OCTOBER
12 2021
McKean County School Districts experience food supply dilemma
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Students wait for food during the summer lunch program at Bradford Area High School cafeteria. School districts are adjusting school lunches as needed for the 2021 school year as food shortages crop up.
BY JOELLEN WANKEL
Boy Scouts to turn over Elk Lick Scout Reserve as part of national settlement
BY JOELLEN WANKEL
SMETHPORT — The Elk Lick Scout Reserve will be turned over as part of the Boy Scouts of America’s bankruptcy and abuse settlement. The Allegheny Highlands Council, which serves Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties in New York and McKean and Potter counties in Pennsylvania, made the decision after extensive consideration of the options available.
“Through the creation of a local Ad Hoc Committee, we have spent months analyzing all possible options to fulfill our portion of the settlement,” AHC Executive Nathaniel Thornton said. “Our finance committee reviewed budget forecasts for the next several years and deemed it necessary to retain as much of our endowment as possible, which is where any cash contribution would have come from.”
Elk Lick Scout Reserve (ELSR), located at 2420 Bordell Road in Smethport and valued at $950,000, will be turned over, with the proceeds going directly to the Victims Trust. According to the October 2021 newsletter for the AHC, the option was unanimously approved by the board of directors on Sept. 28. The reserve is 1,500 acres of heavily wooded land that includes several lodges, a central dining
hall, a small lake, a modern swimming pool, rifle and archery ranges and a climbing/rappelling tower. Thornton explained that there is an alternative location, which will be the designated location for future outdoor activities for area scouts. “Camp Merz located in Mayville, New York will be the host for all summer camping activities within our council,” Thornton
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Recent stories have warned of potential shortages of canned foods or meats due to increased prices for aluminum and processing plants operating at less than full capacity due to COVID. On Oct. 7, the impact of these situations came to light in the food service for local school districts. Smethport Area School District posted a notice to social media that shortages with suppliers are impacting the planned menu for October. Specifically, the pizza and fish sticks scheduled for Oct. 8 and 12, respectively, have to be replaced. The district’s Food Service Director and Business Manager assured parents that the students will be provided a hot lunch option each day. However, due to these concerns, the
menu will be announced a week at a time, rather than for the entire month. In Bradford, the potential for shortages is on the radar but has not yet become a concern. “Bradford has had minimal disruptions to our deliveries and supplies to this point. Our Food Service Director has posted a letter on our website to inform parents of the possibility of future shortages, but has assured our families and students that they will still be provided a balanced, nutritious meal should that occur,” Bradford Superintendent Katharine Pude said. “If need should arise, we will provide biweekly menus instead of monthly so that parents are still kept abreast of the food options available to their children.”
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5 ways to protect hearing every day
Did you know? Leaves that fall from trees can be a marvel to behold. But leaves can stain exterior surfaces when they eventually settle on vehicles, concrete driveways, patios, and other surfaces, become wet and/ or are not cleaned away in a timely fashion. Leaf stains are caused by tannins in the leaves. The pigments can be absorbed by porous materials like concrete and leave stains behind. While
these stains may wash away over time, homeowners may prefer a faster way to get rid of unsightly stains. To remove moderate leaf stains, mix oxygen bleach with hot water and apply to stains using a scrub brush. Dark stains
may require a tougher cleanser, such as one that contains trisodium phosphate. Some homeowners find success using a pressure washer to clean away leaf stains, while others rely on commercial leafstain removers.
The saying “you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone” is never more true than in regard to hearing. It’s easy to take hearing for granted, but even momentary hearing loss can highlight how vital it is to protect hearing. Once it’s gone, hearing cannot be restored in many cases. To protect hearing and guard against future hearing loss, consider these recommendations. 1. Ask for a baseline hearing test. It’s easier to measure hearing loss if there is a baseline by which it can be measured. During your annual physical, ask for a hearing test or a referal to an audiologist. This can set the course for monitoring progression of any future hearing loss. 2. Wear hearing protection. There are various types of hearing protection that can filter out certain levels of sound. Many earplugs, like the ones musicians wear or those worn when attending rock concerts, can reduce the sound by approximately 25 dB. Custom fit ear plugs provide more noise reduction, in upwards of 35 to 40 dB. They are optimal for high-noise environments, such as when mowing lawns or operating machinery, according to the hearing loss resource Hearts for Hearing. 3. Turn down the volume. Experts recommend adhering to the 60/60
rule when enjoying audio through headphones. This suggestion is to listen with the headphones at no more than 60 percent volume for no more than 60 minutes a day. Earbuds fit directly next to the eardrum and can be harmful to your hearing. If possible, choose over-theear headphones instead. 4. Have custom molds made. Rather than turning up the volume, people can have custom ear molds made for use with earphones, suggests Johns Hopkins. The custom ear molds will block outside
noise, allowing for higher quality listening. 5. Keep your ears dry. Moisture in the ear can cause bacteria to grow and potentially lead to infections. Towel-dry ears gently after showering or swimming. Avoid the temptation to use cotton swabs to dry the ears. For the most part, ears are self-cleaning, and using a cotton swab can push wax and cause it to become compacted in the ear canal. In addition to these tips, discussing hearing health with a doctor is a wise idea.