Potter County Commissioners Doug Morley, Paul Heimel and Susan Kefover will be sponsoring a workshop on Thursday, March 24, to assist townships and boroughs with public safety and law enforcement issues stemming from natural gas drilling and related activities. The sessions will be held at 10 am and 6 pm at the Gunzburger Building auditorium in Coudersport. More than 60 township and borough representatives from across Potter County have already signed up to participate.
Read more on Workshop On Municipal Roads/Law Enforcement March 24…
Local officials are encouraged by the most recent unemployment figures for Potter County. January’s workforce profile, released this week, shows another drop in the area’s jobless rate.
Potter County Redevelopment Authority and the Potter County Board of Commissioners are making a renewed effort to partner with various funding entities for increased participation in community development programs. With federal and state priorities changing and funding sources diminishing, county officials believe this is a good time to reach out to community leaders with an offer to help them adapt.
The boom in natural-gas drilling has presented some Pennsylvania counties with public-safety concerns, and an online seminar offered by Penn State Extension at 1 pm Thursday, March 17, will highlight them. In his presentation, “Natural Gas Well Development and Emergency Response and Management,” Lycoming County’s Craig Konkle will discuss the precautions his county has taken.
A workshop for those who want to seek government grants for conservation, recreation and related projects will be held on Tuesday, March 15, at locations in Coudersport, Galeton and Port Allegany, from 10 am to noon. Potter County Education Council is hosting the workshop, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Route 6 Alliance and Penn State Cooperative Extension. It’s sponsored by the Pa. Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources to share information about support sources for parks, recreation, trails, heritage areas and other local projects. The workshop will be delivered live in Coudersport and will be broadcast via interactive television to Port Allegany and Galeton. Those seeking more information should call the Potter County Education Council at (814) 274-4877.
One of the nation’s most highly respected private schools for needy children is making a special outreach to Potter County this week. Milton Hershey School will hold a free informational session on Tuesday, March 15, from 6 pm to 7:30 pm at Potato City Country Inn. Dinner will be provided. Tuesday’s session will be of particular interest to families in need, social service agencies, local church and community leaders and area professionals.
A free workshop to help people kick the tobacco habit is scheduled for 1 pm to 2:30 pm Thursday, March 24, at Potter County CareerLink in Coudersport. Coaches will assist each participant in developing an individualized plan. Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is encouraged by emailing 
Potter County Area Agency on Aging reports that there are openings for a federal government program that provides food to low-income citizens who are 60 or older. Each food package typically contains four cans of vegetables, two bottles of juice, two packages of fruit, one protein (chicken, beef, or tuna), one non-meat protein (e.g. peanut butter), one carbohydrate (e.g. pasta, rice), cereal (rolled oats, rice cereal), powdered or evaporated milk, and cheese. Food boxes can be picked up on designated dates at the local senior centers or at Potter County Human Services in Roulette. To participate for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, income-eligible individuals must register in advance by calling (814) 544-7315 or 1-800-800-2560.
Free tax counseling and preparation for Pennsylvania taxpayers with low and moderate incomes – particularly those age 60 and older — remains available from AARP tax aides at four Potter County locations.
The U.S. Census Bureau on Wednesday released its official 2010 figures for all of Pennsylvania, complete with not only the traditional head count, but also a demographic profile. The numbers are voluminous and are now being analyzed by public officials. Of particular note is the fact that Potter County’s official population decrease was much more modest than expected.