For the Record – April 2, 2015
by Barbara Mastriania
April Fool! …
Mother Nature really got us this April Fool’s Day. She hit us the day before with from three to seven inches of snowy, depending where you are in Clinton Count y or elsewhere in Pennsylvania. Here in the backyard in North Bend I know I had at least five inches and a large tree limb on my driveway.
Meteorologist Tom Clark reported Tuesday afternoon there were seven inches of snow in Haneyville. I’m pretty sure Tuesday’s precipitation was a record snowfall for March 31. I remember a record snow fall in late March 1958. I remember it so well because I couldn’t get to my home in Gap, PA for days. It was an exciting time for me.
I worked as a switchboard operator for Bell Telephone in the Coatesville, PA office. I remember when the storm hit our switchboards went lit up like crazy. It was like everyone in the city had to call somebody. We would plug into a jack that was blinking. Sometimes an excited city resident would be on the other end. Other times there was nobody there. The lights were just blinking. It was really crazy.
If you lived outside the city, you needed to stay in town. If you were in the city you were staying there. The telephone company put us up in the Coach and Four Inn, the nicest hotel in the city if I remember correctly. It was a block down the street from our office. But we worked long hours before we could go to the hotel to get some sleep. Those of us who were working when the snowstorm was at its height worked through the night until someone could come in and relieve us the next day. We learned then that the area was having blizzard conditions, drifting snow blocking roadways and power shortages.
I don’t remember exactly how much snow the area had gotten but I think it was 20 or 22 inches near Gap where I lived with my parents. I saw on the internet that nearby Morgantown got 50 inches of snow. I’m wondering now if central Pennsylvania was hit with heavy snow and blizzard conditions from that storm? Wondering if residents here have their late winter storm memories?
And the monkey’s name is …
Rumor has it, not a clue if it’s true, but I’ve heard a rumor that Clarke Cannon has solved the mystery of the name of Whistle Summerson’s monkey. Rumor has it Cannon revealed the name of the monkey – Jefferson – during a recent surprise birthday party for Paul “Flip” Mills.
This is good news for those who have been asking for that monkey’s name for several years. Guess it just takes asking the right person at the right time.
Musicians Wanted …
The Renovo Heritage Park committee is seeking bands and musicians from this area to be part of a “Budstock” event August 29 at the Heritage Park in Renovo. The committee is hoping members of bands of yesteryear as well as current musicians will participate. Budstock is part of a year-long celebration of Renovo’s 150th anniversary (May 15, 2016) and the 50th anniversary of Bud and The Dynamics.
Memories regarding the band – rumor has it that it played for many, many weddings through the years, are also wanted. They can be related or forwarded to me or to Alice Tarr or Rich Wykoff.
Spring craft sale success …
The spring craft sale at Renovo Fire Department drew hundreds of people eager to get out of winter mode and a taste of spring fever. There were all kinds of crafts, delicious soups, sandwiches and desserts. I think I tasted the best coconut egg ever – it was from Doris and John Teti. I don’t know who made the egg but it was delicious. The atmosphere of the craft sale event was just a really good feeling. I have deliberately haven’t said which organization held the craft event because even thought Patty Rauch has repeatedly told me, I still get mixed up whether it was the Flaming Foliage Festival committee or the Renovo Rotary.
Red Hatters annual meeting …
The Renovo Red Hat members met Wednesday morning at Tripp’s in North Bend for breakfast. The group has met annually for April Fool’s Day breakfast at Tripp’s since it’s beginning more than ten years ago.
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Good news continues …
Clinton County Commissions Pete Smeltz, Jeff Snyder and Joel Long praised Renovo leaders and citizens this week for the borough’s continued works to clean up, fix up and become the idyllic “home town” we all look want to live in.
