Big Brothers - Big Sisters of McKean County

AnnaLisa Ryding, left, and Annie Wolfe attended the McKean County Commissioners meeting Tuesday morning as ambassadors for the Big Brothers-Big Sisters mentoring program.

Port Allegany is among communities where the agency is recruiting additional mentors because of the waiting list of youths needing mentors.  Martha Knight Photo

Commissioners make appointments, hear BBBS / By Martha Knight

SMETHPORT—The McKean County Commissioners met briefly Tuesday morning, making some appointments and proclaiming January and February as National Mentoring Awareness Months in the county.

Commissioner chairman Joe DeMott read the proclamation noting the value of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, which operates under the auspices of The Guidance Center. Then he and commissioner Al Pingie adopted the measure.

The proclamation calls upon “all citizens, businesses, public and private agencies, religious and educational institutions to join the mentoring movement,”

On hand from the mentoring agency were Annie Wolfe and AnnaLisa Ryding. They said that they are recruiting additional “Bigs,” as adult mentors in the program are called, because there is a backlog of youths for whom no mentors are available. Some have been on a waiting list a year or longer.

The commissioners appointed Barbara Cummings of Kane to the Bradford Regional Airport Authority for a five-year term.

Two more appointments placed Erin Vassallo of the Kane Industrial Development Corporation and Don Martyna of the Mt. Jewett Borough Council on the McKean County Planning Commission, for four-year terms.

Jeff Rhinehart, an Eldred Township supervisor, was appointed to the county planning commission too, to fill out the unexpired term of Duane Wolfe, which ends on May 16, 2015.

DeMott voiced his thanks for the service of those who serve on various boards, commissions and agencies in such roles, providing valuable input.

Commissioners approved payment of $15,244 to the Area Transportation Authority, representing the portion of their budget allotment covering the January-through-March period.

Stacy Wallace, a Bradford attorney, was approved as a service provider to the Department of Human Services. DeMott said she will do legal work for the department.

The commissioners announced that they are eliminating the office manager position at the Penn State Cooperative Extension office, after the February 15 retirement of Shirley Birch, longtime manager.

That change does not eliminate any service or alter operations at the extension office, DeMott explained. Rather, Penn State prefers to employ the manager directly. Previously the county had paid the salaries of some staff at that office through the county payroll system.

Also approved was a new maintenance agreement with Karpinski’s Office Systems, Coudersport, covering a copier in sheriff’s office. Charges will be based on 0.72 cents per copy, covering all service, parts and supplies except paper.

VA HEalth and Benefit Seminar

“ATTENTION VETERANS and FAMILY MEMBERS”

Don’t understand VA Health Care, need more information on the Health Care and Benefits you or your service member earned from their military service?

Attend our VA Health and Benefits Seminar

When: Saturday, April 5^th, 2014. Time 10:30 AM until approx 2:30 PM?

Location:  Wilcox American Legion (Clarion Street, Wilcox, PA)

This event will host professionals from Veteran’s Administration Regional Medical Centers and Veterans Community Service Officers who will be present and able to answer all of your questions and assist with benefits, enrollment, and claims processing.

“For Enrollment or Claims” Ensure you bring along your DD Form 214, other documents may also be required for enrollment or claims processing.

Questions or additional information is available by contacting the POCs below:

Organizer POCs:

Barry D Brown, Local Veterans Employment Representative, Pa CareerLink Elk County

Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry

Phone 814-834-2857-ext.206 Fax 814-781-7872

E-Mail  barrybrown@pa.gov

Byron Sutton, Veterans Employment Representative, Pa CareerLink McKean & Potter Counties

Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry

Phone:  814-363-9100 Ext. 10 (Bradford)  Phone:  814-274-9330 Ext. 15  (Coudersport)

E-Mail  bysutton@pa.gov

Judith D. Maben, Great-grandmother

Judith D. Maben, 73, of Park Lane Dr., passed away Wednesday (Jan. 29, 2014) in her home, with family by her side.
    

Born June 15, 1940, in Port Allegany, she was a daughter of Richard A. and Mildred L. Studer Ludwig.
    

Judy was a lifetime resident of the area and a graduate of Port Allegany High School, Class of 1958, and from the Bradford Hospital School of Nursing, as an LPN.
    

Mrs. Maben had been employed with the Bradford Hospital for many years, before her retirement.
      

She enjoyed camping, reading, puzzles, and most of all, spending time with her family.
      

Surviving in addition to her longtime companion, Kenneth Main, with whom she resided, are two sons, Timothy A. (Amie) Maben and Richard A. (Becky) Maben both of Port Allegany; two daughters, Lisa A. (Mike) Prosser of Austin, Tina M. Meacham of Port Allegany; 15 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, a sister, Nancy (Emmet) Mead of Turtlepoint; and several nieces and nephews.  

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Richard L. Ludwig, and a son-in-law, Dale T. Meacham, Jr.

Friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 8, 2014) in the First Baptist Church, Port Allegany, with Rev. Michael Culver, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Port Allegany.
      

Memorials can be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
    

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Switzer Funeral Home, Port Allegany.

Loraine J. "Rainy" Moore Bova, Beautician

Loraine J. "Rainy" Moore Bova, 81 of Port Allegany, PA, went to be with the Lord on January 27, 2014, while in the Bradford Regional Medical Center, following a short illness. She was born on September 15, 1932, the daughter of Fred and Rhea (Blakeslee) Moore.  On September 15, 1951, in Rew, PA, she married her husband of 62 years, Richard E. Bova of Port Allegany, who survives.

Mrs. Bova was a 1950 graduate of Bradford High School and attended beauty school in both Meadville and Bradford.

Loraine lived her life devoted to Church, Family, and Community.  She was a member of the Port Allegany United Methodist Church, having served on several boards and committees, was active in Church Women United, and was a former teacher of the adult Sunday school class. Loraine was a self-employed beautician for 42 years, retiring in 1997.  A member of the Smethport Country Club, she enjoyed golf, and played Library 500 and bridge.  She was a past member of the Red Hat Society.  She also enjoyed knitting and created many beautiful items for her family and friends.  During her lifetime, she was a member of the Port Allegany Borough Council, serving as President, the McKean County Cancer Society, served on the S.W. Smith Library Board, and served as Judge of Elections.  Loraine also volunteered as a driver for many years transporting patients for chemotherapy treatments in the area.

In addition to her husband, Loraine is survived by two sons, Bradley (Marti) Bova of Port Allegany, and Barry (Dawn) Bova of Bellevue, OH; four daughters, Susan (Tony) Flint, Joy "Bunky" (Mark) Barnard, and Jill (Jeff) Stuckey, all of Port Allegany, and Shana Bova of Monaca, PA.   She is also survived by 20 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, two brothers, Fred (Blanche) Moore of Rew, PA and James (Cherry) Moore of Rome, GA and one sister, Shirley Reed of Eldred, PA.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, and one foster brother. 
 

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 30, 2014 from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes, Inc, 105 N Main St, Port Allegany, PA.   Funeral service will be held Friday, January 31, 2014 at 11:00 AM at the United Methodist Church of Port Allegany with the Rev. Randall Headley, Pastor, officiating.  Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery, Port Allegany.

Memorials may be made to United Methodist Church of Port Allegany, 307 N Main St, Port Allegany, PA 16743 or the S.W. Smith Library, 201 E. Maple St., Port Allegany, PA 16743.

Online condolence may be made at www.hartle-tarboxfuneralhomes.com

Arrangements are under the direction of the Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes, Port Allegany.