The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that a highway resurfacing project impacting Route 1010 (Genesee Mills Road) in Genesee and Bingham townships in Potter County will begin Monday, July 7. This project will improve ride quality and extend the service life of nearly 12 miles of roadway across three roads in Potter and McKean counties.

 The Potter County Planning Department is hitting the road as part of the Revitalize Potter County initiative—and we want to hear from you! We’re co-planning for future community and economic development projects across the county, and your ideas will help shape what comes next.

As part of this effort, we’re hosting Community Feedback Meetings in eight towns, starting with Genesee (July 7), Roulette (July 8), and Germania (July 9), all 6-8pm. These meetings are designed to be hands-on, energizing, and full of great conversation—plus we’re bringing dinner.

This is your chance to share what you love about your community, what needs attention, and what you’d like to see built, supported, or improved. Everyone is welcome—bring your kids, your neighbors, and your best ideas.

RSVP here so we can plan for food and send you a reminder: https://forms.gle/z5z3pmwq24hd9ziX9

This is the tentative schedule for backpack distribution this year. We may be adding more pickup locations but the distribution locations, dates and times should not change.

If you are not able to make it to pick up your backpacks, please have a friend or family member pick them up. We will only be at the distribution locations one time.

To Fill A Backpack  

Andy Kulp

Pennsylvania CareerLinks in Potter and McKean Counties in collaboration with the Port Allegany Borough and Port Allegany Moose Club #460 hosted the second annual Career and Resource Fair on the square in Port Allegany.  The event drew over 65 employers and resources.  The empolyers had multiple job opportunities. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the following schedule of maintenance activities in McKean County the week of July 7.  PennDOT performs year-round maintenance in its mission to provide a safe, efficient transportation system, and the scope of work in McKean County for the coming week is as follows:

Manual Patching

• Route 321 between Route 6 in Kane Borough and Highland Road in Wetmore Township. Monday, July 7, through Friday, July 11. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.

Most permanent pothole patching is completed in the spring/summer when temperatures stay consistently above freezing. If maintenance crews were not repairing potholes, the road surface would break up further and require more expensive corrective measures.

Pipe Replacing & Cleaning

• Route 46 between Route 646 and Route 246 in Foster Township. Monday, July 7, through Friday, July 11. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.
• Route 546 between Bootleg Hollow Road and Fullerton Road in Otto Township. Wednesday, July 9. This work takes place off the roadway and has minimal, if any, traffic impact, however PennDOT still urges drivers to exercise caution when passing crews working along the shoulder.

• Route 3003 (Burning Well Road) between Route 219 in Sergeant Township and Route 6 in Wetmore Township. Thursday, July 10, and Friday, July 11. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.
• Route 3004 (Hemlock Avenue) between Route 66 in Kane Borough and Route 321 in Wetmore Township. Monday, July 7. Flaggers in the roadway will provide trafficcontrol during daylight hours.
• Route 3005 (Hutchins Drive/Campbell Town Road) between Fourth Lane in Sergeant Township and Route 6 in Mount Jewett Borough. Tuesday, July 8, through Thursday, July 10. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.

Pipe replacement and cleaning are essential in maintaining water flow around state roadways. Controlling water flow is one of the most important aspects of maintaining pavements. Uncontrolled water flow will damage both the pavement surface and the area under the pavement, which causes deterioration across the length of the pipe.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced it will change the traffic patterns on I-80 westbound and eastbound at the site of a bridge replacement project between mile markers 166 and 168 in Centre County beginning Tuesday, July 8. This project consists of roadway improvements to enhance the ride quality of Interstate 80, Route 1010 (Huber Ridge Road), and Sand Ridge Road, and to replace four bridges spanning Huber Ridge and Sand Ridge roads to improve their overall condition rating.

PennDOT urges drivers traveling this span of I-80 westbound to expect delays while the contractor transitions from a left (passing) lane closure to a right (travel) lane closure on Tuesday, July 8. The eastbound pattern will switch from a left lane closure to a right lane closure on Thursday, July 10.

Overall work on this project consists of concrete and asphalt paving on Interstate 80, Hubler Ridge, and Sand Ridge roads, milling and paving, drainage improvements, guide rail installation, pavement marking, and miscellaneous construction. Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. of State College, PA, is the contractor for this $22 million project that will continue through the 2026 construction season.

This year marks our 50th Anniversary! As our BIGGEST event of the year, the festival treats thousands of visitors to lively special activities, contests, and demonstrations that celebrate “woodhick” skills. Unique food and craft vendors provide guests with ample shopping and culinary opportunities. 

There is live music throughout the weekend, crafts and games at the kid’s corner, operating demonstrations of our steam-powered circular sawmill and birch still, blacksmithing, chainsaw carving, and lumber camp cooking. See the Eastern Loggers Model Railroad display in operation.

For more information

Items to be available at PA Wilds Dinner & Awards, select outlets

New products that celebrate the landscapes of the Pennsylvania Wilds will be launching this summer as part of the inaugural PA Wilds Collaborative Series. The collection of fun and inspired products were developed by local artists and manufacturers and will be available for the first time at the PA Wilds Dinner & Awards on July 24.

The PA Wilds Collaborative Series is a tribute to the creativity and craftsmanship of Pennsylvania’s rural communities. Each product in the collection began with the vision of a local artist, whose designs were then brought to life by skilled regional manufacturers, ensuring that every piece is both inspired by and made in the PA Wilds.

Designers Ellen Paquette, Julie Mader and Kelsey Kleiner were selected through a competitive application process and each brought different techniques to bear on the project. They teamed up with the creative professionals at Organic Climbing, Laughing Owl Press Co., XtremeWear, and Saint Marys Box Co. to develop a range of products, including prints, postcards, shirts, hats, totes and bags, shipping boxes, and more. 

“These products are perfect for shoppers who value authentic, handcrafted goods. The PA Wilds Collaborative Series offers a collection of products that are locally designed and made. More than just a purchase, each item truly offers a connection to the landscapes, heritage, and creative spirit of this part of rural Pennsylvania—an enduring investment in craftsmanship and community,” said Libby Bloomquist, Sustainable Commerce Director at the PA Wilds Center. 

The Potter County Farmers Market will be outdoors AT OUR NEW LOCATION on the Courthouse grounds, at the corner and across the street from the square, every Friday (weather permitting) from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm. The next market will be this Friday, July 4th. Below is a list of who plans to be there and what they plan on bringing to the Market:

*  We’re back on our summer schedule of Friday markets, BUT AT OUR NEW LOCATION due to renovations on the square.  We’ll be across the street from the square, along the sidewalk to the right of the courthouse entrance, and around the corner on East Street to the driveway.
*  The outdoor market is held each Friday from May through October (weather permitting; on very rainy days, we will relocate into the Riley Gallery (if available)).  In November, the farmers market goes indoors for the winter market.

*  Market times have been established after many trial times over the years.  If you are not able to visit us and would like something particular from one of the vendors, please contact them directly.  They are willing to try to accommodate your request.
 *  If you are interested in joining the market this year or have any questions please contact …. Netra Baker, 814-598-0649 netrabaker2@gmail.com]

BLU IVY CREATIONS  will be there. I will be bringing handmade crochet items, including towel sets, market bags, water bottles and holders, shawl, children’s purses as well as tutus and tulle dresses.

BLUE MARBLE FARM will hopefully be at the market with local, organically grown beautiful produce and plants.  For produce we will have Romaine Lettuce, Snow Peas, Salad Turnips, Swiss Chard, Kohlrabi, Cucumbers and more.  For plants we will have assorted herbs. We accept cash, checks and credit cards. For more information, contact Lisa at bluemarblefarm@outlook.com, 814-320-1308 or bluemarblefarm.weebly.com

QUIET ACRES will be at market July 4th with patriotic aprons as well as many other options including NFL and MLB. Our  offer a wide selection of handmade braided and rope bowls, coasters and trivets as well as our line of products from Haldeman Mills in Lancaster County. For the season of fresh fruits try our shortcake/cobbler mix or pancake mixes- Buttermilk or Buckwheat- with the fresh fruit. we accept cash payments. We can be reached at QuietAcresPortAllegany@gmail.com

This year marks our 50th Anniversary! As our BIGGEST event of the year, the festival treats thousands of visitors to lively special activities, contests, and demonstrations that celebrate “woodhick” skills. Unique food and craft vendors provide guests with ample shopping and culinary opportunities. 

There is live music throughout the weekend, crafts and games at the kid’s corner, operating demonstrations of our steam-powered circular sawmill and birch still, blacksmithing, chainsaw carving, and lumber camp cooking. See the Eastern Loggers Model Railroad display in operation.

For more information