The Daily Press http://www.ridgwayrecord.com http://www.ridgwayrecord.com/apfeed.xml--1 Copyright The Daily Press 2012-02-23T00:18:53-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:35482012-02-23T00:18:53-05:002012-02-23T00:18:53-05:00Copyright 2010 Ridgway Record"The state budget is definitely a tough budget with a lot of things that, if they play out the way they are in the proposal, will present challenges to a lot of people," said Eric Bridges, executive director at North Central. "It is a budget proposal and given that it is an election year, there will be a lot of legislative wrangling. "Advocacy will be the key, particularly [for] those in the budget proposal that fared well; they're going to be targeted and the heavy-hitters from higher education and basic education will be lining up and taking their shots. "All we can do and the best that we can do is wrap ourselves around what we've done and talk about the return that we've been able to give the state [government] on the investments that they've made and work our magic with the administration and legislators."According to Corbett's initial "budget in brief" release, the spending plan "closes a projected revenue shortfall of more than $700 million and controls state spending," and in doing so "puts Pennsylvania on a solid fiscal footing to manage through the next several years of modest economic growth."The budget also reportedly "prioritizes initiatives around economic development, job creation, workforce training and public safety.""For a lot of the major program areas that we're involved in, I think we've done pretty well, the economic development side of course and most certainly the workforce side," Bridges said. "All things considered, I think we did OK, and there are some things in the Department of Welfare that I think we'll need to watch. Federal and state budgets will be tight, but we've done a lot already to appropriately position ourselves. "I'm optimistic but the budget is tight, but on the same hand I think it's realistic. We just need to keep our foot on the gas and continue to march forward with what we're doing."Pick up a copy of the Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012 edition of The Ridgway Record for more.Next meetingNorth Central executive boardWhen: Wednesday, March 28Where: 651 Montmorenci Rd., RidgwayRidgway, PAJoseph BellNorth Central looks at budget proposalRidgway Recordurn:publicid:dailypress.com:3548Change0Usable2012-02-23T00:18:53-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:35472012-02-23T00:17:31-05:002012-02-23T00:17:31-05:00Copyright 2010 Ridgway RecordResidents were given this opportunity at a public meeting that took place at the urging of Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-25), state Rep. Sam Smith (R-66) and state Rep. Matt Gabler (R-75).Scarnati said the purpose of the meeting was to provide local residents — and those who depend on the Brockway Watershed for service — the opportunity to ask questions directly of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Flatirons, and to get answers."We need to have facts, and we need to have guidance," he said. "And that's what I'm here to provide you with [last night] ... but I am going to look all of you in the eye, and I'm going to defend the fact that we have a public hearing here — this isn't happening in every community around the state. (Flatirons Resources and DEP) didn't need to come. I wanted them here."Brockway is very familiar with Flatirons Resources, which has has already drilled a well in the borough, but recently submitted a proposal that is "administratively and technically complete" to drill a second well.That second well is a point of contention for many borough residents.According to Craig Lobins, DEP Northwest Regional director for the Oil At the meeting, many residents asked Flatirons Resources why it decided to drill a well in Rattlesnake Creek in the first place, since it is considered to be a high-quality reservoir. High-quality reservoirs, or water sheds that are in "pristine" condition, are not allowed to be deteriorated.Scott Perry, deputy secretary for the Oil and Gas Program, said protecting water quality — and particularly protecting drinking water supply — is most important to him, and believes Flatirons Resources has adhered to state law.Ridgway, PANatalie BruzdaShale debate hits Brockway hardRidgway Recordurn:publicid:dailypress.com:3547Change0Usable2012-02-23T00:17:31-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:35462012-02-23T00:16:25-05:002012-02-23T00:16:25-05:00Copyright 2010 Ridgway RecordStatements from bishops, including Bishop Donald W. Trautman of Erie, opposing "compulsory health insurance funding for contraceptives, sterilizations, and abortifacients" were present in many church bulletins in recent weeks. In a statement, the bishop said that the issue is not one of political affiliation, but rather one of a "constitutional right to religious liberty and freedom of conscience protected by the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment." This viewpoint has been echoed by pastors and priests from Elk County parishes, including Father Eric Vogt of Sacred Heart Parish in St. Marys. "My personal opinion is how can the government legislate morality...As any human being, you have to protect the right to life because that's a God-given gift, and to have the government legislate that just makes no sense to me even as a voter," Father Eric said.Father Eric also discussed the potential political ramifications the mandate could spell for President Obama in this, an election year. "I think when the White House found out about the outrage that the bishops felt, he saw 20-30 percent who vote and that's a formidable percentage when you're up for re-election," Father Eric said. Father Brian Vossler of St. Leo's said that parishioners have approached him regarding the controversy, even urging him to speak out against the president while officiating Mass. "One [parishioner] was livid because he wanted to get into the political sphere of the whole issue. He wanted me to get up and to preach against certain candidates or those in office," he said. Father Brian explained that the Church cannot advocate or openly oppose any politician or candidate, as doing so could result in the church losing its tax-exempt status. "However, we can raise the awareness of the issues at hand and try to guide our people into voting for those individuals who would best represent out stance on many issues," Father Brian said. Father Eric said he would not tell parishioners whom to vote for, but instead will tell them to "vote with your conscience." In recent days, the Obama administration has offered a compromise that would require health insurance companies, rather than religious institutions and affiliated charities, to provide contraceptives and cover the costs. While some Catholic groups have expressed support for the compromise, many within the Church still find fault with the proposed concession. Father Jim Faluszczak, pastor of St. Boniface Church in Kersey, said the proposed concession does not go far enough in protecting the conscience and religious freedom of those individuals and private employers not associated with the Church. "Maybe it's a step in the right direction but I'm not so sure...A private employer is going to be forced still to provide that type of coverage and if that private employer, there's no provision to protect their conscience and that's a concern that I think is still lingering," Father Jim said. Father Jim added that many Catholic churches are "self-insurers," meaning they directly assume the financial risk in providing healthcare insurance to employees, and said that questions remain as to how the compromise would affect them. "Where is the mandate then if we're the insurer, and that got us thinking then, well, we're still in the dark about the effect that is going to have us or anybody who is a self-insurer. I don't know if that is an issue in our diocese, but I know in other places it is," Father Jim said. Elk County's Catholic churches are under the Erie Diocese, which is not a self insurer. Similarly, Father Michael Ferrick, pastor of Queen of the World Church in St. Marys and president of the Elk County Catholic School System, said he was left wondering what the proposal would mean for self-insured Catholic hospitals and colleges. Father Michael also expressed skepticism that the insurance companies will be willing to absorb the expense of contraceptive coverage as conveyed in the compromise discussion. "There's a couple of things wrong with that. The insurance companies aren't going to give anything away for free like any business. We're going to have to pay for it, the people who pay for insurance," Father Michael said. In relating the discussion on the subject at the recent Deanery meeting, Father Brian said it involved the priests and pastors in attendance "reconfirming their stance on the dignity and respect for all life, from moment of conception to death." Ridgway, PAColin DeppenLocal priests speak out on Obama's contraceptive planRidgway Recordurn:publicid:dailypress.com:3546Change0Usable2012-02-23T00:16:25-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:35452012-02-23T00:15:10-05:002012-02-23T00:15:10-05:00Copyright 2010 Ridgway RecordBob King, in his seventh year at Rendezvous, delved into the topic of spatial perception which he described as "something we all have in common, how we perceive objects in the world and their relation to us in space." King said that carvers in particular utilize spatial reasoning in envisioning the sculpture in its entirety or completion before actually creating it. "Somebody says they want a [carving of a] goat. A lot of you guys are able to visualize that in three dimensions with balance, scale, and anatomy. All the details that make a goat a goat," King said. King said that a carver uses spatial reasoning often without realizing it as it is often an innate trait, but he said it is also one that can be learned and honed over time. "Some of us are gifted with that and others have to work hard at it...That's why we're here every year to learn and share that," King said. King also talked shop with those gathered, showcasing new technology and equipment of interest to the wood carvers in the audience, including a battery-powered chainsaw.While some in attendance were skeptical of the batter- powered as opposed to traditional gasoline-powered saw, King said the battery powered-option produces no emissions, is lighter and quieter and allows the carver to easily interact with their audience while sculpting. King explained the saw produced by the Oregon Company starts at $500, and includes a 40V max lithium ion battery and according to King, "carves pretty darn good." Ridgway, PAColin DeppenWood carvers discuss artistic process, technique Ridgway Recordurn:publicid:dailypress.com:3545Change0Usable2012-02-23T00:15:10-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:35442012-02-23T00:13:19-05:002012-02-23T00:13:19-05:00Copyright 2010 Ridgway RecordAccording to JMA solicitor Richard Brown, McCrossin is seeking $1,128,327.38 plus interest, penalty and attorney fees in payments for construction work on the waste water treatment plant that "they believe they are entitled to.""We are in the process of preparing and finalizing an answer in a manner of counterclaim and hope to have that filed prior to the next board meeting," Brown said during Tuesday night's regular meeting. Officials voted in favor of authorizing chairman Eric Poague to sign the paperwork for the counterclaim.As of Feb. 1, 2012, the project has incurred $14,428,545.42 in costs of a projected budget of $14,319.088.In other business, Uni-Tec engineer Dan Guss reported sending a letter to the building inspector addressing eight deficiency items at the site. Guss said out of the eight items only one remains; a handrail that needs to be raised two to three inches to qualify."That will have to be done by a local contractor and charged to McCrossin," Guss said. "The building occupancy permit was issued pending correction of the handrail."Pick up a copy of the Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012 edition of The Ridgway Record for more.Next meetingJohnsonburg Municipal AuthorityTuesday, March 206 p.m.Ridgway, PAGian DeLoiaMunicipal authority faces lawsuitRidgway Recordurn:publicid:dailypress.com:3544Change0Usable2012-02-23T00:13:19-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:35392012-02-21T23:52:39-05:002012-02-21T23:52:39-05:00Copyright 2010 Ridgway RecordThe 52-year-old Butler native drew attention in past years at the Rendezvous with his big green Hulk sculpture."I use to drive around town with the Hulk in the back of my truck," he said. "All my life I've drawn him (the Hulk) as a kid. I taught myself so much with that one carving. It helped with everything, including anatomy." In the carving world Tynan is known for his ability to master the anatomy of both human and beast. Recently he was called up by the producers of the television series "Saw Dogs," shown on the Velocity channel, a subsidiary of The Discovery Channel. The show features a team of the world's top chainsaw sculptors as they battle short deadlines, tight budgets and conflicting artistic sensibilities to complete a series of commissioned carvings.The specific project Tynan worked on involved creating a bust of former Pittsburgh Steelers punter Mitch Berger, a member of the team's 2009 Super Bowl Champion team.He explained that three other carvers were contacted to appear on the show, each one turning down producers and referring them to Tynan for his abilities. Tynan was teamed up with Saw Dogs foreman Pete Rieger and speed carver Mark Colp to create the piece, which was completed in two and a half days in time for a restaurant opening honoring Berger."People think that's a fake time limit on T.V. and I would have thought that too, but it's not," Tynan said.He added that working on the piece was a thrill to him, being a Steeler fan and growing up in the Pittsburgh area.Tynan began carving 12 years ago on his 40th birthday. As a former billboard painter, laid off due to the increase in billboards being painted by printers rather than by hand, Tynan said he jumped into carving."I just went and bought a chainsaw and said I was going to be a chainsaw carver," he said. "I was a hand carver for two years, then got into chainsaw carving."Tynan's prospective of the carving world was changed after seeing renowned carver Dennis Beach at an event in his hometown and Brian Ruth at a Masters of the Chainsaws event."I just always thought carving was square bears, but those guys are just so good. Then I just happen to hear about this thing (the Rendezvous) going on. That was it," he said. Ridgway, PAAmy CherryTynan's mastery of anatomy sets him apart in carving worldRidgway Recordurn:publicid:dailypress.com:3539Change0Usable2012-02-21T23:52:39-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:35382012-02-21T23:51:40-05:002012-02-21T23:51:40-05:00Copyright 2010 Ridgway RecordRidgway, PAStaff ReportsTwo-vehicle crash in Fox TownshipRidgway Recordurn:publicid:dailypress.com:3538Change0Usable2012-02-21T23:51:40-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:35372012-02-21T23:50:56-05:002012-02-21T23:50:56-05:00Copyright 2010 Ridgway Record"The county is going to be ending a 2-year contract with ECSR [Environmental Coordination Services "I'll be taking the bids to the Solid Waste Authority meeting next Tuesday, where they'll be reviewed and we will then make a recommendation back to the commissioners, and hopefully we can approve someone at the first meeting in March."Pick up a copy of the Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012 edition of The Ridgway Record for more.Next meetingElk County Board of CommissionersTuesday, March 610 a.m.Ridgway, PAJoseph BellCounty rebids recycling servicesRidgway Recordurn:publicid:dailypress.com:3537Change0Usable2012-02-21T23:50:56-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:35362012-02-21T23:49:53-05:002012-02-21T23:49:53-05:00Copyright 2010 Ridgway RecordFr. Ross Miceli, campus minister at Elk County Catholic High School, explained that Sundays are not counted because "if you do the math, you end up with like 46 days before Easter, so you can't count Sundays.""Sundays are always a celebration of the Resurrection, even during Lent," Miceli said. "Sunday is supposed to be a time of celebration. Some people traditionally celebrate perhaps what they gave up during Lent. If you gave up candy, on Sunday you could have candy. If you gave up pop, soda, or whatever people call it, you could have that on Sunday, again to commemorate the Resurrection, not for any other vain reasons."As far as Ash Wednesday is concerned, Miceli explained that the event is an ancient tradition dating back to Old Testament times. "People would mark themselves with ashes as a sign of repentance. It's a nice, public symbol. Traditionally it was done on the head, so they would put ashes on the top of your head. Then it became kind of more stylized to mark the ashes on the forehead as a sign for people to see that you are being marked as a Christian," Miceli said. The ashes used on Ash Wednesday are usually made from the palms from the Palm Sunday of the previous year, according to Miceli. He added that they are also distributed on a person's forehead in the shape of a cross. In addition to receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday, another common Lenten practice is for individuals to choose to give up or go without something for the Lenten season. "When you go without something, it makes you more conscious. It makes you more aware of your surroundings. Lent is really a time of awareness - awareness in terms of who we are as people created in God's image and likeness, but also in terms of the needs of our world," Miceli said. "It has an introspective nature to it, but at the same time it's supposed to broaden our horizons and make us more aware of our local community, and of course the entire world and the needs of everybody."Ridgway, PABecky PolaskiAsh Wednesday ushers in Lenten seasonRidgway Recordurn:publicid:dailypress.com:3536Change0Usable2012-02-21T23:49:53-05:00 urn:publicid:dailypress.com:35352012-02-21T23:48:51-05:002012-02-21T23:48:51-05:00Copyright 2010 Ridgway RecordMader said after two years of planning the fire department is prepared to purchase a new fire truck for $476,000, which will be a combination of a rescue and pumper truck manufactured by Spartan Chassis, Inc."It is going to replace the rescue truck we already have," Mader said. "We have a Second Ward Hose Company truck which has now been placed out of service."With the recent downsizing from low membership within the fire department, Mader says they are looking to the future with the purchase of the hybrid truck, which is becoming more commonplace in smaller communities.The truck combines the services of two trucks into one."This truck is a 1,000 gallon permitted truck that will pump a 1,000 gallons per minute," Mader said. "And it has a 500-gallon tank that will draw from the hydrant system in both the Ridgway Borough and Township."To help pay for the cost, Mader said the fire department is preparing to sign papers with state government officials for a $15,000 grant. Also, the rescue truck was recently sold to a chemical firm in Ellwood City."The fire department itself is prepared to use $100,000 of their own finances," Mader said. Pick up a copy of the Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012 edition of The Ridgway Record for more.Next meetingRidgway Township SupervisorsTuesday, March 204:15 p.m.Ridgway, PAGian DeLoiaFire department plans to purchase new truckRidgway Recordurn:publicid:dailypress.com:3535Change0Usable2012-02-21T23:48:51-05:00