudersport. We are so excited to provide our community with the opportunity to support one another through the stages of grief. To reserve your seat please call Lisa Brennan @ 570-712-7418 or the Fickinger Funeral Home @ 814-274-8888 to reserve your seat for this free event.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced a start date of Monday, March 27, for a bridge replacement project along Route 153 in Horton Township, Elk County. Replacing the bridge will improve the structure’s rating from “poor” to “good.”
The contractor will place long-term signage for the project and start clearing trees near the existing structure on Monday. Traffic control will consist of lane closures with flaggers in the roadway providing traffic control during daylight hours. Drivers should expect some delays during daylight hours. Once the contractor clears the trees, they will start work on a temporary roadway, which traffic will use to pass through the work zone for the project duration.
Overall work includes the removal of the existing bridge, building its replacement, concrete repairs, approach paving, drainage improvements, pavement markings, and miscellaneous items. Francis J. Palo, Inc. of Clarion, PA, is the contractor on this $2.5 million project. PennDOT anticipates completion in late October, but all work is weather dependent. PennDOT will issue project updates as work progresses.
Built in 1961, the bridge spans Toby Creek in Horton Township about 500 feet south of the intersection with Route 219. It is 105 feet long and carries an average of 2,467 vehicles daily.
The Potter County Artisan Co-op in Coudersport is offering a two-part beginner knitting class. The first session will be held April 8 and the second part will be held April 22, . Both will be held from 1:00 to 3:30 pm at the co-op, 227 N. Main Street. Cost is $40.00 total. Supplies not included. In session 1, Fiber Artist Lee Trayer will teach basics and what to buy and where—yarn and needles, reading the label, slip knot, easy cast-on and the knit stitch.
The second class will include instruction on knitting, purling and easy bind-off. Students who are “stuck” on a project are invited to take it to the class. To register, contact the co-op at 814-274-8165 and speak to a volunteer or email pottercountyartisancenter@gmail.com. Registration cannot be guaranteed through Facebook or Messenger.
Kane, Pa. – April 6 is the last date to register for the Roach-Bauer Forestry Forum to take place April 13 at the Wilcox Community Center in Wilcox, Pa. Registrations are required and you must register with the Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group, PO Box 133, Kane, Pa., 16735. You may also call 814-837-8550, or e-mail bcarson@ahug.com. The Wilcox Community Center is also called the Jones Township Community Center, and is located at 320 Faries St.
Preceding the talk will be a no-host social hour from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and dinner at 6:30 p.m. The program will start immediately after dinner.
Students from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford toured Seneca’s operations today to learn more about the natural gas industry. The group of petroleum engineering students toured a rig and completed pad in our Western Development Area. The tour is part of a greater partnership with Pitt-Bradford, which includes a $25,000 grant to establish a criteria-based endowed scholarship for students majoring in Petroleum Technology or Energy Engineering. The donation was made by the National Fuel Gas Company Foundation, the giving arm of Seneca’s parent company.
Montoursville, PA – In an effort to improve our environment and clean up our local roadways, PennDOT maintenance crews in Lycoming County will continue picking up litter next week along Interstate 180 and Routes 220 and 15, weather permitting.
Crews will be picking up litter on beginning Monday, March 27 to Friday, March 31, during daylight hours.
There will be no impacts to traffic during litter cleanup activities. Motorists are reminded to slow down, drive with caution, be alert for stopped or slow-moving vehicle, and watch for workers near the roadway, along interchanges and entrance/exit ramps.
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.
Litter Pickup Next Week in Tioga County
Montoursville, PA – In an effort to improve our environment and clean up our local roadways, PennDOT maintenance crews in Tioga County will pick up litter next week on Route 15.
Crews will be picking up litter beginning Monday, March 27 to Friday, March 31, during daylight hours, weather permitting.
There will be no impacts to traffic during litter cleanup activities. Motorists are reminded to slow down, drive with caution, be alert for stopped or slow-moving vehicle, and watch for workers near the roadway, along interchanges and entrance/exit ramps.
Rotary Club of Bradford President, Steve Morgan, presented a check for $1710.00 to the McKean County Special Olympics on Thursday to help sponsor the Special Olympics Swimming Invitational held on March 4th.
Over 50 athletes from McKean, Warren, Potter, Elk and Cameron counties competed at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Sport and Fitness Center pool. The invitational is the culmination of the swimming season for most of the athletes, who trained for several months.
Pictured left to right: Special Olympians and Rotarians joined Pat Ryan from McKean County Special Olympics who accepted the check from Rotary. Front Row: Eric Lasher, Linda Porter, Kari Johnston, Nan Nelson, Patti Price, Ashley Peterson, Sheridan Phillips. Back Row: Rotarian, Ben Kirsch, Rochelle Thompson, Aaron Briggs, Jay Furman, Margie Kibby, Anthony Clancy, Ryan, and Rotarians, Brandi Buck, Heidi Scrivo, and Morgan.
Several Rotarians volunteered at the Swim Meet by opening the event, presenting medals, and helping medalists on and off the podium. Club members also volunteered at the Special Olympics Basketball Skills Clinic held on March 9th.
As President Elect Ben Kirsch stated in the opening ceremony of the Swim Meet. “The Rotary is honored to support an organization that values diversity, inclusivity, and the power of sports to transform lives. As Rotarians, we are committed to serving our communities and making a positive impact in the world.”
The Rotary Club’s sponsorship was made possible by its annual golf outing and a matching grant from Rotary District 7280.
Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center Launches Emergency Services Program for Four Counties in North Central Pennsylvania
In January 2016, Fire Chief Dana Spitler contacted James Young, Director of Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center (SHCTC), to discuss the formation of an emergency service program. Partnering with Carol Duffy, County Commissioner, this led to the establishment of an occupational advisory committee that worked tirelessly to support the development of a high school program that would serve four counties in North Central Pennsylvania. Today, we are proud to announce that the program has been successfully launched and is currently in operation.
The program, which was launched for the 2018-19 school year, has been a successful endeavor thanks to the unique process and tenacity of the committee members. The committee sought funding from municipalities, foundations, and community organizations, resulting in enough funds to launch the program. Currently, 23 municipalities have made financial commitments to support the program, while fire departments, non-profits, foundations, and companies have committed to five years of financial support to pilot the program.
In addition to serving 44 students on a rotating yearly basis for 3 consecutive years, the emergency service program has also set a goal to recruit 75 potential trained volunteers over a 5-year period to serve in McKean, Potter, and Cameron Counties.
The program has already achieved significant outcomes, including the development of a permanent training and certification program at the Seneca Highlands Career Technology Center, serving four counties. The program has a strong focus on providing students with the necessary skills and certifications to pursue a career in emergency services. Over the first five years of the program, there will be 75 students who will graduate from the program, prepared for career paths in fields such as Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services, Emergency Medical Technicians & Paramedics, First-Line Supervisors, Protective Service Workers, Police & Sheriff’s Patrol Officers, Security & Crossing Guards, Lifeguards, Ski Patrol & Other Recreational Protective Service Workers, Transportation Security Screeners, and Protective Service Workers.
The success of the program is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the occupational advisory committee, the Essential Emergency Support Training committee, and the leadership of Mr. James Young, Director of the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center. The program’s focus on developing a sustainable and long-term approach to emergency service training and certification has ensured that students have the necessary skills to serve their communities in times of need. With continued community support and funding, the program is poised for continued success, producing graduates who will be prepared for a range of careers in the emergency services sector.
Under the current direction of Mr. Young beginning in 2012, there have been a number of program changes/additions that have proven to be successful endeavors. When Alex Johnson was hired to instruct the Homeland Security program in 2018, he brought with him the majority of certifications required to teach the program of study and high valued industry recognized certifications. His knowledge and skill set has been an asset to the program and has contributed to its success.
The program’s success has been made possible through the hard work and collaboration of various entities, including 23 municipalities, fire departments, non-profits, foundations, and companies. The program has brought together individuals interested in helping local rural emergency services be better prepared to serve communities. The committee has secured funding and launched the program with long-term goals to ensure sustainability. As the program progresses, it will continue to seek funding to provide the best opportunities for students and ensure longevity. With the support of the community, the program will continue to serve as a valuable resource for emergency services in North Central Pennsylvania.
Moving out towards the fifth year, there is an expectation that the ten districts who own the career and technical center will develop a budget that will include delivery of the Homeland Security Program of Study. SHCTC, which has delivered quality technical programs since 1979, will continue to deliver this program and others with the required certified staff.
The program has been developed to ensure longevity, and the outcomes are impressive. As the program progresses beyond the fundamentals, higher level certifications will be earned, requiring additional funds.
Twelve participants from the Bradford Knight Owls Chess program attended the 2023 Pennsylvania State Chess Championships. The event was held at the Red Lion Inn Harrisburg-Hershey at 4751 Lindle Road in Harrisburg, PA.
Nearly 700 players participated in the combined State Chess Championships on Friday through Sunday, March 17-19. Participants in the photo below from left to right are:
First row = Coach Bob Ferguson, Sylvia Bysiek, Juliana Bysiek, Aiden Ferguson, Elaina Ferguson, Micaiah Ferguson
Second Row = Brian Ferry, Rob Ferguson, Trenton Johnson, Natasha Ferry
(Missing from the photo are Silence Karl, Ed Bysiek, and Ryan Ferguson)
Photo credit: Brian Ferry
On Saturday, Sylvia and Juliana Bysiek (both 3rd graders) won the first-place team trophy in the U800 section of the Elementary PA State Championships. Micaiah Ferguson, 5th grader, finished tied for third in the Elementary PA State Championships U500 section. On Sunday, the Bysieks and Fergusons competed in the U1100 section to again capture first place. In the two-day sections, Natasha Ferry (11th grader) captured the 1st Place Girl in the Unrated High School Section of the event; Trenton Johnson (9th grader) tied for 17th in the high school section; and Silence Karl, who played in the under 1300 high school section, placed 20th.
The photo below includes the first-place team in the 2023 U1100 States event. From left to right, they are Aiden Ferguson, Micaiah “Ki” Ferguson, Sylvia Bysiek, and Julianna Bysiek.
Photo credit: Ed Bysiek
The 2023 Championship was sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Chess Federation and organized by Tom Martinak. Coach Bob Ferguson said, “I’m very proud of all the kids, but I wish more of our top students could have attended. Being blessed with musical talents, several top chess students were needed for the ‘Damn Yankees musical.’”
Next the students are planning to play in the annual Western NY and Northern PA Scholastic Championship in Friendship, NY on April 15.
CHILTON, WI – March 18, 2023 – Kaytee Products Inc. is voluntarily recalling one lot of Kaytee® Wild Bird Food Birders’ Blend, 8 lb. bag, UPC 0 71859 02711 1, Lot Number PennPak1 102022 933, best buy date of 041224, due to potentially elevated levels of Aflatoxin above the acceptable limit. Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring by-product from the growth of Aspergillus flavus and can be harmful to wild birds if consumed in significant quantities. No illnesses have been reported in association with this product to date and no other Kaytee products are affected.
On March 13, 2023, the Georgia Department of Agriculture notified Kaytee Products Inc. that after conducting a routine laboratory analysis of the product, Lot PennPak1 102022 933 located on the bottom right corner of the front of the 8 lb. bags of Kaytee® Wild Bird Food Birder’s Blend was found to contain elevated levels of Aflatoxin.
It was a pleasure to meet with local Pennsylvania Game Commission Wardens Helen Karp and Justin Slomian. Helen is new to the commission and covers portions of eastern McKean County and western Potter County, while Justin serves the western part of McKean. 
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) is extending its program that enhances Pennsylvanians’ access to the Unemployment Compensation (UC) system by offering in-person appointments to claimants in communities throughout the Commonwealth.
Just a reminder that this Saturday, March 25, is Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day across the Commonwealth.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is seeking applicants for grants to support education programs that promote new and renewed interest in fishing and boating.
Three new military-themed license plates are now available from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT): the Air Medal license plate, Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans license plate, and Blue Star Family license plate.
