Father's Day Brunch

Port Allegany Moose Family Center will sponsor a Father's Day Brunch featuring a variety of breakfast and lunch items on Sunday, June 21st at the Moose.  The brunch begins at 11 a.m. and will run through 2 p.m.  Cost is $8 per person, kids under 12 years of age are $4 and Dad's are $4. All are welcome.   

There will be a Teen Moose Meeting June 17 at 6 p.m. at the Moose Family Center.  Anyone ages 12 - 20  interested in Teen Moose is welcome.  For further information contact group leader Becky Perkins at 642-2303.

Virginia D. Heany, Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 460 Member

Virginia D. Heany, 93, formerly of Skinner Creek Rd. passed away Wednesday (June 10, 2015) in Sena Kean Manor, Smethport.
    

Born January 1, 1922, in Liberty Township, PA, she was a daughter of Floyd A. and Iva L. Harris Studer.  On Aug. 31, 1950, in Port Allegany, she married Joseph Fitzsimmons, who died Aug. 17, 1959.  On Nov. 5, 1960 in Port Allegany, she married Theodore Heany, who died Feb. 2, 1975.  
    

Virginia had worked for Marx Toy Co, of Erie, PA, and most recently as housekeeper for several local residents, before her retirement.
    

She was a member of St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church, Port Allegany, and Loyal Order of Moose, Lodge 460, Port Allegany.  
    

Surviving are three sisters, Rena Bliss of Eldred, Esther Ross of Rantoul, IL, Joan Waid of Port Allegany; and several nieces and nephews.  
    

She was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, Joseph and Theodore, three brothers, Floyd “Bud” Studer, Joseph Studer and Fernley Studer; three sisters, Clasa Studer, Mildred Ludwig, and Donna Williams.
    

Friends will be received from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday in the Switzer Funeral Home, Port Allegany.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday in St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church, with Rev. James Campbell as celebrant.  Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Eldred.
    

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

William M. Payne, Former Port Gulf Service Station Owner

William M. Payne, 80, of Liberty Lane, passed away Monday (June 8, 2015) in Sena Kean Manor, Smethport.
    

Born December 20, 1934, in Olean, NY, he was a son of Clarence and Marian I. Major Payne.  On Oct. 9, 1954, in Coudersport, PA, he married Arlene Y. Weiss, who survives. They were married 60 years.
    

William was a lifetime resident of the area and a graduate of Austin High School, Class of 1953.  
    

Mr. Payne was self-employed and former owner of Port Gulf Service Station, Port Allegany, and later a car salesman for Bidwell Chev-Olds, Port Allegany, and Todd Ford Motor Sales, Eldred, before his retirement.
  

He was a member of St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church of Port Allegany, where he was a past Eucharist minister, member of the Knights of Columbus, 4th Degree and Past Grand Knight; life member of the Port Allegany Fire Department, where he was past president and former assistant Fire Chief; former borough council member and EMT.
    

Surviving in addition to his wife, Arlene, are a son, Dirk W. (Catherine) Payne of Churchville, PA; two daughters, Cindy A. Bailey of Orlando, FL and Susan D. (George) Riley of Port Allegany; 6 grandchildren; a brother, Jack L. (Patricia) Payne of Port Allegany; a sister, Nancy R. Carr of Olean, NY; and several nieces and nephews.
    

He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Christine L. Payne, who died in 1976, and a baby brother.  
    

Friends were received from 6-8 p.m. tonight in the Switzer Funeral Home, Port Allegany.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday (June 12, 2015) in St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church, with Rev. Vince Cieslewicz, as celebrant.  Burial will be in St. Gabriel’s Cemetery, Port Allegany.  
    

Memorials can be made to the St. Gabriel’s Church Memorial Fund or the Port Allegany Fire Department.

New Banners

Brenda Freeman Sawyer is pictured with the artwork she created for the spring banners now hanging in Port Allegany.  Brenda has had two of her paintings chosen for the Serenity Glass Park Designer Printed Blocks which are now available in Port Allegany, Coudersport, Eldred, Olean, Smethport, Bradford, Kane and Warren.  Proceeds from the sale of the designer blocks will raise funds for the glass park.  Pam Fischer Photo

Pam's Corner... comments, questions and other stuff by Port's Famous Photographer

The month of May is always crazy...and this year is no exception.  We have a lot of family stuff going on in addition to many community activities. 

It's a busy month for family birthdays...and special milestone birthdays at that! Our number four grandchild will celebrate her 21st birthday. She shares a birthday with her grandpa!  The very next day, our youngest grandchild will celebrate his first birthday! Later in the month, our next to the youngest grandson will turn 2 and his great-grandpa (my dad) is just 90 years older.  My two younger brothers and their wives celebrate anniversaries in May and then there is Mother's Day! I also have a couple of dear friends with birthdays this month. And last, but certainly not least, we are expecting a new great-grandson before the end of the month. So, Happy 21st Sasha! Happy 1st birthday Kobe!

Coming up...and there is a lot!  May 8 and 9 -spring musical!  Beauty and the Beast! It will be phenomenal...I know our church is having a Mother/Daughter Tea and I imagine other churches are celebrating Mother's Day in a variety of ways. There is a Leek Dinner at the Veterans Memorial on Saturday, May 9.  I'm not fond of leeks, but you don't have to be to enjoy this dinner. It will be delicious!  Senior Day celebrations will take place for PAHS baseball and softball on May 13.  Both teams playing double headers and the ceremonies will take place between games.  Also on the 13th is a spring concert - with the younger musicians - 4th grade to 9th, I believe.  A Race for Education, sponsored by the PAES Boosters, will take place on Friday ,May 15th. The following day will be the Town Wide Yard Sales.  If I get organized, we will have a garage sale at my mom's house.  Stop by and see how I made out.

I have to share about the Character Breakfast held last weekend at the school.  While others are often shaking their heads at "kids these days"...I shake my head in awe of them and wonder just how they do it all. After a week full of school, sporting events, musical practices and more, the main characters from Beauty and the Beast were up and ready to go at 8 a.m    Did I mention it was prom night?  We honestly have some pretty amazing kids! Everyone has been talking about how great it was for all of the children. I found quite a few adults who were equally as excited about the event. Over 250 people attended.

Character Breakfast

A Character Breakfast was recently held at Port Allegany High School featuring the characters from the school district's performance of the Beauty and the Beast.  The spring musical was presented two nights at the school.  Pictured:  Sydney Fitzsimmons and Chloe Cramer; Charlie Kysor and Ashley Ahearn; Cheryl "Ma" Brown with Adam Koehler; and Ashley Ahearn with Willow Sauers.  Pam Fischer Photos

Alvin V. Anderson, Local Businessman

Alvin V. Anderson, 99, of Chestnut St., passed away Wednesday (June 3, 2015) in Cole Memorial Hospital, Coudersport.
    

Born March 14, 1916, in Port Allegany, he was a son of Andy F. and Rena M. Thoren Anderson.  On Nov. 14, 1939, in Port Allegany, he married Jane L. Klein, who died Apr. 23, 2005.   They were married 66 years.
    

Alvin was a lifetime resident of the area and a graduate of the Port Allegany High School, Class of 1934.  
      

He was a self-employed auto mechanic and also owner-manager of Anderson Memorials, Port Allegany, for over 40 years.
    

He was a veteran of WWII, having served with the Merchant Marines.
    

Mr. Anderson was a member of the United Methodist Church of Port Allegany, where he was a past member of the Board of Trustees.  He was also a member of F. & A.M. Liberty Lodge 505, Port Allegany, where he was a 75 year member; and Coudersport Consistory.  He was a past member of the former Port Allegany Exchange Club.
    

Surviving are a son, Joel A. (Dorothy) Anderson of Port Allegany; a daughter, Sue E. (Rob) Phelan of Harrisburg, PA; four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephew.
    

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Jane, two brothers, Donald F. and Lester T. Anderson; and two sisters, Christine M. Doll and Thorene G. Hockenberry.
    

Friends will be received from 6-8 p.m. Saturday and 1-3 p.m. Sunday (Jun. 7, 2015) in the Switzer Funeral Home, Port Allegany, where a funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. with Rev. Randall Headley, pastor of the United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Port Allegany.
    

Liberty Lodge 505, Port Allegany, will conduct a Masonic service Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the funeral home.
    

Memorials can be made to the United Methodist Church or the S.W. Smith Library Building Fund.

Vereb Calls Governor's Latest Death Penalty Dereliction a Mockery of PA's Legal System

HARRISBURG — After the governor of Pennsylvania today signaled he will fail to carry out a death sentence for the second time since taking office, state Rep. Mike Vereb (R-Montgomery) said the governor’s actions signal a lack of respect for the Commonwealth’s legal system.

“The governor is ignoring the decision of a unanimous jury of this murderer’s peers in York County, as well as dozens of judges within the state and federal legal system, by refusing to carry out this criminal’s sentence,” Vereb said.  “This is the second time the governor has ignored the decisions of judges, juries and others, and instead substituted his own judgment.”

Hubert Michael, who was convicted of raping and killing a 16-year-old girl in 1993, was scheduled to be executed on Friday.  Michael has never contested his guilt or the judgement. Despite these facts, the governor today announced he will not carry out the lawfully prescribed execution.

“With the stroke of his pen, the governor gave a hardened criminal something the criminal took away from his victim:  life,” said Vereb.  “He is probably becoming the favorite governor of death row inmates in Pennsylvania.”

This marks the second execution the governor has refused to carry out since he took office.  Another execution, scheduled in March, was also unilaterally stopped by the governor.

Vereb said the governor is overstepping his authority by intervening to protect death row inmates and using the executive branch to delay and deny justice in Pennsylvania.

Vereb has introduced legislation – House Resolution 143 – condemning the governor’s actions and calling on him to remove his unilateral moratorium on death penalty executions.  That resolution is currently under consideration in the House Judiciary Committee.