Valentine’s Day
The second month gives us a day
When all the shops and stores display
An article which we will find
Especially for us designed.
I play the faithful lover's part
And send my love a candied heart,
Gift-wrapped in paper colored blue—
The color which we say is true.
Although ’tis purely sentimental
And the nexus accidental,
The use, it seems, though apt and quaint,
Has naught to do with any saint.
A curious thought which— false or true—
Depends upon one’s point of view;
So take the pill and swallow it,
Or spit it out, as you see fit.
But as for me, I house a doubt
Of something we should think about:
Though I send her a valentine,
How do I know that she is mine?
Chester Wittell
from “‘Garnered from the Garden Spot.’
Poetry contest
Winner will get a prize!
And, Mr. Wittell comments
We recently received a
letter from Chester Wittell,
the Mount Joy man who
has sent the Susquehanna
Times so many poems. We
take the liberty of repro-
ducing portions of the
letter below.
Mr. Wittell refers in the
following passage to our
subhead over one of his
peems, which called him
‘The learned and prolific
bard of Mount Joy.”
“‘...you have been most
generous in accepting my
humble bits of poetry for
publication. 1 had no idea
that 1 am taken so seriously
as a poet, for poetry is only
a side-line, or hobby, to
which | turn for mental
relaxation when making
music manuscripts. As for
being ‘prolific,’ some proof
of guilt may be witnessed
by 20 cases of music
manuscripts, literary essays
and poetry, stored at the
Columbia Library, and 10
cases at the Lancaster
Historical Society; but as
for being ‘learned,’ 1 plead
not guilty. There are too
many things about which I
know nothing. I don’t know
how to build a bridge; how
to make a pair of shoes;
bake a loaf of bread, etc.,
in fact, 1 am (to quote
Browning) only a picker-up
of learning’s crumbs. How-
ever, it is rewarding to
hear someone say nice
things about us and I am
Remember Bill Haley
and the Comets? Their
famous song, ‘‘Rock
Around the Clock,’ will be
re-born this weekend when
the Trini-Teens of Trinity
Lutheran Church, Mount
Joy, sponsor the Rock
Around the Clock Rock-a-
thon. This is a benefit
sure that I have plenty of po
company there...”
We answer as people
whose business is words,
and hence to a small
degree learning: by our
standards, Mr. Wittell is
learned—he quotes Brown-
ing, doesn’t he?
We cannot speak for
other circles, but here at
the Times we take his
poetry seriously enough to
print, as readers may have
noticed. We like his poems,
and envy him his muse.
Certainly there are other
poets in the township from
whom we have not heard,
and whose work the public
has not had a chance to
read. Whether anyone can
top Mr. Wittell’s rhymes is
an open question now.
To satisfy our curiosity,
we have decided to award a
prize for the best poem on
the subject of Washing-
ton’s Birthday, which now
looms close on February’s
calendar. The winner will
be announced next week.
Poems take up much
room, so we must ask that
no more than eight lines
make up any entry. Send
your poem [one per person]
to Susquehanna Times
Washington’s Birthday
Grand Poetry Contest and
Exposition, Box 75A, RDI
Marietta 17547. Remem-
ber, poems must arrive
before the 20th, so mail
before the weekend.
February 15, 1978
Gymnastics
exhibition
Gym-Khana club will present
feats of daring at Seiler School
A message from the
Mt. Joy Rec. Assoc.:
The Mount Joy Recrea-
tion Association is proud to
present “The Gym-Khana
Club” of Seiler Elementary;
School for our program.
The ‘‘Gym-Khana Club”’
will present various gym-
nastic feats at the Seiler
Elementary School on Feb.
22nd, at 7:30 PM. Refresh-
ments will be served after
the program,
After the program the
MJRA will hold its monthly
meeting at the school.
Under old business the
float for the Memorial Day
Parade will be discussed.
Also, more information will
be given about the Donegal
Volleyball League.
After the meeting, elec-
tions of officers will be
held.
In the front row, left to right, are Jill Stettler, Heather Nonnenmacher, Mascot, Wm Zuch and Laurie Ruth.; 2nd
row, Linda Eby, Wendy Stohler, Sarah Bowers, Jill Wagner, Tammy Shelly, Annette Zimmerman, Kim Makginchak,
Tammi Lowe, and Linda Sherk; back row, Paula Maksinchak, Carole McManus, Carrie Yourglivch, Shari
Eshleman, Lisa Ruhl, Stacey Gingrich, Jodi Gray, and Colette Cornwell. Not present for the photo were Liz Edwards,
Crystal Kelly, Staci Stettler, Scott Houseal, Stephanie Maxwell, Tracy McCurdy, Jenny Crider, and Jim Buckley.
Rock around the clock
project whose proceeds will
go to World Hunger.
The Rock-a-thon pro-
mises to be a good time as
well as a worthy effort.
People of all ages will be
rocking, while others serve
in the kitchen or sit as
judges.
The Rock-a-thon will be
held in the Fellowship Hall
of the church. It starts on
Friday, Feb. 17th, at 7:00
PM, and will continue all
night and through Satur-
day.
Last year the dance
made more than $800. If
you are interested in parti-
cipating in any way, call
one of these people: Mr. or
Mrs. James Barrett, 653
-4444; Mrs. Evelyn Duke,
653-4844; Mr. or Mrs. Alan
Swanson, 653-2688; Mr. or
Mrs. Jay Bucher, 569-5207;
or pastor Klepper at
653-4168.
Everyone is welcome to
stop by and see the people
twist and shout the night
away.
Abominable Snowman??
Is your snowman abom-
inable? The YMCA is
sponsoring a snowman
contest. The prize is a free
youth membership at the
Lancaster Y.
To enter, send a glossy
photo of your snowman to
Rick Comegy, YMCA,
572 N. Queen, Lancaster.
Entries will be judged on
originality.
DID YOU HEAR?
Velma and Bob Lauver of
Maytown celebrated their
23rd anniversary on Febru-
ary 11th.
IUD
HOE