Hometown Holidays 2024 by Lewistown Sentinel

Christmas memories: A season of simple joys

BY RHONDA KELLEY Executive Director, Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce

Every generation thinks they grew up in the best era, but I’ll argue that the 1960s and 1970s were truly the golden years, especially around the holidays, Christmas in particular. Life was simpler back then, with fewer distractions vying for our attention, which made the Christmas season feel monumental and eagerly anticipated.

For us, the kids, the excitement started the moment the Sears and Roebuck toy catalog arrived in the mail. My brother Ritchie and I would spend hours poring over its pages, carefully circling the toys we

Christmas tree. Our wish list included everything from a mad scientist chemistry set, to Barbie, G.I. Joe, Slinky and the iconic Etch A Sketch. Everyone wanted the game Operation, and judging by how often our patient’s nose lit up with failure, it’s safe to say most of us weren’t destined to become surgeons. And, of course, no sleepover was complete without a round of Twister or dreaming of our future boyfriends while playing The Dating Game.

With our family on a tight budget, most of our toys came from parties my mom hosted that were a bit like Tupperware parties, but for toys. There was always that one dream gift you hoped for but never got. For Ritchie and me, it was the much-coveted Spyder bike.

These bikes, with their banana seats and sissy bars, looked like mini choppers, and owning one made you the coolest kid on the block. Our bikes, however, were not so exciting hand-me-downs, though every once in a while, we’d score a ride on a friend’s Spyder.

One of the biggest events of the season was the trip to downtown Lewistown for the Christmas parade. The streets were strung with lights and garlands, and the crowd was

thousands turning out for the festivities. There were beau-

bands, classic 1960s cars carrying local dignitaries and beauty queens, and of course, Santa himself, bringing up the rear in his sleigh with eight reindeer. The parade wasn’t complete without a stop at G.C. Murphy’s 5 & 10, where my brother and I would claim

survived past New Year’s, but it was a tradition we loved. We would then head to the lunch counter, where we’d warm up with hot cocoa.

Our next stop was either McMeen’s or the Bon-Ton to visit Santa and let him know exactly which toys we’d circled in the catalog, just in case our letter to the North Pole was waylaid. There was always a long line, but we waited patiently in anticipation of the candy cane or coloring book we would receive. The stores were always packed with holiday shoppers all dressed in their Sunday best. I still remember my mom with her poofy, teased hair, tailored double-breasted wool coat, dress gloves, and matching hat and shoes. Dad wore his corduroy coat and his interesting how memories like these have the power to evoke

Rhonda Kelley

Joys

Continued from Page 3

emotions that have been dormant for years, wrapping around us like a warm blanket?

Who could forget the wonderful Christmas season treats? At my grandma’s house, it was her infamous homemade fudge, her butterscotch haystacks, and the toy-shaped clear hard candy. It came in a myriad of shapes, such as reindeer, Christmas trees, jack-in-the-box, teddy bears and more. They didn’t really taste that great, but they were

certainly sweet — pure sugar, so we loved them. Of course, there were also Christmas cookies, with the star being the sand tart. Everyone made sand tarts, and it was an unspoken contest among bakers to see who could get theirs the thinnest. They were baked in massive quantities, and I can recall still eating them into February.

Then it was time to deck those halls, and boy did we ever. My mother loved to decorate for Christmas. In fact, one visitor to our house over the holidays told my mother that our home looked like G.C. Murphy’s 5 & 10. I think she meant it as a compliment, but

we may never know for sure. The Christmas tree was the star, however. We strung the lights, meticulously hung the ornaments, and much to my mother’s dismay, tossed on the silver tinsel by the handful. I’m sure it was still clogging the vacuum months later. Once it was all decorated and the star was placed at the top, it was time. Time to turn off the overlights. Is there anything more magical than that moment? I think not. It’s as though the whole room holds its breath, and then the lights glow to life,

There is an instant feeling of

joy, as though all is right with the world.

Looking back, it’s these simple, heartwarming moments that stay with us — a mix of laughter, wonder and family the season. Today, Christmas may look different, but its essence remains. And perhaps, by slowing down, setting aside our many distractions, and embracing the traditions of the past, we can bring a bit of that golden era magic back into our holiday celebrations and make it an extra special hometown holiday.

Christmas memories

THE SEASON

Holiday recipes

Holiday Squares

1-1/2 cup sugar

1 cup butter

4 eggs

2 cups flour

2 teaspoon lemon or vanilla extract

*powdered sugar

*pie filling

Long jelly roll pan or 10 x 13 pan

Mix sugar and butter to cream and eggs, flour and extract. Pour in a well-greased pan. Mark off 20 squares (pie filling in the middle of each square). 350 for 25 minutes. Let cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Beloved sister, BJ Cesario Jana, Sentinel Advertising Dept.

Linda Cavanaugh’s Sentinel Cookie Day Soup Recipe (Cheese Broccoli Soup)

4 cans cream of celery soup

2 16 oz bags chopped or cut frozen broccoli

1 15 oz jar Cheese Whiz

2 quarts Half & Half

Put the first three ingredients in a crockpot on high to start then add Half & Half. Stir. As soup gets hot, turn the crockpot to low. Eat and Enjoy!

Linda Cavanaugh

Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau

Monument Square. Pictured are Denise Foss (left) and Jim Zubler.

Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau

Live

Holiday and party recipes from Sentinel cookbooks of yesteryear

The following recipes are reprinted from selected cookbooks that The Sentinel published in 1997, 2004 and 2006. Enjoy these classic recipes as submitted by our readers in the past.

Festive Crab Cups

1/3 cup cream cheese, softened

¼ cup canned crab meat, drained, flaked and cartilage removed

2 tablespoons chopped green onions

1 (2.1-oz.) package frozen miniature phyllo tart shells

1/3 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce

In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, crab and onions until blended. Place the tart shells on an ungreased baking sheet. Drop 1 tablespoon of the filling into each tart shell. Top each with 1 teaspoon cranberry sauce. Bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until heated through. Makes 15 appetizers.

Submitted by Wanda Haines, Milroy, in the 2006 Sentinel “Home for the Holidays” Cookbook

Oreo Balls

1 package chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed fine 1 (4-oz.) cream cheese

Melted chocolate, color of choice

Mix together well. Put in refrigerator until cool enough to roll balls. Dip in chocolate, color of choice and stipe with white or dark chocolate. Refrigerate or freeze until used.

Cook’s note: These can be made and frozen for quite a time (2 or 3 weeks). If you have an unexpected invitation over the holidays, box as candy, use a colorful ribbon and you have a nice gift for your host or hostess.

Submitted by Kathryn Lutz, Lewistown, in the 2006 Sentinel “Home for the Holidays” Cookbook

Tavern Rum Cream Pie

2 (9-inch) unbaked pie crusts

4 cups pared and thinly sliced apples

1 cup ground fresh cranberries

1 cup ground dried apricot

½ teaspoon grated orange rind

1 ¼ cups sugar

2 tablespoons flour

¼ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

1 tablespoon butter

Place one pie crust in 9-inch pie pan. Combine apples, cranberries, apricots and orange rind. Blend together sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg, add to fruit mixture. Pour into pastry shell, dot with butter. Place remaining crust on top of pie, cut slits for steam to escape, seal. Bake at 375 degrees for 40-50 minutes.

Submitted by Bonnie Ross, McVeytown, in the 2004 Sentinel “PIES, PIES, PIES” Cookbook and selected as the “Fruit Pie Category” winner by the Culinary Arts Department at what was theyn known as The Mifflin-Juniata Career and Technology Center.

Crumb crust:

2 ¼ cup graham cracker crumbs

½ cup butter, melted

2 tablespoons, sugar

½ teaspoon cinnamon

Combine the ingredients and press into a 9-inch pie pan. Chill.

Filling:

1 envelope unflavored gelatin, ½ cup cold water

5 egg yolks, 1 cup sugar, 1/3 cup dark rum

1 ½ cups whipped cream, unsweetened chocolate

Prepare the crumb crust. Soften the gelatin in ½ cup cold water. Place over low heat and bring almost to a boil, stirring to dissolve. Beat the egg yolks and sugar until very light. Stir the gelatin into the egg mixture, cool. Gradually add the rum, beating constantly. Whip the cream until it stands in soft peaks. Fold it into the gelatin mixture. Cool until the mixture begins to set, then spoon it into the crumb crust and chill until firm enough to cut. Grate the unsweetened chocolate over the top before serving.

Submitted by Rhonda Barnham, Mifflintown, in the 2004 Sentinel “PIES, PIES, PIES” Cookbook

2024 Festival of Ice in Downtown Lewistown Schedule of events

Schedule courtesy of the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau

Thursday, Dec. 5

All Day -The Merry Mannequins will be on display in downtown business windows and inside the Historic Courthouse

All Day - The Holiday World Scramble is a fun scavenger hunt in downtown Lewistown. Pick your entry form on the front porch of the Historic Courthouse

5-9 p.m. - MC Model Railroad Club open house in the basement of 3 West Monument Square

5-9 p.m. - Holiday Market in the JVB parking lot is open.

5-9 p.m. - The McCoy House Museum will be open for tours

5-9 p.m. - Follow the Star, a World Nativities Exhibition, at St. John’s Lutheran Church

6 p.m. - The Crazy Parade kicks off from the Lewistown Borough Building, North Main and Third Streets

6 p.m. and 8 p.m. - 2 performances by the Lewistown Community Band in the courtroom in the Historic Courthouse

6-9 p.m. - Visit with Santa beside H.C. Kerstetter

6-9 p.m. - Pony rides for the kids at the west end of Market Street

6-9 p.m. - The Mifflin County Historical Society Book Sale at the society’s library inside the Historic Courthouse.

6-9 p.m. - Vote with donation for your favorite gingerbread house at Faith’s House of Hope gingerbread house contest (Square One Clubhouse)

6:15 p.m. - Sacred Heart School choir performance on the steps of the Historic Courthouse

6:30-8 p.m. - Wagon rides begin at the west end of Monument Square. Hosted by Calvary Church of Lewistown

6:30-8:30 p.m. - Live music at the Live Nativity

7-8 p.m. - The Whistle Tones perform at the McCoy House Museum

7:05 p.m. - Miss Stephanie’s School of Dance perform on North Main Street beside the Historic Courthouse

7:40 p.m. - Mifflin County High School Drama Club performance on North Main Street beside the Historic Courthouse

8 p.m. - The Lewistown Community Band performs again in the courtroom in the Historic Courthouse

Friday, Dec. 6

All Day - The Merry Mannequins will be on display in downtown business windows and inside the Historic Courthouse

All Day - The Holiday World Scramble is a fun scavenger hunt in downtown Lewistown. Pick your entry form on the front porch of the Historic Courthouse

11 a.m.-1 p.m. - Battle of the Morning Shows. Drive to Monument Square and hand a donation to your favorite radio station representative. All proceeds stay local and

Camp re Cookwear Lanes Sauces & Rubs • Grill

Smoker

Pizza Oven

Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau Ice sculpture at the Festival of Ice in Downtown Lewistown.

Events

Continued from Page 13

benefit the Salvation Army

5 p.m.-? - Blue Juniata Foodways will be serving traditional Ukrainian Holubsti by Oksana DeArment at The Crooked Shelf Bookshop

5-9 p.m. - MC Model Railroad Club open house in the basement of 3 West Monument Square

5-9 p.m. - Holiday Market in the JVB parking lot is open.

5-9 p.m. - The McCoy House Museum will be open for tours

5-9 p.m. - Follow the Star, a World Nativities Exhibition, at St. John’s Lutheran Church

6 p.m. - The Boyz will start singing Christmas songs from the front steps of the Historic Courthouse and then walk around the festival grounds singing carols.

6 p.m. - Studio 32 School of Dance at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, S. Main and Water Streets

6-7 p.m. - Caroling by the Ice Festival Carolers sponsored by the LUMINA Center on Monument Square in front of Seven Mountains Medical Center

6-7 p.m. - The Trillergy Flute Trio from the Lewistown Community Band perform at the McCoy House Museum

6-8 p.m. - Wagon rides begin at the west end of Monument Square. Hosted by Calvary Church of Lewistown

6-9 p.m. - Visit with Santa beside Central Insurers Group/H.C. Kerstetter

6-9 p.m. - Pony rides for the kids at the west end of Market Street

6-9 p.m. - The Mifflin County Historical Society Book Sale at the society’s library inside the Historic Courthouse.

6-9 p.m. - Vote with donation for your favorite gingerbread house at Faith’s House of Hope gingerbread house contest (Square One Clubhouse).

6:30-8:30 p.m. - Live music at the Live Nativity

7 p.m. - Juniata County 4-H Square Dancers, perform on N. Main St., beside the Historic Courthouse

7 p.m. - Studio 32 School of Dance at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, S. Main and Water Streets

7:15 p.m. - Unusual Suspects will perform in the courtroom in the Historic Courthouse

Saturday, Dec. 7

All Day - The Holiday World Scramble is a fun scavenger hunt in downtown Lewistown. Pick your entry form on the front porch of the Historic Courthouse

7 a.m.-1 p.m. - Kiwanis Club All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Festival at Grace United Methodist Church

11 a.m.-1 p.m. - The McCoy House Museum is open for tours

12 noon-4 p.m. - MC Model Railroad Club open house in the basement of 3 West Monument Square

1 p.m. - Lewistown Kiwanis Christmas Parade in downtown Lewistown

Dusk- Shining Light Through the Darkness opens for the

Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau

Santa at the Ice Festival in Downtown Lewistown.

Events

Continued from Page 15

season at Kish Park

Sunday, Dec. 8

All Day - The Holiday World Scramble is a fun scavenger hunt in downtown Lewistown. Pick your entry form on the front porch of the Historic Courthouse

1-3 p.m. - The McCoy House Museum is open for tours

1-3 p.m. - The Hoopes School is open for tours

1-4 p.m. MC Model Railroad Club open house in the basement of 3 W. Monument Square Dusk - Shining Light Through the Darkness now open for the holiday season at Kish Park

Entertainment Highlights:

Merry Mannequins

The Merry Mannequins have been appearing in the windows of downtown businesses for the last few years as a new creative canvas for making holiday décor with a fashion twist. As every year, designers amaze the community with their ensembles inspired by glamorous or traditional designs, but this year’s mannequins will don the garments of far away lands.

For mannequin locations, visit jrvvisitors.com/festival-of-ice.

Gingerbread House Competition

Faith’s House of Hope is hosting its 5th annual Gingerbread House Competition this year. They collect gingerbread houses from individuals, families, and organizations during the month of November. The gingerbread houses will then be on display at 8 E. Market St., Suite A (Square One Clubhouse) during both nights of the festival. This is when community members can stop by to vote with a donation for their favorite gingerbread house.

Votes may be submitted in-person and through the Faith’s House of Hope Facebook page. Winners will be determined by popular vote and announced on its Facebook page. All proceeds will be donated to Primary Health Network’s Dental Clinic in memory of Faith Bollinger.

The PHN Dental Van will also be on site during the festival.

Stitch In Time Antique &

December 13th 3-7

And for the Young at Heart...

Lewistown Kiwanis Club launches “Guess the Christmas Goose”

BY BRIAN CARSON Sentinel reporter bcarson@lewistownsentinel.com

LEWISTOWN – The Lewistown Kiwanis Club will combine nostalgia with innovation at their 65th annual Pancake Festival on Dec. 7, launching a new “Guess the Christmas Goose” contest to replace their long-running Pancho Pancake shift in one of Lewistown’s longest-running holiday celebrations.

“A few years ago, we felt Pancho’s time was up,” said Ed Lerch, Pancake Breakfast Chairperson. “We had been doing it for years and had some pushback on it, so we decided

to let it slide. Since then, there have been talks about coming up with something new and different.”

The new contest challenges participants to identify one of approximately 50 decorative geese displayed throughout Lewistown. Clues provided on event posters hint at the chosen goose’s location: “Christ-

Located in the bright spot best nest.”

Initially, Lerch admitted to skepticism about introducing a new tradition. “I have to be honest. I was sort of a skeptic,” he said. “I’m also the one who runs the breakfast, and not

having Pancho made my work easier.” However, the club’s innovative approach to incorporating Lewistown’s popular goose displays into their fundraiser has generated renewed interest in the event.

The winner will receive a $100 Visa gift card donated by the Kiwanis Club. Participants can submit their guesses during the breakfast event, with entry forms available at the venue.

The pancake tradition traces its roots to the 1960s, when Quaker Oats and their Aunt Jemima brand partnered with local organizations to promote pancake mix. “They solicited clubs to have pancake breakfasts,” Lerch explained. “They

came around with their promotion, and we jumped on board. They had little sample boxes and stuff, but after a few years, Quaker stopped doing it.”

Following Quaker Oats’ departure, the club created the Pancho Pancake character, building a tradition that would span several decades. “The Paterno,” Lerch said. “We reached at least 50 Pancho Pancakes over the years, featuring local people of interest, often Kiwanians.”

The breakfast event maintains its traditional format, running from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First United Methodist See Goose/ Page 19

Goose

Continued from Page 18

Church on Third and Dorcas Streets. Adults pay $7 for allyou-can-eat pancakes, while children 12 and under pay $3. The event consistently serves around 300 people, maintaining its position as a community gathering point during the holiday season.

The timing strategically coincides with the Kiwanis Christmas Parade, themed “Christmas Around the World,” which begins at 1 p.m. in downtown Lewistown. This coordination allows families to enjoy breakfast before watching or participating in the parade, creating a full day of community activities.

Lerch offered perspective on how the event has evolved through the decades: “When itmas shopping was really im-

portant, and downtown was always crowded with people for Christmas. Over the years, of course, this has subsided. But we’ll still feed about 300 people, and the more, the better.”

The geese featured in the contest represent a collaboration with Community Partnerships, whose “Meet the Flock” initiative has placed decorative geese throughout Lewistown. Interested participants can view the complete collection of geese on the Community Partnerships website at www. cpartnerships.com/meet-the-

The breakfast serves as one of the Kiwanis Club’s primary fundraisers, supporting their community service initiatives throughout the year. While the format of entertainment has changed, the core mission of community service remains unchanged. Tickets remain available through any Kiwanis member or at the door on Dec. 7.

The First United Methodist Church’s Dorcas Street entrance will open at 7 a.m., with continuous serving until 1 p.m.

For more information about the breakfast or contest, community members can contact event chairperson Ed Lerch. The club welcomes families to participate in both the breakfast and the new Christmas Goose contest, building new memories while honoring the spirit of a long-standing community tradition.

The event’s promotional materials, including posters, come through the support of Kish Bank, while Lerch RV has contributed to ticket production, demonstrating continued local business support for this community event.

As December 7 approaches, the Kiwanis Club prepares to write a new chapter in their holiday tradition, replacing the familiar face of Pancho with the mystery of the Christmas Goose while maintaining their

commitment to bringing the community together during the holiday season.