MONEYSAVER MARCH 03, 2020
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NEWS
Variety gives adaptive equipment to local children
New voting rules highlighted at McKean Co. commissioners meeting By RUTH BOGDAN
Cameron Ernst tries out his new adaptive bike, specially fitted for him, on Wednesday. He is one of several children from McKean, Potter and Elk counties who received adaptive equipment.
By RUTH BOGDAN SMETHPORT — One piece of equipment can mean a world of difference to the family of a child with special needs. On Feb. 26, several local families received a chance to see that difference, as Variety-the Children’s Charity, distributed adaptive equipment free of charge to 13 children. The devices were given out at the Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit 9 office in Smethport. Altogether, Variety brought $26,400 in equipment comprising nine adaptive bikes, six adaptive strollers and one communication device to children from McKean, Elk and Potter counties. It was an emotional day for the families in attendance. The purpose of Variety’s adaptive equipment programs are “To give kids the opportunity to live life to the fullest,” explained Charlie LaVallee, Variety CEO. Variety has three such programs: the My Bike Program, the My Stroller program and the My Voice Program. The organiza-
Ruth Bogdan photos The crowd claps for Christofer Swedenhjelm after he received a new communication device and adaptive stroller Wednesday at the Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit 9 office in Smethport, thanks to Variety-the Children’s Charity.
tion’s 71-county service area in Pennsylvania and West Virginia includes Cameron, Elk, McKean and Potter counties. The organization provides adaptive equipment at no cost to families of children and youth with a mental, physical or sensory disability who live in the service area, are 3 through 21 years old and who meet the income guidelines. The income guidelines are designed so that middle income families are included, not just low income.
“This is an awesome experience,” said Shelly Carson, IU9 director of special education. She explained that Variety brought 16 devices to 13 children, the most the organization has brought there at one time. This was the third or fourth time Variety has distributed at the IU9. According to Carson, occupational, physical and speech therapists at the IU9 have been instrumental in helping area families apply for equipment and welcomed people to call
for future assistance. She said the physical therapists who helped measure and fit the children for their equipment were Angela Sorg, Becky Alborn and Alyssa Wennin. On Wednesday, Variety made it easier for the IU9 to get communication devices — a tablet computer with programs that assist the user in communicating thoughts and feelings — in the hands of children who need them. The organizaSee ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT on page 3...
Two McKean County 4-H members honored at conference
STATE COLLEGE — Two McKean County 4-H members were honored recently at the 2020 Pennsylvania 4-H State Leadership Conference at the Penn State Hotel and Conference Center in State College. Makayla Gould, of Eldred, and Hannah Wareham, of Mount Jewett, were among the 11 participants recognized with the Diamond Clover Award, the highest achievement possible in the Pennsylvania 4-H program. The Clover Award Program encourages 4-H members to explore new projects and activities that will help them acquire the seven Leadership Life Skills: communicating, decision
Submitted Photo Makayla Gould
Submitted Photo Hannah Wareham
making and problem solving, getting along with others, learning to learn, managing, understanding self, and working in groups. Engagement with the Clover Award Program is generally a multi-year process. Makayla is a member of the McKean County Wranglers & Teen Council and her 4-H projects
include performance horse, junior horse, swine, lamb and leadership. She has also been involved in the National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA). Hannah is an 11-year member of the McKean County 4-H Program. In 2019, she won the Pennsylvania 4-H Senior Livestock Skillathon at University Park — the
first-ever 4-H member in McKean County achieving this accomplishment. Nearly 700 Pennsylvania 4-H youth gathered at the conference to network and enhance their leadership skills. County 4-H members from across the state participated in workshops designed and delivered by 4-H educators, Penn State faculty and special invited speakers. The workshops included topics that encouraged youth to build their skills in public speaking, teambuilding, conflict resolution and communicating through social media. The 4-H youth who attend the conference are current and future leaders in their communities, schools and 4-H pursuits.
SMETHPORT — This is a year of change for voting in Pennsylvania. Lisa Pratt, McKean County director of elections, outlined some of the changes at the Feb. 25 meeting of the McKean County commissioners. The voting reforms were part of Act 77, signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf last autumn. For one, voting machines will no longer offer the option of straight party voting in November. Pratt explained that people “can still vote for all one party” — they will just have to vote for each office individually. Additionally, the application deadline is now 15 days, rather than 30, prior to an election. This gives voters more time to sign up. One of the biggest changes, according to Pratt, is the addition of mail-in ballots. These are different than absentee ballots, an option that was only open to people who had a physical disability or were going to be out of their voting municipality on election day. There is one requirement to qualify to vote via mail-in ballot: Mail-in ballots are an option for any registered Pennsylvania voter who does not qualify for an absentee ballot. Voters do not need to provide a reason for voting by mail-in ballot. The deadline to return a mail-in ballot is 8 p.m. on election day. All ballots returned that day must go directly to the McKean County Courthouse in Smethport; voters will not be able to drop them off at their polling location, Pratt explained. She said people can apply for an absentee or mail-in ballot online at votespa.com using a valid driver’s license number or Pennsylvania Department of Transportation ID number. The mail-in ballot option will be available by the April 28 Pennsylvania primary election, but they will not be available for any special elections occurring before that date, according to votespa.com. Anyone who applies for a mail-in or absentee ballot can request to receive all ballots through the remainder of the year. Commissioner Cliff Lane wondered how the changes will affect when official election results are available. In the past, county officials have typically provided their counts by the Friday
after the election. The new mail-in options means that the process of counting election results is more complicated for the county’s department of voter registration and elections, as those ballots will be counted at the courthouse rather than at the individual polls. With all the changes, Pratt is unsure how long counting will take, but noted she is working on new processes to make counting mail-in and absentee ballots quicker. “No one’s quite certain on how it’s going to look,” she said of the process. She explained that, by law, counting must begin by three days after the election and can last through eight days after the election. However, the military deadline is later still, she said. While some counties with more staff may begin counting mail-in and absentee ballots on election night, McKean County will not, Pratt said. “We will definitely not do anything until after election day,” she said. Also at the meeting, Commissioner Tom Kreiner provided a brief update regarding the 2020 census. With the importance that census results have on federal funding to the county, a committee has formed to promote census survey participation locally. Kreiner said they’ve purchased posters, flyers and pamphlets to aid promotion efforts. The census begins April 1. After the presentations, the commissioners had a short list of business items to address. They approved four equipment-related agreements, pending legal review. As per a request from the recorder of deeds office, they approved maintenance agreements for $280 each with Karpinski’s Office Systems for two copiers. Also, the Child Advocacy Center requested a maintenance agreement for $1,999 for a camera for specialized medical examinations for the First Step Clinic at Bradford Regional Medical Center. The last was a support agreement with FTR for court recording systems for three rooms for $699 per room. Regarding human resources, there was one person who left employment with the county: Travis Thurston, who worked as a juvenile probation officer. The next commissioners meeting will be at 10 a.m. March 10.