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1. Trails at Leonard Harrison and Colton Point State Parks Close for Winter This Wednesday, Nov. 25
2. Deane Center Cancels Friday, Nov. 27 and Saturday, Dec. 5 Concerts
3. Paulmier to Open TU Chapter #688 Meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 1 with Fly Tying Demonstration
4. Highland Chocolates Plans to Open at New Location in Wellsboro on Thursday, Dec. 3
5. Tours of Goodhart’s Inn on Central Avenue are Dec. 5 and 6 and Dec. 11, 12 and 13
6. Tiadaghton Audubon Society Christmas Bird Counts are Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020 and Friday, Jan. 1, 2021; Sign up by Saturday, Dec. 12
7. Cast Members Named for HG’s “It’s A Wonderful Life” Radio Show; Performance are Dec. 18, 19 and 20

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

TRAILS AT LEONARD HARRISON AND COLTON POINT STATE PARKS CLOSE FOR WINTER THIS WEDNESDAY, NOV. 25

Now closed for the season are the Turkey Path and the Overlook Trail at Leonard Harrison State Park and the Turkey Path at Colton Point State Park, near Wellsboro, Pa.

“We close these trails on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which falls on Nov. 25 this year,” said Ben Stone, Hills Creek State Park Complex park manager.

“During winter, ice build-up makes these trails too dangerous for hikers to use. We will reopen them in 2021 as weather allows, usually in early April,” Stone said.

Both parks are open year-round and offer vista views of the Pine Creek Gorge, also known as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. The 368-acre Colton Point State Park at 927 Colton Road is on the canyon’s west rim and the 585-acre Leonard Harrison State Park at 4797 PA Route 660
is on the canyon’s east rim.

There are modern restrooms at Leonard Harrison and rustic facilities at Colton Point. The gift shop at Leonard Harrison and the campgrounds at both parks are closed for the winter. Those at Leonard Harrison will reopen in April and at Colton Point in May of 2021.

For more information about these parks, call the Hills Creek State Park office at (570) 724-4246 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays.

DEANE CENTER CANCELS FRIDAY, NOV. 27 & SATURDAY, DEC. 5 CONCERTS

Deane Center Executive Director Kevin Connelly has announced that the Stage Fright concert on Friday, Nov. 27 and the Like A Hurricane concert on Saturday, Dec. 5 have been cancelled due to COVID-19.

Connelly made the announcement on Friday, Nov 20, prior to the new pandemic indoor gathering capacity restrictions imposed on venues by Pennsylvania on Monday, Nov. 23.

“At the time we scheduled these concerts, the virus situation was not like it is now,” said Connelly. “With more people in our area testing positive for the coronavirus, the risk of holding indoor events has been increasing. In addition, it would have been difficult for band members and fans to come here from New York in the face of recent Pennsylvania guidelines restricting travel to and from our state along with enhanced mask requirements. Coupled with the CDC’s guidance to avoid travel during the upcoming holidays, it became clear that for the safety of these performers and our audiences, we had to cancel these concerts,” Connelly said.

“We will reschedule both concerts when they can be held safely,” said Connelly. “In the meantime, we are contacting those who purchased tickets to arrange for refunds.”

The Wellsboro House Restaurant and Brewery and Deane Center for the Performing Arts were the co-sponsors of both concerts, which were to be indoors in the Deane Center’s Coolidge Theatre. Seating was limited in keeping with coronavirus social distancing guidelines and masks were required.

On Nov. 27, the four members of Stage Fright and three guest musicians from Wellsboro, Pa. and Addison, Corning and Horseheads, N.Y. were going to recreate The Last Waltz, the famous farewell concert given on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1976 by the Canadian-American rock group, The Band.

Like A Hurricane, a four-member band based in Syracuse, New York, was going to present a tribute concert to the music of Neil Young on Dec. 5.

For more information, email office@deanecenter.com, visit deanecenter.com or call the Deane Center at (570) 724-6220.

PAULMIER TO OPEN TU CHAPTER #688 MEETING ON TUESDAY, DEC. 1 WITH FLY TYING DEMONSTRATION

At 6:30 p.m., this coming Tuesday, Dec. 1, Trout Unlimited Tiadaghton Chapter #688 based in Wellsboro is meeting via Zoom. Officers, members and the public are invited to attend.

This Zoom meeting will open with a fly tying demonstration by TU member Bill Paulmier who will show how to tie a quill body sulfur parachute dry fly. The regular business meeting will follow.

“We will go through the agenda items,” said Jere White, chapter president. On the agenda are updates about members planting trees in the greenway along Marsh Creek to assist Tyler Upham, Tioga County Conservation District watershed specialist; the chapter’s Embrace A Stream Long Run grant project; the 2021 Fly Fishing Film Tour fundraiser; the 2021 Blast and Cast Raffle drawing and other business.

“We are continuing to follow TU National’s coronavirus guidelines by not meeting indoors,” said White.

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

Photo by John Eaton
Bill Paulmier (shown) will open the TU Chapter #688 Zoom meeting with a fly tying demonstration.

HIGHLAND CHOCOLATES PLANS TO OPEN AT NEW LOCATION IN WELLSBORO ON THURSDAY, DEC. 3

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, on Thursday, Dec. 3, Highland Chocolates will be opening at a new location in downtown Wellsboro.

Since Friday, May 24, 2019, Highland Chocolates has been selling an assortment of their handcrafted chocolates in space they are leasing from Lori and Rick Beckwith in the historic Shattuck house at 17 Main Street in downtown Wellsboro. The Beckwiths opened their own business, Main Street Creamery at the same location that same day.

“In late summer, Lori told us about 82 Main Street possibly being available for lease,” said Amy Welch, Highland Chocolates manager. “She knew we were looking for a new location that offered more space. Both she and Rick have been very supportive, providing us with space at 17 Main Street and offering our chocolates at their other Wellsboro businesses, Seniors Creations and the Main Street Olive Oil Company, both at 75 Main Street,” Welch said.

Partners In Progress, Inc., which owns and operates Highland Chocolates, approached the owner of the building. “Now we are about to open well before Christmas,” said Welch. “It’s exciting.”

“We’ve been remodeling 82 Main, including painting, adding new flooring, new lighting and air conditioning and are waiting for some of the new store fixtures to arrive. In addition, we ordered new refrigerated cases to display our chocolates, which have not yet arrived,” she said.

In the new candy cases will be a selection of Highland’s buttercreams, caramels, chocolate covered cherries, caramel pecans, truffles, and more. The store will also offer gift baskets and feature souvenir items from T-shirts and sweatshirts to can coolers and wine glasses.

In addition, approximately one-third of the space will feature nostalgic penny candies. “For more than 30 years, 82 Main Street was home to Peggy’s Candies & Gifts,” said Welch. “We want to continue the tradition of a neighborhood candy store, so we’re stocking liquorice, jawbreakers, salt water taffy, candy necklaces, gummies and jelly beans, too.”

Visitors to 82 Main Street will also find other favorites, such as all varieties of Highland’s trail mixes and white, milk and dark chocolate pretzel bark plus special flavors such as the hot Chili Nights Bark, a milk chocolate pretzel bark infused with chili pepper and spices; molded chocolates like a Wellsboro gas lamp; chocolate and peanut butter Tree Stumps; the spicy hot Pine Creek Poppers, a dark chocolate square-shaped bite with bacon and jalapeño; Ice Mine Mints, a milk or dark chocolate mint in a cup; Turkey Path Fudge that includes mini marshmallows, caramel and nuts; Rainbow Gummy Fish and Rail Trail Crunch snack mix. “Any of our chocolate creations make a great ‘sweet souvenir’ basket or gift for someone special,” Welch said.

The new store at 82 Main Street will be open Mondays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.

“If for some reason we can’t open on Dec. 3, look for us at our current location at 17 Main Street,” Welch said.

Highland also continues to operate its original chocolate factory and retail store where its handcrafted chocolates and trail mixes are made and sold. It is located at the corner of Route 6 and Shumway Hill Road in Wellsboro, across Route 6 from the Farmer’s Daughters.

This nonprofit organization employs local people with disabilities who manufacture this fine line of sweet snacks and gourmet chocolate gifts for all occasions. For more information, call toll-free at 1-800-371-1082 or visit www.highlandchocolates.org.

Photo by John Eaton
Production Manager Jae Zugarek displays a variety of Highland Chocolates products at the main store on Route 6 that will also be available at the new downtown store in Wellsboro.

TOURS OF GOODHART’S INN ON CENTRAL AVENUE ARE DEC. 5 AND 6 AND DEC. 11, 12 AND 13

Jeff and Laura Goodhart, owners of Goodhart’s Inn on Central, are inviting the public to an open house at their bed and breakfast at 49 Central Avenue in Wellsboro.

For the open house, the Goodharts, dressed Victorian style, will welcome guests from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5 and from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Dec. 6, and during Christmas on Main Street from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12; and 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Dec. 13.

“We officially opened the inn on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019. In September when I returned to work, we had guests on weekends only. We were really busy,” said Laura.

“We basically did the same thing this year except we were open all summer. Just like last year, we shut down a couple of weeks ago so we could decorate the inn for Christmas.”

During the open house, Christmas music will be playing on a VIctrola and on display will be Shiny Brite ornaments.

Visitors who tour the inn will see how the couple has not only retained the home’s original Victorian character but enhanced it with antique furniture and other period décor that return it to the look of the 1800s, when it was originally built.

The Goodharts have decorated six live evergreen trees ranging from seven to nine feet tall depending on the height of the ceiling in the room where each is located. “Every tree has a specific theme,” Laura explained.

“Guests will be treated to our signature hot chocolate and light snacks and receive an engraved ornament, similar in appearance to one of the gas lights that line Wellsboro’s boulevards,” Laura said. Admission is $5.

Those who go on the tour are asked to wear masks and social distance.

For more information about Goodhart’s Inn, visit goodhartsinn.com.

Photo by John Eaton
Dressed Victorian style, Laura Goodhart (shown) will welcome visitors to tour the Goodhart’s Inn on Central.

TIADAGHTON AUDUBON SOCIETY CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS ARE SATURDAY, DEC. 19, 2020 AND FRIDAY, JAN. 1, 2021

The Tiadaghton Audubon Society, based in Wellsboro, is hosting two Christmas Bird Counts this winter. The Cowanesque Circle bird count will be on Saturday, Dec. 19 and the annual Wellsboro-Mansfield Circle bird count on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021.

By Saturday, Dec. 12, those interested in taking part in one or both of these bird counts are asked to sign up by emailing tasmember@yahoo.com or calling Tiadaghton Audubon Society members Sean or Robin Minnick at 570-948-9052. “Anyone interested is welcome to call me or my wife for more information,” said Sean. Both the Cowanesque and Mansfield-Wellsboro Circle bird count volunteers will get their area assignments via email.

Each individual count is performed in a “count circle” with a diameter of 15 miles. At least 10 volunteers are needed per circle. Each participant will count every bird they see as he/she/they follow their assigned route.

The Cowanesque Circle is centered on Cowanesque Lake and has a radius of 7.5 miles, which covers the following areas: North – Pinnacle State Park in N.Y.; South – Ives Run Campground; West – Osceola; and East – East Lawrence Road and Woodford Road.

The Wellsboro-Mansfield Circle is centered on the intersection of Whitneyville and Charleston roads with a radius of 7.5 miles, covering the following areas: North – Ives Run Campground; South – Arnot and South Elk Road; West – Route 6 and Heise Run Road; and East – Mansfield University.

“We are looking for experienced birders to help with these counts,” said Sean Minnick. “Normally, we would pair a novice with an experienced birder but this year because of COVID-19 both counts are being done with no interaction between those doing the counting.”

People who have never participated before but are interested and comfortable with going out on their own are welcome to help,” Minnick said. “It might be fun for a family or people living in the same household to participate together.”

It is not necessary to be a member of either the Tiadaghton or the National Audubon Society to participate in the Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count, which occurs across America between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5 every year. Tioga County, through the Tiadaghton Audubon Society, has been represented in the count every year since 1968.
Frank Chapman started the Christmas Bird Census in 1900. Today, this community science project is an important resource and tool for conservation.

Photo by Sean Minnick
Pictured in this photograph is a cardinal. They and other birds, such as the goldfinch, robin, bald eagle, black-capped chickadee and Canada goose live in Tioga County year-round and are counted if seen during the Christmas Bird Counts.

CAST MEMBERS NAMED FOR HG’S “IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE” RADIO SHOW; PERFORMANCES ARE DEC. 18, 19 AND 20

Hamilton-Gibson’s production of “It’s A Wonderful Life”, a radio play, will be streamed at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 18 and 19 and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20.

This beloved American classic is about a man who has so many problems, he is thinking about ending it all even though it is Christmas. Instead he ends up rescuing his guardian angel, Clarence who through flashbacks shows George what his town would have looked like if it hadn’t been for all of his good deeds over the years.

“We first produced this gem in 2011 and brought it back this year in celebration of our 30th Season,” said Thomas Putnam. He directed this radio play nine years ago and is doing so again this year.

Based on the Frank Capra Christmas fantasy drama film released on Jan. 7, 1947 and adapted into a radio play by Philip Grecian, this year’s remounting of “It’s A Wonderful Life” will feature Gordie Dunlap of Wellsboro as George Bailey, Karin Knaus of Westfield as Mary Hatch Bailey and Eugene Seelye of Wellsboro as Clarence Oddbody. They each appeared in these same roles in 2011.

Performing for the first time in HG’s “It’s A Wonderful Life” are: Don Gill Elementary School third grader Emme Reifer of Wellsboro as Zuzu Bailey; Rock L. Butler Middle School eighth grader River Moyer of Whitneyville as young George Bailey and Hortense; Nicholas J. Duffy of Mansfield as banker Henry F. Potter, George’s younger brother Harry Bailey and Nick the bartender; Kathryn Sheneman of Roseville as Violet and Tilly; and Timothy Wilbourn of Wellsboro as Joseph the Angel, Uncle Billy and Mr. Bailey, George’s father.

“With 63 roles in this show, each cast member plays multiple roles in addition to those listed,” said Putnam. “The one exception is Emme. Her only role is Zuzu,” he noted.

“Because each of these actors are excellent at doing different voices and will be in different costumes and using different props, it is easy to tell one character from another,” Putnam said.

“When we first presented this radio show in 2011, we had a 15-member cast plus a person doing sound effects. Our current cast numbers eight and they are doing their own sound effects. We didn’t cast as many this time due to the need to reduce the number of people in the Warehouse Theatre. That’s when we were planning to do the show live and in-person,” said Putnam. “That changed. With more people in our community testing positive for COVID-19, the HG Board of Directors decided it was no longer safe for our audiences or casts to do in-person productions this year,” he said.

“With that in mind, the cast will be professionally filmed from many angles and with close-ups by multiple cameras during a performance in the Warehouse Theatre. That performance will not be open to the public. The resulting film will be streamed and available for public viewing. More information about this will be provided closer to Dec. 14,” said Putnam.

“It’s A Wonderful Life” is being co-sponsored by Bob and Marsha Chesko, Michele Comes, the Deerfield Charitable Trust, Friends of George Bailey and Partners In Progress, Inc.

Tickets are $10 per person and $20 per family. They will go on sale on Monday, Dec. 14 at hgp.booktix.com.

For more information, call (570) 724-2079 or email hamgib@gmail.com.

Photo by John Eaton
In the radio show version of “It’s A Wonderful Life”, George Bailey (Gordie Dunlap, left) talks with his guardian angel Clarence (Eugene Seelye). George is not convinced that Clarence is really an angel who is there to help him. The halo should have been a clue.