Scenes of the Season

PHOTO PROVIDED Dave Miller hiking the Gulfside Trail on Mt. Washington in New Hampshire.

Take A Hike

By LINDA STAGER West Branch Life

Hikers who enjoy the Pine Creek Gorge have a new challenge to tackle. Seventyeight miles of hiking, 20 pinnacles and 23,000 feet of elevation gain await those who sign up for the Pine Creek Pinnacles (PCP20) challenge.

PCP20 is the brainchild of Dave Miller, owner of myhikes.org and a Wellsboro native. Miller explains, “I always liked scouring maps to find remote places that looked interesting that people didn’t really go to. I’d plan one or two backpacking trips a year with my friends. On one of those trips, as we were coming down Mount Greylock in western Massachusetts, I was thinking,

‘It’d be cool, if we just had our own website where we could upload photos and we could save parking coordinates so we could get back to these trails in the future. ”

That was the genesis of My Hikes, LLC, which grew from a little website, where friends shared trip reports to the extensive business it now is.

When the pandemic arrived in 2020, people discovered - and rediscovered - outdoor recreation, Miller’s website became a hot resource. Traffic on the website exploded in numbers and Miller started enjoying success with the website that merged his computer science degree with his hiking hobby.

In an evolution of his webpage, Miller created the PCP20 as a way of encouraging folks to explore the public lands in the Pine Creek Gorge. For Miller, it’s about testing physical skills, while enjoying nature’s beauty. The challenge is free, self-paced, and without expectation it will be completed quickly. To date, some participants have traveled 11 of the 20 hikes in the challenge. Some hikes are easy, while others are brutal, to say the least.

Miller recalls one of his more memorable hikes on 4.3-mile-long Half Dome Mountain in Lycoming County, which in Miller’s estimation rivals some trails on Mount Washington: “The trail starts south of Slate Run, Pennsylvania by going through a mountain hollow. It passes through an open forest floor past large pine trees. It’s a scenic hike as you are going along Pine Creek but then it starts to become really steep and the trail becomes really skinny and runs along a ledge. Soon, you are hiking up the mountain on your hands [and knees]. It’s extremely steep. It’s treacherous. It’s not easy. The state has plenty of mountains, but I’ve never seen anything like that before, ” says the hiker.

As Miller stresses, some of the hikes in the challenge, like Half Dome, are more suited to the experienced hiker. “I expect folks will find things that are interesting, and enjoy it, but don’t get hurt. ” myhikes.org or pinecreekpinnacles.org

Williamsport Bicycle Recycle on a roll Promoting Community Bike Access and Safety

By SHIRLEY BOATMAN West Branch Life

Step into the Williamsport Bicycle Recycle shop at the Pajama Factory on Park Street and enter a bustling, buzzing world of volunteer bicycle experts and customers engaged in various stages of repair and conversation. Bikes of all sizes, colors and styles are positioned upright, flat on the floor or upside down, according to which part of the bike is being fixed. And it’s hands-on for both customer and volunteer. As their website states, “You don’t drop a bike off for us to fix. ” Customers pay a small fee and volunteers work with them to repair their bikes, teaching them the skills needed to do it themselves. The shop provides the needed tools and recycled parts.

The idea of Bicycle Recycle was conceived by Dave and Louisa Stone during a 15-mile group ride in 2008 with the YMCA. “Many participants asked us about getting a cheaper bike to get back into cycling, and we knew no places within fifty miles of Williamsport providing such services, ” says Louisa. The Stones began researching the idea, visiting many existing facilities in Philadelphia, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Cleveland, Portland, Oregon, and Tucson, Arizona. They soon opened a small center at Williamsport’s YMCA. Then in 2013, they moved to the Pajama Factory in Williamsport and became part of the nonprofit Factory Works.

Along with the Stones, the non-profit shop operates totally with volunteers. “We would not be successful without them [volunteers], ” Louisa says. “That applies to all our volunteers over the years. ” The six current volunteers include: Mike Otto, chief mechanic who teaches customers to fix their bikes; Deb Decker, who does sales and repairs while helping new riders; Abbey Davids and Rob Ray, who came to the shop to learn to fix their bikes and now keep the shop in order; Steve Young, who is hands-on with difficult repairs and builds bikes, and Tegan Hartman, who manages the website and social media.

Bicycle Recycle is a community-minded bike shop. Dave explains, “We accept bike donations from the community, refurbish them, and then sell them at reasonable prices. ”

The Stones see their role as promoting the value of community cooperation. “We are constantly surprised by the variety of people who come through our doors. Some need a bike to get around and stay active in our community. Some are cleaning out their garage and find a good bike that they would like to find a home for. Many need a simple repair but do not have the knowledge or tools to do it by themselves. We are continuing to evolve as we work with new people, ” adds Louisa

Available at the shop are adult, young adult and kids’ bikes. The selection includes refurbished mountain bikes, road bikes, city bikes, BMX bikes and cruisers. The full inventory can be seen on their website. On their facebook page, Bicycle Safety Classes are listed, along with other activities.

Among community programs, WILLIAMSPORT BICYCLE has assisted Penn College for certification as a bike-friendly campus, sponsored a Bike Rodeo for Boy Scouts and is working with Girl Scouts on merit badges. In addition, they’ve donated bikes to Stevens Primary School and YMCA, and Dave started the Williamsport Bike Committee.

Bicycle Recycle has advocated for a Complete Streets ordinance and in-county planning for bike paths and is constantly working for bike advocacy to make city streets safer and more accessible. Louisa says,

“We’re working toward making Williamsport a more bicycle-friendly city by getting bicycle-safe streets included in city and county plans for development. ” williamsportbicyclerecycle.org

PHOTO PROVIDED

A typical day at Williamsport Bicycle Recycle has cyclists and volunteers working together to fix bicycles.

scenes of the season . . .

By DAVID WHITMAN West Branch Life

enerations have awakened to Gary Chrisman’s distinctive baritone. The legendary DJ still has the imp-like spirit of that 19year-old who debuted on WWPA nearly half a century ago. Our Susquehanna Valley has seen lots of ch-ch-ch changes but Chrisman has been as constant as the North star.

That star shined brightly at Jersey Shore’s Bald Birds Brewing Co. during KISS-FM’s 35th birthday soiree this summer.

Five hundred guests celebrated the accomplishments and continuing longevity of two regional institutions: KISS-FM and Chrisman.

It had all the hallmarks of a Chrisman and KISS event. There was live music, giveaways and Chrisman buzzing around the packed house, still the friendly face of a radio station he helped put on the map.

Before opening the mic as a DJ, the Williamsport native (Chrisman was part of the final graduating class of the old high school on Third Street) hauled furniture for Williamsport Moving Co.

While there, he was inspired to develop his most long-standing radio character: Howard Smith.

“Howard was the warehouse foreman and a great guy, funny too. He was in his 60s. Meanwhile we’re all 18 and our girlfriends would come down at lunch. Oh man, some of the stuff that he said. What a character. I started doing Howard for the guys in the warehouse. That’s where he debuted, ” says Chrisman.

Deciding there was more to life than moving pianos and davenports, Chrisman headed south after high school graduation and landed at the University of Miami as a mass communications major. He started radio in 1972 and called games for Miami baseball in 1973. Hurricane football followed that fall.

His partner-in-crime was future ESPN broadcasting legend Roy Firestone. The duo also did a popular morning show at the University of Miami, which is where Chrisman developed both his style and some characters still part of his morning show to this day.

When Chrisman returned home during Christmas break of his sophomore year, he received two job offers: One from WMPT (Top 40) and WWPA (easy listening) for work in the summer of 1973.

“MPT was the kids’ station but I went with the one my parents listened

Gto. I made a good move there because it gave me the chance to do sports, news and middays on-air, ” Chrisman recalls.

After graduating from college, Chrisman returned home for what he thought was a quick visit, but fate changed that. That fall, WWPA owner Woody Ott passed away and his son, Bill Ott, took over. One of the first things he did was offer Chrisman mid-

LORENABENIQUEZ/West Branch Life

Prior pages, Gary Chrisman with the legendary Frankie Valli (photo provided). Above, Chrisman in his KISS-FM studio where he entertains listeners.

days full time.

“I was doing Miami baseball and football, but unlike most of the kids at Miami, I wasn’t rich. I didn’t even have my own car. I was college loaned-out so I thought, ‘What the hell. I’ll take the gig. Save up for a car. Stick around for six months. Enjoy some home cooking. ’ And well, here we are 50 years later, ” laughs Chrisman.

Soon, WWPA (now called the Twin W) and Chrisman found success.

“I’m doing a morning show during midday. It made no sense but it worked. I’m doing all these characters and goofy stuff while Ken Sawyer is the straightlaced guy in the morning. We had a lot of talent come through there like Vince Sweeney, future WBRE weatherman, Ken of course, and Scott Masteller, future head honcho at ESPN radio, ” says Chrisman proudly. “Next thing you know, in a blink of an eye, 10 years go by and I’m here doing things including the TV’s (PM Magazine) from 1984 till it was canceled in 1987. We did really well at the Twin for a bunch of years at the time. AM radio could still win in Williamsport, ” says Chrisman.

By the mid-80s, Chrisman saw the writing on the wall.

“We’re not going to compete with the FMs around here at that stage and I think for our boss at the time he needed to make that move earlier than he did. By then, I was going to go somewhere else because that little station was going to hit the wall unfortunately, ” says Chrisman

In April of 1987, Chrisman got some guys together to form a group to buy an available radio station. They even talked to a financial guy prior to this but were way, way too late, according to Chrisman.

“I was at a crossroads because things were not going to go the way they should have gone at the Twin W, ” he says. A short time later he got a call while on-air. It was Tom Benson, program director of KISS-FM, the same station Chrisman’s group tried buying.

“So I came here. We have a huge 53,000-watt signal. So we started having some success pretty, pretty, fast (and) started doing really well. And we had a lot of fun stuff, you know, and became a big player in the market, ” he remembers.

PHOTO PROVIDED

ChrismanispicturedabovewithoneoftheattendeesathisandKISS-FMʼsanniversary party this past summer that attracted 500 people.

Also in 1987, the D.J. wanted to do more sports and had already done some TV with the local cable station. So he pursued the cable company to televise high school football games.

He went to Joe Lecce, the head guy at the cable company.

“He was interested but kind of put it in my lap saying, ‘Now you pay us. You’ve got to get the sponsors, ’ and here I was figuring I was going to be working for the cable company! I had recently come here to KISS and now I was diving into this, ” Chrisman recounts.

This was also the week of a big Williamsport vs. Berwick football game. The next thing you know, Cable Sports Productions is on the air.

“I made up the name, go to the bank, open an account. My KISS boss, Al Dane, supports me here. He said, ‘Hey, my morning guys are doing high school football, basketball and TV. That's not bad for us. That's good for us. ’ So he became one of my first sponsors, ” says Chrisman.

He would go on to do those games for 34 years with Babe Mayer.

In addition to over six decades in radio, Chrisman has called Little League World Series games since 1974 with his good friend Sawyer, Tom O’Malley and Scott Lowrey.

“It’s a lot and a lot of fun doing the Little League World Series, ” says Chrisman.

In addition, he took the morning show live for 10 years with co-hosts KC (Kathy Collins) and later Gail Bair, with a host of characters in tow. That included a yearly live morning show at the Community Arts Center (one featured a still-talked about spoof of OJ Simpson’s police pursuit complete with a helicopter and slow chase of the infamous white bronco down the beltway).

Over the years, Chrisman created a character-driven morning show. When listening, you might hear Rod The Boy, Larry at the Plant, or a host of other characters phoning in.

“Well you know, I take pride in coming in prepared and not coming in and winging it. And I always want to be better. I've never taken that for granted. Ah, hell I’ve been doing this forever. I mean, I still want to improve and be better. And I wouldn't feel good about myself if I just, you know, phoned it in, ” says Chrisman.

And how much longer does Chrisman think he’ll continue? He says,

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Chrisman was the master of ceremonies at his and KISS-FMʼs 35th anniversary party held at Bald Birds Brewing Company in Jersey Shore.

LORENABENIQUEZ/West Branch Life

Despite a dry summer, horses at Wanderbrook Stables in Muncy enjoy green pastures with a view to a Christmas tree farm.

By KRISSI MILLER West Branch Life

id you know that Pennsylvania ranks eighth in the nation for horse population? The revenue from the horse industry contributes a whopping $5.6 billion to the state’s economy every year. It supports thousands of jobs including veterinarians, farriers, feed mills, tack stores, horse trainers, riding instructors, boarding facilities, rescue organizations and therapeutic riding stables. Traveling through the region, it's hard to go very far without coming across horses loafing in a paddock or grazing in a field.

Harmony Hill, a prominent feature along Highway 220 in Linden offers passersby the bucolic scene of horses grazing in green paddocks. Once a boarding and training facility, now it is primarily the home of co-owner Gail Patton’s (along with co-owner Jim Keefer) personal pets. Patton believes, "Every horse should own a human. " Though she rarely rides, Patton's life with horses proves riding is not the only relationship to be had with a horse. She is an avid fan of horse racing, particularly after falling in love with Joya, a mare who loved to race. Retired now, Joya's racing legacy lives on in her son, Declaration Time. Patton owns a 10% interest in Declaration, and believes this is an affordable option for racing enthusiasts.

For those that do ride, there are a variety of riding disciplines to choose from including trail riding, hunter jumper, western pleasure, obstacle trail, team penning, calf roping, dressage, horse show competitions, endurance, and driving.

Several decades ago, a group of horse lovers had a dream for this diverse horse community. That dream eventually became The Williamsport Riding Club (WRC). Located in Loyalsock Township, the WRC hosts countless equestrian events, not the least of which is the 4-H regional and district shows that lead young riders to state level competitions.

There is so much good to be found in horse-human relationships. Many parents believe beginning early offers advantages to youngsters. "Just being up and outside away from media and electronics is great for the kids, " declares riding instructor Megan Swarthout.

Boarding barn manager and trainer at Tabula Rasa (Clean Slate) Equestrian Center in Jersey Shore, Swarthout has a full schedule of young equestrian

D

students. When she talks about her love of kids and horses, it is evident she enjoys her job immensely. "Improvement of equine welfare and giving others the opportunity to experience the joy of horses is my ultimate goal, " declares Swarthout. "Many of these kids have limited to no experience. So, getting to give them a solid start means a lot. ”

The only thing Swarthout doesn't like about her job is not having enough hours in a day to do all the things she wants to do with her students. People like Swarthout are an essential aspect of horse culture because they preserve it for the next generation.

Idamay Hornberger is another horse professional. Her background includes dressage, western cow horse, eventing, side saddle, hunter jumper, pleasure driving, mounted shooting, horse training, beginner instruction and advanced skill training. When it comes to horse training, she believes, "The horse is more receptive to anything done in a natural setting, and this transfers more easily to a performance. " A newcomer to the area, Hornberger chose to move here because of the "something for everyone" quality of horse culture. "Having a local horse showing facility for clients is such a good thing for trainers, " she says.

For many area horse people, owning, caring for, and/or riding their horses is a commitment to lifetime learning. Eileen and Joe Stroup, owners of Wanderbrook Stables in Muncy, strongly support this life-long learning theme. Wanderbrook enriches the experiences of riders by sponsoring horsemanship and riding clinics, bringing in high level horse professionals to teach workshops and clinics. The Stroup’s say, “There’s always something new to learn about horses. ”

LORENABENIQUEZ/West Branch Life

Top of opposite page, Phoenix at Harmony Hill stands regally after racing around the paddock.

KRISSI MILLER/West Branch Life

Bottom of opposite page, trail riding is one beloved equine activity, especially during autumn.

LORENABENIQUEZ/West Branch Life

Above, Harmony Hillʼs tack room also serves as a feeding spot for barn cats.

One of the most romanticized riding activities, trail riding, makes use of the miles and miles of gorgeous riding trails in our hills and valleys. Saddling up and riding through delicate blooms of mountain laurel in early summer or the brightly colored leaves of fall is a divine pleasure for both rider and horse. But it takes a lot of courage to produce a competent trail horse. Once outside of the paddock or arena fences, anything goes. Really. Anything. A trail horse operates completely beyond the safety and predictability of life inside the fence.

Our area is home to a lot of horse people who have lent a hand to rescue mistreated equines. Eli was one of them. Eli was adopted from Appalachian Horse Help and Rescue (AHHR) by local Police Officer Doc Miller, who trained Eli to become a police horse for the Williamsport Bureau of Police Mounted Unit. Doc and PO Eli performed mounted police duties in streets and parks for five years.

After that, Doc repurposed Eli for trail riding and passed the reins to friend Susan Miller. A good trail horse works to become one with the forest, and Eli has done just that. Susan and he now enjoy leisurely rides in area forests. She believes rescue horses have much to offer, but their people need to have patience. She says, "Remember they have a past that they may need some TLC to overcome. They need someone who is able to be in control of the tough situations. "

Last, but by no means least, horse clubs exist in the area for horse enthusiasts to share their love of horses with others of like minds. One of the most vital and influential kinds of horse clubs is the 4-H program. It has nurtured the well-spring of horse love in many a young heart for decades. In fact, large numbers of "older" horse people have fond memories of their 4-H days. Education, respect, responsibility, teamwork, and setting and achieving goals have been and still are hallmarks of 4-H.

Online clubs are a new twist in today's horse culture. Many area horse people belong to online clubs that offer support, encouragement, advice, and challenges to inspire and motivate positive interactions in the horse community.

The horse is something infinitely old, yet ever new. Something transient and fleeting, yet solid as rock. A very old saying says, "The winds of heaven blow through my horse's ears. ” That is Magic. That is Horse. No wonder the Susquehanna Valley’s horse culture has been alive and well for so long. It is the embodiment of dreams that really do come true.