Potter County offers qualifying businesses a tax incentive for construction or expansion of commercial properties. They can receive a 100-percent real estate tax abatement in year one, 80 percent in year two, 60 percent in year three, 40 percent in year four, and 20 percent in year five.

A 1977 state law, the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) Act, authorizes the tax incentive program to support business expansion and job retention/creation. The ordinance applies only to the county portion of real estate taxes. However, school districts, boroughs and townships also have the authority to offer similar incentives.

Copies of the county’s LERTA ordinance are available at the Commissioners Administrative Office in the Gunzburger Building. To obtain a copy, call 814-274-8290, ext. 207.

• Coudersport, Alliance Food Pantry, Avenue B, open to Coudersport area residents on the third Thursday of the month from 10-11 am. Food will also be provided on an emergency basis. See contact information below for details.
• Austin, operated at the firehall, open from 12:30 to 1:30 on the third Tuesday of the month.
• Roulette, at Riverside Methodist Church on River Street, open from 4:30 to 5:30 on the fourth Tuesday of each month.
• Galeton, at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Adams Street, open on the fourth Friday from 10-11 am.
• Ulysses, at Zion Christian Academy on Rt. 49, open from 10 to 11 on the fourth Thursday.
• Shinglehouse, at Methodist Church on Lincoln Street, open from 9-10 am on the fourth Saturday.

More information on Potter County’s food banks is available from McKayla Freeborn at Potter County Human Services; 814-544-7315, option 2, or mfreeborn@pottercountyhumansvcs.org.

Public Permit Review
Is this authorization type included in Permit Decision Guarantee? : Yes
Permit Decision Guarantee status: ACTIVE
Authorization status: Issued on 11/29/2022
Elapsed business days: 43

As the use of tree stands has grown in popularity, so, too, have incidences of injuries resulting from tree stand falls and accidents.

With that in mind, wearing a full-body harness is essential to staying safe when using a tree stand. But a harness can prevent falls to the ground only if it is connected to the tree.

“That means you must wear your harness, and be sure it’s connected to the tree, at all times you’re in the stand, as well as when you’re getting into and out of the stand, or climbing or descending trees,” explained A.J. Garcia, the Game Commission’s hunter-education administrator.

Consult the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure proper installation and inspect your stand, harness and safety straps, ropes and lines before use.

A hunter using a climbing stand should tie-in the safety rope or strap that pairs with the harness before beginning to climb.

Consult the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure proper installation and inspect your stand, harness and safety straps, ropes and lines before use.

With a climbing tree stand, you’ll want to move the safety rope or strap up the tree first, then tighten it, each time before moving the platform up the tree. If the rope is at or slightly above eye-level as you stand on the platform, you should have plenty of room to raise the platform to a higher standing position before moving the rope up the tree again before climbing. Also, make sure your foot platform and seat platform are tied together with a length of rope to ensure that the foot platform does not fall below your reach.

“Make sure you have proper contact with the stand and tree every time you move,” emphasized Garcia.

It takes only a little longer to climb with a rope, and if the stand fails due to breakage or a pin pulling out of the climbing band, or if a fall occurs because slippage or loss of balance, the harness and rope will prevent falling to the ground.

With pre-installed hang-on stands – and especially ladder stands – the most-practical way to stay connected to the tree is through a safety line, commonly referred to by the brand name Lifeline, that hangs to the ground from above the platform.

Because the safety line is installed above the platform, the tree must be climbed first to install one, but other safety ropes or straps, along with your harness, can be used for installation. When installing a safety line at a hang-on stand, a linemen’s style belt can be worn while ascending the tree. A linemen’s belt might not be an option for many ladder stands, but a separate ladder and linemen’s belt could be used to install the safety line before the ladder stand is installed.

It’s also wise to carry a Suspension Relief Strap (SRS). In the event of a fall, this strap – attached left and right at the waist – will allow you to stand in the strap, thereby relieving pressure from your harness on the lower extremities. Practice with a partner at ground level using the SRS with your fall arrest system and practice self-recovery by getting back into your stand.  If you don’t have an SRS, keep your legs moving to avoid blood pooling in the lower legs. Hanging motionless in your harness can lead to a heart attack.

When using a ladder stand, climbing stick or tree steps, make sure to maintain three points of contact (two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand) with each step.

The important points are to always take your time and be safe when using stands. Always put on your safety harness while you’re still on the ground, and keep it connected to the tree at all times until you’re back on the ground.

Finally, always carry an easy-to-reach signaling device, such as a cell phone, whistle or emergency beacon, that will work in the location you hunt.

In a joint announcement made on Wednesday, Nov. 30 by the Wellsboro Area and the Greater Mansfield Area chambers of commerce, Wellsboro and Mansfield Chamber Dollars are interchangeable beginning today, Thursday, Dec. 1 through Saturday, Dec. 31.

“Any participating business that currently accepts Wellsboro Chamber Dollars will also honor Mansfield Chamber Dollars and vice versa from Dec. 1 to 31,” said Julie Henry, Wellsboro Chamber executive director.

“Both of our boards of directors voted in favor of doing this to provide more opportunities for individuals to support our local businesses by keeping dollars local

during this holiday shopping season,” said Dawn Hull, Mansfield Chamber executive director.

Those who receive Chamber Dollars purchased in December as a gift can redeem them at any of the more than 60 businesses located throughout Tioga County that are participating in either the Mansfield or the Wellsboro Chamber Dollar program.

“Chamber Dollars make great Christmas gifts for people who deliver the mail and newspapers, mow lawns or style hair and allow hard-to-buy for people to choose their own gift, whether it is to see a movie, enjoy a relaxing dinner at a local restaurant or a massage,” Henry pointed out.

“Chamber Dollars make great birthday, anniversary, wedding and baby shower gifts, too,” said Hull.

Those who want to purchase chamber dollars as gifts or who have questions can contact the Wellsboro Chamber office at 570-724-1926 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and the Mansfield Chamber office at 570-662-3442 between 8 .m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Listen

B.J. Knefley

Listen! How well do you do that? Are you a good listener? How would you know? What would others say? Can you listen and not hear? 

I’ve learned over the years that listening and hearing are not the same. How are they different? Listening involves understanding while hearing does not. A child hears that the stove is hot but touches it anyway because they don’t hear with understanding. When we are listening there is a sense of understanding information that is being presented.

In relationships, mine included, listening, or not listening can be a real problem. I can hear my wife say something and forget it as soon as I heard it. I can be accused of not listening and argue back that I’ve heard every word that was said. Although true, I’ve probably not understood a thing that was said. If you’re married, I’m sure you’ll understand what I’m saying. So, what’s the solution? How do I move from hearing to listening?

I’ve learned that part of listening is the ability to mirror back what was heard. It also might include asking clarifying questions like, “This is what I heard you say.”. I also like to ask the question, “If I were listening, how would you know?”. To this last question my wife might say, “Put down the phone, stop playing with the dog and give me eye contact.”. In other words, give me your full attention. For someone who is always fidgeting with something, getting quiet to actively listen is no small task.

Our listening skills effect every part of our life including the spiritual side. The writer of Hebrews stated this about his hearers. “There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.” (Hebrews 5:11) It has caused me to ask myself is this is true with me? How well do I listen spiritually? Do I hear with no action or change? Do you? Think about it.