"It is the east, and Joliett is the sun"

Looking for a romantic getaway that is not too far away? Why not Joliett, located in Porter Township? Most of you probably are unaware that this romantic rural community was named after the better half of those two famous ill-fated Shakespearian lovers featured in a recent Leonardo DiCaprio movie. I am talking about Romeo and Joliett and the village named after the latter is easy to get to. Just hop on your all terrain vehicle and head west when you leave Tremont.
Much of the film’s tragic love story takes place in the west end of Schuylkill County. The story centers on a feud between rival factions of one warring family. I think the feud has something to do with a Rumpf Match that went haywire. During this Rumpf Match, Romeo falls in love with Joliett, a fifteen year old second cousin which enrages the bartender, Escalus, who wants to hook-up with Joliett also.
What happens next is anyone’s guess, as the film is in authentic Pennsylvania Dutch and those English sub-titles move too fast for my nearsightedness, especially when multi-tasking with my buttered popcorn. In the end the tragic couple heads over to Hegins where Joliett is struck down by stray bullet by a participant in the annual shoot who mistakes her for a pigeon when her feet turn inward as she walks towards the funnel cake stand. Romeo then hooks up with Lady Capulet, the manager of the funnel cake stand, who had come to Joliett’s assistance. Romeo and Capulet live together happily for a few weeks, surviving on the profits from the funnel cake stand, her child support payments as well as Romeo’s black lung check. Meanwhile, the grief-stricken townspeople name a village after the fallen heroine.
So much for the story of Joliett.
I highly recommend a Valentine Weekend visit with your significant other to this quaint village. It will certainly get your heart pumping. Yes, you can stroll hand in hand at the edge of a scenic coal bank or illegal dumping site, or sip Porter Ale at the nearby Pick ‘n Shovel bistro, or take off your overalls and boots to soak in an ash tub layered with rose petals in one of the several bed and breakfasts.
Joliett and romance have been synonymous forever and you will discover why. You'll think for a minute that you've been caught in a time warp or you are on a movie set and that you and your love are the now stars of the show. Make sure to take lots of pictures to prove that you really were in Joliett.
If you are interested in a candlelight dinner for two (or three or four if you really want to spice things up) then Joliett is the place to dine, as it is world renowned for its appetizing tastes of Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine, such as sumptuous pig’s stomach finished off with lip smacking Shoofly pie desserts. Having a little wet bottom shoofly will certainly be appropriate to start off your Valentine’s Day evening.

Yes if you are in love (or maybe you just want the little lady to think that you are in love) then come to Joliett and you will go home with memories that will keep "that lovin feeling" alive for years to come. Picturesque Joliett is simply a delight; one of the most attractive towns that give you an instant vivacious feeling of love and romance – as if Cupid just hit you in the behind with one of his arrows. I guarantee you that just one visit to Joliett is a more powerful aphrodisiac than any of the drugs now on the market, with or without a prescription. In fact, if the sensation you get lasts for more than four hours, you should seek immediate medical attention to avoid long term injury.

Remember, the village of Joliett, nestled in the hills of Porter Township, is sure to have a lasting impression on you forever. It did for Mammy and me and someone we met online.

"Good Night,Good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow,

that I shall say good night till it be morrow. Now pass the shoofly pie."

- William Shakespeare, Romeo and Joliett, 2.2

Groundhog Day Truce

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
Controller’s Office and County Commissioners Office called an unofficial truce on February 2nd!

Yes, on the dark, cold eve of Candlemas Day the chimes from the courthouse clock tower sounded in the City of Pottsville….something extraordinary and unexpected was about to occur. Employees of both the Schuylkill County Commissioners’ Office and the Controller’s Office spontaneously made peace, ceased hostilities and started celebrating. They visited each other through their trench tunnels, and exchanged cigarettes at the designated county smoking station. While at the smoking station the shivering employees stamped their feet in a vain attempt to keep warm and then headed inside to share the traditional holiday meal of Lebanon bologna, pig’s stomach, and chicken corn noodle soup at the Courthouse Canteen -all washed down with some fresh birch beer by the way.

Afterwards their jovial voices started to sing in harmony the traditional Ground Hog Day carols and songs.

“how much would would a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck would chuck wood….”

At first it appeared that tensions would erupt as each side kept a shoofly pie within easy reach in case self-defense was necessary. Just a few days ago peaceful co-existence was unthinkable, but now it was reality. The employees from both offices gathered together laughing, sharing both Groundhog Day gifts and Pennsylvania rub-off lottery tickets, and exchanging the traditional Pennsylvania Dutch bawdy jokes.

The hostilities had been going on for years, under the Gary Hornberger administration and continuing unabated during the current Katner command. With so many years of warfare some were now calling this truce “the miracle in the trenches” and hailed it as a shining episode of sanity. Yes, the Groundhog Day’s magic that covered the county also enveloped these two adversarial offices. The friendly feelings were inspired not only by a strong desire for a lull in the fighting but for a desire to partake in the goodies that every Courthouse office shares openly on the joyous occasion of Groundhog’s Day.
Yes, the holiday began quietly with the furry marmot once again seeing his shadow. Six more weeks of winter should have dismayed everyone, but only a few court house employees actually threw themselves from the Clock tower; far less than the prior years.

Yes, for hours, throughout all of the colorfully decoratated court house offices, Groundhog songs were sung while funnel cake was shared. The stairway between the Controller’s Office and the Commissioners Office, long considered a ‘no man’s land” became something of a playground with the rousing chorus of employees all singing in harmony:

“Let the scientific fakirs gnash their teeth and stamp with rage-
Let astrologers with crystals wipe such nonsense from the page-
We hail the King of Prophets, who's the world's outstanding Sage-
TODAY THE GROUNDHOG COMES! Glory! Glory! to the Groundhog, Glory! Glory!
to the Groundhog, Glory! Glory!
to the Groundhog, TODAY THE PROPHET COMES!”


The truce lasted all day. It was considered by some to be just a blip - a temporary respite induced by the Candlemas season.
But in these trying times of uncertainty, it is comforting to cynics, such as me, to believe that employees of the rival offices could put aside their fear and loathing of one another and extend the hand of goodwill, peace, joy, love and Groundhog Day cheer.

“Oh why can't every day be like Groundhog Day

Why can't that feeling go on endlessly.

For if everyday could be just like Groundhog Day

What a wonderful world this would be.”

Gott segen eich.