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EDITOR’S DESK
Hail Mary
The first Christmas without my dad at home was a tough one. I remember wandering through the house in the quiet of 3 a.m., only to find that my mom was awake too. I suppose we were both looking for “Santa.”
We ended up sitting together on the couch, flipping through channels, and of course, there it was — “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the 1946 classic that seemed to play on every channel during the holidays back then. There was George Bailey of Bedford Falls, brought to life by Pennsylvania’s own Jimmy Stewart.
Stewart, who was from Indiana, Pa., home to REA Energy Cooperative, has said this was his favorite film. He believed it showed how an ordinary person with small-town values could make a positive difference to others. George’s “concern for community” — a core principle of cooperatives — made him a hero to many in Bedford Falls.
I had seen the film before, of course, but watching it there on the couch with my mother was special. It gave me a chance to reflect on the often-unsung hero of the film: George’s wife, Mary Bailey, played so superbly by Donna Reed. While Clarence the angel gets plenty of credit for helping George see what the world would be like without him, some have argued that it’s Mary who quietly — and consistently — saves the day. I would agree.
Mary is the one who sacrifices their honeymoon savings to rescue the Building & Loan. She’s the one who transforms a run-down house into a warm, loving home. When George feels defeated by his unfulfilled dreams, she’s the one who reminds him of the importance of family and community. And when George reaches his darkest moment, it’s Mary who rallies the community to help him.
The movie’s central theme is the interconnectedness of our lives — how one life influences many others. While George’s journey is at the heart of the story, it’s Mary who, in many ways, embodies the spirit of this message. Her love and support provide George the foundation for his happiness and ultimate redemption.
This Christmas, I’ll be sure to watch the film (again) with my own Mary Bailey: my wife, whose love and influence have made my life all the more wonderful. Here’s to all the Mary Baileys out there. Merry Christmas.
PETER A. FITZGERALD
EDITOR
DROUGHT WATCH
Pennsylvanians asked to voluntarily conserve water
Dry conditions have persisted across Pennsylvania, prompting the Pennsylvania Drought Task Force to announce that 33 counties are under a drought watch.
Residents and businesses in these areas are encouraged to voluntarily reduce nonessential water use by 5% to 10%. Public water suppliers may request additional water conservation measures to ensure drinking water is available.
Counties under the drought watch are Adams, Allegheny, Beaver, Bucks, Butler, Carbon, Chester, Clearfield, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Indiana, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland and York.
Berks and Schuylkill counties are under a drought warning, which asks residents to voluntarily reduce their water use by 10% to 15%.
If conditions become more severe, a drought emergency can be declared by the governor, and emergency water restrictions can be implemented.
THE AWARD GOES TO ...
Penn Lines wins three 'Willies' for writing
Penn Lines recently received three writing awards at the 2024 National Electric Cooperatives Statewide Editors Association (SEA) Willies Awards.
The magazine won a first-place honor for “Coming Home: Co-op Lineman Gets Back to Work after Near-Death Experience” in the category of “Best News Feature.” The article, published in the magazine’s May 2024 issue, shared the story of Branden Bauer, a lineman for DuBois-based United Electric Cooperative who survived contact with a 7,200-volt electric line.
Penn Lines also received an Award of Excellence in the “Best Column” category for “The Quality of Courage,” an Editor’s Desk column that appeared in July 2023. The column also touched on Bauer’s road to recovery after his life-threatening accident in January 2021.
In the “Best Editorial” category, the magazine won an Award of Merit for “Striking the Right Balance: Ensuring Reliability for the 21st Century,” a First Word column that appeared in June 2023. The op-ed highlighted concerns about the impact of energy policy on grid reliability.
The Willies Awards — named in honor of electric cooperative mascot Willie Wiredhand — were announced this fall. The annual competition draws more than 300 entries from cooperative publications nationwide.
ALL BUTTERED UP
This is knot your ordinary perfume
Looking for a unique Christmas gift for the soft pretzel lover in your life? Auntie Anne’s pretzels, headquartered in Lancaster, has created a perfume that smells like its snack.
The fragrance, called Knead, is being sold at auntieannes.com/knead for $25 per 1-ounce bottle or $45 for a 3.4-ounce bottle. The company says the scent is infused with notes of buttery dough, salt and a hint of sweetness.
“Over the years, fans have shared their memories and experiences that began with just a whiff of our pretzels,” Julie Younglove-Webb, Auntie Anne’s chief brand officer, said in a news release. “We’ve bottled that moment and can’t wait for fans to enjoy it in a whole new way.”
NATURE NEWS
Hundreds of acres of older-growth trees near Lake Erie protected
Erie Bluffs State Park, the largest undeveloped stretch of land overlooking Lake Erie, has been added to the Old Growth Forest Network (OGFN), an organization dedicated to creating a national network of protected forests.
The woodlands within the park include approximately 430 acres of older-growth trees — mainly oaks and sugar maples — along the Lake Erie shoreline and the Duck Run ravine in Erie County. It is the 33rd Pennsylvania forest to join the OGFN, which is working to identify at least one forest in each U.S. county that can sustain a forest.
The 587-acre park offers a mile of lake shoreline, 90-foot bluffs, trails and fishing at Elk Creek. To learn more about the park visit dcnr.pa.gov and choose “State Parks” then “Find a Park.”
TIME LINES — December 2014
A decade ago, as Penn Lines was celebrating the role Pennsylvania has played on the big screen. The Commonwealth has provided the backdrop for several iconic American films, including “Rocky,” “Flashdance” and “The Night of the Living Dead.” It was also home of one of Hollywood’s most famous stars, Jimmy Stewart, who hailed from Indiana, Pa., where REA Energy Cooperative is headquartered. While Pennsylvania’s beautiful and varied scenery has been a draw for film crews, a tax incentive, which gives a 25% tax credit to productions that spend 60% of their budget in the state, has helped, too.
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