The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation is accepting applications for the Mental Wellness Fund in Cattaraugus County.

Applications will be due by September 1.

The online grant application can be accessed at cattfoundation.org/grant-seekers/grant-opportunities/.

Grants from this fund support programs and services provided by nonprofits that support the mental wellbeing and mental health of residents in Cattaraugus County.

Four recent area graduates have been awarded scholarships via the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation.

Brody Frame of Olean received the Arnold McHone Sr. Manufacturing Scholarship for $2,500, while Cameron Golisano of Portville received $1,000.

Established by Yvonne McHone in memory of her husband and founder of McHone Industries, Arnold McHone, the Arnold McHone Sr. Manufacturing Scholarship is for graduating seniors or graduates from any high school in Cattaraugus County pursuing a technical education at any post-secondary one-or two-year institution in any field related to manufacturing.

Chelsea Toner, D.O.

UPMC Family Medicine Residency

You’ve heard of the Winter Blues, but what about the Sunshine Boost?

While cold, dark winter days can leave many of us feeling sluggish or down, the longer, sunnier days of summer offer an easy, natural way to support both physical and mental health. Just 10 to 15 minutes of sunshine can make a big difference in how you feel throughout the day.

Mood RegulationMorning sunlight helps reset your body’s internal clock, also known as your circadian rhythm. This rhythm controls your sleep-wake cycle, and when it’s off, you may feel groggy, irritable, or low-energy. Exposure to sunlight early in the day tells your body it’s time to be awake and alert, setting a healthy pattern for sleep and mood.

July 21, 5:30 PM UPDATE: Roads Impacted by Flooding, Downed Trees or Utilities in North Central Pennsylvania

Montoursville, PA – Motorists in north central Pennsylvania are advised the following roads in the area (listed by county) are closed or have a lane restriction due to flooding, downed trees or utilities. Updates will be sent periodically.

Columbia

Mt. Jewett, Pa.:  Women from five different states attended the first weekend session of Women’s Introduction to Wingshooting offered by the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) at the premier Mt. Jewett Sportsmen’s Club in McKean County in NC PA over the last weekend.  Women attended from California, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.  “This was our largest enrollment ever,” said Bethany Ford, Leader of this unique Women’s Shooting program, taught by women.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (July 21) — The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will hold its quarterly business meeting on Monday, July 28, 2025, beginning at 10 a.m., at its Harrisburg headquarters, located at 1601 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110.  The meeting is open to the public. 

The complete schedule and agenda for this meeting is available on the PFBC website (Fishandboat.com).  Public comment will be accepted in person.

This meeting may be viewed remotely by joining the webinar from your internet browser using this link.

If prompted, enter the webinar access number code: 2868 301 8706
Password: public (782542 from phones)

To listen to the meeting by phone, call: 1 (408) 418-9388
Access code: 286 830 18706
Password: 782542

Clearfield, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the following schedule of maintenance activities in Potter County the week of July 21. PennDOT performs year-round maintenance in its mission to provide a safe, efficient transportation system, and the scope of work in Potter County for the coming week is as follows:

Mechanized Patching

• Route 1011 (West Bingham Road/Hickox-Ulysses Road) between Route 49 in Ulysses Borough and Route 1010 (Genesee Mills Road) in Genesee Township. Monday, July 21, through Friday, July 25. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.
• Route 1013 (Bingham Centre Road) between Route 1011 (West Bingham Road/Hickox-Ulysses Road) and the New York-Pennsylvania State line in Bingham Township. Monday, July 21, through Friday, July 25. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.

Lane Closures on I-99 Southbound Announced for Wednesday Night

Clearfield, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that drivers should expect alternating lane closures on Interstate 99 southbound at a bridge spanning Route 550 (Buffalo Run Road) overnight on Wednesday, July 23, as crews return to complete final sealing of the concrete slab that expanded and buckled during the extreme temperatures last month.

PennDOT stated that the contractor completing the repairs will begin work at 6:00 PM on Wednesday and hopes to finish by 6:00 AM the following morning but noted that all schedules are weather dependent. One lane will remain open throughout the overnight hours. However, PennDOT urges motorists to exercise caution in this and all work zones, obey posted speed limit and work zone signage, and always buckle up.

K9S RECEIVE CERTIFICATIONS (MCKEAN COUNTY, Pennsylvania: July 18, 2025):  District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer congratulates K9s Dixie, Olive and Roxy on their recent completion of course requirements for advancement in Mantrailing. 

K9s Dixie and Olive, along with their handler Ruth Mayes, successfully completed the requirements for Advanced Mantrailing by the National Network of Canine Detection Services. 

Microsurfacing Project Set to Begin in Columbia County

Montoursville, PA – Motorists are advised that a microsurfacing project is set to begin on several routes in Berwick Borough, Briar Creek Township and South Centre Township, Columbia County.

Beginning Wednesday July 23, 2025, the contactor, Suit-Kote Corporation, will begin the project which includes the following roads:

Clearfield, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the following schedule of maintenance activities in McKean County the week of July 21. 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:

Bridge Maintenance & Cleaning

• Route 1011 at a bridge spanning Fowler Brook three miles north of Coryville in Eldred Township. Monday, July 21, through Friday, July 25. PennDOT will implement a detour using Route 346 and Route 446.

WEEDVILLE, PA – July 19, 2025 — The Elk County Democratic Committee hosted its first of hopefully many more Chairman’s Mimosa Brunch on Saturday, July 19th, at Elk Mountain Winery in Weedville, bringing together Democrats from across the county for a festive and gorgeous morning and early afternoon of conversation, civic engagement, and community building.

Attendees had the opportunity to enjoy gourmet brunch offerings, wine and champagne mimosas, and tastings from the winery, all while hearing from one of Pennsylvania’s leading judicial candidates. Judge Stella Tsai, currently serving on the Court of Common Pleas and a candidate for Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, was the featured speaker. She is highly recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

Emergency Flood Repair on Elk Grove Road in Sugarloaf Township, Columbia County

Montoursville, PA – Motorists are advised of single lane conditions on Elk Grove Road (Route 4049) in Sugarloaf Township, Columbia County, for an emergency flood repair project.

Starting Monday, July 21, 2025, the contractor, Rylind Construction Company, Inc., will be performing emergency flood repairs along Elk Grove Road between Sandy Run Road and Skiz Road. Work includes installation of rock armour along Fishing Creek, shoulder back up, paving, and line painting. Motorists should expect single lane conditions controlled with a stop sign at each end of the construction area. Work will take place during daylight hours.

Motorists should be alert, slow down, and watch for construction vehicles entering and exiting the construction area. Work on this project is anticipated to be completed by Friday, August 1, 2025, weather permitting.

by

Pastor B.J. Knefley

Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36-40). All of this sounds good, but what if you cannot love yourself?

I’ve lived long enough to know that sometimes it’s hard to love ourselves. We tend to be our own critics, seeing every wrong and mistake we’ve ever made, and we often don’t forget them. Our past becomes what holds us back from moving forward. We wonder if people would love us if they truly knew us as well as we know ourselves. Instead of love, we are critical and even self-loathing. Shame and guilt shadow our lives as we struggle to let go of things we have done. In the quiet moments of life, do we ever let go and truly love ourselves? Is that why it is so hard to love our neighbor? Is the problem of loving ourselves stifled by our inability to forgive ourselves?

Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford) announced his annual Senior Expo, planned for Aug. 1 at Wellsboro Area High School, has been postponed.

“Due to construction issues at the high school, we had to make the decision to postpone the event,” Owlett said. “We are disappointed but hopeful we can reschedule for later this year.”

The 2025 Break the Chains Festival will be held Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26 on the Port Allegany Town Square.  The BTC Festival brings awareness to all and hope to survivors of addictions, depression and self-harm.  There will be live music throughout the day, food booths, games and activities for the kids, information booths as well as local vendors.  Hours for the festival are from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.  Pictured from the BTC Board are Trudi Bowser, Lynn Keck, Macie Delahoy, Amanda Miles-Rudolph and Parker Rudolph.