June 2015
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‘Route 6 PA experience’ filled with great sights, family activities
Lots of fun this summer at YCamp in Olean, Bradford and Wellsville
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Fishing 101 with Wade Robertson
Hang Around at Sky High Adventure Park
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Take me out the ball game…
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Movies returning to Allegany State Park’s Quaker Amphitheater thanks to Smokey’s birthday celebration
It’s the summer season once again and it’s a great time to be in the Southern Tier! New York and northwest Pennsylvania are known for their excellent and diverse summer events and activities. As the season continues we find ourselves outside for cookouts, shopping in our favorite hometown stores, outdoor concerts, fishing, boating or just generally enjoying the thrills and relaxation of summer sports and recreation. Summer in the Southern Tier is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable times of the year, and if you would like to find out how to truly enjoy these next few months, look no further than this edition of Southern Tier Living.
BY FRAN DE LANCEY Special to Southern Tier Living
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ndoor and outdoor recreational opportunities abound for travelers along U.S. Route 6 in Pennsylvania, the more than 400-mile corridor that links small towns along the state’s northern tier. National Geographic dubbed the route “one of America’s most scenic drives.” Three distinct regions comprise the Route 6 PA experience. Beginning at the Ohio line and heading east, they are the Pennsylvania Great Lakes Region, Pennsylvania Wilds Region and Upstate Pennsylvania Region. Erie and Crawford counties are in the Great Lakes Region. In the city of Erie, the Erie Maritime Museum, with its Brig Niagara and illustrations of the War of 1812 and Battle of Lake Erie, is popular with tourists. The museum’s newest exhibit features the U.S. Navy’s first iron-hulled ship, the USS Michigan/Wolverine. For family fun, there is always a visit to Conneaut Lake Park, among the oldest amusement parks in the country.
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The counties of Warren, McKean, Potter and Tioga form the northern portion of the Pennsylvania Wilds, the 12-county area that offers exciting outdoor experiences with 29 state parks, 50 state game lands, eight state forests and the Allegheny National Forest, bountiful wildlife and hundreds of miles of water and land trails. PA Wilds is home to the largest elk herd in the Northeast at Benezette. Even though the visitor center is currently under construction, the bridge and Two log birlers compete during the annual Bark Peelers Convention at the observation deck Pennsylvania Lumber Museum, located along Route 6 near Galeton, Pa. at the Kinzua The Convention is the weekend of July 4-5. Bridge State Park At the time of its original construcnear Mount Jewett in McKean County tion, the railroad bridge was 301 feet remain open for visitors. However, the high and 2,053 feet long, making it 2015 Kinzua Bridge Foundation Fall the world’s highest and longest bridge Festival has been canceled for the of its kind. Eleven of its towers were second consecutive due to the conknocked down in a 2003 tornado. struction. The first two weeks in October are
usually the peak times for viewing the area’s fall foliage at the park. In Bradford, close to Route 6, is the Zippo/Case Museum that attracts over 50,000 visitors annually, making it northwestern Pennsylvania’s most popular museum. In Smethport, the Old Jail Museum, home to the McKean County Historical Society, is rated by Pursuits Magazine as the “Sixth Most Haunted Place in Pennsylvania,” due to the supposed presence of the ghost of Ralph Crossmire.
dence, the jury deliberated about 18 hours before finding Ralph guilty. The sentence was death by hanging. On the day the sentence was to be carried out in the jail’s basement, Ralph announced from the gallows, that if were hanged, he would return and haunt the jail. The hanging proceeded as scheduled. Ralph was true to his word. Several prisoners who later occupied Crossmire’s cell reported seeing his ghost. Guided tours are available at the
Kinzua Bridge State Park, with its skywalk on the section of bridge that remains standing, is located off Route 6 near Mount Jewett, Pa.
Crossmire was convicted of murdering his mother on Nov. 9, 1892. Lucetta Crossmire was found hanged in a cow stable on the family farm in Farmers Valley. At first, authorities thought it was suicide. Later, however, suspicion turned to her only son who was arrested the following day and confined to the McKean County Jail in Smethport to await trial. When the three-day trial opened on March 2, 1893, the courtroom was filled to capacity with men, women and even children, including a New York City newspaper reporter. Despite the circumstantial evi-
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Old Jail Museum. See the Loom Room, Civil War Bucktails’ exhibit, Railroad and wildlife displays, and of course the dungeon in the basement of the former jail. Next door to the east in Potter County. As one of the 15 counties in the state’s Lumber Heritage Region, Potter County is home to the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum near Galeton. This recreated turn-of-the-20th century lumber mill and camp document the history and technology of this industry that was a vital part of the area’s economy. During July 4-5, the Lumber Mu-
seum hosts the annual Bark Peelers’ Convention. For the astronomy buffs, the exceptionally dark skies at Cherry Springs State Park — the darkest in the state — make it one of the best places on the east coast for viewing planets galaxies and other heavenly bodies. Pine Creek Gorge, sometimes called the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, is a 47-mile gorge carved by Pine Creek on about 160,000 acres in Tioga County. The canyon starts south of Ansonia, near Wellsboro, along Route 6 and continues south. The deepest point is 1,450 feet at Waterville, near the southern end. At the eastern end of Route 6 are Bradford, Wyoming, Lackawanna, Wayne and Pike counties in the Upstate Pennsylvania Region, long popular with people who want to leave the stress of living in large eastern cities and enjoy the mountains and lakes. A major attraction at Nicholson, Wyoming County, is the Tunkhannock Creek Viaduct, a concrete arch bridge, that when measured from the creek bed, was the world’s largest concrete structure when it was finished in 1915. Fifty years later, it still was recognized as the largest concrete bridge in America, if not the world. Traveling southeast into downtown Scranton in Lackawanna County, vacationers will want to stop at Steamtown USA, a National Historical Site railroad museum set on 62.48 acres, the site of the former Scranton yards of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. The museum features a working replica of a turntable and roundhouse, as well as collections of locomotives, and freight and passenger cars. For relaxation, boaters and anglers will find the Allegheny Reservoir and Lake Wallenpaupack as ideal locations. Recent years in northern Pennsylvania have seen the opening of many trails, some for walking, some for biking, some for equestrians, some for ATVs and yet others for multi-uses.
Lots of fun this summer at YCamp in Olean, Bradford and Wellsville
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hen school’s out for the summer, children don’t have to stay indoors, glued to their cell phones or laptops. The YMCA of the Twin Tiers is once again offering its summer day camp from June through August. The YCamp will run from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at Olean and Wellsville, as well as Bradford, Pa. Drop-off runs from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m., with first through fifthgraders being dropped off at the high school. Kindergartners will be dropped off at the YMCA. Camp activities will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students must be picked up by 6 p.m. The YCamp at the YMCA provides children creative, recreational and educational opportunities that include climbing wall challenges, community service projects, nature study and outdoor play, swimming, arts and crafts, character development activities, games and sports and field trips. Opening ceremonies and flag raising and theme-based special events are also planned for the summer camp. Staff will help campers develop mentally, physically, socially and spiritually. “Boys and girls entering kindergarten will get dropped off at the YMCA,” Bradford Family YMCA branch manager Brent Raabe said. “Boys and girls attending first grade through the completion of fifth grade will be dropped off at the Bradford High
School and picked up at the Bradford YMCA. This group will spend half the day at the high school and half the day at the YMCA.” For YMCA members, the cost for the summer camp is $130.50 a week; each additional child is $110.20. The weekly fee for the public is $145, with each additional child, $116. Campers can request weeks they would like to attend. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify. There is a $25 discount for individuals signed up before May 28. For more information, in Bradford, contact Lindsey Mapes or Stacie Titus at 814-368-6101; Olean, Mary Miller, 716-701-1381; and Wellsville, Kristen Kotelsky, 716-9043190. Also at the YMCA, several camps are being planned. Children will be able to take part in swimming, June 22-26 and July 20-24; basketball, July 6-10; soccer, July 13-17; and gymnastics, Aug. 3-7. In addition, youth will be able to participate in a sport and splash camp June 15-19 and Aug., 10-14, which combines swimming, sports and other activities such as basketball, dodgeball, capture the flag, volleyball and more. A gymnastics team camp is scheduled July 20-24. Costs are associated with those camps. More information is available by calling 814-368-6101.
BY KELLEN QUIGLEY Special to Southern Tier Living
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he Salamanca Area Historical Society Museum houses artifacts from over 100 years of area history, and several new exhibits are on display this summer. In the main lobby, a new case has dozens children’s toys on display, some dating back to the 1940s. On the second floor, a collection of black and white photographs hangs over a fireplace mantle. All the pictures are related to each other and have a fascinating story behind them. The museum’s 2015 speaker series began May 18 with a presentation by John Sampson and Daniel Williams on Vietnam. On June 22, Walter Orlowski of Scio will give a presentation on his parents’ experience during the Holocaust. The Southern Tier Paranormal Research Team will discuss what they do and their experience at the Dudley and the Continued on Page 13
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Historical Society Seneca Theater on Aug. 18. Also, on a date to be announced, Vincent Martonis of the Hanover History Center from Silver Creek will give a presentation. The meetings take place at 6:30 p.m. at the museum on Main Street in Salamanca and are free and open to the public. Although there have been many changes in the last year, much of the displays and their contents remain the same. In honor of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, the military section has everything from uniforms to personal paraphernalia from several American wars. As the home of a native Seneca tribe, the section of Native American artifacts is a unique look at the area’s history from centuries before the founding of the city. For many years, the old school room that includes desks, books, memorabilia and clothing from the several closed area schools has been one of the museum’s most popular exhibits.
To keep the memory of the building’s old function as a bank alive, the museum gift shop is located in the bank safe in the lobby and has many modern gifts, souvenirs and mementos that celebrate the history of the Salamanca area. Also for sale in the museum are the Allegany Ox Bow books and flag buntings similar to the ones hanging in the museum’s front windows. The historical museum is located at 125 Main Street and open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m., or by appointment by calling (716) 945-2946. Admission is free; however, donations are appreciated.
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BY WADE ROBERTSON Special to Southern Tier Living
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have spent all my life trying to become a better trout fisherman. This has become a perpetual quest, I guess, a study and a pursuit I dearly love, one seemingly fused to my sinew and bone. If you stand and look upon a sparkling trout stream, its pristine waters, the rapids, runs, holes, undercuts, mossy rocks, overhanging trees, stony beaches and all the countless details that a life-filled stream presents so beautifully to your wondering eyes, you’ll marvel at just how picturesque and even poetic that stream is. Each is a living, moving, ever-changing entity with its own personality and particular traits. Each stream and the trout in it can become a study in its own right, your challenge to come to know, love and understand its secrets. Trout are at all times sensitive to presentation. Even trout straight from the stocking truck, which haven’t developed a fear and wariness of man, insist on their worm, spinner, minnow, fly or other presentation meeting a certain criteria before they will bite. Sure, there are some trout in the lot that are bolder than others and less wise, but the great majority expect their meal to behave in ways that appear natural to them or appeal to their instincts. That is why even in a hole full of hungry trout there are some fishermen who cannot catch more than one or two, if any. Their presentation is so unnatural, their tackle so unsuited to
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Jane Robertson photo In order to catch two very nice brown trout like this you have to be on the water at the correct time and using the right tackle and presentation. Trout fishing is all about the basics of mastering your equipment and then paying attention to every tiny detail of the water and light conditions. These big browns hit garden hackle after a rain.
the task, that the trout’s basic instinct is to ignore it. Trout fishing is all about details, every detail you have ever noticed over the years and new details you just recognized today. They all have to be examined, categorized, compared and then analyzed for success. Trout fishing is a lifetime pursuit with a constant learning curve. The first thing an aspiring trout angler has to master is his or her equip-
ment. Someone just beginning would be wise to start with a lightweight spinning outfit, 6-pound test line and a No. 8 hook. In terms of reels, I prefer the small, very light, Zebco 11 spincast reel for many reasons, the first and foremost being it is so trouble free. Open face reels tangle easily, especially when you are just learning, but if you prefer an open face, fine. Continued on Page 18
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Fishing 101 I would also suggest a light, 6-foot rod over a shorter 5-footer. The longer rod has many advantages, the biggest being a gentle cast still producing good distance. This is very important; a hard cast can snap your salmon egg or worm off the hook, not good at all. The longer rod also allows a more natural drift and will place your bait, spinner or spoon more accurately with less effort. Shorter rods are lower to the water, pulling the bait back at you during the drift and the shorter arc during hook set drastically reduces your ability to bury the hook in the fish’s jaw. Can you use a 5-foot and still catch fish? Yes, but everything is so much more challenging — and when you are learning, more frustrating! Once you have picked your equipment, whatever it may be, take the time to practice, practice, practice with it. Accurate casts are critical. You simply must be able to hit a gallon milk jug at 30 feet or longer. You must also be able to judge the length of your cast to within inches. Knowing how to
judge your cast length allows you to place your bait tight against that log or undercut bank. If the bait is close to the trout’s place of security it will dash out and grab a lure or bait. If it is a foot farther away, a trout may just watch it float right on by. Once you have mastered your equipment it is necessary to study the stream and recognize where the fish like to lie or hide. As mentioned before trout like undercut banks, logs and rocks. They feed in the tails and heads of pools and rest in the deeper, slower water where they feel safe. A common mistake is failing to cast far enough upstream or above the area the fish are holding in. Your presentation takes time to sink and during the time it is sinking, the current is sweeping it rapidly downstream. If it is not on or near the bottom before it reaches the trout you won’t get a hit. Many times it is necessary to cast 20 feet upstream or more to accomplish this. Also, trout will in time associate the splash of any bait close to them as
danger and dash off or simply ignore you. Once you have done enough correctly to trigger a strike, you have to recognize how different types of strikes feel and act accordingly. Just last week we were catching some small brown trout. These pesky little devils were light hitters, took at least 30 seconds to get the worm far enough into their jaws to hook and if they felt too much tension on the line, immediately dropped the bait. You had to be very delicate in everything you did. It was great training for my daughter, who was frustrated a couple times, but soon got the hang of it. So, be a master of your equipment, cast with deadly accuracy, place your bait upstream of the fish and let the current sweep it to them. If and when a trout hits, react accordingly, judging your hook set to the trout’s feeding patterns that day. All this is just the tip of the iceberg, but it is a solid start to a fascinating journey.
BY CHRISTA NIANIATUS Special to Southern Tier Living
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Holiday Valley Resort photo The Climbing Forest at Holiday Valley’s Sky High Adventure Park is open weekends starting May 8, daily starting June 19 and again weekends from Sept. 11 through Nov. 1, weather permitting.
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t may not be ski season, but Holiday Valley is worth the trek year-round with outdoor fun like Sky High Adventure Park. This will be the park’s fifth year of operation and the third since the addition of the Climbing Forest. “The Climbing Forest has gone over really well,” said Jane Eshbaugh, public relations director for Holiday Valley. “It’s like a climbing wall only it’s 3D. There are flat planes and climbing holds attached to the trees. There are some very easy trees and others are much more difficult.” Each climber is fitted with a harness that is clipped into an Auto Belay system. Participants must be at least 5 years old and 30 pounds. Individual rates for the Climbing Forest are $17 for an hour, and $5 for each additional hour. Group discounts are available. The Climbing Forest is open weekends starting May 8, daily starting June 19 and again weekends from Sept. 11 through Nov. 1, weather permitting. Sky High also includes the Aerial Park and Mountain Coaster, for those looking for a little more speed. The largest in New York State, the Aerial Park is comprised of platforms and “bridges” with each course containing at least two zip lines. The 14 courses vary in difficulty, including a new black diaContinued on Page 22
Sky High mond trail — the second most difficult level — just added this year. “You can challenge yourself as much as you want,” said Eshbaugh. “You can always get better, so people keep returning and challenging themselves to go faster, smoother. Another thing people really like is you can do the course by yourself, or when you have people together it’s a really cooperative experience giving each other hints, especially for families, but also for corporate group retreats.” Participants must be at least 7 years old and there is a weight limit of 265 pounds. Reservations are required on weekends and suggested for weekdays by calling (716) 6994444. A single pass is $49 per person, with group discounts available. If that isn’t fast enough,
visitors can also try the Mountain Coaster, a roller coaster where one or two riders ride their “car” down the rails and can adjust their speed to their preference. “There are breaks on the cars for the Mountain Coaster, so if you’re looking for a more leisurely ride it’s a beautiful view. For more of an adventure you can just let go,” said Eshbaugh. Drivers must be at least 54 inches tall and be able to demonstrate they understand the staff’s instructions to be a driver. Children must be at least 3 years old and over 38 inches to accompany a driver who is at least 16 years old. A single ride costs $8. The Aerial Park will operate the same hours as the Climbing Forest and the Mountain Coaster will be open May 22 to Nov. 1.
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Movies Re tu rn i ng
To Alle gany State Park ’ s Quaker A m ph ithe ater Than ks To Smokey ’ s Bi rth day Celebration BY RICH PLACE Special to Southern Tier Living
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ll the hard work last summer raising money to bring movies back to the Quaker Amphitheater will pay off this year. Enough money has been raised through Smokey Bear’s 70th Birthday Party to purchase projectors and sound system equipment needed to start showing outdoor movies again. After years of absence of the popular family event, a full schedule has been
Photo by Rich Place Sally Marsh (left) and Jo Patterson stand with Smokey Bear during last year’s birthday party. Money raised from the event helped to bring movies back to the Quaker Amphitheater.
planned for the upcoming summer. Last summer, volunteers began to show movies, and the first night was an emotional one for Sally Marsh, one of the event’s coordinators. “The first night was ‘Blackbeard’s Ghost,’” Marsh said. “I got so choked up realizing the movies were back. One of the kids ran down and said, ‘Sally is the movie sad?’ I said, ‘no, I’m just happy the movies are back.’ “Enthusiastically, he said ‘me Continued on Page 26
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Quaker Amphitheater too!’” Money raised for the necessary equipment came from Smokey Bear’s birthday party, which was held last August. The official Smokey Bear mascot visited the event and was available to take pictures with both the young and old alike. “The night of Smokey Bear’s party was such an awesome night,” Marsh recalled. “Seeing families together, laying on blankets or in chairs under the stars talking, laughing, eating and enjoy themselves is what Allegany State Park is all about. It’s a timeless tradition.” Marsh, who has conducted Hootenannies at the park for more than 40 years, coordinated the event alongside her friend, Jo Patterson. Marsh said she wished to thank those who helped selling tickets or volunteered elsewhere in making the event a success. The following is the schedule of movies for the summer of 2015. Movies begin at dusk at the Quaker Amphitheater, weather permitting:
Photo by Rich Place Smokey Bear signs autographs for children during a birthday party held last year in his honor. Money raised from the party helped bring movies back to the Quaker Amphitheater.
Saturday, July 4: “The Incredible Mr. Limpet”
Saturday, Aug. 8: “The Shaggy Dog”
Saturday, July 11: “Mary Poppins”
Friday, Aug. 14: “That Darn Cat”
Friday, July 17: “Music Man”
Friday, Aug. 21: “The Swiss Family Robinson”
Friday, July 24: “Pollyanna”
Friday Aug, 28: “Angels in the Outfield”
Friday, July 31: “The Lion King”
Friday, Sept. 4: “The Apple Dumpling Gang”