NO CIGAR: We were off a little bit when we provided the serial
number for Harri Emery’s plane. Ray Lewis tells us, first of all,
it was not the serial number but the registration number. And it
was NC9929. We had said it was 92929 — the exact date his small
plane crashed, killing all aboard.

ONE MORE: Our thanks to Judi Fisher-Miller of Plainville, Mass.,
who also sent along that Wooly Willy article we told readers about
last week.

She writes: “Your local area has been getting a lot of press
from American Profile that comes in my local paper here in
Massachusetts. Last week they ran an article on America’s Oldest
Brewery, D.G. Yuengling & Son’s out of Pottsville. In today’s
American Profile there was a wonderful article on Smethport’s Wooly
Willy!  Brings me home – if only in my mind!”

TREE TIME: The pitch pine is the Tree of the Month for October.
That’s the word from our friends at the Bureau of Forestry, Elk
State Forest.

One thing we found odd, though, was part of its narrative that
said this medium-sized tree is found throughout Pennsylvania — but
not in the Northwestern counties. We could swear we’ve seen these
trees around. 

Here’s the rest of the description: “They are normally found on
locations that are dry and sandy and where fires have killed most
other trees. The needles are in a cluster of three, stiff, up to 5
inches long and twisted. The cones are 1 to 3 1/2 inches long,
often remaining on the trees for five years or more and have thorns
on the scales. The bark is thick, rough and grayish-brown on older
trees.”

“Pines are a very important timber species as well as a supplier
of other valuable non-wood products. The pitch pine is high in
resin and is used for railroad ties, construction lumber, pulpwood
and fuel.  The seeds are important to birds such as nuthatches and
grosbeaks. Deer and rabbits browse the seedling.”