1 • WELLSBORO HAPPENINGS
W
H o a r p o p b e s nings l l e
No. 38 - Issued Quarterly
NOVEMBER 2021
We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men. ~Herman Melville BOROUGH OF WELLSBORO, PA
November 2021
Superintendent of Public Works Retires Mark Dieffenbach has been a dedicated employee of the Borough of Wellsboro since 1984. First employed with the Water & Sewer department as a certified operator, Mark is retiring December 31st from his position of Superintendent of Public Works after 37 years of service with the borough. He has been a beneficial asset to the borough and he will be greatly missed. We wish Mark the best in retirement Mark (left) is presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from his successor as Superintendent of Public Works, Ray Statts.
ON THE INSIDE... The Gift of Parking.............................................. Page 3 The Wreaths of Main Street................................ Page 4 Water Account Information................................. Page 6 Ways to Winterize Your Home............................ Page 7 Winter Water Meter Maintenance....................... Page 7
Wellsboro Borough Snow & Ice Removal Regulations. ................................................................................ Page 8 Wellsboro Mobile App........................................... Page 8 Dickens of a Christmas Schedule........................ Page 9 Cyber Security/Protection from identity Theft.. Page 11
2 • WELLSBORO HAPPENINGS
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WELLSBORO HAPPENINGS • 3
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! We hope your holiday season is bright with promise! In an effort to encourage people to shop locally and to promote goodwill in the Christmas Season, there will be FREE, 2 HOUR PARKING throughout Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years’ Eve. Free, two hour parking will begin November 20th. Free, two hour parking will continue thru January 3rd! This will apply to all meters in the Borough. The Wellsboro Parking Authority and Wellsboro Borough Council continue to urge business owners and their employees to utilize parking areas off Main Street to leave the prime parking for customers. In that regard, be aware that those vehicles remaining in place for more than two hours may be marked and ticketed.
The Gift of
FREE Parking! The Gift of 2 Hours of Free Parking will be continued throughout all metered parking spaces this year! ALL meters will be bagged and 2 hour parking will be FREE throughout the Borough! This is free 2 hour parking for shoppers, from
Nov. 20th through Jan.3rd, 2022!
Then enjoy the delightful shopping experiences Wellsboro Merchants have to offer and park for
two hours for FREE!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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4 • WELLSBORO HAPPENINGS
Holi
NOVEMBER 2021
a day F
The Wreaths of Main Street
ov rites
Friday, December 3 • 7:30 p.m.
St. Peter’s Catholic Church - Central Ave., Wellsboro $8 Adult — $4 Child
September 10, 11, 17, 18 at 7:30 P.M. September 12, 19 at 2:30 P.M.
Each year, Martin’s Garden Center provides the 74 Christmas Wreaths and Bows for placement on the gaslights in the Borough. The wreaths are made primarily from Concolor Fir and will remain in place from the end of November through the New Year. The Bows are dark scarlet red in color, and made of faux velvet.
Saturday, December 4
Warehouse Theatre—11:00 AM, 1:00 PM & 4:00 PM 8, 9, 15, 16 at P.M. Coolidge Theatre—10:30October AM, 1:30 PM & 7:30 3:30 PM October 10, 17 at 2:30 P.M. All Seats $14 HG Women’s Project presents
Sunday, December 5 • 2:30 p.m. The Warehouse Theatre All Seats $14
October 29, 30, 31 • November 5, 6, 7
Sunday, December 12 • 2:30 p.m. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church - Pearl St., Wellsboro $8 Adult — $4 Child
Hamilton-Gibson Pr od uct ions Community Performing Arts
Warehouse Theatre 3 Central Avenue, Wellsboro
SCAN FOR TICKETS
Reservations 570.724.2079 Dr. Donna & Ken Mettler Tickets: hgp.booktix.com Eugene Seelye
www.hamiltongibson.org
hamiltongibson.org
R073753
570.724-2079
Martin’s begins their wreath-making in early NOVEMBER. They usually have 3-4 people working to affix the fir to the wreath forms. The Concolor Fir is obtained from an old tree farm Martin’s acquired some years ago. Martin’s staff cut fresh greens as they make the wreaths. The Wellsboro Borough Crew will pick up the wreaths and have them installed in place soon after for all of us to enjoy!
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6 • WELLSBORO HAPPENINGS
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Water Account Information Borough residents are urged to keep their contact information on their utility accounts current. The borough can use this information to contact owners and residents of potential or confirmed leaks, or for public notification reasons. For example, if the borough puts a notice out through the county’s alert system Swift911, those notices are sent through telephone numbers. If a current phone number isn’t available, residents cannot receive notices of road work, weather emergencies, or other notices from the borough. Borough residents can also receive updates and notifications by downloading the Wellsboro Borough app for free on either Android or iPhone cell phones. The Borough of Wellsboro is now offering paperless billing for utility customers. To sign up, just visit the borough’s website at www.wellsboroborough.com and click on the “View eBills” button below the borough calendar. Customers will need their bill to enter their customer number and PIN to register their account. The PIN number is located on the bills below your name and address. Customers can still choose any method of payment when receiving paperless billing.
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It is crucial for landlords to keep the accounts at your rental properties current. The borough cannot switch the names on the account without a completed application, signed by both the tenant and the property owner. The borough cannot back date billing to before the application date. If a new tenant moves into the rental unit, one of the first things a landlord should do is to contact the borough office at 570-724-3186 to request a final meter reading to start the billing on the new account and ensure the borough receives a completed water/ sewer/garbage application (with $50 deposit).
NOVEMBER 2021
Ways to Winterize Your Home
Make sure your furnace is in good working order. Check that the furnace filter is clean and replace it if it’s not. Have your heating ducts cleaned. Trim trees and remove dead branches. Ice, snow, and wind could cause weak trees or branches to break, damaging your home or car, or injure someone walking on your property. Clean leaves and debris out of your gutters to prevent water from building up and freezing. Make sure leaves are not clogging your chimney. Place a screen over the chimney to prevent this after cleaning. Keep snow and ice from building up around the bottom of the garage door so it closes completely and doesn’t warp. Frozen water pipes can crack and spew gallons of water all over your home. Prevent this by draining your pipe’s hose bibs and keeping your heat on even when you’re away from home. Get to know your plumbing. Learn how to shut the water off and know where your pipes are located. If your pipes do freeze, time is of the essence. The quicker you can shut of the water, or direct your plumber to the problem, the better chance you have to prevent the pipes from bursting. Drain the gasoline from lawnmowers, weed whackers, and other engines that won’t be used until summer.
Winter Water Meter Maintenance
Please check all outside hoses and faucets to make sure they are either turned off or well insulated and kept warm so they do not break during the winter months. Water meters also need to be checked to make sure they are protected from the cold to prevent freezing. Your water meter is usually located in the basement, near where your plumbing comes into the home. Check this often to make sure that it is not leaking. If you discover a leak, please contact the borough office, as this is going to affect your water bill. The borough has had to replace several meters in past years due to freezing and residents have had pipes break because of lack of heat. So, make sure that the meter is not subjected to the elements. If a meter freezes, you the customer are responsible for the replacement costs.
WELLSBORO HAPPENINGS • 7
Wellsboro’s
SIXTH AnnuAl
202
1
Christmas on Main Street Friday-Sunday
December 10-12, 2021
WellSboro, PennSylvAnIA “The Town that Saved Christmas” Stroll along our gaslit Main Street and enjoy a u n I q u e
Shopping
eXPerIence you won’t soon forget!
It’s a festive weekend filled with shopping, activities, and history that will warm your heart and fill you with Christmas Spirit!
HIGHLIGHTED ACTIVITIES:
Chocolate Tours • Photos with Santa Extended Shopping Hours • Santa Brunch Dollar Christmas Movie • Live Reindeer Christmas Concerts & Caroling • Live Nativity Holiday-Themed Game Night • Historic Tours Vintage Ornament Displays will be on exhibit December 7th through Christmas!
WellsboroChristmasOnMainStreet.com for event schedule updates
8 • WELLSBORO HAPPENINGS
NOVEMBER 2021
Wellsboro Borough Snow and Ice Removal Regulations SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL; on ALL sidewalks, snow and ice must be removed within eight (8) hours after the snow has ceased to fall or ice formed.
SNOWPLOWS?
Do you know how to safely share the road? Snowplows appear to be moving more slowly, have larger blind spots and take longer to stop. SLOW DOWN—drive for conditions. On snowy or icy roads, stopping distances can be over 10x that of normal, dry conditions. STAY BACK at least 5 car lengths behind the plow. STAY ALERT—snowplows turn or exit frequently, often without warning. Never drive through “white-outs” or “snow fog” caused by crosswinds or plowing snow. Stay out of the snowplow’s No Zone—the huge blind spots at the rear, front, and both sides of the snowplow—where you can disappear from the plow driver’s view.
SNOW EMERGENCY ROUTES; No parking is allowed during a Snow Emergency at the following locations; Central Avenue, between Pearl Street & Sturrock Street and Main Street between Central Avenue and Lincoln Street. A snow emergency will be announced on both WNBT and KC101. Parking will be allowed after the snow is removed. SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL FROM DUMPSTER PATHWAYS; Dumpster owners must keep pathways to dumpsters free and clear of snow and ice. Dumpsters will not be emptied unless pathways are completely clear. During periods of heavy snowfall, please refrain from parking on the street until after the Borough Crew has had a chance to remove snow.
Wellsboro Mobile App Have you downloaded the Wellsboro Borough’s free mobile App yet? The free download is available for iPhone and Android users looking for updates on meeting schedules, road work and closures, and other important information from the Borough. Updates such as garbage pickup over the holidays are broadcast over the App so users have the most up to date information. The App links directly to the Borough’s website and can be used to view any information from the website, including the Meeting Calendar.
9 • WELLSBORO HAPPENINGS
NOVEMBER 2021
37th Annual Dickens
December 3, 2021 • Wellsboro, PA • (570)724-1926 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3 All Day Merchant Sales & Discounts
All Day Department 56 Dickens Village Display Deane Center Window 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Indoor Book Sale Green Free Library 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm Indoor Craft Show United Methodist Church
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4 All Day Area Merchants Sales & Discounts All Day Department 56 Dickens Village Display Deane Center Window 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Indoor Craft Show United Methodist Church 9:00 am – 11:30am Best Dressed Contest Registration Deane Center Lobby
7:15 pm “The Man Who Invented Christmas” Movie Arcadia Theatre
9:00 am – 3:00 pm Open House Tioga County Historical Society
7:30 pm Dickens of a Concert St. Peter’s Catholic Church $
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Model Train Show, Cookie Sale, Children’s Activities St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Street Vendors, Street Musicians, Street Performers 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Craft Show Firemen’s Annex 9:30 am Wellsboro High School Dickens Choir Arcadia Theatre 10:00 am Victorian Stroll Meet at Deane Center Outdoor Stage 10:00 am- 2:00 pm Alternative Christmas Fair, Refreshments, Music First Presbyterian Church
10:00 am – 2:00 pm Open House w/Refreshments Tussey-Mosher Funeral Home 10:30 am HG Productions, “A Christmas Carol” Deane Center $, reservations recommended 10:30 am, 12:30 & 2:30 pm “The Man Who Invented Christmas” Movie Arcadia Theatre $ 11:00 am HG Productions, “A Christmas Carol” Warehouse Theatre $, reservations recommended 11:00 am Gale Largey’s “Nessmuk” Movie Arcadia Theatre $ 11:00am – 2:00pm Indoor Book Sale, Basket Raffle, Friends of Library Reception Green Free Library 11:00 am – 5:00 pm Impressions of Egypt Art Exhibit Gmeiner Art & Cultural Center 12:30 pm “The Man Who Invented Christmas” Movie Arcadia Theatre 1:00 pm HG Productions, “A Christmas Carol” Warehouse Theatre $, reservations recommended 1:00pm Best Dressed Contest Judging Deane Center Outdoor Stage
10 • WELLSBORO HAPPENINGS
NOVEMBER 2021
of a Christmas
Sponsored by Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce 1:30 pm HG Productions, “A Christmas Carol” Coolidge Theatre, $ Deane Center, reservations recommended 2:00 pm Victorian Stroll Meet at Deane Center Outdoor Stage 2:00 pm Friends of Library Basket Raffle Drawing Green Free Library 2:30 pm “The Man Who Invented Christmas” Movie Arcadia Theatre 3:00 pm Wellsboro Men’s Chorus Arcadia Theatre 3:20 pm Wellsboro Women’s Chorus Arcadia Theater 3:30 pm HG Productions, “A Christmas Carol” Coolidge Theatre, $, reservations recommended, Deane Center 3:40 pm Combined Chorus Sing-a-long Arcadia Theater 4:00 pm HG Productions, “A Christmas Carol” Warehouse Theatre $, reservations recommended 4:00 pm Choral Evensong Service St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
5:00 pm Candlelight Walk for Peace Packer Park to the Green 5:30 pm Tree Lighting Ceremony The Green
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5 All Day Department 56 Dickens Village Display Deane Center Window 11:00am – 2:00pm Indoor Book Sale Green Free Library 2:30 pm HG Productions, “A Christmas Carol” Warehouse Theatre, $ Deane Center, reservations recommended Schedule is tentative & subject to change. A finalized schedule & map of events, parking, ATM’s, and restroom facilities will be available online at www.wellsboropa.com and at local restaurants, motels, and shops. This event has been modified due to COVID protocols.
MASKS AND SHIELDS ARE ADVISED.
MORE EVENTS
Sponsored by The Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce, the Wellsboro Foundation, & Members
Wellsboro Winter Celebration February 11-13, 2022
Sled Dog Challenge February 26, 2022
Wellsboro First Fridays May thru October
80th Annual Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival June 11-19, 2022
Laurel Festival Juried Arts & Crafts Show June 17-18, 2022
Laurel Festival 10K Footrace June 18, 2022
Endless Mountain Music Festival End of July – 1st week in August
Laurel Classic Mt. Bike Challenge To be announced
Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally To be announced
38th Annual Dickens of a Christmas December 3, 2022
11 • WELLSBORO HAPPENINGS
NOVEMBER 2021
Cyber Security/Protection from Identity Theft In today’s world where nearly everything we do is somehow tied to the Internet, protecting yourself from identity theft may seem like a daunting task. In fact, a few, simple tasks will help you avoid becoming a victim to online or other identity thieves eager to capture and utilize your identifying data. First, DO NOT share any information online or through the phone if you do not know the other party with whom you are sharing the information. One common tactic is for thieves to claim to be an authority figure or genuine agency (law enforcement, Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, etc.) and advise that the victim is in some sort of trouble and they elicit personal identifying information through the phone or online communication. DO NOT provide such callers with any information whatsoever. Second, do not link any financial information (credit cards, bank accounts, etc.) to any social media account. Some applications such as Amazon and PayPal are set up for secure financial transactions. These websites, as well as major retail store websites (Target, Walmart, etc.) are generally safe to conduct business online, just beware of websites posing as legitimate ones by changing the spelling of the store. A good test to know whether a financial transaction is secure is to look for the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption which is often noted by the padlock symbol to the left of the URL. However, you should not be linking financial information to Facebook or other social media platforms that allow you to send your hard-earned money to other users. Because of the large amount of people connected to
social networks and the inability to positively identify who you are dealing with on the other end, it is not advisable to conduct any sort of financial transactions online unless you are making a secure purchase from a reputable website as mentioned above. In addition to providing your financial information, such transactions can also compromise your identifying information (name, address, phone, birthday, etc.) that thieves can further exploit for financial gain. Unfortunately, there are cases where individuals become victims of identity theft and the cause is difficult to trace. In 2021, there were a large number of fraudulent unemployment claims made in people’s names who in fact did not file such claims. If you find yourself victim in such a case or any other type of identity theft case, do not panic. There are several steps you can take to prevent yourself from further victimization. First, consult the company where you know fraud took place. For instance, if a credit card was opened in your name or you notice fraudulent charges
on your current card. File a fraud report with this company. Second, place a fraud alert on your credit report. Make one report with either Equifax, Experian, or Transunion and the first company will notify the other two. You are entitled to one free credit report from each of these companies. With your credit report, you can also make reports to your local police department and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at identitytheft.gov or by calling 877.438.4338. It is important to gather as much information as possible when you make your report to the police. Any proof of the fraud is essential in making the report. For instance, have copies of your credit card statement showing the fraudulent charges when you speak to police. State Representative Clint Owlett has an Identity Theft packet that can guide you through the process if you become a victim of identity theft. These packets can be picked up at his local offices in Troy and Wellsboro. Further information can be found at identitytheft.gov. —Officer Mitchell Christman
12 • WELLSBORO HAPPENINGS
Nationally renowned
NOVEMBER 2021
women’s care
is right here in north central Pa.
UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital — an innovative leader in women’s health care and research — is proud to be one of the first institutions recognized as a National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Devoted to always putting the unique health needs of women and their babies first, UPMC Magee delivers expert specialty care to women of all ages. We’re now bringing the renowned care that women expect from Magee right here to north central Pa. This specialized network of care includes UPMC Cole, UPMC Wellsboro, and UPMC Williamsport. To learn more about UPMC Magee-Womens’ services or to schedule an appointment, visit UPMC.com/MageeNCPA.
