Pine Creek Polar Bear Club takes inaugural plunge

VALLEY VIEW - Move over, Punxsutawney Phil. "Pine Creek Pete" made his debut on New Year's Day when about 60 people plunged into a frigid Pine Creek.

Organizers of the first Pine Creek Polar Bear Club plunge are hoping the event will become a holiday tradition and draw attention to their cause, raising money for the fish nursery at Pine Creek.

Although 94 contributors each paid $20 to be a part of the event, about 60 actually braved the 37-degree water temperature and jumped into the creek above the fish hatchery dam.

At least $1,880 was raised to make needed repairs to the 1960s nursery. The Pine Creek Nursery, located near this Schuylkill County village, is a cooperative of the Pennsylvania Fish Commission and the Valley View Gun Club.

The polar bear club was the brainchild of two Valley View entrepreneurs, Jim Reed, of Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, and Scott Rissinger, of Radio Shack and Tri-Valley Technical Services.

The two sported brightly colored shorts at the plunge and didn't shy away from jumping into the water.

Both were pleased with the turnout.

"We want to say thanks to everybody," Rissinger said as swimmers lined the shore.

Scott's brother, Todd Rissinger, designed the black and white inaugural T-shirts, which were produced by Walter Boyer, Pillow.

Todd Rissinger, Washington, D.C., also contributed by wearing the white Pine Creek Pete costume for the kickoff.

Pete paddled down the creek in a raft, and once he made it to the dam, the countdown began for the crowd's entry.

Thrill-seekers had varied reasons for joining in.

"It was on my 'bucket list'," said Dart Bruso, Spring Glen, referring to the list of experiences he wants to try before he dies. "I loved it."

Another member of the polar bear club and the gun club, Jason Wolfgang, Hegins, described what it felt like to jump into icy water.

"It was like jumping into a freezer completely wet," he said. "Once you got out, though, it felt like a heater. I thought it was a good fundraiser, and they had a very good turnout for the first year."

Kelsey Hepler said she had lived in the Groton, Conn., area for 18 years and similar polar bear activities were well-attended there.

"I said if they ever did anything like this here, I'd be here," said Hepler, a Tri-Valley grad who now resides in Valley View. "It was cold and refreshing, but I'd do it again."

Another swimmer planning to attend next year is Dan Bixler. The 18-year-old Tri-Valley High School senior said he went in the water up to his neck, but didn't go completely under because he didn't want to lose his glasses. He swam to the opposite shore of Pine Creek and back again wearing cargo shorts and boots.

"I always said I had a high tolerance to the cold and I wanted to see if I could do it. My parents said they'd pay the entry fee if I'd sign up," he said.

His parents were among about 100 people who waited along the shoreline to watch. Others could pay the $20 entry fee to support the hatchery, get a T-shirt and have access to the pork and sauerkraut meal at Valley View Gun Club following the leap without actually stepping into Pine Creek's frigid water.

Cooks prepared eight gallons of sauerkraut, 20 pounds of pork and 60 pounds of mashed potatoes for the fundraiser, said gun club President Ben Wetzel, Hegins.

Reed said the funds collected will help rebuild the fish nursery, which has one wall that is failing and in need of repair. About 6,500 fish are raised in the nursery annually and several thousands are released during youth fishing rodeos at Pine Creek and during stocking of Deep Creek and other area waterways.

Organizers asked about a dozen rescue personnel from Hegins Area Ambulance Association and Valley View Fire Department to be at the scene in case of an emergency. Four volunteers dressed in fishing waders were in the water during the leap to assist participants who became disoriented or were unable to pull themselves from the creek. Knotted ropes were anchored in place along the shore so people could haul themselves from the water. No emergencies were reported.

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