NEWS

Elk County-The First Commonwealth Bank supports the St. Marys United Way campaign through their generous employee payroll program. Pictured is Doug Bauer, St. Marys Area United Way Payroll Chairman and Doug Gaffey, St. Marys Area United Way President along with some of the First Commonwealth employees who contribute via the First Commonwealth’s payroll program. Doug Bauer recognized each contributing employee with a blanket as a token of appreciation for their donation. These blankets were purchased through a grant United Way received to help rejuvenate the payroll program following COVID-19 pandemic. Sean Gabler, First Commonwealth Vice President Branch Manager Business Banker reaffirmed First Commonwealths commitment to the St. Marys Area United Way and that First Commonwealth will continue annually to match 100% of employee contributions.

The First Commonwealth payroll program supported the St. Marys Area United Way 2022 campaign and will continue to support the United Way’s 2023 campaign. The United Way’s 2022 campaign goal was $170,000. Funding raised in 2022 was available for eligible organizations to seek grant funding in 2023 and funding raised in 2023 will be available for grant awards in 2024.

As a result of the 2022 campaign, the St. Marys Area United Way board approved and granted awards in February of 2023 to Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, Boys & Girls Club of St. Marys, Boys Scouts-Bucktail Council, CAPSEA, Catholic Charities, City of St. Marys Parks and Recreation, Dickinson Center, First United Methodist Church Youth Program, Girl Scouts of Western PA, Guardian Angel Center, St. Marys Area School District, St. Marys Library and the Veteran’s Memorial-Eternal Flame located on the Diamond downtown St. Marys. The United Way board also approved a commitment of funding to support the City of St. Marys Parks and Recreation Leathers Playground Project. Specifically, the United Way funding would be used to help make the new Playland at Memorial Park handicap accessible. This commitment of funding is pending the city is awarded grant funding for the project and the Recreation board facilitates a capital campaign to acquire individual donations

The St. Marys Area United Way has served the citizens of the City of St. Marys and surrounding counties since 1925. The St. Marys Area United Way relies on the contributions from companies and local individuals. Those donations support the financial needs of non-profit agencies that serve the health and human welfare needs of our community. If you would like to become one of these individual or corporate donors, please call 781.6000 or mail your check to the St. Marys Area United Way, 44 So. St. Marys Street, St. Marys, PA 15857.

Bradford, PA – Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) and the Church of the Ascension coordinated a joint venture to help combat the local food insecurity.  A group of volunteers from both BRMC and the church collaborated to organize a food distribution in the church parking lot on Wednesday, February 15 from 1pm to 3pm.

A combined total of more than 20 volunteers from the church and BRMC took time to assist in the food distribution that aided in providing boxes of food for more than 80 households.  The food distribution included 545 cases of food products, 100 half gallons of milk, and boxes of fresh produce.

My name is Garret Morey. I am a lifelong resident of Potter County, residing in the Borough of Coudersport with my future wife and daughter.  I would like your support to serve Potter County as one of our three Magisterial District Judges.

I will be serving district 55-3-01 which covers Coudersport Borough, Austin Borough, and the following townships of Eulalia, Homer, Keating, Portage, Summit, Sweden, Sylvania, and Wharton. 

I graduated from Coudersport Area Jr./Sr. High School in 2017 and enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard as a Combat Medic in 2016 as a Junior. After attending my job training with the Army, I went to US Army Airborne school in Fort Benning, Georgia. Following Airborne school, I enrolled in college at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania studying Political Science. Before I could finish my degree in 2020, I was deployed to the Middle East as a Door Gunner with A Co 2-104th GSAB in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. During my time in the military I have received awards such as the Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal among others. 

Currently, I am a Firefighter with the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire, serving the citizens of our state’s Capital.

I am a certified EMT and Firefighter II, volunteering my time for the Coudersport Volunteer Fire Department since 2017. I have also been a member of the Coudersport Volunteer Ambulance Association as an EMT. 

I will serve the people within the district as a fair and impartial judge. I will judge each case without bias or prejudice. I am the right person for the job! It’s Time For Change! 

Don’t forget to vote for Garret Morey on May 16th in the primary election!

Johnsonburg, Pa.:  Paul Costanzo and Team Big Dog both made multiple entries into Rolfe Beagle Club’s Statewide Predator Hunt or Trap on Day 6.  Team Big Dog tied the club’s record for number of coyotes brought to the event by harvesting seven coyotes.  This harvest was the largest since Freddy Frey and Steph Conto both brought seven coyotes in during a 2022 event.

Paul Costanzo was hunting private lands in Elk County on Saturday evening with an AR .223 and thermal scope when a red fox responded to his electronic call and entered the field.  The female red fox weighed 8.2#.  Photo was unavailable.

Team Big Dog harvested a 28.4# female coyote on Friday evening near 9:00 p.m.  They were hunting private lands in Elk County and using an electronic call.  On Saturday morning near 6:00 a.m., a 33.2# male coyote responded to their call.  Team Big Dog uses both mouth calls and electronic calls. 

Hunters are reminded that Rolfe Beagle Club will be holding their 11^1h Annual, Statewide, 10-Day Coyote and Crow Hunt from August 30 to September 9.

The Elk Community Foundation (ECCF) and the McKean County Community Foundation (MCCF) remind students that the deadline for applying for 2023 scholarships is fast approaching. Students must submit their online applications by midnight on Tuesday, March 7. Over 170 scholarship opportunities are available to area students who are attending colleges, universities or vocational schools.

Students can access applications on the Foundation websites: www.elkcountyfoundation.org for ECCF and www.mckeancountyfoundation.org for MCCF. Students should go to the “Scholarships/Information for Students” section on the website for detailed information on the wide variety of scholarships available. Here they can begin the application process through an online portal. There are opportunities for everyone who is attending a post-secondary education or vocational school, including non-traditional students.

The Community Foundation is one of 40 statewide partners with PATH (Partners for Access to Higher Education). Students who receive a scholarship award from the Community Foundation may qualify for matching dollars through PHEAA and the PATH program if they attend a PA school. In 2022, 58 students received a total of nearly $75,000 in matching funds.

Visit the Foundation websites to see what is available. For further details, contact your guidance counselor or the Community Foundation at 814-834-2125 or 1-844-238-2289.

BRADFORD – Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) is reminding area senior citizens and people with disabilities that the last two Property Tax/Rent Rebate clinics are coming up next week in Bradford and Austin. Assistance with applying for the program is available at no charge and no appointment is necessary.

“We are always happy to help area residents apply for this valuable rebate,” Causer said. “Anyone who has not been able to attend a clinic is welcome to stop by our offices in Bradford, Coudersport or Kane for assistance at no charge.”

The final two clinics are scheduled as follows:

Monday, Feb. 27

• Bradford Senior Center, 60 Campus Drive, Bradford – 9:30-11 a.m.

Wednesday, March 1

• Austin Borough Building, 21 Turner St., Austin – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded.

The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for certain qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975. The Revenue Department automatically calculates supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners.

The deadline to apply for a rebate is June 30. Rebates will be distributed beginning July 1, as required by law. Additional information, as well as claim forms and a link to apply online, are available at www.revenue.pa.gov.

Click this link to see the Offices and Terms for the Primary Election. 

YWCA Bradford will host an open interview/job fair from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 24 and Monday, February 27 at its Administrative Office located at 24 West Corydon Street in Bradford, PA. The job fair will feature both full-time and part-time positions currently open at YWCA Bradford.

YWCA Bradford is seeking candidates who want to make a difference in someone’s life! Open positions include Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Program Staff and Sexual Assault Advocate.

YWCA Bradford offers full-time employees competitive pay, health insurance, vision insurance, paid time off, sick days/bereavement leave, AFLAC, Colonial Life and YW Retirement.

Those interested must have a high school diploma or equivalent, a valid driver’s license and must be at least 18 years old. Applicants should provide a copy of their resume. For more

information, contact ywcaadmin@ywcabradford.org

Aveanna Healthcare is offering Shift Differentials, competitive rates of pay, flexible scheduling and weekly pay. PRN work is available in all areas. Direct Care Workers, no experience needed, we provide all training! Must be 18 years old, and be vaccinated for covid or be willing to apply for a medical or religious exemption. RN/LPN Payrate based on acuity and experience Base rates start at $22-$30/ hour. CNA base rate $14/ hour, School cases $17/hour. DCW base rate $12/hour

RN/LPN

Fulltime nights available in Bradford, Kane, and Rew.

Full time days available in St Mary’s, and Bradford.

Part time Days in Roulette, St Mary’s, Port Allegany

Part time nights in Eldred, Port Allegany, Bradford, St Mary’s

Part time evenings in Emporium.

CNA

School cases in Johnsonburg, Kane, Port Allegany, Coudersport, and Warren

Evenings Roulette

PRN in Port Allegany, Bradford, Kane, Eldred, Smethport, Ludlow, Lewis Run, Rixford, Rew, and St Mary’s

DCW/CNA/HHA

Days and evenings in Kane, Ludlow, Roulette, Bradford, Rew, Eldred, St Mary’s, Smethport, Rixford, and Lewis Run

Please call Today at 814-642-9500 to set up your phone interview today!

We are back. February 19th the County Line 4-H had a meeting at Redmonds Eco Valley Farm. Our guest was Dr. Amanda. She took the time out of her busy day to come and help us. She showed us how to burn kids (baby goats) horns and give them pain meds. We learned the reason why some people prefer to have goats without horns. Then we went to ultrasound a gilt (young female pig).  To much of our surprise Coffee Bean was bred. The boar ADD did his job. Then we got to work with more lambs (baby sheep). We had the opportunity to put ear tags, dock tails and band testicles. We saw how much the baby pigs grew from the last time they were here. Of course I see them everyday. We got to see Toco Snow twin kids. She is one of my goat’s that survived the fire. We then ate snacks and jumped on the trampoline. It was a good time.

Here is a picture of all of us.

Written By:

Maeson Redmond

Age 8

Last week, NACD welcomed nearly a thousand conservation professionals to the 2023 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA. Hosted in partnership with the Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts, the meeting explored the theme “Local Resiliency, National Community.”

On February 14, 2023, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) administered oaths of office to its new Officers and Executive Board members. Cliff Lane took the oath of office as the North East Region Representative.  In this new role, he will be representing Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.  Cliff is also the McKean County Conservation District’s Commissioner Director, Secretary/Treasurer, and PACD’s  North West Region Director.

The National Association of Conservation Districts is the nonprofit organization that represents the nearly 3,000 conservation districts across the United States, their state and territory associations, and the 17,000 individuals who serve on their governing boards. For more than 75 years, local conservation districts have worked with cooperating landowners and managers of private working lands to help them plan and apply effective conservation practices. For more information about NACD, visit www.nacdnet.org.

Dana Spittler, 58, was born in Bradford Pennsylvania, and grew up in limestone New York until 1983 when he moved to Smethport Pennsylvania where he has resided for the past 40 years. During his youth he was active in the 4H and helped take care of his family’s farm. He was involved in many extracurricular activities throughout his childhood, and now in his adulthood he is involved in, and volunteers for, many of our community programs.

Dana has been happily married for 32 years this October. His wife, Teri, is the manager of the Smethport Veterans of Foreign Wars Club Post 2497. He and Teri have always had an open-door policy for the children in our community, many of which they consider their own family. They have donated, coached, and volunteered time and resources for many sports and academic programs in our area. Together they have had two remarkably successful children. Marcus is a heavy equipment operator that travels all over the United States working on major pipelines. Lynn is a Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy, a rank she attained after just 8 years of service. They are immensely proud of their children and the community they raised them in.

Dana has been a volunteer firefighter for over 30 years. He currently belongs to the Smethport Volunteer Fire Department, is an Emergency Medical Responder, certified interior firefighter, and CPR/AED/First Aid instructor. During the time he has served in this department he has held the positions of Assistant Fire Chief and President of the department. He is the founder of, and currently serving as the Co-Chairman of the Essential Emergency Services Training Program that oversees the Homeland Security program at the Career and Technical Center in Port Allegany. This program allows our children to graduate high school certified or prepared to be certified as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s) and Firefighters. For 9 previous successful years he operated his own office for AFLAC, during which time he climbed the ladder form sales associate to the Regional Sales Coordinator position where he had approximately 60 representatives under his direction who reported to him daily. He is currently employed by Duffy, Inc where he is head of scheduling for the company.

Dana’s focus as McKean County Commissioner is our crisis in Emergency Services. He believes with his background in EMS along with his experience in business he will be able to help find a solution to the many problems we face in our local Emergency Services. He will also be focusing on Promoting volunteer efforts in local communities and getting better education and resources for our youth concerning the drug pandemic that is devastating our county.

            BRADFORD, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s annual cultural festival will take place Saturday, Feb. 25, in the Frame-Westerberg Commons and, for the first time since 2019, the public is invited to take part in person.

            The theme of this year’s festival, which will be held from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., is “Celebrating Linguistic Diversity.” Internationally inspired appetizers, desserts and drinks will be available without charge throughout the festival.

            An international buffet dinner is available in the KOA Dining Room for an additional $7.50.

            The evening will feature two performances from the Haudenosaunee (h oh-D EE-n oh-SH oh-n ee) culture. Haudenosaunee people were known to the French as the Iroquois and include the nearby Seneca Nation.

The White Pine Singers and Dancers will return to campus after a popular interactive performance in November. The group sings and dances in the Iroquois style, engaging the audience in the Seneca culture.

Members will explain what social dances are, their meanings and instruments used. Singers and dancers will explain their traditional clothing, demonstrate dance steps and invite the audience to participate in some dances.

            In keeping with the theme, Perry Ground, a Haudenosaunee storyteller, also will return to campus by popular demand.

            Ground tells traditional stories in a contemporary and engaging way, acting out parts of the story. The stories have been told for hundreds of years by the Haudenosaunee to teach Indigenous history, values and ways to behave as well as entertain. 

            Local performers include the Pitt-Bradford Diamond Steppers and Bollywood Club; Studio B “Queen Bs,” which will perform a jazz dance; and Kids Got Talent dance group, which will perform a Bollywood mashup.

            Activities will include basket weaving, henna designs and tattoos and folding origami cranes for the Sadako Sasaki Hiroshima memorial. Visitors also can try their hand at trivia, play a phonics decoding game or Hebrew letter bingo. Welcome buttons will be available in the more than 23 languages spoken on campus.

They can learn about studying abroad, languages spoken on campus, Korean calligraphy, the history and meaning of lacrosse to the Haudenosaunee people, African proverbs, writing with natural inks, pronouns and identities in other cultures, the history of the Pennsylvania Dutch and Wonders of the World.

             Wearing a face mask on campus remains optional as long as the CDC Community Level for McKean County is either medium or low. Wearing a mask on campus will be required if the county’s transmission level moves to high. However, anyone is welcome to wear a mask at any time on campus.

For disability needs related to the festival, contact the Office of Disability Resources and Services at (814)362-7609 or clh71@pitt.edu.

Wednesday morning. Jay Township Fire Units have been dispatched to vehicle crashes at 1068 River Road and another at 94 Elm Street.