At the June 15, 2025 meeting of the Rotary Club held at A&W West End Grill, Rotarian Penny Thomas introduced guest speaker Traci Bretz, a graduate of Gannon University and owner of Mill Creek Market on East Second Street.

Bretz spoke passionately about the concept of food sovereignty, which she described as the ability for people to decide what, when, and how they eat. Unfortunately, she noted, this is not the reality for many Pennsylvanians. Approximately one in five residents across the state experiences food insecurity, and in rural communities such as ours, the number may be as high as one in four children going to bed hungry. Bretz emphasized her goal of helping ensure that every household in the county has access to adequate food.

The Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies is pleased to announce the hiring of Ryan Bille as Finance Director.

Ryan joined the Foundation after earning a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from Slippery Rock University. A graduate of St. Marys Area High School, Ryan brings both strong financial expertise and a deep connection to the community he proudly calls home.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Ryan worked with the St. Marys Public Library, St. Marys Historical Society, and St. Marys Parks and Recreation. His commitment to serving the local community has been evident throughout his academic and professional journey.

What are the rhythms of life? Do you have them? How are they working for you?

As I write this, I am sitting on the shore of Lake Erie. The other night, strong storms passed through the area, and today the waves are crashing against the shore. As I sit, I’m listening and watching, keenly aware of the water’s rhythms. Although the waves are strong, their rhythm has a calming effect. Sitting on a log, I take a few moments to rest and listen. As I listen to the water’s rhythm, I wonder about my own. Like many, I’ve let the tyranny of the urgent interrupt my rhythm of life. Over my 80 years, I haven’t learned to rest or reconnect with healthy rhythms. Perhaps it’s time to start. After all, I’m retired again, and I have the rest of my life before me. What’s stopping me? Habits? Hardwired attitudes and behaviors that seem impossible to break, let alone identify. 

I have learned one thing. I need to chill, slow down, and smell the roses. Or, in this case, listen to the water. There is something captivating about the rhythm of the water. I have learned one thing, though. I sleep with a white-noise machine and have found that I sleep much better. The only time I haven’t used it has been on backpacking trips. I’ve slept well in the middle of the woods, perhaps because the sounds at night have their own rhythm. I suppose, in some sense, we all live out our lives following some sort of rhythm, albeit an unhealthy one. The balance among work, rest, and personal pursuits depends on our inner energy and our ability to sustain it. The greatest problem we all face is that when we put too much energy into our work, rest, or personal pursuits, something will suffer because we run out of time to do it all. Being all out for one thing will leave you unbalanced in the others. A balance or rhythm has been God’s plan since the beginning. Why do we struggle so to find it? Think about it

On June 16th Port Allegany Ambulance was dispatched to S. Brooklynside Rd. for unknown medical. update patients has a possible hip injury from being struck by a vehicle

Cheryl A. BHE, 79, of Smethport, PA, formerly of Ashville, NY and Coryville, PA, died Sunday, June 14, 2026 in her home.  Born May 3, 1947, in Olean, she was the daughter of Alfred J. and Violet M. Bennett Lafferty.  

On August 29, 1964, in Smethport, she married Ronald Bhe, Jr., who predeceased her on October 16, 2008.  A graduate of Smethport Area High School, she was employed by Ethan Allen in Eldred and Olean Tile Co.  Cheryl enjoyed riding motorcycles and going to the casino.  

Surviving are: four children, Melissa Claycomb of Coryville, Bradley (Shelly) Bhe of Boston, KY, Ronald (Beth) Bhe of Bradford, and Sheila (Mark) Amster of Smethport; seven grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandson; a brother, Bruce Lafferty of McSherrystown; nieces and nephews.  

In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by a brother, John A. “Moose” Lafferty; a son-in-law, Charles Claycomb; and friend and companion, Roger Rhinehart.  

Services will be private.  Burial will be in Lamphier Cemetery, Eldred.  Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association at www.lung.org or any animal care organization.  

Arrangements are under the direction of Olney-Foust Funeral Homes & Crematory, Switzer Chapel, 77 Willow Street, Port Allegany, PA.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.olneyfoust.com.

This year marks the 60^th anniversary of the Mount Jewett Memorial Library building.  The current library building was dedicated in October 1966, after the old library building was destroyed by fire in 1960.  Thanks to the efforts of volunteers, most of the library’s collection of books was saved from the flames.  Later, the family of retired teacher Katherine McMahon dedicated the lot on which the current library sits to be permanently used for library purposes. Community-wide volunteer and fundraising efforts then led to construction of the current library building, which was designed by famed local architect Raymond Viner Hall.

The goal of the Rotary Club’s matching challenge is to raise a total of $6,000 for the Mount Jewett Memorial Library Endowment Fund. To that end, the Rotary Club is offering to contribute $2,000 to the MJML Endowment Fund if the Library is able to raise $4,000 in contributions from the community.  That’s $1 from the Rotary Club for every $2 from the rest of the community.

The Mount Jewett Memorial Library is asking for the community’s help in continuing to grow the Endowment Fund to ensure operational funding for the Library for many years to come. To celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the library building, MJML is reaching out to the community that built it to ask for continued support for the Endowment Fund that provides a steady and predictable stream of funding to ensure the Library’s ability to continue to serve the public with not only books, but also programs for children and adults, access to newspapers and periodicals, internet resources, printing and fax services, and much more.

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton) made the following comment on the PA Supreme Court decision in In RE: Three PA Skill Amusement Devices, the opinion finding games of skill are unlawful slot machines under the Gaming Act.

“Today’s decision will hopefully force us to deal with an unregulated sector of the gaming industry that has both helped mom-and-pop operations, as well as local clubs and veterans organizations, while at the same time negatively impacting traditional gaming operations in Pennsylvania.

“It is long past time we enact meaningful reform to strengthen the entire industry, as well as ensuring our local establishments have the tools to remain viable in today’s market; all the while protecting our most vulnerable population from falling into the throes of addiction.”

Nara Organics of New York, NY, is voluntarily recalling all lots of Nara Organics Powdered Infant Formula currently on the market out of an abundance of caution due to the potential risk of Clostridium botulinum contamination.

Infant botulism is a rare but potentially fatal illness that presents a serious threat to the health of infants which occurs when Clostridium botulinum spores are ingested and colonize the intestinal tract, producing botulinum neurotoxins in the immature gut of infants. Affected infants can present with some or all of the following signs and symptoms: constipation, poor feeding, ptosis (drooping eyelid), sluggish pupils, low muscle tone, difficulty sucking and swallowing, weak or altered cry, generalized weakness, respiratory difficulty, and possibly respiratory arrest.

Nara Organics Powdered Infant Formula was distributed nationally across Target retail stores, Target.com, and Nara.com between July 2025 and June 2026. Nara Infant Formula is not distributed outside of the USA.

Affected Product Details:

• Nara Organics Whole Milk Infant Formula, 700g, with UPC 860013251901
• Nara Organics Whole Milk Infant Formula, 400g, with UPC: 860013251918

All lots currently on the market are included in this voluntary recall, and the specific codes are as follows.

View Full Recall

On June 16th Roulette Ambulance was dispatched to Two Mile Rd. for abdominal pain

BRADFORD – Reps. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Wyoming) and Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford) are pleased to announce a grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) has recently been awarded to The Children’s House in an effort to support victims of crime and prevent youth violence.

The Children’s House in Towanda will receive $100,000 in funding to sustain children’s advocacy center operations and standards. The center, which celebrates four decades of operation this year, aims to reduce trauma among children and families by bringing several services to one safe, comfortable space. Services offered at The Children’s House include case coordination, forensic interviews, family advocacy, medical examinations, prevention/outreach and more.

The PA Route 6 Alliance continues to invest in community revitalization through its successful PA Route
6 Façade Program which, since its launch in 2017, has delivered funding and visible improvements
across all 11 counties of the Route 6 Heritage Corridor. Designed to enhance storefront appeal, preserve
historic character, and stimulate local economies, the program has generated more than $1.5 million in
economic impact through matching grants that support locally driven projects and contractors. This
year, the initiative comes full circle as Warren and McKean counties, the program’s first participants in
the inaugural round, are once again eligible for funding, with a $200,000 grant opportunity aimed at
continuing the momentum of community revitalization along Pennsylvania’s iconic roadway.

                BRADFORD, Pa. – Four of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s longest-serving employees are retiring this summer, including the longest-serving member of the faculty, Dr. Michael Klausner.

                Klausner retired in May after 50 years of teaching at Pitt-Bradford. Others who retired in May were Dr. Stephen Robar, 27 years; and Denise Perkins, 21 years. Gary Tessmer, who has taught for 37 years, will retire in July.

                Klausner, an associate professor of sociology, is known for welcoming his colleagues and enjoying lively discussions.

                He came to Pitt-Bradford in the summer of 1976, the same year as Dr. K. James Evans, retired vice president of student affairs.

The Potter County Housing Authority will receive bids for Flooring Renovations for Freeman House Elderly Housing Project, Coudersport, Pennsylvania, at the office of the Owner, Potter County Housing Authority, 109 Market Street, Coudersport, Pennsylvania, until 2 P.M, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at which time and place all bids will be opened and read aloud.

The bid envelope shall be marked “Flooring Renovations for Freeman House Elderly Housing“, and marked to the attention of Mr. Richard Duzick. Bidders will be notified as to bid results and disposition of contract award. Proposed forms of contract documents are on file at the office of the Potter County Housing Authority, 109 Market Street, Coudersport, Pennsylvania 16915, and will be available for inspection.

Copies of the documents may be obtained by depositing $20 (nonrefundable) with the Potter County Housing Authority for each set of documents so obtained. Payment must be made before receipt of bid documents.

This flooring project requires PA prevailing wage rates. A set of current rates will be available with the bid package. Contact information for the PA Department of Labor Wage Rate Division will be available for questions.

By making a Bid, the Bidder represents that (s) he has visited the site, (site meeting date will be set), become familiar with local Conditions, under which the work is to be performed, and has correlated these observations with the requirements of the proposed Drawings and Specifications. Bidder also represents that (s) he has read and understands the Drawings and Specifications, and the Bid is made in accordance therewith. The Authority will contact Bidders with a date for a site walk through and to take any questions pertaining to the project.

Potter County Housing Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to waive anyinformalities in the bidding. No bid may be withdrawn without the consent of the Potter County Housing Authority.  The “invitation to bid” form is located on page IB-1 in the bid document. The Authority looks forward to receiving bids from Minority, and Woman-owned Businesses. Please feel free to contact Richard Duzick, Executive Director at 814-274-7031 ext. 4, or pcha1@zitomedia.net with any questions.

Pennsylvania travelers are invited to comment on state transportation plans through June 30. 

​Harrisburg, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) encourages Pennsylvanians to review and comment on the draft 2027 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The 2027 STIP is a list of projects identified for federal, state, local and private funding over a four-year period. These projects support the Shapiro Administration’s vision of a safe and reliable transportation network that connects Pennsylvanians to opportunities and services. The comment period will remain open until 5:00 PM on June 30, 2026. 

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Game Commission announced that its new hunting and trapping licenses for the 2026-27 seasons will go on sale Monday, June 22, 2026, at 8 a.m.

“The new hunting license year is almost here, and we are looking forward to plenty of great seasons ahead,” said Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Stephen Smith. “The 2026-27 seasons are full of expanded opportunities, including all hunting seasons being open on Sundays, with the exception of migratory game birds. Thank you to all our hunters, trappers, recreational shooters and license buyers who support the great conservation work of the agency through the purchase of their licenses.”