Austin Grad Returns to Serve as School Superintendent

The Saturday, July 21, 2018, edition of the Endeavor News reports that Kimberly Fowler Rees has been hired as Superintendent of the Austin Area School District, Austin, Pennsylvania.

Superintendent Rees and Jerry Sasala had alternated as the school's principal and superintendent for a number of years prior to her leaving the school district to assume the position as Executive Director of the Potter County Education Council.

Mr. Sasala had recently retired from the Austin Area School District.

Superintendent Rees is a 1987 graduate of the Austin Area School District, Austin, Pennsylvania.  She earned a B.S. degree in Psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and also holds M.ed degrees in School Counseling from Penn State University and Curriculum and Instruction from Gannon University, Erie, Pennsylvania. Superintendent Rees obtained the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Principal Certification from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.  

She will receive a salary of $90,000.00 per year.

Pennypackers Donate Flags To Austin

Becky and Joe Pennypacker

While most communities have had their flags and patriotic decorations on display prior to  Memorial Day, the Community of Austin did not. Austin's patriotic adornments were no longer suitable for public display.

Becky and Joe Pennypacker, both of whom come from patriotic families, noticed the lack of patriotic decorations on Main Street. So, they purchased eleven (11) U.S. Flag Display Sets and donated them to the Borough of Austin. A U.S. Flag was purchased for each of the three (3) Welcome to Austin signs, the Route 872 and Main Street intersection, and the seven (7) telephone poles on Main Street.

Borough employees Kurt Logue and Ed Vossler Sr. worked diligently throughout the day this past Friday  installing the Flag Sets so that they would be on display for the weekend.

Below are some pictures of the flags, and, as you can see, they really enhance the appearance of Austin.

A heartfelt thank you to Becky and Joe for their generosity in making Austin a more attractive place to live.

Austin Fireworks Saturday, July 7th, 2018

Mark your calendars!

This year's 4th of July Fireworks in Austin, Pennsylvania will be on Saturday, July 7th.

The Fireworks will be held on the grounds of  the Austin Area School, Costello Avenue, which is also Route 872.

Each year members of The Austin Pride Committee work many hours raising money to celebrate the 4th of July with one of the best firework displays in North Central Pennsylvania.

This year, the  fireworks was named The Duane Dow Memorial Fireworks in honor of  Mr. Dow's many years of community service, including the annual fireworks.

Mr. Dow passed last year.

Read more about Duane Dow

Austin, Pa.'s Major Leaguer - The Mark Corey Story - by Jim Pransky

The Mark Corey Story is now available in the Austin, Bradford, Coudersport, Port Allegany, and Smethport communities. If you don't see it, ask for it.

In Austin, the book may be purchased at:

• Big Mike's Dairy Dine
• E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society Museum
• Goodwin's Garage

In Port Allegany, the book can be purchased at:

• Shop n Save grocery store

Austin, Pa.'s Major Leaguer

The Mark Corey Story

by

Jim Pransky

The book can be purchased online at lulu.com by clicking on this link https://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?keyWords=mark+corey&categoryId=107132

2017 Austin in Review

MARCH

The Potter County Habitat for Humanity organization broke ground on March 24th for their first home to be built in the Borough of Austin.

The site of  the new home is 37 Thorn Street which is the lot previously occupied by Gus Heneckes.

The home is being built for the Scott and Amanda Crumrine Family

From left: Dr. Marilyn Kistner, Carol Jackson, Scott and Amanda Crumrine, Brian Ruane, Dick Myers, Wayne "Tink" Walker, and Ivan Lehman
Kyler and Kylie Crumrine in front.

Members of the Potter County Habitat for Humanity who attended the groundbreaking ceremony were:

• Brian F. Ruane, President
• Dick Myers, Director of Construction
• Wayne Walker, Board Member, grew up in Austin
• Dr. Marilyn Kistner, Secretary/Treasurer
• Buck Jackson, Board Member
• Carol Jackson, Fund Raising Committee
• Ivan Lehman, Board Member
• Barry Hayman, Board Member

APRIL

The E. O. Austin Home Historical Society, One Town Square, Main Street, Austin, Pennsylvania,  built a roof over the handicap ramp located at the rear entrance to the museum.

MAY

After years of neglect, the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society assumed responsibility for the repair and maintenance of the gazebo at One Town Square.

New Steps to Gazebo recently stained and first coat of white paint applied.

JUNE

AmeriCorps Lends Austin A Helping Hand

Members of the AmeriCorps Baltimore, MD, Region were in the Borough of Austin in June assisting in the Main Street Beautification Project currently in progress.

Front Left to Right: Khaseem Briggs, Sabrina Perez, Kwame Akoto, Jamonica Shoals, Madison Weigl, Joshua Lannom, and Jordan Brown - Back: Lindsey Jesberg and Kandace Major

Joshua is from Marion, Illinois

Jordan is from Roanoke, Virginia

Kwame is from Oakland, California

Khaseem is from Columbus, Ohio

Madison is from Muskegon, Michigan

Kandace is from Detroit, Michigan

Sabrina is from Chicago, Illinois

Jamonica is from Foreman, Arkansas

Lindsey is from Santa Cruz, California

While here in the Austin Borough, they cleaned and added a second coat of paint to the gazebo which had been neglected for many years before the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society assumed responsibility for it's upkeep last year. 

JULY

The Gunfighters Motorcycle Club Visit Austin, Pennsylvania

The Gunfighter Motorcycle Club is a non-profit fraternal organization of active and retired law enforcement officers who share a passion for riding motorcycles.

Every year they join together in July and  stop at the Cock-eyed Cricket during their travel through this part of the country.

Read More About the Gunfighters Motorcycle  Club by Clicking HERE.

New Pavement at the Austin Area School District, Austin, Pennsylvania

AUGUST

 Austin the Wealthiest Place in Potter County!

The August 1st edition of pennlive online contains an article titled: The Wealthiest Places in Each of Pa.'s 67 Counties by Candy Woodall.

Austin, representing Potter County, is ranked 63rd of the 67 counties with 186 total households and a median income of $45,833.

Study is based on 2015-16 census data on median household income as well as property tax information from the IRS.

READ MORE.

The Austin Dam Memorial Park Hosts

The 2017 Dam Show
Friday, August 25 and Saturday August 26, 2017

Cooney's Redline Muscle Company

Physical Fitness Center Opens in Austin, Pennsylvania

Hilary and Chase Cooney opened Cooney's Redline Muscle Company Physical Fitness Center on Main Street in Austin, Pennsylvania, next to the post office.

Pictured left to right are Carson, Hilary, Carly, and Chase

SEPTEMBER

Austin United Methodist Church Repairs Tower

The United Methodist Church on Turner Street in Austin, Pennsylvania:

E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society Fall 2017 Newsletter

E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society

107 Years of Service to the Austin Area School District

A very special shout out to Mrs. Jeffers on her 37 years of service and Mrs. Reese & Mr. Lerch on their 35 years of service with the Austin Area School District!! Thank you all for all your years of invaluable service. We appreciate you all more than you’ll ever know!


Mrs. Jeffers, 1982



Mrs. Reese 1984



Mr. Lerch 1984