rachelh@myweeklysentinel.com
TOWANDA — Bradford County Commissioners announced that they are donating $10,000 to each Bradford County Fire Department and Emergency Management System, per approving Resolution 2020-14 at their Sept. 24 meeting.
“We are so thankful to be able to do this,” said Commissioner Doug McLinko. “We are very thankful for our first responders.
Most fire department activities this year have been cancelled due to COVID-19 and social distancing restrictions.
“This is a little bit we are giving back to them,” said Commissioner Daryl Miller. “They volunteer to raise the money to buy the equipment and they also volunteer when someone calls 911.”
Commissioners stated that due to lack of funds for these entities this year, they did raise more than usual for fire and EMS companies in Bradford, but the roughly $300,000 they approved this day was a usual contribution they make every year.
A representative spoke to commissioners about up the upcoming Wysox Haunted House, which will begin in October.
The haunted house is run souly on volunteers. This year, they are encouraging online ticket sales in advance due to COVID-19. Masks should be worn at the event and hand washing stations will be set up. They will perform temperature checks and emergency medical technicians will be on stand-by. The building occupancy only allows 250 people in at a time.
Order advance tickets on the online store or email wysoxhauntedhouse@yahoo.com. Gate sales $1 more.
The haunted house begins on every Friday from 7-9 p.m. and Saturday evening in October at 7-10 p.m. at 22537 Route 187 South, Wysox (behind Country Cottage Ice Cream).
“No scare” and trick-or-treating for kids and adults will be the weekends of Oct. 2 and 10.
“Full scare” begins on Oct. 16 and 31.
Donate food pantry or pet items and get free raffle tickets. This includes one free ticket per item or an arm’s length for a bag full. Suggested donation items include toilet paper, bar soap, canned or boxed foods, cat food, dog food, pet treats. A portion of this year’s proceeds will be donated to Child Hunger Outreach Partners (CHOP) and Wysox Fire Company.
Food and craft vendors will also be available at the event.
Dani Roupp from Child Hunger Outreach Program (CHOP) spoke about the excessive need this year for food. Due to COVID-19, CHOP went through almost two million pounds of food this year so far, with pop-up food pantries and school outreach.
“You do so much with so little money,” said McLinko. “It’s amazing.”
“We wouldn’t be able to do this outreach without people offering to help,” said Roupp.
Roupp went on to say that CHOP has branched out to other counties and states, but they don’t see the success as they do in Bradford County.
“People in Bradford are really community-oriented here. It’s a beautiful thing,” said Roupp.
Other News
Commissioners also approved Resolution 2020-13 for appointing individuals for the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and thanked them for donating their time.
Also on the agenda, commissioners proclaimed Sept. 20-26, 2020, as “National Adult Education & Family Literacy Week” in Bradford County.
The next Bradford County Commissioners meeting will be Thursday, Oct. 8, at 10 a.m.