13 2022
community
DECEMBER
p o t t e r m c k e a n
county
Austin • Coudersport • Crosby • Eldred • Kane • Lewis Run • Mt. Jewett Port Allegany • RIDGWAY• Roulette • Smethport • Turtlepoint
First Night Fun, a community of celebration The schedule has been announced for First Night 2023 and it is loaded with fun for the whole community. Best of all, the non-alcoholic New Year’s celebration is accessible and affordable for everyone. Admission to all the listed venues and entertainment acts is all-inclusive with the purchase of a $6 First Night button. Participants age 6 and over must have a button to attend events. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge. Buttons are available at the following locations: WESB, Tops Friendly Markets, Bradford Chamber of Commerce, BCPAC, and Northwest Bank, both Main Street and Foster Brook branches. Fun begins at the Bradford Area Public
Library with magic and Percy from 10:30 a.m. to noon. And then, from 1 to 4 p.m. enjoy a game at Byllye Lanes or from 1-5 p.m. get together with friends at Callahan Park Ice Rink for ice skating. Horse and carriage rides, courtesy of Kathy Obermeyer, take place on Main Street from 4 to 8 p.m. and the venues open for the night of entertainment and activities at 6 p.m. Grace Lutheran Community Life Center will host In Jest with Nels Ross from 6-6:50, 8-8:50, and 10-10:50 p.m. In between they will host the Wada Ensemble from 7-7:50 and 9-9:50 p.m. At the Marilyn Horne Ballroom, enjoy the Twin Tier Community Band from 6-7:50 p.m. followed by Jim Ronan and Dana Jared from 8-10:50 p.m.
Mr. Jim and the Juicebox Heroes will perform from 6-6:50 p.m., followed by Barb Pederson from 7 to 7:50 and Jeremy Fuller from 8-8:50 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension sanctuary. Hill Memorial Social will host the Rock and Roll Pet Store, 6 to 6:50, 8 to 8:50, and 10 to 10:50 p.m.; as well as Bwana Jim from 7 to 7:50 and 9 to 9:50 p.m. Fair to Fiddlin’ plays twice, 6-6:50 and 8-8:50 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church social hall. Dennis Regling, puppeteer and illusions will perform from 7-7:50 and 9-9:50 p.m. in the social hall as well. The B-Free Church has a lineup of performers for First Night, too. Taking the stage from 6-6:50 is Don Konwinski, followed
by Connor Brien from 7-7:50 and 9-9:50, with Lyndsey Niegowski from 8-8:50 p.m. all in the social hall. The social center of the First United Methodist Church will bring in Art Class with Kathleen Shay. Children ages 5-7 can come from 6-6:50 and 8-8:50 p.m., ages 8-10 can come from 7-7:50 and 9-9:50 p.m. In the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church, several performers are set to take the stage throughout the night. STEPS Singers entertain from 6-6:50; Jeremy Fuller, Lori Johnson, Rick Nelson, and Maggie Travis step up from 7-7:50; the Bradford Area High School Chorale begins their performance from 8-8:50; and closing out the night at this venue are Gretchen Henneman and Andrew Truman.
Lewis Run-based state trooper charged with DUI on the job, suspended BY MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER
KANE — A Lewis Run-based state trooper is facing DUI charges from allegations that he was drinking on the job on Nov. 27 while answering a call in Mount Jewett. Austin James Mac Burney, 29, of Cooksburg, has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of the case, the Pennsylvania State Police announced Tuesday. According to the criminal complaint filed with District Judge David Engman in Kane, on Nov. 27, state police shift supervisor Nicholas Wissinger reported for duty at the Lewis Run barracks at 3 p.m. At about 3:15 p.m., he was told by the morning supervisor, Cpl. Dennis Twigg, that another trooper said he thought he could smell alcohol on Burney prior to the start of his shift, and
that Burney’s eyes were bloodshot and glossy. The trooper told Twigg that Burney “seemed to appear extremely talkative which is not his normal behavior,” the complaint stated. Wissinger said that Burney had already left the station to handle the Mount Jewett call, operating a state police patrol vehicle, a 2020 Ford Explorer. W i s s i n g e r immediately left the station to go to Burney’s location to speak to him. At 3:37 p.m., Wissinger arrived at Burney’s location on Gallup Avenue in Mount Jewett and began to ask him about alcohol consumption prior to work, which he denied, the complaint stated. “During this encounter, I observed his eyes to be just slightly glazed over and little redness to the far outside of the sclera,” Wissinger
stated in the criminal complaint. He asked Burney for a preliminary breath test, to which he consented. It was positive for alcohol, the complaint stated. “I then transported (Burney) back to PSP Lewis Run where further testing was completed by Cpl. Twigg within my presence,” Wissinger wrote. At 4:24 p.m., Burney attempted, and failed, field sobriety tests. Burney consented to a blood draw. At 4:57 p.m., Twigg and Wissinger placed Burney in handcuffs and took him to Bradford Regional Medical Center for a blood draw, which was sent to a laboratory for analysis. It came back at .086% for a blood alcohol content; the legal limit is .08%. Wissinger also obtained the mobile video recording from the police vehicle Burney had driven
from Lewis Run to Mount Jewett. He noted the vehicle did not stay in its lane, crossing the double yellow lines on multiple occasions while traveling west on Route 59 and south on Turkey Track Road, the complaint stated. He also observed that the vehicle did not keep right while traveling south on Kushequa Avenue, according to the complaint. Burney was charged with DUI/ unsafe driving, and DUI/BAC .08-.1%, both misdemeanors; and failure to keep right and disregarding a traffic lane, summary offenses. A preliminary arraignment in the case was set for 1 p.m. Jan. 4 before Engman. Burney enlisted in the PSP in February 2021 and graduated in August 2021 with the 161st cadet class. He has been assigned to Troop C, Lewis Run, since his academy graduation.
The auditorium at St. Bernard’s will host Studio B Dance Academy and Storm Athletics All-Star Cheerleading. Studio B performs from 6-6:50 and 8-8:50 p.m., while Storm Athletics jumps into their routine from 7-7:50 and 9-9:50 p.m. At the Leo Gallina Social Hall, Kevin Abbott and Grant Orris will entertain from 6-6:50 and 8-8:50 p.m.; Sparkles the Clown Princess, with balloon animals, will be in attendance from 7-7:50; and Jeremy Fuller, Lori Johnson, Rick Nelson, and Barb Pedersen close the night from 9-9:50 p.m. But, wait, that’s not all. The main event, the finale, will be held in the St. Bernard’s Church parking lot on Festival Way. The Block Party begins at 10:30 with
Trigger Happy The Band. Fireworks will seal the night at midnight. “First Night Bradford will have the gazebo drop sponsored by Kessel Construction at midnight followed by fireworks by Skylighters Fireworks,” said Barb Pederson, performer and event organizer. The party will conclude after the fireworks, around 12:30 a.m. Pederson said, “First Night is very appreciative and thankful for the support of BCPAC in bringing high quality entertainment to our audience.” She also added, “We also thank Kathy (Obermeyer), so much, for sponsoring the horse and carriage activity for our enjoyment.”
OLEAN, N.Y. — The Tri-County Arts Council announced “A Little Something Small,” the third annual juried small works show, which is taking place now in the Peg Bothner Gallery, located at 110 W. State St. in Olean. From now until Jan. 14, the public is invited to view more than 140 pieces of artwork submitted by over 50 different artists from Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties. Each piece is available to purchase in person or online at www. tricountyartscouncil.org, and a portion of each sale supports the arts council. Now in its third year, the TCAC’s small works show features more artists and pieces than ever before, and according to Sean Huntington, exhibition coordinator, this year’s selection is incredible. “Every year, this has grown,” he said. “In the first year, we had approximately 100 pieces, and in the second year, we had 130. This year, we have almost 150 pieces and the quality
is amazing—these artists just keep topping themselves!” New this year, the TCAC is giving out awards in two categories: Amateur and Professional. Sean Conklin, assistant curator at St. Bonaventure University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, will select winners for the following awards: Best in Show, Best Professional, Honorable Mention Professional, Best Amateur, and Honorable Mention Amateur. Each award winner will receive a cash prize and a year’s Artisan Membership, which allows the artist the opportunity to sell in the TCAC’s Artisan Market. Artwork ranges from watercolor, gouache, oil painting, photography pottery, jewelry, sculpture, stained glass, and more. Each participating artist submitted one to three pieces of artwork under 12 inches by 12 inches, and some have already sold out.
Juried art show taking place in Olean
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DECEMBER 13, 2022
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DECEMBER 13, 2022
Thielges convicted of failing to provide address to state police SMETHPORT — A former Kane man was convicted at trial in McKean County Court for failing to provide sex offender information to state police as required by law. Albert Thielges, 56, was found guilty Dec. 5 for failing to provide accurate registration information as a transient as required under the law formerly known as Megan’s Law, which is a first-degree felony, explained District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer. The law formerly known as Megan’s Law, now known as the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act
(SORNA), requires those convicted of certain offenses to register their address or other area where the offender frequents. Thielges was found to provide the address of a residence in Kane that had been torn down previously. Officer Derrick Snyder of the Kane Borough Police Department investigated the case. Assistant District Attorney Sarah Dufresne prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth. Thielges was represented by the public defender’s office. The judge scheduled sentencing for Jan. 12, 2023 at 10 a.m. Thielges’ original
Until the end of December, artwork by Mark Pessia will be on display at the Allegheny Mountain Arts Gallery in Bradford. The opening reception will take place from 1 to 4 pm. Saturday. Attendees can meet the artist, enjoy gorgeous oil landscape paintings, and participate in a raffle for a custom dip-tanked tumbler by the artist. Pessia is a Bradford local and owner of The Carpet Store on East Washington Street. He began oil painting in 2017 with Bob Ross’s show, “The Joy of Painting,”
and has been creating beautiful landscapes ever since. Through trial and error, Pessia has also taught himself how to practice dip tank, which is the process of coating an object in a decorative film. His exhibition will include both his oil paintings and some of his dip tank work. A raffle will also be help for a chance to win a custom dip-tanked tumbler by Pessia. The winner will have over 40 design options to choose from. The fee to enter the raffle is $3. Anyone interested can enter by stopping by
BY MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER
conviction was to counts of incest and corruption of minors in 2002, for which he served 1 to 2.5 years in state prison, with five years of consecutive probation. At the time, the District Attorney, then Michele Alfieri, said it was the second time he had been through the court system on sexual behavior. This current conviction was his second on the same charges. In 2016, he was sentenced to three to six years in state prison on a charge of failure to verify his address. After his release, he again failed to provide information to the state police, leading to his re-arrest and current conviction.
Pessia’s work on display at Allegheny Mountain gallery the Allegheny Mountain Arts Gallery. Pessia’s exhibition will be the gallery’s fourth featured artist exhibition. The Allegheny Mountain Arts Gallery (181 Main Street, Bradford,) is open Wednesday to Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. and owned by two local artists: Rick Minard and Greg Souchik. Local art is constantly on display/ for sale at the gallery, in addition to antiques, gifts, t-shirts, mugs, art classes, and exhibits by visiting artists.
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DECEMBER 13, 2022
Pa. school district cuts social studies requirements despite opposition
Photo Provided Jake Maynard
Mount Jewett native’s debut novel due in 2024 BY MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER
Mount Jewett native Jake Maynard’s debut novel “Slime Line” is due to be released in 2024 by West Virginia University Press. And it’s not as gross as its name implies. In an interview with The Era on Friday, Maynard said the book is “about a guy from rural western Pennsylvania. When he’s a kid, his dad up and leaves for Alaska. He has some troubles in Pennsylvania, his father passes away, he decides to go to Alaska to see what it’s all about.” The character gets a job in a salmon cannery, and the novel “follows his maniacal quest to become supervisor at the cannery,” read a press release. “It’s been a long time in the works,” he said. Maynard explained he graduated from Kane High School in 2006. “I started writing seriously in my mid-20s, and I had a lot of rejection for many years.” He earned his master’s degree in fine arts and creative writing, graduating in 2018. He was writing shorter stories and essays when he “made it.” “My breakout was in 2020 when I had an essay about my grandmother in Kane going to her wedding … in the New York Times,” he said. Maynard heard from a literary agent, but committed a cardinal sin in the publishing world — he wasn’t done with his book, so he told the agent he didn’t have anything for her to look at. A friend corrected him, and luckily he met another agent. “She was really interested in it,” Maynard said. “I spent a
couple years writing and revising, ending up with West Virginia University Press.” So where did a small town guy from Mount Jewett come up with a story about working at a salmon cannery? Experience. “I was in college and I was broke,” he said with a laugh. “I had this friend at college who said ‘you should go to work at a salmon cannery, you can make a lot of money.’ I got online and applied for a job. “I’d never even been on an airplane,” Maynard said, laughing at the memory. Alaska was very different from McKean County, he said, but added that it is working class. “The communities up there, like McKean County, rely on natural resources. There’s always that connection.” He admitted to having dreams of Alaska from childhood, when his aunt’s husband was in the military and stationed there. His grandparents went to visit, and brought home pamphlets from historical sites. He was hooked. “At the time, I never really had ambitions to be a writer,” Maynard said. “That came later.” His parents had started him on a love for stories as a child, reading to him a lot. “Rural Pennsylvania is just a place of storytellers,” he said. “I never realized how much I learned about storytelling from when I lived there.” Maynard’s first attempts at fiction writing were set in McKean County. He found himself talking about his cannery
experiences quite a bit, and realized “it was an interesting setting that people wanted to hear about.” For the novel, he put it together sort of backward, starting with the setting, and then adding characters and then the plot. “In retrospect, I think I will probably start with the plot,” he said, laughing. The publishing deal with WVU Press was just announced, and Maynard explained it takes some time to get a book through the process to publication. “It will be published in the spring of 2024.” Around the time of publication, he plans to do a book release party in Kane. Since being a debut author isn’t exactly paying the bills, Maynard works as an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh. “I am working on short stories. I also eventually want to write non-fiction books,” he said. “I want to write a thriller or mystery about a child who goes missing in the Kinzua Valley.” In Maynard’s life, he’s been a trash collector, social worker, greenhouse attendant, a salmon cannery grunt and a professor, as well as being a writer. “Writing is hard work, but it’s the best work,” he said. “This one brings more joy than any other.” He has a website called www. jakemaynardwrites.com
PHILADELPHIA (TNS) — A divided Pennridge school board has voted to scale back high school social studies requirements from four credits to three, despite impassioned opposition from teachers, students, and community members. The credit reduction — approved by a 5-4 vote — will take effect in the Bucks County school district next year. Other changes approved by the board include the addition of a half credit in personal finance, and a reduction in physical education credits; most will go into effect for current freshmen, district administrators said, noting that the total credit requirement remains at 24. Board member Megan Banis-Clemens said the social studies reduction would give students more flexibility in what courses they take, helping prepare them for different career or college paths. Her argument was sharply criticized by fellow board members, as well as more than two dozen people who spoke during public comment. Numerous Pennridge students voiced concern the plan would deprive students of course opportunities, while teachers argued that social studies teaches critical thinking and exposes students not just to history, but fields like psychology and international relations. They also questioned the stated rationale for the change. The district is simultaneously considering a shift to block scheduling, which some noted would enable students to take more courses without reducing any credit requirements. Stephanie Nash, a
social studies teacher at Pennridge High School for 24 years, said she has “not had one student this year, or in the recent past,” tell her they didn’t have room in their schedule for a desired course. More often, she said, she hears students excited to have only three courses in a given semester and then “go home and take a nap.” ”Do we want our school to be the one known as requiring less of our students than other schools?” she asked. D i s t r i c t administrators have said that top high schools in Pennsylvania require four credits, while Banis-Clemens has pointed to Radnor and Tredyffrin/ Easttown as high-performing districts that require only three. A Bucks County school district dropped its diversity program. Black families say the district isn’t acknowledging racism. Others who spoke said they had not heard a single community member voice support for the plan. Board member Ron Wurz — who started a petition to maintain the fourcredit requirement that garnered more than 1,000 signatures — listed his “top 10” reasons to vote no on the plan, including that the board had recently approved a new social studies curriculum that took three years to complete, and that the faculty and administrators had called for maintaining four credits. ”I trust their expertise over anyone on this board,” Wurz said. Banis-Clemens said that “the experts” had supplied incorrect information to her about graduation and
college requirements. “I’ve had to do a lot of my own research,” she said, before reading from a statement that, in part, disputed teachers’ assertions that reducing social studies credit requirements would require an expensive rewrite of middle and high school curriculum. The plan approved Monday had shifted since it was presented at a recent board meeting. A previous version would have eliminated a requirement for world history, a prospect that triggered particular uproar. Banis-Clemens said the board would direct district administration to “bring curriculum similar to the Radnor model,” which requires three years of social studies encompassing economics and government, U.S. history, and world history. The Pennridge board is no stranger to controversy. In the wake of contentious school board elections last year, the board ended the district’s diversity, equity, and inclusion program and barred teachers from “advocacy” activities like displaying Pride flags in classrooms. The social studies debate divided Republican board members. (Among those opposed to the credit reduction was Joan Cullen, who was not reelected board president Monday.) But some in the community still saw politics in the latest decision. One man, who identified himself as a graduate of the district’s technical school, said he agreed Pennridge should be more like Radnor. “You could start by reviewing their DEI policy,” he said to loud applause.
Community Support to host Scam Prevention series The McKean County Community Support Program (CPS) has planned to host a series of events which will feature scam prevention. Scams like phishing, identity theft, online dating hoaxes, money exchange scams and many others, have become extremely
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common in the local community and also around the world. CPS invites all members of the community to join them after the new year to participate in this prevention series through the local McKean County CPS, hosted by the Guidance Center’s STEPS Drop-In Center. The programs will be held on the first Friday of each month. The first program in the series, Say NO to Spam, will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 6 at the STEPS Drop-in Center, 62 Main St. During this first program, Senior Supervisory Special Agent, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Alan McGill will discuss Identity Theft and present how personal information is obtained and tips to
stay safe while online. The next program, also presented by McGill, will be a general presentation on Scam Prevention held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 3. The third program of the series will be held at 11:30 a.m. March 3 will include a presentation by City of Bradford Police Chief, Mike Ward, on Scam Information and Prevention for area communities at the Drop-in Center at The Guidance Center. On April 7 at 11:30 a.m. McGill will return to the area to discuss preventing Romance Scams. All events of this series are free to members of the community. For more information, call (814)-362-6535. www. guidancecenter.net