Bradford Era – Area fire departments struggle to survive as the list of requirements grows and the pool of available volunteers shrinks.

At their borough council meeting this week, Mount Jewett officials talked about one way to save resources: combining the Mount Jewett, Clermont (in Sergeant Township) and Hamlin Township fire departments.

The idea is still in its infancy, according to Mount Jewett Borough Council President Brett Morgan, who talked to The Era Wednesday. He said Mount Jewett officials have not yet brought the idea up to the other municipalities. Read More

On Sunday, December 1, the Mt. Jewett Sportsmen’s Club will open their clubhouse doors to the public to “come on in” and see what the club has to offer sportsmen in north central PA. Doors open at noon for the Open House. Food and liquid beverages will be available all afternoon. Sporting clays will start at 9:00 a.m. The rifle range will be open for members to sight in their rifles. The Mt. Jewett Sportsmen’s Club is on Division Street Extension on the west side of Mt. Jewett, McKean County, right off US 6.

Jim Troutman, President, said “We have some great facilities available to men, women, and youth to learn how to participate in our outdoor heritage activities. We want to help you learn.”

Memberships will be available to anybody interested in joining the club. In addition to its sporting clays range, the Mt. Jewett Sportsmen’s Club also offers a pistol shooting range, a Women’s Introduction to Wingshooting in conjunction with the Allegheny and Upland Bird Hunt Chapters of the Ruffed Grouse Society, a Youth Pheasant Hunt, conservation programs as available, a pheasant rearing pen able to accommodate 500 pheasants, the Duane Hipchen Memorial Pump Gun Shoot, and trout stocking in the spring in McKean County creeks. This sportsmen’s club supports the Boy Scouts, the NRA, and offers its members a 300 Club party at the end of the summer. The public is welcome to come on out and see what this active sportsmen’s club is all about. You are welcome, and bring a friend.

The Mt. Jewett Sportsmen’s Club will offer Hunter-Trapper Education on Wednesday, November 6, Thursday, November 7, and Saturday, November 9, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC). You must be 11 years of age to register for the training. All youth over the age of 11 that want to acquire a hunting or trapping license from the PGC must take this introductory course. People of any age that are new to hunting or trapping must also take the course to receive a hunting or trapping license.

Hunters wishing to travel and hunt out-of-state usually must also show proof of completing a hunter safety course to an out-of-state conservation agency before they can obtain a permit to hunt. Any hunter or trapper that just wants to update their skills or knowledge can also take the course.

You can register online for the training at the PGC’s website, www.pgc.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx. Click on Education, Click on Hunter-Trapper education, and then Click on Hunter-Trapper Education Class Calendar to register for the session at the Mt. Jewett Sportsmen’s Club.

The course will run over the span of three days and you must attend all three days to graduate. The training on Wednesday and Thursday will run from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The Saturday training will run from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Questions may be addressed to the Mt. Jewett Sportsmen’s Club at 814-558-6812.

The Mt. Jewett Sportsmen’s Club is a progressive sportsmen’s club that features clay target shooting, a rifle and pistol range, a Women’s Intro to Wingshooting Program, youth pheasant hunts, a Hunter Education program, Boy Scout events, THE Big Buck content, and sharing of conservation knowledge.

The Youth Fund of the Mt. Jewett Sportsmen’s Club will benefit from the annual Duane Hipchen Memorial Sporting Clays Shoot on Sunday, October 13, starting at 9:00 a.m. and running until 2:00 p.m.  No pre-registration is required.  Bring your hunting shotgun and have some fun!  Proceeds from the event support youth events sponsored by the Mt. Jewett Sportsmen’s Club.

Trophies will be awarded in both Adult and Junior shooters’ classes.  Some of the stations have three targets so it is recommended that you bring a pump shotgun or a semi-automatic shotgun, but all shotguns of your preference are allowed.  You do NOT have to bring a pump or semi-automatic shotgun.  Shells in 20 and 12 gauges will be available at the club.

Questions may be addressed to the Mt. Jewett Sportsmen’s Club at mjsportsmensclub@outlook.com.

Duane Hipchen was a well-known and respected employee of the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and was active in the Mt. Jewett Sportsmen’s Club for decades.  Duane served as a Deputy Game Protector from the 1950’s until the 1980’s.  He worked as a laborer and then the foreman on the PGC Food and Cover Corps for over thirty years, maintaining and improving game habitat throughout McKean County.  Duane was a hunter and trapper education instructor for many years.  Duane also operated a small sporting goods shop in Hazel Hurst for years – a place where local kids could walk to, and get bait or other trapping, hunting or fishing gear.  Duane was particularly interested in helping youth with their involvement in the outdoors. 

The Mt. Jewett Sportsmen’s Club is a progressive sportsmen’s club that features clay target shooting, a rifle and pistol range, a Women’s Intro to Wingshooting Program, youth pheasant hunts, a Hunter Education program, Boy Scout events, THE Big Buck contest, and sharing of conservation knowledge.

Mt. Jewett – Fall colors bring breathtaking beauty to Kinzua Bridge State Park and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) invites residents to take part in a variety of environmental education programs and events throughout the month of October.

Join Karon Croyle from the Central PA Mushroom Club on a hike around the park looking for favorite fungi. The “Mushroom Walk” will start at 1 p.m. on Oct. 12 near the main entrance to the Visitor Center. Make sure to wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

From 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. on Oct. 23 in the Visitor Center classroom, the Project WILD Educator Workshop will take place, an award-winning curriculum for educators K-12. Act 48 hours are available for participation in this workshop.

Next, join Bart Barton and the Twin Tiers Camera Club at 6 p.m. on Oct. 25 for a night-time photo shoot at the bottom of the Gorge.

Those interested in “The Milky Way & The Skywalk” will meet in the Visitor Center classroom. The club is asking for a $35 donation to register for this shoot, which is limited to seven people over the age of 18. Call 814-778-5467 to reserve a spot for this program.

At 1 p.m. on Oct. 26, all ages are invited to join “Outdoor Photography with Rocky Holland.” Join Holland for tips and tricks to getting great outdoor photos. This group will meet in the Visitor Center classroom.

Then, at noon on Oct. 27, meet near the Visitor Center classroom for “Fall Leaves” to learn why leaves change color in the fall and why trees lose their leaves before winter, while doing a nature craft.

Entering from the main entrance, the Visitor Center classroom will be to the left, at the end of the hall and to the right.

Call the park office for details at 814-778-5467.

Bradford Era – Fabulous weather, a beautiful location and a lengthy list of vendors and activities is a recipe for large crowds, organizers of the 2019 Kinzua Bridge Fall Festival have found.

In fact, roughly 16,000 visitors attended the festival on Saturday and Sunday, said Mary Ann Burggraf, executive director of the Kinzua Bridge Foundation Inc.

At least 9,000 people — more than the population of Bradford City — came out Saturday to enjoy the festivities. On Sunday, 6,000 to 7,000 visitors came out.

This was “extremely astounding,” said Burggraf. “The magnitude of the crowds was unbelievable.”

She noted there was “something for everyone” to enjoy.

Bradford Era — In Mt. Jewett, the trolley stopped, and a standing-room only crowd of tourists spilled out, ready to enjoy the sunshine and 80-degree weather at the 22nd annual Kinzua Bridge Fall Festival Saturday.

The two-day event brought vendors and visitors from near and far to enjoy music, a wide variety of wares and the views and offerings of the Kinzua Bridge State Park facilities.

Under the trees, a winding set-up of tents was capped at one end by several owls taking in the crowds and educating visitors from their tabletop or ground perches. The tents offered various treats, decorations and clothing options, as well as handcrafted potholders and jewelry that isn’t going to be found for sale in the nearest chain store. These crafts are created with love and by experienced hands that could belong to your neighbor or someone you know. Read More

The Women’s Introduction to Wingshooting program offered at the Mt. Jewett Sportsmen’s Club started off with a “bang” as twenty enrollees were introduced to the art of shooting shotguns.  The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) Allegheny and Upland Bird Hunt Chapters offer this national course.  The twenty women enrolled in this program came from all across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with a strong contingent from the Pittsburgh and Harrisburg areas.

The program consists of two weekends of instruction and shooting.  The instructors are all women:  Brenda Walker from Clermont, Louise Avery from Wilcox, Bonnie Orr from Kushequa, Lori Gideon from Smethport, and Mary Hosmer from Ridgway.  In addition to the two weekends of instruction, the women will be offered an optional upland bird hunt of quail and chukars after completion of the course. The Allegheny and Upland Bird Hunt Chapters run the only Women’s Introduction to Wingshooting Program in Pennsylvania. 

Cheers rang out as the first lady smashed her clay target.  “Hey, I got one,” said the woman who tried valiantly many times before making her first connection with the clay target.

“I feel so much more comfortable being in an all women class,” said another woman.  I feel like I can safely ask any question, and I will get an answer.

Terry Gerner, Roger Roesch, and John Bilodeau managed the clays course.  The bird boys (throwing the targets) were Ronald Reynolds and Brady Danielson.

The women celebrated their first day of instruction with a “get to know each other better” dinner at the Barrel House in Lantz’s Corners.

The next weekend of instruction will be the last weekend of August.  The hunt will be Sunday, September 8.

Any conservation organization willing to donate to support this women’s shooting program can contact Brenda Walker, Committee Leader, at 814-778-4248, or email at brendawalker@hughes.net.

This program has recently also received several other donations to benefit women entering the shooting sports:

• Annie Wolfe, Mayor of Mt. Jewett, donated in honor of her late father James Vincent Biel from Rasselas who spent time to teach Annie to handle firearms;
• Josie Harbison of DuBois, an enrollee this year along with her granddaughter, donated to support future women enrollees;
• Dean Construction of Smethport donated so that women may be able to continue to receive instruction through this program; and
• Habitat for Wildlife of Johnsonburg donated in honor of the late Tim Pierson who spent decades teaching folks different aspects of our outdoor heritage.

The Ruffed Grouse Society was founded in 1961 to promote and increase awareness of young forest management and to maintain suitable habitat that supports healthy populations of ruffed grouse, woodcock, deer and many songbird species that depend on forest diversity to survive and prosper.

Bradford Era — Forty-nine years and counting for the annual Mount Jewett Swedish Festival.

This festival is known for a few traditions, such as a Swedish Smorgasbord, Swedish Royalty Contest, a parade, fireworks, and many more family friendly activities. Children can come and enjoy carnival games and cotton candy, while adults can come and enjoy free, live entertainment. There is truly something for everyone.

The core committee for the festival consists of four officers; Beth Carpenter, chairperson; Lisa Leschner, co-chairperson; Leslie Davis, secretary; and Penny Conant, treasurer. These four people and many other volunteers are responsible for all that goes on behind the scenes, making the Swedish Fest possible. Read More

Bradford Era — The Mount Jewett community is getting more ambitious by the day for the 49th Swedish Festival from Aug. 9-11.

According to Beth Carpenter, chairperson of the Swedish Festival committee, both children and adults are excited for this weekend’s event.

“We are all excited,” she exclaimed. “The kids have been checking out the rides as they come in.”

She added that there is a wide variety of vendors who will be offering great food and other items. She noted there have been “lots of tomtes” appearing throughout the area in celebration of the event. Tomtes are mythological, elderly dwarfs, often featured in Nordic folklore. Read More