#136 FEB 2012

‘A furry little fella in Punxsutawney’

On the cover: Bob Roberts, Punx’y Inner Circle Photo by Mark and Deb Fainstein for Faith magazine, Erie, PA

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Cover Story: Phil reminds us to have fun!

collective eye—knew a good thing when they saw it and were well positioned to build on the foundation their forefathers had established. (Yes, to date only men have been (Editor’s Note: Cover Story is reprinted elected to the Inner Circle, more about that from Faith magazine, published by the later.) Crowds swelled from several hundred Catholic Diocese of Erie. The story appears to several thousand, and now regularly top in its January/February edition and is out at more than 30,000 when the weather reprinted here for your enjoyment.) cooperates and the holiday falls anywhere near a weekend. hat could be Festivities [surround] the more charming day before with banquets, than a small dances, bashes and a free town in Pennshowing of the movie in the sylvania that throws its local high school gym. doors open to the world Phil’s “knob” has been for a great big party each moved to accommodate the year in the deepest, darkmasses, and as the crowd est days of winter? gathers throughout the night, How about the fact that they are now treated to a it happens right here in the string of crazy entertainers Diocese of Erie? Or that from Elvis impersonators to several members of Phil’s karate demonstrations. world-renowned top-hatThen, in the wee hours of ted Inner Circle are also the morning—before the sun members of Ss. Cosmas can actually cast a shadow and Damian Parish? cynics point out—the big While Groundhog Day moment arrives. does have ties to CandleInner Circle member Bob mas Day, a Catholic festiRoberts, who is known as val associated with Phil’s Protector, admits it’s honoring the Virgin Mary the moments before the and/or the Presentation of prognostication that he most Christ in the Temple, it acReady, set ... all is go for Groundhog Day 2012! Groundhog Club Inner Circle members Tom Uberti, looks forward to each year. tually also has roots in pre- Ron Ploucha and Bob Roberts, and, of course, Punx’y Phil make ready for Punxsutawney’s day in “Pulling the hog out of the Christian folklore related the sun, or no sun, depending upon the weather. burrow is a big deal,” he acto predicting weather for knowledges, “but leading up to it is just such Then came 1993. the coming year. (Poor weather on that day a nice time, filled with enthusiasm. They That was the year Director Harold Ramis meant the end of winter was in sight and a have the fireworks, we sing the National Anproduced a little film called Groundhog good crop was likely.) them. And then we start the trek.” That’s Day. It ranked 13th among films released that So let’s just be honest and say that we’re year, but has grown in stature, landing 34th what members call the walk through the not going to go through too many histrionics on the American Film Institute’s list of 100 crowd to knock on Phil’s burrow. trying to make a direct faith-filled connecFunniest Movies, sandwiched between Generally a bit reticent, the rodent retion to Groundhog Day. But what the heck, Jimmy Stewart’s Harvey and Charlie Chapsponds, nonetheless, and is lifted high before let’s have some fun. After all, isn’t joy a gift lin’s Modern Times. At the same time, it crethe crowd which roars its raucous approval. of the Holy Spirit? ated a whole new level of “phrenzy,” firmly Media from around the world, who have The first recorded report of Groundhog establishing the annual ritual as a fixture in been arriving from as far away as Australia Day in Punxsutawney was [as early as 1870 the national psyche. throughout the night, point their lights and in the pages of the Punxsutawney PlainThe townsfolk—what else can we call a their cameras at the groundhog and his Inner dealer, a weekly newspaper. On Feb. 2, group of people with such a twinkle in their 1871, the paper announced, "TO-DAY is - Continued on page 6

By Anne-Marie Welsh for Faith magazine, Erie, PA

W

groundhog day. If not too thin he could see his shadow, as the sun shown quite a while this afternoon.] A club was organized within a few years; annual summer picnics ensued, complete with—sorry to say—actual feasting on groundhog meat. Bit by bit the February event grew, first as a winter diversion for the locals, then the surrounding area, eventually to most of the state and beyond.

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Groundhog Day Events For Punx’y Residents, too; Come Out, Join in the Fun!

roundhog Day Celebration 2012 kicks off on Wednesday, February 1 and continues through Saturday, February 4, featuring a full slate of fun things to see and do, all surrounding the feature event — Punxsutawney Phil’s prognostication on the morning of Feb. 2. (See Hometown magazine’s official schedule of events included inside this issue.)

For those of you — and we know you’re out there — who prefer to leave the celebrating of Groundhog Day to the visitors, there are several events being held on Friday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 4, after the majority of the visitors have gone home, that you’ll want to venture out and paricipate.

First, it’s Phil’s Luau, a touch of summer in the middle of winter! — from 10 a.m. until noon on Friday in the Celebration Tent in Barclay Square. Bring the family for games, music and more. It’s all with a tropical feel. As an added bonus, Punxsutawney Phil will be there!

Also, beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, the Punxsutawney Community Center will host a Kid’s Day. Elementary and middle school age children will have fun with several different games and contests. Kid’s Day will continue throughout the day until 4 p.m.

Have you wondered what it’s like inside the new baking kitchens at IUP’s Culinary Academy located in the Fairman Centre?

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, you can take a tour of this state-of-the-art facility.

Enter using the South Findley St. entrance.

Also in the Fairman Centre, enjoy a performance by Claudia Sanchez, billed as the “Passionate Pianist.” Claudia, who was born in Argentina and now lives in Pittsburgh, plays a variety of selections including classical, pop, and American standards.

Her performance will run from 1 to 3 p.m. in the second floor auditorium, and there is no charge to attend.

Finally, wrap up your day on Friday laughing along with your friends and neighbors at the hilarious antics that take place during a show by comedy-hypnotist Barbara Gambrill. Watch as Barbara enables her guests to forget their names, become phenomenal dancers, turn into naughty first graders, and much more. The show begins at 7 p.m. at the Jackson Theater in the Punxsutawney Community Center. Tickets are available at the door: adults $3, children $2.

On Saturday, get your dog involved! Enter him or her in the “Best Dog Groundhog Costume Competition” or the “Best Winter-Wear Dog Costume Competition.”

Both contests will be at the Celebration Tent in Barclay Square, beginning at 11 a.m. For a list of judging criteria, go to Groundhog.org. Prizes will be awarded to the top three dogs. There is no charge to enter.

If you don’t have a dog, maybe you have a sled? Enter the “Best Decked-out Sled Competition,” following the dog contests at 11:30 a.m. This contest requires pre-registration at 11 a.m. in the Celebration Tent.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners.

There is no charge to enter the three compeitions. For more information about all three competitions, call Katie Bullers at 938-7700 x3.

A second performance by comedy-hypnotist Barbara Gambrill will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday. And the same

evening, put the cap on Groundhog Day Celebration 2012 by attending the Annual Rails to Trails Benefit Dance at the Punx’y Eagles. After a year’s hiatus in 2011, the popular 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. dance returns featuring classic rock band, Down to The Wire. Admission is $8.

Instead of hiding at home during the Groundhog Day Celebration, enjoy the en-

tertainment that’s at your doorstep. For more information about all events being held, visit www.groundhog.org.

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Punxsutawney’s fame as the Home of the Groundhog in the early years of the 20th century was aided by the use of simple art work, starting with Charles Payne’s depiction of the groundhog about 1905. The drawing was used in many forms of advertising as shown used by the former Punxsutawney Beef and Provision Company.

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printed, “TO-DAY is ground-hog day. If not too thin he could see his shadow, as the sun shone quite awhile this forenoon.”

There were no crowds, no celebration noise, and no proclamation as to whether the groundhog did or did not see a shadow.

There was nothing official to record for future reference Fifteen years later, the two local weekly newspapers in 1886, the Valley News (later to be named the Punxsutawney News) and

he nationwide publicity Punxsutawney receives each year with the tradition of the Groundhog Day celebration and, of course, the announcement of the “prognostication” by the popular “seer-of-seers,” the Punxsutawney groundhog, is a major accomplishment for the town.

The folklore of Groundhog Day existed in the lives of the people who settled the area before the years of the Civil War. Over a century ago and more, the annual day in February grew from an ancestral regional tradition into a major event that Local men, who attended the early Groundhog Hunts and Feasts, would form the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, which established the tradition of memorable Groundhog can be credited Day celebrations at Gobbler’s Knob. with connecting the Punxsutawney Spirit, had conflicting the town of Punxsutawney to people reports of the “shadow prognostication.” around the world.

The News editor wrote, “The groundhog Family members shared the folklore of crawled out yesterday and was so scared February 2. They would often recall their at the shadow of his emaciated form that grandparent’s stories about spotting a he concluded to retire for six weeks groundhog, and reporting the results of the more.” The Spirit had recorded “To-day shadow, whether long and thin, wide and is groundhog day, and up to the time of dark, “blacker than a coal mine” some going to press the beast has not seen its would say, or just a glimmer of a shadow. shadow.”

Or, maybe no shadow at all. The tale of The lore of Groundhog Day existed in the groundhog and a shadow was firmly the lives of the people. established in the lives of many of the The formal observation of the groundhog early German families. on February 2 in Punxsutawney can be atThe Punxsutawney Plaindealer, a weekly tributed to a group of Punxsutawney area newspaper in 1868-1871, would acknowlyoung men. In the late 19th century, they edge the groundhog lore among the early gathered informally for annual feasting on settlers of European heritage, and would groundhog. They were named the Punxoccasionally remind its readers about the sutawney Groundhog Club by a city ediday’s arrival. They were brief comments. tor, Clymer Freas, of the weekly The day after Groundhog Day in 1870, the Punxsutawney Spirit.

February 3 edition of the Punxsutawney From the initial summer hunt and feast Plaindealer, announced “GROUND-HOG — which was organized in 1899 — would DAY - Believers in this sign can prepare begin the annual February 2 journey to a for an abundance of cold weather, for yesplace a few miles outside Punxsutawney, terday was a sunshiny day, which would referred to as the Weather Works on Canoe afford the ground-hog a delightful opporRidge. The Groundhog Club members tunity to see its shadow if it ventured out.”

On February 2, 1871 the Plaindealer - Continued on next page

Illustrating Phil Continued from previous page

would promote their annual hunt and feast to attract men of area businesses and industries, and would include invitations to prominent men of industry, government and news media throughout eastern United States.

There, they would introduce their guests to the folklore of Ground Hog Day and the legend of the Punxsutawney groundhog,

Groundhog Day newspapers of the past would feature front page editorial cartoons by local and area artists, including Floyd Noerr and Bill Platt, and Pittsburgh’s Cy Hungerford, who were well-known for their contributions during the 1930s-50s.

and his powers to “prognosticate” to the world. The concept of Punxsutawney as the home of the Groundhog was established.

The official word was announced by telegraph and telephone to friends and to the city newspapers that would put it in print for all to read. Then came radio, television, live satellite transmission around the world, and the phenomenon of modern communication by cable television, the “worldwide web” and “smart phones.”

In its earliest days, accompanying the many stories and reports in the print media were visual images, the line drawings, which interpreted the appearance of the groundhog.

The earliest of artist drawings were those of Charles Payne, cartoon artist of the Pittsburgh Gazette. In the early 1900s, Payne had visited Punxsutawney for many summer hunts and feasts. His interpreta-

tion of “Bre’r Groundhog” in Punxsutawney was adapted from an animal character in his Gazette comic strip “Coon Hollow.”

Mr. Payne’s clean-cut, refined drawings presented the local groundhog with a bowtie, folded umbrella, and a newspaper under his arms. The tall hat was a felt stovepipe hat and not a top hat as usually seen today. It was the beginning of marketing efforts to promote Punxsutawney with Groundhog Day in the midst of the industrial boom of the early 20th century.

This visual connection was used for many years in newspapers and advertising. It was worth more than “a thousand words” of printed stories for the eventual claim of Punxsutawney as the Weather Capital of the World.

In 1907, members of the local B. P. O. Elks wore Payne’s image on nearly 1,000 ribbon badges, which they displayed at the annual convention in Philadelphia, and exchanged them for badges of other Elk members. The line drawing, which was used regularly in the Spirit newspaper, was used on a lapel button for the town’s extravagant Old Home Week celebration in 1909, and was a prominent trademark for the Punxsutawney Beef and Provision Company and its labeled “Groundhog Brand” products. It eventually would be- Continued on page 8

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Phil reminds us Continued from page 2 Circle as Phil whispers his prognostication to his handler in Groundhogese. Phil’s comments—which were also Tweeted for the first time last year—are translated and proclaimed, to be critiqued by everyone from major network news anchors to school children around the world.

Members of the Inner Circle enjoy their day of celebrity, posing for pictures and signing autographs; but they are among the fortunate few celebs who can then sink back into the bliss of anonymity as they return to their everyday jobs.

For Bob Roberts, that means returning to the family business started by his grandfather, Frank Roberts & Sons, Inc., wholesale suppliers of geotextiles, general construction products, industrial and safety products and more. The family has been in business since 1927, beginning in mining supply, moving into industrial sales and now focusing on the oil and gas fields.

Committed to the community, both Roberts and his father each have been named Man of the Year by the Groundhog Club. As members of Ss. Cosmas and Damian Parish, Roberts’ father, Ralph, is a fourth degree Knight of Columbus; Roberts has been active as a lector since 1973.

As for joining the Inner Circle, he says it was a complete surprise when he was invited to join.

“Groundhog Day was just starting to get bigger,” Roberts remembers. “I had a couple of friends in the Inner Circle and they stopped by after a meeting and said I’d been nominated. They wanted to know if I would

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6 – Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136

join.”

A practical man, Roberts asked if it involved much. At the time, the group met about twice a year.

“I said, ‘Okay.’” It was as simple as that.”

Six years later, the movie came out.

“Now we meet all year long,” Roberts says with a laugh. While there were a few years with a bit of worry as the celebration grew exponentially, today the Inner Circle has it all down to a science.

“Each member has an area he takes care of,” Roberts explains. “Now it’s pretty cut and dried. We know who we need to call.”

As for the fact that the Inner Circle is still all-male, Roberts believes that will change in his lifetime. Only current members can nominate new members, and there are only openings when a member passes away or steps down. Roberts, himself, was the first to ever nominate a woman, but he was not successful when it came to the vote.

“I’d like us to include women for selfish reasons,” he admits. “Once we get women involved, I know they will really help the Inner Circle in many ways.” Roberts is also interested in seeing younger members voted in so they can be mentored.

“It’s always good to have fresh air,” he says. “Several of us are getting to be grandpas!”

Whatever the future holds, Roberts is enjoying his life with its special role.

“Punxsutawney is a great little town,” he observes. “The groundhog made us famous but the people have made the town over the years. It’s a very close-knit community with a great work ethic. I wouldn’t consider it to be extremely wealthy, but the people make it very wealthy. They make it a great place to live.”

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Stephen Tobolowsky on Groundhog Day: ‘More Powerful than Top Hats, It was an extremely big deal’

By Stephen Tobolowsky As told to Anne-Marie Welsh of Faith magazine (Editor’s Note: Character actor Stephen Tobolowsky, who played Bill Murray’s classmate-turned-insurance salesman Ned Ryerson in the film, Groundhog Day, was inducted as an honorary member of the Inner Circle last February. Here are some of his impressions, as told to Anne-Marie Wels, of Faith magazine.)

“M

y sense of Groundhog Day was based on the movie. You know, people eating sausages and dancing polkas and drinking beer; just sort of a silly kind of festival. In the movie, that was the purpose of the festival: it was a big party. But the whole experience absolutely defied my expectations. In Punxsutawney, it wasn’t just a party, it was a ceremony.

It’s far more serious and more powerful than men in top hats and big coats. It was about the magic of seeing the groundhog and the Inner Circle gathering around, waiting for the groundhog and thinking about the future.

It would not work if people were in jeans and tennis shoes. That’s why we wear nice clothes when we go to church. In LA, there’s a wave of ‘let’s get comfortable,’ and I’ve been to services at various churches where everyone is in shorts and flip flops.

But in Judaism, you do not do that. When you got to synagogue you dress as if you’re meeting a king. Clothes change your attitude toward the event. And in Punxsutawney, the formal clothing was enormously important. It made the event what it was.

I’ve been on stages around the country and of course you always think about the connection between the audience and the people on the stage. But in Punxsutawney, when those men were waiting for Phil with 10,000 people watching, you could cut the tension with a knife. It was magical.

The night before, I had been made an honorary member of the Inner Circle and I have to say it was an extremely big deal. The only thing I can compare it to was having once been unexpectedly invited onto the stage at the Grand Ole Opry. I’m a huge country fan and there I was with Porter Waggoner, ranting about how bald I was and how bald he wasn’t on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry!

I felt just as shocked and honored and moved by going up on that stage in Punxsutawney, wearing a top hat and standing with the Inner Circle. When Phil was pulled out, my heart was in my throat. What was he going to say?

At first, the film was conceived as a typical Bill Murray comedy. What would happen if there were no consequences to our actions? But when we started shooting the movie, writer Danny Rubin and director Harold Ramis got real serious on us. They

said, “What would really happen if we had all the time in the world?” Then they did something incredibly brave: They threw away half the script while we were shooting.

Suddenly the film was asking, “When you

know a boy is going to fall from a tree, what is your responsibility the next day?” So instead of being a movie about having no responsibility, it became a movie about service and ultimate responsibility to your fellow man. Bill’s character didn’t have time to chase Rita because he got too busy

catching the boy from the tree, fixing a flat tire for a group of women, saving the mayor from choking and helping a homeless man.

What really changed Bill’s character was not the time factor. Time was his classroom.

What changed him was his service to people who were in need. When he accepted his responsibility to help, his personality changed. That’s what elevated his spirit.”

Stephen Tobolowsky’s character of Sandy Ryerson (no relation to Ned) shows up on Glee from time to time, but he also has a thoroughly engaging online project called The Tobolowsky Files, which can be found at Tobolowskyfiles.com and accessed through iTunes, free of charge. He recommends checking out Episode 29 for more behind-the-scenes conversation about Groundhog Day. •••

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Beginning in the 1970s and 80s, a more contemporary look for the groundhog was offered by artists to promote Groundhog Day in a variety of ways.

Illustrating Phil Continued from page 5

come the official logo of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, and an unofficial symbol for the community for many years.

Another newspaper cartoonist who contributed his artistry to support the Punx’y Groundhog was “Cy” Hungerford of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. For over 50 years, beginning in 1915, he had inspiration for Groundhog Day editorial cartoons in his city newspaper. It all began from his attendance of the summer Groundhog Hunt and Feast in 1915, when he gained friendship with local dignitaries that included P. L. Smith of the Punxsutawney Spirit, Groundhog Club presidents Dr. Frank Lorenzo and Sam Light, and Charles Margiotti, famous attorney and Punxsutawney native. Hungerford’s image defined the groundhog in a more realistic line drawing.

A local artist who frequently contributed editorial cartoons to the front page of the

Happy Groundhog Day! Visitors to Punxsutawney will find the town “groundhogized.” Artists, young and old, have contributed to the effort of indentifying our town with Groundhog Day through a variety of public art, souvenirs and advertising.

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8 – Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136

daily Spirit in the late 1930s and 1940s was Floyd Noerr. Noerr was born in Jefferson County and was Railway Express agent here for many years. His groundhog character was an interpretation of Charles Payne’s more familiar interpretation from 1907, with a top hat.

The crisp artwork of Punxsutawney native Bill Pratt would appear in the Spirit in the 1940s, along with his many original rhymes about Groundhog Day. A graduate of PHS, he would spend 40 years in New York City, employed in men’s stores, and as public relations director with the famed Abercrombie and Fitch stores. He was widely known as a writer and “rhymester” in Saturday Evening Post and New Yorker magazines. Days before the February 2, 1944 Groundhog Day, which had a tem-

perature of minus-eight-degrees below zero on Gobbler’s Knob, Pratt had written a poem titled “Thermometers Due for a Tumble:” “The groundhog came out and he sniffed at the air, And blinked at a sun that was bright.

The frost stung his nostrils and bristled his hair, And the wind had a northerly bite; And he wasn’t satisfied quite.

You see he had hoped for the rustle of spring, But here was the wind and the snow, And here was his shadow, a bleak looking thing, And it said” “Watch the thermometers go To fifteen or twenty below.”

The groundhog came out but he hustled back in And covered his head with his paws.

And there he is dreaming of what might have been As he usually does till it thaws.

You wanna know why.” Just because!”

To contribute to the visual publicity of the groundhog, other artists have come to create contemporary images. When Elaine Light and Ruth Hamill published their first edition of “Cooking With the Groundhog” in 1958, as a fundraiser for the Adrian Hospital Auxiliary, Punxsutawney native Donald Rodkey, then a commercial artist for the Pittsburgh Press, created a series of clever line drawings for the various food sections.

The book was sold extensively through appearances on the early NBC-TV Today show.

When Elaine Light’s cookbook theme gained in popularity, she published a second version in 1968 called “Gourmets and Groundhogs.” Another local artist was called upon for his fanciful groundhog images. He was Ken Rundel, a graduate of the Pittsburgh Art Institute and self-employed as a “fine artist” and commercial artist.

Presently, the most familiar cartoon image of the Punxsutawney groundhog is that one incorporated for many years as the logo of the Punxsutawney Spirit, and used in a variety of interpretations by various artists in promotional printed materials. Its origin evolved from contributions of several artists. That flat image was later adapted for the many three-dimensional “Phantastic Phils,” the fiberglass sculptures that have been imaginatively modeled and painted by local and regional artists for public display around town.

Many more artists of Bre’r Groundhog or Punxsutawney Phil, young and old, and not as well known as those identified in this writing, have created groundhogs with their personalized images. Today, there is an endless catalog of newly created Groundhog images.

For many years on many occasions, the artistic images have kept the story of Punx’y and its fame with the legendary Groundhog alive in the hearts and minds of thousands of people of all ages.

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2nd LT. Douglas MacMillan (second from left, back row) and his crew at Henderson Field in Guadacanal, pose in front of the fuselage of a B-24 bomber similar to the one he piloted during WW II.

A well-deserved tribute to a friend, WW II bomber pilot, community-minded citizen Dr. Douglas MacMillan

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10 – Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136

W

ith great sorrow, Punxsutawney learned of the death of Dr. Douglas MacMillan, aged 87, on New Year’s Day. In addition to his family, this community will miss him. When thinking of him, I do so with a smile, for he left me with many positive memories. He gave the best of himself to everyone he knew and to the town he adopted as his home sixty years ago.

I first met Dr. MacMillan at a basketball game in December 1973. Sitting together at most home games, Doug and I discussed not only basketball but also the “goings on” in town. We became friends that winter.

As I was covering the Jaycees Christmas Basketball tournament for the local sports pages, I found myself asking Doug, too many times, “Who scored that basket?”

He responded, finally, “I think you need glasses.”

The following week, I was in Doug’s optometry office on S. Findley St. He prescribed my first pair of glasses.

There, in Doug’s office, and later throughout the community, I saw that the local doctor cared about his employees, patients, acquaintances, and his friends. Never was there an occasion when he didn’t make a person feel welcome, asking about his family and complimenting him on some aspect of his life.

He was a proud professional. Doug knew how to bring out the best in people, and they left his presence feeling better about

the world and themselves. Early in my career, he impressed upon me the importance of becoming involved in the community.

Doug was actively involved in many civic and social organizations, and he encouraged me to follow in his footsteps. He was a positive influence on everyone he met.

He was a gentleman — a trait that gained my admiration and respect — and I learned from his actions. He was honest and sincere. When he spoke in his quiet sort of way, most listened, for his advice was always sound and came from his heart.

I learned that Doug’s personality was genuine. He had experienced too much in his life to put on any airs. Flying over forty dangerous combat raids and missions, spanning 14 months as first pilot on a B-24 bomber in the South Pacific, he earned honors that included the Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal with three Bronze Stars for Mandated Islands, the Philippine Liberation Medal, and an Air Medal with oak leaf clusters — the substance that creates real heroes out of already special people and defines the word “Patriot.”

In the Pacific, MacMillan was part of the 72nd Squadron, 5th Bomber Group of the 13th Air Force, United States Army.

“Participating in the ‘island hopping’ strategy, which MacArthur had planned, MacMillan and his crew went on to New Guinea and flew more missions to learn about other aspects of combat flying. They bombed Japanese strongholds on Truk, Yap, Borneo and Java (Indonesia). They were also part of an air support during the invasion of Leyte in the Philippines,” Hometown magazine reported in 2001.

“We shot down three zeros. One time our tail section was hit; often we were caught in flak, but ‘Little Robin’ (his B-24 bomber) never let us down. Absolutely, we kept on flying,” Doug said.

“After his missions were completed, he became the senior pilot of the group, pilot- Continued on page 12

Community Happenings

F

rom the Chamber of Commerce and the Community Calendar at Punxsutawney.com, here is a list of events and happenings coming up in our area. n Punxsutawney Phil’s Friends — Groundhog Cutout Decoration Competition — Businesses, groups, clubs, or individuals can decorate a four-foot-tall plywood groundhog for a chance to win money! The groundhog cutouts will be on display in Barclay Square February 1 - 4. First place prize is $200, second place $100 and third place $50.

Entry forms and rules are available by calling 938-7700 x3 or by e-mailing to events@punxsutawney.com. n SS.C.D. Home and School’s Annual Auction! This year’s theme is celebrating Catholic School’s Week: “Sail Into A Catholic Education.” The auction is Saturday, February 4 at the SS.C.D. Auditorium. Doors Open At 6:30 p.m. Pre-Sale Tickets: $12 each or 2 tickets for $20. Tickets Sold at the door are $15. Hors d’oeuvres and legal beverages will be served. Live Auction, Silent Auction, Basket Auction. For Tickets Contact: School Office 938-4224, Faleasha Dobbins 938-9397, or Jessica Mondi 952-8725. n Snowman in the Forest Day is Saturday, February 18 in Cook Forest State Park. Come join us for a day of fun wintry activities along the picturesque National Wild & Scenic Clarion river. Various activities will be held at the Ice Skating Pond, along River Road, app, one mile up-river from the Park Office: - 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. - Antlered reindeer pulled wagon rides - 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. - Snowshoe interpretive hike within the old growth forest along Cook Trail - 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. - Snowshoe interpretive hike within the old growth forest along Cook Trail. Sample the chili during the ‘Free Chili Cook-OFF’, that is, after the judges have tried some first. Hot chocolate, coffee, fire, and a warming hut will be on hand to help take the “chill” out of your bones. n Chick-fil-A Leadercast will be hosted in Punx’y on Friday, May 4 by the First Church of God, Route 36 North. The Leadercast is a one-day leadership event featuring several renowned leaders speaking on leadership issues that people face every day. Speakers include Tim Tebow, Patrick Lencioni, and Soledad O’Brien. The event is open to the public with registration beginning at 8 a.m.

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Punxsutawney.com is maintained by the Chamber of Commerce for the community.

Any area business or organization is invited to become a member of the Chamber of Commerce for as little as $75 for the year. For more information, visit Punxsutawney.com/chamber or call 938-7700. To submit an event for the calendar, visit Punxsutawney.com/calendar and fill out the form.

•••

Punx’y Gift Check Reminders

O

ver the Christmas season, the Punxsutawney Chamber of Commerce sold over $20,000 in Punxsutawney Gift Checks. These are now circulating in the local economy. Here are some reminders about gift check procedures that you can review with clerks and front desk personnel, and perhaps post near your check out stations.

Punxsutawney Gift Checks Do noT

ExPIRE. The words “Please redeem within one year of issue date” that appear on the bottom are for encouragement purposes only. No matter what the date on the check, it will be valid for deposit by redeeming merchants.

Punxsutawney Gift Checks function like a check. In other words, if you redeem a $25 gift check for a $20 sale, the customer must receive the difference of $5. Likewise, if you use a $25 gift check for a $30 sale, the customer must pay the additional balance of $5.

Punxsutawney Gift Checks cannot be redeemed for cash.

Punxsutawney Gift Checks cannot be used at any bank or financial institution, except as a deposit by the redeeming business.

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A U.S. photographer took this picture of a B-24 Liberator during World War II. Bomb bursts can be seen below in lower left and a ship at upper right along the beach of a Japanese occupied island. Punxsutawney’s Dr. Douglas MacMillan flew 45 missions in the Asiatic Pacific, piloting a B-24, and was decorated for his actions. (AP Photo/U.S. Army Force)

Dr. MacMillan Continued from page 10

ing a C-47, twin engine cargo plane to Australia for food supplies or to carry personnel to and from their ‘R&R’ in the ‘land down under,’” Hometown magazine detailed.

Upon completion of his service he returned to his hometown of Meadville.

“I was out of the service and back in Meadville before the war with Germany had come to an end,” MacMillan added.

He began his job as a summer playground director for the city of Meadville, and married his high school sweetheart, Martha Waelde, in August 1945.

After graduating from Ohio State University School of Optometry in 1949, and practicing for two years in Meadville, Doug and his wife moved to Punxsutawney in 1952 to begin a new life.

“We fell in love with the town immediately. We were driving in past the Country Club; the road crew was just painting the lines down the streets. We looked around and decided it was the place where we wanted to be,” said the doctor and his wife.

Here, they started their family. He was proud of his children: two sons, Scott and Kevin, and daughter Sandy. Through anecdotes, he would always keep me up-to-date about his children’s latest news and career developments.

Doug became an exemplary member and leader in our community.

Apart from the community business scene, we participated in many fun moments through the decades, many of them yeAr-round service

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12 – Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136

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on the golf course.

In the 1980s and ‘90s, Doug and I shared eventful times at the Punxsutawney Country Club. It was there, too, that his experience and leadership shone. I remember one particular day, when it was time to assemble a winning “scramble” team, Doug and I shared the same golf cart. I can’t remember the exact year, but in one of the club’s biggest tournaments of that season, our five-man team was contending for the championship. It was Doug, who loved to play the game of golf for not only the enjoyment it provided, but for its competitive component, too. He had a winning spirit that was a positive influence on the four young players of our team.

“Keep your heads together. We’ll think this through, one shot at a time,” he calmly coached, as if the game that day was a chess match.

On the par-5, fourteenth hole of that summer tournament, our first player rolled his shot from the bunker, two feet to the right of the pin. We were all counting to make that putt for a birdie before Doug, again, outlined his orders.

“Listen,” Doug instructed the team and explaining the rules of golf, “if you can’t hole out your shot, maybe one of you can bounce a shot off that ball [already on the green] and into the cup for an eagle.”

We accepted that as sound thinking. He had given us two new options instead of the preliminary outcome we had settled upon.

When the next two golfers failed to advance their balls in a straight line, it was Doug’s turn. He swatted his ball from the sand trap, rolling it across the green, and, miraculously, ricocheting it off the ball next to the flagstick. It fell into the cup.

The team was jumping up and down and all over Doug in our moment of jubilation, mauling the doctor in excitement because of his effort. But Doug, just as elated with the outcome as the rest of us, demonstrated that he had been in similar situations. After all, how jubilant could you be about drop- Continued on page 22

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1918 Influenza Epidemic ‘Beyond Description’ World War I Virus from Camp Lee

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hildren’s games sometimes tell a bigger story. Such is the case with this jump-rope rhyme that began in 1918 and was still used in the 1950’s:

the troops who would soon be leaving for Europe and the war. A popular spot was the enclosed dance pavillion at Wishaw.

The soldiers and their families were unaware of the danger that came home with them.

Spanish influenza was incubating among the trainees at Camp Lee. It was by happenstance that the first cases of Spanish influenza in the Punxsutawney Area appeared in a mining community. The third week in September, a soldier, who had trained at

Camp Lee, arrived home to visit his family in Wishaw. The soldier had left Camp Lee shortly before it was put under quarantine due to Spanish influenza. He was unaware that he had been exposed. On a Sunday morning he became ill. All of those with - Continued on next page

I had a little bird, Its name was Enza.

I opened the window, And in-flu-enza.

The rhyme had it roots in 1918. There was a war raging in Europe. In April of 1917, President Wilson requested that Congress approve the entry of the United States into the war as a “crusade to make the world safe for democracy.” Almost immediately systems were set in place to support the war effort. The Selective Service Act was passed in May requiring young men be-

tween the ages of 21 and 31 to register for the draft.

The men, who were called for the first round of the draft from the Punxsutawney area, were transported by rail to Pittsburgh, then by way of Washington, D.C. to Camp Lee, Virginia for training.

In the summer of 1918, a second contingent of men from Punxsutawney left for Camp Lee. As soldiers, they completed their training and prepared to ship out to duty assignments in Europe. One of the last privileges granted the men was a furlough to visit family and friends. The men began arriving at home in early September. Many of them were scheduled to ship out in midOctober for the Eastern Front in Siberia.

The young men came home and were feted by their families and friends. They took every opportunity to participate in social activities, including attending dances at the social clubs and at dance pavilions along the trolley lines. Many galas were held to honor them and to show support for Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136 – 13

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1918 Influenza

Continued from previous page whom he had come in contact were also becoming ill. This was the beginning of the worst epidemic to visit Jefferson County. It would be a test of the ability of the health care system at the mines, and in the county, to deal with the situation.

The first news report on the presence of Spanish influenza in the county was published as a small article at the bottom of the first page of The Punxsutawney Spirit on Saturday, September 28, 1918. The headline read: “SPANISH INFLUENZA HITS WISHAW HARD: More Than 116 Cases are Reported—One Death Occurred Yesterday.”

According to the brief article, the flu had begun to have an impact on Monday, September 22 when 19 men at the tipple were taken ill. Tuesday morning, ten others became ill, and on Wednesday, eight more.

Members of their families had also become ill. Mrs. S. Albertini, of Wishaw, had died from Spanish influenza.

Spanish influenza was a virulent strand of the H1N1 virus. The symptoms began with runny Barbers, like these at the Williams Brothers’ Barber Shop in Reynoldsville prohibited from working if they were ill during the Spanish influenza eyes and nose, headache were epidemic. and fever, leading to prosthose suffering. He immediately put out a tration and then pneumonia. It was the call for volunteer physicians and nurses to pneumonia which was responsible for the assist with the situation. He also made an deaths. appeal to the State Department of Health to On Monday, October 1, 1918 The Punxsend help.

With quarantine in effect, travel to and from Wishaw was halted. The trolley was only permitted to stop at Wishaw to drop and the off medical supplies, physicians and nurses.

The local community boards of health were taking notice that they were facing an epidemic.

On October 2, the State Health Department arrived at Wishaw, as did four volunteer nurses and additional physicians from Reynoldsville, Punx’y and Eleanora. The situation was beyond description, with alWe Sell • Rent • Fix • Full Service Notary most every house having family members Vehicle rental • direct Bill insurance suffering with pneumonia. In one house, companies • 4 Wheel alignments • Tires the dead bodies of the father and an infant Mounted & Balanced • rotors Turned full service facility • oil changes lay in the same room with the mother and inspections • Transmission service four other children, who were hovering between life and death. The situation was so A&L Auto Sales - 923 N. Main St. • 938-6780 The Auto Lender - 925 N. Main St. • 938-3124 severe the mines at Wishaw were shut www.alautosales.com - Continued on page 20

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sutawney Spirit’s banner headline was “WISHAW NOW UNDER QUARRANTINE. Nine Dead, Many Are Dying from Spanish Influenza. Six more deaths occurred in Wishaw.”

The paper reported that on Sunday, September 30, Dr. S. Meigs Beyer of Punxsutawney, who was serving as the County Medical Inspector had been called to Wishaw to establish a quarantine. He found the community and it’s doctors in a critical state. At Wishaw, Dr. Gatti, a Walston native, was exhausted, having made 700 calls in three days. Dr. Harry King, an older and more experienced physician from Reynoldsville, who had come to help was stricken with the flu. Dr. Beyer was compelled by the situation to remain at Wishaw where he worked through the night to help

We Pledge Allegiance to Our Presidents On The Job Working For You.

Sam Smith

George washington

First President 1789-1797 State Represented: Virginia Party affiliation: Federalist Fact(s): In May 1775, washington was elected commander in chief of the Continental army.

- State Representative Paid for by Citizens for Sam Smith

PUNXSUTAWNEY BRANCH OFFICE 127 Mahoning St., Punx’y

814-938-5770 www.cf-bank.com

Member FDIC

John adams Second President 1797-1801 State Represented: Massachussets Party affiliation: Federalist Fact(s): His son, John Quincy, became president. He was the first Vice President.

thomas Jefferson

James Madison

third President 1801-1809 State Represented: Virginia Party affiliation: Democratic-Republican Fact(s): at age 33, he drafted the Declaration of Independence. He constructed his mountain top home, Monticello.

Fourth President 1809-1817 State Represented: Virginia Party affiliation: Democratic-Republican Fact(s): Louisiana and Indiana became states during his term. He helped form the Bill of Rights.

James Monroe Fifth President 1817-1825 State Represented: Virginia Party affiliation: Democratic-Republican Fact(s): He was the first president to ride a steamboat. He made the Monroe Doctrine.

Proud to Salute Our Presidents

Sheriff Carl gotwald Sr.

The way banking should be.

559 W. Mahoning St. Punx’y

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John Q. adams Sixth President 1825-1829 State Represented: Massachussets Party affiliation: Democratic-Republican Fact(s): His father was president.

andrew Jackson Seventh President 1829-1837 State Represented: tennessee Party affiliation: Democratic-Republican Fact(s): He was in the war of 1812.

He studied law.

Martin Van Buren

Eighth President 1837-1841 State Represented: New york Party affiliation: Democratic-Republican Fact(s): He gave us the word "OK" or "Okay" which was an abbreviation for the name of his New york home "Old Kinderhook."

John tyler

James K. Polk

Zachery taylor

tenth President 1841-1845 State Represented: Virginia Party affiliation: whig Fact(s): Loved to play the violin.

His first wife died while he was president.

Eleventh President 1845-1849 State Represented: tennessee Party affiliation: Democrat Fact(s): He died from exhaustion and hard work soon after he left office.

twelfth President 1849-1850 State Represented: Louisiana Party affiliation: whig Fact(s): He served in the Mexican war.

He died while President.

william Henry Harrison Ninth President 1841 State Represented: Ohio Party affiliation: whig Fact(s): He was the first president to die in office.

Millard Fillmore

thirteenth President 1850-1853 State Represented: New york Party affiliation: whig Fact(s): He had eight brothers and sisters. His wife started the white House library collection.

Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136 – 15

Celebrating

Franklin Pierce

James Buchanan

Fourteenth President 1853-1857 State Represented: New Hampshire Party affiliation: Democrat Fact(s): Served in Mexican war.

Fifteenth President 1857-1861 State Represented: Pennsylvania Party affiliation: Democrat Fact(s): He was elected five times to the House of Representatives.

James “Moon” VanSteenberg

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Rutherford B. Hayes

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Nineteenth President 1877-1881 State Represented: Ohio Party affiliation: Republican Fact(s): was wounded in Civil war, became a General.

twentieth President 1881 State Represented: Ohio Party affiliation: Republican Fact(s): Died in office.

OUR PRESIDENTS

abraham Lincoln

andrew Johnson Seventeenth President 1865-1869 State Represented: tennessee Party affiliation: Democrat Fact(s): His wife taught him to read.

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Chester a. arthur twenty-First President 1881-1885 State Represented: New york Party affiliation: Republican Fact(s): was a General in the Civil war.

814-938-9300 call for more information

Grover Cleveland twenty-Second & twenty-Fourth President 1885-1889 & 1893-1897 State Represented: New york Party affiliation: Democrat Fact(s): angered the railroads by ordering an investigation.

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16 – Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136

Ulysses S. Grant

Sixteenth President 1861-1865 State Represented: Illinois Party affiliation: Republican Fact(s): He had to struggle for a living.

Lincoln's mom died when he was 9.

Eighteenth President 1869-1877 State Represented: Illinois Party affiliation: Republican Fact(s): He was a Civil war General.

Fought in the Mexican war.

Benjamin Harrison twenty-third President 1889-1893 State Represented: Indiana Party affiliation: Republican Fact(s): He was the same height as James Madison. His grandfather was president.

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Celebrating

william McKinley twenty-Fifth President 1897-1901 State Represented: Ohio Party affiliation: Republican Fact(s): He became the leading Republican tariff expert in Congress. He died in office.

theodore Roosevelt twenty-Sixth President 1901-1909 State Represented: New york Party affiliation: Republican Fact(s): Born and died in New york. First president to ride in a car while president.

william H. taft twenty-Seventh President 1909-1913 State Represented: Ohio Party affiliation: Republican Fact(s): He was the son of a distinguished judge. He preferred law to politics.

JEFFERSON COUNTY REPUBLICAN ELECTED OFFICIALS Express Yourself • Register to Vote!

Compliments of Jefferson County republican Party Troy J. Harper, esq. - Chairman

Calvin Coolidge thirtieth President 1923-1929 State Represented: Massachusetts Party affiliation: Republican Fact(s): His name was "Silent Cal."

Bernard P.

Snyder Coroner of Jefferson County

Saluting our presidents

Herbert Hoover

thirty-First President 1929-1933 State Represented: California Party affiliation: Republican Fact(s): He was a member of the Supreme Economic Council and head of the american Relief administration.

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OUR PRESIDENTS

woodrow wilson

warren G. Harding

twenty-Eighth President 1913-1921 State Represented: New Jersey Party affiliation: Democrat Fact(s): He was a good student in college.

His first wife died while he was president.

twenty-Ninth President 1921-1923 State Represented: Ohio Party affiliation: Republican Fact(s): He had gray hair. He died of a heart attack while president.

Senator ..........................................Joe Scarnati representative ..................................Sam Smith Commissioner ..................................Paul Corbin Commissioner ................................Jim Mcintyre Coroner ....................................Bernard Snyder district attorney ..............................Jeff Burkett register & recorder..............diane Maihle Kiehl Sheriff ....................................Carl Gotwald, Sr. Treasurer ................Jim “Moon” VanSteenberg County auditor....................Maxine Zimmerman County auditor ..........................roger richards Jury Commissioner ......................Mabel dunkle

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Harry S. truman

thirty-Second President 1933-1945 State Represented: New york Party affiliation: Democrat Fact(s): First president to ride in an airplane while president.

thirty-third President 1945-1953 State Represented: Missouri Party affiliation: Democrat Fact(s): He was a captain in world war I. He was Vice President for Franklin Roosevelt.

Have you written your Will to protect your loved ones?

Saluting Our Presidents

Nicholas Gianvito Attorney at Law

314R West Mahoning St. Punxsutawney

Saluting Our Presidents!

Dwight D. Eisenhower thirty-Fourth President 1953-1961 State Represented: New york Party affiliation: Republican Fact(s): He was the first president to ride in a helicopter while president.

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Wills • estates • Trusts Powers of attorney • real estate deeds and Mortgages Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136 – 17

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John F. Kennedy thirty-Fifth President 1961-1963 State Represented: Massachusetts Party affiliation: Democrat Fact(s): He liked to swim. He represented Massachusetts in the House and the Senate.

Lyndon D. Johnson thirty-Sixth President 1963-1969 State Represented: texas Party affiliation: Democrat Fact(s): He signed a civil rights bill, established Great Society programs.

Richard L. Fait Funeral Home

Saluting our presidents

Larry Shenoga president of punxsutawney Borough Council

“We Serve As We Would Be Served. . .

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117 N. Jefferson St. Punxsutawney Richard L. Fait Funeral Director

Gerald R. Ford

Jimmy Carter thirty-Ninth President 1977-1981 State Represented: Georgia Party affiliation: Democrat Fact(s): He has four children. He recently won the Nobel Peace Prize.

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18 – Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136

Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. Bennis House 401 W. Mahoning St. 1-4 p.m. Thurs. - Sun.

938-2555 Lattimer House 400 W. Mahoning St. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday & Saturday 1-4 p.m. Fri. & Sun.

Snyder Hill School - call to schedule tours punxsyhistory@groundhog.net www.punxsyhistory.org

www.faitfuneralhome.com

Forty-First President 1989-1993 State Represented: texas Party affiliation: Republican Fact(s): when he was 18, he joined the armed forces. He represented texas in Congress.

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thirty-Eighth President 1974-1977 State Represented: Michigan Party affiliation: Republican Fact(s): He starred on the University of Michigan football team.

Richard M. Nixon

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Ronald Reagan

1-800-556-6262

thirty-Seventh President 1969-1974 State Represented: New york Party affiliation: Republican Fact(s): He was president at the end of the Vietnam war.

814-938-8200

Fortieth President 1981-1989 State Represented: California Party affiliation: Republican Fact(s): He was shot by a would-be assassin and quickly recovered and returned to office.

A Hometown Bank you Can Count On . . . Both Today and in The Future.

Bill Clinton

Forty-Second President 1993-2001 State Represented: arkansas Party affiliation: Democrat Fact(s): He played the saxophone. while in high school, he once met President John Kennedy in the white House.

George w. Bush Forty-third President 2001- 2009 State Represented: texas Party affiliation: Republican Fact(s): Likes baseball. First President to begin serving in the 21st Century.

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Barack Obama

Forty-Fourth President 2009 - Present State Represented: Illinois Party affiliation: Democrat Fact(s): the first african american to hold the office. He was also the first black president of the Harvard Law Review.

apparel SS.C.D. Home & School obsessive abercrombie & fitch Hollister • fox Auction to be held american eagle aeropostale & more!

Saturday, Feb. 4

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verything is ready for the SS.C.D. Home and School Annual Auction to be held on S a t u r d a y, February 4 in the school’s auditorium. All funds from the auction will help keep tuition low for local families.

Tickets are available at the school office, or by phoning 938-4224. Advance tickets are available for $12 or 2 tickets for $20,

or are available at the door for $15.

Items to be auctioned off include round trip tickets to Punta Cana or Cancun, a Lazy-Boy Recliner, restaurant certificates, and baskets from our local wineries, and much more!

Come out and enjoy legal beverages and hors d’oeuvres, while supporting our school through the various auctions — silent, basket, and live — while having a fun evening!

New Name BraND ClotHiNG at Great low priCes Thurs.-Fri.-Sat. 10-6

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Guild Launches Patrons’ Drive, Announces Season

S

ince 1975, the Punxsutawney Theatre Arts Guild, Inc. has been spotlighting local talent in live stage productions.

The tradition continues in 2012 as PTAG announces its selections for the new season and launches the annual patrons' drive to encourage area residents to become part of the activities.

The three plays chosen to entertain area audiences represent a spectrum that ranges from a comedy/drama by Neil Simon, an acclaimed family musical based upon well-known characters from children's literature, and a comedy that bubbles over with unique characters and unexpected twists.

First up will be a recent Broadway hit by America's premier playwright. Neil Simon's Jake's Women, which starred Alan Alda, will kick off the year on February 24, 25, and March 2 and 3 with four nightly performances at the auditorium of the Punxsutawney Area Middle School. Veteran Guild performer and director, Kathy S. Dinsmore, chose the show because of its unusual plot structure and staging.

The title character is a writer who is more successful with fiction than with daily living.

While daydreaming about the women in his life, Jake has wildly comic and sometimes moving flashbacks playing in his mind. At times, his reveries are interrupted by visits from actual females. Their encounters are filled with Simon's witty dialogue, interspersed with mature language and situations.

A Year with Frog and Toad, the Guild's summer show, is a sweet-natured tribute to the beloved characters in Arnold Lobel's series of children's books. Designed for family entertainment, the lively production follows two great friends, the cheerful and popular Mr. Frog and the rather grumpy Toad, through four fun-filled seaons. Waking from hibernation in the spring, they proceed to plant their gardens, swim, rake leaves and eventually go sledding, learning lessons about life along the way. The catchy tunes remind everyone about the joys of friendship and provide reasons to rejoice in the traits that make each of us different and special.

Conceived by Mr. Lobel's daughter, Adrianne

Lobel, the musical was created by Robert and Willie Reale. Veteran director-performer, Jef Dinsmore selected the show because it will furnish an opportunity for area youngsters to audition for roles in the large and flexible cast.

After finishing the local run, the group will then move to the Sawmill Theater in Cook Forest for an additional four performances during the week of July 4.

PTAG's season will conclude in the fall when another Guild stalwart, Tracey Young, returns to the director's chair. She will take the helm for Daddy's Girl, a comedy by Gary Stapp. Set at Maudie's Diner, the play revolves around widower Benard Muloovy. When his deceased wife, who is a talking portrait on the diner wall, enlists the services of an angel to help her former husband reunite with their long-lost daughter, Benard finds himself surrounded by comic chaos. Two young women appear, only one of whom is really his child. Will he able to discern which is which?

Adding to the merriment are a forgetful waitress, a PhD student with a communication disability, two older women who finish each other's sentences, and a motorcyle mama looking to make Benard her next husband. In a contest of laughter and tears, lines are drawn, sides are taken, and rules are broken when one young lady reveals a secret and claims her paternity but not without a twist or two.

Having already begun the initial steps in casting Jake's Women, PTAG is now conducting its patrons' campaign. Those who wish to be part of the fun of the Guild's 37th Season by helping to underwrite the costs of high-quality, live stage performances in Punxsutawney can enroll as a patron, a sponsor, or a benefactor, according to the amount of their gifts and the number of tickets they wish to receive.

Business owners can elect to buy advertising in the Guild's programs at reasonable rates for great exposure year round. (See the advertisment with the enrollment form located to the righ of this story in Hometown Magazine.)

Anyone who wishes more information about the upcoming shows, or additional details about the patrons' drive or the advertising opportunities should call the Fyes at 938-6928 or the Dinsmores at 938-0378.

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Schedule IncludeS: "Jake's Women" by neil Simon Feb. 24, 25; March 2, 3 This recent adult comedy/drama from Broadway focuses upon relationshps. A writer faces a marital crisis by daydreaming about the women in his life. In comic and sometimes touching flashbacks played in his mind, Jake's thoughts are interrupted by visitations from actual females. contains adult language and situations.

InvITeS you To SHare THe LauGHTer and THe draMa oF our 37TH annIverSary SeaSon. Join our Patrons' drive by completing this form and returning with payment By FeB. 10 to:

PTaG PaTronS' CaMPaIGn P.o. Box 152 PunxSuTaWney, Pa 15767

"a year with Frog and Toad" by robert and Willie reale late June, early July Arnold lobel's well-loved characters from children's literature hop from the pages of the popular books to the stage. Two great friends, the cheerful Frog and the rather grumpy Toad, share their adventures through four fun-filled seasons. This ideal family show uses music and the audience's imaginations to remind us about friendship and why we should rejoice that every one is special and unique. "daddy's Girl" by Gary Stapp comic chaos erupts when Benard Muloovy, proprietor of Maudie's diner, meets two young women, one of whom is really his long-lost daughter. Will he be able to discern who she is? Adding to the merriment is a mischievous angel, a talking portrait, a forgetful waitress, a Phd student, a motorcycle mama, and other delightful characters. In a battle of tears and laughter, sides are taken, rules are broken, and secrets are revealed with a number of surprises along the way. *All shows subject to change.

o yes, I want to be part of PTAG's 37th Anniversary Season by helping to underwrite the costs of high-quality, live stage performances in Punxsutawney. I have indicated below the level of my support by checking the appropriate box. In addition to returning this form, I will send my check payable to PTAG by return mail to the address shown at the top of this ad.

Name ____________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________ Phone ____________________________________________________

o Patron: $45 donation; receives 6 tickets good at all local PTAG shows. o Sponsor: $60 to $99 donation; receives 8 tickets good at all local shows. o Benefactor: $100 or more donation; receives 10 tickets good at all local shows. o Advertiser: Business owners might prefer to advertise in our programs at very reasonable rates for great exposure year-round. Phone for details.

Call 938-6928 or 938-0378 for more information about the shows or the patrons' drive or our advertising rates for our programs.

Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136 – 19

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Happy Groundhog day We thank all those who helped make Punx’y’s Official Groundhog day Guide best in town!

Punxsutawney Hometown magazine 938-0312 • hometown@mail.com

view us online at: www.punxsutawneymagazine.com 20 – Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136

1918 Influenza Continued from page 14 down An emergency hospital was set up in the school at Wishaw and tents were put up by the Department of Health to house the volunteer medical staff.

Drastic rules were instituted throughout the county by the Board of Health. The rules were aimed at controlling the spread of the disease and included: bans on all public gatherings, closing the schools, prohibiting any sick person from working on the trolley system, or in barbershops, hotels, resuarants, etc., and requiring all funerals to be private with only adult releatives of the deceased and a clergyman present. The body of the deceased was not permitted to be taken to a church or hall for the funeral service. Many of the dead were taken directly to the cemetery and buried, with only the minister or priest in attendance. And, in some instances, with so many people dying, the grave diggers at the cemeteries were forced to dig trenches to bury the dead in caskets placed side by side.

As the week progressed, cases of Spanish influenza were being reported throughout the Punxsutawney area in both mine towns and other communities. In Reynoldsville, almost every operator in the Summerville Telephone Company’s exchange was ill.

New cases had developed at Big Soldier and at Eleanora, where the whole town was quarantined, and the trolley’s no longer permitted to stop there.

By Friday, October 4, the situation at Wishaw warranted a much larger headline, and was reported in a column in the upper left corner of the paper. This time the headline read: “Eight More Succumb to Dread Scourge at Wishaw in 24 Hours: Temporary Hospital is Opened in School House There — Two Die in Reynoldsville— Situation Grows More Critical.”

The article reported that Dr. S. Meigs Beyer, the County Medical Inspector, was on-site in Wishaw, overseeing the set-up of the temporary hospital in the school, and administering an influenza serum which was being given to those residents, who had not yet contracted the desease; and to doctors and nurses before they were permitted to work with the ill, and to undertakers before they were permitted to prepare the bodies for burial.

The Red Cross was actively recruiting nurses to aid in the fight against the epidemic, both locally and nationally. A number of local nurses were recruited. One local nurse, Anna McAndrews of Punx-

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sutawney, and a graduate of the Adrian Hospital training school that spring, volunteered at Wishaw on September 28. On October 8, just ten days later, she died from pneumonia .

In the first week of the epidemic, several hundred people were sickened in Reynoldsville and Sykesville, and over a hundred cases were reported at Eleanora.

Soon the epidemic spread to a wider area.

Additional emergency hospitals were set up at Reynoldsville, Big Soldier, Adrian, Knoxdale and Conifer. At Big Soldier, the emergency hospital also served Sykesville and at Adrian, it served Crawfordtown and Florence.

Most of the communities, which were heavily infected, were in close proximity to Wishaw, or had easy access by way of the trolley. In the case of Conifer, where 30 people died, it was discovered that many of the Conifer victims had visited Wishaw during the early stage of the epidemic and may have carried the virus home with them. There were outbreaks in other towns in the area including Punx’y, Rossiter, Francis Mine and Indiana County. DuBois, in Clearfield County was reported to have nearly 1,500 persons with the flu.

The presence of physicians in mining communities, the prompt action of the Board of Health, when it was realized they were experiencing an epidemic at Wishaw, may be what spared the rest of the area from the same fate. By limiting contact with the infected community, they reduced the number of people who would have been infected, and in turn, reduced the number of deaths from pneumonia. Another factor in reducing the deaths from pneumonia was the use of emergency hospitals staffed by trained nurses. At Adrian, although there were cases of influenza, very few deaths were recorded for town residents. Most of the deaths at the emergency hospital at Adrian were residents of Florence and Crawfordtown.

As a result of the tragic, unanticipated epidemic, which took place at Wishaw and similar communities across the nation, public health officials now work to anticipate such events. They encourage immunization and provide advance warnings in the hope that should one strike, it will be more like the situation at Adrian, where time enabled preventive measures to be used.

On November 11, 1918, the war was over, the Armistice signed and the draft ended.

By the end of November 1918, the Spanish influenza epidemic had run its course in the Punxsutawney area. Children, however, would memorialize it for the next 30 to 40 years when they jumped rope and recited the rhyme.

(Editor’s Note: The resources used in the preparation of this article are available the Punxsutawney Memorial Library, the Reynoldsville Public Library and the Punxsutawney Area Historical and Genealogical Society. Photographs are from the collection of Shirley J. Sharp. PRIDE – Punxsutawney Revitalization, has prepared this article: Investing, Developing, Enhancing. PRIDE is a nonprofit organization, which brings together residents, business people, community leaders, and civic organizations, to improve the business districts in Punxsutawney. PRIDE is working to develop a Coal Memorial and Welcome Center for the Punxsutawney Area.

Comments on this article may be directed to PRIDE, P.O. Box 298, Punxsutawney, PA 15767, or by calling 814-938-2493 and leaving a message. A PRIDE volunteer will return your call.)

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Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136 – 21

Do you wake up feeling unrested and tired or need to slip in that lil cat nap during the day?

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may be just the place to help you get that rest you deserve

Call Brenda at

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Offices located in Downtown Punxsutawney and the Rice Complex in Dubois

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22 – Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136

The Newest Members of the Inner Circle

T

Jason is a high school graduate of PAHS. The two newest members of the He received a degree in Civil Engineering Groundhog Inner Circle are familiar from Carnegie Mellon and worked as a faces in Punxsutawney, Dr. Jon Johncivil engineer before returning to Indiana ston and Jason Grusky.

University of Pennsylvania for his SecondJon Johnston, a well-known dentist, was ary Education degree. born and raised in Punxsutawney, and is a A long time friend of the Cooper family, long-time booster of Punx’y and its and with the help of the Groundhog Club’s groundhg. Jon is a Punx’y high graduate, past President Bill Cooper, Jason was able as well as a graduate from Grove City Colto assist with club activities that helped lege, and the University Of Pittsburgh maintain Gobblers Knob.

School Of Dental Medicine. Jon is married He stated, after joining the Inner Circle, to Peggy, and has a daughter, Anna. that he is shocked as to how much work the Jon’s father, Paul “Rusty” Johnston, was a members undertake and that, “There is a member of the Inner Circle for 49 years. ‘blue collar’ atJon has always titude to this thought being a group, and I part of the love it.”

Groundhog Club Jason deInner Circle scribes himself would be a great as a team way to participlayer, hard pate in the comworker, and is munity in a willing to do positive way. whatever it Regarding the takes to get the Inner Circle, Jon job done. He is stated, “I think very proud of it’s a great orhis town and ganization with loves its tradia fun, interesttions. ing, and imporAs Ron tant mission.”

Ploucha reJon does a lot cently moved to of traveling with one of the hanthe American dler positions, and PennsylvanJason is seen as ian Dental Assoan asset to the ciation, where group. There he meets many Dr. Jon Johnston and Jason Grusky was a need for a people that are teacher to take excited and inover Ploucha’s duties. Jason aspires to extrigued to hear about Punxsutawney and its pand the exposure of Punxsutawney Phil Groundhog Day traditions Jon is looking and Groundhog Day to schools worldwide. forward to being a productive member of “We have an amazing tradition here and the Inner Circle, spreading the tradition of we can help sustain that through a ‘grass Groundhog Day and Punxsutawney nationroots’ effort of getting today’s students exwide, as well as boosting it locally. cited about the holiday,” Jason explained.

Jason Grusky, a math teacher at the PunxHe is looking forward to bringing fresh sutawney Area High School, and his wife, ideas to help Groundhog Day and sharing Holly, are the parents of three children. At the stage with Phil on Groundhog Day for PAHS he coaches football and track and many years to come. field.

Dr. MacMillan Continued from page 12

ping a golf ball into a hole when you had dropped bombs from a B-24 Liberator onto Japanese occupied-islands?

Golf was a more enjoyable part of life than war, of course, and he gathered our collective wits and instructed us, “Okay, let’s put a three down on the scorecard and move on to the fifteenth hole, and keep this thing going.”

We won the tournament that day, and I know this for sure: it was not only Doug’s most memorable moment of the summer, but it was also one that the rest of us will always remember about him, too.

In between holes that day, I took the time to tell my teammates about Doug’s service to his country and his exploits in the South

Seas. They stood in awe over the tales. We had an honest-to-God World War II bomber pilot leading us on our own victorious mission.

After a half-century of practicing optometry in Punxsutawney, Doug retired in 2002.

“I’ve had an incredible run of good luck,” the doctor told Hometown magazine.

Punxsutawney has lost an outstanding member of its community. We will miss Dr. Doug MacMillan. It is men like Doug who have set examples for the rest of us, making our characters and our lives a little better, and, as a result, our community more inviting. Simply put, Dr. Douglas MacMillan was a “great guy.” He was loved and admired by everyone who knew him, and justly so. For that, we say, “Thank you, Dr. MacMillan,” from your many friends in Punxsutawney.”

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Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136 – 23

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Recipes, Resolutions and a New Groundhog Cookie Recipe to Try

By Melissa Salsgiver of Hometown magazine It’s almost February. How many of us have broken resolutions already?

Two years ago I made a “101 in 1001” list. It may have been a fad back then. If you haven’t heard of it, you make a list of 101 things you want to accomplish in the next 1001 days. It’s like a bucket list, but consists of things you could realistically accomplish in about three years.

Technically, I didn’t break any resolutions for another year or so.

I only have 41 items written down, and I have ten items crossed off. A few others are maybes. For example, I read two books by a particular author, but not the book I wrote down. A few others I exceeded my own expectations.

My number one item was to go on vacation to some place I haven’t been before.

Leave the country was also on my list. I’ve been invited to go on a fishing trip to Canada this year. I was invited last year, but I didn’t have a passport. So a major goal for this year becomes: Get my passport so I can leave the country and fulfill two items on my list.

Of course, I had some baking/cooking items written down, including making homemade noodles and pierogies. I have

T

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24 – Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136

10% BuYER’S PREMIuM

PEAnuT BuTTER GRounDHoG CooKIES (This dough needs to be refrigerated for several hours before rolling it out, or refrigerate it overnight.)

1/2 cup margarine (1 stick) 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 egg 1/4 cup French vanilla coffee creamer (any flavor will do or milk) 1 1/2 cups flour 3/4 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt Icing and/or sugar for decoration

- Cream the first four ingredients. Add the creamer and egg. Beat again. Sift the dry ingredients and add to the others. Form into a ball and refrigerate in a covered container for several hours or overnight.

-Roll dough out on floured counter in small batches. Decorate with any sugars.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until the edges and tails are brown. The small groundhog cookie cutter I have - Continued on next page

6 6 More More Weeks Weeks of of Winter Winter Weather?

Weather?

Get Out The Flannel Sheets & Don’t Forget The House Coal!

(a buyers ticket is needed & winner must be present to win)

Including Amish Quilts and Crafts from Amish Communities throughout the U.S.

no excuse for not doing those.

Not on my list was to make a new groundhog cookie recipe. I had three good reasons for doing this. First, I actually had a request to do so! Second, no one I’ve talked to has molasses, and if they do, it’s really, really old. I also heard it was expensive, so I priced it at two stores.

It was $3.29 at one and $3.59 at another. So, it's affordable, but I am still not buying any.

Third, I was also told that not all kids like the spicy groundhog cookies. My goal was to sort of follow the rules of the Three Bears when making a groundhog cookie that wasn’t just a sugar cookie, and wasn’t just spicy. I wanted it just right, even though I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a cut out or not, but it is:

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Recipes and Resolutions Continued from page 5

makes about 6 dozen.

Before I purchased my groundhog cookie cutter at Fezell’s County Market, I thought about using half flowers and half mittens, but then I’d have to keep explaining how they were Groundhog Day cookies.

While inspecting all my cookie cutters for this endeavor, I came to the conclusion that I can make hunting season cookies. I have a deer, turkey, coyote and now groundhog cookie cutters.

I’m going to add hunting season cookies to my list for next year. I can’t even imagine, yet, what a hunting season cookie should include.

While experimenting with recipes, I thought I had made the greatest breakthrough in cookie history by making a gingersnap oatmeal cookie hybrid.

After I substituted four ingredients and added raisins ... what I ended up with is an oatmeal raisin cookie with nutmeg and allspice instead of cinnamon. You could just take your favorite oatmeal raisin cookie recipe and susbitute 1/2 tsp. ginger and 1/4 tsp. allspice for the cinnamon, but here is the recipe I made. oATMEAL GInGERSnAPS 1 1/2 cups flour 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup granulated sugar (plus extra to roll cookies in) 1 tsp. baking soda 1tsp ginger 1/4 tsp allspice 1/2 cup margarine 1 egg

1/4 cup maple syrup 1/2 cup raisins 3/4 cup oatmeal

- Sift the dry ingredidents and add to margarine and egg that have been blended together. Add the oatmeal and raisin (or any other baking chip like butterscotch). Use two small spoons to drop portions of dough into a shallow bowl filled with a layer of sugar. Roll them around to coat them in the sugar then form into balls with your hands. Place them onto a baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees for about 8 to 10 minutes.

I was able to clear one cook book off my shelf during this whole process. It was the most pretentious cookbook I’ve read. I realize it was published in 1974, and maybe back then people used more molasses, but I doubt anyone had all three types of molasses that their cookie recipes called for.

That cookbook is now at Good Will.

Of course I need to pair these cookies with a Twining’s of London tea. Pomegrante black tea is my choice for both of these. My choice had less to do with flavor and more to do with symbollism. Groundhogs live underground and Punxsutawney Phil predicts the coming of spring. Persephone lives underground for six months out of the year and her return marks the beginning of spring. Her destiny to live underground for those six months was because she ate a few pomegranate seeds...that might be a stretch for the pomegranate tea, but I stand by my choice.

I definitely need to get some items crossed off my 101 in 1001 days since I’ve added yet another item. Maybe I’ll file for an extention.

•••

The original punxsutawney Spicy Groundhog Cookies 2 c. sifted all purpose flour 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. ground ginger 1 tsp. ground cloves 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 c. soft butter 1 c. sugar 1/2 c. molasses 1 egg yolk 1 egg, slightly beaten Currents or raisins Sift flour, salt, soda, baking powder, and spices together. Set aside. Cream butter and sugar to-

gether until fluffy. Blend in molasses and egg yolk. Stir in flour mixture and mix well.

Form into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap or waxed paper. Chill one hour or longer.

Roll out a small amount at a time on a sugarsprinkled board. Roll 1/8-inch thick. Cut out cookies with lightly-floured groundhog cookie cutter. Place cookies on greased baking sheet. Brush with slightly beaten egg.

Decorate with currant eye, raisins, etc. Bake 8 to 10 min. in a preheated 350 degree oven.

Cool slightly before removing from cookie sheet.

Yield: Makes 12 to 15 large size groundhogs, or 3 to 4 dozen smaller ones.

Groundhog Day Corsage and Boutonniere Sale The popular Groundhog Day Corsage and Boutonniere Sale continues this year. It is a perfect way to brighten up Groundhog Day in the office, or at Groundhog Day events. To place your order, phone Roseman’s Florist 9387364 or 590-6868. The corsages and boutonniers are just $5 each. They can be picked up at Caterinas from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, February 1.

All proceeds benefit Pride.

Beverly Lingenfelter, Debbie Parise and Diane Lellock of Roseman’s Florist with Jennifer Roberts, Punx’y Pride corsage coordinator.

EAST AMERICAN MOTORSPORT 2 miles south of Punxsutawney on Rt. 119

814-938-4230 or 888-322-3997 www.eastamericanmotorsport.com

Offers good on new and unregistered units purchased between 1/1/12-2/29/12. *On select models. See your dealer for details. **Rates as low as 3.99% for 36 months. Offers only available at participating Polaris® dealers. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. Other financing offers are available. Applies to the purchase of all new ATV and RANGER models made on the Polaris Installment Program from 11/1/11-12/31/11. Fixed APR of 2.99%, 6.99%, or 9.99% will be assigned based on credit approval criteria. Vehicles shown with optional accessories. Avoid operating Polaris RANGERs on paved surfaces or public roads. Riders and passengers should always wear helmets, eye protection, protective clothing, and seat belts. Always use cab nets. Drivers of RANGER vehicles must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license. Warning: ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: Avoid operating Polaris ATVs on paved surfaces or public roads. Riders and passengers should wear helmets, eye protection, protective clothing and seat belts. Polaris adult ATV models are for riders aged 16 and older. Be sure to take a safety training course. For safety training information in the U.S., call the SVIA at (800) 887-2887, see your dealer, or call Polaris at (800) 342-3764. In Canada, see your local dealer. ©2012 Polaris Industries Inc. Printed 01-12

Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136 – 25

How to make your day a good one Remember last Winter Western® has a full line of ContraCtor GraDe® snowplows ready to take on winter’s worst. Choose Pro Plus® straight blade, MvP Plus™ v-Plows or the versatile WiDe-out™ expandable wing multi-position snowplow.

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By Barton Goldsmith Scripps Howard News Service ome like to do it at night; others do it first thing in the morning.

No, I'm not talking about sex. I'm talking about something that lasts much longer and will improve the energy in your relationship as well as your mood.

I'm talking about taking a moment to remember that, ultimately, you are in charge of your mood.

Healthy people are able to deal with upsets without getting upset.

A difficult phone call or an unexpected problem won't throw them into a tizzy.

I know there are numerous people out there who will swear on a stack of Prozac that they have no control over their moods. If something bad happens around them, they choose to feel bad.

Meanwhile, those who want to keep their energy balanced may get slightly thrown off, but they realize that this state is only temporary. They will then gather their forces and deal directly with the problem.

We all do have the power to change the way we feel, but if you're prone to feeling sorry for yourself, or have gotten used to being down or frightened, it's harder to do.

In addition, there are people who have mood disorders, which makes life much more challenging. It may be harder for someone suffering from a chemical imbalance to decide how to feel, but no one is powerless.

Gathering your will to maintain a focus on your feelings is not an easy thing to do in the beginning. However, with a little time and perhaps some coaching, you can learn to keep yourself from being a victim of your own brain chemistry.

S

Recognizing triggers is a helpful tool to make your days brighter. If you know that a scary movie is going to give you bad dreams, the simple solution is not to watch it. Surprisingly, though, many people do not think about such precursors to feeling uncomfortable. Look, if you know green peppers give you a stomachache, then don't eat them -- no matter how good they might look.

Self-control is also self-determination.

By making the right choices, you are setting yourself up for better outcomes and feelings. If you see that your mood is upsetting to others and don't do anything about it, then you are choosing to make those around you uncomfortable, and most of the time they will leave.

People who let their bad moods run them, rather than trying to change how they are feeling, may have given up on ever feeling good about most anything, but especially about themselves. Instead, you can remind yourself that you are a good person with a strong mind, and you are doing everything in your power to act appropriately and make your life better.

These attitudes and actions are a small sample of what you can do to change your mood and your mind. They all require the same thing -- the dedication and desire to making your day, and your life, a better place to be.

(Dr. Barton Goldsmith, a psychotherapist in Westlake Village, Calif., is the author, most recently, of "100 Ways to Boost Your Self-Confidence -- Believe in Yourself and Others Will Too." Email him at Barton(at)BartonGoldsmith.com.)

•••

Photos from the Past

Transportation in transition in the early 1900's — On the left is a stable and a young man who may have been in charge of the stable. One of the necessary businesses in town was the Livery, which provided horses and carriages for use by the public, and cared for horses of town’s people. The horse and carriage would soon give way to the automobile, seen following the carriage in the picture. Photograph courtesy of the Punxsutawney Historical and Genealogical Society.

26 – Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136

Gilson Stained Glass & More

To have your business and article featured on our Punxsutawney Area Business Page contact hometown magazine at 938-0312 or hometown@mail.com

Handmade Gifts by 18 different craftsmen new ClASS SIGn UPS SPeCIAl HoUrS For GroUndHoG dAy Feb. 1st 10-9 Glass Demos throughout the day Feb. 2nd 8-6 Feb. 3 & 4 10-5 each of these days.

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Dr. Nathan C. Stebbins Take care of your eyes they are a vital part of your health.

Get your yearly eye exam, because sometimes changes in your eyesight happen without you even realizing. we oFFer Full SerViCe optiCal anD a CoMplete line oF ContaCt lenS optionS For all aGeS. we take the time with each patient to make sure we are giving you the best in eye care.

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Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136 – 27

Punxsutawney area Community Center • Movies weekly at the Jackson Theater • Community Fitness Center • gymnastics, Fitness Classes, Cycling, Dance, aerobics • Facility Rentals for Meetings or Parties 220 N. Jefferson St. • 938-1008

u.S. Postal Service tries to survive in new era

By Rod Lockwood Toledo Blade t's an article of faith that this country has relied on -- and perhaps taken for granted -- since the first days of the nation: The U.S. Postal Service will deliver whatever you want to send, wherever you want it to go.

Six days a week, year after year, our bills, birthday cards, letters, Christmas cards, care packages and more flow through the postal service, which pledged at its formation in the 1700s to deliver the mail that last mile, whether it's the Alaskan wilderness or an isolated Indian reservation.

In the early days, horses hauled the packages and letters across the frontier, taking months to reach their destination. Then it was carried on the rails. Now planes and 18-wheelers deliver billions of tons of everything from important financial statements to infernal junk mail to our homes.

It's a system that is in serious jeopardy, thanks to changing technology and stubborn economic inefficiencies that have been present almost since its inception.

Officials are trying to close a $14 billion budget gap by laying off tens of thousands of workers, closing rural and urban offices, and ending delivery on Saturdays. The dilemma of delivering "snail mail" is perplexing in a world where most folks communicate instantaneously via texting and email, where bills can be paid online, and where it seems as though only people older than 70 send cards or letters.

I

Yet, when a public meeting was held recently to discuss changes that include shuttering the Toledo, Ohio, mail-processing facility -- along with closing five city post offices and several in northwest Ohio -more than 500 residents showed up to express their outrage. They included union members trying to protect the 400 people who are employed at the facility and others who on a more visceral level object to a change in lifestyle.

In the nearly two and a half centuries since it was created, with Benjamin Franklin as the country's first postmaster general, the U.S. Postal Service came to represent stability and a sense of permanence.

Now that is in danger and once again progress is chipping away at something that we loved to complain about -- grousing when the cost of stamps went up a few pennies, snickering about someone "going postal" when they had a temper tantrum at work, complaining that a letter was a few days late -- but valued nevertheless.

The small-town post office could be headed for the same cultural graveyard as the family-owned hardware store, or corner grocery. And it's hard not to feel like we're losing a connection to our past that kept us rooted in simpler times when things didn't move quite so fast.

(Contact Rod Lockwood at rlockwood(at)theblade.com.)

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

•••

Planets outnumber stars in Milky Way

F

By Dale McFeatters Scripps Howard News Service

or millennia we thought our little solar system of eight planets --nine, if you count Pluto, as some sentimentalists still do -- was unique in the universe.

Then, in 1994, astronomers began to discover extra solar planets, and even though we weren't alone anymore, it seemed as if we were still part of a pretty exclusive club.

Now, thanks to further discoveries, it turns out that we are an infinitesimal part of a huge crowd, and that's just in our own galaxy. Recent research estimates that, conservatively, there are 100 billion stars in the Milky Way and each star averages 1.6 planets. In short, there are more planets than stars.

Except for the fact of insatiably curious life on Earth, we're not even a very interesting solar system.

28 – Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136

Last September, astronomers found a gas planet the size of Saturn orbiting two stars, universally prompting the comparison to Luke Skywalker's home planet of Tatooine in the "Star Wars" movies. And then, in short order, astronomers discovered two other solar systems arrayed around double stars.

Astronomers also discovered a mini-solar system with three tiny rocky planets orbiting a dwarf star.

And the pace of discovery -- more than 700 confirmed planets with another 2,000 or so awaiting confirmation -- is likely to pick up as astronomers refine their techniques and the Kepler planet-hunting telescope is on the job.

Astronomer John Johnson of Cal Tech had an inelegant if effective analogy: "It's kind of like cockroaches. If you see one, then there are dozens hiding."

Not that we're complaining, mind you, but these discoveries seem to be coming faster than we laypersons can handle them. But keep up the good work, anyway.

Improvise, adapt, overcome in the great outdoors T

By Terry Tomalin Tampa Bay Times

he camping trip started off like most others: kids screaming, music blaring, cellphone ringing. So I didn't hear the sport-utility vehicle's rear hatch open and the gear hit the street.

Merely three minutes into my drive, I glanced in the rearview mirror and noticed the open door. I did a U-turn and retraced my path, getting all the way home without recovering anything and discovering that essential equipment had fallen out.

I lost a tent, cooler and backpack full of my personal gear. My mind raced as I tried to think of each item in the backpack: jeans, hiking socks and my beloved Boy Scout jacket.

Then I remembered: Oh, no! My Ranger knife!

The Gerber locking blade was a present from my friend Jim Wilson, chief ranger at the Fort De Soto County Park, just outside St. Petersburg, Fla. The knife, which bears the insignia of the U.S. Army Rangers, had been given to him by his son-in-law, Lt. Col. Rob Boone of the 82nd Airborne. Boone, a descendant of the legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone, had carried the knife with him in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I was devastated. How could I explain to my friend that I had lost such an important gift? I felt like I had let down Wilson, Boone and his famous ancestor. Feeling sorry for myself, I continued on to the park and set up camp.

As I was stacking wood for a fire, I remembered something that happened earlier in the day.

I woke up dreaming about Clint Eastwood. Actually, I had been dreaming about one of his movies, "Heartbreak Ridge." In the film Eastwood's character, a U.S. Marine gunnery sergeant, tells his squad members that they must "improvise, adapt and overcome."

The movie star did not coin the phrase. It is the unofficial mantra of the Corps, the smallest and most poorly funded branch of the military. As a result, Marines are accustomed to doing more with less.

So I went to work, printed out those three words in big, bold, block letters and showed them to my boss. "This is going to be my mantra for 2012," I said. He just smiled and shook his head like he always does when he wonders if I've finally stepped over the edge.

Improvise. Adapt. Overcome. Good advice for everybody in these trying times.

I am sure that is what old Dan Boone must have thought when he was captured by the Shawnees only to escape and lead his captors on a four-day, 160-mile footrace through the wilderness. Boone never faltered. He never gave up. The frontiersman continued on against all odds and arrived in time to warn his fam-

ily and friends of an impending Indian attack.

The vision of this buckskin buccaneer barreling through the woods, day after day, made me stop and think about what I "want" versus what I "need."

As an outdoors writer, I love to get the latest gear and gadgets, because high-tech

equipment certainly makes my adventures in the great outdoors more enjoyable. I love my new, propane-powered coffee maker, but I wonder sometimes: Is it essential?

Probably not. When it comes right down to it, there are only a few things that I could never go without. Here's my short list: waterproof matches, compass, space blanket and, of course, a good, trusty knife.

I'm not saying that you should stop shopping at your favorite sporting-goods store. On the contrary, buy quality gear and take good care of it.

In 2012, I plan to get back to basics. I hope to do more with less. But I'm not going to go overboard. I plan to buy new underwear at least once a year. However, as much as I want to buy a buckskin jacket and knee-high moccasins to wear

to work, I will resist the urge and make do with what I have.

I will improvise. I will adapt. I will overcome.

With that in mind, my recent loss of a few material items, although sentimental, doesn't really seem like that big of a deal.

I made my peace in the woods that night and returned home the following morning ready to follow my new mantra. Then, unloading the gear in the garage, I saw my Ranger knife on my workbench next to the sharpening stone.

Had I forgotten to pack it? Or had a gear angel found the missing item and returned it?

We'll never know. But the loss, albeit temporary, made me better, stronger and wiser. And for that I am thankful.

(Email tomalin(at)tampabay.com.)

•••

Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136 – 29

Baseball Hall of Fame BIG RuN CARPET Neko’s "The Store for your Floors with agonizing begins in Working Family prices! earnest now

FaMIly ReSTaURaNT

By John Shea San Francisco Chronicle et the agonizing begin.

Now that we know the 2012 Hall of Fame class -- Barry Larkin and Ron Santo -- we can look ahead to the next ballot that will include Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa and Mike Piazza, all long shots to make it on the first ballot because of proof or suspicion they benefited from performance-enhancing drugs.

Whether I vote for Bonds, I'll secondguess myself either way. How can this wonderful ballplayer, the best hitter since Ted Williams, not be in Cooperstown? On the other hand, how can I justify voting for someone who broke sacred records on a BALCO diet?

Hall of Famers will continue to express opinions on the subject, and they're a splendid resource for voters. However, through various media reports in recent years, many already said they wouldn't welcome anyone with steroid ties to their fraternity.

A sampling: -- Ryne Sandberg (June 2009): "It'll be up to the sportswriters to speak loud and clear about that. I don't see any of those

guys getting in."

-- Wade Boggs (June 2009): "If you cheat, you don't fit."

-- Jim Rice (July 2009): "I think if they did something wrong to enhance the game of baseball or go against the game of baseball, they shouldn't be in. That's just me."

-- Reggie Jackson (July 2009): "A lot of Hall of Famers are very offended by this.

I am starting to get affected, and I am hoping that those guys that get caught don't get into the Hall of Fame."

-- Jim Bunning (July 2009): "There is no place for cheaters in the Hall of Fame."

-- Goose Gossage (April 2010): "As for Bonds and (Mark) McGwire, I don't believe they belong in the Hall of Fame."

-- Henry Aaron (January 2011): "My feeling has always been the same -- the game of baseball has no place for cheaters. There's no place in the Hall of Fame for people who cheat."

How can I vote for Bonds after hearing from these Hall of Famers? Then again, how can I not?

(Email John Shea at jshea(at)sfchronicle.com.)

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

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L

Get the

Story...

The colorful story of Punx’y Phil & Groundhog day...

OPEN FOR BuSINESS!

Our specialty... serving you!

TaKe oUT aVailaBle fUll MenU • hoMeMade food Pizza • fresh BaKed Goods

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SaNDy'S Beverages

See us For all your Beverages!

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So thick and juicy, you’re gonna need an extra napkin.

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ThIRD POUNDERS

County Market n Hometown n Pantall Hotel n The Punx’y Chamber of Commerce n Punx’y Phils Restaurant n

30 – Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136

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HoURS: Mon-sat 11am-9pm • Closed sundays

Every sunday during football season wings are just 50¢ each.

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pizza town

Pizza • Sandwiches Salads • Dinners & More Come eat with us before or after the games.

Sun.-Thur. 11 am to 11 pm Fri. & Sat. 11am til Midnight

Downtown Punxsutawney

Camouflage Inn NoW oN Sale aT THeSe loCal bUSINeSSeS

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Home of Steeler Country

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BURKETT’S P.A.W.S. 242 NORTh FINDLEY ST. PUNXSUTAWNEY

entertainment On The Weekends

GOOd FOOd & GOOd Fun

STOP BY AND SEE US Rt. 119 Stump Creek (Between Big Run & Sykesville)

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All Breeds Dog & Cat Grooming

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laska’s Pizza 405 N. Main St., Punx’y

938-4647 now Offering Gluten Free Crust!

new PIZZAS • Pierogie • white Pizza • Buffalo Chicken • Margarita • Meatball Sub • Chicken Bacon ranch • Spinach Artichoke

STroMBolI CAlZoneS SIde SAlAdS new order of T-Shirts Have Arrived

Casteel Chiropractic

Open 7 Days A Week at 11 a.m.

To restore function you need to restore posture.

PLACE YOuR ORDERS EARLY FOR SuPER BO WL SuNDAY

DR. IaN CaStEEL our job is to keep your spine in line for a better, healthier you!

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410 East Mahoning St. "We address the cause, not the symptom"

BONELESS WINGS - real chicken not pressed, baked not fried with a sweet tangy sauce.

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- Buffalo Chicken - Italian - Steak

Meeting room & Card Club room

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NEw HouRS: MoN., wED. & FRI. 9-1 & 3-8 CLoSED TuE. & THuR.

west end

the perfect football party Game plan Baked Goods Deli snacks ~

hometown magazine’s ‘super football contest’:

SuPER BOWL

xLVI AFC Champion vs.

(missing from photo) Local Registered Pharmacists Mon.- Fri 9 to 7 Sat. 9 to 2

938-3077 132 West Mahoning Street Punxsutawney

“Square deals on round Tires”

complete, clip or Mail to: super football contest hometown magazine, P.o. Box 197, Punxsutawney, Pa 15767

name address city & zip Phone

Coupon for Super Bowl Game of February 5th Step 1: Guess the Winning Team:

__ AFC Champion

__ NFC Champion

Step 2: Guess the Total Points that

NFC Champion Michael Horner, Kim Horner Joe Presloid & Jennifer Moore

january 19, 1882 — NOTICE - Those ladies of Punxsutawney and vicinity who are opposed to their husbands drinking my beer, and who are in the habit of annoying me, will hereafter publish in the paper the names of those to whom they wish to stop selling beer, at my expense. C. HAAG Southside Brewery (Punxsutawney Spirit) january 21, 1889 — J. C. Rochester has been appointed postmaster at Richmond recently. [Ed. note: Richmond was the name of the town in Indiana County. When the post office was established it was named Rochester Mills to honor the first postmaster. In 1885, the town had two flouring mills, three saw mills, carding mill, shingle mill, and a planing mill.] (Punxsutawney News)

Price ★Quality ★Selection ★Service ★

west Mahoning St. Punxsutawney 938-6961

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

SuNDAY, FEB. 5, 2012

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

my certificate at:

(must be a participating advertiser on page 30-31)

____________________________________

Enter to Win a $25 Gift Certificate for the Closest Entry Entry Deadline is Friday 4 p.m., February 3 In the event two or more contestants correctly pick the winning team and total number of points, one winner will be randomly selected and awarded the winning prize. In event two or more contestants tie for closest to the total score, one winner will be randomly selected to win the $25 certificate. There will be only one $25 winner for the contest. No purchase necessary to enter the contest. Must be 18 years old to enter.

your steeler fan Headquarters!

CaRoL’S CaRPET woRLD Juneau, Pa • 814-938-8687 D.A. Schaffron, Proprietor

yoUr CooPer TIre HeAdqUArTerS now located behind Mahoning Valley Milling co.

we have a great assortment of steeler gear and accessories for that fanatic football fan!

Brian Horner - Owner

203 N. Hampton Ave. • 938-9150 M-F 9-7, Sat. 9-3, Closed Sun.

939-7660

OTCs • Lottery • Gifts Unique Gifts • yankee Candles

Go CHUCkS!

www.punxsyhometown.com

• homecrest cabinets • floating floors • hardwood floors • Vinyl • laminate • Mohawk • ceramic Tile

Monday thru Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

BrAnd nAMeS AT low PrICeS

january 26, 1871 — NEW PLANING MILL - We have been informed that a gentleman from Indiana county has purchased property in Clayvillle, and intends starting a Planing Mill. We believe it will be ready for operation early in the spring. We wonder why manufacturing establishments are not more numerous in this community. We posses everything, but a little energy, that a community could possess to induce manufacturies. (Punxsutawney Plaindealer) january 31, 1894 — The patrons of the opera house on Friday and Saturday nights of this week, to see James Young, tragedian, are assured by Mr. Fish that the gallery will be closed and there will be no noise nor confusion from that end of the house, as is very often the case. [Note: A “tragedian” is an actor who performs tragic roles.] (Punxsutawney News) February 9, 1882 — The sleighing party to Marion [now Marion Center], Indiana County, on Monday was a very pleasant affair, and much enjoyed by the participants.

The party stopped with landlord Kinter, of the Marion House, where they were joined by a party of young folks from Indiana, and the greater portion of the night was spent in dancing. The Punxsutawney delegation arrived at home about six o’clock on Tuesday morning. (Punxsutawney Spirit) •••

Here we go, Steelers!

Contest Winner

Winning last month's Hometown magazine football contest was Don Schroeder of Punx'y. Don correctly picked the Steelers to defeat the Browns and was closest to the total number of points scored in the game. He will redeem his $25 merchandise certificate at West End Comet Market.

You, too, can be a winner. This month's feature game is the Super Bowl. Clip, complete and forward your entry.

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Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136 – 31

North Findley Street, punxsutawney

938-7160 regular Hours: Mon. and Tues. 9 to 7 Wed. 9 to 4, Thur. 9 to 5; Fri. 9 to 8; Sat. 9 to 4

Find us on Facebook 32 – Punxsutawney Hometown – February 2012 - Issue #136

Jay Philliber, Family Dog- Samsun Greg Duncan, Debbie Walker, Kaci Dickey, Erin Mitchell, Chad Davis