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1. NEW – Wellsboro is a Quarterfinalist in Independent We Stand’s America’s Main Streets Contest; Vying to be in Top 10
2. NEW – Bird Walk is This Saturday, May 4; 24 Birds Sighted on Saturday, April 27
3. Wellsboro Women’s Chorus to Celebrate 40 Years of Singing This Saturday, May 4
4. Rave On Concert is This Saturday, May 4
5. NEW – Trout Unlimited Chapter #688 to Meet Tuesday, May 7
6. History Comes Alive on Wednesday, May 8 with Coal Miner Fred Powers
7. NEW – Hamilton-Gibson Children and Youth Choirs to Present Mother’s Day Spring Concert on Sunday, May 12

Diane Eaton
dianetn@ptd.net
(570) 724-3800

WELLSBORO MAKES IT INTO TOP 25 IN INDEPENDENT WE STAND’S AMERICA’S MAIN STREETS CONTEST; NOW VYING TO BE IN TOP 10

Wellsboro, Pennsylvania is one of the Top 25 in the Independent We Stand 2019 America’s Main Streets contest based on voting, which ended on April 20. The town is now competing to be one of the Top 10 semifinalists. The grand prize is $25,000 in cash for downtown revitalization and “buying local” activities.

Voting for the Top 10 began at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 29 and will continue until 11:59:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 26. The grand prize winner will be selected from the top 10 and told of the win on Sunday, June 2. The public announcement will be made on Monday, June 3.

According to contest rules, an individual who was at least 18 years old as of Feb. 25, 2019 can cast an online vote for Wellsboro once every 24 hours now through May 26 from his or her IP address by visiting www.mainstreetcontest.com, clicking on the Wellsboro Main Street photograph and then on “Vote.” Or, people can vote once a day by going to the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook page or the From My Shelf Books Facebook page.

“During the inaugural contest in 2016, Wellsboro was named one of the top 10 semifinalists but did not win,” said Kevin Coolidge, a member of the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce who with his wife, co-own From My Shelf Books, an independent bookstore in Wellsboro. Coolidge nominated Wellsboro for the 2016 contest as well as the 2017 contest and this year’s. “I am voting for Wellsboro to win $25,000 to invest in our downtown,” said Coolidge. “People can help Wellsboro by voting online every day.”

The grand prize is a $25,000 check; a $1,000 certificate for STIHL equipment; Do it Best Corp. $500 shopping spree; PPG $500 shopping spree; $500 Nationwide Marketing Group shopping spree; Free One Day Downtown Assessment from Flip This Town, a special plaque ($100 value) and recognition on Independent We Stand social media channels and public relations outreach.

Initiated in 2016 by Independent We Stand, the national small business movement, the goal of this contest is to promote the importance and strong economic benefits of Main Streets and the small businesses that help them thrive and how communities can educate their neighbors about the many benefits of “buying local.”

For more information, contact the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce at (570) 724-1926.

BIRD WALK IS THIS SATURDAY, MAY 4; 24 BIRD SPECIES SIGHTED ON SATURDAY, APRIL 27 WALK AT HILLS CREEK STATE PARK

Coming up this Saturday, May 4 is the fifth bird walk at Hills Creek State Park in Charleston Township, about seven miles northeast of Wellsboro. It is free and provides an opportunity for the public to see the water and woodland birds that live in or migrate through the park.

It was uncomfortably cold and blustery with occasional snowflakes during the two-hour bird walk on Saturday, April 27. “Considering the miserable weather, we saw a decent number of bird species and everyone had a good time,” said Gary Tyson, who led the walk with Rich Faber, both members of the Tiadaghton Audubon Society. Accompanying them were seven other people. “The high points were seeing one common loon on Hills Creek Lake and 25 tree swallows flying above the lake catching flying insects,” Tyson said.

Of the 24 bird species sighted, three were seen for the first time this year on the April 27 walk. They included: one barn swallow, one house wren and three purple finches. The other 21 species were seen on either this year’s April 6, 13 or 20 bird walks or all three. All 24 species were reported during last year’ walks.

Those on the April 27 walk saw three migratory bird species. Reported at Hills Creek State Park were four ruby-crowned kinglets, four double-crested cormorants, and one common loon. The double-crested cormorant and the ruby-crowned kinglet winter in the Southeastern United States. In the summer, the cormorant summers in the Great Lake Region of the U.S.A. and Canada and the kinglet summers in Canada. The common loon winters on the northern coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and summers in the northern United States and northward throughout Alaska and Canada.

Walkers also saw 13 bird species that live at Hills Creek year-round. Seen for the first time on April 27 was the purple finch. The 12 other year-round park residents seen on previous walks this year, included: the American crow, American goldfinch, American robin, bald eagle, black-capped chickadee, brown-headed cowbird, Canada goose, dark-eyed junco, downy woodpecker, eastern bluebird, hairy woodpecker and northern flicker.

Of the eight bird species that are spring, summer and/or fall residents at Hills Creek, two – the house wren and barn swallow – were seen for the first time this year on the April 27 walk. They both spend spring and summer at the park with the house wren wintering in the southern United States and the barn swallow wintering in South America. Also seen on April 27 were six other bird species reported on previous walks this year, including the eastern phoebe, eastern towee, osprey, pine warbler, song sparrow and tree swallow.

For the Saturday, May 4 bird walk meet at the park office at 111 Spillway Road, Wellsboro. The walk will begin promptly at 8 a.m. Registration is not required. Everyone is invited to participate, including first timers to experienced birders. Bring binoculars and cameras and wear weather-appropriate, subdued clothing and sturdy walking shoes. For those who do not own binoculars, the Tiadaghton Audubon Society has 20 pairs available for adults and children, ages 7 and up.

The walks are slow-paced and cover a limited distance. Upcoming walks will be on Saturdays, May 11, 18 and 25.

For updates and local birding information, visit tiadaghtonaudubon.blogspot.com or www.facebook.com/TiadaghtonAudubon/ or email tasmember@yahoo.com. For information about Hills Creek State Park, call the park office between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays at (570) 724-4246.

Photo by Gary Tyson
This photo of a common loon on Hills Creek Lake was taken by Gary Tyson.

WELLSBORO WOMEN’S CHORUS TO CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF SINGING THIS SATURDAY, MAY 4

At 7 p.m. this Saturday, May 4, the members of the Wellsboro Women’s Chorus will celebrate their 40th anniversary during “Then Sings My Soul,” their annual spring concert at the United Methodist Church at 36 Main Street in Wellsboro. Special guest is the Wednesday Morning Musicales Chorus.

The two choruses will sing 17 different tunes incorporating musical styles from gospel to Broadway, inspirational, pop songs and contemporary. For the finale, the two choruses will join in singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

All former Wellsboro Women’s Chorus members are invited to participate in the 40th anniversary celebration by singing “What Would I Do Without My Music,” the chorus’ theme song. Contact Diana Frazier at 570-439-0923 or Suzanne Niles at 570-439-0186 for more information.

Forty years ago, close friends Beverly McKnight, Zelda Antoine, Carol Clarke, Jackie Knaus and Anne Maracotta founded the Wellsboro Women’s Chorus.

“Anne kept saying ‘We love to sing. Why don’t we get together and sing.’ None of us dreamed we would ever actually perform in public,” said McKnight who has been an active chorus member for 40 years.

“Bev, Zelda, Carol, Jackie and Anne approached me and asked if I would direct them,” said Pat Davis who was and still is the piano accompanist for the men’s chorus.

“Pat said ‘Yes’ and the Wellsboro Women’s Chorus was born in January of 1979,” said McKnight. “She was our director and accompanist and helped choose our music. She was wonderful. Pat would use her head to direct us if she needed both hands on the keyboard. During rehearsals she would play piano with one hand and direct with the other,” McKnight added.

“Every Thursday, we would meet at Commonwealth Bank & Trust Company (Northwest Bank) in the same space the men used to rehearse,” said McKnight. “Pat would work with us from 7 to 9 p.m. and the men from 9 to 11 p.m.”

“I was a music teacher at Wellsboro’s two elementary schools when Pat asked if I would like to direct,” said Sue Cook. By May of 1979, Cook had agreed to direct the chorus with Pat as full-time accompanist and when needed, as director. Joyce Peterson, Darlene Baker and others directed when needed, too. Slowly the chorus grew from the founding five to a high of 45, the most that can be accommodated.

Membership is at 43 now with a good balance of sopranos, second sopranos and altos. The choir’s repertoire includes selections that are patriotic, romantic, inspirational and comedic, songs from Broadway and tunes new and old.

The women sing every year during Laurel Festival and Dickens of a Christmas. They have sung at many churches, benefit fundraisers, Christmas parties and community events, like the hospital’s Red Garter Revue, and traveled to Harrisburg to sing for the Republican Women’s Convention and to Canada for an exchange concert with Brantford, Ontario. At Christmas they entertain at local nursing homes and community apartment buildings. They have sung at members’ weddings and funerals.

Davis retired from the Wellsboro Women’s Chorus in 1989. Judy Smithgall became the group’s piano accompanist and continues in that role today.

Cook was director for 31 years, until the spring of 2010. “When I found out Sue did not plan to continue,” I told the members I was interested in directing,” said Diana Frazier. They said yes and Frazier became the director In the fall of 2010. She starts her 10th year this fall.

“I remember teaching all day and coming home really tired,” said McKnight. Then I would go to chorus and be lifted up by the music. We call ourselves ‘sisters in song’ because we love to sing. In these 40 years, many of our members have gotten married, birthed babies, lost children and spouses in accidents or to disease and through it all, we continue to love and support each other.”

“We are truly sisters in song and we are family,” said Suzanne Niles who joined the chorus in 1979. “We have a spirit within all of us and when we sing it becomes stronger.” She is the director of the chorus for religious events, a position she has held for at least 19 years and is currently serving as president.

A good will offering will be taken at the door this Saturday.

Photo by John Eaton
Wellsboro Women’s Chorus founding member Bev McKnight (sitting, center) shows the chorus directors one of the scrapbooks she has maintained with information about the chorus and its history. Also pictured are: (sitting, left) Pat Davis whose “yes” to being the full-time director and piano accompanist led to the start of the chorus in 1979 and (sitting, right) Sue Cook, who directed the chorus for 31 years; (standing, from left) Diana Frazier who has directed the group for the past nine years and Suzanne Niles who has been the chorus’ director for religious events for at least 19 years, working with both Cook and Frazier.

RAVE ON CONCERT IS THIS SATURDAY, MAY 4

This Saturday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m., hear the music of Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson and other legends of early rock and roll as Rave On, a three-member New Jersey-based band, performs in the Coolidge Theatre at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro. Among the songs on their set list by Holly are “Peggy Sue,” “That’ll Be The Day,” and “It’s So Easy To Fall In Love” and by Orbison, “Pretty Woman,” “Only The Lonely” and “Crying.” Rave On band members include: (from left to right) backing vocalist Pete Farley who plays bass guitar, lead vocalist Chris Roselle who plays guitar, and backing vocalist Don Guinta who plays drums. This is a BYOB event. Reserve tables now. Tickets are $20 for adults and free for children 12 and under accompanied by a paying adult. For tables and tickets, call 570-724-6220 or visit www.deanecenter.com.

Photo provided

TROUT UNLIMITED CHAPTER #688 TO MEET ON TUESDAY, MAY 7

At 6 p.m. this coming Tuesday, May 7, Trout Unlimited Tiadaghton Chapter #688 will meet at the Wellsboro Community Center at 3 Queen Street in Wellsboro.

The meeting is free and open to the public. Participants do not have to be a member to attend.

Beginning at 7 p.m., Jacob “Jake” Tomlinson, manager of the Pennsylvania Coldwater Habitat Program, will talk about Trout Unlimited National’s habitat projects and initiatives in Pennsylvania and how the organization can help support TU chapters, conservation districts and other entities by providing streambank stabilization, habitat improvement and technical assistance. “The Pennsylvania Coldwater Habitat Program provides technical assistance for multiple organizations across the Commonwealth,” said Tomlinson. “Each year thousands of feet of streambank stabilization is completed reducing sediment and other nutrients while also improving eastern brook trout habitat.”

The meeting, led by President Jere White, will start at 6 p.m. To be discussed will be upcoming events and updates on various projects, including the Pennsylvania TU regional meeting in Bloomsburg; applying for an Embrace A Stream grant through National Trout Unlimited to do stream habitat work on Long Run in Gaines; Fly Fishing Film Tour fundraiser in 2020; feedback on the chapter’s participation at Mill Cove’s Earth Day on April 20; the need for chapter volunteers to work at Springfest on May 18; announcement of the 2019 Northeast Pa. Reel Girls Fly Fishing Clinic at Port Matilda, Pa. June 17-19 to teach girls 12 to 18 basic and advanced fly fishing concepts; and updates on Pine Creek Watershed Council riparian tree plantings and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Women’s Initiative class and trout stocking dates and locations.

The next Chapter #688 meeting will be on Tuesday, June 4. Discussed on May 7 will be whether a picnic will be held in conjunction with the June meeting and a location.

For more information, email Jere White at whitesgordonsetters@gmail.com or call him at (570) 662-2167.

Photo by John Eaton
Jake Tomlinson

HISTORY COMES ALIVE IS WEDNESDAY, MAY 8 WITH FRED POWERS

At 7 p.m. this coming Wednesday, May 8, in the Coolidge Theatre at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro, the 2019 History Comes Alive series will continue with Fred Powers of Bluefield, West Virginia.

His face blackened with coal dust against a theatrical backdrop of the interior of a mine, Powers will speak in the first person recalling his own experiences in dangerous and sometimes humorous circumstances as an underground coal miner.

He is the third generation on his father’s side to have worked at the Keystone #1 Mine in McDowell County, West Virginia. He worked there full-time for 10½ years from 1973 to 1983. When the mine closed and he was laid off in April of 1983, he spent the next 1½ years, from 1983 to 1984, working full-time for a small mining business, helping to retrieve large, continuous mining machines from underneath massive roof falls. For the next eight years, during summers and long weekends from 1984 to 1992, Powers worked part-time for that same company doing the same dangerous work until tragedy struck and a good friend, one of his coworkers, lost his life.

Powers was the first in his family to go beyond the eighth grade in school. He graduated from college and, for 26 years, from 1984 to 2010, taught middle school special education classes in all subjects.

Following his presentation, he will encourage the audience to ask questions and will bring an assortment of mining artifacts that show the evolution of mining technology from candles to modern day equipment.

Tickets are $15 and free for children 12 and under when accompanied by a paying adult. For information or tickets, call (570) 724-6220 or visit www.deanecenter.com.

Photo provided
With his face blackened with coal dust, Fred Powers (shown) will talk about his own experiences, often dangerous, sometime humorous, as an underground coal miner.

HG CHILDREN AND YOUTH CHOIRS SPRING CONCERT IS ON MOTHER’S DAY SUNDAY, MAY 12

The four Hamilton-Gibson Children and Youth Choirs composed of second through twelfth graders are giving their Spring Concert at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 12, in Mansfield University’s Steadman Theater. Each mother attending will receive a small gift because May 12 is Mother’s Day.

Directing the Children’s Concert Choir and Young Men’s Choir is Thomas Putnam. Julie Schlosser is the director of the Young Women’s Choir and Cheryl Hein Walters is the director of Choir, TOO. Derek Young is the piano accompanist.

“Our choirs will perform songs that explore our need to help our friends, peers and those who are far different from ourselves,” Putnam said. “Many of them are songs they will be singing on their May 2-5 performance tour to Toronto, Ontario, Canada,” he added.

All four choirs will join in singing “Ani Ma’amin,” a traditional Jewish song arranged by Paul Caldwell and Sean Ivory; “Dona Nobis Pacem, a traditional round; “Brave” by Sara Bareilles and Jack Antonoff and arranged by Roger Emerson; “Glory” from the film “Selma”; “Lift Every Voice and Sing” with words by James Welcon Johnson, music by J. Rosamund Johnson and setting by Allen Pote; “Thixo Onothando,” a traditional isiXhosa hymn arranged by Michael Barrett; and “Welcome Welcome Ev’ry Guest,” an American round from “The Sacred Harp” tune book.

Together, the Young Men and Young Women’s choirs will sing “John the Revelator,” traditional gospel blues arranged by Paul Caldwell and Sean Ivory; “My Spirit Sang All Day,” with poetry by Robert Bridges and music by Gerald Finzi; and “Sure On This Shining Night” with words by James Agee and music by Morten Lauridsen.

The Young Men’s Choir will sing “Chickens in the Garden,” a traditional British folk song arranged by Stephen Hatfield; “Loch Lomond,” a traditional Scottish tune arranged by Jonathan Quick; and “Non Nobis, Domine” with Latin text, music by Rosephanye Powell and arranged by William C. Powell.

Songs performed by the Young Women’s Choir will include “He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother” by Bob Russell and Bobby Scott and “Song of Ruth” with text from Ruth 1:16-17 from the Bible and music written in 2014 by Thomas Yee.

The Children’s Concert Choir will perform “Count on Me” by Phillip Lawrence, Ari Levine and Bruno Mars and arranged by Andy Beck; “I’m Goin’ Up a Yonder” by Walter Hawkins and arranged by Martin Sirvatka; “I’se The B’y,” a rollicking Newfoundland folk song arranged by John E. Govedas; “In Flanders Fields” with words from an iconic war poem written during the First World War by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae and music written in 2006 by Anthony Hutchcroft, a Canadian composer; “Kusimama (Stand Tall)” by Jim Papoulis; and “Prepare Thyself, Zion” by Johann S. Bach and arranged by Michael Burkhardt.

Sponsoring the tour and spring concert are: Eugene Seelye, Kathleen Phillips, Blaise Alexander, Craig and April Devenport, Tom and Brenda
Walrath, Bill and Peggi Yacovissi, Julie Schlosser, Larry and Marian Miller, Peggy Detweiler and Jurgen Thym.

Tickets at the door on May 12 will be $8 for adults and $4 for children and students. For more information, call (570) 724-2079 or email hamgib@gmail.com.

Photo by John Eaton
The Hamilton-Gibson Young Women’s Choir rehearses at the Deane Center for their May 2-5 performance tour and upcoming spring concert on Mother’s Day.