Friday, October 5, 2007
North East family tells it through the grapevine
By Christopher LaFuria
c,15(R)5(,, pstEedu
It's a hard job. It's a challenging job. But it's a
family job. Everyone at the tandem of Arrowhead
Winery and Mohilia's Fruit Farm has some sort of
connection. he it blood or friendship. This year,
approaching the fall harvest, business is starting to
accelerate as the tractors roam the fields and own
ers Nick and Cathy Mobilia get set for another busy
season.
"Around this time, we can never be too pre
pared,'• said Cathy Mobilia. "But we're doing the
hest we can to get ready."
The winery and farm has been in the Mobilia
since the early 19205. In the fall months of
September through November, every hand at the
farm is in some way involved in the harvest. It
takes crews of live people and countless other peo
ple to prepare the 250-acre farm for the upcoming
business boom.
Arrowhead Winery' and Mobilia Fruit Farm is
located Just west of the Pennsylvania/New York
border. just south of Lake Erie. Here, the family
and the farm employees harvest seemingly infinite
rows of grapes. trees of cherries and peaches, and
many other fruits to be processed for juices, wines,
and other fruit-related products. With over 10 dif
ferent types of grapes, including Concord and
Niagara. the Mobilias are one of the leading sellers
to local nationally-renowned distributors such as
Welch's and the privately-labeled Cliffstar
Corporal ion.
"We hay e a lot of our products in our own store.
but a lot of it is sent to local manufacturers and busi
nesses." said Cathy.
With the many acres to be farmed and the number
of fruits to be picked, the Mobilias remain busy the
entire season. With the amount of work that needs
to he done, the Farm gives new meaning to the
phrase "family business." Each member, from the
parents down to the children and children's friends
are involved in being farming and picking. No hand
is turned away during the endless harvest.
Especially with the 26th Annual North East Wine
Festival, a weekend dedicated to the celebration of
the area's staple. business is extraordinarily busy.
One of the family members who has been a helper
since infancy is Nick and Cathy's daughter Jennifer.
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Turning 21:
By Lea Yadeski
contributing writer
lucl psu.edu
Gordon Walker sinks into his
chair as his eyes slowly begin to
close. The sound of the music
beating in his chest causes him is
to reopen them for a few seconds.
He barely touches the glass to his
lips as the contents of it slide
down his throat with ease. He
slams the glass down on the
counter and takes out a red mark
er as he marks another dash on
his arm. He's keeping track of the
shots he takes tonight as his
friends cheer him on. Happy 21st
birthday.
Gordon Walker isn't alone
Every year, more adolescents
move from the days of fake IDs
to the nights of legal drinking.
The celebrations on this day can
be dangerous and deadly. As the
clock ticks, those who just reach
the magical age of 21 consume as
much alcohol as their bodies can
tolerate. Alcohol poisoning is far
from their minds as they strive to
black out and hear the stories
Behrend student continued
see the kind of difference the United Way has had in
our own community. Since her 8-year old daughter
suffered a cerebral hemorrhage at one week of age,
Jane Brady, Assistant Director of Admissions and
staff representative for Behrend's United Way cam
paign, has been able to look to United Way for sup
port. United Way makes contributions to the
Achievement Center, which provides therapeutic
services to children with mental conditions and dis
abilities. Personally, Brady has been able to receive
speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical
therapy for her daughter through this local resource,
Concord grapes. such as these, are the pride
With a fulltime job and a life outside the quaint, pic
turesque town of North East, Jennifer still finds
time to make work easier for the Mobilias. "It is
really hard to prepare for all of the work, - she said.
"Once it is all underway, it goes a lot smoother and
ends up being a lot of fun... Until cleanup."
The three of Nick and Cathy's children all lend a
hand during this difficult but enjoyable season.
Nikki. Jennifer and Adrian have been around the
cellar and farm since they were just children. While
it May seem like a luxury to have parents as bosses.
Jennifer says that sometimes it is actually more dif
ficult. "It's fun having your parents as bosses, but
sometimes it's rough," she said. "Parents will talk
to you the way bosses wouldn't. But on the other
hand, it's good because we can easily make arrange
ments if \ve have doctor's appointments."
Cleanup is the finish line for the Mobilia cleanup.
But the work that precedes cleanup is what the fam-
ily lives for. While many people take for granted
the joy of sipping grape juice with breakfast or
enjoying a red wine with their f pasta, the Mohilias
Dangerous and Deadly
from their friends the next day.
Many see a hero in the one who
makes it to 21 shots.
According to the National
Institute of Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism, alcohol poisoning is
the cause of 317 deaths per year
and a contributing factor in more
than 1,000 deaths. Still, the threat
of alcohol poisoning and even
death doesn't stop many 21-year
olds from going to the extreme.
Parents sit at home worried and
hopeful that their child will make
it home safely. "r ve been worry
ing about this night all year,"
Walkers mom explains. "I'm not
sure kids will ever change their
ways on their 21st birthdays. No
matter how much you try to scare
them with stories or facts, they're
going to do what they want to do
until something happens to
them," she continues.
Colleges across the country
have tried different techniques to
get through to their students. One
college sends out an electronic
birthday greeting that includes
information on alcohol poisoning
along with occasional recreational activities.
"Just having those resources available in a time of
need [is important.]" explains Brady. "[So is] hav
ing somebody to turn to in a situation that is fright
ening or sad, something you've never experienced
before." Brady feels that with this treatment her
daughter is continuing to reach her fullest potential.
She explains that when a person gives to United
Way through Behrend, it doesn't feel like writing a
check just to watch it disappear. It all goes right
back into the local community, to support our
neighbors and friends.
N E \/\/
and reminds the student to stay
safe on the big night, while other
schools stick to programs and
classes around campus geared
toward alcohol awareness. The
problem with these programs is
the lack of interest by the student
body. When asked if he would
ever attend a program about alco
hol awareness, Walker chuckles
and responds "hell no."
Many parents will stay awake
until the wee hours of their
child's 21st birthday rocking
nervously in their seat with a
tight grip on their pillow and an
ear that hears every creak in the
floor boards and every gust of the
wind, hopeful their child will
walk through the door in one
piece. As for Gordon Walker, he
didn't quite make it to 21 shots as
he hoped. Gordon admits with
disappointment, "I was trying for
21. but I only got to 16."
of local communit‘ North kaq
know the routine fin production of ~ uch e\ eryday
11l \IMO.,
Before the juice an i\ es at the glass. it goes
through Man pI'OCC,St.", to ensure the qualit and
safety of the fruit. It starts with the planting and
harvesting. (her the Mohilia's 2.50 acres of land
lies hundred of rows of grape \ aids and fruit
trees from with the fruits are picked.
''A ciev, of five people. the harvester, a driver,
two tractor workers- a loader and unloader- and a
bin attendant all are part of the harvest, - Cathy said.
"It takes a lot of people to get the joh done.'.
One of the most well-known farm utilities in
town is also the hidi school team's namesake. The
- grapepicker - is more than Just a tractor to the
town. It does sere the farm well hv eliminating the
redundancy and strenuousness 01 the harvest. But
the image of the grapepicker is what makes the
Alter the twits are harvested.
town unique
they endure man stages of production from clean
ing to peeling to hottling or canning to the selling.
viciwd.„:it,. is taken by tractor to
0 Little Caesars•
BEHREND STUDENT APPRECIATION DAY
STUDENT MUST SHOW THEIR I.D.
cj
C
North Lip,t i. lantow, fot
EVERY TUESDAY
The Behrend Beacon I
their v inches
Vineyards, Mazza Vineyards, Presque
Isle Wine Cellars and Heritage Wine Cellars, all
located in the town of North East. The festival,
hich is held at Gravel Pit Park and Gibson Park, is
only one of the steps in the grand scheme of the
weekend. While the winery has employees working
the tasting booth at the festival, many others remain
at the winery to handle the countless customers who
visit in search of the area's finest.
With all of the work that is involved, the Mobilias
still appreciate the family aspect of the job. While
the job is challenging, it does produce more than
just fruit juices and wines. It produces the memo
ries and family togetherness that many families are
deprived of. "We can all work together. We aren't
just working for someone else," Jennifer said. "It
gives us the opportunity to explore new ideas when
we wouldn't have the chance otherwise."
$3.99
farm's factory where it is processed and
a destination is selected. After the fruits
go through the cleaning and testing
process, they are then sent to the busi
nesses, who will use the fruits to sell to
their consumers.
One of the main focuses around
this time of year for the Mobilias is the
Wine Festival. During the Festival,
which lasted from Friday Sept. 28
through Sept. 30, the Mobilias are part
of a celebration that includes wine tast
ing, crafts, cruise-ins, and live music.
But do not forget about the most enjoy
able spectacle unique to the area- the
annual grape-stomping. Here, members
of the community, including the year's
"Grape Queen, - take part in an ancient
ritual of stomping the grapes to produce
the wine. While many watch in enjoy
ment. many people keep in mind that
this practice was the original method of
turning fruit into juice.
Arrowhead Wine Cellars is one of
the award-winning wineries that are
showcased during the festival. Many
more local wineries and cellars are
showcased, such as Penn Shore