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November 2025, Volume 13, Issue 2
PUBLISHER
John Leeser jleeser@sungazette.com
EDITOR
Nick Seitzer nseitzer@sungazette.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Joseph W. Smith III
DESIGN EDITOR
Timothy R. Wertz Jr.
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Chuck Smith
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West Branch Life is published seasonally at 252 W. Fourth St., Williamsport, PA 17701. Letters and editorial contributions should be sent to westbranchlife@sungazette.com or West Branch Life, 252 W. Fourth St., Williamsport, PA 17701. West Branch Life is not responsible for unsolicited submissions. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without written permission by publisher is prohibited. Copyright 2021 by Odgen Newspapers. All rights reserved. Advertising rates and specifications are available by contacting jleeser@sungazette.com. West Branch Life was founded in 2013, a publication of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette LLC.
Muncy
author’s
‘My Worlds Untethered’ offers an evocative collection of poems
Fans of modern poetry know that when they open something new, they shouldn’t be expecting rainbows, butterflies, Cupid hearts and flowers.
And likewise, they probably won’t find much old-fashioned rhyme or rhythm — though a little of that stuff never hurts.
No: What these folks look for is a voice: something distinct, unique, authentic and authoritative. As I like to say — though perhaps I’m quoting someone I cannot now remember: The genuine poet, like most great artists, has the key to a door that no one else can open.
That is certainly what readers will get in “My Words Untethered” — a slim but evocative new volume of poems by local writer Emily Milay.
Milay is Muncy resident who studied English and writing at Liberty University after a 2021 graduation from Lycoming County’s CHEF homeschool co-op.
For the sake of full disclosure, I’ll admit that I had Emily as a student at CHEF, where I encouraged her to create an Amazon book from her insightful research paper on “The Great Gatsby.”
It’s gratifying to see Milay branching out with this 35-piece collection, which covers a dizzying array of topics: sunsets, fishing, poetry, painting, an eclipse, cats, conscience, car rides, Catholicism, birth and death, bodily deformity, blue-collar workmen, church bells, wallpaper, James McNeill Whistler, Sylvia Plath and the author’s namesake — the beloved American poet Emily Dickinson.
— and an absolute mastery of image and alliteration, capped off by the ability to bring dazzling substance and significance to perfectly ordinary objects and events. Take, for example, this description of an estate sale: “The mob teemed forth, carting off / Candlesticks, cookware, and cardigans / Like a colony of covetous ants. / I knew what rot lurked in each soul.
/ Like me, they were lusty for leftovers / Of a life.”
I could quote a dozen other passages like that; but instead
I’ll let Milay point out that she put years of effort into this collection. The goal, she told me in a recent interview, was to “connect with readers” and “create something lasting” — while also preserving “a confessional lyric poetry that has, sadly, become somewhat obsolete over the years.”
As the author puts in in “Outspoken”: “I can’t help but let the words / Claw their way out of me — / Out of that deep well within / Where light is an occasional / Coin that drops softly into / The darkness, scattering it.”
So readers will find in this slender treasure-trove a lot of light; a few poetic stories; a good deal of humor; a modern-day sonnet; plenty of unobtrusive symbolism; a five-page mock-epic about getting stung by a bee….
Oh yeah — and some flowers, too.
“My Words Untethered” is available online and at Otto’s Bookstore in Williamsport; read some samples at emilymilaypoetry.com.
As you can probably tell, it’s all but impossible to sum up or restate the essence and richness of these poems. There’s anger, beauty, exhilaration, self-reflection, indictment, romance, feminist protest and even a few that remain ineffable and mysterious (not a rare occurrence in modern lit!).
Yet through it all, Milay marshals an impressive vocabulary
Joseph W. Smith III is a writer, teacher and speaker in Central PA. His latest book is “The Best Movies You Never Saw: 300 Under-the-Radar Films That Were Overlooked, Unjustly Trashed — or Just Plain Terrific.” He may be reached at robbwhitefan@gmail.com.
UPTOWN MUSIC COLLECTIVE to celebrate 25 years with four iconic sets
If organizing a two-night event with nearly 100 musicians performing more than 60 songs sounds like a daunting task, that’s because it is. But if anyone’s up to the challenge, it’s the Uptown Music Collective’s founder and executive director, Dave Brumbaugh.
Brumbaugh has kept himself exceptionally busy over the last several months coordinating a milestone moment in Uptown’s history — The 25th Anniversary Celebration. To commemorate 25 years at the school of music, the UMC has planned a “no-repeat weekend” for 7:30 p.m. on Nov 21-22 at the Journey Bank Community Arts Center, 220 West Fourth Street, that will see dozens of alumni perform alongside current students.
With each night offering its own unique experience, the anniversary
shows will feature the music of The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin on night one, and Billy Joel, Elton John and Queen on night two.
“Right now, I’m just trying to keep it all together,” Brumbaugh said. “But beneath that surface, yes — I am excited. Excited to see this celebration come alive, to share music with so many former students who mean the world to me, and to bring it all before the community that has made this journey possible.”
Saying it “almost defies belief” to think the UMC has been around for a quarter-century, Brumbaugh mentioned that when he first started the school it was just a way of formalizing what he had already been doing privately with students.
“I hoped it might be useful, maybe even meaningful,” he said. “But never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it would
21-22.
grow into what it has become today.”
In its two-and-a-half decades, the Uptown Music Collective has established itself as one of the most beloved organizations in the area. You would have a hard time finding anyone in Lycoming County that doesn’t know about the incredible live shows put on by the school’s Special Performance Group 1.
While a lot of that notoriety can be attributed to Brumbaugh and his staff, just as much credit goes to the students who buy into the program and work tirelessly to put on top-tier productions.
“I’ve been blessed with remarkable students from the very beginning,” Brumbaugh said. “Young people with the fire to go beyond the basics, willing to work, willing to pour their hearts into the art of music.
“Through that process, I’ve built rela-
PHOTO PROVIDED
The Uptown Music Collective will see around 80 alumni share the stage with current students on Nov.
tionships that have stretched across decades — relationships I treasure deeply. And now, I’m grateful that so many of them are traveling back from across the country to celebrate this moment with us,” he added.
The 25th Anniversary Celebration at the CAC will see around 80 former students join the school’s current Special Performance Group 1. Many of those alumni who are returning performed in the UMC’s very first show back in 2004. Brumbaugh said having members of that group play
Rockoff and Amanda Miller. For current students to have an opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with them on stage
is something Brumbaugh feels will be “unforgettable.”
“Our hallways are lined with pictures of these musicians from decades past,” Brumbaugh said. “Now, those pictures step off the walls and onto the stage, alongside the next generation.”
While it will certainly be a big thrill for today’s Special Performance Group 1 to play with these former Uptown musicians, it’s also pretty exciting for Brumbaugh himself.
“There are quite a few I still see or talk to on a regular basis, but we haven’t stood together on a project this size in decades,” Brumbaugh said. “I’m eager to see them back on stage, making music side by side once more. To be near them again, maybe even share a note or two if they’ll let me.
“There’s so much history between us — it’s like a river that just keeps on flowing,” he added.
Brumbaugh mentioned that this year’s SPG1 includes many first-timers and younger students, which he said is a “good sign for the future.” The group has shown great grit and discipline, and has grown with the music through the process of getting ready for the upcoming anniversary shows, he added.
The first chairs and seniors lending leadership for the performances are Rian Gephart (vocals), Makenzie Hakes (guitar), Caiden Scarfo (keyboards), Matt Belino (bass) and Nicholas Willoughby (drums).
“They’ve been instrumental — no pun intended — in helping me with the mountain of assignments and instrumentation for 60-plus songs,” Brumbaugh said.
Other seniors like Jocelyn Moser, Jack Marks and Ryan Vanlone have also stepped up with steady support, according to Brumbaugh.
‘NO-REPEAT
WEEKEND’
The idea of performing a “no-repeat weekend” isn’t exactly a new one for Uptown. Back in 2020, the school was gearing up for its 20th Anniversary Celebration built on the same concept, but those shows had to be scrapped because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We promised ourselves we’d wait
listen
for 2025, and here we are,” Brumbaugh said.
In deciding which acts to cover for their anniversary shows, the UMC wanted to focus on “great touchstones,” according to Brumbaugh. The school wanted to make sure it picked musicians that have helped shape the students and audiences alike. This led them to Queen, who long held the school’s ticket record; Elton John and Billy Joel, who provided them with their first sold-out production; and The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, who have inspired generations of musicians, including Brumbaugh himself.
Though each set is filled with timeless classics that are sure to impress audiences, Brumbaugh said a few of the songs he is most excited to see performed include: “Gimme Shelter” and “Angie” by The Rolling Stones, “Black Dog” and “When the Levee Breaks” by Led Zeppelin, “Funeral for a Friend” and “Bennie and the Jets” by Elton John, “New York State of Mind” and “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” by Billy Joel, and “Killer
<<<<< Currents
Queen” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen.
A few songs — like “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” “Stairway to Heaven,” “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Somebody to Love” — will see most performers on stage all at one time. It will be these moments that will likely leave the biggest mark on the audience.
“When that many voices and instruments fill the stage, it ceases to be a performance — it becomes a force of nature,” said Brumbaugh.
For more information or tickets, visit CAClive.com or call 570-326-2424.
HOLIDAYS
Nick Seitzer is the editor of West Branch Life. A graduate of Lycoming College, he has worked in local journalism for 13 years, serving in a variety of roles for the Williamsport Sun-Gazette and Lock Haven Express in that time.
‘The Nutcracker’ returns to Williamsport for another year
By NICK SEITZER West Branch Life
Those looking to infuse a little magic into this holiday season needn’t look any further than the Journey Bank Community Arts Center. The ornate theater in downtown Williamsport has hosted a showing of Tchaikovsky’s classical twoact ballet “The Nutcracker” for more than five decades and will continue that great tradition yet again this year.
Originally performed by the Williamsport Civic Ballet, the colorful production has been brought to stage through a cooperative effort between the CAC, Saint John’s School of the Arts and Lycoming College since 2017. This year’s performances are slated for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7.
“It is a great honor and blessing to be part of the holiday tradition of such a large audience from our community and region,” said Theresa Kendall, founder and artistic director at Saint John’s School of the Arts. “Our audience has grown every year.”
“The Nutcracker” tells the delightful Christmas Eve tale of Clara, a little girl who dreams up an exciting magical world that centers around a wooden nutcracker gifted to her from her uncle, Drosselmeyer. What ensues is an experience that leaves the audience members themselves feeling enchanted.
“It’s the joy and enthusiasm of the dancers that brings the ballet to life,” Kendall said. “We use a tremendous number of colorful props and beautiful costumes to make the choreography even more exciting.”
The show’s costumes are handled by Kendall herself. The set is a joint effort between all three organizations, but its backdrops are all hand-painted by Aaron White. The excellent lighting design and live orchestrated music are under the direction of Lycoming College’s William Ciabattari.
Kendall said the collaboration between the schools that exists today started with a great idea from Ciabattari, who serves as an associate professor of music and Music Department chair at Lycoming.
“He always said our region should
have a ‘Nutcracker’ with live music,” she said. “I will always be full of gratitude for him and his vision.
“Dancing to live music is a dream come true for my company and working with Bill continues to be a collaboration that inspires me,” Kendall added. “I am beyond grateful.”
Rehearsals for the show, which run anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours, began way back in August. Kendall said the dedication of her students has been second to none through the whole process.
“I simply cannot say enough good about how hard every single cast member works for this production,” she said. “They come for extra rehearsals, practice on their own, and work tirelessly in preparation.
“They also sincerely admire, encourage and support each other, which is my favorite part,” she added.
The lead roles in this year’s performance will be played by Elliana Peace (Clara), Koren Matthews (The Nutcracker Prince), Hannah Smith (Sugar Plum Fairy), Ryan Patterson (Cavalier), Briar Cohick
SUN-GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
This picture from last year’s performance of “The Nutcracker” shows Clara, played by Anna Pritchard.
viewing pleasure
(The Mouse King) and Mariyah Walizer (Drosselmeyer). Of that group, only Patterson is returning to their role from last year’s show.
“It is always hard to cast ‘The Nutcracker’ because I am fortunate enough to work with outstanding youth who are committed, talented, hardworking and — best of all — kind and supportive of each other,” Kendall said.
“All the lead roles are demanding,” she added. “Also, the Snowflakes work tremendously hard.”
Peace, who’s playing Clara, has been dancing at Saint John’s since she was only 3 years old. Now in her senior year at the school, she’s getting a great opportunity to showcase all she’s learned through the years.
“She is a very hard worker and a delight to work with,” Kendall said.
Kendall mentioned that it’s all of the hard work, time spent rehearsing, and seeing the production come together that her students love the most. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that they get to do all of that inside of a great theater like the CAC.
“It is a dream come true to perform in this historic, gorgeous theater with such a fantastic live orchestra,” Kendall said. “The staff is second to none. They do anything I ask them to and are sincerely invested in the production. I couldn’t ask for better.”
The Journey Bank Community Arts Center is located at 220 West Fourth Street, Williamsport. For more information or tickets, visit caclive.com or call 570-326-2424.
By NICK SEITZER West Branch Life
By now, most people know the feeling of walking into a store in mid-October — while the trees are still clinging to their colorful leaves and notes of pumpkin spice latte linger in the air — only to see aisles already lined with holiday merchandise. You go into Dollar General for a last-minute Halloween costume and find they’ve all been replaced with candy canes and Christmas lights. You think to yourself, “Does this get earlier every year?”
It certainly does.
What traditionally began on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, has steadily moved its way up through the years, with retailers of all kinds pushing holiday merchandise and deals well before November. While the “Christmas creep” has been noticeable for several decades, it has become much more evident recently. But it’s not only major retailers like Walmart and Macy’s partaking in the jump-start of the season, as local shops have had no choice but to get in on the trend as well.
“Every year, the big-box stores start pushing Christmas up earlier and earlier,” said Fabre Sanders, owner of the It Is What
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Larry and Fabre Sanders pose with a pair of elves in the It Is What It Is gift shop in downtown Lock Haven. The Sanders prepare for the holiday season all year long in their gift shop and candy store.
Waves >>>>> holiday shopping
It Is gift shop in downtown Lock Haven. “As small business retailers, we kind of have to follow suite.”
Along with their gift shop, Fabre and her husband, Larry, also operate the It Is What It Is Sweet Shop, in Lock Haven, which focuses on selling candy and other delectable treats. While both businesses make their Christmas offerings available prior to Thanksgiving, Fabre said the gift shop makes the transition to holiday mode as early as the first week of October.
The multitiered process of getting their shop ready for the holiday season starts with the Sanders making Christmas merchandise, like decorations and gift packages, available in the store. Once early-November rolls around, they kick things up a notch by
decorating the store and putting a toy train in the front window. Then, when Small Business Saturday kicks off, they begin offering their holiday deals.
“In the gift shop, half of our business (revenue) for the year comes from November and December, so it’s huge,” Fabre said. “Candy is a little more balanced throughout the year, but it is still a very important part of what we do.”
To make sure they have the holiday merchandise they need in time, Fabre and Larry start building their inventory as early as January, she said.
“People think it’s insane, but it’s the way this industry works,” Fabre said. “You literally go through Christmas and the week after Christmas, and then the first week of Janu-
Every holiday season, Fabre and Larry Sanders make sure to decorate the front window of the It Is What It Is gift shop with a toy train and other items. The Sanders said their store heavily relies on the sales it makes in the months leading up to Christmas.
PHOTO PROVIDED
ary you start all over again. The big gift show is in Atlanta in January, so we order a lot of our merchandise in January and February.
“We really are in Christmas mode all year,” she added. “It’s something I learned when I opened this business.”
Jennifer Parks, owner and goldsmith at Avu Goldsmiths, in Williamsport, also spends a lot of her time and energy prepping for the holiday season. She said it becomes her primary focus at the beginning of August, but she has to start securing advertising space and some holiday inventory as early as February.
Though Parks used to avoid moving up the holidays in her store, in an effort to appreciate each season, her approach has evolved over time along with many other aspects of the business.
“I do feel it is becoming a necessity as a reaction to corporate retail stores as well as lengthening the exposure of our holiday inventory to our patrons,” Parks said.
Unsurprisingly, Avu Goldsmiths also heavily relies on sales made during the holiday season. From a business standpoint, it only makes sense to expand the amount of time holiday offerings are available.
“Holiday revenue is exceedingly more
PHOTO PROVIDED
Avu Goldsmiths, in Williamsport, is a popular spot for holiday shoppers in the area. The store likes to put its holiday merchandise on sale for an extended period of time to give customers a better chance of finding the perfect gift.
Waves >>> holiday shopping
important every year in order to grow,” Parks said. “This growth allows us to make necessary improvements to expand our offerings, hire additional staff and combat continually rising costs.”
BLISS OR BURN OUT?
While the quick start to the holiday season may be irritating to some who feel burned out by the time Christmas actually rolls around, there are just as many consumers excited by the early arrival.
“I would say it’s probably a split, where 50% of the population is super excited and 50% complain because it gets earlier and earlier every year,” Fabre said. “I kind of fall into that 50% that complain, personally, because I feel like we rush the season.
“But as a retailer, you have no choice,” she added. “If everybody else is doing it, you kind of have to go with the flow in that regard, and make sure that you have your merchandise available for the other 50% of people that do want it.”
One nice thing about holiday shopping, even for those who prefer not to do it so early, is that it presents a different kind of in-store experience for the customer. Instead of buying for themselves and their own needs, consumers are focused on getting things for others. The act of searching for gifts that you hope someone else will like has something intrinsically fun about it.
“There is a different energy to our store at holiday time,” Fabre said. “I think people get really excited about gift giving and coming up with creative ideas for what to give friends, family and coworkers.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Though best known for its handcrafted jewelry, Avu Goldsmiths offers many other great gift ideas, like these ornate decorations.
“Our whole crew here has a different energy about us as well,” she added. “You just kind of get swept up in the festive season.”
Parks shared a similar sentiment, saying, “I believe we all want to feel the ‘magic’ of the holidays and finding a uniquely perfect gift for a loved one certainly helps harness that feeling.”
“Our patrons often find items they love for themselves while shopping for gifts,” Parks added. “I know I’m the same way and it truly boosts my enjoyment and excitement for the gifts I find for my loved ones.”
THE PERFECT GIFT
Though the holiday season is a demanding grind for most small business owners, it also comes with its perks. One of those is helping customers find the “perfect gift” for their loved ones.
“It is truly my favorite part of the holiday season,” Parks said. “The only better feeling is when the recipient stops in after the holidays to tell us how perfect the gift is for them.”
Parks mentioned that some of Avu’s most popular holiday offerings are its handcrafted sterling silver and 14K yellow, white and rose gold jewelry.
“We take special orders, as long as possible, to allow gift givers the opportunity to have the metal and gemstone combination they
desire while also having a great selection of in stock items to choose from,” said Parks.
Customized gifts are also a specialty at It Is What It Is, with the store offering a variety of gift baskets and candy stockings, among other items.
“That is one advantage we have over the big retailers — we can work with you to do something custom and really unique,” Fabre said.
Like Parks, she said that she loves helping a customer feel satisfied with a gift purchase.
“I always tell my husband that when people are posting about their holidays on social media, it is always so exciting to see things from our store that people post,” she said. “That really makes me happy.”
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS
Whether you’re on board with the holiday season getting moved up earlier or wish things would hold off a bit, consider shopping locally for your gifts this year. Small businesses are not only integral to the fabric of our communities, but they can help add a special touch to the season that you won’t find on the shelf in a big-box store.
“We are your friends, your neighbors, your family and truly couldn’t do it without your continued support,” Parks said.
WBy NICK SEITZER West Branch Life
hen a nasty storm rolls in, most people are inclined to run for shelter. Hughesville native Eli Roberts runs for his car keys.
Roberts, 45, has been documenting severe weather events since he was a teenager. Now 30 years into storm chasing, he’s witnessed nearly every kind of weather phenomena imaginable, from blizzards to tornadoes to floods and beyond. What began as a hobby with some of his high school friends has transformed into a lifelong mission.
“It started out when I was a kid,” Roberts said. “I was born during a thunderstorm, which my mom loves to say is where this started.”
Like most small children, Roberts said he was afraid of thunderstorms when he was little. But the older he got, the more he grew to love the bright flashes of lightning and big booms the storms brought. When the movie “Twister” came out in May of 1996, it gave
him and his buddies the push they needed to get out and chase storms themselves.
“We had kind of done it before, but we really wanted to continue doing it to help alert people that we do get severe weather also,” he said. “We get tornadoes, we get flash floods – which we have seen recently –and snowstorms and blizzards. So, why not try to do this?”
At that time, Roberts and his friends created a local storm chasing team operating out of Hughesville that was known as Dark Skies. The crew quickly gained recognition when they captured footage of a tornado in 1996 that was aired by the WNEP-TV news station.
“That really inspired me to continue,” Roberts said.
Wanting to pursue a career in a weather-related field, Roberts studied meteorology for two years in college before changing his track to broadcasting, graduating from Penn College in 2004. Today, the experience he gained while studying in both fields comes in handy for the videos he creates for social media.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Hughesville native Eli Roberts has been chasing storms since he was a teenager. Roberts has amassed thousands of followers on social media, where he shares pictures and videos of his local storm chases.
Using a variety of platforms including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and YouTube Roberts has amassed thousands of followers. His pages, which can all be found under the Storm Chaser Eli Roberts name, have shared all kinds of weather-related content that has gone viral in the area, with several videos topping more than 20,000 views.
In general, Roberts tries to film any newsworthy weather event that he can within a 50-mile radius of eastern Lycoming County, though he has covered many events far outside of that range. He said he’s very careful to show storms and their aftermath as they really happened, and with no sensationalism. One of his biggest pet peeves is when a storm is forecasted or talked about with exaggeration by those in the media, he said.
“I have maybe not grown to the number (of followers) I really want — I really want to be up there — but I don’t want to do it at the expense of integrity and honesty,” said Roberts. “Doing it the right way is what I feel like I should do. It’s worth it to everybody to get the right information, and not hyped-up information that could be, and is, taken the wrong way completely.
“It has been fun,” he added. “It really has been a lot of work.”
Though chasing storms isn’t Roberts’ full-time job, he’s still found ways to make some money off of it. He said his clicks on social media help generate enough revenue to keep gas in his SUV. He also works with the media brokering company Live Storms Media, which sells the rights to storm chasing videos and pictures to national media outlets.
Through his work with LSM, Roberts has had his videos featured on national stations like ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX News, and The Weather Channel.
“(The money) isn’t life-changing, but it’s fun,” he said. “It used to be much better, and we would do really good numbers. But now everybody is putting stuff on social media and camera quality is so much better. So, realistically, a lot of news outlets want to save money where they can where everybody would and they are using videos and pictures from online more so than professional video provided by storm chasers through Live Storms Media.
“We still have a lot of really good video that is out there,” he added. “But for me, personally, it has gotten harder.”
GEARING UP
The high-quality cameras and high-speed internet access that every cell phone now possesses might make it easier for the average person to share storm footage, but they also make Roberts’ life much easier when he is out chasing. In fact, these days his phones are almost as big of a necessity as his Jeep when it comes to chasing storms.
“The cell phone is probably the number one (storm chasing tool). If it’s not the number one, it’s in the top five,” said Roberts. “That’s because of the connection to the outside world. We can view radar and storm data models. I can submit reports to the National Weather Service. I can call reports in, as well as submitting videos to LSM. I can do all of that through my phone.”
When he was first starting out his storm chasing career, Roberts and his friends would print out the latest National Weather Service radar from a computer. Then they would take the grainy printed image and head to the spot where the storm was expected to land. Of course, that would only give them the general idea of where a storm would be for the first 20 minutes or so.
The evolution of the cell phone has transformed the process completely.
“Things definitely change very quickly, so I run two cell phones now,” he said. “Having that constant connection and visibility to look at high-quality radar that’s down at street level — I mean, I can see when it’s hailing, but also when there’s rotation. The science behind it is absolutely amazing and it’s evolving.”
Roberts said it also helps to take a signal booster to go along with his phones, since he often finds himself on backroads deep in the
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country.
“Sometimes when we get into situations where we can get stuck, it’s nice having a way of reaching out,” he said.
Another piece of equipment that Roberts said is crucial to his storm chases is the light bar on top of his four-wheel-drive Jeep Compass. It comes in handy when visibility is limited and it normally is.
“The light is really critical for seeing flooding and seeing damaged powerlines. It also helps me see if there is an accident,” Roberts
said. “Generally, I only use it when there is stuff on the road.
“I use it for my own safety but also for other people,” he added. “People have a tendency to drive around ‘road closed’ signs and get into situations they’re not ready for. A good quality light that can illuminate the entire area is pretty critical for safety. Not just for myself, but for other people.”
CLOSE CALLS
trees and bushes make a quick shift towards the road.
“Water and rocks came down all over the road,” Roberts said. “I yelled for her to ‘Go! Go! Go!’ and I probably yelled a little louder than I should have but I was afraid the whole mountainside was coming down on us. She got out of there and I ran down to my Jeep and got out of there.
“The idea of being buried alive was the one time I really thought, ‘What am I doing? Why am I here?’
Through the years, Roberts has encountered plenty of dangerous situations while chasing storms. He’s had close calls with floods, falling trees and lightning strikes, just to name a few.
But of all the close encounters he’s had, he said his scariest moment in the field didn’t happen until July 14 of this past summer, when torrential storms dumped nearly 10 inches of rain into eastern Lycoming County and Sullivan County, leading to massive flooding.
While driving on Route 220, Roberts ran into a portion of the highway near the Sullivan County line that was completely submerged in water while he was going 25 miles per hour. That would have been scary enough, but the truly terrifying part came just moments later.
After reversing course and heading south, Roberts encountered an area where landslides had partially covered the highway with trees
“But I knew what I was doing, and I knew why I was there,” he said. “Nobody else was going to document this severe weather event that was already proving to be historic with 30 people rescued by boat out of Glen Mawr. Trying to document that was my driving force, trying to tell people what was going on.”
LOTS OF SUPPORT
Considering the inherent dangers of storm chasing, it would be reasonable if those closest to Roberts weren’t fully on board with his penchant for the activity. But he said he has always had great support from the people around him.
“Normally my family is really good,” he said. “My kids I don’t tell a lot the bad stuff to because I don’t want them worrying every time dad goes out. With them it has been more of the fun, ‘Hey, look at the rainbows and sunsets.’ It’s never the dark stuff.
“Although, now that they are getting older, they can look through Facebook and look through my YouTube and see some of the crazy stuff I’ve seen,” he added.
Roberts said his mom has always supported his love for storm chasing. She knows first-hand how dangerous things can get sometimes, having gone along on a few rides herself, but she trusts his instincts and abilities.
“My family and friends are very supportive,” he said. “Even my jobs know what I do. They know it’s crazy, but they are supportive of it. They don’t let me take off four days in a row, but if there’s something going on and I have a half-hour left on my shift, they’re like, ‘Go get it.’ They know I’m excited.”
With three decades of storm chasing now behind him, Roberts said he wants to tack on another 30 or 40 years to his resume before he’s finished. He hopes to one day share his adventures with his grandkids or even his great-grandchildren.
“It’s kind of therapeutic for me, as crazy as it sounds,” said Roberts. “Standing in the rain and feeling the wind; having lightning flashing overhead or in the distance; listening to that thunder. It’s almost like a fuel. My brain needs it, and it feeds on it. If I go a month or two without it, I really feel it.”
Add a little sweetness to any occasion with this apple cake good eats
It’s almost impossible to beat the combination of sweet fruit and decadent desserts. This delicious recipe for apple cake highlights the crisp fruit but also the cinnamon sugar-flavored pastry. It’s luscious but doesn’t overdo it on the sweet meter with just the right mix of flavors.
The cake is baked with the apples inside as the middle layer, which creates a moist, finished product. The apples are gooey, baked in a cinnamon sugar
coating, making them a sweet and light complement to the perfectly baked cake.
This cake is perfect for any holiday get-together, families looking for an after-dinner indulgence or anyone who just loves fruity desserts. It’s delectable enough for fancy occasions, but also simple enough to make at home for just a couple.
With fluffy cake layers and a soft apple center, this cake does it all. Not to mention the drip of icing at the end that all but guarantees everyone will be asking for seconds.
APPLE CAKE
Servings: 8-16
Ingredients:
3 cups Honeycrisp apples, peeled, cored and diced 3 teaspoons cinnamon 6 tablespoons, plus 2 cups, sugar, divided
3 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup oil
4 eggs, beaten
¼ cup orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla icing (optional)
Heat oven to 350 F.
In medium bowl, mix apples, cinnamon and 5 tablespoons sugar until combined. Set aside. In large bowl, mix flour, 2 cups sugar, baking powder and salt until combined. Form well in middle of mixture. Add oil, eggs, orange juice and vanilla; mix until blended. In springform pan, pour half of batter. Add apple mixture. Pour remaining batter over apple mixture. Sprinkle remaining sugar over batter. Bake 40-50 minutes, or until top is golden brown and tester comes out clean and dry. Drizzle with icing, if desired.
This recipe was provided by Culinary.net and Family Features.
November
Run Past Cancer 5K
8:30 a.m., Nov. 1
Smythe Park, Mansfield
Chicago
7:30 p.m., Nov. 2 Journey Bank CAC
Marie Cochran (Artist Talk)
3 p.m., Nov. 2
Samek Art Museum, Bucknell University
Young Artist Baroque Orchestra
7:30 p.m., Nov. 4
Trachte Music Center, Lycoming College
Yasmin Williams
7:30 p.m., Nov. 5
Weis Center, Bucknell University
Rodney Carrington
7:30 p.m., Nov. 6 Journey Bank CAC
Austin Orelli (Opening Reception)
5 p.m., Nov. 7 Lycoming Arts Gallery
Seung Lee (Exhibit) Nov. 7
Lycoming College Art Gallery
Live United in Music V
7:30 p.m., Nov. 8 Journey Bank CAC
Northeastern Pennsylvania Chamber Music Society
7 p.m., Nov. 8
Mary L. Welch Honors Hall, Lycoming College
EleryNau EleryNau
Driftwood
7:30 p.m., Nov. 8
Coolidge Theatre, Wellsboro
Modigliani Quartet
4 p.m., Nov. 9
Weis Center, Bucknell University
Lycoming College Concert Band & Bucknell Symphonic Band
7:30 p.m., Nov. 10
Weis Center, Bucknell University
Women of Excellence
5 p.m./7:30 p.m., Nov. 12
Journey Bank CAC
“Legally Blonde: The Musical” Nov. 12-15
Mary L. Welch Theatre, Lycoming College
Charly Lowry
7:30 p.m., Nov. 13
Weis Center, Bucknell University
Blippi 6 p.m., Nov. 14 Journey Bank CAC
Disciple of the Garden
7:30 p.m., Nov. 14
Coolidge Theatre, Wellsboro
Brent Birckhead Quartet
7:30 p.m., Nov. 19
Weis Center Atrium, Bucknell University
Concert at Noon
12 p.m., Nov. 20
Mary L. Welch Honors Hall, Lycoming College
Lycoming College Band and Jazz Band
7:30 p.m., Nov. 21
Trachte Music Center, Lycoming College
Lycoming College Community Orchestra and Choir
7:30 p.m., Nov. 22
Trachte Music Center, Lycoming College
Uptown Music Collective
7:30 p.m., Nov. 21-22
Journey Bank CAC
William Huffman Toy Train Expo Nov. 21-23 Park Place
Victorian Christmas Nov. 21-23
Historic District, Williamsport
Dark Star Orchestra
7 p.m., Nov. 25
Journey Bank CAC
Stage Fright
7:30 p.m., Nov. 28
Coolidge Theatre, Wellsboro
December
First Quality & CCEP
Annual Holiday Party
5-7 p.m., Dec. 3
Sons and Daughters of Italy, Lock Haven
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Jr.” Dec. 4-7
Millbrook Playhouse, Mill Hall
Dockside >>>>> holiday calendar
Concert at Noon
12 p.m., Dec. 4
Mary L. Welch Honors Hall, Lycoming
Manheim Steamroller Christmas
7:30 p.m., Dec. 4
Journey Bank CAC
German Christmas Market
1 p.m., Dec. 5; 11 a.m., Dec. 6 Lycoming College
“A Christmas Carol” Dec. 5-7, 11-14 Community Theatre League
“A Christmas Carol” 11 a.m., Dec. 5
Warehouse Theatre, Wellsboro
Dickens of a Christmas
9 a.m., Dec. 6
Wellsboro
“The Nutcracker”
7:30 p.m., Dec. 6; 4 p.m. Dec. 7
Journey Bank CAC
Candlelight Service
7 p.m., Dec. 7
Clarke Chapel, Lycoming College
“Holiday Cabaret”
7:30 p.m., Dec. 11
Warehouse Theatre, Wellsboro
Christmas on Main Street Dec. 11-Dec. 14
Wellsboro
“A Rocky Mountain Christmas”
7:30 p.m., Dec. 11
Coolidge Theatre, Wellsboro
WilliamsportOrchestraSymphony
7:30 p.m., Dec. 12 Journey Bank CAC
Matthew Ball
7:30 p.m., Dec. 12
Coolidge Theatre, Wellsboro
Foreigner
7:30 p.m., Dec. 13 Journey Bank CAC
“Messiah: A Community Sing” 2 p.m., Dec. 14
January
“Re-Writing the Streets 2.0: The International Language of Stickers” Jan. 14-March. 5
The Gallery at Penn College
Leadership Clinton County Wisecracker Comedy Night
8 p.m., Jan 23 Haywoods OTG, Mill Hall
Drum Tao
7:30 p.m., Jan. 30
Weis Center Concert Hall, Bucknell University
Friday, November 21
Historic Talk • 7pm Krapf Gateway Center at Lycoming College The Tiniest Mansion in Williamsport Tour of Historic Homes, Churches and Museums • 9am - 4pm
Saturday, November 22
YWCA Crafted/Artisan
Sunday, November 23
YWCA Crafted/Artisan Holiday Market Toy Train Expo Musical Performances 11am - 4pm Visit our finely curated Artisan Market at the YWCA, 815 West Fourth Street for a uniquely crafted holiday shopping experience. While there you can also pick up a hand-made commemorative ornament and register to win a beautiful tea set.
On Saturday, enjoy our Hop on, Hop off the complimentary Trolleys and Buses! See the historic sites, get off to explore and re-board later to continue your tour.
Online tickets available now through www.eventbrite.com
345 Mulberry Street, Williamsport Enchanted Sight Foundation Museum (Home of Marguerite Bierman and Norman Wengert)
