Full schedule for Square Christmas festival / By Martha Knight

Traditions are, by definition, old. But don’t tell Christmas on the Square organizer, Pat Bodamer, that. Obviously all of our old traditions were new sometime, he would argue. Like this year’s “first annual” Christmas on the Square event, to be held Thursday evening, December 4.

Come bundled up, Bodamer advises, preferably in a costume or something Christmassy.

Find a good spot for viewing and participating by the 6 p.m. opening remarks by Mayor George Riley, and tree lighting.

The Ooh’s and Ah’s and Oh Wow’s will just have died away when Rev. Mr. Randy Headley pronounces the invocation. Rev. Mr. Mike Culver will give a Christmas reading at 6:10 p.m.

Bodamer will introduce guest musician John Meade. Then, although they are a couple who need no introduction, Keith Fortner will introduce Dolores and Lloyd Eastman as grand marshals.

And that highly anticipated guest, Santa Claus? He will be checking out the best route to Port Allegany and vicinity, to insure that his Christmas Eve trip here will be as smooth as possible. Borough manager Dick Kallenborn has arranged this  preview trip, set for 6:30.

Peg McKervey will see to the dedication of the nativity scene, brand new this year and placed on the Square for optimal viewing from Main Street.

At about 6:50 Denise Distrola will provide a “Hallelujah” background for candle lighting. Sandy Johnson’s Dance Company will take the floor, or the turf, at 7:10.. Elves, led by Bob Shaffer, will sing “The Twelve Days of Christmas”  about 20 minutes later. This will be followed by Elf Musical Chairs, judged by Mike Bodamer, and kids’ musical chairs.

If all goes according to schedule, Dr. Jason Tronetti will recite “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” at 8. Then Matt Lawton will lead the Massive Bunny Hop and Dance Contest, with introduction by Justin Bienkowski.

The winner of the Ugly Sweater Contest, Beth Stauffer, will be introduced at 8:30.

Santa’s House will be on display, where it soon will be open to visitors. This project was sponsored by Close’s Hardware, Johnston’s Hardware, the First National Bank of Port Allegany and the Seneca Highlands Career and Technology Center.

The Lions Club will provide hot chocolate and candy canes. Star Hose Auxiliary will be selling cookies. Bayline Insurance will make sure there is popcorn available. Also there will be some Mistletoe Madness, a visit by alpacas, a table related to Veterans of Foreign Wars, take home crafts, and some Scouts being helpful.

Bodamer expects activities to wind down about 9 p.m.

Pitt-Bradford to offer Advent organ recital Dec. 5

BRADFORD, PA – Organist and Port Allegany native Dr. Carl Klein will play an Advent recital on the Sarah B. Dorn Organ at noon on Friday, Dec. 5, in the Harriett B. Wick Chapel. The recital is free and open to the public.

Klein has served for 16 years as the director of music at the Episcopal Parish of the Good Shepherd in Waban, Mass. In addition, he is the administrator of the American Guild of Organists Organ Library and Archive. From 1991 to 1997, Klein was the director of music at St. Andrew’s Episcopal in Tampa, Fla.

He has given multiple organ recitals across the United States as well as in England and Ireland. He is a composer of many descants, hymn harmonizations and chorale preludes. Currently his repertoire and research center on the composers surrounding the instruments of 19^th century French organ builder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll.

This recital will be Klein’s second appearance at Pitt-Bradford.

The Dorn Organ was constructed by the Shantz Organ Company in Orrville, Ohio. It consists of 17 ranks with 1,020 pipes and was custom-built for the Wick Chapel.

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

Center celebrates Thanksgiving

McKean County deputy treasurer Shannon Brown, left, and treasurer Mary Jo Sherwood tuck into their turkey dinner with all the trimmings at the Port Allegany Senior Center Tuesday, while Ron "Satch" Amell, at Sherwood's right, laughs at the photographer. More than 40 people attended the feast. A pie sale benefited the Fifty-Plus Club that sponsors the center with county and Office of Human Services help.  Martha Knight Photo

Christmas On The Square

The Grand Marshals for the Port Allegany Christmas on the Square this Thursday, December 4, are Lloyd and Dolores Eastman, pictured here.

You are invited to join with them as the town comes alive with the spirit of Christmas including the tree lighting, readings, music throughout the evening by John Meade, a performance by students from the Sandy Johnson School of Dance, an Elf Dance Off, Musical Chairs an appearance by Santa Claus and much more.

Bring flashlights or candles for caroling.  Children are invited to make cards for our service people and drop them off at the Veterans Memorial table and they will send them on to military personnel.  Costumes and ugly sweaters are encouraged! There will be something for everyone as the town brings in the Christmas season with family, community, warm smiles, fun, traditions and memories!  Pam Fischer Photo

Evangelical Covenant Church Craft Bazaar

Causer to Hold Satellite Office Hours

BRADFORD – State Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) or one of his representatives will hold office hours on Thursday, Dec. 4, at the following locations:

• Emporium Borough Office – 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Port Allegany Borough Office – 11 a.m. to noon.

Services available include assisting constituents with state-related issues or concerns, assistance with driver license and vehicle registration applications, and help in filling out applications for various state programs, such as the senior citizen Property Tax/Rent Rebate and PACE prescription drug assistance programs.

People who cannot make the satellite sessions may contact Causer’s offices in Bradford at 78 Main St., first floor, telephone 814-362-4400, or Coudersport, 107 S. Main St., Room 1, telephone 814-274-9769. Information is also available at www.RepCauser.com or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/RepCauser.

Pitt-Bradford students join world record attempt

BRADFORD, PA – University of Pittsburgh at Bradford students have joined the University of Pittsburgh’s “Give a Thread” clothing drive, which will attempt to set the Guinness World Record for the most clothing collected for donation or recycling.

The drive will take part on all five Pitt campuses – in Bradford, Greensburg, Johnstown, Pittsburgh and Titusville -- with a goal of gathering 150,000 items of clothing by Jan. 9, when a count will be taken at the Pittsburgh campus.

The Bradford campus has a goal of 10,000 items, which it will be gathering now through Dec. 12.

Tonya Ackley, director of community engagement at Pitt-Bradford, explained that there will be two things (other than the world record attempt) that set the campaign apart. Ackley said that although she will take items donated from Bradford to Pittsburgh for the count, Pitt-Bradford representatives will return with items needed for the Bradford community. Ackley said she is asking local groups to send her requests for specific needs for their closets.

Secondly, the campaign can accept clothing that is clean, but not suitable for wear, such as items that are torn, stained or heavily worn. Those items will be recycled by Goodwill of Southwest Pennsylvania to create sustainable filler for insulation.

Ackley said that locally, residents can leave donations of clean clothing at the Seneca Building at 2 Main St. in Bradford between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Student organizations will not only donate, but also collect, sort, count, load, transport and deliver the donated items.

The drive is part of the university’s year-long emphasis on sustainability. The current holder of the world record is an agency in Dubai, UAE. The Bradford drive is being co-sponsored by the Pitt-Bradford Sustainability Committee.

For more information on the Give A Thread world record attempt, visit www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/pittserves/give-thread. To make a closet request for a local agency, contact Ackley at (814) 362-7592 or tja7@pitt.edu.

Winter Weather ADVISORY

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST WEDNESDAY... 

* LOCATIONS...THE NORTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. 

* HAZARD TYPES...LIGHT SNOW AND SLEET...CHANGING TO PERIODS OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN OR FREEZING DRIZZLE. 

* ACCUMULATIONS...ADDITIONAL SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATION LESS THAN   ONE INCH...ALONG WITH AROUND A TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE. 

* TIMING...AN AREA OF LIGHT SNOW WILL EXIT NORTH OF THE MIDDLE  SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY AND NORTH-CENTRAL MOUNTAINS THIS AFTERNOON.  AS TEMPERATURES GRADUALLY

 WARM ALOFT...THE PRECIPITATION TYPE WILL CHANGE TO PERIODS OF LIGHT SLEET...THEN LIGHT FREEZING RAIN OR FREEZING DRIZZLE LATE TODAY THROUGH THE FIRST HALF OF

TONIGHT. 

* IMPACTS...HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR TRAVELERS AND PEDESTRIANS ON   SLICK ROADS AND WALKWAYS.