On Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, the Potter County Artisan Center held an Open House that included home-made hors d’oeuvres, basket weaving, locally made artwork, live music, and two authors for book signings. The atmosphere was serene and pleasant, scented with the handmade soaps and candles from local artisans as well as the delicious-looking food and warm apple cider toward the back. 

Laurie Shear, Director of the Potter County Artisan Center, said that the Open House was “successful,” with “good treats and good music,” while live guitar played softly in the background. Shear contributed homemade apple bread to the event.

Off to the right after the main room where the artwork is held was Bill Robertson, who graduated from Mansfield University and has authored over 70 books. “I’ve been writing since 1978,” he said, and added that he is published in over 500 magazines around the world, as well as having a documentary. 

Robertson specializes in the paranormal and historical fiction genres, but he also writes poetry, he said. On his Youtube channel, you can find spooky videos and also videos about the Bucktail Regiment in the Civil War, which can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQgi0W57j8M&t=1s.

Next to Robertson is James Baumgratz, 75, who is also an author. Baumgratz had several books displayed, and he started out writing about true crime stories in Elk and McKean Counties, he said. “Lately,” he added, “I’ve branched out into the [PA] Wilds.” 

Included in his book are two homicides from Potter County. One of his books is on missing children of the PA Wilds, and another is on 43 cold cases up until 2020. Baumgratz can be contacted on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100041629275563, or type into Facebook search: elkcountymurder.com.

Carol Jackson, another local artist, baked up some of the treats that were being offered, which were Halloween-themed. Pointing to a delicious-looking plate of tiny cocktail weiners enveloped in a puff pastry, Jackson said with a laugh, “I left them in the oven too long, and their eyes melted.” Jackson also contributed jam, mustard, chow-chow relish, and salmon mousse to boot. 

In the way back, Catherine Snyder was weaving a basket, while teaching Dante Walsh how to weave his, and also selling a basket to another woman who did not wish to be named. 

Dante had previously woven the rim of a basket with twisted seagrass, which he showed to this reporter in proud evidence. The tall, young-looking Walsh with his Afro-like hairdo said that basket weaving was “really interesting” to him, and that he also does leather and woodworking. He made sure to mention that Snyder was a “great teacher.”

The basket being sold is a masterful creation with warm earth tones woven through the top, and a sturdy deer antler for a handle. Snyder said that “There was a Southwest wind,” blowing the day she wove that basket, hence the Southern-themed colors. 

Snyder started making baskets “intensively” about 11 years ago, she said, while her hands were steadily weaving. She had bought a book and taken a class, and then she became a basket maker, she said. 

Currently, Snyder is weaving baskets that will go to new mothers that include a Bible, a bib, a digital scanning thermometer (“so you don’t have to wake up the poor, sick baby,”she said), and wipes with a bag of diapers underneath. 

Catherine Snyder’s work can be found on Etsy and her basket weaving business is called “Creations by Catherine.”