July 2011 by Mountain Home

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JULY 2011

Body & soul

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Volume 6 Issue 4

The Last Great Place

Gone!

Trail to Beautiful

Window Dressing

By Michael Capuzzo Through storm and strife stride the rescuers.

Chatter & Events

42nd Parallel

By Matt Connor What crashed in the woods of Kecksburg over forty-five years ago? We’re still asking.

David Kagan

By the Mountain Home staff Mountain chatter gets louder with a new events calendar.

Heart of the Mountain

Reading Nature

By Tom Murphy Learning, as did poet Emily Dickinson, tranquility in the face of Nature.

Sarah Wagaman

By Pat Davis Tales of lazy, hazy, crazy, days of summer—and picnics past.

The Man from Uncle

By Angela Cannon-Crothers Wellsboro vet Leonard Kreger is an uncle in spirit and a man in full.

By Michael Capuzzo Pennsylvania General Energy Company dammed Pine Creek. Writer David Kagan—and Mother Nature—pitched a fit.

By Audrey Fox Audrey wins a state book award for her Pine Creek Grand Canyon tips, and shares them here.

By Sarah Bull From Blossburg’s Window Box Flower Shop, Kathy Hudson beautifies your life.

The Better World

Cover image by David Kagan Cover art by Tucker Worthington

Sarah Wagaman

By John & Lynn Diamond-Nigh Imagining a magic moment of civic civility.

32 All Aboard

By Cindy Davis Meixel The Hiawatha riverboat celebrates its thirtieth year on the Susquehanna.

35 All the World’s a Stage

By Thomas Putnam Thomas’s debut column recalls a never-say-die nurse.

42 Finger Lakes Wine Review

By Holly Howell You’ll find “Across the Pond,” a goodly nibble, on Cayuga Lake.

46 Mother Earth

By Gayle Morrow The Earth is water, too—great for growing greens.

42 The Joy of Verjooz!

By Michael Capuzzo Sour, unripe green grapes are a sweet new thing in the Finger Lakes.

48 Turn, Turn, Turn

By Kevin Cummings Brian Wood turns wood into art in his Mansfield shop.

62 Back of the Mountain Going to the dogs.

Publisher Michael Capuzzo Editor-in-Chief Teresa Banik Capuzzo Associate Publisher George Bochetto, Esq. Dawn Bilder Copy Editor Pete Boal Cover Artist Tucker Worthington P r o d u c t i o n M a n a g e r / G r ap h i c D e s i g n e r Amanda Doan Butler Contributing Writers Sarah Bull, Angela Cannon-Crothers, Jennifer Cline, Matt Connor, Barbara Coyle, Kevin Cummings, Georgiana DeCarlo, John & Lynne Diamond-Nigh, Patricia Brown Davis, Lori Duffy Foster, Audrey Fox, Donald Gilliland, Steve Hainsworth, Martha Horton, Holly Howell, David Ira Kagan, Adam Mahonske, Roberta McCulloch-Dews, Cindy Davis Meixel, Suzanne Meredith, Fred Metarko, Karen Meyers, Dave Milano, Gayle Morrow, Tom Murphy, Mary Myers, Jim Obleski, Cornelius O’Donnell, Thomas Putnam, Gary Ranck, Kathleen Thompson, Joyce M. Tice, Linda Williams, Carol Youngs C o n t r i b u t i n g P h o t o g r ap h e r s Mia Lisa Anderson, Bill Crowell, Anne Davenport-Leete, Ann Kamzelski, Ken Meyer, Sarah Wagaman Advertising Director Todd Hill Sales Representatives Christopher Banik, Michele Duffy, Brian Earle, Richard Widmeier G r ap h i c s I n t e r n Ashley Connelly Subscriptions Claire Lafferty Beagle Cosmo

Mountain Home is published monthly by Beagle Media LLC, 39 Water St., Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, 16901. Copyright 2010 Beagle Media LLC. All rights reserved. To advertise or subscribe e-mail info@mountainhomemag.com. To provide story ideas email editor@mountainhomemag.com. Reach us by phone at 570-724-3838. Each month copies of Mountain Home are available for free at hundreds of locations in Tioga, Potter, Bradford, Lycoming, Union, and Clinton counties in Pennsylvania; Steuben, Chemung, Schuyler, Yates, Seneca, Tioga, and Ontario counties in New York. Visit us at www.mountainhomemag.com. Get Mountain Home at home. For a one-year subscription to Mountain Home (12 issues), send $24.95, payable to Beagle Media LLC, to 39 Water St., Wellsboro, PA 16901. Look for Home & Real Estate magazine wherever Mountain Home magazine is found.

The Last Great Place

The Fires of Home Michael Capuzzo

ur brains, scientists say, are wired to something far beyond our daily existence, to rhythms of renewal and hope, sacrifice and redemption, to something very much like God. Whether the Flood has biblical implications in your life, you could feel it this spring, couldn’t you, as the skies darkened, river waters whipped up, and power went down? As mighty winds flattened Westfield and Blossburg, and folks stepped up to the role that most uniquely makes us human? Once I asked the famed Harvard University biologist E.O. Wilson, the “Darwin of our time,” Father of Biodiversity, founder of sociobiology, noted secular athiest, and world’s great myrmecologist (ant expert), what we could learn from the social organization of ants? “Not much,” he quipped, adding that “Karl Marx had the right idea, but the wrong species.” Our most precious quality as humans, he said, is “there’s always someone who rides off into the West.” The dissident. The creator. The hero. That someone was Annettee Thompson, owner of Momma’s Restaurant in Blossburg. The big-hearted woman kept her restaurant open, on a generator donated by an energy company, serving food for free for the better part of three days to Blossburg’s other heroes as they cleared the destruction at Island Park and the town recovered from storm damage and days without power. That someone was Christopher Neal, 22, who was driving on Marsh Creek Road early one evening when he saw an elederly couple trapped in a car in rising waters. “I said, ‘Oh, my goodness. What’s going on?’” he later told the Wellsboro Gazette. Chris fetched his boss, John Dillon, rowed out to rescue the couple, while Donald Hess braved the high waters to tow their car to dry land. Some heroes are forged in the fires of the moment; others, in the long, slow heat of the years. See Home on page 9 Dr. Guelig

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A Love Affair, Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Why You read us, and you write us. Mountain Home has won an unprecedented 33 statewide Keystone Press Awards for journalism excellence in writing, photography, and design in just five years, and special recognition for attracting the most new readers (100,000) in the state. From Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association says nobody does it better than our writers and readers. F i r s t P l ac e ,

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connor,

2010

F i r s t P l ac e , B u s i n e s s o r C o n s u m e r S t o r y , Jeffrey Allen Federowicz, 2 0 1 0 F i r s t P l ac e , P h o t o S t o r y , A n n K a m z e l sk i , 2 0 1 0 F i r s t P l ac e , S p o r t s O u t d o o r C o l u m n , F r e d M e t a r k o , 2010 F i r s t P l ac e , F r o n t P a g e D e s i g n , T u ck e r W o r t h i n g t o n , 2 0 1 0 S e c o n d P l ac e , F e a t u r e S t o r y , M a t t C o n n o r , 2 0 1 0 Honorable Mention, Sports Story, A n g e l a C a n n o n -C r o t h e r s , 2 0 1 0 F i r s t P l ac e , F e a t u r e S t o r y , J o y c e M. T i c e , 2 0 0 9 S e c o n d P l ac e , B u s i n e s s S t o r y , B a r b a r a C o y l e ,

2009

S e c o n d P l ac e , S p o r t s / O u t d o o r C o l u m n , R o y K a i n , 2 0 0 9 S e c o n d P l ac e , P h o t o S t o r y , A n n K a m z e l sk i , 2 0 0 9 S e c o n d P l ac e , S p o r t s S t o r y , F r e d M e t a r k o , 2 0 0 9 S p e c i a l C i t a t i o n , b e s t p u b l i ca t i o n i n t h e Pennsylvania at growing readership (100,000 Mountain Home Staff, 2 0 0 8

state of new readers)

F i r s t P l ac e , P e r s o n a l i t y P r o f i l e , M i ch a e l C a p u z z o , 2 0 0 8 F i r s t P l ac e , S p o r t s / O u t d o o r C o l u m n , F r e d M e t a r k o , 2 0 0 8 S e c o n d P l ac e , S p o r t s / O u t d o o r C o l u m n , L i z B e r k o w i t z , 2 0 0 8 S e c o n d P l ac e , F e a t u r e S t o r y , M i ch a e l C a p u z z o , 2 0 0 8 Honorable Mention, Business or Consumer Story, Cindy Davis Meixel, 2 0 0 8 H o n o r a b l e M e n t i o n , F e a t u r e P h o t o , Cindy Davis Meixel, 2 0 0 8 F i r s t P l ac e , D i s t i n g u i s h e d W r i t i n g , M i ch a e l C a p u z z o , 2 0 0 7 F i r s t P l ac e , P e r s o n a l i t y P r o f i l e , M i ch a e l C a p u z z o , 2 0 0 7 F i r s t P l ac e , S p o r t s / O u t d o o r C o l u m n , D a v i d C a s e l l a , 2 0 0 7 S e c o n d P l ac e , S p o r t s / O u t d o o r C o l u m n , R o y K a i n , 2 0 0 7 Honorable Mention, Feature Beat Reporting, Teresa Banik Capuzzo, 2 0 0 7

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Chatter & Events

July Calendar Pennsylvania

Tony & Phil Do It Again!

Mountain Idol

If you know American Idol, then you know Aaron Kelly. At seventeen, he took season nine by storm as the youngest contestant to get into the top five. He started performing when he was nine years old, opening for performers like Loretta Lynn and the Marshall Tucker Band. Because of difficult circumstances between his parents, Kelly was adopted by his aunt and uncle and moved to Sonestown (not far from Eagles Mere) at the age of five. He performed at the Troy Fair prior to his Idol success, and the Troy Fair is thrilled to welcome him back for a concert on July 27. He’ll be opening for Little Big Town with his own band. The Troy Fair runs July 25-30 with tractor and truck pulls, a fun house, rides, crafts, and much more. Tickets $7 (under 3 are free) at www.troyfair.com. ~Dawn Bilder

placed third in the rally in their Open Light class. Congratulations, Tony and Phil. Great driving! ~Dawn Bilder

8th, 9th, & 10th: 17th Annual Elkland Jubilee, Elkland, PA. Weekend of family events ranging from picnic dinner, talent show, a parade, vendors, bouncer houses, and community chicken BBQ with music and clowns for kids. For more information, contact the Elkland Area Chamber of Commerce’s Deanna Sherman. E-mail dsherman69@gmail. com or call 814-258-5055. July 8: American Cancer Society Relay for Life Wellsboro. 10am Friday to 10am Saturday at the Wellsboro High School. Relay for Life is an event that gives communities a chance to celebrate people who have battled cancer, including lost loved ones, and to fight against the disease. For more information, contact tara.gordon@cancer.org.

James Fitzpatrick

For some drivers, crashing your car means being out for the count. But not for rally driver Tony Esposito and his co-driver Phil Barnes. They crashed their bright blue 1993 Subaru Imprezza during the Friday night leg of the Waste Management Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally on June 3 in Wellsboro, and were unable to finish. “We worked for six hours Friday night into early Saturday morning putting the car back together and ran it all day Saturday during the second part of the rally,” says Esposito. “But the car still had a lot of issues.” They finished on Saturday despite the considerable problems, and, amazingly,

2nd: Live Rattlesnakes! Leonard Harrison State Park. Come get a close up look at live rattlesnakes at the PA Grand Canyon. Retired teacher, Allan Puskar, is leading the free program education from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. about this very misunderstood reptile. Questions are welcome! E-mail lymanruns@state.pa.us or call 814-435-5010 for more information.

Summer Blast! Ten years ago, when Babe Mase was the coach for the Liberty High School’s Girls Basketball Team, the girls needed new uniforms. So Babe and his cousin, Darrie Mase, organized the first Hot Summer Blast Car Show at the Exxon station in Liberty to pay for them. Thirty-five cars showed up. Surprised by the success of the show, Babe decided to do it again. The only question, since the team didn’t need uniforms, was: which charity gets the proceeds? “My daughter, Christina, has Juvenile Diabetes, and it is a cause close to my heart, so, beginning the second year of the car show, all of the proceeds have gone to help Juvenile Diabetes. And last year, we had up to one hundred thirty cars come in.” The 10th Annual Hot Summer Blast Car Show will be on Saturday, July 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Liberty High School. For more information see page 2, or contact Babe Mase at 570-324-2624 or Val Lovett at 570337-2838. ~Dawn Bilder

10th—31st: Elmira Art Society, Gmeiner Center, Wellsboro. Open daily from 2 p.m. till 5 p.m., enjoy the art works of several artists from the Elmira and surrounding area in all medias. For more information, contact the Gmeiner Center at 570-724-1917 15th—17th & 21st—23rd: The Music Man, Warehouse Theatre, Wellsboro. Hamilton Gibson presents six chances to see the classic Broadway scores live on stage! Don’t miss your chance, and contact Hamilton Gibson at 570-724-2079 or e-mail them at hamgib@epix.net for show times. 25th—30th: Troy Fair, Troy, Pennsylvania. Rides open Mon from 6-11PM and Tues-Sat from 12-11PM. “Crafts by the Creek” Thur and Fri 10am to 8pm. Price is $7, including admission, parking, on-grounds entertainment, and some rides. Children under 3 free. Senior Day (65+) Tues with free admission until 2PM. Entertainment includes a Little Big Town with Aaron Kelly concert. 30th: Artisan Class, Wellsboro, PA. From 1n a.m. to 11:30 a.m., instructor Connie Lackey will teach you the process of making bath fizzers for the purpose of relaxation and aromatherapy. Cost of the class is $20 per person that includes materials. Each participant will leave with their piece of art. Call 570-724-0635 for details. 30th: Annual Classic Car Cruise In, Wellsboro, PA. From 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., enjoy browsing vintage models in their prime at this annual event put on by the Wellsboro Chamber of Commerce. E-mail info@wellsboropa.com or phone 570-724-1926 for more details.

Grape Expectations

This wine’s for you! Come celebrate life and spirits at the Finger Lakes Wine Festival July 15 to 17. This festival features New York State wines from over eighty wineries, with regional artisans, culinary classes, and breweries, all in one beautiful location. A one-day taster pass is $30 in advance ($35 regular), and a two-day taster pass is $40 in advance ($45 regular). Home continued from page 5

A country doctor quietly plies his trade, a now-rare family doc tending the rituals of birth and growth and healing and death with generations of the same family, until the low flames of commitment melt down to the finer metals of love. Such a man is Dr. Edmund Guelig of the Wellsboro Laurel Health Center, recently named the 2011 “Family Physician of the Year” by the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians.

And no festival is complete without live entertainment. There will be over twentyfive bands, playing upbeat blues and jazz to singer/songwriter acoustic shows, roaming a-capella singers, and improv comedy. For more information, visit their website at www.flwinefest.com. ~Dawn Bilder

In this spring of great works, we just tried to keep up. Look for our new medical section, “Ask the Experts,” in which esteemed local doctors like Grady Gafford, Richard Black, and Robert Strohecker share their stories and everevolving medical knowledge. Look for Mountain Home, already Tioga County’s largest circulation publication, in more spots than ever in the county and in the places we most wander off to in Elmira, Corning, and the Finger Lakes. We’re doubling up right here at home, where the heroes are.

July Calendar New York 8th: Cruisin’ Night & Block Party, downtown Geneva. A night filled with vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles with live entertainment, kids’ games, and food and wine tasting from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Visit www.downtowngeneva.org or phone 315-789-0102 for details. 9th: Geneva Farmers Market, Lakefront Park, Route 5 & 20, Geneva. From 9 a.m. till 1 p.m., this special market for the NYS Hog Rally includes fresh farm produce, home baked goods, crafts, jewelry, fresh flowers and plants. Visit www.geneva.ny.us or call 315399-6547 for more details. 9th & 10th: Festival, Downtown Elmira, NY. This weekend artists will cover the streets with chalk drawings while showcasing regional crafts and artworks of numerous vendors. Sample food from local restaurants and Finger Lake wine with musical guests, The Town Pants. Visit www.elmiradowntown.com, e-mail info@elmiradowntown.com, or call 607-7340341. 15th—17th: Wine Country Antique Boat Show & Regatta, Keuka Lake. This free event showcases a proud display of antique and classic boats from the 60’s, complete with a parade and regatta. Contact 315-548-9061 or visit www.winecountryclassicboats.com for more details.

Death of an Illegal Dam (in 5 acts)

Photos by David Kagan 1. March 31: Contstruction begins 2. May 5: A huge presence 3. May 8: Almost complete 4. May 19: Rising waters 5. May 20: All gone

1 10

David vs. Goliath A Marcellus Tale

by Michael Capuzzo

Michael Capuzzo

he e-mail came through the summer night from a lonely stretch down on Pine Creek. Just another piece of junk mail, I figured. But it is a booming time, a baleful time, a mixed-up, fired-up, fracked-up time in northern Pennsylvania, and this e-mail resonated with the confused emotions that ride our serpentine creeks and misted mountain air. It landed in my inbox with a cool ting, but the words were hot, the desperate language of a man holed up in a shack with a pump gun and a SWAT team outside the door. You MUST look at the attached photographsâ&#x20AC;ŚJust look at this monstrosityâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;this degradation, this ravishment, this obscenity, this disgrace!

PLEASE REACT TO THIS BY DOING WHAT YOU CAN TO CONDEMN

Michael Capuzzo

My finger was on the delete key when I realized to my surprise that it was not my unclaimed Nairobi $5 million inheritance, or a new photograph of Sasquatch. I knew the sender. To my further surprise, I know him as one of the more reasonable men of my acquaintance, a highly intelligent, even gentle man named David Ira Kagan. I rubbed my eyes, wondering what I’d missed. I hadn’t seen David in a while, or his wife, Beth, who just retired from teaching kindergarten, and was anticipating visits from their three children in the dream house down in sleepy Tolbert Village, right on Pine Creek. Now she’d have all the time in the world to enjoy life, like her husband does. Kagan, 63, is a retired mathematics and English teacher who decided to retire early, at 56. Tall and exceptionally fit, balding with crows feet around sensitive hazel eyes, he’s a nature-loving fellow I think of “Mr. Pine Creek.” He spends his days bicycling ten to thirty to even fifty miles a day along the Pine Creek Rail Trail, hiking deep in the woods, and talking to everyone. Mr. Pine Creek chronicles his life on the creek and in the woods for Web sites, newspapers and magazines, including the Williamsport SunGazette, the Webb Weekly, the Slate Run Tackle Shop (www.slaterun.com), and occasionally Mountain Home. He blogs, snaps photos, fills notebooks, and it’s not leisurely writing— David wrote more than 800 newspaper stories at last count! He’s also written three books,

including the brisk-selling Pine Creek Villages. Nobody I know feels more deeply the history and rhythms of this sacred place, the Pine Creek Valley. It was hard to imagine this gentle man by his water, boiling with fury. I looked at the photograph that was causing him such distress. It was a shot of lovely Pine Creek lolling in the bright sunshine of May 5, 2011. Kagan took the photograph himself from the Rail Trail on the east side of the creek. The picture captures the kind of day that makes the Pine Creek Valley the beloved pumping heart of north-central Pennsylvania. There’s the wide creek renowned by tourists and locals alike for trout fishing, paddling, hiking, biking, enjoying the natural splendor of one of the last unspoiled parts of the eastern United States. On closer inspection, new leaves adorn the maples along the shore; the sycamores are budding. Patches of blue sky and clouds are reflected in the water. But the picture captures something else. A huge yellow Komatsu PC400LC excavator towers in the middle of the creek, or where the creek water used to be. Its giant treads crunch down on the massive, stone horseshoe-shaped coffer dam that reaches like the arms of a crab two-thirds of the creek. Hard-hats are standing on the far shore, where another excavator is digging huge trenches for steel water-storage cylinders. The bucket is about to take another big bite of stone to fill the creek. I blinked and looked again, confused. Damming Pine Creek? How can it be? What numbskull thought this was a good idea? It must be illegal! My mind reeled as I read Kagan’s e-mail. The old English composition teacher, an ardent environmentalist, had first discovered a huge pile of rocks and foundation stones spilling into the creek in late March. He reacted with the disdain and certainty he would summon upon finding a grammatical mistake. By God, it’s like a capital letter in the middle of a word! It was simply wrong! By May 5, he agonized as the great circle of stones was complete, like a submerged Stonehenge rising hideously, in his view, above the tranquil waters. Kagan was further horrified to learn its purpose. Pennsylvania

General Energy Company (PGE), based in Warren, had built the dam, in effect turning a bend in the creek into a sealed pool into which it would install water-pumping equipment that would pump out nearly one million gallons a day of Pine Creek water into a pipeline. The pipeline would carry the water under Route 44 and up a mountain to a natural gas well pad, where it would be used in the fracking process. PGE was planning some 150 wells in the hills along the creek. Kagan’s mind spun. He was dismayed to learn that PGE had obtained the necessary permits from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission; there’d even been a public hearing. At least two more coffer dams were on the drawing board to scar the lower end of Pine Creek, beneath the allegedly more protected Scenic River stretch from Darling Run to near Blackwell. His paradise was being despoiled! Didn’t anyone else care? Kagan let a form of madness overtake him. He wrote letters to the editor, blog posts, joined eco-activists circles, sent e-mails from Pine Creek like messages in a bottle. He’s not a religious man, but in effect he prayed and prayed…for the destruction of the offending dam. And as suddenly as Zeus striking from a cloud, his prayers were answered. I went to visit Kagan in his house right on the Pine Creek in Tolbert Village. Unlike Kagan, I’m generally a fan of the gas development, though like many other local folks I yearn for greater local control over the negative impacts, from drinking-water quality to noise-andtraffic issues. Tioga County’s economy, for one, has benefited greatly, rising from horrid unemployment numbers to sterling ones, six to seven percent. The restaurants are booming; there’s a new vitality afoot. But damming Pine Creek!? Along Pine Creek, author, poet, and outdoorsman George Washington Sears (Nessmuk) of Wellsboro pioneered the American idea of camping in union with nature, was a giant of 19th Century outdoor writing, and is remembered as the “hook and bullet Thoreau.” How does one suck resources from the very symbol of this area? Is nothing sacred? Why not drain Walden Pond, too? There’s good water to be had in the Tidal Basin, I hear. There’s a lot of water in New York Harbor, and no doubt plenty of useful copper in the Statue of Liberty. I found Kagan at his kitchen table, brooding over the press coverage, most of it from the Lock Haven Express—other newspapers hadn’t touched it—about the controversial dam at Tomb’s Run.

Kagan was sane and affable as always, no pump guns in sight, but he hadn’t been sleeping well. Like a figure from Lost Horizon, he had the haunted look of a man who’d once known paradise, a dream beyond other men, only to have it snatched away. He’d loved life on the Pine Creek since 1991, when he and Beth bought their creekside house, right up until October 27, 2010. That day, inflamed with a kind of madness, he sat from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. in a folding chair at the White Tail Parking Access of the Pine Creek Rail Trail just off Route 44 a couple miles above Jersey Shore, counting trucks. Furiously, he scribbled a final tally: “55 water tanker trucks (40 of them the long, 18-wheeled semis) and 29 construction/ excavation/materials trucks. That’s 84 trucks in 150 minutes, or roughly one every two minutes. Lately, this has been going on 24 hours a day.” The suffering had begun. “I suffer during the day when I ride my bicycle on the Pine Creek Rail Trail, which goes right by my home,” he wrote. “It used to be such a great, calming pleasure to bicycle on the trail (I’ve pedaled over 5000 miles this year), but now I can’t help but get angry hearing the constant clamor. It used to be mostly just the gentle sounds of the flowing creek and the warbling of birds. No longer. “I suffer during the day and evening when I go into my living room at the back of my home beside Pine Creek. I try to read or write or watch television, even with the side door and windows shut, but still I am interrupted and disturbed by the deafening din of truck traffic up on 44, at least one bellowing EVERY minute or two. “I suffer at night when I try to sleep. The hour doesn’t matter—10 p.m., midnight, 2 a.m., 4 a.m., 6 a.m.—I lie awake just knowing that the sound of rolling tires, acceleration and braking will disturb me again and again and again, without reprieve.” Now, eight months later, Kagan was wrestling with an anger that wouldn’t leave. His mind churned with environmental concerns—what would become of the creek wildlife, humans, plants, all the new road-kill, the mysterious fracking chemicals? “And you know what? It’s only the beginning.” The trucks and their water-torture noise were the worst. The gas company said the dam would dramatically reduce truck traffic, easing the noise, but Kagan was not consoled. What would the invading army do next? That was the horror of it. One never knew, except it would be big and invasive. Who’d imagine a nightmare of sucking millions of gallons out of Pine Creek? Helicopters roaring overhead, ferrying equipment and supplies to the gas pads, who’d ever have guessed there’d be helicopters! He felt a sense of powerlessness. His wife advised him to cool down, take his foot off his blood pressure, brighten his outlook. His children now asked him to sell the dream house they’d recently

dreamed of inheriting. Highs and lows throttled him with emotion, like when he learned the Tombs Run dam was in fact illegal! On May 8, he was dismayed when the coffer damn was all but completed. But on May 9, incredible news! The Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection (DEP) served a notice of four violations on the new dam, accusing PGE of violating its permit by building a stone dam instead of the approved sand-bag dam, designed to be temporary, and “polluting the Waters of the Commonwealth” by discharging harmful sediment into the Pine Creek, “a High Quality stream.” The notice threatened tens of thousands of dollars in fines—possibly hundreds of thousands! Kagan’s joy was short-lived. No fines were forthcoming, work proceeded on the dam, which was wrapped in protective tarp on May 15. But by May 19th, something cosmic happened. The storm-driven creek rose and roared and crested the dam; by the next day, Kagan took joyful pictures. Hard to fathom, but the stone monolith was gone! Mother Nature, the Pine Creek itself, had risen up and washed the whole darn thing away! Now the contractor’s huge extractor was banging around in the creek like a giant yellow egret, apparently trying to salvage lost stones. Kagan alerted the DEP. His elation didn’t last. The stone and debris “must have washed downstream to settle on the creek bottom,” he fretted, “with unknown environmental consequences.” He wondered: What would the DEP do? And the other authorities? Would there be fines? More coffer dams on Pine Creek? “What will be the environmental impact of this?” On June 22, I walked with Kagan down the Rail Trail and looked across at the stubborn extractor, now rapidly cleaning up and preparing to re-build the dam. Kagan again e-mailed the DEP, and I spoke with DEP spokesman Kevin Sunday in Harrisburg. The energy company had worked hard to solve its violations, the officials said, and was working closely with DEP to make sure the first coffer dam on Pine Creek was legal this time, and would stand and work for at least the thirty days allowed. Kagan and I walked back to his house until it was quiet again along the Rail Trail, and he tried to smile, cherish the good, put a positive spin on things, not dwell overmuch on the throbbing of his conscience and the stent in the heart of the Pine Creek Valley.

42nd Parallel

The “Pennsylvania’s Roswell” Incident military wasn’t there, which they tried for years to say. But since then they finally came out with a report that the military was there but they don’t have any more information.” A raft of Freedom of Information Act requests and two high-profile documentaries commissioned by cable TV’s SyFy and History channels seemed to be the impetus for the release of forty unrevealing NASA documents on Kecksburg in 2003. In 2005, the space agency changed its story: It now claimed the object was a downed Russian satellite. But those claims have also been disputed. Further, NASA claimed that two boxes of documents related to the Kecksburg incident were “lost” in the 1990s, according to the Associated Press. So what, exactly, fell out of the sky in Kecksburg during the winter of 1965? There are those who say it was an alien spacecraft. Some say it was a World War II era “time

machine,” developed by Nazi scientists, that vanished in the mid-1940s and reappeared twenty years in the future. But many Kecksburgians prefer a much more conventional explanation. “Most of us, locally, lean toward the idea that it was either a U.S. space probe or a foreign probe that went astray,” said Strubble. “It was all covered up at the time, but the incident did happen. “Nobody can dispute it anymore. Nobody can contest it.” This column explores the strange mysteries and folklore of Pennsylvania and New York, a region linked by the 42nd Parallel, which connects our states on its way to other colorful points around the globe.

Bill Crowell

n December 9, 1965, something crashed in the woods near Kecksburg, located about thirty miles southeast of Pittsburgh. A massive military presence followed, according to hundreds of eyewitness accounts, and some kind of object—later described as acornshaped, about the size of a Volkswagon Bug, with strange hieroglyphic printing surrounding its base—was taken away on a flatbed truck. The following day the local newspapers carried front page articles about the alleged UFO crash and military intervention. But the Army and NASA denied involvement. The federal government continues to release contradictory statements or simply deny knowledge of the alleged event. Today the Kecksburg incident has become part of UFO lore, and is often referred to as “Pennsylvania’s Roswell,” referring to the widespread UFO claims and conspiracy theories surrounding an object that landed near Roswell, New Mexico in summer 1947. Ron Strubble is the president of the Kecksburg UFO festival, to be held September 17-18 (www.kecksburgvfd. com) to benefit the local volunteer fire department. Strubble, a retired Westinghouse engineer, said he was living in nearby Greensburg fortysix years ago when he saw something strange in the night sky. “I seen this streak in the sky,” said Strubble. “It come over the radio about this object coming down nearby. I was born and raised there so I knew it like the back of my hand. “So me and the wife went down and we saw the military. Nobody’s ever going to tell me that the

Matt Connor

A model of the Kecksburg UFO created for a television show now perched atop a platform near the town’s fire station.

Heart of the Mountain

Lazy Lemonade Days

hen I was young, life was a picnic—family picnics, fishing-day picnics, berrypicking picnics, sightseeing picnics, band-concert picnics, thrilling, scary romantic picnics. Woods, lake, beach, park, and backyard picnics. Some folks in our eat-out, take-out society would be amazed by what passed for entertainment in the mid-20th Century… just as I was astonished to see how my own folks enjoyed 19th Century life as a picnic. Every time I look at my all-time favorite family scrap-book photo—the one that captures a moment before my mother was born—I stand back in awe. It’s the turn-of-the-century-before-last, and my mother’s parents and grandparents, a great aunt and uncle and a couple other relatives are having a swell time at a picnic. I can tell you all the Graham family was from the Lorenton, Pennsylvania area, south of Morris on Route 287. The rest is a forensic puzzle. First of all, no one in the family owned a camera. Most all my old-time family photos were formal, Victorian shots taken in studios. So I’m left to wonder who was the shutterbug who documented that informal moment on that distant day, and why. Because they were all hard-working farmers, we must surmise it was taken after church on a Sunday; all of the men are in suits, ties, and hats and the women in nice dresses. If they were at the family church beforehand, then we can surmise this photo was taken near the Ski Saw Mill/Oregon Hill area, perhaps at Schneider’s Grove, a close popular picnic area at that time. Lost forever was the reason for the picnic. Perhaps it was the occasion of my mother’s parents being engaged, as they appear to be in their pre-twenties. They—Merlin Leroy Graham and Lula Love—are found on the

courtesy Patricia Brown Davis

Patricia Brown Davis

left. He’s smiling and has a bottle of most probably an adult beverage on one knee and an empty shot glass on the other. My Grandma “Lu” looks very serious, but then she was with her intended’s family—perhaps for the first time. Over on the right are my great-grandparents, Elnora Breed Graham and Edwin B. Graham. (My mother remembers him dying when she was just a teenager.) I especially love this photo of him, as everyone said he was a pretty serious guy, yet he’s smiling and proudly promoting his wife’s two-layered cake. In the middle background is Ed and Nora’s daughter and husband, my Great Aunt Ola Graham Reinwald and Leander Reinwald; she was the sister to Merlin Leroy, my grandfather, mostly known as “Roy.” In the foreground is Frank Graham, who has one hand on a plate of food and the other tipping a flask! I’d heard he was quite a family character. I’ve also been told the young girl is Jenny Graham. There’s a buggy in the background, and the horses have been unhitched. In the foreground can be seen fresh food and berry buckets. What a wonderful way to enjoy a respite from those hectic horse-and-buggy days—at a family picnic! Patricia Brown Davis is a professional musician and memoirist seeking stories about the Wellsboro glass factory. Contact her at patd@mountainhomemag.com.

The Big Chance

Drawing for $5,000, Harley, or Polaris

ooking for an opportunity to win big, have fun, and help the community? The Galeton Chamber Raffle Fund Raiser, which is sponsored by the Galeton Area Chamber of Commerce in Galeton, Pennsylvania, is back again. This year’s winner of the 2011 Galeton Chamber Raffle will get to choose between a 2011 HarleyDavidson Iron 883, 2011 Polaris Sportman 500 HO ATV, and $5,000 in cash. Tickets are $5 per raffle or 5 tickets for $20. The drawing is to be held September 24, 2011 at the Galeton Fall Festival. The winner does not need to be present, but will be responsible for tags, tax, and title. There is also another chance to win something when you buy a ticket. An early bird drawing will be held on July 5th. The winner of this drawing will

win $100 and still be eligible for the main drawing on September 24th. Proceeds for the raffle will go to scholarships, free events, such as the Fall Festival, Christmas in a Small Town, and more. The Harley-Davidson is being provided by Larry’s Sport Center, 1913 US Rte. 6 W. in Galeton (814-4356548, www.larryssportcenter.com). Canyon Motorsports, located at 1572 Rte. 6 in Gaines, Pennsylvania (814435-2878, www.canyonmotorsports. com), is providing the ATV. For more information and to purchase tickets, call the Galeton Area Chamber of Commerce (814-435-8737) or visit www.visitgaleton.com. Or you may buy them at the Red Suspender Weekend in Galeton on July 1 & 2.

Top: Cheryl Main, co-owner of Larry’s Sport Center, with raffle motorcycle. Bottom: John and Cindy McCarthy, owners of Canyon Motorsports with raffle ATV.

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Sarah Wagaman

OUt d o Or s

Grand Guide to Pine Creek A Wellsboro Writer’s Favorite Things

any places claim to have the grandest ‘Grand Canyon;’ France, Canada, New York, Colorado and the red planet, Mars, have Grand Canyons. But to me none surpass the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, with the Pine Creek and Pine Creek Rail Trail meandering for sixty-two miles through the heart of it. I enjoyed kayaking along the Pine Creek, camping in the surrounding wilderness, and hiking, skiing, and biking on the Rail Trail while I was writing Pine Creek Rail Trail: A Recreation and Interpretive Guide to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. It’s not uncommon to see bald eagles soaring overhead while peddling or paddling. These endangered birds have several nests throughout the canyon. Inside a refurbished train station at Darling Run visitors can view pictures from the past and gather information 18

by Audrey Fox from Harry Lord, a retired state forest and national park ranger and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Volunteer. Harry serves as a trail ambassador and conducts Eagle Watch programs on Sundays during May through July. If you’re spying for bald eagles in the southern portion of the trail, stop by Little Pine State Park near Waterville, Naturalist John Kaercher conducts Eagle Watch programs there. The canyon’s unique geologic features and its multitude of waterfalls date from the epic glaciers that formed the canyon, the last of which carved its way 70,000 years ago. From Darling Run to Blackwell there are cascading and tiered waterfalls visible by bike from the trail or by only a short hike. During the summer months they provide an oasis of cooling shade—and a cool reminder of the great forces of the ancient glacial

erosion that sculpted the canyon, and the more modest water flows and drips that continue the work today. What’s the best season to visit Pine Creek Rail Trail? Every season brings unique opportunities, but the canyon comes to life with spring thaw. Waterfalls overflow in spring’s bright green beauty and the water level on Pine Creek is suitable for boating. Each section of the trail offers its own appeal. For bicycling and cross country skiing, the stretch from Darling Run to Rattlesnake Rock provides plenty of drama as the trail winds its way through towering canyon walls. For paddling, plunge into rapids during spring from Big Meadows to Blackwell (intermediate paddling level, upper Pine Creek for beginners), and during summer beginners can paddle Slate Run to Torbert, but check the river gauge given that water levels must be at least 2.5

feet to avoid hang-ups and scratching bottom. (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/pa/ nwis/uv/?site_no=01548500). For fishing—would I really give that away? The guidebook lists rich tributary streams to Pine Creek. The thirty-mile West Rim Trail is a backpacker’s delight, traversing the west rim of the canyon, passing exposed rock walls, scenic vistas, and primitive camping sites. A trailhead is located at Rattlesnake Rock. You can obtain a permit from the Tioga State Forest Office (570-724-2868 or fd16@state.pa.us). The Golden Eagle Trail also offers an impressive vista. This nine-mile trail climbs the ridge near Clark Farm Access Area, leading hikers to Raven’s Horn overlook. In early July, nibble on Juneberries and ankle high huckleberries while hiking. At the mountaintop, take pleasure in a picnic lunch while at eyelevel with turkey vultures gliding along the rising warm air. The rocky terrain also provides perfect habitat for snakes. History surrounds trail users, and the Pine Creek Rail Trail guidebook

narrates some trailside tales, including a ghost town, a Native American hunting ground, the site of a tragic logging accident, and the ruins of a former Civilian Conservation Corp Camp. The Pine Creek Gorge has been used as a transportation route throughout history from an ancient footpath to an industrial byway during the lumber and railroad era to its current recreation uses. Grab your bike, boots, paddle, rod, skis, or snowshoes and enjoy! Audrey Fox, a Wellsboro writer, recently received the Book of the Year award from the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association for her book, Pine Creek Rail Trail: A Recreation and Interpretive Guide to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. ($10, 210 pages). Visit www. pagrandcanyon.webs.com for more details or pick up a copy at shops in Wellsboro.

Outdoors

Reading Nature

When Life’s A Bear Tom Murphy

ately, we can’t put out bird seed because a young bear has put checking our feeder on his to-do list. So we must wait until the bear crosses us off his list. Marauding bears, mosquitoes, invasive weeds, ticks, groundhogs, multiflora roses—they can all be annoying and disruptive and it is hard to remain tranquil when they frustrate our plans. One of my favorite poets, the Nineteenth Century author Emily Dickinson, wrote a poem about such frustrations: “A Burdock— clawed my Gown.” Dickinson loved to use dashes; Thomas H. Johnson, the editor of The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson (Boston: Back Bay, 1976) suggests she uses them “as a musical device.” A Burdock—clawed my Gown— Not Burdock’s—blame— But mine— Who went too near The Burdock’s Den— A Bog—affronts my shoe— What else have Bogs—to do— The only Trade they know— The splashing Men! Ah, pity—then! ‘Tis Minnows can despise! The Elephant’s—calm eyes Look further on! The burdock bur of the first stanza (the first five lines) is that small sphere of tiny hooks that clings to everything and inspired the invention of Velcro in the 1940’s. But Dickinson, by using “clawed” and “Den” metaphorically describes both plants and animals—bears perhaps, giving both the right to occupy their places and accepting blame for invading them. In the next stanza, she treats a place like a person: the bog “affronts” her shoe,

and that action is described as a “Trade,” a livelihood. The second-to-last line of the stanza seems ambiguous: is their trade splashing people or are the bogs being described as men who splash? Both meanings work, so let’s accept both as true at the same time. Dickinson concludes we should have pity and, using the physical qualities of personified animals, begins to explain why in the last stanza. The tiny minnows get upset with others for interfering with their lives because their narrow vision makes their immediate difficulties seem so important. The lofty elephant, on the other hand, can see farther, beyond itself, and can therefore look upon its present situation with “calm eyes.” Note, too, that the difficulties she describes in the first two stanzas involve clothing, our superficial, outer layer. Dickinson is able to draw insights from her daily experiences, which frequently involve nature, on living a meaningful life. While alive, she published little poetry and led an increasingly isolated life in the Amherst, Massachusetts, house where she was born. Despite, or perhaps because of, that isolation, she wrote compressed, idiosyncratic poems that still have a bite today, when much of the poetry of her contemporaries seems quaint and dated. She came home with burdocks stuck to the hem of her dress and mud on her shoes and combined that with the elephant of her imagination to suggest how we too may look at our everyday bears with that elephant’s eyes.

Tom Murphy teaches nature writing at Mansfield University. You can contact him at readingnature@mountainhomemag.com.

Outdoors

B o d y

S o u l

The Love That Saves DeAundra His “Adopted” Aunt and Uncle Lead the Charge for a Cure by Angela Cannon-Crothers

courtesy Dr. Leonard Kreger

hen DeAundra McCants of Killeen, Texas, landed at the Williamsport airport two summers ago to visit his adopted uncle, Wellsboro veterinarian Dr. Leonard Kreger, Dr. Kreger was concerned. The boy, sixteen years old, had a small bump and scratch over his left eye. DeAundra said it was nothing, “just a scratch from rough-housing at the city pool.” But a couple days later, DeAundra complained of a sore throat. His uncle took him to the doctor where he was diagnosed with strep throat and put on antibiotics. A couple days later, DeAundra’s eye was becoming hideously swollen and painful. Dr. Grady Gafford, the Wellsboro ophthalmologist, saw the boy on the weekend at no charge, and he was put on a different antibiotic. Yet DeAundra developed a fever and grew shaky. A CAT scan was ordered, blood tests done. Dr. Gafford recommended that Kreger take DeAundra to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, where DeAundra was diagnosed with acute Lymphocytic leukemia, a type of childhood cancer. The news was devastating to the boy and his adopted family of Dr. Kreger and his wife, Uncle Len and Auntie Catalina. The boy’s grave illness caused Dr. Kreger, owner of the busy Wellsboro Veterinary Hospital, Reptile and Bird Clinic on Route 6, an on-call-around-the-clock vet with a family of his own, to take stock. He’s not the boy’s “real” uncle—if “real” is measured only by common blood and DNA tests. But if an uncle is made of things like love and care and commitment, well, that’s what Kreger always has given the boy, long as the child can remember. Kreger’s bond with the boy and his family

Left to right: Steve Rowe, Kaitlyn Kreger, Catalina Kreger, DeAundra McCants, Greg Marks, Dr. Leonard Kreger, Jeremy Kreger, and family friend, Carlton.

began before DeAundra was born, some twenty years ago, when the vet first became good friends with Greg Marks, a Harrisburg restaurant worker whom Kreger encouraged to go to college—first Harrisburg Community College, then to Susquehanna University for a psychology degree and a career as a counselor. The men were close as brothers; Kreger even helped pay his friend’s college tuition. When the vet met Marks’ sister Charlotte and her infant son DeAundra in Texas, the family bond deepened. At age fourteen, the boy began spending summers with “Uncle and Auntie” in Wellsboro, working at the veterinary clinic to earn money for school clothes and to help out with expenses back home. Now the boy’s disease advanced rapidly, and his entire extended family in Texas and Wellsboro—and the Wellsboro community— swung into action. The DeAundra’s mother flew up from Texas and stayed at the hospital

while he underwent bone marrow transplants, spinal taps, and intense chemotherapy. A host of local doctors and the medical pediatric oncology team at Geisinger fought for his life. Dr. Gafford continued to monitor the boy, donating his time. Stacey Gee, who was working in Dr. Kreger’s veterinary clinic at the time, persuaded her parents, Jerry and Denise Gee of Gee Midway Homes, to donate use of a large, immaculate mobile home to DeAundra and his Texas family for several months while the boy was undergoing chemotherapy. Yet within weeks, the boy was close to death. At one point his weight dropped from 126 pounds to 106 pounds, but he said he wasn’t afraid.“This is one of those things, like a speed bump, that wakes you up and the people around you,” DeAundra said. “It let them know that anyone can go at anytime…My lowest point was when I was going See Kreger on page 25

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w w w. S u s q u e h a n n a H e a l t h . o r g 23

Body & soul

The Better World

The Perfect Night John & Lynne Diamond-Nigh

will be excluded from the historic center of town. Not a party exactly. The French use the word flâneur. The joy of walking about. Young people, families, elderly folks. In every square, music will be playing, jazz bands, classical quartets, DJs. On the bridges over the river, stonehenges of potted trees will be erected, bands will play, and you can dance beneath the stars. The lanterns along the river will be covered in colored gels, casting a long chain of enchantment along both shores. Cafés and restaurants will stay open all night. And God has promised a clear sky, more stars than you ever saw, and air heavy with all the perfumes of spring. It happened just like that. We danced on the bridge till our toes hurt. Not once, in four or five hours of wandering, did we see one instance of rowdiness. No loud voices, no one bearing his plastic cup of beer aloft as a badge of party prowess. In fact party prowess was completely beside the point. The point was the joyful camaraderie of half a million citizens, joining to enjoy their city on a perfect spring night, and doing so with exemplary civility. Hardly an adequate answer, I know, my mind still churning his difficult question— can you decree civility? Damn, I can be dumb. Only a straying image comes to mind, an elderly couple walking past, she with a cane, he with a walker. The last sweet flake of pastry slips into her mouth. Perhaps not many more years to live, but they have seen their city in a whole new light, a slightly transcendental light. Their pride is clear. She catches my eye. She winks.

courtesy Diamond Nighs

friend calls them slugs. The good Italian friars of Santo Spirito monastery call them blight—their noise, their garbage, their graffiti inscribed on the steps of their church. We might not use those words, but the sentiment rings true for many of us—if you wish to be citizens here, abide by basic codes of citizenship. Don’t throw your garbage on other people’s yards. Don’t drive around town playing your music so loud the dead sit up and rub their ears. Don’t park at the curb and honk a whole John Cage symphony when you could get out of your car, go up to the door, and knock. Don’t throw stones. A smile breaks across our friend’s Brazilian-race-car-driver’s face. “You really think you can decree civic civility?” I lift a finger. Imagine: a city of half a million people. The last evening of April, the first morning of May. From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., the mayor has decreed, will be White Night. Traffic

John writes about art and design. Lynne’s website, aciviltongue.com, is dedicated to civility studies.

Kreger continued from page 22

to the hospital and I couldn’t eat, I was throwing up, I had a feeding tube up my nose and I called my best friend and told him I couldn’t do it any more.” His best friend is Alvin Jones, back in Texas; DeAundra’s greatest heartbreak was learning that Alvin’s father had been killed in Afghanistan the same day Alvin learned about DeAundra’s leukemia. “I was like his big brother,” said Deaundra. “I was supposed to be the strong one.” DeAundra gradually responded to treatment, and at the end of that summer he returned to his home in Texas, where he lives with his grandmother, Cherry Haynes. The disease continued to be treatable, but DeAundra’s Texas family wasn’t in a poisition to provide the needed care. His mother was struggling to overcome personal problems, and the boy seldom saw his father. The medical regimen was too much for his grandmother, too, who also has custody of DeAundra’s two siblings, another of whom also has lymphoma. In the summer of 2010, DeAundra’s family and the Kreger family and the boy himself all agreed that his best option for a complete cure

was to return to the Kregers and Geisinger Medical Center in Pennsylvania. Although he’s in remission, his treatments won’t be over until October of 2012. “The success rate is eighty percent for kids in remission,” said Kreger. “It’s really curable but you’ve got to comply with all the treatments; a second recurrence brings the chances down to ten percent.” Kreger pays strict attention to the numerous medications that DeAundra must take at different times each day. Kreger also drives him to the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital at Geisinger for chemotherapy treatments each month and for spinal taps every three months. “People say that this is a lot to take on,” said Kreger. “But he’s the greatest kid in the world and he’s added so much to our family.” Kreger smiled, “He’s not going to die on my watch.” In Wellsboro, DeAundra hasn’t let anything stop him. Devastated that the pregnisone he had been taking with chemo had damaged his knees and he couldn’t play school basketball, he worked instead to manage the team. “It was the only time, through all he’d been through, I saw tears in his eyes,” Kreger said. Four months ago, the Make-A-Wish Foundation awarded

DeAundra a memory of a lifetime. He and his family were flown to Universal Studios in Los Angeles, where he met his basketball hero, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant. “It was pretty incredible,” said DeAundra. Now eighteen years old, the young man has a car, a job at McDonalds, and permission from doctors to play some basketball. He dreams of coaching hoops, too, and returning to Texas to attend community college after high school graduation in Wellsboro. “You can do anything if you put your mind to it,” he says with a grin. “DeAundra has been a blessing to us,” Kreger said. “It’s something God’s given us to teach us something.” Asked what that something is, the veterinarian thinks for a long moment. “Somewhere, there is an ancient saying. I’m sure I don’t have it exact, ‘Search for happiness and it will always elude you; find happiness for others and you’ll find it in yourself.’” Angela Cannon-Crothers is a freelance writer and outdoor educator living in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

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O bstetr icia n/ Gyn ecOlOGis t

s an undergraduate at Montclair State University, Dr. Chadwick Leo was looking for a major to express his general desire to help people. Then he shadowed an emergency room doctor and knew he wanted to be a physician. “That doctor changed my life,” says Dr. Leo. “He was a great and caring doctor, but, more than that, he gave his free time to community service, to volunteering at jails, and to teaching students. I just kept thinking, ‘I want to be like him.’”

Dr. Chadwick S. Leo Medical schOOl new york college of Osteopathic Medicine residency Jersey shore University Medical center, neptune, nJ FellO wship new york college of Osteopathic Medicine, Old westbury, ny certiF icatiOn board eligible in Obstetrics and Gynecology recOGnitiOns resident achievement award for the society of laparoendoscopic surgeons, resident creOG award prOFessiOnal MeMberships american college of Obstetrics and Gynecology, american college of executive physicians

Dr. Leo immediately switched to pre-med and later went to medical school at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he continued on for an extra year in a prestigious fellowship. In June of this year, he completed his residency at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Now he begins his first practice in Wellsboro as an obstetrician and gynecologist beginning August 1, 2011. Dr. Leo will be joining Herbert Roberts, MD and Jodie McCracken, CNM at Tioga Ob/ Gyn Associates, in the medical office building at 15 Meade Street (attached to Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital). He will be providing comprehensive prenatal care, labor and delivery care, postpartum care, general gynecological surgery, investigation and follow-up of abnormal pap smears, annual physical examinations and pap smears, and fertility evaluation. He’ll also be offering hormone replacement therapy, menopausal management, cancer screenings, birth control, hysterectomies, treatment of fibroids, preventative well care, and breast examinations. He’s particularly excited about offering patients dramatic new improvements in care. In a laparoscopic hysterectomy, “I make only three 5-millimeter incisions, insert a camera, and complete the procedure with less scarring, a shorter hospital stay, and a quicker recovery than with traditional hysterectomies.” He’s also excited about coming to Wellsboro and working for the Laurel Health System. “Everyone has been so wonderful. I’ve been going to school in New York, and people are nice there, but it just seems that people in and around Wellsboro are exceptionally kind.” Last year, Dr. Leo traveled to the Philippines to volunteer his surgical skills to help people in a remote and poor area. This year, he will be traveling to the Dominican Republic with the same mission, traveling full circle, in fact, to become the kind of doctor who inspired him in the first place.

He’s excited to be coming to Wellsboro to help patients: “people in and around Wellsboro are exceptionally kind.”

OFFice 15 Meade street wellsboro, pa 16901 (570) 723-0637

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e y e sU rGe O n

“i have three goals when i perform cataract surgery with implants: increased safety, increased quality of vision, and increased accuracy in obtaining excellent vision without glasses.”

Dr. Grady Gafford Medical schOOl doctor of Medicine University of alabama, birmingham, al internship st. Vincent’s hospital and Medical center, new york, ny residency st. Vincent’s hospital and Medical center, new york, ny certiF icatiOn Board Certified in Ophthalmology prOFessiOnal MeMberships american academy of Ophthalmology O FFice

15 Meade st, wellsboro, pa 16901 570) 724-2131

“One word surfaces again and again when people, patients and peers, discuss him—care.”

he patient was on top of the world. He’d recently had cataract surgery with implants, and his vision at his last checkup had been 20/20. Now he was back for his second post-op visit. But when his ophthalmologist checked his vision this time, it had dropped to 20/25. Something felt wrong to the doctor. 20/25 vision is a wonderful result for cataract surgery, and many doctors may have made a note and followed up in a few weeks to re-evaluate. But it wasn’t enough for this doctor, Dr. Grady Gafford, who has been practicing for thirty years in Wellsboro. So Dr. Gafford performed a second Optical Coherent Tomography test (OCT) on his newly-operated-upon patient, which is an advanced test that identifies retinal problems far more subtle than the human eye can see. The OCT showed fluid in the patient’s retina, which happens in a small percentage of post-operation cataract patients. Left untreated, his vision could have dropped to as low as 20/100, causing permanent damage to the eye. Dr. Gafford treated him carefully with eye drops, and his vision fully recovered to 20/20. Thorough care defines Dr. Gafford’s practice. He goes the extra mile before surgery to prevent any problems and to ensure the best possible post-operation vision (without glasses) for his patients. As a result of that vigilance, he gives almost every cataract patient an OCT test before surgery. To obtain the most accurate intraocular lens prediction, he takes extensive measurements on an IOL Master, “the gold standard of the industry.” Then he goes beyond that by also performing an Immersion Ultrasound. Says Dr. Gafford, “It is a lot of extra work, but it gives me additional information that the IOL Master does not, like the distance from the cornea to the cataract and the thickness of the cataract, two variables which have a big impact on post-op quality of eyesight. “I have three goals when I perform cataract surgery with implants: increased safety, increased quality of vision, and increased accuracy in obtaining excellent vision without glasses.” With his advanced, high-tech tests and equipment, some may assume that Dr. Gafford also has a reputation for expensive eye care. But it is just the opposite. In fact, he takes almost every kind of insurance. “Everybody deserves quality eye care. I do not look at what kind of insurance patients have before I treat them. I get my reward from treating people well. I get the pleasure of having my patients see well.” His sensitive gray-blue eyes brim with compassion as he talks about his patients. One word surfaces again and again when people, patients and peers alike, discuss Dr. Grady Gafford: care—both in the sense of his high level of medical care and his incredible capacity to care about each patient. It is an accolade well earned, one patient at a time.

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OptOMetrist

Dr. Scott Rutkoski Medical schOOl pennsylvania college of Optometry, philadelphia, pa prOFessiOnal MeMberships american Optometric association pennsylvania Optometric association northern pennsylvania Optometric association, past president O FFice

15 Meade st, wellsboro, pa 16901 570) 724-2131

“We work very closely with our patients’ primary care physicians to ensure their overall health.”

s rigorous athletes and children of military officers, Dr. Scott Rutkoski, OD and Dr. Grady Gafford, MD both learned discipline and teamwork growing up. And teamwork defines their relationship. “I love working here,” says Dr. Rutkoski, who has been working with Dr. Gafford for thirteen years. “I do routine eye exams and fit glasses and contacts, but I also get to treat almost every ocular disease therapeutically, which means I prescribe medication for glaucoma, infectious and inflammatory conditions of the eye, astigmatism, diabetic problems, and dry-eye.” Between the two of them, they can manage almost every eye care need that a patient has who walks through the door. “We treat people comprehensively,” continues Dr. Rutkoski. “We work very closely with our patients’ primary care physicians to ensure their overall health, especially with our patients with high blood pressure, diabetic complications, and thyroid conditions.” They also treat children as young as four years old. “Usually children under four who require specialty eye care need a pediatric ophthalmologist. But, after the age of four, we feel very comfortable treating them. “Working with Dr. Gafford is one of the most wonderful parts of my job,” says Dr. Rutkoski. “He’s dedicated and helpful—and he’s a great teacher. He’s taught me at least fifty percent of what I know, and that’s including what I learned in optometry school. “The only bad thing,” continues Dr. Rutkoski with a big smile on his face, “is that I get homework.” Homework? He points to his desk, where an open medical journal sits with outlined paragraphs clearly marked. “Dr. Gafford gave me that to read last weekend. I have to teach it back to him today.” He laughs. “Of course, he already knows it.” What’s the best thing Dr. Gafford’s taught him? “Besides teaching me to be current on all the newest medical information, the best thing he’s taught me is that it’s not about ego. If I’m not sure of something, it’s okay to ask and it’s wise to get second opinions. Dr. Gafford and I work closely with regional and nationally-known specialists because we want the best possible outcome for all of our patients. And they, in turn, also consult with us about their patients.” So, what’s Dr. Rutkoski’s homework for next weekend? Laughing, he picks up a white plastic grocery bag with about twenty medical CD’s in it. “I’m supposed to listen to these in the car.” But, all kidding aside, it’s clear that as much as Dr. Gafford loves to teach, Dr. Rutkoski loves to learn. It is, after all, one of the best things about teamwork.

“i do routine eye exams and fit glasses and contacts, but i also get to treat almost every ocular disease therapeutically.”

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OptOMetrist

hen you enter Strohecker Vision Care in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, Dr. Robert Strohecker’s 4,500-square-foot office at 8 South Main Street, you think you¹ve entered a spa or an art gallery, instead of a state-of-theart eye doctor’s office. Dr. Strohecker lovingly restored the 1884 landmark building, with its soaring ceilings and windows, original hardwood floors, and exposed brick walls, with the same passion he gave to restoring his office in Elkland. And when you meet Dr. Strohecker, you realize his offices are just an extension of the warmth, enthusiasm, and close attention to detail that he provides to his patients.

Dr. Robert D. Strohecker, O.D. Medical schOOl pennsylvania college of Optometry, philadelphia, pa, doctor of Optometry appOintMent northern Optometric society, Officer and Past President strOhecker VisiOn care Offices:

8 south Main street Mansfield, PA 16933 (570) 662-3891

www.stroheckervision.com 209 west Main street elkland, pa 16920

Dr. Strohecker has been a practicing optometrist for twenty-two years, devoting twothirds of his practice to medical eye care. In other words, he doesn’t just do eye exams and sell glasses. He diagnoses and treats eye diseases such as dry eye, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic eye conditions. “I love what I do,” says Dr. Strohecker, whose wellknown energy and enthusiasm suggest the old New England adage, “To make energy, you have to spend it.” The doctor graduated from Mansfield University before attending medical school at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia. He’s deeply involved in the community as vice president of Mansfield University’s Council of Trustees, a member of the Mansfield Borough Council, Little League coach, and father of three sons with his wife, Sondi. But the doctor’s voice takes on a special enthusiasm discussing his work. “This allows me to determine if patients have what are called high-order aberrations,” says Dr. Strohecker proudly, pointing to his remarkable new diagnostic tool, the I.Profiler. “High-order aberrations are imperfections in the visual system, usually in the cornea and lens of the eye—above and beyond near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism.” The I.Profiler is a piece of high-tech wizardry that allows the doctor to diagnose eye diseases and aberrations with a much greater sensitivity than has ever been possible, while also sizing up patients for customized lenses. The I.Profiler is actually three pieces of equipment rolled into one: It’s an ocular wavefront aberrometer, which takes a fingerprint of the eye and determines aberrations; it’s a corneal topographer, which checks the size and shape of the eye (assisting in ideal contact lens fit) and finds abnormalities in the contours of the eye, which helps recognize diseases; and it’s an autorefractor, which assists in determining eye prescriptions. “To give you an idea of how advanced the I.Profiler is,” says Dr. Strohecker, “similar equipment can only measure up to 1/8 diopters (the unit of measurement used in the eye care field), but the I.Profiler can measure up to 1/100 diopters.” Dr. Strohecker’s I.Profiler is the only one in Tioga County and in most of the surrounding areas. He purchased one for his 2,500-square-foot Elkland office, too. “The day I stop being excited about what I do,” he says, “the day I stop searching for new technologies to better help people or lose my enthusiasm for further training, that’s the day I’m done.” It’s obvious that day is nowhere in sight.

“the day i stop searching for new technologies to better help people or lose my enthusiasm for further training, that’s the day i’m done.”

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Oral a nd MaxillOFa c i a l s UrGeO n

Dr. Richard F. Black edU catiOn harvard college, cambridge, Ma harvard school of dental Medicine, boston, Ma harvard school of public health, boston, Ma residency Mount sinai Medical center, new york, ny appOintMents Medical staff of soldiers and sailors Memorial hospital

: When should I consider dental implants?

: Implants should be considered when one or more teeth are missing. Forty million Americans have lost all their teeth. They can be lost because of an injury, tooth decay, or periodontal disease, which is an infection of the gums and bone surrounding teeth. Or maybe certain teeth never grew in. Missing teeth can make eating or speaking difficult and can cause people to avoid smiling because they feel self-conscious. It can also put unhealthy stress on the alignment of your remaining teeth. Implants can remedy that: they look and feel like part of your mouth. You can get your smile back. You can get your confidence back. And you can chew your food again. A dental implant is an artificial tooth root. Your jawbone fuses with the implant to provide a secure platform for artificial teeth. In other words, when you’re missing teeth, an implant anchors your artificial teeth to your mouth. No matter how much bone you have in your jaw, there is an application available to remedy it. Implants often feel more natural than regular dentures and other dental restorations because they are fixed in your mouth. You can chew gum, eat corn, feel less self-conscious laughing, smiling, or speaking in public, all of the things dentures with adhesive won’t allow you to do because they are looser and less secure. One of the dental implants I offer is mini dental implant. These implants are for patients who cannot withstand the rigors of conventional implant surgery because they don’t have enough bone to allow full-sized implants to be placed; they are also for those seeking an option with a lower cost than traditional implant treatment. Maintenance of the implants is easy, as you are able to remove and replace your dentures yourself. Implant placement procedure is usually easier on patients than extracting a tooth. Most people don’t even take time off from work because of it.

prOFessiO nal MeMberships american association of Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons, international society of Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons, executive board of pennsylvania Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons certiF icatiOn Board Certified in Oral and Maxillofacial surgery O FFice 15 Meade street wellsboro, pa 16901 (570) 724-2141

courtesy the hiawatha

A rt s & Le i s u re

Hiawatha Looks At 30 Billtown Afloat with River Festivities by Cindy Davis Meixel

istory, tradition, and fun merge on the Susquehanna River near Williamsport the weekend of July 8-9. Susquehanna State Park will hum with visitors savoring the sights and sounds of the Hiawatha River Fest. This year’s River Fest celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Hiawatha, the city’s beloved paddlewheel boat. And, just up river from the park where the Hiawatha is docked, a local summer rite of passage returns to the waters —the Susquehanna River Float. That event invites inner tube enthusiasts to “float their fannies in the Susquehanny” on Saturday, July 9. The River Fest and the River Float are separate events benefiting two non-profit efforts. The River Fest helps keep the Hiawatha afloat. This year’s River Float will support Andrew’s Special Kids Foundation. The River Fest showcases Home Made Days with approximately sixty craft and food vendors setting up shop at Susquehanna State Park. The festival will also feature free music headlined by Parrotbeach, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band starting its beach party Saturday at 7 p.m. The Hiawatha River Fest has been held for fewer than ten years. The event began with boat shows and river entertainment. But in 2005, a water skier scheduled to take part in the event was tragically killed while practicing at a nearby 32

lake. Out of respect for the skier and his family, the festival was canceled that year. “After that, we got away from boat shows and moved to a more land-based festival with open air concerts,” says Skip Cochran, marketing manager for River Valley Transit, the administrative agency for the Hiawatha. This is just the third year Home Made Days will be included in the River Fest. The popular craft event, which is about twenty years old, was previously staged in Williamsport’s Brandon Park, but was in jeopardy of being discontinued until River Fest organizers took it under their wing. “Susquehanna State Park is a great venue for Home Made Days,” notes Cochran. “The vendors and guests really appreciate the grassy, shaded area next to the water with a cool breeze. And, having Home Made Days as part of the Hiawatha River Fest has made the River Fest more of an event.” In addition to crafts, food, and entertainment, festivalgoers can take onehour cruises aboard the Hiawatha, per the boat’s normal schedule. Organizers also hope the festival will feature fireworks, however, those will not get off the ground unless a sponsor is located. As of press time, sponsors were still being sought. “We expect a large crowd and hope the community will turn out to celebrate with

us,” Cochran says. He adds that, despite construction at the nearby Arch Street Bridge, there is ample parking in the Susquehanna State Park. If extra parking is needed, overflow parking and free transportation will be available at Primus Technologies on Reach Road. A similar park-and-ride scenario will be offered to participants of the Susquehanna River Float. The event will begin with morning registration at Haywood’s on the Water. Floaters will then be transported to the launch site for a three-hour float that concludes back at Haywood’s with food, music, and raffles. In years past, the float, also referred to as “The Fanny Float,” typically began at the bridge in Jersey Shore. The storied event saw its most active years in the early ’80s, but it has flowed through numerous cycles of deflation and reemergence. The Hiawatha has seen a steadier ride since it set sail in 1981. Since then, the riverboat has established itself as a key feature on the Williamsport tourism scene as well as a catalyst for river recreation. “For many years prior to (the Hiawatha), there were no public activities on the river,” Cochran says. “There were some fishing and boating, but they were minimal compared to See Hiawatha on page 36

arts & leisure

Trunk Show Thursday, July 28th 10 - 2 p.m.

5th AnnualTrunk Show Need an exam? Call 570-724-2131 for an appointment.

Thursday, July 28th 10 - 2 p.m. Latest Fashion, Endless Selection! No appointment necessary! • • • • • •

Tura Europa Vera Bradley Brendal Marco Polo Humphrey’s

GRADY D. GAFFORD, MD SCOTT P. RUTKOSKI, OD

Medical Office Building 15 Meade St. Wellsboro

Medical Office Building 15 Meade St. Wellsboro 33

arts & leisure

the activity that has begun to flourish over the past thirty years.” Passengers on board the Hiawatha enjoy not only the river’s beautiful scenery, but are treated to a recorded narration of the importance of the river in the economy and history of Williamsport. This is the second Hiawatha to travel the waters near Williamsport. The first, a steamdriven stern-wheeler, entered the river in the late 1800s, carrying Sunday picnickers from its Market Street mooring south to Sylvan Dell Park. However, the boat was caught in ice during the winter of 1914 and, that spring, was crushed and carried away in a flood. There is speculation that the smoke shaft from the original Hiawatha is at the bottom of the river near Sylvan Dell Park. Cochran says there have been discussions with scuba divers and boaters who would like to dredge the historic object. He adds that it would be ideal if the smoke shaft could be preserved and placed in the Peter Herdic Transportation Museum, in Williamsport. For fans of the present-day Hiawatha, summer excursions are available Tuesdays

courtesy the hiawatha

Hiawatha continued from page 32

through Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. and 1, 2:30, and 4 p.m., and on Sundays at 1, 2:30, and 4 p.m. The boat runs rain or shine (flooding issues are the only reason that might keep the boat at its dock). The Hiawatha is regularly booked for private events including weddings, company picnics, and birthday parties, and also runs weekly specialty cruises featuring concerts, quizzo, karaoke, and other popular—and often sell-out—entertainment.

Event: River Fest Date and time: Friday July 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday July 9 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Location: Hiawatha Riverboat at 1 Hiawatha Blvd, Williamsport, PA 17701 For more information and reservations: (800)248-9287 or www.ridehiawatha.com.

Cindy Davis Meixel, a native of Wellsboro, is a writer, photographer, kayaker, and yogarian residing in Williamsport.

arts & leisure

All the World’s a Stage

A Nurse; Night

Thomas Putnam

ver the years I’ve spent a considerable amount of time with relatives staying at the Green Home, a local convalescent and nursing home. First was my grandfather, Dr. Jesse Webster— actually he was the first resident to live at the new facility. My grandmother Alma Roxie Hamilton Webster was next, followed all too closely by my mother, and then ten years later, my father. Spending so much time at a nursing home, one gets a chance to visit with all sorts of folk; many suffering from varying degrees of dementia, others there for a short time of rehab, some because they just have nowhere else to go. I became rapidly well acquainted with Bea. I arrived nearly every day to visit Dad, and each time there was a wonderful new introduction to this remarkable resident—she couldn’t remember me from the previous day. Bea, a former nurse—rotund, clean and fresh usually in pink—would park herself near the nurses’ station on the second floor to oversee the daily events. She had been the head nurse of a large hospital and had overseen a cadre of workers for decades. Now she concentrated carefully on each phone conversation and visitor and code and calmly sought to make sense of it all. She couldn’t do it; but she tried hard. Each day she sat in her wheel chair appearing to find some connection to what had meant so much to her. This was the stuff of her life, what she knew; this was in her DNA…she knew all about this space, these codes, this rhythm. One day as I stood outside Dad’s secondfloor room, Bea came wheeling down the hallway. She passed by and smiled on her way to the dining room (nowhere near a meal time.) A few minutes later she reappeared at the end of the hallway

and wheeled back towards me…her movement labored, slow, purposeful. She stopped next to me—no one else in sight—paused, and looked up at me: “I don’t know where I’m going, but I guess I’m on my way!” she sang out with the weight of someone who has decades of history behind her…triumphant with a tone resounding with wry grit. Shakespeare did not coin the phrase that serves as the title of this column. The sourpuss character Jacques in As You Like It offers the even-then clichéd phrase and the subsequent explanation to appear more learned than he actually is. His now famous “Seven Stages of Man” speech is a bit depressing, especially the last stage described as “second childishness and mere oblivion/ Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.” Really? As Peggy Lee asks, “Is that all there is?” Years later I remember Bea’s struggle to connect with the world of the nurses’ station that had been so much of her own for so many years, her determined maneuvering of her wheelchair, the triumphant look on her face as she exalted in her then current credo: “I don’t know where I’m going, but I guess I’m on my way!” I grabbed hold of Bea’s credo: I needed it then, and it has served me well through many-a difficult journey. In Shakespeare’s play, the words following the title of this column indicate that “men and women [are] merely players: They have their exits and their entrances…” All the world may be a stage, but Bea was no mere player… and her exit was no cliché.

Route 17, I-86, Exit 41, Campbell, NY 866-878-0180  607-527-2628 www.jamisonmarine.com

Thomas Putnam is the founder and director of Hamilton-Gibson Productions, the community performing arts group in Wellsboro (www.hamiltongibson.org).You can reach him at hamgib@gmail.com 35

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GO BY TRAIN!

SCENIC EXCURSIONS, DINING & THEMED TRAINS

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Phone: (570)724-0990 Web: TiogaCentral.com

Food

Dr i n k

The Lost Art of Verjooz! Or, When is a grape not just a grape by Michael Capuzzo

t’s green grape juice, that’s all. Keep that in mind as you are initiated into the mysteries of verjuice (Middle French vertjus, “green juice”). It’s just green grape juice. (And a baseball diamond is simply grass, and Cheops just a big triangular stone). Just because it appears in the Tacuinum Sanitatis, a lavishly illustrated medieval book on health and well being based on an 11th century Arab medical treatise, (the illustration of “picking green grapes for making verjuice,” above, was published in 1474), we’re supposed to be impressed? See Verjooz on page 40 37

Food & Drink

on a pizza and

Prayer

©Ken Meyer

sed to be, when the phone rang at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Arnot, folks were looking for a chat with the priest, to discuss matters of life and death. Now they are calling for a pepperoni pizza. Todd and Kim Berguson (native son Todd owns Todd Berguson Trucking, Kim owns Kim’s Hair Connection, both in Arnot) bought St. Stan’s along with its ample hall a few years ago in the contraction of the St. Mary’s Catholic parish in Blossburg, when its mission churches were put on the block. What to do with the hall was an easy decision: keep renting it out for weddings and parties and the like. But the Bergusons had a more creative idea for the church. “I think they just decided Arnot needed something different,” says 38

manager Tim Roupp, who opened Bergy’s Place for the Bergusons last November. They started with pizza and subs, but the menu has expanded to include burgers and fries, salads, stromboli, wings, and sides like onion rings and breaded cauliflower. Prices range from a $1 hotdog to a $27.99 Value Pack (a sheet pizza with two dozen wings and a 2-litre soda). Open Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday & Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. to eat in or carry out. Delivery is available 4 p.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Major credit cards accepted. Bergy’s Place, Main St., Arnot; 570-638-2080. ~Teresa Banik Capuzzo Photograph by Ken Meyer

Food & Drink

Restaurants Enjoy the region’s comprehensive restaurant listings. From our Finger Lakes wineries to Williamsport’s good eats to the fertile Pennsylvania heartland in between, we’re famous for our regional specialties and love to eat. For listing information please email Dawn Bilder at dawnb@mountainhomemag.com or call (570) 724-3838. Also look for restaurant listings at www.mountainhomemag.com. Bon appetit!

Pennsylvania Bradford County Canton KELLEY’S CREEK SIDE RESTAURANT Kelley’s offers $4 breakfast and $6 lunch specials every day, and they are open for dinner Wed-Sun. They specialize in home-style cooking like their prime rib and serve homemade desserts like chocolate peanut butter pie and muffins. (570) 673-4545, 1026 Springbrook Dr, www.urbanspoon.com

Lycoming County Trout Run BITTNER’S GENERAL STORE Hot and cold 18” subs, specialties are Italian and cheese steak. Pizzas, homemade salads, pastas, and hot foods. Fresh meats, cold cuts, and our own lean ground hamburger. Camping supplies and propane. (570) 998-8500, located at the junction of Rt. 14 and Rt. 15 in Trout Run, PA, bittnersinc@aol.com. FRY BROS. TURKEY RANCH Original turkey dinners & complete menu. Established business since 1886. Restaurant and convenience store. At the top of Steam Valley Mountain, elevation 1,704 ft. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, & dinner. Gifts and souvenirs. 27 Rt. 184 Hwy, (570) 998-9400.

570-724-3311 Open 7 Days a Week 17 Pearl St., Wellsboro, PA 16901 Full Service On Site Catering Available

Largest Black Angus Burgers in town!

Williamsport

Full Salad Bar 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. All Homemade Desserts

WEGMAN’S Wegman’s Market Café features freshly-made foods ranging from quick grabs like pizza, subs, and Asian classics to comfortfood favorites, salads, and sandwiches. Come try our family-friendly foods at budget-friendly prices. 201 William St, (570) 320-8778, wegmans.com.

Tioga County Blossburg MOMMA’S Momma’s offers a full menu and specializes in homestyle cooking. They have daily specials and the area’s best baby back ribs on Saturdays. Steak Night is on Thursdays. They also cater to rigs. (570) 638-0270, 102 Granger St.

To advertise in the food section call

570-724-38385

Open at 5 a.m., we serve Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner all day until 9 p.m.!

570.662.0241

19 N. Main Street

Mansfield, PA 16933

Offers a selection of dishes made up of local ingredients paired with their fresh brewed beer: • • • • •

“Pine Creek” Raspberry Wheat “Summer Love” Summer Ale “Mountaineer” I.P.A “Bungy” Blonde Ale Plus two other rotating selections

www.yorkholobrewing.com Sun: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Mon - Thurs: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. or later; Fri, Sat: 11 a.m. - 12 a.m. or later

Food & Drink

Verjooz continued from page 37

There’s something mystical about verjuice, the ancient press of green grapes used to heighten the flavor of sauces and mustards, much as a vinegar or lemon juice would do. Perhaps because it’s a lost art of the Middle Ages; perhaps because verjuice hasn’t been widely used since medieval or Renaissance times, and now is being produced in Australia, New Zealand, California…and the Finger Lakes. In any event, the Finger Lakes Food Company calls its verjuice Verjooz. The green liquid coming in a zippy yellowlabeled bottle meant “to reflect a bright burst of sunshine in your mouth.” (It’s $14.03 a bottle on rednewt.com, and at a various Finger Lakes purveyors). The Finger Lakes Food Co. is brought to you by Tina and Eric Hazlitt of Sawmill Creek Vineyards and Debra and David Whiting of Red Newt Cellars. When Tina and Eric, Debra and David decided to combine forces, it was only

natural that their first product be a potion that peforms a lovely marriage of food and wine. Verjooz is made using green Vinifera grapes grown on the east side of Seneca Lake at Sawmill Creek Vineyards. Chef Debra Whiting creates Verjooz recipes; she recommends it as a “zippy yet complex element that complements wine instead of detracting from it like a too acidic vinegar.”

Apricot and Black Bean Salsa 4 cups apricots, diced 4 cups black, beans 1/2 cup chives, chopped 1/4 cup white wine 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped 1/4 cup garlic, minced 1/4 cup verjus 1 Tbsp. sugar Juice of 1 lemon 3 Tbsp. olive oil salt and pepper 2 Tbsp. parsley, chopped

Debra and David Whiting

In a large bowl mix together apricots, beans, chives, cilantro, garlic and parsley. In a separate small bowl, mix together wine, verjus, sugar, olive oil and lemon juice until sugar is dissolved. Pour over apricot mixture in large bowl, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Enjoy with tortilla chips or on grilled chicken, pork or fish.

Food & Drink

My Favorite Things

Sarah wagaman

The Thrill of the Grill

Why do you go to Papa V’s Pizzeria in Mansfield? The eponymous hand-tossed pies? The over-the-top cheese-stuffed calzones? Yeah, me too. Or at least, that was my story until, in a fit of eat-my-vegetables, I decided to whet my appetite with Papa’s grilled chicken salad while I waited for my main course. Little did I know. It looked very much a known quantity. No exotic mesclun mix, just a heapin’ helpin’ of romaine and iceberg, that crispy lettuce of our youth. Nothing more mysterious than black olives and banana peppers hiding ’neath the leaves. The secret, it turns out, is in . . . the vegetables, or rather, how they are treated. Mushrooms, sweet peppers, red and green peppers, onions, olives—even the pickles—get the same grilling as the chicken, which includes a dose of their homemade Italian dressing on the grill. “It’s one of the most popular items,” confirms Jerry Curreri, owner James Mack’s father-in-law. And they will hold the pickle if you so desire, or anything else, for that matter, as substitutions are more than welcome. “If I had fifteen people here, I’d probably make twelve different salads,” says Curreri. And I’d try every one of them. -Teresa Banik Capuzzo

To advertise in the food section call

570-724-38385

Open Mon.-Thurs. 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 10:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; Sun. 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Papa V’s Pizzeria, 12 North Main St., Mansfield, 570-662-2651

Food & Drink

Finger Lakes Wine Review

Of Keeley’s and Kings Holly Howell

Unforgettable wines in an unforgettable setting Taste truly memorable wines in our welcoming tasting room overlooking spectacular Seneca Lake. Visit our website and facebook page for details on our exciting summer events and new releases!!

June 18 Party on the Lawn Rebecca Colleen and the Chore Lads

July 28-31 “Grapehound Tour” Greyhound adoption awareness

July 31, Aug 23, Sep 26 Vine Dining with Chef Samantha Buyskes 5055 Route 414, Burdett, NY 800-331-7323

atwatervineyards.com

atwater winery

ust when I thought I had tasted my way through the entire Finger Lakes, a brand new frontier appears. Well, maybe not brand new, but suffice it to say, somewhat hidden from many. This destination is a little longer drive than the shores of Keuka and Seneca. I am talking about the East Coast of Cayuga Lake, the longest Finger Lake of them all. Keeping with the theme “What grows together, goes together,” I set out for the road less traveled this past weekend, on a mission to discover any gems that I might have been missing. And I returned a very happy camper. Most people are aware that New York State makes good cheddar. However, there are many other European styles of cheese that are slowly making their way into the mix here. And one of the most exciting is Keeley McGarr’s “Across the Pond” farmstead cheese. Located in the town of King Ferry, the McGarr Farm is home to a large herd of registered Holstein and Jersey cows that produce rich, creamy Finger Lakes milk. The McGarr’s daughter, Keeley, grew up on the farm and attended the University of Vermont to study animal science. While she was there, she fell in love with Vermont cheeses. After several cheese-making internships in Vermont and also in Ireland, Keeley’s Cheese Company at McGarr Farms was born in 2009 (www.keeleyscheeseco.com). Keeley, one of our youngest local artisans, is energetic, enthusiastic, and totally passionate about her product. “Across the Pond” is a stunning raw milk cheese that has a washed rind. This means that the outside of the cheese is washed regularly with salted brine as it ages. This promotes a very desirable exterior flavor and red-orange color that can be compared to cheeses like Italian Taleggio or French Muenster. I was in seventh heaven as I tasted my first bite. Melt-in-your-mouth, luscious, complex, and full of Finger Lakes terroir.

Now, to find a wine to match... Just a stone’s throw down the road from the dairy, you’ll find King Ferry Winery. OK, search complete. (Refer to paragraph two.) King Ferry Winery makes an incredible line-up of European vinifera wines that are sold under the name of Treleaven (www.treleavenwines. com). Winemaker Lindsay Stevens is another talented artisan who has firm roots in the Finger Lakes region. After graduating from Cornell, she began a wine-making career that landed her at King Ferry in 2007, alongside owners Peter and Tacie Saltonstall. Her wines are fabulous. The star for me is the Treleaven Semi-Dry Riesling, refreshingly crisp with a peachy palate that finishes with a distinct Cayuga Lake minerality. It has the perfect hint of sweetness to balance the pungency of a good washed rind cheese. Hmmm. Woman cheesemaker. Woman winemaker. We’ve come a long way, baby. Keep up the great work, ladies! Holly earned her CSW (Certified Specialist of Wine) from the Society of Wine Educators, and her CS (Certified Sommelier) from the Master Court of Sommeliers in England; contact her at wineanddine@mountainhomemag.com.

Food & Drink

Restaurants ,cont. Knoxville GOLD GENERAL STORE Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Pizza and subs. Baked goods. Grocery items. (814) 848-9773, 2760 State Rt. 49W.

Liberty BLOCKHOUSE CAFÉ Blockhouse Café is open for breakfast and lunch and on Friday nights, serving homemade and home-style meals, including desserts. It’s a unique café with good food, great company, and a place where you always get your money’s worth. (570) 324-2041, 31 Willow St.

Mansfield EDDIE’S RESTAURANT Eddie’s offers homestyle cooking with homemade daily specials. Their specialties include hot roast beef sandwiches and chicken & biscuits, both served with real mashed potatoes. They have homemade pies and serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (570) 662-2972, 2103 S. Main St. LAMBS CREEK FOOD & SPIRITS Lambs Creek offers sophisticated, down-home cooking seven days a week. Every Tuesday there’s an Italian Night special, and every Thursday night is Mexican Fiesta Night. It overlooks gorgeous mountains. (570) 662-3222, 200 Gateway Dr, Mansfield, PA 16933, www.lambscreek.com PAPA V’S PIZZERIA & RESTAURANT Papa V’s offers a wide variety of hand tossed New York Style thin-crust pizza, a multitude of hot and cold sandwiches, fresh ½ pound Angus burgers, and delicious homemade Italian dishes for lunch and dinner. 12 N. Main St, (570) 662-2651, www. papavpizzeria.com. WREN’S NEST Wren’s Nest has live music every Wed. night from 6-9. Specialties include crab cakes, steaks, and pastas. They make homemade desserts including lemon meringue ice cream pie and crème brule (sampler). (570) 662-1093, 102 West Wellsboro St, www. wrensnestpa.com. YORKHOLO BREWING CO. Offers a selection of dishes made up of local ingredients paired with Yorkholo’s own fresh brewed beer, including “Pine Creek” Raspberry Wheat, “Summer Love” Summer Ale, “Mountaineer” I.P.A, “Bungy” Blonde Ale, and 2 rotating selections. (570) 662-0241, 19 N Main St, www.yorkholobrewing.com.

BABB’S CREEK INN & PUB Babb’s Creek Inn & Pub specializes in Seafood and Prime Rib, which is available every night, except Tuesdays when the restaurant is closed. Reservations are appreciated for parties of 8 or more. Located at the intersection of Rtes. 287 & 414, (570) 3536881, www.babbscreekinnandpub.com.

Wellsboro CAFÉ 1905 Classic coffee house located in Dunham’s Department Store. Proudly serving Starbucks® coffee, espresso, Frappuccino®, Tazo® tea plus delicious freshly baked pastries, homemade soups, artisan sandwiches and ice cream. Free wi-fi. (570) 724-1905, Inside Dunham’s Department Store, 45 Main St. DUMPLING HOUSE CHINESE RESTAURANT Dumpling House specializes in Hunan, Cantonese, and Szechuan Cuisine. It’s family owned and operated and located on beautiful Main Street in Wellsboro. You may dine in or carry out. (570) 724-4220, 31 Main St. DUNKIN’ DONUTS America Runs on Dunkin’. 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. (570) 7244556, 7 Main St. THE FROG HUT The Frog Hut serves favorites like Texas hots, fried chicken, and Philly cheese steaks. They offer homemade soups and salads, and for dessert, try their soft serve ice cream, Italian ice, sundaes, and other ice cream treats. (570) 724-4450, 132 Tioga St. HARLAND’S FAMILY STYLE RESTAURANT Open seven days a week at 5 a.m., serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner all day until 9 p.m., including the largest Black Angus burgers in town, full salad bar, and all homemade desserts. House-batter-dipped haddock fish fry every Friday. Full service on-site catering available. (570) 724-3311, 17 Pearl St. MARY WELLS ROOM AND PENN WELLS LOUNGE Located in historic Penn Wells Hotel, full service restaurant and lounge feature an extensive menu of fine steaks, seafood, pasta, gourmet sandwiches, fresh burgers, desserts. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. (570) 724-2111, 62 Main St, www.pennwells.com. THE NATIVE BAGEL The Native Bagel offers bagels made fresh daily, gourmet coffee, deli sandwiches, soups and salads, and homemade desserts. Bagels are mixed, kneaded, rolled, boiled, and baked onsite. All soups, breads, and baked items are “made from scratch.” 1 Central Ave, (570) 724-0900, www.nativebagel.com.

WENDY’S (570) 662-7511, 1580 S Main St.

PAG-O-MAR Pag-O-Mar offers subs, salads, and deli sandwiches at the head of the Wellsboro Junction Rail Trail, across from the Tioga Central tour train station. They also offer soft custard and Hershey’s hard ice cream. And there’s a farmer’s market in season. (570) 724-3333, 222 Butler Rd. (just past junction of Rts. 6 & 287).

KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN (570) 662-2558, 1320 S Main St.

SUBWAY “Eat Fresh.” (570) 724-1424, 63 Main St, www.acornmarkets.com.

TACO BELL (570) 662-2558, 1320 S Main St.

THE STEAK HOUSE The Steak House has been serving the finest steaks and seafood since 1957. Whether you want a black angus hamburger or a cold water lobster tail, there’s something for the whole family in a true Wellsboro atmosphere. 29 Main St, (570) 7249092, www.thesteakhouse.com.

Mansfield Fast Food MCDONALDS (570) 662-7077, 120 N Main St.

ARBY’S (570) 662-7626, 1672 S Main St.

Morris

Something for everyone Can’t agree on where to go for a quick, fresh meal? Come to our Market Café. Our variety of freshly made foods ranges from quick grabs like pizza, subs, and Asian classics to comfort-food favorites, salads, and sandwiches. Familyfriendly foods at budget-friendly prices—that’s Wegmans.

Subs (570) 320-0186 Pizza (570) 320-8784 Wokery (570) 320-8785 201 William St Williamsport, PA 17701 (570) 320-8778 • wegmans.com

Food & Drink

Restaurants ,cont. TERRY’S HOAGIES Terry’s Hoagies makes the best hoagies in town. They specialize in both hot and cold hoagies, and bake their bread and potato, macaroni, and pasta salads fresh daily. Hoagie trays and meat & cheese platters available. (570) 724-7532, 7 Charleston St, www.terryshoagies.com. TIOGA CENTRAL RAILROAD All aboard Tioga Central Railroad! Take a scenic ride while enjoying dinner on Saturday night or Sunday brunch. Wine and beer available. See website for menu selection. (570) 724-0990, 11 Muck Rd, www.tiogacentral.com. TONY’S ITALIAN CUISINE Come to Tony’s for homemade cooking and family recipes, fresh dough and homemade bread made daily, pasta dishes, and special pizzas like steak pizza, Sicilian pizza, and their 3-cheese pizza. It’s family-owned and run, and they offer lunch and dinner specials. (570) 724-2090, 3 Main St. WELLSBORO DINER Wellsboro Diner, a famous Wellsboro landmark, serves sumptuous home cooked meals, fresh baked pies, cookies and cakes, and the very best prime rib on Saturday nights. They offer more than ample portions to all hungry guests. (570) 724-3992, 19 Main St, Wellsboro, PA 16901 WEST END MARKET CAFÉ “Globally inspired, locally sourced.” A place of nourishment and respite, celebrating local food & creativity. We feature fresh, locally sourced ingredients whenever possible & Fair Trade coffee products. (570) 605-0123, 152 Main St, www. westendmarketcafe.wordpress.com.

Wellsboro Fast Food MCDONALDS (570) 724-2151, 9 Charleston St.

Westfield ACORN #10 FEATURING SUBWAY “Eat Fresh.” (814) 367-2610, 465 E Main St, www. acornmarkets.com.

Potter County Galeton ACORN #25 FEATURING SUBWAY “Eat Fresh.” (814) 435-6626, 3 West St, www. acornmarkets.com. THE OX YOKE INN The Ox Yoke Inn is a motel, restaurant, and bar serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with daily specials. They offer char-broiled burgers, homemade soups, steaks, seafood, and pasta. (814) 435-2515, 29 Route 6 West, www. ox-yokeinn.com.

To advertise in the food section call

570-724-38385 44

Food & Drink

Mother Earth

Lettuce Amaze You Gayle Morrow

Gayle morrow

orthern Tier Greens. Darryl Holdren. Grower. That’s what his business card says. And that’s what he does. Darryl considers himself to be a farmer, despite a distinct lack of dirt. Darryl grows amazingly tasty, tender, brilliantly green salad greens and sells them to restaurants, schools, hospitals, churches, and individuals all across northern Pennsylvania and southern New York. He grows them in water—artesian well water “as good as any spring water,” he says. He oversees the remarkable Northern Tier Greens project, a verdant green carpet rolling under the huge white roof of the greenhouse at the Bradford County landfill site. The greenhouse is a 14,400-square-foot building with five raised growing ponds. Each 2,400square-foot pond has approximately 16,000 gallons of water. Closer inspection of the lovely green vista reveals lettuces—as many as 154,000 of them, pesticide and herbicide free—bobbing gently on Styrofoam panels, their roots sucking nutrients from the warm water below.

Darryl says he would need three hundred acres of dirt outside to grow the amount of lettuce that’s in the greenhouse happily sprouting from not quite a quarter-acre of water surface. Astonishing as hydroponic growing is, Northern Tier Greens does a double-duty miracle of sorts. Decomposing landfill waste throws off methane gas, so the Northern Tier Solid Waste Authority, with some state money added, built the facility that collects the stray heat to fuel a CAT 3516 engine. Hot water and electricity from the engine heats and lights the greenhouse; surplus water goes to the nearby Brandford County Jail, and extra electricity zips into the local power grid. “Harvesting Energy for a Greener Tomorrow” is the project’s slogan. Darryl sells a variety of lettuces— arugula, oak leaf, romaine, golden frill, Boston head, and basil and cilantro—to restaurants in Wellsboro, Mansfield, Williamsport, schools in Elkland, Canton, and Troy, and elsewhere. He also grows for the Ithaca-based Finger Lakes Fresh lettuces found in lcoal stores. The seeds come from Johnny’s Selected Seeds in Maine and from a source in the Netherlands. The plants enjoy ninety-six growing lights that run at night and, to keep them from bruising easily, a bit of a breeze from little fans. The germination rate is ninety-eight percent; seed-to-harvest takes a month. When you ask him how much time he spends at the greenhouse, Darryl just smiles and says, “I’m here every day.” It’s farming, after all. Gayle Morrow, former editor of The Wellsboro Gazette, supplies the eggs from a local farm to the West End Market Café which, full disclosure, also buys lettuce from Northern Tier Greens.

Food & Drink

Restaurants ,cont. TUTORS RESTAURANT Tutors Restaurant offers delicious home-cooked meals 7 days a week. Breakfast on Sat and Sun. Tues˜Italian. Wed˜Seafood. Thur˜Wings. Fri˜Fish Fry. Sun˜Brunch Buffet. (814) 435-3550, 75 Germania St.

Germaina GERMANIA HOTEL The best burgers around. Wings, pizza, steaks, and seafood. Thursday Rib Night. Friday Broiled or Fried Haddock. Salad bar Thurs, Fri, Sat. Serving food 7 days a week, 12pm to12am. Legal beverages, rooms available, find us on Facebook “Germaniahotel Germania.” (814) 4358851, Rt. 44 (Seven Miles South of Galeton).

Gold GOLD GENERAL STORE Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Pizza and subs. Baked goods. Grocery items. (814) 848-9773, 2760 State Rt. 49W.

New York Steuben County Addison ACORN #11 FEATURING SUBWAY “Eat Fresh.” (607) 359-2603, 121 Front St, www.acornmarkets.com.

Corning RADISSON HOTEL CORNING Grill 1-2-5 serves creative regional specialties: small plates, grilled sandwiches, and tender filet mignon. The Steuben Bar offers appetizers, light meals, your favorite beverages, and is known for the best martini in the city! 125 Denison Parkway East, (607) 9625000, www.radisson.com/corningny.

Wayland ACORN #16 FEATURING SUBWAY “Eat Fresh.” (585) 728-3840, 2341 Rt. 63, www. acornmarkets.com.

Finger Lakes Hammondsport MALONEY’S PUB Maloney’s Pub offers live music year round. Come show your talent or view other local talent at their open mics on Thursdays, or lounge around and play pool at their pool table. They also have pub merchandise available. (607) 569-2264, 57 Pulteney St, www.maloneyspub.com.

Watkins Glen CAPTAIN BILL’S Discover the beauty of Seneca Lake. Dine afloat aboard the Seneca Legacy or on the waterfront at Seneca Harbor Station. Saturday night dinner cruises sail from 6-9 p.m. Open 7 days. (607) 535-4541, 1 N Franklin St,

To advertise in the food section call 570-724-38385 47

Home & real estate

Brian Wood Makes Art His Life by Kevin Cummings

t’s a contented man who makes a living doing exactly what he wants. Brian Wood is a very contented man. The Mansfield carpenter, cabinet maker, and artist has become accomplished at the art of segmented turning. In a whirl of dust and tools—wood lathe and saws, planer, joiner, sanders, clamps— he fashions lovely and intricate bowls, vases, and sculpture from gleaming, multi-colored rings of domestic and exotic wood. “Segmented turning allows me to make very creative, artistic pieces, and also allows me to use all the tools in my shop, rather than just a lathe as in more traditional woodturning,” says Brian,

Photography by Ashley Connelly 36. “It is very fulfilling to see a plan go from a rough sketch to a detailed drawing, and, finally, after much hard work, to a finished piece. My goal is to become an established artist.” The aptly-named Wood seems well on his way. Customers buy his work at shows in local and regional galleries, including Settlement House in Sylvania, Gifts of Art in Williamsport, and the Village Artistans Gallery in Boiling Springs. Other fans find his Web site (cuttingedgewoodturning.com) and contact him personally about buying something or ordering a custom piece. The average price of his works is $350.

He also travels to shows across the East, including the Berkshire Art Festival in western Massachusetts, July 2-4, and the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen Fine Craft Fair in Wilmington, Delaware, July 30-31. August will find him at a show in Chautauqua, New York, and September in Harrisburg. “It’s great to find customers who look for me and who are interested in seeing what I do or what I’ve come up with that’s new,” he says. “People buy my work because they want it, not because they need it.” Art is a luxury sacrificed in hard times, however, and the recession forced him to cut down his travels to eight shows this

For over 30 years, Brookside Homes has been specializing in “On Your Lot” Construction! year, down from twenty. Brian got his start working with wood alongside his dad, a general contractor. “I worked for him half days in my teens and college. It was a great experience. I learned a lot and stuck with it.” His path was, well, checkered, like his wood. After graduating from Mansfield University with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, he became…a carpenter. Between carpentry jobs, he bought his first lathe in 2004 and began creating bowls and other small objects. And then he discovered segmented turning at Grizzly Industrial, Inc. in Muncy, one of the largest wood working and metal working machine companies in the United States, where the renowned Canadian artist Davoud Khosravi had a stunning display of turned pieces. “For years I was fascinated by them, but never knew how they were constructed,” Brian said. Books by Ron Hampton and especially Malcolm Tibbetts “blew me away,” and he got started. Brian works with a dazzling variety of species and colors of wood, such as curly maple, bloodwood, bubinga, and wenge. “Bubinga and wenge are from Africa; wenge is almost as dark as ebony.” Green and blue dyes make curly maple gleam like glass. “Most of what I do is called ring construction—cutting segments and assembling them into rings. The rings are stacked until I have a blank that gives me the basic look of the piece I’m trying to make. It all gets glued together and turned on the lathe.” He manages to spend about half his time woodworking between carpentry jobs. It’s a feat making even a part-time living as an artist, and Brian says he couldn’t do it without great support from his wife, Shelley, and his parents, Dennis and Beth. “They have given me a lot of support over the years and I really appreciate them,” he says.

CUSTOM BUILT HOMES

Selinsgrove 570-374-7900

Mansfield 570-662-7900

www.brookside-homes.com

Kevin Cummings is a professional musician and a stay-at-home dad.

Real estate

Beautiful Home on 12 Acres! This is an incredible home on 12 acres with slate floors in the foyer, a galley style kitchen, stone fireplace with raised hearth,large windows, lots of storage and much more. There are also 2 ponds and a horse barn with 4 stalls. REF#10319 . . .$232,000

Perfect Small Family Home! Well maintained home close to Route 49 but private. Large 1 acre lot that is partially fenced and great for kids. This 2 bedroom, 1 bath home has a roof that is only 4 years old, new windows, doors and siding. Blown in and rigid insulation make this home energy efficient. REF#10318 . . .$79,000

Home with Spectacular Views! This 3 bedroom home sits on 2 acres over looking Cowanesque Lake. There is also a commercial Log store on this property. What a great opportunity to own a beautiful home AND your own business! Call us today! REF#10320 . . .$449,000

Home with Tons of Property! This 103 acres has a â&#x20AC;&#x153;handyman homeâ&#x20AC;? that features a nice stream, rolling hills with a mix of open and wooded land, springs and good hunting! May be suitable for beef, horses, goats, ect. REF#10321 . . .$165,000

Commercial Building for Great Opportunities! Big opportunity to have your own business in Knoxville. This store was a multi functional store, which included 1st floor grocery, deli, butcher shop and much more thru out. This could once again be a multi purpose store or be converted to any kind of business venture. REF#10323 . . .$99,900

Beautiful Brick Victorian Home! Beautiful brick Victorian home in Coudersport with a professional kitchen that has granite counters, hardwood floors, oak woodwork, pocket doors, updated bathrooms and a new master suite. It also has a 2 car garage and bricked drive. MLS#119790 . . . $229,000

Beautiful Ranch Home With Tons of Storage!!! This beautiful ranch style home is spacious, has plenty of closet space and lots of windows that make it bright and cheerful. The back of the home boasts a covered porch, an open deck and a huge screened porch with a built-in gad grill, great for entertaining! REF#10324 . . .$189,900

Beautiful Cottage on 3 Acres! This is a lovely cottage style home nestled in the woods on a private road. There is an open living room, dining room, and kitchen with 2 bedrooms downstairs and 1 bedroom up. The spacious master bedroom is on the first floor and there is a wrap around porch to sit on. REF#10326 . . .$169,000

List with me today!

Real estate

Chris Gilbert - Realtor 570-404-1268 or chris.gilbert@yahoo.com

HUNTING OR RECREATIONAL - 221.47+/ACRES Property is profiled and perc’d, has logging roads, and gated access. Build your dream cabin on this wooded lot. Association fee is $200 yr which includes year around road maintenance. $799,000 120511

100% of OGMS TRANSFER - LYCOMING COUNTY – PINE TWP 94.6+/-ACRES – Property features 2 beef barns and 2 leanto style barns. Purchase without OGMS for $550,000 OR WITH 100% OGMS FOR $950,000 120672

FARM HOUSE WITH OGMS INCLUDED - 188 ACRE FARM & 50% OGMS!!! Near Canton on RTE 14 offers nice 3 BR home, bank barn and large pole building. Frontage on 3 roads, small private gravel pit, and subdivision for the investor. Mix of open/woods. ONLY $950,000 119982

GREAT FOR THE BUILDER - 21.69 ACRES BETWEEN MANSFIELD & TROY!! Combination of 2 building lots features 3 perc-approved sewage sites. Great for investment! Great for a builder! Room for your farmette, dream home, or recreation. Great views!! ONLY $125,000

RANCH HOME - BEAUTIFUL RANCH HOME – WELLSBORO 5.49+/- Acres only minutes from town. Oak trim and hardwood floors accent this home. Large finished family room in the basement, 2-car attached garage, 40x96’ steel building on lot. Come check out this view!! ONLY $349,000 120651

SPACIOUS WELL BUILT HOME! Kitchen has recent updates and a skylight, dining room has large bay window with a view of the back yard. Great floor plan with 4 BR, 2 & ½ baths and plenty of storage.Sun room with hot tub and a 2 car attached garage with extra storage. OGMS convey!! JUST $299,900 120410

MAKE THIS YOUR HOME OR CAMP!! MAKE THIS YOUR HOME OR CAMP!! Bradford County 5.79 acres - 2 bedroom mobile home with two additions, new windows, central air and a new well. This would make a great starter home or use for recreation. ONLY $89,900 120197

4.32 ACRES – LYCOMING COUNTY - 4.32 ACRES – LYCOMING COUNTY – Out of town, Close to state park, beautiful views, perc approved, electric available. Located in the Ski Hill Subdivision. ONLY $49,900 120088

COUNTRY LOT - GREAT COUNTRY LOT 14.3+/- AC – BRADFORD CO Great place for your home or camp close to Sayre, Athens, RTE 17 and RTE 220. Seller willing to PERC/ PROBE with acceptable offer. Additional acreage available! ONLY $59,900 119887

46.95+/- ACRES IN UNION TWP. - Beautiful parcel of land accompanies this cozy cottage for your residence or retreat, some woods, small pond, views, views, views!!! JUST $225,000 119645

GREAT LOCATION TO BUILD YOUR NEW HOME!! 20+/- ACRES - LAWRENCE TWP Bldg lot for conventional sewer near lakes on paved road awaits your new home. WITH OUT OGM’S $57,500 OR WITH 50% OF OGMS JUST $99,900 119648

ENJOY THE VIEWS & SUNSET - Great mountain home in Jackson Twp. Awesome Views! Finished walk out basement, wraparound deck, pool, and horse barn on nearly 5 acres. Great open floor plan, finished basement, master suite/loft. Just $349,900 119028

BUY OR LEASE!! GREAT LOCATION!! Commercial property located on RTE 6 between Mansfield and Wellsboro. 5+/- acres for plenty of yard space with 7934 square feet of building space including shop, garage, offices and apartment. ONLY $1,250,000 OR LEASE FOR $5,000 PER MONTH 120960

GREAT COUNTRY 2-STORY HOME! GREAT COUNTRY PROPERTY – OSCEOLA 94+Acres. This two-story home offers over 4400+sq ft of spacious living. Oversized kitchen features cherry cabinets. 3 Baths. Several outbuildings for all your needs. The property offers a great mix of open and wooded. COME TAKE A LOOK!! $499,900 120927

GREAT PROJECT FOR THE CARPENTER!! HISTORIC BUILDING – 2.41+/- ACRES Located close to the heart of downtown Wellsboro this building is zoned commercial. Mainly open floor plan offers 2750 sq ft making the possibilities endless. Building needs some TLC. CALL TODAY TO SEE THIS GREAT HISTORIC BUILDING! $175,000 120714

YARD SPACE FOR PARKING COMMERCIAL PROPERTY – Easy access to RTE 15. Property includes 14+/- Acres with 40x40’ heated bay with 10x20 office. 100x100’ insulated building with 20x20 overhead door and side office with 2 restrooms. 2-3 acres of yard space. CALL US TODAY TO TAKE A LOOK! $3,000,000 120620

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Lots of possiblities for this home! Take a look at this older 2 story home at edge of Sabinsville. 4 to 5 beds, 1.5 baths. Home needs attention. Some windows have been replaced, near Beechwood Lake and close to state land. Ideal as a camp or great for first time homebuyer or investor to rehab for rental property. $49,000. MLS#121100

EXQUISITE HOME WITH DETAIL TO DESIGN - Quality craftsmanship throughout & views of the countryside. Home features brand new renovations throughout and lovely landscaping, new Cherry kitchen, granite counters, central air, central vac, unique wood floors and trim, sunroom, outdoor wood furnace, 2 car heated garage & more.$399,000. #120997

100% OMGs- YOUR PRIVATE CASTLE ON 65 AC Indescribable detail in this custom home w/unique post & beam design,open floorplan, cathedral ceilings,lg windows & double glass doors throughout.Access the lg deck from 4 rooms. Custom amenities including lavish master bathroom.65+/- acs offer future timber potential & 100% OGM rights. $785,000.

GREAT EXPOSURE, CONVENIENTLY LOCATED! Two-story corner property with building offers two lots and ample parking. Convenient and only one block from Main Street or Route 6, Wellsboro, Pa. In the heart of the Marcellus Shale Gas Exploration Maintenancefree exterior & great exposure! For offices or retail. Has 2nd flr apt.$290,000 #119976

RUSTIC RANCH HOME ON PINE CREEK Over 400 ft. of Pine Creek frontage & outstanding maintenance free home on 4.83 acres. Offers a must see interior, cathedral ceilings, open flr plan, very long deck,oversized attached 2 car garage, full dry basement and newer barn. Private setting, Seeking offer $259,000. #120995

NEWLY RENOVATED IN BLOSSBURG! Efficient and comfortable 3 bedroom, Renovation just completed. Like buying a new home! Offers new roof, windows, siding, kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, etc. EZ short drive to Rt.15/I-99, Mansfield, Williamsport, Wellsboro, or NY State. $119,900. #120966

CAMP NEAR BEECHWOOD LAKE - Sitting on 3.64+/- acres near Beechwood Lake! The perfect secluded spot for the kids to play in the woods or the hunters find that big one! Walk to Beechwood Lake for great fishing. Private setting with long mountain views. Clymer Twp.,Pa. Only $59,900. #120943

Home and Commerical Business Opportunity! Beautifully restored farmhouse, refinished hardwood flooring thoughout, substantial closet space, on 3.42 ac corner level lot. Offers a well established easy to manage, low stress storage business on property with open level land for expansion or other commercial endeavors. $449,000. #120758

4-5 BDRM HOME-15 AC-100% OGMS convey - Charming and attractive older remodeled farm house offers spacious country kitchen, lg laundry/utility room w/pantry,formal din rm, liv rm, office, and 4 plus bdrms ideal for growing family. All this on 15 ac conveying 100% OGM’s with lease in place. An easy drive to Wellsboro, Pa. #120930 $249,000.

POTTER COUNTY HOME-7.59 acres - Custom built Cedar sided home with great views located on 7.5 acres. The home has 5 bedrooms, 2 3/4 baths, beautiful stone fireplace in the great room, full finished basement. Two story barn has a shop area, wood stove, and 2 garage doors $346,500. #120732

Ranch home on 1.04 acre in Mansfield Beautiful ranch in the highly desirable Smoke Rise development just minutes from Mansfield. Bright spacious rooms and neutral interior makes this property move-in ready. Kitchens has floor to ceiling windows. Finished walkout basement. Mature landscaping surrounds home. $269,900. #120737

House on 13.66 in Wellsboro - Historic 7 bedroom Wellsboro home on 14 +/- acres OGMs are negotiable! This home sits on edge of town and room for your family or foresight! Many upgrades have been completed and property also features a pond, nice views and large barn. $205,000. #120491

CAMP/HOME ON PINE CREEK! This camp was totally remodeled 2004, including new forced hot air furnace, central air, new metal roof, electrical system. Large windows in living room to sit and view the beautiful Pine Creek, water fowl,and wildlife.$228,500 #120823

Level Countryside Bldg. Lot - Beautiful building lot with utilities nearby. Only doublewides, modulars & stick built homes are permitted. Seller has a permit to install approved in-ground septic system. For an add’l $7,000 the seller will install septic per approved plan. Located between Mansfield and Troy. $29,500 #120916

Camp on 32 acres close to State Land! Great camp close to state game lands and Hills Creek Lake. Wooded with lots of hunting opportunity in the area. There is a small apple orchard at the top of the hill as well as some existing four wheeler trails. $169,000. #120906

Ranch home on 10 wooded acres! 3 bedroom Ranch home on 10 acres with 100% OGM’s conveying in Delmar Twp! Property sits in a very private wooded setting with a 3bd, 2ba cozy home along with a 3 car garage (being completed), and is in a gas unit. Make offer! $244,500. #120905

New Construction-2.11 acres - Custom home just about completed. Complete to suit your taste and decor. Home features 3 bedrooms, 2.75 baths, large deck with views of the countryside, 2 car attached garage and many other features. Short drive to Rt. 15/I-99, Mansfield, Williamsport, or Wellsboro. $190,000. #120865

Ranch home, 4.4 ac, beautiful views, and pond! Ranch home with cherry stained maple cabinets, granite counter tops, ceramic tiled floor and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, 13’ cathedral ceiling in great room, central air and much more. Seller is a licensed real estate agent. $369,500 #120843

Wellsboro Property with many possibilities! Are you looking for an office building or home with office space offering 4 or more bedrooms? Located on Rt. 287 just south of Wellsboro this property offers spacious quarters, attached 2 car garage and room for business! Formerly owner occupied sub shop and gas station! $155,000. #120698

22.54 ac-BREATHTAKING MOUNTAIN VIEWS... over the meadows & beyond! Meticulously maintained Lindel cedar log multi-level home. Raised basement for add’l living space. Elegant & rustic w/open flr plan. A/C, Harmon coal stove, lg.new garage, new well & spring, 22.54 ac open & wooded land. Corner property with long frontage. $399,000 #119956

EFFICIENT HOME-10.9+/- ACRES - Great setting for this 3 bdrm efficient cottage. Adorable refinished interior. New appliances. Sunroom offers long valley views. EZ drive to NY, Rt. 15/I99, Mansfield or Wellsboro. Land across road has been perced and offers public water hookup. OGMs and price negotiable. $159,000. #120773

Beautiful home in Wellsboro borough! In-town home close to all amenities. Many updates make this home move-in ready! Hardwood floors thoughout the home, bright bedrooms, 5 walk-in closets provide plenty of storage. Fenced back yard perfect for children and pets. $165,000. #120735

HIGHLY ESTABLISHED BED AND BREAKFAST! This established Wellsboro Bed & Breakfast can now be yours! This elegant 5 bedroom B&B also features Innkeeper’s living quarters on premises, 2.5 acres, 2 car garage, parking availability, established clientele lists, lovely furnishings and a lot of history! $425,000. #120493

ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES FOR THIS 2 UNIT! Endless possibilities for this property-currently set up as a 2 unit with 2 kitchens, 2 baths, 2 hot water heaters and gas meters. Original single family home had 4 bedrooms and a newer roof and windows, 200 amp electrical service. Backs up to Pine Creek. $72,000. #120542

CAMP OR FULL TIME RESIDENCE...in good condition on almost 7+/- acres that are partially wooded. New metal roof on camp. This property would be great for a camp or full-time residence. Great views for miles! Eulalia Township, Potter County. $75,000 #119026

WATROUS VILLAGE NEAR PINE CREEK 4 bdrm, 1.75 bath 2 story home offers 2 lots Previously used as camp and includes all furnishings if you desire them. Offers 14’x 22’ refurbished garage with upper level. Walk to Pine Creek. Close to State woods and snowmobiling! $79,000. #120205

GREAT AFFORDABLE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE RIGHT INTO...this 4 bedroom, 2 bath home located halfway between Wellsboro, Mansfield and Blossburg. Home has 200 amp electric, new windows, doors and has been completely remodeled. Would make a great home for firsttime homebuyers! $92,500 #119594

JUST A SWEET FULL-TIME or SEASONAL HOME, 1.75 AC - and detached oversized 2 car garage. Offering new roof and kitchen, this 3 bdrm. home has hardwood floors throughout! Comfortable, cozy, efficient in a beautiful Country setting, an easy drive to Coudersport in Potter County. $129,900 Motivated seller says make offer! #119270

AWESOME VACATION GETAWAY HOME ON 3.79 AC - close to Kettle Creek State Park & Creek. This newly constructed, log-sided two-story cabin is waiting for you! Enjoy the peaceful tranquility from the deck, nestled on a mountainside in the woods. Call today for details. $199,500. MLS#120482

PRIVATE SETTING OVER PINE CREEK Distinctive Pine Creek cottage w/multi-level decks leading right to the creek. Lg screened porch for entertaining & dining. This home is one of a kind! Not just a camp, this is a special, secluded setting on the Creek! Bring the Kayak, canoe, fishing rod, snowmobile and 4 wheeler. $289,000 #119806

IDEAL COUNTRY SETTING CLOSE TO WELLSBORO - Seeking large family! This spacious home with formal fireplace and open floor plan offers 4-6 bedrooms and 3 baths. Portion of home used as apartment. Substantial outbldgs. for farmette or self employed. OGM’s transfer to buyer. 15.19 +/- acs just 3 miles to Wellsboro, Pa.$355,000. #120342

RUSTIC, UNIQUE, STONE-FACED 3 BEDROOM HOME...on 3.3 ac between Wellsboro & Morris. Very private setting! Make this beautiful home your retreat with roomy floor plan & rustic charm. Features new roof, windows, doors, flooring,2 new QuadraFire stoves, 2 fireplaces, cathedral ceilings,& 36’x41’ pole barn.Unique home! $325,000 #120194

30.25 AC NEWER HOME CLOSE TO WELLSBORO - Lg stocked pond, 2-car garage, 2-story barn & 30.25 beautiful ac. Custom features! Breakfast nook w/built-in seating, bay window in dining room, & fireplace in living room. Backup generator, whole-house fan, & choice of coal or propane heat. $399,000 #119992

2 Homes on a 53 acres! 53+ acre farm with 100% OGMs! Property has 2 homes, 2 barns, a 3 acre pond, peaceful tranquility, and privacy! Newer home features 4 bdrms,3 full baths, sun porch, and is like brand new! Hurry..priced to sell and won’t last long! $549,000.#120682

SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY... with this 124+ gently rolling acres very close to Borough of Wellsboro. Property offers 2 homes, a pond, a stream, phenomenal views and sits in a quality country setting. 100% Oil, Gas & Mineral Rights will convey to the buyer. This is the heart of the Marcellus Shale Gas exploration! $1,500,000

INCOMPARABLE VIEWS BEYOND THE NEW BARN...from this comfortable country home. Ideal equestrian use farm or barn would make outstanding hunting lodge or large home. This property is an extremely large opportunity for large acreage and gas rights! 100% of seller’s owned OGM’s will convey to buyers. Property has prime hunting and substantial wooded acreage along with pastures for your food plots! Make your appointment today! $875,000 #1120003 53

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#31 NICE HUNTING AND FISHING CABIN ON PINE RUN IN HOMER TOWNSHIP – this cabin has two bunk rooms, living room, kitchen and bath. Great location for outdoor lovers! $42,500.00

#41 RELAX AND ENJOY! – 1.5 acres mostly wooded, 3 bedroom, 1 bath mobile home, newer appliances, storage building, clean and neat. Listed at $64,900.00

#37 MAKE THIS YOUR HOME OR CAMP – Potter County. Close to hunting, fishing, Sinnemahoning State Park. Located in the village of Costello, 3 bdrms and 1 bath. Well and septic. $64,000.00

#39 IMMACULATE CABIN NESTLED IN THE WOODS ON 3.1 ACRES – with a spring fed pond. This 2 bedroom, 1 bath cabin has a covered front porch, Vermont Casting wood stove, private septic and spring. Close to State and Ski Denton. Snowmobile or ride four wheeler from your front door. Seasonal Paradise! $89,900.00

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Attention sportsmen! The food plots on the 65 + acres at this immaculate 3 BR, 2 bath country home hold a lot of deer and turkey. This is a very quiet location and offers a mix of open, tillable and wooded areas. Complete list of furnishings and equipment included in the sale, as well as utility expenses are available. MTH 120869 $249,900

Classic brick ranch home in Wellsboro features random width pegged oak flooring, brick fireplace and hearth, interior wood shutters, formal dining plus breakfast nook. Master BR suite includes a den that could be the 3rd BR, attached garage, full basement, deck off kitchen, deep in-town lot just off West Avenue and an easy walk to library, Main Street shopping and medical offices. MTH 121037 $259,900

Elegant Williamsburg Dutch Colonial with gambrel roof, oak floors, 2 woodburning fireplaces w/brick hearths, traditional color trim, chair rails, closets and doors; a downstairs 1/2 bath for convenience. Master suite includes 2 BRs, bath and can be closed off from 3 other BRs with 2 more baths. Enclosed sunroom is cheery and bright and overlooks a wonderful yard w/landscaped sitting gardens. MTH 121050 $284,900

Turn key operation - very successful lumber, hardware & building supply business. Buildings are in excellent condition on almost 5 acres with macadam parking. 10,000 sqft of retail space with radiant heat, office space and restrooms. All equipment included truck, forklifts, etc; list available. MTH 120853 $729,000

Great 3 BR starter home, seasonal camp or full time residence on one acre. Nicely remodeled with newer kitchen and bath, and frontage on Oswayo Creek for great fishing. 4-wheel or snowmobile from this property. MTH 120988 $79,000

Custom modular home, 3800 sqft living space, plus approximately 2,000 sqft finished basement w/home theater, kitchenette, 3/4 bath, gym, pantry. Builder/occupant is home builder and designed residence w/many luxury upgrades - large open kitchen w/breakfast nook, formal dining and living rooms, cherry hardwood flooring, master BR suite w/WIC; upper level has large dormer w/window seat, large family room and 2 BR’s. Radiant heat in floors, central A/C, attached 2-car garage, paved driveway, rear deck and porch. 60x40 bank barn in good condition w/electric and its own well; total acreage of 32.68 acres with stream and pond. MTH 120976 $449,000

Ranch home with privacy, outstanding views, large yard and garden plot, massive stone fireplace w/efficient wood stove insert, surrounded by large tract of agricultural and wooded property; approximate 15 minute drive to Mansfield. Great second home or full time residence. At “Listing Price” Seller is retaining OGM rights. $224,900 will include OGM’s - currently leased and 100% in a production unit. MTH 121017 $174,900

Secluded country retreat on 20+ acres, bordering thousands of acres of timber company land is a maintenance free home or camp on a dead end private road. Ideal for horses or other livestock, wildlife all over and perfect for snowmobiling or 4-wheeling; in-place garden shed and workshop. OGM’s are owned, not leased and negotiable. MTH 120981 $239,000

Great camp - possible full time residence - providing seclusion and privacy, yet with access to Route 44 just 4/10 mile away. This 2 BR home sits south of the golf club and close to State land, is very well built with a beautiful stone fireplace and walk out lower level. MTH 121031 $169,000

Popular Potter County landmark business opportunity in the heart of the “Pennsylvania Wilds.” Successful for over 50 years, this well maintained property has excellent highway visibility, offers gifts, clothing, souvenirs, deer park, gem mining for kids. Add sporting goods - ice cream sandwiches, endless possibilities. Lots of parking, very nice living quarters in lower level (potential rental income). MTH 120986 $598,000

Quiet, in-town location within a short walk to Main Street, Wellsboro. Moderately priced home w/several updates completed. Fully updated kitchen w/oak cabinetry, new counter tops and flooring. Laminate wood flooring in living room and dining room, 2 BRs on second floor, mature landscaping and attached deck for outdoor relaxation. (Second floor BR and half bath need to be completed). MTH 121093 $89,900 55

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Shop Around the Corner

A Colorful Window Box by Sarah Bull

Photography by Sarah Wagaman

arefully wrapping the ends of each flower in green paper, Kathy Hudson nestles the last sprig of her masterpiece into a clear box and gives the spray of flowers a final approving look. In her second year as the owner and lead floral designer of the Window Box Flower Shop at 242 Main Street in Blossburg, Kathy has perfected the art of creating each of her floral arrangements with a unique style. Her eyes sparkle as she talks about her shop. “My favorite part about owning the Window Box is that it is constantly changing. Each floral arrangement is different. Each day has its own flavor.” All around her, the Window Box glows like

an enchanted garden. Overflowing baskets of vibrant-colored flowers and greens surround the room, scenting the air. The walls are adorned with the work of two acrylic painters who sell their creations on consignment. Purses, pillows, and hand-painted greeting cards from other vendors, and Kathy’s own selection of specialized gifts and candles, fill the shelves. Kathy repainted and designed the store herself with the same flare she brings to giving life to a bouquet. On one side of the store is a wedding center, just one of the special services, from funeral arrangements to dry-cleaning drop offs for Troy Dry Cleaning, that she offers her customers. She also offers Teleflora, a national and international floral wire service.

The wedding center “is set up so that the young ladies can sit down at their leisure and go through floral books to get ideas,” Kathy says. “We talk about the different options of flowers they could use to create the look they’re hoping for. Many times they’ll bring in swatches from their gowns to match the colors. It works very well for them and us.” Helping people comes naturally to Kathy, so it’s a joy for her to give more at special times of the year. At Christmastime, she donates flowers to local nursing homes and shut-ins, and her shop window is radiant with light and warmth. There’s a charming hand-painted sign with a single flower, lettered in a way that seems See Shop on page 60

marketplace

Marketplace marketplace

Shop continued from page 58

almost old-fashioned today, with her telephone number, “The Window Box, 638 3662.” The flower shop has been recognized by Blossburg V.I.B.E. (Visions in Business & Entertainment) as the “Best Business Display” in town. “Giving is something that is very dear to my heart,” Kathy says. “I love that I am able to bless people in these ways. It’s not just all about the money I can make here; it’s about what I can do for people.” Valentine’s Day is a labor of love, literally, as the Window Box is flooded with customers. “There are a small handful of guys who think about Valentine’s Day three to five days ahead of time,” Kathy laughs. “But most of them don’t think about it until the day before or the day of. So it is fast and furious in here. And a very long day.” Flitting around her design area with the energy of a hummingbird tending to her flowers, Kathy explains what drives her ambition. “I had excellent training from my parents, especially my dad. On the farm where I grew up, my dad taught me the value of hard, quality work, and constantly thinking in advance.” Kathy places the matching clear lid atop its box, carries her latest hand-designed spray to the front of the store, and delivers it into waiting hands. Kathy wishes another satisfied customer a good day and smiles as she watches one of her treasures make its way home. Shop: Window Box Flower Shop Phone: 570-638-3662 Address: 242 Main Street, Blossburg, PA 16912

Mountain Home contributing writer Sarah Bull is a student at Mansfield University.

courtesy grapehound wine tour

B ac k o f t h e M o u nta i n

Going My Way, Sport? Greyhounds celebrate July in style this month at the Grapehound Wine Tour, the annual Finger Lakes wine tasting and greyhound adoption soirĂŠe hosted this year by Atwater Vineyards Thursday July 28 through Sunday July 31 overlooking Seneca Lake. Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards hosts the welcome party from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, and the main event is at Atwater Vineyards Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday includes a walk to Taughannock Falls. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.grapehounds.com. 62