Kevin and Patty Dusenbury, of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse, are grateful for the extreme generosity of many donors to their Gift of Memory program again this year.  Toys and gifts in excess of 1400 items were delivered to the Christmas House in Coudersport, marking the 23rd year of the program.

      Delivering the toys were Kevin and Patty and the Klesa family, who have graciously embraced the Gift of Memory program to honor their son and brother, Jon, having themselves brought almost 500 gifts and toys donated by their family and friends this year.

     Dusenbury said, “We have donors from the first year that continue to donate and new donors every year.  We had several donors who contributed very generous amounts of money which allowed us to shop for specific needs to purchase items for the older children”. 

     Dusenbury, who is the owner and funeral director of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home in Shinglehouse and the Potter County Coroner stated, “we are once again amazed by the generosity of so many people.  As we have done the last three years, we started collecting gifts early at the request of the Christmas House. We truly THANK each person who donated, assuring that many less fortunate individuals and families will have a brighter and happier Christmas. We wish everyone a beautiful, blessed and very Merry Christmas.”

     Pictured with this year’s gifts are the Klesa family, volunteers from the Christmas House, and Kevin Dusenbury.

The following donated toys and gifts in memory of their loved ones:

Breakfast with Santa

Austin Area School’s National Honor Society sponsored Breakfast with Santa at the Austin Firehall. While Curtis Dean-Inman age 5 has a serious talk with Santa, a couple of the elves enjoyed their breakfast.

Dear Editor:

Redemption is a concept that most people subscribe to EXCEPT when it means putting the words into action.

Take for instance Gov. Hochul’s new bill, the Clean Slate Act, which could seal conviction records for some convicted citizens. The Act is getting push back from the Right, as they would rather these people carry their conviction as a ball and chain for the rest of their lives. Or as one former ‘convict’ termed it, perpetual punishment.

This is different from clemency or expungement.

The Act, however, does NOT seal ALL records. Only for those with clean records following their release from incarceration. Three years for those with misdemeanor convictions and eight years for felonies. And the records would NOT be sealed for certain categories, such as any conviction resulting in a possible registration as a sex offender, nor are murderers eligible, nor domestic terrorists, nor others convicted of non-drug Class A felonies.

The records would only become shielded when a person applies for schooling, jobs and housing. The records would still be available to the police and the courts.

By allowing for those who have served their time to re-integrate in the community and work to improve their social position, this Act will reduce recidivism.

Let those who have paid their debt pick up the pieces and put their lives back together productively for the benefit of all.

Sincerely,

Ly Kesse, Representative

Alfred, NY District 1

Allegany County Democratic Committee

In the only on-court action of the week, the Pennsylvania College of Technology women’s basketball team split its two games.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

For only the second time in eight encounters, the Wildcats, using an 18-9 second-quarter advantage, turned back Keuka College at home on Friday, 54-46. Rachel Teats, of Middleburg, honored earlier in the week for her defensive play, celebrated with a 25-point offensive performance that included hitting on 8 of 14 field goals, 2 of 4 treys and 7 of 8 foul shots. Teamwise, Penn College connected on 15 of 24 free throws, while Keuka hit just 7 of 16.

After holding its previous two opponents under 50 points in back-to-back wins, Marywood University raced to a 35-16 halftime lead and withstood a late Penn College comeback for a 61-51 win on Saturday. Teats led the Wildcats in scoring with 21 points and eight rebounds. While Penn College was sharp at the foul line, hitting 13 of 16 tries, it was just 4 of 21 from the 3-point line, while Marywood was 11 of 38 in treys.

After her third straight 20-plus point game, Teats has scored 117 on the season and 654 for her career.