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Austin • Coudersport • Crosby • Eldred • Gifford • Kane • Lewis Run • Mt. Jewett • Otto Eldred • Port Allegany Ridgway • Roulette • Smethport • Turtlepoint
Old Jail House Museum to reopen
Photo provided
File McKean County Historical Society’s Old Jail House Museum will reopen for programs in 2022.
SMETHPORT — McKean County Historical Society has announced the reopening of the Jail House Museum and schedule for special programs for 2022. The museum had been closed due to the COVID pandemic. At a recent meeting, the board of the Historical Society announced the museum will reopen on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. beginning April 5 with additional times by appointment. Call (814) 887-5142 to schedule an appointment. In addition, several special programs are planned for the 2022 season: — April 2nd — Jane
Berrettini will lead the Earth Day Walk at 1 p.m. starting at Shawmut Grade trailhead parking lot off Route 6 at west end of Smethport, walking to the old County Farm where Sandi Tunno will talk about the garden program. — May 12th — “History of Surveying” will be presented at Hamlin Memorial Library in Smethport at 7 p.m. with Greg Bell explaining advances in equipment and methods over the last two centuries. — July 14th — Laura Guncheon is scheduled to discuss the new
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UPMC Kane is the first tele-emergency department in the state of Pennsylvania.
UPMC launches first Tele-ED in Pa. at UPMC Kane KANE — UPMC is leveraging its clinical expertise and innovative technology to launch the first tele-Emergency Department (Tele-ED) in Pennsylvania at UPMC Kane in McKean County. In line with the Pennsylvania Department of Health guidelines announced on March 2 to increase patient access to care through innovative delivery models, UPMC
created a first-of-its kind in Pennsylvania rural health care approach that will allow access to excellent emergency medical care at UPMC Kane. “UPMC is committed to advancing access to quality health care for all our patients, wherever they live and work,” said Donald M.Yealy, M.D.,UPMC chief medical officer and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at
UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. “This new model of care will meet the needs of the community, today and into the future, while using all available resources across our deep and talented workforce.” UPMC Kane is partnering with UPMC Hamot in Erie to create an emergency medicine collaboration using advanced telemedicine technology. Board-certified
emergency medicine physicians located at UPMC Hamot, 94 miles away in Erie, partner with on-site, trained advanced practice providers (APPs) at UPMC Kane, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide the best care for all who seek it. “Bedside care is delivered by physician assistants (PAs) and certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs) at UPMC Kane
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M E A L S O N W H E E L S D O N AT I O N
Commissioners: Clarity needed to prepare for May primary BY MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER With 62 days until the primary election, candidates for the Pennsylvania House and state committees are awaiting clarity on when to circulate petitions. On Tuesday, the McKean County commissioners — Chairman Tom Kreiner, Carol Duffy and Cliff Lane — released a joint statement, seeking quick action from the state Supreme Court to clarify the state’s legislative maps so primary election preparations can begin. “As far as I am aware, the House of Representatives and the state committee person positions are held up,” said Kreiner. “It really puts our director of elections up against the time limit.” He said the elections office isn’t behind schedule as of yet, but “we’re getting to where it’s down to brass tacks.” The sample ballots must be printed, military, overseas, mail-in and absentee ballots need to be printed and so on. “Time is essential,” Kreiner said. “It gets frustrating. I think everybody just wants to get this going,” Kreiner added. “Our poll workers really deserve that. None of this election (confusion during) these past couple of years is their fault.” However, it has caused a lot of volunteers to rethink their willingness to participate. “We’ve seen a decline in the past couple of years in people wanting to be poll workers,” Kreiner lamented. A joint statement by the commissioners read as follows: “Counties are
the voice of elections in Pennsylvania and need timely election calendar deadlines to be able to accomplish the necessary tasks to promote election integrity and to give our voters confidence in the election process. Delaying the timing of the process puts added pressure on the Director of Elections to complete the necessary documentation to get ballots printed and machines ready for voting.” As the appeal period on the legislative maps closed March 7, the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court to request the court expedite its decision and offer counties a reasonable amount of time to complete the tasks associated with the May Primary, should it consider adjusting the election calendar with respect to the General Assembly’s seats. The commissioners said McKean County cannot complete crucial election tasks such as preparing ballots for absentee, mail-in, military and overseas voters or programming voting machines until a decision is handed down since it is currently unknown which candidates are running in each district. “The longer it takes for these outstanding decisions to be made, the more pressure is put on counties and our election workers to stretch their resources ahead of the 2022 Primary Election,” said CCAP Executive Director Lisa Schaefer. “While CCAP does not take a position on the merits of the map before the Court, it was imperative that we educate the court about what counties
need for a timely, clear and unified solution to run a smooth Primary Election, including maintaining a single Primary Election date for all contests.” Counties are responsible for all aspects of running elections in Pennsylvania under the state’s Election Code. Under that law, a daunting number of tasks are still required of counties between now and May 17 — including preparing ballots for absentee, mail-in, military and overseas voters and programming voting machines, which cannot happen until candidates know for certain in what districts they are running, petitions are filed and all objections to those petitions resolved. This is in addition to other critical and ongoing work such as processing voter registrations, training poll workers, preparing poll books and other materials for polling places, and otherwise assisting voters. ‘“Pennsylvania counties have and will always administer accurate, fair and successful elections, but the longer it takes to achieve clarity around our Primary Election process, the more likely they will be forced to consider spending property taxpayer dollars on emergency assistance such as additional workers, printing needs and supply chain shortages,” said CCAP President and Bradford County commissioner Daryl Miller. “We can minimize this if counties just have clear, direct guidance on election protocol, as quickly as possible, and even more importantly, eliminate confusion and give our voters the utmost confidence in the integrity of the election process.”
The United Way of the Bradford Area presented BRMC’s Meals on Wheels with $24,300 raised from the Annual Campaign to be put toward their programming needs. During the 2021 year, MOW was able to deliver 26,529 nutritious hot meals to local elders and infirmed individuals throughout McKean County. Frank Kemick, Meals on Wheels program coordinator, shows off the donation.
Backyard conservation workshop on rain barrels planned for April 23 The Bradford Sanitary Authority, Penn contact the McKean County Conservation State Extension and McKean County District ofConservation District, will host a confice at (814) servation workshop to show Bradford 887-4001. City residents how they may reduce their stormwater fee. The workshop will be held from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday, April 23 at the Bradford Sanitary Authority, 410 Seaward Ave. and will include materials, free rain barrels and necessary information to implement conservation practices at one’s home. To register or for more information,
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Jail Museum continued from 1 countywide glass recycling effort in cooperation with Ardagh and RecycALL of Port Allegany. — Sept. 15th — Guest speakers from Dresser Industries, Bradford will present a program on the history of this local manufacturer.
— Oct. 1st — “Arts on the Island” will be held at Hamlin Lake Park under direction of Bart Barton and Pam Burlingame. There will be numerous food and craft booths in conjunction with a car show for special interest autos, trucks and motorcycles. Fall Dinner for museum members and guests will be held at a date and time to be announced, with Steve Appleby talking about the history of the former munitions factory in Eldred.
Otto Twp. to continue funding police force BY JIM MILLER DUKE CENTER — The Otto Township supervisors a announced earlier this month that the Otto-Eldred Joint Police Force is legally and physically dissolved. Unable to reach an agreement on several items, the two municipalities parted ways contentiously — Eldred choosing to not have a police force and Otto choosing to continue funding one. The township will reimburse Eldred $27,000, sell an SUV patrol vehicle, keep the sedan and all police equipment. This will necessitate a slight raise in taxes, but it will ensure local police coverage throughout the township. A new ordinance will be drawn up and a new police board will be formed. Until these two are finalized, there is technically no police authority in the township and people are instructed to call the State Police or 9-1-1. Residents have raised minor issues that the
supervisors vowed to address directly: One involves cars parked illegally on Grant Street and the other complaint centered on the security light in Otto Recreation Park shining into a resident’s house. The supervisors unanimously agreed to purchase a Moon Paver, an attachment that repairs paved road edges efficiently and effectively. The township work force will again mow and maintain all areas of the park and have the fences, backstops, etc. sprayed with a non-toxic vegetation-killing agent by licensed professionals. The defunct Park Committee is waiting to be reestablished. Several residents have expressed the need of said committee and its formation before the park “springs” into action. Anyone who wishes to serve in this capacity or has ideas for the park should call 814-558-7666 or attend next month’s meeting, Wednesday, April 13th at 6 p.m.
Smethport, Ridgway districts raise awareness about vaping Vaping is a rising trend in society, with 11% of Americans vaping, according to a 2020 Gallup poll. With this rise, a trend of injury to teens has some local school districts attempting to raise awareness. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), young adults account for the most hospitalized E-cigarette or Vaping Use Association Lung Injury (EVALI) cases. The use of e-cigarettes spiked by a whopping 78% in 2018. Approximately 3.02 million high-school students in the US vape. In 2018, the global vaping market reached $14.05 billion. SASD Smethport Area School District is holding a program on Vaping and discussing why it is not a safe alternative to other types of tobacco at 6:30 p.m. March 23 in the Smethport High Auditorium. RASD Ridgway Area School District posted an update to social media on Tuesday that stated “RASD
recognizes a rise in substance abuse throughout Elk County and the surrounding areas. RASD is grateful to partner with Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services (ADAS) for counseling and education programming for our students. Locally, ADAS is seeing an increase in vape violations. Across PA, there is growing concern about vapes being laced with dangerous opioids (fentanyl and heroin).” The problem, however, does not end with vapes laced with other drugs. The post also notes that the discarded or confiscated paraphernalia can be dangerous to students and staff. As a result, Naloxone (narcan) is now safely stored at the Ridgway Area School District, in case of accidental exposure or an overdose. The post states that information was mailed to parents on March 18. Also, a flyer to promote public awareness was released by the Drug Enforcement Agency.
How to pick the right trees for your property Trees benefit a landscape by serving both aesthetic and utilitarian functions. A home surrounded by healthy green trees can be a sight to behold, and those same trees can benefit surrounding plants and wildlife at the same time. As appealing as trees are, not all trees and landscapes make for the perfect match. The Arbor Day Foundation notes the importance of planning when designing a landscape. Planning ensures the trees homeowners ultimately choose for their properties will grow well in the soil and moisture present in their yards. Careful consideration of a handful of variables can help homeowners determine which trees will make the best fit for their properties. • Height: Homeowners must consider the projected height of a tree before planting it. Avoid trees that will bump into anything when
fully grown, as that can adversely affect surrounding greenery and pose a safety hazard. The ADF’s tree sizing guide can be accessed at https://www.arborday. org/trees/rightTreeAndPlace/size.cfm and serves as an invaluable resource for homeowners who want to plant new trees around their properties. • Canopy spread: Trees grow out as well as up, so it’s important to consider their potential width at maturity as well. The ADF sizing guide can help homeowners get an idea of how wide a tree is likely to be at maturity. Trees that spread out quite a bit don’t necessarily need to be avoided, but it’s important that they’re planted far enough apart so they don’t adversely affect surrounding plants. In addition, wide trees that are planted too close together can make the landscape appear crowded, taking something away from its aesthetic appeal.
• Growth rate: Growth rate is an important variable because it can affect how quickly homeowners will see changes in their landscapes. Homeowners who want to plant for privacy can consider trees with quick growth rates or purchase more mature trees that are already near full growth. Those who are not in need of instant transformation can try trees with slower growth rates, which the ADF notes typically live longer than fast-growing species. • Requirements:
Different trees require different amounts of sun and moisture and different soil components to thrive. Homeowners can have their soil tested to determine which trees will thrive in it. Local garden centers can be a great resource for homeowners who want insight as to which trees will thrive in their local climates. Trees serve many functions on a property. Choosing the right trees for a landscape requires careful consideration of a host of variables.
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UPMC continued from 1
using advanced video, audio and examination technology to connect patients seamlessly and quickly with board-certified emergency medicine physicians at UPMC Hamot,” said Mark Papalia, UPMC Kane president. “Together, the APP and physician diagnose and care for the patient.”
UPMC Kane is an acute care hospital located in a remote, rural community with an average daily inpatient census of five to six hospitalized patients and approximately 6,000 total emergency department visits each year.UPMC Hamot is the advanced tertiary care regional hub for UPMC in northwest Pennsylvania and southwest New York caring for nearly 70,000 patients in the emergency department annually. UPMC Hamot provides high-level specialized care and is a Level II trauma center, the only accredited trauma center in the Erie region.
“Accessibility and longterm sustainability are the driving forces behind UPMC Kane’s innovative model,” said Yealy. “In rural communities across the country, the ratio of physicians to patients is approximately half that of suburban and urban areas. More than 100 rural hospitals closed across the country over the past decade in part because of recruitment challenges. Much of rural America is medically underserved creating the necessity for new models of care to improve access to and quality of health care.” This innovation for
rural health care delivery results from careful planning and training within the UPMC Kane transformation plan to improve rural health care and enhance access, as part of its enrollment in the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model. As a participating hospital of the initiative, the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) permitted UPMC Kane to pursue Tele-ED program development and launch in Pennsylvania in advance of the Commonwealth’s March 2 rural health guidelines announcement.
“UPMC Kane has been successfully operating a similar inpatient tele-hospitalist program since May of 2021,” said Papalia. “The program is in partnership with the UPMC Center for Community Hospitalist Medicine. Through this technology innovation, inpatients receive virtual rounds and on-demand consultation access with UPMC’s vast network of physicians and advanced clinical resources.” Alike to a Tele-ED, the tele-hospitalist program enhances and improves rural health care through a sustainable, vibrant and
transformational new model of care. “UPMC remains committed to creating the highest levels of access and quality care for patients in every community we serve,” added Yealy. “This new model of Tele-ED care represents looking ahead by designing sustainable models of health care delivery for the future that also serve our patients’ needs today. We are here to care for our communities and provide even greater access to the excellent care and expertise of UPMC.”
Spring Car Care How to maintain an older vehicle New cars have been costly for quite some time, but those costs have spiked considerably since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. That unprecedented rise has led many motorists to wonder how they can get more mileage out of their existing vehicles. According to data from Kelley Blue Book and Cox Automotive, the average cost of a new car in September 2021 was just over $45,000. That marked a $3,000 increase from June 2021 and a $5,000 increase from the end of
$
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2020. Drivers who can’t afford to keep up with the rising cost of new vehicles can take these steps to keep their existing cars running smoothly for years to come. • Take care of the timing belt. Engines may get all the glory, but they cannot run smoothly without a fully functional timing belt. Engines need various components to do their job, and those components must do so at the right time for the engine to run smoothly. Fully functional timing belts help to synchronize movements, but belts must
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be replaced every so often. Owner’s manuals may note when to replace the timing belt, but they generally must be replaced every 60,000 to 105,000 miles. That’s infrequent, but drivers can ask their mechanics to keep an eye on their timing belts. One issue many drivers encountered in the early months of the pandemic when people were driving less frequently was timing belts that were failing long before they reached the projected mile markers. That’s because infrequent driving can
hasten the demise of the timing belt. This is something for aging drivers who no longer drive a lot to keep in mind. • Take care of the brakes and associated components. The experts at Popular Mechanics urge drivers of older vehicles to replace their brake fluid every two years. Popular Mechanics also advises drivers whose cars are more than seven years old to replace the rubber brake lines when major brake work is required. • Pay attention to oil levels. The older engines get,
the more oil they’re going to burn. So drivers of older vehicles should check their oil levels more often than they would if their vehicles were brand new. This also is a great way to discover leaks before they lead to potentially significant issues. • Don’t skip maintenance appointments. Even if you’re still driving less due to the pandemic, it’s best not to skip recommended maintenance intervals. That’s true for drivers of all cars, but especially
those whose vehicles are aging. Routine tune-ups and oil changes, which may need to become more frequent the older the vehicle gets, can keep cars running smoothly and protect the engine over the long haul. The rising cost of new cars is compelling millions of drivers to keep their cars longer than they might have anticipated. Some simple maintenance measures can help those cars run strong for years to come.
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