MONEYSAVER MARCH 31, 2020
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NEWS
Area residents come together to sew protective face masks for healthcare workers
Businesses in compliance in McKean and Elk counties, according to state police By JOELLEN WANKEL The Pennsylvania State Police are tasked with enforcing Gov. Tom Wolf’s order closing non-life sustaining businesses.
Photo provided
Photo provided
Bradford resident Donnia Denig sews washable, protective face masks to donate to local healthcare facilities amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
Smethport native Jovanna Porter made a variety of homemade face masks to donate to healthcare facilities in New York City.
By CHRISTINE HOLTZ With the numbers of suspected and confirmed cases of coronavirus increasing each day, healthcare facilities across the nation are experiencing a shortage of much needed N95 masks, which help filter out at least 95% of airborne particles, including bacteria and viruses. Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, local citizens have been coming together to help protect the livelihood of the nation’s vital healthcare workers by sewing protective masks. Though they don’t offer the same protection as N95 masks, healthcare workers are able to use the handmade, washable masks to cover their
surgical masks, which enables them to be used for longer than without. In addition, in hard hit areas where there are no longer any protective masks available, having a handmade cloth mask is much better than having nothing at all. After a friend from Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) reached out to her, Bradford resident Yolanda Chiodo began gathering local volunteers together to make protective masks for various healthcare facilities, including BRMC, Dr. Jill Owens, Beacon Light, Lakeview in Smethport, Sena Kean Manor, Bradford Fire and Ambulance, Bradford Ecumenical home and Bradford Manor. “Our hospital is in dire
need,” explained Chiodo. “That’s why I began this. They are risking their lives to save ours.” Another Bradford resident, Donnia Denig, has been independently making masks for Dr. Jill Owens of Bradford Family Medicine. “Her office needs them for when people come in to see them when they aren’t feeling well,” noted Denig. “They want to cover all their bases and have every precaution into place. If they get too many of them, she will send them to the hospital or nursing homes.” Denig explained that while many people are feeling helpless at this point in time, there is “always something you can do, even if it’s small.”
Some individuals have even made their own pattern for protective masks. For example, Smethport native Jovanna Porter, who recently moved to North Carolina, designed a pattern after speaking to her niece, who’s a physician in Manhattan, N.Y. “Thursday morning after listening to the news and feeling a sense of helplessness, I talked to my niece who’s a physician,” said Porter. “She talked about how dire the circumstances in New York City are. She’s even seen doctors walking around with bandanas on their faces.”
After talking to her A release issued niece, the two remotely developed a few prototypes this week by Colonel See MASKS on page 2...
Winners announced in manufacturing video contest
RIDGWAY — Eleven schools and eleven manufacturing companies from throughout the counties of Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, McKean and Potter participated in the 4th Annual “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Video Contest for the region.
An award celebration was held March 11 at the St. Marys Area High School to recognize the students, teachers/ coaches, and employers. Emcee for the event was Ed Hayden, director of employee relations for Zippo Manufacturing. Carol Kilko, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development provided a keynote and a local Dream Team composed of young professionals working in the manufacturing field shared their journey toward a career in manufacturing. Each team of 6th through 8th grade students along with a teacher / coach were provided video equipment and training and were matched with manufacturing companies located in the region.
The teams created short video profiles of their companies and the career opportunities they offer. By improving the image of these careers and creating awareness for them, the contest not only aims to sustain manufacturing careers, but aims to help them thrive. The event is led by Workforce Solutions (Workforce Development Board serving the North Central PA region) The following schools and companies participated in the event: Brookville Area School District and Miller Fabrication Solutions®; Cameron County School District and Emporium Hardwoods; Curwensville Area School District and Clearfield Metal Technologies; Clearfield Area School District and Lezzer Lumber Company; Floyd C. Fretz Middle School (Bradford) and Pulakos Chocolates; Kane Area Middle School and Laughing Owl Press Company; Northern Potter School District and The Carpenter’s Shop; Oswayo Valley School District and Napoleon Engineering Services; St. Leo School
and Domtar Johnsonburg Mill; St. Marys Middle School and Abbott Furnace Company; and Smethport Area School District and Allegheny Bradford Corporation. The Dream Team included the following: Stephanie Costanzo, engineer, Alpha Precision Group; Julianne Inzana, marketing coordinator, Abbott Furnace Company and Phil McDonald, advanced manufacturing engineer, Alpha Precision Group.
In addition to the Viewer’s Choice Award which goes to the school receiving the most online votes, the following awards were made at the ceremony by a team of seven judges: The winners of this year’s awards included: • outstanding overall video award — St. Leo School Team featuring Domtar – Johnsonburg Mill • outstanding creativity award — Oswayo Valley team featuring Napoleon Engineering Services. (St. Leo School and Oswayo
As of Tuesday, the second day of enforcement, Troop C (tasked with coverage of McKean and Elk counties), did not issue any warnings. However, Troop F, which covers Cameron and Potter counties, issued three warnings, bringing their total since beginning enforcement to five warnings. So far, no citations have been issued within the state. However, 44 warnings have been issued since State Police began enforcing the order Monday.
Valley School have qualified for the statewide contest which will be held in May via a live streaming event.) • viewer’s choice award — St Marys Area Middle School featuring Abbott Furnace Company. • outstanding career pathway award — Smethport featuring Allegheny Bradford Corporation
Robert Evanchick, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, stated, “The priority of the Pennsylvania State Police is protecting lives and maintaining order in the commonwealth. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, troopers and liquor control enforcement officers are prepared to ensure compliance with Governor Wolf’s order.”
The release also explained that • outstanding outreach plan award — Cameron private businesses, County featuring organizations, and Emporium Hardwoods. other non compliant entities face • outstanding possible criminal videography award — Fretz Middle School penalties under featuring Pulako’s the Administrative Chocolates. Code of 1929, 71 • outstanding educational P.S. § 1409 and/or the Pennsylvania value award — Clearfield featuring Lezzer Lumber. Disease Prevention and Control Law • outstanding team of 1955, 35 P.S. § spirit award — Kane Area 521.20(a). Middle School featuring Laughing Owl Press Company.
These are summary offenses and may All videos can be viewed lead to fines or jail at the following link: https://www.atssocool.org/ time. contests/north-central-pa/
“We believe most Pennsylvanians want to act responsibly and do their part to help slow the spread of this deadly virus. Troopers and liquor control officers will make every effort to achieve voluntary compliance by educating business owners and using discretion when appropriate,” Evanchick said in the release. “But our message is clear: COVID-19 is a serious health and public safety risk that requires an extraordinary response from law enforcement and the public. I urge everyone to stay home, stay calm, and stay safe.” According to that release, the governor has directed the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board; Department of Health; Department of Agriculture; Pennsylvania State Police; Municipal Police and local officials to “enforce the closure orders to the full extent of the law.” The current list of businesses classified as life-sustaining, resources for affected businesses, and information businesses to request a waiver/exemption are available from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. For any Pennsylvania resident who wishes to report a noncompliant business, reports should be made via local law enforcement agency’s nonemergency number. In our case, that number is 887-4911 to reach the McKean County 911 Center. Residents are asked to avoid calling 911 directly to file these reports.