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Penn College teacher’s
‘MOUNTAIN FINDER’
offers an
Pexciting novel with spiritual insight
enn College teacher Tom Ask has written more than a dozen books.
Many are nonfiction, aligning with the instructor’s academic specialty: industrial design Others are less technical including the this year’s “Finder Tetralogy,” a collection of four short novels about a father who travels around the world solving mysteries with his kids. Ask calls them “Science and adventures stories for Christian youth ”
Fittingly then, on the advice of a young Christian friend, I read the second of these, “Mount David Stenche with his 13-ye track down my seem to be com sible mountain p
small planes and commercial jets. And on their overland treks, they are accompanied first by a friendly yak, and later by two llamas all loaned to help the pair carry their equipment
One of my favorite aspects of the book is its strong local atmosphere, with Abby and David sampling exotic local foods across the globe. Best of all were scenes in the mountain wilderness, where Ask transports you to a whole new world th t i h been untouched
Originally published on its own in 2020, “Mountain Finder” is well written, atmospheric and exciting a mix of travelogue, science, family love and spiritual insight
Ask himself is a world traveler whose hobbies have included flying lessons, skydiving and sailing locally, around Florida and across the Atlantic.
So there’s tremendous authenticity when David and Abby meander from Africa’s Mt Kilimanjaro to Mumbai, the Taj Mahal, Kathmandu, Malaysia, Chile and the Panama Canal. Along the way, they manage to travel by sailboat, bus, train, hiking and a cargo ship plus
lso get a good onding, which ough Abby’s es and her creative probem-solving at sea or in the mountain wilds. The two likewise work together at foraging, camping, sailing, packing up, stocking up and praying, while often discussing Bible truths and how to live a richer life of faith
Too often
in modern Christian fiction, there’s an artificial preachiness about this sort of thing but that is happily absent in “Mountain Finder.” The novel’s spiritual backbone is just that: a key support that is acknowledged only now and then, yet vital to upholding the structure Important here is Ask’s ability (reflected in both David and Abby) to appreciate other cultures and respect differences without abandoning one’s own beliefs.
The novel moves swiftly to a satisfying conclusion that involves both family reunion and widespread excitement about the importance of Abby’s discoveries
The three companion novels in this
collection (“Passage Finder,” “River Finder” and 2024’s “Code Finder”) involve other members of the family, other mysteries and other locales including a sinking island in Antarctica, a linguistic puzzle in Southeast Asia and a tunnel under a pyramid in Guatemala
The author’s literary resume embraces poetry, memoir, HVAC, marine surveying, meditations on nature, and advice for college students. Ask told West Branch Life that he’s currently researching “boat design and boatbuilding in Malaysia and Indonesia,” and he hopes this will lead to a new book a follow-up to his similarly themed 2021 nonfiction work, “Wooden Wonders: Traditional Malaysian Fishing Boats ”
Here’s hoping Ask writes more fiction too
Joseph W. Smith III is a writer, teacher and speaker in Central Pennsylvania His latest book is “The Best Movies You Never Saw: 300 Underthe-Radar Films That Were Overlooked, Unjustly Trashed -- or Just Plain Terrific " robbwhitefan@gmail com
Currents >>>>> viewing pleasure
When they were growing up, Jacob, Maria and Brian Yoas never had to look far to find a live music performance A lot of times, all they had to do was walk into the living room and they could catch their dad strumming away at his guitar When that wasn’t happening, their mom could often be found working the keys on a piano
With music being such a constant presence in their household, it’s no surprise the three eventually learned to play their own instruments; Jacob taking up guitar, while Maria studied the bass and Brian learned drums It didn’t take long before
they were rocking out in their house together
Flash forward about a decade, and Jacob, Maria and Brian still enjoy making music with each other But now they get to do it for an audience that extends well beyond their immediate family Playing in the popular country rock band The Heartstrings, they’ve built a large local following of fans by bringing energetic shows to stages throughout the area
“What started out as basement jam sessions grew more serious as time went on,” said Maria. “There's nothing quite like the joy and reckless freedom that creating music brings you, and we are all absolutely hooked.”
For the last two years, The Heartstrings’ lineup has seen Jacob (lead vocals, guitar),
Maria (bass, vocals) and Brian (drums) joined by Jake Schmoyer (lead guitarist), who many might recognize from his solo performances in the area, as well as the various other local acts he’s lent his talents to through the years. Schmoyer said he first met the Yoases when they came to watch one of his shows and has grown very close to them in the time since.
“Once in a while, you find a group and you just click Thats what happened here,” Schmoyer said. “We work well together and have an absolute blast doing what we do.”
A few of the many contemporary groups and musicians that The Heartstrings have drawn inspiration from include The Cadillac Three, Kings of Leon, Koe Wetzel, Treaty Oak Revival, and Kip
PHOTO PROVIDED
The members of the Heartstrings are (from left) Brian Yoas, Jacob Yoas, Maria Yoas and Jake Schmoyer.
viewing pleasure <<<<<
Moore, according to Jacob. He said the group has also been influenced by numerous older acts, such as Sam Cooke and Bruce Springsteen.
Like most bands, The Heartstrings have evolved in a number of ways throughout the years. For starters, the group said their rigging was “pretty bizarre” when they first started up They credit the staff over at K&S Music Center in South Williamsport for providing them with great expertise and insight, along with quality instruments, to help them sort this issue out
Another transformation the band has experienced over time is a shift in its overall sound and song selection When The Heartstrings first formed, the group leaned much more heavily into Americana music Nowadays, they tend to play more outlaw country and country rock. Still, their sound is probably best described as a blending of each of these genres.
On the stage, the band has also continued to evolve Working hard to refine their act over the last decade, The Heartstrings have garnered a reputation as one of the best live shows in Central PA, continually drawing crowds to local venues The band’s undeniable talent, stage presence and love for playing music bleeds through at all times
“We feed off each other’s energy as well as the crowd during the show to provide more of a performance,” Schmoyer said “Add a pro light show and sound production into that as well. I’ve always felt with the Heartstrings you are going to see a concert, not just a band in a club or bar.”
Maria said the band has worked extremely hard to create the best live show
that it can, putting in countless hours on the stage and behind it This hasn’t gone unnoticed by the fans that come out to see them.
“We love what we do and I think all of that shows through,” she said “Every gig is special.”
“I think every trade or skill is a learning process,” added Jacob “It’s something you’re constantly trying to better, and a live show is no different The part that came natural is the energy playing music makes us feel.”
Typically, The Heartstrings play a mix of well-known cover songs and their own original music during shows This formula helps keep things fresh for the band, while also giving the audience something they can sing along to
“Playing songs people know and love helps to connect on a common ground,” Jacob said “At the same time, it's pretty awesome to hear people singing our songs. It makes us feel like we created a piece of art they relate to and appreciate ”
NEW MUSIC
Planning to release a new album in early 2025, The Heartstrings have been recording at Thornwall Studio in Lancaster, where they’ve been working with sound engineer/producer Jon Sambrick
“(He) always takes excellent care of us,” Brian said of Sambrick “His ingenuity and skill enable us to let our creativity flow freely We’re stoked to share what we’ve been working on ”
In September, the group released their single “Washed Up,” which pairs a catchy chorus with a relatable storyline. Seeing airtime on local radio stations like Bear Country 99 9 FM – WQBR, the song received an “overwhelming” reaction
from the community, the band said.
“I like how the lyrics are very vulnerable, but the music is very in your face rock and roll, reflecting the feeling of frustration when going through a situation,” Jacob said of the single.
THE FUTURE
Never afraid to put in the hard work required to make a name for themselves, The Heartstrings plan to keep plugging away to see where the road ahead takes them
The band has already booked several gigs for the next few months, including shows at The Cell Block in Williamsport (Nov. 16); Hull’s Landing in Muncy (Dec. 13); Jackass Brewing Company in Williamsport (Dec. 27); and Cafe 210 West in State College (Jan 24) Their full schedule of events can be found on Facebook.
“Our intention when we started out as well as to this day, is to share our love and enthusiasm for music while having fun and allowing others to enjoy a night out. That's what it's all about,” Brian said. “We’ve met so many amazing and supportive friends along the way, and we will forever be grateful for the fact they keep showing up for us ”
Nick Seitzer is the editor of West Branch Life A graduate of Lycoming College, he has worked in local journalism for 12 years, serving in a variety of roles for the Williamsport SunGazette and Lock Haven Express in that time
scenes of the season
The Bases Loaded statues of President George
and Cy
are set against fall colors. Those figures were added to the Bases Loaded Statue in 2022. DAVE
W. Bush, Jackie Robinson
Young
KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
victorian christmas <<<<< Making Waves
As the Victorian Christmas event prepares to recognize one of Williamsport’s most successful ages for the 25th time, the growing event has become a historic city tradition in its own right
The idea behind Williamsport’s Victorian Christmas began in 1999 out of the Peter Herdic House by Nan Young, Gloria and Marsha Miele and Ted Lyons Jr
“It was to celebrate Williamsport’s architectural heritage of vintage homes, mansions, museums, churches, and other public structures,” Cindi PerryRischar, marketing coordinator of the event, said “The crown jewel of Williamsport in the 1800s was West Fourth Street ”
The event invites residents to come, “enjoy the opulence and architectural grandeur of the Nineteenth Century
Lumber Capital of the World ”
Each year, the event focuses on a theme or topic to focus educational events on the Victorian Era This year’s 25th anniversary features an Eras Tour: yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
On Nov 22, 23, and 24, people can enjoy three festive days by touring homes, visiting the artisan holiday market at the YWCA, see the toy and train expo, hear live music, partake in Victorian tea time, hear strolling carolers, and enjoy food around town, to name a few.
The tour of Victorian homes is always a highly anticipated event, Perry-Rischar said “The tour features 20 homes and churches that represent the era. This year, the event is proud to showcase the recently restored Hartshorn House.”
Located at 419 W Fourth St , the Hartshorn House was built in 1873 for $14,000 by a prosperous planing mill owner. The house is most known for
being the state’s first American Legion Post
“The building was later completely covered by brick for retail space,” PerryRischar said “In 2015 Gloria Miele began the restoration by removing the brick and revealing the lovely facade ”
This year, the event also features a historic talk and fashion show. Put on by the Community Theater League, the presentation “From Petticoats to Pillboxes,” will interactively inform attendees about the popular fashion of the time
Live performances all over the city include the Williamsport Civic Chorus, Village Green Brass Ensemble, Repasz Band, Billtown Brass, Williamsport Youth Choir, Autumn Winds Sax Quartet, a handbell quartet at Pine Street United Methodist, and carolers.
The Artisan Market features a wide range of hand-crafted items that can’t be
SUN-GAZETTE Archives
In 2012, the Victorian Christmas theme was "It Starts With a Story." Nan Young, left, and Jill Confair were dressed as nuns, and 6-year-old Lilianna Albarano, daughter of John and Jennifer Albarano, of Williamsport, was dressed as the mischivious Madeline from the Victorian age childrenʼs book “Madeline” by Ludwig Bemelmans
>>> victorian christmas
PROVIDED Victorian Christmas will be held this year on Nov. 22-24.
The event, now in its 25th year, features tours of 20 homes and churches that represent the era
found anywhere else. These include clothing, home decor, ceramics, wooden handcrafts, fiber arts, jewelry, and more While at the market, shoppers can pick up a handmade commemorative ornament designed after a specific architectural detail from one of the homes on the tour.
The Victorian Christmas committee, which consists of people from all corners of the community, stands the test of time to build awareness and appreciation of the rich historic and architectural heritage of the greater Williamsport area.
A big part of that heritage is preservation of the homes for future generations, Perry-Rischar said.
“The organization works to beautify the historic district with the addition of floral baskets which grace, the period light post during the summer months and lighted Christmas wreaths during the winter months the baskets and wreaths are created and maintained by lady di’s floral and garden art and funded through Victorian Christmas ticket sales,” she said.
The schedule for the weekend’s events and information about tickets for the tour can be found on the event’s website at https://victorianchristmaspa com
Seth Nolan is an English and Literature teacher at St John Neumann Regional Academy He is a former Williamsport Sun-Gazette staffer, having worked as a reporter and editor on the night desk. He is now a correspondent for the Sun-Gazette.
PHOTO
In Wellsboro, locals grew up with “Shiny Brite” glass ornaments and strings of C7 light bulbs on their Christmas trees, all manufactured at a local glass factory Many never considered how unique their decorations were. Still, a simple yet powerful concept invented in Wellsboro would alter the course of history for how Christmas traditions were made. What started as a spark of an idea in Wellsboro soon radiated literally through millions of lights around the globe
Clare Ritter is chair of the Wellsboro Glass Historical Association She tells the story of glass making in Wellsboro, which includes the Christmas ornament story as well as the evolution of the
everyday light bulb
Ritter starts at the beginning: “In 1916, Wellsboro formed its first Chamber of Commerce with the initial goal of convincing Corning Glass Works to open a plant here. There was already a glass factory here, but it was no longer open, and the building was empty. At that point, the country was electrifying itself with in-home lights, and they believed they had the perfect solution ”
It was indeed a good solution, and later that year, Corning reopened the Wellsboro factory with the largest blast furnace of its kind Working three shifts a day, 24 hours a day, 52 weeks a year, the factory provided work for 1500 people It primarily manufactured handblown light bulbs; each one individually blown by a glassworker
In 1920, Corning Glass Works sent a young Billy Woods to oversee their satellite plant in Wellsboro Woods believed that there was a more efficient way of producing light bulbs and was intrigued with the idea of assembly lines Over the next several years, he and Corning engineers worked on a new idea he had for a machine that would make light bulbs in assembly line fashion That machine was to become one of the engineering wonders of the world, according to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Today, it is in the top 100 of the best engineering ideas of all time
As Ritter describes it, “Instead of pulling out a gob of glass and then having it hand blown, we’re now pouring the molten glass out of the furnace in a
LINDA STAGER/West Branch Life
A horse-drawn wagon heads through Wellsboro during the townʼs Christmas on Main Street event, which sees participation from around 40 local businesses each year.
Making Waves >>>>> ornament production
ribbon of glass. The glass goes down a channel, a puff of air starts to form the glass into a ball A mold clamps around that shape, another puff of air expands the glass to fill the mold; the mold travels down a conveyor belt, the mold releases and a newly shaped glass light bulb continues to cool until it is packed ”
“We went from being able to do hundreds of light bulbs in an hour to thousands of light bulbs in the same time. This completely changed manufacturing not only of light bulbs, but anything made of glass that had previously been hand-blown.”
That first “ribbon machine” had Woods and Wellsboro’s names on the patent The plant here in Wellsboro became the main manufacturer of more ribbon machines, which eventually were shipped all over the world, where they continued to make various forms of light bulbs and products,” Ritter continues
But that’s not all of the story because in 1939, the first one million American-made Christmas ornaments would roll off the Wellsboro ribbon machine’s conveyor belts.
American families had fallen in love with simple German-made glass Christmas ornaments, but there was an embargo on imported items because of World War II In 1938, some of the primary American importers of those ornaments asked if Corning could help and, as Ritter tells it, said, “Hey, you guys are making these light bulbs, and
ornament production <<<<< Making Waves
During the mid-20th century, Wellsboroʼs Corning Glass Works factory manufactured 90% of the worldʼs glass Christmas ornaments.
light bulbs are kind of like Christmas ornaments. And the Wellsboro folks have a reputation within the Corning company for being problem solvers Can you make us ornaments?”
Wellsboro’s engineers did indeed solve the problem They reworked the light bulb molds, retrofitted the ribbon machines, and created the first American-made glass Christmas balls The Wellsboro plant hired local women to hand-decorate those first glass balls
By 1941, acorns, pyramids, Santas, birds, and other shapes rolled off the assembly line. Wellsboro’s workers kept creating new festive, shiny baubles now for a global market. The Shiny Brite ornament company bought and resold Wellsboro’s glass ornaments. Hallmark, Franke, Lord, and Taylor, and others created limited editions of Wellsboro’s ornaments under their names
From 1938-1981, Wellsboro manufactured 90% of the world’s glass Christ-
mas ornaments In 1959 alone, Wellsboro produced 100 million ornaments
In 2016, though, Corning had other priorities and closed the Wellsboro plant The factory was disassembled, and the ribbon machines were moved to Kentucky, where the company still had a working plant.
That moment appeared to be the end of the Wellsboro ribbon machine story, except it wasn’t In 2020, a consortium of Wellsboro folks bought the machines and brought them back to Wellsboro, where they will be permanently displayed for the public
Ellen Dunham, president of the Penn Wells Company and a member of the Glass Historical Association Board, takes up the story She describes Christ-
mas on Main Street, a multi-day annual event (December 10-15, 2024 ) that celebrates Wellsboro’s glass-making story now
Bryant explains, “Visitors may purchase “passports” during the celebration The passport highlights the glass-making history in Wellsboro and serves as a guide to provide information about where displays of ornament and
PHOTOS PROVIDED
Making Waves >>>>> ornament production
other glass-related items are located Individuals can see the display, get their passport stamped at the display, enjoy retailers’ hospitality, perhaps free samples and other goods, and in the end, there is a fun drawing where retailers give away gift cards ” Christmas on Main Street is a family event with 30-40 businesses participating In the past, there have been horse-drawn covered wagon rides on Main Street, a visiting reindeer or two, and other entertainment The Gmeiner Art and Culture Center on Main Street also opens a glassmaking exhibit during the event.
Bryant concludes, “The universal symbol for “great idea” literally is the light bulb! Think about how much the light bulb has changed our work and lives Our glass workers and the Wellsboro ribbon machine revolutionized people’s homes and offices worldwide for all time That’s a nice legacy to have!”
PHOTO PROVIDED At left, are light bulb blanks that were manufactured at the Corning Glass Works satellite plant in Wellsboro.
Linda Stager, of Wellsboro, is an award-winning outdoor writer and photographer. Her stories and photos are often showcased in a variety of publications, including the Williamsport SunGazette She is also the author of the “Pine Creek Rail Trail Guidebook,” a 206-page guide to the 62mile highly acclaimed rail trail that runs from Wellsboro to Jersey Shore You can learn more about her at www lindastager com and can reach her at lstager021@gmail com
Local chef bringsAfrican cuisine to Williamsport
By NICK SEITZER West Branch Life
When Maame Badu came to Williamsport in early 2020, she intended to spend a two-month holiday here with her husband and then return to her home in Ghana, on the West Coast of Africa But her plans were quickly upended when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down national borders across the world just three weeks into her trip.
Faced with the realization that she would not be going back to Ghana anytime soon, Badu was hit with a wave of homesickness. To make matters worse, she was having a hard time adjusting to many of the meals found in the average American diet
With pizzas, burgers and many pastas not agreeing with her palate, Badu was left longing for the traditional family recipes she grew up enjoying; but no business in the area offered these meals or the ingredients required to make them To remedy this, Badu started traveling to African markets in other states to
find what was needed for the homecooked foods she craved With the ingredients in hand, she would cook in bulk and share what she had created
After making friends at UPMC Williamsport, she came to realize there’s several doctors, nurses and administrators at the hospital that also hail from Africa; and like her, they’re missing the dishes and flavors they grew up eating
“They were surprised to see somebody over here cooking (African meals), because I would post on Facebook and stuff,” Badu said “They started getting food from me Somebody would buy, and it would be like word of mouth. They would tell this other person, ‘Oh, we found this African lady here who cooks African food ’
“They would come meet me and ask me to make trays and stuff for them I would be doing that, and everybody enjoyed the food,” she added “When they realized I was doing that, it helped them. It took a burden off of them, because then they didn’t have to struggle to get such meals, going out of state to get stuff. I was doing it for them.”
At the end of summer, Badu took the word-of-mouth momentum her dishes had garnered and decided to officially
open a place where the entire local community can experience a taste of her culture Good Grace African Diner and Market, located at 909 Arch Street in Williamsport With a soft opening in early September and a grand opening a few weeks later, she said the early reaction from those around the area has been fantastic.
“(The reception) has been amazing Every time I go in there, I just pray to God to let the food be a blessing and let it be good, so that people will come back for more,” Badu said “People have liked it and there has been a lot of people telling their friends and family Everything has been positive so far.
“I have had people tell me that there is nothing like it here,” she added “The diversity of my food is bringing people to Good Grace.”
THE MENU
Though the menu at Good Grace varies from day to day, there are certain staple items that are permanently available at the restaurant, such as oxtail, fried plantain, sauteed cabbage, and jollof rice.
“We sell Ghana jollof rice and this is the best jollof rice in Africa,” Badu said “You can ask anybody and they will tell you that Ghana jollof is the best ” Various fried fish often appear on the Good Grace menu, including red snapper, seabass and red tilapia, among others Even though these are fish that many locals might be familiar with, they’re prepared and served in a way that is likely different from what most in the area are used to
“I fry the whole fish with the head and the fin,” said Badu “It fascinates (customers) to see a whole fish like that because most of the fish they get from restaurants are fileted So, if they want to get red tilapia, they can see that it’s red tilapia; it’s not filet with the skin off
“I fry it in front of them, so they can see what’s going in their food,” she added Other meats sold at Good Grace in-
clude chicken, Maryland blue crab and goat, which Badu said always piques the interest of her customers
“That has been an eye-opener to people because some people have goats here as pets, but we sell our goat meat with our meals because it is very huge back home,” she said.
The restaurant also makes popular stews, including egusi and a peanut butter soup that’s served with sticky rice balls and black-eyed peas. Much like the goat meat, these offerings capture the attention of patrons.
“People are like, ‘What?! Peanut butter soup? How?’ Because they know peanut butter from peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and just as a spread. This is in a savory soup. It’s a difference a good difference.”
The signature dessert sold at Good Grace is a popular African street dish that goes by many names including puffpuff (Nigeria), boflot (Ghana) and vitumbuwa (Zambia) and consists of fried dough balls covered in a sweet topping. Badu makes mango, cream cheese, and blueberry toppings for the ones she serves at the restaurant
LEARNING TO COOK
Though some of the recipes Badu cooks at Good Grace are ones that she has developed herself, she said the vast majority of what she serves comes from family recipes that were passed down from her grandmother Growing up in her grandma’s house, she said she was regularly sent to her local market to buy ingredients for the meals her family ate As the oldest granddaughter in the house, she was also responsible for helping out in the kitchen
“Growing up, I didn’t like (to cook) because I had other cousins, so it was like, ‘Why is it only me?’ That did not make me like it,” she said “But when I lived alone, I had the responsibility of cooking I realized I have to cook, but it wasn’t like I had to cook for other people because it was a chore ”
Up until 2019, Badu worked as a banker in Ghana but was relieved of her duties in the treasury operations department following a merger between her company and a larger bank That’s when she started cooking part-time for her former co-workers that didn’t get laid off.
“Those women working at the bank would call me and be like, ‘Oh, can you cook and bring me this for lunch?’ So, I started doing that for them,” she said.
The positive feedback she received from those she was cooking for helped to cultivate her passion for cooking, she said.
“When people eat my food and they enjoy it, it fills my heart with joy,” Badu said.
THE MARKET
Along with the restaurant side of the business, Good Grace also includes a market that sells specialty goods from Africa and the Caribbean. The market offers personal care items, like African black soap, pom oil and shea butter; and various ingredients, spices and herbs from West Africa.
“This way people can come in and get the stuff to cook their traditional home meals,” Badu said
While some of the inventory for the market comes from wholesalers and vendors, Badu has some of it shipped directly from Africa She said she recently had a friend visit East Africa, and made sure to have them grab her some supplies while they were there.
She mentioned that a portion of the proceeds from her sales in the market and diner have helped her give back to school children in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, where she has donated money for food and school uniforms; and donated to an orphanage
‘BRINGING DIVERSITY’
Badu said that two years ago, she met Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter at a Juneteenth celebration and expressed her desire to open an African restaurant in the city When Slaughter agreed that the community would benefit from the added culture, she was even more determined to pursue the dream.
Now that the restaurant is finally open, she said it’s been a “joy and honor” to bring an authentic African cuisine experience to Williamsport, and for the community to experience Africa through her meals
“Our presence here is to bring ease to the African comfort, in terms of going the long route in getting authentic African food and products,” Badu said “This is a home-away-from-home experience and introduces Africa to the people of Lycoming County, bringing diversity to the food culture ”
