The Women’s Literary Club met Friday, with President Patti Neidich welcoming everyone to the group’s last regular meeting of the year.
Neidich thanked members for being supportive of her in her role as president. She welcomed the speaker, Charlie Burchfield and his wife of DuBois, who gave a program titled “Avoiding Conflicts With Wildlife.” Neidich welcomed two guests and thanked the Publicity Committee, too.
Club members recommended three books to the group: “Lost Life,” “A Soldier’s Secret” and “Beneath a Scarlet Sky.”
During the business meeting, Secretary Bonnie Frisina read the minutes for the Feb. 28 meeting.
Vice president and Program Committee chair Gae Colligan introduced Burchfield. Having written for various publications and served with several outdoors news organizations, he now also serves on the Governor’s Council on Hunting, Fishing and Conservation.
Through PowerPoint and discussion, Burchfield shared his trip with research biologists as they tracked a mother bear and located her den. They darted her as she slept and removed her cub. After examining the bears, data was recorded. Mother bear was collared and the cub received metal clips to its ears. Vicks was applied to both faces when returned to the den to mask human scent. The cub later died. The researchers felt this could be used for teaching. In nature some die.
Other facts: Hunters pay for this research. Bears are very intelligent and learn to cohabitate with people. It is against the law to feed bears; Don’t leave food out. Bears may eat as many as 20,000 calories a day when preparing for hibernation. When confronted by a bear, shout, yell, wave your arms, look big to frighten away the bear.
Serving on the Tea Committee were Fran Runyan, Sue Carns, Kathy Herzog and Sandra Haley.
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SMETHPORT —The Smethport Area Women’s Club held its regular monthly meeting at the American Legion Hall in Smethport with 19 members and one guest, Caroline Boser Newhouse.
President Barb Peterson called the business meeting to order after dinner and after the speaker. The minutes from the January meeting were approved with the following correction: April 11 is a Saturday for the Easter egg hunt. The treasurer, Phyllis Faes, gave the treasurer’s report.
There were three items of correspondence: Hamlin Memorial Library is having its annual dinner and auction on March 14; The club is invited to donate a basket for the silent auction. The Guidance Center thanked the club for its continuing support in donating money to buy Christmas presents for a family this past year. YWCA Bradford thanked the club for its donation of personal care items.
There was one item of old business: Members were reminded to turn in their Christmas candy money as soon as possible.
Under new business, new member Sue Keech was introduced and welcomed to our group. Carol Duffy passed out the Easter candy order forms. They are due back to Duffy by today. The candy will be available for pick-up at Patty Witchen’s house on March 26.
Joan Schultz will co-chair the scholarship committee with Alexis Clark. Applications are due back to them by April 14, no exceptions.
The winner of the monthly drawing was Karen Sellers.
The club will have chicken and biscuits at its March 18 meeting.
The business meeting was adjourned at 7:36 p.m.
The speaker for this evening was Caroline Boser Newhouse from the Bradford Area Alliance. She spoke to the group about trying to keep young people from moving out of the area.
