Friday, August 19, 2022

Volunteers Clear Brush On School Path

Not along after I was elected to the Austin Borough Council in 2012, Ronnie Ebert came before the Council notifying Council that the School Path Lights had been vandalized. The Austin Borough Council said that they would look into it.

 In March of 2013, after the Austin Borough Council had failed to make any progress in getting the School Path Lights repaired in over a year, I decided to take charge as a private citizen in getting them repaired.

I started a gofundme account to finance the project.

During the course of my fundraising, a citizen living on Goodyear Terrace recommended that we clear the brush from the path to the Freeman Run Creek so that the residents living up there could keep an eye on the School Path in order to prevent further vandalism to the lights.

I thought this was a great idea and it would also make the School Path more attractive.

As I began clearing the brush, volunteers joined me in accomplishing the task.

Here are some pictures I took as we accomplished this project:

Brush Removed from School Path







Donald Ayers Sr.


Donald Ayers Jr.


The late Ed Corey


The late Billy Brewer


Donald Ayers Jr.


Andrea "Angie" Fowler



The late Billy Brewer


                                                                              Paul Bennett

Becky Rees Dynda and Vanessa Burgett escorting students for a visit to the E.O. Austin Home/Historical Society





On or about the year 2016 the Austin Borough Council hired another full-time laborer in order for more work to be accomplished in the Borough. Even less work was accomplished thereafter.

It must be noted that during his employment with the Austin Borough, Ed Vossler Sr;,laborer, kept the condition of the School Path in immaculate condition.

Also, Eric and Blair Shupe Sr. keep the bridge cleared of snow during the winter months.






Monday, May 23, 2022

Memorial Day Weekend Programs at Sinnemahoning State Park

 



News for Immediate Release

 

May 23, 2022

 

Memorial Day Weekend Programs at Sinnemahoning State Park

 

Sinnemahoning State Park is offering a variety of free family-friendly programs to park visitors over the Memorial Day Weekend, including nature walk, creek study, owl talk, storytelling, crafts, a movie, and of course, pontoon boat tours.






 

Saturday’s programs include a Rattlesnake Habitat nature walk, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the dam overlook, a Crayfish Crazy creek study from 2:30 to 3:30 PM at 40 Maples, and an Owls of Sinnemahoning evening program at the campground from 8:00 to 9:00 PM.




 

On Sunday, the park naturalist will lead two new programs, Draw and Tell A Storyfrom 2:30 to 3:30 PM in the Wildlife Center classroom, and a Raccoon craft from 7:30 to 8:00 PM at the Campground Amphitheater, followed by the PBS Nature movie, “Raccoon Nation”. 

Six Pontoon Boat Tours will be held this weekend: three on Sunday, May 29,  9:00 AM, 10:30 AM and 12:00 PM, and three Monday May 30, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM and 12:00 PM. Pontoon tour are free, but donations are requested.  Pre-registration is strongly recommended.

To pre-register for a program, or for more information, please visit the online DCNR Calendar of Events at http://events.dcnr.pa.gov/sinnemahoning_state_park/calendar   If you need assistance with online registration, please call the park office at 814-647-8401 and dial 0 for the front desk.

 

If you need an accommodation to participate in PA State Park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit.   With at least seven days’ notice, interpreters for people who are deaf or hard of hearing are available for educational programs.

 

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Tuesday, May 3, 2022

Saturday Bird Programs at Sinnemahoning to Kick of Week of Birding


Saturday Bird Programs at Sinnemahoning State Park to Kick Off Week of Birding

 

Come to Sinnemahoning State Park this Saturday, May 7th, for Bird Bonanza, a day focused on birding! This bird-themed day kicks off the park’s participation in a statewide Spring Migration Round Up competition.  In Spring Migration Round-Up, participating parks have a friendly competition see which ones have the widest variety of bird species. Help Sinnemahoning State Park record as many species as possible, while contributing to the study of birds! Park visitors who wish to participate are encouraged to go birding at Sinnemahoning State Park, or any participating park, as often as they like from May 7th to May 15th. Submit a checklist or a record of your observations through eBird or paper checklists available at the Wildlife Center. For a list of parks participating in Spring Migration Round-Up, please visit our Facebook page.

 

The first program of Saturday’s Bird Bonanza is a guided walk with the park naturalist. Lots of warblers and other songbirds are passing through or beginning to nest nearby, take advantage of active morning birds with a bird walk! Walk will be from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM. Meet at the Wildlife Center for a 1 to 2 mile walk along the Lowlands Trail. Walk will be on a mostly level, gravel surface. All bird-watching abilities welcome, from beginners to experts alike. Binoculars will be available to borrow.

 

If you’re new to birding and want some help getting started, come to our Birding Basics for Beginners program from 12 PM to 12:45 PM. This easy-paced program will take things slow, and go over helpful identification and bird-finding tips. Beginners encouraged! All ages welcome, binoculars will be available to borrow. After reviewing basics, follow up with a short bird walk outside around the Wildlife Center. Meet at the Wildlife Center Classroom.

 

Wrap up the day with a family friendly, interactive bird activity. Stop by the Wildlife Center Classroom from 1PM to 2 PM to explore bird beaks and learn why bird beaks have so many different shapes. This program is geared towards families with children ages 4 to 12.

 

Hope to see you in the park this Saturday, and maybe even out birding through the next week!

 

To see a list of all park programs, please visit https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/sinnemahoning_state_park/calendar or call the park office at 814-647-8401 ext. 0 for the front desk.

 

If you need an accommodation to participate in PA State Park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit.  With at least seven days’ notice, interpreters for people who are deaf or hard of hearing are available for educational programs.