FINAL CHAPTER: Eagle-Eye of Kane writes what probably is the
final chapter in our Woody Woodpecker saga.

“With all the bad news in the papers these days, I’m glad to see
Woody Woodpecker is stirring things up! Let’s get this awful
controversy settled.

“‘Woody’ was created in 1940 by Ben ‘Bugs’ Hardaway, and made
famous by cartoonist Walter Lantz. Mr. Lantz claimed his
inspiration was from a pesky ‘Red Headed Woodpecker’ he encountered
on his honeymoon, which kept him awake all night.

“Fact or fiction? Don’t know! In the ’50s Woody received a new
look. Not inspired by a Ivorybill, Pileated, or Redheaded, but from
a Roadrunner. They went with a slimmer, more modern Woody, with a
crest on his head (similar to a slim Roadrunners head).

“Sorry, Ivorybill, Pileated and Redheaded people, but the ol’
Roadrunner wins out — beep, beep —  that’s all folks!’”

WHAT A BLAST!: Frances Ohman of East Smethport writes, “Growing
up in East Bradford was a blast. Many nights we ice skated on
Graham’s pond on Seaward Avenue. We spent lots of times sled riding
on Lorana Avenue, which involved about 40 kids or more. Sometimes
we would ride from the higher hills. If you had no sled, you would
ride on a piece of cardboard.”

“In the summertime, we played at the 6th Ward playground, which
was behind our house, enjoying the swings, giants, volleyball,
softball, etc. In the evening with a large gathering of kids, it
was hide-and-seek, steal the flag, kick the can, tag and ‘May I?’
We were never bored because we were too busy having too much
fun.

“When I went to bed at night, I could hardly wait for the next
day to arrive to have so much excitement and adventure.”

BEFORE OWLS?: Gale Abbott of Jacksonville, Fla., writes, “If I
remember correctly, I believe that Era Sports writer and columnist,
Johnny Nelson dubbed the Bradford High school team the Owls because
they played their football games on Friday night under the lights
about 1932 or 1933 instead of on Saturday afternoon when most other
high schools played their games.”

Yes, Johnny nicknamed Bradford’s team the Owls after lights were
installed for night football.

Gale was wondering, though, what the team was called before they
became the Owls.

Readers?