Sugar Grove – By Paula Mitchell
The 12th annual Sugar Grove Antique Tractor Parade was held Saturday. The reigning queen was Christene Bowers, and she looked radiant as she was driven in the parade by Judy Costello.
Christene grew up in Smith Creek, the youngest of 12 children (nine boys and three girls) to the late Robert and Ella Hartman. Her father was a farmer and logger in the woods.
She graduated from Franklin High School. More than 54 years ago, she was introduced by a cousin to her husband, Ronnie Bowers. They have made their home in Stony Run where they raised their three children, Elizabeth, Ronnie, and Crystal. This year the couple is celebrating their 54 years of marriage.
Christene has had a variety of work in the career world. She worked at the Hanover Shoe Factory, Pendleton Nursing Home, was a substitute at the county school system for many years and eventually turning that into a full-time job for seven years within the same system. Although she has retired, she remains on the substitute list. She and her husband, Ronnie, bought the Piggley-Wiggley Store and tended to that for several years.
Now that she is retired, there are many things to keep Christene occupied. She loves to read, especially mysteries and the Mennonite series. She very much enjoys cooking and baking. Gardening is pretty well on the top of her list. On Friday, she canned 28 quarts of sauerkraut. That is quite a feat. Christene loves to swim, and delights in feeding at least 15 hummingbirds twice a day. Where she lives at the end of Stony Run, near the National, she and Ronnie enjoy listening to the whip-poor-wills, especially in the evenings.
She hopes to see some West Virginia sights in the future. Learning to crotchet would also be something she would like to do. But most of all, she does her best to keep Ronnie, her husband, happy. Second to none is the family she has with her three children and grandchildren.
Christene was humbled to have been nominated the 2025 queen, and greatly appreciates filling that role. Congratulations, Christene!
Life’s little lessons include the following:
- Go play mini-golf.
- Clean out closets.
- Watch clouds float by.
- Feed the birds.
- Watch a sunset.
It is nice hay making weather with the weather cooperating very well. The Sturgeon moon is casting its golden glow around the world for all to enjoy. Photos are abounding. On Aug. 10, six planets aligned in the sky…Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, Neptune and Saturn.
This week’s quotes are as follows:
“Fireflies are stars that could not journey to the sky.” — Michael Bassey Johnson
“When you walk on the beach at night, you can say things you can’t say in real life.” — Jenny Han
“I can’t hear you, I have a banana in my ear!” — Ernie “Sesame Street”
“While seeking revenge, dig two graves… one for yourself.” — Douglas Horton
“Every morning is a fresh start. Wake up with a thankful heart.” — Kristen Butler
Sitting under a shade tree is a perfect place to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Many helping hands helped make the tractor parade and rescue squad lawn party a huge success. Volunteering contributes and helps to build a stronger community. Saturday evening’s event brought a “bumper crop” of folks returning to their “childhood roots” where many connections continued. Folk came from Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and the surrounding area to enjoy the event, which included food, games, and lively music.
Visitors in the home of Tom and Paula Mitchell, and Brandon and Cara Mitchell and family were Perry Weedon of Rockville, Maryland, Brooke and Cameron Weedon of New Market, Maryland, Brett, Lynn and Faith Weedon of Ijamsville, Maryland, Todd, Connor, and Grant Weedon of Frederick, Maryland, Rich Ziehl of Edgewater, Maryland, Janelle, Jace and Destiny Sroka of Charlotte, North Carolina, Jennifer, Tim, and Morgan Hoover of Bridgewater, Virginia, Doug, Kelly, Harper, Luke, and Will Marsh and Phillip, Jayme, Archer, and Oliver Smith.
This past Thursday, Evelyn Varner and Wanda Pitsenbarger visited Cleo Simmons.
On Sunday, Phil Downs visited K.D. Puffenbarger and Jim Puffenbarger.
A nice crowd attended the Pendleton County Historical Society’s summer presentation at the Jeff and Theresa Munn’s Annanias Pitsenbarger farm. Gerald Milnes shared his knowledge of the Appalachian Music and instruments.
Karla and Jim Moats, along with Montana, Tuesday and Cedar had a wonderful trip to Arizona where they celebrated Karla’s mom, Geraldine Koenig’s, 90th birthday.
Emma Puffenbarger spent the weekend camping with her grandparents, Robert and Nancy Hodges, at Brandywine Lake.
Bob and Marti Fisher of Romney were Saturday visitors at the home of Willard and Judy Rader. Bob, Marti, along with Willard and Judy, enjoyed the tractor parade and the rescue squad lawn party.
Clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- In 1892, John Froelich invented the first gasoline-powered tractor.
- The five most popular tractor brands are John Deere, New Holland, Case IH, Massey Ferguson, and Fendt.
- Tractors are good for removing snow.
- The word tractor comes from the Latin word “trahere.”
- The average tractor lifespan typically ranges from 4,000 to 5,500 hours.
More August birthdays include Lynn Nelson, 16th; Jeff Simmons and Josh Owens 17th; Sheldon Waggy and Rhonda Nash, 18th; Helen Troutman and Trace Lambert, 19th; Donna Brady, 20th; Logan McMillen, Jonathan Eye and C.C. Hoten, 22nd; Mike Jamison and Bob Puffenbarger, 23rd; Bret Reel, Anna Sevier Mitchell (95) and Kenny Simmons, 24th; Debbie Thompson, Greg Simmons, Pat Simmons, Jerry Snyder and Lois Jean Riggleman, 25th; Brenda Fisher and Isaiah Kobetic, 29th; Lucy Shumaker, Brad Kile and Diane McConnell, 30th; and Kathy Bowers and Kinsley Armstrong, 31st.
Concerns are as follows: Mike Adams, Charles Anderson, John Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Dave Basagic, Allen Beachler, Liz and Mick Bodkin, “Bo” Boggs, Larry Byers, Joyce Calhoun, Marie Cole, Stanley Dahmer, Kim Davis, Phil Downs, Jennifer Errett, Isaac Eye, Marie Eye, Mary Eye, Carl Gant, David Gillispie, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, Sharon Harr, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Hannah Hedrick, Jack and Starr Hedrick, Chuck and Tracy Hiett, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Tim Hively, Henry Hodges, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Keith Hoover, Delbert Olin Hoover, Debbie Horst, Bob and Cynthia Hurry, Mike and Lisa Jamison, Linda Jones, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, Tara Kelley, Ruth Kile, Tom and Kim Kline, Tracie Knight, Laura Kropp, Melissa Lambert, Robert Lambert, Rex Landis, Donna Mallow, Roger and Skip Mallow, Audree Marsh, Anna Mauzy, Ed May, Gene and Joan McConnell, Gary McDonald, Neil McLaughlin, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Tom Mitchell, Barbara Moats, Gloria Moats, Jim Moats, Helen Nash, Aaron Nelson, Dwight Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryle Paine, Terri Parker, Andy Pond, Wayne Price, Daniel and Debbie Propst, Janice Propst, Alda Propst, Marilyn Propst, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Virginia Propst, Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger, Tom Rader, Willard Rader, Brandon Reel, Jason Rexrode, Jimmy Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Bernie Sasscer, Annie Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Greg Simmons, Judy Simmons, Nelson Simmons, Tonya Simon, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, Bruce Smith, Ed and Carolyn Smith, Natalie Stephenson, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Sandra Vandevander, Amy Vaus, Estelle and Don Wagner, Mary Louise Waldschlager, Amby Waybright, Jr., Mike Waybright, Rene White, Sherry Wilfong, Judy Williams, Ann and Ed Wimer and victims of crime.
