Potter County Today

A free program is being held at the Career and Technical Center in Port Allegany in June to introduce area youth to technical job opportunities in the region, and to educate their parents about these options. Students will participate in a skills development activity, tour the facility and work on projects in the center’s labs — changing the oil in a car, laser-engraving a wood product, building a small piece of furniture, developing a website, designing a newsletter, upgrading a computer and cooking. Dates are June 11-12 for students entering grades 5-6, and June 13-14 for students entering grades 7–9. The course will run from 7:30 to 3:30. For more information or to register, call (814) 545-1333.

Potter County’s “community garden” is returning on the fertile rectangular lot at the county-owned Maple View property, just off Rt. 872 South, east of Coudersport. Penn State Extension is offering to the public almost two dozen garden plots, each 20’ by 35’, on a first-come, first-served basis. An initial meeting to discuss guidelines and rules and to register for a plot was held on Saturday. More information is available at 274-8540.

Potter County homeowners who applied for the “homestead exemption” will see a credit on their school taxes this summer, reflecting the discount for owner-occupied homes. School districts will be reimbursed the amount from the gaming monies.

Austin Area School District homeowners will see a reduction of $314, identical to last year’s figure. In Coudersport, the tax cut is $176, almost the same as the $179 reduction in 2011. Tax credits in Galeton are $211; Oswayo Valley, $151, Northern Potter, $200. About $615 million will be distributed statewide this year.

Many homeowners in local school districts have not applied for the homestead exemption. Those who may qualify will receive another notice/application by mail later this year. They have until March 1, 2013, to apply for the reduction on their 2012-13 school tax bills. Those who are already registered do not need to reapply. Future tax reductions will fluctuate, based on the amount of revenue the state derives from gambling operations.

School tax bills will be mailed in late July. Taxpayers will receive a two-percent discount if they pay their bill by Sept. 30. A penalty is applied to payments made after Nov. 30.

Potter County Education Council (PCEC) is offering free training for those who are interested in landing a job as a floor hand in the natural gas industry. The program, which runs from June 18 to July 13, is a combination of classroom and hands-on training. Topics include employability skills; basics of natural gas; rig components and electrical systems; hydraulics, pressures and forces; basic rigging; well production; basic well control; spill prevention and reporting; safety; driving; aerial work platform basics and rough-terrain forklift. This course is being held Monday through Friday, excluding the week of July 2, from 8 am to 4 pm at PCEC’s Port Allegany location.  There is no tuition, but participants are responsible for pre-admission clearances, physical examinations, and drug testing. Registrations are being taken through Pennsylvania CareerLink. In Potter County, the phone number is 274-9330.

A group of volunteers holds regular meetings to provide input on operations of Potter County Human Services. Directors of the county’s drug and alcohol, aging, mental health, intellectual disabilities and coordinated services programs depend on the Potter County Human Services Advisory Board in determining program priorities and other issues. Board meetings are open to the public and anyone interested in serving is encouraged to contact the Potter County Commissioners, c/o executive secretary Sharon Costa at scosta@pottercountypa.net, or 814-274-8290, Ext. 207.

Next meeting of the Advisory Board is scheduled for Thursday, May 17, at the Human Services office in Roulette. Board members will meet for a 6 pm dinner and the public meeting will follow at 7.

During their most recent meeting, held on March 22, members in attendance were Charles Wicker, Kassie Irwin, Denise Minderler, Anne Nelson, Cameron Kockler, Dawn Deiter and Gail Allen. Human Services staffers in attendance were Jim Kockler (executive director), Ken Hoffman, Melissa Gee, Mark Benson, Ronda White, Sherry Hoffman and Colleen Wilber. Members reviewed the impact of state budget cut and block-grant funding; changes being made to the Medical Assistance Transportation Program due to state budget cuts. Other topics included new mental health emergency crisis/after-hours procedures, Teen Challenge, the Potter County Area Agency on Aging plan, and new initiatives in drug and alcohol services.

Potter County residents are being asked to turn out in force on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 22, when 15 patients from three veterans hospitals will be arriving for the fifth annual “Project Healing Waters” fly-fishing experience. God’s Country Chapter of Trout Unlimited is hosting the event in cooperation with Big Moore’s Run Fish and Game Preserve, Tuesday through Friday, May 22-25. The parade departs from Ceres at 1 pm and follows Rt. 44 through Shinglehouse and into Coudersport at about 2. A welcome reception will be held at American Legion Post 192 on Rt. 872. At 3, the parade will continue, passing through Austin on its way to First Fork Lodge in Costello, where the guests will stay. Arrangements are being made with the Potter County Department of Veterans Affairs to provide flags to wave for those who want to line the parade route and welcome the veterans.

Project Healing Waters serves military personnel who have been wounded, injured or disabled to aid in their physical and emotional recovery. The program provides basic fly fishing, fly casting and fly tying classes and clinics. More information is available at projecthealingwaters.org. Above, TU volunteer Rich Nicka (left) assists one of the veterans in landing a large trout from the Big Moore’s Run pond. The other photo shows David Saulter, left, a former Marine who is coordinating the event, with long-time TU president Dr. Pete Ryan.