PAES Phones Offline

At this hour, according to the PASD Facebook page, phones are offline at Port Allegany Elementary School.  Officials are hoping technicians will be on location early tomorrow morning and have the school online by the beginning of the day.

Shedding light on the progress

Natural light floods into Lynn Hall, and artificial light assists in showing the incredible accomplishment so far in the massive restoration project. 

The table saw sees plenty of use, as do many other power tools and hand tools, with liberal applications of elbow grease.  Martha Knight Photo

DeVore's pose during a much deserved break

Sue and Gary DeVore pause momentarily in their labors, seated on a landscaping feature that represents many hours of work accomplished with the help of volunteers. The familiar northeast elevation of Lynn Hall is easily seen now after removal of many trees that had partially hidden it when it sat vacant.  Martha Knight Photo

Local Church Celebrates Anniversary of Two Locations

Open Arms Community churches of Bradford and Port Allegany are celebrating their anniversaries with a picnic and bonfire Oct. 5 at the Otto Township Pavilion near the school along R. L. Sweitzer Drive.​

The event is set for 4-8 p.m. with hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks being provided. People should bring a dish to pass.

As the Bradford area church turns 12 years old, and Port Allegany is celebrating being open one year, Pastor Mike McAvoy reflected on the years gone by.

“As we have cooperated with God and kept His heart for reaching the world with the Good News of Jesus as the priority, we continue to see new people coming and their lives being changed,” McAvoy said. “The things we do and the way we do them connect and resonate with the people of today. They make sense and people find them practical and relevant to their daily lives.”

Assistant Pastor Justin Willoughby said those attending the two churches can expect an accepting and relaxed environment with no pressure.

“They can expect to see real people who are not perfect, but who are all trying to learn more about a God who is perfect, loving, and accepting,” he said. “Open Arms is unlike any church experienced that I have had. Open Arms, and the way we do things has the potential for you to experience God in a real, tangible way. It has changed my life, and it can change yours too.”

Port Allegany Site Pastor Chris Stavish said the first of the year of the church has been fantastic.

“God is continually meeting people where they are at, and guiding them through the everyday struggles that we all face,” he said. “It is humbling to know we are a part of a community that is growing more and more in love with Jesus, and we get front row seats to changed lives.”

He point​ed​ to a woman named Lindsay who has been changed after attending Port Allegany Open Arms.

“Depressed, on multiple forms of medication to aid in her discomfort, turning to everything destructive in order to bring her comfort, decides to come to church one day,” Stavish said. “As she walks in, grabs a seat... she hears about Jesus. Upon leaving, she feels something different; something never before felt and that is empty, but more hopeful than before the service started. Shortly after hearing about Jesus, she made the decision to follow Him and since then, has been off medications, abusive habit situations, all because she found something never before discovered by her... that is the love, acceptance, and peace of a Heavenly Father giving her joy and direction in the middle of overwhelming circumstances.”

Open Arms is gearing up for their annual Fall Kickoff Weekend, which will start in Bradford with a new Saturday night service Oct. 4 at 6 p.m., and on Sundays at9:15 and 11 a.m In Port Allegany, service times are 9:45 and 11:30 a.m. Both churches will be covering a new series of discussions entitled "Supernatural: Exposing the Dark Side of Spirituality."

For more information contact the church office at openarmsoffice@gmail.com or 814-368-8846.

Thomas J. Mahon, U. S. Army Veteran

Thomas J. Mahon, 92, formerly of Arnold Ave., passed away Thursday (Sept. 25, 2014) in the Bradford Nursing Pavilion.  
    

Born May 13, 1922, in Austin., PA, he was a son of Thomas and Isabella Moyer Mahon.  
    

Thomas has worked in construction for Fish Engineers of Houston, TX for several years, before retiring in 1980.
    

Mr. Mahon was a veteran of WWII, having served with the US Army.  
    

He was a longtime resident of the area and a member of the Turtlepoint Evangelical Church.
    

Surviving is a sister, Emelda (William) Glover of Austin, PA; and several nieces and nephews.
      

He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, Harry, Edwin, Richard and Marvin Mahon; eight sisters, Maude Nickerson, Lena Nickler, Eva Rossette, Eloise Riale, Irene Hartsock, Annabel Campbell, Reva Crosby, and Anna Mae Wennin.
    

Friends will be received Sunday from 1-5 p.m. in the Switzer Funeral Home, Port Allegany. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday (Sept. 29, 2014) in the funeral home, with Rev. Anthony Edgell, pastor of the Turtlepoint Evangelical Church, officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, Austin.
    

Memorials can be made to the Turtlepoint Evangelical Church or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Boy Scout Troop 560 5K Tomorrow

Boy Scout Troop 560 of Port Allegany PA is sponsoring a 5k to raise funds for a High Adventure trip to Philmont High Adventure Scout Ranch in New Mexico in the summer of 2015.

Race is scheduled to start at 9:30 AM on September 27th, 2014.

Cost is $30 before 9/15/2014 and $35 after, including day-of-race registration. Ultra-cool-swag guaranteed to all who pre-register!

Additional information on this opportunity to have fun and benefit the local boy scouts can be found by checking their website:  http://www.autumncolor5k.com/

Basket Bingo Fundraiser

Police Report 9/15 - 9/21

Scammers called local businesses threatening power shut-off. A mom sought info to confirm a child’s tale of force-feeding by a dad. The fly fishing rod left at the car wash got away. A bike was fished out of the Lillibridge. A motorist misplaced his car.

Those and other situations received Port Allegany Police Department attention in the week that began Monday. September 15.

Last Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. Chief Dave Distrola was notified by Munchie’s personnel that a scam call had been received, with the caller claiming to represent an electric company and demanding a supposed overdue balance. The caller claimed power would be shut off unless the payment was made. The caller’s number was shown as 866-978-0187. When that number was called, an answering service was reached.

At 6 p.m. Officer Adam Dickerson received a similar report, this one from Mick’s Diner. The scam attempt details matched those of the call to Munchie’s.

At 8 p.m. Dickerson dealt with a harassment complaint by a Mill Street resident, who said someone was driving a car past her house and beeping the horn, and throwing stuff at her house. Dickerson was unable to locate the vehicle in question. He noted that the caller was highly intoxicated.

Last Wednesday at 1 p.m. Distrola received a call for information concerning an alleged incident said to have occurred at the Sheetz store during the Labor Day weekend. The caller said her five-year-old daughter had stated that her father had tried to force-feed the child a hot dog and had punched her in the stomach, and that a Sheetz employee had intervened and had summoned police, and that the police had responded. The mother was advised that there is no record of such an incident having occurred, and that no Sheetz employees reported having made such a call to the police, and no police had responded to that location in connection with such an incident.

Thursday at 5 p.m. Officer Tony Tanner received an inquiry from someone who stated he had left a fly rod at the car wash during Labor Day weekend, and wondered whether it had been turned in. It had not.

At 5:33 p.m. Tanner received a complaint that an older green two-door extended-cab truck with a white tailgate had been spinning its tires and beeping its horn on Oak Street. Tanner was unable to locate the vehicle described.

Friday at 5:10 p.m. Tanner received a report that a bike had been found in Lillibridge Creek along Edison Bates Drive. The caller had placed the bike in the bike rack by the pedestrian bridge.

At 6 p.m. Tanner was given a metal folder containing papers, found on Mill Street. Tanner identified the owner from the information in the folder. He notified the owner, and the owner said he would pick up the items later.

At 8:30 p.m. Tanner unlocked a motor vehicle for its owner, on Main Street.

Saturday at 12:25 a.m. Tanner went to 310 North Main Street in an ambulance assist, in connection with a report of someone experiencing a seizure.

At 4:35 a.m. Tanner received a call concerning a possible stolen vehicle. The vehicle was located later behind the Park Hotel. The owner had misplaced his vehicle.

Sunday at 2:38 a.m. Tanner discovered a man passed out in the Gazebo. The subject was transported to a friend’s home on Pearl Street. Tanner did not indicate whether he would cite the subject for public drunkenness.

At 4:35 a.m. Tanner was dispatched to the intersection of North Main Street and Arnold Avenue for a report of a fight. The alleged combatants were gone when Tanner arrived. Tanner observed blood on the roadway and advised the dispatch service to contact local hospitals to request notification in case a fight victim showed up. Such an individual did show up at Charles Cole Hospital with wounds. Investigation continues.

At 8:10 a.m. Tanner responded to an alarm at Moe’s Bar and Grill. The alarm turned out to have been caused by a false activation. The key holder was contacted.

At 9:30 a.m. Officer Kyle Day was dispatched to North Main Street for a report of a verbal domestic dispute. The complainant indicated that adult offspring residing with the couple were placing a strain on the marriage. The caller claimed that verbal threats had been made. Day provided contact information for the Victims’ Resource Center. The male parties agreed to leave the residence for the time being. Day indicated that the threat allegations are being investigated.

At 2:20 p.m. Tanner received a 911 hang-up from a Hickory Street residence. Tanner was able to see the resident on the floor. A relative of the occupant was called, and that person unlocked the door. Medics were able to provide service.

Plant manager speaks

Robert Lehman, manager of Pittsburgh Corning's local facility, traced some of the history of the company and its Port Allegany birth in 1938, making the community the Glass Block Capital of the world. All North American glass blocks are still made here. The new sign sits atop some new style blocks in a new joinery pattern. The glass block planter is new, too.  Martha Knight Photo

Devlin speaks during glass park press conference

Linda Devlin, Executive Director of the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau, predicts that the planned Serenity Glass Park at 4-6 

North Main Street will be a "new gem" that helps make Port Allegany a major destination for tourists.  Martha Knight Photo

Lynn Hall Records

Gary and Sue DeVore are curators of Lynn Hall lore, and records and drawings and correspondence that could be 

salvaged from the office and studio of Raymond Viner Hall and his father, builder Walter Hall.  Martha Knight Photo

School board picks $$ advisor, assistant principal / By Martha Knight

Port Allegany school directors sandwiched a public meeting between two executive sessions, Monday night, and managed to arrive at several important, strategic decisions.

One decision saw the board agreeing to engage Public Financial Management, Inc. (also known as the PFM Group) as its financial advisor. The motion was added to the agenda after a presentation by Jamie Doyle, managing director of the firm.

Business manager Judy Bodamer urged the board to act at once on getting a financial advisor in place, so as to move forward with refinancing of some of the district’s debt. Doing so could result in substantial lowering of the district’s debt service costs, because of the low interest rates prevailing now, according to Jamie Doyle, managing director of PFC.

PFC has served the district in a number of borrowings and refinancing moves in the past.

The same motion named Rhoads & Sinon LLP bond counsel. They will work with the board’s solicitor, Christian T. Mattie III. There will be a “competitive interest auction with a recommendation to utilize the approach that produces the best economic benefit to the District.”

The motion specified a minimum net savings target of 2 percent. It was carried by the board with no negative votes. Rod Howard and Ingrid Lapp were absent.

A team of presenters from SmartEdge, an energy management company, outlined a guaranteed energy saving program to the board. The company, which serves a number of public school systems, in the area, including Bradford School District, proposes to oversee some upgrades in energy use and equipment, while saving the district money. No competitive bidding would be required, and there would be no change orders in the contract once the board approves a specific agreement.

There would be savings to the district, in the SmartEdge program, it was explained. In a harsh winter the savings would be greater than in a mild winter.

Superintendent Gary Buchsen also delivered an overview of the workings of the Pennsylvania Public Entity Energy Consortium (PPEEC). The alliance is modeled after a program in use in Michigan. There would be no fees to the district for PPEEC services, which would assist in the bulk purchases of fuel and electricity.

The PPEEC agreement will be studied by Mattie, who will advise the district as to the legalities. Bodamer said the district does bulk purchases of natural gas, at considerable savings. It is believed PPEEC would not restrict the district’s options to maintain agreements that have been useful.

The board voted unanimously to hire Erica Emmerick, of Austin, as assistant principal. Nineteen applicants had responded to advertising. The board had discussed the finalists and apparently reached consensus, in the executive session preceding the 7 p.m. public meeting. Emmerick’s salary will be $70,000, pro-rated to reflect a beginning date of September 22.

The assistant principal assists principals in both the elementary and the secondary schools, as needed.

Derrick Francis was appointed girls’ junior varsity basketball coach, on a split tally. Voting Yes were board president Dave Mensch, Jason Stake, Scott Moses and Mark Carlson. Dan Kysor and Dee Buchanan voted No, and Sean Lathrop abstained.

Discussion indicated that some board members would have liked to see more candidates considered, perhaps through advertising.

Buchsen explained that such supplemental positions usually are filled by posting vacancies to current district employees. If no qualified applicants step forward, such a position then would be advertised. The position pays $3,033, as established in the current professional agreement.

The board agreed to have Taylor & Armstrong seal cracks in the front parking lot of the school at a cost of $790. Buchsen acknowledged that the parking lot had been blacktopped only last year, but the harsh winter had brought damage. The contractor had provided a partial credit because of the cracks.

High school principal Marc Budd said the blacktop had been applied over cracked pavement. The project had not called for removal of the old surface. Board members agreed that not sealing the cracks invites further damage and more costly repairs.

The board approved a new contract with IU9 for provision of the Virtual Academy cyber school. Buchsen said about half a dozen Port Allegany students are enrolled in the program. The cost to the district was not stated.

Also approved was a motion directing Buchsen to cast the board’s single vote for Kathy Swope as president of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, with fellow officers to be Mark Miller as vice president, Otto Voit III as treasurer and David Hutchinson as at-large representative.

The board met in another executive session, said to be about personal matters, after the public meeting. Its next regularly scheduled meeting will be at 7 p.m. October 13, in the high school library.