Have you negotiated the return to standard time yet? I am still somewhat befuddled, I confess. Is this Central time? Mountain time? Pacific time? Bill keeps claiming that he kind of wakes up and wonders why the train isn't moving. One assumes we'll get it together eventually but until then I could use a little sustained sunshine!

With the swift passage of November, we look at the calendar and see that the Lancaster County Community Foundation's annual ExtraGive day of charitable giving is next Friday already. Amazing! Marci and Amanda have crafted a cool slate of events for that day (with a little help from Intern Casey and Forester Joe one must add). The quickest way to get the overview (with links to the particulars) is to check out the listing on our events calendar. Make a donation, enjoy a hike, climb a fire tower, drink some hot chocolate and a milk shake (covering all the bases), and learn what's what in your favorite state parks and forests. The links are found below In Closing for your convenience.

As an added kick, Friday is also BIYP (Bring In Your Parents) Day as conceived by LinkedIn, encouraging the young adults among us to bring their parents to work and show them how grown-up and responsible you are. Well, we would like to put in a plug for BYPO - Bring Your Parents Outside. Or better yet, BYWFO - Bring Your Whole Family Outside!

The masthead photo this week is the autumnal equivalent of the ever popular "painted toenails at the beach" shot. My apologies to the photographer who submitted this to our 2018 photo contest in the Fun in the Outdoors category. As you know, the photos are uploaded anonymously and I can't get into our PPFF server to retrieve the name or location of the shot. So thank you, Anonymous Photographer!

Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator

News of note

The Friends of Pine Grove Furnace have very quickly pulled together a special recognition of the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day and the end of World War I scheduled for Sunday morning at 11:00 AM. More information can be found on our events calendar. I don't know that any other state park is doing this Bells of Peace event although Presque Isle State Park will be marking the 4th Veterans Appreciation Day on Sunday morning.

Many of our readers will have received or will be receiving shortly our annual appeal for financial support. Your response to this is sincerely appreciated - and we know that there are probably questions about how the tax legislation passed last year will impact your charitable contributions and their deductibility. PPFF Member and CPA Matthew Fox was kind enough to write a short article about the subject for our fall newsletter. The newsletter itself can be found on our website under About Us/Publications. Of course, you want to read the whole newsletter but for quick reference, here's a copy of Matthew's article.

We really try to use this weekly missive as a source of good, positive news but sometimes our goat gets got. As was the case twice in the past month. In mid October the Friends of Ohiopyle had to report that construction of the pavilion at the Sugarloaf sledding hill they'd been fundraising for had to halt because the large support beams that had just been installed had been stolen. Now comes the news that someone thought it would be a good (convenient) idea to dump a load of used tires into Swatara Creek.

The individuals responsible for these outrages are still actively being sought and will be prosecuted when identified. There is a modicum of good news, too, with respect to the FOO pavilion. Disgust within the outdoors community is such that several folks have stepped up with contributions to replace the posts. As FOO chair Andrea Funyak-Fedak wrote, "Friends of Ohiopyle wants to extend our gratitude to each of you who have reached out to us with support, suggestions and donations. Our post was never meant to generate funds, it was to spread the word about the theft. We are so grateful and humbled by the generosity, kindness and support we've received. From each of us at FOO, as well as the DCNR, thank you, a million times over!" Add PPFF's thank yous to that chorus!

At work and play in the parks and forests

We're in a quiet time right now in the parks and forests so while organized events may be sparse, you know those public lands are always open and waiting for you!

North

Veering slightly away from our usual weekend focus, Sizerville State Park will be hosting their first annual Family Science Night on Tuesday. Learn to make slime!

South

The Cameron Mansion at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center will be open on Sunday afternoon for guided tours. (And you could even hike over from Pine Grove Furnace after the Bells of Peace event.)

East

The Friends of Beltzville invite you to a Sunday afternoon Trinity Gorge Hike. 

West

Bring Your Own Bike to Point State Park on Saturday afternoon and go for a spin.

No matter what region of the commonwealth you want to visit, our website Events and the DCNR Calendar of Events are great sources for things to see and do. Bookmark them!

Picture of the week

As noted last week, fall colors were certainly a mixed bag this year, so this photo from PPFF member Gloria Benfer seems the perfect metaphor. She found it in Bald Eagle State Forest.

Take five for trivia

I promised trivia would make its return this week following the October hiatus and my muddled mind last week and here we are.

It's been quite a while since we played "where did the name come from/who were those guys?" So here's a photo of a 20th century worthy whose namesake park was created in part with a donation of his farm property upon his retirement as Secretary of the Department of Forests & Waters (a DCNR predecessor). Joe Ibberson, late of the Bureau of Forestry (and himself the man for whom our annual Joseph Ibberson Government Award is named), called this gentlemen "the best man I ever worked under. He was a genius at deciding what was good for the public and for getting it done quickly." And there's a pretty nice view from his farm! Who was he?

All correct answers each week go into the hiking boot for a random drawing at the end of the month for something from the PPFF Prize Closet - be it a bandana, a book, or some other special goodie. Send your answer to my email address and we'll take it from there. One entry per person per week!

Save the Date - Have Some Fun - Give A Bit Extra

Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization - contributions to which are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. The official registration and financial information of PPFF may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling, toll-free within Pennsylvania, to 800.732.0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation is a proud member of EarthShare and 1% for the Planet and is a Gold GuideStar Participant.