Story Teller Bonnie Kyofski
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Bonnie Kyofski, Folklore and Story Teller |
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| Contributor to the popular book compiled by Jame York Glimm, Flat-landers and Ridge-runners, Ms. Kyofski relates life in the rustic North Country and the humor, wisdom and strength of the people who settled in Tioga County.
My stories begin with my Grandmother, Pearl Short Hess, great- granddaughter of early settlers in Tioga County, who was a country schoolmarm, a farm wife, the mother of eight, a lifelong community advocate, and a born storyteller. Grandma’s way with words and passion for reading inspired all of her descendants. Her stories of her family’s pioneer days, her father’s logging, her mother’s school teaching, and the tales she heard from other tale traders were the stock of growing up in my family. I began telling her stories with Cowanesque Valley children in the schools in 1980, when the teachers in the elementary schools helped me realize how vital stories were, not just for entertainment, but for building community, for reading readiness and for children’s appreciation of our local culture and our rich, wise heritage. Since, I have used our stories all over Pennsylvania for the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, as well as in other states and Australia, and brought global folktales into my local repertoire, sharing with neighbors and “teaching teachers” at Mansfield University. Excerpt from Flatlanders and Ridgerunners: Out-Riddling the JudgeBack in Prohibition my uncle made moonshine. His name was Moses Kenny and his whiskey--they called it “White Mule” was the best in the county. Well, the feds got after him and finally they arrested him. Took him to a federal judge down in Philadelphia. Now, the judge liked a good time and thought he’d have a little fun with this hick from the mountains. When Uncle came into court, he said, “are you the Moses who can make the sun dark?” Moses looked at him and said slowly, “Nope, your honor. But I am the Moses who can make the moon shine.” The judge let him go. |
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