ANOTHER SIGHTING: Dick Moore of Bradford Township said he has spotted two robins near his home, even in this blustery weather. They’ve been hanging out in his yard along Minard Run Road since last year. He has spotted an owl, too.
“There’s life out there,” Moore said.
STAMPS: One Era reader had more to add to our history of commemorative postage stamps we recently shared.
“With regards to the RTS item (1/2/18) concerning postage stamps it should be noted that President Franklin Roosevelt viewed stamp collecting as one of his favorite hobbies/pastimes.
“He began collecting stamps at age 8. Stamps provided him stories of history and comfort during his recovery from polio.
“As president, FDR used stamps to restore the country confidence in itself, highlighting the national parks and engineering accomplishments. He submitted ideas for stamp designs and suggested themes and sketches of stamps such as Susan B. Anthony’s bust recognizing women’s suffrage, Whistler’s painting of his mother in honor of Mother’s Day and a map of Byrd’s Antarctic expedition plus others.”
The information was found on Page 22 of the November 2009 issue of “Smithsonian” magazine.
Our reader noted that there is a local stamp club that meets monthly in Olean, N.Y., and holds an annual show and sale each autumn.
TEMPERATURES: Reader Larry Fay, who lives in Alaska, has been watching our recent cold spell with interest.
“Your recent cold weather reminds me that Kane, Pa., holds the state record of 42 below,” he writes.
According to Larry, despite Alaska’s reputation for wintry weather, Anchorage has been downright sultry compared to the contiguous United States.
“After reading the 5 January RTS column concerning your frigid weather, I thought your readers may be surprised by our temperatures.
“On January 2nd of this year, Anchorage’s high was 49 degrees and our low was 26 degrees. On the same day, a friend called and said it was 46 below in North Dakota (NOT wind chill).”
Temperatures reached the teens in Bradford that day, but the low hung around zero that morning and the next, not including the wind chill.
“I guess the Lower 48 is receiving our winter this year. Hopefully, this cold weather will kill a significant number of ticks that have become so prevalent lately,” Larry added.
We hope so, too. The ticks have been terrible.
