SPECIAL THANKS: Robert J. DeSousa, LTC, Command Judge Advocate,
213th ASG, Balad, Iraq, writes us:

“My unit, the 213th Area Support Group, Pennsylvania Army
National Guard, has been deployed since April 2007. Since that time
the outpouring of support of fellow Pennsylvanians has been
awesome. I want to thank you for your coverage of the generosity of
the Smethport Specialty Co. and their sending to us of the timeless
child’s game – the Woolly Willy.

“You and the good citizens of northwestern Pennsylvania need to
know that we greatly appreciate their support. It is a key part of
why our morale is high. We all feel very blessed to be so well
remembered back at home.

“Thank you and all your readers for your support, your prayers
and thoughts.”

BIRD REPORT: We’re starting to get fly-ins in earnest. Duey
Geitner of Ridgway reports seeing several robins in his trees,
noting: “I hope this is going to make a liar out of the nasty
groundhog.” And Ann Weiner of Bradford reported last week seeing
five blue jays and three cardinals on Jan. 13; and four grosbeaks
and a snowbird on Feb. 14.

If that’s not convincing enough, we got a whole big container
last week of genuine Willow Creek leeks. Yum!

BIG ONE: George Wagner of Bradford stopped by to show us an
unusual souvenir of Florida – a four pound lemon which measured 20
inches circumference. It was huge!

George, who was in Florida for more than 30 days, tells us he
picked the lemon in Volusia County, Fla., at Dick Hackett’s
campground on the St. John’s River. Tequila shots, anyone?

George passed along the gas price and weather reports from
Florida. Suffice it to say, it was better down there.

RACK ‘EM: Jim Pringle of Vineyard Haven, Mass., can relate to
our previous item about Smitty’s pool hall noting it was right next
door to the Army-Navy Store. “There was another pool hall on Pine
Street owned by a Mr. Russell. Ruben’s and a few other stores on
Washington Street were closed on Saturdays and open on Sundays.
Paul Verilot (probably spelled wrong) had a barber shop on the East
side of Mechanic Street not far from the intersection with Main. He
always wore a bow tie.”

In case you were wondering … yes, we still have more stores to
write about!