NOVEMBER
30 2021
Bradford Ecumenical Home seeks children’s mitten donations
ELF FUND TREE CHALLENGE WINNER
Locals prepare boxes for Operation Christmas Child
BY DANIELLA GRIESBAUM Children should not have to suffer from cold hands this winter, which is why the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with the Bradford Ecumenical Home and Chapel Ridge to gather mitten donations for area children. Mitten donations can be dropped off to the reception area at the Bradford Ecumenical Home Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. or at Chapel Ridge between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. It is also ok to mail them to Becky Greenberg’s attention. Mitten donations will be accepted through Dec. 10 and displayed on the Mitten Christmas Tree. Families of the residents at the Bradford Ecumenical Home and Chapel Ridge have also been donating mittens — some have been donated from as far away as California, according to Greenberg. Newly purchased mittens and handmade mittens are accepted. “Please help by donating mittens to keep little hands warm this winter. All donations will be hung on our Mitten Tree and donated to local school children,” said Lisa Johnson, chief executive officer for the Bradford Ecumenical Home Inc. The Mitten Tree is a great tradition that staff look forward to each year, according to Becky Greenberg, director of activities at the Ecumenical Home. The idea for the Mitten Tree is based upon the book called the Mitten Tree. “It is a touching story and we love to carry on the sentiment of the story to make sure all the kids have warm hands through the cold winter,” said Greenberg. The staff at the Ecumenical Home really
Mitten Donations continued ... page 3
Photo submitted “The Santa Tree” was the winning submission in The Era’s Less Fortunate (ELF) Fund’s Tree Challenge. The tree -- decorated by Cassette Troop 26010, Brownie Troop 20335 and Daisy Troop 20029 led by Bonnie Leposa -- was auctioned off during the Festival of Trees fundraiser. The winner was the tree that brought in the highest bid. “The Santa Tree” will be on display in the window of Shembeda Floor Covering in Bradford. Also participating the Tree Challenge were Sandi Corradi, Kessel Construction, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Hamlin Bank & Trust and Girl Scout Troop 16366.
McKean Co. commissioners approve bid for parking project BY MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER SMETHPORT — The McKean County commissioners at Wednesday’s meeting approved a bid for work on the rear parking area at the courthouse. The bid went to Bob Cummins Construction of Bradford with a low bid of $156,700 with an alternate of $7,300. The project is to add drainage to secure the wall adjacent to the courthouse, replace the sidewalk and to pave in the parking spaces. The alternate bid would be included in the project if Smethport Borough were to pave King Street behind the courthouse. Also at the meeting, the commissioners appointed Rick Fry, the county’s planning director, to the board of the North Central
Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission for a threeyear term. Greg Bell was appointed to the McKean County Conservation District board for a four-year term. Commissioner Cliff Lane made the motion, saying, “We had some very good candidates interested.” Bell has been involved with the conservation district for a long time, Lane said. The motion was approved unanimously. In other matters, the commissioners unanimously approved applying for tax anticipation note for $2.5 million. Chairman Tom Kreiner said this is done annually. “This is normal so we have operating money until the tax revenue comes in,” he explained. Commissioners also
Pa. State Game Commission investigation leads to charges SMETHPORT — A from the possession Kane man has been of firearms. Bail was charged following an set at $30,000 by investigation by the Magisterial District Pennsylvania State Judge Todd. Game Commission. Kane Borough On Saturday, Police Officers McKean County PGC Joseph Schmader officers began an inand Michael Henry vestigation into posand Pennsylvania sible Game Law viState Police assisted olations near Kane, in the investigation. according to District According to Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer, Vettenburg-Shaffer. additional charges Following an into be filed by the vestigation, Jared Smith possessing two firearms Game Commission are of Kane was charged with when he is prohibited pending.
approved reallocating funds within a McKean County Redevelopment Authority/ A Partnership in Housing grant due to changes in need. Emergency shelter services were increased by $8,348; street outreach services were decreased by the same amount. Rapid rehousing case management services were increased by $4,000, while rapid re-housing rental assistance was decreased by $15,594. Homeless prevention was increased by $11,594, while homeless prevention rental assistance was decreased by $492. Homeless Management Information Services was increased by $492. The next commissioners meeting will be held Dec 14 at 10 a.m.
BY JOELLEN WANKEL The First Baptist Church just finished a week of collecting shoe boxes for Samaritan’s Purse for their Operation Christmas Child program. They collected a total of 1,581 boxes that will be sent around the world to spread joy and the gospel. Operation Christmas Child creates shoebox gifts for children overseas. The goal is to provide fun with toys, school supplies to help with their education and hygiene items, as these may be in short supply for children affected by war, disaster, poverty or famine. Students in Mrs. Jeanette’s and Mrs. Henry’s preschool and kindergarten classes at Bradford Area Christian Academy got a first-hand look at the shipping/packaging process, which includes letters and pictures for the special child who will receive it.
Each child prayed for the box and then the classes visited Bradford’s First Baptist Church, the OCC distribution center in town, to prepare the boxes for shipping. Operation Christmas Child is organized by Samaritan’s Purse International Relief. The program in the United States has been active since 1993. The origination of the program can be tracked to the United Kingdom in 1980, when Dave and Jill Cooke created a shoebox gift project in Wales. That project partnered with Samaritan’s Purse in 1993 and has continued from there. With a $9 donation online, those who pack shoeboxes can track where their box goes. Those who pack the boxes can visit samaritanspurse.org/activate to see details on the donation and tracking ability.
Blood drives set across region ERIE — As many look ahead at a busy holiday season, the American Red Cross encourages eligible donors across the country to give blood or platelets in the coming weeks. Several blood drives have been scheduled in the region for December. On Dec. 1, a drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Otto-Eldred High School, 143 Sweitzer Drive. On Dec. 2, a drive will be held from 1 to 5:30 p.m. at the Eldred First Church of God, 142 Main St. On Dec. 3, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will host a
drive from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On Dec. 6, the Kane First United Methodist Church, 112 Greeves St., will hold a drive from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. On Dec. 8, a drive will be held at the St. Marys Moose Club Lodge in Elk County from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Dec. 9 in Cameron County, a drive will be held at the Vets Club in Emporium from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Dec. 10, the Johnsonburg Senior Center in Elk County will hold a drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
On Dec. 13, Smethport Fire Hall will hold a drive from noon to 5:30 p.m. Make an appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). As a thank-you, all those who come to give Nov. 29-Dec. 16 will be automatically entered for a chance to win a private screening for the winner and 50 of their guests of the epic new film The Matrix Resurrections. Plus, those who come to give Nov. 29Dec. 16 will also get a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email, thanks to Amazon.