Pennsylvania Books

Ken Hull has done a wonderful thing with this book. I can't rave about it enough. There are lots of travel guides out there, plenty of "Off the Beaten Path" and "Fodor's" and "See this area on a shoestring...", but this is the one you want for this great area, which is a diamond in the rough. In this case, though, the "rough" is just as beautiful as the "diamonds" it displays, and Ken understands this and celebrates it. His prose is relaxed, friendly, folksy, and fun to read, as he travels the small towns and back roads of Central Pennsylvania and shares his impressions of the cool places he's discovered. "Break the chain"!, support neighbors, bring back or sustain the places with character, and enjoy yourself this summer -- grab Ken's book, and explore what Central PA has to offer! While you're at it, check out the local indie bookstores and art galleries, too.

Going Local


"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza."
Dave Barry

I was born naked, wet and hungry. The situation, thankfully, has improved, but I've never lost my appetite for good food. I was born lucky, because I've always found some of the best food and cooking right here in Tioga County. I love the black diamond steak at the Steak House, the French fries at the Hornet's Nest, and the mix and match six-packs you can get at Your Mama's Mug. Yep, if you want to know the best places to eat local and drink local, you ask a local. One man that has applied this wisdom to his travels is Ken Hull, author of Going Local: An Adventurer's Guide to Unique Eats, Cool Pubs & Cozy Cafés of Central Pennsylvania.

Ken Hull is a self-taught artist who resides in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania. When he's not creating and painting, he likes to spend his time riding the byways and back roads of central Pennsylvania on his Harley, scouting out cool places to eat and drink. Hey, why settle for boring, cookie-cutter chain restaurants when you can eat well and eat local?

Going Local is more than a guidebook. Its part journal, travelloge, and memoir. It's about Ken's experiences as he's traveled through Central Pennsylvania, and the places he's discovered and the folks he's met along the way. He starts with the 200 year old tavern in Boalsburg and goes on to include eateries like Webster's Bookstore & Café in State College, Restless Oaks in Mcelhattan, the Bullfrog Brewery in Williamsport, as well as Wellsboro's very own Wellsboro Diner. He focuses on unique places, mostly the smaller places--places with a history, a sense of self, real personality. Ken says, "My general rule is not to include any chains, `big-time' operations or really upscale restaurants, unless they possess some uniqueness, creativity, or oddities..."

Since the book is somewhat of a guidebook, Ken starts off each listing with a section called Just a Taste. Here you will find the name of the establishment, the address, contact information and other basics like price ranges, cuisine specialties, and local attractions so you can plan ahead. The book also includes a detachable map that allows you to navigate your way around and find the places he's visited and listed. Find a place you would like to visit, unfold the map, and have fun.

Ken's intention with this book is to inspire and encourage you to break away from the ordinary. Free yourself of the monotony of chains and fast food restaurants, and experience the enjoyment of independently owned eating and drinking establishments that we have in central Pennsylvania. The book is not a definitive work. There's more to discover along the wonderful roads, sweet byways, and little towns and villages. You can even find some of your own. Just use your map, ask the locals. And hit the road to discover what's around the next curve. Take the time to slow down this summer and share these experiences with family and friends, or maybe even a stranger. Have your own adventures, and maybe write your own stories as well...

Be sure to check out Ken's website for all his events. Amazon won't let me put the link up, but just google Ken Hull, or Going Local, and you should find it. This is a great book for any who loves to eat in Pennsylvania, or who will be traveling there.

Since I spent my early years in that geographic region of the country, I can understand the local lore and people descriptions. The author is right on target with both. I liked the development of the characters and local activities. The plot was well laid out and there was enough mystery and suspense to keep me turning the pages. I am ready for the sequel!

Grave Creek Connections is completely captivating and I'm only on page 102. Mr. Morris' intimate knowledge of the area and it's people put me right in the hills among his characters.

A excellent book for anyone interested in history of
Eastern, Pa.
Charles J. Adams 111 books are always well written.

I was born and raised in Abington, PA, I found this book in the local library and have since purchased it. Using actual reports from newpapers along with their rather gruesome sketches, the book is a tomb of true horror stories. For someone interested in the expansive railraod history which resides in southeastern Pennsylavina this book gives the other side of the story. One final comment, to anyone whom is willing, the sites listed in the stories are not hard to find, and are indeed frightening to image what occured so many years ago.

this is the 4th 5th, and 6th books in the Badge of Honor series. It tells the story of a big city (Philadelphia) police force, and the lives of the men involved. I live in Philadelphia, and it is really great to be able to recognize the places, and sometimes the thinly veiled caricatures of some of the city's past politicians. It's a great read, intriguing, yet a very fast and easy story. Be sure to start with the previous 3 books and read in order....you won't be disappointed.

W. E. B. Griffin (William Butterworth) is one of the true masters at creating realistic characters, with all the strengths and weaknesses, and spinning great stories around them. These three novels are books 4-6 of his Philadelphia Police series featuring Matt Payne, Peter Wohl, Jason Washington, and a recurring cast of supporting players.

Very well done. A pefect "coffee table" book. I am extremely proud of John & Marjorie Hummel (my parents), Mike Adams, & Bradley Isle for their work they did on this book. Finnally part of their extensive collection of postcards is now avaliable to be shared with everyone. Although, I may be bias through my relationship with 2 of the authors, - This book has been received with enthusiasm by everyone I have shown and they purchased a copy. This is a must have book.

If you want to know more about Grove City, Pa. and it's history, look no further. This book has wonderful pictures and great facts that I didn't know about and was excited to learn! Personally knowing the authors John and Marge Hummel (Nanny and Pop), you will not have more information. Through this book, they explain the goings on of GC. The tough times and the great times. Take your time to enjoy this book. Then, take your time to enjoy it again and again! Thank you to the editors for taking the time to write this book and publish it.

This review by Ron Pittaway was published in OFO News 22(3):2 October 2004, newsletter of the Ontario Field Ornithologists.

Guide to Hawk Watching in North America. 2003. Second Edition. Donald S. Heintzelman. The Globe Pequot Press, Guilford, Connecticut. ISBN 0-7627-2670-9. Softcover, 425 pages. US$16.95.

This guide gives descriptions and directions to 460 spring and fall hawkwatching sites in North America. It rates them as poor, fair, good, excellent. Fourteen sites are described for Ontario. Amherst Island is listed under other viewing areas. The Fisherville area for winter viewing should be listed in the next edition. Bald Eagle watching etiquette and viewing areas are described.

Every North American diurnal raptor is described under these heading: field recognition, wingspread, length, flight style, voice, nest and eggs, longevity, food, habitat, and range in North America.

Included is information on watching hawks such as judging size and shape, flight style and behaviour, distance from observer and viewing angle, light conditions, habitat, field equipment, owl decoys, etc. The chapter on migration seasons has excellent visual bar graphs showing the spring and fall migration periods for eastern North America and a fall bar graph for western North America. The chapter on mechanics of hawk flights discusses weather conditions, deflective updrafts, lee waves, thermals, thermal streets, squall lines, and leading-lines.

I highly recommend this informative and useful book. It is the hawkwatcher's companion.

Reprinted from my review in Wildlife Activist, Number 49.
Guide to Hawk Watching in North America by Donald S. Heintzelman. 2004. Paper. Globe Pequot Press, Guilford, CT. $16.95.
In 1979, Don Heintzelman published his first edition of A Guide to Hawk Watching in North America. This pioneering guide (based on his previous guides to eastern hawk watching) provided the hawkwatcher with the two major essentials of hawk watching: information on raptor identification, especially migrating (i.e. flying) raptors, and places and times to observe migrating hawks. A quarter century has passed, hawk watching has become one of the most popular branches of birding, and much has been learned about hawk migration and identification, leading to the need for this 2004 FalconGuide edition. Little is changed in the format from the first edition except that the section of raptor photo plates of the 1979 guide has been deleted. (This makes sense in light of the fact that several excellent raptor ID guides now exist and are referenced here, while none existed in 1979.) Although the format is unchanged, the text has been updated, especially with respect to raptor watch sites, with the number of sites nearly doubled (to 460) in the current guide. Each site account includes a description of the site, how to find it, and a rating for spring and autumn flights based on a unique rating system developed by the author. In addition to raptor migration sites, there are also sections of Bald Eagle observation sites and of other raptor viewing sites. The species accounts include wingspan and length, field recognition, flight style, voice, nest, eggs, longevity (this is new and quite interesting), food, habits, and range in North America.
For the novice hawk watcher, here is all you need to get started or improve your skill. For the veteran, the guide is a good refresher on hawk migration and gives you an endless supply of sites to visit in North America. So whether you are a relative newcomer or a seasoned veteran with a dog-eared copy of the 1979 book, it is well worth the affordable price to invest in this FalconGuide edition of Guide to Hawk Watching in North America. DRK

This book certainly comes in handy to anyone desiring to explore Lancaster county's Amish Country. It was full of useful facts and information needed to fully enjoy this beautuful and simple lifestyle and country. I highly recommend it to all readers.

Very detailed. Other PA guide books are too general and only have one chapter on PA Dutch. This is a whole book dedicated to just the PA Amish Country. My favorite part was the self-guided tour of the Amish farmland (complete with approx. miles, etc.) and the covered bridges! It includes places to eat and stay (including B&Bs). It's a great guide that covers all the bases. I've been visiting Pennsylvania Dutch Country since I was little and this book really gave me the information I needed to get the most out of a recent long weekend there.

An excellent field manual that elaborates on all the mammals of Pennsylvania from the common Eastern Cottontail to the elusive Martin and Fisher. Information includes animal description and photo, reproduction, interesting facts, adaptations, food, habitat, prey, predators, biology, reasons why the mammal is endangered or threatened, and behavior. Each description is in easy to understand language except for certain biological vocabulary. This is a must-have for hunters, Boy Scouts, students, environmentalists, and any interested resident of Pennsylvania. It is especially helpful to teachers of students of wildlife including those training Envirothon students.

Merrit's Guide is a very usuful book for those interested in mammals within the state of Pennsylvania. This book is easy to follow. The descriptions are straight foward and easy to understand. The diagrams and pictures are also very useful. I highly recommend this book.

It is Buber, who more than any other writer or thinker,made the works of Hasidism first known to the Western world. He found in their lives of devoutedness to God, in their holy simplicity a message for Modern Man.
In this work Buber outlines the principles of Hasidism, and provides us a picture of a whole way, not simply of seeing holiness, but of living in Holiness in the world.

Martin Buber recounts tales and parables of previous generations of central European hasidic Jewry to illuminate a life philosophy with appeal for today and tomorrow's interested generations.He communicates his vast love and respect for what he sees as a treasure trove of wisdom and insight into the human condition as found in hasidic lore.This book is very readable and speaks more directly to the reader without the dense philosophical phraseology which makes other of his books difficult to get into .I have heard criticism that one is actually hearing Martin Buber's humanistic philosophy of life with reference to his interpretation of hasidic folk culture.Be that as it may there is a universal self help appeal to this book.Martin Buber communicates the idea of humankind as consisting of free thinking individuals who can shape destiny,"every man's foremost task is the actualization of his unique ,unprecedented and never recurring potentialities,and not the repetition of something another,and be it even the greatest,has already achieved"This is a book that might change the reader's life.

The Petersheims model family and church togetherness. Nancy and Omar have lively times with Sally and Andrew Fisher. Hemlock Hill Hideaway is engaging, entertaining, lively reading.

After waiting a couple of years to see what was going to happen to Nancy and her family, I was pleasantly suprised to find another book in the Whispering Brook Farm series. The book is relaxing and I really enjoyed reading it. As a librarian, I don't always find time to read, but these books I do! Please take time to read a well written book about the Amish that isn't a joke.