Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Features

Friday, December 9, 2011

Ian Walck is termed a train fanatic by his mother and grandmother who brought him to the open house.

"Forty-three cars."

A visitor to the Carbon Model Railroad Society open house stood and counted the cars on one of the many trains that run through scenic areas and villages, past industries and farms.

President Garry Mack said the Society is not a train club but a modeling club with a special interest in building an interesting display. Members who do not have a platform to run their trains at home can bring them to the clubhouse and run them there.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Living behind the Great Firewall

It seems cheap sneakers, iPads and iPhones, and a Christmas wish list of consumer goods won't be China's only exports arriving on America's shores. Censorship and government meddling in a free and open Internet might be turning up, too.

Friday, December 2, 2011

'Silk Road, Flower Rain'

DONALD R. SERFASS/TIMES NEWS The exotic color and customs of the most populous nation on earth were showcased in November 2010, when 'Colorful China' was presented at the Tamaqua Area Auditorium. On Dec. 16, a similar-sized, world-renowned Chinese dance drama, 'Silk Road, Flower Rain,' will be offered free to the public.

A portion of the acclaimed spectacle seen by the world at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games is coming to Tamaqua in two weeks, where it will be presented free to the public.

'Silk Road, Flower Rain,' the world-famous dance drama from the People's Republic of China, will take the stage of the Tamaqua Area Auditorium on Friday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m., in a special international cultural ambassadorship performance.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Tamaqua's treasure trove

DONALD R. SERFASS/TIMES NEWS Eric Zizelmann, Tamaqua Public Library trustee, spearheaded the drive to create a Local History Collection at the facility, providing the foundation for local genealogical research.

A priceless and growing collection of genealogical research materials has made the Tamaqua Public Library a hot spot for those searching a family tree.

The new Local History Collection had its start about five years ago with a $5,000 Department of Community and Economic Development grant, according to Eric Zizelmann, library trustee, who helped spearhead the effort.

The grant, secured during the tenure of librarian Debi Dodson, now associated with the Shenandoah Public Library, allowed a two-pronged approach to build up existing resources.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Family histories

The Tamaqua Public Library Local History Collection proudly includes the following family histories, contributed by local residents: Herring Family of Pennsylvania; Lindenmuth Family of America; Whetstone Family Research; Johann Adam and Anna Marie Mertz Zehner of Berks and Schuylkill counties; Brobst/Probst Family; Tamerus Family; Lichtenwalner Family History; Leiby Geneaology and History, 1565-1996; Steigerwalt Family, 1767-1979; Kellers, Hometown's Earliest Settlers, by Louise Frederickson Fox, 1989; Hein family records and research by Dan Schroeder.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

A hard time saying 'no'

AL ZAGOFSKY/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS Richard Ockenhouse is not quite sure how many kids he and his late wife, Mary, raised but he thinks it is between 50 and 60. He adopted 12 of them in one day.

Richard Ockenhouse is not quite sure how many kids he and his late wife, Mary, raised but he thinks it is between 50 and 60. He adopted 12 of them in one day.

Richard was born in Lehighton in 1929. He struggled in school with a type of dyslexia that initially had him writing backwards then developed into a short-term memory problem.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Haul out the holly

DONALD R. SERFASS/TIMES NEWS The Lucetta Harlan House, 206 N. Lehigh St., Tamaqua, will open its doors along with several other homes on Saturday, Dec. 3, during the 16th Annual Tamaqua Spirit of Christmas Festival.

Victorian House Tours, a showcase attraction, will return for the 16th Annual Tamaqua Spirit of Christmas Festival after a few years' absense, complemented by one dozen special events spread over four days.

The festival is set for December 1-4 with the majority of events offered free to the public.

"We are also bringing back the craft and vendor show on Sunday," says Jean Ann Towle, chairman. "It looks like a full weekend of activities." The event will kick off with the Little Miss Spirit of Christmas Festival and annual Holiday Tree Festival, a decorating competition.

Friday, November 11, 2011

A tale of two loves

A caboose with the flashing lights and gates to protect drivers is on the hatch of the Cruizer.

When Richard Hoey of Bethlehem bought a limited edition PT Cruiser in 2001, he was considering it as a show car. It was pin-striped and decorated with depictions of Goofy. The limited-edition cars in that particular year had all of the extras that could be added. But by the following year of production, add-ons had to be purchased separately for all Cruisers.

Hoey said he ordered his car in November, 2000, and was told it would take eight months until he would receive it because of the backlog of orders.

"But I got it in five months," he said happily.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Eagle Scout Brent Green installs playground

TERRY AHNER/TIMES NEWS Jyneal Green pins the Eagle badge onto her son, Brent Green, during his Eagle Scout Court of Honor Ceremony Sunday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Palmerton, while Brent's father, Mike Green, watches on.

He's climbed the highest of mountains and ascended to a level realized by few.

Joined by family and friends, Brent Green was honored last Sunday with an Eagle Scout Court of Honor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Palmerton.

During his speech, Brent thanked all those who assisted him with his project, whereby he installed the playground at the Stoney Ridge P.A.R.C. along Fireline Road in Lower Towamensing Township.

Friday, November 4, 2011

High-flyin' granny

DONALD R. SERFASS/TIMES NEWS Balloon-flying Ada Bauchspies, 90, Lehighton, is matriarch of five generations.

Many people have a bucket list of things they want to do in life.

But for Ada Bauchspies, it's a basket list - a heavy, woven basket attached to an 80-foot balloon.

On Sunday, October 23, the 90-year-old Lehighton grandmother tackled one of her wildest dreams when she soared on inflated gossamer wings, drifting into the horizon aboard a hot air balloon.

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