Looking Back : Brother where art thou?

A few have responded since I first posted this over a year ago. God has pinged my heart to keep looking. Have you ever had a part of your soul that feels like something is missing?

My name is Scott James Dowdell. I graduated from Olean High School in ’79, went to college and graduated from Cornell in ’83. I was born on April 12, 1961. My biological father is James Allen Foster and my mother is Joyce Marion Clifford. I have a brother whose birth name is Gregory Allen Foster. He was born January 3, 1958 at Olean General Hospital. I’ve never met him. When mom was pregnant with me our parents engaged in a bitter divorce. Mom went to Texas where I was born. Gregory was given up for adoption, possibly by a family in Portville.

About 10 years ago, after my two daughters were born, I tried to call Jim Foster (my dad) but was told he was deceased. It wasn’t true; he actually died several years later (2003). I was curious about my geneology and medical history that I was passing onto my girls. I am 49 now, and Gregory is 53.

I have a brother Jeff and two sisters Laurie and Sharon, whom I love very much; there is no doubt about that. I love my life with the family I have here in Red Lion, PA.

There is just a piece of my heart that asks that daunting question: brother, where art thou?

Scott Dowdell
(717) 870-7086
sdowdell@topflight.com

Announcements : American Red Cross Holiday Blood Drive Food Drive

“Blood Drive Food Drive” to be Held in Olean
Blood Donors Encouraged to Give The Perfect Gift

The American Red Cross Blood Services, New York-Penn Region is encouraging the Southern Tier community to give The Perfect Gift this holiday season. A “Blood Drive Food Drive” will be held on Monday, December 10, from Noon – 6pm at the Elks Lodge at 209 West State Street in Olean. The Red Cross will collect blood to help save the lives of hospital patients, and will also collect non-perishable food items that will be distributed to the Olean Food Pantry.

All presenting donors at the blood drive will receive a free holiday t-shirt and be entered to win a pair of tickets to see the Buffalo Bills game against the New York Jets on December 30. In addition, all donors will be entered for the grand prize drawing for a pair of roundtrip JetBlue airline tickets (some restrictions apply). There will also be a live WPIG radio broadcast at the blood drive.

During the holidays, everyone searches for the perfect gift. Is it the half off sale across town? Or maybe at the store that opens at 5 A.M.? The more money saved, the more there is to spend. Still, many of us struggle to find the perfect gift. The Red Cross reminds people that when you give from the heart, the answer is simple. The perfect gift – a lifesaving blood donation – costs nothing but about an hour of your time. By giving blood, donors give a hospital patient in need the most precious gift of all – life.

The Red Cross hopes all eligible blood donors can take time from their holiday festivities and donate blood at this year’s “Blood Drive Food Drive.” Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood; and the need for blood never takes a holiday. The New York-Penn Blood Services Region provides lifesaving blood to 120 hospitals and must have 1,200 people give blood and platelets each weekday to meet hospital demand. Accident victims as well as patients with cancer, sickle cell disease, blood disorders and other illnesses receive lifesaving transfusions every day. There is no substitute for blood and volunteer donors are the only source. Now is the perfect time to show your support and give back to the Olean community, as Red Cross is the primary supplier of blood products and services to Olean General Hospital.

Eligible volunteer blood donors are asked to please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make appointments. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to give blood. Identification is required at the time of donation.

Announcements : Sharing Nature

Pfeiffer Nature Center has an opening for a Naturalist/Program Coordinator. This position gets to share their love and enthusiasm for all things natural - salamanders, bees, birds, trees, sunsets, snow - you name it. The Naturalist/Program Coordinator will lead some programs directly and will identify topic experts to lead others. Additional responsibilities include program marketing, public education, and assistance with property management.

This is a part-time position with flexible hours and available benefits.

Download a complete job description. Resumes are mailed to Pfeiffer Nature Center, PO Box 802, Portville, NY 14770.

Announcements : Sports/Rec Show Set For January

The Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce announced that the 4th annual Greater Olean Area Outdoor & Rec Sports Show will be held January 2013 at the Daniel Carter Events Center, 2383 West Five Mile Road Extension in Allegany (on exit 24 ramp off I-86). The show dates and times are Saturday, January 26, 10 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday, January 27, 10 AM to 4 PM.

Vendor booths are now available for the annual sports show. At least sixty of the region’s leading businesses are expected to exhibit their wares and services at the upcoming show. The Sports Show brings the passion for the outdoors–indoors–by bringing outdoor sports enthusiasts of all ages to view the latest in hunting and fishing gear, shop for ATV's and snowmobiles and plan and book hunting and fishing trips with outfitters.

NEW THIS YEAR – BABES WITH BULLETS Camp Director Deb Fern will appear both days of the show. The Babes with Bullets ™ camps started in 2004 at the Louisiana home range of head instructor, Kay Clark Miculek, who is a several time World Champion in handgun competitions along with a 14 time National Champion in multi-gun events with handgun, rifle and shotgun. Deb Ferns was one of Kay’s campers in the 2004 event and is also active in handgun and multi-gun competitions. While Kay started shooting at a very young age with a family that is still building custom firearms, the “gun bug” did not start with Deb till she shot a handgun for the first time on her 45th birthday.

According to Deb Ferns, “There has been over 2,000 women participate in the program since 2004 with the majority of them having little or no exposure to firearms prior to camp.” Ferns made note that the age of the campers typically spans from 18 to 78 and most look at this event as “part pajama party, part adventure camp, and part firearms training.”

Ms. Ferns will have two presentations each day of the show and then will also have individual Handgun 101 demos (with a plastic replica Smith & Wesson M&P .9mm) at her booth throughout the show hours. Babes with Bullets features action shooting camps on the Outdoor Channel and the show was the winner of the Outdoor Channel Golden Moose Award “Best Online Series” 2012!

Deb Ferns is also chair of The Women’s Outdoor Media Association, host with the Outdoor Channel, columnist of “Outside My Comfort Zone”, and member of Outdoor Writers Association, National Rifle Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Second Amendment Sisters, Ducks Unlimited, and United States Practical Shooting Association.

The Greater Olean Area Outdoor & Rec Sport Show is offering outdoor retailers, associations & outfitters the best opportunity to sell merchandise, secure leads, book trips and interact with the outdoor community. Use this show to establish relationships with current and new customers. Exhibitor space is limited. You can secure your booth(s) for the event with a deposit of $100. GOACC members will receive discount booth space. For more information on the Greater Olean Area Outdoor & Rec Sports Show or other Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce events and activities, please call GOACC at (716) 372-4433 or email events@oleanny.com.

Announcements : Fourteenth Santa Claus Lane Ornament Now Available

Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce has unveiled its newest Santa Claus Lane ornament, a depiction of The Chuck Wagon Restaurant. Through the ornament sales, holiday lights are funded and can be lit in Olean from November to early January. The ornament, the fourteenth in a series created by artist Kathleen McDonald, is $20.00.

Ten of the thirteen previously made ornaments are still available with a limited inventory. The first to be unveiled, the Olean Municipal Building in 1999 is sold out and not available. In 2000, the Fannie E. Bartlett House was depicted, followed in 2001 with St. Mary of the Angels Church. Olean High School came next in 2002 (and is sold out at GOACC but is sold by the OHS Alumni Association), St. Stephen’s Church in 2003 (sold out), St. Bonaventure University in 2004, and in 2005, a depiction of Santa Claus Lane. In 2006, the Olean General Hospital was created, in 2007, the ornament was the Olean Post Office, 2008 was Community Bank, NA 2009 was Ivers J. Norton, 2010 Castle Restaurant, and last year was the St. Francis Hospital. These past ornaments are available at the Chamber office.

Every year, the Santa Claus Lane committee chooses the landmarks to be designed on the 3 1/2 inch circular resin ornament. The artist sketches the layout from photos provided by Chamber officials and a prototype is created. Once the prototype is approved, work begins with the process of pouring and hand-painting each piece. The ornaments arrive in Olean, individually boxed and numbered, with a brief description of the ornament.

The new ornaments are available at the Chamber office at 120 North Union Street, at Seasons at the Olean Center Mall, and at The Chuck Wagon Restaurant on the North Union Street Extension in Olean. Ornaments can also be shipped outside Olean for an additional $6 for shipping/handling charges per ornament. For more information on the ornament or Santa Claus Lane activities, please call GOACC at 716/372-4433, stop in the office, or email santa@oleanny.com.

Business Focus : Big Bucks Fundraising

395 Kansas Branch Road, Duke Center, PA
814-966-3817
bigbucksfunds4u@yahoo.com

Big Bucks Fundraising started in January 2012. They offer
first aid kits for fundraising. Any non-profit organization
using Big Bucks Fundraising will make a 50% profit. Open
9 AM everyday and by appointment in the evenings.

Business Focus : Petruzzi Insurance Agency

825 East State Street, Olean, NY
716-373-4401 • Fax 716-373-4312
193 Main Street, Eldred, PA
814-225-3271 • Fax 814-225-3279
petruzzi@roadrunner.com • petruzziinsurance.com

Save families and businesses money

Petruzzi Insurance agency sells auto, home, commercial, and life insurance. They have been in business since 1970. They serve NWPA and SWNY. Last year, they were awarded Erie Insurance’s top award in New York, selected out of over 220 agents. They have the most competitive rates for personal and commercial insurance in the area.

Business Focus : Allegheny National Forest Vacation Bureau

80 E. Corydon Street • Bradford, PA 16701
800-473-9370 Fax: 814-368-9370 • visitANF.com

You’re on the Trail to Something Big!
FREE travel guides, recreation maps for hiking and snowmobiling, camping information, scenic driving tour brochure and map, attraction information.

Tourism Welcome Center open 9 am – 5 pm Monday – Friday

Business Focus : Healthy Cattaraugus County:A Drug Free Coalition

201 South Union Street, Olean, NY
716-373-5202, ext. 520 • Fax: 373-4327
ceade@councilonaddiction.org

MISSION STATEMENT
Foster the collaboration of resources to create a community where all youth can develop into caring, healthy and productive adults without the problems created by substance abuse.

THEIR GOAL
The primary goal of HCC is the reduction of underage drinking and other high-risk behaviors of youth 9th – 12th grade in Cattaraugus County.

Announcements : Rally Raffle

The Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce and the Olean Area Motorcycle Enthusiasts are raffling off Not One Harley, but TWO HARLEYS! in recognition of the 10th Annual Rally in the Valley! The raffle ticket offers FIRST PRIZE of Harley Davidson 2012 Big Red Sportster Seventy-Two; SECOND PRIZE of Harley Davidson 2012 Red Sunglo Sportster SuperLow; THIRD PRIZE -- 2012 CarMate Enclosed Two Bike Trailer; FOURTH PRIZE – a rifle from Slugg’s Guns; plus a host of other prizes!

Tickets are available for $20 with a limit of 2,500 tickets to be sold. The drawing will be announced on Sunday, August 26. The motorcycles were partially sponsored by Gowanda Harley-Davidson, a major supporter/sponsor of this year’s Rally in the Valley. Tickets are available to purchase before the event at the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce, Poor Cow Leather, the Taste of Olean and Gus Macker, various Rally committee members and during the Rally event.

The 2012 Harley-Davidson Sportster Seventy-Two XL1200V is a bare bones radical custom. From front to rear, the Seventy-Two sports a bold, vintage look that recalls classic bobbers and the styling of 1970s choppers. With its big flake paint, peanut tank, round retro-style air-cleaner cover, ape-hanger handlebars, and brilliant whitewalls, the Sportster Seventy-Two boasts a one-of-a-kind custom style that's full of attitude.

The 2012 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow XL883L has all the motorcycle features you want for easy handling. The Harley SuperLow features: Sportster tank, longer travel rear suspension, low seat height, and comfortable rider ####pit.

Dennis Jones, Randy Langdon, Larry Penman, and Alan Roth spearhead the Rally Committee. “2012 represents our 10th motorcycle event and we plan on having a great event – additional music bands, possibly fireworks, commemorative Cutco Knife, themed days, more giveaways, more games!” said Rally Co-Chair Dennis Jones. The charities that will benefit this year include the Dempsey Club; Allegany Youth Football; American Cancer Society; ReHabilitation Center; Dresser-Rand Challenger Learning Center; and Southern Tier Military Support Group. For more information on the Annual Rally in the Valley, call Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce at 716-372-4433 or email rally@oleanny.com.