July 6 Food Distribution, Friendship, NY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

 

A DRIVE-THROUGH Grocery Distribution including dairy, produce and other perishables will be offered at the Friendship Central School on Monday, July 6, from 3:30 pm- 5:00 pm, or until food is gone.  Entrance will be from Sunnyside Street.  Each family will get three boxes of prepacked groceries, with the same items and the same amount.  Food is being provided by Nourish NY and the federal Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.  This is the fifth Drive-Through Grocery Distribution of weekly summer distributions scheduled through August 31, 2020.

 

All guests must practice social distancing for everyone’s health and safety by remaining in their vehicles.  Staff will register guests and load food in cars on site. 

 

• No early arrivals, please.
• Signs will direct you when you arrive to the ASC campus.  Please follow signs and/or staff directions as you pull into the parking lot.
• Guests must write their zip code and ages of all household members on a piece of paper to be displayed in the window. Please keep windows rolled up.
• Food will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.  We cannot guarantee enough food for all attending.
• Must be 18 or older to accept food; No one over 18 will be turned away, as long as there is food to be given.
• No geographic or income limits.

 

For more information or if you are unable to go out of your home, we invite you to call ahead to request home delivery within Allegany County. 

Please call ACCORD at 585-268-7605, select option 2. 

Five killed in Tioga County, NY crash identified

On June 28, 2020 at about 5:22 PM, the Tioga County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call of a two-vehicle collision on State Route 79 near the Broome County line in the Town of Richford. The investigation revealed that a 2018 Honda Pilot occupied by 5 people was traveling east on State Route 79 and passed a vehicle that was also traveling east. While traveling eastbound in the westbound lane and prior to completing the pass, the 2018 Honda Pilot struck a 2008 Toyota Tacoma occupied by two people head-on in the westbound lane. Of the five occupants of the 2018 Honda Pilot, three were pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash:

-           36-year-old Mohammad Nazir of Brooklyn, NY, operator of the vehicle

-           30-year-old Skandar S. Chaudhary of Brooklyn, NY, passenger

-           32-year-old Nasir Mahmood of Brooklyn, NY, passenger

One passenger of the Honda was transported by Maine Emergency Squad to Wilson Hospital where they remain in critical condition, and the final passenger was flown by Guthrie Air to Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, New York where they remain in stable condition.

The two occupants of the 2008 Toyota Tacoma were pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash:

-           40-year-old Traci A. Baker of Richford, NY, operator of the vehicle

-           A 14-year-old juvenile, passenger.

The investigation is still ongoing and anyone with information concerning the crash is asked to contact the Tioga County Sheriff’s Office at 607-687-1010. The Tioga County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Broome County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, New York State Department of Transportation, Richford Fire Department, Maine Emergency Squad, Lisle Fire Department, and Guthrie Air.

Pennsylvania Extends Unemployment Compensation Benefits for 13 More Weeks

Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Jerry Oleksiak today announced that people who exhaust their regular unemployment compensation (UC) and federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) may now qualify for 13 additional weeks of payments through the state's Unemployment Compensation Extended Benefits program.

Extended Benefits (EB) are additional UC benefits payable to qualified workers whenever the state's unemployment rate reaches a certain level determined by law. The last time the EB program was triggered in Pennsylvania was 2009.

The current EB period began May 3, 2020, but benefits are not payable until an individual has exhausted PEUC benefits. EB payments will begin with the week ending July 4, 2020 and are payable only for weeks of unemployment during an EB period.

Important information about the EB program follows and will be sent by mail to all individuals who potentially qualify for the additional benefits.

Eligibility

You may be eligible for EB if:

• You are totally or partially unemployed;
• You have exhausted your regular state benefits on your most recent UC claim, or your most recent UC benefit year has ended; and
• You have received the maximum amount of PEUC that you were eligible to receive.

Additional eligibility information is available here. 

How to Receive EB

• If you collect the maximum amount of PEUC that you are eligible to receive, an EB Notice of Financial Determination will be mailed to you.
• You must complete your weekly EB online certification in order to claim EB for weeks that you are totally or partially unemployed.
• Each EB online certification corresponds to one specific week, as indicated on the web form. Individuals who opt to use paper claim forms should only use the form that is specifically dated for the week of unemployment you are claiming.
• If you do not receive your Financial Determination within two weeks after you receive your final PEUC payment, call the UC Service Center at 1-888-313-7284.

EB Weekly Benefit Amount

• EB weekly benefit payments are the same as regular UC.
• The total amount of EB that you may receive is 50 percent of the amount of regular UC you were financially eligible to receive on your most recent claim. Example:
• If you were financially eligible for 26 weeks of regular UC, you may receive up to 13 weeks of EB.
• There is an additional wage test for EB eligibility, so not all individuals will financially qualify.
• EB may only be paid for weeks ending during an EB period.
• If you are entitled to Trade Readjustment Allowances, you may receive fewer weeks of EB.

EB is currently fully federally-funded through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Public Law (Pub. L.) 116-127, specifically Division D, the Emergency Unemployment Insurance Stabilization and Access Act of 2020 (EUISAA).

Pennsylvania Unemployment Benefits Payment Information

Since March 15, nearly $22 billion in benefits has been paid:

• $9.7 billion from regular UC
• $9.8 billion from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program (extra $600 per week)
• $2.3 billion issued so far to Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claimants (self-employed, gig workers, independent contractors)
• $133 million through Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program (extended benefits)

Of the eligible claimants that applied for benefits between March 15 and May 30, and who filed for continued claims, 90.2 percent received payment as of June 30.

Important Resources and Links

• What's Wrong with my Unemployment Claim – Troubleshooting Guide
• L&I Press Releases
• L&I COVID-19 Guidance and Resources
• L&I COVID-19 Media Center

Obituary: Barbara L. Evans, 85, formerly of Fillmore

Fillmore --- Barbara L. Evans, a former resident of Fillmore, died Saturday, June 20, 2020 in Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo. She was born on April 12, 1935 in Arcade, a daughter of the late Gilbert and Eleanor Vanvalkenburg Crosby. On January 14, 1955 she married Harlan C. “Demp” Evans who predeceased her on August 14, 2015.

Barb enjoyed camping in different areas across the country and she loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Surviving are her children, Jeff (Karen) Evans of Chesnee, South Carolina, Debbie (Paul) Hogan of Ashboro N.C., Scott (Tina) Evans of Port Charlotte Florida, Greg  Evans of Sunrise, Arizona, several grandchildren and great grandchildren, three sisters, Marjorie Baldwin of Williamsville, Jacqueline (Thomas) Myers of Arcade, Carolyn (Russell) Powell of Arcade, a sister in law, Carolyn Marie Crosby of Holland and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and parents she was predeceased by a brother, Thomas E. Crosby on January 15, 2020.

Due to travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, calling and funeral services for Barbara L. Evans are postponed. An updated notice will be published when services have been rescheduled.  ​Memorials if desired to: Parkinson's Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131.

REP. TOM REED SECURES $3.6 MILLION IN CRITICAL AVIATION & INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING FOR REGIONAL AIPORTS

Today, Rep. Tom Reed is proud to deliver $3,624,165 in aviation funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for airports across the district. The federal aid will support infrastructure revitalization projects ranging from reconstruction, taxiway lighting, and fire and safety equipment. A portion of the grant funding for these projects comes from the CARES Act.

“We care about making sure our region and its airports have the latest infrastructure in place to grow the economy, support local jobs, and keep our facilities up-to-date,” said Tom. “We will continue to advocate for smart investments in our nation’s infrastructure because they provide direct, tangible economic benefits to the community at large.”

The grants and projects are as follows:

• Elmira/Corning Regional Airport:
• Apron Reconstruction - $1,566,666
• Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport:
• Acquire Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Safety Equipment - $807,500
• Rehabilitate Taxiway Lighting - $150,000
• Corning-Painted Post Airport:
• Construct Taxi Lane  - $455,092
• Improve, Modify and Rehabilitate Terminal Building - $44,907
• Cattaraugus-Olean Airport:
• Reconstruct Apron - $350,000
• Rehabilitate Taxiway - $150,000
• Chautauqua County Dunkirk Airport:
• Install Misc. NAVIDS, Runway Vertical and Visual Guidance System - $100,000

SHERIFF WHITNEY ANNOUNCES MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

The New York State Sheriffs’ Institute will begin its annual Honorary Membership drive in Allegany County within the next ten days according to Sheriff Rick Whitney.  

The New York State Sheriffs’ Institute was established in 1979. It is a not-for-profit corporation, tax exempt organization, and contributions to the Institute are tax deductible.

While the Sheriff’s Office is a unit of county government, many of the concerns of Sheriffs and other law enforcement agencies are best addressed on a statewide level. The Sheriffs’ Institute provides centralized training programs and services for all Sheriffs’ Offices, where those programs and services would be unavailable or impractical on a single county basis.  

The flagship program of the Sheriffs’ Institute is the Sheriffs’ Summer Camp for economically challenged children. The Sheriffs’ Camp, in its 44th year of operation, is located on Keuka Lake and 840 children from across New York State attend each summer. The Sheriffs’ Institute pays the entire cost of the camp stay and transportation. Most children attending wouldn’t otherwise have an opportunity for vacation travel or a summer camp experience.  

The Sheriffs’ Camp program combines summer recreation with activities designed to teach an understanding of, and respect for, our laws and the men and women who enforce them. The strong camper to counselor ratio allows for individual attention with an emphasis on the development of self-esteem.  

“In what has become a difficult economic time we cannot forget our youth who will not have the opportunity for a summer camp experience or a summer vacation,” Sheriff Whitney said. “By becoming an honorary member you are supporting the Sheriffs’ Summer Camp for economically disadvantaged children.”  

In addition, the Sheriffs’ Institute operates a scholarship program that provides one scholarship to each of New York State’s Community College’s Criminal Justice Programs. This program is designed to help attract the best and the brightest to the criminal justice vocation.  

For more information about the Sheriffs’ Summer Camp and other Sheriffs’ Institute Programs, visit our website, www.sheriffsinstitute.org  or simply google “Sheriffs’ Institute kids” and it will be your first option.  

Financial support for many of the Sheriffs’ Institute programs comes from Honorary Membership dues. Invitations for Honorary Membership are extended on a non-partisan basis, and the invitees are selected at random. Any persons interested in supporting the efforts of the New York State Sheriffs’ Institute by becoming an Honorary Member should contact the Sheriff if they do not receive an invitation in the mail, or visit our web site at: www.sheriffsinstitute.org  to download an application.  

All donations made to the New York State Sheriffs’ Institute are tax deductible. In addition, Sheriffs’ Institute is registered with the New York State Attorney General’s Charities Bureau.

Allegany County: New Executive Order Mandates Quarantine for Travel from 16 States

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New Executive Order Mandates Quarantine for Travel from 16 States

As COVID-19 transmission has reached a very low level in New York, vigilance must be maintained to ensure that New York does not see a surge from states with increasing community transmission of COVID-19. Based upon Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 205, issued June 25, 2020, the following states now meet the criteria for required quarantine: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah.
This is based upon a seven day rolling average, of positive tests in excess of 10 percent, or number of positive cases exceeding 10 per 100,000 residents. The travel advisory went into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2020. If you have traveled from within one of the designated states with significant community spread as defined by the metrics above, you must quarantine when you enter New York for 14 days from the last travel within such designated state. The requirements of the travel advisory do not apply to any individual passing through designated states for a limited duration (i.e., less than 24 hours) through the course of travel. Examples of such brief passage include but are not limited to: stopping at rest stops for vehicles, buses, and/or trains; or lay-overs for air travel, bus travel, or train travel.
The travel advisory requires all New Yorkers, as well as those visiting from out of state, to take personal responsibility for complying with the advisory in the best interest of public health and safety by calling the Allegany County Department of Health at (585)268-9250 to receive quarantine guidance and paperwork. To file a report of an individual failing to adhere to the quarantine pursuant to the travel advisory, please call 1- 833-789-0470 or visit this website: https://mylicense.custhelp.com/app/ask. Individuals may also contact the Allegany County Department of Health. Essential workers and their employers are expected to comply with previously issued DOH guidance regarding return to work after a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 or after the employee had close or proximate contact with a person with COVID-19. Additionally, this guidance may be superseded by more specific industry guidance for a particular industry (e.g., for a nursing home worker, a negative test PCR test will be required before return to work). Consult with your employer regarding whether there is industry-specific guidance that may apply to you. If you are returning from travel to a designated state, and if such travel was for longer than the limited duration outlined above, you are required to quarantine for 14 days, unless you are an essential worker. Please call the Allegany County Department of Health at (585)268-9250 to determine essential worker guidelines, or with any other questions you may have, or go to https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory.

Wellsville Police Blotter

        06/26/2020 - Daniel E. Fronczak, age 44 from Bolivar, was arrested for Public Lewdness following an incident on North Main Street.  Fronczak was issued an appearance ticket returnable to Village Court at a later date.

Alfred University: Alumnus Terry Galanis Sr. ’40, ’19 H passes away

Alfred University alumnus Terry Galanis Sr., whose gifts to his alma mater included funding renovations to the McLane Center gymnasium and bonuses for University employees, passed away Thursday, June 25. He was 102.

Terry Sr. earned a bachelor’s degree in ceramic engineering from Alfred University in 1940. In 1963, he founded Sealing Devices Inc., a manufacturer of gaskets and O-rings, in the garage of his home in the Buffalo suburb of Alden. Today, the company’s office, warehouse and manufacturing operations occupy 175,000 square feet in Lancaster, NY. With more than 200 employees, Sealing Devices is one of the most successful family-owned businesses in Western New York.

Terry Sr.’s son, Terry Galanis Jr., serves as Sealing Devices president and CEO and is a member of the Alfred University Board of Trustees.

The Galanis family has generously supported Alfred University over the years. From 2000-2013, the family and Sealing Devices sponsored the Galanis Awards for Excellence in Family Business. The awards program was Terry Sr.’s way of shining a spotlight on family businesses, which are so vital to the country’s economy, and Alfred University.

In 2006, the Galanises funded a full-time junior varsity coaching position for the Saxon football team that remains in place today. Another gift funded significant renovations to the gymnasium at McLane Center. Unveiled in 2014, the Galanis Family Arena featured a new court surface; new composite bleacher seating; and a state-of-the-art sound system. The Galanis family helped fund renovations to a classroom in the College of Business’s Olin Building used for distance learning initiatives.

The Galanises have been great supporters of Alfred’s annual Day of Caring/Giving, providing matching gifts totaling $400,000. The challenge gift they provided for this year’s Day of Caring, along with gifts from two other generous donors, helped the University raise more than $800,000 for the Alfred Fund.

In February of 2019, Terry Sr., made a $1 million gift to Alfred University, with a note to President Mark Zupan: "Use some of this to do something nice for your employees." That April, Zupan announced the University was awarding a one-time bonus to all full-time and part-time, regular non-bargaining unit employees hired before July 1, 2018.

Sealing Devices is one of three finalists in the Large Business category in the 2020 Buffalo Niagara Business Ethics Awards, sponsored by the Buffalo Niagara Business Ethics Association. Award winners are expected to be announced in early July.

Alfred University bestowed honorary doctorate degrees on the Galanises in the spring of 2019. Terry Sr., received his degree at a special ceremony in April at Sealing Devices and Terry Jr., was awarded his degree at the May Commencement ceremonies.

Alfred University student spending summer in labs helping perform tests for COVID-19, antibodies

NORTHPORT, NY - Testing for the COVID-19 virus and virus antibodies are two of the most important and effective tools in the fight against the global pandemic. Alfred University student Ryan Elliott is at the forefront of both in his summer jobs at a Long Island laboratory and urgent care facility. Elliott, a biology major (minor in chemistry) set to begin his senior year this fall, has been working as a specimen accessioner at Acutis Diagnostics in East Northport, NY, since shortly after the spring semester ended in May. Early this month, he began work as a phlebotomist at Medicenter, an urgent care facility in Huntington Station, NY. The work at both facilities is key in the response to COVID-19, not only in the Greater New York City area, a virus hotspot for most of the pandemic, but throughout the United States. Acutis is one of the first mass diagnostic laboratories in the country to test for COVID-19, releasing its test under a Federal Drug Administration emergency authorization in March. The test involves analyzing specimens taken from nasal swabs, which are delivered to Acutis from across New York State and locations all over the country. "Our largest percentage of specimens come from nursing homes. We also get them from walk-in urgent care facilities," said Elliott, who as a lab employee is himself tested twice weekly. Elliott works approximately 50 hours a week at Acutis. A typical day sees him arrive for work at 3 a.m., taking delivery of the specimens and logging information for each-patient’s name, the physician who ordered the test, when and where the specimen was taken, i.e. "There is a lot of data recording," noted Elliott, who handles and processes about 200 specimens daily. Once the data has been entered, the specimens, along with reagents, are combined and mixed in a vortex device, which prepares the sample for further testing my laboratory technologists and clinicians. Lastly, a doctor will examine the test results to determine if the specimen is positive or negative for the virus. Elliott said he often drove past the Acutis laboratories, which are located near his home in the Long Island community of Northport, and inquired about working there. "I have experience working in labs at Alfred, and am a registered phlebotomist, so they were interested. I received some training on Zoom and was offered a position," explained Elliott, whose contract with Acutis ends when he leaves in August to return to Alfred. "This has been a great experience," added Elliott, who is a captain and starting defensive back on the Saxon football team. He credited his biology and chemistry professors for instilling in him the value of proper laboratory protocol. "Working in the labs at Alfred, it has been reinforced in us the importance of being clean and sterile and paying attention to detail. My training at Alfred really helped prepare me for this job." The job at Acutis is not the only one taking Elliott’s time this summer. For nearly a month, he has been working as a phlebotomist at Medicenter urgent care facility, assisting in testing for COVID-19 antibodies. The serology testing determines if a person has had the virus. Elliott said over the last winter break, he learned of a four-week phlebotomy course and decided to take it. After completing the course, he applied for work at several urgent care facilities and Medicenter offered him a position. He works about 10 hours a week at Medicenter, drawing blood, running the samples through a centrifuge, and sending them to a lab for further analysis, which determine the presence of antibodies. Antibody testing is key to the response to coronavirus, as it helps determine how many people have been infected with, and recovered from COVID-19. After he graduates from Alfred next May, Elliott hopes to earn an advanced nursing degree before pursuing a career as a nurse practitioner. The experience he has received at Acutis and Medicenter will serve him well in pursuing his professional goals. "One common question I have noticed on applications (for postgraduate school) is, ‘What did you do to help during the pandemic?’ Wanting to enter the medical field, I feel this is an essential opportunity for me because of the experience I am gaining while helping fight against an illness that is affecting the entire world." Elliott sees the experience as being personally rewarding, as he is helping to achieve a greater good by contributing along with countless other health care workers in the response to COVID-19. "I see the pandemic as an opportunity to help since I have been fortunate enough to be in very good health, with a lot of energy, and can help those who have fallen ill or who are at a greater risk of becoming sick," he said. "That is very important to me. I know many people who can’t work because of this. It is rewarding being able to tell people, you can go back to work or, if they test positive, you need to stay home and stop the spread. It is gratifying being part of the process of getting back to normal."

Cold Case Tuesday – The New York State Police in Olean a 1978 homicide in the town of Allegany, NY.

PRESS RELEASE 

Cold Case Tuesday – The New York State Police in Olean continue to investigate the 1978 homicide of Stephen C. Bender and Michael R. Forness in the town of Allegany, NY. 

On February 6, 1978, 30-year-old Stephen C. Bender and 29-year-old Michael R. Forness were found murdered at the Wing Hollow Ski Corporation. Bender and Forness, both employees, were found in the early morning hours, shot multiple times with a .38 caliber revolver.  Numerous leads were examined and an extensive search of the surrounding area was conducted. 

A floor mounted safe had been removed from the Ski Lodge on the property and contained an estimated $18,000 in currency.   The safe was later recovered beneath the Vandalia Bridge in the Allegheny River. The safe was empty.

The investigation is ongoing as the State Police continue to receive tips and information pertaining to the circumstances surrounding this incident. To this day, the identity of the perpetrators of this crime are unknown.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Olean by calling (716) 373-2552.  Please refer to SJS# 3021805. 

Wing Hollow in 1978

Footprint found at scene

Wide shot of missing safe.

Area of missing safe.

Town of Alma meeting minutes

Obituary: John E. Thompson, 75, of Grimsley, formerly of Port Allegany, Pa. and Eldred, Pa

John E. Thompson “beloved husband, father, Papa, brother, and friend “

GRIMSLEY, TENNESSEE----John E. Thompson, 75, of Grimsley, formerly of Port Allegany, Pa. and Eldred, Pa., passed away in his home on his birthday, June 26, 2020, with his loving family by his side, after a long illness.

Born on Tuesday, June 26, 1945 in Olean, N.Y., he was a son of Ronald L. Thompson and Virginia H. Miles Thompson Wenner.  On April 29, 1989, he married Gina M. Keyser Thompson, who survives.

He was a graduate of Smethport High School.  John was an honorably discharged US Marine Corps veteran having served during the Vietnam War where he was awarded a Good Conduct Medal and an Expeditionary Medal.  He was employed as a lift truck operator at St. Gobain Glass in Port Allegany, Pa., retiring in 2001.

John was a gifted craftsman, having built his home in both Eldred and Port Allegany.  In his younger years, he enjoyed hunting.  He also enjoyed brush hogging and walking the land he owned.  His greatest love was his family, especially his grandchildren.

Surviving besides his wife are his children, Julie L. (Barry) Cline of St. Thomas, PA, John E. (Nellie) Thompson Jr. of Chambersburg, PA, Tina M. Thompson of Chambersburg, PA,  Andrew M. (Stacy) Silvis, of Olean, NY, Sean (Musette) Silvis of Mr Jewett, PA, and Tyler M. (Kali) Silvis of Allegany, N.Y.; eleven grandchildren, Brandon M. Thompson, Brandon T. Thompson, Taylor J. Thompson, Ashlie N. Thompson, Dakota J. Sherwood, Andrea N. Cline, Dylan J. Cline, Railey A. Silvis, Hunter A. Silvis, Chevelle M. Mullen, and Leo M. Mullen; five great-grandchildren, Kylynn J. Windhorst, Elliana G. Wenger, Brynlee R. Silvis, Maya N. Thompson, and McKenzie A. Thompson; two brothers, Ronald J. (Jacqueline) Thompson of Floral City, FL; and Adelbert W. Thompson, of Rixford, Pa.; a sister, Robin L. (Fred) Murray of Shinglehouse, Pa; his father-in-law, Joseph O. Schoonmaker of Lake Wales, FL; three brothers-in-law, John (Lisa) Keyser of Goshen, IN, Larry Conkey of Elkhart, IN, and Clair O. (Robbie) Keyser of Portville, NY; a sister-in-law, Jeannie M. (Paul) Kerswill of Jamestown, TN; and many nieces, nephews, extended family, and many friends.

In addition to his parents, John was predeceased by a brother, Richard L. “Shorty” Thompson; his stepfather, John Wenner; a nephew, Anthony “AJ” Murray; and a grandson, Jace E Silvis.

In the last few months of his life he received great comfort in his talks with Christi Steadman, Karen Murray, Steven Miles, Paul Kerswill, and Doug Williams.

Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 11am on Saturday, July 11, 2020, at the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, 118 South Union Street, Shinglehouse. with Matthew Thompson, John’s nephew, officiating. 

Military honors will be accorded by the Potter County Honor Guard and members of the Patriot Guard Riders.

John entrusted his care and cremation arrangements to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse, Pa.

To express condolences or share a fond memory of John, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com or the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home Facebook page.

Obituary: Connie L. Lafley, 80, of Harrisburg, formerly of Coudersport

Connie L. Lafley “former Coudersport resident” 

HARRISBURG, Pa.---Connie L. Lafley, 80, of Harrisburg, formerly of Coudersport, passed away on Sunday, June 14, 2020, in her home.

Born on Wednesday, October 4, 1939 in Wellsville, N.Y., she was a daughter of Lawrence W. and Gertrude G. Marble Reuning. 

Connie was a graduate of Coudersport High School, Class of 1957 and was a 1961 graduate of Thiel College in Greenville, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics.  She then started her teaching career in Jamestown, N.Y. and then furthered her education at State University of New York at Plattsburgh. earning a Master of Science degree in Mathematics Education. Her teaching career took her to many places in the United States, spanning16 years as a high school math teacher.  She was then employed as a descriptive research statistician for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor, retiring from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2005.

She was a member of the Friends of Gettysburg, Civil War Preservation Trust, Salisbury Confederate Prison Association, the Humane Society of Harrisburg. National Humane Education Society, PETA, National Parks Conservation Association, Reagan Ranch, George Bush Presidential Center, a George Bush Presidential Library Friend, and a member of the Environmental Defense Fund.  Connie was a PIAA gymnastic judge for gymnastics competitions for over 25 years at local, district and state competitions. She was a volunteer at a Senior Center in Harrisburg.  She spent many hours researching her family genealogy.

Surviving are two nephews, Brian Bradley of Pittsburgh and Barry Bradley of Mansfield.

In addition to her parents, Connie was predeceased by a daughter, Brenda Dunkovich; a sister, Patricia Bradley; and her longtime companion, William T. Michener, Jr.

A memorial service honoring Connie’s life will be held in St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Coudersport on a date and time to be announced.  Burial will be in Homer Cemetery, Inez. 

Connie’s family has entrusted her care and cremation arrangements to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse.

To express condolences or share a fond memory of Connie, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com or the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home Facebook page.