November 2009 Archives

Seven-year old Katrina Pauling's remarkable work for 'those in need' --she paints stones and sells them-- reminds me of a quote by Elinor Smith: "It has long since come to my attention that people of accomlishment rarely sat back and let things happpen to them. They went out and happened to things."

The York Daily Record did a story on little Katrina, a little sparkplug of a girl whose parents have obviously pointed her in the right direction. Seven-year old girls might not be able to change the world, but they can change their own little corner of it.

Good luck to Katrina, and those who are helping her cause.

Bridges that cut the Ghost Town National Recreational Trail have been completed, and bikers or hikers can wander 36 miles of multipurpose trail that runs between Ebensburg and Black Lick. Northwest of Johnstown, the railroad line linked a handful of coal mining towns that have long ago disappeared.

While nearby, check the Johnstown Flood National National Memorial. Very interesting.

Little is left of the trail towns, and that is mostly on private property. But during this time of year, when some leaves are still left on the trees, and the rest are crunching under your bike tires, riders can enjoy the scenery, like the old coal dumps here.

The Kovalchick Salvage Company, which still owns the tourist train East Broad Top Railroad, donated some of the trail in 1991.

Editor Jim McClure wrote about the history of Wildcat Falls in a recent blog entry. To read more about the history, click here.

This is what the falls look like today. The larger, main falls is in the background, partially hidden.

Sliding down the rocks along the Susquehanna River, Wildcat Run makes its entrance today behind a private residence, the hotel having burned down in the 1920s. Nothing remains of the old hotel, except for two carved rocks on the river side of the road. Steps that once led up the canyon are gone.

About a dozen people every month stop to ask permission to photograph the summer scene. A modern home hugs the canyon, to the side of Wildcat Run, and the current owner (who didn't want his name published), added wall-size glass windows to the front-- Susquehanna River-- side of the house.

Now, he goes to the back door to see Wildcat Falls, and the Susquehanna River from the front. Either direction, and he's a winner.

Schools administrations often wonder why newspapers don't print more positive news about students.

Good news doesn't have its police scanners and reports, which is generally how we get the bad news. So, we rely on teachers or other school personnel to tell us about the good news.

But sometimes, I call schools and ask if there is anything going on. "No," they say. "Just 300 kids jump-roping for a heart fund raiser". I'm usually at the school before they hang up the phone. That kind of news is terrific for pictures-- cute kids doing positive things in the community. It might not be a big story, but it's good for pictures. It's active, visual and shows our readers and viewers that not all kids are stealing cars and doing drugs.

Monday, I wandered into Devers Elementary in York, checked in at the office, talked with the principal, picked up a visitor's badge, checked with the school's privacy registrations. And then meandered up and down the halls until I found Cyncear Preston in music class.

She was 'into' Olivia Hartlaub's music class. They sang, banged on basic instruments, laughed and sang some more.

There much worse ways to spend a day off than watching good kids having fun -- and learning at the same time.