NEWS

The Hamilton-Gibson Children and Youth Choirs Spring Concert is This Sunday, May 21 at 2:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church at 130 Main Street in Wellsboro.

“We did not choose a yearlong theme but in the world we live in we were drawn to the songs that offered hope, and that hope is in recognizing how we are alike,” said Thomas Putnam.

“Many of the songs we’re singing explore our connectedness with each other, we are one,” he said.  “We can’t make it through these challenging times without sticking together.

The concert will open with all three choirs singing “Amazing Grace,”  “I Wanna Be Ready” and “Building Bridges.”

The Children’s Concert Choir for fifth through eighth graders and Youth Choir for ninth through twelfth graders, both directed by Thomas Putnam of Wellsboro, will then perform “Because All Men Are Brothers” followed by the Children’s Concert Choir singing “Yellow Submarine,” “Circle Round the Moon” and “Niska Banja” and the Youth Choir, “Yesterday,” “Eleanor Rigby” and “Hey Jude.”

The Children’s Concert Choir and Youth Choir will then join in performing “Let It Be” and “If Not Now, When?”

Choir Too for youngsters in the second through fourth grades directed by Cheryl Hein Walters of Mansfield will sing “Bombalina” and “Ear Worm.”

The Children’s Concert Choir and Youth Choir will perform “Draw the Circle” and “We Are Not Alone.”

Closing the concert will be the Children’s Concert Choir and Youth Choir singing “Song for Justice,” “Sisi Ni Moja” and “Scottish Blessing.”

Piano accompanist for the concert is Gary Citro.

Tickets at the door are $10 for adults and $5 for children and students, 18 and under.

Wellsboro, PA — The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced that construction has begun on key infrastructure improvements at Leonard Harrison State Park.

“We are pleased to get this long-awaited infrastructure improvement project underway at Leonard Harrison,” State Parks Director John Hallas said. “Projects of this nature help keep our wonderful state parks system safe and enjoyable for all visitors. We appreciate the patience of the public as work is done to improve the park and are excited for what’s in store for the future.”

The large scope of the project will cause temporary closures of the main day-use and parking areas, including the spectacular overlook area starting on May 15, 2023. The closure is anticipated to last for the summer, with the goal of full access to the 585-acre park in time for the fall foliage season starting early September.

Work will include making improvements to the park entrance, pedestrian walkways and expanded parking areas. An electric vehicle (EV) charging area in the new parking lot with space for four electric vehicles as part of a statewide initiative to support EV infrastructure in state parks and forests.

Additionally, there will be new walkways for pedestrians from the parking area to a newly renovated Leonard Harrison State Park Visitor Center, which includes exhibit hall, a PA Wilds Conservation Shop and outdoor seating.

The Leonard Harrison Turkey Path will remain open that connects the park to the Pine Creek Rail Trail. The campground will also remain open, with existing reservations being honored.

Site conditions may be noisy and dusty while contractors are performing the work, therefore campers with existing reservations will be offered an opportunity to cancel or transfer reservations. and no further reservations will be taken during this closure timeframe.

During this construction project, DCNR is asking park visitors to avoid active construction areas and visit other local State Parks.

Colton Point State Park on the western rim of the Pa Grand Canyon has five overlook areas and is a great alternative spot to enjoy spectacular views of the Pine Creek Gorge.

Another alternative local attraction is Hills Creek State Park, where visitors can enjoy the 137-acre lake, public beach, hiking trails and concessions this summer season.

Relocation of the existing PA Wilds Conservation Shop mobile unit to Hills Creek from Leonard Harrison has also occurred to serve visitors to the region during the summer season.

Construction is set to begin as DCNR is working to address its $1.4 billion infrastructure needs. Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed budget would address outdated facilities and public safety preparedness across the state.

The Governor’s budget would provide $112 million to maintain and improve infrastructure in parks and forests, which would be the single largest investment in decades. In addition, the budget proposes $2.8 million to support operating needs for the management and safety of our public lands.

“We are pleased to begin work on this existing project and are eager to get working on other infrastructure needs across our 124-state park system,” DCNR Deputy Secretary John Norbeck said. “Just like at Leonard Harrison, our state parks and forests contain not only natural areas, but many roads, bridges and structures. Much of that infrastructure was built more than 50 years ago and we are working to address those critical needs.”

If you have questions, or need any additional information, please contact the Leonard Harrison State Park Office weekdays from 8am to 4pm; telephone 570-724-3061.

Find out more information about Leonard Harrison State Park on DCNR’s website. Check out DCNR’s Calendar of Events for events on public lands. For information on other state parks in the PA Wilds regionOpens In A New Window, visit the PA Wilds website..

The Northcentral Forest Landowners Association is hosting a free program. Join us for a wildlife habitat tour on PA State Gamelands #44, near Ridgway.

PA Game Commission staff will lead the tour with various stops highlighting forest management and wildlife habitat improvements. The tour will also show early successional habitat and field management for pollinators and other wildlife.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 9:00 am.

We will meet in the parking lot at the top of Mead Run.  Parking lot is along Mead Run Road, 1.5 miles from Shawmut Road. (Mead Run Road is on the west side of Shawmut Road, 0.6 mile north of town of Drummond, which is west of Route 219 and south of Ridgway.)

Please Pre-register by May 26 by calling 814-887-5121 (leave a clear message with your name and phone number) or by email ncfla2@gmail.com  Registration is required to ensure there are enough participants to hold the event.

The workshop is free and open to all.

Event is sponsored by the NCFLA and PA Game Commission.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation McKean County Maintenance announces the following work schedule for the week of May 22 – May 26, 2023, weather permitting. Motorists should travel with extra caution in these and all work areas. Motorists should be aware that due to the nature of highway maintenance and emergency work, crews could be working on any highway at any time of the day or night.

McKean County 0250

Sign Repairs and Upgrades:

• Various State Routes throughout the County

Bridge Repair:

• Various State Routes throughout the County

Patching:

• State Route: 2004 (Christian Hollow Road)

Crack Sealing:

• State Route: 46 (Farmers Valley to Rew)

Pipe Replacement:

• State Route: 1015 (Columbia Hill Road)

Pipe Repair:

• State Route: 146 (Red Mill Road)

Ditching:

• State Route: 146 (Red Mill Road)
• State Route: 346 (Marilla Brook to Stickney)
• State Route: 246 (Bradford side of Looker Mountain Trail)

The following work is scheduled to be completed by contractor, weather permitting:

L.C. Whitford- Bridge Replacement

State Route:  1011 (Barnum Road)

Traffic control:  Contractor will be utilizing flaggers on SR 1011 during work hours to control the flow of traffic

Jefferson Paving– Roadway repairs

State Route:  146  (Red Mill Road)

Traffic control:  Contractor will be utilizing flaggers on SR 146 during work hours to control the flow of traffic

Our cat Maddy is missing from East Mill St. in Port Allegany. She is black, weighs about 15 lbs and has on a collar with a metal flower hanging from it. If you see her please message 814-203-1684

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FacebookWebsiteBioLatest NewsState FormsPhoto GalleryContact Capitol Update Friday, May 19, 2023 The latest news from the State Capitol You are welcome to contact me through this link.   Talking Government in Northern Potter Thank you to Mrs. Hamilton and her eighth-grade class at Northern Potter School District for welcoming me to their classroom last week! We had a great discussion about state government and my job as a state representative. They had so many great questions!      Senior Centers in Cameron County Awarded Grants The Pennsylvania Department of Aging today announced grants for the Driftwood and Emporium Senior Centers in Cameron County. They are among 48 senior centers statewide to receive funding. Driftwood Senior Center was awarded $9,480 and the Emporium Senior Center was awarded $24,765, both for nutrition services. Funding for the grants comes from the Pennsylvania Lottery. Awarded through a competitive process, the grants will help senior centers fund projects based on the needs expressed in their applications.    Recognizing Emergency Medical Services Providers This Sunday, May 21, marks the start of the 49th annual National EMS Week, a time to recognize and appreciate the life-saving services provided by our emergency medical responders, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and more. In response to the growing challenges facing our EMS system, the General Assembly has advanced policies designed to boost funding and personnel. Specifically, we have twice increased the Medicaid reimbursement rates for Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support services, increased funding for the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund to reduce training costs, provided additional grant funding, and created training scholarships and active volunteer tuition and loan assistance. We also eased minimum staffing requirements for BLS services and authorized local governments to offer tax benefits to volunteers. But there is more work to do, especially for our rural EMS agencies. That’s why I hosted a town meeting last week to discuss solutions to help strengthen the EMS system and ensure our ambulance companies can keep their doors open to meet the needs of our communities. This year’s theme for EMS week is “EMS: Where Emergency Care Begins.” Thank you to all of our volunteer and career emergency medical responders who provide care in those critical early moments of an emergency.      Creating Opportunities for Students, Employers To attract quality career opportunities to the Commonwealth, it is vital to have a qualified workforce at the ready. To help our students succeed in a family-sustaining career, it is important we provide educational opportunities to match workforce needs. Those two cornerstones of our Keystone Commitment to Pennsylvania were highlighted this week in a hearing of the House Republican Policy Committee titled “Career and Technical Education: A Pathway to Opportunity.” The hearing featured testimony about educational opportunities by officials at Upper Bucks County Technical School (UBCTS), as well as career and technical education outcomes by a UBCTS graduate and workforce development advisor. For more information about the hearing, visit www.PAGOPPolicy.com. To learn more about our people-driven, future-focused Keystone Commitment, click here.      Armed Forces Day Saturday This Saturday, May 20, is Armed Forces Day, a day set aside to recognize and honor the men and women who are currently serving in a branch of our armed forces. The day was first celebrated in 1950, soon after the branches of the military were united under the leadership of the U.S. Department of Defense. In his proclamation marking the day, President Harry S. Truman called upon fellow citizens to “display the flag of the United States at their homes on Armed Forces Day and to participate in exercises expressive of our recognition of the skill, gallantry, and uncompromising devotion to duty characteristic of the Armed Forces in the carrying out of their missions.” In other words, seek out opportunities to thank our men and women in uniform, not just this Saturday but every day.      Fish for Free Coming Up Next Weekend! On Sunday, May 28, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will host a Fish for Free day to allow anyone (resident or non-resident) to legally fish on all Pennsylvania waterways. No license is required, but all other fishing regulations still apply. This is the first of two dates set by the PFBC to enhance fishing opportunities. The next day is Independence Day, Tuesday, July 4. This is a great way to expose the next generation of anglers to the outdoors. More information about fishing in Pennsylvania is available here.    Have You Checked Out Your Local Farmers Market? Pennsylvania leads the nation in the number of farms that sell direct to the consumer. You can find the markets closest to you through the Pennsylvania Farm Market Finder offered by the Penn State Extension. The PA Farm Market Finder is an interactive map that allows you to search for farmers markets, on-farm retail markets and public markets, or all three. The markets are color coded to identify what kind of market it is and you can zoom in to any area on the map to locate them. Simply click on a dot on the map and the information about that market will appear, including contact information and website if they have one. Many on-farm markets and farmers market vendors are members of the PA Preferred® program or carry PA Preferred products. PA Preferred is the statewide branding program for agricultural products grown, produced and processed in Pennsylvania. When purchasing items with the PA Preferred checkmark, consumers are supporting locally grown and processed Pennsylvania agricultural products and directly supporting Pennsylvania farmers.  Click here to find the farm markets near you!

Do your future plans include postsecondary education? Northern PA Regional College (NPRC) brings affordable education to you. Their Summer 2023 semester begins Monday, June 5^th. Twelve courses are being offered, including Introduction to Psychology, Interpersonal Communication, Foundations of Math and Environmental Biology, to name a few. These courses are part of five associate degrees – Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Liberal Studies, and Social Sciences. Of course, if you are not interested in pursuing an associate degree at this time, NPRC’s team will help you select courses or training that meets whatever goal you’d like to achieve.   

These courses are perfect for recent high school graduates, mid-career adults seeking to advance in their career or begin a new one, and even current eligible high school juniors and seniors who want to earn college credits while still in high school. This program is designed to be affordable at 70% less than the average tuition at brick-and-mortar institutions. Students with a high school diploma or its equivalent pay $185 per credit and receive guaranteed admission. Current high school students pay $60 per credit. Institutional Aid and scholarship opportunities are available.

These courses will be offered at the Education Council’s Coudersport office, as well as more than 20 additional locations throughout northwestern Pennsylvania. Apply now and see why Brighter Futures Begin at NPRC.

The priority application deadline is Monday, May 29.  For more information, contact the Student Services  team, at info@rrcnpa.org or (814) 230-9010.