Dr. Seuss, Reading across America

Alaina Hopta, 9, a third grader, reads to Annie.

Jimmy Lambrakopoulos takes a break from reading to pet Annie.

Dr. Seuss and Read Across America came to Lincolnway Elementary School Friday, March 1, 2013 in a somewhat unusual manner. Annie, a Golden Retriever therapy dog, is owned by reading specialist Jenn Oswald, and Annie was invited to listen to a selected group of students reading their favorite books.

Crossing the U.S. every day

 

Arthur Levine admits he doesn't travel much, other than going to Florida once in a while, or to swap meets.

But one of his hobbies (you'll need both hands to count all of them), takes him across the U.S. without leaving his Manchester Township garage.  Between what's hanging on his garage walls and what he has stored away, Levine owns more than 400 license plates.

Not only does Levine collect license plates, but his complete collections include vanity plates from all 50 states. Dealer plates from all 50 states. Handicapped plates from all 50 states.  His next collection--he says his last-- is 'stacked' plates, or plates with numbers or letters vertically, as in Pennsylvania's college or fraternal plates.

Like most of us, he enjoys driving down the road and trying to decrypt a license plate on a car in front of him.  The trick, he says, is to understand that not all vanity plates have a logical explanation. Some are initials, nicknames.

Beyond license plates, Levine collects W.C. Fields memoribilia, Guiness Books of World Records, TV guides.

But on his business cards is "Collector of License Plates",  a member of the American License Plate Collectors Association, he's MRCANDEE on email, and a tip of the hat to his real job, a greeter at the West Manchester WalMart.

Chainsaws, ice fishing, maple sugar

 

 The annual Ridgway (Pa.) Chainsaw Carvers Rendezvous is finished for this year, but check its website here for next year's event. More than 200 carvers are spread through the square and a nearby large parking lot, showing off their collections, and making more as you watch. Bears were the carving model of choice, apparently, but there were plenty of eagles and owls, and even a teeter-totter. The artists are from as far away as Germany.

Saw dust and chips were everywhere, the whine of chainsaws too. The event is sponsored by a local art gallery, without help from the Chamber of Commerce or the town. There wasn't a motel room available for miles around, and restuarants were packed. Like Punxsutawny's Ground Hog Day, just down the road, it seems this is Ridgway's one event that makes it stand out.

There's a whole lot of money flowing into town that week. But on Saturday, it ended after the auction which raised money for charity.  So, we got back into the car.

Finding snow this winter has seen something of a problem, so we headed off again to the eastern Cleveland suburbs to see a few flakes. There wasn't much snow there either, but the old standby of Chardon, Ohio, known for its snow and sugar maple festival, had more than most. Even the ponds and lakes were still frozen, and we watched Dan and Kevin wander out to the East Branch to go ice fishing.

That wasn't going well, as far as the quantity of fish goes, but they seemed to be enjoying themselves with their homemade ice fishing shelter, complete with heater, skis, and a few beers.

Up the road a few miles, Ken and Lindy were tapping hard and soft sugar maple trees (I didn't know there was a difference) for the upcoming collection and annual maple syrup-making. About 130 trees are now dressed with old white milk jugs in Tom's back woods.

It's not warm enough there yet to collect.

Nixon Park's Maple Sugar weekend

Nixon County Park naturalist Amber Carothers taps a red maple tree to get sap flowing in time for Nixon County Park's maple sugar weekend. Events begin on Saturday, February 23, at 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and continues Sunday noon to 4 p.m.

 Activities include tours of the park's sugar bush, lectures about the process of making maple syrup and sugar and hands-on demonstrations. Maple sugar products will be on sale, and attendees can eat a pancake with real maple syrup.

Cost is $2 per person for the weekend.

It's official, spring is nearly here

It's official-- expect an early spring.

About 20,000 people crowded into Punxsutawney, Pa. Saturday on Groundhog Day to discover Punxsutawney Phil's prediction about early daffodils or late snow storms. 

This is truly all about the groundhog.

Gates opened at 3 a.m. for the four-hour production at Gobbler's Knob about a mile out of town. As usual, the forecast came shortly after 7 a.m.

Start thinking about draining the snowblower, hanging up the snow shovel.

But wait a minute. Of his 116 predictions on record so far, Punxsutawney Phil has predicted an "early spring" 16 times (13.8%). As to his accuracy, according to the StormFax Weather Almanac and records kept since 1887, Phil's predictions have been correct 39% of the time.

Think about it. Officially, spring comes on March 20-- about six weeks from now. So either way, Phil will be right. But he gives us a great excuse for a mid-winter party.

Groundhog Day is Punxy's biggest day. A little smaller than Red Lion, the town bursts open every February 2. At Punxy Phil's diner, it seems all 20,000 fans try to get breakfast at one time. People wait in a line that trails out the door, into a covered area warmed by a propane heater. I waited about 45 minutes for breakfast, but didn't mind.

Despite the traffic jam at the door, the wait staff was still smiling at day's end. Badges worn by all said "Team Phil".  Kay, who has worked at the diner for 30 years, was recently named Career Woman of the Year.

Visited with the other diners as they paid their check at the register. Aside from the workers, I didn't talk with anyone from Punxsutawney, but spoke with folks from Norway, Japan, Cleveland, Raleigh, Louisville, Toledo and Coney Island. Some drove in early for Phil's sunrise report, others came later in the morning to browse the concessions. One couple drove from Maine to get married here Saturday morning.

It's interesting what can be sold with some reference to a groundhog. The Trailhead art gallery had its own pole in its front window, on which a doll named Phil and human handler curled around on, trying to lure visitors into a lunch of chili, water and cookies.  It was cold outside -- nine degrees-- and snowing.

At Barclay Square, tents were set up to sell carvings, hats, chocolate, dog treats, pizza, burgers, refrigerator magnets and pens.

A downtown hotel was allegedly renting rooms for $400. Across the street, McDonald's was doing a booming business.


But by noon, much of the crowd had seen what it came to see, that is, Phil's production at Gobbler's Knob, and the sidewalks were quiet again. The craft show in the community building started closing up. The Weather Channel's Jim Cantori, was inducted into Punxy's Weatherman Hall of Fame, then headed home after buying a hoodie with Phil's picture on it.

Many towns throughout the U.S. and the world have tried to copy Punxy Phil's magic. There's Staten Island Chuck, General Beauregard Lee in Georgia, Lancaster's Octoraro Orphie, and even other weather animals like Furky the Wonder Chicken in Vancouver, Canada. All their supporters claim their mascot is the best, first, finest or most accurate.

The festival/carnival atmosphere is a lot like those found in other small towns which have created an event to put themselves on the map. Like the Glen Rock Carolers strolling through town, visitors travel for miles to see and hear the event personally.

All towns need something to crow about, to be proud of.  A woman in Punxy Phil's explained it well-- if not for this groundhog, Punxy would be just another small town whose best days are behind it, lost in middle of the woods.

Enjoy 'spring' while you can

For the last week of January, today's temperatures of 64 degrees is plenty comfortable;  daffodils are pushing their way from under the dead leaves and 23 robins were seen feasting on a Lancaster County lawn.

Maybe a sign of early spring?

Or maybe not, since the low temperatures on Friday will fall to a more typical 19 degrees, following a high of 30. Enjoy 'spring' while you can.

By the way, seeing robins isn't necessarily a sign of spring. That's just wishful thinking. This from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology--

"Although robins are considered harbingers of spring, many American Robins spend the whole winter in their breeding range. But because they spend more time roosting in trees and less time in your yard, you're much less likely to see them. 

The number of robins present in the northern parts of the range varies each year with the local conditions. During winter many robins move to moist woods where berry-producing trees and shrubs are common. "

In the snow and wind, no gloves

If you've had a rough day at work, just put yourself into these workers' shoes. Your working conditions could be worse.

Here they are, hanging by cables, 160 feet above the ground It's snowing, the temperature is about 20 degrees and there's a breeze.  It's downright chilly.

The men are working on the old Met-Ed smokestack at West Philadelphia and North Pershing, replacing old copper cables with new fiber optics, which will make Sprint's system faster and more powerful. They attach and connect cables in the snow, bracing against the wind. None are wearing gloves.

They get a few glances from the people below. Office workers leaving the York County Judicial Center, bartenders heading to a busy Friday night of customers wanting to forget the storm and kids just out to explore York in snow.

Of course, while schools were dismissed early and some office managers sent their employees, there are still the cops, state highway workers, truck drivers.
  
But at least they're inside for most of the day.

Helicopter tree trimming

By CHRISTINA KAUFFMAN 505-5436 / @ydyorkcounty A bird? A plane? No, it's a helicopter equipped with an enormous aerial saw. It's probably not something many Yorkers have ever seen unless they watched an action scene featuring such a helicopter in the James Bond movie "The World Is Not Enough." In the movie, the helicopter-maneuvered saw sliced through a building from above. But Met-Ed contracted with North Carolina-based Aerial Solutions to use one of the surreal-looking set-ups for a more productive purpose locally. For the first time in York County, the utility will trim trees along its transmission rights of way by helicopter, said Kathy Seilhamer, the electric company's manager of external affairs. Starting Monday and for the next several days, the saw will slice through branches in the Mount Wolf area, working its way along a transmission corridor that starts at Brunner Island power plant and ends at a facility near Yorkana, she said. More efficient: Met-Ed spokesman Scott Surgeoner said residents are often unfamiliar with the procedure because the aerial saws are used only in less-populated areas where the rugged terrain makes transmission corridors difficult to access. "It flies down and trims trees encroaching onto the right of way," he said. "(The time spent trimming) varies based on terrain and growth, but it's ... an efficient use of manpower and resources, and it covers much more right of way than crews on foot." He said Met-Ed spends $13 million to $15 million per year trimming trees because downed branches are the leading cause of power outages. The saw can do in a few days what might otherwise take months or weeks, he said. He said some trimmings can be left to decompose. But trimmings that have fallen onto access roads or other maintained areas are removed by a ground crew. Quick work: The contraption includes a series of 24-inch rotary blades powered by a motor suspended on a vertical boom beneath it, Surgeoner said. As the helicopter flies slowly along the right-of-way, the aerial saw quickly cuts trees and other vegetation. The saw can cut branches 8-to-10 inches in diameter without tearing, and most of what's trimmed is less than 10 inches, he said. Aerial saw trimming is completed every 8-to-10 years depending on the area, with hand-trimming as needed. Without the use of aerial saws, hand-trimming is needed every five years, Surgeoner said.

And what are you looking at?

Heard someone early this week describe the Pennsylvania State Farm show as a farm zoo for city folk. Exactly.

What show fans get beyond the animals are programs about health, nature, cooking and baking, photography, sewing. Every minute during the farm show, there's something going on that you should see. Really.

No programs to suit you? Wander down to the cattle barn and pet the alpacas or sit on longhorn steers named Happy Bear or Blue Ridge Buckshot. See a display about where your acorn squash comes from. Watch someone make potato donuts. Most city folk won't get much closer to being a farmer than during this week.

It's not all squishy cow pies and odors that would gag a maggot--although there are plenty of both.  Check in with Shaver's Creek Environmental Center and listen to Jenn talk about eagles, turtles, snakes and bugs. Listen to the state health department explain why everyone ought to learn the new CPR. Eat a potato donut. Talk with Governor Corbett or Mrs. Corbett as they tour the barns. Discover why Pig #1 really is a better animal than Pig #2.

At the York Dispatch, we're big on showing what York County people are up to at the show. They might be square dancing, racing horses around barrels, shearing sheep or eating a potato donut. But sometimes, that's the problem. Draft horses, their carriages and equipment, for example, are fabulous subjects, but few are from York, or, if they are Yorkers, we've photographed them a dozen times already.

Horse shoe throwers and all their expressions are great to shoot, but few are local. During the weekend's high school rodeo, only three York girls were entered. One boy, but I couldn't find him.

So, above, you'll find mug shots of some of the animals at the Farm Show. They don't have names, I don't care where they live.  They are just animals at the farm who watch you wandering past their cage as much as you watch them.

They just stand there, wondering what in the world you're looking at, and thinking they'll be going home soon.

And by the way, they think your pink cowboy hat is fabulous.

Farm Show opens!

Kami Landolfi, 12, of Dover, cruises around the barrels during the Pennsylvania State High School Rodeo.    The Pennsylvania State Farm Show opened Saturday, January 5, 2013,  to the usual huge crowds.

Ghostly whistle concert ends at NY Wire

   With a nod of his head, Scott Ryan signaled that the air be shut off, and "Silent Night" came to a quiet end. A small group, mostly regular visitors who watch and listen to the steam whistle concert from inside New York Wire Company, applauded and yelled 'thank you' to Scott and his father, Donald.

New York Wire Company is closing next year, sending much of its work to China, and the whistle and the concert will die-- as will about 170 jobs at the plant. Don says plenty of new companies are willing to host the whistle concert, but it's not a signed deal. Tuesday morning's carols could be the end of a 120-year old tradition.

The Ryans have been playing the concert for two dozen years, and Don's been playing for 55 years. The whistle has been singing its eerie Christmas songs since 1889, but for the past four years or so--Don can't remember exactly-- it's been an air whistle concert. New York Wire's steam boiler died that year, and concert officials imported an air whistle concert. The factory has seen its better days, and a few bricks are crumbling just around the corner from the whistle. The door frame is rotted, and it's a chore opening the thick fire door.

It's the same kind of spooky sound that came from the roof-mounted whistle before but with a different source. The sound has been described as 'whiney', 'off-key', and 'ghostly'.  The Ryans move a lever back and forth to limit the amount of air to the whistle, and it creates the notes. A guide on the mechanism shows the Ryans where the general area should be for a particular note, and whoever is not playing that song 'directs' with a baton on the printed sheet music.

The music plays for about 20 minutes. It's piercing sound is heard throughout York city and beyond. That this little whistle could create so much sound and now so much energy in finding another home is remarkable.

The concert is not the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, but then, it's not supposed to be. It's a solid tradition that has been around for more than a century, and while it won't gently lull anyone to sleep, Yorkers love it. Like many traditions, we go along with it (some would say suffer through it), just because it's ours. 

It's like eating pork and sauerkraut for New Year's, or clams during a traditional family Labor Day clambake. You might not like either, but it's a tradition, so you eat. Once a year, and you learn to like it. 

 Because the whistle level isn't exact, sharps and flats are sometimes beaten to death and notes are almost always slurred because of the mechanics. The highest notes in 'Silent Night' stab right through the ear plugs that everyone inside is wearing.

Don played the first seven songs, and Scott played the finale, 'Silent Night'. People hung around for a bit afterward, trying to soak up the ambiance. One by one, they all wandered out the door for the last time.

Yes, the whistle might play again next year. But it won't be quiet the same as this skinny corridor at New York Wire.

Post graduation blues

Photographing any school graduation is not high on the favorites list for most photographers. In fact, it's doubtful that even most families enjoy suffering through endless hours of speeches (where's the restroom?) that few will remember past lunch time (did I lock the door to the house?), much less recall who said what next year (when is Rover's rabies shot due?).

I wonder how many graduates would prefer not going through all the pomp and circumstance and would rather just have the diploma mailed to them?

As I waited for something to happen at the York College graduation Wednesday (by the way, this isn't anything against YCP--all graduations would bore the daylights out of even a caffeine-crazed father), I was talking with the studio photographer from South Jersey who was prepping to shoot all the grads shaking hands with whoever they shake hands with. She was explaining her job, how digital is making life so much easier, that there will always be graduations and she'll always have a job.

Thank you for doing your job well, I said, and I meant it because I don't think I could handle her work. Now, Melissa Dernetz might not appreciate the photograph with her tongue sticking out today. But think about it-- years after your wedding, do you remember the hazy cliche photos of two hands and rings, or the one where you smooshed his/her face with wedding cake? 

My bet is that Melissa won't remember who she shook hands with in the studio photo, but she'll remember who she was giving a 'thumbs up' to.

Santacon rolls in to New York City

Santacon in New York City is over for this year, and many of the Santa, Rudolphs, Mrs. Claus, elves and angels are probably still nursing a hangover. Those of us who just watch the fun thank them for the entertainment. I can't imagine spending a day in NYC that's more fun.

About 20,000 people descend on NYC once a year in December for this annual event, bringing toys for Toys for Tots and bringing truckloads of canned food to the event.

Once they 'pay' their admission, Santas are free to roam.  Some walk as couples, some in small groups, but many wander the city streets in herds singing Christmas carols. Some even shepherd their own generator-powered boom box down the bumpy sidewalks, Christmas music blaring. That is, until the police stop that fun. Can't have a generator in the open city without a permit. Darn.

On Friday, December 21, Santacon comes to Harrisburg, when the celebration starts at 7 p.m. on the Capitol steps.

Most people would call the event a bar crawl, that is, wandering from bar to bar all day. But the official Santacon website insists that it is not, and every time someone says it is, a sugarplum fairy dies.  The website also conveniently shows different regions of Manhattan, a schedule of what time the Santas should be there, and the locations of the bars.  Convenient.

Still, I haven't seen any cases of violence or bad tempered Santas. The website is very clear about Santacon etiquette . Every single Santa I met has been friendly, happy, mannerly and excited to be there. That's not to say there aren't problems. Maybe that's toward the end of the day when Santa has one too many eggnogs. At least one website has suggested Santacon won't be allowed back next year. And that's too bad.

From the Santacon website-- Please remember that this is all about having fun. Most santas like to take their fun with a little alcohol which is fine. What is not fine, however, is getting completely -----faced to the point that santas end up being abusive or violent. Remember that there is no "bail fund" for incarcerated santas and if you cross the line you'll be on your own.

Rain kept some folks inside for Friday's Christmas Tree lighting festivities, but Santa Claus rolled in anyway, and York's Christmas season was officially opened.

The Nutcracker at the Strand

Nutcracker nuances: See the classic ballet in a new way

By MICHELLE DENISE NORTON / For The York Dispatch
854-1575, x458 / @yorkweekend

This weekend, Greater York Dance will present its 14th annual “Nutcracker.” And this year, artistic director Lori Pergament has changed and updated every scene, with new choreography in nearly every dance.

“I like to keep the performance fresh, not static,” Pergament says. “This is a big year of change.”

Even after so many years staging the ubiquitous Christmas ballet, Pergament has no trouble finding inspiration. She starts with watching each rehearsal and performance closely.

 The performances are at the Strand Theater in York December 8 at 7 p.m.  and Sunday, December 9 at 2 p.m.

“This year and every year, I sit in the back of the theater with the sound people, taking notes on what could be changed, what could be different, what I want to improve,” she says.

Pergament has the freedom to change the choreography because although the studio uses Tchaikovsky's traditional “Nutcracker,” they don't use the commonplace George Balanchine choreography. They use Pergament's, which evolves as she's inspired each year.

“I try to get to see other ‘Nutcrackers.'” She laughs. “And I try to ignore it completely for a few months so when we pull it out, it's fresh.”

Charlie's Army at the Salvation Army

York volunteers help give away Christmas Cheer By CHELSEA SHANK The York Dispatch 505-5432 / @ydhealth Updated:   12/06/2012 11:08:23 AM EST Sometimes it takes an army, and sometimes it takes two. Among the volunteers at the Salvation Army's assembly line for Christmas food boxes on Wednesday were the men who call themselves Charlie's Army. The self-proclaimed army of retired teachers, principals and superintendents have been volunteering at the Salvation Army for more than 15 years since Charlie Lehman recruited them. "Charlie was the superintendent at York Suburban, and I was the superintendent at Central York and he said you oughta get involved with this," said William Snyder. "Charlie got a lot of people involved with this." Paul Wolfgang, 82, a former principal at York Suburban, said that Lehman was known as Mr. Salvation Army. "He asked a bunch of us if we'd come in and volunteer in December and we said sure, so now we are known as Charlie's Army," said Wolfgang. "Charlie died three years ago, but we're still coming," Wolfgang said. "We were always taught, in all of our various denominations, to always give back to our community. Many of us were old Yorkers, and we believe in giving back to the community." Christmas Cheer: The men from Charlie's Army, along with volunteers from the Christian School of York, Target in West York and Penn Air Hydraulics, packed 2,000 Christmas food boxes at the Salvation Army on East King Street. This was the first year that groups from local businesses volunteered for the project, said George Lenkner, business manager for the Salvation Army.

Football team descends on donut pile

The West York football team went through a light practice Thanksgiving morning in preparation for its Friday night showdown with Susquehanna Township, but the hundreds of family and friends who showed up weren't interested much in practice.

Thirty four dozen Maple Donuts were delivered shortly before practice began, and when coach Ron Miller dismissed the players they descended on the concession stand like a swarm of bees, where boosters gave out the goodies.

Well, that's not quite correct.  They just opened boxes full of donuts and seconds later it was empty.  Imagine a football team attacking a donut pile.

Check the video at about the 1:20 mark, where a half dozen hands wanted the same donut, one got it, but had it taken away by a bigger teammate.  I think it's funny, but the player who lost his prize probably wasn't so amused.

Lining up for turkeys

Hundreds of people lined up Tuesday at the York Benevolent Association for their free Thanksgiving do-it-yourself  dinner, including turkeys. 

Officials there said lines have never been this long, and traffic control was necessary to keep the peace. People waiting in their cars in the handicapped line were even seen squeezing into line, and the line sometimes reached around the corner a block away. 

It's a shame that there's even a need for places like the Benevolent Association, but there are a few hundred people in York who are glad it's here.

Ricketts Glen waterfalls ablaze

  

While it's not an endurance hike, the Falls Trail to the bottom of Ricketts Glen makes you wish you hadn't eaten that last doughnut for breakfast. Four miles of this rocky, slippery and steep trail will make you wonder why you chose to climb the glen. Then you see the first waterfalls, and remember.

Ricketts Glen State Park is about a pleasant three hour drive north of York. The park is the second most visited park in the state, says a ranger there, and autumn weekend crowds are ridiculous. Can't keep something like this a secret, so pick a weekday is possible.

While the park offers the usual park niceties, like a lake, woodland hiking, camping, picnicking, its jewel is the falls trail. Before you hit the trail, be aware that it's not the usual walk in the park. From the top of the glen or canyon to the bottom, it's a 1,000 foot drop.

That's good for making remarkable waterfalls, but tough on the legs and lungs. The rock steps can be extremely slick, and the rock paths are uneven and rough. Such is what you have to suffer through to see visions like this. The trail is in great shape for the shape it is. It's steep, on cliffs, through mud, over creeks.

On the way, you'll see waterfalls that range in size from ripples to a 90-foot tower of water. Twenty two of them are big enough to warrant a name, and many others are equally impressive, but just not as tall. Autumn color over the weekend wasn't spectacular-- mostly yellow, or shades of green-- but there were pockets of red maples. Check the woods opposite the creek for birds, mushrooms and mosses.

Once at the bottom, look forward to the return uphill. Actually, climbing isn't as tough because stopping for pictures or stopping to exclaim "Beautiful!" every three minutes will give you the break you need. Many of the hikers were using hiking poles and good shoes. Photographers were using monopods for walking sticks, helping navigate the path in soaked sneakers.

Of course, there was also a soon-to-be-mother slipping her way downhill in flipflops, and a father who was perturbed because he couldn't take the stroller. Apparently, the obvious warning signs explaining the dangers weren't enough. Or the newspaper articles at the head of the trail showing a recent rescue.

Drummer ran off to join the circus

When Alex Hilton decided to run off and join the Royal Hanneford Circus (at the York Fair this week), it wasn't the family scene you might expect with wringing of hands, crying, and wailing in fear of a bleak and uncertain future.  Just the opposite.  "Can we help you pack?"  An entertainment family, they understood that this is just another way to make a living.

Hilton, born near Altoona, has been playing drums since he was two years old, and 20 years later, he's now the show's percussionist, having worked up from a stage hand.

He's seen the show hundreds of times, hit more rimshots and cowbell accents he can imagine, but if you watch Hilton during the performances, he's still smiling, laughing with the trampoline comedy bit, and shaking his head in amazement at the balancing acts.

It's a heck of a show at Memorial Hall. Balancing acts that make 'America's Got Talent' look puny and amateurish, contortionists that make you hurt just watching them, high wire acts, and of course, the beautiful and glamorous costumes for the trapeze artistry of Annngelllllllla! 

It's still remarkable that Ringmaster Billy Martin can do his job with as much freshness today as he did years ago. What a great voice.