With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, board members of the Cochranton Area Redevelopment Effort (CARE) have had to adjust their 2020 plans in both big and small ways. The Founders Day Auction slated for April 4 was first postponed until June 20 and then cancelled altogether. Donations for the event have been carefully cataloged and set aside for the 2021 auction. The auction committee continues to address the auction’s needs so that it will be bigger and better going into 2021. They remain committed to raising funds for the new home show building on the Cochranton Fairgrounds.
Veterans Way, located between Custom Countertops and the Market Place on Adams Street, continues to be a work in progress. A variety of hosta and Bird’s Nest spruce were planted this spring. New benches have been requested and a flag pole ordered. The mural on the Coblentz building is expected to be painted this summer.
CARE proudly sponsored WQLN’s production of Our Town: Cochranton which aired on June 4. The group is grateful for all of the phone calls that flooded the studio in support of our little town and the Public Broadcast System (PBS). Members of PBS can access the program online in its entirety by using their password at WQLN.org/OurTown and, of course, many Cochrantonites received the Our Town: Cochranton DVD: One, for sure, will be donated to the library.
Next up was the French Creek Poker Paddle. On the calendar for June 27, the group debated the feasibility of the event taking place as scheduled. Much of the groundwork had been laid with permits in place and promotions ready to go. At the time, final decisions needed to be made, Crawford County had not reached Phase Green under the state’s coding system for monitoring the virus and while the group was sure they could follow social distancing protocols at the launch site, following those guidelines would prove problematic at the landing. The French Creek Poker Paddle has been postponed until September or early October depending on the weather, water levels and wellness of those involved.
The French Creek Heritage Event (FCHE) held in mid-July each year has been cancelled also. Vendors, re-enactors, and demonstrators as well as the travel and lodging accommodations for the guest speakers could not be guaranteed for the event. While this cancellation is a huge disappointment, the FCHE organizers are hopeful for 2021.
The August Golf Outing is on for Sunday, August 23, at Mt. Hope Golf Course. Since the event is outdoors and conducted in small groups, it was determined to be a safe and very much needed activity. Sign-ups are available now by calling Josh Miller at (814) 671-2951 or by mailing your registration form to Josh at 25330 Oak Dr., Cochranton, PA 16314. Forms are available at cochrantoncare.org and on the bulletin board at the Cochranton Post Office.
The Adams Place senior housing project is on schedule and looks to open next summer.
As CARE continues to meet and discuss the status of planned and yet to be projects, the future health and heart of Cochranton and its surrounding area remains a priority. Be safe.