We have several exciting Collette tours for 2024 and 2025: Discover Switzerland, Austria & Bavaria: August 21 – August 30, 2024; Southern Italy & Sicily: October 25 – November 6, 2024 (same trip that was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid); Tropical Costa Rica: November 4 – November 12, 2024; Iceland’s Magical Northern Lights: February 24 – March 2, 2025; and British Landscapes (England, Scotland & Wales): April 27 – May 6, 2025. Email jmorley@pcedcouncil.org or call (814) 274-4877 for more info or to request trip brochures.

Roulette Township

On Saturday, March 16, 2024 from 8 a.m. until noon, Main Street from School Street to Pfeiffer Street and Cow Hollow from Lanninger Creek Road to Hester Avenue will be closed to through traffic.

You Do Know It’s Not About Rules

By

Pastor B.J. Knefley

You do know that God isn’t focused upon you keeping a set of rules, don’t you? What he’s really looking for is a relationship with you and everyone else. So why do we or where do we get the idea that somehow God is interested in our rule keeping? Is it because of the Ten Commandants? Maybe it’s because of the Old Testament laws? Or perhaps it was some pastor or church organization that said if you wanted to get right with God you needed to do certain things? I believe that God calls us first to a relationship with him and the rules come later. Not because God is a God of rules but because within the relationship, we will naturally want to follow him. Out of that relationship comes our desire to do all that He asks.

Someone recently responded to this idea by saying that this idea gives a person permission to love God and do hideous things like murder, adultery, thievery, and a host of other things. Yet Paul said in I Corinthians 5:13, “God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, ‘You must remove the evil person from among you.’ Earlier in I Corinthians 5:5 in referring the man who was found to be in sin that they were to: “Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns.”

The point is, one cannot say they love God and keep on doing the destructive things that would indicate that you do not. Loving God is about a relationship. In any relationship my actions will be the truest indicator of the real condition of my heart. If I say I love my neighbor and do horrific and mean-spirited things against them then I truly don’t love my neighbor. If I say I love God and continue to live a godless life, then I truly don’t love God. The opposite is also true too. Remember the rich young ruler found in Luke 18:18-30? He told Jesus that he had kept all the commandments. Jesus responded that he needed then to sell all that he owned and give it to the poor and then come follow him. The man became very sad. It appears that the man was able to keep the rules but not the relationship. Perhaps that could describe some of us. Think about it.

Local Leaders React to Allegany County Fairgrounds Funding

On March 6, Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) announced the passage of House Resolution H.4366, the “Consolidated Appropriations Bill,” which includes over $425,000 in funding for the Allegany County Fairgrounds. This appropriation was a result of Congressman Langworthy’s Community Project Funding program, which identifies and supports worthy initiatives throughout the 23^rd Congressional District. On March 7, Allegany County leaders reacted to the news:

Allegany County Fair Board President David Jennings

Borough of Galeton

The regular meeting of the Galeton Borough Authority was held this date with the following members present: Tony Adami, Joe Cimino, Mike Brown and Todd Parsell. Not present was Tom Smith.

Chairman Adami called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM followed by the Pledge to the Flag.

A motion was made by Joe Cimino, seconded by Todd Parsell approving the minutes of the 2/6/24 meeting as presented. All were in favor, motion carried.

WATER REPORT

At previous meetings we discussed with our engineer so need to update our Drought Ordinance to go with our upgraded water plant instead of measuring the water in the old reservoirs. Shawn presented an amendment to our Drought ordinance with new triggers for each stage of Drought Contingency plan that works with our system. He had reviewed these with Joe.

Mike Plummer is going to draft an amendment for Council to approve at their next meeting.

Joe told the Authority that the slow sand filter beds are going to need new sand. The levels are getting low. He said the next time the beds are cleaned is probably when the sand is going to be needed. He is going to check to see if we can purchase it at the same place in Ohio.

It was noted that the Notice to Proceeds have been issued to the two contractors doing the WWTP plant upgrade. The pre-construction meeting is March 13th at 10:00 AM.

The PennVest closing took place and now the grant is in place ready to begin drawdowns as soon as construction begins.

Joe told the Authority that he had an electrician up to the water plant to replace the outside lights.

OLD BUSINESS

Tony said that we are waiting for quotes for the Wetmore Road repair.

NEW BUSINESS

A discussion was held on vacant and unoccupied properties in the winter season. Beginning next winter, if residents are vacating their property for 7 days or more they MUST inform the Borough Office and at that time must decide whether to have the water shut off and back on when they return at a cost of $100.00 or leave the water on and be responsible for paying for any water loss if the meter and/or pipes should freeze while vacant. If the meter should freeze and the water cannot run through it, then there will be a formula to decide how much wasted water there was and the cost of it to the property owner.

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Mike Brown, seconded by Joe Cimino to adjourn. All were in favor, motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 6:08 PM