Leonora C. “Lee” Irish, 86, a longtime resident of Coudersport, PA
Leonora C. “Lee” Irish
Leonora C. “Lee” Irish, 86, a longtime resident of Coudersport, passed away on Sunday, July 28, 2024, in UPMC Cole, Coudersport, after a short illness.
Democrats Donate to Catholic Charities Food Pantry in Wellsville
Belmont, NY – The Allegany County Democrats collected multiple bags/boxes of non-perishable food and personal care items when they met recently in Wellsville. The collected goods were donated to the Catholic Charities Joyce Family Food Pantry. This service project is one of the ways the Democratic Committee lives its motto: “Serving our Community.”
The Final COTS for July
The final COTS for the month of July was held in the Educational Unit of the Gethsemane Lutheran Church.
This week’s concert is scheduled for the side lawn of St Gabriel’s Catholic Church, if the weather cooperates. The concert will feature RSVP with Joel Anderson.
Plans are in the works for the grand opening of the Port Allegany Town Square to be held at 5 p.m., August 22nd. The concert, sponsored by the PAWC will follow at 6 p.m. and feature the music of Randy Andreano. Details will be announced as they become available.
2024 Break the Chains Festival
Shelley Morey with her great-niece, Emberly Stevens. She is the daughter of Sophia Stevens of Coudersport. 
The BTC Praise Team including Bass Guitar player, Bruce Jack; Lead Guitar and Vocalist Joe Avilez; Drummer, Bryan Greenman; Vocalist, Christina Avilez; Vocalist, Mandy Rudolph; and Pianist/Vocalist, Anna Stewart. Sound for the band was done by Walt Miles. The sound system was provided by BJ Simms on behalf of the band, Crown.
The 2024 Break the Chains Festival was held Friday and Saturday in Coudersport.
The location was changed due to renovations at the Port Allegany Town Square. The BTC Coalition was grateful to the Coudersport Chamber of Commerce and the entire Coudersport community for welcoming the festival on such short notice.
The event featured inspirational speakers, music and entertainment as well as a Kid’s Corner with crafts and face painting. BTC is a non-profit organization whose focus is drug and alcohol addiction and self harm and suicide awareness and prevention.
The event also included food vendors and organizations with booths such as ADAS and Narcotics Anonymous who offered hope and help to those in need.
Port Allegany High School, Class of 1979, Reunion
The Port Allegany High School Class of 1979 gathered at the VMI (Veterans Memorial, Inc.) for the 45th anniversary of their graduation. MC for the evening was Barry Bova.
Pictured (front row, left to right) Meg Boudon Hutton, Joanne Metz Hitchcock, Cindy Tubbs Pesock, Holly Miller Schena, Pam Hamsher Warnick; (row 2) DeAnna Ostrander, Lisa DeHaven, Pam Edgreen Rosaria, Sue Edgreen Wiseman, Sue Higby Clarke, Kate Rankin Niece; (row 3) Terry Corah, Ken Kio, Rick Bosworth, Tim Morey, Pam Parsons Schuster, Sharon Stuckey Daniels, Bill Robinson, Bill Gummo, Patty Baxter Welliver, Mike Baker, Rick Barber; (back) Norm Huey, Mark Leet, Cindy Payne Bailey, Tom Dunn, Barry Bova, Ron Stayer, Larry Shaffer and Ed Tronetti.
Nine Receive Scholarships from Big 30 Athletic Fund
OLEAN, N.Y., July 29 – Nine local students recently received Big 30 scholarships, managed by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation.
Established by the Big 30 Athletic Fund Committee, the Big 30 Athletic Fund at CRCF supports the organization’s effort to provide scholarship funding to deserving student athletes in the region served by the Big 30, including Allegany and Cattaraugus counties as well as areas of northwestern Pennsylvania.
Owlett Senior Expo, Shredding Event This Friday, Aug. 2
WELLSBORO – Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford) is reminding area senior citizens, their family members and caregivers of his upcoming Senior Expo this Friday, Aug. 2, from 9 a.m. to noon at Wellsboro Senior High School Gym and Commons, 225 Nichols St.
In conjunction with the expo, Owlett is also hosting a shredding event in the school’s parking lot to give area residents the opportunity to help protect themselves against identity theft by having documents with personal information securely shredded.
Inaugural Blueberry Festival at BRMC Was a Hit
Bradford, PA –The Bradford Hospital Auxiliary (BHA) hosted the inaugural Blueberry Festival at Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC), a Kaleida Health facility, on Friday, July 26. The event that was held in the main lobby of BRMC attracted around 300 community members with blueberry themed treats, prizes, and other raffles.
Coudersport Rotary Club was Pleased to Welcome Ed McCrea to Their July 22, 2024 Meeting at A&W West End Grill.
Ed McCrea is the President and Co-Founder of Environmental Education and Conservation Global (EECG), an international non-profit in its 20th year. EECG uses the power of education to create a global population that values the preservation of natural species. A lot of their work is now in India, Thailand and 15 different countries, two of them in Africa. Their only income is donations.
Janet L. Hasselman, 88, of Ford Road, St. Marys, PA
Janet L. Hasselman, 88, of Ford Road, St. Marys, PA passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 28, 2024 at Penn Highlands Elk.
She was born on May 4, 1936 in Emporium, a daughter of the late Hilmer and Helen Bergstrom.
On May 27, 1961 she married Daniel Hasselman, who survives. Together, they were blessed with more than 62 years of marriage.
Jan was a lifelong resident of the area and member of Queen of the World Church, where she enjoyed volunteering in the cafeteria when her son was in elementary school. She worked at Sylvania for a number of years before staying home to care for her family, always finding fulfillment in being a wife and mother.
Jan could often be found sitting on her front porch, where loved watching the birds and tending to her flowers every year. She also enjoyed listening to the radio and visiting with her family and friends.
Mary Eileen Horton Calhoun (nee Anderson), age 89, died July 17, 2024, in Wetumpka, Alabama
Mary Eileen Horton Calhoun (nee Anderson), age 89, died July 17, 2024, in Wetumpka, Alabama, where she resided with her son Dan.
Mary was born August 14, 1934, in St. Marys PA, to Richard and Madeline Kranking Anderson of Johnsonburg. Mary graduated from Hershey High School in 1952, where she was a popular cheerleader and athlete. The following year she married Filmore Horton, and together they raised three children. Mary later married Larry Calhoun, a happy union lasting 33 years. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Richard “Dick” Anderson, as well as both of her husbands.
USDA Proposes New Policy to Reduce Salmonella in Raw Poultry Products
WASHINGTON, July 29, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today issued a comprehensive proposed rule and determination to more effectively reduce Salmonella contamination and illnesses associated with raw poultry products. This is the culmination of FSIS’ three-year effort to reevaluate their strategy for controlling Salmonella rates in poultry and protect American consumers from foodborne illness linked to consumption of poultry products.
Salmonella bacteria cause over 1 million human infections in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Food is the leading source of Salmonella infections and poultry is among the leading sources of foodborne Salmonella illnesses. FSIS estimates that there are 125,000 chicken-associated and almost 43,000 turkey-associated foodborne Salmonella illnesses per year. Despite FSIS data indicating that Salmonella contamination in poultry products has been decreasing, there has not been an observed reduction in Salmonella illnesses.
“Far too many consumers become sick from poultry contaminated with Salmonella, and today’s announcement marks a historic step forward to combat this threat,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This proposed framework is a systematic approach to addressing Salmonella contamination at poultry slaughter and processing, which includes enforceable standards that will result in safer food for consumers and fewer illnesses.”
Nancy L. Engstrom, 91, of 212 Constitution Avenue, Bradford, PA
Nancy L. Engstrom, 91, of 212 Constitution Avenue, Bradford,PA passed away, Saturday, July 27, 2024, peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, at the Pavilion @ BRMC.
Born on January 31, 1933, in Bradford, she was one of nine daughters of the late Clarence and Ila (Howe) Cramer. She was with the graduation class of 1951 of Bradford Area High School.
On September 2, 1951, at the Kane Congregational Church, she married George E. Engstrom, who preceded her in death on October 6, 2007.
Nancy worked for 10 years in the Bradford City Treasurer’s Office as Deputy City Treasurer, and also as a bookkeeper for Culligan Water Conditioner.
She was very active as a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the Red Hat Society, Ecumenical Home Auxiliary and volunteered at Crook Farm. She loved animals, spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also enjoyed cooking, baking, music, and poetry.
Karen Placer, 76, of Smethport, PA
Karen Placer, 76, of Smethport, PA, (born Karen Renae Flickinger) passed away peacefully at her home on July 27, 2024.
She was born on February 28, 1948 in Kane, Pennsylvania to Earl Flickinger (Father) and Louise (Carrow) Flickinger (Mother). Karen graduated from Smethport Area High School in 1966. Karen shared many great years of marriage with Anthony “Tony” Placer who she married on December 12, 1970 at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Smethport.
Karen worked for several years at Sylvania Electric in Emporium, Pennsylvania. During her life, Karen also provided cleaning/housekeeping services to numerous families and formed lasting friendships with those people she served. She treated their homes like her own; she wanted each home to be “spotless.”
Area Township Supervisors Testify at Legislative Hearing
At a hearing of the House Republican Policy Committee on Thursday, July 25, two township supervisors from McKean County – Jim Trussell of Hamlin Township (left) and David McClain of Keating Township (right) – offered testimony in support of permitting local governments the ability to use conventional brine water to suppress dust on dirt and gravel roads, as well as treating paved roads in advance of winter storms. They are pictured with state Reps. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest) and Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter), who participated in the hearing as members of the committee. The hearing was held at the Drake Well Museum in Titusville.
TOTALLY NINJA RACCOONS HUNT AT 25 LOCATIONS TO START THURSDAY, AUGUST 1ST IN WELLSBORO
For the fifth year in a row, From My Shelf Books & Gifts at 7 East Avenue in Wellsboro, the local bookstore owned by author Kevin Coolidge, is hosting the “Where Are the Totally Ninja Raccoons Hunt?”
The raccoons will be hiding in 25 area businesses during the month of August.
The hunt is based on Coolidge’s “Totally Ninja Raccoons” action series for 7- to 10-year-old, reluctant readers. The series is about three raccoon brothers who become ninjas.