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A small fort with a big story, the history of Fort Necessity DESTINATION PA by: Jordan Tracy Posted: Jul 17, 2020 / 04:08 PM EDT / Updated: Jul 17, 2020 / 04:38 PM EDT FARMINGTON, FAYETTE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — It may be small and often forgotten, but Fort Necessity is home to a big part of history. In 1754, a young George Washington was leading a regiment of Virginians on a campaign to build military road. Washington was ordered to ambush a French patrol and was successful. But Washington feared a large French retaliation was imminent and decided to bunker down and built a fort in The Great Meadows, the site of Fort Necessity. Brian Reedy, Chief of Interpretation and Site Manager of the Fort Necessity National Battlefield, explained, “”Here on July 3rd, 1754 the French would arrive and Washington would fight an eight hour battle. Unfortunately for Washington, he would end up surrendering and it would be his only formal surrender of his military career.” Reedy says that this small battle helped kick-start the French and Indian War and was a stepping stone in the path towards the American Revolution. The British won the French and Indian War, resulting in Great Britain becoming a large empire with large costs. Great Britain would turn to the colonies as a source of revenue, which as you may remember did not make the colonies very happy. The French, who clearly didn’t like the British, joined in the colonies’ revolution effort which help shape the country we know today. Reedy explained, “Here’s an opportunity to get back at Great Britain and knock them down a peg. Without the use of French muskets, French loans of money, the use of their army and navy, we would not be celebrating the 4th of July.” Reedy says Fort Necessity played an important role in the path to revolution. “As cute of a little fort that this is and involves a young George Washington,” he said, “it’s really that first step on that road to revolution and the country that we have today.” At the site today, visitors get to experience this history at the fort with the visitor’s center, guided ranger tours, and even weapons demonstrations. Guided ranger tours take place throughout the day. Musket and artillery demonstrations. Due to COVID-19, the fort asks guest to maintain a six foot distance.Read More » Additional photos from the grounds of Fort Necessity National Battlefield. Currently the only limitations due to COVID-19 is the request to maintain social distance and limited viewings of their film to limit crowds. The plus, however, is most of what can be enjoyed at the site is in the great outdoors. Reedy details, “We have close to three miles of hiking trails here. Some of them utilized the military road that Washington had built that later becomes known as Braddock’s road so you can actually walk through the footsteps of history.” The park is open from sunrise to sunset. The visitors center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. SEE VIDEO ; https://www.wearecentralpa.com/destination-pa/a-small-fort-with-a-big-story-the-history-of-fort-necessity/

Ford revives Bronco brand, aims at Jeep's big off-road sales by TOM KRISHER AP Auto Writer Monday, July 6th 2020 AA This photo provided by Ford Motor Co. shows a 1966 Ford Bronco. Ford is reviving the Bronco SUV brand in an effort to cash in on the rugged U.S. off-road vehicle market now owned by Jeep. (Courtesy of Ford Motor Co. via AP) DETROIT (AP) — When it comes to rugged vehicles that go off the road, over rocks and into the mud to experience nature, Jeep for years has cornered the U.S. market. Now Ford is reviving the Bronco brand name in an effort to take a slice. Later this month the company will introduce two new off-road vehicles, a Ranger pickup-sized Bronco that will come in two- and four-door versions, and the smaller Escape-sized Bronco Sport, both aimed at taking sales from Fiat Chrysler's top brand. It won't be easy for a brand best known as O.J. Simpson's ride in a 1994 low-speed chase with Los Angeles police who wanted him on murder charges. Jeep has sold well over 800,000 vehicles for the past five years, and more than 900,000 in three of those years. Ford wants to avoid the O.J. ties. It moved the date it would unveil the SUVs from July 9, Simpson's birthday, to July 13. The automaker believes the Bronco name will evoke good memories from its off-road heritage during a three-decade run that ended in 1996. At its introduction in August of 1965, Ford called the Bronco a new line of sport utility vehicles, the first reference to SUVs from an American automaker, the company said. Galhotra says people are passionate about the Bronco, pointing to high prices that restored old vehicles are commanding and frequent searches for the name on the internet. This photo provided by Ford Motor Co. shows a 1967 Ford Bronco T67-515. Ford is reviving the Bronco SUV brand in an effort to cash in on the rugged U.S. off-road vehicle market now owned by Jeep. (Courtesy of Ford Motor Co. via AP) Although the new Broncos will share some parts with other Ford vehicles, they've got beefed up suspensions and were designed for off-road use, the company said. They've also been torture tested on trails and in extreme heat and cold and will come with a new system to manage all terrains. All will come standard with four-wheel-drive. Specific details of the vehicles won't be released until the July 13 event. The Sport goes on sale late this year and the larger Bronco hits dealers next year. David Kelleher, owner of a Jeep dealership in Glen Mills, Pa., near Philadelphia, says he's happy to see the Bronco name return, but he's not too worried about the threat to Jeep sales. The Broncos don't seem to be aimed specifically at Jeep's top sellers, the Grand Cherokee large SUV and the smaller Wrangler, he said. He's surprised that another automaker hasn't come after the Wrangler, a traditional-looking Jeep with a removable roof and doors. If the Bronco is able to dent sales of the Grand Cherokee, it probably won't be for long, Kelleher said. A redesigned Grand Cherokee is due out next year, he said. The Bronco name is highly recognized by consumers, says Michelle Krebs, executive analyst at Cox Automotive, but she doesn't think it carries the weight of Jeep. She said the coronavirus pandemic may increase the size of the market for off-road vehicles with more people now opting to take road trips and travel outdoors by vehicle. The Bronco, she said, will have to prove its off-road capability. "Jeep has pretty much that territory all to itself," she said. "It's been overdue that they've had some competition."

Throwback Thursday: Cooling Off at The Pee Wee’s Nest in Curwensville by Gant Team Thursday, July 16, 2020 in Features, Local News, Top Stories 0 0on FacebookShare on Twitter It is a sad necessity, due to the COVID-19 virus, that the annual Curwensville Days celebration in Irvin Park will not take place this year. Many middle-aged and beyond Curwensville natives, though, can take solace in their good memories of swimming at the Pee Wee’s nest, a spot along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, next to Irvin Park. Irvin Park is named for Colonels Edward and John Irvin, both prominent Civil War veterans and businessmen who accelerated Curwensville’s development as a community. They donated the park land that still bears their name to this day. Generations of Curwensville’s kids and adults swam at the Pee Wee’s nest. As the summer temperatures and humidity levels rose, the more crowded the park became. The place would be packed on a hot weekend afternoon! Curwensville was a lumber and rafting town. Remnants of that early vital industry were still present on the river at Irvin Park when the pair of 1930 photos shown was taken. Platforms, built of logs, and connected by heavy chains, served as anchors and barriers, to hold back logs, until the spring floods came to float them eastward, through town, to sawmills. As a result, the water flow on south side of the river became channeled into a sluice that rapidly moved the logs along to the Irvin sawmills that once stood adjacent to the today’s Golden Tide Football Field. The log platforms shown remained for years and made a fine jumping off spot for kids to plunge into the water. If anything, Pee Wee’s Nest is a unique name for a swimming area. One story claims that the name came the small (pee wee) chirping birds who nested there. Another says that there was a nearby bar of the same name. The Pee Wee’s Nest was all but abandoned by the late 1960’s. The magnificent Curwensville Dam was completed then and offered safe summer swimming. Issues of contaminated water infiltration, below the dam, and the rising liability insurance costs doomed the Pee West to a time gone by. SEE PICTURE ; https://gantdaily.com/2020/07/16/throwback-thursday-cooling-off-at-the-pee-wees-nest-in-curwensville/

36 Incredibly Useful Garden Tips That Actually Work! LIFE | JESSICA BEDEWI Gardening is a particularly gratifying hobby. While it gives you something to do when you’re feeling restless and bored, it also allows you to connect with nature and bring new life into the world in the form of your beloved plants. Those who don’t have a green thumb can’t fully understand the satisfaction of watching your garden flourish before your eyes. Of course, gardening also takes quite a bit of work. Take a look below at these useful (and easy-to-use) gardening hacks that will change your garden for the better. 1Cinnamon Chances are you have powdered cinnamon in your home, and if you do, you may find it much more useful than just adding a pleasant taste to some of your dishes. Indeed, it has a number of different benefits for your garden! Nature Bring First of all, if your garden is prey to ants, know that cinnamon is an excellent deterrent. Sprinkle some around your garden and ants won’t be a problem anymore. Cinnamon is also a perfect rooting agent, so if you apply a small amount on the stem when you plant your cutting, their growth will be greatly optimized. 36 Incredibly Useful Garden Tips That Actually Work! LIFE | JESSICA BEDEWI Gardening is a particularly gratifying hobby. While it gives you something to do when you’re feeling restless and bored, it also allows you to connect with nature and bring new life into the world in the form of your beloved plants. Those who don’t have a green thumb can’t fully understand the satisfaction of watching your garden flourish before your eyes. Of course, gardening also takes quite a bit of work. Take a look below at these useful (and easy-to-use) gardening hacks that will change your garden for the better. 1Cinnamon Chances are you have powdered cinnamon in your home, and if you do, you may find it much more useful than just adding a pleasant taste to some of your dishes. Indeed, it has a number of different benefits for your garden! Cinnamon Nature Bring First of all, if your garden is prey to ants, know that cinnamon is an excellent deterrent. Sprinkle some around your garden and ants won’t be a problem anymore. Cinnamon is also a perfect rooting agent, so if you apply a small amount on the stem when you plant your cutting, their growth will be greatly optimized. SEE REST OF TIPS ; https://betterbe.co/life/useful-tips-garden/?lo=p&dens=3&v=a&vstr=1&utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=taboola&utm_campaign=JO_GardenTips_TB_D_US_00555&utm_term=cox-wpxi-tv&utm_content=2905293145

Despite derailment, McKean County railroad bridge stands tall DESTINATION PA by: Devin Jackson Posted: Jul 14, 2020 / 04:51 PM EDT / Updated: Jul 14, 2020 / 04:51 PM ED KANE, MCKEAN COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — The view on the Kinzua Bridge at the Kinzua Bridge State Park will stop people in their tracks. The bridge is just two hours north of Altoona, and sits 301 feet off the ground, with quite the history. “During 1881 and 1882, people found coal and other natural resources to the South, and they wanted to get them to market as quick as they could,” said Holly Dzemyan, Environmental Education Specialist for the Kinzua Bridge State Park. “They started laying rails up to this area.” General Thomas Kane, who was President of the New York Lake Erie and Western Coal Company, among others decided to build a railroad bridge through the Kinzua Valley, where the bridge sits now. When it was finished in 1882, it was the tallest and longest railroad bridge in the world. But by the 1900’s, it needed upgrades, in lieu of the Industrial Revolution. “In 1900, they decided to switch out the towers, because of the heaviness of the engines and the freight going across,” Holly said. “They changed the towers those original iron columns, Phoenix Columns, to the iron towers you see out there now.” Freight went across the bridge until 1959. Resources could be shipped alternate routes. During the 1960s, the state purchased the bridge and turned the area into a state park. The Park now is designated under the DCNR, otherwise known as the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. In 1986, the Knox and Kane Railroad began using the bridge as an excursion train business, until 2002, when a railroad inspector deemed the bridge unusable for trains. But everything changed during the summer of 2003. “An F1 Tornado came through the park, and took out the middle section of the bridge,” Holly said. “Nobody was on the bridge at the time, and nobody saw the bridge go down.” The bridge was damaged on approximately July 21, 2003. It was 2,053 feet long before the tornado tore half of it. Remains of the bridge. Despite the damage, the park wanted to preserve the bridge that remained, and built a deck, as well as a glass section to give people the feel of being that high up in the air. Holly says during its peak season, 10,000 people could come through on a given weekend. “We have visitors from other parts of Pennsylvania, we have visitors from other parts of the United States and we have visitors from other countries…all coming here to see the structure.” The park also features a hiking trail that goes beneath the bridge, as well as a exhibit to showcase its history. The Visitor Center for the park is open seven days a week during its peak season (which is until Thanksgiving) from 8am-6pm. The bridge is open daily from 8 am until dusk. For more information on the bridge, you can visit their website. SEE VIDEO REPORT ; https://www.wearecentralpa.com/destination-pa/despite-derailment-mckean-county-railroad-bridge-stands-tall/

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Laurel Fields Secluded in Sigel Offers State Flower Sanctuary July 2, 2020 8:40 am· Author: Ron Wilshire SIGEL, Pa. (EYT) – Pennsylvania’s state flower, the mountain laurel, is now in full bloom at Laurel Fields in Sigel, close to the Farmer’s Inn. (PHOTOS by Ron Wilshire.) The scenic, quiet, and secluded Laurel Fields offers a unique way to view the state flower selected by Governor Gifford Pinchot in the 1930’s. Laurel Fields feature hundreds, if not thousands, of laurel bushes across acres of open lands that the public can wander through to enjoy the lovely pink blossoms and dark evergreen leaves of the plants. Families can also drive around the fields on a winding country road developed for the park. Thousands of tourists from the Commonwealth and surrounding states are drawn to the mountains to view this colorful display. John Straitiff, executive director of the PA Outdoors Visitors Bureau, said, “Starting around Memorial Day each year, visitors start contacting our office wanting to know when the Mountain Laurel will be in bloom. Nature’s annual display of white and pink flowers draws travelers to our region with cameras in hand.” Mountain laurel varies from four to ten feet in height and is commonly found growing on rocky hilltops. Mountain laurels can also be viewed by driving along Route 949 from Ridgway in Elk County to Sigel in Jefferson County or along River Road from Hallton to Cook Forest. “Once you experience this spectacle beautiful event, you will want to return each June and July. Just take a drive and enjoy the scenery,” Straitiff said.

Life & Culture More than 4 dozen new bee species in Pennsylvania, says Penn State study Updated 10:13 AM; Today 10:13 AM A bee gathers nectar from wild bergamot flower. By Marcus Schneck | mschneck@pennlive.com A study of bees found in Pennsylvania has uncovered 49 species never before recorded in the state. Penn State researchers updating a 2010 checklist of bees in Pennsylvania have bumped the total number of species present to 437, including species not native to North America and several native species that may be endangered. That 2010 checklist included 372 species, based on inspections of more than 13,000 specimens in 20 collections across the state. For the update, the researchers reviewed more than 130,800 specimens and records of observations in insect collections, online repositories, published studies and ongoing research projects at universities, museums and government agencies. "Bees are a diverse and important group of insect pollinators," said lead researcher Shelby Kilpatrick, doctoral candidate in entomology in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. "Overwhelming evidence of declines in managed and wild bee populations points to the need for a better understanding of bee diversity across different geographic areas. But despite extensive research, we still don't know enough about the diversity and distribution of native bee species." She noted that since the first checklist was published in 2010, thousands of additional specimens have been collected and databased, new species have been described, and the taxonomic status, or scientific classification, of some species has changed. National Honey Bee Day started in Harrisburg, and 14 other things you don’t know about honey bees The updated checklist of 437 species, including 79 new state species records representing five of the six bee families in North America. Among those 79 were 49 species reported for the first time in Pennsylvania and another 30 that did not appear on the 2010 checklist. The researchers documented new species records for all but two of the state's 67 counties. According to the study, of the six bee families in the state the one with the highest number of reported species, 118, was Apidae, which includes honeybees, bumble bees and carpenter bees. Next highest is Halictidae, commonly called sweat bees, with 110, and Andrenidae, known as mining bees, with 100. Megachilidae, comprised mostly of mason bees and leafcutter bees, accounted for 81 species; Colletidae, often referred to as cellophane bees and masked bees, had 24; and Melittidae, a family of rare, small bees that typically do not have common names, was represented by four species. National gardening survey finds boom in planting for pollinators The researchers, who published their results in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research, also list at least five species of conservation concern that may be in decline or threatened, Kilpatrick noted. "We don't know the population status for most bee species, and some may be experiencing declines or other changes," she said. "To assess that, further research is required, but in the absence of these data, we provide a breakdown of the number of years since each species last was collected in Pennsylvania." Most bee species in the state have been collected between 2000 and 2018, but at least 56 species —nearly 13 percent – have not been detected within that time frame, according to Margarita López-Uribe, Lorenzo L. Langstroth Early Career Professor and assistant professor of entomology, in whose laboratory Kilpatrick conducts her doctoral research. For example, Epeoloides pilosulus, part of a genus of cleptoparasitic bees that lay their eggs in the nests of other bee species, is considered a species of conservation concern due to extreme rarity within its range since the 1960s. "This species has not been reported in Pennsylvania since 1911, according to our data," López-Uribe said. Checklists such as this also are important for documenting the status of exotic species in the state, according to the researchers. "Non-native species potentially can out-compete native bees for resources, transmit diseases and parasites, change pollination effectiveness, and hybridize with local species," López-Uribe said. "On the other hand, exotic species also may have positive effects, such as serving as pollinators of native and agricultural plants or as bioindicators and biological control agents." Pennsylvania college adds beekeeping courses Overall, the updated checklist provides a new baseline for research on bee species, ecology and conservation in Pennsylvania, said Kilpatrick, who added that the study also will contribute to future updates of the Pennsylvania Pollinator Protection Plan, which was developed by the state Department of Agriculture and entomologists in Penn State's Center for Pollinator Research. Other researchers involved in the study were Nancy Ostiguy, associate professor emeritus of entomology, and David Biddinger, research professor of entomology, both from Penn State; Jason Gibbs, Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba; Martin Mikulas, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; and Sven-Erik Spichiger, Washington State Department of Agriculture. The work was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Graduate Training Program in Integrative Pollinator Ecology funded by the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences’ Strategic Networks and Initiatives Program. https://www.pennlive.com/life/2020/06/more-than-4-dozen-new-bee-species-in-pennsylvania-says-penn-state-study.html

These hummingbird feeders offer an easy entry into bird watching at home Here's what all the buzz is about Updated: 4:57 PM EDT Jun 26, 2020 Melanie Yates Senior Home Decor Editor hummingbird at copper feeder against window SOURCE: Etsy / SweetFeeders Gardening is a delight on its own, but it's truly wonderful to see hummingbirds zipping around and enjoying the nectar from your flowers. Hummingbirds are beloved by gardeners, not only for their cuteness, but because they're highly adept pollinators as well. Hummingbird feeders provide readily available nectar for the birds, so that they don't have to expend energy searching for it. The best hummingbird feeders are those that allow for easy access to these birds to feed, while keeping squirrels, bugs and other birds out. Experts also recommend getting hummingbird feeders that are red in color, as this helps attract the birds — just avoid coloring the nectar itself with red dye. Making your own hummingbird nectar at home is easy, and all you need is sugar and water. Enjoy the bird watching scene from your window all season long by treating yourself (and your garden) one of these 10 hummingbird feeders. Advertisement 1 Perky-Pet 8-Ounce Pinch Waist Glass Hummingbird Feeder SHOP NOW walmart.com $9.99 $8.97 This 8-ounce hummingbird feeder may be small, but it's designed intentionally to give your birds unrestricted access, while keeping the pests out. The feeder is equipped with four flower-shaped feeding ports, and each one has a yellow gridded bee guard that protects it from becoming a bug magnet. Its top also functions as an ant moat. Four perches allow the birds to rest while sipping, and the entire feeder comes apart for easy cleaning. 2 Sweet Feeders Geometric Window Hummingbird Feeder SHOP NOW etsy.com $20.00 Whether you lack backyard space or you simply want a better view of your hummingbirds' feeding habits, this hummingbird feeder suctions right to your window and gives you a front-row seat. This handmade piece is made of shaped copper wire that holds two bottles of nectar at the ready for your visitors. Reviewers adore how it looks, they love that bugs and other animals can't get into it. And even better, it effectively attracts hummingbirds. 3 Juegoal 12-ounce Hanging Hummingbird Feeder SHOP NOW amazon.com $17.99 $16.99 If frequently refilling this small, 12-ounce vessel doesn't bother you, this user-favorite hummingbird feeder is the one to go with. It includes an ant moat to prevent crawling insects from getting into the nectar, as well as four raised feeding ports that completely seal it off from wasps and bees. A perch along the perimeter of the unit lets these buzzy birds rest for half a second, and the cover also snaps off easily to clean. Advertisement 4 First Nature 16-Ounce Hummingbird Feeder SHOP NOW amazon.com $12.99 $6.79 This plastic, budget-friendly hummingbird feeder may be no-frills, but we're sure the birds will love it just the same. It features a 16-ounce capacity, 10 feeding ports and a wide-mouthed reservoir that makes it easy to keep clean. 5 Blossom Hummingbird Feeder SHOP NOW gardeners.com $26.95 What looks like a pretty garden ornament to the unsuspecting eye also helps keep the hummingbirds happy! This small-capacity hummingbird feeder is made from metal and recycled glass, and the single red bloom at the top is what draws birds to it again and again. 6 BOLITE Diamond Hummingbird Feeder SHOP NOW amazon.com $26.99 $24.99 This five-port hummingbird feeder has an antique-inspired aesthetic to let your feathered friends sip in style. We also love that the 20-ounce glass bottle is conveniently dishwasher-safe. Advertisement 7 First Nature 32-ounce Hummingbird Feeder SHOP NOW amazon.com $12.47 Save yourself a few trips and opt for this extra-large 32-ounce plastic hummingbird feeder! Equipped with 10 feeding ports, the birds will truly be flocking to it. For extra-large gardens and backyards, it's even available to buy in a sets of two, four and six at a slight discount. 8 Perky Pet Copper Bird Feeder SHOP NOW amazon.com $27.09 This sizable metal-and-glass hummingbird feeder holds 32 ounces of liquid, and it makes for a stunning outdoor accent. It includes four feeding ports, and the unit has a slight lip around the edge that's the right size for the hummingbirds to perch on. Users do note that if not affixed properly, the feeder vessel can get quite leaky, so always check the feeder over your sink before hanging it. 9 Perky-Pet Red Antique Bottle Hummingbird Feeder SHOP NOW homedepot.com $18.88 $19.86 This feeder has DIY charm, but it's ready-made for your hummingbird visitors to feast on. Its 24-ounce red antique-style bottle has a vibrant look to draw the birds in, plus four ports and all-around perching space means there's plenty to go around! A bottle brush may be needed to thoroughly clean this hummingbird feeder, but users adore its look and hefty build. Advertisement 10 Copper Hummingbird Feeder SHOP NOW gardeners.com $36.95 With its artsy spiral hanger and authentic copper build, this pick is certainly not your garden-variety hummingbird feeder. The interior plastic drinking vessel holds about 1 ounce of nectar at a time, but users actually cite this as a major plus, because the sugary liquid gets all slurped up before it has the chance to turn bad. https://www.wtae.com/article/unique-hummingbird-feeders/32982088

Household Hydrogen Peroxide Hacks You Need to Know About HOMES | September 18, 2019 | By Jason Owen 1. Carpet Cleaner Source: Getty Images Is your carpet in need of a little love? You can clean it up with just three ingredients — hydrogen peroxide, lemon essential oil, and water. Mix two parts water with one part hydrogen peroxide and five drops of lemon essential oil. Make sure you use a dark bottle (like the one peroxide comes in). Shake it up and it’s ready to go. Just spray it on the stained carpet, let it sit for a minute or two, and then use a brush to scrub the stains out. This solution works on upholstery, too, and you can repeat the process a few times until you get your carpet and fabrics squeaky clean! SEE SLIDES ; http://definition.org/hydrogen-peroxide-uses/1/

There are actually ‘bad’ ladybugs, and you need to watch out for them What to look for, how to get rid of them Updated: 2:44 AM EDT Jun 18, 2020 Elizabeth Gulino Editorial Fellow As far as bugs go, ladybugs have a pretty sterling reputation. Seen as a sign of good luck and often appearing in children's books and cartoons, these red and black-spotted insects have plenty of great qualities: They prey on pests like aphids, spider mites and mealy bugs that would otherwise destroy your plants and gardens. But there's actually a bad kind of ladybug out there — ones that can bite and be aggressive, are harmful to dogs, invade your home and leave behind a foul-smelling yellowish secretion that can stain walls and furniture. They're called Asian lady beetles and were first introduced to North America in 1916 to combat aphids — but now, they're even more of a problem because they have overtaken the native species and our homes. RELATED CONTENT Massive insect decline could have 'catastrophic' environmental impact, study says How to get rid of bugs hiding in your spice jars What are nasty webs all over trees and how can you get rid of them? Here's how to get rid of stink bugs While Asian lady beetles also prey on pests that harm our gardens, their cons far outweigh the pros. Here's exactly how to tell if you're dealing with a good kind of ladybug or a bad kind of ladybug, and what to do about it. How can I tell the difference between native ladybugs and Asian lady beetles? Asian lady beetles look almost identical to native ladybugs when it comes to color, but there's one distinctive marking that will make it easy to spot the difference between the two. On the black section just behind the bug's head, you'll notice a white "M"-shaped marking — that's the telltale sign you're dealing with an Asian lady beetle, according to The Spruce. Getty ImagesBobGrif See the M? On normal ladybugs, that entire section is black. How do I get rid of Asian lady beetles? Keep them outside. Make sure all of your window and door screens are in good shape and double-check areas like chimneys, siding, vents, utility wires and anywhere else you think insects could come into your home. If they do end up getting inside, Orkin recommends vacuuming them up (emptying the bag immediately afterward) or sweeping them up in a dustpan and putting them back outside. These bugs quickly multiply, so if you notice a few in your home, make sure to act fast. Call your local pest control company because it won't be long before you've got a full-blown invasion. SEE VIDEO ; https://www.wtae.com/article/asian-lady-beetle-vs-ladybug/27269584

Throwback Thursday: DuBois: Once a Hub for Buffalo Rochester and Pittsburgh Railroad Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2020 by Gant Team in Features, Local News, Top Stories (Provided photo) The phenomenal early growth of DuBois, the only Clearfield County municipality designated as a city, is an American success story in itself. It continues today, over a century after the ending of the John DuBois lumber empire and decades after the end of the large-scale deep-mining industry. DuBois, it seems, has for 40 years, taken it upon itself to keep what manufacturing it could and also transition itself by attracting service and technology-based businesses. Hence, the city and its adjacent surrounding locale have generally kept their economic head above water and much tribute is owed to those who have helped accomplish that success. Without railroads, American industrial power never would have developed. The Buffalo Rochester and Pittsburgh Railroad became vital to DuBois’ early 20th century growth. The BRP Railroad was formed in 1885 from a prior failed railway line. Its purpose was to connect the coal fields of northwestern Clearfield County and environs to the steel mills of the Pittsburgh area and shipping along the Ohio River. Likewise, the line stretched northward, roughly following the present Route 219 and splitting at Ashford, N.Y. The lines moved on to connect to steel mills in Buffalo to the Great Lakes shipping lanes in Rochester. (Provided photo) It was a successful business plan that lasted until the Great Depression when the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad bought the financially strapped BRP Railroad. The BRP Railroad had a branch that began by joining the B&O Railroad in Clearfield. The present-day Agway store there was once the line’s station. The line continued past Curwensville to follow Anderson Creek to the northwest. Railway stops were built in Rockton and Luthersburg, as well as the huge mining operations in Helvetia. DuBois was a vital hub of the BPR line The 1918 color-coded postcard shows the BRP repair shops on the south side of DuBois, near the Sandy Township line. The surrounding neighborhood was made up of working families. Perhaps many men living there were employed at the shops. The black and white photo shows the BRP passenger and freight station located on DuBois’ Franklin Street. Before the advent of the car culture, passenger rail service was a profitable enterprise in Clearfield County. The station building has long since been renovated and now houses the law offices of Gleason, Cherry and Cherry.

KINZUA SKY WALK – KINZUA BRIDGE STATE PARK One of the Top 10 Most Beautiful Skywalks in the World WALK THE TRACKS ACROSS THE SKY Selected as “One of the World’s Top 10 Most Beautiful Skywalks and Viewpoints in the World” by the Culture Trip, U.K. The Kinzua Sky Walk is an engineering marvel with breathtaking views of the Kinzua Gorge. Located at the Kinzua Bridge State Park in northwestern Pennsylvania, the skywalk was constructed on six of the historic Kinzua Viaduct massive steel towers remaining after the tornado of 2003. The Kinzua Viaduct was once the highest and longest railroad viaduct in the world. Due to COVID-19 precautions the Kinzua Bridge Visitors Center is currently closed. The Kinzua Sky Walk and trails are open. The Kinzua Sky Walk extends out 624 feet into the Kinzua Gorge offering panoramic views. The skywalk features a walkway with a set of railroad tracks leading to the end of the overlook which has a partial glass floor. At a stunning height of 225 feet above the valley floor, visiting the Kinzua Sky Walk is an exciting opportunity to “Walk the Tracks across the Sky.” Park amenities include forestland picnic areas, a park pavilion-available for rental, hiking trails and the new Kinzua Bridge State Park Visitors Center. The access road to the park is the Kinzua Bridge Scenic Byway a shared use road for bicycling. History of the Kinzua Viaduct Three documentary videos are available for purchase online: Tracks Across the Sky, Trains Across the Kinzua Bridge; The History of the Knox & Kane and B & O Railroads; as well as The Kinzua Bridge. The Kinzua Bridge Visitors Center is located at the edge of the Kinzua Gorge. Arriving at the entrance visitors are greeted by huge steel towers flanking the doorway. The new 11,000 sq. ft. building features two exhibit halls with displays showcasing the three E’s – Engineering, Energy and the Environment. The flagship PA Wilds Cooperative Artisan Shop features handcrafted and handmade items from the region. Modern classrooms welcome school groups and special functions. Online Educational Resource Guide Kinzua Bridge State Park Visitors Center – Mt. Jewett, PA Motorcoach groups are welcome! To reserve a group tour date, or to request a park staff guided tour or park program for motorcoach or school groups, please contact their office at: 814-778-5467 or register online. Other Group Tour Sites to Visit To Rent the Pavilion, use this Online Registration form. Driving Directions: Kinzua Bridge State Park is four miles north of US 6 at Mt. Jewett, Pennsylvania, on SR 3011. For Google GPS: the driving address is 296 Viaduct Road, Mt. Jewett, PA, 16740. GPS DD: N 41 degrees 45.078 W 78 degrees 34.846 Hours 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, 7 days a week. Closed Christmas Day & New Years Day. The Skywalk is open from 8 am to dusk. Admission is free to both the park and the Skywalk. Kinzua Bridge State Park – Kinzua Sky Walk – Kinzua Bridge Visitors Center Phone: 814-778-5467 E-mail: KinzuaBridgeSP@pa.gov View Larger Map

Saw the garden the other day.

10 types of gardening kits for adding some much-needed green to your life You don't know true joy until you've watched your seedlings sprout. 🌱 Updated: 11:11 AM EDT Jun 9, 2020 Melanie Yates Senior Home Decor Editor hands in gardening gloves potting plan Wherever you'd like your garden to grow, there's a gardening kit that can help you make it happen. This list encompasses all-inclusive kits that equip you with planters, soil and anything else you'd need, as well as simple seed kits that give you a colorful variety of plants. Unlike planting your seeds outdoors, all of these options let you immediately get started when you want, with the option to transport your seedlings outside if you have the space and the conditions are right. Check out these gardening kits here, to get sowing and growing. Advertisement 1 BEST MASON JAR PLANTER Modern Sprout Mason Jar Indoor Herb Garden SHOP NOW uncommongoods.com $20.00 These cute little jars offer a low-stakes way to start your own herb garden at home. Equipped with everything you'd need for your mini hydroponic garden, once the herb seeds have spouted, the set's water-submerged wick will keep your greens healthy and happy for a long time. These single-herb gardening kits are available in mint and organic basil, cilantro, oregano, parsley and sage. 2 BEST FOR TERRARIUMS Terrarium Building Kit SHOP NOW etsy.com $45.99 No need to hunt down all of the special components that are necessary in building your own terrarium. This gardening kit is specifically made for giving your succulents a bright, well-stocked home. It includes the glass container, soil, moss, two types of pebbles, and even a few decorative items. Just transplant your desk succulent out of its mini pot, and you're good to go. 3 BEST HEIRLOOM SEED KIT Hudson Valley Seed Company Mix 'n Match Set of Six SHOP NOW thegrommet.com $22.50 For those who already know their way around garden-variety basil and parsley, these heirloom seeds offer something unexpected, bringing a little more color to the veggie patch. These open-pollenated, non-GMO seeds from Hudson Valley Seed Company are nearly all sourced from the same farm in New York, and this variety six-pack isn't at all limited to what you see pictured. Choose from over 20 different flowers, herbs and vegetables with the most whimsical names and packaged in gorgeous, artist-designed envelopes. Advertisement 4 BEST FOR OUTDOOR TRANSPLANTING Professional Greenhouse with Plant Labels Starter Kit SHOP NOW homedepot.com $6.17 $7.98 One way to ensure your seedlings' success in the great outdoors is to sprout them first in this miniature greenhouse. This gardening kit provides soil pellets that are all contained in their own cubbies, so you can keep track of exactly what you've planted where. These cubbies also make for easy replanting — when your seeds have sprouted and are on the verge of outgrowing their space, you'll know it's time to move them into their own planters or into your raised garden bed outside. 5 BEST FOR ATTRACTING POLLINATORS Pollinator Garden Set of Three SHOP NOW uncommongoods.com $18.00 What do butterflies, bees and hummingbirds all have in common? They are all beloved by gardeners for their ability to pollinate their flowers — an essential component in a well-balanced ecosystem. Make your garden an attractive home to them by planting their favorite wildflower seeds in this push-pop set. This is a fun, kid-friendly gardening kit that is simple to pat into an unused patch of your lawn. 6 BEST FOR PROPAGATING Bloomscape Grow-How Kit SHOP NOW bloomscape.com $75.00 Once you've mastered regrowing your scallion scraps, try some plant propagation on for size. This gift-worthy set from Bloomscape includes a leafy philodendron in a minimalist planter along with a terrazzo-speckled propagation vase. When your vine-y plant needs a haircut, just snip it at the node and place it in a water-filled vase, and you might start to see roots form within days. This is also a gardening kit that gives back. Bloomscape is donating $20 from each sale to provide school supplies for Detroit Prep. Advertisement 7 BEST FOOLPROOF PLANTER Click & Grow Smart Garden 3 SHOP NOW clickandgrow.com $99.95 The Click & Grow Smart Garden 3 is a great gardening kit for anyone who loves growing edible plants ... but may not have the time to monitor them closely each day. If you've ever used a pod coffee maker, this plug-in planter is very similar. Its seeds and soil come in the form of capsules, which you can simply insert into the unit. And its included LED lighting system means that you don't have to clear your windowsills to make room for it. Keep the bottom chamber filled with water and watch your progress via the app each day. Oh, and basil is far from the only option. Click & Grow has a huge seed library. 8 BEST FOR GIFTING Modern Sprout Unwind Lavender Gift Set SHOP NOW food52.com $50.00 We think that this gardening kit is perfect for gifting ... even if it's just to ourselves. This mini hydroponic planter comes with everything you need to grow lavender from seeds. It also is bundled with a cotton eye mask, pillow spray and a soothing scented candle. If lavender isn't your (or your recipient's) thing, there are four other gardening kits available featuring chamomile, basil, mint and spruce. 9 BEST FOR MUSHROOM GROWERS Back to the Roots Organic Mushroom Grow Kit SHOP NOW walmart.com $59.99 $19.99 This mushroom grow kit may look like a science-fair experiment, but it'll provide you with at least two harvests of edible, nutritious oyster mushrooms. The packaging is designed to be a part of the grow process, and the instructions are easy enough for young green thumbs to understand. Advertisement 10 BEST ZERO-WASTE OPTION Plant the Packaging Floral Candle SHOP NOW uncommongoods.com $28.00 These soy-wax candles are perfect for any plant lover. Not only do they have a fresh, botanical scent inspired by the flower on the box, but the packaging itself can actually be planted! The embedded seeds will either be Flanders poppies or wildflowers.

Found on YouTube

Throwback Thursday: Company Houses in Penfield Posted on Thursday, May 7, 2020 by Gant Team in Features, Local News, Top Stories Penfield, which encompasses the intersection of Routes 153 and 255, in Huston Township, is an older village than one might think. The driving duo of lumber and coal gave rise to the locale’s economy is the late 19th and early 20th century, but the town was settled or founded by a man named Gould Hoyt in 1839. Mr. Hoyt was the son so Catherine Hoyt, a Vermont native and a Revolutionary War nurse and veteran who lived from 1758 to 1845. Her short obituary listed her as a “mother of the revolution.” She is buried in an unmarked gravesite just north of the intersection. A historical marker notes the approximate spot. As is told, Gould Hoyt had neat penmanship and the Penfield was named for his talent. John DuBois, the 19th century lumber baron, whose namesake is given to DuBois itself, expanded his logging operations and railroads throughout the Bennetts Valley, essentially connecting DuBois to St. Marys. DuBois was the catalyst whose ever-expanding resource extraction interests made the Penfield area rapidly grow. Markets needed laborers and immigrants, at this time, served the purpose. Many single men, and later their families, arrived from poorer regions of southern Italy as well as Eastern and other European regions and spiked the population growth of Penfield and the surrounding communities. Many of their names and family traditions still thrive in Penfield today. One ingrained tradition was the willingness to work hard to get ahead. Tanneries, that processed hides into leather, often became a spin-off industry of the lumber business. Tree bark and an abundant supply of coal were two essential products that kept tanneries in business. The 1912 photo shows Elk Tannery company houses in Penfield. They were simple wooden structures, simply built, to provide double-family occupancy. Large families were often crammed into these units. Rent was often deducted from worker’s wages. The abuse of that system, as well as company store policies, was often a source of labor strife at the time. The photo shows the surrounding hills, sets of railway tracks, dirt streets and a locomotive watering tank. The company house design resembles that of the somewhat more picturesque New England “salt box” style, but the working families of Penfield, then, saw them basic shelter as they hoped for a better future.

No eggs, milk or butter? 'Depression cake' is making a comeback This Depression-era recipe has become a trend among quarantine bakers. April 21, 2020, 4:11 PM EDT / Source: TODAY By Ronnie Koenig If you've been passing the time during the quarantine by stress baking, but you're quickly running out of dairy, don't worry. You can make this simple-yet-delicious "depression cake" that doesn't require milk, butter or even eggs. Also known as "wacky cake," the recipe calls for flour, sugar and cocoa powder, plus a few other pantry staples. You can stir it up in one bowl and when it's done, finish with powdered sugar, whipped cream or nothing at all. The result is a sinfully delicious cake that's a crowd-pleaser (or in this case, quarantine-pleaser!) The cake, which gets its name from the cakes baked during the Great Depression when rations were limited, is currently making a big comeback as many home bakers are searching for recipes that are tasty but also extremely adaptable. Food supplies low? These recipe substitutions may help APRIL 14, 202003:19 Chef Michael Zebrowski, lecturing instructor, baking & pastry arts at the Culinary Institute of America, told TODAY Food that the trick of the "depression cake" is that it substitutes cheaper ingredients that still get the same jobs done for more expensive ones. "Butter usually serves to keep cake soft and tender by coating the flour in fat and preventing it from developing a tough gluten matrix," he explained. "In this recipe, butter is replaced with vegetable oil, which can achieve a similar effect, but with significantly less cost." Zebrowski noted that eggs usually help leaven cakes and give them structure but they can easily be replaced, too. "Here, the eggs are replaced with a combination of vinegar and baking soda, which foams up quickly, making the cake light and fluffy." Related FOOD How to make this no-yeast peanut butter bread that's going viral Tracy Wilk, lead chef at the Institute of Culinary Education, told TODAY that "depression cake" is actually pretty similar to a vegan cake, and that many older cake recipes (like red velvet) use oil because it keeps cakes moist and is less expensive. "Look around to see what’s in your kitchen," Wilk suggested. "You don't have butter? Try oil. I recommend you use a neutral oil, like canola or vegetable so you don’t pass a flavor onto your cake. When I bake at home and my recipe calls for milk, I usually end up using a non-dairy milk because that’s what I keep in my fridge for coffee. Once you understand the science of baking, recipes are merely just suggestions." Related FOOD These are the best substitutes for baking soda, according to a food scientist Emily Luchetti, Executive Pastry Chef for Marlowe, Park Tavern, and The Cavalier Restaurants in San Francisco told TODAY that the "depression cake" is one that many pastry chefs across the country have in their repertoire. "This cake is quick and easy to make — one bowl, no mixer,"she said. "You can add chocolate chips and cover it with whipped cream, ganache, peanut butter cream cheese frosting. Pretty much anything works," she said. Luchetti added that she's tried using water or coffee in the recipe, which gives it an extra intensity. Related FOOD This viral creme brulee recipe only requires 3 ingredients – but is it any good? Her best advice to home bakers is to relax: "If it comes out of the oven a bit goopy, put it in bowl and call it a pudding," she said. "Too dry, break into pieces and serve with fresh cream or ice cream." Try this version, featured on Salon.com: Ingredients: 1½ cups all-purpose flour 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (or black cocoa) 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon white or apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 6 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 cup cooled brewed coffee (or water) Instructions: Preheat to 375°F. Grease an 8-inch round or square pan. Mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and the sugar. Poke three holes into the mix. Pour the vanilla, vinegar, and oil into each hole. Add the coffee and stir the ingredients until well blended. Add to the pan. Bake for 35 minutes, or until the top is set but springy. Cool the cake in the pan, then top with the frosting of your choice or enjoy plain. SEE VIDEO ; https://www.today.com/food/depression-cake-or-wacky-cake-making-comeback-t179436

Pennsylvania sees first Spotted Lanternfly hatch, residents should be vigilant by CBS21 News Wednesday, April 22nd 2020 AA Spotted Lanternfly HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture reported the first confirmed Spotted Lanternfly hatch of the year. The first-instar nymph was located Monday near the University of Pennsylvania/Drexel University. “Let’s use this time at home to make a positive impact on Spotted Lanternfly this season; scrape and destroy any remaining egg masses you find and band your trees now,” said Agriculture Secretary Redding. “We need every Pennsylvanian to keep their eyes peeled for this bad bug, we can’t let our guard down.” Most Spotted Lanternfly hatches begin in southern Pennsylvania in mid to late April and later for northern counties. As the first instars of Spotted Lanternfly hatch from eggs, they seek plant tissue to feed. The Spotted Lanternfly is capable of destroying entire grape vineyards and damaging fruit orchards, hops, walnuts, hardwoods and decorative trees. Scraping egg masses is the most efficient way to kill them. If you find Spotted Lanternfly egg masses, scrape them off, using a putty knife, credit card, or other firm, blunt edged tool. If you scrape an egg mass or squash a Spotted Lanternfly, always report your sighting. Sightings can be reported online or via phone by calling 1-888-4BAD-FLY. https://wjactv.com/news/local/pennsylvanias-sees-first-spotted-lanternfly-hatch-residents-should-be-vigilant

Have you ever heard of pink or “Watermelon Snow?” WEATHER HEADLINES by: Mike Doyle Posted: Apr 14, 2020 / 08:15 PM EDT / Updated: Apr 14, 2020 / 06:30 PM EDT As kid we were always told to avoid and not eat yellow snow, but have you ever heard of pink or “watermelon snow?”. The Colors of Snow: If you asked anyone what the color of snow is, they would say white. But, did you know pure snow is translucent and has no color. It’s all the colors mixing and reflecting off the snow that gives it the white color that we see. That being said snow can also be the following colors…pink, green, blue, grey, black, yellow, red, orange and brown. Pink & Green: Let’s start with pink and green snow or also called “watermelon snow.” This snow phenomenon occurs worldwide roughly between 10,000 to 12,000 feet in the alpine and polar regions. Algae is the cause of the weather phenomenon. This alga grows in cold weather. The snow falls as white, but once it lands algae can start to grow. The alga is predominately green and can give the snow a greenish tint, but it also has some red in it. The red color protects the algae from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. The red allows the algae to absorb the solar energy and melt the snow. This process supplies the algae with liquid water which it needs to survive. It is the red part of the algae that turns the snow a pick color. So why is it call “watermelon snow?”. The algae also secrete a fruity smell similar to watermelon. Blue: Snow is made up of frozen water. Frozen water is a light blue color. When there is a lot of snow it can appear to look blue. Snow that is well shades can also look blue. Red, Orange and Brown: For snow to have these colors its picks up dirt, sand or pollution while falling to the ground. It is these pollutants that change the color of the snow. Grey & Black: The snow can turn these colors if they fall through a heavy smoke or soot. Normally, there would be a large fire or a highly polluted area near bye. What goes up must come down. The pollutants can hitch a ride back down to the surface on snow. https://www.wearecentralpa.com/weather/weather-headlines/have-you-ever-heard-of-pink-or-watermelon-snow/

Some Wonderful Nut Turned a Learjet Into a Limousine—and You Can Buy It Motor Trend Staff 3 days ago Full screen 1/26 SLIDES © Motor Trend Staff LIMO-JET-LEARJET-LIMOUSINE-08.JPG Nothing says "you've made it" quite like pulling up in your own private jet. But a close second could be this private jet that's been converted into a 42-foot-long road-going limousine. Appropriately named the Limo-Jet, this one-off custom creation features a 17,000-watt audio system, an infinity mirror floor, and seating for 18—and it's coming up for auction at Mecum's Indianapolis sale. © Motor Trend Staff The Limo-Jet began making headlines in 2018, when it was finally completed after a 12-year build process. Though some limos are hastily slapped together Frankenstein jobs, the photos reveal a great deal of thought and craftsmanship went into the making of the Limo-Jet. A steel tube frame chassis supports the aluminum fuselage of a real Learjet aircraft, and rides on a sophisticated pushrod suspension. The whole thing is powered by a rear-mounted 8.1-liter Chevrolet Vortec V-8. © Motor Trend Staff Limo Jet Learjet limousine 28 To match the scale of the massive vehicle, a set of custom six-spoke 28-inch Diablo wheels was chosen, painted black with Dark Candy Red accents to match the exterior color. The nacelles that would normally hold the Learjet's two turbofan engines instead house a pair of gigantic speakers, which can blast jet engine sound effects while cruising down the boulevard. At the tail section there are more speakers that flip down and retract flush with the body. Click to expand 00:03 19:05 LO Feature: Blue Angel Vs Blue Devil - Corvette ZR1 Races An F-18 Hornet Inside you'll find all the amenities you expect from a limousine, including luxurious diamond-stitched leather bench seats, multi-color ambient lighting, a 42-inch plasma TV, and a "refreshment center." Up front in the cockpit is a single bucket seat for the driver/pilot, along with plenty of candy red toggle switches and four camera screens. According to the listing, the Limo-Jet is street legal. Whether it's practical to drive on the street given its immense 42-foot length, 8-foot width, and 11.6-foot height is another matter. But it does come with its own trailer and Chevy Silverado 2500HD pickup so you can tow it to events. Video player from: YouTube (Privacy Policy) Considering the years of R&D and reported 40,000 man hours put into it, why is the Limo-Jet now for sale just two years after completion? We've reached out to the owners, Jetsetter Inc., to find out and will update this post when we hear back. But whatever the reason, here's your chance to buy a one-of-a-kind jet-shaped limo—likely for a fraction of what it cost to develop and build. Mecum's Indy 2020 sale was originally set to take place May 12-17, but that has since been pushed back to June 23-28. SEE VIDEO, SLIDES ; https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/enthusiasts/some-wonderful-nut-turned-a-learjet-into-a-limousine—and-you-can-buy-it/ar-BB122hng?li=BBnb4R5

PA Department of Agriculture adds 12 counties to spotted lanternfly quarantine by CBS 21 News Tuesday, March 3rd 2020 AA This Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, photo shows a spotted lanternfly at a vineyard in Kutztown, Pa. The spotted lanternfly has emerged as a serious pest since the federal government confirmed its arrival in southeastern Pennsylvania five years ago this week. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) A dozen more counties are now part of Pennsylvania's quarantine zone for the spotted lanternfly. Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced that these counties were added on Tuesday out of caution. They are not completely infested, but have a few municipalities with a known infestation. Cumberland, Perry and York counties are included in the 12 added to the quarantine. Allegheny, Beaver, Blair, Columbia, Huntingdon, Juniata, Luzerne, Mifflin and Northumberland counties round out the dozen. “The spotted lanternfly is more than a pest in the literal sense,” Redding said. “It’s wreaking havoc for home and business owners; kids who just want to play outside; Pennsylvania agriculture and the economy of the state we all call home." According to a release from the Department of Agriculture, businesses that operate in or travel through quarantined counties are required to get a spotted lanternfly permit.

Americans spent nearly $100 billion on their pets in 2019 by Sarah Wynn Friday, February 28th 2020 AA Good Day Dog (Chime In) COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) — Ever feel like you're spending too much money on your pet? Well, you could be right. In 2019, Americans spent $95.7 billion dollars on their furry friends, according to the American Pets Products Association. So where did all the money go? The American Pets Products Association said Americans spent nearly $37 billion on food and treats alone. “Consumers are more educated than ever about the ingredients that go into their pets’ food, which means they’re willing to pay more for quality products,” said Steve King, CEO of the American Pet Products Association. “As the demand for natural, minimally-processed ingredients continues, we expect to see steady growth in this category. Coming in second was veterinarian care and health-related products, which raked in just over $29 billion. “Scientific research from the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) shows that when you invest in your pets’ health, you’re investing in your own health,” said King. “Improved physical health and reduced feelings of loneliness and social isolation are just a few of the health benefits you’re likely to experience by owning a pet.” See APPA's other Tweets Additionally, pet owners also spent more than $10 billion on services like boarding, grooming and training. “Those attending Global Pet Expo have seen an amazing array of innovative pet toys, beds, high tech and enrichment products and habitats,” said King. “There is no shortage of ingenuity in this category, which should inspire continued and increased spending.” These numbers are only for the United States, but they do include all pets. SEE TWEETS ; https://wjactv.com/news/offbeat/americans-spent-nearly-100-billion-on-pets-in-2019

You are here: Home » News Local News Pennsylvania Great Outdoors: The Helman Homicide February 23, 2020 12:45 am· Author: PA Great Outdoors - John Straitiff BROCKWAY, Pa. – One of the most notorious crimes ever to have occurred in the Brockway area of Jefferson County was the homicide of peddler Lewis Helman in 1896. The events can be reconstructed from the newspapers of the time. Both the Altoona Tribune and The Gazette in York described the Helman murder in their issues of September 3. More than a dozen other papers across the Commonwealth, from the Philadelphia Inquirer to the Pittsburgh Daily Post picked up the story during the week, and finally, on September 9, 1896, the Punxsutawney News made county readers aware of the event: On Wednesday evening of last week, two Jewish peddlers were driving along the road leading to Brockwayville and when withing a mile of that town they were held up by two masked men supposed to be tramps. The names of the peddlers were Lewis Helman and H. Shakespeare, both of DuBois. As soon as the robbers ordered a halt both men jumped from their buggy, and the robbers attacked them with revolvers and knives. One of the shots took effect in Helman’s breast. The tramps then took to the woods which line the road. Where he died shortly after. As soon as the news reached Brockwayville, a posse of citizens began searching for the murderers. Shakespeare says he can identify the assassins. One of the highwaymen is tall, the other short, both of dark complexion. Helman’s body was brought to Punxsutawney and buried on Tuesday last. Deceased leaves a wife and four children and was 35 years of age. Two brothers, William and Frank Dodson, were arrested at Hallton, Elk County, on Saturday last, on the charge of having murdered Lewis Helman at Brockwayville. The prisoners are now in the Brookville jail. The Ridgway Star gives the following particulars: William Dodson will be remembered as the star actor in a trial at Judge Lucore’s office recently, when he was charged by Nathan Laughner, of Spring Creek, with threats to shoot. He was bound over to court and gave bail in the sum of $300 to keep the peace. Mr. Laughner furnished the bail. He is a married man with a small family and worked in Hall & Garnder’s Hallton mill until recently. Frank Dodson is a jail bird and was discharged from the penitentiary about a month ago. When he came home, Will quit working and the two brothers started out camping together and have been in Jefferson County most of the time since. Both of the men have anything but a good name and have been a disturbing element in the community all the time they have lived here. A number of petty robberies in the last few weeks have been laid at their doors and the people are overjoyed at their capture. Reynoldsville’s newspaper, The Star, reported that the eighty dollars in Helman’s pocket had not been taken. An Orthodox Jew, Lewis Helman was quickly buried according to the laws and customs of that faith. “This law prescribes that, in case of death by violence, none of the blood shall be washed off, and none of the bloody garment removed, but that the victim shall be buried as he was when death came. He was laid in the grave without a coffin, his head resting upon a sack of earth. A small flat stone was placed over each eye and over his mouth, and a green twig in each hand. Boards were placed at each side of the corpse and above it and then the grave was filled up.” Helman was buried in the Cherva Agudath Achuin Hebrew Cemetery in Cloe village, Bell Township, near Punxsutawney, with a rabbi present from Punxsutawney’s small Jewish congregation The Hebrew letters on his headstone reveal his Jewish name to have been Leib, which means “Lion” in Yiddish. The Brockwayville Record covered the Grand Jury proceedings on September 18, 1896. The trial was postponed to December because Mrs. Dodson was unable to be present. Dr. John Thompson of Portland Mills had stated she was “not in a fit condition to attend upon the court at this time.” In the interim, an engineer surveyed and mapped the murder scene, and Sheriff Gourley kept “a special watch” over the prisoners. As the trail approached, the excitement was almost more than the writer for the Brockwayville Record could bear: A cold-blooded murder, resulting from a deliberately planned robbery, is so rare that its revolting nature still brings a thrill of horror when the circumstances are recalled. Its heinousness is all the more revolting when it is considered that the crime was committed in the midst of an orderly, peace-loving community where life and property are considered safe as they are anywhere in the land. William and Frank Dodson, who are charged with this heinous crime, are not residents of the community. N.U. Bond, Esq., who has charge of the defense, will be assisted by C.Z. Gordon, Esq., of Brookville, and possibly others. The attorneys who will assist District Attorney Strong are E.A. Carmalt, of Brookville, and A.L. Cole, of DuBois. Others are available if needed. The trial is awaited with great interest. On December 15th the Jefferson County courtroom filled to overflowing, Judge John W. Reed entered and was seated, the prisoners entered, the Prothonotary read the arraignment, the accused replied “Not guilty,” and “twelve good men and true” were selected as jurors. Testimony began the next day when witnesses for the prosecution explained the scene of the crime and the cause of death. Others described seeing the defendants buying liquor at the hotel Barclay in Westville and cartridges at Hamilton’s store, and having lunch at Lindemuth’s place. Then N.U. Bond opened for the defense and stated his intent to prove that the accused could not have been at the scene of the crime, that the two men that had been seen following the peddlers were not the Dodson brothers. Witnesses were asked about Shakespeare’s reputation for truthfulness. According to the Brockwayville Record: The substance of his outline was to the effect that Dodson’s….set out the day before the murder to visit their sister at Harvey’s Run. They reached their destination that night, having traversed the distance from William’s home at Spring Creek on foot by way of Richardsville. …The next day…passing through Beechtree and Westville, on to the Beechwoods road and to the crossroad heading to the Brookville Road. At John Key’s place they took to the woods and headed in the direction of Carrier…pursued their way down the creek and river homeward, reaching Spring Creek late that night. Along their route they encountered persons who knew them and were prepared to testify that the defendants were far enough away from the scene of the murder to establish their innocence of the crime charged. Another thing the defense proposed to prove was that two men had been seen following the peddlers all day and that these men and not the Dodsons were the guilty ones. A string of witnesses testified about the two strangers who were seen in the neighborhood. M.J. Raught saw them when he was driving from Carrier to Sugar Hill. Albert and Edward James said the strange men stopped at their hotel in Brockport on the night of the murder. It was on Thursday that the defendants took the stand. Frank Dodson made a good impression. Frank removed his coat to show that his physique was normal, he had no “low shoulder,” as one of the men passing the Hutchinson farm was said to have. Both men described their apparel, description that conflicted with those of the prosecution. William Dodson did not have the nerve of his brother. He appeared to wilt at times and was rattled under the sharp fire of examination. He spoiled the good impression created by Frank and once more the chain of evidence seemed to tighten around them. Attorneys for both sides summed up Friday afternoon. On Saturday Judge Reed eloquently charged the jury on the law. The jury began deliberating, then asked on Tuesday to be dismissed, “It is now claimed that Samuel Fike of Knox Township, is related to the Dodsons by marriage, and that eleven of the jurors agree on murder in the first degree, but Fike holds out for acquittal.” That was denied. Finally, “After being out for a space of five days the jury in the Dodson case at last reached a verdict. They made known their decision on Thursday morning after court had convened, and rendered a verdict of voluntary manslaughter. From the nature of the verdict and the long time consumed in reaching it, the natural inference is that it was a compromise. The maximum penalty for voluntary manslaughter is twelve years’ imprisonment.” William and Frank Dodson were sentenced to “Twelve years apiece in the Western Penitentiary at hard labor, one dollar fine and cost of prosecution. Judge Reed said Saturday, while the Dodsons were before him for sentence, that the verdict in their case was an absurdity.” The Brockway Record found the verdict “extraordinary.” Soon the Dodson brothers were “safe in the pen” in Pittsburgh. For more information on places to go and things to see in the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors region, go to VisitPAGO.com. https://www.explorejeffersonpa.com/pennsylvania-great-outdoors-the-helman-homicide/#more-260022

DINOSAURS Published 54 mins ago Loch Ness monster: A history of the legendary beast By Julia Musto | Fox News Video shows the Loch Ness Monster could really just be a large eel A video posted by the Ness Fishery Board supports a running theory that the Loch Ness Monster could actually just be a large eel. There's no reason to think that the Loch Ness monster – colloquially known as "Nessie" – exists. However, the legendary dinosaur-like creature makes headlines every year. One of Scotland's oldest myths, reports that a creature was living in the Loch Ness lake date as far back as the 6th century The first written account was recorded in 565 A.D. in a biography of St. Columba. According to the text, the creature bit a swimmer and was prepared to attack another man when Columba intervened. He ordered the beast to “go back" and it obeyed. IS THIS CHINA'S 'LOCH NESS MONSTER?' FOOTAGE GOES VIRAL Hundreds of years later, the legend started to grow. After the construction of a road adjacent to Loch Ness was finished in 1933, giving onlookers an unobstructed view of the lake, a couple allegedly saw an enormous animal they compared to a “dragon or prehistoric monster” cross in front of their car and disappear into the water. The incident was reported in a Scottish newspaper and numerous sightings followed. Later that same year, the Daily Mail commissioned Marmaduke Wetherell, a big-game hunter, to track and find the sea serpent. Wetherell reported back that he had found large footprints along the lake's shores which he believed belonged to “a very powerful soft-footed animal about 20 feet long.” However, upon closer inspection, zoologists at the Natural History Museum determined that the supposed tracks were identical and likely made with an umbrella stand or ashtray that had a hippopotamus leg as a base. The infamous surgeon's photograph that some people believed was a photo of the Loch Ness monster in Scotland. It was later proven to be a hoax. (AP Photo, File) But the hunt was not over. By 1934, English physician Robert Kenneth Wilson took the iconic image known as the "surgeon's photograph." The photograph appeared to show Nessie's head and neck and The Daily Mail printed the photograph, later proven to be a hoax. In a shocking development, in the spring of 1938, South African tourist G. E. Taylor filmed something in the lake for three minutes on 16 mm color film. The film was then obtained by popular science writer Maurice Burton. A single frame of Taylor's film was later published in Burton's 1961 book. However, Burton's analysis concluded it was a floating object. In July 1955, Peter MacNab took a photograph that depicted two long black humps in the water. But researchers suspected the humps could be a wave effect resulting from three fishing boats traveling closely together. Video In 1960, aeronautical engineer Tim Dinsdale filmed a hump that left a wake crossing Loch Ness. Many said that the hump in Dinsdale's 40 feet of film was a boat after contrast was increased in the photo. But in 1993, Discovery Communications produced a documentary, "Loch Ness Discovered," with a digital enhancement of the Dinsdale film. A person who enhanced the film noticed a shadow in the negative which was not obvious in the developed film. By enhancing and overlaying frames, he found what appeared to be the rear body of a creature. Later on in the mid-1960s, the so-called Loch Ness Investigation Bureau conducted a 10-year observational survey recording an average of 20 sightings per year and in the 1970s underwater photographs of what appeared to be a "flipper" were made public. Additionally, several sonar explorations, most notably in 1987 and 2003, were undertaken to find the elusive beast — to no avail. A video dating back to 2009 may provide new evidence of the existence of an Alaskan Loch Ness Monster, Discovery News reported. (DiscoveryNews) Over the years, more photographs have been taken, but most were discredited as fakes. In 1994, it was revealed that Wilson’s "surgeon photograph" was a hoax masterminded by the revenge-seeking Wetherell. Wilson's monster was actually a plastic-and-wooden head attached to a toy submarine. In 2007, lab technician Gordon Holmes claimed to videotape the Loch Ness monster, but a marine biologist said that while the tape was among "the best footage [he had] ever seen," it was likely an otter, seal, or water bird. In the summer of 2011, Loch Ness boat captain Marcus Atkinson photographed a sonar image of a 4.9 foot-wide unidentified object that seemed to follow his boat for two minutes. However, in April 2012 a scientist from the National Oceanography Centre said that the image is of a bloom of algae. Several others have emerged over the years, including a photograph in 2012, a five-minute video of a "mysterious wave" in the lake in 2013 and a debunked Apple Maps photograph in 2014. Video But these hoaxes have still not halted the search. More recently in May 2018, researchers announced they would investigate the waters of Loch Ness and use environmental DNA sampling of the waters to try and identify everything that swims in it. In April 2019, their study suggested that the fabled monster could have been a giant eel and disproved a common rumor that a plesiosaur had somehow managed to survive the mass extinction event that killed off the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. "We can't find any evidence of a creature that's remotely related to that in our environmental-DNA sequence data," New Zeland geneticist Neil Gemmels later told BBC. "So, sorry, I don't think the plesiosaur idea holds up based on the data that we have obtained." "There is a very significant amount of eel DNA," he continued. "Eels are very plentiful in Loch Ness, with eel DNA found at pretty much every location sampled – there are a lot of them. So, are they giant eels? Well, our data doesn't reveal their size, but the sheer quantity of the material says that we can't discount the possibility that there may be giant eels in Loch Ness." "Therefore we can't discount the possibility that what people see and believe is the Loch Ness monster might be a giant eel," Gemmels concluded. Despite the lack of any tangible evidence, the Loch Ness monster has remained popular — and profitable. In the early 21st century, it was thought that it contributed nearly $80 million annually to Scotland’s economy by way of monster merchandise and tours for fans. Never mind that the question as to whether Nessie ever really existed in the first place remains to this day. SEE VIDEOS ; https://www.foxnews.com/tech/loch-ness-monster-history