Find your Festival
Wellsboro is a great place to head when you get the cold weather blahs, because we know how to shake them off like a dog shakes the snow from its fur. This year make plans to spend a weekend (or, heck, several) here in Wellsboro and see what’s happening. You might find yourself shopping, skating on a frozen lake, dressing as a Victorian lord or lady, running up a mountain, or reclining by a fire in a woodsy cabin. Indoors and out, we have the festival to melt your heart like a marshmallow in hot cocoa.
DICKENS OF A CHRISTMAS
For about thirty-nine years, if all Wellsborians have been good (and they always have been), on the first Saturday in December Wellsboro’s downtown transforms itself into a wondrous place and time. Porkpie hats and waistcoats, hooped skirts and velvety capes, Scrooges and Santas share the streets and sidewalks with an eclectic array of purveyors. Everything from apple dumplings and crab cakes to handwrought Christmas decorations, plus any other wonderful seasonal delights and delicacies you might envision, magically appear like Marley’s ghost—but without the clanking chains. The streets are full of music, impromptu theater, and plenty of holiday cheer. Come as you are or dress the Victorian part and enter the Dickens Best Dressed Showcase. Parking is available at various lots throughout the downtown, and shuttle service is offered. A schedule of events will be available on Dickens Saturday, December 2.
CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET
The weekend following Dickens of a Christmas is the Eighth Annual Christmas on Main Street. Set this year for Friday through Sunday, December 8 to 10, it is hometown shopping at its finest. The Shiny Brite Christmas ornament tour is one of Wellsboro’s newest old traditions. The Shiny Brites are vintage Corning glass ornaments made here in Wellsboro during the World War II years. They will be on display at various downtown businesses throughout the weekend. Shoppers can purchase a passport/guidebook for five dollars, with stamped passport holders eligible to win a grand prize. Many of Wellsboro’s downtown merchants will be offering special sales and incentives. See why Wellsboro is “the town that saved Christmas!”
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WINTERFEST
Whether there is snow or sun, wind or rain, Winterfest at Hills Creek State Park on January 20 promises to be a day of family fun at one of the area’s lovliest parks. Winterfest runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to Tim Morey, park natural resource specialist, and it’s all free—including hot dogs and hot chocolate while they last. Skis, ice skates, and snowshoes will be available, hiking trails will be open, and if there’s enough snow some park roads will be plowed for cross-country skiing. Bring your sled! Call the park office at (570) 7244246 for more information about Winterfest and plan to have fun no matter the weather.
WINTER CELEBRATION
By the time February rolls around, even Cupid needs a weekend away. Why not, like him, celebrate Valentine’s Day in Wellsboro? The Winter Celebration is February 10 this year and is a delightful mid-winter break full of things like music, shopping, pots of homemade chili to sample and vote on (which comes with a chance for chocolate and an opportunity to raise money for Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries), and ice carving—all guaranteed to lift your spirits out of their chilly slump.
MT. TOM CHALLENGE
On Sunday, February 11, run, hike, or scramble up the 1,100 vertical feet from the Ansonia Valley to the summit of Mt. Tom to enjoy the winter views into the PA Grand Canyon. Descend via a less steep forest road, and, what the heck, do it again. This free event— no frills, no prizes, just fun—lasts from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. How many laps can you do? This family-friendly event has grown in popularity over the years. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Darling Run rail trail parking lot on PA-362. Dress for weather and trail conditions. Could be grass, snow, or ice—that’s what makes it a challenge!
For the most up-to-date information on festivals and events, visit wellsboropa.com or call the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce at (570) 724-1926.
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Leonard Harrison State Park Improvements
While peeping at the changing leaves above, fall visitors to Leonard Harrison State Park at the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon will notice some big changes on the ground.
“We’re still on track to get the public back into the park on September 1. It’s going to be tight, but we’re going to make it,” says Ben Stone, manager of Leonard Harrison and Colton Point State Parks with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “We had to close the park [Leonard Harrison] for the summer to get in and make these major changes to the parking lot. We basically rehabbed a lot of the existing parking, which should improve traffic flow and be much more safe and visitor friendly, especially when there are crowds at the park.”
Starting in early September, after traveling the long, inclined drive to the entrance of the 585-acre park, visitors will be met with a roundabout, an additional parking lot with one-way loop circulation and angled parking, and pedestrian walkways from parking to the overlook entrance—something the original layout didn’t include. Parking capacity will grow to 250 vehicles from 150, and the historic log cabin the main lot once looped around will also have been moved closer to the overlook area.
An electrical vehicle charging station with space to charge four cars will have also been added to the parking lot, part of a statewide initiative to add EV infrastructure to state parks. That’s likely something Leonard Harrison (1850-1929), a civic-minded businessman and banker, never could have imagined when he gifted the land to the state 100 years ago.
Ben says while the parking lot will be complete for an early September opening, the area will still be an active construction site. The visitor’s center is getting a complete makeover with a new exhibit hall, retail shopping, and outdoor seating area. He said final steps will come next spring, with the planting of more trees and native grasses and improved stormwater management systems. “We’re hoping by May or early June for a grand re-opening.”
For questions or more information about the project or opening dates, contact the Leonard Harrison State Park office at (570) 724-3061 or leonardharrisonsp@pa.gov. For more on Pennsylvania’s state parks, visit dcnr.pa.gov/stateparks.
~Kelly Stemcosky
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Fire Hall Bear Check Station
There is a unique educational opportunity in Wellsboro November 18 and 19, when visitors can drop by the annual bear check station at the Wellsboro Firemen’s Annex and learn about black bear research. Bring the family, have some coffee, and watch hunters present their harvested bears to Pennsylvania Game Commission staff and volunteers for tagging.
Makayla Holleran, Penn State student and long-time local volunteer, says it’s a good place to learn about bears. “We have people who come every year that I’ve been there. Folks come with their kids; older folks come in to watch. It’s a busy place.”
What will you see if you stop by? There are two busier times of day. After opening at 10 a.m., hunters with bears start arriving. In the evening, again, hunters bring their bears in after a full day of hunting until 8 p.m.
A hunter drives up to the Firemen’s Annex, the big overhead doors open, and the bear is offloaded and weighed in using a pulley system. Once the bear is weighed, its sex and condition are checked and a milk tooth is extracted. The extraction tells biologists the age of the bear—a smaller bear doesn’t necessarily mean a younger bear. Once the bear is tagged, the hunter is interviewed by game wardens so that the details of the hunt, including location of the kill and weapon, can be recorded. A large whiteboard tracks each bear that is brought in with details about its age, sex, and size.
It’s warm inside and bleachers are available for seating. Although the research area is roped off, visitors are allowed to take a close-up look. The average size bear brought in during the 2022 season was 175 pounds.
Volunteers and staff at the bear check station are glad to discuss the hunting process and regulations with visitors as well as give information on the bear population in general. Hunting is a cultural tradition and a way of managing game populations. Tioga County produced the most harvested bears (187) in the state during the 2022 season.
Makayla says, “People tend to be scared of bears because they know so little about them. Here, folks get to see bears and learn about them. I try to talk to people when I am taking data and explain what I’m doing. I’ll answer as many questions as I can. It’s an educational thing for many folks.”
~Linda Stager
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Update: Rail Trail Extension into Wellsboro
History. Beauty. Complexity. Those things, according to Tioga County Assistant Chief Clerk and Phase 2 Project Manager Marc Rice, describe the Pine Creek Rail Trail Extension Project, called the Marsh Creek Greenway. The Greenway vision began to become reality with the ground-breaking ceremony in May 2023. What can be confusing is that once the current section is completed, there will still be a gap until the final section, Phase 1, is completed.
The Greenway, a total of 3.2 miles, is divided into two phases. Currently under construction, Phase 2 runs from Wellsboro about 1.2 miles to Hilboldt Road and will include a connector that guides cyclists across Charleston Street and toward downtown. The section calls for a welcome center and parking in Wellsboro, contains three historic rail bridges being reworked for use by walkers, cyclists, and cross-country skiers, and should be completed in May 2024. Phase 1 will connect Phase 2 of the Greenway to the existing rail trail from Hilboldt Road to where it bumps into state land on both sides of Route 287. Phase 1 should begin construction next year and be completed by May 2025. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is responsible for constructing a safe crossing at Route 287.
About twenty years ago, DCNR Director Cindy Adams Dunn told then Tioga County Planner Jim Weaver to find a way to extend the Rail Trail from its northern terminus into Wellsboro. Jim sketched out a tentative map of the trail on John Mosso’s gas station window and flagged down Tioga County Commissioner Erick Coolidge as he drove by to take a look. Erick saw the possibilities and turned Jim loose.
In the intervening years, the project has involved federal, state, and local agencies; Genesee and Wyoming Railroad; and private entities, like Growth Resources of Wellsboro.
The extension will provide a quick hop from Wellsboro’s downtown to the woods in any season. On foot or bike, fall is a great time for viewing wildlife and changing leaves. When the snow flies, there’s snowshoeing, skiing, and fat biking through a winter wonderland. Marc plans to open the Greenway before the completion of Phase 1, if he can do it safely. “It’ll be good for a short walk or a quick ski,” he says. Just don’t walk or pedal in the cross-country ski tracks!
For more information go to tiogacountypa.us/departments/planning-commission/marshcreek-greenway-trail.
~Jimmy Guignard
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Celia Finestone Memorial Music Park
There’s a new sound of chimes, drums, and giggles that carries down Main Street. An interactive feature has sprung from the ground kitty-corner from the Green in Wellsboro, and next to the Deane Center for the Performing Arts. The Celia Finestone Music Park pays tribute to a local nurse, musician, and philanthropist who died in 2020 at the age of eighty-five, but whose dedicated service to our community lives on in this hands-on installation. Originally from Ohio, Celia raised her family near Philadelphia and then fell in love with Wellsboro, where she found the residents to be open-heartedly generous. The family made this town their permanent home, and she began sharing her love of music with the community. Celia was an accomplished musician, and the harp was her favorite instrument. She would play for her church, the numerous organizations she was a part of, and for residents in the Green Home, a local senior living center. She even wrote musical notes in the shape of hearts on her sheet music.
Celia’s kindness was also exhibited in her work as an obstetric nurse at Soldier & Sailors Memorial Hospital (now UPMC Wellsboro), and her constant presence there extended beyond retirement. While working in the labor and delivery department, she would knit sweaters for the newborns, including a tiny heart into the pattern of the stitches. She had a knack for comforting people and was often requested to console distressed young patients. The positive impact she made on our community perseveres through the music she shared, the care she showed delivering babies, and, now, the music park.
Currently, five of the planned six instruments are in place and available to play. Visitors are encouraged to explore the pieces by ringing the chimes and beating the drums. Tioga-based landscape designer and artist Barry Sharp is responsible for the instrument installation and for creating the hearts inlaid into the masonry pavers—a nod to Celia’s signature symbol of goodwill. The Finestone family is grateful to those who have created this space for children to enjoy the gift of music for years to come, including Daria Guelig, the Deane Center, Hamilton-Gibson Productions, and the generous support of the community.
The music park is available for exploration, but the project is still shy of funds to reach completion. To make a donation, please visit deanecenter.com/celia-finestone-memorial or call the Deane Center at (570) 724-6220.
~Anne Alexander
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www.wellsboropa.com 29 arTs & enTerTainmenT
Wellsboro Community Concert Association
The Wellsboro Community Concert Association is not just a clever name. In truth, since its inception in 1948, the organization has created a real sense of community by bringing to the area music of all kinds, ranging from Scottish fiddle to a capella vocalists and brass quintets to Zydeco. According to WCCA president Russ Dodson, “Because we are located in a rural region without much cultural diversity, we specifically strive to include a wide range of musical genres.”
And this, the group’s 75th season, will truly be one to celebrate. Says Russ, “We have assembled an especially noteworthy group of performers for the season. Plus, we have added a special concert featuring TUSK, the best Fleetwood Mac tribute band in the country.” TUSK will be a special production and not part of the normal six-concert series. Tickets for TUSK will be sold separately. For Russ and the twenty-one locals on the WCCA board, engaging the community through concerts, outreach in schools, and sponsorship of other free music events is what it’s all about. Russ remembers his first WCCA concert, attended shortly after he moved to the area as a single person: “Sitting in the auditorium, I felt a strong sense of community and belonging in that room. So much so that when time in my schedule finally allowed, I joined the board of directors. And when I retired, I became president of the WCCA. I still feel that sense of community at our concerts.” All WCCA shows will be performed at Wellsboro’s Deane Center for the Performing Arts. Single and season tickets are available through the WCCA website, wellsborocca.org.
WCCA Schedule
September 9: Rory Block, 7-time Blues Award Winner and one of the world’s top female blues performers
September 13 & 14: TUSK, the Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute
October 21: Kommuna Lux, Klezmer/Odessa Gansta Folk direct from Ukraine
December 8: Driftwood, an especially dynamic band that features Americana with contemporary influences
February 24: John Jorgensen Quintet, “Gypsy Jazz” in the style of Django Reinhardt
March 23: The Gothard Sisters, Celtic trio of multi-instrumentalists who are great singers and step dancers, too
April 13: Fireside Collective, progressive bluegrass at its finest
~Karin Knaus
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HGWP Presents Holiday Shorts & Sweets
For years, visitors to Wellsboro during Dickens weekend have had the opportunity to enjoy live theater performances of A Christmas Carol by Hamilton-Gibson Productions. This year begins a new tradition of live theater a week later during Christmas on Main Street. The Hamilton-Gibson Women’s Project will ring in the holidays with Shorts & Sweets, featuring holiday-themed one-acts, musical numbers, and some fun with holiday letters. Performances are Friday, December 8, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, December 9, at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Warehouse Theatre at 3 Central Avenue.
HGWP has become known for performances of original work by local writers. This production is co-produced by Yolie Canales and Judith Sornberger, (above left to right), who also penned two of the short one-acts. Judith’s comedy, entitled The I-Hate-the-Holidays Support Group, takes place in a church basement at what these characters would call the least wonderful time of the year. Yolie explores a Mexican-American family’s tradition and questions of identity in The Christmas Tamalada
Additional local writers contribute to the Holiday Letters. Judith, a published author and poet, led the writing workshops to create these short segments. She says, “You know those letters, right? The photo-copied missives people tuck in holiday cards. Some are heartwarming, some are downright gloomy, others are braggy, and some are poignant.”
HGWP is made up of almost a hundred women who write, act, produce, direct, design sets, run lights and sound—and the men who often join them on stage. It was established in 2016 by Barbara Biddison and Linda Iseri, when Thomas Putnam, HG artistic director, asked them to address the fact that more women were coming out to auditions, yet there were fewer roles for women than men.
The mission of HGWP is to provide opportunities for women of all ages to enrich and empower their lives through community performing arts, to create more and diverse roles for women in plays, and to offer workshops on the full range of theater skills. Since 2016, HGWP has built a core group of women—including anyone not identifying as male—who are eager to collaborate on new events.
Holiday Shorts & Sweets is such an event. Add to all this original creativity musical numbers fit for the season, and you have entertainment that can only be found in Wellsboro, and only for two days. This show is appropriate for teens and older audience members. For tickets, call (570) 724-2079 or go to hgp.booktix.com. For more information on HGWP, go to hamiltongibson.org/enrichment.
~Lilace Mellin Guignard
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West End Artisan Shop
Art is in everyone. That’s what Taylor Nickerson, owner of West End Artisan Shop, believes. Located in the historic West End Market building at 152 Main Street, the artisan shop opened in June and features the talents of ten local artisans.
Taylor and her partner Terry Davis had considered using the space in their building as a collective artist shop for a long time. “The idea really stemmed from covid,” says Taylor. During that time, she was able to really hone her own creative skills at macrame and jewelry making, and that got her thinking: “How many people—ordinary people—have these same creative visions?”
The opportunity to find out came this spring when the space opened up after a tenant moved out. She and Terry fixed up the shop and sought artisans who work in an array of media from fiber arts and jewelry to woodworking and children’s toys. Says Taylor, “A lot are not full-time artists…I wanted to showcase that art is in everyone.”
She also wanted a cohesive theme to tie things together. Woodlands and nature connect the artisans and their pieces on display. The space reflects this, too, as Taylor has used mosses to create an interactive art piece and chair.
While the shop is a little off the traditional path for shoppers in town—a few blocks west, past the courthouse, art gallery, and library—its history with residents is long and storied. For years, the building housed the West End Market, and touches of the market remain. Later, the beloved West End Market Café occupied the space.
Shoppers will be just as enchanted with the wares in the new shop, which include whimsical toys, handmade jewelry, wall art, furniture, and hand-poured soaps and candles. Local customer Brigette Largey says, “it’s places like this that highlight the essence of Wellsboro.”
Taylor also looks forward to hosting events. Recently, visitors could share tea and do chalk art with characters in a local theater production of Mary Poppins. Throughout the fall, the shop will host Evening Artisan Soirees that feature the work of an artist, with refreshments, demonstrations, interactive exhibits, and exclusive inventory.
Drop by the shop Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit them on Facebook and Instagram to see examples of the art and dates for the soirees. Or call (570) 404-3285.
~Karin Knaus
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Karen’s Country Store
Karen’s Country Store, owned and operated by Karen Zohner, has graced Wellsboro’s Main Street since 2017. While the shop is only six years old, Karen and her husband, Wayne, are old hat at being small business owners in Wellsboro. The couple previously owned Main Street Antiques, but Karen says when they sold that business, she worked in a few other industries before taking a job at The Painted Cupboard at the site of her current store, which is across the parking lot from Tops Market. Then, when it came up for sale, Karen decided to get back into small business for herself.
In truth, there’s nothing small about the business at all. Boasting two floors of inventory, including the antiques that gave the Zohners their Wellsboro business legs, Karen says that what makes the business exceptional is truly their large variety of goods, including furniture from a dining room set, to bedroom pieces, as well as dishes, kitchen goods, and jewelry. Items are displayed throughout the store, which reflects its original use as a home. You’ll find antique kitchen items in a former kitchen space and can wander through a complete antique dining room to select new or antique items.
A full-service gift shop, their inventory boasts items for the tourist seeking something “gaslit” to take home as well as the local seeking a flawless wedding gift. Karen is proud to sell local products like Wildkat Mountain honey from Cowanesque and Phelps Family Maple products from Muck Road in Wellsboro. She also makes space for local jewelry makers, and sells the photographs, postcards, and notecards created by local artist Heather Mee.
Bestsellers in the shop include the Wellsboro-themed items, such as ornaments, magnets, mugs, and even Magic T-shirts—white tees with black line art designs that burst with color when hit with sunlight. Also popular are the many candles of various scents and containers and an impressive collection of bath luxuries, like bath bombs and handmade soaps.
The line of Karen’s Country Store jams and jellies are also very popular. “People come back for those,” she says.
The best part of running a gift shop, says Karen, is “meeting new people. They’re from everywhere!”
Stop into Karen’s Country Store at 15 Main Street, Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., call (570) 723-0917, or find them on Facebook.
~Karin Knaus
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Heart Dog Delectables
Buzzz. The oven timer goes off.
There’s a lot of baking going on during the pre-holiday weeks, and, in Middlebury Center, Jean LaCroce is doing her share—measuring, mixing, rolling, cutting intricate designs in the dough, picking just the right colors for the icing, and then…giving the finished product to the dog.
“He’s my taste tester,” Jean says of Hawken, her golden retriever. It’s Hawken who got her started about three years ago on the delectable doggie treat path. “He has some stomach issues going on, so we wanted him to have healthy things to eat.” Hawken is the third golden with whom Jean and her husband, Charlie Cain, have shared their lives. Dakota and Cheyenne were the first two—they’ve since died—but Hawken is alive and well and enjoying his job. Jean refers to the trio as her “heart dogs”—thus the name of her business.
“Delectables” is an appropriate name for these creations. With their unique shapes, colorful exteriors, and all-natural ingredients, they’re certainly more than your average dry, brown dog biscuit.
“They’re all human-grade ingredients,” Jean says. Those ingredients include natural peanut butter, honey, oats, cinnamon, and carob. She “tweaked” some existing recipes, then jumped through the necessary hoops to be licensed by the state Department of Agriculture. She plans to work throughout the winter on new recipes—things like pretzels, waffle sticks, doggie donuts, and pup cakes (the canine version of cupcakes). “I have lots of ideas,” she says—and may someday try her hand at kitty treats.
In the meantime, no matter what holiday is coming up, if you’re stumped as to what the dog(s) in your life might love, or what the people in your life who love dogs might want, you’re barking up the right treat with Heart Dog Delectables. Jean can make up gift baskets, gift boxes, custom orders, even ornaments filled with treats. Prices vary, she says, and the turn-around time depends on what is ordered. She likes to bake “as fresh as possible,” but notes that her products do have a long shelf life.
You can find Heart Dog Delectables at Pag-Omar, Visit Potter Tioga Visitor Center, Highland Chocolates, Dinkle Dog Grooming, Grand Canyon Veterinary, Yellow Basket Shop, Fancy Paws Groomer, select campgrounds, and on Facebook. Call Jean at (570) 787-0447 for more information or to place an order.
~Gayle Morrow
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Sky High Chalet
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Los Agaves Taqueria
The much-anticipated Mexican restaurant Los Agaves Taqueria opened in Wellsboro at 63 Main Street at the end of July. Owners Emmanuel Gutierrez and his wife, Valeria, are excited to share a bit of their home country with everyone.
‘Home’ for the transplanted couple is Jalisco, a city of about 50,000 people, in west-central Mexico. And while they both grew up there, Emmanuel and Valeria didn’t meet until later, at a mutual friend’s wedding. A move to Texas and then a journey north for work brought the couple to Wellsboro in May 2019. “Valeria fell in love with the town and decided it would be a great place to raise a family,” Emmanuel said. (They have two boys.)
Sharing their love of food with others became the motivation for Los Agaves Taqueria, and when a space became available downtown, the Gutierrezes jumped at the chance. Valeria, a soft-spoken woman, oversaw the décor. “I didn’t want the bright colors you see in the Mexican chain restaurants because that isn’t us,” she says. Instead, the walls are the color of the blue agave plant. “Tequila comes from the agave plant, and Jalisco is a big producer of tequila,” Emmanuel continues. “It’s a bit of home for us.” There’s also a mural on the wall depicting a town square from Jalisco, done in charcoal and pencil, by local artist Tim Crane.
A few bumps along the way delayed the opening. “I ordered the kitchen appliances, and the guy took off with the money. I never heard from him again. So, I had to order more,” explains Emmanuel, with a shrug and a smile. His positive attitude and perseverance paid off.
The many offerings include Agave Tacos (soft corn tortilla), Gringo Tacos (soft flour tortilla), enchiladas with their own enchilada sauce, Agave Burritos (wrapped in a flour tortilla), chimichangas (a fried burrito), and quesadillas. “There are nine different meats to choose from,” he explains. “We have fried ice cream and flan for dessert, as well as bunuelos, which is a fried flour tortilla tossed in cinnamon sugar.”
Place your order at the counter, get a number, and then sit at your table for one of the staff to deliver your food. Emmanuel and his crew welcome patrons every day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for indoor dining and take-out. They can be reached at (570) 404-7061 and found on Facebook.
~Carolyn Straniere
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www.wellsboropa.com 41 greaT eaTs Open daily 7am to 9pm! 570-662-2972 2103 S. Main St., Mansfield, PA Homemade Specials Daily! Open daily 7am to 9pm Specialties include Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches, Chicken & Biscuits, and Homemade Pies! 570-662-2972 2103 S. Main St., Mansfield, PA “A beautiful course with amazing vistas.” Book Your Tee Times Now! Check out our many Stay & Play options. Managed by Spirit Golf OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 759 Route 660 • Wellsboro, PA 16901 • 570-724-1653 PATTERSON FARMS Makers of Pure Maple Products 119 Patterson Road • Westfield, PA 16950 814-628-3751 WWW.PATTERSONMAPLEFARMS.COM Maple Syrup Maple Cream Maple Candy Maple Sugar Gift Baskets Specialty Items • Glass Bottles Participating in the 20th Annual Maple Weekend Tours & Taste-testing Available 10am-4pm • March 16-17th
Tree of Life Natural Foods Store
Come. Ask. Learn. That’s what Darryl McCullough, owner and operator of Tree of Life Natural Foods, hopes you’ll do. The shop, located at 11 Pearl Street, opened last winter and offers healthy, organic foods, supplements, and a sampling of myriad other natural products. “I try to keep a little of everything,” says Darryl, who also owns and operates Slippery Elm Reflexology and has a great passion for how we can use the natural things around us to fuel and heal.
A graduate of Arkansas’s Herbal Healer Academy, Darryl has read extensively on herbal medicine and even considered “wildcrafting” himself before deciding it made more sense economically to buy existing, effective products. You may recognize the labels on some of those. “I try very hard to find products made locally first, in Pennsylvania second, and regionally third, if necessary,” says Darryl. Operating in Wellsboro makes that a little easier. He says, “Wellsboro has a solid group of people that support small business.”
When Wellsboro’s previous natural foods store closed a few years ago, Darryl said he kept waiting for someone else to step into that void. When no one did, he decided to do it himself, and he knew from the start what his vision entailed: “I wanted to be a friendly little corner natural foods store. I want customers to walk in, and it’s colorful and smelly and earthy.”
The cozy space, graced with a natural wood counter and original wood floors, smells of freshly ground coffee and handmade soaps in many scents. Natural foods include grains, raw milk, snacks, and natural sweeteners. Toiletries, loose leaf tea, collagen, and kombucha kits also line the shelves.
And then there are the multitude of natural supplements. Darryl wants people to know that, if they have a health concern, they shouldn’t be afraid to come in and ask questions to see if there’s a product that could help. He does a lot of research to find good brands and good quality products at an appropriate price point. Helping a customer find a supplement that might ease their anxiety, inflammation, or other issue is what he feels he’s there for: “It’s my favorite part.”
Tree of Life is open Monday and Tuesday noon to 6 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Find them on Facebook at Tree of Life Natural Foods or call (570) 817-1030.
~Karin Knaus
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www.wellsboropa.com 43 greaT eaTs Full Service Restaurant & Bar OPEN MONDAY-SATURDAY Outdoor Seating Available! 104 Main Street, Wellsboro PA, 16901 Call 570-787-4545 to Order Delivery Available! Happy Hour Specials • Lunch Specials Weekend Specials • Hours and Full Menu and Live Entertainment Information All on Our Facebook Page: “Beck’s Bistro Inc” 17 Main Street, Wellsboro, PA Featuring Homemade Hand Dipped Ice Cream & Italian Ice We also offer: Sundaes, Floats, Banana Splits, Milkshakes, Parfaits & more…. Come join us in our lovely parlor and “Old Fashion Soda Fountain” or sit a while on our front porch. HOURS: Sun–Thurs Noon until 8:30 PM Fri & Sat Noon until 9:00 PM Pints available for take-out! Located in the historic “Shattuck House” CUSTOM AND OTHER created 570.948.9558 17 Main Street, Wellsboro, PA Featuring Homemade Hand Dipped Ice Cream & Italian Ice We also offer: Sundaes, Floats, Banana Splits, Milkshakes, Parfaits & more…. Come join us in our lovely parlor and “Old Fashion Soda Fountain” or sit a while on our front porch. HOURS: Sun–Thurs Noon until 8:30 PM Fri & Sat Noon until 9:00 PM Pints available for take-out!
in the historic “Shattuck House” 75 Main Street, Wellsboro, PA 80 flavors of Olive Oils & Balsamic Vinegars ASSORTMENT OF SEASONINGS, RUBS, SPICES, SALTS, PASTAS, AND MORE Stop in for tastings and samples! WE ALSO OFFER CUSTOM LASER ENGRAVED WOOD GIFTS AND OTHER SPECIALIZED GIFTS created by Local Wood Craftsman You won’t want to miss this shopping experience! & 570.948.9558
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KC101 Hometown Country
How did the only locally owned and operated country station in Tioga County become the most listened to station in the area? According to Kevin Thomas (above, far right), owner of KC101 Hometown Country, it was due to a never-give-up attitude. “I was working 100 hours a week when I started the station. I built a small studio in the dining room of the house I rented and broadcast from there,” he says. “In 1995, when I first went on the air, there weren’t any satellites, so the only way to listen to country music was on the radio. I wanted a family-friendly station, and it seemed the community wanted it as well. The rest is history.”
Actually, the rest is a lot more than that. Last year, KC101 gave back over $25,000 to our communities. This year, Kevin has pledged $50,000. “Supporting our communities is number one for us at KC101,” Kevin explains. “We’ve always been involved with area events, like the Laurel Festival Parade and the Tioga County Fair. But when the shutdown happened, we saw what area businesses were going through and wanted to help support them,” he says. “We purchased gift certificates from local businesses to give away for contests on the radio.” It was a small thing that had a big impact.
“We started the Shop Local event, which is open to all locally owned businesses. We supply all the marketing, so there’s no cost to the business.” Kevin says. “Customers have a chance to win $1,000 just by shopping local.”
In addition to supporting area businesses, KC101 has 212 nonprofit organizations that they work with regularly. On the first Wednesday of each month, you can find him with Kayla Yoder, Jason Bump, and Jess Sandstrom, (above left to right) heading up trivia at a local restaurant, with proceeds from the 50/50, gift baskets, and donations going to a nonprofit.
“We brought in John Berry for the July 4th celebration in Mansfield. We paid everyone’s track admission for the rodeo at the Tioga County Fair this year,” Kevin says. “And every year we give away free passes to our veterans for the fair.”
Giving back to the communities that have supported KC101 over the years is something Kevin enjoys doing. When asked why he does it, he smiles and says, “We all have the power to brighten someone’s day.” You can reach KC101 by calling (570) 662-9000. They can be found on Facebook or email them at KC101fm@gmail.com. Stream them live at kc101fm.com.
~Carolyn Straniere
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Northern Pennsylvania Regional College
When your dream job is out of reach because you missed the chance at college, or the job you have and love requires training and certification so you can continue doing it, Northern Pennsylvania Regional College can help. Instead of a campus and ivy-covered dorms, NPRC uses diverse community spaces across the Northern Tier for students to meet in real-time classes via Zoom with instructors and other students who may be hundreds of miles away. And there’s often enough financial aid to allow students to break through the limitations of their life circumstances without breaking the bank.
Covering a ten-county region: Cameron, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, McKean, Potter, Venango, Warren—and now Tioga—counties, NPRC grants five associate degrees as well as offering workforce development programs as need arises. For instance, because increasing sophisticated wastewater treatment systems brought the need for state worker certification, NPRC created classes and brought them to the students.
“We have an intimate advising approach with our students,” explains Jennifer Cummings-Tutmaher, vice president of enrollment and student services. “What are their ultimate goals? We help them navigate challenges like bill-paying and childcare, help connect them to resources in the community.” Students who successfully complete a degree in business administration, criminal justice, liberal studies, or social sciences at NPRC may be eligible for complete degree transfer and scholarships to Commonwealth University’s respective four-year degree programs.
NPRC is also flexible about the amount of time it might take a student to finish their associate degree while they navigate life challenges. An early student, who took a few classes while working, eventually revealed his dream job was working for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “Any time he’d disappear, I’d send him an email to say ‘you’ve got to come back!’” Jennifer says. “He finally finished and sent me a photo of himself in his DCNR uniform. He said the instructors and advisors at NPRC valued him as much as he valued himself and, if he doubted it, we’d remind him. We had his back.”
Jennifer says, “Our area may be very rural, but it’s filled with very talented, brilliant people with amazing degrees.” Now there can be more. For more information, go to regionalcollegepa.org or call (814) 230-9010.
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~Karey Solomon
www.wellsboropa.com 47 our neighbors We invite everyone from everywhere to come “Experience Bradford County!” Kayaking & Hiking History & Heritage Adventure Awaits Fairs & Festivals PostcardLike Streets www.visitbradfordcounty.com 570.265.TOUR Follow us on FeaturingSourcedPennsylvania Yarns Various Yarn Weights and Blends Knitting and Crochet Notions Glenfiddich Wool Spinning and Needle Felting Supplies! 224 Main St.,Blossburg, PA (570) 638-6313 Tues-Thurs: 10am-6pm Fri & Sat: 10am-2pm blossburgcompanystore.com All Under One Roof... WWW.TROYVETCLINIC.COM Annual Health & Vaccinne Appointments In House Diagnostic Testing (resultsinminutes) Portable Digital Radiology • Acupuncture In-House Bovine Pregnancy Testing • Online Store Sick Pet Exams • Customer Pet Portal House Calls Available • Medical Boarding Pet Cremation Services • Fully Stocked Pharmacies Pet Suplies: Tick & Flea Medication Food, Toys & Treats • Shampoo & Conditioner SMALL ANIMAL • LARGE ANIMAL SERVICES OFFERED: In-House Grooming Suite
Annual International Rutabaga Curl
Bespoke rutabagas, some of them named, some carved into elaborate shapes approximating a large hockey puck, get a humble root veggie’s time in the sun with the 26th Annual International Rutabaga Curl on December 16 at the Ithaca Farmer’s Market at Steamboat Landing, off Route 13 North. Emcee Jeff Luoma says the stars of this show are grown and harvested at an undisclosed location near Trumansburg.
“There’s a grayed-out area on Google Maps where they’re conducting tests on bounce and velocity,” he deadpans. More seriously, the event has been mentioned on A Prairie Home Companion, in National Geographic, and was even covered on NPR’s Only A Game.
It began on a slow day at the winter end of a market season when bored vendors began hurling produce and baked goods—even a frozen chicken—into the aisles. Things became competitive, particularly when it was discovered rutabagas traveled farthest. Each year thereafter, on the market’s last Saturday, the wooden planks on the floor of the farmer’s market got chalked with a target.
Marketgoers, vendors, and competitors (these overlap) come in costume or not, register, and pay five dollars (the money supports the event) for a rutabaga and a chance to shape it to their specifications, then assemble in three groups of approximately thirty people. At the appointed time, hay bales are arranged to define the court. The Rutabaga Chorus, as serious as madrigal singers, performs “Rutabaga!” to the tune of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” There’s a parade of contestants, and then the festivities begin.
First on the agenda is the kids’ “Turnip Toss,” for children eight and under. “We had to,” Jeff explains, “because the kids were winning everything, and we had to have something for the adults to win.” In both competitions, veggies that overshoot the goal are deemed “OOT” by the serious, stripe-shirted referees. The ones closest to the target are measured under the watchful eyes of the crowd. Then the rutabaga curlers take their turn. There’s trash talk to undermine one’s opponents and a lot of cheering. Turnip and rutabaga winners take home medals crafted by vendor Christi Sobel and bragging rights for the next year. The turnips and rutabagas go home with their purchasers, or whoever else wants them, to achieve a second life in soup, mash, hash browns, or roasted winter roots. Find more information on the Ithaca Farmer’s Market Facebook page or email lauragallup@ithacamarket.com.
~Karey Solomon
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www.wellsboropa.com 49 our neighbors Your Trusted Local Pool Pros Swimming Pools & Accessories Sewing Center 3 SHOPS...1 LOCATION! 1802 Green Avenue • Williamsport 570-322-6302 www.thewarmupshop.com Mon. Tue. Thur. 9-5 • Fri. 9-6 • Sat. 9-1 Closed Wed. and Sun. warmup@comcast.net bernina4you@gmail.com Unleash Your Creativity Longarm Quilting, Sewing Machines, Machine Repair, Fabric, Classes & Notions Keeping You Warm from Head to Toe Stoves & Fireplaces STOP IN OUR SHOWROOM TO SEE OUR STOVE AND SEWING MACHINE DISPLAYS! 858 West Fourth Street | Williamsport, PA 17701-5824 Phone: 570.326.3326 | Fax: 570.326.3689 www.tabermuseum.org • Sunday Afternoon Society Programs • Local History Coffee Hours • Children’s Events • Frequent New Exhibits Museum THOMAS T. TABER of the Lycoming County Historical Society Museum | Archives | Library Join us for our… Blossburg American Legion Post 572 Private Club for Members and Guests Wednesday Night Wings & Friday Night Fish Fry & Delmonicos on the Grill! Open Mon-Sat: 2:00-10:00 pm and Sun: Noon-8:00 pm S. Williamson Road • Blossburg, PA (570) 638-2481 - Join today!
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NCI Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is proud to be recognized by the nation’s cancer authority – the National Cancer Institute – for excellence in patient care and research. Our team of medical and radiation oncologists in north central Pa. specialize in all forms of cancer, and offer personalized therapies and supportive services such as cooling caps to minimize hair loss during treatment, massage therapy, and a survivorship program. Visit UPMCHillman.com/NorthCentralPa to learn more. Nationally recognized CANCER CARE close to home
Julie Henry Executive Director Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce
