PSoTD

I realize that I spend quite a bit of blogging hammering on the news media for coverage or lack of coverage. I lose sight of the fact that this is a unique time in history, where it has become so easy for an average citizen such as myself to critique and comment on the efforts of large and small news organizations and directly reference their content.

It's not just a miracle of the Internet. It's also a great opening of the news industry, and for that I express my thanks.

And because of that, I want to thank the following Pennsylvania news publications that provide online access to at least some of their news content. It is a great gift you are providing our society, and I believe it should be rewarded. Here's hoping that 2006 provides such rewards.

If you watch Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) and want to contribute to stories and discussion about their programming and development, please visit PCNBlog and email me at losyannigans@yahoo.com about being part of the blog. We're looking to start up in early January, and the more the merrier!

Funny. You hardly hear anything about the battle of multinational corporate interests against smalltown traditions - even commercial traditions - during Christmas. And yet, here's another victim.

America's First Christmas Store to close after 70 years

You can't shut down Christmas.

But from the emotional reaction to Greg and Dee Buchanan's plan to close America's First Christmas Store - a name its owners say isn't just a boast - you'd think Santa's sleigh was grounded for the season.

"I hate it," customer Jeannette Crandall said of the impending closure. "The Christmas Store is Smethport. People come from all over just to visit it."

"But, then, I guess everything changes."

For 70 years, the Christmas Store has delighted children and adults with fanciful displays of dozens of decorated artificial Christmas trees and miniature Dickens villages.

Its fabulously cluttered and meandering four rooms sparkle with thousands of ornaments and gifts from around the world, including Italian nativity sets, handmade Santas from American craftsmen, and German nutcrackers.

After owning the store for seven years, Dee Buchanan said she and her husband want to spend more time with their 12-year-old son and plan to close for good Jan. 21.

"It's very difficult. I've really loved this," she said. "One of the best parts of (the announcement) has been all the kind words we've had from people. Many of them are really upset. This was more than just a business to them."

Smalltown sole-proprietor Christmas shops surviving in the age of Walmart and the Internet? Hard to do.

Seriously. I'm sure a lot of people in Pennsylvania have been looking at their web site this weekend. Why? You can't tell from PAWC's site, but since early Saturday morning, there's been a possible fluoride leak in the water, and residents are not supposed to be drinking water from PAWC...

Residents of Fairview and Newberry townships in northern York County, and several boroughs and townships in Cumberland County, should not use their water until further notice because of possibly elevated levels of fluoride in the water, according to the York County's Office of Emergency Management.

The Cumberland communities are the boroughs of Camp Hill, Lemoyne, New Cumberland, New Kingstown, Shiremanstown, Wormleysburg and West Fairview; and the townships of East Pennsboro, Enola, Hampden, Lower Allen, Upper Allen and Silver Spring.

The emergency management office issued the following advisories:

· Do not drink the water.

· Do not use water for cooking.

· Do not provide water to pets.

· It is OK to use water for washing dishes, bathing and flushing the toilet.

The emergency management office said the advisory is the result of an incident at Pennsylvania-American Water Company, which supplies water to the area.

The lack of news about this on PAWC's site is ridiculous and somewhat irresponsible. The web site is established to spread information. Failing to post about the fluoride does the exact opposite.

Update: As of midday on Sunday, news reports state that the fluoride problem has been resolved and normal water consumption is advised.

High School Football reigns champion on PCN this weekend.

PIAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

A - December 9 - 12:55 p.m.
A - Football Championship
Southern Columbia (Catawissa) vs. Duquesne
Replays - December 9 at 3:40 p.m. (est.), December 10 at 1:00 a.m., December 12 at 12:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.

AAA - December 9 - 6:55 p.m.
AAA - Football Championship
Pottsville vs. Franklin Regional (Murrysville)
Replays - December 9 at 10:00 p.m., December 11 at 6:00 p.m., December 12 at 3:00 p.m.

AA - December 10 - 1:00 p.m.
AA - Football Championship
Wilson Area (Easton) vs. South Park
Replays - December 10 at 4:00 p.m., December 11 at 2:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., December 12 at 12:00 p.m.

AAAA - December 10 - 7:00 p.m.
AAAA - Football Championship
Liberty (Bethlehem) vs. McKeesport
Replays - December 10 at 11:30 p.m., December 11 at 3:00 p.m., December 12 at 9:30 p.m.

If you have any comments on PCN's coverage, feel free to drop them here.