I don’t know about you, but that was just too much of a holiday break. I’m hoping it was just the way the calendar fell this year, and this isn’t going to become the new reality.
The two groups of people I heard from with the most complaints were parents and business owners.
Parents, because the kids had way too much time off school, and they ran out of things to do, other than get in trouble, and business owners, because it’s hard enough to get folks to work, let alone them being provided with reasons not to work. And then trying to get them back to work at the holidays’ end.
I am overjoyed and feel very blessed to be penning my first column of 2026. This is the 24th year my staff and I have been fortunate enough to be welcomed into your home. Our sincere thanks and appreciation for reading and supporting our advertising clients, who make this possible. Please always let them know you saw it in the Webb Weekly.
Editor Steph, along with her amazing staff of writers, makes sure there’s something inside our pages for everyone. Please reach out if you have any ideas or suggestions.
I always love hearing from you about who your favorite writer is and why. This rings true when I’m your least favorite writer, and you let me know — just please always be a gentleman or lady.
So much has changed since my Father and I began this journey, but one thing has remained the same: the amazing place we all call home and the special people who make up our little corner of Penn’s Woods.
I have some loose ends to tie up from last year, as we all try to remember to mark everything 2026. First up, I want to give a heartfelt thank you to everyone for your generosity in filling up the Red Kettle in the front of our Webb Weekly office. Together and through our Red Kettle Remembrance of my good friend Dave Sechler, we raised $9,121.10. That’s truly remarkable! Again, thank you for your generosity, and God bless. If any late arrivals show up, I’ll make sure they find their way to the Salvation Army in Williamsport.
Next up, our December 24th issue listed the winners of the Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships Christmas Fun Coloring Contest. If you don’t have that issue lying around, all can be found at webbweekly.com. I want to give a shout-out to the winners personally.
Congrats to Maddyn Sauers, who won the 4 and under, Aubrey Sauers in the five-to-seven-year-old category, and Patience Joy in the 8-to-10-year-old division. There were 10 winners in every category and everybody who entered coloring skills was exceptional!
I also want to thank the great list of folks who offered up the prizes. Liberty Arena/Chaos, Elery Nau, Hooplas, Treasure Castle Playland, Reptiland, Harder Sporting Goods, Harvest Moon Lanes, Trout Pond Park, and Dairy Queen. All the prizes should be arriving at the winners’ houses, as they have been mailed. I must tell you, I am glad Santa finally picked those elves up before Christmas and got them out from under my feet in the office.
That gets me to another great contest that actually runs right through January 20, 2026 — our 18th Annual Uncle Ron’s Monster Buck Contest. As always, I remind everyone a trophy buck is in the hands of the holder. As long as it’s legally harvested in our local area, all hunters are welcome to enter. Please remember, by entering, you’re automatically registered into a random rifle drawing courtesy of Sauers Trading. Thank you, as always, to the father-son duo of Jon and Don Sauers for taking care of all the legalities.
The Monster Buck winner receives an amazing shoulder mount from Poust Taxidermy. Thank you to owner, Dana, and Sam, the taxidermy lady, for being involved in the contest and for your amazing wildlife artistry.
The runner-up winners, second through fourth, based upon the Safari Club International scoring standards, receive $100 gift certificates for venison processing at Stoltzfus Butchering in Mill Hall. Thank you to the great staff there for turning so many hunters’ venison into amazing finished products and for always being involved in our contest.
Hunters, please remember that for those of you entering the contest, your buck must be scored by January 24th.
As we embark on a new year, I ask everyone to keep their eyes wide open and try to be a positive influence for the good. If you don’t have something nice to say or post, keep it to yourself. And no matter if it’s national news or personal gossip, don’t believe everything you read, hear, or see. In a world where the truth should be easier than ever to find, usually the lies get the most attention without being questioned.
God Bless America.
