LEWISTOWN - Just in time for the gift-giving season, The Sentinel is offering a limited edition Mifflin County Fun Map collectible, featuring cartooned versions of local businesses and landmarks from the area.
"The map provides an exciting and interesting look at Mifflin County," said Ruth Eddy, publisher for The Sentinel. "The idea was presented by our corporate office, but we tweaked it to match the character of our area."
The map includes more than 80 caricatures of local businesses, landmarks and government buildings, based on original pictures of each structure, said Chad Swigart, local owner of SWIGART, the graphic design company that created the map.
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This cartoon map is available for sale at The Sentinel, 352 Sixth St., Pleasant Acres, Lewistown. It depicts more than 80 local businesses.
Swigart hand-sketched each building with cartooned details and then scanned them individually into the Illustrator program. Each sketch was then digitally outlined in greater detail and colored in Photoshop, Swigart said.
"I focused on distinct details of each building or used specific symbols so locals could easily identify each location," Swigart said.
The Sentinel chose to work with Swigart on this project because of his roots in the area, said Matt Bolich, advertising director for The Sentinel. It was easier for Swigart to communicate the character of Mifflin County and the local landmarks because he actually grew up around them, he added.
However, the map is more of a collectible item for locals rather than a geographic tool for finding your way around town, Bolich said. There was no real way to include all the businesses on one map without a little rearranging, he said, however, the buildings are grouped based on town and general location.
The Mifflin County Fun Map will be on sale for $3 plus tax, while supplies last, at The Sentinel building on 6th Street. A free copy of the map will also be given to each person who renews a subscription, starts a new subscription or pays for a classified ad after Dec. 20. Maps will not be mailed, so subscriptions or ads must be placed in person.
An online version of the map will also be accessible at www.lewistownsentinel.com starting next week, including rollover features with business contact information.
