During the month of August, Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) and Olean General Hospital (OGH), Kaleida Health facilities, are offering a variety of classes and support groups designed to provide health education, encouragement and community connection.

If you are scheduled for total joint replacement surgery, join our Total Joint Care Class. This class provides an overview of your procedure, the recovery process and the rehabilitation you will need. It is led by an experienced member of our outpatient rehabilitation team. This month, the class will be held on Wednesday, August 20, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the OGH Education Center on the first floor. To register, call (716) 375-7481.

For the 11th consecutive year, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has been named a College of Distinction for helping its students learn, grow and succeed, and was recognized in eight individual areas.

Colleges of Distinction is an online guide for college-bound students that recognizes student-centered schools that traditional rankings may often overlook.

In addition to the general 2025-2026 recognition, Colleges of Distinction recognized Pitt-Bradford in the areas of public colleges and Pennsylvania colleges and for its programs in business, education, nursing, career development, and equity and inclusion.

Emporium, PA — The Barbara Moscato Brown Memorial Library is proud to announce the successful completion of a major technology upgrade project, made possible through the generous support of both the Emporium Foundation and the George & Margaret Mee Foundation. With a combined investment of over $32,000, the project has significantly modernized the library’s digital infrastructure and expanded public access to essential technology resources throughout Cameron County.

The comprehensive upgrade included the replacement of outdated public and staff computers, the installation of a new server and networking hardware, enhanced software for public use, and new equipment for in-library programming. All computers are now compatible with current operating systems and offer patrons access to tools for video conferencing, photo and video editing, and professional document creation.

The 25th Austin Education Foundations Golf Tournament was held on Sunday, July 20, 2025 at the Emporium Country Club.  The event had 24 teams participate. The tournament is an annual fundraiser for the Austin Education Foundation Scholarship program.

This year’s winners are as follows:

1st place– Fowler’s Garage – Ron Stuckey, Tom Wardel, John Frank, & Kade Logue

2nd place–Cooneys “Mountain Mustard” – Denny Cooney, Kal Logue, Zach Jeffers, & Jamer Cooney

3rd place–Team Burgett – Dave Burgett, Rick Vassalo, Dillon Gallagher, & Jim Jones

Longest drive (male) – Scott Haman

Longest drive (female) – Mary Jo Kahnell

Longest putt – Harry Jones

$500 Visa gift card raffle – Billy Sue Glover

Congratulations to all the winners!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all who participated in the tournament and raffles.  Your support allows our organization to continue to raise funds to provide scholarships for graduating students from Austin Area High School.  We appreciate your continued support.

A special “thank you” to Jan and David Eubanks, Austin, PA and to Ed and Sandra Stuart, Emporium, PA for your generous donations to our Foundation.

And finally, “thank you” to Mike Keefer and the entire staff at Emporium Country Club for helping to make this event a huge success.

Robert D. Porter, 62, of Ridgway, died unexpectedly on Friday, August 1, 2025.

He was born on October 14, 1962, in Johnstown, a son of the late John and Patricia Reynolds Porter.

Bob dedicated 45 years of his life to American Axle, where he was known for his unwavering work ethic and commitment. Upon his retirement in April, he focused on his passions, enjoying a round of golf and his unwavering support for Pittsburgh sports teams. Bob was a proud father whose love for his children knew no bounds. He thought highly of them and would do anything to ensure their happiness and well-being.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (August 4) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced today that the access area at Briar Creek Lake, Columbia County, will be temporarily closed beginning on August 11, 2025, and remain closed for approximately one week.  During this time, a new concrete boat ramp will be constructed. 

This information is an update to a previous announcementregarding this facility and establishes a new date range for the temporary closure.

The PFBC thanks the public for their patience and understanding as these improvements are completed.​

The third round of antlerless deer license sales kicks off at 8 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, which also marks the first opportunity for hunters to pick up their Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) permits.

This year could see increased interest for DMAP permits, each of which can be used to harvest an antlerless deer on the specific property for which the permit is issued.

Considering a career as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)? Several people from our area have enrolled in the Penn College LPN course that begins in September in Wellsboro. If a few more people from the area enroll, the course will be held at the Education Council in Coudersport, too, which will save having to drive to Wellsboro.

When you enroll in the full-time Practical Nursing program, you’ll be on your way to a fulfilling career in just one year. With skilled faculty, hands-on learning labs, 1,546 hours of instruction, and access to Penn College student services, you’ll be confident and ready to take the Practical Nursing licensing exam (NCLEX-PN), and if you want to advance your career, Penn College has pathways to get you there.  

To learn more, attend the Information Session scheduled for Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at Penn College/Wellsboro, 22 Walnut Street, and live via Zoom at the Education Council’s office at 5 Water Street, Coudersport. Registration is required. For more information or to register for the Information Session, call Wendy Joachim at (570) 724-7703.

ServSafe Food Safety Certification

ServSafe is a certification program developed by the Restaurant Association Education Foundation. The course meets certification requirements for individuals who are responsible for the safe handling of food in restaurants, schools, elder care facilities, lodges, bed and breakfasts, community centers, and other food concessions (organizations or businesses that sell or prepare food regularly). 

This course, taught by Rick Kralj, Penn State Educator, is scheduled for Wednesdays, August 27 and September 3, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Education Council’s Coudersport office. The cost is $165/person. The registration deadline is Wednesday, August 20^th. To register, go to http://extension.psu.edu/food-safety/serv-safe.

by

Pastor B.J. Knefley

What is truth? How do you define truth? According to Webster, truth is simply an agreement with facts or reality. But what does that mean? Facts or reality, according to whom?

I’ve been around for a while. The first presidential election I remember was Dwight D. Eisenhower’s. Watching the evening news with my parents, I believed that everything I heard was the truth. If I wanted to know what was going on, I just had to listen to the news. Sadly, that wasn’t true then, and it’s not true now. Truth is subjective. Each person interprets it based on what they’ve been taught. We’re biased, and as much as I wish that weren’t so, it is.

Come join the fun at our 8th annual Back to School Block Party on August 9th from 11-3. We’ll have FREE bounce houses, inflatable slides, cotton candy, popcorn, and soooo much more

Huge 2 Day Estate Sale! August 8 & 9, Friday 9am to 6pm & Saturday 9am to 4pm

810 Blue Ridge Rd. Clarington, PA

(from Marienville take 899 S. About 7.5 miles and you will see signs for the sale, if you cross the Clarion river, you went too far)

Zero turn mower, push mowers, beautiful bedroom furniture, freezer, fridge, tools, power tools, Car Mate utility trailer, tiller, dining table, kitchen ware, ladders, carts, woodworking tools, lawn furniture, compressor, wood stove, wood, chairs, stands, pool table, cabinets, shelves, bakers rack, glassware, holiday decor, old welder, snow blower, saws, canning jars, gardening items, clothes, blankets, and much more.

810 Blue Ridge Rd. Clarington, PA, we will make another post with directions. 

House and 2 garages, full. Very clean house!

Area K-12 science teachers can still register for a free professional development workshop offered Aug. 11 at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford to earn Act 48 continuing education credits.

Dr. Ovidiu Frantescu, associate professor of environmental science at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, will lead the geology workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the university’s new Environmental Science Lab. Frantescu holds a doctorate in applied geology from Kent State University.

Participants will learn about identifying minerals; the three types of rocks and how they are in constant change; the connection between rocks and tectonic activity; natural events such as earthquakes, volcanoes and landslides; the role of water; and fossil identification.

Eight high school graduates recently received scholarship awards from funds managed by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation for students pursuing a degree in business.

Connor Young of Southwestern High School, Elora Watkins of Maple Grove High School, Madelia Griffith of Randolph Central School and Ryanna Brady of Salamanca High School received the Chautauqua Cattaraugus Board of Realtors Scholarship, a $500 award.

The Chautauqua Cattaraugus Board of Realtors Scholarship provides four awards total: two to graduates of Cattaraugus County high schools and two to graduates of Chautauqua County high schools in good academic standing. Preference is given to students pursuing a business-related degree.

The deadline for Potter County families to take advantage of the school shoe program offered by Christmas House has been extended until Thursday, August 7. Sending children back to school with new shoes has been a focus of Christmas House for more than 25 years. This project is made possible by the generous annual contribution of the N.D.H.P. Motorcycle Club.

Only families who live in Potter County are eligible and the project is for children in preschool through grade 12.

A parent or guardian will need to call Christmas House by the end of the day on August 7 to make arrangements for ordering the shoes. The telephone number is 814-274-0825. Please leave a detailed message with your name and your telephone contact and we will return your call.

Christmas House is a non-profit organization piloted by volunteers and fueled by the generous support of individuals and organizations in Potter County and beyond. The First Presbyterian Church in Coudersport (402 N. Main Street) offers us space in their basement as our headquarters. Our entrance is on the north side of the building and is accessible by elevator if necessary.

Bradford, PA – The 32nd Annual CARE ‘fore’ Children Golf Tournament, presented by Premier Sponsors Allegheny Bradford Corporation, the Kids and Cancer Benefit, the Philo & Sarah Blaisdell Foundation, and Zippo Manufacturing Company, was held on Sunday, August 3rd at the Pennhills Club in Bradford.

To date, the tournament has raised over $44,000, with proceeds benefiting CARE for Children’s free outreach services for children with developmental delays and disabilities. These services include pediatric developmental screenings, therapeutic recreation, and child safety initiatives aimed at preventing injuries and fatalities.

This year’s Course Sponsors included Brad Mangel – in memory of Sally Mangel, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Marshall Insurance Services, Inc. – Mick and Michele Marshall. Flight Sponsors were Emporium Food Market and Olean Food Barn, Gleason Construction, Greg and Cherie Booth – in memory of Ashley Booth Griffin, CNB Bank, Northwest Bank, and Pine Valley Nurseries.