#195 Christmas 2016

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• Savor a Scrumptious List of Christmas Foods! • Coal Town Schools & the Making of Americans • Hometown’s Steelers • James E. Mitchell’s Punxsutawney Legacy • Hometown First Baby of 2017 Contest Football Contest – A • Discover the Origins of Santa Claus! Winner Every Month! • PAHS Winter Sports Photo Album Inside

From Caricatures to Disney to Shadowbinders and Beyond:

On the cover: The creative and digitally adept Pratt family consists of (from left) Kairi; her mom, Kambrea; her dad, Thom; and her brother, Tristan. (photo by Vanessa Huey Photography)

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Thom Pratt and Family Create Online Presence

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By Jim Lauffer of Hometown magazine t was a dark and stormy night – as the clichÊd opening line goes – but the denizens of Duckburg, for the most part, slept soundly and unaware of the meteorological tumult. Except for one – Uncle Scrooge McDuck, whose sleep was

Scrooge No. 4, which IDW published in July 2015. The comic has a strong hometown connection; the cover of comic book – which depicts Uncle Scrooge and Huey, Dewey, and Louie enjoying a tour of Walt Disney World’s Fantasyland – was drawn by Punxsutawney’s Thom Pratt. For Thom, like for the feathery triplets, “thisâ€? – meaning life and play and work – is all about family. He is married to a Punxsutawney native – the former Kambrea Hollenbaugh. Thom and Kambrea are the parents of Tristan, 13, who attends Punxsutawney Area High School, and Kairi, 9, a student at West End Elementary. Kambrea is a graduate of Punxsutawney Area High School and received her bachelor’s degree in art education. Following her graduation from IUP, she taught art in several area elementary schools. All A Thom Pratt recolored and remastered drawing for Fantagraphics. family members are inŠ Walt Disney Co. (Photo by Vanessa Huey Photography)

interrupted by a frightening dream! The nightmare shook Uncle Scrooge to his feathered core and sent him scurrying from his bed to the home of his nephew, Donald Duck. As he explained the nightmare and its real-life source, Uncle Scrooge lamented his fate and asked Donald for his help. The request prompted a heated disagreement between Uncle Scrooge and the irascible Donald. The voice of reason intervened, the collective voice of Huey, Dewey, and Louie – Donald’s nephews and Uncle Scrooge’s great-nephews. “But Unca Donald, this is all about family and it sounds like Unca Scrooge really needs us!� said the triplets, much to the delight of Scrooge and the dismay of Donald. So begins the story – paraphrased, of course – “The Grand Canyon Conquest,� the opening story in Disney Comics Uncle

2 – Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195

volved in what Thom simply refers to as “the family business.� Thom has gained a measure of local acclaim for his facility in drawing caricatures. Now forty, he has drawn caricatures in Barclay Park during the annual Groundhog Festival since his mid-twenties and has, no doubt, encountered Phil enthusiasts from every walk of life. Two such enthusiasts once created a ticklish situation for him. “They were nudists,� he said, “and they wanted me to draw them.� “The festival is a family-friendly event,� he continued, “so I drew them from the shoulders up.� Thom wants the subjects of his caricatures to feel good about themselves when they see his work. “I don’t do carney-like caricatures, savage caricatures,� he said. “I want the caricature to be funny, but I don’t want people to be embarrassed to hang them up.� “Thom wants to reach people, to have mass appeal,� added Kambrea. “He wants to brighten people’s days.� Thom is originally from Montoursville, near Williamsport, and is a graduate of Montoursville High School. He considers himself a self-taught “art guy.� In high school, his art teacher, no doubt hoping to encourage a determined, talented student, took him to the headquarters of Marvel Comics during the school trip to New York City. Later in life, hoping to be near the comic-book action, Thom lived in the Big Apple for a time. “I drew quite a bit,� he said, “and I always wanted to do comics – at least since I was thirteen or fourteen years old.� After high school, Thom moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to, in his words, “find myself� and to “get into Sega.� Before moving to - Continued on page 4

Holiday Greetings from Hometown

ith each passing year, the Holiday Season begins earlier and earlier. Spooky jack-o’ lanterns, overflowing cornucopias, and twinkling lights all vie for attention – seemingly at the same time! Once upon a time, holidays – Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day (and for Punxsutawney residents, Groundhog Day) – progressed in an orderly, more distinct manner. Each day received its just due, and each was followed by a time of respite – a time to recharge for the next holiday. Now, with holidays becoming a single, sometimes stressful, blur of preparation and activity, folks have less time to enjoy the celebrations themselves – let alone to contemplate the meaning of each day. We suffer from holiday fatigue. Rather than enjoy and celebrate each holiday, we often want to just “get it over with.� Let us not fall prey to holiday fatigue. Let us savor all our days, including our holidays. As we approach Christmas and the up-

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Making a Holiday Food List and Checking It Twice

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By Mary Ellen Pollock-Raneri for Hometown magazine re you a “list� person? Do you enjoy jotting down things that you need and tasks that you simply must accomplish before the end of the day? Me too! Then, I lose the list, or I shove it in my pocket and forget to look at it as I sail up and down the aisles of the grocery store, filling my cart with random articles – items not on the list! Okay? Not okay! For example, I need – with a capital NE-E-D – Cocoa Puffs, which are not on the list. And, of course, I then need a carton of chocolate milk to pour on top of them. Also not on the list! I need a box of Chips Ahoy! cookies even though I think I might have jotted down rice cakes on my shopping reminder. And I must buy those interesting ice cream bars with fudge, nuts, and caramel inside. After all, they are on sale! Who cares if they aren’t on my list? The holiday season particularly inspires me to write down my thoughts. I have lists of gifts, Christmas card recipients, things to

do, groceries to buy, and of course, the honey-do list for you know who. But, since I’m not too adept at following the lists I create, I thought a fun “A to Z� Christmas food list would be an enjoyable endeavor – one that I hope will entertain readers as well. A – Anise. An odiferous flavoring that my mom used to put in pizzelle and biscotti batter. Some folks feel that a pizzelle isn’t a pizzelle without that pungent flavoring. My grandmother used to keep baskets of Italian wedding cookies in her coal cellar and they were all laced with the stuff. Trouble is – one cookie with anise is a whole plate of cookies with anise. That is, the overpowering flavor will completely take over your cookie tray, and you will end up with anise peanut butter blossoms, anise chocolate chips, anise snicker-doodles, and anise sugar cookies. Me – I plan to stick to the almond or vanilla extracts. B – Biscotti. My mom has a tried-and-true recipe for these Italian cookies. Brown vanilla stains and a few oil blotches decorate her battered (excuse the pun) and timeworn recipe card, but her secret formula works like a charm every time she bakes them. They are quite a tricky cookie to concoct. Why? The critters are actually cooked twice. Halfway through the baking process, the long loaves must be cut into fat slivers, - Continued on page 10

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coming New Year, let us step back from the rush of the holidays and our lists of activities. Let us pause to reflect, perhaps in a creaky rocker or in a pew at a candlelight service, on what Christmas truly means to us. Let us take the time to look back with thankfulness and look ahead with hope and resolve. As we consider the riches – material and spiritual – we possess, let us be ever grateful for our blessings. During this Christmas season, may we always be cheerful, generous givers and gracious, grateful recipients – remembering, each according to his or her faith, the example of the Christ child and his humble beginnings. The publisher, the staff, and the writers of Hometown magazine wish you the merriest of Christmases and the healthiest of New Years. We thank you for your support in 2016 and look forward to serving our Hometown readers and community in 2017. “May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmases be white.â€? •••

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4 – Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195

Thom Pratt and Family

While attending a convention, Punxsutawney’s Thom Pratt colors the cover of an Uncle Scrooge comic book – a legacy edition of the Walt Disney’s comic, published by IDW. © Walt Disney Co. (submitted photo)

“Kambrea kept me going,” he said. For Thom and Kambrea, family supports family; family members encourage one anContinued from page 2 other. southern California, Sega Studios was loFor her part, Kambrea believed in Thom’s cated in San Francisco. talent. “He can draw anything just by lookOn the west coast, Thom began working ing at it,” she said. in a print shop and then “got into newspaDuring these years, Thom received unexpers.” Not only did he learn composing pected encouragement skills in the inky, cut-andduring a weekend visit to paste – the actual, not digNew York City. The ediital – world of lighted tor-in-chief of D.C. composing tables and hot Comics, then located on bee’s wax, but he also creBroadway, received him ated a comic strip that into his office – somewas published in the thing that Thom did not weekly Brentwood Bee. expect to happen. “He The newspaper skills pulled out some work of served Thom well. At difArt Adams and said that I had to be better than ferent times in his life, he him,” he recalled. In has worked for newspa1988, Adams received pers – at Williamsport’s the Best Single Issue EisWebb Weekly and the ner Award for his Gumby Punxsutawney Spirit. Summer Fun Special. Always, however, Thom (The Eisner Awards are kept drawing. “I plugged considered the Comics away for ten years,” he Industry’s equivalent of said. “I was trying to the Oscars.) break into comics when By the mid-2000s, they were on the decline, when it was a bad time to “Cover by Thom Pratt” appears in the Thom and Kambrea had a right corner on the back cover small child, Tristan, and break in.” According to lower of the Epcot-themed, Uncle Scrooge Thom, comics declined in #5, which IDW published in August Thom continued to work the mid to late 1990s, in 2015. © Walt Disney Co. (submitted full time outside the world of comics. Unexpart, because they had be- photo) come created collectibles. pectedly, an offer came In spite of the challenging environment, from Disney Comics. “I’d pretty much given up at that point,” he admitted. Thom Thom continued to send out samples of his had a friend who was the art director for work and to self-publish his work on phoDisney at Gemstone. “They came to me, tocopied pages. which is kind of interesting,” said Thom, “It’s a competitive, cut-throat business,” who started out as a colorist. Thom said, adding that being a self-taught artist made “it even harder to get in.” - Continued on page 6

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s most holiday hosts know, it’s not unheard-of to spend the majority of your party in the kitchen, while guests laugh together down the hall. But preparing in advance can help you reduce stress, have more time to make the moments special and still serve a delicious meal. Here are a few hosting hints to make this holiday the best yet.

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Snappy Sides

Make sides in a cinch by doing any chopping, slicing or mixing in advance of the day of your party. Certain sides can even be prepped ahead and popped in the oven just before the guests arrive. Or, consider making your party a potluck festivity. This way, everyone pitches in on the food, which leaves you time to mine

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Don’t forget the little ones. Set up a hot chocolate bar that includes marshmallows, peppermints and whipped cream topping options. Ask adults to help their children serve themselves. You don’t have to get sidelined in the kitchen at your holiday gathering in order to serve a home style feast. With a few smart strategies, you can be both the host of the party and the life of it.

•••

DIY Drinks

All too often, hosts get bogged down fixing drinks for guests as they arrive. Avoid this conundrum by setting up a DIY drink station. You may consider making a signature drink in advance and serving it in a beverage dispenser or punch bowl, or giv-

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Thom Pratt and Family

Kambrea Pratt (left), Kairi Pratt (second from write), and two friends are dressed to the hilt to enjoy the goings-on at a comics convention. (submitted photo)

Continued from page 4 After years of hope and hard work, Thom finally gained entry to the world of comics, drawing and coloring Disney comics published by IDW and Gemstone. Along the way, Thom gained the trust of the legendary Don Rosa. “Don is picky, and he likes Thom and his work,� said Kambrea. Rosa, an American comic book writer and artist, is best known for his stories about Scrooge McDuck, Donald Duck, and Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Rosa considers Scrooge McDuck to be the center of Disney’s duck universe – a view contrary to that of many Disney aficionados, who consider Donald to be the top Duck. (Disney’s comic book universe is divided into the Mouse Universe and the Duck Universe, with Mickey as the top mouse and Donald as the top duck. According to Thom, the ducks and the mice “never really cross from one to the other.�) Comic book artists build upon the work of other cartoonists. Rosa based many of his stories – including the Uncle Scrooge stories – on characters and locales created by Carl Barks. Both Barks and Rosa use Huey, Dewey, and Louie in their stories, building on the work of writer Ted Osborne and cartoonist Al Taliaferro, who created Huey, Dewey, and Louie Duck in 1937. All the Duck characters are owned by Disney Comics. Rosa created approximately ninety stories between 1987 and 2006. In 1995, he won

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the Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story for his work, The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck. Thom has been involved in preserving Rosa’s artistic legacy. Working for Fantagraphics, he has helped to restore Rosa’s work by re-inking and re-coloring the comics. Thom worked on the 2014 publication Walt Disney Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck: “The Son of the Sun,� which is Volume 1 of the Don Rosa Library. The book was nominated for an Eisner Award. Thom – a walking history of comic book lore – added that Uncle Scrooge was “originally supposed to be a one-off in the story ‘Christmas on Bear Mountain.’� The Donald Duck story, written by Carl Barks, was published in 1947. Thom further described Uncle Scrooge as “a throw-away character,� much like Popeye the Sailor Man, who was initially a minor character in the comics that featured Olive Oyl and her brother, Castor. Popeye originally appeared as a humble boat driver. Thom remains tethered to Disney Comics on an as-needed, part-time basis. Thom points out that fewer than twelve full-time comic book artists now work on Disney Comics in the United States. “The rest of the work is outsourced,� he said. Thom moved from applying his skills to the work of others to co-creating – in collaboration with Kambrea – the comic, Shadowbinders, which has been online since 2010 (www.shadowbinders.com). Shadowbinders focuses on the adventures of Mia White, “an ordinary high school - Continued on page 8

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James E. Mitchell’s “Dash� Between Birth and Death

After marrying Mrs. Caroline (Hoover) Mundorff in 1857, James E. Mitchell moved to Punxsutawney from his home in Covode. At age forty-four he built a substantial brick house in 1869 on West Mahoning Street. At left, is a lithograph drawing of the house that appeared in the 1878 Caldwell’s Illustrated Atlas of Jefferson County. The color photo at right is the remodeled house, now as the Lattimer House of the Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society on West Mahoning Street. (color photo by S. Thomas Curry)

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By S. Thomas Curry of Hometown magazine n the early 1800s, a number of men from the developed, cultured eastern sections of the nation moved over hills and mountains on rough roads and Indian paths to the wilderness of this area to establish homes. The Rev. David Barclay, Dr. John W. Jenks, and Jacob Hoover are among the best-known men of this type in Punxsutawney area history. The Hoover family came to western Pennsylvania from Baltimore. In 1814, Jacob Hoover settled in what became Clayville (now Punxsutawney’s west end section). In 1818, the Rev. David Barclay and Dr. John W. Jenks came from near Philadelphia. Bar-

clay bought land and, in 1821, laid out a plan of eight squares for the town of Punxsutawney. Hence, the first streets of Punxsutawney were named. As elsewhere, with many communities, Punxsutawney street names reflect the history of well-known people who were settlers, businessmen, leaders, or residents of a particular section. A walk or drive along the streets of Punxsutawney can be a history lesson when one considers the origin of the names. In 2000, the writer wrote a series of stories for Hometown magazine that documented the heritage of Punxsutawney found in street names in various sections of the town. Mahoning Street, the main thoroughfare,

was marked on Barclay’s early Plan of Punxsutawney and is a name associated with the creek located east of the land in the Mahoning Valley. The streets that bound the landmark public square in the center of the plan reveal the patriotism of the founder as a citizen of the nation. Running north and south from Mahoning Street is Penn Street, undoubtedly named for the founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn. To the west is Jefferson Street, named for the third president, Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809). Running parallel to the public square to the south is Union Street and Liberty Street. Both names reflect patriotic ideals. North of Mahoning Street, a street was named Farmer’s Alley (later changed Torrence Street). At the eastern limit of the eight squares is Front Street, “fronting� Mahoning Creek, which created a natural eastern and southern boundary as it wound around the small settlement. At the western boundary of the eight squares, the plotted street was named Findley Street.

Findley Street became the first street named for an individual who had influenced local history. The land that was to be called Punxsutawney, “327 acres and 147 perches,� was owned by the Samuel Findley family. James Findley sold the land to the Rev. Barclay in 1819. Gilpin Street, one block west of Findley Street and considered “outside of town,� was named for one of the area’s earliest doctors, Dr. John Gilpin (circa 1850s). In 1888, a news note in a local newspaper recalled John Gilpin as a “wealthy old physician of considerable brain force and originality.� The Gilpin family name is prominent in Armstrong County, which contains a Gilpin Township. (Dr. Jenks, for whom Jenks Avenue is named, was the town’s first doctor. The property where the Jenks’s family home still stands is referred to as “Jenks Hill.�) Jacob Hoover is remembered in Hoover Street, a small street between South Main Street and Lincoln Avenue, just beyond the - Continued on page 14

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Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195 – 7

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Continued from page 6 girl with ordinary high school problems,â€? who finds herself transported to “an extraordinary realm filled with airships, flying serpents and clockwork citiesâ€? after she receives her grandfather’s journal and an antique ring. “She writes; I draw,â€? said Thom about the partnership. Kambrea develops the story lines, and Thom provides the graphics. Early versions of the comic were drawn on paper, but now Thom draws the comics on a large computer screen. In 2012, a printed, “dead-treeâ€? edition of the comic’s first six chapters was published by Clownfish Studios – Thom and Kambrea’s studio. The book’s cover copy describes Shadowbinders as a “young adult web comicâ€? and advises readers to “set sail for steampunk, fantasy, magic, and romance!â€? “We’ve shipped the book all over the world – it’s huge in France and Germany,â€? said Kambrea, “and we’ve sent it to Australia, Iceland, Norway, and South Africa – pretty much all over the world!â€? In addition to writing and drawing Shadowbinders, Thom and Kambrea actively seek ways to promote the comic and increase its readership. In a June 2014 interview with Kurt Sasso of “Two Geeks Talking,â€? Thom notes that the internet is home to approximately 100,000 web comics and discusses the need for marketing one’s product. “We’re staunch advocates of marketing. ‌ It’s a pretty crowded place out thereâ€? he says. “If you want to stand out, ‌ you pretty much have to jump up and down and scream for attention.â€? “We take chances and see what works for us,â€? he adds. Thom and Kambrea have successfully created a niche for Shadowbinders and are often called upon to share their expertise and experience. “We’ve done well with our stuff,â€? said Thom, “and companies come to us for help with marketing and social media. We speak at conventions all over the country.â€? Shadowbinders has opened other online doors not only for Thom and Kambrea, but also for Tristan and Kairi. Clownfish Studio has a podcast, Clownfish Radio – Geek News ’n Views, which is available on iTunes and can be accessed from the Shadowbinders website. iTunes’ description of the podcast invites listeners to “join your opinionated hosts, comics creators Thom and Kambrea Pratt as they dive into the deep end of pop culture!â€? A sampling of past topics includes: “Fan Entitlement: Geeks Gone Bad!â€?; “Ghostbusters New Trailer Reaction!â€?; “Star Trek: Where No Fans Have Been Sued Beforeâ€?; “HBO and Sesame Street. And Comic Books?!â€?;

“Girls Are Geeks, Too?!â€?; and “Webcomics’ Changing Business Model.â€? “We also have a couple YouTube channels with our kids,â€? said Kambrea, “and are part of the Disney-owned Maker Studios.â€? According to Thom and Kambrea, the channels and podcasts seek to serve members of two audiences: fandom and geekdom – both fans of all things Disney and fans of all things digital. The YouTube channel Clownfish TV Family features the adventures of Geek Family alter egos of Thom, Kambrea, Tristan, and Kairi – Mom (GeekySparkles), Dad (Kneon), Brother (Triskit the SquidKing), and Sister (PinkyBoo) – as they perform skits and as they shop for, unbox, and review toys. The blurb for the channel proclaims: “These are our geeky family videos.â€? These videos include those grouped under “Let’s Play, Family!â€? – videos that feature family members playing video games that range from the retro Sega Genesis to contemporary games like Minecraft, Xbox, PlayStation. The family’s second YouTube channel is a PNP Disney Podcast that offers two groups of podcasts – those that feature exhibits, rides, and shows at Walt Disney World in Florida and those grouped under the heading “Pirates and Princesses.â€? The latter group is described as “A decidedly DIFFERENT Disney fan podcast! News and rumors on the Disney parks including Walt Disney World and Disneyland, as well as news about Disney movies, Disney TV, Disney video games.â€? For the Pratts, like for the Huey, Dewey, and Louie, the online ventures – and adventures! – have been all about family. Thom, Kambrea, Tristan, and Kari have carved a niche in the world of Disney. Thom’s belief in himself – with Kambrea’s faith in him and his talents – gave him, after years of struggle, an inroad into the world of comics. Then, he and Kambrea created their own web comic and published it in a handsome paperback edition. Their experience with the online comic led them to iTune podcasts and YouTube channels. It’s been quite a ride for the fourmember family. “It’s surreal. We’re a middle-class family who Skypes with Hollywood producers, and we do it all from here!â€? Thom said with wonder in his voice. “We do all our production work here in the house,â€? added Kambrea. “I’m thankful for a large living room!â€? “This is the family business – comic conventions, Disney, Shadowbinders, YouTube,â€? Thom continued. “Basically, we make our living online.â€? “And we do this all from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania!â€? Kambrea concluded, reiterating Thom’s sentiment and sharing his wonder of it all. •••

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10 – Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195

Holiday Food List

Continued from page 3 and these are baked again until they are a toasty brown. Furthermore, the cutting of the biscotti is tedious and tough, according to my mom, who knows her biscotti. “If you hit a hard nut or a tough berry, it makes ’em crumble,” she attests. “So have a sharp knife.” Hence, I have watched my mom not only roll and cut the biscotti, but I have also watched her grind her butcher knife across the heavy stone of her knife sharpener. Sparks fly as the sound of the whirring wheel sets my teeth on edge. ’Tis the season for biscotti! C – Cookie Cutters. I have a set of antique cutters. No – not the plastic ones that come in the shapes of characters from Frosted or Sponge Bob. They are not in the shapes of Spiderman or Batman. It’s Christmas, for goodness sake! My cherished cutters are old, tarnished metal ones and probably have a few flecks of dried dough on them from previous baking experiences. A Christmas tree, a reindeer, an angel, a star, a gingerbread man, a camel, and a holly leaf make up my entire collection. But, wait! I almost forgot that my mom used an old, red doughnut cutter to make a few round sugar cookies. Even though my cookie cutters are from the Paleolithic Age, I’m sure that Santa will enjoy the treats all the same. D – Dunking. You cannot eat Italian cookies without first dunking them in coffee. ‘Tis true! Avoid dunking at your own risk. E – Eel. My grandmother always baked an eel (yes, a long eel – a creature of the seas) on Christmas Eve. Basting it with a seasoning made of salt, pepper, olive oil, and garlic, my grandmother stood in front of her old white oven as she painted the fish with a big feather. The creature – typically as round as a softball and twenty-some inches long – curled around the inside of the roaster. My mom swears that the eel neither had bones nor tasted like fish. I would never eat it! I was afraid that it would bite me since I was a fan of the old 1960s television show, Diver Dan. Turns out that the antagonist on Diver Dan was really an evil barracuda, but what did I know about fish when I was five years old? F – Figgy Pudding. I have never prepared nor eaten figgy pudding – pudding, you guessed it, made with figs – but I feel like the holidays should not be complete without some mention of it. I have performed my holiday duty, so it’s off to “G”! G – Gizzard. My grandmother always boiled the turkey gizzard with some onion and celery as she prepared the seasonal bird on Christmas day. We all fought over it! It was quite the prize at the dinner table. Fi-

nally, to make it fair and to appease all gizzard-lovers, my mom cut the little chunk of chewy meat into several portions so everyone would get a taste. H – Holiday Ham. Nowadays, what would the holiday meal be like without the seasonal holiday ham? My favorite scene from a Christmas movie is when Mrs. Krank fights for the canned delight in her neighborhood store, loses it, buys one from a ham scalper, only to have her expensive and treasured entree run over in the street by a truck. May your ham never meet with such a tragedy and may your pineapple slices and clove decorations be plentiful! I – Well, I could make something up for the letter “I,” and I could lie and say that we had ice cream cakes or wonderful iced cookies, but we didn’t. Instead, I will tell the truth. Our holiday salad consisted of iceberg lettuce with oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. We didn’t add croutons, olives, eggs, beets, or anything else to embellish it. Sometimes simple is better. J – Jellied Thumbprints. My husband will eat these cookies until he explodes. Jellied thumbprint cookies are quite tedious to concoct, especially during the addition of the jelly in the center. My mom has a sewing thimble that she used expressly for that purpose during the jellied thumbprint preparation. K – Kalache. I digress to my father’s Slovak side of the family for my memory of this Christmas delicacy. I remember when my father raved about the pasty stuffed with a prune filling. I also remember that my mom would never make them; hence, Dad only got to eat them when his relatives brought a plateful. Mom still thinks they are too difficult to prepare and is sticking to her story. L – Light Fare and Fat-Free Food. We never ate any of this at my grandmother’s house during the holidays. Hey! Bear with me. I’m struggling with this alphabet letter. M – Mincemeat Pie. Once, my mother was on a roll with mincemeat during the holiday bake fest. She bought it already prepared and sealed in a big jar (the None Such brand) – ready to go into the pie crust. I was suspicious of anything in a pie that was named “mincemeat.” With hesitation and reluctance, I tried her concoction and thought it was okay. Spicy pieces of apples flavored with nutmeg, cinnamon, and other seasonings were met with my approval. The name is a misnomer – there’s no meat in the pie! Nevertheless, there is still something about the sound of the word, “mincemeat” that makes me think it should be served on Halloween instead of Christmas. N – Nuts. My family loves to eat nuts in a shell. Well, we don’t eat the shell, but if we could – we would eat those, too. Every Christmas, my family pulled out the old carved nut bowl that had little holes where - Continued on page 12

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Hometown Community Happenings

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By the staff of Hometown magazine

rom the staff of Hometown magazine and the Community Calendar at Punxsutawney.com, here is a list of events coming up in our area: n Hometown magazine wishes the Punxsutawney Memorial Library a very happy 100th birthday! n Dec. 20: Blood Drive, 12:30 to 6 p.m., at SSCD Church. Sponsored by the American Red Cross. n Dec. 21: Longest Night Service of Healing & Wholeness, 8 p.m., at Punxsy Presbyterian Church. n Dec. 23: Pre-Christmas Eve Concert with Nick Biddle, 7 p.m., at CMA Church. Open to the public. n Dec. 24-26: Punxsy Memorial Library closed. n Dec. 24: Christmas Eve! n Dec. 24: “One Small Child” Cantata at Chestnut Grove Independent Church. Prelude, 6:45; service, 7 p.m. n Dec. 25: Christmas Day! n Dec. 27-29: “Winter Around the World,” winter wonders program at the Punxsy Weather Discovery Center. Learn what “winter” means on different continents and hemispheres. Call 938-1000 for sessions and costs. Pre-registration helpful, but walk-ins welcome. n Dec. 27: Blood drive, noon to 5:30 p.m., at Town Hall in Sykesville. Sponsored by the American Red Cross. n Dec. 31- Jan. 2: Punxsy Memorial Library closed. n Jan. 1: New Year’s Day! Welcome 2017! n Jan. 2: Blood drive, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Punxsutawney Area Hospital. Benefits the American Red Cross. n Jan. 3: Registration for children’s literacy programs starts at Punxsy Memorial Library. Call or visit the library for more information. n Jan. 3: First Tuesday Community Meal, 5 p.m., at Punxsy Presbyterian Church. Use the Findley/Union Sts. Entrance. Free & open to the public. n Jan. 13: Free Community Dinner, 5 p.m., at First United Methodist Church. Open to the public. n Jan. 14: Snow Day Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon or 1 to 3 p.m., at Punxsy Weather Discovery Center. $6 admission. No need to pre-register; walk-ins welcome. n Jan. 23: Blood drive, 1 to 6:30 p.m., at St. Mary’s Church, Reynoldsville. Benefits the American Red Cross. n The Punxsy Lions Club is seeking donations to replace the lighting on the Dike that illuminates the murals under the East End bridge. Donations can be sent to the Lions Club at PO Box 472, Punxsy. n The Punxsutawney Area Community Center offers indoor cycling, batting cage, Fifty & Fit, SilverSneakers, AM men’s basketball, Pilates/yoga, and gymnastics. Call 938-1008 for more information. •••

Christmas Worship Services at Local Churches Christmas Eve

n Woodland Avenue United Methodist Church, 3 p.m. n SSCD Church, 4:30 p.m. Children’s Mass n First Assembly of God, 5 p.m. n One Life Church, 6 p.m. n Scotland Ave. Church of God, 6 p.m. n St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, 6:30 p.m. n Grace United Methodist Church, 7 p.m. n First Church of God, 7 p.m.

n Mt. Zion Lutheran, 7 p.m. n Punxsy First United Methodist Church, 7 p.m. & 11 p.m. n Punxsy Presbyterian Church, 8 p.m. n SS. Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church, 8 p.m. n SSCD Church, 10 p.m. First English Lutheran Church, 9 p.m.

Christmas Day

n SSCD Church, 8 a.m. & 10 a.m. Woodland Ave. U.M. Church, 9 a.m. n SS. Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church, 9 a.m.

n First United Methodist Church, 10 a.m. n Salvation Army, 10 a.m. n One Life Church, 10 a.m. n Punxsy First United Methodist Church, 10 a.m. n Christian & Missionary Alliance Church, 10:30 a.m. n Grace U.M. Church, 10:45 a.m. n Punxsy Presbyterian Church, 11 a.m. n Scotland Ave. Church of God, 11 a.m. •••

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Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195 – 11

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Holiday Food List

Continued from page 10 the nut “picks� fit nicely in the wood. The old silver nutcracker was a staple at our home around the holidays since we ate nuts for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and just plain snacks. My Italian husband is also a nut connoisseur, and I am thoroughly convinced that he is related to some squirrel family. O – Oranges. I will always remember my grandmother as she relaxed with a piece of that fruit on a gray winter day around the holidays. People would send her baskets of oranges and grapefruit because she loved them so! Gnawing on a section of orange with her broken or missing teeth, Gram crocheted and enjoyed her afternoon treat. P – Pizzelles. What would Christmas be without the traditional pizzelles? Back in the good old days, my grandmother had a hand-held iron pizzelle maker that we held over the gas stove flames. No electricburner or electric-oven pizzelles for us! Ours were a little thicker, browner, and, well – they just tasted better too! Q – Quaker Oatmeal. Sorry! That’s the best I can do; however, my mom always added oatmeal to her chocolate chip cookies. R – Ribbon Candy. This colorful hard candy was a must-have at our house during Christmas. I didn’t like it, and neither did my folks, but someone ate it all every year – must have been Santa. S – Seven fishes. Most Italians and some other nationalities cook smelt, whiting, haddock, perch, flounder, or one of a myriad of other fish species on Christmas Eve. According to my grandmother and my mom, seven different types of fish should be on the supper table that night. I can still remember sitting in midnight mass at Saints Cosmas and Damian church, and I could actually smell the fried food aromas that lingered on winter coats, hats, and scarves of the other parishioners. Finding comfort in the fact that others shared in our “fishy� custom, I used to sit quietly, pondering their dinners instead of tending to my prayers. Following in the same fishy footsteps, my father-in-law typically prepared a giant pot of squid soup for their Christmas Eve supper, along with fried seafood. Although I grew up eating most types of fish, I never saw nor tasted squid and was appalled to see my in-laws arguing over who would get the biggest tentacle in their tomato broth. Push came to shove, though, and I politely sampled their tried-and-true family recipe for squid soup. It was actually very tasty and as long as no one mentioned a word like “tentacle,� or told me that I was eating a chunk of the squid’s head, I was a wellmannered diner.

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12 – Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195

T – Turkey. My grandmother always prepared a giant turkey for Christmas day dinner, and she loved chewing on the roasted wings. W – Wassail. How many of you have actually drunk wassail? It’s a hot mulled cider garnished with spices (and sometimes a dash of brandy). The word “wassailâ€? means “to make merry.â€? Although I have sung about it in a Christmas carol, I have never tasted it. It is on my bucket list – I like the “make merryâ€? part. U – Uva Spina. I’m cheating again. But not really! This is the Italian word for “gooseberry.â€? My grandmother had a little gooseberry bush in the old lot across from her home. She actually canned those little red berries and made pies with them around the holidays. Thank you, uva spina! Whew! V – Vanilla. This flavoring, along with anise and almond, is one of the staples in my mom’s spice cupboard. It’s also the one that we never seem to have when we need it. That’s the problem with popularity. X – Extra Gravy. I usually double-dipped on the gravy during my Christmas day dinner. Thanks to the readers for allowing me a little poetic license on this alphabet letter! Y – Yule Log. My mom never made one of these, and neither did my grandmother, but I always thought they were pretty cool looking. Another entry for my food bucket list! Z – Zeppole. Made from strips of dough, the Italian zeppole were deep-fried and then dusted with powdered sugar or tossed in honey. My grandmother fried up bushel baskets of this Italian cookie and kept them stored in her coal cellar during Christmas time. “Maria, go-a getta some-a zeppole,â€? Nona requested, and I would trot down the linoleum-covered steps that led to the cold basement. There, on the cracked cement near the old coal furnace, sat several wooden bushel baskets covered with tea towels. Since it was dark and a little spooky down there, I quickly shoveled the zeppole into big, heavy, blue bowl and dashed up the cellar steps to deliver my assignment to my grandmother. And, there you have it – my Christmas food list from A to Z. And I didn’t even cheat. Well, maybe just a little. Wow! I worked up an appetite. It was great fun to go down memory lane and finally create a list that we all can enjoy. Plus, I am certain that Santa will reward my hard work with some tasty treats. Yes, ’tis the season to devour candy canes, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, corn for popping, pumpkin pies, and marshmallow worlds. Or, to even go crazy and have some roast beast or a bad banana with a greasy black peel! Enjoy all the great cuisine of the season and have yourself a very Merry Christmas! •••

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Santa’s Points of Origin

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By Marty Armstrong for Hometown magazine everal years ago, while developing a brochure summarizing various traditions behind our country’s modern Santa figure for visitors to the Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society, I looked at several compilations of “Santa history.” Most of us know many of the names of the Santa’s predecessors and traditions, but a few others popped up during my research. We know, for example, that a real Saint Nicholas did exist. He was a fourth-century Christian saint and the Greek Christian Bishop of Myra (now Demre) in Lycia, a province of the Byzantine Anatolia, now in Turkey. He was famous for his generosity toward the impoverished. In sections of Europe today (the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, and Germany), he is still pictured as a bearded bishop in canonical robes. In the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, the feast of St. Nicholas (Sinterklaas) on December 6 came to be celebrated with gift-giving. During the Reformation, many Protestants changed the gift-bringer to the Christ Child or Christkindl and the date for gift-giving to Christmas Eve. A tradition holds that Sinterklaas keeps a notebook on children and their behavior during the year. He is elderly, stately, and serious with his white hair and long, full beard. He wears a long red cape over a white bishop’s alb, dons a red mitre, and holds a gold crosier. In Britain, the tradition is of the folk fig-

ure, Father Christmas, a jolly, plump, bearded man dressed in green, fur-lined robes. He often is shown riding a goat! It is Father Christmas who appears as the ghost of Christmas Present in Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. Going back a bit further, we find Odin, the Norse god who was revered among the Germanic peoples prior to their Christianization. At the holiday of Yule, he led hunting parties through the sky, riding an eight-legged horse named Sleiphnir. Traditionally, children would place their boots, filled with carrots, straw, or sugar near the chimney for Sleipnir to eat. The children, in return, would be rewarded with gifts or candy. This practice has been assimilated into the St. Nicholas tradition, though in other countries, children hang stockings at the chimney. Many of these European traditions made their way to America with immigration. The Dutch brought the legend of Sinter Klaas in the 1600s. Although, also in the 1600s, the Puritans made it illegal to mention St. Nicholas’ name and outlawed giftgiving, candle-lighting, and the singing of Christmas carols. In 1804, the New York Historical Society was founded with St. Nicholas as its patron saint in the spirit of philanthropy. Other outgrowths of the Dutch influence in New York were the writings of Washington Irving, who first described St. Nicolas as riding into town on a horse and later as coming over the trees in a wagon. A single, reindeer-drawn sleigh appeared in an 1821 poem about “Sante Claus.”

JEFFERSON COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY

Clement Clarke Moore’s poem “The Night Before Christmas” describes the elfish Santa with a miniature sleigh and eight reindeer – Blitzem, Comet, Cupid, Dancer, Dasher, Donder, Prancer, and Vixen. Over time, Donder and Blitzem have changed to Donner and Blitzen. It is interesting to note that the original names derive from Germanic names for thunder and One precursor to the contemporary Santa Claus is the Norse lightning. god Odin, pictured here in an In 1938, Robert L. May, on behalf From the 1860s (our 1886 rendering by Georg von of the Montgomery Ward Company, created the “Rudolph” Civil War years) Rosen. During the Yuletide holi- story – a tale about a red-nosed through the 1890s, il- day, Odin led hunting parties reindeer told in rhyme. Montthrough the sky, riding an eightlustrator Thomas Nast legged gomery Ward gave free copies of horse named Sleipnir. produced many images According to the tradition, chil- the book to nearly two and a half million children who visited the of Santa with, for ex- dren placed their boots, filled store. In 1949, Gene Autry reample, the Northern with carrots, straw, or sugar, leased his version of the song near the chimney for Sleipnir to troops and President eat – boots that are the histori- “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed ReinLincoln, and in joyous cal antecedent of the stockings deer” – a song written by Johnny Marks, who was Robert L. May’s home settings. Report- that children hang for Santa to brother-in-law. (photo courtesy of (photo courtesy of the Punxfill. edly, President Lincoln sutawney Area Historical & Ge- the Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society) himself asked Nast to nealogical Society) create an image of Santa with the Union soldiers; the picture for readers of their advertisements. His demoralized many Confederate troops – a drawings were used as advertisements bit of psychological warfare. from 1931 through 1964. In 1897, the New York Sun published the Commercialism continued to creep in as, famous “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa in 1938, Robert L. May, on behalf of the Claus” letter, and by the 1920s, the jolly, Montgomery Ward Company, created the bearded, overweight man dressed in a red Rudolph story. Montgomery Ward cussuit with white fur trim became the stan- tomers received free copies of the story. dard image of Santa. The skilled artist The Gene Autry recording of songwriter Haddon Sundblom created the trade- Johnny Marks’s “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed marked Santa design for Coca-Cola and - Continued on page 30

from

GT THOMPSON - U.S. CONGRESSMAN PAT TOOMEY - U.S. SENATOR JOE SCARNATI - SENATOR JACK MATSON – COMMISSIONER HERB BULLERS – COMMISSIONER BERNARD SNYDER - CORONER MAXINE ZIMMERMAN - COUNTY AUDITOR MABEL DUNKLE - COUNTY AUDITOR DIANE MAIHLE KIEHL - REGISTER & RECORDER CARL GOTWALD, SR. - SHERIFF JIM “MOON” VANSTEENBERG - TREASURER PAID FOR BY THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS

Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195 – 13

Country Palace Wishing you loads of joy and laughter, Throughout the holiday season and after!

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After members of the Methodist congregation built their new stone building in 1899 at the corner of Church Street and West Mahoning Street, the older church building (see picture of old church, circa 1910, on page 16) was sold to the new Salvation Army unit established in Punxsutawney. In 1983 the Salvation Army built a new brick building (photo courtesy S. Thomas Curry)

James E. Mitchell’s

Continued from page 7 Margiotti Bridge in the west end section of Punxsutawney. Ironically, in the entire plan of Punxsutawney, no street was named for the founder of Punxsutawney, the Rev. David Barclay. Nor had any street been named for him after Punxsutawney expanded beyond the original plan in the 1820s. However, in 1928, the center of the eight squares, the beautiful Public Square, was officially named Barclay Square as a fitting tribute for his gift of land to the public. Barclay’s name was finally attached to a site suitable for recognizing the reverend’s place in Punxsutawney history. The descriptive historical accounts of each street in those early Hometown stories were brief. In two or three sentences, the writer attempted to inform the readers of the history along the Punxsutawney streetscape, as it related to pioneer individuals and families. A short distance west from Gilpin Street on Mahoning Street is Mitchell Avenue. The brief history in the story of March 2000 presented the basic facts: “Ordained in 1896 for public use, it would continue north to a post on line of lands known as the Punxsutawney fair grounds. It was named for James E. Mitchell (1825-1894) who had owned land around his residence on West Mahoning Street. Mitchell was elected an associate judge in Jefferson County in 1875. He was involved extensively in the lumber business and frequently went on rafting trips on the Mahoning Creek to Pittsburgh.” The dates of his birth and death bracket the years that Mitchell spent on the earth – as they do for all humans. Many refer to these years of life and activity as “the dash” – largely due to the popularity of Linda Ellis’s 1996 poem “The Dash.” In the work’s final two lines, Ellis asks readers to consider the

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14 – Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195

question: “would you be proud of the things they say / about how you spent YOUR dash?” Obituaries in the weekly Punxsutawney Spirit and Punxsutawney News listed various meaningful and memorable accomplishments of the man James E. Mitchell, offering insight into how he spent his “dash” and representing other events in Punxsutawney area history. The youngest in the family of six boys and five girls, Mitchell married Mrs. Caroline (Hoover) Mundorff in 1857 and left his birthplace in Covode to settle in Punxsutawney, from where he managed his farmland and lumber business. In 1869, at age forty-four, Mitchell built his homestead, a brick house, on West Mahoning Street on land owned by his fatherin-law, Jacob Hoover. For many years, the old dirt road, now Mahoning Street, passed through wooded land in the flat land along the winding Mahoning Creek. The property was between Punxsutawney to the east and Clayville two miles to the west. The progress of the house’s construction was detailed in issues of the 1869 Punxsutawney Plaindealer between May and December. The May 6 edition reported that “Mr. Jas. E. Mitchell will build a fine brick residence in the western part of the borough, the material for which is on the ground and we believe that work has already commenced. The location is a fine one as could be desired for a pleasant home.” A lithograph drawing in Caldwell’s 1878 Illustrated Atlas of Jefferson County illustrates the house with its outbuildings. After his election as an associate judge in Jefferson County, his friends fondly addressed him as Judge Mitchell, a habit that continued beyond his term, which ended in 1880, and until his death in 1894. His fellow associate judge was J. B. Wilson, of Punxsutawney, brother of Mary A. Wilson. The President Judge of Jefferson County at

126 W. Mahoning St. Downtown Punxsutawney

- Continued on page 16

Wreaths, Christmas trees, Swags, Poinsettias, Angels, Christmas Items & More! Bird Houses, Willow Tree, Lanterns, Throws, Chimes, Groundhog Souvenirs Unique arrangements with a twist!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

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n cooler weather, it’s all about finding clothing and accessories that stand up to the elements and are also stylish. Here are some great, functional must-have accessories to keep you looking great and feeling warm.

I

PAHS National Honor Society Inductees

just a passing trend, these scarves are easier to wear and harder to lose. This winter, there is no need to sacrifice comfort or style. Both can be had with the right accessories. (StatePoint)

Punxsutawney Area High School National Honor Society inductees are (front row, l. to r.) Kylee Lingenfelter, Alyse Whitman, Kaitlin Doverspike, Jenny Lin, Delaney Martino, Rebekah DeppHutchinson, Molly Shepler, Mackenzie Barr, Caitlyn Rodgers, (back row) Superintendent Dr. Thomas Lesniewski, Long, Leah Miller, Zachary Pape, Kristin Lowmaster, Brady Young, Alex Eberhart, Matthew Wehrle, Kylan Duncan, Ethan Riley, Elyse White and NHS advisors Josh Conrad and Russ Bishop. Missing from the photo: PAHS assistant principal Paul Hetrick. (photo by Jennifer Roberts)

•••

Texting While Warm

This winter, you don’t need to resort to fingerless gloves or no gloves at all to be able to use your smartphone while outdoors. Continue to text, update your Insta-

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Whether you are off to work in casual business attire or lounging around the house in jeans, stylish socks that hold up during long days are a must in winter. Along with your hands, you’ll want your feet to stay warm in cooler temperatures, so don’t compromise on quality. For men’s casual crew socks, the GOLDTOE brand’s Harrington collection are a great choice, as they feature innovative AquaFX Responsive Cotton, which offers moisture management and wicking capabilities to provide long lasting comfort. The brand’s Oh.So.Soft. line, women’s socks made of ultra soft yarns, are available in an assortment of colors and are nice for lounging around the house or for busy days on-thego. More information can be found at www.goldtoe.com.

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16 – Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195

James E. Mitchell’s

The obituary for James E. Mitchell in the Punxsutawney News noted that he had become a member of the “M. E. church of Continued from page 14 Punxsutawney” in 1869. The Punxsutawney that time was Punxsutawney native William Spirit reported, “He was an active and deJenks, son of Dr. John W. Jenks. voted member of the M. E. church from The father of Judge Mitchell was John 1869 until the time of his death, . . . helping Mitchell. He was born near Carlisle and was to tide it over many a critical emergency.” a farmer who conducted business by wagon The “M. E. church” was the Methodist debetween Carlisle and Baltimore and nomination that had its beginning in the area Philadelphia. Around 1800, the Mitchell when Jacob Hoover and four other families family moved to North Mahoning Township met for prayer and worship in Hoover’s grist in Indiana County. mill in Clayville. As the Methodist congreDuring the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion in gation grew, services were held in homes scattered throughout American history, the area. After several the young U.S. government sent troops years, the congregation into western Penndecided to build a sylvania to quell an small, one-story frame uprising of settlers “meeting-house” on rebelling against a Mahoning Street, at liquor tax proposed that time halfway beby Secretary of the tween Punxsutawney Treasury Alexander and Clayville and not Hamilton. The far from where protest was the first Mitchell and his young test of federal auwife had built their thority over U.S. citfirst dwelling place. izens, in particular Eventually, the little, over the farmers in frame church was Allegheny, Westfound inadequate for moreland, Fayette, the growing memberand Washington ship that had reached nearly two hundred Counties who had parishioners. In 1854, established distillerthe members decided ies. Judge Mitchell’s to build a brick, twofather was one of the nearly 13,000-mem- In the mid-nineteenth century, the Methodist story church building. ber militia army sent congregation in Punxsutawney built a large, The small frame by President George red-brick church on West Mahoning Street to church was demoltheir earlier one-story frame building. ished, and the new Washington against replace Built at a time before the Civil War, with finanthose in the frontier cial struggles, the church was to be sold at a building was erected who opposed the Sheriff’s Sale. Church records state “with the on the same site generous assistance of Mr. James E. Mitchell (where the Salvation whiskey tax. the obligation was met.” (photo from collection Judge Mitchell’s of Army is located S. Thomas Curry) paternal grandfather, today.) in 1755, witnessed the Indians’ atrocious Construction of the new church building massacre of families in mid-Pennsylvania. was done over several years. Bills were At Penn’s Creek in Union County, members paid, materials ordered, and workers paid. of tribes attacked families and captured All this was accomplished during a trying time in the nation’s history – the years bemany of the girls. The tribes moved west along the Shamokin Path with their captives fore the Civil War or the War Between the that included two young girls, Marie Le Roy States. Money and materials were scarce. and Barbara Leininger, and stayed overnight The written history of the local Methodist at Punxsutawney while passing through to Church describes that time as a long finanKittanning. The girls described their ordeal cial and spiritual struggle. in a 1759 narrative that was published in the The church was dedicated in February Pennsylvania Archives. In 2013, the mas- 1860, with the congregation incurring a debt sacres, capture, travel, and escapes were of $1,800 when collections fell short. When portrayed in the film Alone, Yet Not Alone. one of the suppliers of material was not paid, “he sheriffed the church for his money (An account of this massacre and the capand notice of the sale was put on the church” ture of women and children was an intro(from the notes of R.R. Evans in his Brief duction to a tribute, “The Late Judge History of the Punxsutawney M. E. Church). Mitchell,” which A.T. Brewer contributed to On the morning of the Sheriff’s Sale, two the Punxsutawney Spirit in August 1894. men of the congregation were approached Mitchell Avenue has been identified as part by James Mitchell in front of Bair’s store on of the Shamokin Path as it passed through Punxsutawney to Kittanning.) - Continued on page 30

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Getting Back to Basics:

The Lost Art of Writing Things Down I

n this digital age, you may go days without using a pen and paper, but there are many reasons to skip the devices and stick to writing things down. From staying organized to planning your week to tracking career growth, here are a few things to take note of when it comes to taking notes.

• Taking notes in longhand can help you retain more information, suggests a study from Princeton and UCLA, as taking notes makes you more likely to process the information and reframe it in your own words. Not only that, your notepad is likely to contain fewer distractions than your laptop, tablet or phone.

the details, large and small.

Find a favorite pen and a favorite planner, and get back to basics. It may have been a little while since you relied on paper, but you may find that writing things down helps you keep better track of all of life’s little details and makes you the publisher of your own story. •••

The Shortest Distance Between Hospital And Home Is . . .

• Look professional and stay organized at your next interview or meeting. Taking notes will make you look engaged and interested in what is happening, and a professional planner and/or notebook are must-have workplace accessories. Brands like AT-A-GLANCE offer professional, yet stylish planners, matching desk pads, notepads and wall calendars in a variety of styles and formats. Visit MyAtAGlanceStory.com for organizational inspiration. • Making comments in your notebook or planner helps you become the publisher of your story, capturing your life’s moments along the way. These are tools that help you look back on events in a tangible way.

• Rid yourself of the ever-present stress that comes with a busy life. Seeing everything written down will give you a sense of control. You will feel confident in knowing you have it all set, and keeping a record of your tasks in one location gives you an easy, organized way to get a grasp on your days.

• Using a planner to track your schedule can actually help you find missing time. You will have a better grasp on what is coming up and may even see a break that leaves you time to schedule dinner with a friend, try that new recipe you’ve been craving, or time to search for that special birthday present you need for the party this weekend.

• Increase productivity by maximizing the 24 hours that you have. Seeing everything on paper will help you plan and prioritize. Having “scheduled downtime” can help you to know when to go full steam ahead and when to take a break and unwind for a bit.

• Tracking in one place can also help prevent committing to things you can’t do. Wall calendars for the house are a great tracking tool for multiple schedules, helping day-to-day tasks run smoothly.

• Whether you’re planning a wedding or a work conference, a planner is among the most important assets you can use to aid your efforts, helping you keep track of all

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814-371-3180 Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195 – 17

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Rejoice in the Miracle

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Get the Skinny on Avoiding Holiday Weight Gain E ven with a year of healthy habits under your belt, it’s easy to let the holiday season tip the scales. But don’t let those parties, extra trays of cookies floating around, and massive holidays feasts get the best of you. Here are smart ways to stay trim all season long and avoid regaining an entire year’s worth of dieting.

Schedule Your Workouts

Sure, the holiday season is super busy. There is more shopping to do, errands to complete, and social engagements to keep. But through it all, be diligent in finding opportunities to burn more calories. Use the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Park farther away from an entrance than you normally would. Do calf raises as you wait in line. Curl weights or perform squats as you talk on the telephone. And if you belong to a health club, prioritize your trips to the gym as you would any other appointment on your calendar.

Cut the Fat

May Our Divine Redeemer bestow His Peace on you and your home, and may His Blessings be with you always.

SS. Cosmas and Damian Church

Fat has more calories per milligram than any other nutrient, and most people underestimate the amount of fat they consume. Unfortunately, the holidays can be a particularly frustrating time of year to avoid it — for instance, pumpkin pie can have 20 grams of fat in just one slice and a gingerbread cookie has 7 grams of fat. Rather than avoid your favorite foods and treats altogether, consider weight loss solutions that don’t require specific meal planning or a mas-

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18 – Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195

Use Moderation

Even with a workout program in place and weight loss tools to aid your dieting efforts, it’s important to not let the holiday season be a caloric blank check. Use the same sensible tricks that work for you all year long. For example, if you’re eyeing the party buffet, prioritize your favorite treats so you don’t end up getting stuffed on items you don’t even enjoy. Fill your first plate with fruits, veggies and other healthy options before diving into the richer fare. And of course, make sure you drink plenty of water between those servings of egg nog and champagne. To give your 2017 resolutions a great jump start, mind your health during the holiday season. (StatePoint)

•••

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sively restrictive diet, such as I-REMOVE from bmiSmart, a plant-based supplement taken after each meal with a glass of water. The tablets contain Litramine, a weight loss ingredient that binds to dietary fat and reduces the amount of fat calories absorbed by the body. Studies have shown I-REMOVE helps users lose up to three times more weight than dieting alone. Safe, effective and gentle, it won’t cause digestive issues when taken as directed. More information can be found at iRemoveWorks.com.

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Coal Community Schools & the Making of Americans

Among the school children at the Walston school (top picture), Alice A. Shirley is the fourth child from the left in the front row. Her father, Jonas H. Shirley, was a miner at Walston. When she was grown, she worked as a bookbinder with the Spirit Publishing Company. The teacher is the young man with the bow-tie in the back row Students of Walston School Room 3 (bottom picture) stand in front of their new school building for a photograph taken on November 8, 1905. If anyone can identify any students in these pictures, please call Shirley Sharp at the Historical Society at 814-938-2555. (photos courtesy of the Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc.)

O

By the Coal Memorial Committee for Hometown magazine

ne of the tiles at the Punxsutawney Area Coal Memorial honors the educators who taught in the schools in the mining communities. This is an appropriate memorial in many ways. The greatest contribution of these educators was their role in educating the children of immigrants from many countries, religions, and cultural identities to become Americans.

As the coal industry began to develop, the public schools were a highly valued community institution. Young Township – where the first industrial mines in the area were opened at Walston, Adrian, Horatio, and Anita – experienced a demand for public schools. The map of Young Township included in Caldwell’s Atlas of Jefferson County, Pennsylvania (1878) showed five school rooms fairly well distributed geographically throughout the township before the opening of the mines.

In the southern end of the township were the McGregor and Snyder schools, centrally located were the Morris and Jenks schools, and in the northern part of the township, along the Elk Run creek, was the Elk Run School. In 1882, the first of the industrial mine at Walston was opened. Before the opening of the mine, the students from the area where Walston mine was established had attended the Morris School. The Young Township supervisors and the Young Township school

board, who were at that time responsible for educating the children, saw the potential need to increase the number of school facilities near the Walston mine. When they built the new Morris school building about 1884 or 1885, they arranged to have the old Morris school building – which had been donated by the Rochester and Pittsburgh Coal and Iron Company – moved to a conveniently located site at Walston. On November 18, 1885, the Punxsutawney - Continued on page 28

With warm wishes to our clients, friends and associates this holiday season. We value your trust and thank you for seeing us this past year.

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Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195 – 19

EVEN “YOU KNOW WHO� STOPS HERE!

Richard L. Fait Funeral Home

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7 Ways to Get Fit as a Family

H

Blogger Caycee Hewitt says new athletic shoes keep the family motivated to move. ŠKim Graham

ealthy eating habits and gym routines can be hard to keep up after the excitement of the holidays fizzle. For parents who juggle busy schedules, it can be particularly challenging to squeeze in the recommended amount of physical activity each day. However, with a little motivation and a dose of creativity, families can resolve to stay active and get fit together — without stepping foot into the gym. Here are seven ideas to consider: 1. Explore the neighborhood. Take the children on regular strolls around the block. Create your own nature walks by identifying different insects, leaves and animals along the way. Collect pinecones, acorns or other foliage that can be used for fun crafts back at the house. 2. Take advantage of local parks. Visit a local park to discover different walking paths or bike trails. And spend some time on the playground while you’re at it! Equipment, such as monkey bars, climbing walls and balance beams are all fun ways to get moving. 3. Invest in gear without breaking the bank. Athletic clothes and accessories with the latest performance fabrics enhance comfort and safety while working out. What’s more, new gear can be a great way for each family member to show his or her sense of style, which can be just the motivation needed to get moving. Footwear is especially important to reCHRISTINE’S TANNING SALON, INC.

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20 – Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195

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place often, as worn out athletic shoes can increase risk of injury. To go easy on the wallet, consider shopping at retailers like Rack Room Shoes, which offers everyday value on brands for the entire family. For more information, visit RackRoomShoes.com. 4. Schedule dance parties. Enjoy music and shake off some stress by scheduling regular dance parties after school, during commercial breaks or before bedtime. 5. Make a game out of chores. Make the most of family chores. Shoveling snow, raking leaves and mowing the grass don’t just enhance your home’s curb appeal; they are all great forms of exercise! 6. Get in a routine. A routine ensures consistency. Set aside time each week for bike rides, tag football and soccer games, all of which can all be done in the neighborhood, backyard or at a favorite park. In bad weather, head to a local trampoline park, climbing gym or indoor soccer field. 7. Make a Matrix. Planning fun activities increases the chance you will keep up the good work. For those who love to check items off a list, a color-coded spreadsheet can be a fun visual reminder to test out new activities. Hang this in a common area, such as the kitchen, to keep track. Once you’ve got the plan in place, get into a fitness routine that works for your family and stick with it! (StatePoint) •••

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(front row, l. to r.) Toya Jones, Kate Horner, Kaitlin Doverspike, Mia Lingenfelter; (back row) Morgan VanLeer, Elyse White, Alli Lunger, Leah Miller, Kaitlyn Ray and Jordyn Powell.

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22 – Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195 Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195 – 23

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(front row, l. to r.) Zack May, Shaun Herndon, Jacob Good, Conner Giavedoni, Jacob Schuckers; (middle row) Caleb Bender, Gage Arrington, Stone Smith, Triston Bair; (back row) Zander Neal, Blake Bizousky, Garrett Bennett, Caleb Harvey and John Mark Miller. Missing from the photo is Jake Skarbek.

(front row aham McFarJakob Catarouche, Gr el Shepler; mu Sa r, ee nL Va ck land, Za Fezell, Jesse (middle row) Jackson an Lainey; Eth , Goff, Ryan Roberts latt, Isaac nb ee Gr c Ale ) (back row than Kana Jo y, ele Knarr, Sean De Johnston an Aid pusta, Daren Byers, el. eb Kri and Micah

9TH GRADE SKETBAwLL BOYS BA r.) Andre Wehrle, to l. ,

(front row, l. to r.) Haley Maines, Abby Gigliotti, Laney Monroe, Emily Griebel; (back row) Makena Nesbitt, Kylee Shoemaker, Cassidy Reed, Sophie Wyant, Bailey Jones and Taegan Ludwig.

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(front row, l. to r.), Caden Barrick, Derek Huey, Andrew Britton, Jeff Barnett; (back row) Matt Hooftallen, Carter Newcome, Isaac Stouffer, Mack Hanley and Evan Humble.

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(front row, l. to r.) Alex Gianvito, Jacob Horner, Tyler Getch, Chase Lorelli, Tyler Richardson; (second row) Tanner Zimmerman, Kevin Constant, Matt Wehrle, Patrick Fedigan; (back row) Ethan Riley, Ethan Blose, Brandon Matthews, Devin Kelly and Jacob Weaver. Missing from the photo are Willie Hoover and Brady Snyder.

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(front row, l. to r.) Jordan Smith, Libby Anderson; (middle row) Nicole McAfee, Chanda Scott, Riley McLaughlin, Sadie Dixon, Courtney Ohler; (back row) Madison Brooks, Amber Little, Holly Hartman, Skylar Brooks, Ivy Fisher, Alexia Travis and Crystal Couser.

DOWNTOWN PUNXSY OPEN TIL MIDNIGHT

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Laurel Lake Retreat & Conference Center For all your retreat & conference needs 76 Lodge Rd., Rossiter please call 814-938-9300

Nicholas Gianvito Attorney at Law

• Workers Compensation • Wills and estates • Accident & injury Claims • Real estate • Social Security Disability

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Please call for details

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for all your waste and recycling needs,

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Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195 – 21

24 – Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195

Exploring the Colors of Christmas D

wore a crown of holly thorns whose ecorations adorning homes and berries were originally white. As Jesus’ businesses in the familiar colors blood touched the berries, they turned of red and green are popular come red. the holiday season. Even gift wrap, greetSome theorize that the red of the holiing cards and clothing tend to lean today season represents the apples on the ward red and green as the holiday season tree of paradise in the Garden of Eden. hits full swing. It is difficult to think of Christmas without envisioning every- Around the 14th century, the faithful thing awash in these popular colors, bro- would put on Paradise Plays on December 24 to share the story of creation with ken up only by the inclusion of gold, those who white or silver could not read. accents. It is nearly imThe colors of possible to Christmas are find a fruitoften taken for bearing apple granted, and tree in the many celewinter, so a brants are unpine tree aware of how adorned with these colors red apples was became symused instead. bols of the holBishops also iday season wore red and why they robes, further remain so to tying the color this day. red to reliSeveral theogious masses ries exist as to and celebrawhy red and tions. green became Gold is frethe hallmarks quently used of Christmas. in holiday One such thedecorations as ory is that the well. Gold can colors evolved represent the from pagan c e l e b r a t i o n s The colors red, green, gold, and silver are prominent during sun and light, the holiday season, when they can be seen on everything both imporsimilar to the from gift wrap to decorations. tant ways to evolution of ward off the Christmas traditions. Prior to the arrival of Christian- dark winter. In addition, gold was one of the gifts brought to baby Jesus, making it ity, many cultures viewed the color green as the symbol of life . It is believed that, a color of significance within the Christian faith. during harsh winters, evergreen trees Red and green poinsettias also are a were cut down and brought indoors to symbol of the holiday season, but they symbolize that life still exists and thrives didn’t start the colorful tradition. Poindespite the cold and darkness of winter. settias are a relatively recent addition to Other pagan holidays featured the use of Christmas symbolism, as they were only green, red and gold, including the festifirst introduced to America in 1828, when val of Yule. they were brought back from Mexico by As Christianity spread across Europe Joel Poinsett. and eventually other parts of the world, The holiday season is filled with many red and green were linked to Jesus Christ. Green still represented life, but now this different colors that brighten up homes and businesses. Combined with the many was the eternal life offered by Christ. Red twinkling lights used on displays, red and was said to symbolize sacrifice, namely green decorations can add vitality to the the blood of Jesus when he died on the dark days of December. cross. Some Christians believe that Jesus •••

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Printed 12/16

All That Glitters Christmas Shop

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Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195 – 25

H&H

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Stock Up Today Wassail is an ancient spirited beverage that was brought house-to-house with the goal of spreading Christmas cheer.

May the Lord grant you & your loved ones love, joy and goodwill this Christmas and all the new year!

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26 – Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195

Revisit Lesser-known Christmas Traditions

C

hristmas celebrants participate in many different traditions year after year, but some may not fully understand the meaning behind such activities. A Christian holiday, Christmas did not originate with all activities centralized to the church. In fact, many of the traditions people hold dear have pagan roots, which were adapted as Christmas celebrations evolved. People who hang mistletoe in doorways may be surprised to learn that this tradition dates back to the ancient Druids. The Druids believed mistletoe possessed mystical powers that brought good luck to the household and warded off evil spirits. Evergreen trees are now associated with Christmas trees, but evergreen boughs were once used to decorate homes during the winter solstice to help people envision the spring to come. Christians often look at evergreen trees as a sign of everlasting life and their relationship with God. However, while many Christmas traditions continue to be an integral part of annual celebrations, there are some customs that have fallen out of favor. Although these traditions may no longer be widely practiced, anyone can revive them and make them part of their holiday celebrations. Wassailing is a custom that has ancient origins and is not as popular today as it once was. “Wassail� comes from the AngoSaxon phrase “waes hael,� which means, “good health.� Wassail is a drink made of mulled ale, spices and other ingredients. To go wassailing meant to travel door-to-door singing and offering a drink from a wassail bowl in exchange for gifts. Wassailing has been mentioned in certain Christmas car-

ols, including “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.â€? Largely an English tradition, wassailing was brought to America by British settlers. January 17th, the old Twelfth Night, is the traditional date for wassailing. Although wassailing has largely fallen by the wayside, increased interest in ales and craft brewing may help revitalize this Christmas tradition, which can inspire community spirit. Gifting with fruit cake is another tradition that has been much maligned and does not enjoy the same popularity that it once did. Fruit cake is a cake made with chopped candied fruit, nuts and spices and is occasionally soaked in spirits. Fruit cakes have been enjoyed all over the world, but Americans may never have embraced the Christmas fruit cake tradition as much as those from other countries. However, with the right recipe and an open mind, it may be possible to resurrect the fruit cake tradition once again. Mummers plays are another British tradition that arrived in North America with settlers but has largely fallen by the wayside. Mummers plays involved miming folk dramas, and the plays were commonplace around the holiday season. Celebrants may want to research such dramas and include them in this yearâ€?s festivities to liven up celebrations even more. Traditions passed on through the years help make Christmas a favorite time of celebration. People may want to explore the less popular traditions today and once again make them interesting parts of this yearâ€?s festivities. •••

Happy Holidays

GIMMICKS Ridge Ave. • 938-7100

Ridge Ave. • 938-0200

Extending Warm Wishes to Everyone for a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Christmas Tidbits to Put You in the Holiday Spirit

T

he holiday season has arrived, and millions of people across the globe will be celebrating Christmas with their families and friends. The following are some interesting tidbits to share with your loved ones this holiday season. • Each year, more than three billion Christmas cards are sent in the United States alone. • In 350 AD, Pope Julius I, bishop of Rome, proclaimed December 25 the official celebration date for the birth of Jesus Christ. Many historians and theologians have surmised that Christ really wasn’t born this time of year, thanks to imagery and information from the Bible. • Christmas carols began as an English custom called “wassailing.” Individuals toasted neighbors to a long and healthy life. • Despite the common tale that three wise men paid homage to baby Jesus, the Bible never specifically calls out a number. Similarly, there’s no specific indication that they visited the infant Jesus. Their visit may have occurred when Jesus was older. • Santa Claus’ modern look was inspired by writings from The Knickerbockers of New York and imagery from Clement Clarke Moore’s “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” Moore denied authoring the famous poem for 15 years after it was published anonymously, feeling the poem was beneath his talents. • Santa has his own official postal code. It’s H0 H0 H0. • The song “Jingle Bells” was originally

written for Thanksgiving and not Christmas. People loved it so much that the lyrics were changed to fit Christmas. • Christmas trees typically grow for 15 years before they’re cut and sold. This means the trees sold today were likely planted in 1999. • Christmas was not declared an official holiday in the United States until June 26, 1870. • Before turkey, the traditional Christmas meal served in England was a pig’s head and mustard. • Male reindeer tend to shed their antlers in the winter. This means Santa’s reindeer are likely female. • Christ may have been born in a cave rather than a manger. According to the gospel of Luke, the shepherds that helped find shelter for Mary to give birth kept their flock in a cave. The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is built over a cave called the Grotto of the Nativity, where Jesus is believed to have been born. • Many people may be less inclined to stand under mistletoe waiting for a kiss if they knew what “mistletoe” means in the ancient Germanic language. It literally means “dung on a twig,” for the bird who eats the berries and then leaves seeds in droppings to propagate new plants. • Each holiday season, PNC Wealth Management calculates the costs of the gifts in the song, “The 12 Days of Christmas.” The price index for the gifts went from $12,673 in 1984 to more than $24,000 in 2011. The most expensive gift is the swimming swans. •••

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Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195 – 27

Coal Community Schools

Continued from page 19 News reported that the Walston mine’s school bulged with nearly two hundred students in the two-room building and that the two teachers were engaged to teach that year. Mr. Frank Miller Bowman and Miss Eva Wilson faced an enormous task. The editor of the News opined, “If they can stand the work, they will make a success of it.� The impact of the increase in population was also evident at the Jenks School, located on Elk Run Creek; there were so many additional students for

that school that Mr. Carl Law, the teacher, instituted a “half day� system in order to effectively teach the increased number of students. The first students at Walston were similar to those who had arrived during the 1850s when there had been an influx of German-speaking students into the Punxsutawney area. These students were children of miners who originated from Wales, Ireland, England, and Germany and were rapidly assimilated into the culture of the Punxsutawney area. After the mine was fully operational the demand for more labor brought in workers from southern and eastern Europe. Their native languages, Slavic and Italian, were not as familiar to the

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local population. They also brought with them different cultural, ethnic, and religious beliefs. Their celebrations and norms were different from those of the local residents. The task for the teachers during that era, the education of children, was expanded to include developing the children and their families into Americans. The school room was the place where each student was of equal value. The children of the mine officials and the children of the miner attended the same school, participated in the same lessons, and were provided the same opportunity to succeed. In some instances, the teacher was the same teacher at the same school for an extended period of time. This gave stability to the students and the community. At Walston, Frank Miller Bowman was one of the two teachers hired for the school for the first ten years of operation. His continued presence gave him a significant role and a strong influence on the development of citizens and Americans in the early days of Walston. As other mining communities grew, the residents also wanted the advantage of public schooling for their children. On August 31, 1887, residents of the Adrian mine community made known their desire to have a public school, according to this item published in the Punxsutawney News: “Adrian wants a public school this winter and arrangements are being made to satisfy the demand. There will not be a new building put up this year but an old one will be refitted for school purposes. If the children from that place would go to the nearest schools there would not be room enough for them, hence the necessity of fitting up a room for their accommodation.� As the mine and the coke ovens at Walston expanded, industrial by-products, including smoke and grime, created an unhealthy environment for the children in the school. On September 21, 1887, the Punxsutawney News in reporting on the problem stated: “The Young township school board seems to have a difficult matter on their hands in regard to the Walston school building. The children refuse to attend school on account of the location of the building, which is so near the coke ovens that the smoke is annoying. The house is on the coal company’s ground and if the

seats are removed to another building the school house would go to the company. The building has been used but a few years and the township cannot afford to abandon it. The house is not in a fit place for school purposes and the company should pay the township a fair recompense for the building and allow a house to be provided in a more healthful locality. We hope to see the matter settled satisfactory to all.� In October 1887, after negotiating with the Rochester and Pittsburg Coal and Iron Company, operators of the mines, it was agreed that the company would purchase the old, smoke-begrimed school house near the coke ovens and the township would use the monies received to build a new one in a more congenial area. Under the law at that time, the Township was responsible for collecting the taxes to pay for the schools. The rapid increase in the school-age population had outstripped the resources of the township. In 1891, Young Township Tax Collector, Jacob C. Smith, in seeking a way to have everyone pay their share of the school taxes, had included all the residents of the mining communities on his school tax list. He did not have any success in collecting the tax because he had no way to make the non-citizens, who were ineligible to vote, to pay the tax. In 1892, in desperation, he approached Lucius W. Robinson, the mine superintendent at Walston and Adrian and explained the situation. Robinson, hearing and understanding the problem, instructed the company to deduct the amount of the school taxes from the miner’s wages. And, in this manner, the township school fund was able to pay the expenses for the schools. As we look back at the history and impact of coal mining in the Punxsutawney area, a debt of gratitude is due the educators who helped shape the immigrants, who came to work in the mines, into Americans. The children of the mining communities learned to be citizens of this country through public education and from their dedicated teachers. Their parents learned the responsibility of citizens to speak out about their needs and rights and their responsibility to support, through their taxes, the benefit their new country provided. These continue as valuable lessons for citizens today. Resources used in the preparation of this article are available at the Punxsutawney Memorial Library, the Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society, and the Library of Congress. This article has been prepared by the Coal Memorial Committee of the Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc. Comments on this article may be directed to PAHGS, P.O. Box 286, Punxsutawney, PA 15767. ••• Mon, Tues 6:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Wed, Thurs & Fri 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday 7:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sunday 7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

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Ring in the New Year with Festive Party ideas

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cards. Encourage guest participation with an entertaining idea. Print out small cards that guests have to complete. Phrases like, ‘The bad habit I want to quit is ___’ or ‘____ was the silliest thing I did last year,’ can be fun to do and share. Guests can take turns guessing whose card is being read. • Have the party catered. Unless you want to spend the evening in and out of the kitchen, invest in catering. Guests of a late party won’t expect a three course meal. However, platters of sandwiches, appetizers and other little munchies will fit the bill. Remember, caterers may book up fast this time of year, so be sure to reserve service well in advance of your party. • Create a specialty drink. In addition to toasting champagne or sparkling wine, serve a specialty drink creation. This can be a beverage that ties into your color scheme or the theme of the party. Dessert drinks, such as chocolate martinis or vanilla cakeflavored vodka mixers, may be the right flavor for your affair. As the host, you should remember to provide non-alcoholic alternatives as well. • Consider more substantial food after midnight. Encourage guests to eat more and drink less once the clock has struck midnight. Casseroles and other baked dishes are easy to make in advance and have on hand. A breakfast buffet of pancakes, toast and omelets also will fill guests up with something more substantial than chips and dips. New Year’s Eve parties are a great way to reflect on the last year and look forward to a new one, and hosts can take steps to make their parties memorable for all the right reasons. •••

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Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195 – 29

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30 – Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195

Santa’s Points

Continued from page 13 Reindeerâ€? was released in 1949. (The song was based on a poem of the same name, written by Marks’s brother-in-law, Robert L. May.) Next to “White Christmas,â€? “Rudolphâ€? has become the most popular song of all time. Flying through the air, by whatever means, is a common thread among the Christmastime gift-givers. In 1955, a Sears, Roebuck & Co. store in Colorado gave children a telephone number for a “Santa hotline.â€? The number was mistyped, and children found themselves calling the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), the predecessor to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). The director received the first call for Santa and responded by telling subsequent callers that signs on the radar showed that Santa was indeed heading south from the North Pole. Thus began a tradition. For more than sixty years, NORAD has tracked Santa’s flight. Children can now track the path of Santa on the internet and on NORAD’s website (www.noradsanta.org). Santa’s rosy cheeks aside, the picture has not always been rosy. The Puritans’ lack of acceptance was only the beginning. The “Examination and Tryal of Father Christmas,â€? was published shortly after Christmas was reinstated, after two centuries, as a holy day in England. Many Christians dislike the secular focus on Santa and the materialistic focus that gift-giving brings to the holiday. Jehovah’s Witnesses, for example, refuse to celebrate Santa or Christmas itself. Regarding the commercialism, writer Carol Jean-Swanson notes that the original figure of St. Nicholas gave only to the needy and that today, it’s all about conspicuous consumption. In the Czech Republic, a group of advertising professionals started a website against Santa Claus. In the Czech tradition, presents are delivered by JeŞíťek, which translates as “Baby Jesus.â€? One advertiser said: “I’m not against Santa himself. I’m against Santa in my country.â€? In the United Kingdom, one school banned the red suit (preferring the traditional green of Father Christmas) as a symbol of commercialism promoted by Coca-Cola. In reality, the red-suited Santa was created by Thomas Nast. As we explore our ethnic roots, it’s good to remember the Christmas traditions our ancestor brought with them from their home regions. Merry Christmas to all! Marty Armstrong is a member of the Collections Committee of the Punxsutawney Area Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc. •••

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James E. Mitchell’s

Continued from page 16 the corner of Gilpin Street on Mahoning Street. They told him about the sale to be held at one o’clock that day in front of the courthouse in Brookville. By 9 a.m. they were off to Brookville by horse and buggy and made it before noon. The sale of the Methodist church building was first on Sheriff Phillip Shannon’s list. The Spirit obituary notes the event: “As a young man, and before he became a member of the M.E. church, the building was sold at sheriff’s sale. Mr. Mitchell bought it and held it until the congregation was able to redeem it.â€? The Methodist Church’s history states, “. . . by the generous assistance of Mr. James E. Mitchell the obligation was met.â€? The notes of R. R. Evans offer a more personal account of the event: “We went into the sheriff’s office and he made out a deed to Mitchell for the church and we came back home the same day and Mitchell deeded the church to the trustees and got his money as soon as it could be collected.â€? A week after Judge Mitchell’s unexpected death in March 1894, his wife, Caroline (Hoover) Mitchell, succumbed to her yearlong illness, at age sixty-two. The concluding comments in the tribute by A.T. Brewer, in the August 22, 1894, Spirit, included these words: “It matters but little how a man dies. The great question is how he lived.â€? Brewer’s sentiments continue to resonate in Ellis’s poem, “The Dash,â€? published more than one hundred years later: “What matters is how we live and love / and how we spend our dash.â€? Truly, Judge Mitchell’s “dashâ€? was one well lived – a race well run. (The story of Mitchell Park, “Punxsutawney’s resort and pleasure park,â€? established in 1895 as a part of the legacy of James E. Mitchell, remains to be told – a telling that will follow at a later date.) •••

Steelers Football Contest Winner Announced B.J. Baughman just might give Punxsutawney Phil a run for his proverbial money for the title of “Prognosticator of Prognosticatorsâ€?! On Sunday, December 4, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the New York Giants 24-14 for their third consecutive win. B.J., who hails from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, submitted a perfect guess of 38 total points for the game and will receive a $20 gift certificate from McDonald’s, located in downtown Punxsutawney. Congratulations, B.J.! Please see this month’s Hometown magazine for the Steelers Football Contest – remember, you have to play to win! •••

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Make Your Holidays Merry with These Fireplace Tips

ireplaces mean warmth, comfort and ambiance — and there’s no better time of year to enjoy one than when loved ones are gathered together for the holidays. To make the most of the experience, consider these tips:

Factory-provided safety screens, aftermarket freestanding screens, and barriers help reduce burn risk, as they prevent skin from coming into direct contact with hot glass. You can learn more about fireplace safety and request a safety barrier at heatilator.com/Fireplace-Safety.aspx.

flammable materials at a safe distance. Stockings hung by the chimney with care sound nice, but should be avoided in practice — there are plenty of safe alternatives for this traditional holiday display, such as the banister or the windows. Don’t be shy about using your fireplace while you have holiday visitors. Just be sure guests know that it can be very hot during and after use, and remember that children and pets should always be supervised. Keep the remote control (if your unit has one) out of reach.

Deck the Mantel The fireplace can be one of the top areas of the home to showcase your decorating skills — especially during the holiday season. Save your most treasured trimmings for the mantel. Display frames filled with holiday photos of family and friends, scented candles, garlands with dried berries, flowers and festive ribbons and bowls of seasonal fruit. White, silver, and gold color schemes are beautiful and appropriate for the season too. Just be sure all decorations are safely away from heat and flame. Make your holidays a little bit merrier by getting your fireplace prepped for the season. •••

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Safety First With some precautions in mind, the fireplace can be the centerpiece to your festivities. Keep clothing, furniture, draperies and

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Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195 – 31

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I

Applications for Little Mr. & Miss Groundhog 2017 Now Available

By Marlene Lellock for Hometown magazine f this issue has come out after December 21, then we’ve made it past the day with the fewest hours of light. If not, we have the shortest day of the year to look forward to! The average length of daylight at this time of year is a little over nine hours. For a few weeks after the Winter Solstice, it seems as though nothing is chang-

ing, but rest assured, the sun’s path has reached its southernmost point and is now very slowly moving northward. By January 31, daylight will last a little over ten hours. Those extra hours of light can make it easier to get through whatever this winter might be planning to throw at us! And speaking of winter, our Winter Wonders program is the highlight of the Weather Discovery Center’s upcoming events: December 27-29 – Winter Wonders: Winter Around the World. Explore what “winter� means in different hemispheres and on different continents. Tuesday is Winter in South America, Wednesday is Winter in Asia, and Thursday is Winter in Africa. On Tuesday and Thursday, choose from two sessions: 10 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. On Wednesday there is one session only from 10 a.m. to noon. The cost is $8 for one session, $15 for two sessions, or $21 for all three sessions. Preregistration is helpful. Call 938-1000 or e-mail info@weatherdiscovery.org.

Little Mr. & Miss Groundhog 2017! Calling all kindergarteners in the Punxsutawney Area School District, in Ss. Cosmas & Damian School, and in the Punxsutawney Christian School! Entries for Little Mr. & Miss Groundhog 2017 will be accepted until Friday, January 13, at the Weather Discovery Center. The winners of the contest will be crowned on Saturday, January 28, 2017, at 10 a.m. in the lobby of the Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center. Each winner will receive a $50 Walmart card and a gift bag. The winners will appear in the Punxsutawney Spirit and are invited to the Firemen’s Parade in July and the Home for the Holidays Parade in November. Popular voting will take place January 14-26. For entry details, visit Weatherdiscovery.org, call 938-1000, or send an e-mail to

info@weatherdiscovery.org. Proceeds benefit the Weather Discovery Center’s educational programs. Marlene Lellock is the director of the Weather Discovery Center. If you’d like to stay up-to-date with what’s happening at the Center, visit either the Center’s website (www.weatherdiscovery.org) or our Facebook page at (www.facebook.com/weatherdiscovery) to sign up for our e-newsletter! Or, you can call us with your e-mail address, and we’ll add you to our list. •••

(“From Our Past,” researched by S. Thomas Curry, features items of interest from past editions of Punxsutawney and area newspapers.)

December 14, 1907 — Thursday and Friday the bayou was covered to a depth of about six inches with ice and the surface was covered with skaters. Judging from the condition of the sidewalks it would be a pretty good guess to suppose that the skating was slightly on the bum today. (Punxsutawney Spirit) [Note: The “bayou” was a low-lying area north of State Street in the East End, where Stello Foods, Hoffman Diamond Products, Inc., and Valley Tire Company are now located.]

December 19, 1907 — Now that the roads are in first-class condition for coasting, the pedestrians feel that they are being imposed upon when the children use the sidewalks for their pleasure. So far this year no one in this vicinity has been injured. It would be advisable for those who enjoy coasting, and it is without doubt, real pleasure, had better keep to the road way. There being a borough ordinance making coasting on the sidewalks punishable by a fine, it should make the use of the streets for such purposes doubly safe. (Punxsutawney Spirit)

December 24, 1868 — Embosomed in the pine clad hills that wave their perennial, verdant groves for many a mile down the western slope of the Allegheny mountains, there are two Boroughs in Pennsylvania. In a beautiful valley on the Mahoning, ... these villages shadow the waters of one of the clearest streams that flows on the globe. Clayville occupies the lower part of a valley about two miles in length and one-half mile in width. The upper part of the vale is the site of Punxsutawney. The end of the valley where the stream struggles through the hill from the vale is fifty-five feet higher than the site of the old Indian village. (Punxsutawney Plaindealer)

January 3, 1894 — The traveling theatrical troupes are having hard luck this winter. One half the number that appeared at this place this season have disbanded since they left Punxsutawney. Many of the companies were good and many did not deserve to live. (Punxsutawney News)

January 4, 1905 — The year 1905 was given a noisy welcome Saturday night, when at 12 o’clock, guns, whistles, bells and other nerve-wrecking devices let loose in a mighty chorous, proclaiming the advent of another cycle. (Punxsutawney Spirit) •••

Celebrating Midnight Mass

any families have their own unique holiday traditions, but one tradition that unites millions of Christians all over the world is the celebration of Midnight Mass. In many parishes, Midnight Mass is the first celebration of Christmas Mass. The origins of Midnight Mass are not exactly known. However, certain monks and nuns attended liturgical services at midnight every day in ancient times, and the Christmas Midnight Mass very well may have been adopted from these practices. Regardless of the basis behind the celebration, it can be a breathtaking and emotional service thanks to the memorable passages read and the inclusion of church choirs. Many Midnight Mass celebrants feel the Mass serves as an impressive reminder as to the true meaning of Christmas. •••

M

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Call to reserve/confirm your photo time. Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195 – 33

First Baby of 2017 Contest

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e at Hometown – and the sponsors of the First Baby of 2017 Contest – will welcome the first baby of the New Year to the Punxsutawney area! In addition to wishing the happiest of New Years to one and all, Hometown will recognize the first baby born in Hometown’s delivery area in the New Year. The “winning” newborn must be the first baby born after 12 midnight on January 1, 2017; must begin life at one of the following hospitals – Brookville, PennHighlands, and Punxsutawney Area Hospital; and must be a resident of the Hometown delivery area. Hometown must receive notification of the baby’s birth – either by telephone (814-

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The Origin of Baby New Year

eople from around the world celebrate to mark the arrival of the new year. One New Year tradition that has survived through the centuries is that of Baby New Year and its image of a toddler wearing only a diaper, sash and top hat. Baby New Year can be traced to 600 B.C. in Greece and Egypt. Historians note that Greeks believed Dionysus, their God of fertility and wine, was reborn every New Year as a spirit of fertility and luck. Greeks would celebrate with parades featuring a baby in a cradle to represent the birth of Dionysus. Ancient Egyptians used a baby as a symbol to represent rebirth as well. The child symbolized the birth of the new year and the passing of the old one. Over the years, the tradition of Baby New Year has taken on another meaning as well. Some people believe the baby begins as an infant in January and then quickly ages until he is elderly at the end of December. Some stories even suggest Baby New Year ages until he becomes Father Time. Early Christians did not like the tradition

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34 – Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195

938-0312) or by e-mail (hometown@punxsutawneymagazine.com) – by 5 p.m. Monday, January 9, 2017, to qualify for the contest. Please provide the date, the hour, the minute, and the location of the baby’s birth. Also send the baby’s gender, name, length, and weight, as well as the name of the attending physician. In addition, please include the parents’ full names, address, and phone number. If you are expecting a new arrival on or around January 1, you could bring home a bundle of exciting prizes along with your little one! Take a peek at the sweet prizes our contest sponsors will shower on the first baby of 2017. •••

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of Baby New Year, feeling it was a pagan celebration. However, the Church eventually revised its standing when it saw how much people stood behind the imagery of a baby representing rebirth. The Christian Church allowed members to celebrate the new year with a baby, and it was believed the practice symbolized the birth and hope offered by baby Jesus. Baby New Year symbolism has even been used for marketing purposes. Retailers realized the cherubic image would attract consumers, which is why it is now used to promote New Year’s sales. But Baby New Year is more than just a successful marketing tool. Each year, many cities and villages name their own Baby New Year, which is the first child born on January 1. Some attempts to name a Baby New Year for an entire country have been made, but there have been no official pronouncements, as so many children have been born around midnight on New Year’s Eve that it has been too close to call which baby arrived first. •••

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Films Contribute to Cherished Holiday Traditions and Inspire Great Gifts

radition plays a pivotal role during the holiday season. While each family has its own unique holiday traditions, certain traditions are embraced and shared by families far and wide. The tradition of watching holiday films together as a family is one custom that has endured for generations. Grandparents may have their favorite films, while moms and dads no doubt have their own must-see holiday movies as well. And no holiday film session is complete without including at least one movie that celebrates the magical impact that this time of year can have on youngsters. This year, holiday shoppers can even draw some gift-giving inspiration from some classic holiday films that appeal to family members of all ages.

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A holiday favorite among a slightly older crowd, “National Lampoon”s Christmas Vacation” continues the tale of lovable family man Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase). Clark is determined to provide a traditional family Christmas for his wife, children and their large extended family, only to have his dream holiday derailed by a stingy boss. When shopping for gifts for fans of this holiday classic, shoppers can scour an array of homemade items on Etsy.com, from coffee

“The Polar Express” (2004)

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36 – Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195

Children love this tale of a young boy who lives out many kids” holiday fantasies by embarking on a magical, unpredictable journey to the North Pole. Along the way, the boy becomes a true believer in the spirit of Christmas when he picks up a loose sleigh bell that falls off of Santa”s sleigh. Santa ultimately entrusts the bell to the boy, referring to the bell as “the first gift of Christmas.” Parents who want to make the tradition of watching holiday films together with their children even more special for kids can give the First Gift of Christmas Sleigh Bell Gift Set (https://www.etsy.com/shop/LilyDeal), providing their youngsters with the same sense of magic and wonderment the boy feels when Santa gives him the sleigh bell in the film. The set includes a large sleigh bell, a red- and snow white-striped gift box, forest green ribbon, and large bow. A leather strap connected to each bell allows kids to hang the bell to include as part of their home holiday decor, or kids can carry the bell with them during the holiday season and show it off to friends and family alike. Each bell comes in a velvet gift bag, making the set an ideal memento for shoppers who want to give kids something they can unwrap and enjoy each Christmas for years to come. In addition, each bell comes with a Certificate of Authenticity that is signed by Santa and lists the name of the elf who inspected the bell, the reindeer name and the location of the bell on the reindeer’s harness. Shoppers looking for stocking stuffers for young fans of the film can opt for the Polar Express Round Trip Train Ticket. At 8” by 3”, the ticket fits easily into standard Christ-

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mugs to T-shirts to home furnishings and more, celebrating Clark Griswold and all the mayhem his family hilariously endures en route to enjoying a merry Christmas together.

“It”s a Wonderful Life” (1946)

Grandparents are no doubt very familiar with this beloved holiday classic, which tells the tale of frustrated businessman George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart). Contemplating suicide on Christmas Eve, George is saved when his guardian angel, Clarence (Henry Travers), intervenes and shows him what life would have been like for George”s loved ones had he never been born. Holiday shoppers looking for something special for a parent or grandparent who loves the story of George Bailey can peruse Etsy.com to find a host of items and replicas that recall some of the film”s most memorable scenes. This year, shoppers can make the tradition of watching holiday films together as a family even more special by incorporating some beloved holiday movies into their gift-giving.

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New Year’s Eve Safety Tips

ew Year’s Eve is one of the most festive nights of the year. Many people spend the final moments of the year celebrating with family and friends. As joyous as such celebrations tend to be, it’s important that New Year’s revelers keep certain safety precautions in mind when celebrating the end of one year and the dawn of the next. • Arrange for transportation in advance. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an average of 304 people die in drunk-driving crashes in the days surrounding Christmas and New Year’s Eve each year. Before heading out on New Year’s Eve, celebrants should ensure their safety by arranging for transportation to and from the festivities. Choose a designated driver to drive throughout the night, or agree to utilize a taxi or shuttle service if everyone plans to consume alcohol. Men and women who volunteer to be designated drivers should be especially alert on the roadways, preparing to drive in potentially inclement weather and being on the lookout for fellow motorists who might be driving erratically. If possible, take public transportation to and from the festivities so no one is tempted to drive after consuming alcohol. • Pick a meetup spot in case anyone gets separated from the group. New Year’s Eve celebrations in public places such as bars, clubs or town squares tend to become crowded as midnight draws near. It’s easy for groups of friends or family to be separated, so choose a meetup spot where everyone can gather after the ball drops. Choose a spot that’s well lit and easily accessible to all, and confirm the

location of the meetup spot via a group text message before heading out for the night. • Stay sober. Many people feel pressured to overindulge with alcohol on New Year’s Eve, but men and women should be responsible with regard to their alcohol consumption. Overconsumption of alcohol makes it difficult for men and women to stay alert, and that loss of alertness can be difficult to manage on nights as hectic as New Year’s Eve. While it’s acceptable for men and women of legal drinking age to raise a glass of champagne at midnight, it’s best to limit alcohol consumption throughout the festivities so the party is memorable for all the right reasons. • Be a responsible host. When hosting a New Year’s Eve party, hosts must prioritize the safety of their guests. Make sure guests don’t drink too much, which can leave hosts open to criminal or civil action should guests leave their home and cause an accident. Serve plenty of food and nonalcoholic beverages so guests who are drinking have something in their systems other than alcohol. Schedule things to do throughout the night so guests have more to do than drink alcohol. In addition, make room for potential overnight guests should someone be incapable of driving home at the end of the night. Keep contact information for local taxis or shuttle services readily available so guests know they don’t have to drive themselves home. New Year’s Eve is a festive night, but one where safety needs to be as big a priority as having a good time. •••

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Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195 – 37

Groundhog Club Events Mark Your Calendar

• Saturday January 28th: The Inner Circle’s Groundhog Ball at the Punxsutawney Country Club 408 N Main St, Punxsutawney, PA from 8 p.m. - Midnight. Join us for an event filled with hor d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and entertainment provided by Rudy and the Professionals. Admission for this formal event is by pre sold tickets only. The price is $30 per person. This year the Groundhog Ball will be a Masquerade theme, attendees are encouraged to participate and wear a mask! • Saturday, January 28th: Breakfast with Phil & Gobbler’s Knob Tour from 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. at Gobbler’s Knob, 1548 Woodland Ave Ext., Punxsutawney, PA 15767. Come have a served breakfast with Phil. Bring your camera for pictures of Punxsutawney Phil and the Inner Circle! Menu includes French Toast or Pancakes, Sausage or Bacon, Scrambled Eggs, Potatoes, Toast, Coffee, Tea, Milk, or Juice. Nuts and Fruit for Phil! We will take your order when you arrive! $10 per adult, $5 per child 12 and under, Children under 2 free. •••

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Warm Wishes to Everyone This Holiday Season

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38 – Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195

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for Adults and Children Alike

ew Year’s Eve is one of the most festive nights of the year, when friends and families gather to count down the waning moments of the year as they anticipate the fun times ahead in the year to come. While adults tend to look forward to New Year’s Eve festivities more than children, there are ways parents can ring in the New Year with their kids. * Invite kids into the kitchen. New Year’s Eve festivities often include food, so why not invite youngsters into the kitchen to cook alongside you? Kids may not be interested in preparing the main course, but let youngsters get involved when baking the night’s more delectable treats, like cookies and cakes. Little ones can choose their favorite treats and then help Mom and Dad prepare those treats for guests coming over to join in the festivities. Decorate cakes and cookies with a New Year’s Eve theme. * Pick funny resolutions out of a hat. New Year’s resolutions are a big part of the holiday, and families who want to add some fun to this tradition can sit down and write their own funny resolutions. Keep the resolutions you write down to yourself, place each person’s ideas in a hat and then pick them out before the kids go to bed or right after the clock strikes midnight, whichever happens to come first. * Make a New Year’s pinata. Many people love to watch the ball drop from Time’s

Square in New York City on New Year’s Eve. Celebrants can bring a taste of this beloved tradition into their own homes come New Year’s Eve by creating a pinata that looks exactly like the ball in Time’s Square. Fill the ball with treats and games for youngsters, who can take chances trying to break the pinata once the clock strikes midnight or earlier if they aren’t likely to still be awake by the time the new year begins. * Make predictions for the year to come. Another fun and wholesome New Year’s Eve activity parents can enjoy with their children is making predictions for the year to come. Ask young sports fans to predict which teams will win championships in their respective leagues while encouraging other youngsters to share their predictions on awards shows or other popular social events for the coming year. Younger kids might not be able to make such specific predictions, so ask them to write down what they hope to see happen in the new year. * Ring in the new year under the stars. Families who live in warm climates might want to forgo television countdowns in favor of spending the final hours of the year under the stars. A New Year’s Eve camping trip is a great way for families to bond and spend time together at the end of what is often a hectic time of year. Instead of hoisting champagne or sparkling cider at the stroke of midnight, share some s’mores and hot chocolate around the campfire as everyone gazes up at the stars. •••

GROUNDHOG DAY BIRTHDAYS!

If you or someone you know was born on February 2 – Groundhog Day (also known as a certain weather prognosticator’s favorite day of the year) – please send the following information, along with your (or his or her) picture, to Punxsutawney Hometown Magazine, PO Box 197, Punxsutawney, PA 15767:

1. First and last name. 2. Year of birth. 3. Hometown. 4. Contact information (to confirm information). 5. interesting biographical information (for example, job, hobbies, facts that make you unique). 6. An answer to the following question: How do you feel about your special connection to Punxsutawney Phil’s special day?

if you prefer to use e-mail, please send the information and the picture to Hometown magazine at hometown@punxsutawneymagazine.com. For more information, please call the magazine at (814) 938-0312.

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The History of Holiday Lights

oliday celebrants employ holiday lights in various ways. Certain individuals may be content to hang lights on their Christmas trees and call their decorating complete. Others may get their holiday jollies by making sure each square inch of their home is covered in twinkling lights. Still, other people prefer the more subdued effect of lights framing one picture window of the house. The tradition of Christmas lights stretches back to early modern Germany when people used candles to decorate Christmas trees in Christian homes. Those candles were harbingers of what would come when electric lights replaced gas and other open flame illuminating devices that were commonplace prior to the 20th century. Thomas Edison, the inventor of the first successful practical light bulb, also created the first strand of electric lights that would be used in holiday decorating. By 1880, Edison had standard incandescent light bulbs well sorted out and desired a way to better advertise his invention, so he decided to make the most of the holiday season and put his light bulbs on display. According to a 2003 article in American Heritage magazine titled The Wizard of Your Christmas Tree, Edison strung incandescent bulbs all around the compound of his Menlo Park, NJ, laboratory. Edison constructed an eight-mile underground wiring system in order to power this grand light display. Because

the laboratory was situated along the railroad that passed between Manhattan and Philadelphia, thousands of people were able to see the display. The concept of electric holiday lights took a bit of time to catch on. Edison s friend and associate Edward Johnson was tasked with stringing together colored lights in 1882 and placing them on an evergreen tree. Johnson hand-wired 80 red, white and blue light bulbs. In 1895, President Grover Cleveland requested the White House family Christmas tree be illuminated by multi-colored electric light bulbs. In 1903, when General Electric began to offer pre-assembled kits of holiday lights, stringed lights were reserved for the wealthy and electrically savvy. For example, in 1903 a single string of electric lights cost $12, or around $300 today. It would take several more years before holiday lights became a national tradition. On Christmas Eve 1923, President Calvin Coolidge began the country s celebration of Christmas by lighting the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse located south of the White House with 3,000 electric lights. Today, illuminated strands of lights have become a large part of holiday celebrations and have even been adopted for use during various year-round events. Such lights can be a beautiful and festive addition to many celebrations. •••

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Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195 – 39

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40 – Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195

Simple Ways to Dress Up Your Home for the Holidays

T

he holiday season is rife with traditions that focus on fun and family. One such testament to the festive spirit of the holiday season is the many homes and businesses decorated with the lights and colors that have become synonymous with the season. Decorating for the holiday season can be time-consuming. While decking the halls may not consume as much time as holiday shopping and wrapping presents, according to data from a 2013 American Time Use Survey, interior and exterior decorating for the holidays may consume anywhere from 2.5 to 3 hours per session. Holiday decorating includes things as simple as setting up a menorah or as complex as stringing lights on the exterior of a home. Though elaborate displays can take hours to erect, time-crunched holiday celebrants can still create festive, welcoming displays. Hang holiday wreaths. Holiday enthusiasts without much time to decorate can invest in a couple of holiday wreaths, which can be dressed up as much or as little as celebrants prefer. If you do not have the time to string lights on the house, wrap them around wreaths hung in windows or hang the wreaths on a home s main entrance. Celebrants who want to go a less traditional route can hang wreaths made of holly, citrus fruits, ribbons, or any other greenery instead of the more customary evergreen wreaths. • Decorate with ornaments. Ornaments are not exclusive to Christmas trees. Fill a vase

or bowl with metallic ornaments and place it in a prominent location, such as a busy hallway or the foyer of your home. Hang ornaments on clear filament from the mantle or within the main window of the house, where they can reflect tree lights and add sparkle. • Bring in more greenery. Drape evergreen boughs on staircase handrailings or on the mantle, or use greenery to frame doorways. The scent will be inviting and things instantly will look more festive. • Use throws and decorative pillows. Change the look of a room with holidaycolored decor if you do not want to clutter the space with knickknacks. A red and green blanket draped over the sofa can give off a comforting holiday vibe. • Focus on the front door and entryway. Celebrants who do not have the time to decorate their entire homes can create a warm, inviting space by decorating their front doors and entryways. Place greenery, bows, tinsel, lights, and winter-inspired accessories by the front door so friends and family visiting for the season catch the holiday spirit the moment they walk through the door. Place LED candles in windows. Rather than contending with twinkle lights and electric cords, homeowners can employ battery-operated faux candles to create a homey appeal in windows and hallways throughout their homes. Simplify holiday decorating with some easy tips to make houses cozy and festive.

•••

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Tips to Keep Your Family Healthy and Happy this Winter © Olesia Bilkei - Fotolia.com

W

ith colder weather comes an increase in weather-related illness and health issues. From activity levels to mood, diet and more, seasonal weather affects all areas of your life. But, don’t let the winter blues get you down — follow these tips to help keep your family healthy and happy during the cold-weather months.

“Winterize” Your Diet

Some fresh fruits and veggies can be hard to find in winter. The Cleveland Clinic suggests turning to root vegetables like beets, carrots and turnips since they can withstand cold temperatures, making them easier to find. Also on their list of suggested foods are oatmeal, soup (without a lot of salt), sushi, broccoli and cauliflower — all of which provide essential nutrients to support immunity and boost vitamin levels. Also, be sure to work vitamin D into your system. It aids bone health and muscle strength, but during shorter, cloudy days of winter, you might not get the necessary amount you need. Harvard School of Public Health recommends daily 15-minute walks outside to get some sun, and eating vitamin D-rich foods such as dairy products, breakfast cereals and fish like salmon and tuna. You may also consider a supplement.

Keep Moving

Studies show that daily exercise and activity offer immune-boosting benefits. People who exercise 30 to 45 minutes a day experience a 40 to 50 percent reduction in the number of days they get sick, according to studies at Appalachian State University’s Human Performance Lab.

Encourage the family to get active with step or fitness trackers. Daily or weekly step goals and challenges with siblings or spouses are fun ways to keep everyone moving. FitBit, Garmin and Jawbone all make trackers with corresponding mobile apps to help monitor goals. And, when cabin fever sets in, grab the kids and head outside. Cold weather activities nearby or on a trip away, such as sledding, skiing and snowboarding, can offer additional exercise outside the normal indoor routine.

Always be Prepared

When the weather gets cold, the risk of certain illnesses like cold and flu rise. What’s in your feel-better-fast kit when your family gets sick? Items that doctors recommend to have when a cold or the flu hits include: pain and fever relief (ibuprofen, acetaminophen), tissues, fluids (especially cool water), soup and tea, throat lozenges and a digital temperature monitor. Instead of waking young children to get accurate temperature readings with a digital thermometer, consider picking up TempTraq the next time you’re at Target, CVS or Walgreens. It’s a wearable, Bluetooth monitor that safely and continuously senses, records and transmits body temperature for 24 hours through its free TempTraq app. You can even receive fever alerts so you can eliminate poking or prodding kids in the middle of the night, providing peace of mind for you and much needed rest for them during sick days. For a happy and healthy winter, use these tips to inspire your family to eat right, get active and be prepared for colder weather. (StatePoint) •••

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Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195 – 41

F

Exploring the Origins of New Year’s Resolutions

or millenia, people around the world have commemorated the arrival of a new calendar year by adhering to various traditions. Once such tradition is making resolutions for the year ahead. Resolutions are promises to oneself geared around personal fulfillment and betterment. Resolutions are widely practiced, but some people may not understand the origins of New Year’s resolutions and why they have become the norm. Some historians tie the practice of making resolutions to the ancient Babylonians. More than 4,000 years ago, the Babylonians celebrated the New Year in March rather than January. The spring harvest was in March, and a festival called Akitu, which lasted 12 days, was celebrated. An important part of the festival was the crowning of a new king. Special rituals also affirmed a connection to the gods. The Babylonians made promises to the gods, which included vows to return borrowed objects and pay outstanding debts. Resolutions can also be traced to ancient Rome. The Romans were instrumental in creating a more formal calendar, and the start of the new year was moved from March to January (January and February were added to the Roman calendar under the rule of Numa Pompilius). Julius Caesar wanted to honor January’s namesake, Janus, the Roman god of beginnings. Janus’ two faces enabled him to look back into the

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past and forward into the future. Sacrifices to Janus were made, and worshipers exchanged gifts with one another. A custom of setting resolutions began during this period as well, with Romans promising to be good to one another. Eventually, these resolutions were funneled into prayers and fasting when Christianity was adopted by the Roman Empire. Other religious parallels include the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, which is a day of atonement and reflection as celebrants examine their wrongdoings and seek forgiveness and to behave better moving forward. Yom Kippur follows Rosh Hashanah, Judaism’s own new year. Resolutions also may be loosely tied to Medieval times. During this time, knights took a “peacock vowâ€? at the end of the Christmas season. Each year, these knights would reaffirm their commitment to chivalry. Today New Year’s resolutions are largely a secular tradition, but they’re still connected to a desire to be a good person and put one’s best self forward. ••• Hometown magazine is delivered to 100% of Punx’y and area homes!

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42 – Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195

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CONTEST RULES

1. Complete the coupon on this page.

2. Guess the winning team and the total number of points you think will be scored in the Steelers vs. Ravens Game and enter the guesses in the spaces provided on the coupon.

3. Enter one of the participating advertisers on this page in the space provided to redeem your coupon should you be the contest winner.

4. Clip and forward the coupon to:‘Steelers Football Contest,’ c/o Hometown magazine, 129 Aspen Road, Punxsutawney, PA 15767. PLEASE MARK YOUR TEAM PICK & TOTAL POINTS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENVELOPE. 5. All entries must be received by 4 p.m. Thursday, December 22. 6. No purchase necessary to participate. All entries must be original magazine coupon (no photocopies).

7. 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. Each issue we will give one $25 certificate.

8. Hometown magazine retains the right to make any final decisions regarding the contest, and by submitting an entry, contestants agree to abide by the rules of the contest.

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Hometown magazine ‘Steelers Football Contest’:

Complete, Clip, Drop off or Mail to: Steelers Football Contest c/o Hometown magazine, 129 Aspen Road, Punxsutawney, PA 15767

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Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195 – 43

44 – Punxsutawney Hometown – Christmas 2016 - Issue #195

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