It was an ordinary day. It was the mid-1940s in the mountains of East Tennessee. I was 5 that year; my sister, Charl, was 7. World War II was in full swing, and patriotism was high. We had a war to win and didn't complain that everything from sugar in coffee to shoes and tires were rationed for the war effort. But, Christmas was coming, and our spirits were high. In the mountains, everyone was poor, except we really didn't know it. Poor was a way of life. Christmas was family; we had abundant food (grown by us), church pageants, and few, if any, gifts. That year, my dad joined most of the other farmers at the aluminum plant to work, so things were looking up. That Christmas Eve, Charlie and I were kneeling by our bed, saying our prayers. Charles knew so much and had already said a beautiful prayer, but the best I could do was mimic her. "Bless our boys in service, and please keep them safe," she prayed, her hands folded and her blue eyes closed. My hands covered my face, and I peeked through my fingers to admire her serene face and her blonde curls hanging like a halo around her head. If God heard anybody's prayers, it would be hers. After Charles' "Amen," it was my turn. After my "blesses" and "thanks," I ended with, "and please have Santa bring me a doll--and Charlie too." I mumbled into my hands, "I really, really want one. And I don't care if it's not fancy." As we climbed into bed, Charles scolded me. "Remember, Mama told us not to ask for selfish things," she said wisely. "There's a war going on, and we must think of others." She blew out the kerosene lamp by the bed. "Besides," she went on, "we already have the best Christmas yet. Remember that candy Uncle Dobie brought us?" Dobie was our mother's brother, home on furlough from the Army for a few days. He had just visited us, bringing us a hugh box of chocolates, which would be opened on Christmas Day. The chocolates were a great gift for our family as candy was scarce due to the war. But even so, we always had a little from a yearly box of chocolate-covered cherries and the perpermint-stick candy that would be in our stockings on Christmas morning, along with an apple, an orange, a few nuts, and if we were lucky, a tangerine. Usually there was a small gift tucked inside too -- a little toy watch or some hair bows. Now we'd have Uncle Dobie's candy too. Still, I dreamed of a sleepy-eyed doll that could cry. Through the open door we could see our empty stockings hung on the mantel and our Christmas tree, which Daddy had gone into the woods and cut that day. We always got our tree on Christmas Eve morning, and once it was in place, Mamma would bring out her carefully saved decorations from years past. There were just a few worn store-bought ornaments; the rest were homemade. Last, Mamma would bring out her precious silver icicles that had been used over and over. New decorations made of foil were not available due to the war. I could hear Charlie breathing softly as she slept, but my thoughts were on the dolls. I was positive my prayer would be answered. I dozed off but woke with a start. I could hear movement in the living room and thought I could see a dark, figure quietly making its way through the shadows in the room. Could it be? Was it Santa? I was petrified and thrilled all at once. I lay as still as if frozen, and I closed my eyes tightly. Then, all was quiet, but I was afraid to look. I was sure it was almost dawn by then, so I shook my sister. "Charl! Charl! Santa came!" She turned over and pulled up the quilt. "Go back to sleep, Bet," she said. "Santa ain't even real." "Is too!" I returned. I was crushed, but I settled back down to wait for daylight. Somebody had to fill those stockings, and I knew it was Santa. At first light we slipped into the living room and found our stockings. We put a log on the banked fire and contentedly pulled out our goodies. Presently, Mama came into the room, sleep in her eyes and her long hair, usually worn in a victory roll, hanging loose around her shoulders. She smiled indulgently. "Did you find anything under the tree?" she asked. Like a bullet the two of us were up and by the Christmas Tree. It only took a moment to realize that hidden behind the tree were two big, beautiful dolls. They were identical except for the color of their pretty dresses. And our names were on them! It was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen. "Told ya Santa was here," I bragged to Charlie. She and Mamma smiled knowingly but said nothing. That had to be the happiest Christmas ever for two little country girls. The war ended, and life didn't change a lot in the mountains, but I never forgot praying for that baby doll and the joy I had when my prayer was answered. I think of that Christmas often when I see the extravagant, sophisicated gifts today's children receive. Oh, for the Good Old Days! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
"64 Year Marriage Started With A Sailor At A Movie At The Strand Theater" Story
It was an ordinary day. Reading about a time in April, 1959 that a girl named Charlotte and her best friend Sandy were walking down East King Street on their way to the Strand Theatre to watch a movie. While walking, they saw two sailors dressed in their white uniforms sitting on the steps at the USO Club. Charlotte was just a country girl of 18 years old at the time. When Charlotte laid eyes on the sailor sitting on the outside of the step, she thought to herself, "I would love to marry that guy." "I said...Charlotte, forget it. He won't want anything to do with you because you are too heavy," I wasn't really at all, but in my head I ihtought I was. As we got closer, he started talking to me and I told him that we were going to the movie theatre. He asked if he could walk with me and I said that would be great. I fell in love with this guy when I first laid eyes on him. We walked to the theatre and he told me his name was Roy. When we arrived at the theater he said to me, "If this movie isn't any good, you're going to owe me some money." I thought he was serious! He did put his arm around me in the movie theatre. When the movie was over, I asked him about owing him money if he didn't like it. He told me he was only teasing and he was sorry if I thought he was serious. Roy and his friend walked back to my car with us. I had a 1948 Chevy two-door coupe that my dad bought for me for $100 at Wiggins Chevrolet in Marticville. I paid him back $10 each month by getting a job after graduating from high school. As we drove down Prince Street to what is now Willow Street Pike, I pulled into Buchmiller Park. We got out of the car and talked a while, getting to know each other better. I learned he was from Missouri, but stationed at Bainbridge Naval Base in Maryland. We exchanged phone numbers (as well as some hugs and kisses!) then I drove Roy and his buddy back into town. I was really feeling that this guy liked me. Whenever he would have a weekend pass, he would come to meet my family. They loved Roy as I did, too. On August 3, 1959, we were married. Money was very tight in those days and since my father worked for the railroad, he couldn't afford to take off work for the wedding. My mother drove us to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland where we were married in the chapel. Because we didn't have much money, Roy just wore his Navy uniform and I wore a two-piece dress that I already had. When we arrived home at our small apartment in Port Deposit, Maryland, my mother made us a special dinner and chocolate cake for dessert. There was no place to do laundry so I had to use the bathtub to wash out our clothes. I dried our clothes on a wash line hanging out our window - the kind with a pulley. One day I dropped Roy's white Navy pants and, of course, they got dirty so I had to walk down three flights of stairs, bring them back up and wash them again. Roy was discharged from the Navy in 1962 and we had our first son, Roy Jr. We decided to move to Missouri, where he was from, and lived there for 10 years. Roy came to see me one day and said, "Honey, I think it's time we go back to Pennsylvania." I asked him why and he said that he didn't feel that his mother was treating me like she should, so back to Pennsylvania we came - and my family loved him. We had two more sons named Robert and Richard. Unfortunately, our oldest son, Roy Jr.. passed away from cancer at the age of 60. We had been married for 64 years when Roy passed away. By God's grace and listening to gospel muisic, I am doing well, but I miss him terribly. Before he passed away, he told me that he was going to walk real slow so I could catch up with him in heaven. I reminded him that I had my own health issues so it probably wouldn't be all that long and life will be perfect with God. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
The "In Honor Of George Kinzo Kaneko" Story
It was an ordinary day. There is a fellow in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania named Len Eiserer who is a collector of trees and tree tales! In Lancaster city, there's a ginkgo tree that's grown big enough to be a state champion, but it's size isn't what most impresses Len Eiserer. This tree's pedigree is also worth noting: It was planted nearly 130 years ago to honor the sudden death of a young scholar, far from his home in Japan and his family who were among the last of the samurai. The tree's old in human years, but its endurance is what captivates Len, a collector of tree tales. Trees like this live thousands of years. "These trees will outlast the city of Lancaster, America. I mean, the republic of Rome was 900 years," he says. "These are permanent living monuments, cultural monuments. When you know the history, that surpasses anything else you find in Lancaster." This ginkgo and its brethren trees can be admired for their size, their beauty, their shade and their fruit in some cultures. They've also inspired Lancaster's newest arboretum. The space has more than 120 trees, including a bald cypress that might be a souvenir from a World's Fair and a state champion European horse chestnut. Admission is free and the residents are quiet! Lancaster Cemetery is now celebrating its new designation as an arboretum as of Saturday, October 12. Lancaster Cemetery was founded in 1846 by the First Reformed Church and later became nondenominational. The space stretches over 22 acres in northeast Lancaster city, between New Holland and Park Avenues. The cemetery's entrance is hard to miss; it was designed by Lancaster's own C. Emlen Urban. Also hard to miss are the cemetery's trees, which have enough space for many to grow quite large. The cemetery board talked about the beauty of the trees and explored what it takes to become an arboretum. There is a category just for cemeteries, including Arlington National Cemetery, which covers 639 acres. Arlington is actually an arboretum. The cemetery in Lancaster already met some of the criteria, including having a governing board, having public access and having at least 25 species, varieties or cultivars of trees or woody plants. A local tree group counted 125 varieties to create the required arboretum plan. Hopefully, the trees and honor of becoming an arboretum could bring people to explore one of Lancaster's largest green spaces. It has been said that cemeteries are for the living! The list of trees includes fruit trees and trees large enough to be champions. What's missing, though, is why they were planted. Ten ginkgo trees can be traced to George Kinzo Kaneko who came to Lancaster from Japan as a teenager to study at Franklin & Marshall Academy, a college prep school in the mid-1880s. Mr. Kaneko was buried in Franklin & Marshall's college plot in Lancaster Cemetery. Later, ginkgo trees were sent from Japan to the college and the cemetery in his honor. The male trees grew uninterrupted at the cemetery while the female trees planted at the college produced fruit with a stone smell and made the ground slippery. These trees were eventually moved to the cemetery with the others. Those original trees have multiplied to 10. Some bear fruit, but that hasn't been a problem at the cemetery. Shortly another ginkgo tree will be planted in honor of Mr. Kaneko in the cemetery. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
Monday, October 14, 2024
The "Who Was Baptized In The Lancaster YWCA Pool? Story
It was an ordinary day. Reading in my local newspaper about baptism. Lisa Matts was 16 years old when she began life-guarding at the pool in the Lancaster YWCA at East Orange and Lime Streets. From 1980 to 1984 she oversaw lap swimming, swim lessons, water aerobics and baptisms. Baptism is not something you think of when you're going to a swimming pool, says Lisa. Baptisms occurred at the YWCA pool about four times a year. Men in suits removed their coats and shoes. Women in long dresses took off their shoes and waded into the water. A minister prayed and then baptized the candidates...four at a time. The individuals stood completely upright in the shallow end of the pool. The officiant assisted with a backward motion, completely submerging the individuals and helping them back up to a full upright position. It is believed that each person was dunked one time. Present and former officials at the YWCA confirm the baptisms occurred, but do not know which church was involved. Adult baptism by immersion (or submersion) can be accomplished in any body of water and by many different churches. Baptists, Catholics, Seventh-Day Adventists and others regularly perform immersion baptisms, often indoors. Jehovah's Witnesses occasionally use swimming pools. On the other hand, the Ashley Tabernacle Church of God in Christ baptizes adults in the Susquehanna River each August at Columbia, PA. The Scribbler has asked Steven Bolt, professor of history and Anabaptist studies at Elizabethtown College, for his take on the YWCA baptisms. He believes it is unlikely the baptized were members of Plain churches. Old Order Mennonites, Amish and Beachy Amish do not baptize by immersion. However, several other Plain groups do practice baptism by trine immersion (that is, three times under the water). They are the Old Order River Brethren, the Old German Baptist Brethren, and the Dunkard Brethren. All three groups have only a few members in Lancaster county, and only the River Brethren baptize in still water. Nolt speculates they would prefer to use a pond belonging to a member. Other Plain-dressing groups that practice immersion baptism are the so-called Charity Churches. They include many former Mennonites who dress plainly. A pool would be acceptable to them, he says. There are two Charity Churches in Lancaster - one on South Groffdale Road near Route 23 and the other in Ephrata. Non-plain Mennonites also might choose immersion, but often at "a place of special significance" for the person being baptized. That would more likely be Black Rock retreat in southern Lancaster County rather than the YWCA pool. Most Church of the Brethren and Brethren in Christ congregations now have indoor baptisteries large enough for immersion in their church buildings, or they use an outdoor pool or pond. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
Sunday, October 13, 2024
The "My Favorite Color Is October!
It was an ordinary day. "My favorite color is October." Let's give 'em "pumpkin" to talk about. Another "gourdgeous" day at the farm. What do you get when you drop a pumpkin? Squash. Of course, there are many reasons why we may love October more than any other month of the year. As the weather begins to cool, grab your favorite hoodie and a cup of hot chocolate. It's officially bonfire season, so gather your closest friends, grab some sticks, marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate and start making your favorite s'mores. The crisp October evenings are perfect for gatherings by a roaring fire. Of course October is my favorite month. Why shouldn't it be? The only thing negative about it is the fact that it only lasts 31 days. Can you beat the taste of a delicious pumpkin pie or some delicious apple goody dessert? Perhaps the only way you can beat it is with a little bit of autumn humor. How do you calculate the circumference of a pumpkin? With pi. What did the pumpkin say after Thanksgiving? "Goodpie, everyone." What did the pumpkin say to the pumpkin carver? "Cut it out." What's the problem with eating too much pumpkin pie this time of the year? You'll get 'autumn'y" ache. Slipped on a pumpkin today? It caught me off gourd. What did the orange pumpkin say to the green pumpkin? "You look a little sick." What does a pumpkin use to repair its pants? A pumpkin patch! Okay, enough! Vincent Van Gogh once said, "As long as autumn lasts, I shall not have hands, canvas, and colors enough to paint the beautiful things I see." Joe L Wheeler reminisced, "There is something incredibly nostalgic and significant about the annual cascade of autumn leaves." Albert Camus described it this way, "Autumn is a second spring, when every leaf is a flower." John Burroughs took the senior approach and speculated, "How beautifully leaves grow old! How full of light and color are their last days!" Elizabeth Lawrence concluded that "Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn." I can agree with that last suggestion. I think one of the best places to sit and watch that happen is in the tree stand. That way you can observe deer and other wildlife, along with all of nature parade its beauty through the transition from the growing season into late fall and and colder days ahead. Not that I expect it will help any, but I'll just put in my order for plenty of sunny cool days, dazzling sunsets, and over-the-top activity when I am out hunting. I guess November will tell us how that all pans out? But, hey, don't forget to prepare, tune up your equipment, practice, practice, practice, identify your target, and please stay safe everyone! Speaking of safety, October 6-12, 2024, in National Fire Prevention Week, so make sure your smoke alarms are working and new batteries are installed. The fourth Saturday of October is National Make A Difference Day, and it is your chance to make a positive impact in your community. So on October 26th, find a project that aligns with your family's values and make a difference! The expression of love through support and good ol' elbow grease can go a long way in pulling communities and neighbors together. There are many more special days that could be mentioned, but I will let each of you decide what and who you want to support. That is a personal decision. Just don't let October slip by without taking the opportunity to make a difference to someone. And remember, there are only 31 days to make it happen! Invite you closest friends, before your chances go squash! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Comet To Start Showing Tonight
It was an ordinary day. Skygazers who have marveled at the northern lights in recent days have another reason to geek out over the next two weeks with the appearance of a comet in the western sky after sunset. The comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS should come into view for skygazers beginning tonight around twilight. Astronomy experts say it should be visible for about two weeks, appearing slightly higher in the sky each night, and they believe it will be as bright as the brightest stars. "Compared to Haley's Comet, this one is supposed to be a lot brighter," said Aislynn Mills of Mile High Astronomy, a store in Lakewood, Colorado, that sells binoculars, telescopes and other astronomy aids. According to the astronomy site space.com, the head of the comet measures approximately 130,000 miles in diameter and the tail extends about 18 million miles. On a highly elliptical orbit, it rounded the sun this week and is making its way through the inner solar system back to outer space. The comet will practically vault into evening prominence during the middle of October," according to the apace.com post. "On Oct. 12, during mid-twilight (45 minutes after sunset), you will find Tsuchinshan-ATLAS approximately 6 degrees above the west-southwest horizon. Your clenched fist held at arm's length measures 10 degrees in width, so the comet will stand about "one-half fist" above the horizon and will set (drop below the horizon) about 90 minutes after sunset." During the upcoming week, the post explains, A3's apparent elevation over the horizon will increase by about 3 degrees each evening and set about 16 minutes later. It will generally follow the path the sun and moon take across the sky. By the end of next week, it should be "three fists" above the west-southwest horizon at "mid-twilight," setting three and a half hours after sunset. A comet is composed of a nucleus (core), a coma, a hydrogen "envelope" and two tails. "The nucleus is the icy, rocky core - the physical thing that is traveling through space," said Mills, who has an astrophysics degree from the University of Colorado. "As it approaches the sun, it's sublimating that ice into gas, the (coma) we see around the nucleus. Then there is an invisible hydrogen envelope - hydrogen coming out around the coma - and the tails, an ion and dust trail." This comet takes its name because it was discovered in 2023 by the Tauchnshan Observatory in China and the Asteroid Terrestrial-impast Last Alert System. The latter was founded by NASA and operates at the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawaii, to detect objects that may impact Earth. Don't worry, though, this comet won't. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
Life Goes On.....And On.....And On!
It was an ordinary day...somewhat! Sunny, but with a nice breeze for a fall day in Pennsylvania. Actually, it is the start of the third year of living at Woodcrest Villas with my wife. It happens to be the fourth location that we have lived during our married lifetime. We married in 1967 and first lived at an apartment unit known as Manor House Apartments. We had a second floor unit with a great view, from the rear porch, of the swimming pool and surrounding area. I was still taking classes at Millersville State Teacher's College in nearby Millersville and working part-time at the Acme Supermarket in the Manor Shopping Center while my wife was working as an assistant at a doctor's office. After graduating at the end of the summer from Millersville, I began teaching at York Eastern High School which was directly across the Susquehanna River in York County. After a year at York Eastern I obtained a job at my Alma mater of Manheim Township High School teaching Industrial Arts. Shortly thereafter we moved to a home on Janet Avenue, at the opposite end of the 900 block from my parents. All three of our children were born while we lived at Janet Ave. The house was a three-story semi-detatched that was wonderful. Enjoyed being close to both of our families with my parents at the other end of the block we lived on and with my wife's parents living a block away at an apartment complex. We eventually moved to a home on Harrington Drive which was also in the Manheim Township community. The house was remarkable with a corner view and large yard in both front and rear of the home. It was a corner home that faced Harrington Drive on one side and Foxshire Drive on the front. We loved the large property, but as time went by, it became a real chore to keep the property in excellent condition. By now I had retired from teaching after 35 years and coaching the school rifle team to the State Championship. Then...3 years ago, with only my wife and I living in the home, we decided to move to a retirement community. I was no longer teaching and didn't need to be as close to where I taught at Manheim Township High School. We did some research and finally decided to move to Woodcrest Villas on the Harrisburg Pike. It now has been two full years of enjoying ourselves at Woodcrest. No more lawn mowing, snow shoveling, outdoor and indoor maintenance and driveway maintenance. Any problems...call the office! Life is good! How could it not be? Our two cats, The Gray Lady and Snickerdoodle love sitting in the windows watching the people walk by with their pets as well as all the squirrels and birds that enjoy the feeders we have in our front yard. My wife now enjoys meeting many days with friends for various activities in the nearby auditorium and I enjoy playing pool a few days a week with new friends at the same location. Life is Good! What more can we ask? It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
Lancaster's Properties At Risk! Part II
It was an ordinary day. Reading an article titled "Saving the Lancaster We Love." 300,000 acres of farmland are at risk! To visitors, Lancaster County is a place to see life as it used to be. A picturesque land where traditions are strong....and nothing much ever changes (hopefully!). But, if you live here, you know there's more to the story.....
You know we're not as old-fashioned as the good people of New York would like to believe, In fact, our quaint little farms can be deceptively cutting edge. When it comes to topics like organic methods, silvopasture, and stream restoration, researchers and conservationists around the world look here for inspiration. You know good food here! Really good food!! You know free-range, pasture-raised, and regeneratively grown. You know where to find the biggest rhubarb, the tiniest patty pans, the coldest root beer, and the sweetest sweet corn. And you know that behind all that incredible food, there's a farm. And a family who has made it their life's work to keep it all growing. Unfortunately, you also know that for every postcard-perfect view, there's another that's no longer there. That across the county, farmland is being replaced by warehouses, parking lots, and urban sprawl. But, what you might not realize is how quickly it's happening. 3,000 acres of Lancaster's farmland are lost each year---an area twice the size of Lititz Borough. We're running out of time to protect what makes this place so special: our open spaces, fresh food, family businesses, and cherished traditions. Lancaster is a dining destination, with restaurants offering everything from simple home cooking to upscale farm-to-table experiences. Leean Mason, co-proprietor of LUCA, recalls how she and her husband, Taylor Mason, came to Lancaster as the spot for their restaurant: "We always said if we ever wanted to do something in the food world, it had to be in an area that had farms and that really valued the land." LUCA is a gem of the Lancaster dining scene, highlighting the produce of each season direct from local farms. "While a lot of people have this heritage of growing up with these ingredients, I don't think enough know them intimately," says Taylor, LUCA's chef and co-prorietor. "So it's really amazing to be able to just share on the plate what a snapshot of late July should take like." The success of LUCA-and many other local restaurants- is deeply rooted in Lancaster's farmland. Lancaster Farmland Trust exists to protect Lancaster's farmland. Founded in 1988, the nonprofit helps farmers take legal steps to ensure their farm stays farmland forever - regardless of who holds the deed. At first, many farmers were uncertain about the program. These days, there's a waitlist of farmers who would like to preserve their land, but need more funding to finalize their preservation dreams. "This farm is actually a part of William Penn's original personal estate," says Roman Stoltzfoos, farmer and owner of Spring Wood Farm. "My father farmed it for 38 years, and we've been on it for 35. We had some really good years, and we decided we should preserve this farmland. Preservation not only preserves the land, it preserves the culture, and it preserves families, and it preserves a way of life that you really can't put a value on." To date, Lancaster Farmland Trust has preserved more than 35,000 acres of Lancaster County's farmland. That's 35,000 acres of fields, woodlands, and pastures that will keep feeding this community, generation after generation. No matter who owns that land in the future. Now, Lancaster Farmland Trust is working with community members, local businesses, and motherlike-minded groups to permanently protect another 25,000 acres by 2030. Because....when our community comes together to save farmland, we save more than farmland. We save the Lancaster we love! And...I should know it since I have lived in Lancaster all my life! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. LDub!
Friday, October 11, 2024
Proud Son's Family Has Ties To Sept. 11, both 1776 and 2001 Story
It was an ordinary day. Reading a story written by Al Stuart in the Living Section of my Sunday Newspaper titled "Proud Son's family has tie to Sept. 11, both 1776 and 2001".... As the country prepares to commemorate once again the tragic events of 9/11, there has been another Sept. 11 event of which not many Americans are aware and that has been memorialized annually for more than half a century. In 1776, on that same date, our nation's founding fathers, including Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, met with British representatives to try and end the Revolutionary War. Though unsucessful, it was America's first peace conference. It was held at the Billopp House, built circa 1680, less than a mile from Tottenville, Staten Island. It's now known as the Conference House and registered as a National Historic Landmark. Starting in 1976, my mother, Gloria Stuart, was a charter member of the Conference House Association Auxiliary. She also served on the Conference House Asso. Board of Directors starting in 1996 - most recently as treasurer. Visitors to the many fundraising and peace conference reenactments events she facilitated and experienced the results of her energy, diligence and leadership. In September 2021, during the annual Sept. 11, 1776, peace conference reenactment, she was recognized for her almost 50 years of volunteer service with the award of a borough president's "Gloria Stuart Day" proclamation. Sadly, my Mom passed away unexpectedly this past March at age 94, surrounded by family. Given her good health and active independent living in her 1855 historic Tottenville home, we thought she would be with us so much longer. But during and since the late March celebrations of her full life with friends and family, I have reflected on the values of love of country, public service and self-sacrifice that she and my Dad lived by. My Dad, Al Stuart Sr., who passed away shortly after his retirement as a fire Marshall with the Fire Dept. of NY in 1992, had been the first U.S. Navy reservist on Staten Island to have been recalled to active duty for the Korean conflict. Upon his return from combat operations, on board the aircraft carrier USS Leyte in 1951, my Mom traveled to Norfolk as the elected "Queen of the Leyte," helping the ship celebrate its successful deployment in defense of America's freedom. Fast-forward to September 2001. Our next-door neighbor in Tottenville, John Chiluba, perished in the World Trade Center along with several other Staten Island firefighters with whom I had grown up. A U.S. Marine who had survived the 1983 military barracks bombing in Beirut, Lebanon, John would become a New York City police detective, and then transfer to the Fire Department of New York, giving his life on 9/11 as he answered the call after a midnight shift at his ladder company in Brooklyn. My Mom later worked hard to support the John G. Chipura Foundation, which was founded by his brother, retired FDNY Captain Gerard Chiluba, whom my Mom rightfully treated as her second son. Gerard and my youngest sister, Patti, were Tottenville H.S. classmates. Another high school friend of theirs would notably become one of the three firefighters who raised that now-famous American flag at Ground Zero. My four sisters and I had hoped that our Mom would still be with us in September 2026 to help celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation's first peace conference. But, I and the rest of our family, along with many friends, have been celebrating a life well lived and so characterized by dedicated service to family, community, God and country. Remembering our Dad, as well, given his Navy and FDNY service, I am proud to say that I am Gloria and Al's son. The following photograph is Gloria Stuart, who died earlier this year and was an active volunteer with the Conference House, the historic site of the nation's first peace conference on September 11, 1776. It's in Tottenville, Staten Island, New York.
The author of this story, Al Stuart, is a Tottenville, Staten Island native, defense department information technology consultant and 30-plus year resident of nearby Willow Street, PA. He is a retired Navy Captain with 11 years as submarine officer and almost 20 years of Naval reserve service, including 10 years as a senior liaison officer to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He supported 9/11 emergency response operators at the Pentagon in September 2001. To learn more about the Nation's first peace conference, and the Conference House, visit conference-house.org. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
Drought, Fires Could Push Up Coffee Prices Story
It was an ordinary day. And just in case you haven't read the story in your newspaper, here is the story about drought and fires pushing up coffee prices. The story takes place in Caconde, Brazil. Silvio Almeida's coffee plantation sits at an ideal altitude on a Brazilian hillside, where clay-rich soil does well at retaining moisture from rainfall and a nearby reservoir. Lately, though, water is scarce on Almeida's modest farm in Caconde, a town in one of Sao Paulo state's key growing regions. He can't get his coffee to grow the way it should. In Brazil, the world's largest coffee producer, Almeida and other farmers are grappling with the nation's worst drought in more than seven decades and above-average temperatures. Almeida expected to harvest 120 sacks of coffee beans this season, but instead managed just 100. "Given the conditions here, the 2025 crop is already affected," he told The Associated Press, pointing to a part of his plantation where flower buds died before blooming. "I won't say it's doomed, because with God anything is possible. But, based on the situation, it's already compromised." Brazil's harvest season that ends this month was virtually flat from last year, and exports surged, but the ongoing drought is already complicating the start of the 2025-26 season, according to a report Monday by the Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics at the University of Sao Paulo's agribusiness school. At the same time, Vietnam, the world's second-biggest coffee producer, is experiencing heat and drought, affecting its crops. Potential supply shortages in both countries have started driving up global coffee prices, according to the report. In part, prices are rising because of higher demand, particularly in Asia. But, weather is also driving increases. Drought, frost and fire have damaged as much as one-fifth of arabica coffee producers' growing areas in Brazil, said Billy Roberts, a senior economist for food and beverage at Colorado-based CoBank. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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| Coffee producer Joao Rodrigues Martins inspects his plantation consumed by wildfire in a rural area of Caconde, Sao Paulo state, Brazil. |
Thursday, October 10, 2024
Clowns Spread Cheer Amid War! Story
KYIV, Ukraine - Their costumes are put on with surgical precision: Floppy hats, foam noses, bright clothes, and a ukulele with multicolored nylon strings. Moments later, in a beige hospital ward normally filled with the beeping sounds of medical machinery, there are bursts of giggles and silly singing. As Ukraine's medical facilities come under pressure from intensifying attacks in the war against Russia's full-scale invasion, volunteer hospital clowns are duck footing their way in to provide some badly needed moments of joy for hospitalized children. The Bureau of Smiles and Support is a hospital clowning initiative established in 2023 by Olha Bulkina, 35, and Maryna Berdar, 39 who already had more than five years of hospital clowning experience between them. "Our mission is to let childhood continue regardless of the circumstances," Bulkina told The Associated Press. The organization took on new significance following a Russian missile strike on Okhmatdyt Chiildren's Hospital in Kyiv in July. The attack on Ukraine's largest pediatric facility forced the evacuation of dozens of young patients, including those with cancer, to other hospitals in the capital - and the clowns did not stand aside. Together with first responders, Berdar and Bulkina helped with clearing the rubble after the attack and attended to the children who were relocated to other facilities. But even for them, the real heroes there were young patients. "When the children were evacuated from Okhmatdyt after the missile attack, many of them, were in extremely difficult medical conditions, but even in this situation they tried to support the adults," said Berdar, recalling the events after the strike. The hospital clowns, who use traditional clown noses and bright costumes, are now visiting multiple hospitals in the Ukrainian capitol region, including the National Cancer Institute, where patient numbers have surged after the Okhmatdyt attack. Tetiana Nosova, 22, and Vladyslava Kulinich, 22, are volunteer hospital clowns who go by Zhuzha and Lala and joined the organization more than a year ago.
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| Tetiana Nostova is a volunteer from the Bureau of Smiles and Support, who plays a ukulele as she stands with Michael Bilyk, who is held by his mother Antonina and Kira Vertetska, 8 at Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine. |
Mr. James Earl Jones - A great author, a great voice! 1931-2024
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| Mr. James Earl Jones |
It was an ordinary day. Reading an article written about Mr. James Earl Jones...A great actor and a great voice, Because everybody knows who Star Wars' Darth Vader is, nearly every mainstream news report of James Earl Jones' death must lead with that role. But Jones, who was born in Mississippi in 1931 and died on September 9, did so much more - he WAS so much more. He worked so frequently - in movies, theater, and TV - and that we can only believe he truly loved his craft. Jones was nominated for an Oscar only once, for his starring role in Martin Roitt's 1970 boxing drama "The Great White Hope". In 1969, for playing the same role on Broadway, he'd won his first Tony Award; another came in 1987, for his performance as Troy Maxson in August Wilson's Fences. Jones also won three Emmys and a Grammy, and in 2011, he at last received an honorary Oscar, a way of recognizing his expansive film achievements. Though Jones was a contemporary of actors like Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte, his career didn't reach the same heights; for too long, America had room for only so many Black stars - a lack of imagination that is all of our loss. But Jones brought the deepest kind of pleasure to audiences. His sonorous baritone -- which he's cultivated as a young student seeking to control his stuttering -- gave life to the dramatic complexity of Darth Vader, as well as to the paternal nobility of Mufasa in both movie versions of The Lion King. How to choose a favorite among Jones' movie performances? Here are two possibilities: his turn as the waggish sanitation worker Roop, who woos Diahann Carrol in the 1974 Claudine, and his dual role as a scientist and a fever version of an African shaman in John Boorman's 1977 Exorcist II: The Heretic. Though people hooted at The Heretic upon its release, Jones is astonishing. Glowering from beneath a gonzo locust headdress, he not only holds your attention, he locks you in his dream. That's what a great actor can do, and sometimes it's everything. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
300 Years Later...The Story Of Bylerland Mennonite Church
It was an ordinary day. It was an ordinary day. Three hundred years ago, a small community of immigrants fleeing religious persecution in Germany and Switzerland came to the region near Pequea Creek in what is now Willow Street in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The religious refugees formed Byerland Mennonite Church, one of the original Mennonite Congregations in Lancaster County. Recently the church members, including descendants from the original congregation gathered to celebrate three centuries of worship, struggle, challenges and perseverance. Congregation members Melvin Reitz and Joyce Zimmerman described the church's history from the arrival of Mennonites into the area in the early 18th century - when Lancaster was known as Hickorytown - through to the current day. "It's interesting how, after 300 years, some things remain the same - only different," Reitz said. Originally, services were held in the homes of congregation members until a 20-by-14 footlong cabin was constructed around 1747 on land owned by Mennonite Samuel Boyer.
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| Original deed to the land |
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| Byerland Mennonite historic church cemetery |
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| Church pastor Matthew Bye leads the congregation in worship. |
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
"A Point To Ponder!"
It was an ordinary day. Reading my latest "Reader's Digest" one last time, in case I missed something important, when I can across a one-page story that featured a colored photo of one of my favorite authors, James Patterson. His story read: In America we urge everyone over the age of 18 to vote, but only 15% of voters read books. Only 15% of us perform the life-affirming, sanity-bolstering, empathy-forming act of spending time inside somebody else's brain. Fortunately....in spite of cellphones, in spite of online gambling, in spite of the current storm of shortsighted politics -- the habit of reading books is not yet on the brink of extinction. Not Yet! Today's booksellers and librarians are not the sitcom stereotypes who give judgy looks when someone brings the latest bestseller to the counter, or who will shush an overenthusiastic teen to churchy quiet from 60 yards away. Today's booksellers and librarians are extraordniarily good at understanding and motivating. Armed with empathy, wit and professional training, they take the confused, the fearful, the frustrated, and help them become more keen-eyed, sharp-eared and justice-attuned. What they do is crucial for their country, especially right now. They understand in their hearts and souls that in the beginning was the word. Day after day, they find the right book for the right person, and in so doing, they help save people's--and our collective--lives. And maybe our sanity. A "Point To Ponder" was written by James Patterson, one of my favorite authors and writers. One of his latest books is: "The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories Of The Magic Of Reading!" It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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| James Patterson |
Voting In 'Fat Bear Week' Begins
It was an ordinary day. Today's story takes place in Anchorage, Alaska. This past Wednesday, voting started in the annual Fat Bear Week contest at Alaska's Katmai National Park and Preserve, with viewers picking their favorite among a dozen brain bears fattened up to survive the winter. The contest, which is in its 10th year, celebrates the resiliency of the 2,200 brown bears that live in the preserve on the Alaska Peninsula, which extends from the state's southwest corner toward the Aleutian Islands. The animals gorge on the abundant sockeye salmon that return to the Brooks River, sometimes chomping the fish in midair as they try to hurdle a small waterfall and make their way upstream to spawn. Organizers introduced this year's contestants on Tuesday - a day late - because one anticipated participant, a female known as Bear 402, was killed by a male bear during a fight Monday. Cameras set up in the park to livestream footage of the bears all Sumer captured the killing, as they also captured a male bear killing a cub that lipped over the waterfall in late July. "National parks like Kaatmai protect not only the wonders of nature, but also the harsh realities," park spokesperson Matt Johnson said in a statement. "Each bear seen on the webcams I competing with others to survive." The nonprofit explore.org, which streams the uncensored bear campers and helps organize Fat Bear Week, on Monday hosted a live conversation about the death. Katmai National park ranger Sarah Bruce said it wan't known why the bears started fighting. "We love to celebrate the success of bears with full stomachs and ample body fat, but the ferocity of bears is real," said Mike Fitz, explore.org's resident naturalist. "The risks that they face are real. Their lives can be hard, and their deaths can be painful." The bracket this year features 12 bears, with eight facing off again each other in the first round and four receiving byes to the second round. They've been packing on the pounds all summer. Adult male brown bears thpicallyweigh. 600 to 900 pound ini midsummer. By the time they are ready to hibernate after feasting n migrating and spawning salmon - each eats as many s 30 fish per day - large males cn weigh well over 1,000 pounds. Females are about one-third smaller. When fans vote in each round, they shouldn't only consider the bear with the biggest belly. Bear fans are instructed too vote n the ursine that they believe "best exemplifies fatness and success in brown bears." Bear 909 Jr., who last week won the Fat Bear Junior competition for the second time, will face Bear 519, a young female, in the first found. The winner will face the defending champion, Grazer, described as one of the most formidable bears on the river. Another first-round match pits Bear 903, an 8-year-old male who's given the nickname Gully after he developed a taste for seagulls, against Bear 909, the mother of Bear 909 Jr. The winner faces a two-time champion, a bear so large he was given the number of the equally massive airplane, Bear 747. In the other half of the bracket, the first-round match has Bear 856, an older male and one of the most recognizable bears on the river because of his large body, challenging a newcomer, Bear 504, a mother bear raising her second known litter. The winner will face perhaps the largest bear on the river, 32 Chunk, a 20-year-old male who once devoured 42 salmon in 10 hours. He's estimated to weigh more than 1,200 pounds. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
Bear 32 Chunk
Monday, October 7, 2024
Lancaster's Properties At Risk! Part I
It was an ordinary day. Driving around Lancaster County, Pennsylvania taking a few photos of buildings that will soon be gone! For those who live in the city of Lancaster, they already know that we have lost our historical Gunzenhauser Bakery and the historic Reist House, a farmhouse that dated back to 1795. There are many more historic buildings throughout the county, some abandoned, some divided, some threatened by development that will be lost in the near future if we don't do something to stop their destruction. A few of the more historical buildings were featured in my local newspaper this past September. As I read about them I felt I should begin to document these places in case someday soon they might be totally destroyed. The first two that I decided to take photos of and write about are the Roslyn Mansion on North President Ave. and the Hoober-Eby Barn which sits along Route 501N along the Lititz Pike near the Manheim Township High School in Neffsville. Both are in need of some work, but destroying them, as a few other beautiful buildings were in the past, is a crime to society. My guess that the main reason the old buildings aren't preserved is the cost. I'm sure that the cost to renovate and/or preserve a large old stone home or a huge wooden barn must be tremendous and probably the price to destroy the building and rebuild it is probably less money, but these old buildings are a piece of the history of Lancaster County. They can never be replaced as they once stood! And...I certainly don't have the money to help in their reconstruction. Maybe some day we will be able to find a way to renovate and make new again the old decaying properties that are so historical to Lancaster County. I, for one, certainly don't care to have an ALL-NEW Lancaster County!
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and built in 1896. The main mansion has been renovated. The 4,000-square- foot carriage house had a restoration setback when a wall collapsed in 2020 during construction. The building has since been stabilized, but the work is still incomplete. Here's hoping it will be done soon and not demolished! |
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| The Hoober-Eby Barn at 2797 Lititz Pike has a brick foundation and sits next to an assisted care facility and señor community. If either property expands, the large barn could be threatened. Is the cost too much to restore it? |
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| The entrance to the barn with the date listed on the stone. |
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| One final house is located at 907 Lititz Pike in Warwick Township. This small home sits very close to the Lititz Pike and underneath the modern siding is an 19th-century structure, possibly older. Road construction could endanger houses like this. How do we go about preserving homes such as this...or do we just tear them down and build anew? How sad!! |
Sunday, October 6, 2024
1 + 1 = MORE(or LESS) Story
It was an ordinary day. Reading a story titled 1+1=More (or LESS). But...why does one plus one equal More? One possible answer is 'it just does!" That is really a variation on "Because I said so!" - and answer that has been frustrating children for generations. It is quite right to feel frustrated by that idea. Math can seem like a world of rules you just have to follow, which makes it seem rigid and boring. Whereas my love of math is somewhat driven by my love of breaking rules, or at least pushing against them. both of those impulses play an important role in advancing human understanding, and in particular mathematical understanding. So other than think about why one plus one is two, let's go a little further and question whether it's even true all the time. Sometimes, one plus one can equal more than two. If you have enough cash on you to buy one cup of coffee, and your friend has enough to buy one, then together you still might have enough to buy three. Because if you have 1.5 or even 1.9 times the money needed for a cup of coffee, that still only gets you one cup on your own. One plus one can also equal more than two because of reproduction: Say you put one rabbit and another rabbit together. You might well end up with a lot of rabbits. Or sometimes it's because the things you're adding together are more complicated : If one pair of tennis players gets together with another pair for an afternoon of tennis, there ends up being more than pairs of tennis players because they could play each other in all sorts of different combinations. If the first pair are called A and B, and the second pair are called C and D, then we have the following pairs in total: AB, AC, AD, BC, BD, CD. So one pair of tennis payers plus another pair makes six pairs. Sometimes, one plus one is just one, like if you put a pile of sand on top of another pile of sand, then you get one pile of sand. Or, as an art student of mine pointed out, if you mix one color with one color, you get one color. Or, as I saw in an amusing meme, if you put a lasagna on top of another lasagna, it's still just one lasagna (a taller one). And, in some situations, one plus one is actually zero. If I say "I'm not not hungry," that means "I'm hungry," Some children find it very funny to say "I'm not not not not not not not not not not not hungry!" and dissolve into hysterics because they know nobody has been able to keep track of how many times they said "not." The point here is that one "not" plus one "not" is the same as zero "nots." Now, you might thing that these aren't really situations in which one plus one equals something else, because they aren't really addition, or because those aren't really numbers. You're welcome to think that, but that's not what math does. Math instead says: Let's work out the context in which one plus one really does equal two, and contexts in which it doesn't. And in doing so, we'll understand something about the world more deeply than we did before. Math isn't really about getting the right answer; it's about building good justifications. This gets implemented in schools as children needing to learn different "strategies" for doing the same thing, and I often hear parents complaining how pointless this is because if they can do something one way, why do they need to know all these other ways? But, having different ways to think about something constitutes a deeper understanding of that thing, and it gives you more ways to check that what you're doing is secure. Imagine we were designing a jungle gym for children. We'd want to test it in every possible way to make sure it's safe. We wouldn't test it by just playing on it in sensible ways: We'd want to jump on it, swing from it, bash into it, fall from it, and try to pull it out of the ground, rather than simply trusting that we built it well. The solidity of math comes from not wanting to trust things, but wanting to jump and swing and know that our framework will hold up. One of the reasons the framework is so strong is precisely because we question it so deeply. I hope that we will start seeing mathematics as a place to pose questions and explore answers, rather than a place where the answers are fixed and were supposed to know them. And I hope we will place more emphasis on those who are curious, and who follow their curiosity on a journey that may be slow and without a clear destination, a quiet walk through the countryside rather than a race to the finish. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
"I Know A Story...Knowing Everyone's Business On Town Party Line" Story
It was an ordinry day. In the village of Oregon, during the years when party lines were the means of phone communication, some like to listen in on news and gossip. About 5 miles north of Lancaster lies this little town of Oregon, with a dozen houses - including two very attractive Victorian houses - a church that seats about a hundred people, a hotel that originally was a stagecoach inn, a two-room schoolhouse, and a stone mill powered by a dam and millrace. This is the town from which Oregon Pike got its name. My future wife spent most of her growing-up years in this town. Telephone communications were somewhat crude in those days, and most telephone customers had a "party-line." In Oregon, the party line could handle up to eight customers, although most did not have more than six. That means that six customers could hear what any of the other five customers were saying. To identify which customer a phone call was for, there were different rings. The phone could give a long followed by a short ring and pause and then repeat the same signal. Or it could be a short followed by a long, or two longs or two shorts or any combination that could be recognized. The customer was supposed to answer only those calls that were intended for him. Other customers who were not quite certain might answer to determine if it was for them. When any customer picked up the receiver, anyone on the line could hear a click and could also hear a click when he hung up. Telephone customers could buy a private line if one was available or wait for one to become available. Or they could get a line with only two or four other customers, if available. These all cost more. And some people loved their party lines; they would sit and listen to the news and gossip of Oregon. My mother-in-law lived in Oregon and knew of one customer, in particular, who was famous for tuning in. Everybody on the line knew her by name and actions. One day my mother-in-law was talking on the phone and heard the "click," which was not followed by the hang-up click. She knew! After a while, she said, "Mrs. ***, it's for me. Please hang up!" Nothing happened after several repeats of the request. Finally, a voice said: "Ach, sista net Mich." ("Oh, it's not me."). It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
The "Get It Twisted Story"
It was an ordinary day. Opened my latest Reader's Digest and there on page 17 was the photograph of a big pretzel. Not just any pretzel, but one that had been made in the small town of Lititz, Pennsylvania, a 15 minute drive from my home. The story was titled "Get It Twisted" and was written by Emily Tyra. The tale of the pretzel's enduring populararty crisscrosses a medieval monk with a modern mall mogul, with a lot of twists and turns in between. The story began around 610 C.E., when a monk in northern Italy braided ropes of bread dough to resemble crosssed arms in prayer. He baked the treats until golden and gave them as rewards to his students at the monastery. That iconic knot shape became popular with bakers in Europe during the Middle Ages, and Germans especially took to the art of pretzel twisting. Starting as early as the 12th Century, German bakers hung pretzel-shaped signs. above their doorways as a symbol that you could find fresh baked breads inside," says Saveur writer Ben Craig, adding, "Pretzels were once so special that medieval painters would dab a few on the table of the "Last Supper." Germans brought a passion for pretzels to the New World, especially to Pennsylvania Dutch country, which is a misnomer for Pennsylvania Deutsch. The state produces roughly 80% of the pretzels sold in the United States today. The country's first commercial pretzel bakery opened in 1861 in Lititz, outside of Lancaster. Its founder, German-born Julius Sturgis, claimed to create the first hard pretzels -- made crisp so they could be stored for long periods without going stale. Sturgis's descendants still make hard pretzels at their factory in Reading, Pennsylvania. This twisting tale isn't complete without homage to "Auntie" Anne Beier, who started selling hand-rolled soft pretzels in 1988 at a Pennsylvania farmer's market to help fund her husband's dream of providing free family counseling services for their community. Auntie Anne's is now the largest hand-rolled soft pretzel franchise in the world, with over 1,700 locations. Now....for a cameo from actor Adam "Happy" Shapiro. The Philly native became pretzel vendor to the stars during the pandemic, when he perfected a Philly-style soft pretzel and offered it from his Los Angeles driveway to friends. His pretzel pop-up became a Hollywood hit - and a bona fide business. "Happy" pretzels were given out at the 2023 Academy Awards, and Kristen Bell, Ryan Seacrest and Tyra Banks all professed their love. Feeling starstruck? There is no twist ending here. Just an abiding admiration for a doughy delicacy with Old World traditions, all wrapped up with a bow. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
Saturday, October 5, 2024
The "'Nibi Is Searching For A New Home" Story
It was an ordinary day. Opened my morning newspaper and there on page A2 was a photo of this handsome young....BEAVER. Not the guy that used to be on "Leave It To Beaver," but the beaver known as "Nibi". Her story read.... Whether a 2-year-old beaver named Nibi gets to stay with the rescuers she was known since she was a baby or must be released into the wild as winter approaches in Massachusetts has ended up in court - and caused such an uproar that even the governor has weighed in. "To literally see people from around the world come together to protect this beaver is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen in my life," said Adam Teper, an attorney representing Nibi's rescuers. A judge on Tuesday said that for now, Nibi will be allowed to stay in her home at Newhouse Wildlife Rescue in Chelmsford, located northwest of Boston. A hearing has been set for Friday in the case the rescuers filed against Mass-Wildlife, the state's division of fisheries and wildlife, to stop the release. Nibi has been a hit on the rescue group's social media since she was a baby, and posts about her impending release garnered thousands of comments. An online petition to save Nibi from being released has received over 25,000 signatures, lawmakers have weighed in, and this week Gov. Maura Healey pledged to make sure Nibi is protected. Jane Newhouse, the rescue group's founder and president, said that after Nibi was found on the side of the road, they tried to reunite her with very beavers who could have been her parents but were unsuccessful. After that, attempts to get her to bond with other beavers also didn't work. "It's very difficult to consider releasing her when she only seems to like people and seems to have no interest in being wild or bonding with any of her own species," Newhouse said. Nibi has a large enclosure with a pool at the rescue operation and will also wander in its yard in a rehabilitation space, Newhouse said. "She pretty much has full run of the place. Everybody on my team is in love with her," she said. Newhouse said she has asked MassWildlife if she could get a permit for Nibi to become an educational beaver to schools, libraries and town halls. But, she said, with the recent denial of that permission came the ordered release of Nibi. MassWildlife said Thursday that it is "committed to protecting the well-being of all wildlife, including Nibi the beaver." It added that Nibi "will remain in place at this time" as agency officials 'work with Newhouse Wildlife Rescue on the best steps forward." Newhouse said her fear is that a release would mean certified death for her beloved "diva" beaver, who doesn't know how to live in the wild. "It doesn't give her much time to figure out how to build a lodge for the first time, how to build dams for the first time, how to store all of her food before winter sets in," she said. Newhouse said that beavers usually leave their parents between the ages of 2 and 3, so it's possible that over the next year Nibi will show more interest in wanting to be in the wild. But unless that happens, she wants to keep her safe. "She loves her life here," Newhouse said. "She's spoiled rotten, and she's got lots of room to run around and her own little pond, all the food, fruit, veggies, nuts, berries she wants." What do you think? I could keep her in my Villa at Woodcrest Villas, but...I'm not quite sure they would go for that. Than again...I could try it and not say anything to anyone about it! As long as she's quiet...it might work. Perhaps my two cats, Snickerdoodle and The Gray Lady might like to have a new friend....a beaver! Nah! That would never work! Oh well! Here's hoping that Nibi will find a good home and get a chance to live out her life in the company of friends in her own little pond with all the food, fruit, veggies, nuts and berries she wants! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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| "Nibi" The Beaver |
Friday, October 4, 2024
"Pennsylvania Starts Disbursing Millions To Student Teachers" Story
It was an ordinary day. The proverbial check is in the mail for more than 2,000 future educators seeking support from Pennsylvania's high-demand stipend program to support student teachers. The commonwealth allocated $30 million this year to fund the second go-round of the Student Teacher Support Program introduced by the Shapiro administration. After an initial $10 million allocation in 2023, lawmakers in the General Assembly agreed to raise the program's funding by an additional $20 million in this year's budget; The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency is tasked with administering the program. According to PHEAA, 2,052 applicants were selected to receive $10,000 stipends. A total of 4,125 applications were received as of Wednesday. "Disbursements will be done on a rolling basis. We anticipate that we will be scheduling them weekly as we start out and then eventually they will run as needed," said Bethany Coleman, PHEAA's vice president of public relations, communications and marketing. The Shapiro administration has prioritized reinvigorating varied labor pools of what they view as critical workers including nurses, police officers and classroom teachers. One way is through supporting student teachers who are required by law to work a 12-week, unpaid placement in schools toward obtaining certification; Most applicants to the stipend program will receive $10,000. Some are eligible for $15,000 for working in schools with high needs or a high rate of classroom vacancies. Classroom mentors are eligible for up to $2,500 for supporting the student teachers. To receive a stipend, recipients must commit to teaching in Pennsylvania for three years after they've been certified. About 700 applicants shared the initial $10 million allocated to the program last year. It wasn't nearly enough. The Pennsylvania State Education Association said 3,500 student teachers applied within the first three hours, indicating heavy interest and need. Some advocates estimated the program would need as much as $75 million to fully fund all requests. PHEAA has put that figure at $445 million. "There is a real need to invest in our student teachers. We saw how many people applied last year when we made these stipends avaiable for the first time ever," Gov. Josh Shapiro said. "So in the bipartisan budget I signed into law this Summer, we doubled the amount of funding available for student-teacher stipends in Pennsylvania. "This is a commonsense investment to make sure student teachers are fairly compensated for their work - and it will help lower the barriers that keep Pennsylvanians from pursuing a teaching degree, so we can get more dedicated, qualified teachers into our classrooms," he said. As for me, I student taught in a high school in York County, Pennsylvania in 1966 in the wood shop. I had over a half-hour drive to reach the school. I had to supply my own lunch and the clothes that I needed for my student teaching. I received "ZERO" for any of my expenses. But, I wasn't expecting to be paid, since I wasn't a full-fledged teacher....yet! Why student teachers who are in the classroom now need to receive a stipend...well, I'm not sure why they get the money. They knew when they chose to be a teacher that they would need to do student teaching, so I believe they didn't need to be paid. But, that's my thought on the subject. Anyway...It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
The Story Of "Issei Noodle!"
