Donna and Ron Hostetlar Celebrate 50th Wedding Anniversary

Donna and Ron

Surprise Anniversary Party at Fire Hall given by their children

Matt and Dianne Hostetlar

Scott and Amanda Hostetlar Crumrine

Dakota, Tracy, Brandon, and Scott Hostetlar

Making A Difference: Ronnie "E.O." Ebbert

Ronnie Ebbert graduated from the Coudersport Area School District in 1960.  He met an Austin girl, Priscilla Anne Carr in 1962 and they married on July 13, 1963.

Ronnie is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces having served in the Army from July 1960 to June 1966.  He was stationed in Korea and Germany during his time in the military.  Priscilla was able to join him in Germany.

Upon his discharge from the U.S. Army, Ronnie and Priscilla made their home in Austin, Pennsylvania.  He found employment  at the National Fuel Gas Company, Wharton, Pennsylvania.  He was employed at National Fuel from 1967 until his retirement in the year 2000.

Ronnie has always been a civic- and- community service-minded person. He was a driving force behind the formation of The Austin Jaycees in 1968.

Ronnie appears at the far left in the picture

Ronnie was elected President of the local chapter of the Jaycees.  Some of the projects completed by the Jaycees in addition to those pictured below were creating a Christmas Tree Lighting Contest and cutting the brush and trees at the site of the Austin Dam Ruins:

The School Path

The School Path

Built Ice Skating Rink For Community in 1968

Ronnie presenting Senior Citizen Award to Ralph Hernquist

These projects earned the Austin Jaycees the coveted Blue Chip Award by the Pennsylvania State Jaycees:

Ronnie receiving the Award

In 1969 Ronald Dean Ebbert was selected as one of the Outstanding Young Men of America

One day in 1967, while sitting at the breakfast table, Ronnie informed Priscilla that he was going to build a museum in Austin when he retired.  On September 2, 2002, the official groundbreaking for the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society Museum began.

Ronnie Ebbert removing the first shovel of dirt

Mayor Neil Shepard

Peggy Kelsey

Mark Jeffers and Judy Heft

Staci Frank top, Don Sypien bottom

The dream became a reality and the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society opened on May 15, 2006.

Here are some pictures taken the day of the official opening:

Honorable John Leete and his wife Georganne

Ronnie with grandson Alex

State Representative Martin Causer

Since that day, the museum has added hundreds of new exhibits, is open five (5) days a week and does not charge for admission.  

Furthermore, each year the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society, under the direction of Mr. Ebbert, completes a project to enhance the Community of Austin. The trees and tree planters on Main Street, painting the gazebo, the clock in front and to the side of the gazebo,and placing many historical markers throughout the area are just a few examples of Mr. Ebberts efforts to improve our community.

This past year, Ronnie was influential in the Borough of Austin accepting the real estate contract transferring the former Northwest Savings Bank building to Austin and locating the borough offices in the bank building on Turner Street.

Additionally, Mr. Ebbert is an active member of the Austin Dam Memorial Association. He was involved in building the gift shop, remodeling the kitchen, and laying the cement for the stage; and, the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society funded the monument that appears in front of the Dam Ruins.

  Ronnie Ebbert  will do whatever it takes to get a job done and never let's the word no stop him from completing whatever mission he undertakes. He is a perfect example of the difference one person can make in a community.

Ronald Dean Ebbert

Remembering Russell S. Hofer Jr., Educator, Updated With New Photo

TEACHER, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, AND BASEBALL COACH

Mr. Hofer was the most influential adult, male figure in my life during the late 1950s and 1960s growing up in Austin, Pennsylvania, as my father had passed away when I was five (5) years old of polio.

I first met Mr. Hofer as a seven (7) year old on the Little League Baseball field here in Austin as he would become my Little League Baseball coach.  I would play Little League baseball for him from age 7 through age 12.  He taught me the art and science of baseball.  Many fond memories would be created during that relationship, including those on the road to winning the District Fifteen Little League Baseball Championship in 1962.

Potter-Mckean Little League Baseball All Star Team. Mr. Hofer is the first person on the left in the top row. I'm the second from the right in the top row

Upon entering middle school, Mr. Hofer would become my principal until I graduated in 1967.

Shortly before his death in 2010, I had the opportunity to reunite with him in Winter Haven, Florida. My wife, Angie, and I not only visited his home, but went to lunch with him and his daughter, Karen, who was living with him at the time.

During this visit, I learned that Mr. Hofer grew up in Montoursville, Pennsylvania, attended West Chester State University, Penn State University, and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.  In fact, he was a member of the West Chester State University Varsity Football Team.

1950 West Chester State University Photo

Mr. Hofer would serve the Austin School District for thirty (30) years. His early years of service would be as a history, health and physical education teacher.  Thereafter, becoming the school principal and in 1968, the school superintendent. He would retire from the Austin Area School District in 1981.

Superintendent Hofer also held leadership positions in the following organizations while living here in Austin, Pennsylvania:

• Executive Board Member of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, 1974 - 1977
• Charles Cole Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, 2nd Vice President
• Potter County American Automobile Association Board of Directors
• United Methodist Church Administrative Board
• Arcana Lodge, F.and A.M, Treasurer and Past Master
• Austin Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post

Below are pictures I have copied from the Austin High School yearbooks, beginning in 1971:

1971, Supervising Principal

1973, Superintendent

1975, Superintendent

1978, Superintendent

1981, Retired

2006 AASD Trip to PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Mark Corey

                                   

Mark Corey is a 1992 graduate of the Austin Area School District, Austin, Pennsylvania. 

Is It Winter in Austin, Potter County, Pennsylvania

 What a beautiful day it is here in Austin, Potter County, Pennsylvania.....and it's February 2, 2016

Angie and I drove to St. Marys this morning and it seemed more like a late March or early April day.

Below is a picture I took when we arrived back home at 167 Rugaber Street/Route 872 at noon.

Temperature readings for December 2015:

Tomorrow is the Super Bowl and then it will be the countdown until we hear "Play Ball".

Sheryl Cooney Orlowski Honored For Community Service

The Austin Boro News Blog Community Service Recognition for February 2016 is Sheryl Cooney Orlowski.

Sheryl has lived in Austin her entire life and graduated from the Austin Area High School in June 1977.

She has been married to her husband, David, for thirty (30) years and they have one daughter, Tracy.  She is currently employed by Fickinger's Life Celebration Home, as well as  working part time in many different positions at the Austin Area School.

Sheryl joined the Austin Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. in 1981 after seeing the need for members and with the encouragement of a few of it's members. 2016 is the start of her 35th year as a member of the AVFD.  She is a Life Member and currently holds the position of 2nd Assistant Ambulance Chief.

Sheryl began her affiliation with the AVFD by taking the First Responder Course and ran ambulance calls providing basic first aid.  Next, she completed the Essentials of Fire Fighting course and became Austin's first certified female firefighter. She donned the bunkers and fought a few fires before she realized that the back of the ambulance needed her more.  Accordingly, she enrolled in an EMT course when the first opportunity arose.

The EMT course requires approximately 200 hours of class and testing time.  She completed the EMT class in 1986 and remains an EMT to this date.  Maintaining the EMT certification requires continuing education in order to stay up-to-date with ever changing guidelines in the EMS Field.

Sheryl states that most people don't understand exactly what an EMT is and calls them "Ambulance Drivers" and that they are totally wrong. She states, "I can drive the ambulance too, but there is much more to being an EMT. An EMT is basically a person trained and certified to assess and then initiate emergency care for victims of trauma or illness before and during transport to a health care facility. You will see us at Medical Emergencies, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Fires and basically anything else you can imagine being called into  911."

"While providing care, you will see us doing anything from CPR, back boarding a patient, controlling bleeding, monitoring fireman at fires, checking vitals, applying oxygen, delivering babies, and caring for specific injuries and illnesses. You may also see us out doing simple wellness checks or lift assists.  We do transfers as well, when a patient needs transferred to a different hospital or facility. But, you will also see us teaching kids at the school about EMS and what to do in emergencies, and working countless fundraisers like bingo and the 300 club to support our department".

She further states, "When the pager activates, everything else changes. Not just for me, but everyone around me. Our dog even knows our tones!  I have to say thank you to my husband for supporting me through years of missed dinners and events, and, being woke up by the page at 2 A.M.; my parents for their support and always being on stand-by to babysit at any given time for all those years; and, for our daughter, Tracy, it became a way of life. She followed in my footsteps and is currently a member and EMT as well, serving as the Ambulance Chief.

She often hears the statements, "You're just a volunteer; why do you do this, or, you don't get paid",  Sheryl wants us to know that the reason she does this hasn't changed over the years.  She does it for each of us and the community she grew up and lives in. She goes on to state, "In 35 years, that is the only thing that has remained the same.  Each ride in the back of the ambulance is different. You never know what to expect when the tones drop. There's a ton of calls I could never forget, and a lot I wish I could. The calls when you have to tell someone their loved one didn't make it, that awkward first experience with death and trauma, is both physically and emotionally challenging".

"Nevertheless, I can say for the most part it has been a great experience being a part of EMS. I do feel I've been rewarded in a lot of ways. I get to help people, in what is probably the scariest moment of their lives. We live in a small town and I get to see a lot of my patients heal and continue on with their lives; see a baby I delivered grow up; and, I get to watch a group of volunteers come together and accomplish unbelievable things.  I've watched my daughter follow in my footsteps. I've shared so many hugs, tears, and laughs in the back of an ambulance with my crew and made a few lifelong friendships.  I hope to be able t continue doing this for a long time".

"I, also would like people to know that the AVFD is always looking for volunteers, Fire, EMS, and Social.  We appreciate every single donation, ambulance membership and support for all our fundraisers, every kind word and prayer said for us.

Sheryl has one request for all of us: Try not to get impatient when yielding to an ambulance as they know it interrupts our day, and, their lights and sirens can be bothersome. But, instead of being frustrated, take a moment, say a prayer or send a well wish for the people who are inside the ambulance trying to save a life, or be saved themselves.

Thank you very much for your service Sheryl.