Glenn Church of Smethport Selected for World War II Veterans Honor Flight to DC

Bradford Era — by Fran De Lancy Glenn Church of Smethport has been selected to join fellow World War II veterans on the Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight on May 6 to Washington, D.C., where they will visit the World War II Monument and other war memorials. A native of McKean County, Church served in the Army from early 1945 to late 1946. After basic training, Church was attached to…

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Fostering Patriotism: Smethport Elementary Students Learn About Flag, Pledge

Bradford Era — by Fran De Lancey As part of its project to educate elementary school students about the American flag and Pledge of Allegiance, members of the Smethport Veterans of Foreign War Auxiliary #2497 presented programs Thursday afternoon for the third and sixth graders at the Smethport Area Elementary School. Representing the auxiliary were Cheryl Razey, Jo Ann Tanner, Patty Witchen, Carrie “Twerp” Kisko and Gerry Ford. Read…

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Hamlin Memorial Library Hosted “Holiday Spirits — A Night of Tastings”

Smethport Web — by Hamlin Library The second annual “Holiday Spirits — A Night of Tastings” was held Saturday evening, December 10 at the Hamlin Memorial Library. In addition to hot and cold appetizers catered by Ed Vicic, owner of the Port Freeze, the fundraising event featured a selection of beers, wines and ciders locally crafted by Greg Rounsville and Jim Stein. Photo: Lori Rounsville, librarian (left), and Donna…

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Smethport’s Garvin Dille Served During World War II and Korea

Bradford Era — by Fran De Lancey Smethport veteran Garvin Dille served in both World War II and the Korean War. A U.S. Navy veteran, Dille, 89, is one of the 65,704 American servicemen — government figures — to see active duty in both wars. Both times, Dille, a technical specialist, was assigned to repair ships, auxiliary vessels, staffed by capable crews of qualified repairmen and designed to provide…

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Smethport Borough Offers Two New Payment Options for Utilities

Smethport Web — by Nathan Muller Smethport Borough is offering two new utility payment options. In addition to sending payment by check or via bank account bill pay, residents may visit the Borough office to pay by credit card, or go online to pay securely from any location with an Internet connection. Pay Utility Bills Online With Credit Card Credit card payments will be processed immediately by Value Payment…

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Smethport Rotary Sponsors Big Brothers Big Sisters Summer Picnic

Smethport Web — by Annie Wolfe The Guidance Center’s Big Brothers Big Sisters Program held their summer picnic on August 9th at Hamlin Lake Park in Smethport. The Smethport Rotary Club sponsored the picnic by volunteering their time at the event and making a donation for the pavilion rental and purchase of ‘back to school’ supplies. Non-perishable food items were collected and donated to the Smethport Food Pantry. Participants…

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Century Old Building In Smethport Reopened as Chico’s Café and Bake Shoppe

Bradford Era — by Fran De Lancey When Darlene Dorward purchased the historic Hamilton Building that was home to the former “America’s First Christmas Store” in Smethport, she planned to fulfill a lifelong dream and open a teahouse, but those plans changed and expanded into a full-size restaurant, “Chico’s Café and Bake Shoppe.” The building’s first floor, at Main and Mechanic streets in Smethport’s business district, had been vacant…

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Smethport Rotary Club Awards $1000 Scholarship to Brooke Kane-Walker

Smethport Web — Rotary Club Brooke Kane-Walker, valedictorian of the Smethport Area High School Class of 2016, has received the $1,000 scholarship awarded by the Smethport Rotary Club. She spoke about her school activities Tuesday at the weekly meeting of the Rotary Club at the Desert Rose Café. Kane-Walker, who plans to major in biology with a pre-dental track at St. Bonaventure University, has a career goal of becoming…

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“Walk With Doc” Hike Honors Legacy of Smethport’s Dr. Douglas Bowman

Smethport Web — by Claudia Caminite The 2016 “Walk With Doc” Hike in honor of Smethport’s Dr. Douglas Bowman, along the new Shawmut Trail and the Goosechaser Trail, will be held Saturday, June 18. Participants will meet up at the Poor Farm Parking Lot at 9:00 am on US Route 6 just west of Smethport. Lori Coffman, long time treasurer and activist member of the Potato Creek Trail Association,…

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Smethport Mansion District a Sight to Behold

Bradford Era — by Fran De Lancey Visitors to Smethport often comment about the beautiful Victorian-style homes that line Main Street in the borough’s historic Mansion District. These ostentatious and decorative homes, which became popular during the reign of British Queen Victoria — 1837 to 1901 — were built for the wealthy to impress and remain impressive today. They are often characterized by asymmetrical exteriors, steps leading to large…

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