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EDITOR’S DESK
Maps and legends
I love maps, always have. As a child, I even made my own pirate maps, inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island” and his legendary tales of buried booty. Maps have always stirred my imagination, but I learned early on that they don’t always tell the story of what’s happening on the ground.
During my Army training days, I had to take a land navigation test where I was handed a map, a compass, and some grid coordinates. To pass the test, I had to locate a number of precise checkpoints on a course within a specified period of time.
This was at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri — or, as we trainees called it: Fort Lost in the Woods in the State of Misery. Soon after hitting the course, I began to understand how it got its nickname. There sure were a lot of trees out here. And I was lost, and feeling pretty miserable.
With the clock ticking, I knew I had to focus on my training and not panic. I had to see the forest and not just the trees in front of me. Once I did, terrain features began revealing themselves — the story on the ground. Contour lines took the shape of hills, and I recognized a ridge here, a valley there. Finding the first checkpoint gave me the confidence to navigate the rest of the course, and I was soon out of the woods — just under the time limit.
Even with today’s advanced GPS technology, maps still don’t reveal what’s happening on the ground. They can’t show us the in-person beauty of our rural areas — or the challenging terrain our line crews encounter in servicing our cooperative regions.
Radar images and outage maps can show up-to-the-minute information about a storm, but they can’t tell you about the snapped poles, fallen trees, and impassable roads lineworkers face when responding to a power outage.
Maps can’t show you the mutual support from sister co-ops arriving to help a cooperative in need. They also can’t show you the dedication and perseverance it takes to respond to a storm and not quit until the lights are back on. That’s the story on the ground — and the stuff of legend.
As summer storms roll in, I’ll be paying attention to maps. They still stir my imagination, but it’s the story on the ground that inspires me.
PETER A. FITZGERALD
EDITOR
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!
'Hershey' filming in Pittsburgh, extras needed
Have you ever dreamed of being in a movie? Well, you may get your chance IF you’re available this month and plan to be in or around Pittsburgh.
The makers of “Hershey,” an upcoming motion picture about chocolate pioneer Milton S. Hershey, are looking for extras of all ages, and no acting experience is necessary. Set in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the film reveals how a man who failed in business multiple times created an iconic chocolate empire and channeled his success into education and the community. Filming began in May and continues through June 27.
Extras, who will portray townsfolk, factory workers and community members, need to be available for 12 to 14 hours on shoot days (hours are shorter for minors). The pay is $225.
Directed by Mark Waters, the film stars Finn Wittrock as Milton Hershey and Alexandra Daddario as his wife, Catherine, and is set for release in 2026.
For more information and to apply, go to nancymossercasting.com/post/extras-needed-for-feature-film-hershey.
KISSED WITH FAME: Filming has started in Pittsburgh for “Hershey,” which is all about the life of famed chocolate pioneer — and Hershey Kiss creator — Milton Hershey and his wife, Catherine. Extras are needed for the shoot, which wraps up June 27.
ROOTED IN PRESERVATION
Two Pennsylvania forests added to old-growth network
Two forests in the Pennsylvania Wilds have been added to the National Old-Growth Forest Network (OGFN), the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) says.
Colton Point State Park in Tioga County and Bark Cabin Natural Area in Lycoming County are the 37th and 38th Pennsylvania forests, respectively, to be inducted into the network and the first in their counties.
Colton Point is on the west rim of Pine Creek Gorge, the 358-acre park also known as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. Bark Cabin was established to protect an 82-acre grove of old-growth hemlocks.
DCNR says that while all forests are essential to a healthy ecosystem, old-growth sites are particularly valuable for their unique structure. These areas retain more carbon and nitrogen than younger forests, which improves water and air quality.
Founded in 2012 by Dr. Joan Maloof, OGFN includes more than 285 forests across 39 states. The organization educates the public about the ecological benefits of old-growth forests and speaks out against threats to specific ancient forests.
AND THE WINNER IS ...
Route 6 takes first place in byways competition
Pennsylvania Route 6 has been named the winner of Byways Madness 2025, the annual competition hosted by Scenic America to recognize and celebrate the country’s most loved scenic byways.
In the final round of voting, Route 6 had 2,913 votes compared to the Blue Ridge Parkway’s 765 votes.
Route 6 crosses the state from east to west and includes areas served by a handful of rural electric cooperatives, including Claverack Rural Electric Cooperative (REC), Tri-County REC, Warren Electric Cooperative and Northwestern REC. The state’s newest official scenic byway, Route 6 is known for its rolling hills, charming small towns and access to natural wonders, including the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.
RUBBER DUCKY!
Oversized bath toy to make a splash at Idlewild
A six-story-tall bright, yellow inflatable — The World’s Largest Rubber Duck — will be waddling into western Pennsylvania later this month when it returns for a rare appearance. This time it will be making a splash at Idlewild & SoakZone in Ligonier June 27 to 29.
The last time the oversized bath toy, created by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, emerged in Pennsylvania was more than a decade ago — in 2013 — at the Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts. More than a million onlookers showed up then for the duck’s three-week stay.
This time, in honor of the inflatable’s appearance, Idlewild will be hosting duck-themed activities, and you can always quack your wallet open for limited-edition merchandise.
Founded in 1878, Idlewild is the third-longest operating amusement park in the United States.
CONTEST TIME!
Help us celebrate Penn Lines’ 60th anniversary
Penn Lines has a big birthday coming up, and we want you to be a part of our 60th anniversary celebration. Before the confetti flies in 2026, though, we’re kicking off a handful of photo contests this year; enter one — or all three.
CONTEST NO. 1 – LONGEST-LIVED PENN LINES! If you have an oldie but a goodie around the house, take a photo of it with you. Please make sure the publication date is visible.
CONTEST NO. 2 – MOST WELL-TRAVELED PENN LINES! We'll be honest: We like it when we get to go to some place nice. Take your favorite issue of Penn Lines to some place special in your community and take a photo of yourself with it.
CONTEST NO. 3 – A DATE WITH PENN LINES! We’ll be honest: We like it when we get to go to some place nice. Take your favorite issue of Penn Lines to some place special in your community and take a photo of yourself with the magazine.
FOR ALL CONTESTS, WE WILL NEED: your name, address, daytime telephone number, the month and year of the magazine, and the name of the cooperative that serves your home, business, or seasonal residence.
PRIZES: $50 gift card; the photo will also be featured in Penn Lines in 2026
DEADLINE: Friday, Oct. 31
SEND ENTRIES TO: PennLines@prea.com (put “60 Years of Penn Lines” in the subject line) or Penn Lines Editor/60 YEARS OF PENN LINES, P.O. Box 1266, Harrisburg, PA 17108-1266.
TIME LINES — June 2015
A decade ago, Penn Lines was commemorating the 75th anniversary of America’s first superhighway: the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Immortalized in songs and on postcards, the first section of the turnpike opened Oct. 1, 1940, and paved the way for the Interstate Highway System. Not only that, towns and cities sprouted up along the toll road, which created a faster, safer and more convenient way to move people and goods across the state. Today, the turnpike has stepped into the 21st century with Open Road Tolling replacing the iconic toll booths and their attendants.
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