Students from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford toured Seneca’s operations today to learn more about the natural gas industry. The group of petroleum engineering students toured a rig and completed pad in our Western Development Area. The tour is part of a greater partnership with Pitt-Bradford, which includes a $25,000 grant to establish a criteria-based endowed scholarship for students majoring in Petroleum Technology or Energy Engineering. The donation was made by the National Fuel Gas Company Foundation, the giving arm of Seneca’s parent company.

Rotary Club of Bradford President, Steve Morgan, presented a check for $1710.00 to the McKean County Special Olympics on Thursday to help sponsor the Special Olympics Swimming Invitational held on March 4th.

Over 50 athletes from McKean, Warren, Potter, Elk and Cameron counties competed at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Sport and Fitness Center pool.  The invitational is the culmination of the swimming season for most of the athletes, who trained for several months.

Pictured left to right:   Special Olympians and Rotarians joined Pat Ryan from McKean County Special Olympics who accepted the check from Rotary.  Front Row: Eric Lasher, Linda Porter, Kari Johnston, Nan Nelson, Patti Price, Ashley Peterson, Sheridan Phillips.  Back Row: Rotarian, Ben Kirsch, Rochelle Thompson, Aaron Briggs, Jay Furman, Margie Kibby, Anthony Clancy, Ryan, and Rotarians, Brandi Buck, Heidi Scrivo, and Morgan.

Several Rotarians volunteered at the Swim Meet by opening the event, presenting medals, and helping medalists on and off the podium.  Club members also volunteered at the Special Olympics Basketball Skills Clinic held on March 9^th.

As President Elect Ben Kirsch stated in the opening ceremony of the Swim Meet. “The Rotary is honored to support an organization that values diversity, inclusivity, and the power of sports to transform lives. As Rotarians, we are committed to serving our communities and making a positive impact in the world.”

The Rotary Club’s sponsorship was made possible by its annual golf outing and a matching grant from Rotary District 7280.

Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center Launches Emergency Services Program for Four Counties in North Central Pennsylvania

In January 2016, Fire Chief Dana Spitler contacted James Young, Director of Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center (SHCTC), to discuss the formation of an emergency service program. Partnering with Carol Duffy, County Commissioner, this led to the establishment of an occupational advisory committee that worked tirelessly to support the development of a high school program that would serve four counties in North Central Pennsylvania. Today, we are proud to announce that the program has been successfully launched and is currently in operation.

The program, which was launched for the 2018-19 school year, has been a successful endeavor thanks to the unique process and tenacity of the committee members. The committee sought funding from municipalities, foundations, and community organizations, resulting in enough funds to launch the program. Currently, 23 municipalities have made financial commitments to support the program, while fire departments, non-profits, foundations, and companies have committed to five years of financial support to pilot the program.

In addition to serving 44 students on a rotating yearly basis for 3 consecutive years, the emergency service program has also set a goal to recruit 75 potential trained volunteers over a 5-year period to serve in McKean, Potter, and Cameron Counties.

The program has already achieved significant outcomes, including the development of a permanent training and certification program at the Seneca Highlands Career Technology Center, serving four counties. The program has a strong focus on providing students with the necessary skills and certifications to pursue a career in emergency services. Over the first five years of the program, there will be 75 students who will graduate from the program, prepared for career paths in fields such as Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting & Related Protective Services, Emergency Medical Technicians & Paramedics, First-Line Supervisors, Protective Service Workers, Police & Sheriff’s Patrol Officers, Security & Crossing Guards, Lifeguards, Ski Patrol & Other Recreational Protective Service Workers, Transportation Security Screeners, and Protective Service Workers.

The success of the program is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the occupational advisory committee, the Essential Emergency Support Training committee, and the leadership of Mr. James Young, Director of the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center. The program’s focus on developing a sustainable and long-term approach to emergency service training and certification has ensured that students have the necessary skills to serve their communities in times of need. With continued community support and funding, the program is poised for continued success, producing graduates who will be prepared for a range of careers in the emergency services sector.

Under the current direction of Mr. Young beginning in 2012, there have been a number of program changes/additions that have proven to be successful endeavors. When Alex Johnson was hired to instruct the Homeland Security program in 2018, he brought with him the majority of certifications required to teach the program of study and high valued industry recognized certifications. His knowledge and skill set has been an asset to the program and has contributed to its success.

The program’s success has been made possible through the hard work and collaboration of various entities, including 23 municipalities, fire departments, non-profits, foundations, and companies. The program has brought together individuals interested in helping local rural emergency services be better prepared to serve communities. The committee has secured funding and launched the program with long-term goals to ensure sustainability. As the program progresses, it will continue to seek funding to provide the best opportunities for students and ensure longevity. With the support of the community, the program will continue to serve as a valuable resource for emergency services in North Central Pennsylvania.

Moving out towards the fifth year, there is an expectation that the ten districts who own the career and technical center will develop a budget that will include delivery of the Homeland Security Program of Study. SHCTC, which has delivered quality technical programs since 1979, will continue to deliver this program and others with the required certified staff.

The program has been developed to ensure longevity, and the outcomes are impressive. As the program progresses beyond the fundamentals, higher level certifications will be earned, requiring additional funds.

Faith Miller is selected as the student of the week. Faith is a senior at Smethport High School. She has been in the Health Assistant class at Seneca Highlands CTC for three years. During these years, she has maintained a 100% average. Her level of professionalism exceeds expectations in class as well as in her community. She enjoys volunteering throughout her community in a variety of roles, including with her church youth group, the Red Cross Blood Drives, and health-related events.

During the summer, Faith represented her high school as Miss Smethport and competed in the McKean County Fair. Faith participates in many extracurricular activities, including cross country, track, and Tae Kwon Do. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and the National Technical Honor Society.

She is a student committee member at the CTC. She has also participated in Skills USA for the Seneca Highlands CTC. This year, she placed third in the Health Occupations Portfolio contest. Last year, she was part of a four-person team that completed in the Health Knowledge Bowl contest. 

In the classroom, Faith has earned her OSHA 10 certificate, American Heart Association BLS, State Tested Nurse Aide, and Stop the Bleed certificates. She is always willing to assist other students in the lab or in theory components of the class. These certifications validate all of her hard work and will serve to improve her opportunities in the workforce.  In the fall, Faith plans to attend St. Bonaventure University’s nursing program. She also plans to obtain a job in the healthcare field to help her gain experience and spending money during her college years.  

Photo provided. Pictured during the creative process in action are pianist Lang Lang and Conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin going over rehearsal notes.

This Sunday, March 26 at 3 p.m., filmmaker Jennifer Lin, whose sister Daria Lin-Guelig resides in Wellsboro, will be attending the free showing of her award-winning documentary film “Beethoven in Beijing” in the Deane Center’s Warehouse Theatre at 3 Central Avenue in Wellsboro. The film explores the Philadelphia Orchestra’s legacy in China, from 1973 until now.  

Following the screening of her film, Lin, a former foreign correspondent for “The Philadelphia Inquirer” and her former Inquirer colleague, David O’Reilly will engage in conversation about the making of the film. 

The screening is being presented free of charge to the public by the Endless Mountain Music Festival and the Deane Center for the Performing Arts, which are co-sponsoring this event. Refreshments and a question and answer session with the audience will follow. Donations are always appreciated. 

“Beethoven in Beijing” starts with a forgotten moment in history when an American President wangled an invitation to have his favorite orchestra visit communist China and help change the world. The Philadelphia Orchestra’s 1973 tour was a tentative gesture of cultural diplomacy that resonates yet today, with China producing millions of musicians, erecting dozens of new concert halls and filling chairs in orchestras around the world.

How did this happen? This film shows the awakening through vivid stories from the people who lived it then such as the Chinese musicians who nervously greeted Maestro Eugene Ormandy in 1973 and who live it today, like Oscar-winning composer Tan Dun and renowned pianist Lang Lang, who credit the Philadelphians with inspiring their careers.

Archival footage from then and first-person recollections from American and Chinese musicians bring to life that 1973 visit, while behind-the-scenes access on current tours captures the dynamism of present-day China. The result, complete with a sublime symphonic soundtrack, is a compelling look at the transcendent power of music.

“Beethoven in Beijing” is more than just an eye-and ear-opening look into a forgotten chapter in history when President Richard Nixon recruited the Philadelphia Orchestra to visit communist China in hopes of reopening the closed-off nation to the West.

To be sure, there are shocking accounts of the repressive horrors of the Cultural Revolution, when western music was banned and artists suffered.

But quickly the story becomes one of rebirth and optimism, as a nation craving artistic expression embraces classical music and within decades becomes a major player in the world’s concert halls. The documentary chronicles not only this sweeping renaissance but also the effects on individuals.

When Nixon asked for the Philadelphia Orchestra’s help in rekindling diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, he could not have known how this bit of cultural diplomacy would change the world of classical music over the next half-century.

For 31 years, Lin worked at The Inquirer as a reporter, including posts as a foreign correspondent in China, a financial correspondent on Wall Street, and a national correspondent in Washington, DC. She is also author of a family memoir, “Shanghai Faithful: Betrayal and Forgiveness in a Chinese Christian Family.” She is currently working on a documentary, “Beyond Yellowface”, 

about eliminating racial stereotypes from ballet and opera. 

For more information, call the Deane Center a 570-724-62

Photo provided “Memories of Patsy,” The national touring show which pays tribute to the music of Patsy Cline, is this Friday, March 24 at the Deane Center.

This Friday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Coolidge Theatre at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro, the national touring show “Memories of Patsy,” an incredible tribute concert to the legendary Patsy Cline, will take the audience on a trip back in time to the days when this amazing singer graced the stages of America.

Find out why this remarkable show featuring a woman who sounds like Patsy Cline backed by a five-member band has received rave reviews nationwide. 

Cline is considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century and one of the first country singers to cross over into pop music. Born on Sept. 8, 1932, she died in an airplane crash on March 5, 1963 at the age of 30.   

In 1957, Cline made her first national TV appearance on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts. After performing “Walkin’ After Midnight” the single became her first major hit on both the country and pop charts.

She moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1958 to further her career, signed with a new manager, became a member of the Grand Ole Opry and in 1960 signed with Decca Records. Under the guidance of producer Owen Bradley, her sound changed and she achieved consistent success. Her 1961 single “I Fall to Pieces” was her first to top the Billboard Country Chart. Her next single “Crazy” also became a major hit. She had more hits in 1962 and 1963.

Some of the great tunes the audience can expect to hear at Wellsboro are: “Walkin’ After Midnight”, “Crazy”, “I Fall to Pieces”, “She’s Got You”, “San Antonio Rose”, “Blue Moon of Kentucky”, “Sweet Dreams” and many more. 

The concert is BYOB with audience members encouraged to bring their favorite snacks and beverages and sit at a table with family and friends. For tickets and to reserve a table, call the Deane Center at 570-724-6220 or visit deanecenter.com. Admission is $30.