October 2007 Archives

OK, so I know I promised orb pictures for Halloween today, but after going through my photo files, I realize that I must have taken those three years ago -- before I was organized with my pictures -- and so cannot find them.

But I've got an even better treat -- some cool pictures from tomorrow's celebration, which, for many people around the globe, is a bigger deal than Halloween.

For those of you who don't know, Nov.1 -- not Oct. 31 -- is really the big day for people in many parts of the world who want to honor, welcome or ward off spirits and departed souls.

It's Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Two years ago at this time, I was lucky enough to be traveling through the colonial Mexican towns of Oaxaca and Puebla. My return flight was on Nov. 1, but we were lucky enough to stop in the main plaza/town square of Mexico City that morning. Here's what I saw:

The scene left me awestruck.

It's the time of year when everyone wants to be scared. For wimps like me, the local haunted house is more than enough fright for one season.

But those with a little more courage, time and money might want to check out this list of the world's spookiest places. Bran Castle (pictured above) in the Transylvania region of Romania tops the list. It's said that "Dracula" author Bram Stoker used it as inspiration for his vampire tale.

My personal local favorite? The ghost tours in Gettysburg.

Seriously, a friend and I went a couple years ago and we could swear we felt a chill and smelled pipe smoke without reason. We even got orbs in a few pictures we took by Sach's covered bridge. (I'll try to remember to post those pictures Wednesday as a Halloween treat, so you can judge for yourselves.)

Maybe we were just a little too into the whole thing, but it's hard not to believe when you're walking on soil where so many lost their lives. If there's anywhere haunted around here, I'd say Gettysburg is it.

Have you ever had a supernatural experience? Know of a great local "haunt" for some seasonal fun? Post a comment and share!

... but don't come in!

Jack Dyson of Spring Garden Township took this photograph heading west on East Market Street in York at his wife's urging. "She loves the irony of the signs," he wrote.

The Hanover YMCA is sponsoring a bus trip to the National Marine Corps Museum in Virginia on Nov. 8th. The bus will leave the Value City Parking lot at 6:45 a.m. Participants will be on their own to tour the museum. The bus will stop at Cozy's restaurant for dinner (included in the cost) on the way back.

The fee for the trip is $75.00 per person, which includes coach bus transportation, continental breakfast on the bus, and dinner at Cozy's.

Register on-line at www.hanoverymca.org or at any of the Hanover YMCA branch locations in Hanover, Littlestown or South Hanover. For details, contact Jody Lerch at 632-8211 or jnlearch@hanoverymca.org.

So, Ellen DeGeneres is challenging her viewers to convince her to visit and broadcast live from their town.

What's she calling the program?

Wish You Were Here.

Hmmm. Sounds familiar...

Anyway, here's how it works. Viewers go online at http://ellen.aol.com to share stories, photos and videos from their hometown that they think would entice Ellen to come.

To help prompt viewers' thinking, the Ellen folks have created categories such as: Local Heroes, Claim to Fame, Fascinating Characters, Most Talented Pets, Best Local Commercial, Famous Firsts, Hollywood Connection, Most Fanatical Fans and Spookiest Halloween Celebrations.

Search for your town on the banner at the top of the site to see what people have already submitted under each category. Then, submit your pitch before the 10-week program wraps up in December with the visit to one town.

Virginia Gibson of Fawn Township spotted this lawn mower on top of a country store in Fawn Grove earlier this month.

Seen a funny/odd/unusual/witty sign?

Send it to jvogelsong@ydr.com along with your name, the municipality you live in, and when and where you snapped the picture.

Larry Mitzel poses for a photo with a Smart car in Frankfurt, Germany, during a European trip in July.

He and Norma Jean Mitzel, both of York Township, enjoyed an 18-day trip to Germany and France, during which they visited York's sister cities -- Arles, France, and Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany.

They traveled on high-speed trains from Frankfurt to Paris to Monte Carlo and back again, enjoying the sights, clear blue skies, food and friends along the way.

Their travel tips: Pack light and wear comfortable shoes.

Below is a photo of Norma Jean Mitzel in Gordes, France

Mike Maloney of Windsor Township snapped this photo a couple of years ago behind the Queensgate shopping center in York Township.

That's some serious rust on there!

Send us a photo of a sign you've spotted that made you do a double take or shake your head in awe: jvogelsong@ydr.com.

Sherri Snyder, vice president of Bailey Travel in York, poses for a photo on a hilltop above the port of Nice, France, while on a Royal Caribbean cruise in September. In addition to the stop in France, the cruise ship visited four ports in Italy during the trip.

Her travel tip: If you take a Mediterranean cruise, take comfortable shoes, and don't expect a relaxing vacation because there is lots of walking and so much to see in a short time each day at port.

Michael Russo of York Township snapped a picture of this sign in London's Hyde Park in June.

Word is that turbans are now exempt from the "remove-and-dispose-of-everything-and-practically-strip-naked" policies of airport security. This story explains the reasoning behind the move. (To dispel talk of racial profiling and religious discrimination)

What I want to know is, then why can't I keep my sneakers on?

(Double click on the photo to see a larger version where you can read the sign)

Virginia Gibson of Fawn Township took this picture on her way to North Carolina. She said she often takes pictures of unusual signs in her travels.

Reader Michael Tamarkin of Spring Garden Township spotted this sign while visiting Oregon in August 2004. The hotel behind the "No U Turns" sign is called "The Turn Around Motel."

Yes, I know that geography isn't always a priority in the American education system. But seriously, you don't want to end up one day on a stage or in a job interview looking like poor Miss South Carolina did at the Miss Teen USA pageant. (See this video)

She did put together a geography quiz after the fact, which you can try here. I'll tell you, some of those questions were pretty hard. I only got 4 out of 7 right.

I'm so ashamed, I might just go home and hang my head over my atlas now.

Post a comment and share how you did.

Travel with the Springettsbury Township Recreation Department to New York City on November 10 for some holiday shopping and to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes and a live nativity.

Seats are first mezzanine/orchestra and tickets are $114 for residents and $119 for non-residents of Springettsbury Township.

For more information or to reserve your seat, call 757-3521 or visit www.springettsbury.com

Susan Clark of Springettsbury Township snapped this photo at Point Loma, Calif., while visiting a relative near San Diego in September.

Her travel tip: When taking photographs, look for something a little different or unusual.

Kate Aldinger, Jenna Jenkins and Jamie Smith were part of the Senior Girl Scout Troop 83 of Spring Grove that traveled to London in July.

They toured the seaside town of Brighton , the Greenwich Royal Observatory and experienced the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace during their visit.

Their travel tip: Carry an umbrella at all times when touring London

Chong Su Kim, Kimberly Grim, Jen Beatty, Jim Sprich, Georgia Golden, and Lili Rehak pose for a photo at Pike Place Market in Washington State last month.

The group from Kim's Karate in York traveled there to teach martial arts at their satellite school in Yelm and visit the Seattle/Tacoma area.

They also visited the original Starbucks, the Asian Art Museum, the grave sites of Bruce Lee and Brandon Lee, Mount Rainier and the Nisqually Glacier, and dined at the Seattle Space Needle.

Their travel tip: Research and plan ahead for your vacation but be flexible. If time is limited, plan a daily itinerary to make the most of it -- there is a lot to experience.

... I'd recommend checking it out from the Pole Steeple overlook in Pine Grove State Park in western Cumberland County. (Don't worry -- the girl in the photo, my friend Megan, isn't contemplating jumping. She's just snapping pictures of the view, in case you were wondering!)

The hike is short at 0.75 miles, but rather steep. Once you get to the huge rock outcropping at the top, though, it's all worth it. The view makes you feel like you're king (or queen, as the case may be) of the world.

In the summer, you can even hear the laughter of the kids down below in Laurel and Fuller lakes. The times I've hiked there, the trees have either been covered with green leaves or none at all. But I think it would be awesome to see the autumn colors (if we ever get any) from there.

What's your favorite place to enjoy the fall foliage?

Dylan Mehring, 9, and Ethan Mehring, 4, pose for a picture in Venice, Calif. while traveling with their grandmother, Mary Gibson, of Springettsbury Township and aunt, Erin Gibson of Glen Rock in August.

Their travel tip: Venice Beach is its own wonderful world, rich with history and activity. Plan to spend more than just part of a day if you go. There is so much to do and the atmosphere is incredibly fun! Plus, don't miss eating at Danny's.

In case you've taken issue with our string of 80-degree days in October (you won't hear this warm-weather lover complaining!), I share with you this photo of the view from my bedroom window, taken late last October.

I wonder if (and when) we'll have colors like that this fall?

... that you did something today to commemorate Columbus' discovery (or re-discovery, depending which version of history you ascribe to) of the Americas?

Well, I meant something besides sleeping in, watching daytime TV, running errands and staying out late on a Sunday night.

Me?

I went to work and wondered why nobody returned any of the eight million messages I left on voice mails Friday. Then I went to the gym and wondered why the cycling class was so packed there was nary an empty bike in the room. And then I walked to my mailbox when I got home and felt sad that I didn't even get any junk mail.

Then, about 10 minutes ago, I remembered that for some folks, Columbus Day is a holiday. :)

You know it's fall when:

*The landscape looks like a painting
*Your feet crunch on leaves when you walk outdoors
*The afternoon sun is warm but evenings require a jacket
*You smell smoke from woodstoves
*Coffee shops offer pumpkin-flavored lattes and muffins
*Apple cider appears in the grocery store
*You're thinking about what your Halloween costume will be
*The office candy dish fills up with candy corn
*Pumpkin patches open for picking and jack-o-lanterns start appearing on porches

If you're looking for a places around PA to check out the fall foliage, here's a Web site where you can track the changing of colors.

Post a comment and tell me what's your favorite sign of fall.

Emily Styer, 23, of Hallam swims in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef while studying abroad in Australia earlier this year.

She logged 42 hours under water during her six months studying at James Cook University in Townsville. She said she got close to sharks, sting rays, tropical fish and several pods of Minke whales. Styer also went camping and visited the outback.

Her travel tip: Spend time scuba diving (or at least snorkeling). It’s an expensive sport, but totally worth it.
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Yeah, that pretty much describes my Sunday afternoon.

You know it's bad when you get lost on the way TO the place you're going for the express purpose of getting lost. Among rolling hills and fields of corn and soybean, on roads with tractors and grannies driving 20 below the speed limit. This is where I got lost.

Some folks know it as Fawn Township.

Isaiah Evans, 3 of West York, enjoys a round of miniature golf at Captain Hook's Adventure Mini-Golf in Myrtle Beach, SC in July. He was on vacation with his parents, Bryan Sr., and Desiree and his brother, Bryan Jr., 17.

While in town, they also visited an alligator farm and a lion-and-tiger display where kids can get their picture taken with the cubs.

Their travel tip: Get plenty of rest because there's a lot to see and do down there. Also, it's a popular convention spot, so take note of that when making your vacation plans.