April 2011 #126 by Punxsutawney Hometown Magazine

A Time at Riker Yard

Schedule Your Advertising In Our May Edition! We reach 100% of the local and area homes and businesses! - Concentrated Circulation 8,400+ copies of Punxsutawney Hometown magazine are direct-mailed to homes in Punxsutawney and surrounding towns and areas, giving our advertisers nearly 100% coverage . . . we deliver to every home and business! (As always — our circulation is verified — mailing and printing statements available.)

We are the only Punxsutawney-owned media! Punx’y Proud — Boosting our Hometown! Publishers William C. Anderson Mary L. Roberts Advertising Mary L. Roberts Tracey Young Contributing Writers S. Thomas Curry Marty Armstrong Marsha Lavelle Jade Emhoff Bill Anderson Art Director Melissa Salsgiver Graphic Artists Melissa Salsgiver Carol Smouse Nicole McGee Emily Altomare All material submitted becomes the property of Punxsutawney Hometown magazine.

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By S. Thomas Curry of Hometown magazine

ne of the big factors in the prosperity of the Punxsutawney region from the 1880s to the mid-20th century was the coal shipments from the area mines, and of course, the railroads that were here to ship the high quality “steam” coal from this section to markets in parts of the United States for the use by heavy industries. Major among the railroads serving the area was the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railway (BR&P Ry), later to become the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O). Many buildings had been built on its property in Punxsutawney over those fifty years of rapid development. Of all the structures during that time of prosperity. only one remains - the “Railroad Office Building” on North Penn Street, which also is the home to the office of Hometown magazine. Among the prominent BR&PRy buildings that existed, gone are the Passenger Station and the buildings of the Freight Yard near the N. Findley Street crossing, the Railroad Y. M. C. A. building on Ridge Avenue in the Elk Run section, and the buildings in the Riker Yard north of Punxsutawney. “Rikers,” as Punxsutawneyites would call it, was not the first railroad yard of the railroad operation in town. The first yard, with its roundhouse, was built about 1889 west of North Findley Street, near Mitchell Avenue. An early line drawing of 1895 illustrates its location parallel to houses on Pine Street. As coal business increased, the railroad company was hampered for more yard room to sort and arrange shipments. In 1897, it moved the operation to land along Mahoning Creek east of the Elk Run Junction (where is now the Elk Run Car Wash). There it built a new, larger roundhouse and turntable, and additional buildings. In 1898, the company extended its line beyond Punxsutawney, its most southern point in the south end of Jefferson County, to Butler and onto Pittsburgh’s North Side in Allegheny County. A few years later it opened its Indiana Branch line to reach new coal mines in Indiana County (1904). With the opening of the Indiana Branch, Cloe began a period of “industrial boom” when the Cloe Scale yard, with its weigh station, was built to weigh the tons of coal from the many mines in Indiana County. With the increased business, the Elk Run Yard and its roundhouse were declared inadequate. The company began to develop details for expanding its coal and rail operations. In 1909, news would break about

Construction of the 16-stall wood-frame roundhouse (top photo), with a 105-ft turntable, was begun in 1913 with several shops to follow. The railroad’s complex was completed in 1918. (1949 Photo) The parcel of land (bottom photo) that was the former Riker Yard sits comparatively empty with few buildings today. The Buffalo and Pittsburgh (B&P) Railroad use the land with limited operations.

what was going on in another area near Cloe, on nearby farmlands. Cloe Dam would be built as a massive reservoir to provide water for the new “monstrous” steam engines brought in by the railroad to haul coal. The plan would be to send

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2 – Punxsutawney Hometown – April 2011 – Issue #126

- Continued on page 4

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Organ Donation Saves Lives: In Honor of National Donate Life Month, Punxsutawnians Share their Experiences with Organ Donation and Transplantation

By Jade Emhoff of Hometown magazine rgan Donation Saves Lives: In Honor of National Donate Life Month, Three Punxsutawnians Share their Experience with Organ Donation and Transplantation More than 100,000 people currently need life-saving organ transplants, and an average of 18 people per day die waiting due to

Not only did Jane qualify to be a recipient of a heart transplant, but due to her severely declining health, she was moved very close to the top of the list as her doctors told her she would only survive about two more months without the transplant. Because of an 18-year-old boy's decision, or that of his family, to become an organ donor, Jane received her new heart in May 1992 at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh just

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lack of available organs (donatelife.net). April is National Donate Life Month, a time to spread awareness about organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Jane Baun is one of the lucky ones who received her life-saving transplant just in time. Jane grew up in Anita and was always a healthy child and adult until in her late 50's when she began to feel very weak and found herself in and out of the hospital for nearly two years before knowing the cause. She often passed out and even hallucinated due to lack of oxygen to her brain. It wasn't until Jane almost lost her life one night in the Punxsutawney Hospital emergency room that she landed a spot on the national organ transplant list. "My heart stopped and the doctor came out to tell my husband and daughter, Jennifer, that I wasn't going to make it," Jane said. However, after 14-minutes of trying to bring her back, the team was successful. After this episode, an X-ray proved that Jane had an enlarged heart. “Dr. Dajani then sent me to Pittsburgh to be evaluated as a candidate for a heart transplant. If it wasn't for him discovering my enlarged heart, I probably wouldn't be here today," she said.

two weeks after being placed on the list. "The doctors told me to keep a bag packed at all times because if they call with a heart, you have to be ready to leave right then and there," she said. "When I got the call, Junior [Jane's husband] was outside working on his truck and was all greasy, but we - Continued on page 6

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Riker Yard Continued from page 2 ments of coal from mines in Jefferson, Indiana and Clearfield counties. The freight business was heavy. Major factories in the

ent of the Adrian Mines about 1890. He would then become president of the Mahoning Valley Railroad, a coal line to new mines at Helvetia (or Stanley) near Sykesville. All that information about the history of the railroad in the area led to the origin of

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4 – Punxsutawney Hometown – April 2011 – Issue #126

When Riker Yard was completed in 1918 (top photo) nearly eight miles of railroad track made up the new storage and classification yards between Punx’y and Cloe. (1949 Photo) Today, the rail activity on the former Riker Yard (bottom photo), where nearly 400 railroaders had been employed, has been replaced by the hauling schedule of the B & P Railroad.

area were employed at full capacity. It became clear the railroad needed to expand and make major improvements in its business. Its dream plan would be announced - “to establish one of the greatest track terminals and storage yard in the country.” The sorting yard would be widened to 23 tracks and the complex would cover a large portion of the valley along the Mahoning Creek between Punx’y and Cloe. In 1912, the railway purchased property near Cloe where the former Punxsutawney Powder Company had been in operation from 1902 until 1907. (see Hometown, March 2007) The powder plant that produced dynamite as an explosive for the mines was organized in 1900. When it started up, J. Amory Haskell was president of the Laflin & Rand Powder Company that had been doing business in the area for years. Prior to his position with the powder company, Haskell was General Manager of the Rochester & Pittsburg Coal & Iron Company that had opened mines in Walston, Adrian, Eleanora and Florence. For some years he had lived at Walston and Adrian and was Superintend-

the name “Riker” for that vast complex of buildings and railroad tracks built in 191718 and which has long been identified locally as Riker Yard. It all can be credited to J. A. Haskell. In 1891, when Mr. Haskell was General Manager of the Helvetia Mining Company, he married a young woman from New York City. Her name was Margaret Riker, a daughter of John Riker of New York City. By 1898, Mr. Riker was a director of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railway Company, the corporation that had included other men with familiar names in this region - Adrian Iselin, Jr., Arthur G. Yates, Walston H. Brown. The Riker name was prominent in New York history from the time when Dutch settlers settled there and named the spot New Amsterdam. In the 1700s, the pioneer “von Rycken” family settled on land in what is now New York City and established their wealth and prominence as traders. Over the years the family name changed: Rycke, Riecke, Ryker and its present form as Riker. The early family would expand their land hold-

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Continued from page 3 jumped in the car, and he drove so fast that I was nervous the whole way there, but not about the transplant but about getting there safely." According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), a heart can only stay viable for transplantation for four to six hours after recover, which is why it was crucial for Jane to leave for the hospital immediately after receiving the call. Before receiving her heart transplant, Jane said she was not nervous at all, but had a peace about the whole thing. She said she knew how much this would change her life for the better. Although the recovery time for a heart transplant is rather long, after receiving it she said, "You can't imagine how much better you feel; you feel like a new person." As if one transplant wasn't enough, Jane found herself back on the transplant list in 2000 for a kidney. "Unfortunately, the medicine I was taking for my heart transplant made my kidney go bad," she said. But once again, because of the decision of a 32-year-old man, or that of his family, to become an organ donor, Jane received a new kidney, which she says functions perfectly. "I haven't had any problems with my heart or my kidney since the transplants." She said. "The only bad thing about transplants is all of the anti-rejection medication which suppresses your immune system." Now, almost 80 years old, Jane has had her donor heart for almost 20 years and her kidney for 11. She said she is also fortunate to have a supportive family who helped her get through all of this. She has four children, Linda, kathy, Jennifer and Mike, from her first husband, John Milliron, who passed away in 1977. She then married Elmer (Junior) Baun in 1981, who also has four children. Combined, they have 11 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Jane and Junior reside in Punxsutawney. "I have a young and healthy heart and kidney," Jane said, "and I'm very thankful to both my donors and their families." While Jane has a direct experience with organ transplantation, Melissa Donovan, a 2003 graduate of Punxsutawney Area High School shares a different perspective as she is a transplant care coordinator for the University of Virginia Health System (UVA) in Charlottesville, Va. Melissa said she got involved with and be-

How much do you know about organ donation and transplantation? Take this quiz to find out! 1. How many people can one organ and tissue donor help? a. 1-3 b. 1-10 c. 20-40 d. more than 50 2. Which of the following organs CaNNoT be donated? a. liver b. pancreas c. gall bladder d. intestine 3. Which of the following tissues CaNNoT be donated? a. veins b. muscle c. ligaments d. skin 4. How many people in our region (western Pennsylvania and West virginia) are waiting for a life-saving transplant? a. less than 100 b. 100-500 c. 500-1,000 d. nearly 4,000 5. Which organs can be transplanted from living donors? a. pancreas and a portion of the stomach b. one kidney and a lobe of the liver and lung c. small intestine or large intestine d. one lung and heart valves Answers: 1. d 2. c 3. b 4. d 5.b (source: www.core.org)

- Continued on page 8

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Riker Yard Continued from page 4 ings to an island that would be called Rikers Island in New York City history. The island, near what is present-day La-

were then being used for hauling. The yard included the machine shop, blacksmith shop, power plant, coaling station which held 1,200 tons of coal for the steam engines, cinder pit, storehouse, 150,000 gallon water tank, and other buildings to service the storing, shipping

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In Punxsutawney’s early railroad history, the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad had built its first roundhouse and yard in 1889 near Mitchell Avenue. With increased railroad business the railroad yard and roundhouse were moved to the Elk Run area.

Guardia Airport, was a military training ground during the Civil War. New York City would buy the 87-acre island from the “Ryker” family in 1884. It would then serve as a dumping ground for years, for

Property of the former Punxsutawney Powder Company near Cloe was purchased in 1912 by the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railway for a new, massive roundhouse and extensive sorting yard to be named Riker Yard.

garbage, horse manure, street sweepings, old sofas, etc., expanding five times its original size. In 1935 New York City would be sending prisoners there to what was opened as the Rikers Island Penitentiary. To visit New York City’s “Rikers” would be a visit to a complex of nine jails and thousands of inmates. After 1918, a visitor to Punxsutawney’s “Rikers” (or “Reickers,” as it was sometimes written in early news accounts) would find a complex of buildings. The most impressive was the 16-stall roundhouse, considered to be the largest on the B. R. & P. railway system. It would be built in a semi-circle with a circumference about 400 feet. In the roundhouse was a 105-ft. turntable that was 118 feet deep to accommodate the large Mallet type steam engines which

and maintenance activities. Nearly eight miles of railroad track made up the new storage and classification yards around the buildings and extending beyond in the valley. The new railroad layout included sewer, water and lighting systems. Construction of the first building in the Riker Yard, the wood-frame roundhouse, began in the spring of 1913. Except for winter months work continued. And in November 1918 the local newspaper announced “Unless something unforeseen prevents, the new 16-stall roundhouse of the B., R. & P. Railway Company at Riker will be put into service about December 1.” There was some general construction work to be completed but the roundhouse, six times larger than the one used at the former Elk Run yards, would be ready for duty. When it was completed the railroad company expected that about 400 men would be employed in the Riker buildings, most of them newcomers to town who would need housing. These men were called Rikermen. Over the years the B., R. & P passed into the hands of the B. & O. Railroad (1932). Diesel engines replaced the many steam engines and the coaling station that stored coal would be demolished. In 1969, there were two fires at the roundhouse within eight months. By 1986, with the railroad the Chessie System, and “business off,” as people would say, the workforce had been downsized to only 22 persons, where hundreds had once been employed. The extensive, flat parcel of land where the former Riker Yard existed sits empty, except for limited operations of the Buffalo and Pittsburgh (B&P) Railroad, a regional rail hauler with offices in the old Railroad Office Building on North Penn Street. Most of the tracks have been removed; only a couple of tracks passing through. A couple of small buildings are standing in an otherwise vacant environment. Its future is possible development as an industrial park. It has possibilities. After a visit to the past we look forward to the future of Riker Yard. •••

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Punxsutawney Hometown – April 2011 – Issue #126 – 7

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came educated about organ donation and transplantation when in 2008 she got a job as a registered nurse at UVA on the surgical floor where she often took care of transplant patients. Last May, she accepted a new position, which brings her even closer to organ transplant patients, as their inpa-

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Fact: anyone can be a potential donor regardless of age, race, or medical history. Fact: all major religions in the united States support organ, eye and tissue donation and see it as the final act of love and generosity toward others. Fact: if you are sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the number one priority is to save your life. organ, eye and tissue donation can only be considered after you are deceased. Fact: When you are on the waiting list for an organ, what really counts is the severity of your illness, time spent waiting, blood type, and other important medical information, not your financial status or celebrity status. Fact: an open casket funeral is possible for organ, eye and tissue donors. Through the entire donation process the body is treated with care, respect and dignity. Fact: There is no cost to the donor or their family for organ or tissue donation. understanding Donations: Statistics • More than 100,000 men, women and children currently need life-saving organ transplants. • every 10 minutes another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list. • an average of 18 people die each day from the lack of available organs for transplant • Between 10,000 and 12,000 die annually who are considered medically suitable for donation, yet only an estimated 6,000 donate • one organ and tissue donor may help more than 50 people Source: www.donatelife.net

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tient care coordinator. "I immediately fell in love with my job and the transplant process," she said. Melissa wears several different hats which include working with each kidney, liver, pancreas and bowel transplant recipient im-

mediately after their surgery. She also educates both the patient and their family, orders their medicines and sets up their follow-up schedule. Melissa works very closely with the surgeons as well as going on call once a month which consists of taking phone calls anytime of the day from recipients with medical problems or questions. She is also the one to call people waiting for transplants. "Calling someone to tell them we have an organ waiting for them is the best part of my job," She said. "I'm the first person they hear from sometimes after years of waiting. It's such a wonderful but intense situation, and I often feel very nervous making the call. Making those calls never get old." For the patients, Melissa says it is a very overwhelming experience. “It changes their lives completely, especially for those on dialysis. Before they receive a kidney, their life consists of being hooked up to a machine for six or seven hours a day sometimes three or four days a week.” After her patients receive a life-saving organ, Melissa said, "I don't even think it sinks in right away, but they are all very thankful to the point where they don't even have words to express themselves.” Of organ donation in general, Melissa said, "Why wouldn't you or your family want to give your organs to help people. We can't take them with us when we die." Having great passion for organ donation and transplantation, she believes that although it is not enjoyable, it is important to have the conversation about your wishes now, so then when that time comes, it will not be an added stress to your family. While Melissa finds her job very rewarding and is honored to be part of a life-saving process, on the other hand, she said being part of the organ transplantation is often times bittersweet because in the majority of the cases, except living-kidney donation, someone has to lose their life to save another’s. Unfortunately, Steve and Lorie Beercheck, both of Punxsutawney, know all too well about the bitter half of the process. They lost their son, Adam, only 21 at the time, in May 2003 when he was struck by a vehicle. Lorie said that Adam did not indicate his wishes as to whether or Adam Beercheck, organ not he wanted to donor. be an organ donor, so it was left up to the family to decide. “I was very leery about donating because it was my boy they wanted to cut up, but it was the only thing that made sense of his

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- Continued on page 9 AuTO • HOME • BuSiNESS • LiFE

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8 – Punxsutawney Hometown – April 2011 – Issue #126

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Dr. Kevin P. Merrow 've tried everything, Dr. kevin, nothing works." Nothing works? You mean to tell me, something works for the rest of humanity, but it doesn't work for you? Okay, I'm willing to believe that for this conversation's purpose. What have you tried that hasn't worked? If you haven't already caught on, this is a weight loss conversation that I have every day in my office. The first obstacle most people face is themselves. "Trying everything" is very different than doing something. Unfortunately many people are looking for the quick easy fix. There isn't a quick easy fix, it's a wild goose chase. As we all know, in a wild goose chase, you can "try everything", but nothing is going to work. If you are serious about losing weight you don't need to go out and buy a book that tells you how to eat. You don't need to read up on how to exercise. In fact, it's my opinion that those purchases perpetuate the process of stagnation! Use your common sense. With using a reference source, I want you to answer the following questions. 1.) What is the healthier food option, A) Potato chips (baked OR fried), or B) small baked potato? 2.) Which food has the least calories, which has the most, and which is in the middle? A) plain hamburger, B) Bacon Cheese Burger, C) Cheese Burger? 3.) Which activity burns the most calories? A) Exercise of any sort, B) Watching TV, C) driving? 4.) Which food choice is healthiest? A) Raw or Steamed Broccoli, B) Sautéed Broccoli, C) Broccoli from the chinese restaurant? I'm pretty confident that you answered all of those questions properly. And you didn't have to pull out a reference source to figure it out! You are smarter than you give yourself credit for. Weight loss and healthy living starts with common sense. No one is telling you not to eat chocolate or even bacon cheese burgers. What I'm telling you is that you should know better than to think that using turkey bacon instead of pork bacon doesn't make your burger a healthy meal. Using low fat cheese instead of whole milk cheese does not make for a healthy meal. You can eat these things, but know the repercussions of doing so. Losing weight and living healthy doesn't take "trying" anything. You have to make a commitment to yourself to live healthy. To eat the foods your body was meant to eat. And to move your body the way it was meant to be used. When we were first put on this earth, there were no TV's, and people found things to spend their time on. I have faith you will do the same. Some parting words for you; If you don't recognize a word on your food label, you probably shouldn't be eating it!

“I

Organ Donation Continued from page 8 accident,” she said. Although a very tragic situation, Adam was able to help more than 50 people through his organ, tissue and cornea donation. After all of the transplants occur, the organ procurement organization, CORE, which covers western Pennsylvania and West Virginia sends a letter to the donor family indicated which organs and tissues were transplanted and who they went to (first names only). “One young man was home bound because he needed several organs,” Lorie said. “Adam’s donation gave that man the organs he needed and now he’s able to live a normal life outside in society. A truck

driver received his heart, and a women bound to dialysis received his kidneys. His beautiful blue eyes were unable to be transplanted but were used for research.” While Adam was able to donate all seven life-saving organs – heart, lungs, two kidneys, liver, pancreas, and intestines – he also helped enhance the lives of many more through his tissue donation. Lorie said, “They can keep his tendons and ligaments for use in heart surgery and for sports injuries for up to five years after the donation.” “I knew he would want to help others, and this was the only way I could keep his lively spirit alive.” To learn more about organ donation and transplantation or to become a registered donor, visit www.donatelife.net. •••

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located in the Nick's Corner Lunch building at 265 North Findley Street, Suite D

Punxsutawney Hometown – April 2011 – Issue #126 – 9

Jefferson county housing authority 201 n. Jefferson st., Punxsutawney (814) 938-7140

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Punx’y Rotary Club Multi-Phasic Blood Screening Set for April

he Punxsutawney Rotary Club, along cure web-site. Visa and Master Card are acwith the Punxsutawney Area Hospicepted. tal, will again be offering their annual Mail in forms will be going out in the mail multi-phasic blood screenings on Satsoon to last years participants. They may then urday, April 9 and Saturday, April 16 at the register by mail, with check payable to Punxsutawney Area Middle School cafeteria. “Punxsutawney Rotary Club”. Appointment Advance registration is slots for mail in regisrequired and blood trations will be limited drawing appointments by both day and times will be scheduled for available. Mail in regeach day from 6 a.m. till istration forms can also 10 a.m. be picked up at the These screenings proChamber of Commerce vide analysis for over 30 store/office and at the medical factors and can Punxsy memorial Liassist your physician in brary. Participants with detecting health probregistration questions lems such as anemia, can call the Chamber coronary heart disease, office at 938-8100 or ekidney or liver disease PAH Phlebotomist Ronda Reed prepares to mail to info@punxsyroor diabetes as well as draw blood from Rotary Bloodscreening Chair- tary.com many others. Also, a man, Jim Cassidy. Thousands of area resi- All registrants must lipid profile (for choles- dents will be getting these valuable blood have a family physician screenings again this year on April 9 and 16. terol, LDL, HDL, who has agreed to actriglycerides, etc.) is taken. Due to the gencept the test results. A list of nearly 200 area erous efforts of the local club, hospital and doctors that participate in the program is part other contributors, all these tests are offered at of the registration form. As usual; coffee, only a small fraction of the normal costs. donuts and other refreshments will be availThe fees for this years testing are $50 per able at the events. person (same as 2010 cost) for men and The results of the screening are confidential women over 18 years of age for the screening and sent directly from the lab to your desigpanel and $17 for the optional Prostate Spenated physician. After the doctors review, cific Antigen (PSA), available to men 40 participants will receive a report showing eiyears of age or older. The test process takes ther; that test results are within normal limits about 15 minutes. To guarantee accurate reor represent minor abnormalities of no pracsults a 12-14 hour fast prior to testing is retical significance, or to please contact their quired. It is also recommended that no Doctor’s office to schedule an appointment. alcohol be consumed 24 hours prior to testParticipants should wait to receive the reports ing. in the mail before contacting their physician. Appointments are necessary and walk-ins This blood screening, however, does not rewill not be accepted. On-line computer regplace the need for regular physical exams. istration is now available by logging on to the All net proceeds from the screenings go into local Rotary club’s web-site at www.punxsythe Rotary Club’s general budget and are rerotary.com turned 100% to the community through the On-line registration is the recommended more than 30 area organizations and commuway to register. It is available 24/7 and the nity events supported by Rotary. The club registrant can choose his date and time for apwishes to thank the following for their suppointment and print out his own confirmation port in this project: Punxsutawney Area Hospage to bring to the test site and speed up the pital, the Punxsutawney Area School District, on-site registration process and receive an eThe Punxsutawney Chamber of Commerce, mail receipt. On-line registration requires REACT and D-Zine Computers. payment in advance by credit card on the se•••

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Punxsutawney Hometown – April 2011 – Issue #126 – 11

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Confessions of a Diet Coke Addict By Sharon Randall Scripps Howard News Service his is a story I'll probably file with others I call "Private things I should not have made public," or "Confessions of a woman who ought to have had better sense." I'm going to tell it for two reasons: First, because, well, it's what I do. And second, because I suspect you've done something equally harebrained or maybe even dumber. The question is, will you admit it? We'll see. Before I tell you what I did, I should tell you why I did it. I'm addicted to Diet Coke. I'm not proud of it, but we all have vices (yes, even you), and from what I've seen (I live in Las Vegas) I could do worse. My addiction is such that I keep at all times one or more 12-packs stashed about the house: one in the fridge, others in a cupboard. If the cupboard is full (my husband hogs it for his bottled water), I leave them in the back of my car. They slide about on turns, a comforting swishy sound I've come to enjoy. If the cupboard is bare (except for cursed bottles of water), I never panic. I know I can find a 12-pack in the back of my car, enough to tide me over until I go out and score another stash. That's where this adventure begins. This morning I opened the cupboard, found it bare and went out to the garage to get a spare. It was early. My husband had just left for work. I was in my nightgown, not one you'd see on "Desperate Housewives." It was more like a "before" shot on an extreme-makeover show called "Pimp My Wife." Much to my dismay, someone (I'm not saying who) had parked my car too near the garage door. I could lift the hatchback, but not enough to reach in and pull out a big 12-pack of Diet Coke. There were two obvious solutions. I could go in the house to get my keys, start the car and pull it forward just enough to lift open the back. Too much trouble. Or I could simply open the garage door and lift the hatchback, while exposing myself and my ratty nightgown to God, all his

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12 – Punxsutawney Hometown – April 2011 – Issue #126

angels and the entire neighborhood. Not a chance. I devised a third plan that would later make my sister howl like a hyena, "Were you high?" No, I was not. I was in caffeine withdrawal, desperate for a fix. So here is what I did. I lifted the hatchback as far as it would go, wedging it up against the garage door, and proceeded to squeeze through the opening. It would've worked just fine, if not for one thing. Or two things, if you count my rear end. In the process of squeezing through the opening, I somehow rolled the car forward a bit, so the hatchback dropped an inch and became wedged beneath a ridge on the garage door. So there I was, half in, half out, stuck between a hatchback and a 12-pack of Diet Coke. I tried backing out, tried rocking the car, tried everything I could think of. It would be hours before my husband got home. I pictured the look on his face as he opened the garage to see the lower half of my lifeless body dangling from my car. I didn't bother to yell for help. No one could possibly hear me. If they did, the house was locked. They'd call 911 and I'd end up on the evening news ("Woman trapped in ratty nightgown, film at 11!") Finally, I did what I always do when all else fails: I prayed. Nothing happened. My grandmother used to say God waits to answer prayers to give fools time to think about how we got ourselves in such a fix. I thought long and hard, which isn't easy when you're all bent over and stuck. Finally, it came to me. I knew what I had to do. I wiggled up in the back of the car, climbed over the seat, got the Diet Coke, whispered, "Thank you, God," and went inside. When you find yourself stuck with no clear way out, you need to move forward, not back. That's my story. What's yours? (Sharon Randall can be contacted at P.O. Box 777394, Henderson NV 89077, or at www.sharonrandall.com.) •••

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Punxsutawney Hometown – April 2011 – Issue #126 – 13

Darlene Stuchell year-round service

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Meet “Bob the Avon guy,” top salesman for cosmetics co. By Fanny S. Chirinos Scripps Howard News Service

hen the Avon lady comes calling, sometimes his name is Bob. Corpus Christi, Texas, resident Bob Bettiga is darn proud to sell Avon. "Bob the Avon Guy," as he's marketed himself, has won several corporate awards to prove it. A top salesman, he recently was named the oldest male company representative and is one of about three men selling Avon in the Corpus Christi area, he says. "I love helping people, and Avon lets me do that," said the 82-year-old former financial planner. "Helping others is my motivation." Helping someone achieve outer beauty is satisfying, but the thrill comes when enriching Robert Bettiga took over his wife’s Avon business seven years ago. Now “Bob the Avon Guy” is among the company’s top salespeople people's lives, he said. He loves nationwide. (SHNS photo by Todd Yates / Caller Times) helping people gain status by selling Avon. Jeanette handles the business' paperwork Avon has about 600,000 representatives in while Bob is the face of the company, apthe U.S. and about 6.5 million worldwide, proaching potential customers anywhere and spokeswoman Lindsay Fox said. Direct Sellanytime. Despite illnesses, surgeries and caning Association, a trade organization, reports cer treatments, Bob said he hasn't let his custhat about 20 percent of direct sellers are tomers down. male. "There's always access to a phone," Bob Fox said Avon's percentage is much smaller, said. "It doesn't take much to call your cusbut the company doesn't keep data on sales tomers and then place an order." representatives' gender. Bettiga admits being This past year, they had about $130,000 in one of the few men selling Avon has come sales, a figure that has been growing steadily with its shares of lessons. since Bob took over. "I learned real quick not to approach a And the secret to his success? woman and ask if she wants to make a little Actually not a secret at all, he said. money on the side," said Bettiga, unsuccess"When I approach someone, I already know fully holding back a laugh. "I also learned to they're going to be a customer, a helper or a ask to meet a woman's husband or significant new representative," Bettiga said. "And I other. I had quite a few angry husbands askrarely miss. I have a daily goal of adding one ing over the phone why I was calling their new customer each day. The longest streak I wives." had was 23 days." Bob's leap into the world of beauty prodThe Bettigas have no plans of slowing ucts started by accident about seven years down. ago, when his wife, Jeanette, broke her arm "Let's put it this way. I've retired five times and found it difficult to keep up with her and still manage to work full time," Bob said. clients' needs. "I have the flexibility to make my own She began losing customers. schedule, make good money and work Bob stepped in. alongside my wife. We do what we want, "I saw her sad and crying over not being when we want. I'm having the best time." able to do what needed done and I said, (Fanny S. Chirinos is a reporter for the 'Heck, I can do that,' " he recalled. Caller-Times in Corpus Christi, Texas.) Within four months, he quadrupled his ••• wife's average sales. They sell more products Reach every home in the Punx’y area, not than other independent agents between Vicjust a few. We deliver to every home and toria and Mexico without storefronts, they have the Post Office reports to prove it. Hometown magazine 938-0312

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said. They recently achieved the President's Council level for sales for a fifth consecutive year, having increased their sales in 2010 by 33 percent. Bob also won the Spirit of Avon award three of the past six years. The award is given to one representative each year who embodies the values of the company.

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14 – Punxsutawney Hometown – April 2011 – Issue #126

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Yardsmart: Take visual control with a screen fence

By Maureen Gilmer Scripps Howard News Service ou may think landscape design is just about making an attractive garden. Truth is, design is a process of solving problems in a way that is visually appealing. And design of your

den panels include woven willow wattle popular in English gardens. Rolled fence material is also useful for screens. Because rolled fence is flexible, you will need at least two lateral stringers spanning the posts at top and bottom. The rolled material may be cut to fit the frame

lution for renters. Thicker bamboo rolled fence is pricey but outstanding for Asian or tropical garden screening. There is also rolled willow fencing, which is darker brown in color and works nicely for rustic, woodland or English-style gardens. Small-budget gardeners shouldn't overlook used materials, either. For posts, recycle four-by-fours, railroad ties, landscape timbers, galvanized pipe or just two, twoby-fours nailed together. Consider screens made of woven wire bedsprings, storm shutters, old fence spans, corrugated fiberglass or galvanized roofing, which can all be salvaged from building demolition. There's no reason to litter the yard, fill the

garage or clog your side yard with everyday stuff that has no place to go. Good design is the best way to solve the problem. Begin by assessing the views from primary points in the house or landscape. Then lay out the fence line, set the posts and add your screening material. This is a great project that asks for just a single day and a few dollars to take back visual control of your yard. (Maureen Gilmer is an author, horticulturist and landscape designer. Learn more at www.MoPlants.com. Contact her at mogilmer(at)yahoo.com or P.O. Box 891, Morongo Valley, CA 92256.) •••

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March 10, 1886 — The frog that has been thumping his cold nose against the ice all winter, will soon have an opportunity of giving some of his melodious spring solos. After a rest of four months, he will be able to appear before the public with his voice very much improved in strength and volume. (Valley News) March 12, 1908 — Speaking of spring harbingers, is there anything that looks more like the real thing than to see a bunch of boys at a game of “big ring?” The small lads yesterday morning resurrected their marbles and with knuckles dug into the snow, shot “for keeps” from early morn until sundown. (Punxsutawney Spirit) March 15, 1907 — S. G. Rudolph has, in his flock of chickens, a hen that has been laying some remarkable eggs for size. In the past week she has laid two eggs that measured 6 1/4 by 7 1/2 inches in circumference. The chicken that is doing this remarkable egg laying is of the blue

Andulusia variety. (Big Run Tribune) March 24, 1886 — The roads were so muddy that Mr. Cyrus Wilson, of the Marion stage route had to come back to town for another team to pull him up the hill on Friday morning last. [Note: The hill in this news item is the old Indiana Street in Punxsutawney and was the road leading up the hill over to present day Marion Center and on to Indiana.] (Valley News) March 31, 1898 — Did you ever hear of apple day? There is a day known to the thrifty and perspicatious (sic) Pennsylvania Dutch by the title. It is the 25th of March. According to the ancient seers and diviners, if March 25 is a clear, bright day, the apple crop that year will be good If the weather is wet and cloudy the apple crop will be a failure. Some of our old citizens, who pay attention to these things say they never knew this sign to fail. If it holds good, this year we will have plenty of apples, for the 25th of March was a particularly bright day. [Note: ”Perspicacious” [pur-spi-kay-shuhs]- of keen discernment, judgment] (Punxsutawney Spirit) •••

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The Punxsutawney Brewery, originally established by Knarr & Sons, was purchased about 1892 by Joseph Bumgartner, who later in partnership with Bernard Schneider developed it into a first class operation. Bumgartner came from Bavaria, where he learned the brewery trade, by way of Pittsburgh, where he worked as a brewer before coming to Punxsutawney. Schneider came from Baden, where he had learned the brewery business, by way of Reading and Pottstown, PA., Newark, NJ, and Brookville where he practiced his trade. He attended the Brewers’ College in New York City before associating with S.E. Christ in Brookville. Finally, he arrived in Punxsutawney where he joined in a partnership with Bumgartner at the Punxsutawney Brewery. The market for the brewery was booming and included the mining communities that surrounded Punxsutawney. Beginning about 1900, they put up the beer in cases containing 24 bottles and sold it for $1.25 per case. In addition to brewing beer, they manufactured ice. They had the capacity to produce 20 tons of ice per day. Photograph courtesy of the Punxsutawney Historical and Genealogical Society.

Birthday is time for reflection; We are in a world of denial

By John M. Crisp Scripps Howard News Service y birthday occurs this week. Which one, precisely, isn't important, except to say that while my best years may yet be ahead of me, they certainly will be far fewer than those that have already passed. Which is fine. But it makes one think about when and where one happened to be born, the cosmic slot assigned to each of us -- by fate, luck, God's will -- and how our few years on earth mesh with civilization's ongoing, careless advance. Billions of people have lived during humanity's hardscrabble epoch on the earth, but nearly all of them died in the same world, more or less, in which they were born. My generation may be only the second or third to experience lifetimes of technological and social change so rapid that it has the capacity to transform the world into unrecognizability over the course of a few decades. My mother's life is a good example: When she was born near the end of 1912, her household included an aged aunt whose arms were still weakened by the effects of two arrows that struck her during an Indian attack early in her life on the Texas frontier. Women couldn't vote in 1912, and neither could many blacks. My mother distinctly remembered seeing her first automobile and rushing into the yard with my grandmother to gawk in amazement at a primitive aircraft overhead. By the time she died a few years ago, a black man and a woman were vying for the presidency. She had travelled the world by jet aircraft, and men had landed on the moon. And these momentous events hardly begin to describe the differences between the present world and the world of 1912. The world I was born in has changed as much as my mother's did during her long life -- perhaps even more. But I was luckier than she was: so far my life hasn't included a Great Depression or the privations of a World War II.

In fact, I know enough about the history of civilization to recognize that I was extremely lucky to be born when and where I was. Timing is everything: My mother's younger brother came down with paralytic polio when he was 12. When I was born the threat of polio was an anxiety that besieged every parent's spirit. But by the time I was in first grade, the Salk vaccine was being administered for the first time in schools, saving thousands from this dreaded disease. Perhaps I was one of them. In many other ways, the prosperous 1950s were a good time for a white male to grow up in America. Life wasn't so grand for many black Americans and for women, but their conditions were only background noise for a world of opportunity for white males. The demands of blacks and women to share more of the American birthright served as a great chastening that undercut some of the false idealism of the '50s. So did the assassination of John F. kennedy. So did Vietnam and Watergate. The nation learned a lot and became an even better place to live. As I grew up, good educational opportunities were available. Eventually, so were jobs. Gasoline seemed cheap and in endless supply. No one worried about global warming. My parents got old and enjoyed a comfortable retirement based on pensions developed during lifetimes of middle-class labor, supplemented by Social Security and Medicare. I'll probably be able to do the same. I'm grateful for that. But I'm uneasy about what the world has become during my lucky lifespan. Maybe the aging always felt this way. But this time civilization is rapidly bumping up against real limits, of energy, of climate, of population. Action is called for, but mostly we rely on denial, meaning that a fortunate life like mine may become more and more a thing of the past. (John M. Crisp teaches in the English Department at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas. E-mail him at jcrisp(at)delmar.edu. For more news and information visit www.scrippsnews.com.) •••

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n a few weeks the “Boys of Summer” will appear on our baseball diamonds. They will be continuing a tradition which began about the time of the Civil War, when returning soldiers created the first baseball diamond in Punxsutawney on the open field area of the town park (Barclay Square). As the war veterans resumed their lives, the interest in baseball “The play is at home.” Photograph of a turn of the century baseball game between DuBois and Punxsutawney from the John E. DuBois Collection. began to wane. baseball leagues, their eighty clubs and the 1700 players they controlled, may have renewed interest in the sport. Salaries were averaged $500 per player, totaling $85,000. The Pennsylvania Association had clubs at Altoona, Bradford, Reading, Scranton, Williamsport and Wilkes Barre. The Pittsburgh Club claimed that the salary of the players on its list would reach $39,000. This was the kind of information that made those struggling in the mines sit up and take “Safe!” The umpire in the turn of the century game between DuBois notice. and Punxsutawney declares the runner safe at home. Photo is from Local baseball got a the J.E. DuBois Collection. rocket boost when the men The May 13, 1869 issue of the Punxin the mining communities took up the sutawney Plaindealer lamented the lack “national game.” Young men with shifts of interest in the game: in the mines would find time for recreBASEBALL - What has become of the ation in the evenings and on weekends. Great National Game? Baseball would quickly become the sport In other localities they have been orof choice as teams were organized in ganized and, match games have already - Continued on next page

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WHITENING

Coal provides Continued from previous page their communities, and this would reawaken interest in Punxsutawney. “play Ball!” A meeting is called for Friday night, in Municipal Hall, for the purpose of taking steps towards leasing some ground and laying it out and fencing it up for a baseball park, and all persons interested in the scheme are earnestly requested to be present and have their say. The idea is a good one and should not be East End dropped until the Baseball Park weather gets warmer, but should be acted upon right away.” Punxsutawney News, February 1, 1893 Both Punxsutawney and Clayville built baseball parks. These parks appear on the 1895 Fowler Maps of the two communities. Both are nestled along the Mahoning Creek. The Punxsutawney Park was conveniently located in the East End near the Pennsylvania and Northwestern Railroad Line and easily accessible by trolley from all parts of the area. Clayville’s Park on the low land was west of Gillespie’s Mill. Mine operators found it to their benefit to sponsor baseball teams in their mining communities. It was a low cost way to provide recreational opportunities and to create good will with the mining community. Soon the mine teams were competing in leagues. When a player from one of these teams had the opportunity to move to a regional or the national league, it was good publicity for the home team, the home community and the mine operator. The Mottey’s could be considered a typical mine community family. George and Elizabeth Mottey were born in Austria and came to the United States about 1888. George worked in the mines. The family lived in Eleanora, Walston and

Adrian. There were thirteen children, five of whom were sons. One son died at the age of 23, the other four were achievement oriented: two continued their education and became priests, one became a district board member of the United Mine Workers of America, and the fourth, Frank J. Mottey, born in

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Eleanora, became a baseball player. He played for the Johnstown Johnnies of the Middle Atlantic League in 1927. This was his stepping stone to a more lucrative career in football. He went on to play for the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers Football Teams in the 1930’s. While playing football, he continued his education at St. John’s University in New York City and became a lawyer. He later taught in the School of Commerce at St. John’s before returning to Punxsutawney in 1944, where he engaged in private practice. In 1950 he associated with James H. Prothero and they formed the Mottey and Prothero Law Firm. Mottey used sports as a stepping stone from the mines to a career in law. The Ryba’s were another average mining family for which baseball was a stepping stone to success. Peter, born in Austria, came to the United States as a young man. He worked in the mines at Adrian. In 1900 he married a Polish - Continued on next page

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Coal provides Continued from previous page maiden, Marcella Majewski, and together they raised two sons and four daughters. Their son Dominic was what we would call today a “real go-getter.” At 14 he was a section hand for the street car company; at 16 he was a foreman; at 19 he worked in the mines. During a soft coal strike he managed to get an athletic scholarship to St. Frances College at Loretto, PA. During his two years at college he played sports: baseball, basketball, football and track. He returned to the coal mining but maintained his hope of someday playing in the big leagues. He kept up his skills by playing with a local coal league team. In 1927, known as “Mike” Ryba, his big break came when a St. Louis Cardinal scout offered him a contract. He played for Dayton, Ohio, in the Central League as a pitcher and in 1930 for Scottdale in the Mid-Atlantic League where he first held the catcher’s position. He officially became a major league baseball pitcher when he played for the Cardinals in 1935. He moved to the Boston Red Socks in 1941 where he completed ten years in the Major Leagues. At the age of 43, he was the second oldest player to appear in an American League game in 1946. Boston won the pennant his last season with them. Ryba pitched in the fourth Game of the 1946 World Series. That was not the end of Ryba’s baseball career. Ryba went on to manage in the Red Sox, Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds farm systems. He coached for St. Louis from 1951–55, and scouted for the Cardinals and Reds until his death, at the age of 68 when he fell from a ladder while trimming a tree. With his combined pitching and catching ability, he was considered a “oneman team and was one of the most colorful figures in professional baseball. He was named most valuable player in four different leagues. Ryba used sports as a stepping stone from the mines to a successful career in baseball. Dick Poydock, son of Joseph and Mary Problys Poydock, was another young man from a coal mining family to use sports as a stepping stone to success. Dick started his baseball career at the age of 12. He played with the Adrian team in the local City Baseball League in 1934 when he was 14 years of age, and the following year played first base with the Punx’y Electrics, a fast independent

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team. He went to Johnstown the following year and made good on his tryout. He played for several farm teams before getting his chance at the majors. In 1938 he was purchased by kingsport, Tenn., in the Appalachian League. Dick played a full season at kingsport, leading the league in runs batted in, and was bought by the Washington Senators of the American League. He finished the season with the Senators. In 1940 he went to Orlando, Fla., with the Senators for spring training then was sent to Charlotte, N.C., in the Piedmont League. He had a finger broken before the start of the season and was transferred back to Greenville. He was recalled by Charlotte, and for six weeks played first base, finishing the season with Greenville as a pitcher. He won six games and lost none with Greenville in 1941, winning his last four games. He was scheduled to play for Chattanooga, Tenn., a Class “A” team in 1942. Dick had used sports as his stepping stone to success. However, fate stepped in when he lost his life in an automobile accident. There are many more examples of young men, born in the mining communities of the Punxsutawney Area who used sports as their stepping stone from the mine to successful careers. These are just a few of those who will be remembered at the Punxsutawney Area Coal Memorial. (Editor’s Note: The resources used in the preparation of this article are available the Punxsutawney Memorial Library, the Punxsutawney Area Historical and Genealogical Society and through on-line resources. Photos are from the collection of S. 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 for the Punxsutawney Area. Persons interested in making a donation or purchasing a commemorative tile may contact PRIDE at 814-938-2493. A volunteer will return your call. Comments on this article may be directed to PRIDE, P.O. Box 298, Punxsutawney, PA 15767) ••• Reach everyone in the Punx’y area! They can’t come to your business unless they know you are there: Hometown magazine 938-0312

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ith the recent John Davidson concert behind it, The Punxsutawney Concert Association has moved forward to a new season and its annual subscription campaign. Annual support for its 2011-2012 concert season was initiated with the announcement of the “Early Bird Special” for annual memberships. An individual Adult membership, normally at $40, will again be made available for a reduced season price of $35. The Early Bird Special will run until June 1. The 2011-2012 concert season, provided in a larger part by many supporters at higher levels as patrons, donors and benefactors, will present three concerts. Among them will be a concert to be shared with students at the Punxsutawney Area High School when Punxsutawney will welcome its first entertainment of music in October. kicking off the new concert season in Oc-

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international music scene. To be true to its mission to provide a diversified season of entertainment, in November the Punxsutawney Concert Association will present a talented musician with Nashville (Music City USA) star power. It will be Billy Dean, songwriter and guitarist (and TV star of many “made-

tober will be Aion Clarke, a singer/songwriter whose blend of pop, soul and big band favorites introduces him to communities with a distinct sound in music. His solo performance that encompasses music inspired by R&B, Jazz, Gospel and Country is backed by an ensemble of keyboard, bass, drums and saxophone. With a Canadian upbringing and a Caribbean heritage, Aion Clarke has established himself on the

for TV” movies). His brand of country music is in the crooning style of Hank Williams and Eddy Arnold or Frank Sinatra, from an era long ago of crooners. For over two decades Billy Dean has produced 12 albums and eleven top-10 singles. A crowd-pleasing concert with The Four Aces in April of 2012 will conclude the Punxsutawney Concert Association’s season. With Fred Diodati (part of the original group of 50 years ago) the group will be accompanied by a trio of musicians to provide Punxsutawney music lovers a familiar sound of music. “It should be a ”good-feeling” evening with never-to-be-forgotten music from an era of American music Punxsutawney area residents will have experienced,” commented S. Thomas Curry, association president. With the support of benefactors and annual subscribers the association is prepared to offer the Punxsutawney area another sea- Continued on next page

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• 938-3100

2011-2012 Season Continued from previous page

son of quality performing artists comparable to the entertainment available in cultural arts centers of major cities. The Early Bird Special campaign has begun to enlist support among area residents who desire individual subscriptions at the discounted $35, until June 1. Individuals, businesses and industries are also

Brochures/applications will also be available at Trailhead Gallery in downtown Punxsutawney. •••

Chamber to present Marcellus Shale program

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The Four Aces

enlisted to underwrite the expenses for the season, and to guarantee future seasons, at levels of more generous support. “The Individual Annual Memberships and the other support categories will remain the same during these times of tough economic times,” stated Bessie Depp, subscription chairperson. “We want to keep the opportunity open for people, and especially families, to be in the seats for the entertainment that appeals to different tastes in our area.” For the cost, each individual concert membership provides entertainment value. A membership will provide free admission for students of a family when they are accompanied by an adult concert member. Each concert ticket is transferable. Those people who support the season and are unable to attend a concert can share their ticket with a friend or other family member to allow them to enjoy the entertainment. And most of all there is the reciprocal agreement that the Punxsutawney Concert Association has with four neighboring concert associations. It expands the value of the local “season ticket” to hundreds of dollars more with the free admission with it to other artist selections nearby. For more information contact Bessie Depp, subscription chairperson, at 9385333 or the association president at 9388628.

he Punxsutawney Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a program about Marcellus Shale development in the area. The program, entitled “Marcellus Shale Development: Maximizing the Benefit for the Local Economy” will focus on what the impact of the Marcellus boom could be in our area and how the community can take advantage of it. The program is free and open to the public and will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30 in the Fairman Centre auditorium on the second floor. Presenters for the program are Jim Cassidy, a 30-plus year veteran of the oil and gas industry and a member of the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association, and Chuck Allen from Penn State’s Cooperative Extension office. In addition, the Chamber of Commerce will have information on hand for businesses that want to be included on a Web site and possible publications geared toward informing Marcellus Shale-related companies about the opportunities and assets in the Punxsutawney area Information and workforce training programs will be available through North Central Regional Planning and Development’s Workforce Investment Board. At the beginning of the year, the Chamber formed a Marcellus Task Force with the goal of encouraging and supporting the development of Marcellus Shale-related business in the greater Punxsutawney area. Objectives of the task force are public education and to compile and publish information about the area of interest to Marcellus-related businesses. •••

WHITE’S

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938-9520 • Punxsutawney

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Reach everyone in the Punx’y area! They can’t come to your business unless they know you are there: Hometown magazine 938-0312

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Rt. 436 • 430 S. Main St., Punx’y • 938-8780 or 938-6952 SALES • PARTS • SERVICE Cylinder Boring • PA State Inspection *Customer Cash offer good on select 2010 (and prior year) models between 12/29/10-6/30/11. **Finance offer subject to credit approval, applies to purchases of new yamaha Motorcycles, aTvs & Scooters made on a yamaha installment Financing loan account from 12/29/10-6/30/11. Minimum contract length is 24 months and maximum length is 36 months. Minimum amount financed is $5,000. Fixed aPr of 3.99% or 12.99% will be assigned based on credit approval criteria. Monthly payments per $1,000 financed based on 36 month term are $29.52 at 3.99% and $33.69 at 12.99%. Offer good only in the U.S., excluding the state of Hawaii. Dress properly for your ride with a helmet, eye protection, gloves and boots. Do not drink and ride. it is illegal and dangerous. yamaha and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation encourage you to ride safely and respect the environment. For further information regarding the MSF course, please call 1-800-446-9227. aTvs with engine sizes over 90cc 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 1-800-887- 2887. 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. Professional riders depicted on closed courses. ©2011 yamaha Motor Corp. u.S.a. all rights reserved. • yamaha-motor.com

Printed 03-11

Punxsutawney Hometown – April 2011 – Issue #126 – 23

No matter what the traffic is like in your home, Johnston Furniture has the perfect floor covering. And comfy, cozy furniture and bedding when your gang finally makes a pit stop. So stop in today and talk to Interior Designer Debbie Walker about how you can “floor it” in affordable style!

Carpeting • Vinyl • Hardwood • Laminate • Ceramic Tile Commercial and Residential

Jay Philliber Owner

939-SOFA ◆ North Findley Street, Punx’y ◆ 938-7160

Punxsutawney’s oldest and finest name in furniture HOURS: Mon-Tues-Thur. 9am to 5pm • Wed 9am to 12noon • Fri 9am to 8pm • Sat 9am to 4pm 24 – Punxsutawney Hometown – April 2011 – Issue #126