Residents open their doors to guests with ‘Holiday in Titusville' tour

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:14:00 GMT

Judy Shields puts the finishing touches on her 12-foot Fraser fir. Shields’ home is one of five historic houses that will be open for tours during the YWCA’s ‘Holiday in Titusville’ Historic Home Tour on Dec. 11-12. Herald photo by Mary Nicholson.

By Mary Hill
mhill@titusvilleherald.com
Thursday, December 4, 2008 11:14 PM CST

Dr. William and Judy Shields began decorating their Second Empire-style home in early November, and they are still busy putting the finishing touches on some rooms before the “Holiday in Titusville” Historic Home Tour, sponsored by the YWCA of Titusville.

The event will be held Thursday, Dec. 11, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and Friday, Dec. 12, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Thursday's event will feature a preview party and home tour. Each home will have appetizers, desserts and beverages.

Friday night's tour is open to ticket holders.

The Shields' home, 226 E. Main St., is one of five on the tour. Other homes on the tour include: Emilee and Mike Langer's arts and crafts style home, built in 1904, at 418 N.

Washington St.; Melanie Pattison's arts and crafts style home, built in the early 1900s, at 217 N. Perry St.; Loretta and James Weis' Georgian colonial, built in 1919, at 314 W. Main St.; and Suzanne Bertocchi's 7,000-square-foot brick home at 204 W. Main St.

The homes are within walking distance of each other, so visitors can stroll along the Main, North Perry and North Washington streets' neighborhoods during the tour.

Judy Shields said this is the YWCA's first holiday house tour.

“The Y has done home tours in the past,” Judy Shields said.

The idea for a holiday historic home tour was initiated by the YWCA's Ways and Means Committee, she said.

“We thought the community would enjoy it, and it is a fundraiser,” she said. “Last year, we did the Festival of Trees at the (Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad) train station and we thought we'd change it up a bit and do a holiday tour.”

Shields said the YWCA might hold the Festival of Trees every other year.

When it came to choosing specific homes for the tour, Shields said, “People who were willing to decorate this early won. We wanted to do historic homes and we chose all the houses in the downtown area.

“We also know the people involved who were talented in decorating their homes.”

She said rooms in each of the homes will have a holiday theme or color scheme.

“Different homes take on a different flavor,” Shields said. She said an example of this flavor is featured in Melanie Pattison's North Perry Street. Pattison decorated her kitchen with red and white peppermint candy.

“Melanie has a collection of quilts,” Shields said. “Others have items that are heirlooms that have been handed down generation to generation. There are collections like nutcrackers.”

Heller said local florists are also involved with the tour. “Florists will coordinate with homeowners to get a theme for each centerpiece which will be donated,” Heller said.

Although Judy Shields and her husband, William, who serves as the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville's president, put up their first tree on Nov. 8, they didn't start decorating in earnest until right before Thanksgiving.

“The little tree in the parlor, there's 800 lights on that puppy!” Judy Shields exclaimed.

The trees fit well with the home's decor. A 12-foot Fraser fir sits in the living room, and Shields said she purchased a box that disperses water to the tree automatically. The box is wrapped in holiday-colored paper and topped off with a large bow to resemble a gift waiting to be opened Christmas morning.

On the other side of the living room are bookshelves which hold Shields' collection of colorful nutcrackers. And the room is decorated with holiday greens as well.

In addition, the Shields' house has a rich history. According to Shields, the home was built in 1871 by William Sterrett. “Sterrett manufactured equipment for the oil industry and he built the home for his wife,” Shields said. She added that Sterrett and his wife were married in the home.

According to Heller, those wanting to tour the five homes must purchase tickets in advance. There is a fee for tickets.

“There are two different nights,” Heller said about the home tour. “(Dec. 11) is a preview party. The reason tickets (cost) more is due to the appetizers, desserts and beverages in each home.

“People who buy those tickets can go to the homes in any order and be greeted by food and beverages.”

In addition, there will be a raffle item at each home. Heller said Friday night's tour won't include the refreshments She added that anyone buying tickets for the Dec. 11 tour can also use them for the Dec. 12 tour as well.

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Suspect roundup leads to meth bust

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:14:00 GMT

Suspect roundup leads to meth bust

By Tom Boyle & Stella Ruggiero
Thursday, December 4, 2008 11:14 PM CST

news@titusvilleherald.com

While rounding up multiple suspects on methamphetamine-related charges stemming from October, area law enforcement interrupted an apparent meth cook in progress in a residence on Route 27 on Thursday

While serving multiple warrants -- almost all for people under the age of 25 -- on Thursday for charges connected to meth labs found in two locations near Titusville on Oct. 1, police received a tip about an alleged meth cook in progress.

Titusville Police Department Officer Aaron Madden said Titusville Police and other area law enforcement officials -- working together under the auspices of the Attorney General's office -- assembled Thursday morning to serve multiple warrants in connection to two meth labs allegedly belonging to Shaine Shreffler that were raided by authorities Oct. 1.

Madden said Shreffler had a lab at his mother's house on Route 27 east and another at his father's house on Dotyville Road near Enterprise.

While serving the arrest warrants, police received a tip that Shreffler, who was out on bond, was cooking meth at his mother's residence, 45782 Route 27, in Titusville.

Before authorities arrived at the house at about 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Shreffler had apparently been tipped off about their arrival and had started to tear down a lab and burn it outside, police said.

Shreffler's mother was at work at the time of the raid, according to police.

The defendants were arraigned on Thursday before Magisterial District Judge Amy Nicols, of Titusville.

According to court records those who arraigned were as follows:

-- Shaine Shreffler, of 45782 Route 27, Titusville, who was charged with manufacture of a controlled substance. Bond was set at $100,000.

-- Danielle Nicole Saeger, 20, 14251 state Highway 8, who was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit the manufacture of a controlled substance. Bond was set at $25,000.

-- Aaron Craig Adams, 18, 628 Superior St., Titusville, who was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit the manufacture of a controlled substance. Bond was set at $25,000.

-- Levi Micah Firster, 22, of 22937 Titusville Road, Titusville, who was charged with conspiracy to commit the manufacture of a controlled substance. Bond was set at $5,000 unsecured.

-- Dixie Ann Davis, RD 1, 43, Harger Road, Titusville, who was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit the manufacture of a controlled substance.

-- Cheyenne Renay Kinney, 24, 313 E. Spring St., Titusville, who was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit the manufacture of a controlled substance.

-- Jennifer Huddleson, 25, of 39952 Gilson Road, Centerville, who was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit the manufacture of a controlled substance. Bond was set at $5,000 unsecured.

-- Amy Ann Greer, 23, of 14251 state Highway 8, Titusville, who was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit the manufacture of a controlled substance. Bond was set at $5,000 unsecured.

-- Tyler Lee Rose, 20, 43091 Gilson Ridge Road, Titusville, who was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit the manufacture of a controlled substance. Bond was set at $5,000 unsecured.

Preliminary hearings for all defendants have been scheduled for Dec. 11.

According to authorities, more arrests are pending.

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Residents open their doors to guests with ‘Holiday in Titusville' tour

Suspect roundup leads to meth bust