Benjamin J. Zappa of Ridgway, PA
Benjamin J. Zappa of Ridgway, PA died at 12:30 pm on Friday September 5, 2025, at age 85 following a long, debilitating, battle with multiple strokes and musculature weakness. Ben was born on January 13, 1940, in Sharon Pa.
He was the son, and only child, of Edward E. Zappa and Jennie Cantelupe Zappa. Ben married the love of his life Cheryl Sweeney on July 20, 1968. Ben lost his wife Cheryl to cancer on July 22, 2007, after 39 years of marriage.
Benedict “Ben” B. Brendel, 79, of Ridgway, PA
Benedict “Ben” B. Brendel, 79, of Ridgway, passed into his eternal rest in Heaven on September 5, 2025, at his home, surrounded by his loving family, following a battle with a rare form of blood cancer.
He was born on February 15, 1946, in St. Marys, PA, a son of the late George and Eileen (Hoffman) Brendel.
On September 9, 1967, Ben married the love of his life, Sandra (Vidmar) Brendel, at St. Leo Magnus Catholic Church. Over their 57 years of marriage, they shared an everlasting love while building a beautiful family and life together.
Coudersport Rotary Welcomed District Governor Dawn Linn
Jim Babcock, Ruth Sallade, Bob Kuhl, Rotary President Andrea Streich, Rotarian Greg Brink, Rotary District Governor Dawn Linn, Rotarians Lori Hansen, Penny Thomas, John Ablanalp, Ronnie Schenkein, Michael Rigas, Emporium Rotarian Denny Neal, and Rotarian Micki Brown
At our August 18, 2025, meeting at A&W West End Grill, we were treated to a very entertaining biography of District Governor Dawn Linn, which was spiced up by another Rotarian.
Dawn Linn is a retired CEO, Professional Philanthropist and Accidental Daredevil (Mostly on Purpose). She was CEO of YWCA North central PA from 2017 to January 2025. Before that, she spent 15 years at Peoples State Bank and Wachovia Wealth Management, then 14 years as the VP of Planned Philanthropy at the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania. She has been known to rappel down tall buildings, zip line through forests and navigate white-water rapids. She also likes to garden, read and create silk flower arrangements. She’s been married to her husband, Thomas, for 39 years and is the mother of 3 adopted grown children.
Gene P. Cummiskey, 88, formerly of Burnside Avenue, Bradford, PA
Gene P. Cummiskey, 88, formerly of Burnside Avenue, Bradford, passed away Sunday, July 27, 2025, surrounded by his family at Bradford Manor.
Family will receive friends on Saturday September 13, 2025, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am in St. Bernard Church, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am with Fr. Jim Gutting as Celebrant. Following the Mass, Military Honor’s by members of the United States Marine Corp. and the Honor Guard from the American Legion Post 108 of Bradford will be accorded in St. Bernard Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com
Causer to Host Senior Citizens Expo in Kane Sept. 12
Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) will once again host his annual Senior Citizens Expo in Kane to provide area seniors and their family members and caregivers convenient access to a wide range of information in one convenient location.
The expo will be held on Friday, Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kane Community Center, 46 N. Fraley St., Kane.
There are so many programs and services available to support our senior citizens, but it still can be difficult for people to find the help they need,” Causer said. “I hope area seniors will take advantage of the opportunity to gather a lot of helpful information in one place.”
Due to the expo, Causer’s offices in Kane and Bradford will be closed all day on Friday, Sept. 12. People in need of urgent assistance that day should contact the Coudersport office at 814-274-9769 or the Harrisburg office at 717-787-5075.
The event is free to attend, and lunch will be provided. State, county and local exhibitors will be on hand to distribute information and answer questions about a variety of issues. Health screenings will also be offered, and door prize drawings will be held.
Causer noted he will also hold another expo on Friday, Oct. 10, at the Roulette Fire Hall.
For more information about the expo, contact Causer’s Kane office at 814- 837-0880. Information is also available at RepCauser.com or on Facebook at Facebook.com/RepCauser.
Doris C. Dow, 84
After 84 years of living fully, Doris C. Dow, surrounded by family and love, quietly passed away on the evening of August 30, 2025, at the Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, PA. She was born to Wilma Frances Montgomery Dow and Harold Frederick Dow in Tullahoma, Tennessee on July 29th, 1941, the first of nine children.
She grew up in Austin, Pennsylvania, graduating from high school in 1959, with the distinction of being the Class Valedictorian. Throughout her youth, she was actively engaged in the Austin United Methodist Church and the community. Planning to earn a teaching degree, she had been accepted to Grove City College in western Pennsylvania but decided instead to marry the love of her life, Samuel G. Baker, Jr., whom she met while working at the town’s general store. The wedding was held at the Austin United Methodist Church on August 29, 1959. After a honeymoon trip through the South, she and her newly betrothed took up residence on his farm in Cochranville, PA in Chester County. Together they had two daughters, Linda and Lisa.
Christopher James McFall, 42, of Port Allegany, Pennsylvania
Port Allegany-Christopher James McFall, 42, of Port Allegany, Pennsylvania, passed away on September 6, 2025.
Born on April 11, 1983, in Olean, New York, Chris known for his generous heart and adventurous spirit—brought warmth, laughter, and light into the lives of all who knew him. His presence was unforgettable, and the love he gave was unconditional.
Chris was a devoted father above all else. His greatest joy was spending time with his two sons, Valon and Callum McFall, whom he lovingly referred to as his best friends. Whether bonding over their shared love of reptiles or enjoying the outdoors with their beloved dog Nanook, Chris poured his heart into fatherhood and made every moment with his boys count.
FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 8 AM EDT MONDAY
* WHAT…Temperatures as low as 32 will result in frost formation.
* WHERE…Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, McKean, Potter, and Somerset Counties.
* WHEN…Early Monday morning. *
IMPACTS…Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… Those with agricultural interests should protect sensitive vegetation. Near-ground freezing temperatures could kill uncovered sensitive outdoor vegetation.
PITT-BRADFORD PROFESSORS GAIN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES IN WEST AFRICA
Two Pitt-Bradford professors were among a select group of scholars chosen for a U.S. State Department Fulbright-Hays program in West Africa this summer, an experience that is already reshaping how they teach their students this fall.
Dr. Drew Flanagan, assistant professor of history, and Dr. Obinna Ezeihuoma, assistant professor of criminal justice, traveled with a dozen other University of Pittsburgh scholars to Senegal and the Gambia. Senegal is the westernmost country in Africa, and it nearly surrounds the Gambia, a skinny country consisting of land along either side of the Gambia River.
PennDOT McKean County Maintenance Work Schedule for the Week of September 8
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the following schedule of maintenance activities in McKean County the week of September 8. PennDOT performs year-round maintenance in its mission to provide a safe, efficient transportation system, and the scope of work in McKean County for the coming week is as follows:
Crack Seal & Hot Pour Mastic
- Route 6 between Lincoln Street in Kane Borough and Route 219 in Hamlin Township. Monday, September 8, through Friday, September 12. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.
Crack sealing and hot pour mastic operations prevent water intrusion from seeping through cracks or joints in an asphalt road, which can lead to potholes and pavement breakup. They are proactive preventive maintenance strategies to prevent water from entering the roadways and accelerating the formation of potholes and other failures.
Pipe Replacing & Cleaning
- Route 6 between Bloomster Hollow Road in Hamlin Township and Jarett Lane in Smethport Borough. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.
Pipe replacement and cleaning are essential in maintaining water flow around state roadways. Controlling water flow is one of the most important aspects of maintaining pavements. Uncontrolled water flow will damage both the pavement surface and the area under the pavement, which causes deterioration across the length of the pipe.
Side Dozing
- Route 46 between Route 646 in Foster Township and the Route 219 interchange in the City of Bradford. Wednesday, September 10, and Thursday, September 11. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.
- Route 321 between Sugar Bay Fishing Road and Route 346 in Corydon Township. Monday, September 8, and Tuesday, September 9. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.
- Route 646 between Route 46 and Route 346 in Foster Township. Friday, September 12. Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours.
Side dozing removes excess material from beneath guide rail areas, which improves drainage and allows water to sheet flow off the roadway. Side dozing is a crucial highway maintenance operation because when drainage systems do not function properly, water collects on the road, weakens pavement, accelerates the formation of potholes, and creates the potential for icing conditions in the winter months.
Vegetation Management
· Route 146 between Route 6 in Hamlin Township and Route 46 in Norwich Township. Friday, September 12. This work takes place off the roadway and has little, if any, traffic impact.
· Route 346 between Red Rock Road in Foster Township and Route 246 in Otto Township. Monday, September 8. This work takes place off the roadway and has little, if any, traffic impact.
· Route 446 at the intersection of Route 155 in Eldred Township. Tuesday, September 9. This work takes place off the roadway and has little, if any, traffic impact.
Route 770 between Route 646 in Keating Township and Foster Hollow Road in Bradford Township. Wednesday, September 10. This work takes place off the roadway and has little, if any, traffic impact.
Mowing, herbicide spraying, and selected tree thinning help maintain a safe roadway free of obstructing vegetation, improving visibility to spot signage, traffic control devices, and other motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, and animals approaching the road. Additionally, a well-maintained roadside can improve drainage and prolong the life of the roadway.
This schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions, emergencies, or other unforeseen interruptions.
Customers can report road concerns by calling 1-800-FIX-ROAD. If calling after hours, please leave a name and phone number.
Jacqueline R. “Jackie” STEADMAN, 92, of Painted Post, NY, formerly of Galeton, PA
Jacqueline R. “Jackie” STEADMAN, 92, of Painted Post, NY, formerly of Galeton, PA, died Tuesday, September 2, 2025 in Guthrie Corning Hospital.
Born August 20, 1933, in Blossburg, PA, she was the daughter of Robert and Glenora Lockwood Williams. On April 12, 1952, in Galeton, she married Joseph Henry Steadman, who predeceased her on January 19, 2011.
David L. Clyde, Jr., 49, of St. Marys, PA
David L. Clyde, Jr., 49, of St. Marys, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, September 3, 2025.
He was born February 12, 1976 in DuBois, son of David L. Clyde, Sr. and the late Patricia Peterson Clyde, who preceded him in death on September 12, 2016.
David was a graduate of St. Marys Area High School, Class of 1994 and continued his education at Butler Community College where he studied to be a licensed paramedic. David also took great pride in his work at the family business, Clyde’s Quality Meats.
Drug Possession And Active Warrant Arrest In Olean
On 08/30/2025 at about 11:55 p.m., Olean Police Patrol Officers observed a female acting suspiciously at 1 Blue Bird Square . The female was attempting to conceal her face and was subsequently stopped and identified as Brittany A Howell, N.P.A.. It was determined that Howell had two active warrants issued out of the City of Olean Court. Howell was placed into custody and a search of her person revealed numerous bags of individually packaged Crack Cocaine as well as narcotic pipes and loose crack cocaine. Howell was remanded to the custody of the Cattaraugus County Jail to appear at a later date for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B Felony and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th Degree, a class A misdemeanor.
Leo E. Hayes, 81, of Lewis Run, PA
Leo E. Hayes, 81, of Lewis Run, passed away Sunday (August 31, 2025) at Olean General Hospital, Olean, NY.
He was born January 13, 1944 in Bradford, the son of Arthur and Bertha (Munn) Hayes.
Leo was a 1961 graduate of Bradford High School and earned both his B.S. and Masters Degrees in English Education from I.U.P.
He served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam.
Joshua Joseph Reynolds, 36
With profound sadness and immeasurable love, we announce the passing of our beautiful son, grandson, brother, husband, uncle, and friend, Joshua Joseph Reynolds, who left the world far too soon at the age of 36.
Joshua was a proud gay man who lived boldly and authentically, embracing each day with joy, energy, and purpose. He began every morning with a commitment to staying physically fit, carrying that same discipline and vitality into every part of his life. His smile could light up a room, and his laughter was infectious, filling every gathering with warmth and happiness.
A true adventurer at heart, Joshua traveled the world, seeking new experiences, cultures, and friendships wherever he went. No matter where he was, he was always the biggest personality in the room-vibrant, magnetic, and unforgettable.
Norma Mae Cavallaro, 84, of 66 Southgate Road, Bradford, PA
Norma Mae Cavallaro, 84, of 66 Southgate Road, Bradford, passed away Thursday September 4, 2025, at the Bradford Ecumenical Home.
Born November 5, 1940, in Bradford, she was a daughter of the late Olin D. and Dorothy (Nichols) Louk. She was a 1958 graduate of Bradford High School.
On March 3, 1961, in the Limestone United Methodist Church she married Vincent V. Cavallaro who preceded her in death on August 10, 2015.
Marjorie A. “Marge” Grove, 89, of East Main Street, Bradford, PA
Marjorie A. “Marge” Grove, 89, of East Main Street, Bradford, passed away Thursday, August 28, 2025, at Bradford Ecumenical Home.
Born on December 27, 1935, in Bradford, she was a daughter of the late Raymond and Eva (Walker) Storer. She was a 1953 graduate of Bradford High School.
On September 19, 1959, in Bradford, she married Jack A. Grove, who preceded her in death on December 11, 2014.