OCTOBER
19 2021
Passive House Project recording significant progress BY JOELLEN WANKEL
Photo by Lois Housler The new playground at the Kinzua Bridge State Park was dedicated on Sunday.
Dedication held at Kinzua Bridge State Park playground
MOUNT JEWETT — Two bronze dedication plaques were unveiled at the newest attraction of the Kinzua Bridge State Park complex, a train-themed playground, on Oct. 10 during the Kinzua Bridge State Park Dedication Event. The playground, which officially opened on May 31, is open during park hours and features two different train-themed structures, one for ages 2 through 5 years and the other for 5 to 12 year olds. The colorful structures feature tunnels, slides, climbers, bridges and also come equipped to make actual trail sounds.
The event began at 2 p.m. and included a speech from Kinzua Bridge Foundation President and Executive Director Mary Ann Burggraf. Following were the introduction of officials and staffing by Ann Caskey, administrative assistant for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The Kinzua Bridge Foundation Board was introduced by the foundation’s Secretary and Vice President, Debbie Lunden. During her speech Burggraf noted the absence of Kinzua Bridge State Park Manager Mitch Stickle, “It is truly unfortunate that
Mitch is absent from this playground dedication event as his leadership to this playground project has been relentless in support, as in all of our events, festivals and more.” At the conclusion of her speech Burggraf requested that DCNR Bureau of State Parks Region 1 Assistant Manager Jared Fencil and Jeff Wolfe, chairman of the playground project for the Kinzua Bridge Foundation, unveil the Major Donors’ bronze plaque. Burggraf then announced the Kinzua Bridge State Park Playground was being dedicated in the memory of Hannah Catherine Wolfe. Wolfe and
his wife, Annie, unveiled the second bronze plaque. The Hamlin Township Volunteer Fire Department offered their ‘famous’ chicken barbecue to those in attendance while the Boy Scouts hosted a hamburger and hot dog food booth. There was entertainment provided by the Witching Dance Group and the Sisters of the Northern Forest, of Kane, handed out balloons to several children. For more information about the Kinzua Bridge State Park playground call 778-5467 or visit https:// w w w. d c n r. p a . g o v / StateParks/FindAPark/ KinzuaBridgeStatePark
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Construction projects at Kane’s Passive House are moving right along, with lots of progress reported in recent weeks and more to come before year’s end. As for most building projects, the coronavirus pandemic interfered with the original timeline for completion in November 2021. However, hopes are high to be ready to welcome tenants in Spring 2022. The Passive House Project has made local contractors and materials a goal whenever possible. One aspect of the building, however, has arrived after a 23-day journey, which included an ocean crossing in a container ship from where it was created — Germany. RAICO is a company based in Pfaffenhausen in Bavaria, Germany. They “develop and distribute custom-made glass curtain walls which make unique architectures shine in all their glory,” according to their website. “One of our biggest missions was to use as much local labor and materials as possible. The stone is being quarried right down the road, contractors are local. We are working to keep the money in Kane as much as we can,” said Barbara Robuck, who handles Marketing and Communications for West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund. “We couldn’t do the front without the RAICO curtain wall system and the only one certified was in Germany.”
Robuck noted that RAICO is the first curtain wall system vendor in the world to offer passive-house certified curtain walls made of wood, steel and aluminum — setting the benchmark in the industry. “There are timber-frame pieces of wood that make up the entire front of that building. Then the glass, they call them glazing, gets put into the curtain wall and that creates the front of the building,” Robuck said. She explained that the curtain wall resembles a sort of large wooden grid, which will also be a key component to the installation of the metal and stone elements of the building front in the future. Three large sections of the curtain wall were transported from Germany and delivered to Kane. “The curtain wall is being installed as we speak, and within the next three weeks, glazing will be placed in the curtain wall and they will start to prep for stone,” Robuck said. “They hope to have stone on the front of the building by Christmas.” On Oct. 9, a social media post indicated that Passive House received a shipment of windows, which weighed 6,000 pounds. Meanwhile, the solar panels have been installed and they are bifacial, which means not only will the sun shining from above directly reach the panel, allowing photons to be absorbed, but the sun will reflect off of the
Passive House continued on .. page 3
The average timelines for popular renovation projects Home renovation projects are significant undertakings. Working with skilled and experienced contractors can ensure projects go smoothly and are completed promptly. Timing is a big consideration for homeowners as they begin renovating their homes, and the home improvement experts at HomeAdvisor note that the following are some general timelines for popular renovation projects. • Home addition: Short of a full-scale demolition and rebuild, home additions are the most time-consuming projects homeowners can undertake. HomeAdvisor notes that its survey of customers who recently completed home addition projects reported that the average time from start to finish was between three and four months.
Certain variables, including the scale of the project and the local permits process, can extend the time it takes to complete a home addition. • Kitchen remodel: Scale is a big factor to consider when estimating the time it takes to complete various home improvement projects, and kitchen remodels are no exception.
Some HomeAdvisor users reported projects taking as long as four months, though the average time reported was roughly six weeks. Projects that require
major overhauls like rearranging the plumbing and moving walls will likely take longer than more cosmetic projects that are limited to replacing cabinets and countertops. • Bathroom remodel: More than 1,000 homeowners surveyed by HomeAdvisor reported that bathroom remodels took about 4.5 weeks from start to finish. Small-scale remodels that focus on painting the walls a fresh color and replacing existing tiles can be completed in less than two weeks. But like with kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels that involve replacing plumbing
fixtures and removing walls figure to take much longer than that. • Siding installation: HomeAdvisor users report that new siding projects take roughly two weeks from start to finish. That estimate is the same regardless of which materials homeowners are replacing and installing. • Replacement windows: Homeowners who want to replace all the windows in their home can
expect such a project to take roughly three weeks. HomeAdvisor notes that such a timeline need not concern homeowners worried that they will be forced to brave the elements during the length of the project. Much of a contractors’ time during a window replacement project will be spent on upfront measuring and then ensuring a tight fit once the windows have been installed.
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OCTOBER 19, 2021
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OCTOBER 19, 2021
Decorate Your Way to a Howling Good Halloween FAMILY FEATURES Costumes and candy may be mainstays of Halloween, but decorating is a fun way to set the mood and add a little extra excitement in the weeks leading up to the holiday. These spooktacular ideas can help dial up the drama and delight for all ages. Pumpkins aplenty: A traditional glowing jacko’-lantern may be one of Halloween’s most recognized icons, but pumpkins can be used in plenty of other fun ways. You can dress them up with glitter and ribbon for a more elegant look or group a series of pumpkins in varied shapes and colors for a seasonal centerpiece. You can even give a pumpkin a coat of chalkboard paint and count down the days until Halloween. Creepy kids’ crafts: Get little ghosts and goblins into the Halloween spirit with hand-made decorations that make your
seasonal decor equal parts sweet and spooky. Fold a black piece of construction paper down the middle and trace a child’s hand and wrist, with the wrist extending over the folded edge. Cut along the traced line, leaving the fold intact, and when you unfold the paper, you’ll have a bat to decorate. Add eyes and attach string to the top of the wings to hang and display. Gross and ghoulish: Some of the best Halloween displays have something in common: attention to detail. Get creative with your props and decorations to incorporate some unexpected attention-grabbers like brains in a jar. Place bunches of cauliflower in a clear glass container and cover with water died red. Spooky serving: If you’re entertaining for Halloween, incorporate spooky decor with your food and drinks to keep the theme going throughout the party. Use cauldrons as
serving bowls and skeleton hands as serving spoons. Add plenty of cobwebs and other spooky accents to the table, and search for easy recipes that fit your theme. One fun idea for kids is baking sugar cookies in fun Halloween shapes and serving them with a selection of food-safe syringes pre-filled with colored frosting. Ghostly greetings: All the tricks and treats indoors make for plenty of good spirit, but don’t forget to set the scene outside, too. Dressing up your front door lets visitors know they’re in for a real treat. A haunted graveyard scene or a spooky spider den with lots of critters dangling from fake cobwebs are sure to show all who dare to enter that a howling good time lies ahead. Find more frightfully fun ideas to make your home Halloween ready at eLivingtoday.com.
Spirit Week at Port Allegany Port Allegany High School Student Council, under the direction of Ben Palmer, hosted Spirit Week ending with a weekend of activities including a parade, bonfire and Junior High Dance held on Oct. 8 followed by a Port United Soccer game versus the Ridgway Elkers and the Port Allegany Gator versus Wellsboro Hornets football game on Oct. 9. The announcement of the King and Queen was made following the half-time performance of the Marching Gator Band. Selected King was Ty Guilds, son of Bob and Kelly Guilds. The Queen was Clarissa Moses, daughter of Jamie and
Jennifer Moses. Members of their court included Shelby Stewart, Rylie Simpson, Byrn Easton,
Alliyah Penick, Ryan Bowser, Sawyer Prince, River Cramer and Kaleb Green.
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Passive House continued from 1 roof, which was painted white, and onto the secondary face of the panel, allowing for additional collection. The cells in the panel absorbing photons creates an electric field across the layers, which causes electricity to flow. “We will be doing a sort of study; not a lot of people are using bifacial panels right now,” Robuck said. “So we will be paying attention to how much more efficient it is to go with bifacial rather than with a panel that collects solar energy only from the top.” Robuck explained that they estimated the progress on the entire project to be between 60 and 70% complete. Most of the necessary but invisible aspects of the building, including but not limited to the electrical wiring, ductwork, fire suppression and high speed internet, are in place. Drywall is currently being installed, with plans to work on taping, mudding and tile laying still on the to-do list. “One of the biggest challenges to making buildings energy efficient is air leakage,” Robuck explained. “With the Passive House, you have almost zero air leakage.” She noted that some people have expressed concerns about the air quality and potential downside of a building that is so self-contained. “We have a heat recovery ventilator that continually brings in fresh air from outside,” Robuck said. “This is to make sure the building is healthier than a building that is not buttoned up so tight. This is a
West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund A piece of the curtain wall is shown as it was lowered into place for storage upon its arrival in late September at 63 N. Fraley Street. The pieces of curtain wall were constructed in Germany by the only manufacturer certified in Passive House construction of this particular system. very healthy building. We are also trying to bring in a lot of natural light.” Finally, as the Passive House construction continues, locals are gaining experience and pursuing certifications in the field. Donna Zariczny of InScale Architects out of Warren, who is working with Gary Moshier Studio, the certified Passive House Architect on the project, just completed rigorous training and testing through the North American Passive House Network to obtain her certification. She is now a Certified Passive House Designer. Local contractors on the job are also seeing a new way to get the job done, and some have expressed the intent to utilize the
knowledge in future construction for themselves. “We have helped contractors take a second look at how they’ve been building, They see they can build to code and not spend a whole lot of money up front and have larger energy bills, or they can spend a little more up front and have really low energy bills,” Robuck said. “Now they have been on the job, they see the technical things that go into this building and how it’s going to work, and we’re actually sort of trying to change the tide in the construction industry.” She said that contractors are seeing the benefits in this project of building to a better standard.
What to do in the immediate aftermath of a car accident Car accidents happen every day. Though the World Health Organization reports that approximately 1.35 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes, many more people walk away from such accidents relatively unscathed. In such instances, knowing what to do in the immediate aftermath of an accident can help drivers and passengers stay safe and start on their road to physical and financial recovery. No two car accidents are the same, but the Insurance Information Institute recommends anyone involved in a car accident take the following steps to make the most informed decisions in what is often a difficult situation. • Assess your physical condition. The III recommends people involved in accidents check themselves for injuries in the immediate aftermath of an accident. Call 911 if you are hurt. If you’re seriously injured, try to remain still and only move with the assistance of emergency response personnel.
• Assess passengers’ physical condition. Drivers who are not too hurt to move can check on their passengers after assessing their own condition. Before moving a passenger who is injured, speak with an emergency response professional. This person can assess the situation and determine if it’s safe to move an injured passenger or if it’s best to wait for first responders to arrive on the scene. • Get to a safe place. If possible, move to the side of the road or a sidewalk. If it’s safe to move a vehicle and the vehicle is in a hazardous position, such as in the middle of the road, pull it to the side of the road. If the vehicle won’t start of you suspect it could be dangerous to move it, leave the car where it is and get yourself and any passengers who can move to the side of the road or a sidewalk. • Call 911. If you have not already done so, call 911 once you have gotten to a safe place. The III notes that no accident is too minor to involve the police, and some local laws even
mandate that all traffic accidents be immediately reported. Be sure to fill out an accident report, which can be vital for drivers who intend to file claims with their insurance providers. • Turn the vehicle off. If the vehicle is still running, turn it off. Turn on the vehicle’s hazard lights and, if you can physically do so and it’s safe to do so, place road flares around the car to warn fellow motorists. • Exchange information. Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver once everyone has determined that they are not injured. The III recommends exchanging full names and contact information. Specific information like insurance
companies and policy numbers, driver’s license numbers and license plate numbers, the exact location of the accident, and the type, color and model of the other driver’s vehicle also should be exchanged and noted. • Avoid discussing fault with the other driver. Drivers will not determine who’s at fault. Such decisions are made by insurance adjusters. Discussing fault with the other driver in the immediate aftermath of an accident can lead to difficult, potentially heated exchanges. • Document the accident. The III recommends motorists involved in accidents identify the responding police officers and ask
them how to obtain copies of the official accident report. Take pictures and speak with any witnesses, jotting down their names and contact information if possible. • Notify your insurance provider. Notify your insurance provider as soon as possible. You can even
do so from the scene of the accident if you’re capable of doing so. This can jumpstart the claims process. Knowing what to do in the immediate aftermath of a car accident can calm drivers’ nerves and get them on the road to recovery that much sooner.
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OCTOBER 19, 2021
Smethport board approves extra help for students BY FRAN DE LANCEY SMETHPORT — The Smethport Area School Board on Monday approved an agreement with Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit Nine’s Career and Technical Center’s School to Work Program for extra technology help during the current school year. Among the student’s responsibilities will be computer and Chromebook maintenance, basic troubleshooting and installing ink and toner. Kevin Kolivoski, the district’s technology director, said, “This is a great opportunity for a co-operative education student from the CTCs networking class to join the workforce and gain experience in the field of study.” Directors also approved the compensation rates for supplemental positions for 2021-22 as stated in the collective bargaining agreement. According to that contract wording, “If the temporary work position, extra hours, season or activity are not completed, these positions will be paid for on a prorated basis from the date of student-involved activities until the end of the activity work. The district will consider any future guidance on supplemental pay that clarifies an appropriate direction related to paying supplemental positions for activities not completed.” As part of this motion, the following coaching appointments were OKd: Colby Austin, head baseball; Jon Peterson, head softball; Justin Tanner, head track/field; Chad Smith, assistant girls’ basketball; Amanda Davis, volunteer assistant girls’ basketball;
and Ashley O’ Connell volunteer assistant fall cheerleading. In other personnel matters, directors accepted the resignation for retirement purposes from Troy Raszman after 35 years of employment as a custodian, effective Oct. 14. Joni Britton was hired as his full-time replacement. Also, Cyndee Smith was approved to provide educational services at the county jail. Administrators provide their monthly reports. Superintendent Brice Benson noted that the Department of Health quarantine exceptions exist if both a positive COVID-19 case and a close contact are properly wearing a face mask. The exception does not exist if students are inside of three feet. “We have done our best to limit those opportunities at school, and we continue to see very few contact traces from school,” Benson said. In his legislative update, Benson reported bi-partisan opposition defeated a bill that would provide vouchers for students to attend a different school if the resident district did not offer fulltime in-person instruction. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association also opposed this House bill. Addressing the school bus driver shortage, Benson said a resolution has been offered in the state senate urging Congress and the U.S. Department of Transportation to ease the commercial drivers license requirements for a school bus endorsement. “A major shortage of available bus drives is occurring in parts of the Commonwealth,” Benson noted.
Director of Special Education Kerri Dach reported 100 percent parent participation, either in person or via telephone, for IEP (individualized educational programs) and 504 students. This is the year for the district to be monitored for Indicator 13 transition that has the goal of providing students aged 15 and older who have IEPs to experience appropriate plans that helps them meet post-secondary goals. The Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit 9 transition coordinator will work with the secondary faculty throughout the year. The high school teachers are required to complete a sixhour course by the end of March as part of the monitoring, according to Dach. Kolivoski reported that the district is again using KnowBe4 for the district’s security awareness training. “This is a popular integrated platform for security awareness and simulated phishing attacks, those attempts to acquire sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity that tries to evade spam filters.” The directors also: *recognized the following Students of the Month: Mia Fuqua, intermediate level; Serenity Dunkle, primary level; Dominic Dudley, junior high; and Carson Dunn, senior high. *approved elementary building roofing repairs from TREMCO in the amount of $9,145; and *approved a kindergarten field trip to Pumpkinville in Great Valley, N.Y., on Thursday.
Drop boxes collect 106.9 pounds of unused medication SMETHPORT — A total said. McKean County Drug Task of 106.9 pounds of unused Anyone who suspects Force at MCDTFtip@gmail. medication were emptied illegal drug activity is en- com or (814) 887-3312. and disposed of from medi- couraged to contact the cation drop boxes throughout the county, announced McKean District Attorney Stephanie L. VettenburgShaffer on Wednesday. There are five drop boxes in the county. Shaffer explained how much was Real Estate · Estate & Wills · Family Law collected from each one. Criminal Law · Oil & Gas Lease Negotiation At Bradford City Police Station, 51.8 pounds was collected, an increase of 8.8 pounds since the sec219 North Main Street, Port Allegany NY ond quarter. At Bradford Township police station, 7.8 pounds was collected, an increase of 3.6 pounds since the second quarter. At Kane Borough police station, 15 pounds was collected, a decrease of 17 pounds from the second quarter. At the McKean County Sheriff’s office, there was 32.2 pounds collected, a decrease of 22.4 pounds since the second quarter. And at the Lewis Run state police barracks, .1 pound was collected, a decrease of 3 pounds since the second quarter. The boxes were sponsored by the Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Association and the Pennsylvania American Water Company as a tool for residents to discard unused medication safely. The county detectives with the district attorney’s office collect and weigh the unused medication in the boxes and arrange for their disposal with the state attorney general’s office. “The drop boxes are for anyone in our area to discard any unused medication they may have to prevent it from being used by anyone other than to whom it was prescribed as one step in preventing abuse and to prevent it from being flushed and impacting our water supply,” Shaffer
814-642-5133
Sarah DuFresne
DuFresne joins McKean County DA’s office SMETHPORT — District Attorney Stephanie L. Vettenburg-Shaffer announces that Sarah DuFresne has joined the McKean County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney. ADA Dufresne is a graduate of Johnsonburg Area High School and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She attended the Claude W. Pettit College of Law at Ohio Northern University and received her Juris Doctorate. During law school, DuFresne
was a research assistant for Ohio Northern University and a legal intern for the Elk County Public Defender’s Office. After graduating law school, DuFresne was a law clerk for the 59th Judicial District serving both Elk and Cameron Counties and, later, a defense attorney focusing on criminal law. DuFresne currently resides in Port Allegany with her husband and two children.
Conservation District seeking director nominations SMETHPORT — Concerned about the water quality and other natural resources in McKean County? Make a difference by serving as a director or associate director for the McKean County Conservation District. The Conservation District has an opening for a four-year Public Director, beginning in January 2022. Steve Sherk, who currently holds this position, will not be seeking reappointment. District directors have a direct say in how people in the county deal with many important natural resource issues such as water quality, forestry, agricultural best management practices and soil erosion. Serving on the conservation district board is an excellent way to make an impact on the future of our natural
resources. The McKean County Conservation District is governed by a seven-member board which oversees the District Manager and a five-member staff. Staff members work directly with landowners and other citizens to implement conservation practices on lands and educate the community about environmental issues and trends. The district board meets monthly to conduct the business of the district and to coordinate district programs with state and federal agencies and local units of government. Board members are not paid, but may receive compensation for expenses related to attending meetings and other activities of the board. Individuals interested in serving as a director or associate director
for the McKean County Conservation District need to be nominated by an approved nominating organization within the county. Nominating petitions are due on or before November 1. McKean County nominating organizations include the McKean County Bar Association, Historical Society, Farm Bureau, Upper Allegheny Watershed Association, Fair Association, Township Officials, Planning Commission, Penn State Extension and the Farm Service Agency. For more information, contact the McKean County Conservation District office at 887-4025, the McKean County Commissioners Office at 887-3202 or the State Conservation Commission office in Harrisburg at 717-787-8821.