Archive - 2013
May 6th
ALTOONA â It is always nice to sweep a school more than twice your size.
A big five-run fifth inning powered Punxsy over host Altoona, 7-2, to sweep the season series.
The Lady Chucks won the contest on their home field, 10-5, on April 11.
"We started out slow. We hit the ball, just didn't find holes or string any hits together until the fifth," explained Punxsy head coach Alan Pifer. "Ashley Bacha did a good job keeping us in the game until then."
The Punxsutawney Garden Club beautification committee continues to plan for the new planting season.
Pictured in front of the bandstand at Barclay Square in Punxsutawney â one of nine projects that the club takes care of throughout town â are (from left): Dotty Jekielek, hayrack chair; Pat Prushnok, trestle flower bed chair; Jonna Irvin, bandstand chair; Dr. Gloria Kerr, Fairman and library beds chair; and Debby Elder, urns and barrels chair.
PUNXSUTAWNEY â There is good news in downtown Punxsutawney: The Punxsutawney Area Community Center (PACC) continues to grow under the current board of directors after it came perilously close to closing its doors circa August 2009.
"There's been quite a change at PACC regarding our facilities under the current board of directors," said Rob McCoy, PACC director.
McCoy said he's been helping out at the center off and on since 1998.
PUNXSUTAWNEY â The co-coordinator for the basketball league at Harmon Field put in a request to the Punxsy Borough Council Public Safety Committee for new basketball hoops and poles to help grow the program further.
Aaron Emhoff, one of the directors of the basketball league at Harmon Field, asked the committee if Punxsutawney Borough Council would look into replacing the hoops at Harmon Field.
Read the full story in Tuesday's print edition of The Spirit.
The senior citizens at the Mahoning Hills Social Center received a visit from some students from the Longview Elementary School recently.
Mrs. Gotwald's first-grade class decided to have a pajama party with the seniors and had the students and seniors wearing their pajamas.
Each student stood up and read from a book of his or her choice.
Clarence Spotts (left) and Claire Schrock (right) listen attentively as Gracie Carey (middle) reads the book "Olivia the Princess."
Joan T. Bloom, 70, of Indiana, died Friday, May 3, 2013, at Beacon Ridge Nursing Home.
She was the daughter of the late Laird and Isabel (Keller) Hays and was born Aug. 14, 1942, in Coolspring, Pa.
.
Ms. Bloom enjoyed visiting family and friends, playing bingo, doing crafts and finding bargains at trade shows and yard sales with
her best friend, Nick Krisko.
She is survived by her five children, Rod Bloom of Punxsutawney, Kevin Bloom of Punxsutawney, Lisa Chesnoka of Winfield, Ala., Peggy Bloom of
Beavercreek, Ohio, and Mary Libecco of Mammoth Cave,Ky.
May 5th
M. Elizabeth âLibbyâ Esposito, of State College, formerly of Indiana, passed away Wednesday, May 1, 2013, at The Fairways at Brookline in State College.
A daughter of the late John B. and Margaret Duff Anibaldi, she was born in Punxsutawney.
Mrs. Esposito was a graduate of Punxsutawney High School.
Libby was a member of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church.
She was a long-time dispatcher for Citizensâ Ambulance Service, prior to 911, and when Bon-Ton opened, she was a sales associate in the housewares department.
According to Punxsutawney Borough Police, Gina Smith of Punxsy was driving this green 1995 Chevrolet truck west at 8:34 p.m. on Saturday when she lost control for unknown reasons and struck a Pleasant Avenue house owned by Joseph and Heather Bellomo.
Police said there was a 2007 GMC truck that was parked in the driveway and was damaged by Smith's vehicle when it struck the house.
There was no information available regarding any injuries suffered by Smith.
Police were assisted at the scene by the Elk Run Volunteer Fire Company, Jefferson County EMS and South Side Service.
Carley Smith and Jerod White were crowned the 2013 Prom Queen and King at Saturdayâs prom held at the Punxsutawney Country Club.
View our online photo gallery for more prom pics.
(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
May 12, 1897
A BIG BLAZE
Wilson's Big Training and Stock Barn Burned
Last Thursday morning about 4 o' clock, a fire broke out in Wilson's big circular barn on the hill in the North end, which resulted in the complete destruction of the building.
