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Save The Median!

To the editor:

This letter is in response to Coudersport Borough Council's decision to remove the median on North West Street.

Having lived along that street for many years, we know what an asset the median has been to the community. To tear out a beautification project that may have cost over a half-million dollars is absurd.

We know what North West Street was like 20 years ago. When the old railroad ties were taken out, it looked like a second grade craft project. People parked wherever they pleased, even in middle. It was a speedway for vehicles circumventing the Main Street traffic.

Then, a grant was obtained to restore the business district. Overhead wires were removed from downtown and moved back a block to North West Street. Did we complain? No. After all, the downtown beautification project was important to the county and community as a whole.

Since the median was constructed and the beautiful trees planted, we have observed people taking pictures when the trees are in bloom.

So, if nobody complained about the median, than what is the problem? In all honesty, didn't the borough have a couple of complaints about snow being plowed that landed on a property owner's sidewalk? If this is true, get a grip. Stuff happens when it snows.

If the problem is that borough employees don't want to take a half-hour or so to maintain this small area, then why not ask the property owners who live adjacent to the median if they would consider maintaining it? We would do it in a heartbeat.

We are pleading with the Borough Council to reconsider. The aesthetic value of the median to the neighborhood and community outweighs whatever prompted Council to take such an arbitrary action.

Merv & Cathy Bowers

Coudersport

Lyman Run Dam:

Alive & Well!

Editor:

Lyman Run is on track for its approximately 130,000 visitors a year to once again enjoy this park in 2008.

Trout anglers, boaters and swimmers will have a new lake, and an updated camping area with newly added modern rest rooms and shower facilities at two of the campgrounds.

The Dept. of Environmental Protection issued the re-fill permit in December, 2007. The cold water lake is on schedule to be restored, beginning in late March (weather permitting), with swimming, hopefully by mid-July.

As for the fish habitat, only about one quarter of the lake bed was disturbed during the construction. Old stumps are scattered throughout the undisturbed section of the lake bed.

In 2006, Lyman Run Park Staff, along with the Fish and Boat Commission, worked on a 300 feet section of habitat improvement on Lyman Run Stream, and plans are underway to complete two more sections. A rock structure has also been placed in the downstream spillway channel to provide habitat.

There are also features that will have a positive effect on the down stream. A cold water release that will draw water from the 10 feet level will be used to help reduce down stream temperatures. The new spillway is 180 feet in length (the old spillway was 800 feet), this will also help reduce down stream temperatures.

The Parks Dept. has preserved the best of both worlds at Lyman Run: A 40 acre lake that will include a swimming hole.

John Tubbs

Galeton

Message To

Firefighters

To all:

In honor of the 26 firefighters who have died nationally this year, five of whom were from Pennsylvania, I am asking all fire departments across the state gather your troops for an open and honest discussion about safety.

I know the job we do is dangerous and sometimes, even when we do everything right, things go wrong and a brother or sister will be injured.

I realize that all of you are busy with day to day living and all the things it takes to keep the firehouse going. But I can think of no better way to honor all of our brothers and sisters who have died in the line of duty than to offer a moment of silence for all who have made the ultimate sacrifice and engage in a meaningful discussion about safety.

You can find a great deal of material to help get the conversation started at several websites. Please do this for you and your family.

Ed Mann

State Fire Commissioner

Keystone Boys

State

Dear Editor::

What do President Bill Clinton, Vice President Dick Cheney, Michael Jordan and Tom Brokaw have in common? They all attended a Boys State program as a junior in high school.

Pennsylvania American Legion has started registrations for the 2008 session of Keystone Boys State, set for June 22-28 at Shippensburg University.

Boys State is a leadership program and has been conducted yearly in Pennsylvania since 1937. It's a comprehensive one-week course in state and local government where the students take an active participating role in a practical learning government.

Among topics the students will cover are the law and court system, parliamentary procedure and Pennsylvania political history.

As we all know, colleges are selective. Every activity outside of high school will greatly enhance a student's chance of success. Attendance at either a Boys or Girls State has been a key discriminator in the selection process at many universities.

Additionally, this year for the first time, college credits can be obtained by attendance in conjunction with the completion of an online course with the university or college.

High school juniors should contact their guidance counselor or our local American Legion post for more information. In many situations, the Legion will endure the cost of the program for the student.

More information can be obtained by calling 717-359- 4626.

William Shade Wormleysburg