WVIA Our Town Series
Our Town Selinsgrove
Season 2012 Episode 3 | 50m 32sVideo has Closed Captions
WVIA continues the OurTown series with a visit to Selinsgrove in Snyder County
There’s a gentle reserve in the people of Selinsgrove which has existed for generations in Snyder County. Meet the soulful people of Selinsgrove and see how their strong sense of community is their definition of “home”.
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WVIA Our Town Series is a local public television program presented by WVIA
WVIA Our Town Series
Our Town Selinsgrove
Season 2012 Episode 3 | 50m 32sVideo has Closed Captions
There’s a gentle reserve in the people of Selinsgrove which has existed for generations in Snyder County. Meet the soulful people of Selinsgrove and see how their strong sense of community is their definition of “home”.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR ALLENTOWN SELISGROVE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY -- >> DEDICATED TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE, THE SELINSGROVE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OFFERS A WAY FOR INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS TO LEAVE A LASTING LEGACY.
FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1955, STANDRY LAUNLD RI AND DRY CLEANING USES STANDARD METHODS.
SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY TO SERVE IN A DIVERSE, INTERCONNECTED WORLD SINCE 1858.
>> QUALITY CARE RIGHT HERE AT HOME SUNBURRY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL.
REDISCOVER SUNBURRY.COM.
>> STAHL EDGE NEARING FOUNDATION.
CREATING FOUNDATIONS, BRIDGING COMMUNITIES AND PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK REEGT HERE AT HOME.ç >> THE COUNTRY SQUIRE.
DISTINCTIVE HOME FURNISHINGS AND ACCESSORIES.
ALL COMFORTABLY ORIGINAL.
>> THANKS TO ERNIE AND SARAH AND THE WHOLE TEAM AT SHARON'S BUS SERVICE, SERVING THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES AND CHURCHES.
>> ADDITION FALL FUNDING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY SUSQUHANNA BANK AND THE SELINSGROVE INN.
>> SELINSGROVE OFFERS SO MUCH.
I THINK IT'S ALL HERE, BUT YOU NEED TO UNCOVER IT.
>> PEOPLE VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND MAKE IT THEIR OWN COMMUNITY.
YOU WALK DOWN THE STREET AND, YOU KNOW, ON MARKET STREET?
SELINSGROVE, AND PEOPLE SAY HELLO TO YOU.
THEY'LL ACTUALLY STOP AND TALK.
>> YOU CAN WALK INTO ABOUT ANY STORE AND SEE SOMEONE THAT YOU KNOW.
YOU KNOW THEM FROM SCHOOL, YOU KNOW THEM FROM WORK.
>> THE QUALITY OF LIFE HERE IS GOOD.
THAT, YOU CAN SENSE RIGHT AWAY.
>> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AREA TO RAISE A FAMILY.
>> THE ADJECTIVE I USE WHEN I'M TALKING TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE, I ALWAYS CALL IT A RIVER TOWN.
ITS LIFE IS TIED TO THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER.
>> THE BEST NATURAL RESOURGS IS PROBABLY THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER.
>> THIS IS AN ANCIENT, ANCIENT RIVER.
SUSQUEHANNA RIVER IS ONE OF THE THREE OLDEST RIVERS IN THE WORLD.
AND TO KNOW THAT, TO BE ABLE TO STAND ON ITS SHORES AND SEE THE BEAUTY OF IT, IT'S, LIKE, THE WAY A PARENT LOVES A CHILD.
WITH ITS WATERS GENTLY FLOWING AND ITS WATERS RAGING WILD.
ONE DAY IT'S ONE THING AND IT CAN INSTANTLY CHANGE INTO SOMETHING ELSE.
>> ALL SUMMER LONG, WE WERE IN THE WATER EITHER FISHING IN IT OR SWIMMING IN IT.
>> I LOVE THE STREET ALONG THE RIVER.
IT'S GORGEOUS.
>> THE AISLE OF HUE, IT IS BELIEVED, WAS NAMED BY THE FIRST EUROPEAN SETTLER TO EXPLORE THE RIVER VALLEY IN 1616.
A MAN BY EMBRION BOULET.
IT WAS BELIEVED HIS MAP MAKER NAMED IT THE ISLE OF CUE.
THEY WORE THEIR HAIR BRAIDED DOWN THEIR BACK AND REFERRED TO IT AS A, "CUE."
I BELONG TO THE ISLE OF CUE.
IT'S LIKE YOU BELONG TO SELINSGROVE.
IT'S MORE THAN YOU JUST OWN THIS LITTLE SQUARE OF LAND.
YOU'RE A PART OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME.
>> I THINK LIKE ANY SMALL TOWN, SELINSGROVE HAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF HISTORY.
LOCATED ALONG THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER, IT WAS A VITAL TRADE PORT.
THE PENN'S CREEK CANAL SYSTEM.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF NALTIVE AMERICAN INDIANS.
>> PENN STREET MASSACRE HAPPENED OCTOBER 16, 1775.
AND THE TREATY DEFINED WHAT LAND UP THE PENN'S CREEK VALLEY THAT SETTLERS WERE ABLE TO OK EWE PAY AND WHAT LANDS BELONGED TO THE INDIANS.
THE SETTLERS, WHEN THEY GOT UP THERE, THERE WASN'T ANYBODY TO POLICE ANY OF THIS, SO THEY JUST TOOK WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS THE BEST LAND.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, THE INDIANS CAME DOWN THE PENN'S CREEK VALLEY AND STARTED TO MASSACRE THE SETTLERS.
THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 26 PEOPLE KILLED OR CAPTURED.
IT'S THE LARGEST INDIAN MASSACRE TO EVER OCCUR AROUND HERE.
>> OUT OF SELINSGROVE, THERE'S MOSTLY THREE MAJOR UNITS.
THE BIG ONE IS 147.
THAT WAS ALL OF SNYDER COUNTY.
>> HIS SECOND CALL FOR TROOPS IN THE FALL OF 1862 IS WHEN THE BOYS FROM SELINSGROVE AND THE OTHER BOYS IN THE COUNTY ALL GOT TOGETHER AND DECIDED TO FORM A COMPANY TO SEND OFF TO WAR.
THE 147th REGIMEN IS OFTEN FUNDED AS THE FIRST AND ONLY FULL THREE-YEAR REGIMEN.
THE BOYS CAME HOME FROM WAR AND THEY MISSED THAT COMRADERY OF LIVING TOGETHER.
SO THEY ACTUALLY JOINED TWO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.
ONE WAS CALLED THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
BUT THE COMPANY DUE BOYS CREATED THEIR OWN CORPORATION CALLED COMPANY D. AND THEY MET EVERY SINGLE YEAR IN SEPTEMBER ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE DAY THEY WENT TO WAR TOGETHER.
JEREMIAH AND SOLOMON WERE ONE OF THE SETS OF BROTHERS.
SOLOMON WAS ONE OF THE LONGEST BOYS OF COMPANY D. >> HE ACTUALLY OWNED ALMOST ALL OF THAT LAND DOWN THERE.
>> YOU SEE IT FOUNDED IN 1853.
IT WAS IN A PERIOD WHERE THERE WAS STILL A SIGNIFICANT TOUCH AND INFLUNSZ OF THE PERIOD OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT.
AND THERE WAS A COMMITMENT AND BELIEF THAT WAS ESPECIALLY BORN IN THIS COUNTRY THAT WE COULD BE FOREVER MOVING FORWARD AND MOVING OURSELVES AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
>> HE WAS THE GOVERNOR IN THE 1810s.
HE LED PENNSYLVANIA THROUGH THE WAR OF 1812.
HE ACTUALLY -- HE'S FROM LANCASTER, ACTUALLY.
BUT HE MOVED UP HERE FAIRLY EARLY ON.
AND A LOT OF HIS FAMILY IS FROM AROUND HERE.
HE ACTUALLY HAS A MANSION DOWNTOWN WHERE THE SELINSGROVE BREWING COMPANY IS LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT.
HE'S ALSO A RELATIVE OF SOME OF THE FOUNDERS OF SELINSGROVE.
>> AT ONE TIME, WHEN IT WAS FIRST INCORPORATED, SELINSGROVE WAS TWO WORDS.
IT REALLY STOOD FOR THE BOUNTY OF TREES THAT WE HAVE AND THE GOOD THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> I AM FOREVER MINDFUL THAT IT WAS THE FOUNDERS, FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, OF A BRAND NEW TOWN LOCATED ON THE FRONTIER JUST BELOW THE CON INFLUENCE OF THE TWO BANKS OF THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER THAT SAID THAT THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD THING TO HAVE A COLLEGE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
>> IN 1790, HOMESTEADED JUST NORTH OF PENN'S CREEK.
TWO OF HIS SONS MOVED INTO SELINSGROVE TOWN ITSELF OR VERY CLOSE TO IT.
BOTH OF THEM WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN STARTING SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY.
>> MY THIRD GRADE GRANDFATHER LIVED APPROXIMATELY TWRO MILES FROM THIS SITE ON WHAT IS NOW THE FARM.
THAT WOULD BE THE OLD HOMESTEAD.
HE, AT THAT TIME, HAD EXTENSIVE LAND HOLDINGS WHICH IS PART OF WHAT SUSQUEHANNA IS LOCATED TODAY.
>> THERE WAS A COMPETITION AMONG TOWNS TO HAVE A COLLEGE THAT HAD CERTAIN SPECIFIC RELIGIOUS VALUES, WHICH WERE LUTHERAN.
AND THE CITIZENS WERE IN A DEVELOPMENTAL MODE.
THIS IS IN THE 1850s.
>> THIS GROUP OF LOCAL PEOPLE KIND OF BANDED TOGETHER AND ESTABLISHED A FUND OF MONEY TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA.
AT THAT TIME, I DON'T THINK IT WAS TOO MUCH THOUGHT OF TO INCLUDE WOMEN.
BUT LEONARD, WHO WAS JOHN'S BROTHER, ESTABLISHED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN.
JOHN DOE NATED 40 ACRES OF HIS LAND HERE AT THE FARM TO THE UNIVERSITY TO START WHAT THEY CALLED THE MISSIONARY INSTITUTE.
IT WAS AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.
>> THE TWO OF THEM WITH OTHER LOCAL LEADERS FELT THAT EDUCATION WAS VERY IMPORTANT.
>> THE MISSIONARY INSTITUTE CONTINUED WITH THESE TWO PROGRAMS, THE SEMINARY AND THE LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE.
>> THEY DECIDED TO MERJ AND THAT BECAME SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY.
>> THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS EXPANSION.
WITH STUDENTS COMING FROM PLACES THAT WERE NOT REGIONAL.
AND AS THE COLLEGE HAS GROWN, IT CONTINUES TO EXTRACT STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
SOME OF WHOM ARE REALLY ATTRACTED TO THIS SMALL-TOWN LIFE AND REALLY ENJOY IT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THEY'RE HERE.
THE COLLEGE IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE AND THE TOWN IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.
AND THE HARMONY IS QUITE NICE.
>> BUT I THINK IT'S A STRONG RELATIONSHIP THAT EXISTS FOR SUSQUEHANNA AND SELINSGROVE AT THIS POINT.
>> AND I WANT TO BELIEVE THAT IT HAS BEEN A GREAT BLESSING FOR SUSQUEHANNA AND SELINSGROVE TO BE JOINED TOGETHER.
AND, INDEED, WE ARE JOINED TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A GREAT MANY PEOPLE IN OUR TOWN WHO ARE FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND WHAT MAKHIS SO COSMOPOLITAN, YOU KNOW, MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE PRESENCE OF SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY, FACULTY AND STUDENTS.
IT DRAWS PEOPLE.
>> AS SUSQUEHANNA HAS GROWN, PEOPLE HAVE BECOME MORE AWARE OF SUSQUEHANNA AS AN ASSET.
>> THE UNIVERSITY IS WONDERFUL.
IT TRULY IS A COMMUNITY.
THE CAMPUS BASE IS GORGEOUS.
>> YOU KIND OF KNOW BEING A RESIDENT OF SELINSGROVE WHEN SCHOOL IS IN SESSION BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY COMES ALIVE.
>> OVERALL, AS A COMMUNITY, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY.
>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS FULL, TO SUSZ.
AND I THINK IT'S NOT NECESSARILY TANGIBLE.
BUT YOU CAN FEEL IT WHEN YOU'RE HERE.
>> A LOT OF THE TOWN PRE-DATES THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
THE DOWNTOWN BECOMES A LITTLE BIT MORE VICTORY YAN.
>> SELINSGROVE HAD A SERIES OF DEVASTATING FIRES IN THE 1870s THAT, ONE AFTER ANOTHER, BURNED THE TOTAL DOWNTOWN AREA.
WHAT THEY DID AT THAT POINT WAS TO REBUILD IN BRICK WITH A VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE, OF COURSE.
AND SO WHAT WE HAVE IS A LEGACY OF A VERY PHOTOGENIC STREETSCAPE.
>> THERE WAS A FIRE AND THE ARCHITECTURE IS REALLY TRANSFORMING BACK INTO ITS ORIGINAL APPEARANCE.
SOME OF THE BUILDING IS REGOING RESTORATION.
THE VICTORIAN STYLE, YOU'LL SEE THE ROOFS.
AND I BELIEVE IT'S WHAT THEY CALLED A BLOCK BUILDING OR A BLOCK HOUSE IS WHAT EXPECTED IN THE DOWNTOWN IN SELINSGROVE.
AND A LOT OF THE BUILDINGS ARE LARGE.
BUT, AGAIN, IN A COMMERCIAL AREA.
WHAT THEY DID WAS A FAMILY WOULD LIVE IN THE HOME BUT AT THE SAME TIME, MAYBE ON THE FIRST FLOOR IN OTHER PORTIONS OF THE BUILDING, WOULD RUNL A BUSINESS OR BUSINESSES.
>> SELINSGROVE HAD HALF OF THE DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS USED PRETTY ACTIVITY.
IN RECENT YEARS, SOME OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND PROPERTY OWNS HAVE STARTED TO USE THE DOWNTOWN.
SO IT'S VERY INTERESTING AND IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE THE TRANSFORMATION GOING BACK TO A MORE PRESERVATION, SORT OF APPROACH IN ATTITUDE IN THE DOWNTOWN.
>> THERE ARE ONLY -- IN SELINSGROVE, THERE ARE TWO CHURCH BUILDINGS THAT ARE TOTALLY A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE BUILDING.
AND THEN I THINK IT WAS METHODIST DOWN ON WATER STREET.
THAT'S USED AS A SENIOR CENTER.
SO THOSE ARE THE TWO BUILDINGS IN THE TOWN OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE VERY NEW, CATHOLIC CHURCH THAT JUST VERY MODERN, STATE OF THE ART.
JUST SEVERAL YEARS OLD.
AND THERE ARE OTHER CHURCHES IN OUR AREA THAT ARE PLANNING ON EXPANDING.
WE HAVE GREAT CHURCH PEOPLE IN OUR AREA.
>> I THINK SELINSGROVE IS SUCH A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK, IT WAS REALLY AN HONOR TO BE IN THE POSITION OF THE MAN.
WHAT I TRY TO DO IS GET THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
WHETHER IT'S BEEN DEALING WITH THE FLOOD FROM LAST YEAR OR DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT WE HAVE.
ONE THING I WANT TO DO IS MAKE THE COMMUNITY AS AWARE AS POSSIBLE WHAT IT IS THAT GOES ON IN SELINSGROVE.
NOT REALLY HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW THINGS WORK ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
SO I HAD IT PUT OUT ELECTRONICALLY ON YOUTUBE SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE IT.
>> THERE'S A WONDERFUL GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS IN SLNSZ WHO ARE PART OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE SHAYE TREE COMMISSION.
OVER THE YEARS, THEIR GOAL HAS BEEN TO PUT THE GROVE BACK IN SELINSGROVE.
THEY AWARDED THEM FOR THE EFFORTS OF THE SHADE TREE COMMISSION.
EVERY YEAR, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS JAPANESE EXCHANGE STUDENTS IN AN EFRLT TO INTRODUCE PEOPLE TO THE AREA.
IT'S THE THIRD YEAR WELCOMING THEM TO THE BURROW AND GIVING THEM A TOUR OF THE POLICE STATION AND THE FIRE STATION AND JUST THE CITY IN GENERAL.
>> THE THING I LIKE THE MOST IS TO SHARE IT WITH OTHER AREAS AND OTHER PEOPLE AND JUST LIVE UP TO THE SPIRIT OF -- THE AREA THAT I HAVE FOR IT AND HAVE EVERYONE ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS I DO.
>> MAJOR FUNDING OUR "OUR TOWN SELINSGROVE" HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY -- >> DEDICATED TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CENTRAL SUSQUEHANNA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OFFERS A WAY FOR INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS TO LEAVE A LASTING LEGACY.
FAMILY-OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1955, SKY RIVERS LAUNDRY AND DRY CLEANING USES DRIVE THROUGH AND DELIVERY SERVICES.
>> SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY.
A LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE PREPAING STUNTS TO LEAD IN A DIVERSE, INTERCON NEKTED WORLD SINCE 1858.
>> QUALITY CARE RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
AND SUNBERRY COMMUNITY HOPT.
REDISCOVER SUNBERRY.COM.
>> VERGING COMMUNITIES AND PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
>> THE COUNTRY SQUIRE.
DISTINCTIVE HOME FURNISHINGS AND ACCESSORIES.
ALL COMFORTABLY ORIGINAL.
>> THANKS TO ERNIE AND SARAH AND THE WHOLE TEAM AND SHARON'S BUS SERVICE.
SERVING THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES AND CHURCHES.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO SLNSZ.
WE'RE JUST ABOUT TO GET THE PROGRAM UNDER WAY.
>> OH, I THINK ANY SMALL TOWN HAS A UNIQUE THING THAT HELPS IDENTIFY IT.
WHEN YOU TRAVEL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND TALK TO OTHER RACE FANS, THEY KNOW SELINSGROVE BY THE SELINSGROVE SPEEDWAY.
>> DIFFERENT CLASSES COME FROM DIFFERENT I.
AREAS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF SPECIAL EVENTS DURING THE YEAR THAT PEOPLE COME FROM 50, 75 MILES AWAY.
>> OUR DRIVERS ARE VERY INTERACTIVE AND APPROACHABLE.
THEY GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW THEM.
A LOT OF THEM ARE LOCAL DRIVERS, SO THEY BRING LOCAL FANS.
SO IT'S LIKE ONE BIG FAMILY.
>> WELL, I BELIEVE THE RACETRACK WAS BUILT IN 1945 BY A FAMOUS STUNT CAR DRIVER NAMED JOEY CHIDWID.
HE ACTUALLY BUILT THE SPEEDWAY.
AND FROM THERE, IT'S GROWN INTO A WEEKLY SERIES OF RACES.
>> AND WE'RE IN OUR 67th YEAR.
THIS IS THE FIFTH YEAR IN A CONSECUTIVE YEAR.
THEY DID CLOSE DOWN FOR A SHORT PERIOD.
FOR THE MOST PART, IT'S JUST A WELCOME PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
>> IT'S SUCH A GREAT ENTERTAINMENT FOR THIS AREA.
>> IT'S A COLLEGE NEAR PHILADELPHIA.
PEOPLE WOULD ASK WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
I WOULD SAY SELINSGROVE.
MOST PEOPLE HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SELINSGROVE, A LITTLE TOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
BUT, IF THEY HAD, NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN, IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE SELINSGROVE SPEEDWAY.
THE FIRST RACE WAS ON JULY 20th, 1946.
IT WAS BY BILL HOLLAND.
AND HE WENT ONTO WIN THE 1949 INDIANAPOLIS 500.
AND THE GENTLEMAN TO FINISH SECOND WAS A MAN BY THE NAME OF RED BYRON.
IN 1949, HE BECAME NASCAR'S FIRST GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPION.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF HERITAGE AND HISTORY THAT'S COME OUT OF THIS TOWN IN PARTICULAR WITH THE SPEEDWAY.
>> THE AIRPORT STARTED BACK IN THE 30s AND WORKED ITS WAY UP AS TECHNOLOGY IMPROVED.
IT STARTED OUT HOME BUILDS AND CRAZY PEOPLE DOING CRAZY THINGS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF BUSINESS.
ACTUALLY, WE HAD A HIGH SCHOOL THERE, AND KIDS, YOUNG PEOPLE, LEARNED TO FLY AND SOME OF THEM ARE MILITARY NOW.
THE AIRPORT WAS HAVING A TOUGH TIME FOR A WHILE WITH BUSINESS.
AND 9/11 REALLY HURT AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL.
WE'VE BEEN IMPROVING.
LAST YEAR, I BELIEVE, WAS THE FIRST YEAR IN A WHILE WE'VE ENDED UP IN THE BLACK.
>> THE AIRPORT HAS COME A LONG WAY.
IT INITIALLY WAS GRASS.
THEY PAVED IT.
THEY'VE STRETCHED IT THREE DIFFERENT TIMES.
WE'RE NOW 4700 FEET LONG, WHICH MEANS THAT IT'S LONG ENOUGH FOR A LOT OF THE CORPORATE JETS, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE AREA.
BECAUSE FOR THE BUSINESS, AS RODNEY SAID U THEY CAN ALL USE THAT.
AND IT'S NOT THAT BIG THAT IT'S OVERWHELMING FOR THE AREA.
WHAT HAS REALLY BROUGHT THE AIRPORT TO THE WAY IT IS NOW IS BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT'S BEEN RUN.
WE STILL HAVE THE LOCAL AUTHORITY.
THEIR NUMBER ONE GOAL IS SERVICE, SERVICE, SERVICE.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE GAINED OVERALL.
WITH THE PRICE OF FUEL RIGHT NOW, A LOT OF THE AIRPORTS DON'T EVERYONE HAVE FUEL, THE SMALL ONES.
THEY'RE COUPLING UP, HELPING EACH OTHER OUT.
BUT, IN OUR CASE, THEY'VE KEPT AHEAD OF THE GAME.
>> THERE'S A REALLY WONDERFUL MURAL ON THE INSIDE.
>> NOW, RODNEY, HE PAINTED THAT MURAL.
HE'S THE ONE THAT PAINTED THE MURAL ON THE WALL.
>> EVERY PLANE THAT'S IN THE MURAL WAS FLOWN BY SOMEBODY LOCALLY.
>> THERE ARE NO VA KANT HANGER SPACE.
THERE'S A WAITING LIST.
AND WE DREAM OF ANOTHER SORT OF CORPORATE STYLE HANG HERB.
.
BUT IT'S A DREAM RIGHT NOW.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THE FOUNDATION HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1994.
THE ROTARY CLUB FELT THERE WAS A NEED FOR SOMETHING IN THE COMMUNITY.
PRIMARILY AND ORIGINALLY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS.
SO A FEW YEARS AGO, THE GROUP HAD AFFILIATED WITH THE REGIONAL FOUNDATION AND JUST SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE CHANGED THE NAME FROM SLNSZ YOUTH FOUNDATION TO THE SELINSGROVE AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BECAUSE THE EMPHASIS HAD CHANGED FROM NOT JUST YOU, BUT FROM A BROADER BASE.
I THINK WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE COMMITMENT TO YOUTH ORIENTED PROJECTS.
THERE'S A LOT MORE GOING ON.
SO WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO FUND SOME OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER INITIATIVES IN THE COMMUNITIES.
IT'S BEEN REALLY NICE.
ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE FUNDED HAS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS.
IT WAS A PRANL STARTED TO TRY TO ADDRESS THIRD AND FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS WHO WHO WERE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS.
IT WAS TO ENHANCE MATH AND READING SKILLS.
AND THE RESEARCH IN THOSE STATISTICS PROVED IT WAS MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
THOSE KIDS THAT WERE LEAVING SCHOOL IN MAY AND LEAVE AND DO MATH IN THE SUMMER ARE COMING BACK IN THE FALL FURTHER AHEAD THAN THE KIDS THAT DON'T DO ANYTHING.
SO WE KNOW IT WORKS.
WE'VE VIEWED THAT AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IS BE THERE WHEN NEW IDEAS COME UP, THINGS THAT HAVEN'T HAPPENED BEFORE AND BE PART OF THAT AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.
>> I HAVE AN ASSOCIATION GOING BACK TO THE LATE '60s.
WE CREATED ONE THERE FOR THE MEN'S SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL.
LATER ON, OTHER THINGS CAME ON SO I WORKED WITH THE TOWNSHIP ON TEN ACRES.
>> IT WAS JUST FELT THAT THIS COULD BE MORE THAN IT IS.
SO TODAY, IT HAS MULTIPLE BALL FIELDS.
IT'S GOT A HUGE BALL FIELD AREA WHERE CURRENT PLAYGROUND-TYPE EQUIPMENT IS HERE.
>> THIS IS A TRUE REGIONAL PARK BECAUSE IT INVOLVED TEN TOWNSHIPS, CIONE'S GROUND BURROW.
AND WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO WITH THE CONCEPT IS NOT TO DUPLICATE WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN OTHER LITTLE PARTS AROUND THE AREA.
AND THAT HELPS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE RECREATION FOR A DIFFERENT GROUP OF PEOPLE OR A BETTER SITUATION FOR THEM.
>> HORSESHOE PITS ARE USED BY A LOT OF SENIOR CITIZEN GROUPS.
THEY'VE GOT A PERENNIAL GARDEN THAT'S NEXT TO NONE.
>> IT GOES FROM MAY UNTIL JULY AND THEN, IN THE FALL, WE GET OUR MUMS COME ON.
BUT IT'S A LOVELY SPOT.
SUNSETS ARE TO DIE FOR.
AND IT'S A LOVELY SPOT.
>> IT'S THIS COMING TOGETHER OF LOTS OF DIFFERENT VENUES OF A BEAUTIFUL SITE.
SO I CAN SEE THAT BEING A FOE CUSS.
>> WE'VE DECIDED THAT THIS WOULD BE OUR GIVE BACK.
I COULD MAKE MY LAWN LOOK WONDERFUL AND MY WHOLE -- YOU KNOW, MY BEDS AND EVERYTHING.
BUT IF I COME DOWN TO THE PARK AND DO IT, EVERYBODY CAN BENEFIT FROM THE BEAUTY OF IT.
>> IT'S GOTTEN LOTS OF PLAY AND LOTS OF INTEREST.
THEY RENT IT OUT, LEASE IT OUT, PLOTS, I BELIEVE THEY'RE 10 BY 10 OR 15 BY 20.
FOR $10 FOR A WHOLE GROWING SEASON, THAT'S YOUR PLOT.
THEY PROVIDE SOME SERVICES IN TERMS OF FERTILIZER OR ORGANIC MATERIAL.
I THINK THERE'S A WATER SOURSZ THERE.
IT STARTED OUT WITH A FEW DOZEN, BUT NOW IT'S GROWN.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL MOSAIC OF GARDENING.
>> KIDS GROW WAS STARTED, ACTUALLY, THREE YEARS BEFORE WE ACTUALLY BUILT IT.
I HAD BEEN WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER IN HARRISBURG.
AND WE VISITED A PLAYGROUND THAT WAS BUILT BY PEOPLE IN THE TOWN.
BUT I ENJOYED THAT PLAYGROUND SO MUCH AND I SAW HOW THE KIDS ENJOYED IT.
SO IT JUST DAWNED ON ME.
MAYBE WE COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, TOO IT WAS 1997 WHEN WE ACTUALLY BUILT THE PLAYGROUND.
WE DID START FROM SCRATCH.
WE HAD NOTHING.
IT WAS AN OPEN FIELD.
IT TOOK US FIVE DAYS.
WE STARTED OUT BY GOING TO THE SCHOOL KIDS.
ONE DAY, WE HAD THOSE GROUPS GET TOGETHER AND MEET THE DESIGNER.
THIS GOT THE KIDS SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
THEY WERE SO EXCITED, THEY GOT ALL THE PARENTS ININVOLVED.
SO WE GOT ALL KINDS OF VOLUNTEERS.
>> TLFGS AN INVITATION TO COME OUT AND BUILD THE PLAYGROUND.
>> THERE WERE PEOPLE THERE, THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THERE FROM EVERY SINGLE WALK OF LIFE THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE.
>> AND THAT'S HOW WE BUILT THAT, THEN, ON SUNDAY EVENING, WE HAD OUR BIG DEDICATION.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I SEEN THESE KIDS PLAYING AND RUNNING AND ENJOYING THEMSELVES, PLAYING, IT MAKES YOU FEEL REAL GOOD.
>> KIDS GROW IS AN INTRAGAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
>> IT'S JUST A GOOD FEELING THAT YOU CAN DO THAT WHEN YOU HAVE TOWNS THAT CAN'T GET PEOPLE TO DO ANYTHING.
>> IN THE WINTERTIME IS A VERY BIG DRAW.
WE HAVE LOTS AND LOTS OF GOVERNMENT PEOPLE AND OLDER PEOPLE THAT YOU MIGHT SEE.
>> YEARS AGO, BURNS FAMILY HAD A PLOT OF GROUND ON WHAT WE CALL THE ISLAND.
AND THEY BUILT A SKATING RINK, ICE SKATING.
IT FROZE OVER RIGHT BESIDE THE CREEK.
AND THAT WAS A VERY POPULAR SPOT WHEN I WAS A KID.
SO LATER ON, WE DEVELOPED THIS ON THIS SIDE OF THE CREEK.
AND MADE IT INTO SKATING.
NOBODY TOOK CARE OF IT.
SO WE FINALLY GOT IT BACK IN TRACK.
AND WE HAVE ICE SKATING IN THE WINTERTIME.
THE SKATING RINK, WE CALL IT LITTLE NORWAY II.
>> HER GOAL FOR HER TENURE ON THE COUNCIL IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TAHEVO AND IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON THE CREEK.
UNFORTUNATELY, SHE PASSED AWAY BEFORE IT WAS COMPLETED.
IN 1998, IT WAS DEDICATED STO HER.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.
BASICALLY, IT'S JUST GETTING SOME PERFORMERS IN DURING THE SUMMER.
WE HAVE THEM AS MUCH AS WE CAN WITH THE AREAS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
>> RUDY GARNET WAS ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING KASHLGTERS I HAVE EVER MET.
AND CHARACTER IN A GREAT SENSZ.
HE TRULY WAS UNIQUE.
HIS CHILDHOOD WAS NOT IDEAL.
BUT HE SAW THE WORLD.
HE WAS ONE OF -- HE HAD A BAND.
HE WAS INTERESTED IN USING -- HE HAD HIS OWN ORCHESTRA BY THE TIME HE WAS A SOPHOMORE IN HIGH SCHOOL.
>> I THINK TO MAKE SOME MONEY, HE WENT ON A CRUISE AND HE PLAYED ON THE CRUISE SHIP.
HE WAS JUST A FANTASTIC PERSON.
VERY TALENTED AS AN ARTIST, A CARTOONIST, A WRITER.
LIKE ALL OF US, HE HAD HIS EXSEN TRISTIES.
RODE THE BIKE RELIGIOUSLY.
>> WE RODE BICYCLES TOGETHER.
RUDY'S BIKE WAS NOT STATE OF THE ART.
IT WAS IN STATE OF REPAIR.
AS MANY TIMES AS WE JUST FIXED IT TOGETHER TO HOLD IT FOR A WHILE.
RUDY WAS REALLY FRUGAL.
>> HE GRADUATED FROM SUSQUEHANNA.
WAS QUITE AN ATHLETE.
A GOOD BASKETBALL PLAYER.
>> HE WAS IN THE MILITARY.
HE WAS AN OFFICER IN THE NAVAL RESERVE.
HE ALSO SERVED IN WORLD WAR II AND WAS CALLED BACK IN KOREA.
HE WAS ON A LANDING AIRCRAFT.
HE WAS PRESIDENT OF HIS CLASS, PRESIDENT OF HIS YUMPT.
HE TAUGHT AT SHILLINGTON AND ONE OF HIS PUPILS WAS UPDIKE.
AND HE WOULD SAY I TAUGT HIM WRITING.
TYPEWRITING THAT IS.
HE WAS VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN THE COMMUNITY.
MORE SO THAN PEOPLE REALIZE UNTIL AFTER HE PASSED AWAY.
AND IT DIDN'T SURPRISE ME BECAUSE IF YOU GOT TO KNOW RUDY WELL, YOU REALIZE HE WAS VERY GENEROUS AND HIS WILL, OF COURSE, LEFT THE BULK OF HIS ESTATE TO SELINSGROVE.
I THINK IT WAS $5.6 MILLION.
WITH NOT MANY STRINGS ATTACH.
ALL HE SAID WAS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF MY HOMETOWN, SELINSGROVE PENNSYLVANIA.
I THINK PEOPLE SUSPECTED THAT RUDY HAD A SUBSTANTIAL ES STATE.
SHALL WE JUST SAY HE WAS KNOWN FOR BEING THRIFTY?
AND MUCH TO THE BENEFIT OF SELINSGROVE IN THE END.
SO HE WAS A REALLY -- JUST A UNIQUE PERSON AND A VERY, VERY GOOD PERSON.
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "OUR TOWN SELINSGROVE" HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY -- >> DEDICATED TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE, THE SLNSZ AREA FOUNDATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SUSQUEHANNA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OFFERS A WAY FOR INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS TO LEAVE A LASTING LEGACY.
>> FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED, OFFERS DRIVE THROUGH AND DELIVERY SERVICES.
SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY, A RESULT-ORIENTED NATIONAL LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE ALLOWING STUDENTS TO SERVE IN A DIVERSE, INTERCONNECTED WORLD SINCE 1858.
>> QUALITY CARE RIGHT HERE AT HOME AT SUN BURY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL.
REDISCOVER SUNBURY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL.
>> STAHL ENGINEERING.
CREATING FOUNDATIONS, BRIDGING COMMUNITIES AND PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
>> THE COUNTRY SQUIRE.
ALL COMFORTABLE O RINLAL.
THANKS TO ERNIE AND SARAH AND THE WHOLE TEAM OF SHARON'S BUS SERVICES.
>> THIS IS A JIGSAW PUZZLE FROM A WHOLE BUNCH OF ICE CREAM WITH STRAWBERRY AND CHOCOLATE SAUCE DRIFING ALL OVER THE TOP.
LOOKS PRETTY GOOD, DOESN'T IT?
>> MAYBE A BIT TOO GOOD.
AFTER SPENDING AN EVENING WITH A DESERT THIS BIG, YOU MIGHT SPEND THE WEEK WORKING IT OFF.
CAN YOU IMAGINE WHEN IT CONTAINS 5.MILLION CALORIE SNS WE'RE GOING TO WATCH AS THE PEOPLE FROM SELINSGROVE PUT TOGETHER A DESERT THAT BID.
IT'S THEIR ATTEMPT TO THE WORLD'S LARGEST BANANA SPLIT.
>> THIS IS THE MAN.
>> THAT WAS MY NAME TO FAME OR SOMETHING.
WE WERE IN THE SALEM CHURCH RIGHT UP THE ROAD HERE.
AND WE JUST HAPPENED TO SEE THAT IN YOUTH FOR CHRIST, THEY BUILT A LONG BANANA SPLIT FOR THEIR YOUTH GROUP.
I SAID TO MY WIFE THAT WOULD BE A NEAT IDEA FOR OUR PARTICULAR YOUTH GROUP.
SO WE BUILT ONE.
THE KIDS SAY WE OUGHT TO GO FOR THE RECORD.
AT THAT TIME, THE RECORD WAS 4,000 FEET.
THEN, IN 1982, IT WAS DONE THROUGH THE BAND BOOSTERS.
AND WE BUILT IT RIGHT DOWN MARKET STREET.
>> IT WAS HUNG.
I BELIEVE IT WENT THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF MARKET STREET FIVE TIMES?
>> WHAT WE DID, EVERYBODY WAS ENTITLED TO ONE FOOT.
YOU PAID $2 FOR ONE SFOOLT.
EVERYBODY SPLIT THEIR OWN BANANAS.
THERE WOULD BE A BOX EVERY 25 FEET.
>> WE DID BUY TICKETS AND WE HAD OUR SECTION OF THE SUNDAY TO EAT.
>> THE FIRST TIME WE DID, AND I'M NOT SURE HOW WE DID THE SECOND ONE BECAUSE WE COORDINATED.
LOCAL RADIO STATIONS, WE COULD SAY OVER THE RADIO AND EVERYBODY'S GOT LITTLE PORTABLE RADIOS.
NOW, IT'S JUST THE ICE CREAM.
SO IT WENT VERY WELL.
I GUESS THAT WAS OUR NAME TO FAME.
>> WE DECIDE DS TO GO FOR THAT RECORD AGAIN.
I THINK SIX YEARS LATER, THAT WOULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN 1988 AND THAT TIME, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN 4.5 MILES.
AS FAR AS I KNOW, SELINSGROVE STILL HOLDS THAT RECORD.
>> SINCE THEN, NO ONE HAS EVER SAID LET'S TRY TO BEAT THAT RECORD.
>> I KNOW VINCE IS LOOKING TO BREAK IN HIS MOM, ACTUALLY, ORGANIZE THE LAST ONE.
SO VINCE IS TRYING TO BREAK IT.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN BE PROUD OF A BANANA SPLIT OR NOT, BUT U HEY, WE LIKE ICE CREAM.
>> THE RESTAURANTS ARE ALL REALLY GOOD.
IT STARTED OUT WITH B.J.s, WHICH IS REALLY POPULAR.
YOU GO INTO B.J.s AND IT'S LIKE A VIBRANT, ENERGETIC PLACE.
>> THEY'RE KNOWN FOR THEIR RIBS AND THEIR PORK.
THEY HAVE EXCELLENT WINGS.
>> IT'S THIS PERFECT BAR THEME, BUT ALSO REALLY GOOD FOOD.
AND THEN THE BREW PUB IS VERY WELL KNOWN.
>> ALL MICROBREWS ARE BREWED RIGHT OUT BACK IN THE GARAGE.
IT'S MORE OF A REAL SMALL, HOW MANY HOMETOWN PLACES.
>> ISABELLA'S IS FAIRLY NEW.
THAT'S BEEN THERE JUST A COUPLE YEARS.
>> WHEN PEOPLE GO IN, THEY KNOW THEM.
THEY COME ON AND TALK TO YOU AND HE JUST OPENED THE PLACE CALLED BELA PIZZA WHICH JUST OPENED A WEEK AGO AND SOLD 200 PIZZA PIES IN ONE DAY.
SKBL R. >> PINE CAFE IS OPEN FOR A REAL GOOD CUP OF COFFEE.
I.T.
EXPRESS, WHICH HAS BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE, IT'S LIKE UP ON 522.
>>'S DEFINITELY EAT AND DRINK IN SELINSGROVE.
>> SO THE RESTAURANTS KIND OF HELD UP THE TOWN.
I KNOW OTHER RESTAURANTS ARE STRUGGLING, BUT WE'RE NOT AT ALL.
THEY'RE ALL UNIQUE AND WE'RE ALL SPECIAL.
SO THAT CREATED SORT OF A WONDERFUL, HOMEY VIBE.
AND AFTER THAT, WITH THE STORES OPENING LIKE PEPPERS AND THEN THE POST AND LINTEL AND DAVE STAR AND THE COTTAGE ON PINE, THERE'S ALL SORT OF UNIQUE PLACES TO GO.
YOU NEED PLACES TO GET SOMETHING DIFFERENT I.
AND THE TOWN IS COMPRISED OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND THE LOCAL DOWNTOWN.
SO THEY'RE SUPPORTING THEIR LOCAL DOWN TOUB.
TOUCHB.
SO IT'S ABOUT ALL OF THIS BEAUTY AND UNIQUE SHOPS.
EVERYTHING IN ONE LITTLE AREA.
IT MAKES ITS VERY SPECIAL.
>> SELINSGROVE LOVES THEIR HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS.
PARTICULARLY, THE FOOTBALL TEAM.
EVERYBODY LOVES THE FOOTBALL TEAM, 2009 STATE CHAMPIONS.
THEY HAVE NUMEROUS OTHER LEAGUES.
>> RECENTLY, THEY'VE HAD A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL TEAM.
>> THEY HAVE I BELIEVE 15 APPROXIMATELY DIVISION ONE RECRUITED.
AND IT'S NOT JUST THE FACT THAT THEY'RE A GOOD TEAM ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY SERVICE.
THE TRACK TEAM HAS A RECORD FOR MOST CONSECUTIVE DUAL WINS.
THAT'S FROM THE '70s UP TO THE EARLY 2000.
>> THE OLD GRAND DAD OF FOOTBALL CAME HERE TO COACH.
I REMEMBER THE 1981 SEASON.
BUCK NEL WAS UNDEFEATED.
BLOOMSBURG WAS UNDEFEATED.
I'M 11 YEARS OLD, I THINK EVERYONE GOES UNDEFEATED.
BUT IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.
>> IN 1874, A GROUP OF WOMEN WITHIN THE BURRO ORGANIZED THE FUNDRAISER.
AND THE ONE THAT RAISED THE MOST MONEY GOT THE NAME THE FIRE COMPANY.
THEY NAMED THE FIRE COMPANY IN 1874.
>> ACTUALLY, KURPTLY, WE ARE THE OLDEST DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE COUNTY.
1874 WAS WHEN WE WERE FORMED.
WHAT MAKES US A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE IS WE HOUSE ONE OF THE OLDEST PIECES OF FIRE APPARATUS IN THE COUNTRY.
THE ARROW.
THAT WAS PURCHASED IN 1952.
TODAY, IT'S STILL IN EXISTENCE AT THE PHILADELPHIA FIRE MUSEUM.
IT IS ONE OF THE OLDEST IN HISTORY.
THE BUCKET BRIGADE, WHERE THEY USED TO HAVE THE BUCK ETS, WHERE THEY WIND UP ON THE STREETS AND PASS THE BUCKETS, THIS IS THE FIRST THAT YOU PUMPED THAT ACTUALLY GOT YOU WATER.
>> ANOTHER THING THAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE IS WE HAVE THE ONLY AERIAL LADDER TRUCK.
SO WITH THAT HUNDRED FOOT LADDER, WE HAVE THE ONLY ONE IN SNYDER COUNTY.
WE COULD BE CALLED FROM THE EAST END OF THE COUNTY ALL THE WAY TO THE WEST END OF THE COUNTY IF ANOTHER DEPARTMENT NEEDS THAT TRUCK FOR MUTUAL AID CALL.
>> WE JUST PLAYED OUR 50th CONCERT ON THE THIRD OF APRIL.
>> IN '63, MR. PENNY WAS THE BAND DIRECTOR AT THE TIME.
AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
>> AND PEOPLE WOULD APPROACH HIM AND SAY WE'D REALLY LIKE TO HAVE AN AREA BAND.
A COMMUNITY BAND.
THERE WERE OTHER AREAS THAT DID AND WE DID NOT HAVE ONE.
AND HE SAID WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
AND EACH YEAR SEEMED TO GET BETTER.
LARGER.
>> WE HAD PEOPLE COMING FROM STATE COLLEGE, WILLIAMS PORT, CARLISLE, UP TO SCRANTON AREA.
THEY COME FROM REHEARSALS AND CONCERT.
>> WE PRACTICE IN FEBRUARY, MARCH, HAVE A CONCERT AND THEN WE'RE DONE FOR A YEAR.
>> I ACTUALLY AM THE ONLY SURVIVING MEMBER OF THE ORIGINAL BAND THAT'S STILL PLAYING.
THIS IS OUR 50th ANNIVERSARY.
ALL THE DONATIONS THAT WE GET GO TO THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY.
WE HAVE NO EXPENSES WHAT SO EVER.
SO, REALLY, IF WE GET A DOLLAR IN, A DOLLAR GOES TO THE CANCER SOCIETY.
AND, OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE EARNED QUITE A FEW DOLLARS.
>> IT'S FUN.
YOU HAVE A COMRADERY THAT'S VERY UNUSUAL.
WUNLSZ YOU START IT, YOU DON'T WANT TO STOP.
>> IT GIVES EVERYBODY A CHANCE TO DO IT.
NOT JUST PROFESSIONALS.
>> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A NEW LIBRARY IN SELINSGROVE FOR DECADES.
>> THE LIBRARY PROJECT AND THE COMMONS PROJECT WERE ON PARALLEL TRACKS AND HAVE BARELY MERGED INTO ONE MAIN PROJECT.
AND THAT IS OUR BURROW ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.
AND THE WHOLE THING CONSTITUTES WHAT, FOR OUR LITTLE VILLAGE, IS OUR CIVIC CENTER.
>> BUT RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF TOWN, WHERE PINE STREET INTERSECTS MARKET STREET, THERE WAS A LARGE BUILDING WHICH WE WOULD CALL A DERELICT BUILDING.
SO A GROUP OF PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER RAISED THE FUNDS TO PURCHASE THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.
AND TO HAVE THE BUILDING DEMOLISHED AND THE RUBBLE HAULED AWAY.
WE HAD ONE THAT NOT EVERYONE WAS HAPPY WITH, BUT ONE THAT WAS AFFORDABLE.
AND WHAT TIES IT INTO THE KMOOUNTY, WE PUT BRICK PAVERS ALL THE WAY AROUND IT.
AND THEN WE PLANTED IT, OF COURSE, AND PLANTING THAT WOULD BE ALL YEAR AROUND.
WE PUT A PERFORMANCE STAGE.
THAT WOULD BE THE CENTER FOR EVENTS THROUGH THE YEAR.
THERE IS IN THE COMMONS, SOME SEATING, A LARGE WALL WHICH ABOUT 50 PEOPLE CAN SIT.
THERE'S A LOT OF SPACE THERE FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.
I LIKE TO THINK THAT THE COMMONS WILL BE SORT OF A CENTER PIECE FOR OUR TOWNS.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY NOTICEABLE TO PEOPLE DRIVING THROUGH.
OF COURSE, IT IS, THEN, THE CAMPUS FOR OUR NEW ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AND THE NEW LIBRARY.
>> WELL, A GOOD LIBRARY IS A COMMUNITY CENTER.
IT'S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE GO TO GET MATERIALS TO SHARE ITEMS.
DIFFERENT PLACES FOR DIFFERENT GROUPS.
HOPEFULLY, WE CAN SATISFY DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
>> YEAH, IT WAS SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
WE WANTED THE CHILDREN TO HAVE A SEPARATE SPACE.
WE TALKED TO A LOT OF LIBRARIANS.
IT WAS SOMETHING WE REALLY WANTED.
WE JUST WANTED TO BECOME CENTRAL.
THEY'RE SO IMPORTANT NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
>> MAKING $3.6 MILLION IS NOT AN EASY TASK.
BUT I THINK THAT WE'RE UP TO THE CHALLENGE.
ALL OF THIS ON THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE.
AND A YEAR AGO, WHEN WE HAD THE GROUND BREAKING, THE ROOM WAS FILLED TO OVERFLOWING.
AND, AT THAT TIME, I THINK THAT I REALIZED HOW MUCH COMMUNITY INTEREST THERE WAS.
AND THE NEW LIBRARY.
AND IT REALLY GAVE ME A SENSE THAT THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT WAS THERE.
>> THIS WAS OUR GIFT.
TO THE COMMUNITY.
THAT WE EXPECT TO LAST WAY LONGER THAN WE'RE AROUND.
>> WE HAVE THIS LEGACY OF A LOVELY STREETSCAPE.
BUT WE WILL LEAD TO FUTURE GENERATIONS A LEGACY OF A SMALL, EXQUISITE LITTLE PARK.
>> THIS IS A PLACE WHERE YOU GET TO KNOW PEOPLE.
>> I LIKE TO THINK THAT THERE ARE NO BAD PARTS OF TOWN.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET.
>> THE WHOLE FAMILY GETS IT DONE.
>> IT IS VIBRANT.
THE COMMUNITY IS VIBRANT.
EVERYBODY -- IT'S A SMALL COMMUNITY.
SO EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY.
YOU GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T FENCES IN OUR BACKYARDS.
WE CAN TALK TO THE NEIGHBORS.
>> SOME PEOPLE CALL IT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE.
>> IT'S BECOME A PLACE, WHERE, LIKE I SAID, EVERYONE WANTS TO CALL IT HOME.
IT'S A CALMING PLACE.
>> THERE'S A FREEDOM HERE IN THE GOOD SENSE OF THAT TERM.
PEOPLE GET TO LIVE THEIR LIVES MORE OR LESS AS THEY WOULD LIKE TO LIVE THEM.
CLOSE, ALMOST LIKE A FAMILY.
>> A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE OR RAISE A FAMILY.
SMALL-TOWN, FAMILY ORIENTED WITH A RICH HISTORY.
>> I LOOKED AT SLNSZ AS EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY TYPE OF TOWN.
MY ANALOGY WOULD BE IT'S LIKE CHEERS.
EVERYBODY IS YOUR FRIEND.
>> A CHARMING PLACE TO LIVE WITH CHARMING, FASCINATING PEOPLE.
>> IT'S HOME.
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS.
MY HEART IS IN SELINSGROVE.
IT'S HOME.
IT'S WHERE I'VE GROWN UP.
>> WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE?
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