More than 160 business and community leaders from across the Pennsylvania Wilds region gathered Wednesday evening at the Red Fern in St. Marys for an update on the PA Wilds Initiative and to honor 14 local organizations and individuals for outstanding work in sustainable tourism development.

The event included comments by Rick Allan, Secretary of the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; and Carolyn Newhouse, Dep. Sec. for Innovation & Investment at the Department of Community & Economic Development. The effort to grow the region’s nature and heritage tourism industry has spanned three governors; DCNR and DCED are the two main state partners involved in the effort.

The evening ended with 14 individuals, businesses and organizations being named 2012 Champions of the Pennsylvania Wilds. The winners were given plaques, citations by their state senators and certificates of recognition by Congressman Glenn Thompson, a longtime supporter of the PA Wilds.

Four awards went to McKean County: Jerry Clark of Sign Design of Westline snagged a Great Design Award; Kinzua Bridge State Park garnered a Great Places Award; the Inspiring Youth Award went to Dr. William Schumann and his students at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford; and McKean County Commissioners and Smethport Borough brought home a Government Leadership Award.

Recognizing their leadership, Pennsylvania Wilds said of McKean County and Smethport Borough:

McKean County and Smethport Borough have stepped up to the plate to address a challenge: how to preserve and improve several historic buildings on county land and its 4H/fairgrounds complex and to do so with a vision in mind to link these properties with a community trail system through the Borough. In 2010, with the involvement of multiple stakeholders, the county and borough jointly commissioned and led a planning process carried out by Pashek Associates that gave rise to a blueprint for enhancing community recreation, wellness, and economic development opportunities in and around Smethport Borough.

It is always a tall order to integrate the goals of multiple agencies and properties into an overarching plan, but that is exactly what leaders in McKean County set out to do. DCNR’s Keystone grant dollars funded the effort and the result was the “Smethport Trail Study and County Park Master Plan.” This work, in conjunction with the McKean County Greenways and Trails Plan, provides recommendations for establishing a corridor of conservation land and recreational open space, and assesses ways to link this corridor to nearby trail systems and parks to create an interconnected greenway system. Proposed implementation projects are also consistent with the goals of McKean County’s recently completed Comprehensive Plan.

With a solid plan in place, the county, borough, trail partners and other stakeholders have an exciting vision to rally around and they are now putting their collective energies together to make it a reality. We applaud them for their vision and outstanding planning efforts and look forward to seeing the results in coming years.

The PA Wilds Initiative is a public-private effort that aims to grow the nature and heritage tourism industry across 12 ½ counties of rural PA as a way to create jobs, diversify local economies, inspire stewardship and improve quality of life. Dozens of federal, state and local partners from the public and private sectors are involved in the effort.

Share on Facebook

The Smethport Area Chamber of Commerce held its second “Business After Hours” event Wednesday evening at Northwest Savings Bank. The event, which drew about 20 people, was hosted by branch manager Mike Montecalvo and his team.

The monthly BAH parties offer a networking opportunity for Chamber members and provide a way to catch up with other local business people and stay informed of various community issues. Hosts provide a brief presentation about their business.

Christy Andrulonis, vice president of Colonial Radio Group, keeps the BAH calendar. If you want to host an event for your business, contact Christy at 570-447-2186 or christy@andrulonis.com.

The next BAH event will be held at Corner Pizza on Tuesday, May 22, at 5:30 pm. This will be a good opportunity to meet owner Riki Tanaka.

Share on Facebook

Nearly 200 people attended the Civil War Dinner Theater held Thursday at the Court of Angels restaurant in Smethport. The event was organized by the McKean County Historical Society and featured Ardyth VanScoy as Maria Isabella “Belle” Boyd, a confederate spy who operated in the Shenandoah Valley.

VanScoy of Limestone, New York told the fascinating story of Belle Boyd through diary readings and period songs with music provided by flutist Diane Smith of Port Allegany. Many attendees wore period clothing, which added elegance to the special evening.

Boyd was very successful as a spy, relaying information on Union troop strengths and movements to Confederate commanders in the field. Confederate general Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson credited Boyd with helping him win victories in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862.  

Like other female spies of the time, Boyd exploited a soldier’s sense of chivalry and the Victorian male’s natural deference to “ladies”. When it came to war, politics and intrigue, soldiers underestimated the intellect and cleverness of women. Eager to impress, they explained everything in great detail, not suspecting Boyd was actually gathering intelligence for the Confederacy.

Boyd was imprisoned multiple times as a suspected spy, but always managed to get released. In one case, the superintendent at the Old Capitol Prison in Washington fell in love with her. In another case, she was released as part of a prisoner exchange. In other cases, the evidence was too flimsy or she received the benefit of doubt because she was a woman. Her skills at feigning ignorance and compelling men in blue to give up their secrets is now legendary.

Even while imprisoned, Boyd used conversations with her guards to accumulate detailed information on troop movements, sending the intelligence in letters to Confederate commanders. When caught with one of these letters in her hand, she acted confused. Preoccupied with other business and distracted by interruptions, Union authorities let the matter drop.

After being captured by a pair of Union soldiers, Boyd sweet talked them into escorting her back to Confederate lines, then had them arrested.

Despite her notoriety during the Civil War, Boyd never spent much time in jail for her role as a confederate spy. Neither did other female spies working for the Confederacy, who were also well known to Union officials.

Laura Ratcliffe, for example, worked for Confederate raider John Mosby in Northern Virginia. She was widely known as a spy, yet was never prosecuted during the war or during the Reconstruction Era. She died in 1923 at age 87.

While touring the country, Boyd died of a heart attack on June 11, 1900, and was buried in Wisconsin. The grocery store of her father is now the Belle Boyd House and Museum run by the Berkeley County Historical Society in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

Share on Facebook

Residents of Smethport are witnessing the finishing touches of the third phase of Smethport’s community reforestation project. The project is a joint venture between the Borough, the Smethport Shade Tree Commission, and McKean County Redevelopment Authority Community Development Block Grant funds.

Kane Lawn and Garden, as the successful bidder, is currently planting the final 86 trees throughout Smethport Borough.

Borough residents applied for trees through the Borough last year. The Shade Tree Commission made home visits to inspect possible tree planting sites and offered suggestions for appropriate tree species for the various locations.

It is very important that the newly planted trees are kept hydrated, and home-owners are asked to make sure their tree is watered frequently. The first year after transplant is critical for young trees. Water is necessary to ensure their survival.

Call 814-598-7403 with any questions.

Share on Facebook

The Smethport Area Chamber of Commerce named Jeff and Christy Andrulonis as Volunteer of the Year for 2011 during the Chamber’s 11th Annual business dinner Wednesday.

This award usually recognizes one person who has made a significant impact on our community with their time, commitment and generosity in helping others. This year, the Chamber deviated slightly by recognizing two individuals to share the same “Volunteer of the Year” award for their contribution to the quality of life in Smethport.

Since arriving here three years ago, the inseparable team of Jeff and Christy Andrulonis has been immersed in all aspects our community. We know them as the owners and operators of Colonial Radio Group, one of the region’s fastest growing media companies, which continues to thrive in today’s slow economy. While this is an incredible achievement by itself, more incredible is the time and energy they devote to making our community a better place for all of us and more inviting to visitors.  

They invented and continue to work tirelessly to promote Wooly Willy Wonderdaze. In its fourth year, Wonderdaze has blossomed into an annual event supported by Patch Products. This year Gillette Razor is a major sponsor as well.

The Andrulonis’s roll up their sleeves to plan the event, raise the funds, organize vendors, recruit volunteers, and arrange for the fireworks. During the event, they work every day to operate booths, keep vendors happy, set up and supervise rides for the kids, and attend to an enormous amount of details that keep things running smoothly.

In so many other situations, when they see things that need to be done, they don’t pull back out of concern for demands on their time. Their first reactions are: “What can we do”? “How can we help?” “What do you need?”

It may look impossible to the rest of us, but whatever the task, Jeff and Christy Andrulonis manage to get the job done. For this dedication, the Smethport Area Chamber of Commerce named “Team Andrulonis” its Volunteer of the Year for 2011.

Due to a well deserved vacation, Jeff and Christy were not in attendance at the dinner. Steve Mills, Colonial Radio Group’s Operations Manager, accepted the award on their behalf.

The Chamber award for “Business of the Year” went to Hamlin Bank, which has been a fixture on the corner of Main and Fulton Streets since 1887. Judi Olson accepted the award on behalf of all the bank’s employees.

The Smethport Fire Department received the Chamber’s Community Service Organization of the Year award for its outstanding performance year after year in serving Smethport and surrounding communities. Greg Rounsville, the Fire Department’s president, accepted the ward on behalf of all the volunteer firefighters.

A number of gifts were raffled off during the dinner, each donated by a Chamber member.

Tom Weiser of Total Engraving offered a laser-etched wall clock made of Pennsylvania hardwood. Artist Judy Leasure of JAL Studios donated a pastel drawing she did of a woodpecker. Linda Muller of Smethport Web Services, contributed a hand-made cheese serving board.

Mary Pierotti of Chef Specialties gave a gift basket containing a pepper mill, spices and related items. The McKean Historical Society provided a gift basket containing a collection of items; noteworthy among them, a T-Shirt designed by Barbara Bowman.

Nathan Muller’s Ascent Solutions offered a handcrafted wood bowl made of Cherry. Linda’s Mane Attraction, operated by Linda Tronetti and Lisa Foltz, donated a foot spa. Chamber president Wayne Foltz provided a bottle of red wine from Virginia, and Hamlin Bank provided a cache of gold dollar coins, in addition to a gold coin at every place setting.

Linda’s Mane Attraction supplied an ample selection of delicious hors d’oeuvres during the social hour, which were enjoyed throughout the evening, causing a few attendees to put their diets on hiatus.

President Wayne Foltz introduced the new five-member Executive Board, consisting of himself, plus:

Vice President - Mike Montecalvo, branch manager at Northwest Savings Bank

Treasurer - Lu Vandermark, McKean County Historical Society

Secretary - Diana Covert, Light Waves Laser Engraving

Director - Jovanna Porter, Mansion District Inn Suites

Kaitlyn Hallock, a 15-year old honor student at Bradford Area High School, provided an exceptional singing performance of country tunes, in addition to two of her own — “I’m A Train” and “Boogie Woogie Rock and Roll”. During the summer she spends her time in Nashville working with her label, Nashville Sound Records.

Kaitlyn was seen in the 2011 Monday Night Football commercial with Hank Williams Jr. She has also performed at the Nashville Palace, Nashville Spotlight television show, and the Grand Ole Opry. At age of 12 she cut her first CD titled, “Dreamer in a Small Town” and donated the proceeds to charity.

Share on Facebook

The Smethport Area Chamber of Commerce held its 11th annual business dinner Wednesday at the American Legion hall. The event drew 38 attendees who enjoyed drinks and appetizers during the social hour, while country singer Kaitlyn Hallock from Bradford provided the evening’s entertainment.

Following a fabulous dinner prepared by volunteers from the American Legion Auxiliary, Charles Leasure, Superintendent of the Smethport Area School District, gave an insightful presentation on “Connecting Business with Education.”

Leasure noted how unprepared today’s young people are for achieving the American Dream and how poorly the U.S. fares in relation to other countries competing with us in the global economy. In terms of high school and college graduation rates, as well as employment, we have allowed ourselves to fall behind, he said.  

“It’s not so much that we are doing everything wrong, it’s that the rest of the world has finally caught up,” Leasure said.

One of the success factors driving other economies is the emphasis school systems in other countries place on vocational and technical training. Leasure said that students are tracked into these programs at the middle school level, and by the time they graduate they step right into well paying jobs.

According to Leasure, high school education in the U.S. is still focused on reading from books, rather than demonstrating the relevance of math and science through practical application, as is done in vocational programs.

Leasure noted that not all students in the U.S. need to go to college to enjoy meaningful careers and good jobs, nor should it be the overriding goal of our school systems to send every student to college. He said even certificate programs in medical services and law enforcement can qualify young people for salaries between $30,000 and $40,000 a year, and a career path to even more opportunities.

Citing President Barak Obama’s support of community colleges as a way to create pathways to jobs and specialized training, Leasure noted that Pennsylvania has no community college north of Interstate 80. “Although plans have been discussed from time to time, nothing has happened yet.” This is in stark contrast to Virginia where, Leasure said, every resident is within 40 minutes of a community college.

Leasure said that the “one size fits all” approach to education in the U.S. has to change in favor of a mixed approach that is more responsive to student needs and more suited to preparing them for participating in the increasingly competitive global economy of the 21st Century.

Share on Facebook

Big Brothers Big Sisters of McKean County would like to thank the businesses and individuals who participated in Bowl For Kids’ Sake 2012. Bowl For Kids’ Sake is our largest annual fundraiser that took place on March 31, 2012 at Byllye Lanes in Bradford. These funds raised will support the one on one youth mentoring program throughout McKean County.

More than 250 bowlers participated in this year’s Bowl For Kids’ Sake event in McKean County. Between bowler donations and business sponsorships, the 2012 Bowl For Kids’ Sake event raised almost $18,000 to support mentoring for McKean County youth in the coming year. Each bowler raised at least $35.

Individually, the top fundraising participants were awarded; Stacey Gallegher raising the most for first place, Brenda Bloomgren at second, and Scott Bloomgren at third. Brenda and Scott Bloomgren explain that they have been participating in Bowl For Kids’ Sake for 15 years. Brenda, unable to bowl because of a cast on her leg says, “They just wouldn’t miss this event.”   

Every participant enjoyed two bowling games, shoe rental, food, lots of entertainment, and tons of prize giveaways. Entertainment was provided by Take 3 Band and Jamie Petrush of Magic Man Industries. Youth and staff of the Independent Living program raised $3,000 and participated in Bowl For Kids’ Sake. We appreciate this collaboration and contribution to the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

Teams were also awarded prizes for uniformity and creativity. This years team contest participants included Foster Brook Glass, Independent Living program of McKean County Human Services, McCort Label and Label Man, WESB Radio and IGOR, Team ‘Balls and Dolls”, and several teams dressed in flannel coming by school bus from Kane.

We greatly encourage community members to patron those businesses that donated and participated in Bowl For Kids’ Sake. This year’s event sponsors included Championship sponsor, American Refining Group. Perfect game sponsors included WESB, Zippo, Bradford Aeries & Auxiliary, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and Little Caesars Pizza, who donated the pizza for this year’s event.

Strike sponsors included Close’s Lumber, Asel Enterprises, Port Notary, Kiwanis Club of Bradford, Smethport VFW, and Greek Council at UPB. Spare sponsors included Pine Haven Veterinary clinic, W.E. Swanson Agency, Zook Motors, Kwik fill, W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co, Kane and Eldred Lions Clubs, Wal-Mart distribution center, Northwest Savings, Bob Cummins Construction, Eldred Lions Club, General Roofing Co, Kane Hardwood, Burns & Burns Associates Inc, Hamlin Bank & Trust, Italian-American Progressive Club, and Alcas Corporation.

Also a special thank you to all of the general donors and all of the many other businesses who donated prizes to support Bowl For Kids’ Sake.

If you or your organization is interested learning how to participate in or donate to Big Brothers Big Sisters of McKean County, please call Big Brothers Big Sisters at 814.887.5591 or 1.877.776.1636.

Share on Facebook

Hamlin Memorial Library held its 25th Annual Dinner & Auction last evening at the Smethport Fire Department, drawing 110 attendees who enjoyed dinner and entertainment.

Dinner was prepared under the direction of Rose Campbell. Karen Howard, who recently opened the School of Fine Arts in Smethport, played a selection of pieces on the violin. Ross Porter was the auctioneer and was assisted by guests recruited from the audience. Over 200 items were donated for auction.

The highest bid in the silent auction was $200 for a Kinzua Afternoon Cruise, donated by Ron and Joncine Willis.

Highest bid in the competitive auction was $450 for a bookcase handcrafted by Karl Fitzsimmons. An original “Rt 6” watercolor by juried artist Julie Mader went for $300.

Among the more unusual items put up for auction was a new truck bed cover from the Little Power Shop, which went for $275, and a chainsaw-carved outdoor squirrel bench done by Dave Taylor, which sold for $250.

Among the announcements from the library’s Board of Directors is that the remaining mortgage debt of the new wing will be paid off by the generosity of a recently deceased benefactor.

The library also reported the purchase of a document camera, projector, and window shades for the meeting room – all paid for by a federal grant available under the Library Services and Technology Act.

According to librarian Lori Rounsville, eBooks will be added to the library’s collection in the very near future. To bring attention to this new offering, the library raffled off a Kindle Fire from Amazon. Judy Leasure was the winner of the wireless tablet.

The library’s plans for the next five years include building an outdoor reading area, which will begin soon; insulating the ceiling of the library wing; and purchasing new computers for patrons and staff.

Paving the gravel parking lot at a cost of $51,000 will be done as funds become available.

Share on Facebook

The Chamber of Commerce held its first “Business After Hours” event Thursday evening. Hosted at the Mansion District Inn B&B by innkeepers Jovanna and Ross Porter, the event drew over 30 people, some coming from Bradford and New York.

The purpose of the monthly BAH event is to provide an informal venue for where Chamber members can get together and build relationships and network with other businesspeople they would not normally have the opportunity to meet.

“The turn-out was beyond expectation, I met new people, everyone was in good spirits, and the refreshment spread was amazing,” said Chamber president Wayne Foltz. “Thanks go to Inn owners Ross and Jovanna Porter for such a great party and their amazing hospitality.”

The festivities were punctuated with a couple of raffles, with one having cosmic implications: Smethport’s Jim Herzog, inventor of the Wooly Willy magnetic game, actually won a Wooly Willy T-shirt. Claudia Caminite won a gift basket.

“The BAH is off to a good start,” noted Ross Porter. “It will gain momentum and just keep getting better.”

Christy Andrulonis, vice president of Colonial Radio Group, organized the BAH calendar with all the participating businesses for 2012. A few slots are still open for those who want to host an event and provide a brief presentation about their business. Christy can be reached at 570-447-2186 or christy@andrulonis.com.

The next BAH event will be held at Northwest Savings Bank on Wednesday, April 25th at 5:30 pm. The bank has been a fixture on Main Street since 1999 when it replaced The Grange National Bank. NSB branch manager Mark Montecalvo will be the host. This will be a good opportunity to meet Mark and the rest of the bank staff.

Share on Facebook

Located in northwestern Pennsylvania, this region is ripe with opportunities to see your favorite feathered friends as returning songbirds fill the air with sweet melodies. A variety of trails, both on land and water, provide unique opportunities to experience the thrill of springtime in the forest.   Read More »

Share on Facebook