For those of you who would prefer to write a check for CARE through the CrawfordGives Event on August 10 and 11, please note the following. Checks should be written out to the Crawford Heritage Community Foundation with CARE in the memo line. All checks need to arrive at the Foundation no later than Aug. 11. Hand deliver your check to Crawford Heritage Community Foundation at 415 Chestnut St. or mail to Crawford Heritage Community Foundation at PO Box 933, Meadville, PA 16335. Whether you submit by check or go online at crawfordgives.org CARE thanks you for your donation — let’s build a new Home Show building on the fairgrounds!
CARE joins Crawford Gives Aug. 10 & 11
CARE’s spirit has not been cancelled! While our in-person fundraising events have been abandoned in the face of the ongoing pandemic, our online partnership with Crawford Gives remains. On Aug. 10 and Aug. 11, CARE will be listed as a charitable organization seeking funds for a Cochranton Fair Board project; build a new Home Show building at the Cochranton Fairgrounds. This special two-day event of the Crawford Heritage Foundation allows generous and financially able businesses and individuals to donate to a favorite cause at crawfordgives.org. Donations will receive a prorated match from the Foundation. Mark your calendars, give what you can, and by all means, pass the word!
CARE Updates
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.
Bells Across Pennsylvania Day in Cochranton May 3
A Note from the Mayor
COCHRANTON RESOURCES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
HELPFUL COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR SENIORS DURING COVID-19
In recent days, the Cochranton Area Redevelopment Effort, CARE, has been focusing on a way to help seniors and other vulnerable citizens of the Borough during this COVID-19 crisis. Connections with area businesses, churches, and the Cochranton Caring Committee have yielded several resources to address these needs. It is the intention of the group to keep the community informed so that no one falling into the at-risk category of age 60 and over is left without the resources needed to stay healthy over the next several weeks.
DELIVERY SERVICES:
The Cochranton Community Pharmacy will deliver prescriptions and other items from the pharmacy to the residents of the borough and outlying areas. Prescriptions need to be called in during the morning hours for delivery that day or the next depending on availability. Please contact the pharmacy at (814) 638-0040. Purchases must be made with a credit card.
The Cochranton Market Place will deliver grocery orders of $15 or more to borough residents only. Orders should be placed early in the day and must be made with a credit card. Call (814) 425-3690.
Miller’s Country Store, located at 19177 PA-285, Cochranton, will deliver deli and grocery orders over $10 within a 10 mile radius. Purchases can be made by credit card or mobile on the go app only. Call (814) 425-1017.
If you are a senior in need of food and live outside the Borough, Marsha Rynd, president of CARE, will try to make arrangements to get food to you. She can be reached at (814) 425-7279.
OTHER SERVICES:
The Food Bank is located at the Methodist Church in Cochranton. If you are in need of food or household dry goods, call Candy Stearns at (814) 425-7097 for assistance. If you would like to volunteer at the Food Bank, Candy would love to hear from you as well.
SERVICES AVAILABLE BY CALLING 211:
Food and prescriptions may not be the only need in our community. Per their website, PA 2-1-1 Northwest is part of the national 2-1-1 Call Centers initiative that seeks to provide an easy-to-remember telephone number, chat, text, and a web resource for finding health and human services– for everyday needs and in crisis situations. Dial 2-1-1 or visit their website at < pa211nw.org > for updates and support.
Please pass this information along to those who would benefit. As always, CARE
Community Meeting Sept. 12 @ 6
2019 FRENCH CREEK HERITAGE EVENT CANCELLED
The difficult decision to cancel the 2019 French Creek Heritage Event slated for July 13 and 14, did not come easily for the Cochranton Area Redevelopment Effort (CARE). When several vendors were unable to commit and scheduling the re-enactors became problematic, CARE felt presenting anything less than what they promised was not acceptable. The group asks for your understanding.
Please know that the 2020 event is on track to be everything you have come to expect from CARE and more.
2019 Annual Golf Outing Aug 18
The now annual Golf Scramble will be held at the Mt Hope Golf Course in Guys Mills, PA, on Aug 18. Please take note of the details on the flyer below if you are interested.
Local Artisans Highlighted
The Founders Day Auction sponsored by the Cochranton Area Redevelopment Effort (CARE) will highlight several local artisans. Featured prominently during the auction will be historical drawings by Mark Roche, a 48” round solid oak pedestal table made by Wilfred Douglass, a solid cherry bowl carved by Al Zurney, leather goods by Mark Yoder, a carved wooden sign by Ron Oswald, lap quilts by Dianne Eakin and Tricia Maloney and, of course, this year’s queen size quilt by the Undercover Girls quilt group. Both Paul Rudy and Bob Morrison have helped the group refinish some older pieces of furniture donated by Gary Ross of G&T Clean Out Service.
Local businesses have also contributed. Becky’s Bakery will add a plate of homemade baked goods to the auction as well as gift cards from Parkside Restaurant and the Motzing Center. Both local banks, First National and Mercer County State, have contributed as has the local Women’s Club. Members of the local Senior Center will add homemade pies and cookies to the refreshment bar along with Smokey Martin’s pulled pork sandwiches.
CARE’s auction committee has been busy gathering up goods for the basket raffle as well. The group would like to thank the countless number of contributors to this special part of the auction. Many local residents has given generously with new or gently used items that will only add to the excitement of the evening. Participants in the library’s Crafters Co-op have donated a basket of their own filled with craft supplies and crafted treasures. Pampas Creek Perennials has gifted the group with a garden basket and snack baskets from both Miller’s Country Store and Windy Knoll have been donated.
The Founders Day Auction will be held on Saturday, April 6, at the Cochranton Community Church on RT 285, Cochranton. Doors will open at 5:30 pm. At 6 pm, Jill Tucker, auctioneer, will begin the live auction. Proceeds from the auction will help fund the 2019 projects including French Creek enhancements and events, green space development and historical programs. The group is non-profit and dedicated to enriching the community and surrounding area for both residents and visitors. The event is free and open to the public.
CARE Plans for 2019
The Cochranton Area Redevelopment Effort (CARE) had their annual workshop on Jan. 12 to plan and prioritize projects for 2019. They began by discussing the importance of local culture, the necessity of knowing your community and the value of knowing and helping one another. CARE is committed to those activities that will foster economic growth, remember the area’s history and develop trust and pride within the community and surrounding area. Projects for 2019 dabble in all of that.
Ongoing or recurring projects include the Cochranton Founders Day Auction slated for April 6, at the Cochranton Community Church. The auction serves as a fundraiser for the group. This year Cindy Phelps, CARE president, and Melissa Mack Maruska, CARE communications, will co-chair the event. The Undercover Girls, a local quilting group, have already donated their quilt to be raffled the night of the auction and Wyattville Country Gardens have donated an Amish-built lawn swing and frame. The co-chairs have been busy coordinating with community members to help organize the event, soliciting donations and auction items, and start publicity.
The French Creek Heritage Event (FCHE) is another ongoing function that CARE will oversee. The 2-day event will feature noted speakers, games, demonstrations, period sutlers selling their wares, battle reenactments and Native American encampments in order to tell the story of the French Creek Valley as it was just prior to the Revolutionary War. This year FCHE is planned for July 14 and 15 at the Cochranton Fairgrounds. As always, it promises to be fun, family-friendly and free.
The CARE Golf Outing at Mt. Hope Golf Course in Guys Mills will be August 18 and, of course, the H. L. Moore Christmas Display will light up the town in November. The group is excited that this display will continue to grow and involve more of the town.
Projects to be maintained by CARE include the Lions Community Park playground. In order for the playground to remain a viable asset, periodic maintenance will be necessary. Painting, repairing and mulching areas beneath the equipment will need monitoring. The French Creek access areas will also need upkeep. Adding more gravel to the parking area and finishing the tie-ups for kayaks and canoes will also be addressed this coming year.
New for 2019 will be the first Poker Float on French Creek. Although still in the planning stages, the float is on the calendar for Saturday, June 22, and will run the 7 miles between Cochranton and Utica. The group welcomed Katie Wellmon, our local branch manager of One Federal Credit Union and CARE board member, as organizer for the event. CARE is proud to recognize French Creek as an asset and plans to make use of it to develop community awareness.
CARE is also working on a community welcome package for new residents and visitors. Working with local businesses and real estate agents in the area, the group hopes to reach out and involve more of the community in their projects.
Wrapping up the workshop was discussion on new and upcoming projects that are in the works but not ready for launch. Two thousand nineteen promises to be a very productive year for CARE. Stay tuned.