Bradford Era — Mount Jewett will be hosting its 49th Swedish Festival from Aug. 9-11, which means it’s time for meatballs, fireworks and human foosball.

Beth Carpenter, chair of the festival board, said last year’s turnout was a great one and said the Mount Jewett heritage draws many visitors who used to be residents.

“A lot of people plan their vacations around the Swedish Festival,” Carpenter told The Era. “A lot of people that lived here or grew up here come to the Swedish Festival. We’ve had people from Sweden, Canada, everywhere come here.” Read More

An afternoon of grouse and woodcock memories… The Mt. Jewett Sportsmen’s Club will host the Allegheny Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society for their Annual Fun Lunch on Saturday, August 3, from noon to 3:30 p.m. at Division Street Extension in Mt. Jewett, Pa.

The afternoon consists of a lunch, raffles, auctions, and friendship. A special presentation on a unique project to save hobblebush for wildlife will be given by local naturalist John Dzemyan at 1:15 p.m.

The Annual Fun Lunch of the Allegheny Chapter is open to any person interested in wildlife habitats, particularly those of birds. “We use the Fun Lunch as our way to celebrate our habitat work, our Women’s shooting program, our new hunter program, and our bird dog challenges,” said Jeff Yeager, President of the Allegheny Chapter.

Anybody interested in attending the Fun Lunch should contact Bonnie Orr at 814-778-5610.

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.

The Mt. Jewett Sportsmen’s Club continues to advance their recruitment of women into the outdoor heritage experience by offering another shooting course for women.  On Saturday and Sunday, July 27 and 28, the first two days of a four-day course will be held at the club.  Women will learn the basics of shotgun safety, use, ammunition, and experience shotgunning with expert advice.

The Women’s Introduction to Wingshooting program is a national shooting program for women and girls, taught by women.  The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS), Allegheny and Upland Bird Hunt Chapters, and the Mt. Jewett Sportsmen’s Club are bringing this national program to Pennsylvania once again this summer.  Training will be the afternoons of July 27-28 and August 24-25.  Women and girls that finish the shooting course are eligible for an upland bird hunt on September 8.

Women have been picking up shotguns in record numbers in the last decade.  So much so, women shooters have increased a whopping 189% in the last five years (www.shootlikeagirl.com).

National sponsors such as Sportdog, Federal Ammunition, and Purina help make this program available to women.  “This program went over so well last year with women that we are bringing this program back to northcentral PA,” said Brenda Walker, Leader of the Women’s Introduction to Wingshooting Committee.  “We are happy to see so many supporters of this women’s shooting program here in northcentral PA.”

In addition to the national supporters, the local and regional supporters are:

• Centre County – Jonathon Wirth Forestry Consultant from Port Matilda
• Cumberland County – Mummert Environmental Consultants from Mechanicsburg
• Elk County – Horton Township Sportsmen Club from Brockport; Habitat for Wildlife from Johnsonburg; Vernon Ordiway from Ridgway; Jeff Yeager from Ridgway; and Jane Bryndl from Ridgway
• Erie County – Sesler and Sesler, Atty at Law from Erie
• McKean County – Mt. Jewett Sportsmen’s Club; Breese Taxidermy from Bradford; Dick McDowell from U-Pitt at Bradford; Dean Construction of Smethport; and Perry Burdick of McKean County E-Sales of Smethport

Expenses to put a single woman through the course run about $125 per woman so the sponsorships and donations help the RGS offer this course to women.

Members of the Mount Jewett to Kinzua Bridge Trail Club report they have seen an increased number of people operating unauthorized motor vehicles on the trail and warn that those who violate the rules of the trail may be reported to the state police.

“ATVs, UTVs, motorcycles, Jeeps and (other) unauthorized motorized vehicles are prohibited on the Knox & Kane Rail Trail. It is private property and posted,” said Carolyn Stroup, club president. “We have trail cams up and anyone identified, or their vehicle identified, may be turned into the state police.”

The club requests those who see and can identify violators to send a report to the club’s website, Facebook page or email.

Stroup said, “We want to get the word out before anyone has to be embarrassed online or confronted by law enforcement. It’s a safety issue” as the club sees many walkers and joggers including children on bikes and parents with strollers. Read More

Bradford Era — The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on Thursday approved a joint settlement which includes smaller than requested increases in rates for water and wastewater services provided by Aqua Pennsylvania Inc. (Aqua Water) and Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater Inc. (Aqua Wastewater).

Aqua Pennsylvania’s service area includes Mount Jewett Borough in McKean County.

Under the joint settlement, the average monthly bill for a residential Main Division water customer using 4,080 gallons per month would increase $5.67, from $59.85 to $65.52 a month, or by 9.47 percent. The average monthly bill for a residential wastewater customer using 4,200 gallons per month would increase $8.91, from $57.64 to $66.55, or by 13.39 percent.

The commission voted 5-0 to approve the joint settlement with an annual water revenue increase of $42.3 million (9.8 percent) for Aqua Water, and an annual wastewater revenue increase of $4.7 million (34.6 percent) for Aqua Wastewater — for a combined annual revenue increase of $47 million (10.6 percent). Read More

Bradford Era — Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, on Monday announced a $77,307 grant has been awarded to the Mount Jewett Senior Center for upgrades to its facility.

The funding was granted by the state Department of Aging. The center plans to use the funds to replace the building’s roof, refurbish the kitchen and improve lighting.

“This grant provides much-needed funding to keep the center open and serving the senior citizens of Mount Jewett and the surrounding areas,” Causer said. “I applaud the center in Mount Jewett and others throughout Cameron, McKean and Potter counties for all they do to help our older residents.”

Senior centers are funded in part by proceeds from the Pennsylvania Lottery. Services offered may include meals, social activities, informational programs, creative arts, exercise, volunteer opportunities and other special events. Read More

Bradford Era — It was time to embark on a new journey. December 2018 marks the month that Chris Haight and his wife Nikole, would dive head first into becoming business owners in the food industry.

On Feb. 8, the doors reopened to the Mount Jewett Family Tastee Freeze, located on West Main Street, in Mount Jewett.

“It has been quite the experience so far, learning the food industry, but it has been fun,” Haight stated, with excitement in his voice. Upon opening the restaurant, the Haights made the decision to hire back most of the employees who were employed at the Tastee Freeze under the previous owners, which has made training much more simple. Read More

Bradford Era — Headwaters Charitable Trust, owners of the Knox & Kane Rail Trail, obtained a “Peer” Grant for Brenda Adams-Weyant and Ron Steffey to be trail advisors for the different trail clubs and municipalities along the Knox & Kane Rail Trail.

The grant is from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

On Saturday, Members of the MJ2KB Trail Club joined Peer Grant trail advisors Weyant and Steffey on a tour of the Knox & Kane Rail Trail from Mount Jewett to Lantz Corners. Read More

Bradford Era — More than 30 area Vietnam War era veterans were recognized Thursday in a Vietnam Pinning Ceremony at the Mount Jewett American Legion Home Post #574, co-sponsored by the office of U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey and the McKean County Office of Veteran Affairs.

In a press release announcing this event, Toomey said, “Our Commonwealth’s Vietnam veterans bravely served this country, and it’s an honor for my office to honor them for their service. For over half a century, many of these veterans have been unsung heroes.”

In his welcoming remarks, McKean County Veteran Affairs Director Zach Pearson thanked all those veterans who served in Vietnam. Read More

Bradford Era — Over 40 residents of Mount Jewett took part in the costume judging contest at the fire hall Wednesday night following a short parade from Hamlin Bank and Trust to the Memorial Library.

The Mount Jewett Rotary conducted the event with a panel of judges. Winners of the contest included: Camry Hamilton, 1, daughter of Charlie Hamilton and Misty Stahli, took first in the infant group with her deer costume; Maggie Wymer, 5, daughter of Brian and Kristen Wymer, took first in the pre-school group in her blue bird costume; Jack Peterson, 5, son of Skye Peterson, won first in the kindergarten group with his T-Rex costume. Read More