)78 rs O- )1 n- he 1d )1 April 26, 1978 by Mr. Martin What goes Spick-Spack- Spitter-Spee-Spack and is controversial? The Purple Martin. When these birds return from their usual winter grounds in Brazil’s steam- ing jungles, they find that a whole new world has opened up for them in Pennsylvania—and in fact, the entire country. The purple martin, on its broad knife-like wings, has soared to unprecedented heights in national popular- ity. The martin is the first wild species to be culti- vated with the same inten- sity with which modern farmers cultivate domestic animals, operating on the assumption that there is good and bad housing for birds and varying degrees of quality in every other aspect of birds’ care. The purple martin, which has swooped into a pivotal position in the ever -growing pesticide debate in America, is ideally suited for its new job. As far back as the story of man in America is known—either in legend or recorded history—the mar- tin has been a friend of man. The Indians lured it to their villages with hollow gourds hung near their teepees for nesting cavi- ties. More recent settlers have used crude wooden houses to induce martins to nest near their homes. These birds have been treasured because of their voracious appetites for flying insects and their ability to drive hawks and The Pur pl e Martin ms Part one of a two-part series crows away from barn- yards. Purple martins, the larg- est members of the swal- low family, are migratory birds that spend each spring and summer nesting throughout most of the United States and southern Canada. They live exclu- sively on flying insects and like to inhabit man-made houses. Because of their amazing capacity to consume mos- quitoes, flies, and other flying insects, martins make any neighborhood they colonize more pleas- ant. They have proved their effectiveness in natural insect control in a variety of locations—patios, parks, farms, orchards, resorts, city streets, lawns, and gardens. The cases on file sup- porting the martin as a bug-killer are voluminous. They are skillful, grace- ful flyers and their aerial antics furnish hours of entertainment for martin enthusiasts. They are clean birds, being one the species that practice the peculiar trait of carrying waste sacs far from their nests before dis- posing of them. The male and female are similar in appearance until the second year, when the male takes on a beautiful, shiny blue-black coloring. His average weight is about four ounces. The female is somewhat smal- ler, has a duller and less uniform color with pale gray breast and abdomen. Next week: the martin’s timetable and enemies. An explanation of the constitutional amendment you Two state constitutional amendments will be sub- mitted to voters during the May 16 Primary. One-is a straightforward question: should the state Attorney General be elected? The other one is more obscure. The question that will confront you in the ballot booth is, ‘‘Shall Article V of the Pennsylvania Consti- tution be amended to pro- vide that persons appointed to fill vacancies in the office of justice, judge, or justice of the peace shall serve for a term ending on the first Monday of Janu- ary following the next mun- icipal election more than ten months after the vacancy occurs or for the remainder of the unexpired will vote on soon term, whichever is less?”’ What this means, accord- ing to the bill’s sponsor, R. Budd Dwyer, is this: a ‘“yes’’ vote is a vote for ending the term of judges or justices (who were appointed to fill a vacancy) at the ends of the terms of the people replaced. Those appointed due to vacancies would then have to be elected to stay in their offices. In short, a ‘‘yes’’ vote is a vote for election of judges and against appointment, in a very special case. Dwyer says he sponsored the amendment because of the legal confusion and resulting trials over the question which have hap- pened several times. SUSQUEHANNA TIMES — Page 11 | B.B. BILLMEYER, Jewelry ‘“Since 1915’ MARIETTA, PA. MEL & GERRY HEISTAND, PROPS: i i { LE Key & Lock Shep 136 West Market Street Marietta 426-2510 SHOP HOURS: Mon., Tue., Thu. & Fri. 1—6 : Sat. 10—6 Wed. & Sun.—CLOSED The birdhouse of ‘‘Mr. Martin’ WW THON 88 j ISE 1g cy oan¥i3 5% o Bd . joi yi WR walt, CHECKING ACCOUNTS We offer you a way to place your money in a safe spot, keep track of income and expenses, have a written record of pay- ments, and save a lot of walking at bill-paying time. A Personal Checking Account gives you all of these advan- tages, and more. For instance, bring your checkbook with you when you go shopping, or when you're on vacation. Most people will accept your check when you present basic identification. And, you will be assured an exact record of your expenditures. Check into our Personal Checking Account. It will make end- of-the-month budgeting that much easier. THE "HOMETOWN BANK" UNION NATIONAL MOUNT JOY BANK MOUNT JOY, PA. 17552 WE HAVE PLANS FOR YOU. CREE IEB ALR AVG IS RRC KARP FPF SS B, By Lg ol oft BBB Bol Rin wae
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers