MUSEUM EXPANSION CLOSE?

Officials at the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum in central Potter County are standing by for confirmation of an important public pronouncement by Gov. Ed Rendell on Monday.

Rendell told a gathering of tourist promotion officials at the Harrisburg Hilton Monday night that, as part of his administration's commitment to the "Pennsylvania Wilds," he will authorize the release of funds from the state's capital budget to expand and renovate the museum.

The Pa. Lumber Museum Associates (PALMA) and others with a direct interest in the project have been standing by for several months awaiting the release of funds.

A multi-million dollar allotment was approved by the state legislature, but responsibility for the release of funds for capital expenditures rests with the governor.

Gov. Rendell met briefly with Potter County Commissioner Paul Heimel and David Brooks, executive director of the Potter County Visitors Association, at the Harrisburg Hilton to confirm his intention to release the funds. He repeated that pronouncement to those attending the state's an- nual travel and tourism legislative conference.

Rendell did not give a specific timetable for release of the funds.

Located off Rt. 6, across from Denton Hill State Park and Ski Denton, the Pa. Lumber Museum preserves and interprets the colorful heritage of the region's prosperous lumber era, when white pine and hemlock were the wealth of the nation. Exhibits at the museum are complemented by a 1912 Shay-geared logging locomotive, Barnhart Log Loader, Brookville locomotive, restored Civilian Conservation Corps cabin and other attractions. An annual highlight is the Bark Peelers' Convention, now in its 32nd year.