The Undertaker's Wife

A Sad Day in Washington County

2011-12-23T17:59:00.000-05:00

There was a somber feeling in Washington today as police officers from far and wide gathered to pay respect for John David Dryer, an East Washington Borough police officer who was shot and killed during a traffic stop earlier this week.

Police officers standing near the Immaculate Conception Church in Washington, Pa.

Motorcycles parked near the church.

Motorcycles from the Pittsburgh area that were parked near the church.

The back of a motorcycle that was parked near the church.

Troopers from the Maryland State Police standing guard outside of the church.

More police officers standing guard prior to the funeral.

Police cars parked on Beau Street near the Washington County Courthouse.

The flag at the Washington County Courthouse flying at half-staff

SWPA Rural Exploration: Pitt Gas, PA Swinging Bridge and a visit to the Jo...

2011-08-16T07:05:00.000-04:00

SWPA Rural Exploration: Pitt Gas, PA Swinging Bridge and a visit to the Jo...: " As I was going through the older blog posts tonight, I noticed this one video tucked into this older post dealing w/ a downed hel..."

Brothers in ARMS The Ringgold Cavalry were unsung heroes during Civil War - www.observer-reporter.com

2011-07-03T09:09:00.000-04:00

Brothers in ARMS The Ringgold Cavalry were unsung heroes during Civil War - www.observer-reporter.com

Independence Day on the Monongahela River

2011-07-02T23:03:00.000-04:00

Just one of the many fireworks that illuminated the Monongahela River in Fredericktown tonight.

We watched the show from the dock behind the library.

A few of the boats that docked near Fredericktown before the fireworks display. As you can see, the recent rainy weather has left the river a bit murky and full of debris.

Vote for Lisa Stout-Bashioum for Prothonotary!

2011-05-16T08:12:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow is the primary election in Washington County and I am asking all of my friends to go to the polls and cast their vote for my friend Lisa Stout-Bashioum for Washington County Prothotonary. Lisa and I have served together on the board of The Bentleyville Area Historical Society for several years and I think she will be a breath of fresh air at the Washington County Courthouse. But, she can't get there if our generation doesn't get out and vote! I know you are all busy working, taking care of your families and running kids to after-school activities. But it really only takes about five minutes to vote. That's it, just five minutes! (Ok, maybe 15 if you stop and talk to your friends at the polls; a half hour if you grab something to eat!) I thank you in advance for your support for Lisa. And, Lisa, Ben, Will, Sam, Josh, her husband Bob, Jon and Brynne, also thank you!

The gifts were delivered

2011-04-23T13:58:00.000-04:00

Kate, Morgan, Sam and Kaitlyn spent Good Friday delivering the gifts from their birthday party to the Children's Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center. They received a tour of the hospital so they could see just how important their donation was. In addition to the gifts shown in the pictures, the kids who attended their birthday party donated $150 in cash and $175 in gift cards. The girls want to thank everyone for their generous giving and for making their party so special.

A way to remember His last days...

2011-04-22T08:47:00.002-04:00

On Palm Sunday my daughter Abby found my DVD of Jesus Christ Superstar and we gathered in the living room to watch the rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. I love this movie and over the years I have watched it many times and listened to my parent's copy of the album too many times to count. I saw the play twice: one professional production at the Benedum in Pittsburgh; the other a high school production at South Park High School. Both plays were amazing.

However, it was the first viewing I will never forget. It was 1973, I was nine years old I remember waiting in line with my parents at a movie theater in Morgantown. I heard the adults talk about this new movie being controversial, because some people thought it blasphemous to use rock music to tell the story of Jesus. The line outside of the theater was long, but we were finally seated and soon the last days of Jesus' life unfolded before me. Even though I went to church with my grandparents and I went to Sunday School and summer Bible School, I was not prepared for the Crucifixion of Christ.

My parents probably thought I knew how the movie was going to end. Doesn't everybody know? So, there I sat, all innocent and sweet, munching on my popcorn while Jesus was scourged at the feet of Pontius Pilate. I couldn't believe what was happening. "I'm sure someone is going to save him," I thought, "The good guy can't die. The good guy never dies." Apparently, I was the only one in the movie theater who didn't know that Jesus was going to die. I started to sob uncontrollably when the Roman soldiers nailed him to the cross. When Jesus died I was so devastated that my father had to carry me out of the theater.

Yes, the Jesus Christ Superstar experience was traumatic, but I am thankful for it. To me it was a life-changing experience. To see the story unfold in this way was more powerful than any sermon or gospel reading. The music and the images made me understand Jesus' experience on the cross. I never forgot it and I never will.

Join us Next Sunday at the Bentleyville Area Historical Society's Open House

2011-03-20T12:33:00.001-04:00

The Bentleyville Area Historical Society is holding an open house from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 27.

During the past several years the society has collected many historic photos, books, documents and items from the Bentleyville, Ellsworth, Scenery Hill, Cokeburg and Somerset Township areas. Because the society does not have regular office hours, the members are inviting the public to take a peek at their collection, which is housed at the Bentleyville Public Library at 931 Main Street, Bentleyville.

Those who attend will be encouraged to share stories, browse and partake of the light refreshments that will be served. They will also be invited to join the society, which meets at 6:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month.

For more information and to view a sampling of the society's photo collection, visit their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=148609315176519

Gifts for the kids at the Children's Home of Pittsburgh & The Lemieux Family Center

2011-03-19T11:16:00.001-04:00

The seventh graders at Bentworth are a generous bunch of kids.

This group, along with a few kids from other schools and other grades, collected a huge mound of gifts and $240 in cash and gift cards for the The Children's Home of Pittsburgh & The Lemieux Family Center.

The gifts were presented in honor of Kate, Sam, Kaitlyn and Morgan, who celebrated their 13th birthdays last night with a dance party at the local Knights of Columbus Hall. Instead of bringing gifts for the girls, their friends brought gifts for the charity.

The girls planned the party and picked this charity, because they really like to give gifts to other kids. This particular hospital was chosen because Kate's baby cousin Ben was a patient at the Children's Home last summer.

Two years ago the girls, who were all born in March of 1998, hosted a roller-skating party for their 11th birthdays and collected toys, clothes, money and gifts cards for Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Visit this link for more information about The Children's Home of Pittsburgh & The Lemieux Family Center.

In Memory of Chuck Tanner

2011-02-11T23:05:00.001-05:00

Chuck Tanner and Ruth Ross outside of Three River's Stadium in 1979,

the year the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series.

When I heard that Chuck Tanner died today, I immediately remembered the day I snapped these photos of the Pirates manager and my grandmother Ross. I couldn't believe my luck when I actually found them in a box of old photos.
I remember the day quite well. The Pirates were in the midst of a winning season and I was lucky enough to go to several games. This time I was with my dad, my grandmother and my sister, Kelly. After each game we we always went to the door outside of the locker room and waited for the players to come outside. We would ask them to sign our score books and I had the signatures of Dave Parker, Phil Garner, Willie Stargell and many other members of that World Series team . When Mr. Tanner came out of the locker room I asked him if he would pose for a photo with my grandmother. He agreed and I snapped away. He was in a really good mood, because his team was winning.
After the film was developed - probably a few months later - I took the pictures to my grandparent's house, my grandfather got really upset and my grandmother asked that I not show him the photos again. I guess he didn't like the fact that Mr. Tanner was getting friendly with his girl.
As for those autographed scorecards? Well, let's just say I lent them to a boyfriend who never gave them back. Twenty-some years later this still makes me made.

Click here to read Chuck Tanner's obituary - http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/baseball/mlb/02/11/chuck.tanner.obituary.ap/index.html

Be Our Guest at a Tea with Belle...

2011-01-15T18:55:00.000-05:00

Bentworth High School's Patrons of the Creative Arts is sponsoring "Tea with Belle" to help raise money for the upcoming high school musical, "Beauty and the Beast."

The tea will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 5 at the Bentworth High School Cafeteria. The cost of $5 will include tea, sweets and sandwiches. Photos with Belle will be an additional $5, light up roses will be $3 each.

Tickets will be sold at the high school from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 22; 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 24; 3 to 5 p.m. Jan. 25; 3 to 5 p.m. Jan. 28; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 29; and 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 31.

Tickets must be purchased prior to the event and all children must be accompanied by an adult, who must also purchase a ticket. Please pass the word on to anyone locally with little girls.

For more information, contact me at rossmarodi@bentcom.net; or call Dawn at 724-678-9985 (day-time) or Penny at 412-951-9390 (evening).

Thanks!

Randi

A January Trip to West Brownsville, Pa.

2011-01-02T21:11:00.004-05:00

Nestled in the small community of West Brownsville, not too far from the banks of the Monongahela River, is a church that is special to our family - The Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church. This is the church my husband's grandparents attended and it is where his father was baptised. This morning, we took my father-in-law back to the church where he spent so many of his Sundays. Our daughters sat in the pews where their ancestors sat. They were able to admire the ornate details of the icons as they breathed in the thick smoke of the incense that filled the air of the church, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
To learn more about West Brownsville and Brownsville, visit this link to the Brownsville Telegraph.

Marianna on a December day...

2010-12-05T13:34:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to go back to Marianna, which is my husband's hometown. On my way home I decided to take a couple of photos. This is a glimpse of what an old coal mining town looks like today. I have heard that it was once a busy, little town where the men worked hard in the coal mine while their wives were busy raising the children. This town, like most of the coal patches, quickly became home to people of Eastern European descent. These towns were small melting pots, filled with traditions and strong family ties.

The Old Believers Orthodox Church in West Bethlehem Township

These are the old coke ovens at the Marianna Mine. I was going to take a closer look and then I remembered that I was walking around in a wooded area, dressed in dark clothing on a Saturday in the midst of deer season. I didn't want to get shot, so I went back to my car. I will try again some other day.

The Marianna Mine

Sts. Mary &Ann Roman Catholic Church which is now part of the St. Oliver Plunkett Parish. This is the church where Tim and I were married in 1989.

Oklahoma Street in Marianna.

The Bentleyville 2011 Calendars are ready for sale!

2010-12-01T18:29:00.000-05:00

The Bentleyville Area Historical Society's 2011 calendars are done and ready for sale at $10 each. I will be at the Bentleyville Public Library from 7:30 to 8 p.m. tonight (Wed. Dec. 2) for the initial distribution. You can stop by and get some copies before the members snatch them up. If you want to purchase one by mail the cost is $12 for each calendar (the extra $2 will cover the shipping costs). Just make the check out to the Bentleyville Area Historical Society and drop it in the mail and send it to 112 Warren Street, Bentleyville, Pa. 15314. If I have any left I will be glad to mail one to you.

The churches featured are The Baptist, Presbyterian,Bentleyville Union Holiness Association (Campgrounds), St. Lukes, Methodist, Bethlehem Baptist and Assembly of God in Bentleyville; St. Clements and the Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth; Pigeon Creek Baptist in Somerset Township; St. Joseph's and the Presbyterian Church in Cokeburg;the Mt. Calvary Evangelical and Bethlehem Lutheran in Scenery Hill; and Newkirk Methodist in Fallowfield Township.

Thanks to everyone who helped with this project!

The Bentleyville Area Historical Society 2011 Calendar is in the Works...

2010-08-16T20:48:00.001-04:00

  The members of the Bentleyvlle Area Historical Society are working on the 2011 calendar and this year the subject will be the area's churches, such as those pictured in this postcard owned by Dave D'Orazio of Bentleyville.
  While we already have several photos and postcards to use for our project, we are still looking for very old photos of the following churches: St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Cokeburg; an old photo of the tabernacle at the Bentleyville Campmeeting Grounds; the old Assembly of God Church in Bentleyville; the Newkirk Church in Fallowfield Township; the Presbyterian Church in Cokeburg; and the old church that once stood near the old Somerset School (not sure of the name.) If we can find one, we may use an old photo of the Old Believers Church in Marianna.
   Remember, we want old photos and the older the better! If the photos shows an horse and buggy or an old car, well that's better than better! If Sheshbazzar Bentley and his family are in the picture, well we may just dedicate the calendar to you and make you an honorary, lifetime member of our society!
  We would also love it if you would share any information you have about the histories of these churches. We won't have room for a list of elders and preachers, but we would like some basic information, such as when the church was founded and built, by whom and any other significant facts that would enhance our calendar.
  So far, we have the postcard pictured with this post; St. Clement's Church in Ellsworth; St. Lukes (Ave Maria) in Bentleyville; the Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth; the Baptist Church behind the car wash in Bentleyville; Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church in Eighty Four; the Baptist Church on Third Street in Bentleyville; and the Glyde Lutheran Church in Scenery Hill.
Please let us know if you can think of any churches that we may have overlooked. Maybe we will be able to add them if you let us know soon enough. (If you have an old photo and some info then your chances of being included will be even greater!)
  Church photos and information can be emailed to rossmarodi@bentcom.net
  We, the members of the Bentleyville Area Historical Society, thank you in advance for you help.

'Jake' the goat finds a home - www.observer-reporter.com

2010-07-15T07:14:00.000-04:00

'Jake' the goat finds a home - www.observer-reporter.com

Drive-by Shots of Punxsutawney Phil

2010-06-10T22:01:00.002-04:00

We were driving through Punxsutawney, Pa. this week when we noticed these cute little statues scattered throughout the business district. Kate and I started snapping some shots. She was having trouble with the camera on her phone, so I won the competition! Remember, all shots were taken from a moving car. I'm sure there were more Phil statues, but these were the only ones we were able to see during our quick drive through town. Click here for more information on the Phantastic Phils Art Project.

My Memorial Day tribute...

2010-05-31T21:13:00.000-04:00

Click here to view my Memorial Day tribute to Brent McClellan of Clarksville, Pa.

Waynesburg history goes high-tech - Laurie Carson - www.observer-reporter.com

2010-05-29T13:51:00.000-04:00

Waynesburg history goes high-tech - Laurie Carson - www.observer-reporter.com

WPIAL Playoffs - Quarterfinals: Bentworth 9 - Carmichaels 3!

2010-05-25T22:08:00.001-04:00

Need I say more! Yes, I must!

Congratulations, Lady Bearcats. You really played an awesome game against the Carmichaels Mikes at California University of Pennsylvania. Good luck Thursday when you play

Chartiers-Houston!

Here is a great video the production of Ford's Model T. Enjoy!

2010-05-19T20:19:00.000-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/swf/l.swf?video_id=S4KrIMZpwCY

Coming Soon: How to Tour Washington, D.C. with 38 people in three days with limited funds!

2010-05-18T21:04:00.000-04:00

Two years ago our Girl Scout troop (and brownies) started planning a spring 2010 trip to Washington, D.C. At that time we had no idea how much it would cost or if it could possibly be done in three days. We started searching online for ideas and agendas, but found nothing and started from scratch. So, while the girls sold cookies, I started making plans and researching. The first thing on our agenda was to find a place to stay and a way to get the nation’s capitol.

I vowed at that time that I would write about our trip and post our costs, itinerary, lodging and transportation information on my blog. My goal is to help some other troop leader or teacher who wants to take a group of kids and parents D.C. (Now, keep in mind that this trip started in southwestern Pennsylvania, so those traveling from other parts of the country will have to make adjustments. Nevertheless, I’m sure you will find some of this information helpful.)

I'm gathering my information and trying to find the time to put everything together, so check back soon for our information-packed tour guide.

Thieves steal Ohio hearse with body inside - Associated Press Offbeat News - www.observer-reporter.com

2010-05-16T17:11:00.000-04:00

Thieves steal Ohio hearse with body inside - Associated Press Offbeat News - www.observer-reporter.com

Ready or Not: A Day with Baby Molly

2010-04-28T21:25:00.001-04:00

By Abby Marodi, guest blogger

“This is not worth it.” I said to my mom at 2 a.m., my hair a mess and my tired eyes drooping. Baby Molly sat on the bed after her “feeding” session staring at us with her creepy half-opened eyes. How did I get stuck babysitting a fake baby at 2 a.m. in the morning? Good old child development class where the students are required to carry Baby Molly around school for a day and for an extra ten bonus points she could spend the night at their house. During the day Baby Molly’s electronic cry will go off and the student must insert the correct key to stop it from crying. In other words, it was a lot of work for the typical high school kid whose normal school day does not involve a baby crying in the middle of English class. Because my days always turn out to be different from everyone else’s, you can imagine what kind of things I went through.

Tuesday morning I arrived in my child development teacher’s room where she gave me Baby Molly and explained to me the rules. It seemed pretty simple: I had to always have Molly with me, I had to insert the correct key (feeding, burping, diaper change and attention) and I had to give her the right key in less than a minute or I would fail. So, I started my day and luckily Molly only cried twice in the first hour. Then, at the end of biology class I got a phone call from the office saying I had an early dismissal for my orthodontist appointment. I carried Molly down the hallway where I found my Dad on the other end giving me strange looks. “Do people look at you weird with that thing?” was his first question. To tell the truth nobody in the school looked at me twice until he came along. I could tell already that he did not like the idea of me playing the role of a mom for a day.

Driving down the road I hardly thought that anyone would notice I was holding a baby in the front seat without a car seat. But, with our luck, right in front of us were three police officers stopping cars from both directions asking to look at their driver’s licenses and insurance. I thought the officer would question me about the baby, so I set it on the ground at my feet. But, the officer just had to stick his head in the window to talk to us so I picked Molly up and acted like it was no big deal. I noticed he gave me a few odd looks, but luckily he didn’t say anything about it. It is really obvious that she is fake. Still, to me it was very awkward experience.

By the time I got to my orthodontist appointment I was getting more comfortable carrying Molly around. My dad still kept his distance from me. When the dental hygienist came, she was quick to ask why I was carrying this baby around. After I told her, she spread the news to everyone: the receptionist, the other hygienist and the girl who just got her braces on. The one person she forgot to tell was my orthodontist. I help Molly in the chair with her head facing the other way and he walked in the room. “Well Abby it looks like a lot has happened since the last time we saw you!” he said loudly. I was just there last month. I turned her around to show him and explain what she really was and he seemed a little embarrassed. He went with another patient for a little while and when he came back and joked to my dad “So are you enjoying being a grandparent?” “Just for the day” My dad mumbled. He still wasn’t enjoying this at all. He really wasn’t having fun when we went back to the waiting room and a mother and her son were pointing and staring like I was a crazy person who carried a doll around. I wasn’t bothered by it, but my dad was. Molly didn’t cry during the appointment, but she needed fed right when we were giving the order to the lady at Wendy’s drive through. It even sounded like she was a little confused when a baby in the car started crying and instantly shut up.

I went back to school for my afternoon classes and Molly didn’t cry until my English class. During the hour in that class she cried three times, a lot more than normal. My teacher thought he was saying something wrong and would almost jump out of his seat every time she would start. When that class was over, the rest of my day went by uninterrupted. There was one thing that bothered me throughout the whole day: after school softball practice. Who would watch Molly for two hours? Luckily Molly’s aunt Kate, who is in the sixth grade, agreed she would meet me in the high school lobby and take her home on the bus. She wasn’t too thrilled about the whole situation. I could tell because when we met at the water fountain she acted like a secret agent and hid behind the wall because her exact words were that “high school kids were looking at me!” This is when my real mother-like senses kicked in. I was really uneasy about giving Molly to my sister because if she messed it up, I would fail the whole project. But, I handed her over and watched Kate walk away (holding her by one arm which I ignored because I was already late for practice). I was happy to find Molly alive and her abuse button not lit up when I got home. Aunt Kate had succeeded, but I don’t think she enjoyed it that much because kids on the bus made fun of her.

That night after practice I was bored so I took Molly to my sister’s softball practice and bundled her up from the cold in my dad’s brand new coach jersey. All of the mothers at the practice found it hilarious that I was carrying the baby around and they criticized the way I was holding it (by her stomach, not cradled). That night when I got home I was already tired so I was fast asleep at 9:30 with Baby Molly by my side. I was worried that I wouldn’t hear her cries, but as the night went on I was proven wrong. Molly started crying around 1:30 and cried six times in one hour. My mom is the furthest thing from a deep sleeper, so each time the baby would cry she would come and help me. Finally, by the sixth time, she noticed how tired I looked and she agreed to take over. I went to bed.

The next morning I was awakened by a loud cry coming from the living room. This cry was different from the others, it didn’t seem to stop. I jumped up and ran out of the room to find my mom sitting on the couch trying to decide which key Molly needed. I yelled at her because it took her a long time to stop the baby from crying. She got all offended and told me to go back to bed. I got ready for school and when I went to my classroom to give Molly to the next girl I admit that I did feel a little sad. I mean I know it was only a day, but I kind of liked having a little baby to carry around, even if it was fake. Of course I am nowhere near ready to have a baby of my own, but I liked seeing what it was like having to care for something other than myself. Now, as I am writing this the next night after taking care of Molly, I can still somehow hear her cries. Thank goodness they aren't real.

A Spring Day Photo Contest - Pick Your Favorite!

2010-04-11T15:56:00.003-04:00

Abby and Kate were bored today and looking for a way to enjoy a beautiful Spring day. So, they grabbed two cameras and started taking pictures of things in our yard. We selected four of their best photos to share - two were taken by Abby and two were taken by Kate (we aren't going to tell you which photos belong to which photographer right now.) Now, they want you to vote for your favorite. To see more of their photos, visit Abby's Flickr Page.

1. Pineapple

2. Flip Flops

3. Stone Heart

4. The Hose

Gettysburg, Pa.

2010-04-08T22:34:00.001-04:00

After a day's worth of classroom work we drove 30 minutes from Mechanicsburg to Gettysburg, Pa. I was this close and I just wanted to see one of our nation's most famous battlefields. It was raining when we arrived, so I was only able to snap a few photos. There wasn't enough time to give Gettysburg the attention it deserved. To spend a few minutes on the perimeter seemed wrong. Nevertheless, here are some photos.

A view of the Gettysburg National Cemetery.

The Maryland Monument - According a booklet I picked up at a souvenir shop, this monument was erected 131 years after Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. "No state participating in the battle of Gettysburg was more divided than the border state of Maryland. And in the shadow of a battle that happened to pit Maryland brother against brother...," according to Gettysburg Battlefield Monuments. "Underfoot lies a listing of both Union and Confederate commands as well as a plaque that quite nicely summarized the state's sentiment. More than 3,000 Marylanders served on both sides of the conflict at the battle of Gettysburg."

The historic Dobbin House Tavern, the oldest and most historic house in Gettysburg, built in 1776. This house was part of the Underground Railroad. The food here was excellent and the atmosphere was wonderful.

Please Pray for the West Virginia Coal Miners

2010-04-08T08:11:00.000-04:00

Rescue workers entered the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia this morning to search for four missing coal miners, who are trapped in a mine that shook with an explosion Monday, killing twenty-five miners. I'm sending my prayers to these families and I join the nation in hoping that the missing fathers, sons and brothers will be found alive. I want the families to know that their friends in southwestern Pennsylvania share their coal mining heritage. We know the dangers of mining and many of us can name a relative or ancestor who died in the mine.

Kudos to Tori and her AccuWeather Gig!

2010-03-24T07:11:00.002-04:00

I just found out from my neighbor that her niece Victoria Atkinson scored an internship with AccWeather at Penn State and has written a few articles. Everyone here in Bentleyville should be proud! Congratulations, Tori. Keep up the good work! Click here to read Tori's story about the heavy rains in Haiti that are hampering relief efforts or here to read about the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C.

Happy Birthday, George!

2010-02-15T15:12:00.000-05:00

Portrait by Abby M.

Abby was seven years old and in the first grade when she got off of the bus carrying her latest work of art. She eagerly showed it to me and I immediately fell in love with her interpretation of George Washington. As soon as I could, I went to the store to buy a frame and this portrait of our first President has been prominently hanging in our home ever since. I love the butterflies fluttering near his head, George's initials on the White House, the big orange and yellow sun and the American flag. Anyone who sees this picture knows immediately who it is.

I've been waiting for the right time to share this 2002 artwork with my readers. Today seemed like the right time. Happy Birthday, George!

Bentleyville gets hit hard by snow storm!!

2010-02-08T14:32:00.004-05:00

On Friday, Feb. 5 it started to snow and when we awoke on Saturday morning there were at least 18 inches of heavy, wet snow in our yard. The snow weighed down utility lines and trees, resulting in breakage and wide-spread power outages. We heard that three-fourths of Washington County was without electricity and that many people went to Red Cross warming stations to get warm and enjoy a hot meal. My daughters and I retreated to my sister's house in Greene County, where they were fortunate enough to still have electricity and heat. My husband stayed behind to hold down the fort and we returned to our home Sunday night when the power was restored. We are now warm enough to say that we survived one of the worst storms to hit this area in a long, long time.

Please share your photos of the storm by emailing them to me at rossmarodi@bentcom.net.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T15:05:00.002-05:00

May you have a Christmas that is filled with the joys of childhood!

My sister Kelly and I posed for this picture in either 1969 or 70 while our family was living in Maryland. That upsidedown saucer in the background was a sled called a tip-n-rock. You stood on it and held tightly onto the supports as you sailed down a snowy hillside. They probably don't make them anymore, because I'm guessing they were dangerous. But we loved that thing and were sad when it was left behind during a move.

My Newest Blog

2009-12-19T09:14:00.000-05:00

Visit my new blog Porch View and share the view from your porch. Just send your pictures to rossmarodi@bentcom.net and I will post them as soon as I can.

Letter from Jesus about Christmas

2009-12-11T15:47:00.000-05:00

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :

I LOVE YOU,

JESUS

(This letter was sent to me by a friend and I thought it was worth posting here. The author is unknown.)

Grief Healing Service at Grace United Methodist Church

2009-12-07T09:55:00.002-05:00

Here is something I borrowed from the website of a local church. This may help if grief is in your heart this holiday season.

"When grieving the death of loved one, Christmas can be a sad and stressful time. Grace Church offers a Grief Healing Service as a time of comfort, remembrance, music, prayer and candle lighting to ease your sorrow during this season. Those in attendance will be given the opportunity to light a candle in memory of their loved one."

The service will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 in the sanctuary of the Grace United Methodist Church, 420 California Drive, Coal Center, PA 15423."

Forty-five years ago!

2009-11-29T10:54:00.000-05:00

Look at this adorable young family! Back on Nov. 29, 1964 my mom and dad started their family in St. Louis, Mo. This photo was taken when I was one-month old during my first trip to Clarksville, Pa. We were visiting my grandmother and grandfather Ross when their neighbor Stanley Fowler took the photo.

My mom stopped by to visit me early this morning with some cupcakes and a gift. She said there was an ice storm in St. Louis on the day I was born and my dad had a difficult time getting back to the hospital to visit us. My dad told me about the ice storm once, so I'm guessing it must have been a memorable event. He also told me that they took a Greyhound bus to get back to Pennsylvania for Christmas. What a brave couple they must have been to take a newborn on a bus.

Thanks, Mom and Dad! We've been on a long journey together!

Bentleyville’s 2010 Calendar Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Caramel Park

2009-11-23T21:53:00.002-05:00

This year the Bentleyville Area Historical Society’s calendar is dedicated to the year the community won a nationwide caramel-selling contest and used the winnings to build a baseball park. After winning the Kraft contest several baseball players were invited to Forbes Field in Pittsburgh to see a replica of the park. Pictured, from the left, are Todd Wiggins, James Bane, Ed Hudock, Neal Kubula, Karl Skrypak, James Marsteller, Chris Preisendorfer, Ray Adams and Ron Frankoff, all members of the Clover Farm team, Joseph Getto, president of the Bentleyville Boosters Club and Lee Esch, Kraft district sales manager. The calendars are being sold for $10 each and can be purchased at Andrachick’s Barber Shop at 204 Oliver Avenue, Bentleyville. Click here to request more information.

Annabelle Ferguson Shipley 1882 - 1949

2009-11-21T11:29:00.002-05:00

Last week my mother gave me the register book that was used at the funeral of her grandmother Annabelle Ferguson Shipley, who died January 8, 1949 in New Castle, Pa. Her obituary was tucked inside of the book, but I already had this photo of her in my collection of family tree artifacts. Mrs. Shipley was laid out at the DeCarbo Funeral Home in New Castle and at the Ross Funeral Home in Brownsville, Pa. where funeral services were held on January 11, 1949, with Rev. D.C. Robbins officiating. She was buried in the Redstone Cemetery in Brownsville, Fayette County.
(Section E, Lot 52.)

According to the registry book her pall bearers were Charles Rush, John Rush, Joseph Rodgers, B.A. Dillon, Jerry E. Edsall and William Giles.

Those who signed the book were:

Mrs. Ida M. Hansel of Farmington

Mrs. Delbert Rush of Farmington

Mr. and Mrs. A.L. Francis

Mrs. John L. Rush

Mrs. Charles Rush

John Rush

Charles Rush

Bert Rush

David Garbart

Gale and Frank DeLeo

Jane Rodgers

Agnes Ann Rodgers

John Howard Rodgers

John & Trissa Rodgers

George & Blanche Phillians

Roy & Mildred Virgin

Rev. & Mrs. D.C. Robbins

Mr. and Mrs. Ross Dorsey

Martha Basko

Dolores Rahland

M. B. Shipley

Anna M. Shipley

Bowman Shipley

Frank Vig

Lois Sheehan

Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Leigh G. Dille

Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Hughes

Betty Edsall

Donald Kallburg

Mrs. Joseph Skoda

Mrs. Ray Davis

Mr. & Mrs. Miam Kinney

Wayne McKinney

S. J. Rodgers

Mr. and Mrs. William Murray

Mrs. J.M. Hierman

Mrs. M.E. Tierney

M:r. & Mrs. K.C. Muredock

Bobby Moore

Ruthanne Moore

Mr. & Mrs. Paul Burd

Mrs. Faye McCarty

J.T. Sheehan

Better Marie Bohn

Louis Bohn

Mrs. E.D. Hagerty

Mr. & Mrs. George Giles

Mrs. Watt Barnes

Mrs. Willard A. Griffin, Jr.

Donna Saunders

Anna Murray Orcino (sp)

L. O. (??)

Willard A. Griffin Jr.

Mrs. John T. Keiffer

Mrs. O.D. Crawford

Isabella Layton

Phyllis Stark

Mr. & Mrs. Michael Burich

Florence Gallagher

Grace R. Shepherd

Dorothy M. Laird

John E. Gary

Mrs. Thelma Guder (sp?)

Donetta D. Uphold

Mrs. H.M. Gilbert

Mrs. Harry Crouch Sr.

Estelle Biddle

Howard Brandtonies

W.A. Griffin

Libby Giles

Bert Francis

Anna Flalnnigan

J.F. McWay

Sue Elliott

Joanne Elliott

Mrs. Ellen Elliott

John M. Jennings

Mrs. John M. Jennings

Mrs. Ellen M. Shuham

Mrs. Harry Hamme

Mrs. Harry Crouch Jr.

Katherine Herron

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas W. Gibs

Edgar Burd

Dorothy McClain

Mrs. Ethel McClain

Mr. & Mrs. Charles Wishart

Elizabeth Basko

Margaret Percy Combs

Fred W. Combs

B.D. Williams

Virginia Wardman

Mr. & Mrs. Wm. G. Gibs

Marguerite South

Mr. & Mrs. James H. Gilder (sp?)

Mrs. Ruth Smith Ramage

Mrs. O.B. Richardson

Mrs. W.L. Wade

Mrs. & Mrs. Charles Hayman

Mr. & Mrs. J.E. Edsall

Mrs. Della Nyswaner

Mrs. Ivan Bauch

Mary Salvisod (sp?)

Mrs. Helen Lamcheck

Mrs. Della Metz

Mrs. Lewis Meese Sr.

Mrs. James Lynn

Mrs. M. Gaitens

B.A. Dillon & Family

W.B. Chalfant

Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Kinder

Mr. & Mrs. Russell Phillians

Mrs. E.I. Posthethwaite

Mrs. Olive Phillians

Mr. & Mrs. Miles King

Mrs. Nellie M. Wetzell

Lois Ferry

Mrs. Sara DeLaney

Betty Kinder

Mrs. Harry Shivers

Mr. Chalfant

Note - some of the signatures were difficult to read. Hopefully the spellings are accurate.

Family Tree Branch

1. Randi Lee Ross

2. Roberta Lee Phillians

3. Blanche Louise Shipley

4. Annabelle Ferguson

Memories of Danny Marodi ~ Dec. 23, 1953 - Nov. 8, 2009

2009-11-11T14:55:00.003-05:00

Timmy was about 10 years old when his big brother Danny packed his belongings into a car and left the patch where they were raised.

In those days, Marianna was a thriving community, where many of the young men earned high school diplomas and quickly got jobs at Mine No. 58. All of the men in the Marodi family had worked in the coal mine: their father, grandfathers and uncles. There were a few who moved away to get jobs and Danny decided to follow in their footsteps. So, he studied drafting and sometime in the early 1970s, Charlie and Honey stood in the yard with their other children Vickie, Alex and Timmy and waved goodbye to Danny.

Danny was the cool, older brother with a fashion sense. Honey, who loved to iron and had an appreciation for those who ironed, once bragged that Danny would get up early and press his own clothes before he headed off to classes at Beth-Center High School. This wonderful woman, who claimed to have ironed underwear and handkerchiefs for fun, seemed proud to have passed on the skill.

Her oldest son also had a gift for music and I heard stories of Honey making him take accordion lessons when he was a kid. Eventually, he learned how to play the guitar and formed a band with his friends. Danny, to put it simply, knew how to have fun and he was fun to be around.

Honey and Charlie missed their son, but they probably knew there wasn’t much for him in Marianna. So, they resigned themselves to the fact that this was the way it was going to be. Danny decided to stay in Indiana, but he returned to marry his high school sweetheart Paula. Honey and Charlie waved goodbye again when Danny took his young bride out West.

I met Danny shortly after I started dating Tim in 1988. Paula’s sister was hosting a party to celebrate the baptism of the couple’s newborn daughter Danielle. They came home a year and a half later when Tim and I got married. The young family, which grew to include their son Aaron, returned to Pennsylvania when their jobs and busy schedules permitted.

A distance of nearly 500 miles can make it difficult to stay close to family members, but we would see Danny’s family at Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, weddings or funerals. We didn’t get to spend much time with them, but when Danny came home it was always a special time filled with fun and plenty of love.

Over the years, Danny learned to cook and he took that skill to a level that even a seasoned cook like Honey could appreciate. He was so dedicated to cooking that he would bring his own pots and pans, knives, utensils and spices to Pennsylvania. Soon, the Marodi house in Marianna would be filled with the aromas of wonderful soups simmering on the stove and casseroles baking in the oven. Once dinner was served, Danny would sit at the end of the table telling stories and smoking cigarettes. During his last visit in July, he proudly showed us pictures of his latest passion – his lush and beautiful vegetable garden. You could tell he loved his family and he wished he could come home more often. When he hugged you goodbye you knew he meant it.

On Sunday, we got a phone call from Vickie who told us that Danny’s health was failing fast in an Indiana hospital. A few hours later we learned that he had died. Even though we knew he had health issues, his death was sudden and the news was shocking.

So, at about midnight on Monday, Tim and Alex left Pennsylvania to make the long journey to Indiana. This time the little brothers were called upon to be strong and brave – to be the ones who would bring their big brother home.

Click here to read Danny's obituary.

Our message in the bottle made a short journey

2009-09-26T11:10:00.001-04:00

The sun over North Carolina's Holden Beach was hot as we walked through the waves. It was August 18, 2005 and it was halfway through our big family vacation when Abby, Kate and I decided to take a walk with my sister, Taylor, step-sister Katrina and step-brother Matt. We talked and looked at the different beach houses and we discussed the fact that the fishing pier we were walking to seemed so far away. Suddenly, Kate, who was 7 years old, noticed something rolling along the surf.

"Look, a message in a bottle," she yelled, while Matt ran over and plucked a tiny bottle out of the waves. This was exciting stuff. We tried to open the bottle to see what was written on the piece of paper inside. I can’t remember why, but we weren’t able to get it open. We carried the little bottle with the mysterious message and we wondered about its origin. Was the message old? Was it from a far off land? Was it a cry for help?

Once we made it to the pier we found a little tackle shop, where the owner had the tools to open the bottle and remove the note. We were disappointed to find that the bottle had been thrown into the water earlier that day by a little girl who was also vacationing at Holden Beach. We didn't want to ruin her attempt, so we added our own note to the bottle and sealed it again. We walked out to the end of the pier and we had Matt throw it as far into the Atlantic Ocean as he could. As we made our way back to our beach house we wondered where the bottle would end up. We told the rest of our family about our find and eventually forgot about it.

Then, last week and four years later, a note arrived from a man named Norman Alloway in Shallotte, N.C.

“9- 5-09 – Abby & Kate – Found this note and bottle about a week after it’s dated. I forgot about it. We moved to another house and I found it. Did not try the email. (We moved about a year ago. Almost got lost again. The note is enclosed. Sorry it didn’t get too far. Return address on envelope. We live in Shallotte. Sorry it took so long. Norm Alloway.”

The note doesn’t say where Mr. Alloway found the bottle, but we know that Shallotte is a little town located several miles away from Holden Beach. We just hope he had as much fun finding the bottle as we did.

Another Blog by a Another Greene County Pa. native

2009-09-18T16:23:00.003-04:00

It is sometimes difficult to find good blogs and websites to read, but here is one I hope you will enjoy. It is thoughtfully written by Doug Morris, a fellow Jefferson-Morgan High School graduate with strong ties to Greene County. His sister Shawn was one of my good friends in high school. Be sure to explore and don't forget to check out the link that lets you listen to the music of his father the late H. Donovan Morris. Just click here and enjoy! http://apachedug.spaces.live.com/

Friendship, the year 2000 and The Bomb...

2009-09-12T23:06:00.004-04:00

I just found out that an old friend from high school has been reading my blog. I hadn't talked to her in years, so it almost felt as if her email was from a stranger. Although I can recall many things about my life as a kid, there are times when it all seems so distant. Like it happened to someone else.

When I was in the sixth grade at Pitt Gas Elementary School our teacher had us figure out how old we would be in the year 2000. It was shocking to think I would be 36 years old in a world that I knew would be complete with flying cars and other high-tech gadgets. I would be old, really old and I doubted that I would even live long enough to see that far away time. (I was convinced I would die young, because our teacher lovingly told us that Pittsburgh and its steel industry were atomic bomb targets. The bomb, he said, would destroy anything within a 60-mile radius. He politely pointed out that Pitt Gas, Clarksville, etc. were within that radius. God, how I loved that man!)

Well, the year 2000 is long gone and so is my 36th year. How did it go so fast? How did I turn into this middle-aged person? How did I leave so many good friends behind? Anyway, I'm sorry that life has kept me so busy that I haven't nurtured friendships.

September 2, 1989 - Happy 20th, Tim!

2009-09-02T16:23:00.003-04:00

Our wedding party - front row, from the left, Morgan Ross Muhly, Taylor Ross, Ashley Knizner, Jason Knizner and Warren Blosjo. Back row, Kelly Ross, Nikole Kiralis, Elisa Dillon, Kim Arnold Mariscotti, me and Tim, Danny Marodi, Richard Nichol, Don Dillon and Alex Marodi.

It's been 20 years since and I were married in Sts. Mary and Ann Roman Catholic Church in Marianna by Father John Arnott. It was a beautiful day with the bluest skies, big puffy clouds and the perfect temperature of about 75 degrees. This morning we talked about the many things that have changed since then - most importantly the people who have come into our lives and those who are no longer with us.

Tonight, as any funeral director who reads this blog might guess, Tim will be spending the night at a visitation at the funeral home and I will be running Abby to softball practice and Kate to cheerleading practice. That's life, so why should it change on our anniversary? Anyway, I'm thinking we will have plenty more years for celebrations.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

2009-08-30T20:52:00.002-04:00

Over the years my husband has been called a few too many times to help families who have lost a baby. It's a horrible time for the families and it's a trying time for him. I truly believe it ages him when he deals with the death of a child.

I can't imagine the feeling of despair the mothers and fathers feel at this time. Nothing can ever replace their child and nothing anyone says or does can make them feel whole again. Leaving the hospital without a newborn would a traumatic experience filled with sorrow and grief.

To help parents cope with that empty feeling, there is an organization called Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, which allows the parents to have professional photographs of their baby's brief little life.

According to an article in today's Washington Observer-Reporter, the organization is made up of a group of 7,000 photographers who volunteer to take photos of stillborn infants and babies expected to die after birth. To learn more about the organization, you can visit the organization's website at http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/

Sen. Edward Kennedy to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery Today

2009-08-29T08:14:00.005-04:00

This morning the undertaker and I were watching the news, which was focused on today's funeral plans for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. He commented that he finds it interesting that Kennedy is being buried in Arlington National Cemtery after 5 p.m. on weekend. He said Arlington and other national cemeteries do not not permit burials at these times and that the average family could possibly wait about two months for a burial of their loved ones.

I decided to see what the Arlington National Cemetery's website had to say. So, I visited http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/ and quickly learned that "more than four million people visit the cemetery annually, many coming to pay final respects at graveside services, of which nearly 100 are conducted each week, Monday through Friday."

On the page dedicated to funeral service information, it stated that "funeral services are provided Monday through Friday, except federal holidays, during the hours 9:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m." I didn't see anything on the website about a waiting list.

I just found this interesting and decided to share.

5,000 Readers!

2009-08-26T15:57:00.003-04:00

I would like to thank the 5,000 people who have logged on to read this blog! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thumbies

2009-08-18T08:54:00.006-04:00

A few years ago my cousin Shannon mentioned that she wanted jewelry to help mark the birth of her daughters. This particular jewelry was more than a birth stone and would incorporate the thumbprints of her newborn babies. She said a nurse had come up with the idea because parents needed a way to remember babies who were stillborn or didn't get to go home from the hospital. Fortunately, Shannon and Lee were able to take Natalie and Lily home with them, but she still wanted to keep their little thumbprints with her forever.

I'm not sure if Shannon ever got this jewelry and I hadn't thought about it much until this past Sunday when a lady approached me in church and asked about fingerprint jewelry. She wanted to know if Tim sold such things through the funeral home. I knew that he hadn't, but I told her I would look into it.

That afternoon I did a quick search on Thumbies and found that there is a whole line of jewelry in silver and gold that uses thumbprints, foot and hand prints. Even though she was asking about preserving the thumbprint of someone who just recently passed away, the jewelry can be used to commemorate the stages of life. Many parents have charms, rings and pendants made from the footprints and hand prints they received on their baby's record of birth from the hospital.

If you are interested in learning more about Thumbies just take a look at their website at http://www.meadowhillco.com/thumbies.php I think it's a great way to show how much you treasure someones life.

A deer visit...

2009-08-14T10:01:00.006-04:00

We were in the living room this morning when we heard a soft baying sound in our front yard. Abby looked out the window and told us to quickly look out the window, but for us to be quiet. There stood the cutest fawn. Unfortunately, it ran away when our dog Megan started to bark.

I grabbed my camera and ran to the back porch to see if I could watch the fawn as it ran to the woods behind our house. That's when I noticed that the fawn's mother and two siblings were waiting for her.

This is just one of the many reasons that I love my house!

Bobbleheads, John's Jacket and Memories....

2009-08-06T08:45:00.007-04:00

Oh, how I would love to own a set of Fab Four bobblehead dolls. These dolls were on display at the Hard Rock Cafe in Pittsburgh, which we visited last month. I was excited to see the dolls, because when I was a teenager I dreamed of having a set in my room.

I was just a baby when Beatlemania swept the nation. And, I admit that I'm still a bit peeved that my parents didn't take me along when they went see them in concert. I remember going to the store when I was very young and seeing the Magical Mystery Tour album on display at the store. The colors and costumes amazed me, but I didn't really know anything about their music. (I admit that I was more into The Monkeys and the Jackson Five at the time.) Eventually my sister Kelly and I found The Beatles albums in our parents' collection and we listened to them often.

John Lennon was my favorite member of the group and that's why I took this photo of his jacket at the Hard Rock Cafe. When he died my mother let my sister Kelly and I skip school. It was a day of mourning and the radio stations played nothing but the music of The Beatles and John Lennon. We just couldn't understand why someone would want to kill John. It's still upsetting.

While in high school I went to the National Record Mart and purchased a very nice collection of Beatles pins. I recall having one with John's picture, one of the Yellow Submarine, one with the Abbey Road cover and a few others with the complete group. I'm not sure what happened to these pins, but I don't own them anymore. I'm thinking I may have given them to my younger sisters, Morgan and Taylor. If so, there's a good chance they are still at my mother's house. Maybe I will look for them the next time I visit!

A Screaming Good Time at the Jonas Brothers Concert...

2009-07-26T16:29:00.009-04:00

The Jonas Brothers at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Sam, Betsy, Abby, Riley and Kate after the Jonas Brothers Concert in Pittsburgh.

The Jonas Brothers.

The Jonas Brothers.

Kevin Jonas.

OK. I was a bit hard of hearing before. But, after last night's Jonas Brothers Concert I may have suffered permanent hearing loss. I have never in my life experienced so much noise. When the Jonas Brothers emerged from below the stage the crowd of pre-teen and teen girls started jumping, clapping and screaming. At first I couldn't even tell what song the brothers were performing.

Nevertheless, the concert was great. The Jonas Brothers sounded really good live and the light show was amazing. The stage was located in the middle of the arena, making it easy for everyone to have that wow-I'm-sitting-close-to-the-Jonas-Brothers feeling.

The whole evening turned out to be a lot of fun with a group of us taking the T into Pittsburgh and dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe. But, the best part of the evening occurred when the Jonas Brothers came on stage. It was noisy, but I could feel my phone vibrating in my pocket. I opened it up to find that Abby had sent me a message that read, "Thank you so much!" It was nice to know that she appreciated the tickets, the dinner and the chance to see the Jonas Brothers. It brought tears to my eyes, but I'm sappy like that.

Look for Kate, Sam and Riley at the Jonas Brothers Concert

2009-07-26T09:48:00.003-04:00

Click on this link from WPXI Pittsburgh...

http://www.wpxi.com/video/20179649/index.html

Bentworth Takes Second Place in Tournament...

2009-07-19T22:59:00.007-04:00

Front row: Riley Lewis, Casey Hite, Cheyanne Kelley, Leah Ames and Autumn Zgorliski. Middle row: Elizabeth Ambrose, Chase Watson, Baylee Wright, Samantha Wessel, Morgan Vickless, Kaitlyn Snyder, Kate Marodi, Samantha Christopher and Kate Nicholl. Back row: Coaches John Vickless, Dave Kania, Chris Watson and Tim Marodi.

Catcher Riley Lewis was named most valuable player during Sunday's game.

The Bentworth Girls 10 & under team walked away with second place honors at this weekend's tournament in Houston. South Franklin played a great game and beat our girls 14-9. Catcher Riley Lewis was named most valuable player for her efforts behind the plate.

Even though our girls were disappointed by the loss, I want to congratulate them for a great season. I want them to remember how hard they played and to commend them for always being good sports and great friends. These girls worked as a team and as a result learned lessons that will serve them well in life. Your coaches, parents, families and your sponsor are very proud of all that you did this year. In our eyes you will always be number 1!

After the tournament some of the girls and their friends went to one of their favorite ice cream stands, the Turtle Twist in Canonsburg.

The Bentworth Roller Coaster Ride Continues Today...

2009-07-19T06:36:00.011-04:00

Casey Hite, Morgan Vickless, Kaitlyn Snyder, Kate Marodi and Riley Lewis after three games of softball.

Morgan Vickless, shortstop, most valuable player in the 17-5 win against Thomas.

Autumn Zgorliski, second baseman, most valuable player in the 14-12 loss to South Franklin.

Casey Hite, first baseman, most valuable player in the 19-4 win against Canonsburg.

I have always loved a good roller coaster ride and the Bentworth Thompson-Marodi Funeral Home's softball team is on one heck of a ride. The ups and downs started Thursday night with a matchup with girls from South Franklin. Both teams entered the competition with a 18-1 record. The pressure was on and our girls walked away with a 19-12 win and a 17-5 win. Catcher Riley Lewis made three great plays by catching three fly balls behind the plate. The girls were awarded the championship plaque and sent home to rest for the big tournament at Chartiers-Houston.

9 a.m. Saturday, Tournament Game 1: Our girls played their first game of the tournament against the girls from Thomas. Kate Marodi pitched and held them at five runs. Autumn Zgorliski made some beautiful plays at second base, Chase Watson did the same at third, while shortstop Morgan Vickless made some beautiful outs with first baseman Casey Hite. When it came time to bat Kaitlyn Snyder came through for the team with one home run, two doubles and a single. Vickless was named most valuable player. The Bentworth girls won 17-5 and the girls were told to return to play another game at 4:30 that afternoon.

4:30 p.m. Saturday, Tournament Game 2: When we arrived at the field the girls discovered they would once again be playing South Franklin. Hite pitched the game which ended up being tied 9-9 at the end of the seventh inning. The girls fought hard during the next three innings, with Marodi assisting in two outs at first and making three on her own. Our girls were strong hitters, but too many of the balls ended up in the glove of the South Franklin's short stop. Zgorliski was named most valuable player for assisting in six plays at second and catching two fly balls and making one unassisted play at second. Bentworth lost that game 14-12 in the ninth inning of the double-elimination tournament. They were hurt by the loss and there were some tears shed on the field, but in the end both umpires said it was one of the best 10 & under games they had ever seen. One said he had never seen a game go to the ninth inning. Even though they lost, all of the parents were proud of what their daughters had done. Many pep talks were given, the girls dusted off their gloves and got ready for game three of the day.

7 p.m. Saturday, Tournament Game 3: This time the girls were up against Canonsburg, a team that had beaten South Franklin in regular season and had lost to South Franklin earlier in the day by one run. Our girls were nervous, because if they lost this game they would have been knocked out of the tournament to take third place. (Thomas had taken home the fourth place trophies earlier in the day.) Marodi took the mound this time and in the first inning we didn't let the girls from Canonsburg score. When it was our turn to bat we got seven hits and Marodi, Watson, Snyder, Hite and Sam Wessel scored. In the second inning we scored five runs again when Snyder hit a home run. We scored another five runs in the third inning. Watson started off the fourth inning with a home run and we ended up scoring four runs. Bentworth worked just as hard on the field as they did at the plate. Hite, who was named most valuable player, caught one fly ball at first, where she stopped five other runners. There were also some great plays by Watson at third, Zgorliski at second and by shortstop Vickless, who caught three fly balls. We ended the game in the fifth inning with a score of 19-4.

Today, we are to be at the field for a 1 p.m. game against South Franklin. If we win, we play a second game against South Franklin, who must lose twice to take second place. If we lose at 1 p.m. we take second. It should be interesting and at the end of the day, everyone will know that the girls from South Franklin and Bentworth can play ball.

Go, Bentworth! Good luck!

Editors note: I am by no means a sports writer, just a score keeper. So, I'm hoping this account of the games isn't too confusing.

Thompson-Marodi Funeral Home Team finishes first in the Washington County Girls 10 & Under League!

2009-07-16T22:59:00.004-04:00

The Bentworth Community League 10 & under team ran away with the league title this evening when they beat South Franklin in a double header. The girls have a 20-1 record going into this weekend's championship tournament. Pictured in the front row are Cheyanne Kelley, Riley Lewis, Casey Hite, Chase Watson, Leah Ames and Autumn Zgorliski. Pictured in the middle row are Samantha Wessel, Morgan Vickless, Kate Marodi, Kaitlyn Snyder, Hannah Clark, Baylee Wright and Elizabeth Ambrose. The coaches pictured in the back row are John Vickless, Dave Kania , Tim Marodi and Chris Watson. The umpire was impressed with the efforts of our catcher Riley Lewis, the one with the mask, who made three outs when she caught three pop-ups at the plate. He said it was the first time he had seen anything like that during his 12 years as an umpire. Congratulations, Riley!

Happy Birthday, Lynn!

2009-07-16T10:19:00.004-04:00

Welcome to the 40-something crowd! Because you must spend your 40th birthday at a 10 & under softball game, let's hope that the girls will give you two wins for your big day!

Let's go, Bentworth, do it for Lynn!

Traveling Light: Then and Now

2009-07-16T09:47:00.009-04:00

These campers understand the concept of traveling light.

Mark 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them,"Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them." So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

This was the Gospel reading at the Ave Maria Catholic Church in Bentleyville last Sunday. Father Gary explained to his flock that Jesus wanted the apostles to travel without things, because this would make it easier to move from house to house, preaching the word of God. Basically, he said, a life without “things” would make it easier for them to focus on what is important. Today, just like then, things can get in the way of life and keep us from seeing just what really is important to us.

I found this message to be very interesting, because I had just met a couple who understood the concept of traveling light. It was the Fourth of July weekend and my sister and I had planned a camping trip to a local KOA for our families. I packed food, drinks, clothes, blankets, pillows, cooking utensils, bug spray, bathing suits, towels and folding chairs, while my daughters packed cell phone chargers and iPods. (The cabin we stayed in had electricity, air conditioning and a wireless internet connection.) Although we didn’t take our laptop computer, you can see that we didn’t pack lightly. The back of my Subaru was stuffed tightly with things and my sister’s car was equally stuffed. I thought at the time that it was a bit excessive for just one night in a cabin, but it was the stuff we would need to make the trip a success.

When we got to the campground we immediately started unpacking all the stuff, most of which consisted of what we needed for food preparation. While we were enjoying our feast, conversation and some Fourth of July sparklers, I watched as a motorcycle pulled up to the campsite directly across from ours. The next time I looked over I was amazed to see that the couple had pitched a small tent. It immediately became apparent they grasped the packing-light concept.

The next morning I walked over to their campsite to find out how one manages to pack a tent on a motorcycle. The Canadian couple, who had been on the road for eight days, explained that they carry a tent, two sleeping bags, an air mattress, a change of clothes and a few other things on their bike. The gentleman said he uses compression packs with ties to make everything as compact as possible. These compact things are then packed into the saddle bags on the side of the bike. When I directed his attention to the stuff I had packed for a 12-mile trip and a one-night stay, he laughed and pointed out that they were traveling without children and that they didn't pack anything for food preparation – they eat at restaurants along the way. At night they snuggle in their tent and read books borrowed from the lending libraries of the KOA campgrounds they visit.

This couple was able to experience true freedom and they loved it. They were free to simply enjoy the places they traveled through, take in the sites and enjoy each other’s company. Maybe we should all start living this way. But, for now I must excuse myself, so I can spend the rest of the day putting away my things, running the sweeper and dusting my stuff.

We may have taken too much stuff, but we had a great time camping.

Footnote: My sister-in-law Annette sent me an email this morning stating that she enjoyed this story. Apparently Tim's brother Alex has an issue with stuff at his house, because she wrote, "I can't let Alex read it or we may be selling our house, cars and getting rid of the 50 pair of flip-flops, and moving outside into our 6 person tent."

Thinking of Grandma

2009-07-10T08:37:00.003-04:00

Grandma holding me tight about 42 years ago.

Last night a friend told me she is waiting for me to add another story to the blog. I had forgotten about the bog and I really haven't had anything to write about. My mind is preoccupied with thoughts of my grandmother and as her health fails, my heart breaks. It's a subject so close to my heart that I don't know if I can even write about it.

During a recent phone call my 88 year old grandma told me she wants me to visit her. I told her I would, but there's a chance that I won't be allowed to visit her in the nursing home that is seven hours away. There are obstacles in my path that are beyond my control.

I am fighting for her because of my love for her. That's it. She was always there for me and my sisters when we were growing up, and now we are trying our best to be there for her. After all, we had a bond with our grandparents that was closer than what most children have. We didn't just visit on Sundays or holidays, we were at their house all the time and we loved it. My sister Kelly got in trouble because she would get off the bus at Grandma's house without telling my mother. She liked it there because Grandma would give her ice cream, and let her watch t.v. - there were no chores or homework at Grandma's house. I used to go there for counseling. My grandparents would sit at the kitchen table and listen to every problem I had - from parental disputes to boyfriend problems. Even though my woes probably seemed dumb to them, they never let on. They listened like they were the most important problems on Earth.

As expected, everything changed when my Grandfather died five years ago. My Grandmother moved and just recently sold her home. Now, she is so far away that we rarely see each other. She never visits Clarksville or any of her family and friends - three of the things she loves the most.

And, I'm almost certain that she doesn't read this blog. But, if she does, I want her know that she is loved and that distance and physical absence will never change that. She's a spiritual person, so I believe in my heart that this is something she knows.

I'm praying for you, Grandma and I love you!

Grand Opening at F.W. Bean in Lillington, N.C. - June 23, 2009

2009-06-26T12:18:00.006-04:00

On Tuesday a grand opening was held at my father's coffee shop - F.W. Bean in Lillington, N.C. Everyone enjoyed the coffee and specialty drinks, but my girls really enjoyed meeting Rhett & Link, the YouTube stars of Lillington who performed at the event. Enjoy the video!

Jon & Kate: an unhappy ending

2009-06-23T09:30:00.003-04:00

Jon of the infamous Jon & Kate Plus 8 show says he's excited to turn the page in his life. I'm assuming this new page will include a new woman and freedom from the confines of his domestic life with a bossy wife and his eight children. If I were Kate I would let him go, but I would cancel the show. This would give the family some privacy, but it would also make Jon grow up. Let him see how miserable life can be when you have eight children to support on your own - without freebies and handouts. I'm thinking that having a bossy wife might seem like a piece of cake at this point.

Basically, I thought the show was very sad and I feel very sorry for the children. I'm hoping they will be strong enough to survive this hell they will soon be thrust into.

You Can't Even Kill a Fly These Days!!

2009-06-18T09:07:00.004-04:00

The latest buzz is that the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals are upset with President Barack Obama for the recent fly-swatting incident.

In case you missed it, Obama recently swatted and killed a fly during a television interview. Most people were impressed with his ability to get rid of the pesky intruder with one swift swat of the hand. Apparently, there were others who felt pity for the fly. (I simply focused on the fact that the leader of our country had the remains of a fly on his hand during the rest of the interview.)

The PETA protest proves to me that no matter what the President of the United States does he will offend some group - even if it is the Fly Lovers of America!

A Brief Encounter with Lord Stanley's Cup...

2009-06-15T13:14:00.007-04:00

It was just an average day in 1992 and I was scheduled to work the afternoon shift at the Observer-Reporter in Washington. When I walked in the door I immediately noticed that something was different about my desk. Apparently, someone thought it was the perfect place to put the Stanley Cup.

The Penguins had just won the cup and for an unknown reason they let someone at the newspaper borrow it. I'm guessing it was Bob Grove, a sports writer at the paper, who covered the Penguins.

Everyone in the newsroom and the sports departments was thrilled to host the cup for a day, even though editor Mike Bradwell didn't seem to be too impressed by it.

Now, 17 years later, the cup has made its way back to Pittsburgh. Congratulations, to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

A special thanks to Scott Beveridge, a reporter at the Observer-Reporter, who took the time to find this photo for me today. The photo was published in the Observer-Reporter. You can read Scott's blog...Travel with a Beveridge at http://scottbeveridge.blogspot.com/

"Bridge Over Troubled Water" is timeless...

2009-05-26T10:36:00.006-04:00

Abby and Kate bought me an iPod for Mother's Day, so I have been downloading music and thinking of songs I would like to buy. It's a difficult task, after all, my own mother teases me about my taste in music, because I have listened to the same stuff all of my life... The Beatles, Elton John, Neil Young, Simon & Garfunkel (you get the picture). I must admit, it's weird, but I also like pop, R&B and dance music from the 80s.

My girls showed me how to burn CDs onto the computer and download them into my ipod. Of course, all of my old stuff made its way into the mix.

The other day I was listening to my songs when Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water started to play. I hadn't REALLY listened to this song for quite a long time. The song, which was released in 1970, is timeless. Art Garfunkel's voice is pure and perfect. I don't think it would have sounded quite right if Paul Simon would have recorded it.

Anyway, if you have the time, listen to the song and again and really listen to the lyrics and the arrangement of the music.

Bridge Over Troubled Water

by Paul Simon

When you're weary;

feeling small,

When tears are in your eyes,

I will dry them all;

I'm on your side oh when times get rough

And friends just can't be found.

Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down.

When you're down and out; when you're on the street;

when evening falls so hard I will comfort you.

I'll take your part oh when darkness comes.

And pain is all around.

Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down

Sail on silvergirl; sail on by.

Your time has come to shine.

All your dreams are on their way. See how they shine.

Oh if you need a friend I'm sailing right behind.

Like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind

Like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind.

Sam vs. Sarris???

2009-05-24T10:46:00.004-04:00

I'm not sure what happened here in Canonsburg, but when I took this picture I was thinking that Sammy-the-pizza-maker is one strong-willed individual.

His little pizza shop is surrounded by the Sarris Candy empire in Canonsburg. Did Mr. Sarris offer to buy his property to make room for his chocolate factory and candy store? If so, it's apparent that Sam refused to sell. Nobody, not even Mr. Sarris, was going to get his little piece of the American dream. If Sarris wanted to expand, he was simply going to have to build around Sam. You've just got to admire a guy like that. Way to go, Sam!

By the way, if anyone knows the story behind the pizza shop and Sarris candies, please share it with me. I will be sure to post it.

Congratulations, F.W. Bean in Lillington, North Carolina!!!!

2009-05-02T13:37:00.008-04:00

Congratulations go out to my dad and Sandy on the grand opening of their new coffee shop - F.W. Bean in Lillington, N.C.

The doors opened at 7 a.m. and customers rolled in all morning! I am so proud of them, because they came up with this plan a few years ago and worked hard to make their dream come true.

We can't wait to make the trip to North Carolina to check it out for ourselves.
Until then, anyone visiting Lillington can enjoy an Abby Lee Tea and a Kate's Koko for us!

(Sorry about the small photos...my sister, Taylor, must have taken them with her cell phone. I will see if I can get some better photos soon!)

Cindy - The Flying Old English Sheepdog

2009-04-22T09:28:00.008-04:00

Waiting for the mailman, circa 1973.

My parents bought Cindy from a breeder in 1968 with the intentions of creating more little Old English Sheepdogs. I remember my mother coming home with this adorable, little black and white ball in her hands. It wasn't long before we discovered that Cindy liked to chew up Barbie dolls, shoes and books. Soon, she grew into a big ball of grey and white energy who grumbled under her breath if you told her to do something she didn't want to do.

Occasionally, my parents would haul her off to "meet" male dogs, but Cindy didn't want anything to do with them. Maybe she didn't like having an audience or maybe she was just too grumpy. Whatever the case, her suitors picked up on her negative vibe. So, there were no pedigree puppies and my dad was mad. Nevertheless, Cindy was part of our family and she was very protective of me and my sister, Kelly.

This trait is probably what caused her to hate mailmen. It all started when we lived in Maryland and she would wait patiently for the mailman to slip the mail through the slot in our front door. Everyday she would growl, bark and ferociously chew holes in our letters, magazines and bills. This mailman was probably very thankful to be on the other side of the door.

I was about nine years old when Cindy had her "infamous" run-in with a mailman in Waynesburg. My dad, who liked to tease Cindy, would get her excited by saying something like, "Here comes the mailman!" Sometimes, he would even hold her up to the window so she could get a better view of the poor guy walking down the street.

Well, one day, my dad made the "mailman announcement" and Cindy rushed to porch door, which had somehow been left unlocked. She plowed through, pounced on the banister, balanced herself for a few seconds and then jumped over the second-story balcony. She landed with a loud thud next to the very shocked mailman. She shook off the pain, wobbled back upstairs and crawled under my parents' bed. The mailman put the mail in the box, my dad got in trouble with my mom and Cindy slept off the experience. Soon, she was back to her old grumpy self and running around.

My mother, who is a nurse, was working at Greene County Memorial Hospital about 20 years later when a patient called her aside to ask a question.

"Did you used to have an Old English Sheepdog?" he asked.

She didn't recognize the man and wondered why he was asking.

"I used to be your mailman," he said with laugh, adding that he never forgot the day he looked up to see a large sheepdog flying through the air.

The most important obituary...

2009-04-10T22:52:00.001-04:00

This was sent to me by a friend. Please click on the image to see a larger version. Thank you. Happy Easter!

Randi

Forgotten in Pitt Gas

2009-03-30T10:41:00.018-04:00

Nestled in a clump of trees in Pitt Gas overlooking Ten Mile Creek lies a cemetery that is rarely visited. An estimated 20 sandstone markers are hidden by nature and surrounded by a mulch of leaves and twigs. The grief of the burials on this hill has faded.

I visited the cemetery to search for the grave of George Teagarden one of the men who first settled in the area now known as Clarksville, Pa. In 1768, Teagarden, whose name is also spelled Teegarden and Tegarden, bought land which was described as being "a tract of land situated one mile from the Monongahela River on Tenmile Creek, which has been improved by John Peters in 1765," according to Howard L. Leckey in his book, The Tenmile Country and Its Pioneer Families.

Today, the cemetery is located directly behind the home of Bill and Betty Greenwood in Jefferson Township, Greene County and is on private property owned by one of the mining companies. I can only hope that the coal mine will respect this burial ground and leave it untouched. (Please take note: I was told that I could visit the cemetery whenever I would like, but I was advised to call first to avoid being shot. So, please keep this in mind if you plan to visit this burial ground.)

I will be adding more photos and information on my Clarksville, Pa. blog, which is where this information belongs. I will be including photos of the Hupp Cemetery in Besco, the Walton Cemetery in the borough of Clarksville and the cemetery behind the Pleasant Valley Presbyterian Church in Clarksville.

Pittsburgh's St. Patrick's Day Parade

2009-03-14T23:46:00.006-04:00

We don't go to the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Pittsburgh every year to celebrate my mother's birthday, but we have made it to the festivities numerous times in the past 20 years. This year my sister, Taylor, was visiting from North Carolina and really wanted to go. So, everyone grabbed something green and we headed off to the city.

I must admit that I enjoyed this year's parade more than I ever have. The weather was perfect and the crowd was well-behaved. And, I was happy to see that the fire trucks were outnumbered by bagpipers, marching bands and Irish dancers. My daughters and their friend enjoyed seeing the Irish wolfhounds, the basset hounds and Punxsutawney Phil.

The Coal Miner

2009-03-13T20:17:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago I was traveling through Deemston Borough when I decided to visit the Coal Mining monument at Beth-Center High School.
The statue was errected a few years ago to pay tribute to the men and women of the area who worked in the coal mines. There are hundreds of names on the monument, but I took photos of the sections which include those of my grandfather Vance Ross, my father-in-law Charles Marodi and his brother, Mike Marodi. I noticed the photos also included the name of my sister-in-law's brother, Nick Massini.
The statue was created by Alan Cottrill in 2003, who was kind enough to let the students at Beth-Center High School assist in the process.
I think it's a great tribute and worth sharing.

The Horn Papers Continue to Cast Doubt...

2009-03-12T11:21:00.007-04:00

Several months ago I agreed to put together a history book for the 100th anniversary of my hometown of Clarksville, Pa. At the first committee meeting I was presented with two large scrapbooks with two typed histories tucked neatly inside. I found the histories extremely interesting, but difficult to read. The author jumped around a lot, mixing stories from the 1700s with information from the 1800s. I decided to take each fact and place it in its appropriate place on a timeline.

While I worked I noticed that some names were misspelled, there were some discrepancies and the history titled “The Beginning of Clarksville (Fort George) failed to list an author. However, it contained interesting details about George Teagarden (Teegarden) using a tomahawk to clear the land, the community’s role in making iron for the Revolutionary War in 1779 and wool production in the 1800s. The second history, written for Clarksville U.S.A. Days in 1974, seemed to be based on the first. Neither history listed any sources. A third history, found on the Internet, simply restated what was found in the other two. Only after spending several hours on the timeline did I stumble upon a paragraph about the Indian council fire stone that once stood “just halfway between the two creeks.”

The account goes on to say that the stone was “visited by Christopher Gist, Jacob Horn, and the two French surveyors in June 1751. They made mention of it when they passed by on their way up to the mouth of the Crooked Run to plant the French lead plate.”

The French lead plate. Those four words stopped my research dead in its tracks and caused me to recall a story told by my grandfather Vance Ross, who was born in Clarksville in 1915. The story was about the Horn Papers, written by William F. Horn, a historian who claimed to have found a lead plate that had been placed in the area by the French. The story turned out to be a hoax that fooled plenty of people in Greene County. Several years after the conversation with my grandfather, I found a copy of the Horn papers in the Stapleton Library at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Taped inside the book was a detailed warning that the information inside the book could not be trusted.

A quick check on the Internet earlier this week revealed what Wikipedia, a free on-line encyclopedia, had to say about Horn and his papers.

“The Horn Papers were a genealogical hoax consisting of forged historical records pertaining to the northeastern United States for the period from 1765 to 1795. They were published by William F. Horn of Topeka, Kansas between 1933 and 1936, and presented as a transcription of documents of his great-great-great grandfather, Jacob Horn (died 1778), and other members of the Horn family.

The Horn Papers first appeared publicly in 1932 in letters sent from Topeka to the editors of the Washington, Pennsylvania Observer and the Waynesburg, Pennsylvania Democrat-Messenger in which their author claimed to possess important historical documents relating to the area. From 1933 to 1936 the newspapers printed excerpts from Horn's manuscripts and diaries. Horn even moved to his ancestral home of Waynesburg and through speeches became well known as an historical expert.
Material in the papers included diaries, Virginia court records, and maps. They were notable for their great level of detail, especially concerning the lives of the common people. Because the papers appeared to supply information about famous historical figures and to fill gaps in existing historical knowledge, they were received enthusiastically despite some apparent contradictions.

Although a minority opposed William Horn, on August 11, 1936 his claims appeared to have been corroborated when he announced that he had dug up two lead plates dated 1795 in a location predicted by the papers.

The apparent find increased the confidence of members of the Greene County, Pennsylvania Historical Society, who sponsored the reissuing of the papers in book form. In 1945 the papers were published as a three-volume collection entitled The Horn Papers: Early Western Movement on the Monongahela and Upper Ohio, 1765-1795.
A year later, a report by a committee of representatives of historical societies from the region concluded in The William and Mary Quarterly that the first two volumes were substantially hoaxes.

There is no conclusive explanation why W. F. Horn devoted such a great effort to the forgeries.”

It’s upsetting that Horn was able to cast a far-reaching shadow of doubt over our local history. Although some of the information may be true, the lies and misrepresentations make it difficult to discern between what is accurate and what is not.

So, as I continue the task of writing a history for our community’s 100th anniversary, I am going to use only what I can find in other sources. This might make for a dry read, but hopefully, it will be accurate.

Click here for more information about The Horn Papers. or this article that appeared in Time magazine.

Week No. 1 with the allowance jar...

2009-02-16T14:04:00.007-05:00

Last week my sister Taylor told me about a family who saves money by putting money into jars each week for savings, etc. Nice idea, but I didn't want to do it. However, this idea lead to another - an allowance jar.

When I got home I found a large jar and I placed $20 worth of coins and bills inside. I wrote a bunch of jobs and their worth on a piece of paper and stuck it on the outside of the jar. On the inside, with the money, I placed a piece of paper and a pen.

If Abby & Kate want to earn some money they simply do a chore, write it down on the paper and take out their money. I don't have to make any charts, nag, beg, complain or keep track of who is doing what. If they don't want to do it they don't have to. But, if they want some money it's there for them to earn. I figure they will police each other and rat each other out if someone tries to take money without doing the work. (We tried giving out allowances before, but Kate kept coming to me with detailed lists for me to initial and after several weeks I ended up owing her $80. I'm think this technique will keep that from happening again.)

I just checked and I have $9.50 left in the jar and I have noticed that beds are being made, the dishwasher was empty and the living room was dusted and swept.

Maybe I'm on to something. If you like this idea, please feel free to use it in your home. Just let me know how it works out.

(Abby & Kate laughed when I said I was going to blog about this jar. They are convinced I will write about anything, no matter how boring. However, I think parenting is a tough job and it's hard to teach kids responsibility and the value of money. I figure if I can help one other mom with this problem, well, then my job is done.)

I didn't know! Really, I didn't...

2009-02-04T09:32:00.007-05:00

This weekend I cleaned my house, cooked, hosted a birthday party and watched the Steelers win their sixth Super Bowl. But, there was another task lurking in the background that needed my attention - our troops Girl Scout cookies.

I had to submit our troops order by Feb. 1, so I did a little work on it here and there throughout the weekend. I stayed up until 12:30 p.m. Saturday just double checking things. Everything seemed to be in order, so I reluctantly hit enter and sent our order of 1,000 plus cookies into cyberspace. So far, so good. But, I can't help but thinking that I did something wrong. Only time will tell.

Sometime last week my husband told me CNN reported that boxes of Girl Scout cookies would be smaller this year. I assured him that this just wasn't the case. After all, no one had said anything. None of the many emails I received from the Girl Scouts mentioned anything about that and there was nothing in my cookie resource book. I told him there are different bakers who produce the cookies in other parts of the country. I was sure our boxes would not be smaller.

Then, on Monday, Feb. 2, just one day after our order was due, I picked up the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. There is was - a headline that really ticked me off: "Girl Scouts hold price on cookies but cut quantity." Wasn't that great timing?

I talked to my friend/cookie manager and she said she didn't know anything about this. I grabbed my glasses and reached for my "Volunteer's Guide to a Successful Cookie Season." I read it again. Still no mention of a quantity cut. According to the article written by Sally Kalson, customers in western Pennsylvania could find that there are two to four fewer cookies in their boxes of Thin Mints, Do-Si-Dos, Trefoils, Samoas and Tagalongs.

The Girl Scout spokesperson quoted in the article said that the rising cost of ingredients and transportation costs was to blame. They wanted to keep the price at $3.50 a box, so the Girl Scouts and their bakers decided to "slightly lower the weight" of each box.

Well, I understand that our country is in the midst of a Recession and that some tough decisions must be made. But, they could have shared this information with the mother/daughter teams who are out there pushing their product.

I'm not going to mince words here and I don't care who gets mad, but I think it's crappy to tell us this (via a newspaper article) after the orders have been placed. Our girls are planning a booth sale at the beginning of March and I sure hope we can sell the 300 or so extra boxes we ordered.

So, if you ordered cookies from my daughter or anyone else in our troop, I apologize for this misunderstanding. I honestly didn't know.

A Snow Day for Libby

2009-01-31T13:09:00.007-05:00

Some snowy images from Greene County Memorial Park taken on the day of Libby's funeral.

Yesterday, I drove through a ton of snow to get to Greene County for the funeral of an old friend. Libby Lint, who was 89 years old and had lived in Clarksville most of her life, was a nice woman who lived up the street. I was an awkward kid who lived a few doors down.

Every morning my friends and I would gather in front of the fire hall to wait for the bus. Libby, who worked at our school’s cafeteria, didn’t drive or own a car, so she rode the bus with us. Poor Libby was forced to stand guard while we chased each other around the street, talked about boys and sometimes fought. She didn’t get involved, but I’m sure she could have written a book about what she saw, and heard, at the bus stop.

Well, I walked past Libby’s house to get to the fire hall, so eventually I decided it would be nice to stop and get her each morning. Libby was like our mascot and we all wanted to be her friend. I felt special, because I got to actually stand inside her kitchen while she pulled on her gloves or tied her rain bonnet. I remember standing there listening to the painfully-slow KDKA snow delays and cancellations on her radio. She seemed just as excited to hear the words, “Jefferson-Morgan School District – cancelled.”

When my sisters Morgan and Taylor were small we would always stop at Libby’s house during our many walks around Clarksville. We would talk to Libby, her brothers and her sister, Lena Belle, who lived next door.

I got married in 1989 and Libby came to the wedding, Unfortunately, I didn’t see her very often after I left town. However, I did get to see her in October when we went trick-or-treating with my sister and her boys. Libby gave the kids some candy, but she gave me a hug and reprimanded me for not visiting her. I promised her I would stop by the next time I was in town.

My mom called about a week ago and told me that Libby was sick and had been flown by medical helicopter to a local hospital. Her obituary appeared in Wednesday's paper. Shortly after that, my friend Debbie sent me an email from Florida expressing how upset she was that she couldn’t attend the funeral. I decided at that time that I should go and represent Debbie and all of the other kids from the bus stop. My mom and I attended the small funeral, which was attended mostly by her nieces and nephews. And, while a snow squall formed outside of the Behm Funeral Home, Libby's great-great niece talked about how much Libby liked snow. I was thinking that she probably liked it because it brought with it the possibility of a school delay or even a cancellation. Libby really was just a kid like the rest of us. I guess that’s why we loved her so much. And, I think she would have loved the fact that all of the Jefferson-Morgan kids had a two-hour delay on the day of her funeral.

Fourteen Years Ago...

2009-01-27T16:29:00.007-05:00

A photo from Abby's baby book

Fourteen years ago today I was recovering in the hospital when a doctor in a worn, but brightly colored sweater visited my room in St. Clair Hospital.

I was holding my newborn baby Abigail while Dr. John Beachler gently removed the swaddling that kept her snug and warm. I was still recovering from an emergency cesarean section and I was desperately trying to understand what he was explaining to me. The painkillers the nurses had given me were making it difficult to concentrate.

But, Dr. Beachler was a very patient orthopedic surgeon and he was determined to help Abby, who was born breech with hip dysplasia. He was also trying to explain the ins and outs of a Pavlik harness, a contraption made of canvas straps, buckles and Velcro. He made about three trips to my room during my hospital stay and each day he wore the same old sweater and patiently demonstrated the proper way to use the harness. He showed me how to change Abby’s diaper without removing the harness, how to take the harness off for bath time and how to put it back on. He explained that the harness was to only be removed for Abby’s baths and that it would hold her legs in a position that would allow her hip sockets to form properly. It was confusing, but when I was discharged I was confident and knew what I was doing.

Abby wore the harness for four months and visited Dr. Beachler frequently for x-rays and exams. Soon the medical bills started to arrive from the hospital, the pediatricians and obstetricians. Although our medical insurance covered everything, my husband noticed that there weren’t any bills from Dr. Beachler and only a few x-ray bills from South Hills Orthopedic Surgery in Bridgeville.

As it turned out, Dr. Beachler had a soft spot for young families with sick babies. During Abby’s next visit he explained that he had a few children of his own and that treating babies free of charge was his way of giving back. We explained that we had insurance, but he refused to submit a bill. Tim and I left his office in shock, because we knew we had found something quite rare in Dr. Beachler.

Today, Abby is celebrating her birthday with a snow day. She and her younger sister Kate and their friends are sled riding behind our house. As I watch them play it’s hard for me to imagine that Abby ever had a problem with her hips. And, while I might sometimes forget about her early diagnosis and treatment, I will never forget the generosity and kindness of Dr. Beachler. He made an impression on our family that will truly last a lifetime and we will always be thankful.

The Resurrection of Bubbles…

2009-01-12T11:29:00.005-05:00

Bubbles - two days after his revival.

“My fish is dead!” Kate yelled when she walked into her room.

It was Friday night and we had just returned home from an evening of dining and shopping. Tim, Abby and I walked into her bedroom and peeked into the bowl. Sure enough, Bubbles the Betta fish was lying there gray and lifeless. Although we weren’t verbalizing our thoughts, both Tim and I were thinking about what we should do with the fish – a proper burial or a simple flushing? I noticed that Bubbles wasn’t floating on the top of the bowl, so I decided to take a closer look. That’s when I saw his fin moving in the slightest way. We moved the bowl into the dining room for further inspection and it was deemed that Bubbles still had a bit of life left in him. We reminded Kate that the prognosis didn’t look good.

Tim volunteered to sleep on the couch so Kate could sleep with me. She cried and I told her that she should be proud of the way she cared for Bubbles during the past two years. She never forgot to feed him and even when she was sick and in the hospital she made a chart to help Tim keep track of the fish feedings. We talked about the fact that fish don’t usually live very long and that maybe Bubbles’ time had come. Kate finally fell asleep and I asked Tim to take the bowl downstairs in the morning if Bubbles should pass away. I didn’t want Kate to have to deal with his death all over again.

In the morning, I remembered reading about someone using frozen peas to revive a fish. I thought it would be worth a try. So, Tim (who hates to go to the grocery store) braved the cold weather and went off to buy some peas. I thawed a few peas in my hands, removed the outer shell, squished them up a little and dropped them into the bowl. Bubbles, who was moving a round a bit, but leaning a lot to one side, ate one. Within the hour his bright blue color had returned and he was swimming all over the bowl.

I must admit that we were a bit shocked by his recovery. Something in those peas worked for Bubbles and they made me feel like a miracle worker. As I watch him in the bowl this morning I notice that he is still leaning to the side when he swims. As I plop another pea into the bowl I pray that he will be with us for a long time. Hopefully, my girls will remember the power of peas the next time I ask them to eat a few.

Update: On Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009, Bubbles the Betta fish quietly passed away. Kate decided that Bubbles should be buried under a tree, right next to our cat Isabella, who died about five years earlier. Tim, who was still dressed in a suit and tie, went to the shed and got a little trowel. We followed him up the hill, where he dug a little hole for the fish. We said a few kind words and in the end we all agreed that Bubbles was a good fish.

For a good meal... visit Roland's Trattoria in Washington, Pa.

2009-01-03T12:18:00.006-05:00

Our family recently visited a restaurant we feel is worth recommending to our friends and family. To find out more, just visit the link to my other blog This & That and look for the entry on Jan. 3, 2009 about Roland's Trattoria in Washington, Pa.

Goodbye 2008...

2008-12-31T16:56:00.007-05:00

I haven’t had time to write anything lately, but I thought I would make my last entry for 2008. As I sit here with a blank page I can’t help but think of some of the things that happened this year

• My nephew Oliver was born at the very end of 2007, but it was during 2008 that we were able to watch him grow into a sweet little guy. He’s a cutie and we love him!

• His mother, my sister Morgan, underwent two surgeries for thyroid cancer and is now cancer free. We were so thankful when her doctor told her she would be around to see her great-grandchildren.

• Our youngest daughter Kate came down with mononucleosis and ended up spending about four days in the hospital. Her doctor said it was the worst case of mono he had seen in 30 some years. But, Kate proved to be strong and full of fight. She’s better now, but the trauma of her illness is something I will never forget. I now have a deeper sympathy for those who are ill.

• Tim and I are thankful that our daughters Abby and Kate are growing into caring, smart and healthy young ladies. What more could parents ask for?

• My grandmother was ill for a few months, but she also proved to be a fighter. Ruth is back to her old self. Go, Grandma!

• Over all, 2008 was a good year for us and we are blessed to have so many wonderful family members and friends.

So, tonight, as we spend New Year’s Eve with our family in Pittsburgh, I will pray for a happy and healthy New Year for my family and yours. Let’s all have faith that it will be another great year.

Happy Birthday, Oliver!

2008-12-28T14:50:00.000-05:00

Vandals Damage Monuments at St. Luke Cemtery in Bentleyville

2008-12-21T22:15:00.003-05:00

Rev. Gary Krummert of the Ave Maria Parish inspects damage caused by vandals at the St. Luke Cemetery in Bentleyville.

Vandals armed with a can of spray paint and a lack of respect committed a disgraceful crime at the Ave Maria Parish Cemetery in Bentleyville over the weekend.

Rev. Gary W. Krummert, the pastor of the parish, announced from the pulpit Sunday morning that someone had defaced a statue of Jesus. A further inspection of the grounds revealed that the vandals had also painted graffiti on about eight monuments in the tiny cemetery.

The Pennsylvania State police were called to investigate and Rev. Krummert vowed to prosecute those connected to the crime.

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call the state police in Belle Vernon at 724-929-6262.

Raggedy Ann Dolls Ready for Christmas (Andy dolls, not quite ready)

2008-12-21T08:16:00.006-05:00

For the past few weeks I have been busy making Raggedy Ann & Andy dolls for Christmas. The three dolls pictured under the tree are dolls my sister's mother-in-law ordered for her granddaughters: Thalia, Maddy and Helen. The four dolls on the chair are Raggedy Anns my mother ordered for her friends at work. And, as you can see, I'm still working on four Raggedy Andy dolls that I will be giving for gifts. Let me just say that I have sewn so much yarn hair that my fingers are sore.

But, I love it! I love giving a doll to someone who appreciates them. I loved it when the lady screamed as she won the basket of Christmas Raggedies at the Lovett Benefit Dinner. And, of course, it wouldn't be Christmas at our house if I didn't have snips of white thread and scraps of red yard all over the place.

Thompson-Marodi Funeral Home Kicks Off Cell Phones for Soldiers Campaign

2008-12-17T09:37:00.009-05:00

BENTLEYVILLE - More than 150,000 troops are serving overseas and are away from their families. Cell Phones for Soldiers, and Thompson-Marodi Funeral Home, Inc. of Bentleyville are calling on all Americans to support these brave men and women by donating your unused cell phones. Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to collect over 50,000 cell phones this year to help keep troops connected with their families.

“Over the past few years, we have been amazed by the generosity of others. But, we have also seen the need to support our troops continue.” says Brittany Bergquist, Cell Phones for Soldiers co-founder. “It is easy for Americans to make a small sacrifice of support by donating their unused cell phones and providing families with a much-needed connection to their loved ones overseas.”

Local residents can support the collection drive by donating their phones at the Thompson-Marodi Funeral Home, Inc., 809 Main Street, Bentleyville. “We’re proud to show our support for U.S. soldiers, and to contribute to a worthy cause like Cell Phones for Soliders,” says Tim Marodi, the director of the funeral home.

Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist from Norwell, Mass., with $21 of their own money. Since then, the registered 501c3 non-profit organization has raised almost $1 million in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas.

“We are continuously overwhelmed by the enthusiastic support of thousands of Americans who have helped our troops speak with their loved ones,” says the teens’ father, Bob Bergquist. “However, the need for support keeps growing as more soldiers are sent to the Middle East or are asked to serve extended tours of duty.”

Through increased fundraising efforts, the Bergquist family hopes to raise more than $9 million in the next five years to fund new programs, such as providing video phones and prepaid service to allow soldiers abroad to see their families on a regular basis.

The donated phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each phone – enough to provide an hour of talk time to soldiers abroad.

Approximately half of the phones ReCellular processes are reconditioned and resold to wholesale companies in over 40 countries around the world. Phones and components that cannot be refurbished are dismantled and recycled to reclaim materials, including: gold, silver and platinum from circuit boards, copper wiring from phone chargers, nickel, iron, cadmium and lead from battery packs and plastic from phone cases and accessories.

The teens started the program after reading a story about a soldier who ran up a huge phone bill calling home from Iraq. They started by opening an account with $21of their own money. The cell phones are recycled for cash and the proceeds are used to buy prepaid calling cards for our soldiers serving in the Middle East. Their efforts have motivated people and businesses around the country to donate to this worthy cause. For more information, please visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com or contact the Thompson-Marodi Funeral Home at 724-239-2255 or send an email to info@thompson-marodi.com

Yes, It is a Wonderful Life

2008-12-09T09:39:00.004-05:00

by John Lovett, guest blogger
George Bailey has always been a hero of mine. If you have never heard of George Bailey, I suggest you stop reading this right now, find a copy of Frank Capra’s “It’s A Wonderful Life,” sit with your family, and enjoy one of the greatest holiday movies of all time.

You see, George comes from a very small town, much like ours, called Bedford Falls. As a young man, George has some big plans for his life. “To shake the dust of this little town and see the world,” is one of his famous quotes. Well, as we all know, life happens to George, and he spends all of it in that small town, running his family’s savings and loan.

One event after another sends George in a downward spiral, until he makes the ultimate wish of never being born. His fumbling guardian angel, Clarence, takes him on a journey to see what the world would be like without him.

After witnessing these events, George realizes the blessings that he took for granted each day: the blessing of family, the blessing of friends, and the blessing of community. They were always there for him, although the desperate times clouded his vision.

The classic scene of George running down Main Street of Bedford Falls, screaming hello to each store, renewing his life, and giving thanks for where he lives, forever lives with me as one of the best-shot scenes in film history.

Over the past few months, and years, it seemed that my life was on the same downward spiral. One event after another seemed to cast a shadow over the Lovett household. I was slowly turning into a modern day George Bailey. Not knowing how much more our small family could take before we could not take anymore.

The miracle news of our newest addition to our family, our fourth little girl, was overshadowed in October by the news of a mass found on my pituitary gland. The tumor was rather large, and had already begun to destroy the optic nerves. The doctors were actually amazed that my vision was still intact. This brain tumor was causing a condition called, Acromegaly. Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder, caused by the tumor that results from too much growth hormone (GH) in the body. Physical deformities, cardiac enlargement/dysfunction, and the destruction of the liver, had already begun to happen. Needless to say, our heads were sent spinning.

Dawn was on top of things, locating the best care for the removal of the tumor. She did not have to look much further than Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. Dr. A. Kassam, associated with U.P.M.C., was an innovator in a new procedure, which was minimally invasive in removing the tumor through the nasal cavity. Past procedures for this tumor required removal of the top of the skull, as well as portions of the forehead, and cheekbones to get to it. Thank God for Dr. Kassam. (We knew that this was the doctor when, on our first visit, feeling very overwhelmed, Dr. Kassam turned to me and said, “You know, you have a beautiful nose! I could get your gall bladder out through that thing!” Thank God for humor!)

Well, in this small community, news spreads quickly. I must also say that in this small community, people jump into action quickly. Having heard of our situation, a group of friends decided to put together a benefit dinner for our family. With gratitude, and awe, we heard plans of this dinner growing and spreading, even before I went in for the procedure. The community was coming together, and the support, and prayers from all involved were making our family stronger. Thank God for our friends and community.

On November 10, I underwent the six and a half hour operation. The tumor was completely removed, and my hormone levels were already starting to fall immediately after the surgery. All great news! With Dawn, and countless members of my family, I started to undergo the healing process.

The pain that was felt on the day of the surgery, and the following day was excruciating. But, as the days went on, the pain subsided, and I started to feel better. Getting to come home three days after the surgery was a miracle. I was now on the road to recovery.

I will have to follow up with Dr. Kassam very frequently for the next several years. If one cell was left, there is a slight chance that it might return. They want to stay on top of this, and I am thankful for that.

Upon arriving at home, I was treated as king of the castle by my wife and daughters. Not being able to lift anything over five pounds, bend at the waist, or drive, I was, and am currently, pretty much relying on them to do what I needed done. With Dawn carrying our little girl, this of course was, and is, very hard on her, but she has gone above and beyond what she needed to do. I am so thankful to her, and owe her so much. My love for her grows deeper with each passing moment.

The cards, and e-mails, started rolling in. From family, friends, co-workers, and strangers, they were lifting our family’s spirits. The joy of friendship was having its own healing power on me, and giving our family strength. So many people were reaching out to us, in so many ways, that we simply became speechless.

Now, with the benefit dinner rapidly approaching, miracles are happening daily. We were so honored, and touched by the community’s generosity, that we thank God each day for everyone here. So much good has come from this, and please; do not take this from a materialistic standpoint.

You see, I think we were sent this obstacle to see the blessings that we have in our lives at this very moment. I was beginning to become George Bailey, being overcome by the day-to-day stresses, and the mountain of obstacles that our small family was encountering. I do believe that this tumor was my “Clarence.” It showed me the strength of the love of my wife and daughters. It showed me the strength of my family. It showed me the strength of my Faith. It showed me the strength of my friends. Also, it showed me the strength of our small community - a community that I am so glad to call home.

For Dale...one of my faithful readers

2008-12-07T18:39:00.003-05:00

Hey, I just wanted to let you know that I didn't get lost when I left the birthday party. The road less traveled ended up connecting to Route 136 near Brownlee.

Watch out, Karma might get you.....

2008-12-07T18:31:00.005-05:00

Recently my sisters and I were talking about someone who is very selfish and downright mean. Every once in a while someone would mention that karma would eventually get her. Finally, during the conversation my 10-year-old daughter chimed in.

“Who is this Karma person and what are they going to do?” Kate asked.

We laughed and explained that karma isn't a person, but the concept of what goes around comes around. If you do good deeds, then you will be blessed with good things in your life. If you are a rotten turd, then some crappy things will happen to you.

I also like the concept of a mean old lady named Karma knocking on the bad person’s door.

My favorite boys

2008-12-02T21:57:00.003-05:00

I love this photo. My nephew Oliver is the brave one, looking Santa right in the eye. Jimmy, however, is doing his best to avoid all eye contact with the big guy. We stumbled upon this Santa as we walked past a Bath & Body Works store at the outlet mall in Ocean City, Md. I think his real goal was to pick up babes of another kind.

What a Way to Spend a Birthday!

2008-12-01T11:03:00.005-05:00

On Saturday I took off my shoes and walked through the sand while my daughters stuck their toes into the cold water and my nephews stood in awe of the vastness of the Atlantic ocean. It was a pretty amazing birthday present for me.

My daughters, two of my sisters and nephews traveled to Maryland over the weekend to visit my grandmother. My father and stepmother met us there and a beautiful, 50-degree day encouraged us to make a trip to Ocean City. It was nice to smell the salty air while watching the waves roll onto the beach. My grandmother, who has been cooped up in the house for weeks, enjoyed the fresh air. She loved watching her son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren from her bench on the boardwalk.

I don't like to post photos of myself and children, but I am making an exception, because special days like this need to be remembered. After all, we don't get to see my grandmother very often and we just found out that she won't be returning to Pennsylvania for the holidays.

Her said, "Wow..."

2008-11-26T08:43:00.004-05:00

I was working as a substitute teacher yesterday when a second grader came up to me and started a conversation.

"Hey, Mrs. M. do you remember the flowers we made last year?" he asked.

Sure I remembered. I was teaching art class when we decided to make tissue paper flowers for Mother's Day. The students carefully selected two bright colors of paper and I folded them back and forth to make a large fan. I folded the fans in half, wrapped pipe-cleaner stems around the middle and the kids gently pulled apart the layers of paper to create beautiful flowers. (When I was a girl we used to make flowers like these out of tissues and put them on cars when someone was getting married.)

"The ones we made in art class?" I replied. "Does your mother still have the flower you made her?"

The little guy gave me a huge smile and said, "Yeah, her said, 'Wow, that's beautiful!'"

I know it sounds sappy, but this little comment made my day as I imagined him proudly carrying home that flower for his mother. I could cry just thinking about it.

Here's my Snapshot250 photo!

2008-11-25T06:55:00.005-05:00

I traveled to Pittsburgh to last week to see which one of my photos had been chosen for the Snapshot250 project. Well, here it is. I took this photo two years ago during the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Pittsburgh. This photo of my daughter and the Smithfield Street Bridge is now hanging in the Port Authority's Steel Plaza station in downtown Pittsburgh. To see all of the chosen photos visit Snapshot250.

This & That: New Bentleyville Pa. area blog

2008-11-19T22:07:00.004-05:00

This is a picture I took earlier this year of a barn on the Beallsville Road just outside of Bentleyville.

I have been blogging for a few months now and many of you have been faithful readers. (Thank you!) Well, I have been toying with the idea of starting some sort of community website for a long time now, but I hesitated because I wasn't really sure how to go about doing it. Then, it dawned on me that a blog just might do the trick. So, here it is... It's called This & That, because it will eventually contain a little bit of this and a little bit of that about our community.

So, email me at rossmarodi@bentcom.net if you have an announcement to make, a picture to share, a program to promote, an old photo or an opinion to share. Together we can make this work. I'm curious to see if it will grow.

Check it out and let me know. If you have any Bentleyville area contacts in your address book... please send the link http://thisandthat15314.blogspot.com/ to them. I would really appreciate it. I look forward to hearing from you.

Historical Society's 2009 Calendars Now Available

2008-11-16T20:38:00.006-05:00

The Bentleyville Area Historical Society’s 2009 calendar is now on sale. The calendar, the fourth in a series, is a tribute to local firefighters and features photos of the Bentleyville, Ellsworth and Cokeburg volunteer fire departments. The calendars are $10 each and are being sold locally at Andrachick’s Barber Shop at 204 Oliver Avenue, Bentleyville, which is open Tuesday through Saturday. Those who wish to have a copy mailed to them can send an email to rossmarodi@bentcom.net There will be an additi0nal charge for shipping and handling.

I'm Part of Pittsburgh's Snapshot 250!!!!

2008-11-12T19:03:00.010-05:00

In the middle of October I was watching the news when I heard about the Art Institute of Pittsburgh's Snapshot 250 project. To commemorate the city's 250th anniversary the institute asked photographers to submit images of the city. The deadline was a day away, so I quickly logged on to the site http://www.snapshot250.com/ and submitted six photos of Pittsburgh.

According to the website, "The Art Institute of Pittsburgh presents Snapshot 250. A unique public art project designed to commemorate our city’s milestone anniversary, produced in cooperation with the Pittsburgh 250 Commission, the Allegheny Conference on Regional Development and the Port Authority of Allegheny County. 250 images were selected to represent our collective impressions. Pittsburgh’s past, present and future, the snapshots will come together in a unique public art installation inside Steel Plaza Station in November 2008."

Well, today I received an email that one or more of my images was selected for the project! I am invited to attend an unveiling ceremony at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20th. As soon as I find out which one(s) were selected I will post them on the blog!

The Vote!

2008-11-06T09:03:00.007-05:00

My hand cramped up on Election Day as I wrote in duplicate the 500 or so names of everyone who voted in Bentleyville’s second precinct. The other poll workers said it was one of the biggest turnouts they had ever seen.

My friend Carol and I started our day at the polls at about 6:30 a.m. when we arrived at the borough building. The doors opened at 7 a.m. to reveal a long line that already stretched beyond our view. (We weren’t allowed to go outside of the building, so I have no idea how long the lines actually were.)

It was my first time working behind the scenes, so I was given the job of transcribing voter’s names. Every hour or so, someone would compare my numbered list to the readings on the voting machines. At the end of the day the numbers matched and I was thankful. Carol’s job was to hand plastic cards to the voters and explain the process of using the electronic voting machines. Her job was more difficult than mine, because she had to stand most of the day.

One thing that became obvious throughout the day was that people were pretty passionate about this Presidential election. Scores of young, first-time voters eagerly approached the table to sign in, along with middle-aged folks who said it was their first time visiting the polls. There were also plenty of elderly who made the journey to cast their votes. It was apparent that some of the older voters were intimidated by the electronic machines and were probably longing for the days of paper ballots. It was sweet to watch as my friend Janet brought her 18-year-old son to the polls and proudly showed him the ropes. It was a good moment for her, even though she said Zac's choice probably cancelled her vote.

Although the day was long, I felt privileged to be part of the process. After all, it was only 88 years ago that the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was passed giving women the right to vote. Those women would have been proud to see people of all ages and backgrounds casting their votes.

So, regardless of whether you voted for Sen. Barack Obama or Sen. John McCain there is one thing that is certain – the people, men and women alike, have spoken and now everyone needs to work together to make this country a better place.

Obama & McCain in Bentleyville???

2008-11-02T07:21:00.003-05:00

Look who showed up at last week's Halloween Parade in Bentleyville. Don't forget to vote!

In Memory of John Mariscotti

2008-10-28T19:10:00.007-04:00

About 20 years ago I had the honor of getting to know John Mariscotti of California, Pa. At the time my best friend Kim was dating his son Tony. John was her landlord and it didn't take me long to discover that he was a very nice guy. He was a happy man who was always surrounded by friends. If you knew him you knew you could count on him.
When I was a young reporter I discovered that Mariscotti's State Farm Insurance Agency was the place to get a good story. Now, I don't want you to think John gossiped or told tales...he didn't. But, anyone who was anyone in California would stop by his office sometime during the day. And, if I played my cards right I could always get a tip or two. Tim and I will be attending John's funeral tomorrow and I just wanted to reflect and remember a great man. He will be missed by Irene, Carla, Tony, Kim, Enzo and Gabby and all the many people who knew him. California just won't be the same without him. Click here to read a touching tribute which was published in today's Uniontown Herald-Standard

Sixth Graders at Pitt Gas Elementary School - 1977

2008-10-24T11:33:00.004-04:00

Clarksville is celebrating its 100th anniversary this summer and last week I was invited to attend a planning meeting. So, I decided to start another blog to help reach people who used to live in the Greene County community. You can visit that blog by clicking here.

I was looking through a scrapbook the other day and I found this old photo. In those days the Jefferson-Morgan School District had elementary schools in each community: Dry Tavern, Jefferson, Mather, Lippencott and Pitt Gas (I hope I didn't forget one.) All of the kids from Clarksville and the surrounding area attended the Pitt Gas Elementary School. I believe we were in the seventh or eighth grade when the district built the current elementary school in Jefferson.

Anyway, isn't this the coolest bunch of sixth graders ever? Here we are posing like little angels in front of the Pitt Gas Elementary School in 1977. I'm proud to say that even though I was a kid I took the time to write, in my best Peterson cursive writing, the names of everyone in the photo and those who were absent that day. I apologize in advance if I misspelled any of the names. Front row, from the left: Billy Watson, Lisa Jacobs, Randi Ross, Brian Broad, Rhonda Pataski, Michelle Scott and Timmy Rice. Middle row: Arthur Sullenbarger, Debbie Carter, Lisa Browell, Patti Kingan, Denise Konter, Carla Knestrick, Lisa Chesney and John Dains. Back row: Brenda Hickman, Mary Jane Maize, Janet Burke, Richard Kubasik, Jack Litten, Jody Dusha, Christine Payton and Mr. Rumancik. Missing from the photo are Karen Burwell and Barb Kolat.

Fallingwater with fall colors...

2008-10-20T18:27:00.003-04:00

Today my mother and I made the trip to Fallingwater and this is the fall photo I promised. I must admit that I was a bit disappointed with lack of color. I thought the hues would be more vibrant by this time. Nevertheless, I still think Fallingwater is beautiful.

Fallingwater surrounded by green..

2008-10-17T10:07:00.008-04:00

I captured this image of Fallingwater during a visit on Sept. 2, 2008. Although I think it is beautiful, I can't help but imagine what it would look like right now, with all of the vibrant colors of fall. Well, my mother just stopped by and asked me if I would like to take a little drive to the mountains on Monday. I'm so excited, because it looks as if I am going to get the chance to take some great fall photos of Fallingwater and the surrounding mountains. I can't wait to share!

Kill the Messenger

2008-10-15T21:37:00.005-04:00

Last week I called my financial advisor to see if I had anything left in my 401K. He told me not to worry and assured me that I was in no danger of losing my retirement fund.

"You know how the media blows everything out of proportion?" he chided, knowing that I once was worked as a journalist. I chose to ignore this little dig, because I really just wanted some financial advice, not a debate.

Today, I was working at the school when I walked into the teachers' lounge where the television was on. I mentioned that I was getting sick of the presidential campaign and another teacher said she was just sick of the media.

Oh, really? Sick of the media? I decided it was time to say something.

"Do you think the media should ignore the presidential campaign?" I asked. "Wouldn't that be irresponsible?"

Everyone is quick to place blame on the media. I don't think today's media is innocent or that all reporters act responsibly, but the members of the press do have an obligation to report what is going on in the world. This doesn't make them popular. Does my financial advisor really believe that nothing is going awry on Wall Street? Did he really mean to imply that there are a bunch of journalist fabricating the fall of our economy? Wouldn't everyone turn the channel if a network decided not to cover the campaign? Wouldn't readers cancel their subscriptions if their local newspaper chose to ignore a controversial story?

Yeah, I may get sick and tired of hearing the same old stories, but I like having the option to simply put down the paper or turn the channel. I like knowing that journalists are working around the clock to cover these stories. I like having information that gives me the freedom to learn, explore and form my own opinions. In the meantime, it is always easier to kill the messenger.

Old Jones & Thompson Hearse, Bentleyville, Pa.

2008-10-14T19:29:00.008-04:00

My one and only official "follower" (his tiny picture is at the bottom of this page) is a funeral director from Wisconsin, so I thought I should add something to the blog about the funeral home. I drew a blank, started looking through a picture file on the computer and found this old black and white photo.

In this photo, the hearse is parked in front of the old Jones & Thompson Funeral Home in Bentleyville. I believe the photo was taken when the funeral home was located on Washington Street. The business eventually moved to Main Street and is now known as the Thompson-Marodi Funeral Home. The hearse in the photo is just one of the many, many cars and horse-drawn buggies that have been used since the founding of the funeral home in 1862.

Wouldn't it be nice if this old car were hiding in storage someplace? I wonder why the photo was taken? Was the car new and Mr. Jones just wanted to preserve the moment with a photo? Did Mr. Thompson get a new camera that he was just itching to try out? Did the undertakers have some extra film that needed to be used before the roll could be developed? I'm guessing we will never know the answers to these pressing questions. I'm just glad this photo was still in my computer.

Peters Township's No Tune Left Behind Spreads the Anti-Bullying Message

2008-10-13T10:09:00.013-04:00

The members of No Tune Left Behind: John Lovett, Stephen McGough, David DiFilippo and Ray Cygrymus, are headed to Washington D.C. this weekend to show what the McMurray Elementary School is doing to fight bullies. Hopefully, they won't mind that I took this photo from their website http://www.notuneleftbehind.com/

Schools are full of bullies who trip kids on the bus, throw food in the cafeteria, shove in the hallways and spread rumors on playgrounds. And, just when kids thought their homes were a safe haven, they are encountering bullies on cell phones and computers. Today, our children can be victimized in very sophisticated ways, while parents and teachers remain clueless.

A lot of schools have recently adopted anti-bullying campaigns and are working hard to battle this age-old problem. But how can teachers and administrators reach the bullies, victims and the innocent or not-so-innocent bystanders? Well, John Lovett, from nearby Cokeburg, Pa. and three of his fellow teachers at McMurray Elementary School in Peters Township have found the way.

Four years ago, Lovett, a fourth grade teacher, formed the band No Tune Left Behind (NTLB) with music teachers Ray Cygrymus, David DiFilippo and Stephen McGough. They probably already knew this, but it didn’t take them long to discover that guitar solos, drums, cool lyrics, catchy keyboard tunes and goofy skits would be their key to success. This band of young educators has since made numerous videos and a 30-minute television spot.

On Friday, they are taking their rock-and-roll method of teaching to Washington D.C. where they were invited to perform at the 2008 National Forum on Character Education, sponsored by the Character Education Partnership. Joining the band on the trip will be their principal Dr. Robert Freado and Nina Zetty, the superintendent of the Peters Township School District.

A couple of years ago I wrote and article for the Observer-Reporter about NTLB and I have been a fan ever since. I am glad that they are being recognized for their efforts, but more importantly I am happy to know that their message will reach educators from all parts of the country. Hopefully, they can give average kids and their friends the courage to stand up to the “Bully on the Bus.”

Update: 11/20/2008 - John Lovett, one of the members of the NTLB, recently had surgery to remove a tumor from his brain. To read more about a community effort to raise money for the family, visit the Bentleyville area's new website This & That

A Black and Gold Funeral

2008-10-05T12:09:00.004-04:00

This week the Bentleyville community mourned the loss of a local legend when 88-year-old Val Jansante died. You see, Mr. Jansante had the honor and distinction of having played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1946 to 1951. Just in case you missed it, I am providing a link to the beautiful tribute published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. I think the newspaper should be commended for taking his obituary to the next level and knowing a great story when they see it.