Cameron County Senior Named SHCTC’s Networking Student of the Week
Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center’s computer systems networking and telecommunications shop is proud to announce Nicole Hockey as the SHCTC’s “Student of the Week.” A senior from Cameron County School District, Nicole stands out as a highly motivated and dynamic individual who embodies the spirit of excellence both in and out of the classroom.
In the networking classroom, Nicole consistently demonstrates a passion for learning, tackling challenges with determination and a positive attitude. Her academic achievements are nothing short of remarkable, maintaining high grades while balancing an impressive roster of extracurricular involvement. From student council to esports teams and community service initiatives, Nicole is a familiar face present at nearly every school activity.
Her dedication, leadership, and unwavering work ethic make Nicole a role model among peers and a shining example of SHCTC’s commitment to cultivating future leaders in technology and beyond.
Donald L. “Don” Serkleski, 80, of Shinglehouse, PA
Donald L. Serkleski “services slated”
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial visitation for Donald L. “Don” Serkleski, from 1pm to 2pm on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at the Millport Community Church, Canada Hollow Road, Millport, PA, where a Celebration of Don’s life will follow at 2pm, with Howard Wheeler of Jamestown, NY, Don’s brother-in-law, officiating.
Members of the Potter County Honor Guard will accord military honors on Saturday at the Millport Community Church.
Don’s family entrusted his care and cremation arrangements to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse.
For further information please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com
Port Allegany’s Small Town Christmas Event Was Held Saturday December 7th
A Small Town Christmas was held Saturday on the Town Square and in the Star Hose Banquet Hall. Hayrides, an ATV/SxS Parade, visits with Santa, great food, shopping and more could be found at the second annual Small Town Christmas. Pictured at the event is Lindsay Isherwood counting votes for the Gingerbread House Contest. First place went to Brielle and Allison Saltsman; 2nd place – Heath and Hazen Jackson and 3rd place – Savannah Harmon. Small Town Christmas Committee, a part of the Port Allegany’s Women’s Club, with members led by Lindsay Isherwood. They were Lauren Jackson, Stacey Kinney, Sherry Main, Sylvia Cole, Dian Parish, Jennifer Taylor and Anna Fair.
FIRST HERITAGE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION SPONSORS CHRISTMAS TREES FOR WELLSBORO’S MAIN STREET BOULEVARDS
Julie Henry (left), executive director of the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce, is shown with Nancy Stamilio (center) and Bob Blair (right), representatives of the First Heritage Federal Credit Union. The First Heritage gift bags they are holding contain the 32 wooden ornaments Stamilio and Blair placed on the trees.
Each year for the past 19 years, including 2020, the year of Covid, the First Heritage Federal Credit Union with offices in Pennsylvania and New York has sponsored the purchase of the 16 Christmas trees that line Wellsboro Borough’s Main Street boulevards from East Avenue to Charles Street.
On Friday, Dec. 6, the First Heritage Federal Credit Union’s Wellsboro Branch Manager Nancy Stamilio and Bob Blair, chairman of the First Heritage Federal Credit Union Board of Directors. placed two special wooden ornaments on each of the 16 trees. Each ornament bears the words “Tree compliments of First Heritage Federal Credit Union.”
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ONLINE ALTERNATIVE GIVING CHRISTMAS FAIR TO END NEXT WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18
There is still time to make a difference in someone’s life.
The First Presbyterian Church of Wellsboro is encouraging support for 13 charitable organizations by holding the Alternative Giving Christmas Fair online for the public now through next Wednesday, Dec. 18.
The 13 charitable organizations are: Child Evangelism Fellowship of Tioga County, Diapers for Darlings, Harbor Counseling, Heart of Tioga, His Thousand Hills Christian Camp & Retreat Center, Humble Bumble Project, Medical Benevolence Foundation, Planted, Wellsboro Area Salvation Army, Samaritan House, Seeds of Hope Partners, Tioga County Homeless Initiative, and Wellsboro Area Food Pantry.
The fair is for those who have people on their Christmas lists who love a particular cause and for others that believe Christmas is too commercial.
Maynard “Flip” Gleason, age 73, of Wellsboro, PA
Maynard “Flip” Gleason, age 73, of Wellsboro, PA, died on Friday, December 6, 2024.
He was born on April 26, 1951 in Sayre, PA, a son of the late Raymond W. Gleason, Sr. and Lilah L. (Southard) Gleason and was married to the late Terry L. (Cummings) Gleason.
Flip was a Vietnam Veteran serving in the US Army and had worked at Truck-Lite, Wellsboro, PA.
A family graveside service will be held on Thursday, December 12, 2024 at the Middlebury Union Cemetery, Middlebury Center, PA.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Carleton Funeral Home, Inc. www.carletonfh.com Wellsboro, PA.
Three UPMC Hospitals Located In Northcentral Pennsylvania Recognized By U.S. News & World Report For Exceptional Maternity Care.
U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, named UPMC Williamsport as a 2025 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care. This is the highest award a hospital can earn as part of U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care annual study.
U.S. News began evaluating maternity care hospitals in 2021, rating hospitals that provide labor and delivery services and submit detailed data to the publication for analysis. Best Hospitals for Maternity Care assist expectant parents, in consultation with their prenatal care team, in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity services that best meet their family’s needs.
The Birthplace at UPMC Williamsport earned a High Performing designation in recognition of maternity care as measured by factors such as severe unexpected newborn complication rates, birthing-friendly practices, and transparency on racial/ethnic disparities, among other measures.
Dennis R. Bartlett, 65, of 9 Sleepy Hollow, Bradford, PA
Dennis R. Bartlett, 65, of 9 Sleepy Hollow, Bradford, passed away Thursday, December 5, 2024, at his residence.
Born September 28, 1959, in Bradford, he was a son of the late L. Wayne “Slick” and Patricia A. (Schadt) Bartlett.
He was a 1977 graduate of Bradford Area High School and attended the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
Dennis had been employed at Dresser Rand for 15 years and worked as a motorcycle mechanic for Race Honda.
He enjoyed fishing.
Kinzua Quality Deer Cooperative Announces Winner of Antlerless Deer Raffle at Deer Check Stations on SR 59 and SR 346
Bradford, Pa.: The second Saturday of firearms deer season on the Kinzua Quality Deer Cooperative (KQDC) was a good day for Mike Foerstner from Erie, Pa. Mike harvested and then brought an antlerless deer to the KQDC Deer Check Station on SR 59 just at dark. He and his hunting partners fully understand the importance of harvesting does to keep the overall deer herd healthy, and they showed up with a truck full of deer at the Deer Check Station. Mike’s doe dressed out at 90#, and was found to be 6 and ½ years old, one of the oldest deer brought to the KQDC Deer Check Stations this season.
Each hunter that harvests an antlerless deer receives a raffle ticket for a $500 prize drawn after the Deer Check Stations close on the second Saturday. Mike’s raffle ticket was drawn on Sunday, 12/8, as the winner of the $500 antlered deer raffle prize. Congratulations, Mike.
Mike expressed his appreciation for the service the Deer Check Stations’ volunteers provide to hunters, and to the land managers that provide a quality place to hunt deer. He also indicated he would like to volunteer in the summer of 2025 to help the KQDC Team continue to provide quality hunting.
The KQDC is managed for Quality Deer and a Quality Forest Ecosystem to provide a Quality Hunting experience. Other goals are to provide quality forests for landowners to manage for timber products, local employment, numerous outdoor recreation activities, and quality habitat for all wildlife.
The Kinzua Quality Deer Cooperative is an on-going demonstration, begun in 2000, of how hunting can be used to meet the goals of multiple publics for managing deer. A partnership of forest landowners, forest managers, biologists, hunters, and local businesses developed the program which relies on hunters to manage deer density on a representative forested area. The program is conducted on a 74,000-acre forested demonstration area in northwestern Pennsylvania.
Patricia L. Dawley, 90, of Smethport, PA
Patricia L. Dawley, 90, of Smethport, went to be with her Lord on Monday (December 9, 2024).
She was born August 8, 1934 in Richburg, NY the daughter of Charles W. and Maude C. (Edmiston) Billsborough . On August 14, 1954, in Rixford, PA, she married Kenneth R. Dawley, who died August 26, 2013. They were married for 69 years.
Betty J. Miller, 98, formerly of Chapel Ridge, in Bradford, PA
Betty J. Miller, 98, formerly of Chapel Ridge, in Bradford, passed away Monday, December 9, 2024, at the Bradford Ecumenical Home.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.
Online condolences may be expressed at hollenbeckcahill.com
Clint Owlett On Hand For Expanded Wellsboro VA Clinic Reopening
What a great day today celebrating the reopening of the now-expanded Wellsboro VA Clinic at 1835 Shumway Hill Road. Our veterans have given so much of themselves to protect our freedoms and keep us safe. We owe them nothing but the best in the way of care and support!
You may remember the clinic and Veterans Affairs office were forced to move out nearly two years ago due to a water pipe that burst. Now the building is reopened and better than ever! Many thanks to the dedicated staff, as well as to our Tioga County PA Commissioners and Congressman Glenn Thompson, for helping to make this project a reality.
Check out tomorrow’s edition of the Community Connection for more information. Not signed up yet? Visit www.RepOwlett.com!
Original Post HERE
Pennsylvania Game Commission Seeking Help With Snowshoe Hares
Attention snowshoe hare hunters, what color is your hare? We need your help this season!
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is tracking where snowshoe hares are found and if they are all white. Traditionally, snowshoe hares turned white to blend in with the snow, which helps them escape predators.
However, Pennsylvania is one of the few states where brown hares have been reported in winter and where unique winter pelt patterns, such as brown eye rings and brown ears, have been detected.
Join the agency’s snowshoe hare cooperator program and let us know where your hare was found and what it looked like. Here’s how to join: Email your CID number or name, mailing address, and phone number to hares@pa.gov.
Congratulations to one of our PASD November Student Athletes of the Month.
Mr. Nick Wilfong is a Junior member of the Gator football team playing primarily cornerback and wide receiver. He has also played point guard on the varsity basketball team and shortstop and pitcher for the baseball team. He also spent one year competing on the Gator wrestling team. At this point Nick has earned 7 varsity letters in his athletic career.
Nick has been an all star in the North Allegheny Baseball League and the D9 Football League. He was also a Big 30 All star for football.
Outside of athletics Nick is involved in his church Youth Group and is a new inductee into the National Honor Society. His favorite classes are English and Gym. His favorite teachers are Mr. VanGorden and Mr. Clark.
Nick has looked up to his older brother and 2024 PAHS graduate, Levi. Levi played football, basketball and track & field in his years at PAHS. Nick’s favorite athlete is Tim Tebow because “he never gives up and is strong in his faith.”
From Coach Bienkowski:
“Nick Wilfong is a vital part of our success on the football field. He has established himself as a premiere cornerback in District 9. More importantly, his selfless attitude and ability to make adversity into a positive make him a stellar choice for this recognition. He’s an even better student and human being, which makes Nick an asset to any team or organization that he is a part of.”
A coaching message that has remained with Nick is to “listen to the message…not how it’s being delivered.”
His advice to future Gators is simple: “Hit the weight room.”
Nick plans to attend a 4-year college after his graduates from Port Allegany High School and play baseball.
Causer to Return as Chairman of House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee
Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) will again serve as Republican chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for the 2025-26 Legislative Session.
“Energy needs continue to grow here in the Commonwealth, across the country and around the world,” Causer said. “Pennsylvania can play a significant role in meeting this increasing demand, if only government would get out of the way by reducing burdensome regulations and permitting. My goal as chairman is to continue advocating for policies that help realize our untapped energy potential.”
Addressing the reliability of the state’s electric grid is a top priority in the coming session. At a committee hearing in the fall, members were told government subsidies and regulations that
incentivize particular energy sources, especially renewable sources like wind and solar that are less reliable, can threaten the free market design of the energy industry that has historically allowed Pennsylvania to be an energy powerhouse with low costs for consumers.
Shirley A. Miller, 90, of Wellsboro, PA
Shirley A. Miller, 90, of Wellsboro, passed away Tuesday December 3, 2024, in her home surrounded by family. She was born August 1, 1934, in Runnemede, NJ, to Lawrence and Alice (Martin) Jones. On November 28, 1958, she married Robert E. Miller with whom she shared 56 years of marriage. Shirley owned and operated the Yellow Basket Shop for many years. She enjoyed crafts and participated in craft fairs, and often worked food concessions at the Morris Snake Hunt.
Patricia “Pat” Long, 84, of Smethport, PA.
Patricia “Pat” Long, 84, of Smethport, passed away Sunday (December 8, 2024) at Sweden Valley Manor, Coudersport.
She was born January 18, 1940 in Kane, PA, the daughter of James Milton and Margaret DiCapua (Button) Barr.
She was an Allied Security Guard employed by the Quaker State Refinery of Farmers Valley, an accountant, bar tender at the Maple’s Inn, server in multiple restaurants and other jobs she worked with pride and dignity, knowing she was providing an example of work ethics to her family.
She was a member of The Smethport Garden club, the Order of the Eastern Star #15, The King St. Discussion Group, Den Mother to Cub Scouts, supporter of Hamlin Memorial Library, and Author of “Inside the Fence”.