August 2009 #107

Alan Nichol Readies Chucks for 2009 Opener An Interview with ‘Our New Coach’

On the cover: Sunflowers in Bloom!

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By Jason Montgomery for Hometown magazine

also on Coach Ed Smith’s staff, where I got a chance to move up and coach varsity football.” hen visiting Punxsutawney After coaching for Punx’y, High School, you might not Nichol moved on to Penn’s be sure where to find Alan Manor High School and became Nichol, but following the the head coach there. shouts of young men at practice quickly “Then I received the opportunity unearths the new head football coach. On to move on to Curwensville and the field, Coach Nichol stands out, esbe the head football coach,” chewing the customary red-and-white of Nichol explained. “So, I’ve had a the Chucks and coming to practice good opportunity to move around dressed head-to-toe in blue. During a reand coach. Later on, I became cent practice, Coach Nichol was happy to principal at Curwensville High answer some questions about his plans for School. I’ve had opportunities to learn off of a lot of good people both as a player and as a coach. It was a great experience being on both coaching staffs in Punxsutawney.”

When asked how his new Coach Alan Nichol takes over the head coaching duties at team will fare PAHS. (Hometown photo by Jason Montgomery) this upcoming succeed at, it gives you a basic underseason, Nichol talked standing of that. We think discipline is a about the positive attitool for success. We don’t think discitude one would need to pline’s a bad word. We think it’s sometake into a season. thing you can learn, and be trained by, and “Our big thing is to get very good at. With that being said, I take each week at a believe that discipline is the tool and the The Chucks open the 2009 football season at home on September 4 time and try to get betagainst Karns City. (Hometown photo by George Powers) key to success.” ter. How they fare deCoach Nichol knows what works. Local pends on how you’re judging them. I’m the season and what he brings to the sports fans are well aware of his accomseeing a lot of good effort. I’m getting to Chucks. plishments. know the young men. Just as I thought, “Well, I played high school football here He was inducted into the Punxsutawney we’ve got a great group of young people in Punxsutawney a long time ago,” Nichol Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. to work with here in Punxsutawney. And said with a slight chuckle. “And I had an “I am very honored by that, but it’s a for how we’ll fare, we’re just going to go opportunity to go to IUP and play football tribute to the coaches I had in school as out and compete every week and see what down there. I had a good experience well as my teammates,” he said. “I felt happens.” there, being a Division II school.” better to see a lot of my teammates get in “Football’s a great game,” he continued.

“After I got out, I’ve basically been there. The time when I played, there were “It puts a lot of demands on a person, and coaching and teaching in the administrajust a lot of fantastic athletes, and I just I think to be good at whatever you do, tion ever since,” Nichol continued. “I got feel very humbled by it, because particuwhether it’s in a classroom or the comthe chance to coach here for about twelve larly in football, anything that I achieved munity, whatever it is you’re trying to years on Coach Gary Juart’s staff, and

W

- Continued on page 4

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A Visit to the Punx’y Farmers’ Market

By Shirley Sharp for Hometown magazine

T

he Punxsutawney Farmers’ Market appears like magic every Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. on South Findley Street, set up between VanDyke and Company and the Fairman Centre. And, in a way, it is magic, as the vendors bring delightful products for the shoppers.

Last Friday, Dorothy Elbel, who lives on

vorite summer beverage.

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At the A m i s h Baker ’s stand, the choice was much more difficult, as I Customers making tough decisions at the Amish Baker’s Stand. (Submitted photos) had to choose between wonderful looking tea cakes, fresh homemade bread, tarts, and pies. This time, the tart won, and I enTax Practitioner • Electronic Filing joyed a blueberry tart for dessert.

Notary Public • Bookkeeping & Accounting The Sprague’s had a wonderful selection Temporary Tags Available of garden produce (including those yelWe offer year-round service. low wax beans that Dorothy purchased) Please call for appointment: and they also had fruit and berries. My choice was the peaches. I love fresh 938-7070 76 Harvest Lane, punx’y peaches over ice cream or in smoothies.

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- Continued on next page Assorted fresh squash from the Sprague Farm.

Union Street, was delighted to find little new red potatoes and fresh yellow wax beans. She was going to fix a traditional Pennsylvania dish of new potatoes and beans seasoned with a bit of ham.

At the entrance to the market was the Four L Honey stand, with fresh local honey in dark and light varieties, the light

Duane Miller, PRIDE Coordinator for the Farmer’s Market, with Marianne Fisher of Burnham Farms and Chem-Free items.

honey being primarily clover honey and the dark that of buckwheat and late summer flowers. I opted for the dark bold honey, which I brought home to use in my iced tea.

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Coach Nichol

Farmers’ Market

Continued from page 2 was the direct result of the ability of my teammates. They helped make everything I did easier,” Nichol said with a smile.

When asked what he might like to do after he is done coaching, Nichol began to laugh.

“I don’t know. I really haven’t thought about after coaching. I don’t know if there is an ‘after coaching,’ he said. “You kind of get it in your blood and it never really leaves. I’ve never really thought about that, so I guess I really wouldn’t know what to tell you.”

“There’s been a great amount of support that people have given me, and I’m appreciative of that,” Coach Nichol added.

“And we’ve got a lot of good things going in the community and the churches in town and it’s just nice to be here and be part of that.”

The Chucks first game is also their home opener, facing Karns City on Friday, September 4 at 7 p.m. They then travel to DuBois the following week, and then host Moniteau on September 18. The schedule then sees games with Clarion, AlleghenyClarion Valley, Clarion-Limestone (Strattanville), Red Bank Valley, Union and Keystone. The Chucks then wrap up the regular season at Brookville on November 6.

The Chucks look to rebound from an overall record of 4-6 (4-5 in conference games, sixth place) from last season.

Last year, the Chucks four victories came against Keystone, Union, Clarion-Limestone, and Allegheny-Clarion Valley.

•••

Continued from page 3

Fresh local honey at the Four L Honey Stand.

Just think how good these would be on the grill or in your favorite recipe. I like the squash sautéed with onions in a little butter and seasoned with hot-sauce, salt and pepper. Yum-m-m!

Marianne Fisher of Burnham Farms was offering a taste of her “Chem-Free” fresh salsa, made from home grown vegetables.

We taste-tested it and it was great, so we brought home a jar to enjoy this week.

These are just a few of the finds at the Punxsutawney Farmers’ Market.

Join PRIDE at the Farmer’s Market on Friday afternoons from 4 to 7 p.m. during August and September.

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Write down your goals: Effective ‘to-do’ lists

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N

o matter the format, what you write down gets done. According to Dave Kohl, a professor emeritus at Virginia Tech, people who regularly write down their goals earn nine times more over their lifetimes than people who don't. Think about that.

No matter how lofty or simple your goals may be, reaching them requires a systematic approach.

That begins by writing down your to-do list. Don't just think it, ink it! Note-taking and list-making styles are as personal as the way you dress or cook. We'd never suggest that you ditch an approach that's working perfectly well for you in favor of a newfangled "system." But if you are dis-

step. Why? Because those haphazard notes and lists on a sticky note posted near your computer screen or desk so you "don't forget" are really just a source of distraction and stress. For example, you're finishing up your week's report in the office, and every once in a while you glance at the note on your monitor and think "Buy milk" and "Pick up the cleaning," which then can morph into "What are we going to have for dinner?" or "What other errands are on the way to the dry cleaner?"

Pretty soon, fingers that were tapping on the keyboard as you focus on writing the week's report stop typing and now you're staring at a hangnail and thinking about chicken marsala. Whenever you're distracted, you're less productive and can end the day saying to yourself, "What did I do today?" The other problem with random notes and lists is that they're focused on the short-term. They rob you of your ability to look over everything on your list and choose priorities (what's really important to you) and plan (how to accomplish your priorities each day, week and month).

Planning also gives you the opportunity to consider which tasks on your to-do list you'd like to delegate. here are a few more tips to help you tune up your to-do list:

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Alicia on "the Big Benefit": No matter which way you write things down, you most likely feel positive about lists. We recently surveyed 339 women to get a better sense for their to-do-list habits.

A whopping 85 percent agreed with the statement, "I like to make lists and make them frequently; they help me feel like I've got things under control." I couldn't agree more with that statement. I use three legal pads: long-term, weekly and daily -and I keep them with me all the time. I've been keeping my to-do lists this way for more than 10 years. It keeps me sane. Why do we love them so? Because they transfer thoughts and tasks that would otherwise take up precious brain space and park them in a safe place. They free you up so you can focus on what's really important - getting things done.

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Main Street, Clayville, now Punxsutawney’s West End, about 1900. Local businesses boomed with the development of the Walston and Adrian mining communities.

was located in close proximity to the deRodgers and J.O.S. Spencer, who owned velopment and was quickly caught up in brick yards, received contracts to furnish the economic boom. Businesses in the community began to feel the impact almost immediately, as contracts were awarded for construction.

In 1885, G.W. Porter received a large contract to furnish stone and the castings for 143 new coke ovens at Walston. According to the Valley News, February 17, 1886, “Work will soon be commenced on the new coke ovens at Walston. The company expects to increase the number of ovens to five hundred.”

Porter owned the Star Iron were used in mines to pull the coal cars from the rooms to the Works, which had been a Mules main haulage lines. They required shoes which kept blacksmiths in part of Punxsutawney since the area busy. it was first erected in 1852 - Continued on next page

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Coal Brings Opportunity Continued from previous page the bricks for the new Catholic Church which was to be built in Clayville in 1886.

This job was too large for one company to complete, so Rodgers and Spencer each received contracts for one half of the bricks needed.

In 1885, Walston was growing rapidly.

Construction included the building of a physician’s office, a laboratory for chemical and medical testing, twelve new blocks of houses, a hotel, and new tipples for the slope. Mr. D.P. Frampton received the contract to put up these buildings. Robert Crissman, a skilled cabinet maker, was engaged to build cisterns for the houses at Walston. Each cistern was made of oak and held about 162 gallons of water. Within six months it was noted that Crissman was overstocked with work.

The rapid growth in population created opportunities for teachers who could handle the work load. At Walston, in the fall of 1885, there were nearly 200 pupils enrolled in the two-room school. Two teachers, Mr. Bowman and Miss Wilson, were hired to

employees. Later, he purchased the John Weber Store, which he and then his son, “Ted” Swartz, operated for close to 100 years. Today this store is occupied by Fairlady and Co. The development brought opportunities for public service when the first area coal town post office was commissioned. The January 6, 1886 issue of the Valley News announced that D.H. McIntyre would be appointed postmaster for Walston Mines.

The economic force of coal mining brought many work opportunities to the Punxsutawney area. The early development was in retail, hospitality, transportation, and service areas. The longer term development came in finance, manufacturing, and professional services necessary to meet the needs and of the growing population. They are the foundations upon which we continue to create our local economy

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teach at the school. Mr. Bowman was in charge of the upper grades and Miss Wilson the lower ones. In reporting on the situation faced by these teachers, the Valley News on November 18, 1885 stated, “...if they can stand the work they will make a success of it.” At the Jenks’ school located nearby, teacher Mr. Law adopted a “halfday” system faced with a similar situation, and found it a better way to manage the students and achieve educational goals Thaddeus Colkitt, a Clayville blacksmith, reportedly drove 178 new shoes in one week in December 1885, and it wasn’t considered a very good week. The demand for shoes was no doubt a result of the increased mule population. Mules were used in the mines to haul the coal from the rooms to the tipple, and later when the electric motors were introduced for main-line hauling, the mules pulled the coal cars from the rooms to the main haulage.

Edgar S. Swartz of Bellefonte, hearing of the economic boom, came to visit Punxsutawney to check out the opportunities.

Within five months, he had moved to the area and went into partnership with a man named Miller as a tailor. Within 10 years, he was an established businessman with 12

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(Editor’s Note: The resources used in the preparation of this article are available the Punxsutawney Memorial Library and the Punxsutawney Area Historical and Genealogical Society. The photographs are from the personal collection of Shirley J. Sharp. This article has been prepared by PRIDE – Punxsutawney Revitalization: Investing, Developing, Enhancing. PRIDE is a nonprofit organization which brings together residents, business people, community leaders and civic organizations, to improve the business districts in Punxsutawney. PRIDE is working to develop a Coal Memorial and Welcome Center for the Punxsutawney Area. Comments on this article may be directed to PRIDE, P.O. Box 298, Punxsutawney, PA 15767) •••

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Punxsutawney Hometown – August 2009 – 7

The Story of Sign Painter John Coxson

By S. Thomas Curry of Hometown magazine

Early Signs in Punxsutawney History

R

esearching history affords the opportunity to gather information on a variety of topics.

With the establishment of hotels in Punxsutawney, apparently, so began the history of signs for the early trade and commerce in the small village. during the years of the mid-18th century, as the town grew slowly to a population of nearly 500, there became a need for shops and hotels to promote their establishments to the public.

A small paragraph in the Punxsutawney Spirit in May 1894 was headlined, “our first Tavern Sign.” And to a self-taught sign painter, the subject of signs had some additional interest. from that news article it was learned where that “first sign” was located and its appearance.

“The first hotel sign that was ever flung to the breeze in this town swung in an iron frame at the top of a post in front of the old tavern which occupied the corner where the city Hotel now stands,” the story began.

The location of the city Hotel in 1894 was the site at the corner of east Mahoning Street and South Penn Street, where the eagle Tavern (Hotel) was located from the early 1820s. The building was originally the home of dr. john W. jenks; jenks would build his family house on a hill outside the town (c. 1821) on what we now call jenks’ Hill.

As with other early “art,” the artist or craftsman is not identified. The article men-

An artist’s drawings of the St. Elmo Hotel and Covert’ Temperance House in Punxsutawney, published in Caldwell’s Illustrated History of Jefferson County of 1878, provide views of signs by artists and craftsmen of the mid-19th century.

tioned the sign “was painted by a lady, and was considered not only artistic, but a peculiarly appropriate and attractive design.”

Surely, the sign would have caught the attention of any passerby on horse or by wagon trying to find his or her way to an acceptable place for lodging or meals. The image had its symbolism: “A whiskey barrel with a man lying under the spigot, and two others lying dead drunk beside it,” was how the news writer described it. The sign

8 – Punxsutawney Hometown – August 2009

informed the weary wayfarer that he could find accommodations there. in our day, one would wonder if the sign was to communicate an invitation to partake of the pictured liquid, or was it a temperance lecture about consequences from over indulgence?

Although the artist of that first sign was not identified, other writings that recorded the memories of “old–timers” would give credit to one man with artistic ability during

those pioneer years of the town’s settlement. That young man was john K. coxson, who came to jefferson county in the mid-1840s from Mercer county. As one writer stated “He managed to tackle more careers than any other American in history... one plagued by a drive to do his thing.” At eighteen he had had a one-man art show and was doing portraits. in Punxsutawney, he became recognized for his un- Continued on next page

John Coxson Continued from previous page

the Punxsutawney Plaindealer shared with readers, “His sign is the eagle’s aerie in the clouds, where the old eagle is feeding her young. The design is good, and was executed by j. K. coxson, esq., whose superior as an artist would be hard to find.”

usual and attractive signs. one of coxson’s earliest signs was one for the forest House that was built in 1848, where the former National Hotel used to stand at the corner of Union and South Gilpin Streets. john Bair, 1844-1922, who lived across the street from the forest House as a child, remembered that on the corner, “…stood a stout sign post with a large swinging sign on top of it and there was painted on each side of the sign a forest scene which showed trees, deer and a man with an ax about to cut down a tree. it was painted by john K. coxson the Artist.”

Bair also remembered from the 1840s the campbell House, known earlier by some people as the Mahoning House. [The early hotel was where the Pantall Hotel is now.] He remembered in his “early Recollections of Punxsutawney, Pa” published in 1919, when james campbell took over the hotel and “…had With modern technology, signs today often use images to identify a large swinging sign on a post businesses and services or goods. (Photo by S. Thomas Curry) and painted on each side was a blazing Sun laid on in gold leaf by john john Bair included in his recollections an K. coxson.” additional note about William Sink, a gunon the same spot on the west side of the smith who kept a hotel on the corner of Mapark, when Henry jennings would build his honing and Water Street [Note: Where is jennings House in 1868 and open in 1869,

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- Continued on next page

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Punxsutawney Hometown – August 2009 – 9

Dave’s Golf Cart

your cooper tire headquarters The A Fastest rea’s Gro Tire Sto wing re

• Tires for all applications • All major brands available • 30 day price protection • Major league service • No major hassles

Sales, Service, Parts and Repair all Makes & Models of Small engine Repair

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A&L Auto Sales - 923 N. Main St. • 938-6780 The Auto Lender - 925 N. Main St. • 938-3124

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(724) 397-9100 (724) 254-1010

John Coxson Continued from previous page

eye,’ an eye to beauty and blending of colors, he had as poor taste for dress as any other man i ever knew, never looking well in anything he wore.”

About this early “genius” in the history of Punxsutawney, there is more to share than

today the fire hall of the central fire company at the civic center.] from his memory Bair described, “…a long sign across the pavement with a trout painted on each side of it about 8 ft. long. john K. coxson was the Artist.” coxson also is credited for painting a large sign, some eight feet square for the eagle Hotel, “…set forth [with] a great eagle with a few embellishments, that always marked his work.” This is the hotel which was referred to earlier in this writing under “our first Tavern Sign.”

An extensive writing about coxson appeared in the Pittsburgh Times newspaper in october 1895, and portions of it were reprinted in the Punxsutawney News. The Times writer was traveling around Western Pennsylvania to write Among the earliest sign painters in the Punxsutawney area in the biographies of early settlers. 19th century was John K. Coxson. Coxson died in 1879 and was The writer described coxson buried in the old Clayville Cemetery, now Punxsutawney’s West End section. (Photo by S. Thomas Curry) as, “one of the most picturesque characters the State of his sign painting. long gone are the crePennsylvania has ever known.” His headative, unusual, and individualistic signs he line told it all, “john coxson Preached, left behind and remembered by pioneers.

Painted, Practiced law, Made Whiskey, To be gained yet is knowledge of his exRun (sic) a Newspaper, dispensed justice ceptional contributions to Punxsutawney and lectured.” society by his talents during his years here coxson was a young man when he began in the 19th century. That will follow in anhis art career of portrait painting and sign other writing. painting, traveling from place to place to ••• work his artistic craft. When he painted the eagle Hotel sign he had a pastorate at luthersburg. Serving as a preacher for the erie conference of the Methodist church, he also filled the pulpits in Punxsutawney (1844), Brookville, and other places nearby.

After his second marriage, he came to Punxsutawney in 1850 to settle in clayville (now the West end of town), where he pursued his many interests until his death in july 1879 at age 65. He was buried in the Last month’s Summer Giveaway winner clayville cemetery. for Punxsutawney Hometown magazine was early writings about coxson recognized Robin Bish of Punxsutawney. his many diverse talents, his wit and knowlRobin was randomly selected from our edge, his skills in speaking, his sense of readers who entered the contest. humor. one writer in the early 1900s, idenShe chose to redeem her $25 gift certifitified as “old Sox,” remembered him in the cate at Pizza Hut of Punxsutawney, one of 1830s as, “…quite a young man, and althe participating sponsors of the contest. though he was admitted to the then best soJoin the fun and play our Steeler Footciety he was a remarkably careless man ball Giveaway. See pages 14-15. about his appearance. Having a ‘painters •••

Summer Giveaway Winner

PunxSuTawneY HOurS: Drive-up Mon. -wed. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Thur. 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday 8:30 a.m. to noon

Lobby Mon. to Thurs. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m. to noon

24 Hour Star aTM extended banking Hours For Your Convenience A hometown bank you can count on . . .both today and in the future! www.marioncenterbank.com Punxsutawney (814) 938-0271 Marion Center (724) 397-5582 willow Springs-indiana (724) 465-7921 big run (814) 427-2051 Dayton (814) 257-8213 Clymer (724) 254-4315 Toll Free 1-800-556-6262 Equal Housing lender

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10 – Punxsutawney Hometown – August 2009

All about Owning a Dog

By Ben Grabow Scripps Howard News Service

N

obody wants you to get a dog the way a dog owner wants you to get a dog.

If you express the slightest interest in dog ownership around someone who owns a dog, you can bet your bottom biscuit they'll offer encouragement for your inclinations. And when I say encouragement, I mean full-on canine evangelism.

First-time dog owners can be hesitant and unsure, which is understandable. A dog is a serious commitment and can represent a significant life change for folks who've never had one before.

But to a current dog owner, this is nothing! It's no change at all -- if anything, it's a change for the better! It's not a commitment, it's an incredible joy each and every day! And so on.

Here, have a dog.

You never see this kind of talk from cat owners. If someone's interested in getting a cat, they can get a cat. Or not.

Whatever. The cat probably won't know that you own it either way. It certainly won't care.

Dogs care. Dogs care if they're going to get a walk, if there's someone at the door, if a car just went by, if there was another dog in the car, if they're going

to eat, if there was food in the car.

There's a lot more active interest going on there. It must be contagious.

Perhaps it's all that time spent at the end of a leash. Perhaps it's the hands-on approach to waste elimination. But for whatever reason, from the moment you express interest in a dog to the second that dog is in your house, a dog owner will be a cheerleader for dog ownership unlike any other.

To be sure, dog ownership is a tremendously self-reinforcing culture. No other pet owners put themselves out there like dog owners, likely because the dog is such a big part of their day.

A cat is part of the day when it's fed and when it's sleeping on your lap. Otherwise, it's hiding somewhere. Its owner wouldn't know there was a cat in the

house unless the food disappeared every day.

Pet-wise, nothing really falls in between. To own a cat is to stick a toe in the water, to get a dog is to jump right in. The dog owner is in there telling you the water's fine. Or she's behind you getting ready to push.

So if you're considering it, if you're on the fence, even if you haven't got a fence, tell some dog owners. They'll have 101 reasons for your future dog ownership. They might even offer you their dogs.

(Ben Grabow writes for the young, the urban and the easily amused. Contact him at thinlyread@gmail.com.)

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com) •••

The dog owner does not care if your yard is unfenced, if your yard is too small or if you have no yard at all. The dog owner does not care if you have an enormous house or a tiny apartment. The dog owner does not care if you have small children, a dozen angry cats or a collection of wild game birds.

You should get a dog. Any dog. What are you waiting for? Borrow my dog.

Please.

Where does this behavior come from?

Is it some kind of rationalization that a distraught dog owner makes to herself?

Of course, I love my dogs. Who wouldn't love my dogs? You should love my dogs! Everyone should have a dog!

Punxsutawney Hometown – August 2009 – 11

Six more hours of...SLeeP or WAke? Your answer is waiting!

Punxsutawney Sleep Center, LLC

www.PunxsySleepCenter.com

214 W Mahoning St. 1st Floor Front Punxsutawney, PA 15767 Phone 814.618.2064 Fax 888.789.1480

DuBois Location Opening Soon Beaver Grove 916 Beaver Dr.

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Great Food For All

‘A Food Ministry with a Servant’s Heart’ t a time when costs for food are on the rise and households are wondering if they can meet their food budget — there is hope! Great Food For All, a company based in Newton Falls, Ohio, is offering top quality food to everyone interested at a greatly discounted price. Income is not a factor when purchasing this food.

There is a “Basic Box” each month for $30 and several specials are offered monthly. Menu items and the specials change monthly. September’s specials include pasta, kid foods, breakfast, steak, chicken, stuffed chicken,and seafood.

Requests for food are taken at the First Church of God in Punxsutawney located at

A

23 Skyview Drive . The food is frozen and comes pre-boxed.

Signup for September delivery is Friday, August 28th from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Pick up is Saturday, September 12.

October Sign Up Dates are Wednesday, September 30 from 5-6:45 p.m. and Friday, October 2 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Pick up will be Saturday, October 17.

Helpers will be available to carry your order. Please bring your receipt.

Cash, food stamps or money orders can be used. You can also pay online with a credit card and www.greatfoodforall.com.

Any questions please call the First Church of God at 814-938-6670.

•••

dr. emily shirey rapp, dvM

We would like to welcome

dr. tracey Brown

Call for free estimates Paving • Patching Hauling • excavating oil and chipping

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Old-Time Photos from the Punx’y Historical Society Collection

September Sign Up Dates

at

FiRSt chURch OF gOD

23 skyview Drive, Punx’y • 938-6670 signup: friday, August 28th from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. pick Up SatURDay, SEptEMbER 12

MOnthly SpEcialS

The Punxsutawney Iron Furnace initiated a new era of the ‘industrial revolution’ in the Punxsutawney coal region when it began operation in September 1897. (Photo courtesy of the Punxsutawney Area Historical and Genealogical Society.)

Senior Meals $28 - 7 Heat & serve meals with 8 oz. glass of milk, these meals meet usDA rDA recommended dietary needs of seniors.

1. Kids box - $14: Popcorn chicken, french fries, seasoned taco meat, cookies

helpers available to carry your Order • please bring your Receipt 2. breakfast box - $16: Waffles,

September 2009 Menu Empty nester - $20

• 26 oz. Beef meatloaf with ketchup glaze • 26 oz. Beef meatloaf with ketchup glaze • 25 oz. Herb roasted chicken Breast • 2 lb. Pork steaks • 2 lb. Pork steaks or 3 lb. sAusage • 1 lb. frozen fruit • 3.5 lb. (avg) chicken Legs or thighs • 25 oz. Herb roasted chicken Breast • 1 lb. ground Beef • 1 lb. Broccoli florets • 1 lb. frozen fruit • 1 lb. Dessert • 1 lb. Broccoli florets nOtE: great food for All reserved the right to • 2 lb. green Beans replace items on the menu due to availability.

• 2 lb. french toast stix • 2 lb. french fries OctObER Sign Up DatES cash, food stamps • 1 box 6 cereal Bars or money orders signup: Wed., sept. 30 5-6:45 p.m.

Only.

• 3 lb. Dessert and fri., oct. 2 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

all this for $30!

you can pay online with a credit card.

pick Up Sat., Oct. 17

Blueberries, sausage egg muffin sandwiches, gravy filled Biscuits, cereal Bars, french toast stix

3. pasta box - $20: cheese-filled

manicotti, tri-colored tortellini, cheese & sun-Dried tomato rigatoni, spinach stuffed rigatoni, Potato & cheddar cheese Pierogies, stuffed shells

4. Steak box - $38: 5 lb. new york strips 5. Stuffed chicken box - $20: chicken kiev, chicken Broccoli, cordon Blue

6. Seafood Special - $20:

salmon filets, seafood Appetizers, Battered fish

7. chicken box - $16: uncooked Lightly Breaded mixed Pieces

for online orders go to: www.greatfoodforall.com 12 – Punxsutawney Hometown – August 2009

Aluminum

custom • Glass Enclosure • Screen Rooms made • Florida Rooms Commercial • Door Hoods • Patio Covers & Residential • Awnings

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814-236-7450 or 1-800-611-3908 “serving your area For over 50 years”

Say ‘Hello’ with Photo Cards

By Sandi Genovese ties: Scripps Howard News Service Staycation postcards: Take photos of the kids camping out in the back yard or ome of my friends are already of the family dressed up to go to church preparing their Christmas-gift or dressed down for a swim. Get copy lists and holiday photo cards. You paper from the printer to fasten to the know the ones I mean: the family on vacation in Hawaii, or everyone gathered around the fireplace in festive gear.

They made me wonder about other cards that feature a photo.

Birth announcements often include baby photos.

Why not celebrate other occasions with a photo If a picture is worth a thousand words, then save a lot of time with a photo that says it card as all. (SHNS photo courtesy Sandi Genovese) well? If you back of the photo in order to transform it can break away from the computer for a into a postcard. Simply write a short few minutes, there are many possibili-

S

note, and then address, stamp and mail the postcard to make a big splash this summer with family and friends.

Baby-shower invitations: Customize a shower invite with a photo. Attach baby clothes to a ribbon or clothesline with clothespins. Snap a picture of it, and add text for a personal card cover that is as unique as the baby it celebrates.

Thank-you cards: Take a photo of any recent gift -- say, a dinner out or a birthday present. Attach the photo to the card cover, and add thankful text with stickers or rub-on words for a truly personal thank-you note.

"Hello, Kitty" cards: Somehow my sister and I got in the habit of sending notes that feature photos of our pets. It only takes a few minutes to print out a photo of Jeepers, slap a note on the back, and

Harry E. KunsElman D.m.D. General & Family Dentistry 473 Main St., Reynoldsville

653-2227

Office Hours by Appointment

- Continued on page 20

SS. Cosmas & Damian School and Preschool • CErTIFIEd PrESCHOOl • ACCrEdITEd K-8 PrOGrAMS • OPEN TO All FAITHS • FINANCIAl AId AVAIlABlE • QUAlITY EdUCATION IN A HEAlTHY STUdENT ENVIrONMENT

814-938-4224 or 938-6540

Call

or visit www.sscdchurch.com to learn more

Your choice, their bright future.

Punxsutawney Hometown – August 2009 – 13

Great QB debate:

Bradshaw vs. Big Ben "Ben Roethlisberger is the greatest quarterback in Steeler history -- better than Terry

By Gene Collier Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

GREENTREE LUMBER Custom Homes & Cabins

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T

his is one of those things you might be thinking but generally don't express, as it carries with it an evident blasphemous component. It did not occur to me explicitly, but when it appeared in print from a reliably eloquent, consistently insightful correspondent, one Gordon Bloom, it looked an awful lot like the truth.

Ben Roethlisberger is a better quarterback than was Terry Bradshaw.

That was No. 6 among 10 random observations Bloom mailed me in the spring. He uses a manual typewriter, the U.S. Post Office, and an uncommon lucidity.

Several times a year, he sends me a list of random sports and political observations, each its

Smicksburg

814-257-9878

PA# 019608

938-4615

FoxsPizzaPunxsy.com

Ben Roethlisberger (Hometown photo by Alan Freed)

own literate jewel.

Obviously, as I'm in no position to edit Mr. Bloom, here is the entirety of No. 6.

Bradshaw, better than Bobby Layne, even better than the great Jimmy Finks. Bradshaw was a great quarterback, but he was also surrounded by a greater number of outstanding players than Ben has around him.

During the most productive years of Bradshaw's career, eight or so of his fellow teammates were future Hall of Famers, not to mention his head coach. I can't think of eight players on the present Steeler team who are likely candidates for Canton. Ben is getting it done with a very good team, but not a team so excellent that virtually everywhere you look there is a future Hall of Famer. Which is why I say that, in my opinion, Ben's overall football talent surpasses even that of the great number 12."

I spent part of this training camp recently putting this argument to current and former Steelers coaches and officials and some

* Contest Rules 1. Complete the coupon on opposite page.

2. Guess the winning team and the total number of points you think will be scored in the Steelers/Titans game and enter the guess in the space provided on the coupon.

3. Enter one of the participating advertisers on these pages in the space provided to redeem your coupon should you be the contest winner.

4. Clip and forward the coupon to: Steelers Football Contest, Punxsutawney Hometown, P.O. Box 197, Punxsutawney, PA 15767 5. All entries must be received at the Punxsutawney Hometown office

by Wednesday, September 9.

6. Only one entry per person. If you do not wish to clip your magazine, you may photocopy entry blank.

7. In the event two or more contestants correctly pick the winning team and total number of points, one winner will be randomly selected and awarded the winning prize. In event two or more contestants tie for closest to the total score, one winner will be randomly selected to win the $25 certificate. There will be only one $25 winner each month in the contest.

8. Punxsutawney Hometown retains the right to make any final decisions regarding the contest, and by submitting an entry, contestants agree to abide by the rules of the contest.

- Continued on page 19

C&S Restaurant DAILY SPECIALS HOMEMADE PIES

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814-265-1975 or 800-338-8971 Senior Citizen Discounts A Pennsylvania Corporation. $

25 off any temporary container when you mention this ad.

14 – Punxsutawney Hometown – August 2009

Just outside Punx’y on Rt. 36

Tues.,-Thurs. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

PUNXSY HOTEL a Punxsutawney landmark where old and new friends gather together.

108 N. Findley Street F punxsutawney

938-8182

Unique Solutions to Grow Our Community.

For over a century we have provided solutions to individuals like you - one customer at a time.

Hampton Ave. • 814.938.1101 Mahoning St. • 814.938.1125 stbank.com • Member FDIC

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P.A.W.S. Treat your family pet to a day at the spa. tHey’LL LoVe you for it!

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Bigfoor Pizza - 1 Topping 10 Wing Street Wings 2 Liter

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242 nortH finDLey street • PunXsutAWney GO STEELERS!!!

1999

we deliver all day

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- September Events -

Walmart plaza Rt. 119 N., punx’y

FALL CRAFT SHOW September 10, 11, 12

let Us FraMe Your photos or Keepsakes.

HEALTH FAIR September 15

SPORTSMAN SHOW September 19

We offer the best prices on framing and we want you to compare!

NEW CAR SHOW

FEATurIng loCAl ArTISTS Work

September 21-27

DuBois Mall Gift Cards - Always Available!

Call Us or stop in For a priCe 124 W. Mahoning St. Punx’y (Downtown)

938-1004

Nogacek's

Bark N' Boutique

d

duBois Mall duBois, pa duboismallpa.com

Fezell’s

Jessica Nogacek, Owner

THIS MONTH’S FEATURE CONTEST GAME:

STEELERS vs.

TITANS SEPT. 10

(Graduate of the PA Academy of Pet Grooming)

Punx’y Hometown Steelers Football Contest:

Complete, Clip, Drop off or Mail to: Steelers Football Contest Punxsutawney Hometown, P.O. Box 197, Punx’y, PA 15767

Name Address City & Zip Phone

242 N. Findley St., Punx’y

814-952-3401

dOUBlE MM

Coupon for Game of Sept. 10

Step 1: Guess the Winning Team:

__ Steelers

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Step 2: Guess the Total Points that

will be Scored in that Game: __________ Step 3: Should I win, I would like to redeem my merchandise certificate at:

Indiana Street

Call for hours and class times.

333 W. Main St., Reynoldsville

653-2792

www.doublemceramics.com

PUNX’Y

®

OrdEr ONlINE:

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See Insert In This Issue

____________________________________ pittsBurgh steelers sChedule Thur., Sept. 10 TITANS 8:30 p.m.

Sun., Sept. 20 at Bears 4:15 p.m.

Sun., Sept. 27 at Bengals 4:15 p.m.

Sun., Oct. 4 CHARGERS 8:20 p.m.

Sun., Oct. 11 at Lions 1 p.m.

Sun., Oct. 18 BROWNS 1 p.m.

Sun., Oct. 25 VIKINGS 1 p.m.

Mon., Nov. 9 at Broncos 8:30 p.m.

Sun., Nov. 15 BENGALS 1 p.m.

Sun., Nov. 22 at Chiefs 1 p.m.

Sun., Nov. 29 at Ravens 8:20 p.m.

Sun., Dec. 6 RAIDERS 1 p.m.

Thur., Dec. 10 at Browns 8:20 p.m.

Sun., Dec. 20 PACKERS 1 p.m.

Sun., Dec. 27 RAVENS 1 p.m.

Sun., Jan. 3 at Dolphins 1 p.m.

daily specials Rt. 36N, Stanton • 849-6396

Entry Deadline is Wednesday, September 9

Hours: Mon, Tues 6:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Wed, Thurs & Fri 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sat 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sun 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Michael Horner, Kim Horner Joe Presloid & Jennifer Moore

100 W. Mahoning Street Downtown Punxsutawney LocaL & RegionaL aRtists Recognized as a Pennsylvania wilds aRtisan tRail RetaileR

(missing from photo) local registered Pharmacists

Table arT • PerSonal acceSSorieS • HoMe Décor jewelry • PrinTS • arT glaSS • PHoTograPHy ScenTS • baby & ToDDler gifTS

Gift Certificates Available 814-938-1255 • www.fairlady.com Mon. - Sat. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sun. 1-5 p.m.

Pizza Pizza Town Town

BIG RUN caRpet

best

©2009 Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. Kawasaki ATVs with engines over 90Cc are recommended for use only by persons 16 years of age or older. Kawasaki also recommends that all ATV riders take a training course. For more information, see your dealer, or call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-8872887. Warning: ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: Always wear a helmet, eye protection, and protective clothing. Never carry a passenger. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Never ride on public roads or pavement. Avoid excessive speeds and stunt driving. Be extra careful of difficult terrain. Installation Not Included. Offer valid through 12/31/09 on all new, not previously registered, Kawasaki 4x4 ATVs. For winch purchases, customer receives winch and winch mount or $69. For plow purchase, customer receives plow and blade and plow mount for $69. Contact your Accessories Sales Rep (ASR) for additional information regarding the plow lift mechanism. The customer purchase price does NOT include dealer charges for installation. Valid only at participating dealers. Availability and actual price may vary -- See dealer for details.

Pro Shop

After Hours 814-771-6609 929 Kennis Rd. duBois

kenterragolf.googlepages.com

Monday Special: 18 Holes with Cart $20 • 9 Holes $13 Twilight Special: after 4 p.m. $23 Mon.-Fri. Directions: Take Rt. 119 North towards Sykesville. Turn onto Sykesville-Troutville Rd. Go 1 mi. Veer left onto Kennis Rd. 1 Mi. to Kenterra

Double rolls or Border rolls

202 Thompson St., Big Run •

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Hours: Closed Monday; Sun.-Thur. 11 am to 11 pm Fri. & Sat. 11am til Midnight

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132 West Mahoning Street, Punxsutawney

“The Store For Your Floors” Wallpaper Blowout

• pizza • sandwiches • salads • dinners & More all your favorites!

100 East Main St., Big Run • 814-427-2068 • M-F 9-6; Sat 9-2

Open: Mon.- Fri 9 to 7 Sat. 9 to 2

427-2041

Working Family Prices You Can Afford

Custom and Retail Meat Processing

OPEN: Thur., Fri. 12-8 p.m.

Sat. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Sun. 12-5 p.m.

M&S Meats

Gipsy, PA • 814-845-7853

Specializing in Beef, Pork & Homemade Bologna

Great selection of Hunting Boots

Cheeses • Cold Cuts • Party Trays • Smokehouse Products 1 mi. N. of New Bethlehem on Rt. 28 1353 Brookville St., Fairmont City

Rocky • Georgia • MUCK Boots • Danner • Wolverine

814-275-1801

Tue.-Wed. 12-5; Thur. 9-6; Fri. 9-9; Sat. 8-6; Sun. 12-6; Closed Mon.

Missy & Scott Shirey, Owners

Punxsutawney Hometown – August 2009 – 15

ted’s

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Blank credit card ‘convenience checks’ are risky

By Claudia Buck Sacramento Bee he Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is urging consumers to be wary of those so-called "convenience checks" that arrive with your credit card statements.

You know them: the blank checks conveniently printed with your name and touted as a way to write yourself a little loan, pay off an extra bill or splurge on a little extra spending.

While oh-so-tempting, those "convenience" checks carry some risks.

"It's not just a way to write yourself money," said Luke W. Reynolds, the FDIC's community outreach chief in Washington. "It's like any other credit card transaction. You're essentially borrowing money (against your credit card) ... that has to be repaid."

And the cost can be fairly significant.

Every time you write a convenience check, it's treated just like a "cash advance" on your credit card. That means there's a transaction fee, usually a percentage of the check amount. So if it's a 5 percent fee and you write a $1,000 convenience check, you'll pay $50 just for the privilege of signing your name.

You'll also be hit with hefty interest rates, as much as double the normal annual percentage rate, or APR, on your credit card.

Reynolds also advised being aware of: -- Hidden costs. Convenience checks can trigger overdraft fees if you deposit them into your checking account and have ex-

T

ceeded the cash advance limit on your credit card. You can also run into trouble if you write convenience checks to pay a utility bill or a boutique -- and then discover the retailer doesn't accept them. In those cases, you could be hit with returned-check fees from other banks and over-limit fees from your credit card issuer.

-- Less protection. When you make a credit card purchase, you have some protections granted by the Fair Credit Billing Act, such as refunds for defective merchandise. Not so when you pay with a convenience check, even though it's tied to your credit card.

-- No bonus points. When using convenience checks, you typically don't earn the points and other perks that rack up on rewards-based credit cards. In other words, don't think you're earning airline miles on your Southwest Visa card when you write a convenience check.

If you don't plan to use the checks, run them through a shredder. The FDIC says the blank checks could be tempting to dishonest friends, relatives or workers in your home.

Better yet, call your credit card company and request they stop sending the blank checks. Not only is it saving paper, but you're eliminating the financial temptation to yourself -- or anyone else.

(E-mail Claudia Buck at cbuck@sacbee.com.)

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)

•••

Write down your goals: to-do lists Continued from page 5

Speed and Sport Cycle Center Rt. 436 • 430 S. Main St., Punx’y • 938-8780 or 938-6952 SALES • PARTS • SERVICE Cylinder Boring • PA State Inspection *2500lb. Warn Winch offer available through participating Yamaha dealers only, Aug. 1, 2009 through Dec. 29, 2009, and good on any new and prior model Grizzly 700 EPS, Grizzly 700, Grizzly 660, Grizzly 550 EPS, Grizzly 550, Grizzly 450, Grizzly 400 IRS, Grizzly 400, Grizzly 350 IRS, Grizzly 350, and Big Bear 400 4x4s. Dealer participation may affect this offer. Installation not included. **Up to $400 Customer Cash offer good on select current and prior year models. ATVs with engines 90cc or greater are recommended for use only by riders age 16 years and older. Yamaha recommends that all ATV riders take an approved training course. For safety and training information, see your dealer or call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-8872887. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: Always avoid paved surfaces. Never ride on public roads. Always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Never carry passengers. Never engage in stunt riding. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. Avoid excessive speed. And be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Model shown with optional accessories. ©2009 Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. Cypress, CA 90630. yamaha-motor.com

16 – Punxsutawney Hometown – August 2009

1. Write It All Down In One Notebook - Professional and Personal Figure out a way to keep track of both the big picture and the details -- for your family, your work and you personally. The reason it's important to manage more than just the usual task-specific details and keep an eye on the bigger picture is simple. If you follow through on the things that you write down, then choosing what to write down means you're in charge of shaping your life. But you may want to keep work and home to-do lists in separate tabs or on separate pages in the notebook. That way, when you're at work, and want to review the priorities for the day, you can simply look at to-dos for work and not be distracted by what needs to be done at home, and visa versa.

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2. Rewrite and Consolidate Frequently Rewrite your lists routinely -- daily and/or weekly. With a clean, current list, you can get started quickly and focus on the task at hand, instead of trying to figure out what the next task will be. Rewriting and consolidating will force you to eliminate the messy cross-outs and distracting little posted notes and add new items from many different sources onto one list. It will also remind you to prioritize the duties for the week -- ideally, putting the top three at the top of your list.

3. Establish a Morning To-Do Routine Look over your lists each morning before you start your day. This will help you focus on what is most important to accomplish that day. This should not take more than three minutes, but it is worth the time to get the day off to a productive start.

(The writers are co-founders of Buttoned Up, a company dedicated to helping stressed women get organized. Send ideas and questions to yourlife(at)getbuttonedup.com. For more columns, go to scrippsnews.com.)

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com) •••

How to rent a $1,000 purse for a week for only $44

By Ivan Penn St. Petersburg Times an't afford to buy a Gucci or Louis Vuitton bag you so desperately want for an event that could close a multimillion-dollar deal?

How about the perfect pair of shoes to match the dress you plan to wear for a redcarpet event -- a pair you'll probably never wear again?

Well, the Internet is solving high-end dilemmas. And we'll say, just as with any good thing, look for the right company before typing in your credit-card number.

I chatted with Michael Smith, chief executive officer of Avelle, a 5-year-old Seattlebased company that rents high-end accessories such as handbags, jewelry, sunglasses and watches.

Over the past five years, Avelle has emerged as a major accessory-rental operation, with some 1 million customers across the country, "from college students to grandmothers," Smith says.

The question is, does renting accessories over the Internet make sense and is it safe?

"When I first saw the article, I was like, 'Wow, I can't believe this happening!' " said Deborah Berry, of the Pinellas County Department of Justice and Consumer Services in Clearwater, Fla. "Now it's normal."

And the deals are good at a place like Avelle.com, if you need the products: Louis Vuitton Totally Monogram MM

c

Tote: Retail price $1,000. Avelle rental for one week: $44.

Michael Kors Astor Chain Satchel Handbag: Retail price $378. Avelle rental for one week: $17.

Smith said a businesswoman recently rented $30,000 worth of accessories at $750. She was working a major business deal and wanted to look her best.

So the deals are good. What about the safety?

Well, Avelle has a strong reputation (but not all Internet companies do, so you'll need to take some care when considering any business).

The company isn't without complaints - about a dozen on the Better Business Bureau Web site that have been resolved.

The BBB gives the company a "B" rating.

Here's how it works: You use a credit card to secure your products. For large amounts such as $30,000 worth of merchandise, the company will perform a credit check.

There's optional insurance and you get "normal wear and tear" grace on the product -- much like renting a car.

You can rent for a week, a month or more.

Price varies based on product and length of time rented.

Just as the company checks you out, Berry says consumers need to do the same with Avelle and any other Internet business.

"You may not need to worry with the most reputable companies," she said. "But make sure they don't have a history of problems.

"What are the wearand-tear limitations?

They may charge you if you have a stain on the item. What's your liability?"

Some tips: -- Use a credit card.

Be sure to use a credit card and not a debit card. A debit card is tied to a checking account. You don't have the opportunity to dispute a charge before it is deducted from your account.

-- Thoroughly review the agreement. Be

sure to understand your liabilities and obligations before renting the item. Renting a $1,000 purse for $44 might seem a good idea -- unless you don't take good care of it and get stuck paying for it.

(Contact Ivan Penn at ipenn@sptimes.com.)

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service www.scrippsnews.com) •••

Attention Motorists

School starts soon and children are on the move. Please help ensure their safety by driving carefully and following these simple safety tips: • Never pass a stopped school bus when red lights are flashing.

• Look out for children in residential areas, playgrounds and school zones.

• Watch out for children on bicycles or in-line skates.

• Be aware of and obey reduced speed limits in school zones.

• Obey all traffic lights, signs and crossing guards.

• Drive slowly, so you can stop quickly if it becomes necessary.

•••

Punxsutawney Hometown – August 2009 – 17

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Mysterious crop circles appear in remote town

By Jonathan Martin The Seattle Times ysterious crop circles are appearing in the wheat fields of a no-stoplight town in Washington state for the second year.

Wilbur, a wheat town (population 960, located 65 miles west of Spokane) is on the way to becoming the Northwest's hub for the extraterrestrial-obsessed. For the second time in three years, crop circles have mysteriously appeared in wheat fields, generating curiosity, jokes and coffee-shop debates of the "Big question."

The most recent crop circles appeared in late July on a remote hillside of the Haden family wheat farm just south of Wilbur.

Five rings of declining size, plus one circle, were crushed into ripe wheat.

"This is the one where they put the spaceship landing pad down," said Keith Haden, pointing to the circle, and struggling to keep a straight face.

His friendly skepticism is the prevailing local mood.

Depending on your belief in the supernatural, crop circles are either a mysterious sign of extraterrestrial contact or a clever hoax that has risen in popularity since the mid-1970s. Southern England has been ground zero, but at least three formations have been reported in eastern Washington state farmland since 1993.

Before Haden's formation, the most recent and celebrated was an elaborate set of nine circles found in June 2007, amid 120 acres of green wheat northwest of Wilbur. That sighting was widely reported, and the Llewellyn farm was soon inundated with out-of-state tourists in saris and tinfoil-covered helmets, scientific researchers from the University of Washington and -- in at least one case -- a group of naked dancers.

Billy Burger, a local institution, put an Alien Burger and Invasion Fries on the menu.

"I thought the less you said, the more it would go away," said Jim Llewellyn, owner of the farm. "But the next thing, there were planes flying overhead and people all over the place. It spread like wildfire.

Craig Haden, owner of the land where the most recent crop circle was found, hoped to avoid such a scene. He saw the circles while inspecting his land on a motorcycle; he and his son, Braidy, found no sign of tracks through the ripe wheat or footprints between the rows.

M

"It makes you think," said Braidy Haden, a 23-year-old wearing striped overalls and sporting a soul patch.

The sighting wasn't widely reported, but word leaked out locally and ad-hoc roads soon were cut through the fields. A woman recently dropped by with a metal detector.

Keith Haden, Craig's brother, offered the woman's husband the tinfoil hat that a friend had dropped off.

Among the people who arrived was Peter Davenport, who runs the National UFO Reporting Center from a former military missile bunker nearby.

"As to whether it is a genuine formation, I am not able to pass judgment with any certainty," he said. The wheat stalks at the Haden crop circles were sharply crimped and the formation's edges were ragged, both signs it was man-made.

But the Llewellyn crop circle, Davenport said, was "very interesting."

A team from BLT Research Team, a Cambridge, Mass.based group that investigates crop circles, came away believing it was the "real McCoy," according to a summary of its research on the group's Web site.

Among the evidence: bent -- not crimped -- stalks and cavities blown out of the wheat stalks, interpreted to mean they had been pushed down by a pulse of energy.

Joe Nickell, a former magician, has investigated crop circles for decades and has a conclusion:. "One hundred and two percent of crop circles are fake," said Nickell, a writer for Skeptical Inquirer magazine, in Amherst, N.Y. Two British hoaxers admitted in 1991 they came up with the idea at a pub decades earlier. Their techniques have been replicated for a Discovery Channel documentary that sought to debunk the mystery.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists found similarities between unexplained formations and crop circles known to be man-made.

There will be no such tests on the Haden crop circle because the Hadens plowed the field last week. "The combine levitated as I went over it; the electric instruments went haywire," said Braidy Haden, with a straight face.

Contact Jonathan Martin: at jmartin(at)seattletimes.com.

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com) •••

Great QB Debate Continued from page 14 journalists old enough to judge, not indicating whether I agreed or not. Ben's better than Brad either got minimal resistance or solid support, though not always for attribution.

Only Art Rooney Jr., who scouted Bradshaw and most of his Hall of Fame entourage, offered nominal caution, but nothing that achieved the level of flat disagreement.

"Ben is a work in progress," Rooney said.

"Bradshaw was just an outstanding athlete.

He was a champion javelin thrower, which takes a lot of coordination. In those days, guys took physicals on the treadmill. He was among our top four or five guys with his capacity on that. Toward the second half of his career, the rules in the league changed (to benefit the passing game) and he kind of blossomed into the new rules. I saw him on TV one time and they were asking him about his career and he just held up four fingers. 'That's all I have to say,' he said. I kind of liked that."

Bradshaw won four Super Bowls, which is his signature statistic, not only because it's the most important statistic, but also because the balance of Terry's numerological profile, though distinguished, is hardly sensational. He threw almost as many interceptions (210) as touchdown passes (212) in his 14 years with the Steelers. In his first five seasons, he threw 48 touchdown passes and 81 interceptions. In Roethlisberger's five years, the corresponding numbers are 101 and 69.

But it has to be more complicated than that, right? Is Ben better than Brad?

"He's on his way," said offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, who put more responsibility on Roethlisberger than ever before last year, with the result being Ben's second Super Bowl victory. "Terry's record stands for itself, and it's not like there aren't Hall of Famers on this team. Hines Ward is probably headed there. And Troy (Polamalu) too. James Harrison, if he has a couple more years like last year. Terry won four Super Bowls."

But there were likely more Hall of Famers in Bradshaw's huddle -- Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Franco Harris, Mike Webster, and Terry Bradshaw -- than there might be on all the Steeler rosters of which Ben will part.

"I've thought for a long time that Ben was better, but I never wanted it attributed to me," said one former club executive whose career coincided with Bradshaw. "What Ben's done is amazing and he's done it from

Day 1. Bradshaw, as a rookie, threw six touchdowns and 24 interceptions. Plus I think Ben is a better leader. He gets things done in all kinds of adverse situations. Terry was not that confident. He was fragile in his relationship with Chuck Noll. Rarely did he bring the Steelers from behind."

Statistical guidelines on what exactly constitutes a come-from-behind win are not always uniform, but it's instructive to note that the Steelers list 19 comebacks as authored by Roethlisberger in his five seasons, the 19th of which won Super Bowl XLIII, where most sources credit Bradshaw with 19 for his entire career.

Ben's won more games (51) in his first five years than any NFL quarterback ever, and the club records for touchdown passes in a season (32), passer rating in a season (104.1), career completion percentage (62.4) all belong to him. But while the top

three seasonal passer ratings in Steeler history all belong to Ben as well, there are a myriad of additional stats that appear to favor Ben when they probably really don't.

It's not terribly relevant, for example, that Ben has seven 300-yard performances in his career while Bradshaw had only four, because the nature of offensive football has evolved so dramatically toward the passing game in 35 years. Remember as well that Bradshaw called his own plays, was the MVP of two Super Bowls (two more than Ben) and was the league's MVP in 1978 (once more than Ben).

All that said, and staring blasphemy in the face, I think I agree with Mr. Bloom.

(Contact Gene Collier at gcollier@postgazette.com.)

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)

•••

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Offers good on new and unregistered units purchased between 7/22/09 and 9/30/09. Offers only available at participating Polaris dealers. *Polaristar Payment Protection provided by cynoSure Financial, Inc. Must purchase and take delivery by 9/30/09. Other restrictions apply. See your participating Polaris dealer for details. Void where prohibited by law. Polaris reserves the right to terminate the program at any time. **Rebates vary by model and are only available on select ATV and RANGER® vehicles. ***Offer is good at participating U.S. Polaris dealers and subject to product availability. On approved Polaris StarCard® qualified consumer purchases. Reduced Rate 9.99% APR and the following payments are effective if your Account is kept current: $59 for purchases financed up to $5,000 (ATV only). Specified payments may be increased due to debt-cancellation fees or any late fees (if applicable). After the promotional period, the standard minimum monthly payment and Standard Rate 21.99% APR will apply. For Accounts not kept current, the promotion will be canceled and the Default Rate 21.99% APR and standard monthly payments will apply. Paying only the amount advertised will not pay off the purchase during the promotional period. Minimum Finance Charge: $1. Certain rules apply to the allocation of payments and Finance Charges on your promotional purchase if you make more than one purchase on your Polaris StarCard. Call 1-888-367-4310 or review your cardholder agreement for information. Warning: ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety, avoid operating Polaris ATVs or RANGERs on paved surfaces or public roads.

Riders and passengers should always wear a helmet, eye protection, protective clothing, and a seat belt on RANGER vehicles. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. Polaris adult ATV models are for riders aged 16 and older. 90cc ATV models and RANGER RZR® 170 models are intended for riders aged 12 and over, and 50cc ATV models are only intended for riders aged 6 and over. Drivers of RANGER vehicles must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license. All ATV riders should take a safety training course. For ATV safety and training information in the U.S., call the SVIA at (800) 887-2887, see your dealer, or call Polaris at (800) 342-3764. Vehicle is shown with optional equipment. ©2009 Polaris Industries Inc.

Punxsutawney Hometown – August 2009 – 19

EarthWorx

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(Editor’s Note: ‘From Our Past,’ researched by S. Thomas Curry, features items of interest from past editions of Punxsutawney and area newspapers.)

August 10, 1871 — THAT LOCK-UP Again we appeal to the proper authorities for the erection of a lock-up. That we need one badly is apparent from the disgraceful rows that occur on our streets every few nights. We heard one of our citizens say he would donate the ground upon which to erect the building, another would give the stone gratuitously, and surely our borough can be magnanimous enough to get the material on the ground and put up the much-needed building. Our officers would then be more willing to discharge their duty while the fines gathered from this source would replenish the borough treasury and our citizens would be permitted to live in quietness and peace. (Punxsutawney Plaindealer) August 12, 1885 — Mr. J. P. Murdock, the well-known dealer in agricultural implements from Cool Spring ... was the first man to introduce a steam separater (sic) into Jefferson County, and when he calls to memory the methods in use when he came to the county years ago – threshing with a flail – he realizes that agriculture has made some rapid strides. (Punxsutawney Spirit) August 15, 1888 — We are of the opinion that a hack line between this place and

Say ‘Hello’ Continued from page 13

Celebrating Five Stars Overall Rating in Medicare Nursing Home Comparison

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mail it off to her dog, Margarita. She and her husband do the same thing, and I stick them to the fridge, down at Jeepers' level, of course.

Grandparent-brag cards: Mount a favorite photo of your kids to a slightly larger piece of card stock. Include a note penned by you and your kids on the back, and add a small strip of self-adhesive magnet so the proud grandparents can save it on the fridge.

Friendly updates: If a picture is worth a thousand words and you're not one to write much, save a lot of time with a photo that says it all. Keep friends and family informed of a new car, a home renovation, even a new pair of shoes, with a photo card that includes a brief description.

In this electronic age, e-mails, voice messages, text messages and tweets are handy, but impersonal. It's surprising how much more a handmade card will mean to family and friends.

(Contact Sandi Genovese at sgenovese1@cox.net.)

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com) •••

Smicksburg would be a paying institution.

Last Saturday afternoon there were sixteen persons desirous of going to Smicksburg, and the Saturday before, there were twenty. (Punxsutawney News) August 15, 1888 — Mrs. G. A. Beers, the fashionable dress maker, has returned, and can be found permanently located on Philadelphia Street, East End, where she will be glad to see all her old customers and many new ones. There is a good board walk leading to the house, which is directly west of R. W. Dinsmore’s residence.

[Note: Philadelphia Street was the name for East Mahoning Street in East End before that section became a part of Punxsutawney in 1889.] (Punxsutawney Spirit) August 26, 1869 — PICNIC. - Miss Mary A. Wilson’s school closed on Thursday last, and on the day following, the scholars, together with their teacher, held a picnic in Jenks’ Grove. The countenances of the boys and girls, when they passed our office on their way home, were sufficient evidence that they had a pleasant time. (Punxsutawney Plaindealer) •••

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Homefix: Negative pressure for your home Q:

By Dwight Barnett Scripps Howard News Service

We had a problem with ice buildup on our roof this past winter and water damage inside on the first-floor ceiling.

We had a roofer come in and remove some of the shingles on our roof and some siding. He installed an ice shield, because it was not installed correctly before. We spoke to an insulation company, and they want to blow foam insulation onto the roof deck on the second story and as much as they can reach on our room addition (first floor with a cathedral ceiling). They want to seal the attic roof completely, sealing all air vents, soffit vents and gable vents. They claim because it is foam and not fiberglass, we do not need ventilation in the attic.

Have you ever heard of this process?

They will also move the venting from our bathroom fan out the side of the house.

Currently, it is vented to the attic and is covered with fiberglass insulation. They will leave the fiberglass insulation in the floor of the attic, but pull off or cut the vapor barrier from one of the layers.

Should we do something different in the attic? Is there something else we should do to correct the ice problem?

A: Attics require ventilation to remove moisture and heat. If the underside of the roof's decking is insulated with an expand-

ing-foam insulation, the air in the attic space will be within a few degrees of the temperature of the rooms below the attic.

When there is no significant temperature difference between the attic and the conditioned rooms, the moisture levels will be similar.

In other words, you do not have to ventilate a conditioned attic. Ideally, the loosefill insulation on the attic floor should be removed so that the attic space, the attic floor and the ceiling of the rooms below the attic will be the same temperature. The bathroom fan and any other vent fans need to be vented to the exterior of the home.

The purpose of the fans is to remove moisture and to create a negative pressure inside the home.

When the interior of the home has a negative pressure, fresh air will enter the home through voids around windows and doors, openings in the exterior walls at outlets and switches, poorly sealed wall framings, etc.

It is important to supply a tightly sealed and insulated home with fresh air. Once the insulator has foamed the attic, I would strongly recommend that you have a blower door test to verify the home's ability to exchange the inside conditioned air with the outside (fresh) unconditioned air.

A home that is insulated and sealed may require the installation of an air-to-air heat exchanger to provide fresh air to the home's occupants.

Brittany Ludwick - New Owner

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- Continued on page 24

VER E t S FiR Punxsutawney

ne i z a g a m n w o t e m Ho

t s e t n o C t e P t s e Cut

Proceeds Benefit Gateway Humane Society of Jefferson County

Enter your pet in the Punxsutawney hometown magazine ‘Cutest Pet Contest.’ Your pet’s photo will be published in hometown magazine along with an official voting ballot. jOiN thE FuN!

the winning pet and his or her owner will receive a basket full of gifts from punxsutawney hometown magazine.

All Entries Must Be Received By Noon, October 30th

Please send (or email) a photo of your pet & entry form along with $5.00/per pet entry to:

Cutest Pet Contest

Punxsutawney hometown magazine P.O. Box 197, Punxsutawney, PA 15767 814-938-0312 • hometown@mail.com

Please make checks payable to Punxsutawney hometown magazine

PROCEEDS BENEFit

GAtEWAY huMANE SOCiEtY OF jEFFERSON COuNtY

uSE thiS ENtRY FORM. PET NAME: ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– PET OWNER: ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ADDRESS: ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– PHONE: –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Photo will not be mailed back, but it can be picked up at the Punxsutawney hometown magazine office - Railroad Building, Suite 100, N. Penn St., Punx’y.

Employees and independent contractors of Hometown Punxsutawney magazine and their families are ineligible to participate.

Punxsutawney Hometown – August 2009 – 21

Punxsutawney Area Historical and Genealogical Society Genealogy, Children’s Workshops, Exhibits and Photography

Group and family tours welcome.

Hours

Bennis House

1 to 4 p.m. Thurs. - Sun.

Lattimer House

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday & Saturday 1 to 4 p.m. Friday & Sunday Other times, contact

Highland Games and Celtic Festival Set for October 3

S

cottish and Celtic culture is often celebrated with the Highland games or festivals. The heavy events, especially the caber toss, have become

for their scholarship fund for the Scottish Arts and Culture.

Teresa Perry, owner of the Thistle & Pine, states, “You don’t have to be of Scottish,

938-2555 (general) or 938-5536 (genealogy)

Rainbow Mountain Alpacas farm Visits • fiber Sales Spinning Classes

• Quality Suri & Huacaya Bloodlines • Large Selection of Patterns & Colors • Exceptional, Beautiful Fleece • Financing Arrangements • Brokering • Boarding and Support Services • New Clinical/Grooming Facility

Curious about these beautiful animals?

Call to arrange a farm visit.

2346 St. John Rd., Punx’y • e-Mail: rainbowmtalpaca@yahoo.com Office Phone: 814-939-7079 • farm Phone: 814-938-3792

Caterina’s Home of the Panini* Paninis

Turkey 4 Cheese Roast Beef Breakfast Tuna Tuscan

“Guda”licious Muffalatta BLT Veggie New BBQ Pulled Pork New 1/4 Burger

Soup of the Day House Salad • Spinach Salad Chicken Salad on Croissant with Side Salad

Assorted Coffees, Drinks & Desserts Daily Open Daily at 8 a.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.

Thru October: Open every Friday til 7pm in conjunction with the Farmer’s Market

110 W. Mahoning St.

938-8781

(left to right) Jim Niccum is a teacher of pipes and has piped for over 40 years. Terry Greene will be piping this year and is also the fiddler. Jim and Terry will be doing the echo pipes at noon. The harpist is Mary Lieb. She is a 2009 graduate from Indiana High School. (Submitted photos)

emblematic of Scotland as has the bagpipes, and the kilt. While the competitions are centered on Scottish heavy athletics, piping, drumming, and dancing, the games also include entertainment and exhibits related to other aspects of Scottish and Gaelic culture.

The Celtic Heritage (Scotch, Irish or Welsh) will celebrate the Highland Games and Celtic Festival on Saturday, October 3 at Thistle & Pine, 7570 Rte 119, in Marion Center.

Music, dancing, great entertainment and good food are set for the event. Placed in a country setting on a fall afternoon, visitors can enjoy all of the festivities, register for a Gaelic lesson, and this year inspect the vehicles at the “British Cruise-In” sponsored by the St. Andrew’s Society of Pittsburgh.

This venue will allow SASP to raise money

d.e. LiMiTed faMiLy ParTnersHiP

DEL

Wireless Internet Available *Panini is a pressed grilled sandwich

22 – Punxsutawney Hometown – August 2009

Irish or Welsh descent to attend or enjoy the rich heritage of the performances.”

Perry has been busy lining up old friends and new, such as The Gaelic Study Group from Cranberry Township, Celtic Spirit Highland Dancers, the harpist Mary Lieb, the Celtic band Hireath, and bagpipers and a fiddler. While there, you will want to browse through the shop and take home a Country or Celtic collectible. Admission to the event is free.

For additional information, to register for the morning or afternoon session of the Gaelic Class, or to register for the British Car Show, visit www.thistleandpine.com or call Teresa at 724-397-2442.

••• Every mailbox, every home in the Punx’y area ... Hometown magazine.

1406 N. Main St., Punx’y

• develoPeRS ANd PRodUceRS of NATURAl GAS • develoPeRS of coMMeRciAl ANd ReSideNTiAl ReAl eSTATe foR leASe & PURcHASe

814-938-0800

Dining & EnTErTAinmEnT

Try All Your Favorite Treats to Keep Cool.

want homestyle cookin’?

Then stop and enjoy a tasty meal each and every time.

ice Cream Cakes and pies over 35 differeNt flavors

of hard & soft ice Cream & yogurt daily specials • hot sandwiches Combo Meals • side orders • shakes floats • Cones • Beverages & More!

C&S Restaurant

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Tues.,-Thurs. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Rt. 36N

938-2058

FAMILY FEAST

ceDaR FRONt ReStaURaNt

2 Medium Pizzas Breadsticks Cinnamon Sticks 2 Liter

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upgrade to 2 Larges - $4 Extra

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22

9810 Rt. 536

99

938-7010

October 3 & 4 2009

Walmart plaza Rt. 119 N., punx’y

Delicious Home Cookin’

Kind, Friendly Service Open Wed., Thur., Fri. & Sat. 11 to 8

938-2400 Laurel Lake Camp & Retreat Center

For all your retreat and confer

ence needs

76 Lodge Rd., Rossiter 814-938-9300 call for more information

Try our New

Angus Burgers...

Neko’s

FAMILY RESTAURANT

Serving Homemade Foods Daily!

nEw! Indoor BBQ Pit

FULL MENU • PIZZA FRESH BAkED GOODS AMPLE PARKING

cold

s ix packs! to go

laska’s pizza

8 SLICE Pepperoni Pizza

938-0338

HOURS: Mon-Sat 11am-9pm • Closed Sundays

3rd Annual

Everyone welcome! Open to public!

Celtic festival

1st sunday of every month 11am - 2pm

Full Brunch

featuring carving table, omelet station, salads breakfast foods, hot buffet, desserts $12.95 Adult • $5.95 children under 12 years 2 years and under free

LuncH tues.-fri. 11am - 3pm tHirsty tHursDAys Pitcher of Beer $4 • 7-9pm Wing night members only

PunXSutAWnEy Country Club

Fine Dining Excellent Food Chef On Hand N. Main St., Punx’y

938-8243

Sat., October 3

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Bagpipes & fiddler • echo Pipes at Noon • Harpist • Hireath (Celtic Band) Highland Dancers • free Gaelic Speaking Celtic & Country Workshop • “Best Legs in a kilt” Collectibles Contest 7570 Rt. 119 Hwy. N., Marion Center • Good food - Great fun • NeW this Year Just South of the ‘Rayne Drop Inn’ British Car Show (call for info)

724-397-2442

REGULAR HOURS: TUE.-SAT. 10-5

+tax

Bacon Sausage Pineapple Anchovies

Mushrooms Hot Peppers Green Peppers Black Olives Onions

206 Elk Run Avenue, Punx’y Downtown Punxsutawney

5

$ 00

Extra Toppings Available

405 N. Main St., Punx’y

H LUNCA L I C SPE pperoni

Pe 2 Slices & Pop a z Piz

$

50

2

938-4647 enjoy dining

outside on our patio

Sun.-Thur. at 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Open 7 Days A Week

www.thistle&pine.com

Punxsutawney Hometown – August 2009 – 23

Community Happenings

s&M

grooming & BoArDing

80 YANKASKY DR. ROSSITER, PA

938-8474

By Appt. Only

It’s a “PAW-FECT” Pleasure to serve you!

bailey’s garage

1971 Sugarhill Rd., Brockway, PA 15824

814-328-2125

STATE INSPECTION

on everything from trailers, cars and motorcycles to tractor trailers

GENERAL REPAIRS 24 HOUR TOWING

- emergency Roadside Service Over 500 tires in stock - ready to sell to public and wholesale customers

f

rom the Community Calendar at Punxsutawney.com, here are some things to look forward to.

To put an event on the Community Calendar, visit www.punxsutawney.com/ calendar and fill out the submission form.

Punxsutawney.com is a project of the Punxsutawney Chamber of Commerce. n Punxsutawney Gift Checks will debut this fall. The Chamber of Commerce will debut a new local gift certificate program to replace the program that ended earlier this year. Watch for announcements about when the gift checks will go on sale and where you can buy them. n Farmers’ Market is scheduled in Downtown Punxsutawney from 47 p.m. each Friday. The market will be held on South Findley Street beside the Fairman Centre. n “Objects of Costume” is open for guided tours at the Lattimer House on Thursday and Sunday afternoons from 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Tours by groups may be arranged in advance for Saturday afternoons by request.

Entry fee of $5 includes an exhibition catalog. For more information, contact the Historical Society.

24 – Punxsutawney Hometown – August 2009

n The annual Groundhog Club Picnic will be held at Gobblers' Knob on Saturday, September 12, beginning at 1 p.m. Enjoy good food, drink and camaraderie with the Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, and see Punxsutawney Phil get his annual sip of “magic elixir.” Cost is $15 per person available at the gate or from any Inner Circle member. n Punxsutawney Airport Awareness Day will be held on Sunday, September 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the airport, located three miles North of Punx’y off of Route 119. The day includes airplane rides, airplane displays, introductory flight instruction, sandwiches and soda. n A Women’s Community Bible Study will be held on September 24 and 25 at the Jefferson Social Hall (across from the Community Center) and is open to all women of the community. A Beth Moore study of David is the topic. Workbooks will be available. Please call 938-5687 or 938-4768 to register for the study. n The 4th Annual Mahoning Shadow Shuffle will be held Saturday, October 10, beginning at the Punxsutawney Little League Fields off Route 119. The race features a Half-Marathon, a 10K, and a 5K Fun Run. Pre-register by downloading the race application at www.punxsutawney.com •••

Homefix

Continued from page 21 Q: I know you've addressed this issue before, so I apologize for having to ask again.

Are crawl-space vents always supposed to be closed? Or does it depend on the season of the year?

A: Simple physics tell the story of the foundation-venting solution: 1) Heat moves from hot to cold. 2) Moisture moves, in the case of a crawl space, through the air from more to less. 3) Cold air cannot hold as much moisture as warm air; therefore, warm air is humid and cold air is dryer.

If you live in a warm, humid climate, the vents should be closed or eliminated completely because the outside air will always be more humid (moist) than the crawlspace air and the humid air will travel through the crawl-space vents in order to equalize the moisture content of the air. If you live in a cooler climate, the foundation vents should be open so that the cool, moist crawl-space air can move to the colder outside dryer air. If you live where there are four distinct seasons, you need to open the vents in the winter and close the vents in the summer.

No matter where your home is located, a better solution would be to eliminate the crawl-space vents by sealing them from the crawl-space area using a 2.5-inch-thick rigid foam insulation. Insulate the crawlspace foundation walls, the ends of the floor joists that are exposed to the exterior and the crawl-space entry door. Again, use a rigid foam insulation fastened to all of the exposed foundation walls. Cover the exposed crawl-space floor with a 6-mil-or- Continued on page 27

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365-5728

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Now accepting applications for social and golf memberships

Punxsutawney Hometown – August 2009 – 25

The illustrated history book by Bill Anderson, Hometown publisher and Groundhog Scribe available for $5.95 at:

Hometown Magazine Office B&P Railroad Building 938-0312 • 938-9141 or Mail a Check or Money Order for $5.95 + $2.75 Shipping = $8.70 to:

Hometown Magazine P.O. Box 197, Punxsutawney, PA 15767 Also available at Punx’y Chamber of Commerce

keith

White’s Variety Store 1845 Philadelphia St., Indiana

(724) 465-8241

speCialty store • plumbing • Heating • electrical

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9-7; Sat. 9-2

Large Selection of Work Boots!

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The captured groundhogs were destined for dinner, and the hunting party cooked ‘em right there on the spot.

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one mile south of exit 81, i-80 on Rt. 28 South - Brookville, PA

26 – Punxsutawney Hometown – August 2009

Groundhog Picnic Sept. 12

By Bill Anderson Groundhog Scribe

i

t all started innocently in the autumn of 1899 with a fun and halfwitted adventure. Atop the hills overlooking Punxsutawney, on Luther Grube’s farm two miles south of town, the locals — led by Court Hoover, a salesman by trade — took to digging up groundhogs.

Each man in the hunting party had a mattock, a legendary tool used to unearth the groundhogs that were (and still are) as thick around Punx’y as are the pesky “ponkis.”

The captured groundhogs were destined for dinner, and the hunting party cooked ‘em and ate ‘em right there on the spot.

The boys returned to town with their immodest tales.

They decided to do it again the following year. This time, however, while they were skinning and cooking them and while the fat was sizzling, Doc Hughes, a Punx’y dentist, juggled the first jug and brought into being the first recorded batch of “groundhog punch,” a mysterious beverage that, according to Groundhog legend, extends life seven years with

each swig, therefore ensuring the legend of Punx’y Phil ill never die.

Those half-dozen men could have remained as they were — content with digging up groundhogs — but they didn’t.

This band of brothers would officially be named the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. The picnics continued and the tales surrounding the escapades of the “live wire” organization in the little town with the strange name became legend.

Each year — over the span of three centuries —the groundhog picnic became the Groundhog Club’s official yearly meeting.

Proudly promoted as the longest-running small-town celebration in America, the members of the Groundhog Club will do it all again this year.

The picnic will be held at Gobblers' Knob on Saturday, September 12, beginning at 1 p.m. Everyone is invited for an afternoon of good food, drink and camaraderie with the Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

The cost is only $15 per person and tickets are available at the gate or from any Inner Circle member.

••• Hometown magazine — 938-0312

147th Indiana County Fair!

August 29 - September 5, with Eric Church Wednesday night

T

he Indiana County Fair is celebratChurch), exhibits and unlimited carnival ing its 147th year of providing rides for only $8 per day. Children two and great entertainment with homeunder are free. town flavor for the entire family.

Find special deals the first Saturday, SunThis year’s fair promises to be the day and Monday: Admission on Saturday, top attraction in the entire region. With the August 29, is free, and includes everything cost of living skyrocketing, the Indiana (except for the $5 farm tractor pull).

County Fair provides the perfect value for On Sunday, August 30 admission is free affordable family entertainment.

Headlining the fair this year is Eric Church, one of country music’s hottest new stars.

Church’s hits include: “Love Your Love the Most”, “Guys Like Me” and “How ‘Bout You”. Don’t miss Eric Church in concert at the Grandstand on Wednesday, September 2, at 8:00 p.m.

Nojoe’s Clown Circus is a high-energy, interactive, onering circus-style show. Daily shows feature silly magic, great juggling, amazing balancing, games, contests, and other family fun.

Other daily shows include: Appalachian Art Unlimited Studio Woodcarving, a train show, miniature farm show, the Kiwanis kiddie farm and Midway Rides of Utica (Tues. thru Thur.)

Events this year include antique and farm tractor pulls, harness racing, limited pro-stock Country sensation Eric Church to perform at Indiana County tractors, Smoker Series trac- Fair on Wednesday, September 2. tors, big rig semis (Friday, September 4), stock semis, tri-axle dumps, 4X4 all day. Monday, August 3 admission is $5 truckpulls and demolition derby (Saturday, from 2 p.m. until close and senior citizens September 5).

65+ years of age and veterans with military Need a breather between tractor pulls and ID are free, compliments of the Indiana train shows? Stop by the concessions where County Commissioners. over 100 stands are eager to serve you. Hot Local students are featured on Tuesday’s sausage, anyone? band night and Thursday’s cheerleading Be sure to check out Monday night’s enexpo. tertainment after the races. The Robinson The fairgrounds are located in Indiana, PA Family puts on a heart-felt, high-energy, at the J.S. Mack Community Center off wholesome family show packed full of Wayne and Carter Avenues, and adjacent to your favorite old and new country songs. the Indiana County Regional Medical CenThis is a true musical experience. ter. See insert inside this magazine for InWhat’s the cost for all this, you ask? A lot diana County Fair’s complete schedule or of little fees that add up to a lot? view at www.indianacountyfair.com.

Not at the Indiana County Fair. This best Lodging information can be found online kept secret of Pennsylvania gives you parkat www.visitindianacountypa.org. ing, admission, shows (including Eric •••

Homefix

Continued from page 24

heavier vapor barrier, and seal all ductwork at joints and seams.

Finally, cut a small, 4-inch opening in the supply duct and cover the opening with a pest screen. This will allow the heating/cooling unit to condition the crawl space in order to control the humidity levels. You should consult with a heating and cooling contractor to make sure the HVAC system is adequate for the crawl-space

ventilation.

(Dwight Barnett is a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors. Write to him with home-improvement questions at C. Dwight Barnett, Evansville Courier & Press, P.O. Box 286, Evansville, Ind. 47702 or e-mail him at d.Barnett@insightbb.com.)

••• Hometown magazine — 938-0312

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Punxsutawney Hometown – August 2009 – 27

28 – Punxsutawney Hometown – August 2009