Archive - 2012 - News Article
February 3rd
Inner Circle members gaze upon the fireworks display that dazzled the crowd Thursday morning at Gobblerâs Knob just before Punxsy Philâs prognostication. (Photo by Alan Freed)
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Opening a restaurant is no easy task, but that didnât stop Lillian Cameron.
And Jan. 31, she celebrated the fifth anniversary of her business, Lilyâs Restaurant, Bakery & Deli, by handing out pieces of cake to customers.
âIt took a lot of hard work, dedication,â Cameron said. âIâm happy to be here. I hope Iâm here for 25 more years.â
BIG RUN â Thanks to a school holiday, some boys tossing the old pigskin around and an alert neighbor helped to avert a major catastrophe when a chimney connected to a wood burner caught the inside wall of a residence on fire at 2:30 p.m. Friday afternoon on Rear West Main Street, Big Run.
Perry Arrington and Joel Bowers, students in the Punxsutawney Area School District, were preparing to play football with another boy, when they saw the smoke coming from a residence owned by Jeff Pifer, Rear West Main Street, Big Run.
Arrington and Bowers were home Friday because of Groundhog Day.
February 2nd
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Gov. Tom Corbett professed his early spring preferences just prior to Punxsutawney Philâs 126th annual prognostication early Thursday morning at Gobblerâs Knob, but as history has shown, the Seer of Seer relies on nothing else except his own instinct.
The result, as read by Inner Circle Vice-President Mike Johnston: âAs I look at the crowd of Gobblerâs Knob, many shadows do I see; so six more weeks of winter it must be.â
When asked if he was pleased with Punxsy Philâs prognostication, Corbett replied, âNo. Now weâve got to get PennDOT ready.â
Little Mr. and Miss Groundhog â kindergartners Audrey Johnson, (second from left), age five, and David Kunselman (third from left), age six â were crowned Thursday at the Punxsy Weather Discovery Center. David, son of Greg and Becky Kunselman, attends Mapleview Elementary, while Audrey, daughter of Chris Johnson and Jeanne Porada, attends the Punxsutawney Christian School. The youngsters were crowned by Punxsy Phil and his co-handlers, John Griffiths (far left) and Ron Ploucha (far right).
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Fred Gadomski, the ninth inductee into the National Meteorologist Hall of Fame at the Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center, said Thursday that he was being honored for a career he simply considers to be fun.
Also, he said, âYou canât imagine what a treat it is to be in a place where weather is king.â
PUNXSUTAWNEY -- This morning at Gobbler's Knob, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, thus declaring six more weeks of winter. See tomorrow's Spirit for more.
February 1st
By
Natalie Bruzda and Larry McGuire
Katie Laska
PUNXSUTAWNEY â When presented with the 2011 Woman of the Year Award, Katie Laska said she felt very undeserving.
But with her long list of contributions to Punxsy, the place she calls her home, the community would be hard-pressed to find anyone more deserving than she.
Wednesday night at the annual Groundhog Banquet, the 2010 Woman of the Year, Charlotte S. Fye, read over Laskaâs many accomplishments and the qualities for which she is known.
PUNXSUTAWNEY â Despite being born in the Philadelphia area, Gov. Tom Corbett insists he is a western Pennsylvania man by heart who has observed Groundhog Day since he was a child.
âWhen I was young, we had only three TV stations, and one of them we couldnât get â not in North Hills,â said Corbett, the second sitting Pennsylvania governor to attend Groundhog Day. âWe always hoped for more winter and snow so we could play outside.â
During the annual Groundhog Day assembly at Punxsutawney Area High School Wednesday, Kelsey Young (seated, left) was crowned the Groundhog Queen, and Alex Fedigan was crowned the Groundhog King. Assisting with their coronation were (back) Punxsy Phil and his co-handlers, John Griffiths (left) and Ron Ploucha.
