SEPTEMBER
28 2021
Smethport Legion donates to 4-H for renovation of 4-H center BY FRAN DE LANCEY
able to remove the interior
Photo by Fran De Lances
Photo bY Daniella Griesbaum Trees show fall color along the railroad tracks at Browntown Road in Bradford Township. This year, the DCNR is expecting a longer season and varied color for local fall foliage.
October fall color expected to be vibrant According to the Pa. Department of Conservation of Natural Resources (DCNR), Pennsylvania has a longer and more varied Fall foliage season than any other state in the Nation. The crimsons, blazing oranges and yellows as brilliant as sunshine that present themselves throughout the Allegheny National Forest and surrounding areas peak in color for several weeks near
the beginning of October across Pennsylvania. Because of the beauty the foliage brings to the area there are many prime leaf-peeping locations to visit in the coming weeks: the Longhouse National Scenic Byway, which circles the Kinzua Creek arm of the Allegheny Reservoir was selected by USA TODAY as one of the “Top 50 Scenic Drives in America.” Rimrock Overlook and Jakes Rocks near the
Kinzua Dam are famous for the stunning views from their scenic overlooks. The Kinzua Sky Walk at the Kinzua Bridge State park is another must-see destination when it comes to Fall leaf-peeping. The sky walk extends over 600 feet out into the Kinzua gorge and overlooks approximately 8-miles of the sprawling tree-tops. For more information about scenic destinations and Fall drives visit the
Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau on the web at VisitANF.com or the Pennsylvania Wilds at www.pawilds.com. The Pennsylvania DCNR posts a weekly Fall foliage report on Thursdays online at h t t p s : / / w w w. d c n r. pa.gov/Conservation/ F o r e s t s A n d Tr e e s / FallFoliageReports/.
American Legion Commander Courtney Cole is shown with Ginny Eppley, a longtime 4-H volunteer, and Mara Ours, a member of the New Idea Livestock Club. Eppley also serves as secretary of the McKean County 4-H Development Committee, which has headed the 4-H Center restoration project. Mara attended the American Legion’s August meeting where she spoke about the importance of 4H and the 4-H Center. She explained the many roles of the 4-H Center, including a place to hold meetings, county-wide events and a place to display the 4-H members’ projects during the McKean County Fair.
SMETHPORT — The Smethport American Legion Bucktail Post #138 has donated $1,000 to the McKean County 4-H, which will be used to help renovate the 4-H Center on the McKean County Fairgrounds. “Specifically, this funding will go toward rebuilding the interior walls and drop ceiling,” said Morgan Cady, extension educator, 4-H youth development. This rebuilding work began in 2019 by removing the interior portions of the building, and the overall structure remained strong and sturdy. “4-H volunteers and employees were
materials and dispose of them thanks to generous donations from Casella Waste Systems and McKan Trucking,” Cady told The Era. “Due to COVID-19, though, the project came to a standstill in 2020 and most of this year.” Work resumed this summer with the help of donations from a local electrician, Doug Covert, and the company, Conxx, Inc. The next stage is rebuilding the interior walls and drop ceiling, according to Cady. When this work is completed, focus will be shifted to installing a new HVAC system, kitchen and restrooms.
Small protest held in Smethport against COVID mandates BY FRAN DE LANCEY SMETHPORT — A small group of protesters against masking and Covid-19 mandates stood along West Main Street Thursday in front of the McKean County courthouse. A spokesman for the group, Chris Cole of Bradford, told The Era, “We are followers of ‘Citizens for a Constitutional County’ on Facebook.” While he spoke of a larger group of protestors set to arrive later in the day, that never materialized. Speaking against mandates that require schoolage children to wear masks, Cole claimed, “There is a 99.998 percent survival rate from COVID-19 for ages 19 and under.
“Requiring them to wear masks means they’re breathing in their own stale air,” Cole said, adding that he believes it could be toxic. Cole then turned his comments to his views on the COVID-19 vaccines. “Pfizer is only one that has been somewhat Food and Drug Administrationapproved, but not really all the way approved yet. The other ones have not been FDA-approved.” Cole claimed, “The only reason they’re pushing this is because the President has made everything into an emergency so he can push the vaccine.” He also noted the negative effects of the mandates on the economy, especially on small businesses and employees. “A lot of
small businesses have already gone out of business, while many others are struggling.” Referring to large companies, Cole said, “Now employees of those companies with 100 or more employees must be vaccinated or be tested weekly, and that testing must be paid by the employees. That’s too much of a burden on
the workers.” Continuing with references to the economic results of the mandates, Cole said, “For months, the government paid people to stay home and not work, and now the people who are working, we have to pay weekly to work. The government won’t pay for their testing.” The protest was
scheduled from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. In the early afternoon, there were four people carrying signs with messages about the mandates, espousing slogans about freedom and personal choice. Some passing motorists beeped their horns in agreement. A much larger group of protesters was expected to arrive at 4 p.m. after
quitting time at their jobs, Cole said. However, the few who did attend left about 3:15 p.m., according to courthouse personnel. Courthouse security had offered the protesters an area on the courthouse steps that was taped off for their use, but the group declined the offer.
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