Summer is always the time for planting flowers and vegetable gardens. Many Espyvillians enjoy the fresh country air by partaking in horticultural activities. There’s nothing like being outside at Pymatuning with all the birds singing in the fresh, country air.

The Patio Market in downtown Espyville is open now for anyone interested in beautiful flowers and shrubs, and be sure to check out Jimmy Griggs’ green house at the Westford Mill in downtown Westford for all your gardening needs.

Bill and Louise Petronio always have rhubarb and garlic set out on a little roadside stand. It is nice to see Bill up and about; he was under the weather for a while. Summer residents Rick Morescal and David Jones have planted flowers and shrubs around their yard and are topping it all off with a new paint job for the place. Ed Morey is back for the season and is getting his place back in order, too; heck, what’s a few frozen pipes?

Visiting from Philadelphia last weekend was Dr. Connie Linn, in at the farm with her rig she uses to haul all those alpacas around.

Other get-well-soon wishes go out to summer residents Bob and Elaine Silinsky and their son Russell. Russell lives here in Espyville now and can’t seem to get enough deer spotting or eagle watching.

Happy June 12 Birthday to Diane Jadlowiec.

Remember, the Pymatuning Pavilion dedication is June 13, 2009, at 1:00pm, on the east side of the Causeway, near the old boat launch. It is free and open to the public. Meet PLA President Clarence "Dewey" Forsythe at this much-anticipated event and be sure to ask him if the Espyville All- Boys Coffee Klatch is accepting new members. Dewey is the unofficial President of that organization, which meets every Wednesday morning at the Countryside Restaurant.

National Fishing and Boating week continues through June 14^th, while the Fish Crib Habitat Project will be held June 10 and 11 on the Ohio side of the Causeway.

The 21^st annual Thurston classic will be on June 11-14 out at Allegheny College’s Robertson Field. This event is a lot of fun and the colorful balloons put on quite a show for the eye. For more information call 814-336-4000.

Bonanza Bingo will be held Monday, June 19, at the Community Center in Espyville and an Oldies Dance is scheduled for July 25, 2009.

The Tri-Township Crime Watch will be selling tickets for a 50/50 drawing at $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. This is to help raise money for their famous Halloween Party.

Be sure to check out all the yard sales around Espyville, why, I think I acquired my latest heirloom necklace for .25c over on Nancy Avenue last weekend.

Remember, the North Shenango Volunteer Fire Department is selling gun raffle tickets. They can be purchased from any firefighter and are $50.00 for the Gun-A-Week drawing to start in January of 2010.

If anyone from Espyville had ever seen the white cat from the fields out by the gamelands over the past decade, you might want to know she had been living with us these last 5 years. On any given day, she could be spotted in the ditches or hay fields, hunting for her supper.

That was before she came to stay with us.

We named her "Lucy" and she truly enjoyed being a house cat, upgrading to a plush bed of her own and looking from the window at the harsh Espyville winter outside. We got her spayed up at Doc Amy’s, gave her worm medicine and told her she didn’t have to hunt for a living anymore.

She came home every night and her purr was so soft, you could hardly hear it.

The gratitude that shined in her eyes was real and no one can tell me that animals don’t have feelings.

Sadly, Lucy has passed away, due to an attack by a roving Tomcat. Brian helped me dig her grave a few days ago and we marked it with a stone and solar light. She will be greatly missed.

Well, so long for now, folks, the sun is setting on this week’s column. Keep the bugs off your bumper and the dust off your tail. Thanks for reading the Espyville Buzz and keep on buying the Community News. Leaving you for now with the immortal sounds of the Glenn Miller Band and a little "Moonlight Serenade," sponsored by Chesterfields.