Issuu

DECEMBER

7 2021

Rep. Martin Causer House committee to hold health care hearing in Bradford

Lent, Cooney headline D-9 North all-stars Local high school football teams had few answers for Smethport quarterback Noah Lent. Opposing offenses equally struggled to stop swarming linebacker Travis Cooney. After the Hubbers soared to the top of the Small School North Division once again, Lent and Cooney were easy choices for the league’s player of the year on the side of the ball that each shined brightest. All-star teams for the North, Small School South and Large School divisions were announced last week, and Smethport headlined the North’s roster with five offensive selections and another four on defense. Lent was the North’s Offensive Most Valuable Player while Cooney was its Defensive Most Valuable Player. Lent didn’t miss a step in his senior season,

throwing for 952 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions. He did more damage on the ground, however, rushing for 1,574 yards on 184 attempts (8.3yard average) with 24 rushing touchdowns. “(Lent) had an outstanding season,” Smethport coach Adam Jack said. “He excelled within the structure of the offense but also had the ability to take over games from time to time, dominating defenses.” Lent played in 10 of the Hubbers’ 11 games, leading their offense to nearly 33 points in those contests. Lent was joined on the North all-star team by offensive lineman Keegan Watson, wide receiver Alex Ognen, tight end Brandon Higley and return specialist Ryan Mason. Ognen and Higley, both seniors, served as Lent’s primary aerial targets.

Ognen caught 24 passes for 456 yards and 11 touchdowns while Higley hauled in 19 receptions for 276 yards and four TDs. Mason, a sophomore, accounted for 357 yards from scrimmage between rushing and receiving. WHILE LENT and company put points on the board for the Hubbers, Cooney led a defensive unit that allowed just over 12 points per game. The senior linebacker finished with 106 total tackles, nine sacks and two interceptions. “(Cooney) was the backbone of our defense,” Jack said. “His natural instinct, combined with his preparation, made him a sideline to sideline tackler and playmaker all season.” Cooney was joined on the defense by three teammates: Junior linebacker Ryan Pelchy, sophomore defensive lineman Cole

Szuba and junior cornerback Aiden McKean. Smethport finished 4-1 in the division, its lone loss coming at Coudersport without Lent. Port Allegany finished second at 3-1, while Coudersport (3-2), Cameron County (23), Otto-Eldred (2-3) and Sheffield (0-4) rounded out the division. Cameron County was perhaps the biggest surprise in District 9, finishing 5-5 overall while making its first postseason appearance since 2010. The Red Raiders entered the 2021 season having lost 20 games in a row and 36 of 39 dating back to 2017. The program suddenly turned things around this year, however, upsetting Coudy in Week 0 before establishing itself as a legitimate contender.

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BRADFORD — The Pennsylvania House Majority Policy Committee is planning a January hearing in Bradford to discuss rural health care challenges. The committee chairman, Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, said a hearing was held Dec. 1 at Penn State Health in Hershey to discuss rising demand for health care and providers struggling to maintain staffing levels. “We are all one accident, injury or medical incident away from a trip to the hospital, and we take for granted the doctors, nurses and other professionals trained to help are there waiting for us,” Causer said. “While the professionalism and devotion of those providers remains strong, many health care facilities — including hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities and home care providers — say they simply don’t have enough people available to properly meet patient needs. We need to look for ways to reverse this trend.” Testifiers included nurses, hospital executives, representatives of health care and home care agencies. All expressed concern about the challenge of retaining current health care providers who are struggling with stress, burnout and other strains on their physical and mental health. Especially during the

Representative Martin Causer

COVID-19 pandemic, health care providers also saw an increase in the number of nurses leaving facility jobs in favor of higher-paying traveler positions. With the American Hospital Association estimating hospitals will need to hire at least 200,000 nurses a year to meet increased demand and replace retiring nurses, testifiers urged increasing the number of nursing school programs, offering financial aid programs for candidates and supporting new care models for patients. Next month’s hearing, tentatively scheduled for Jan. 19 at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, will focus more on rural issues, including situations like the one being experienced

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Wolf announces hospitality relief results per county On Monday, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that a total of $145 million in the COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Relief Program was awarded to all 67 counties this year. Wolf announced that 5,860 businesses received funding support this year through the program, helping to protect and preserve this vital industry in Pennsylvania. “We developed the CHIRP program to provide immediate relief to the commonwealth’s restaurants and hospitality businesses recovering from the pandemic,” said Wolf. “These businesses and their employees made sacrifices for their communities during one of the most unprecedented times we have ever lived through. It was a major priority for my administration to offer quick assistance through trusted, local partners that truly understood the needs of their area’s businesses.” In March, Gov. Wolf secured $145 million in funding to support businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The commonwealth worked with all 67 counties to administer the funding through one or more designated Community Economic Development Organizations (CEDO) or Community Development

Hospitality Grants continued.... page 3

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DECEMBER 7, 2021

Causer Hearing continued from 1 in Bradford with the loss of acute care and surgical services at Bradford Regional Medical Center earlier this year. “Rural health care facilities across the state are struggling to keep their doors open to meet the needs of their communities,” Causer said. “We need to identify solutions that will enable these vital health care services to remain available and accessible to our rural residents.” The legislator said the hearing on Wednesday was focused more on urban and suburban issues, some of which are similar to what rural facilities are facing. “Personnel is the main issue,” he said. “That’s the lifeblood of all the facilities.” Rural health care has its own challenges, too. “They naturally have less resources, they are covering bigger areas,” Causer said. “A hearing that is specifically focused around rural health care is important. Even before the pandemic there was a strain on rural facilities.” At Wednesday’s hearing, testifiers talked about potential solutions. “Some of the solutions mentioned in today’s hearing were using stimulus money the state has, focusing on recruitment and retention, focusing on more nursing programs in the state and encouraging more students to want to go in that field.” An example given was a loan forgiveness program. “It came up at our hearing today about cross-state licensure,” Causer said, referring to difficulties in

border communities like Bradford where potential medical professionals may be licensed in Pennsylvania but not New York, or vice versa. “We need to streamline those procedures,” he said. The state’s licensing process needs work, too. “Over the last few years we have seen students come out of nursing programs and have to wait an extended period of time to get their licenses,” Causer said. “If they graduate from an accredited institution, they should be able to get that license immediately.” Describing the coming hearing, the legislator said, “Where better to do it than Bradford? We’re one of the most rural parts of the state and we have a number of challenges here, like what’s going on at BRMC.” Officials with Upper Allegheny Health System decided to restructure BRMC and Olean (N.Y.) General Hospital. Acute care and surgical services moved from Bradford to Olean, and all but 10 beds were removed as well. Many of the services that remain are outpatient centered. Causer said the committee is working on putting the next hearing together, including a list of who will testify before the committee. He mentioned that UAHS officials will be invited, as will officials from its affiliate, Kaleida Health. Officials from UPMC Cole and Kane and Warren General Hospital will be invited as well. “I’m looking forward to the discussion and looking at potential solutions,” he said. “Bringing other legislators to the area is beneficial. When I’m in Harrisburg talking about issues we’re facing, the legislators that have traveled here remember and can relate.”

Hospitality Grants continued from 1 Financial Institutions (CDFI). Grants were awarded in $5,000 increments with a $50,000 maximum. In McKean County, 22 businesses received a total of $455,000. Receiving $50,000 were Bradford Hotel LLC and Bradford Motel Associates DBA Best Western Plus Bradford Inn; Sarva Laxmi Inc. (Comfort Inn Bradford) received $40,000; Kabob’s at The Option House, Bradford Brew Station, and Westline Inn each received $25,000. Receiving $20,000 each were Econolodge Bradford, Subway at Walmart, John Williams European Pastry Shop, Annin Enterprises Inc. (Corner Bistro & Table 105), and Carnegie’s. Receiving $15,000 were Kane Family Drive In Theatre, Bettum’s Idlewood Family Campground, Derrick City Diner LLC, Jai Cheharma LLC (America’s Best Value Inn), The Ole Blue and West Side Grill. Receiving $10,000 were Texas Hot Lunch, The Barrel House Restaurant & Tavern, Inn on Maple Street Bed & Breakfast, Evanco (Evan’s Texas Grille), and Pinciaro Inc. (Players Downtown). There were 29 businesses in Elk County that received a total of $335,000. Receiving $15,000 each were Bal Ganesh Inc. (Subway at Walmart), Buzzy’s Pizza & Sub Shop, Casali’s Grill, Catholic

Skin cancer still poses a threat in winter Skin cancer may be something on the minds of beachgoers and summer revelers frolicking around the pool. After all, when the sun is blazing hot and one’s skin reddens after mere minutes outside, it’s hard to ignore the potential for skin damage. But summer isn’t the only time of year that skin must be protected. According to the health and wellness resource Cancer Therapy Advisor, ultraviolet radiation is just as dangerous in the winter as it is in the summer, and people should continue to care for and protect their skin as the weather gets colder. In fact, sunscreen is something that should be worn year-round. Various lifestyle choices increase a person’s risk for skin damage and even skin cancer. • Spending time outdoors in high altitudes: MD Anderson Cancer Centers warns that UV rays are especially intense in higher altitudes. The risk for sunburn increases because the thinner atmosphere isn’t able to block many of the sun’s most harmful rays. • Enjoying snow-related activities: Snow reflects up to 80 percent of the sun’s rays. Individuals may not realize that time spent on the slopes can result in sun damage that is just as harmful as that caused after a day at the beach. • Heading out on cloudy days: Fog and clouds will not deter UVA rays from reaching the surface of the Earth. UVA rays, which are present throughout the year, can penetrate fog and clouds and even glass, warns the Skin Cancer Foundation. • Traveling to warm

climates in winter: It’s common for people to try to escape the cold and snow by vacationing in tropical locales during the winter. Many may mistakenly think it’s a good idea to use a tanning bed to get a golden glow prior to departing. The Mayo Clinic

sun and severe damage can occur to unprotected skin. Protecting skin from the sun is a year-round endeavor. When thinking about skin damage and skin cancer prevention, do not overlook the lips as well, as the skin on the lips is very sensitive. Use a lip moistur-

Skiing exposes people to higher altitudes, where the thin atmosphere cannot effectively block harmful rays from the sun reports that UV light from tanning beds is 12 times as intense as light emitted by the sun. Couple that with time spent in the tropical

izer with an SPF of at least 15 and sunscreen on the rest of the exposed parts of the body every day.

Men’s Fraternal Club, Creekside Hospitality LLC, DD’s Specialty Bakery & Cafe Inc., Dino’s Place Inc., First Chance Inn LLC, Hostmark Star Properties Inc. (Holiday Inn Express), Kune’s Castle Corp. (Benezette Hotel), Medix Inn LLC, The Pour House Bar and Grill LLC, The Red Fern, The Royal Inn, and Wildwoods Bar & Grill LLC. Receiving $10,000 were the following: Calla’s Cafe & Fine Food, Hallton Sportsmen’s Club, J&J Pizza Inc. (Ridgway Fox’s Pizza), Joey’s Bakery Inc., Karly Carnovale -Coopers Diner, LaCatrina Mexican Kitchen, Last Chance Inn, and Subway. Receiving $5,000 were Bapa Krupa Inc. (Subway), Julee Marzella — The Cottage, Lauricella Jr. Daniel, The Wilds Lodges LLC, Weedville Hotel Inc., Wehler Sr. Thomas and Carla (Antler Shed Cabins). Eight places in Potter County received a total of $185,000. Hotel Crittenden received $35,000; receiving $30,000 were Germania Hotel Inc., Caer -Bannog Co Inc/Sweden Valley Inn, and Laurelwood Inc./ Laurelwood Inn & Steakhouse. The Shinglehouse Veterans Social Club received $20,000, as did the Corner Cafe. Receiving $10,000 were Gledhill Enterprises/ Shinglehouse Fox’s Pizza Den, and Olga’s Cafe Inc./ Olga Cafe & Bistro. Five places in Cameron County each received $10,000: Cabin Kitchen & Bakery LLC, Aroma Cafe, Macks Rhythm & Brews Sportsbar Inc., Midtowne Sports Bar and Grill and Charley’s Friendly Tavern.

Owens named chief medical officer of Olean General, BRMC BRADFORD — A Longtime Bradford physician Dr. Jill Owens, has been named chief medical officer and vice president of quality at Upper Allegheny Health System’s Olean General Hospital and Bradford Regional Medical Center. She had served as interim CMO since June and has had an increasingly public role as a spokesperson for the hospitals and Upper Allegheny during the continued battle against COVID-19. The 21-year physician also serves as medical director for UAHS’ physician networks, including Foothills Medical Group, Bradford Regional Medical Services and Health System Physician, PC. “We are pleased to announce this expanded role for Dr. Owens within our organization,” said Mary LaRowe, interim president and CEO of UAHS. “Her tireless work during the pandemic has been extraordinary. Her expertise and leadership will be invaluable to our health system now and well into the future.” Owens previously served as vice president of clinical operations and physician relations and interim executive director

of UAHS’ physician network. She has served as acting medical director of Foothills Medical Group since 2013 and as associate medical director of BRMC since 2009. In addition, she has operated Bradford Family Medicine, Inc., a private family practice, since 2000. Owens has served on multiple committees/ boards and occupied leadership roles over the last 20 years, including the UAHS and BRMC board of directors, board quality, chair of the department of family practice, professional review committee, BRMC medical staff president and vice president roles. “I’m excited to be working in this role for our hospitals and to enhance care for this region,” Owens said. “Protecting rural healthcare has been a passion of mine since the start of my career and I look forward to ensuring our patients have access to high quality care locally for years to come.” She has two sons and is active in the Bradford community. She is the recipient of several awards including the 2017 Physician Honoree from the Bradford Hospital

Owens Chief Officer continue .. page 4

DECEMBER 07, 2021

Owens Chief Officer continued from 3 Foundation, Women of the Year from the Bradford YMCA and Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Owens has held positions on the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s advisory and alumni boards and she has volunteered with medical missions and medical explorers. She is a board-certified family physician and a fellow in the American Academy of Family Physicians. She earned her bachelor’s degree at PittBradford and went on to complete medical school at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and her residency at St. Vincent Health Center in Erie, Pa., where she also served as chief resident. She is a former president the McKean County Medical Society.

D-9 All Stars

Safeguard roofs against snow damage Snow may delight young children itching for a day off from school. But for many homeowners, the sight of snow means their time will soon be spent clearing paths and plowing driveways rather than building snowmen and sledding with friends. The sight of falling snow also may inspire some homeowners to think about the roofs of their homes. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety warns that it is important to understand the risk of roof collapse due to the weight of snow on the roof. Roof structures that are in good condition can support roughly 20 pounds per square foot. IIBHS says this equates to around four feet of new snow before

a roof will become stressed. Total snowfall is not the only factor to consider. Homeowners also must check the type of snow that has fallen. According to House Logic, six inches of wet snow is equal to the weight of about 38 inches of dry snow. That means it may take much less sodden snow to weigh down a roof. Roof condition and the shape of the roof bear consideration as well. Popular Mechanics says the ideal pitched roof is smooth and steep so that the snow

continued from 4 Ryan Neyman, thirdyear head coach at CC, was named the North’s Coach of the Year. “Building a program, it feels great to be respected by your peers,” Neyman said. “It’s a reflection of the work ethic and dedication of the kids and my assistant coaches that really transformed our year.” THE RED Raiders earned three all-star nods as senior offensive lineman Taylor Geitner, senior running back Dylan Rieder and senior cornerback Devin Fowler were each selected. The experience of his players and coaching staff, Neyman said, helped fuel the team’s large step forward. “We weren’t green horns anymore; we’d been around and learned from our mistakes the last two seasons,” Neyman said. “We played to our strengths; we didn’t try to be fancy with anything. The neat thing about our core group was the versatility. They may have practiced one position the majority of the season, but when we needed somebody … we were able to still put kids in positions to be successful.’ Port Allegany checked in with five all-star selections of its own. Sophomore offensive lineman Miska Young, junior wide receiver/slot back Noah Archer and junior fullback Blaine Moses were each selected on offense while freshman defensive lineman Carson Neely and junior safety Drew Evens were each selected on defense. Young was named the league’s Offensive Lineman of the Year. Coudy boasted five offensive selections — senior lineman Dylan Burdick, junior wide receiver James Culvey, junior fullback Xander Brown, sophomore punter Gavyn Ayers and sophomore placekicker Dylan Howard. The Falcons added two selections on defense in senior linebacker Dylan Hazjus and junior defensive end Kyle Dunn. Otto-Eldred’s Jacob Coffman was named the North’s Defensive Lineman of the Year. The senior also made the squad as an offensive lineman, while being joined by senior running back Ryan Love, junior linebacker Isaac Shaw and freshman safety Manning Splain. Sheffield’s lone selection on the North all-star team was senior defensive lineman Aiden Hulings. Elk County Catholic’s Joe Tettis, a junior tight end, got the lone nod for the Crusaders on a deep Small School South Division allstar team.

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slides off. Closely spaced rafters improve the strength of the roof. A flat or slightly pitched roof may accumulate snow more readily. Homeowners are urged to inspect roof rafters to see if they are cracked from previous snowstorms or damaged from insects or rot. Snapping or popping sounds while snow is on the roof is not a good sign. House Logic also says that homeowners can tell if the snow load on the roof is too much by paying attention to interior doors. If such doors begin to stick, that may be

a signal that there’s enough weight on the center of the house to distort the door frames. Houses that had improper renovations or homes in which load-bearing walls were removed may be more susceptible to this problem. Removing snow from a roof is not an easy job — and may be a task best left to professionals. The safest way to remove snow from the roof is to use a snow rake with an extension arm that enables users to push and pull off the

snow while standing on the ground. One should not climb onto a snowy or icy roof to remove snow. Shovels, which can damage roof shingles, should never be used. IIBHS says that hiring a professional roof contractor is one way to safely remove snow from the roof. Licensed and insured contractors will have the experience

to get the job done correctly and safely. Homeowners can expect to pay between $250 and $500 for this job. Roof snow removal is a priority for those who live in mountainous or extremely snowy areas. If unsafe amounts of snow are left on rooftops, leaks, damage and collapse may result.