Archive - Jan 2012
January 3rd
PUNXSUTAWNEY â With their second child actually due this coming Saturday, Jan. 7, Candice Burkett and Anthony Boggs Jr. of Punxsy didnât think he would be the first baby born in Punxsy in 2012.
But Monday, Candice had a 1 p.m. appointment at Punxsutawney Area Hospital, and then, about six hours later, Gavin Alan Boggs was born â indeed, the first baby born in Punxsy in 2012.
âWe asked when we got here, âHas there been a New Yearâs baby yet?ââ Candice said.
PUNXSUTAWNEY â A new Punxsutawney Borough Council began its new year, as three newly-elected members were sworn into office by Mayor James Wehrle at Mondayâs reorganization meeting.
New members Michele Lorenzo, Toby Santik and Eric Story took the oath, conducted by Wehrle, who chaired the meeting until a new president was elected.
On a motion by Mike Porada, Larry Chenoga was elected president unanimously with a 6-0 vote. The recent resignation of former council President Susan Glessner created a vacant seat, thus the 6-0 vote.
BROOKVILLE â The swearing-in ceremony for Jefferson County elected officials took place Tuesday in the large room of the Jefferson County Courthouse.
Bob Sisk, Tipstaff, opened court, and chairman of the Jefferson County Board of Elections Jim âMoonâ VanSteenberg introduced the Honorable John B. Leete, the senior judge of Potter County, who administered the oath of office to the Honorable John Henry Foradora.
January 2nd
Nittany Lion safety Drew Astorino (left) poses with teammate Devon Still after they both won awards at the Penn State University Football Senior Awards Banquet Dec. 11 at the Penn Stater. Astorino, whose father is a Punxsy local, was presented the Ridge Riley Award for "sportsmanship, scholarship, leadership and friendship." Astorino ended his collegiate career Monday at the TicketCity Bowl, during which Penn State fell 30-14. Monday's game was Astorino's 40th career start, making him the leader on the Penn State team in starts.
PITTSBURGH â Punxsy Phil is known world-wide as the famous weather-forecasting groundhog; however, there is another Punxsutawney native who is almost as well known â at least in China.
When he was growing up in Punxsy, little did Dr. Bill Barone, president of ChinaLinks Educational Consultants LLC in Pittsburgh, realize he would be spending time on a regular basis overseas in China.
(The Spirit is pleased to share with our readers vignettes of life in the 19th century as originally reported in past issues of the newspapers. These reproduced stories include their original headlines and spelling.)
Local Intelligence
(April 22, 1896)
Clayville School Commencement
The first annual commencement of the Clayville public school will be held in the Welsh Baptist Church, Friday evening April 24th at 8 o'clock.
Lauren R. "Brownie" Lydic Sr., 90, Lake City, died Friday Dec. 30, 2011, at UPMC Hamot.
He was born Oct. 28, 1921, in Prattsville, a son of the late Oscar and Mary (Gould) Lydic.
For more than 60 years, he was married to Sara Hollenbaugh Lydic, who preceded him in death April 3, 2008.
As America was at war, Mr. Lydic was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Corps and later deployed to the South Pacific, where he was stationed in Okinawa with the 92nd Air Depot Group of the 5th Air Force.
He worked at Bucyrus-Erie Corporation and in the coal mines in Volant.
Dr. Douglas P. MacMillan, 87, died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, in Punxsutawney.
He was born June 22, 1924, in Erie, a son of the late Andy and Verdie (MacFarland) MacMillan.
He grew up in Meadville.
Aug, 25, 1945, he married his childhood sweetheart, the former Martha Waelde, who survives, of Meadville.
After graduating from Meadville High School, Dr. MacMillan was accepted as a cadet in the U.S. Army Air Force and received his pilot wings in 1943.
JoAnn Elizabeth Ondrejcak, 66, formerly of Punxsutawney, died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, at Jefferson Manor in Brookville.
She was born July 27, 1945, in Johnstown, a daughter of the late Joseph and Christine (Marshall) Rhoades.
She was married to William Ondrejcak, who preceded her in death.
Surviving relatives include a brother, Marshall Ondrejcak of Nanty Glo; and five cousins, Betsy Bojalad of Punxsutawney, Barbara Shrecengost of Timblin, Louise DeVaughn of Smicksburg, Donna Eckman of Kittanning and William Shaffer of California.
Elizabeth S. Stewart, 81, Punxsutawney, died Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Brookville.
She was born July 7, 1930, in Brockway, a daughter of the late Everett and Lorena (Winters) Sibley.
Jan. 28, 1950, she married William W. Berfield, who preceded her in death in 1969.
March 4, 1972, she married Howard Earl Stewart, who preceded her in death June 23, 1984.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Punxsutawney and was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
