Wellsboro Happenings, May 2021

H o a r p o p b e s nings l l e

1 • WELLSBORO HAPPENINGS

W

MAY 2021

We cannot live only for ourselves.

A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men. ~Herman Melville

No. 36 - Issued Quarterly

BOROUGH OF WELLSBORO, PA

Wellsboro Little League Celebrates 70 Years!

May 2021

Picture provided by Scott Smith

When the Wellsboro Little League parade kicks off on April 17, 2021, our community celebrates the 70th Anniversary of Wellsboro Little league. In 1949, Willard Smith (Chairman), Fred Husted and Art Doumaux were appointed by the Wellsboro Rotary Club to create a youth baseball league. Thus, the four-team Wellsboro Midget League was formed in 1950.

In 1951, the Midget League converted to the Wellsboro Little League, with six teams. The initial Wellsboro Little League board consisted of Willard Smith (President), H.W. Tanyton (Vice President), Arthur Doumaux (Secretary) and Durward Longwell (Treasurer). To fund the league, twenty-seven Honorary Trustees donated $50 apiece to the Wellsboro Little League.

The first league champion was the Wellsboro Banks team managed by Mr. Bill Sweet. The American Legion team was

ON THE INSIDE...

managed by Jack Wilcox and Harold Tombs managed the Corning Glass works team. Mr. Neil Mosher managed the Penn Wells Hotel team, with Leonard Parker managing the Lions Club team. The Bowery team (then Wellsboro Rotary Club) was managed by Andy Comfort.

The Wellsboro Little League has had multiple field locations, before landing at the current fields on Charleston Street, playing at Packer Park at one time. Countless volunteers and children have passed through the league in seventy years. The endless support of local sponsors, of course, has contributed greatly to the success of the league. The Wellsboro Little League currently consists of both baseball and softball. The Wellsboro Little League is truly a community asset and effort. The league’s success has been recently rewarded with hosting regional All-Star tournaments. Please join the Borough in congratulating and supporting the Wellsboro Little League as they celebrate seventy years.

Sharing Wellsboro’s Glass History............Page 3 Woodland Park, Phase 1.............................Page 4 Proper Tree Mulching..................................Page 5 Bench Restoration.......................................Page 6 Compost Area Options...............................Page 6

Wellsboro Sidewalk Program.....................Page 7 Wellsboro Police Department....................Page 7 2021 Packer Park Pool Rates......................Page 7 NTSWA Recycling Changes........................Page 7

2 • WELLSBORO HAPPENINGS

MAY 2021

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MAY 2021

WELLSBORO HAPPENINGS • 3

Sharing Wellsboro’s Glass History

By Anja Stam

Each year in December Wellsboro’s “Christmas on Main Street” event celebrates the small-town holiday experience through its friendly businesses, sing-a-longs, live nativity, tours, and other activities that bring our community together. The event also celebrates the character of our hard-working citizens and tells the story of Wellsboro as the “Town that Saved Christmas” during World War II. With businesses throughout town hosting display sites and a “History Brochure” that leads a self-guided ornament tour, visitors and locals alike learn just how important this humble little town in the hills of northcentral Pennsylvania really was. Since the first “Christmas on Main Street” celebration in 2015, interest in the story of “The Town that Saved Christmas” has continued to grow, and so has the committee’s collection of stories, photos, information, and artifacts.

In June 2020, just minutes before they were to be dismantled, two of the Landmark awardwinning machines that had given Wellsboro the distinction of being “The Town that Saved Christmas”, were purchased

by Growth Resources of Wellsboro (GROW) and brought home. Out of this effort, the Wellsboro Glass Historical Association (WGHA) was formed in January 2021.

The Wellsboro community played significant roles in manufacturing light bulbs for Edison, providing the country with Christmas ornaments during difficult times, and adapting the technology to provide many other glass items. WGHA has a mission to preserve this interesting history, with the ultimate goal of opening and operating a museum which will not only educate the general public about the important contributions this community made to glass manufacturing history, but also encourage the next generation of innovators to explore STEAM activities and consider their own creative potential. The vision of WGHA is to provide educational opportunities for residents, and to serve the community by offering a yearround destination to support our tourism industry. A local glass history museum will compliment other regional assets which highlight the rich energy and technology history in our area.

To spread awareness about this new endeavor, WGHA is excited to offer the public several ways to learn more about the project and become involved. Thanks to the generosity of property owner Ben Stambaugh, WGHA

will open a temporary pop-up museum at 80 Main Street (former Nationwide Insurance office) in May. Displays will show some of the many artifacts already collected and give an overview of Wellsboro’s glass history. Volunteers will answer questions and offer information about the project. Details on the pop-up museum are still being finalized, and opening dates and times will be published on the newly created “Wellsboro Glass Historical Association” Facebook page when available. Questions, comments, or information to share may also be emailed to WellsboroGlass@gmail.com.

to:

Tax deductible donations for the project may be made Wellsboro Foundation (reference “Wellsboro Glass” in the check memo) 114 Main Street Wellsboro, PA 16901

Wellsboro Foundation is a 501 C3 organization and questions may be addressed to Julie at julieh@ wellsboropa.com or call 570-724-1926.

Be sure to stop in at 80 Main Street this spring to see the temporary exhibit and learn more about Wellsboro’s amazing glass manufacturing history!

4 • WELLSBORO HAPPENINGS

MAY 2021

Endless Mountain Music Festival and Deane Center for the Performing Arts presents

Fire in the

Woodland Park, Phase 1

Since the last Wellsboro Happenings, construction activity at Woodland Park has resumed. LandServ Inc. has completed the installation of the new barbeque pit and pavilion, the new upper pavilion, while starting the playground installation and concrete work. The fire brick used for the barbeque pit was donated

by Ledvance/Sylvania, formerly Osram/Sylvania. Weather depending, the project remains on target for the Memorial Day opening and annual Lions Club Barbecue. The retaining walls throughout the project are complete as well.

After completion, the project will provide a walking trail between pavilions along with the new playground equipment, which will have poured-in-place rubber safety material to protect children from falls. The walking trail will be lined with benches and gaslights similar to the setup along Queen Street at the tennis courts. The pavilions will have electrical service for users and water service will be available at the barbeque pit. As construction continues, Bryden Street remains closed through the park as the area is extremely active with construction equipment and material deliveries.

Glen

Upper pavilion during installation

7:00 PM

View of completed barbecue pavilion and pit

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Internal view of barbecue pit built with fire brick donated by Ledvance/ Sylvania, formerly Osram/Sylvania

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Concrete pad for bench and gaslight along walking trail – benches remain available for dedication.

MAY 2021

WELLSBORO HAPPENINGS • 5

Proper Tree Mulching

The

V I CTO R I A Theatre

(from Vincent Cotrone/Penn St Extension)

Placing mulch around trees and shrubs adds organic matter and nutrients, conserves soil moisture and prevents lawn mowers from injuring trees and shrubs. However, mulch that is applied too thick and piled against the stems can be harmful to trees and shrubs.

Thick mulch can suffocate roots and create a moist environment which promotes decay fungi attack on the trunk and roots, root rot, crown dieback and possible tree failure. Over-mulching also prevents the movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide in and out of stems and can lead to rodent chewing and stem-girdling.

Mulch “volcanoes” are common, but unfortunately, they cover the natural flare where the tree meets the soil. It is important to the tree’s health that this flare not be covered with soil or mulch. Mulch should be spread out in a layer no thicker than 3-4 inches, and don’t pile it up on the trunks of trees and stems of shrubs.

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Proper Mulching Images downloaded from International Society of Arboriculture - http://www.isaarbor.com/consumer/mulching.html

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MAY 2021

WELLSBORO HAPPENINGS • 6

Bench Restoration

N I R G I H W O N We Are Expanding!

Each year, the Borough picks a small restoration project to keep the town looking how residents and visitors expect. In the past few years, the fire hydrants and parking meter posts have been re-painted, in addition to partnering with the Chamber of Commerce and local foundations to replace the gaslights on the boulevards. Over the past winter, Parks and Rec employee John Freligh’s time was devoted to restoring a number of the benches along the streets.

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View of slats from bench before restoration.

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Restored bench after sanding, new stain on the slats and new paint for the metal components.

Compost Area Options The borough offers residents two options for disposal of grass and yard clippings, including branches and trees. The compost area at the borough garage on Old Tioga Street is for the disposal of grass clippings and yard clippings only. No contractor dumping or dump trailers are permitted at this area.

Items such as logs and stumps should be left at this site. Items such as stones, bricks, or metal can damage the grinder, which leads to a repair expense for the borough. If the compost bin is empty, please place the materials (small branches, leaves and weeds) in the back of the compost bin and work forward and do not dump material in or across the driveway. Residents can use this or the Meade Street areas for free. However, if a contractor is hauling for a resident, then the daily fee applies.

The compost area at Meade Street (at the ballfields) is available for contractors and the disposal or larger items such as logs, large branches and stumps. There are separate areas in the compost area for different items. Please place your items in www.mountainhomemag.com the appropriate piles when dumping your materials. The fees for contractors to use the Meade Street area are $35 for the day or contractors can pay an annual fee of $300. Contractors paying UPHOLSTERY SPECIALS the annual fee receive a key to the Meade Street area. $

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Residents who use contractors to dispose of materials at Meade Street are asked to let the contractors pay the fee and sign the key out. The fees are used to offset the cost of the tub grinder the borough contracts annually to grind and chip the materials at the compost area. To get a key, please stop in to the office from 8am to 4pm on Monday through Friday to sign one in and then again when you return the key.

The wood mulch left behind from the grinding process is available for anyone to use at no cost. Residents or contractors can get a key and load as much mulch as they please. The borough tries to put these materials to use when possible.

MAY 2021

Wellsboro Sidewalk Program

Thinking of repairing or replacing your sidewalk this year?

The Borough does require a permit application be completed before sidewalk work starts; there is no fee for the application.

Whether you complete the work yourself or hire a contractor a PA One Call must be completed prior to any excavation.

The Borough will remove the sidewalk blocks and dispose of them and provide the stone for the base of the new sidewalk.

Residents are urged to take advantage of the sidewalk program to replace uneven or damaged sidewalks. Per the Borough Ordinance, sidewalks are to continue across driveways.

Wellsboro Police Department

The Police Department and Borough Council would like to remind bicyclists that bikes are not allowed on the sidewalks. In the Business District, this restriction is part of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code.

Residents who wish to dispose of unused medication can drop it off in the Drug Take-Back Bin located in the front lobby of the Police Department, located at 28 Crafton Street. Please do not flush any medications into the sewer system.

Residents are reminded that the Borough’s recreation fields are not for walking or letting dogs run. The Borough continues to see dog waste left on the athletic fields where children will be stepping or falling in the waste left behind. Those who do pick up after their dogs are reminded that the dogs are not to be on the athletic fields. Your cooperation is appreciated in keeping the fields clean for the Little League and Parks and Recreation programs.

WELLSBORO HAPPENINGS • 7

2021 Packer Park Pool Rates

April 1st to May 14th - $99.00 Family Season Pass May 15th to May 31st – Family Rate - $132.00 / Individual Rate - $69.00 June 1st to End of Season – Family Rate - $149.00 / Individual Rate - $84.00 Day Rates – Adults - $4.00 / Student $3.50 / Baby Pool $2.50 The Packer Park Pool will open the last day of school and operate from 1pm to 7pm, Monday – Friday; and 1pm to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. Pool passes can be purchased at wellsbororecreation.org.

NTSWA Recycling Changes Due to a change in the end use market for plastics, the Northern Tier Solid Waste Authority has made recent changes to items they can accept for recycling. Now NTSWA will accept plastic bottles, jugs, jars and tubs. Please rinse the items, but the labels and caps can remain. NTSWA asks that no bagged plastics be left at public drop-off sites, but plastic can be bagged for curbside pickup.

Items not acceptable for recycling pickup include Styrofoam, oil containers, flower pots, clam shell containers, plastic containers or toys and other items. A more detailed view of the changes will be available on the back of the May water bills. Please feel free to contact either NTSWA or the Borough with any questions.

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8 • WELLSBORO HAPPENINGS

MAY 2021

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