Donald “Corky” Hull Honored for Outstanding Leadership
April 17, 2013
Smethport Web - by Nathan Muller
For more than four decades Donald “Corky” Hull has advocated for trails in McKean and surrounding counties, fostering a positive attitude among a wide variety of partners and successfully forging bonds with private landowners, forestry companies and oil and gas companies to help make various trail projects – motorized and non-motorized – a reality.
Since founding Seneca Highlands Snowmobile Association in 1972, Corky has helped chart and develop well over a hundred miles of winter trails, negotiated trail agreements, and taken the lead in building and maintaining bridges and passages over a vast network of trails.
He has participated in regional greenways planning and helped guide the work of the Potato Creek Trail Association. Corky’s interpersonal skills, vision and unsinkable determination, coupled with his “old-school” approach to problem-solving, are a source of inspiration to others.
Corky is among a small group of business owners, citizens and organizations from across the Pennsylvania Wilds region who have earned awards for their contributions in sustainable tourism development. They were honored at an awards dinner and regional tourism briefing on May 2.
Chamber Dinner - Smethport is Invited!
April 12, 2013
Smethport Web - by Nathan Muller
The Smethport Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its 12th Annual Business Dinner at 6:00 pm on Thursday, April 25th.
This is a community event. Everyone is invited… You do not have to be a member of the Chamber to attend.
We will have a special presentation by Smethport Basketball Coach Daniel Zeigler, who led the Hubbers Basketball Team through an amazing season. For his efforts, Dan was selected as BIG 30 Coach of the year.
As guests of the Chamber, the entire Hubbers Basketball Team will attend the dinner with Coach Zeigler, including Zach Smith, who became the school’s all-time leading scorer.
The Chamber will present several awards:
C.L. McKeirnan, Inc. – Business of the Year
Anne Potter – Volunteer of the Year
Smethport Historical Society –
Community Service Organization of the Year
Please take a few moments to contact your family and friends… Encourage them to come out and support the Coach and the Team.
Click here for the dinner announcement and RSVP. You are encouraged to forward copies to those on your personal email lists to help ensure we give the Coach and Team the recognition they deserve.
Please make sure we have your reservation, so we can plan the dinner to accommodate everyone.
The dinner will be held at the Court of Angels Restaurant. There will be a variety of buffet selections, which will include beef, chicken and fish - plus potatoes, rice, vegetables and salad.
This is a great opportunity to reconnect with friends, neighbors and business colleagues who make Smethport the special community we all enjoy.
More information: Nathan Muller at 814-887-4134 or njmuller@comcast.net
Farewell Weekend for Hubbers Wrestling Coach Terry Schwab
March 7, 2013
Olean Times Herald - by Tom Roof
If Terry Schwab was on edge Tuesday afternoon, he didn’t show it.
With a clean white Smethport wrestling shirt on, his office a disaster, and his two star seniors across the hall in the beginning stages of working up a good sweat, the Hubbers’ coach was all smiles.
You would have thought this was his first day as head coach at one of the top wrestling programs in the Big 30 … and not his last.
In truth, Schwab still has a few days remaining. He’ll be working today — and, hopefully, through Saturday — coaching his last two wrestlers at the PIAA state championship tournament at Hershey’s Giant Center. Read More »
Steve McFall of Smethport Wins U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation Scholarship
January 2, 2013
Washington College - by Karly Kolaja
Steve McFall, a student employee at Washington College’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Program, has won a coveted scholarship from the national organization dedicated to promoting the trade and craft of geospatial intelligence, one of today’s hottest fields for college graduates.
The U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation awarded McFall, of Smethport, Pa., a $2,000 scholarship as a graduating high school senior. The honor also came with an invitation to the foundation’s annual GEOINT Symposium, as well additional mapping software and training.
McFall was among 25 winners, from doctoral candidates to high school students, awarded a total of $104,000 in scholarships. A freshman at Washington College who attended Smethport Area High School, McFall is majoring in anthropology with a minor in computer sciences.
GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems, a computerized mapping system that stores, displays, and analyzes any kind of information that can be geographically pinpointed. It’s used in a wide array of disciplines and research-everything from marine biology to criminology - making it a popular field of study for job-seeking college students.
“I first got involved with GIS in the summer before starting seventh grade,” McFall says. “My local 4-H educator had suggested a GIS camp held at Penn State. It was the first time I had ever heard about GIS and I thought it was the most interesting technology ever.”
Stewart Bruce was hosting the GIS camp that summer, and the next year he moved to Chestertown, Md., to teach GIS technology at Washington College. McFall continued to attend Bruce’s summer camp for the next three years. Ultimately his interest in Washington’s GIS program led him to matriculate at the college, and last summer Bruce hired him as a GIS Lab intern. He has worked on a variety of projects, including building a 3D model and virtual tour of the Eastern Shore Correctional Institute, which helps law enforcement and corrections staff better prepare for and react to emergencies at the prison.
Claudia Caminite Joins ANF Visitors Bureau
October 9, 2012
The ANF Visitors Bureau, the official tourism promotion agency for McKean County, welcomes new employee Claudia Caminite to the position of Visitor & Member Services.
With her degree in hotel & restaurant management and her training at some of the finest hotels around the world Claudia brings a wealth of knowledge of the hospitality industry and an extensive background in international travel to the Visitors Bureau.
Born, raised and educated in Germany, Claudia has followed her husband around the world during his Navy JAG duties, and has lived and worked in a variety of locations including Aix-en-Provence, France, Sicily, Italy and Hermosa Beach, CA.
Now residing in Smethport with her husband and two children, she has been an active volunteer with the Potato Creek Trail Association, the Smethport Area School District, and Meals-on-Wheels.
In her position with the Visitors Bureau, Claudia will be working with local businesses to enhance their marketing, increase their visibility, and to attract new business and leisure travelers to destinations in the Forest region.
Smethport’s Garrett Mott Wins Racing Title at Bradford Speedway
September 15, 2012
The 2012 racing season came to a close at the “New” Bradford Speedway Thursday night as Jeff and Christy Andrulonis of Smethport crowned the first four champions under their inaugural year of track ownership. All championship trophies for race and track were sponsored by Smethport Web Services operated by Linda and Nathan Muller.
Jeff Andrulonis is already looking ahead to the 2013 season. “With the unbelievable year we’ve had, we’re looking forward to more capital improvements for next year. We’re tentatively looking at starting the next season on the first Friday in May (May 3) and potentially adding a weekly ‘emod’ show to our existing classes.”
Congratulations go to Smethport’s Garrett Mott, a mechanic at Lakeside Tire & Auto, one of three drivers who had a shot at the Budweiser Crate Late Model Championship. He paced the field in the final five laps to win the race, only the second of his career. The win also allowed him to collect his first ever track championship.
Steve Mowery took home a trophy for the street stock championship. Brian Conn took the mini stocks championship, and Joe Layfield took the championship in the pure stocks class. Read more »
Globe Trekker Returns to Smethport for R&R
July 29, 2012
Smethport Web
On a break from teaching English at a university in Chengdu, China, Smethport resident Matt Muller spent the week of July 4th in the scenic highlands of neighboring Tibet, which has only been open to tourism for about 30 years.
With China now encouraging more tourism to this area, there are now local outfitters ready to fulfill contracts from travel operators all over the world, especially those offering adventure and experiential packages.
To help work out the kinks for a new tour destination soon to be offered by PureQuest Adventures, Matt and some fellow teachers were recruited by a mutual friend to take the first tour in return for publicity photos and stories about their experiences. PureQuest contracted with The Happy Trails Horse Trek Company to outfit the group with horses, supplies and two guides who pulled double duty as cooks. Read more
Team Andrulonis Wins Big on Opening Day of Bradford Speedway
June 23, 2012
Smethport Web — by Nathan Muller
The team of Jeff and Christy Andrulonis of Smethport didn’t know what to expect when they recently bought a parcel of land in the hills overlooking Bradford.
Jeff needed the land to build a new tower for his Colonial Radio Group to improve signal reception in the region. The parcel also included a dirt track, but the owner would not break up the property in the “all or nothing” deal.
With a bit of trepidation, media moguls Jeff and Christy suddenly became owners of the Bradford Speedway, and in a dizzying leap of faith decided to make it work. After weeks of cleanup, repairs and painting, the refurbished speedway opened its racing season last night.
Features of the speedway now include a fan entrance fence, new signage, reinforcement of the grandstands and backstretch fence, and purple-and-white color scheme. There is a covered VIP area that can be rented for parties where guests can enjoy catered food and beverages. Read more
Chuck McKiernan Honored with Engraved Gold Watch
March 6, 2012
Smethport Web
Long time area resident Chuck McKiernan received an engraved gold watch from Smethport Mayor Ross Porter last week during a meeting of the Smethport Lions. McKiernan was honored for his years of service in organizing and assisting in Smethport’s annual Wheel Around the Hub Cycling race.
The cycling race was originally started during the early 1890s and died off with the advent of the automobile. The race was started up again during 2005 by the Smethport Lions Club and has been reorganized by the Smethport Fire Department.
McKiernan has remained an active Wheel Race Committeeman over the years and has participated in dozens of other community activities.
Wayne Pearson Discusses Global Warming & Jobs
December 26, 2011
Smethport Web
Colonial Radio Group runs a “Perspectives” segment on its Olean, NY news-talk station WVTT [99.1 and 103.9 FM] that features interviews and commentary from community leaders and local business people.
A variety of topics are covered on the segment, which airs weekday mornings between 8:45 to 9:00 am. Recently, WVTT ran a spot featuring Wayne Pearson of Smethport who talked about global warming.
Pearson questions our national priorities: “Our government is funding programs to deal with a theoretical global warming problem instead of dealing with the here and now problem of U.S. jobs…”
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