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Luminary Subscribers Staying in Place

By Staff | Apr 8, 2020

We randomly telephoned several Luminary subscribers asking how they are coping with the extra time on their hands due to the Covid 19 “Stay at Home” mandate. Our question included the following: How are you spending your time? What is one of the first things you’ll do when the mandate is lifted?

James Baker, Turbotville – A subscriber since the early 1990s, Baker said, “When I need to stock up, I go to the store early, get it, get out and back home. Am cleaning out things inside the house, especially the basement. Plus, weed outside when nice and take walks. We had a late summer trip to Alaska planned but don’t know now. When over, I want to go anywhere but home.

Jean Blass, Millville – “Same as always but reading more. I miss the library not being open but before the mandate I’d purchased three at Ollie’s, cheap books. Then on a couple trips to the Weis Store bought four more. I phone my grandchildren asking what they associate with each letter [of the alphabet] and we got to the letter J. I wrote stories and mailed to them for reading exercises. They are ages eight and four. When crises ends, will get together with family.”

Roger Burkhart, Rochester, NY – “Catching up on reading history, the Bible, magazines. In the bathroom, tore off wall paper and painted. I walk around the neighborhood but not today (April 3), it was 38 degrees and raining.” Through Facebook, the upstate New York resident stays in touch with our region noting the upcoming 100th birthday of his uncle Clyde Kepner in August. Burkhart also shared of learning of his Hughesville High School classmate, Nancy Sheets DeWire, recently assisted in the midnight delivery of triplet lambs at her farm. “Soon, we hope to go out to a nice restaurant.”

Larry Faus, Huntersville – “Doing inside electrical and plumbing repairs. Spent two days working on computer only to find a loose wire in the box. I’ve downed trees and will prune and spray the orchard, I already had an N-95 mask for that purpose. Also wear dust masks when filling the pellet stove and fixing one of our three tractors. For the future, take the family on a picnic celebrating my late mother’s way of life. She would fix a picnic basket then we’d go to Sandy Bottom on the Loyalsock, bouncing along in a 1942 truck. We’d swim and fly fish there. The area is closed to the public now, so we’ll look for a similar place.”

Ken Eck, Muncy- “Living on a farm there’s always something to do. I’ve been catching up and starting new projects. There’s always buildings to repair, bush to cut to keep the place looking nice. As for the future, we look forward to evenings at the restaurant, we miss that. Also, getting back to church.”

Linda (Gary) Fiester, Forksville – “I’ve made about 12 masks as I have material from my sewing hobbies. I’ve been baking and doing word finds. Looking forward to going out for a meal and visiting family in Lancaster, Selinsgrove and Muncy Valley.”

Jerry Fought, at Fought’s Mill in Hughesville – “I’m considered an essential business, so I’m still open and busy. In addition to usual calls from farmers for animal and chicken feed, cabin owners have come by for corn to feed the deer. We also have bird feed people can use to lure critters and spend time watching them for their windows. When crisis is over, I’ll still be here filling orders even if you want to enter the drive-thru and stay in your vehicle.”

Rodney Fowler, Watsontown – “Watching lots of television, reading and walking once a day. When this if over, look forward to going shopping and not need to worry or hurry.”

Gloria (Ron) Green, Muncy – “Phoning people and recently receiving calls from grandkids on my birthday. We miss our daily breakfast outings, so, wanting to get back to that. Now breakfast food is from the store and I cook it.”

Leslie Gruver, Montgomery – “I’ve been watching educational videos on You-tube, such as back filling a drain pipe, fixing radios, washers, most anything one wants to know. Household chores are done, yard work will soon need done. Currently contact with my wife is by phone while she’s in a care home.”

Virginia (Fiegles) Karr, Milton – “As a Muncian, can’t remember when our family didn’t get The Luminary. In addition to my own, I provide a subscription for my brother in Ashburn, VA. I’m working, telecommuting from home as an engineer with Dewberry Engineering at Mechanicsburg. So, I’m saving a three-hour round trip drive, taking the job after retiring from PennDot. I am looking forward to scheduling an appointment with my beautician for a hair cut and color.”

Paula Radwanski, Tunkhannock – “As a member of the Wyoming County Historical Society, we subscribe to many papers for genealogical information. In The Luminary, we look at ‘Peeks of the Past.’ In addition, a friend from Berwick sends us their paper and Jean Camp from your area mails the Sun-Gazette. Museum volunteers are taking home items to sort. Our obit findings go to the DAR files in Washington, DC. When postal workers ask me what’s in the box, I say “Dead people.” They don’t ask anymore. For myself, I’m working on the Sones, Temple, Steinruck families and more recently Doctor relatives. When the mandate is lifted I want to hug my five grandchildren and great-grandchild. I am hoping to come to Lycoming County this summer for research.”

Tom Styer, Muncy – “We are open at the farm with potatoes and a few items. This is always a slow season of the year but now we’re working in the greenhouse and caring for the strawberry fields hoping this will be over by then. I earned a certificate from the state concerning new guidelines for food safety unrelated to the Coronavirus crisis, they update information at various times. “

Joyce Mingle Vargo, Muncy – “I cleaned cupboards, something that hasn’t been done for awhile. I’ve been doing more praying, especially for the necessary workers dealing with the virus. I have wonderful neighbors who look out for me. Also my church family at White Hall Baptist who keep in touch with each other. We’ll miss the annual Easter Sunrise Service held at Goose Cove on PPL Lake. I’m looking forward to going out and feeling like a free person, getting back to church while being cautious in the beginning.”

Allenwood resident wishing to be nameless – I’ve been watching movies, cleaning closets with items waiting to be donated to Goodwill or Hands Up. I read newspapers, The Luminary, of course. In the past, I didn’t like junk mail, but not even that gives me something more to read. I’d planned to fly to Texas to visit family, which was to happen during baseball season but now the grandson’s school is closed. I plan to reschedule the trip.”