At 5:00 PM on Saturday, Westfield & Clymer Fire Depts, have been dispatched to 46 Stiles Road in Sabinsville for a chimney fire. Building has been evacuated.
5:51 PM--FIRE IS OUT.
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I'm curious as to why Gov. Tom Wolf announced his legislative agenda Thursday, five days before doing the exact same thing in his address to the state Legislature. Nevertheless, here are some of my thoughts on his wish list: $12 Minimum Wage - I am not opposed to an eventual increase in Pennsylvania's minimum wage. My simple questions to Gov. Wolf would be, "Why now?" and "How does a business that has fewer customers and less revenue coming through its doors (due to COVID-19) pay a higher wage to the relative few employees it can manage to keep on staff ?" This is fantasy league economics. Legalization of Adult-Use Cannabis - I am personally against legalizing recreational use of marijuana, and while I am in the first months of my first term in office, I feel I've spoken to enough constituents to know the majority of the people I represent feel the same way. Natural Gas Severance Tax - I know this is not the governor's first such request. Fact - every piece of legislation needs 102 votes in the House and 26 votes in the Senate to get to his desk. I'm not sure his proposal has the necessary legislative support. We already impose an impact "tax" - which is mistakenly labeled a "fee" - as part of Act 13 of 2012, and I'm always concerned when I hear a government entity tell someone they aren't contributing enough money and then say they know how much their "fair share" should be. Also, much like my thoughts on a minimum age increase, I'm following the money trail. If a natural gas company is asked to pay more, the consumer will inevitably be asked to do likewise. When there's less coming in, how does a taxpayer pay more? |
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| COVID-19 Vaccine Update
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The Pennsylvania Department of Health is expanding its COVID-19 vaccination plans to provide immediate eligibility to individuals age 65 and older, and individuals ages 16-64 with certain medical conditions, as defined by the CDC, that increase the risk of severe illness from the virus. The decision is based on updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The state is currently in Phase 1A of its plan, which initially focused on health care providers, EMS personnel and people living or working in congregate care facilities. For additional information on the updated criteria, to determine eligibility or find a vaccine provider, click here. |
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| Important Unemployment Assistance News
My offices continue to be inundated with questions, concerns and complaints related to unemployment compensation. I share your concern and frustration as this method of doing “the people’s business” is unsatisfactory, even in extreme circumstances Last Wednesday, the House Labor and Industry Committee held a public hearing to update the status of Pennsylvania’s backlog of unemployment compensation claims. If you missed the hearing, please click here to watch a recording of the event. Meanwhile, the state Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) has announced payments for the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program in the new federal CARES Act have resumed. According to L&I:
PEUC provides additional claim weeks to workers who have exhausted their regular Unemployment Compensation (UC) benefits. Claimants are automatically enrolled in PEUC after they have reached their maximum claim weeks for UC. More information about the program and other unemployment benefit updates are available here. |
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| House Committee Continues Election Review
This Thursday, Feb. 4, the House State Government Committee will discuss election audits with the Office of the Auditor General as part of its series of election oversight hearings that will examine House members’ concerns. Here is the tentative schedule of future hearings with topics:
While I am not a member of the committee, I will be streaming the hearings through my website, www.RepMikeArmanini.com. If you missed Thursday’s hearing on the Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors (SURE) System, the election management system and other election information technology, please click here to watch a recording of the event. |
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| Giving You a Voice in Emergency Declarations
Pennsylvanians could soon have a say in the duration of disaster emergencies declared by the governor under legislation approved in the House this week. House Bill 55 proposes to amend the state Constitution by limiting emergency declarations by a governor to a maximum of 21 days. Extending a declaration beyond that time would require legislative approval, thereby ensuring the voices of our citizens – through their elected lawmakers – are fully represented. The proposal comes at a time when the state is under two long-term disaster emergency declarations: one regarding the opioid crisis, which has been in place for more than three years, and the other regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been going on for more than 10 months. Executive powers to declare emergencies are sometimes needed to free up resources for an immediate response to situations such as natural disasters. They should not be used to circumvent the state Constitution, the separation of powers or – most importantly – the will of the people for extended periods of time. The measure also proposes additional constitutional amendments:
With final approval by the House and Senate in the second consecutive legislative session, these constitutional amendment proposals could go before the voters in a referendum on the May 18 primary election ballot. |
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| Standing Up for Local Restaurants
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On Wednesday, the House Commerce Committee, of which I am a member, conducted a hearing with the Pennsylvania restaurant industry to discuss how COVID-19 mitigation efforts have affected their businesses and how the legislature could help them recover from their devastating losses. Please click here to watch a recording of that meeting. |
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| Investing in Education
Congratulations to the Ridgway Area School District on its successful application for a food safety grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The money is targeted for the high school's combination oven, and the grant is for more than $14,000. The grant process can be a tedious and challenging one to navigate, and I'm glad to see the district's hard work pay off. All applicants had to be participants in the National School Lunch Program. Funding for the grants is made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and use of them is restricted to purchasing or upgrading equipment such as refrigerators, freezers, stoves, and dishwashers. |
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| CDL Licenses for Veterans
The state is no longer requiring residents who are current and former military members and who operated a commercial vehicle while serving our country to take a knowledge test when applying for a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). The waiver applies to CDL applicants who wish to operate vehicles similar to those they operated in the military and have at least two years of experience operating a commercial motor vehicle as part of their military job requirements. Please click here for more information. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Those who want to learn about the spectacular stargazing events coming up in this area in 2021 are invited to register now at events.dcnr.pa.gov for the "Astronomical Highlights of 2021." This free 30-minute virtual program is being held on Friday, Feb. 5 from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Find out what to look for and when in the night sky, from meteor showers, to planetary conjunctions and even a lunar eclipse. Park staff will highlight only the best events that will be visible in the Northeastern United States, including this area. Also provided will be viewing tips for people of all ages from their own backyards. The short presentation, complete with visuals of what people might see in the night sky for each event, will be followed by an open Question & Answer session.
This program will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams. It will NOT take place face-to-face in Cherry Springs State Park, which is 12 miles from Galeton and 15 miles from Coudersport in Potter County. No in-person programs are being held at any Pennsylvania state park until after March 31.
For more information, call Tim Morey at 570-724-8561 or email tmorey@pa.gov.
Kevin Dusenbury Potter County Coroner
Thank you...two small words that do not say enough.
As your Coroner, our office works with every fire department and ambulance company in the county. These tireless volunteers do what many can not or would not. They respond at every hour--day or night--danger faces them as they leave their homes and families. The volume of calls they are responding to have risen enormously.
Please keep these volunteers in your prayers. If you are able, please think about becoming a member of one of these organizations to help your community.
William L. Poorman, 82, of Port Allegany, PA, passed away Saturday, (January 30, 2021) in Sena Kean Manor, Smethport, PA.
Arrangements under the direction of the Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes, Inc., Port Allegany are incomplete and will be announced with a full obituary.
After careful consideration, the Library will reopen to the public on Monday, February 1, with a strict 1 HOUR PER PATRON policy for all activities. Mask wearing continues to be mandatory in the building at all times.
Additionally, thanks to a generous grant from The George A. and Margaret Mee Charitable Foundation, the library acquired a new multifunctional copy center. This center now allows the library to offer faxing services to the general public.
Faxing costs are $2.00 for a single page fax, and $1 for each additional page being sent. The Library will not charge patrons for a fax cover sheet or a confirmation printout.
We can also now offer color copies for pages up to 11x17 for the same cost as our regular copies, $.25 per page.
“The remaining funds acquired through The George A. and Margaret Mee Charitable Foundation will go towards more improvements and upgrades to the library in the coming year,” said Librarian Yelena Kisler. “So definitely look for lots of new great things to come in 2021. We appreciate our patrons’ continued support and cooperation, and look forward to seeing all of you again.”
Alumni of the Month - Gary P. Foster
Year of Graduation: 1968
What have you done since graduating from Port Allegany High School?
My love of the outdoors and a desire to capture and share what I saw led me to photography. I remember asking my sister Joni if I could borrow her Kodak Instamatic camera and if she would show me how to put the film in and take pictures with it. She did, but the pictures I took did not capture what I had hoped for. So I began reading about how to take better pictures. A little while later, I purchased a used 35mm camera and took a course in photography that gave me a good understanding of the basics along with a foundation to build on. Through practice and learning I became more confident and found myself getting hooked on photography. I knew that this was a career I wanted to pursue. In 1971 it was time to test the waters. In those early days I did mostly black and white outdoor portraits. I also began photographing weddings. In 1974 I opened my first studio on North Brooklynside Road in Port Allegany. That same year I met my wife Linda. Our first date was a portrait session of her.
Not long after opening the studio, I became a member of several professional photography organizations including the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). I soon began attending seminars and conventions. I had the privilege of studying with numerous masters of photography whose work I had long admired. This, along with entering print competitions, elevated my work to a new level. Since then I have won many regional, state, and national awards including: highest scoring print, two "court of honors" from the Professional Photographers of New York, and have had work chosen to be included in the PPA traveling loan collection, a collection of images representing the best professional photography on a national and international level. Most of my award winning images have been from high school senior and family portrait sessions.
In the early 90's after about 500 weddings over a 23 year period, I decided to phase out weddings and concentrate more on what I enjoyed most. That was portraits, especially high school senior portraits.
In 1996 I received my master of photography degree from the Professional Photographers of America at the national convention held in Orlando Florida. Linda and our two daughters, Cassie and Lindsay, were there with me for the presentation.
After having photographed several thousand area seniors over the years, I continue to enjoy working with this age group. May 2021 will mark 50 years of full-time professional photography for me. I am scheduling fewer sessions now, but have no plans for retiring any time soon. I feel very fortunate that I have been able to follow my passion and do what I love doing throughout my career. I am grateful for my family who have all been supportive and encouraging along the way. I am also grateful for my clients, many who have become friends, that made it all possible.
"Work is only work when you would rather be doing something else". - Dr. Wayne Dyer
Where do you currently live?
Port Allegany, Pennsylvania
Who was your favorite teacher in high school? Why were they your favorite?
Mr. Sturga, my art teacher. He had a good sense of humor and was warm, friendly, and caring. It was a good class. Also, Mr. Dann who was my gym teacher. I was not fond of gym class, but I liked Mr. Dann anyways. He had a nice personality and was very kind and caring especially one-on-one. He had known my dad who had gone to the gym to work out on open gym nights.
What is your fondest memory of Port Allegany High School?
Playing guitar with The Changing Tymes, a rock band that Kim Klein and I had formed. We played for some of the school dances in the gym. We did our best trying to sound like my heroes, The Rolling Stones. For some reason we never got a call from the Stones asking us to come and join them (haha). I am envious of fellow alumni Bobby Taylor who had the opportunity to work with the Stones doing their audio.
Luella B. “Red” Riley, 93, of Bradford, PA, passed away on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at her home.
She was born on April 6, 1927 in Smethport, a daughter of the late Leon and Viola Dickinson Lovell.
On April 10, 1948 in the Methodist Church, Brockway, she married David H. Riley who preceded her in death on July 24, 1998.
She was a member of the former IAS club and a dedicated member of the Salvation Army. She was also an avid bingo player and a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
She was employed by W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery for several years prior to working for Head Start as an aide and bus driver for many years.
She is survived by two daughters, Shirley Lovell of Sykesville and Leona McKinney of Bradford and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband she was also preceded in death by one son, three daughters and various siblings and grandchildren.
At the family’s request a private graveside service at Willow Dale Cemetery will be held at their convenience.
In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to the Mascho Funeral Home to help defray the cost of her funeral.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Mascho Funeral Home, Inc.
Online Condolences can be expressed at www.maschofuneral.com.
This engine will replace the 1988 Pierce which has been in front line service for the past 33 years.
Many thanks to the committee for their hard work on this project over the last year. This engine was specifically designed to improve our operational efficiency and help us provide the best possible service to our community.
Look for the new Engine 3 to be on the streets in early 2022!
Mary Elizabeth (Clancy) Wise went to be with her loved ones on Jan. 28, 2021.
Born Dec. 25, 1939, Mary grew up in Genesee, Pa., an area also known as “Irish Settlement.” She was very proud of her Irish heritage and never missed a chance to celebrate that identity with friends and family. She was married to Robert C. Wise on March 3, 1962.
Mary attended Lock Haven Teachers College where she earned a degree in English with a minor in French. She taught at several schools in the area including Bucktail, Bald Eagle Nittany, Penns Valley and Lock Haven. In time her family became more important and she retired selflessly to raise her children. Read more....
The Elk County Democratic Committee will host it's monthly meeting on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2021 starting at 7:30pm. Because of current COVID-19 concerns, the meeting will be held virtually via either phone-call or Zoom Meeting. All area Democrats are encouraged to participate. Committee members are required to attend or be excused. Elk County Democratic candidates for township, borough, city and school board positions for the upcoming Primary are encouraged to participate as well.
At 5:40 am on Saturday, Port Allegany fire and ambulance dispatched to Katherine Street for a female fallen outside with possibly serious injuries.
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