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mr.d

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mr.d last won the day on May 2 2022

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  • Birthday 03/06/1947

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    Brockway(Hazen)
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    Family,Flea markets,car shows, concerts,Fire company

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  1. THROWBACK THURSDAY: Sabula’s Pioneer Medicine Woman by Clearfield County Historical Society Thursday, April 7, 2022 in Features, Local News, Top Stories 0 0 Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Mary McCoullough Osborne (1839-1926) lived in the Sabula and Narrows Creek area of Sandy Township. Mary was the eighth child of William and Mary McCoullough. She married Henry Osborne in 1858. The two were both raised in Jefferson County and relocated to Sabula in Clearfield County one year after they were married. When Mary was 37 years old her husband passed away and she was left a widow with two children. Top 10Craziest Moments from “Jer The woods of Sabula where they lived had neighbors scattered widely as other families were settling in the area. In those days there was much sickness and very little doctoring in the backwoods. Mary always traveled over the hills and through the valleys to tend to the sick, comfort the dying and help families as they grieved. The locals would ride their horses to Mary’s cabin first and then into a more populated area for a doctor. The doctors were not readily available most times. In the winter of 1879-80, a diphtheria epidemic struck the community. The sickness spread from house to house throughout Sabula like wildfire. In those days, people helped one another in time of sickness, but not during this outbreak for fear of risking their lives and the lives of their families. Mary was one person who took that risk. She went to every home that needed caring for the sick and dying. She also helped prepare the dead for burial. After the epidemic was over, Mary was credited with saving the lives of many of her neighbors. Throughout all this time, she and her children never fell ill. The sickness escaped them. Mary was also known for her home remedies and delivering many children. She never kept count because she was too busy. She was 78 years old when she helped with her last baby delivery and had her last sick call. Mary was laid to rest next her husband in Jefferson County 50 years after his death. She was 86 years old when she passed away.
  2. Bird flu confirmed in PA, virus detected in wild bald eagle found dead, officials say by WJAC Staff Saturday, March 26th 2022 Bald eagle (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP, File) Officials say the latest bird flu has made its way to Pennsylvania. The state game commission made the announcement Friday. They say the bird flu, or highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, was detected in a wild bald eagle found dead in East Marlborough Township, Chester County. They say this marks the first detection of HPAI H5N1 in birds within the sate since the virus was first identified in North America in December 2021. Officials add that they’re waiting for lab test results from five wild hooded mergansers with suspected HPAI recovered from Kahle Lake on the Clarion and Venango county line. Four of the birds were found dead and they say the fifth was euthanized after showing neurologic signs. The game commission says, so far, the avian flu has impacted birds in more than 20 states. They add that they’re working with Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Wildlife Futures Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, and the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System to monitor the virus. Any further cases will be reported by the USDA on its website. Experts say waterfowl and shorebirds are natural reservoirs for avian influenza viruses. Infected birds may spread the virus through their feces and saliva even if they seem healthy. The virus can lead to sickness and death in wild poultry (turkey, grouse) raptors (hawks, eagles), avian scavengers (crows, gulls, ravens), and other species (ducks, geese). Signs of infection often include neurologic dysfunction such as circling and difficulty flying. HPAI is particularly contagious and lethal to domestic poultry, experts say, and can significantly impact the commercial poultry industry. While the avian flu can infect humans, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the current outbreak is primarily an animal health issue and no cases have been detected in humans in the United States. No Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza viruses had been detected in Pennsylvania since the 1983-84 outbreak, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
  3. Beech leaf disease could drastically change forests by: Peyton Kennedy Posted: Mar 25, 2022 / 05:46 PM EDT Updated: Mar 25, 2022 / 05:46 PM EDT CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — When healthy, Beech trees can live up to 400 years, but a newly found disease is wiping out the trees in as little as two years after the first signs of damage. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources said it has the potential to drastically change our forests. An invasive nematode preying on the trees is believed to be the cause of the disease. “Thousands of these nematodes can be found in a single infested Beech leaf,” said Jeffrey Woleslagle, chief of communications for the DCNR Bureau of Forestry. “There’ll be dark banding and curling on the leaves, and what happens eventually is the twigs and the branches die back.” Beech leaf disease has spread from Ohio to New England and is found in about 31 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, mainly in the west and northeast. The economic and environmental cost of losing Beech trees is estimated to be hundreds of millions of dollars per state; for example, $225 million in Ohio alone, according to the DCNR. Woleslagle said research on the disease is ongoing by various universities and state and federal agencies. “It’s believed that it’s being easily transmitted by human means,” said Woleslagle. He said it is especially common for nematodes to be transferred through firewood as campers travel from location to location. “We really recommend as always that people don’t move firewood,” said Woleslagle. At this time, there is no cure for Beech leaf disease.
  4. THROWBACK THURSDAY: Donor of Maple Avenue Nurses Home by Clearfield County Historical Society Thursday, March 17, 2022 in Features, Local News, Top Stories 0 0 Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Phebe Tyler was born April 10, 1843, the daughter of David and Isabelle (Mahaffey) Tyler. The village of Tyler was named for her father, one of the pioneers of this section of the Bennetts Branch Valley. The family moved to Clearfield County, settling here in Huston Township in 1848. Miss Tyler was a woman of broad education and thought. Realizing that his family should have a good education her father employed a governess for his daughters, and Miss Phebe learned to speak French and German with fluency. Phebe’s greatest accomplishment was in building the Nurses’ Memorial Home for the Maple Avenue Hospital in DuBois in 1923. Tyler initially donated $15,000, which was later found to be insufficient so she contributed more. She continued to manage the project until it was completed, even though she was confined to her bed. Miss Tyler also contributed greatly to welfare and charity. She was an active member of the Presbyterian Church of Penfield and in her own community. She organized the first Sunday School in her town, which was held in a sawmill and later donated land for a church with the only stipulation being that it could not be taken over by one denomination. She later raised funds with her friends’ help in order to construct a building on the land. She was liberal in her contributions to welfare work, not only organized work, but she contributed to the education of ambitious young men and women to assist them in their higher education. Her contributions to welfare and charity were widespread. No one ever went by her home who was in need that was not helped. After her father’s death in 1882, the burden of looking after the financial interests of the family fell on her shoulders. (The land Mr. Tyler had bought became very valuable on account of timber.) She also succeeded her father as postmaster at Tyler for 13 years. Miss Tyler always did her own thinking and followed her own thoughts. She always knew what she wanted and insisted upon having it that way. She kept entire control of her business affairs up to the last.
  5. Why millions of genetically-modified mosquitoes may soon be released in the US by WKRC Staff Saturday, March 12th 2022 FILE - In this Jan. 27, 2016, file photo, an Aedes aegypti mosquito known to carry the Zika virus, is photographed through a microscope at the Fiocruz institute in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File) UNDATED (WKRC) — The Environmental Protection Agency has recently approved a plan to release millions of genetically-modified mosquitos into parts of the US. The plan, which was created by the British biotech firm Oxitec, is intended to combat the spread of diseases such as Zika, yellow fever, dengue and chikungunya. An invasive species of mosquito, called Aedes aegypti, first appeared in California in 2013. In 2020, it also appeared in Florida for the first time in 75 years. Although they account for a relatively small portion of the total mosquito population in those areas, they reportedly cause a large number of cases of human disease, and are known to be particularly aggressive when it comes to biting people. Oxitec has genetically engineered roughly 2.4 million male (meaning they don't bite) mosquitos to contain the number of Aedes aegypti. The male mosquitos have a "self-limiting" gene that causes the population to die out over time. The idea is that they will mate with the invasive female species, "mediating a reduction of the target population as the female offspring of these encounters cannot survive," the company said. This method was also carried out in 2021, when Oxitec released 144,000 genetically-modified mosquitos in the Florida Keys as part of a pilot project, which the company describes as "a success." Oxitec also stresses that the new mosquitos will not harm other “beneficial insects,” like bees and butterflies. While the EPA approved the plan, the company still needs approval from the individual states. However, there has been some criticism. Perls says that without confirmed data about the rate of disease transmission from the Aedes aegypti mosquito, it's unclear if the genetically-modified mosquitos will behave the way Oxitec predicts. Among potential concerns, Perls says a hybrid species could be created that is difficult to eradicate, or another type of mosquito could simply take the place of the Aedes aegypti. She feels there needs to be a better system in place for monitoring the engineered species before releasing it. "Once you release these mosquitos into the environment, you cannot recall them," she said. "This could, in fact, create problems that we don't have already."
  6. THROWBACK THURSDAY: West Side United Methodist Church of Clearfield Celebrates 150th Anniversary in 2022 by Clearfield County Historical Society Thursday, March 10, 2022 in Features, Local News, Top Stories 0 0 Oldest known photograph of original church, 1904 Share on FacebookShare on Twitter It all began March 25, 1872, when the presiding elder of the Altoona District sought out an enterprising young minister, Martin Luther Ganoe. He said, “Martin, I want you to build a Church in West Clearfield, which is a promising village.” Rev. Ganoe was a Civil War Veteran and received his call to preach amid the roar of shot and shell on Gettysburg Battlefield. He was the first pastor and the man who built the West Clearfield Church and started it on its first-century-and-a-half of history. He served until March of 1874. West Clearfield was formed from part of Lawrence Township, across the river from the town of Clearfield, and incorporated as a borough in 1883. West Clearfield had two schools, several small stores, a blacksmith shop, this church and about 400 residents in 1887. The name was changed from West Clearfield Church to West Side Church in 1901 after the boroughs of West Clearfield and Clearfield merged into one in 1900. The first church service was held later that year in a one-room school on Merrill Street, then in private homes. The first church building was finished the following year and dedicated November of 1873 (at the location of the current church on Nichols Street). Original church building, btw. 1906 and 1923 After much growth and many additions to the original church, fundraising began for a larger building. The Rev. William L. Armstrong conducted the last service in the old church and broke ground for this new building on May 27, 1923. While the current building was being constructed, services were held in the Agricultural Building at the Driving Park from 1923 to 1925. On July 3, 1925, the still beautiful stained-glass windows were purchased for about $8,000. (The estimate of the total building project was about $150,000.) So, progress of the building continued. The social hall was finished the following year in 1926. And worship was held here. Then, things stalled with the stock market crash and The Great Depression. In 1937, every organization of the church became motivated to raise the necessary funds to finish the building, and the sanctuary was finished by volunteer labor and dedicated in 1940. New church building under construction, 1924-1925 The next several decades saw the following progress: 1949, first radio broadcast of services; 1953, sound system installed; and 1960, Carillonic Bells installed; they played for 15 minutes each evening at 6 p.m. and they still play today, three times a day. In 1961, the Chapel was dedicated and gymnasium converted into classrooms; and in 1972, the hand bell choir started with set of 25 handbells. More modern updates include an elevator (1992), new organ (1995), wireless sound system (1995), multi-media installed (2015) and Facebook broadcasts (2017). The church started as a neighborhood church for people who desired a place of worship nearer their homes, and it continues today to serve the community with numerous missions. West Side United Methodist Church, current
  7. Invasive species of giant, parachuting spiders spreading across East Coast, experts say by ZACHARY ROGERS | The National Desk Saturday, March 5th 2022 3 VIEW ALL PHOTOS The joro spider, a large spider native to East Asia, is seen in Johns Creek, Ga., on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. The spider has spun its thick, golden web on power lines, porches and vegetable patches all over north Georgia this year – a proliferation that has driven some unnerved homeowners indoors and prompted a flood of anxious social media posts. (AP Photo/Alex Sanz) ATLANTA (TND) — An invasive species of spider has made its way to Georgia, and will likely spread out to more states along the East Coast, according to experts with the University of Georgia (UGA). The 3-inch long "Joro Spider" is native to Korea, China, Taiwan, and Japan, according to Smithsonian Magazine. The spider thrives in Japan, which has a similar climate to the southeastern United States. A previous publication from UGA researchers says Joro spiders are about the size of a human hand and are an "orb weaver" species, which means they weave webs into parachutes and ride the wind around to travel. UGA says the arachnid first arrived in Georgia sometime in 2013, and soon spread across the state. "There’s really nothing we can do to stop them. But that’s not necessarily bad news," says UGA in a release. "It doesn’t have anything that’s controlling its population size in the new habitat, but it has perfect conditions to spread," says UGA's Benjamin Frick. Frick, a graduate student at Georgia's Odum School of Ecology, co-authored a study on the spiders. His co-author, Andy Davis, is a research scientist at the Odum School. Davis says Joro spiders "don’t appear to have much of an effect on local food webs or ecosystems," and people should just "try to learn to live with them." Joro spiders are resistant to the cold, making their spread across the United States more likely, according to the study. Despite their size, they are not likely to harm humans. “Its fangs are so small relative to most human skin that it probably won’t be able to get its fangs into you even if it wanted to,” Frick says. "There’s really no reason to go around actively squishing them," Frick says. "Humans are at the root of their invasion. Don’t blame the Joro spider." To the credit of the Joro spider, the species is said to do something other spiders don't: eat stink bugs. That may be enough for some people to see the Joro spider as a welcomed guest. The study says the East Coast can expect to start seeing more Joro spiders by the beginning of summer, and the noticeably large female webs will start appearing during the fall season. SEE PICTURES, VIDEO ; https://wjactv.com/news/nation-world/invasive-species-of-giant-parachuting-spiders-spreading-across-east-coast-experts-say-joro-spider-japan-university-georgia-uga-arachnid
  8. Historical Program to Look Back at 125th Anniversary of DuBois by Gant Team Friday, February 18, 2022 in A & E, Features, Local News 0 0 Share on FacebookShare on Twitter DUBOIS – Visualizing the City of DuBois 150 years ago is difficult to do except through drawings and photographs. But, visualizing activities became much easier in 1997 when video cameras were the popular way of recording events. With the City of DuBois celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2022, the DuBois Area Historical Society, celebrating its 40th year, will open up its programs for 2022 with a look back at DuBois 125th anniversary. The program will be held Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Society’s museum, 28 W. Long Ave., DuBois. The program is free and open to the public. In 1997, the society then in its 15th year was part of the celebration and used a video camera to record some of the activities. The 40 minutes videotape was recently converted over to DVD and will be shown in its entirety during the program. The program includes activities that were held outside on Long Avenue, brief interviews with people who set historical exhibits at the First United Methodist Church and a portion of the anniversary celebration program held at the same church. Highlights include a look at downtown in 1997 and hearing presentations from some prominent DuBois residents of that time. This will be the first of several programs the DuBois Area Historical Society has scheduled to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the City of DuBois.
  9. Ag Dept lifts Thousand Cankers quarantine, Eastern Black Walnut not threatened Black Walnut (Juglans nigra L.) detail of nut and leaves. Credit: MONGO, fair use Wikipedia Posted on January 27, 2022 by wcednews Harrisburg, PA – Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced that the department has lifted a quarantine in place since August 2014, because Thousand Cankers Disease no longer threatens Pennsylvania’s black walnut trees. Pennsylvania leads the nation in production and exports of hardwood lumber, and the disease was once thought to be a significant threat to the state’s $36 billion hardwoods industry. “Quarantines are excellent tools to help protect our agriculture industry and our economy from disease and pests,” said Sec. Redding. “When science demonstrates that the disease is no longer a threat, restrictions on commerce are no longer necessary. We remain vigilant against invasive species and disease threats, but the quarantine as a tool has done its job.” Thousand Cankers Disease is caused when walnut twig beetles, which carry a fungus called Geosmithia morbida, tunnel beneath the bark of walnut trees, causing small cankers to form. Over time, repeated beetle attacks and resulting cankers disrupt the movement of water and nutrients throughout the tree, causing branches and limbs to die and eventually killing the tree. Several peer-reviewed, published research studies have shown that despite the presence of the beetles and fungus, native black walnuts in Pennsylvania have been largely unaffected by the disease. Black walnut constitutes about one percent of Pennsylvania’s hardwood forests and is highly sought after for furniture and other valuable products, as well as the nuts it produces. Efforts to control walnut twig beetles using parasitic wasps are still underway and the department will continue to monitor the presence of the insects, fungus and disease in Pennsylvania. The quarantine restricted movement of materials from walnut trees, living or dead, including nursery stock, green lumber and firewood, as well as roots, branches, mulch and other debris. It applied to Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Affected businesses in those counties will be notified of the action this month. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture also issued a quarantine in 2007 prohibiting the movement of firewood of all types and species into Pennsylvania unless it is labeled as “kiln-dried” and/or is USDA-certified. This quarantine, still in effect, is designed to help slow the spread of nonnative, invasive forest pests and diseases that are often moved long distances hidden in firewood. The invasive spotted lanternfly is one example of such a damaging insect. A 34-county quarantine remains in effect, prohibiting transport of items that contain the insect or its eggs. Items covered include but are by no means limited to firewood, since the insect travels and lays its eggs on any items outdoors. Campers and homeowners can help protect Pennsylvania’s urban, suburban and forested areas from nonnative invasive forest pests and diseases by the following: Buy and burn locally cut firewood, Burn any firewood already brought from another area. Don’t leave it behind or take it with you. The repealed Thousand Canker Disease quarantine order can be found in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. For more information on programs, funding and initiatives to protect and grow Pennsylvania agriculture, visit agriculture.pa.gov.
  10. THROWBACK THURSDAY: Luthersburg Golden Yoke by Clearfield County Historical Society Thursday, January 20, 2022 in Features, Local News, Top Stories 0 0 Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Pictured are photos of what we know as “The Golden Yoke.” Situated at a strategic spot on the Old Erie Pike, Luthersburg provided a host of accommodations for travelers and inhabitants of Brady Township. According to Aldrich’s 1887 history of Clearfield County, “The first tavern, as hotels were then called, was opened by Lebbeus Luther shortly after settling at Luthersburgh (sic), in 1820. 955.8K Macron Criticized for Saying Government Should Make Life Miserable for Unvacci The Golden Yoke was originally called the Merchants Hotel and it was built about 1855. It became the “Golden Yoke” in the 1940’s when it stopped being a hotel and began serving a “smorgasbord” style dinner. It was named for an ox yoke that was painted gold and hung on the porch. Folks reportedly traveled from miles away to sample the cuisine. Much has happened there over the years. The hotel was the site of civil war political unrest, a spot to view parades and lodging for teamsters hauling iron shipments on their way along the Erie Pike.
  11. Treasure hunters sue for records on FBI’s Civil War gold dig in Elk County LOCAL NEWS by: The Associated Press Posted: Jan 5, 2022 / 02:14 PM EST / Updated: Jan 5, 2022 / 05:50 PM EST Treasure hunters who believe they found a huge cache of fabled Civil War-era gold in Pennsylvania are now on the prowl for something as elusive as the buried booty itself: government records of the FBI’s excavation. Finders Keepers filed a federal lawsuit against the Justice Department over its failure to produce documents on the FBI’s search for the legendary gold, which took place nearly four years ago at a remote woodland site in Elk County. ORIGINAL STORY: FBI was looking for gold at Elk County dig site The FBI has since dragged its feet on the treasure hunters’ Freedom of Information Act request for records, their lawyer said Wednesday. “There’s been a pattern of behavior by the FBI that’s been very troubling,” said Anne Weismann, who represents Finders Keepers. She questioned whether the agency is “acting in good faith.” A message was sent to the Justice Department seeking comment on the suit, which asks a judge to order the FBI to immediately turn over the records. Finders Keepers’ owners, the father-son duo of Dennis and Kem Parada, had spent years looking for what, according to legend, was an 1863 shipment of Union gold that was lost or stolen on its way to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. The duo focused on a spot where they say their instruments detected a large metallic mass. After meeting with the treasure hunters in early 2018, the FBI brought in a contractor with more sophisticated instruments. The contractor detected an underground mass that weighed up to nine tons and had the density of gold, according to an FBI affidavit unsealed last year at the request of news organizations, including The Associated Press. The Paradas accompanied the FBI to the site in Dent’s Run, about 135 miles (220 kilometers) northeast of Pittsburgh, but say they were confined to their car while the FBI excavated. The FBI has long insisted the March 2018 dig came up empty, but the agency has consistently stymied the Paradas’ efforts to obtain information. The FBI initially claimed it had no files about the investigation. Then, after the Justice Department ordered a more thorough review, the FBI said its records were exempt from public disclosure. Finally, in the wake of the treasure hunters’ appeal, the FBI said it had located 2,400 pages of records and 17 video files that it could potentially turn over — but that it would take years to do so. Finders Keepers asked the Justice Department for expedited processing, which can be granted in cases where there is widespread media interest involving questions about the government’s integrity. The Justice Department denied the request — and, as of last month, had yet to assign the FOIA request to a staffer for processing, according to the lawsuit. “From the outset, it seems as if the FBI is doing everything it can to avoid answering the question of whether they actually found gold,” Weismann said. https://www.wearecentralpa.com/news/local-news/treasure-hunters-sue-for-records-on-fbis-civil-war-gold-dig-in-elk-county/
  12. SPONSORED: Blast from the Past: Beverage-Air Started as The Punxsutawney Co. December 30, 2021 12:33 am· Author: exploreJefferson Originally know as The Punxsutawney Co., Beverage-Air started out as a line of bottle coolers. While standard bottle coolers were available, these branded Pepsi-Cola display coolers were marketed specifically to “give your product that extra point-of-sale push”. A budget line, deluxe line, cafeteria models, and display merchandisers were all offered as part of the Beverage-Air Pepsi-Cola line of display coolers. Check out their latest version of display merchandisers here: http://ow.ly/VNXT50H9Qnu. This framed sales literature is just one of many that hang in their conference room to continuously remind all exactly where it all started. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more “blasts from the past.” Want to be part of the Beverage-Air Family? Beverage-Air, in Brookville, is looking to hire several candidates to fill current vacancies. They currently have openings for several various positions. Starting pay rate is $13.50/hour. No experience is required. Pay can increase to as much as $18.50 with 5+ years of relevant manufacturing experience. What Beverage-Air offers: – Premium pay for the weekend shift – Quarterly pay progression reviews – Paid vacation and holidays – Comprehensive benefits package Check out their job opportunities at https://beverage-air.com/careers.
  13. THROWBACK THURSDAY: Italian Traditions of the Feast of the Seven Fishes by Clearfield County Historical Society Thursday, December 23, 2021 in Features, Holiday Articles, Local News, Top Stories 0 0 Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Mangia! Mangia! Industry and manufacturing jobs brought a wave of Italian immigrants to Clearfield County during the end of the 1800’s and beginning of the 1900’s. S With this new rich ethnic group of people, came their customs and traditions from the “Old Country.” In those days throughout the county, there were neighborhoods much like “Little Italy.” East End in Clearfield was one of those communities along with pockets of Italian families in Chester Hill, Osceola Mills, Houtzdale, Curwensville, DuBois and Morrisdale just to name a few. At Christmastime, the highlight of the holiday was the Christmas Eve celebration of the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Joseph and Mary Santinoceto and Family Many people from around the county would make a special trip to East End Clearfield to purchase Joseph and his wife Mary (Curtorillo) Santinoceto’s specialty Italian traditional foods straight from Italy at Santinoceto’s Italian Market. Travel was also made to DuBois for the delicious breads and Italian food at Charles and Fannie (Kinner) Zappia’s grocery market, Zappia’s Bakery. Barrels of chestnuts, fresh buccala, smelts, calamari, pasta noodles, clams, anchovies, cheese, olives, loaves of bread and on and on were sold by the bags full to the customers, who were more like family. Everyone was welcome into an Italian home for Christmas Eve to share in the abundance of the traditional seven (or more) fish meal. There were usually grandparents behind the scenes speaking in their native tongue. You could always hear the words “Mangia! Mangia!” as all the guests were urged to indulge. The tradition is not to eat any form of meat on this day. It is a fasting of all meats until Christmas Day arrives. Mary and Joseph Santinoceto Homemade wine was poured and fresh fruit was garnished on the side of the glass. Platters of olives, cheese, anise, breads and antipasto salads would fill the tables. The smell of the shrimp, eel, smelt, calamari, and stuffed buccala all fried in oils, wines, sauces and garlic would literally hit you in the face when the front door of the home was opened. The scent is imbedded in the minds of many Italians that were fortunate enough to celebrate this tradition. After the guests were completely stuffed from the main courses, the tables were emptied and the Italian cookies, cannoli, biscotti and coffee were then brought out for dessert. There were always bowls of assorted nuts on the end tables in the living room just in case anyone would have space left for more treats. Many families would start the celebration mid-afternoon and have guests coming and going until late in the evening. After the guests had all left, it was time to get dressed for midnight mass. The family would arrive home, get the Italian cookie tray out for Santa along with milk and go to bed hoping Santa would not forget them. The sights, sounds and aroma will always be cherished by the descendants that had the opportunity to experience this Italian Christmas Eve ritual. Merry Christmas from the Clearfield County Historical Society and remember, “Mangia! Mangia!” A Note from Clearfield County Historical Society You can still shop for ethnic Italian food at Joseph and Mary Santinoceto’s grandson, Nick Santinoceto’s Italian Market, located at 304 N. Third St., Clearfield. Also, Zappia’s Bakery is now Calliari’s Bakery, located in the same building at 318 DuBois St.. They are famous for their home of Zappia’s bread that is still in high demand.
  14. Pennsylvania Phasing In Ban of Invasive Callery Pear, Also Called Bradford Pear Wednesday, December 22, 2021 @ 12:12 AM Posted by Leon Aristeguieta HARRISBURG, Pa. – The PA Department of Agriculture added Callery pear, or Pyrus calleryana, commonly called Bradford Pear to a list of noxious weeds — plants that cannot be legally sold or cultivated in the state. The popular, non-native, flowering fruit tree naturalizes, spreading from planted landscapes, crowding out other plants and disrupting native ecosystems. The ban on sale and cultivation will take effect on February 9, 2022, with enforcement phased in over two years. “Callery pear is another non-native plant that was brought to this country for its beauty and rapid growth, without regard for its long-term potential to harm our environment and food supply,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “Banning the sale of an invasive plant is an important tool to stop its spread and is a step we take only after careful consideration of the damage it causes and its potential for continued harm to our ecosystem and economy.” Enforcement of the ban will be phased in over two years to allow time for nurseries and landscaping businesses to eliminate it from their stock and replace the trees with alternatives that pose less threat to the environment and agriculture. The department has established an exemption procedure for breeders who own the rights to varieties that have been researched and proven sterile, and will consider exempting these varieties from the ban. Callery pear was brought to the U.S. in the early 1900s by researchers looking for a fire blight-resistant species that could be bred with European pear to increase fruit production. It has garnered attention in recent years as a prolific invader that can easily spread into woodlands, pastures, fields, and natural areas. Property owners should control the tree’s spread on their land and consider native alternatives when planting new trees. Find native alternatives and information on how to control the plant on the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website, dcnr.pa.gov. The timeline for the two-year rollout of the ban is as follows: Winter 2021 – Callery pear added to Pennsylvania’s Controlled plant and Noxious Weed list as a Class B weed. Class B weeds are those that are so prolific they cannot realistically be eradicated. These plants are targeted for control measures. February 2022 – Nursery and landscape businesses will receive notice from the department, advising them to immediately begin adjusting propagation, ordering, and planting of Callery Pear to decrease inventory. February 2023 – The department will issue letters of warning to any plant merchant still selling Callery Pear, providing a date in February 2024 after which remaining inventory will be subject to a destruction order. February 2024 – The department will issue Stop Sale and destruction orders to plant merchants selling or distributing Callery Pear. Merchants with questions should contact ra-plant@pa.gov. Find more information about Callery pear and other noxious, controlled and poisonous plants in Pennsylvania visit agriculture.pa.gov. For comprehensive information about controlling all invasive species in Pennsylvania, visit the Governor’s Invasive Species Council. Photos of Callery Pear can be downloaded at www.invasive.org.
  15. Here are the most-searched Christmas cookies by state NATIONAL NEWS by: Beth Finello, Nexstar Media Wire Posted: Dec 20, 2021 / 10:07 PM EST / Updated: Dec 20, 2021 / 10:07 PM EST INDIANAPOLIS (WANE) – Snowball cookies? Sugar cookies? Snoopy cookies? These are just a few that top the list of most-searched Christmas cookies by state this holiday season, according to Google Trends. Christmas cookie fudge was among the most searched, topping out the list in Nebraska, Indiana, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Louisiana. Some other popular searches include. Italian Christmas cookies Keto Christmas cookies Snowball cookies Christmas sugar cookies And among the not-so-popular: Lemon Christmas cookies Cherry Christmas cookies Swedish Christmas cookies Google Trends broke down the search into five categories: flavor, shape, substitute ingredients, internationally inspired, and other. According to Google’s search data, states in the western U.S. primarily searched cookie flavors like sugar cookies and peppermint. States throughout the South searched “other” cookies, like Christmas cookie ice cream and cake. North Central and Midwest states have been searching for substitute ingredients while many New England states have Googled internationally-inspired cookies, and primarily Italian Christmas cookies.
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