MONEYSAVER MAY 12, 2020
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NEWS
MJ2KB Trail Club has many improvements planned for 2020
By RUTH BOGDAN MOUNT JEWETT — Mount Jewett to Kinzua Bridge (MJ2KB) Trail Club has many improvements slated for 2020. With so many activities closed to the public, using the local trails is one way residents can enjoy some time out of the house. Among the projects are a couple that will be completed with a grant from the Lumber Heritage Region: making interpretive signs and painting the equipment container. Carolyn Stroup, MJ2KB Trail Club president, explained that Angela Cornelius will design four interpretive signs, and Keith Cousins of Eldred will manufacture the sign boards. Volunteers will place them in frames between Kinzua Bridge State Park and Mount Jewett. Cornelius will also create a mural for the storage container that is located just past the Mount Jewett parking lot. The mural will depict the area’s heritage and will go along with the interpretive signs, said Stroup. “We will be looking for volunteers to help paint the mural,” she noted. Another project club members hope to do this year is place the remaining benches along the trail. “We received a donation for another bench this spring,” Stroup noted. Memorial benches can be placed for a $500 donation, and donors can learn more about them on the club’s website at https:// www.mj2kbtrail.club/ benchpage The club plans to put out picnic tables that were donated by Georgia Pacific’s MDF plant in Mount Jewett. A local Boy Scout is building a pavilion that
will be installed on the trail south of Mount Jewett as an Eagle Scout project, too. The club has gate bollards to install at two road crossings, more signs to put up. Also, they will be cutting more trees and brush along the trail between Mount Jewett and Lantz Corners. Stroup encourages anyone who wants to volunteer with maintenance to help. Also, the club has submitted a grant to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservations and Natural Resources for funding for trail surface aggregate to apply to the unfinished section of rail trail between Mount Jewett and U.S. Route 219. Stroup anticipates that the club will learn in December or January whether or not they are eligible for the grant. “It will be well worth the wait!” she said, explaining the grant is for $180,000-plus. “Most of all, I’d like to encourage you to get out and use the trail,” said Stroup. She reminded people to follow social distancing rules on the trails, such as staying at least six feet away from other trail users, as well as washing hands frequently or using hand sanitizer. “Also, we want to remind you to keep your dogs on a leash,” Stroup said. “It is for their safety and for other trail users as well.” People can still send in their memberships, too. Stroup explained that funding “helps our volunteers to keep the trail safe and well maintained, as it goes for signage, gas and diesel fuel to run tools and equipment and insurance for those working on the trail.” Learn more about the club at https://www. mj2kbtrail.club/
Area high schools to hold alternative graduation ceremonies amidst pandemic
File photo Last year, graduation at Bradford Area High School featured all the usual fanfare. Because of the pandemic, this year’s celebration will be online instead of in person.
By CHRISTINE HOLTZ BRADFORD — Picture families in a packed auditorium, students proudly walking across the stage to receive their diploma. That is a common picture of what a traditional graduation ceremony looks like, though due to current restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic, high schools have had to reimagine what graduation will look like to the class of 2020. Here is a list of what several local area high schools will be doing to celebrate their graduating seniors: Despite the pandemic, Bradford Area High School will be keeping the original date for graduation, though it will be streamed online due to uncertainties of when restrictions will be lifted. “The Bradford Area School District has formed a graduation committee to help plan our virtual graduation, which will be held on June 4 — the same
date as our scheduled graduation,” noted Katy Pude, superintendent. “We recognize how difficult this is for our students and their parents to not celebrate this monumental milestone in person, but we are not certain what restrictions may be lifted by that time.” Pude noted the school district will host an additional ceremony in the summer or early fall if restrictions are lifted and gatherings of more than 25 people are allowed by then. Otto Eldred-School District will be following suit with an online graduation of their own. Superintendent Matthew Splain said Otto-Eldred High School has a virtual graduation ceremony planned for May 29. To prepare for the ceremony, pictures of all seniors in caps and gowns, including on a stage, will be taken a week prior to graduation. Graduates will also have the opportunity to take pictures outside of the school with
friends and family. All seniors will be asked to write a 20-word memoir and have the option of decorating and taking a picture of their cap, to be included in an electronic senior showcase. “The event will be streamed live and recorded for viewing later by family/friends who cannot participate live,” explained Splain. “Speeches will still happen; some pre-recorded, some live. All military will be appropriately recognized.” After the event, families will be given copies of all pictures and the senior showcase, free of charge. In addition, paper programs will be distributed to families as keepsakes. In addition to the graduation ceremony, an online baccalaureate celebration for the Otto-Eldred class of 2020 will take place on May 17 at 6 p.m. Splain said several seniors will be participating and the recipient of the OE Ministerium Scholarship will be announced. The
service will be streamed to Facebook via the OE Ministerium page and the OE Ministerium YouTube channel. Some school districts have begun to think outside of the box in regards to celebrating the class of 2020. Take Kane Area School District for example. According to a statement on the Kane Family Drive-In Facebook page, they are currently working with administration from the Kane Area School District to hold a graduation ceremony for the class of 2020 at the drive-in location. The event will only be open for seniors and their families and appropriate social distancing will be maintained. “Hats off to the administration of the Kane Area School District for being willing to think out of the box and genuinely wanting to make graduation 2020 something really special for the kids who have already lost a lot,” the statement read.
First COVID-19 deaths reported in McKean, Elk counties
BRADFORD, Pa. — A Kane man is reportedly the first McKean County resident to die of COVID-19, while Elk County also recorded its first death from the disease this past week. Kane Mayor Brandy Schimp shared a message to the Kane Borough community on Facebook. “As Mayor, I extend the sympathy of the community to Samuel McKinney who succumbed this week to the coronavirus,” she said. “His family is dealing with the reality of what we all fear might happen to any one of us in these days.” Schimp told residents,
“Let us remember to honor Sam’s memory as we wear our masks, keep our distance and do what we can to protect one another. My sincerest condolences to his family.” As of late last week, McKean County had six positives and 204 negatives; Elk County had five positives and 197 negatives; Potter County had four positives and 93 negatives; and Cameron County had two positives and 67 negatives. The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed that there were nearly 1,100 additional positive
cases of COVID-19 last last week, bringing the statewide total to nearly 53,000. As a result of the department’s continued work to reconcile data from various sources the state is reporting an increase of 310 new deaths, bringing the statewide total to 3,416 deaths in Pennsylvania. These deaths have occurred over the past several weeks. “As we prepare to move a number of counties from red to yellow, we need all Pennsylvanians to continue to follow the social distancing and mitigation efforts
in place,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “We must continue to protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, which includes our seniors, those with underlying health issues, our healthcare workers and our first responders. I am proud of the work that Pennsylvanians have done so far, but we cannot stop now, we must continue to take the necessary steps to protect ourselves from COVID-19.” There are 209,873 patients who have tested negative to date.