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1. Laurel Parade Chairs are Available to Rent Now Through June 16
2. Wellsboro Growers Market is This Thursday, May 27
3. Canyon Pilots Association Memorial Day Weekend All-You-Can-Eat Fly-In Breakfast is This Sunday, May 30
4. Trout Unlimited Chapter #688 to Host Picnic This Coming Tuesday, June 1
5. Hamilton-Gibson’s “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” Performances are June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 & 13
6. Damn The Torpedoes Tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is Saturday, June 5
7. Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival is a Go June 12-20
8. Pet Parade is Sunday, June 13; Preregister by Wednesday, June 9
9. 2021 Laurel Concert Series Includes Two Showings of New Gale Largey Film About Wellsboro’s Nessmuk
10. Gabe Stillman Band Concert with Special Guest Kat Riggins is Thursday, June 10 at the Deane Center

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

LAUREL PARADE CHAIRS ARE AVAILABLE TO RENT NOW THROUGH JUNE 16

Planning to attend the Laurel Festival Parade on Saturday, June 19, in Wellsboro? Reserve chairs in advance for $5 each now through Wednesday, June 16. Proceeds will benefit the Wellsboro Hornets Varsity Softball team, which includes 15 ninth through twelfth grade girls. The funds will be used to purchase equipment and uniforms.

For the parade, the chairs will be located in the grassy area between the sidewalk and Main Street from the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce to the Tioga County Courthouse.

To reserve chairs in advance to see the parade, stop in at the chamber office at 114 Main Street in Wellsboro or call 570-724-1926 on or before Wednesday, June 16.

On June 19, parade day, chairs can be reserved beginning at 9 a.m. from Wellsboro Hornets Varsity Softball team members who will be at a table in front of the Tioga County Courthouse at 118 Main Street in Wellsboro.

For more information, call the chamber at (570) 724-1926 or email info@wellsboropa.com.

WELLSBORO GROWERS MARKET IS THIS THURSDAY, MAY 27

This Thursday, May 27 and every Thursday through Oct. 14 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., the Wellsboro Growers Market will be on the front lawn of the First Presbyterian Church at 130 Main Street in Wellsboro, next to the Green Free Library, weather permitting. If there is a downpour or constant, heavy rain, the market will be cancelled.
“Sales on opening day, May 20, were wonderful,” said Liz McLelland of Yorkshire Meadows. This Thursday, she is bringing her lemon, orange and lime curd, scones, carrot cake, Eccles cakes, caramel shortbread bars, pecan sandies, assorted cookies and pastries, Seville orange marmalade, raspberry mango jam, triple berry jam and other British delights. “I will also be bringing an assortment of summer shawls from my knitting shop at reduced prices,” she said.

At the Between Two Rivers Maple Products booth Sally and Jeff Jones are offering maple candied pecans and almonds and their maple syrup, maple cream and maple candy.

Janet and Ray MacWhinnie of Udder Merry Mac Farm will be bringing their own lettuce blend, arugula, mixed greens, green onions and some mini cucumbers.

Laura Driesel of Aunt Lulu’s Embroidery, known for her custom designs, is introducing her line of sarcastic dog T-shirts along with dog tug toys, winter coats for dogs, pot holders and embroidered denim key chains she has created from recycled material.

Kathy Siegrist of Bakery 303, “the pound cake lady” is offering classic butter, blueberry-cranberry, chocolate stout, lemon glazed, jalapeño chocolate and coconut pound cakes as well as super sized classic butter pound cake and cake pops.

Ann Vayansky of Growin’ Native will have shrubs, small trees and flowering plants native to North Central Pennsylvania that are ready for planting.

Frank Maffei will be hosting tastings of his Staggering Unicorn wines, which will be sold by the bottle.

At the New View Farm booth will be artisan breads, herb focaccia, bagels and Boston cream cupcakes as well as jams and jellies, honey, maple syrup products, homemade sauerkraut, ground horseradish and sprouts.

Shortsville Green Growers will have microgreens (pea shoots, purple radish, broccoli, sunflower), salad greens, spinach and rainbow chard, and plants for home growers, including a variety of cherry, slicer and sauce tomato plants and zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant, bell peppers, hot peppers and Brussels sprout plants.

At the CBJ Collective booth will be hand-poured scented candles in a wide variety of fragrances, wax melts, liquid and bar soaps, hand lotion and bath scrubs, as well as crocheted items.

Customers are asked to wear face masks and maintain six feet of distance between themselves and others.

For updates on who and what will be at the market, visit the Wellsboro Growers Market Facebook page.

Growers and others who want to participate at an upcoming market are asked to contact Thomas Putnam, event organizer, for more information at (570) 439-2000 or wellsborogrowersmarket@gmail.com.

Photo by John Eaton
The MacWhinnies (left) of Udder Merry Mac Farm and the Joneses of Between Two Rivers Maple Products are shown with the Wellsboro Growers Market banner on opening day, May 20.

CANYON PILOTS ASSOCIATION MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT FLY-IN BREAKFAST IS THIS SUNDAY, MAY 30

This Sunday, May 30 from 8 a.m. to noon, the Canyon Pilots Association’s All-You-Can-Eat Memorial Day Weekend Fly-In Breakfast will be indoors at the commercial corporate hangar at the Wellsboro Johnston Airport, just west of Wellsboro on Airport Road in Delmar Township.

This breakfast is open to the public and will be held rain or shine.

The hangar’s main door for airplanes will be open for good airflow. “If the weather is nice, tables and chairs may be moved outdoors so people could eat outside,” said Tom Freeman. “We won’t make that decision until closer to Sunday because it all depends on the weather.”

On the menu are ham, eggs, buckwheat pancakes, coffee and orange juice. Requested is a donation of $10 for adults and $5 for youngsters ages 3 to 8 years old. Children 2 and under will be admitted free.

Weather permitting, pilots in various types of full-size aircraft will fly to the airport for this year’s breakfast. “People who attend are encouraged to bring lawn chairs so they can join family members and friends outdoors to chat and watch airplanes land and takeoff,” Freeman said.

“We are asking people to social distance while eating breakfast and to wear masks and social distance outdoors,” he said.

Members of the Canyon Country Ultralight Club will have a display of ultralight aircraft outdoors. The Mountain Modelaires will display radio controlled airplanes and helicopters and, as long as supplies last, will give away free foam gliders to eight to twelve year olds to assemble at home.

For more information about the breakfast or flight instruction scholarships for youth, 16 and older, email Tom Freeman at av8slow@gmail.com.

Photo by John Eaton
Standing in front of the Air-Bike ultralight that will be on display during this Sunday’s Fly-In Breakfast are: (from left) Kevin Johns, Shaw Siglin and Tom Freeman. All three are members of both the Canyon Pilots Association and the Canyon Country Ultralight Club. Freeman is president of the ultralight club, which he founded in 2004. Siglin is a member of the airport authority.

TROUT UNLIMITED CHAPTER #688 TO HOST PICNIC THIS COMING TUESDAY, JUNE 1

Trout Unlimited Tiadaghton Chapter #688 is hosting its annual picnic meeting on Tuesday, June 1 at the Valley Alliance Church at 4858 Route 6, Wellsboro, Pa.

Participants do not have to be a member of Chapter #688 to attend the picnic but are asked to bring their own beverages to drink and a dish to pass that will serve six people.

The chapter will provide hot dogs, hamburgers, rolls and condiments. The food, including dishes to pass, will be ready to eat at 5:30 p.m.

After the picnic will be a very short meeting with President Jere White providing updates on chapter activities. Fishing and fellowship will follow.

Tiadaghton Chapter #688 takes a hiatus during the summer. No meetings will be held in July or August. Regular meetings on the first Tuesday of each month will resume at the Wellsboro Community Center at 3 Queen Street in Wellsboro beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 7.

For more information, email Jere White at whitesgordonsetters@gmail.com.

HAMILTON-GIBSON’S “DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE” PERFORMANCE ARE JUNE 4-6, 11-13

KaDee Jay of Mansfield did not expect to get to play Jean, the main lead in Hamilton-Gibson’s production of “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” a comedy directed by Gabe Hakvaag.

“I’m in the midst of writing my doctoral dissertation and was in a holding pattern waiting for feedback,” said Jay. “When I saw the audition for this play pop up on my Facebook newsfeed, I thought it would be a great way to get back into performing in theatre which had been a goal of mine.”

“I emailed Thomas Putnam and he encouraged me to show up for a cold reading. In my head I was hoping to get any role, because the goal was to tip my toes back into community theatre. Instead, I dove into the deep end and my family has to hear me practicing lines every hour of the day,” she laughed.

“I love being in comedies and this one is written so cleverly. When Jean answers a dead man’s phone and callers ask if he’s available to speak and she replies, ‘No, he’s not,’ as she looks at his dead body, the absurdity of the situation really hits home.”

Although a newcomer to Hamilton-Gibson, Jay is very familiar with theatre. “I’ve been doing some type of acting most of my life. My first formal stage roles were in high school.

“In college, I was a double English/drama major in education. For me, theatre was part of every semester. My first job in education allowed me to start directing musicals with my students.” For years she was on the director/choreographer side of things with shows like “The Wizard of Oz”, “My Fair Lady”, and “Oklahoma.”

Then Jay moved to New York City and began work with a therapeutic high school. “There I played around with improv and ideas around drama therapy. This is my first opportunity since college to be on the acting side. I’m having a great time,” she said.

“I like that Jean has a moral compass and a caring outlook on humanity as she lies her way through the entire play. Her goal in creating these lies is always to help someone – whether it is a memory of Gordon or some poor person she has never met in Brazil.”

Jay describes Jean as “a lonely woman who hasn’t made any deep or meaningful connections in her life. When she is suddenly dropped into Gordon’s world and family she tries to fulfill her mission of making sure that his memory is kept alive in their hearts and minds. Along the way, she discovers what meaningful relationships might look like and realizes they are not found in a technological device,” she said.

“I think adults and mature teenagers will enjoy this play. As a mom, I am not inviting my 11-year-old to the show as I think the frank conversations about sex and occasional swearing in the play are too much,” said Jay.

“The audience will laugh at the humorous situations Jean finds herself in throughout the show and leave with some thoughts about their connections with other people and technology. The show is not preachy at all in getting its message across. The playwright is more interested in exploration and questions than hitting the audience over the head,” she said.

Asked about her feelings in doing an in-person show during the pandemic, Jay said, “I think in much the same way that Jean is learning to find connection with others, it might be time for the rest of us to follow her example. I know that many people are still scared by face-to-face interactions, but finding ways to accomplish that, within whatever boundaries each person is comfortable doing, is important for our well-being. Our hearts need the nourishment of caring and loving and interacting with other people in person. Like Jean, I was ready to connect.”

Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, June 4, 5, 11 and 12 and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays, June 6 and 13 in the Warehouse Theatre at 3 Central Avenue in Wellsboro.

No tickets will be sold at the door. People who want to attend are asked to buy tickets in advance so they can be assigned seats to meet social distancing protocols and state guidelines. Audiences will wear masks.

Tickets are $14 for adults and $6 for youth, 18 and under. Also available are FlexPasses for $60. For more information, to purchase a flex pass or to reserve and prepay, call (570) 724-2079 with credit card information or prepay online at hgp.booktix.com.

Photo by John Eaton
Jean (KaDee Jay) suddenly realizes that Gordon (Tim Wilbourn) is dead.

DAMN THE TORPEDOES TRIBUTE TO TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS IS SATURDAY, JUNE 5

“The tribute band Damn The Torpedoes recreates the stage presence of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with painstaking precision,” wrote Ray Schweibert of Atlantic City Weekly.

At 7 p.m. Saturday, June 5, Damn the Torpedoes will perform in the Deane Center’s Coolidge Theatre at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro. Among the more than 60 songs included in the tribute band’s repertoire are “Don’t Come Around Here No More,” “Free Fallin’,” “I Won’t Back Down” and “Runnin’ Down a Dream.”

In 2007, ten years before Petty’s death in 2017 at the age of 66, Rich Kubicz, then in his late 30s, decided to form the band in tribute to Petty and the Heartbreakers, an American rock band founded in 1976 in Gainesville, Florida.

Mesmerizing audiences since then, this tribute band offers a genuine concert experience by delivering the “awe” factor every time, according to Kubicz. His goal is for all Damn the Torpedoes members to perform the Petty/Heartbreaker studio hits, some of the live versions and a few deep cuts by playing those parts note for note and replicating the same sounds made by each of their counterparts on the original Heartbreaker records.

Each member of this tribute band is an experienced, professional musician. The band’s current lineup has been performing together for the past several years and demonstrates the unspoken chemistry of what makes a band great. The signature riffs, harmonies and underlying parts of the music are all there along with some fresh twists inspired in the moment. Band members have a deep understanding of the Tom Petty catalog so much so that the show has become “second nature” to them with an artistry and emotion that make audiences smile, sing, dance and mourn the loss of this great artist.

In the show, Kubicz is the lead singer and plays guitar as Tom Petty. He has been told that he not only resembles Petty but sings and plays like him, too. Lee Boice is lead guitarist and replicates the performances of the Heartbreakers’ Mike Campbell. Gary Castelluccio plays keyboards, piano, guitar and harmonica and is a backup singer performing as the Heartbreakers’ Benmont Tench and Scott Thurston. Jon Provan is on bass guitar and a backup singer replicating the Heartbreakers’ Ron Blair and Howie Epstein. Ross Kantor on drums and a backup singer performs as the Heartbreakers’ Stan Lynch and Steve Ferrone. Kantor’s versatility allows him to play with Lynch’s finesse and Ferrone’s power.

The tribute band took its name from the title of Petty and the Heartbreakers’ third studio album released on October 20, 1979. “Damn The Torpedoes” was the group’s big breakthrough with “Don’t Do Me Like That” becoming the band’s first Top 10 single and “Refugee” in the Top 15. Their next three albums all went Top 10 and spawned a string of Top 40 singles.

Tickets are $25. This is a BYOB concert so bring snacks and beverages. Purchase tickets and reserve a table by calling the Deane Center at (570) 724-6220. Regular seating is also available. For more information, visit www.deanecenter.com.

Photo provided
Damn The Torpedoes (shown) are returning to Wellsboro.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE LAUREL FESTIVAL IS A GO, JUNE 12-20

The Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival is definitely being held Saturday, June 12 through Sunday, June 20, according to Julie Henry, Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce executive director. “It will include both the Pet Parade and Laurel Parade,” she said.

In 2020, the festival was postponed until June of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Initially, this year’s festival was planned with major changes due to state mandated COVID-19 restrictions. Then, on May 4, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced that most pandemic restrictions would be lifted on May 31. By May 7, Wellsboro was told the state would issue the permit allowing Main Street to be closed so both the Pet Parade and Laurel Parade could be held.

The Laurel Festival is now being reorganized to return it to its original format. Units that were to perform mini concerts will again march on the parade route. Arts and craft vendors that had been moved to downtown side streets will be back on The Green. Youngsters will be able to participate in the Pet Parade rather than a pet expo.

“We are excited to be able to hold a traditional Laurel Festival this year and are so grateful to everyone who is pitching in to make this happen,” said Henry.

For more information about festival events, contact the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce by stopping in at 114 Main Street in Wellsboro, by calling (570) 724-1926, emailing info@wellsboropa.com or visiting wellsboropa.com.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE LAUREL FESTIVAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Photo provided
The Penn York Highlanders will be marching in the Laurel Parade on Saturday, June 19 in downtown Wellsboro.

PET PARADE IS SUNDAY, JUNE 13; PREREGISTER BY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9

The 2021 Pet Parade for children, ages 12 and younger and their family members will be on Sunday, June 13 at 1:30 p.m. It’s free. There is no entry fee.

Preregistration is required by no later than 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 9 to guarantee youngsters will receive a goody bag and participation ribbon.

Children, their pets and bikes will gather in the Packer Park picnic area behind the Wellsboro Senior Center parking lot on Queen Street for judging. They are asked to be there no later than 12:25 p.m. on June 13. Judging will begin promptly at 12:30 p.m.

The parade will form on Queen Street and beginning at 1:30 p.m. will travel from Queen onto Main Street to The Green where goody bags and participation ribbons will be given out.

Also presented at The Green will be special awards in 21 different categories. The dog, cat and miscellaneous pets award categories are: best dressed, prettiest, most imaginative, most intelligent, most lovable and best in parade. The bike award categories are: prettiest, most imaginative and best in parade. A 16-inch trophy will be presented to the entry selected for the Dr. Shaw Award and an 18-inch trophy to the entry named Overall Best in Parade.

Social distancing and wearing masks covering the nose and mouth are required because no vaccine is currently available for children under 12.

For a form to enter the pet parade, visit the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce website at www.wellsboropa.com, click on “Forms” and on the drop-down menu click on “2021 Pet Parade Application” or pick one up at the chamber office at 114 Main Street in Wellsboro.

For more information, call (570) 724-1926 or email info@wellsboropa.com.

Photo provided
Best dressed alpaca?

2021 LAUREL CONCERT SERIES INCLUDES TWO SHOWINGS OF NEW GALE LARGEY FILM ABOUT WELLSBORO’S NESSMUK

The 2021 Laurel Concert Series will open and close with a new film researched, written, directed and produced by Gale Largey of Wellsboro. This retired Mansfield University sociology professor enjoys making fascinating documentary films about local history and people. Among them are the Austin Dam disaster, the heroes of World War II and his newest, “Nessmuk: In Defense of Nature in the Pennsylvania Wilds.”

The 90-minute film will be shown at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 14 in the Coolidge Theatre at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro and at noon on Saturday, June 19 in the Arcadia Theatre at 50 Main Street in Wellsboro. Both showings are free and open to the public. Donations are always appreciated.

“The reason we decided on the theme “Nessmuk for the 2021 Laurel Festival is because of Gale’s new film,” said Julie Henry, Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce executive director.

Not only does Largey’s film mark the 200th anniversary of Nessmuk’s birth but also shines a light on the national importance of this man who lived most of his life in Wellsboro and is buried in the Wellsboro Cemetery on Nichols Street.

George Washington Sears was born on Dec. 2, 1821 and died on May 1, 1890. He was a pioneer conservationist, poet, adventurer, canoeist and outdoor writer whose pen name was “Nessmuk.”

The film is done in the first person with local Brian Morral as the voice of Nessmuk who talks about his experiences growing up as the oldest of 10 children in Massachusetts, signing up when he was 19 for a three-year whaling voyage, moving to Wellsboro, helping a slave escape, being a Civil War volunteer, traveling to Brazil, going on canoeing trips in the Adirondacks in the 1880s and about the contents of his unusual will.

Nessmuk was a fierce critic of the human toll on the natural environment as evidenced in his extensive writings in “Forest and Stream”, the forerunner of “Field and Stream.”

Nationally, Nessmuk is known as the author of “Woodcraft” about camping. Published in 1884, it became the “Bible for outdoor recreation” and is still in print today. “Woodcraft” was also a source for the early Boy Scout movement.

Horace Kephart (1862-1931), commonly known as “the father of camping”, credits Nessmuk for many of his ideas and dedicated his 1906 book, “Camping and Woodcraft” to him.

In his book, “Coming into the Country” published in 1976, noted American author John McPhee described Nessmuk’s writing as having “so much wisdom, wit, and insight that it makes Henry David Thoreau seem alien, humorless, and French.”

In telling Nessmuk’s story, Largey explores the life and ideas of this 19th century American naturalist and reveals his many different facets.

“Today, Nessmuk is usually associated with the Adirondacks,” Largey said. “Most people are aware of his name only because Lake Nessmuk and Mount Nessmuk, both in the Wellsboro area, are named for him. My goal is to help bring the association of his name back to Wellsboro.”

The documentary features the talents of other locals such as Pat Davis who wrote music for two of Nessmuk’s poems that are sung in the film by members of the Wellsboro Men’s Chorus.

“It’s a community production,” Largey said.

The Laurel Concert Series is also presenting four concerts, also free and open to the public with donations appreciated.

For more information about the concerts and other Laurel Festival activities, stop in at the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce at 114 Main Street in Wellsboro, call (570) 724-1926, email info@wellsboropa.com or visit www.wellsboropa.com.

Photo by John Eaton
Gale Largey is shown with a copy of his new film.

Photo provided
George Washington Sears went by the pen name Nessmuk.

GABE STILLMAN BAND CONCERT WITH SPECIAL GUEST KAT RIGGINS IS THURSDAY, JUNE 10

At 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 10, the Gabe Stillman Band with special guest Kat Riggins of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, will perform on the Coolidge Theatre stage in the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro.

The Deane Center is the last stop for Stillman and Riggins on their short tour that precedes the Billtown Blues Festival being held June 11, 12 and 13 at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville. Both will be performing there.

“We are excited to be coming back to the Deane Center and look forward to playing hard stomping blues, both fan favorites and new music,” said Stillman, ace guitarist and singer who leads the band. Stillman won the 2019 Gibson Guitar Award at the International Blues Challenge. It propelled him into the national spotlight as a touring artist.

While the trio’s electrifying sound is unmistakably rooted in American blues, the group draws deeply from influences of soul, R&B, funk, and New Orleans jazz and blues music.

The band with Colin Beatty of Williamsport on bass guitar and Ray Hangen of Buffalo, N.Y. on drums, will be performing original songs from Stillman’s album “Flying High”, which was released in 2020. Stillman recorded “Flying High” with the legendary Washington, D.C. blues band, The Nighthawks.

In addition, they will play songs from Stillman’s soon-to-be-releaed album with the working title “Just Say the Word.” It will include15 tracks, 13 of them originals that he wrote while honing his skills during downtime in 2020 due to the pandemic. The album is being released in September by the Vizztone label in Boston and produced by Anson Funderburgh of Austin, Texas, an acclaimed artist in his own right.

Kat Riggins is also a prolific songwriter. Her latest release on the Gulf Coast Records label is “Cry Out” and is nominated for Contemporary Blues Album of the Year at the 42nd Blues Music Awards being held on June 6. During her set, Beatty and Hangen will back her.

Tickets are $22 for the show only and $44 for dinner and the show. To make dinner reservations and order, call the Red Skillet (570) 787-4545. The restaurant is in the Deane Center with a short walk to the Coolidge Theatre. After paying for tickets for the show, call the Deane Center at (570) 724-6220 to reserve a table. Traditional chair seating is also available. This is a BYOB concert with those attending welcome to- bring snacks and beverages.

Photo provided
Gabe Stillman