Clark presents information to garden club

Jim Clark, left, Penn State Extension water resources specialist with statewide duties, presented a program on roadside springs to the Port Allegany Garden Club Tuesday night. Here he discusses some brochures with Jo Ann Tyson, secretary, and Ron Tyson, president. Clark reported that all the roadside springs in the area are contaminated. Some bacterial and protozoan contaminants are rendered harmless by boiling; minerals and toxins are not. Clark said some users are "passionate" about their favorite roadside springs, but that cold, clear water is not safe to drink. Also, standing water is dangerous, and some contains visible or invisible algae blooms and toxins they produce.  Photo Submitted

Aldean L. Manning, NHS Member

Aldean L. Manning, 86, of Lillibridge Creek Rd., passed away Wednesday (May 20, 2015) in Sena Kean Manor, Smethport.
    

Born March 19, 1929, in Port Allegany, she was a daughter of Harry and Margaret Arnot Rittburg.  On April 7, 1948, in Port Allegany, she married Dean A. Manning, who died Jan. 10, 1997. They were married 49 years.
    

Aldean was a lifetime resident of the area and a graduate of Port Allegany High School, Class of 1947.  She was one of three generations who received the National Honor Society award.  
    

Mrs. Manning worked for Bell Telephone Co., Elliott’s Pharmacy (now Port Pharmacy), and Georgie’s Fabric Center both of Port Allegany, before her retirement.
      

She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Port Allegany, where she was a deacon and choir member. She was also a member of the Coudersport Consistory Choir, and Belles & Beaus Square Dancing Group.
      

Surviving are two sons, Daniel D. (Cindy) Manning of Eldred, Bruce A. (Peggy) Manning of Port Allegany; a daughter, Betty (Carl) Niles of Port Allegany; three grandsons and three granddaughters; four great-grandsons, and three great-granddaughters; a half-sister, Virginia (Fred) Andreano of Port Allegany; and several nieces and nephews.
      

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Dean, and a grandson, David Manning.
      

Friends will be received from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. Friday in the Switzer Funeral Home, Port Allegany, where a funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday (May 23, 2015) with Rev. Michael Culver, pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Port Allegany.
    

Memorials can be made to the First Baptist Church, Port Allegany Fire Dept. or a charity of the donor’s choice.

House Votes to Reduce School Property Taxes by Billions

HARRISBURG – School property taxes would be lower in every district in Pennsylvania under legislation that passed the House today by a vote of 105-86, House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana) said. 

“Our property tax reduction plan provides nearly $5 billion in property tax relief to our citizens,” Reed said. “It’s a responsible, balanced approach addressing a problem we have been discussing here in Pennsylvania for decades.”

House Bill 504 would ensure that every new dollar generated through the proposed changes be fully dedicated to school property tax relief.  It would change the Personal Income Tax rate to 3.7 percent and the Sales and Use Tax rate to 7 percent -- without expanding what’s taxed. Items currently exempt, such as day care, school books and nursing home care, would remain exempt. 

The plan would generate and distribute nearly $5 billion in total relief. The bill includes a $125 million expansion of the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program, which benefits low- to middle-income senior citizens and disabled residents across the state.

“This legislation will achieve what many thought was impossible,” Reed said. “This property tax relief bill increases the Commonwealth’s commitment to schools while reducing the property tax burden to our taxpayers. The cost controls included in the bill make sure the tax reductions stay in place, ensuring long-term relief.”

Reed said in many areas of the state some people have been forced to choose between paying their taxes, or buying food and medicine, and it shouldn’t be that way. The property tax relief bill provides a significant step forward toward increasing the fairness of how the state funds public education.

The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Pitt-Bradford plans class on healthy eating

BRADFORD, PA – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will hold a class this summer focused on healthier food choices.

“Food Choices – How They Affect You” will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. May 19 in the Seneca Building. This class explores the difference between the healthy eating pyramid and the USDA food pyramid, how processed foods affect health, what to eat to maintain energy, how sugar and artificial sweeteners affect the body, and why low-fat items are not always a good choice. Handouts and reference information will be provided.

The class costs $29. For more information or to register, contact the Division of Continuing Education and Regional Development at (814) 362-5078 or email contined@pitt.edu.

Euretta G. Amell, Great Great Grandmother

Euretta G. Amell, 82, of Port Allegany, died Thursday (May 14, 2015) in the Select Specialty Hospital, Erie, PA.

She was born June 21, 1932 in Port Allegany, a daughter of DeForest and Leona LaBarr Baker. On August 12, 1974, in Jamestown, NY, she married Walter Emery Amell, who died January 20, 1985.

Mrs. Amell was a 1950 graduate of Port Allegany High School. She started as a baby sitter for the owners of Lynn Hall and then advanced to the kitchen which evolved into her cooking career that included cooking for Elliott's Bakery, the Moose Lodge, Ron's Place and the ABC. She also worked for Fairad Corp. in Coudersport. She also was very active with Meals on Wheels.

She was a member of the Women of the Moose #2188, of Port Allegany, where she received their highest honor "The Red Shaw" for her years of service hard work and dedication, Port Allegany Fire Dept. Women's Auxiliary, Tri County Fireman's Auxiliary, VFW Woman's Auxiliary, and the Red Cross

She was a member of a bowling league in Coudersport and enjoyed camping and her family. Most recently she enjoyed spending quality time with her grandchildren.

She is survived by

nine daughters: Debbie (Frank) Hoffman of Zephyrhills, FL, Pamela (Don) Keech of Port Allegany, Marilyn (Dick) Sherwood of Port Allegany, Terry Lawton of Mt. Holly, NC, Carol Stiles of Port Allegany, Laurie Maletto of Lewis Run, Amy Sue (Terry) Lewis of Maurertown, VA, Roseann (Gary) Penick of Port Allegany, Faith Amell of Roulette, PA

three sons: Pete (Roxy) Taylor of Port Allegany, Randy Taylor of Smethport, Gary (Rose) Taylor of Mt. Alton, PA

one sister: Joyce Sizer of Smethport, PA

55 grandchildren, 75 great grandchildren and 10 great great grandchildren

Two step sons Gilbert and Keith Amell of Port Allegany, and two step daughters Kathy Hanchett of Eldred and Merita Greenleaf of Orlando Fl.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother John Baker, a step son Larry Amell, one granddaughter Zoe Penick and 2 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. at Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes, Inc., 105 N. Main St., Port Allegany, PA. Funeral service will be held Monday, May 18 at 1:00 pm from the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church, 414 Mill St., Port Allegany, with the Rev. H.D. Youngblood, officiating.

Burial will be in the Grimes Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Port Allegany Fire Dept. or Multiple Sclerosis Association of

America, 706 Haddonfield Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002

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

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

Princess Tea Party

The S. W. Smith Memorial Library was full of little princesses one Saturday morning in April as they kicked off National Library Week with a tea party.  The meeting room was transformed into a palace fitting for the princesses with decorations and pink tablecloths.   After reading "Not All Princesses Dress in Pink" (but they wear sparkly crowns), the princesses created their own sparkly crowns to wear.  Sparkly necklaces and wands were distributed by librarian Teri McDowell and her helpers.  Refreshments which included sparkly cookies, were enjoyed.   There was a display of princess books to check out and everyone went home with prizes like bubbles and bookmarks.  Library Week activities took place all week long ending Saturday, April 18.  Pam Fischer Photos

Legislation Would Move Low-Income Families Toward Self- Sustainability, Lawmakers Say

HARRISBURG – House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana), along with Reps. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland) and Tom Murt (R-Montgomery/Philadelphia), today released a statement following the introduction of House Bill 1164, which would reform the Commonwealth’s child care benefits structure in order to help families retain temporary assistance, while allowing them to earn their way out of poverty. 

Under current law, families who earn more money eventually reach a so-called “benefits cliff” at which even a slight increase in their income makes them completely ineligible for services worth substantially more than the potential income increase, thereby discouraging them from accepting raises or working additional hours.

The proposed legislation would address this issue by increasing copayments as parents earn additional income.  In addition, when parents reach the current benefits cliff, they would not be cut off from services.  As they earn more money, their responsibility for the cost of services would increase until their income can support it entirely.

In the statement, the lawmakers said:

“Guidelines for child care assistance, while well intended, often keep individuals entrapped in poverty. People actually lose needed assistance when they accept a promotion or when additional work hours increase their wages.

“This important reform is essential to help people fulfill their own American Dream and not become more dependent upon additional government assistance programs.  It represents the beginning of a process to remove government barriers that keep people from working additional hours and accepting hard-earned promotions.”

The bill will soon be referred to committee for further discussion, review and ultimate vote prior to heading to the House Floor.

Pitt-Bradford plans Exploration Days for those beginning college search

BRADFORD, PA – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Office of Admissions will host the first of its summer Exploration Days next week for those just beginning their college search.

           

Exploration Days include a presentation, a campus tour conducted by a member of the admissions staff and a light lunch.

           

Programs will begin at 10 a.m. on Mondays May 18, June 15, July 20 and Aug. 10.

           

For more information or to register, contact admissions at 800-872-1787 or visit www.upb.pitt.edu/visit/.

           

For disability-related needs, contact the Office of Disability Resources and Services at (814) 362-7609 or clh71@pitt.edu.