January 2025 may be best described as Cold and dry. It was rather harsh  in many ways. Temperatures were 7 to 9 degrees below average and rainfall was substantially below average and the same for snowfall. January, of course, is the coldest month of the year.

Morning readings ranged from a high of 35 degrees to a low reading of minus 8. Afternoons remained cold and some very windy days.

We had 30 days with 1′ or more snow on the ground. The average snow depth was 1.3″  with the greatest depth of 3″ on the 4th.

This year the total rainfall and melted snow was 0.71″ ( probably a record). Last year the total was 5.62″. Snowfall this year was 7.5″ and last year it was 21.1″. 

This was just enough snow to allow cross country skiing and snowmobiling. Lyman Lake was frozen solid which allowed many fishermen to get out for ice fishing. 

Pine Creek is mostly frozen and low.   The days are getting longer and spring is just around the corner but keep the snow shovels ready.

Henry W. LushNational Weather Service Observer

SHINGLEHOUSE, PA.  Mr. Erich Zaun, Principal, has announced the following students, grades six through twelve, have been named to the Honor Roll for the second nine-week grading period at the Oswayo Valley Jr./Sr. High School.  Students named to the High Honor Roll have maintained an average of 93% or above, while those on the Honor Roll have averaged 87% or above.

Five members re-elected

Olean, N.Y., January 31 – The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation board of directors recently elected Theresa Raftis to its board for a three-year term and named its slate of Foundation officer for 2024.

Raftis, a retail services officer at Community Bank, last served on the CRCF board in 2023.

CRCF board members are allowed to serve three consecutive three-year terms so long as they are re-elected after each term. After three consecutive terms, board members are required to take one year off, said Kirk Windus, CRCF executive director.

There will be a special Committee of the Whole meeting immediately following our Legislative Board meeting on Wednesday, February 12.  The estimated start time is 3 p.m.  It is my understanding that the entire meeting will be held in executive session to discuss the proposed acquisition or lease of real property.

The Farmers Market will be the first Saturday of each month until May, held in the Riley Gallery, next to the Crittenden, on Saturdays from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm (NEW HOURS). The next market will be this Saturday, February 1st. Here is a list of who plans to be there and what they plan on bringing to the Market:

[NOTICES: 

*  STARTING JANUARY 4TH,  NEW WINTER MARKET HOURS ARE 11AM TO 2PM. 

*  Beginning in January the winter Farmers Market will be the first Saturday of each month until May. The Saturday dates are January 4, February 1, March 1, and April 5.  In May, the market will again be on the square

*  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]

Wellsboro is celebrating winter with a variety of activities and entertainment for all ages on three Wellsboro Winter Weekends, February 8, 15, and 22.

Next Saturday, Feb. 8, is Ice and Spice Weekend. Love will be in the air in downtown Wellsboro. Seven different ice sculptures symbolizing love and romance carved from 19 blocks of ice weighing 300 pounds apiece or 2.85 tons will be on display on sidewalks in front of Main Street businesses.

Kyle Soltis, Eli Novak and Freddy Grosser will transport the ice from Elegant Ice to Wellsboro and assemble five of the seven ice sculptures.

Adventurous weekend warriors of any age who enjoy testing their skills are invited to participate in the Mt. Tom Challenge next Sunday, Feb. 9. It is free and open to anyone who wants to give it a try. Sponsor is the Tyoga Running Club based in Wellsboro.

Registration from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and the 9 a.m. start are both at the bottom of Mt. Tom. Participants run, climb or scramble up Mt. Tom’s 1,100 vertical feet of trail to its summit. After catching their breath and taking in views of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon and west nearly to Galeton, they continue a short distance along the ridge before descending Mt. Tom using a forest road.

NPRC Holding Inaugural Fundraiser for Student Scholarships

WARREN – Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC) is hosting an inaugural fundraising event – Denim and Diamonds – on Saturday, March 29 to help raise funds towards student scholarships at the institution. The fundraiser is slated to be held at the Timber Haven Event Center at the Cable Hollow Golf Club, located at 405 Norberg Road in Russell from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and will include dinner, a live auction, silent auction, and a giving tree; with a cocktail hour from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.

With more than 10 years of commitment to serving the region, initially under the Education Consortium of the Upper Allegheny, NPRC is the local community’s partner in education. The institution is dedicated to responding to the critical needs of local employers and enhancing the skills of the region’s workforce.

In-Person and Telephonic Input Hearings Scheduled for Mid-February

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced a series of in-person and telephonic hearings to gather public input regarding the proposed acquisition of Frontier Communications (Frontier) by Verizon Communications (Verizon).

The joint application submitted by Frontier and Verizon seeks PUC approval to transfer control of Frontier and its wholly owned subsidiaries to Verizon.

WELLSBORO, PA (Citizens & Northern Corporation, NASDAQ: CZNC) – C&N, a trusted financial institution committed to supporting local businesses, announced a strategic partnership with ZSuite Tech, a leading provider of cutting-edge digital escrow and sub-accounting solutions to over 100 banks across the U.S. This collaboration will equip businesses in the community with the tools they need to streamline their financial operations and improve efficiency and regulatory compliance efforts.

Whose Job Is It?

By

Pastor B.J. Knefley

Do we live in an age of entitlement? I ask the question because I hear the phrase “Not my job” from many, both young and old. How’d we get there? We see a piece of paper on the floor and call someone to pick it up. We leave the bathroom with an empty toilet paper roll because it’s not our job. Whatever happened to common courtesy? We throw our used paper towel into the trash but miss. Do we reach down and pick it up? No, we continue to walk out the door. Are we thinking that it’s not our job and that there’s a janitor who will take care of it?

Some of you may be from an era that the entire neighborhood looked out for you. If you got in trouble down the street, your parents heard about it before you got home. Other parents corrected your manners and behavior and didn’t think twice about it. Now? Don’t even try to fix someone else’s child. You’ll be in a heap of trouble.

We say it’s the parent’s job to raise their children, yet other parents are sabotaging their ability. How are they doing this? One parent told me their preteen was given alcohol at one house, and on another occasion at a different home, they were allowed to vape. And then we wonder why children are going off the rails. So, what’s the answer?

There was a time when society had a moral compass. Sadly, that compass has been broken. A quick look at history will show that when society was left to its demise, it crashed and burned. Why? Perhaps because it had lost its vision and purpose. When one thinks that life is all about them, others don’t matter. After all, it’s not their job. When I do as I please without consequences, I get to do as I please at the cost of others. But it does cost. The price is to society itself.

Social media gives everyone a platform to expound on whatever subject they choose. Do we ever wonder where all these opinions are leading us? Think about it.

There will be a Supervisor seat up for election this year (6 year term). Interested candidates will have to get a petition from the County Elections office and collect 10 signatures of registered voters in whichever party they are running. Petitions may be circulated February 18 and must be turned in by March 11. Requirements are that you are at least 18 years old, a registered voter, and have lived in the Township for at least 1 year.

PENN STATE EXTENSION WORKSHOP

Is your old tie-stall barn worn out, and now you are at the crossroads of what to do next? Or are you simply looking for different options?

If your answer is ‘yes’ you are invited to join the Penn State Extension workshop:

Dairy Housing Options: My Tie-Stall Is Worn Out—Now What?