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1. NEW – What Is It About Wellsboro? Two Wellsboro Businesses are in Top 25 for Indie Award; Vote Every Day Now Through Nov. 17
2. Last Two Performances of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” are This Friday and Saturday, Nov. 8 & 9 – REMINDER
3. A Tribute to Woodstock Concert is This Saturday, Nov. 9 – REMINDER
4. For Love of God and Country Concert is This Sunday, Nov. 10 – REMINDER
5. NEW – Golden Afternoons is Tuesday, Nov. 12
6. Storyteller Regi Carpenter to Present “Where There’s Smoke There’s Dinner: Stories of a Seared Childhood” on Friday, Nov. 15 – REMINDER
7. NEW – Luncheon, Fashion and Hat Show at Penn Wells Hotel and Trunk Show at Dunham’s Department Store are Saturday, Nov. 16
8. NEW – Wellsboro Community Concert Association Presents American Pianist Thomas Pandolfi on Saturday, Nov. 16
9. NEW – Johnny’z Hot Rod Café Contributions

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

WHAT IS IT ABOUT WELLSBORO? TWO WELLSBORO BUSINESSES ARE IN TOP 25 FOR INDIE AWARD; VOTE EVERY DAY NOW THROUGH NOV. 17

What is it about Wellsboro? Once a person discovers this little gem of a town, snuggled deep in the hills of rural Pennsylvania, they can’t forget it.

Soon, they are planning their next trip back – may be to attend one of Wellsboro’s many festivals or may be to enjoy the outdoors and a slower pace of life.

With a population just north of 3,000, Wellsboro is now home to not just ONE, but TWO nationally recognized small businesses. Dunham’s Department Store and From My Shelf Books & Gifts were named to the Top 25 at the conclusion of first round voting by loyal fans and customers to help determine the winner of the Independent We Stand Small Business of the Year Award for 2019.

Thousands of small businesses across the United States of America were originally nominated for this annual award. Round two voting began on Oct. 28 and will end at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17 with the Top 10 from those 25 being selected for judging to choose the grand prizewinner.

Why Wellsboro? Sure, Wellsboro has a beautiful, historic downtown, but it’s more than that. Wellsboro is still a place where people say hello as you walk down the street, or ask if you need help. Part of our tradition is helping a neighbor carry a package to the car, or giving directions to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.

These two businesses exemplify Wellsboro’s approach to people, offering tourists and locals alike great customer service and dedication to the community.

Dunham’s is one of the few remaining family-owned department stores in America. It carries home goods to perfume and makeup, men’s and women’s clothes, coats and shoes to belts, jewelry, and children’s toys to double espressos in its Café 1905 and more. This family-run store has been serving the community for four generations since it was originally founded in 1905. The owners of a big-box store don’t live in Wellsboro, but the Dunhams do. Times might have changed, but this store’s focus remains on service and the personal touch.

From My Shelf Books & Gifts has been rooted in Wellsboro for more than a decade. Owned and operated by Kevin and Kasey Coolidge, this husband and wife team and their staff provide “book matchmaking” services that are second to none. They don’t sell books; they breathe and live books. Visiting isn’t shopping, it’s an experience. Kevin is also an award-winning children’s author, and the bookstore is home to Wellsboro’s most famous cats, Huck and Finn.

Help the rest of America discover these two stores and boost them to the Top 10. Visit www.IndieBizAward.com and click on “View Nominees.” Both of these businesses are on the front page. You can also find them on Facebook with links to vote and posts to entertain and inform.

Each person can vote 25 times a day per IP address at home, work and even from Café 1905 every day between now and Sunday, Nov. 17. This allows all members of a household to vote.

The names of the Top 10 semifinalists will be announced on Monday, Nov. 18. The overall winner to receive an enhanced prize package valued at $25,000 will be selected by a panel of judges and named on Monday, Nov. 25.

Remember to vote. You have 25 votes a day; use them to support these two Wellsboro businesses.

LAST TWO PERFORMANCES OF “THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME” ARE THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, NOV. 8 & 9

Photo by John Eaton
The last two performances of Hamilton-Gibson’s production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” will be at 7:30 p.m. this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 8 and 9. Shown are: (from left) 15-year-old Christopher (Rob Garrison) is offered some cookies by a neighbor (Linda Iseri. The play revolves around Christopher’s efforts to find out who killed a dog in his neighborhood. An endearing character, Christopher is full of quirks and charm as he navigates the mysterious death of the dog, his parents’ difficult relationship and his autism. The play incorporates good humor and heartfelt feelings and ends with a touching message. This show is recommended for teens and adults, ages 13 and older. Note: the play contains crude language that may be offensive to some. Admission is $12 for adults and $6 for youth under 18. For reservations, contact Hamilton-Gibson at (570) 724-2079 or email hamgib@gmail.com.

A TRIBUTE TO WOODSTOCK CONCERT IS THIS SATURDAY, NOV. 9th

This Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Nick Kody and Lydia Herren (pictured) will perform A Tribute to Woodstock in the Gallery at the Warehouse Theatre at 3 Central Avenue in Wellsboro. Special guest Jaimie Lee will open the show with her own set of Woodstock songs. Kody and Herren will then perform acoustic interpretations of Joe Cocker’s “With A Little Help From My Friends”, Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” and other iconic selections by Joan Baez, Jimi Hendrix, CCR, the Band, and more on guitar, piano, violin, harmonica and Irish whistle. They will also share trivia facts and stories about those songs. Admission is $20. This is a BYOB – bring snacks and beverages – event. For tickets and/or to reserve a table free of charge, call (570) 724-6220 or visit www.deanecenter.com.

FOR LOVE OF GOD AND COUNTRY CONCERT IS THIS SUNDAY, NOV. 10

Photo by John Eaton
This Sunday, Nov. 10, at 2 p.m., the 44-member Wellsboro Women’s Chorus directed by Suzanne Niles and Diana Frazier with accompaniment by Judy Smithgall, and the 31-member Wednesday Morning Musicales directed by Diana Frazier with accompaniment by Marian Miller will present their “For Love of God and Country” concert featuring inspirational and patriotic songs sung in celebration of Veterans Day. The concert will be at the United Methodist Church at 36 Main Street in Wellsboro. It will open with the audience and choruses singing both “The Star Spangled Banner” and “The Pledge of Allegiance” and conclude with “A Tribute to the Armed Services”. Veterans and present-day military men and women are invited to attend and wear their uniforms or something that represents their armed service branch. A dessert social will follow at the church. The concert and dessert social are open to the public. There is no admission fee for the concert, however, a free will offering would be appreciated. Pictured are members of the Wellsboro Women’s Chorus rehearsing.

GOLDEN AFTERNOONS IS TUESDAY, NOV. 12

During the free Golden Afternoons program at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, in the Deane Center lobby at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro, Suzan Richar of Wellsboro will show those attending how to create a nativity to take home using popsicle sticks and felt. All materials for this Christmas craft project will be provided free.

Anyone who is 55 years of age or older is welcome to participate. Free refreshments will also be provided.

For more information about this Golden Afternoons program call the Deane Center at (570) 724-6220.

Photo by John Eaton
Suzan Richar displays the nativity that she will teach people how to do at Golden Afternoons.

STORYTELLER REGI CARPENTER TO PRESENT “WHERE THERE’S SMOKE THERE’S DINNER: STORIES OF A SEARED CHILDHOOD” ON FRIDAY, NOV. 15

At 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15, storyteller and award-winning performer Regi Carpenter will present “Where There’s Smoke, There’s Dinner: Stories of a Seared Childhood” in the Deane Center’s Coolidge Theatre at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro. Her show is for families, adults and youth, ages 12 and up. Tales of underwater tea parties, drowning lessons and drives to the dump give voice to multi-generations of family life in a small river town with an undercurrent.

Carpenter is the youngest daughter in a family that pulsates with contradictions: religious and raucous, tender but terrible, unfortunate yet irrepressible. These tales celebrate the glorious and gut-wrenching lives of four generations of Carpenters raised on the Saint Lawrence River in Clayton, New York.

For more than twenty years, Carpenter has been bringing songs and her stories to audiences of all ages throughout the world in schools, theaters, libraries, at festivals, conferences and in people’s back yards. She has toured her solo shows and workshops nationally and internationally. This is the third show in the Deane Center’s Storytellers Series. Admission is $15.

For more information or for tickets, call (570) 724-6220 or visit www.deanecenter.com.

LUNCHEON, FASHION AND HAT SHOW AT PENN WELLS HOTEL AND TRUNK SHOW AT DUNHAM’S DEPARTMENT STORE ARE SATURDAY, NOV. 16

On Saturday, Nov. 16 from 12:15 p.m. to 2 p.m., Dunham’s Department Store and Christine A. Moore Millinery are hosting a luncheon and fashion and hat show in the Penn Wells Hotel at 62 Main Street in Wellsboro.

At 12:15 p.m., those attending will meet in the lobby for wine and appetizers. Lunch will be in the dining room. It will include the Penn Wells Hotel’s signature salad featuring grapes, apples, candied pecans, dried cranberries, feta cheese and greens with the hotel’s homemade balsamic dressing, rolls and dessert.

The fashion show will feature brand name fashions for men and women from Pendleton, Ethyl, Euro, Marble and Tribal, all available at Dunham’s, along with accessories, including jewelry, handbags, wallets, scarves and belts.

The models will also wear hats for men and women created by New York City hat designer Christine A. Moore of Christine A. Moore Millinery. Along with having a celebrity following such as Alicia Keyes, Cynthia Nixon and Halli Berry to name a few, Moore hats have been seen in many publications, nationally such as Harper’s Bazaar, Allure, and Marie Claire and in Europe.

Moore and her artistically trained employees create a finely constructed collection of hats for women and men as well as one-of-a-kind styles that range from casual to extra fancy.

Moore is best known for her horse racing hat styles, two of which are in the Kentucky Derby Museum. For the first time in Kentucky Derby history, Moore was named Featured Milliner of the 144th derby in May 2018 and of the 145th in May 2019.

Those who purchase a ticket will also have a chance to win a Moore hat during the luncheon and fashion and hat show and receive a 20 percent savings pass to use at Dunham’s Department Store, which is located directly across from the hotel at 45 Main Street in downtown Wellsboro.

From 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, immediately following the fashion and hat show, Moore will host a trunk show presenting hats in the Sportswear department at Dunham’s Department Store. The trunk show is free and open to the public.

Tickets for the luncheon, fashion and hat show are $25 per person and are available for purchase at the front desk in the lobby at the Penn Wells Hotel. For tickets or more information, call the front desk at (570) 724-2111.

WELLSBORO COMMUNITY CONCERT ASSOCIATION PRESENTS AMERICAN PIANIST THOMAS PANDOLFI ON SATURDAY, NOV. 16

At 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, Thomas Pandolfi, an exceptionally accomplished American pianist, will perform “One Singular Night: The Music of George Gershwin and Marvin Hamlisch” in the Coolidge Theatre at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro. This is the second concert in the Wellsboro Community Concert Association’s 72nd season.

Pandolfi is showered with superlatives by critics “for his passionate artistry and amazing technique” at the piano. According to reviewers, “His remarkably warm and communicative tone projects the poetry and emotion of whatever he plays. He truly touches the hearts of all who hear him.” “His virtuosity is breathtaking, and his sense of phrasing and command of style are marvelous.”

He “enjoys a comfortable connection” with his audience. “Not only is he a convincing artist at the piano, but he is also skillful in engaging the audience before each piece with helpful comments on what to expect to hear” wrote a critic. “His artistry and technique were simply astonishing,” wrote another.

During the performance at Wellsboro, Pandolfi will play Gershwin’s solo version of “Rhapsody in Blue”; “Prelude No. 2 in C Sharp Minor (Blue Lullaby)” and a medley of Gershwin tunes, such as “Our Love is Here to Stay,” “The Man I Love,” and “I Got Rhythm.” Pandolfi will conclude the concert with “Hamlisch Fantasy,” his own virtuoso interpretation of melodies Hamlisch wrote including “I Hope I Get It,” “What I Did for Love,” and “One”, all from A Chorus Line” and “The Way We Were”. Following the concert, Pandolfi will be available to sign CDs for audience members.

Gershwin (1898-1937) was an American composer and pianist known for his Broadway musicals and world famous orchestral compositions, including “Rhapsody in Blue,” “An American in Paris” and the opera “Porgy and Bess”.

Hamlisch (1944-2012) was an American composer, pianist and conductor who wrote the music for the iconic Broadway musical “A Chorus Line” and for films, such as “Roses and Rainbows” for “The Devil and Max Devlin” and “Nobody Does It Better,” the theme from the James Bond film “The Spy Who Loved Me.”

Pandolfi’s international concerts have taken him across the globe to China and Europe. as well as a Canadian debut in British Columbia.His orchestral appearances often feature masterpiece concertos by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov and Liszt. An outstanding cross-over artist, Pandolfi is also in demand for his critically acclaimed “Pops” genre performances of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and his virtuoso transcriptions of the music of Hamlisch, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Leonard Bernstein, Burt Bacharach and Barry Manilow.

In 2006, Pandolfi released his first CD, and since then has recorded ten additional ones, including “Language of Infinity” (Chopin), “Gypsy Passages” (Liszt), “Into the Night with Gershwin”, and the “Paderewski Piano Concerto” recorded in the Czech Republic with the Moravian Philharmonic.

He has collaborated with numerous noted conductors and also enjoys working with new composers. In particular, Pandolfi has championed the “Pops” concertos of British composer, Simon Proctor, including the world premier performance in London of Proctor’s “James Bond Concerto” in the 2010-11 season. During the 2019-2020 season Pandolfi is scheduled to perform the world premier of the “Bohemian Concerto” by British-Argentine composer, Polo Piatti.

Born in Washington, D.C., Pandolfi grew up in Montgomery County, Maryland. Following graduation from Georgetown Preparatory School in North Bethesda, Maryland, he spent six years at the Juilliard School in New York City where he earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees. He then began his performing career as a pianist.

There is still time for adults to buy a Wellsboro Community Concert Association season ticket for $70, which will lower the cost by $30 to attend all five remaining concerts. The price at the door is $20 per concert for adults and $5 for students and children.

Information and season ticket subscription forms are available by visiting www.wellsborocca.org, stopping in at the Deane Center at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro or by calling (570) 724-6220.

Photo provided
Thomas Pandolfi

JOHNNY’Z HOT ROD CAFÉ CONTRIBUTIONS

One dollar for each Charlie’s Frank И Taco sold at Johnny’z Hot Rod Café at 17½ Crafton Street in Wellsboro is being donated to an area, nonprofit organization. In September, the money collected in August was given to the Wellsboro Fire Department and in November and December will be donated to the Lawrenceville Fire Department.

The idea for Charlie’s Frank И Taco came from Charlie Messina who often eats at Johnny’z. “Food is a wonderful memory trigger for me and a hot dog brings back some great memories from my childhood,” Messina said.

One July afternoon, Messina wondered out loud about combining tacos and hot dogs, each offered separately on Johnny’z menu. “After all, the taco shell acts like a bun with less bread and onion, cheese and mustard are an added delight for a hot dog,” he said. Owner and head chef John Zavett was up for the challenge.

“I was at Johnny’z with friends and had the first one,” said Messina. “We all joked about it and the name Charlie’s Frank И Taco was born. It’s a regular taco with tomatoes, cheese, onion, mustard and a grilled hot dog instead of hamburger. I like mine with dijon mustard.”

That same day, Messina and Zavett also decided to donate $1 for each Charlie’s Frank И Taco sold in August to the Wellsboro Fire Department.

Photo by John Eaton
Charlie Messina (left) presents a check for $100 to Wellsboro Fire Chief Lonnie Campbell while John Zavett (right) displays a freshly made Charlie’s Frank И Taco.