The "Who Wouldn't Love A Vette?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Headed to Mt. Joy on busy Route 283W to pick up a few boxes of envelopes that I intend to print this coming weekend for the Manheim Township School District.  On my way home I decided to take a more scenic route and headed through the town of Mt. Joy which lies perhaps 12 miles from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  

Row of Vettes that caught my attention in Mt. Joy.

I had just about reached the eastern end of Mt. Joy when something caught my eye.  A racing yellow 2018 Corvette at Whitmoyer Chevrolet.  Got into the left turn lane and headed into the lot to see the car that was one of six Vettes lined up side by side.  

Vette Magazine photo and story about
my '87 red Vette.  

It was back in the late 1990s that I bought a 1987 bright red Corvette.  At the time I was going through some medical problems and my wife, Carol, suggested we buy a Corvette.  Thought it might make me feel better.  Boy, was she right.  I wrote a story about the Vette and sent it, along with a photo she took of me next to it, to Vette Magazine which they published in their "Me and My Vette" section of the magazine.  We spent a few years touring with the Lancaster County Corvette Club and entering weekly car shows as well as taking trips to the shore in our dream car.  Eventually the thrill wore off and the insurance as well as the cost of maintenance grew harder to pay, so we sold the car.  

Carol and I riding on the Ocean City, Maryland Boardwalk.

Sold it to my next door neighbor who told me I could still use it whenever I wanted to take it for a spin.  Took him up on it many times.  Almost like still having it, but without the responsi- bility of owning it.  Every year when the next Vettes arrived, I usually stopped at a Chevy dealer to take a look at the new models.  Well, the 2018 model focuses on challenging the greatest supercars in the world.  I pulled into an empty space and headed to the racing yellow Vette.  

LDub with his new dream car, the 2018 Vette.

The Z07 package it carries features Brembo ceramic brakes, special suspension, Grand Sport black aluminum wheels, a carbon flash badge package and carbon flash painted mirrors which added $16,530 to the price.  List price with options was $81,980.  Add the destination charges to it and the total cost was $82,975.00.  Made my used 1987 at a cost of $12,500 seem like a bargain.  I went up and down the row of Vettes, admiring each one with their different add-ons and paint jobs.  

Exhaust pipes and neat taillights highlight the rear of the Vette.

Just then a salesman arrived and we began to talk.  Asked me why I was driving a Honda CRV instead of the Vette in front of me.  I was at a loss for an answer for him.  Asked him if he could take a photo of me in front of the yellow Vette and he obliged.  After a few photos I reluctantly got back in the CRV and headed home.  One more look at my photos with Carol and I was ready to put the car on the back burner.  They are certainly a fabulous piece of mechanical engineering, but just wouldn't fit in the driveway of a retirement community home.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Drivers side of the Vette.

Even from the rear the car looks like it is motion.

The "Atypical Nevus Is Removed" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Making yet another visit to my dermatologist for my bi-yearly checkup.  My visits began years ago when I noticed a few red marks on my arm and someone said, "You ought to get them checked out."  I have a family history of skin cancer with my mother having been diagnosed numerous times with melanoma, the grand-daddy of skin cancer.  She always seemed to be visiting her doctor for removal of something.  So, about 30 years ago I also began yearly visits which have now been changed to bi-yearly visits.  With a recent realization that I have the BRCA2 gene mutation, which is a precursor to skin cancer, my dermatologist is very observant of any change in my skin formations.  I guess I should tell you that when I was a child my parents, along with most of my friends' parents, never thought to put lotion on me to protect my skin from the sun.  And, when they did put something on my skin, it was baby oil which acted as a magnifier of the suns rays on my skin.  My recent visit yielded 13 spots that required the use of the dreaded liquid nitrogen to freeze pre-cancerous spots on my face and head.  But, one other spot on my back had to be removed with a scalpel so it could be tested to see if it was more serious than expected.  

Dr. Lucking numbed the spot, took a circular sample and placed a bandage on the spot.  She pulled a brochure off her shelf and told me she was treating this latest spot as an Atypical Nevus.  She said she would call in a week to tell me the results of the test.  The brochure was produced by the American Academy of Dermatology and told me exactly what an Atypical Nevus is and how it should be treated.  The word "atypical" means "not like the rest."  "Nevus" is the medical term for "mole."  Thus, a mole that doesn't look like the rest of the moles I may have on my body.  Now, the brochure says that Atypical moles are not cancerous, but some people who have these moles have a higher risk of getting melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer.  Atypical moles come in many shapes and sizes and is often larger than other moles.  Often they have more than one color and can be fuzzy around the edges.  A trained eye, such as what Dr. Lucking has, can pick they out immediately.  That's why you should have a dermatologist if you have a family history of skin cancer or never used protection when out in the sun.  

The Atypical Nevus has been removed.

A week later I got the call and was told to come back in another week to have more removed.  The procedure is simple and doesn't hurt at all.  A needle was used to numb the spot, which happened to be on my upper back, and a scapel was used to cut deeper to remove all traces of the mole.  A few stitches were needed to close the skin deep in my back and a few more stitches were used to close the wound on the surface.  In all she needed 11 stitches.  That was until I sat up and tore a few stitches in the process.  More stitches and finally a bandage was placed on the wound and I had to replace it every day when I showered.  I was told to place Vaseline on the wound to keep the stitches soft.  After two weeks I returned and had the stitched removed.  I had torn a few more of the stitches due to my movement while working and sleeping.  Skin cancer can kill you, so you need to be proactive with your health and have a full-body screening beginning at puberty.  Examine your own skin monthly and schedule routine appointments if you find anything.  A fellow teacher of mine died at a very young age when the mole on her back was found to be melanoma.  The sad part was that she never knew she had it until it was too late.  Take care of your skin.  It is your body's largest and fastest-growing organ.  It is the body's coat which protects you from heat and cold.  It keeps your insides in and keeps other stuff out.   And, it's an easy doctor's visit away from being kept safe.  Dr. Lucking tells me that all the time.  And, I am a believer!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "God Help Those Who Must Visit With This Every Day!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Parked the car on West King Street, plugged the meter, grabbed my camera and headed east, looking for a few architectural photographs for a story I am writing on architecture of the alphabet.  Walked two blocks east, taking photos of buildings on both sides of the street.  Finally reached the center of Lancaster, crossed the street and began my walk back towards my car.  The historic city of Lancaster, which is one of the oldest inland cities in the United States, is loaded with beautiful architecture from a variety of countries and time periods.  I had walked about half a block west when I came upon a scene I have read about many times in our local newspaper.  There in an side street known as Market Alley, which leads to Lancaster's historic Central Market, was a young girl laying on the cobblestones with a few of her friends surrounding her.  It was obvious that she was in distress with a blank look on her half-open eyes.  One of the young men with her looked at me and asked me what should they do.  "Did anyone dial 911?" I asked them.  Someone pulled out their phone and dialed.  One girl and one guy were knelling next to the girl, trying to place something under her head so it was off the hard stone surface.  Another was brushing the hair from her eyes.  By now her eyes were vacant with movement that showed the whites of her eyes.  

Photo I snapped as I headed away from the stressful scene.

I couldn't look anymore and walked away from them, hoping to hear sirens in the distance.  It seemed an eternity, but an ambulance came up King Street and one of the group waved it to the curb.  Out stepped the two paramedics who casually walked toward the young woman on the ground.  It was obvious by now that they had seen this same situation over and over again in the past.   One looked at her, without getting closer, walked back to the ambulance and grabbed something from his medic's kit.  It was at this point that I continued my trip back to my car, knowing I couldn't help,  not wanting to see the eyes of the young girl any longer.  The following morning I searched the newspaper for a story, police blurb or maybe even a small line telling about what had happened that beautiful day in one of the most beautiful cities in the United States.  My guess is that what had happened to this young girl has become so common-place all over the globe that it doesn't even make the daily newspaper anymore.  Many headlines tell the story of the drug Narcan which can be administered as a nasal spray when indicated for emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose.  And, even I, as old and inexperienced as I may be, knew as soon as I came upon the scene in the alleyway, exactly what had happened.  And, it will probably happen more than once again today as I write this story.  How many people will opioids kill in Lancaster today or this week.  How many have died this past year.  I constantly look at the ages of those who make the obituary page every day and wonder how many died of a drug overdose.  How sad.  And why does it have to happen?  I know I will never be able to wipe the look of that young girl from my memory, even though it was only a five-second glance that fateful day.  How can these paramedics do this day after day?  God bless all those who treat these people of all ages who succumb to the temptation of opioids for they must find it hard to close their eyes at night and not see that blank stare!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Plant A Tree For Me!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  The last Friday in April and it's Arbor Day.  The very first Arbor Day was held in the small Spanish village of Mondonedo in 1595.  The first documented arbor plantation festival in the world was organized by the Mayor of Mondenedo and today the town is still covered with lime and horse-chestnut trees.  A small granite marker and bronze plate still mark the event.  210 years later the first modern Arbor Day was held in the small Spanish village of Villanueva de la Sierra by the local priest who was assisted by the entire population of the village.  

Children planting trees in 1800.

The first American Arbor Day originated in Nebraska City, Nebraska by J. Sterling Morton on April 10, 1872 when close to 1,000,000 trees were planted in Nebraska.  Then in the early 1900s Major Israel McCreight of DuBois, Pennsylvania said that President Theodore Roosevelt's conservation speeches were limited to those in the lumber industry and recommended a campaign of youth education on conservation.  

Mr. Julius Sterling Morton.

Mr. McCreight urged President Roosevelt to speak to school children about the destruction of American forests.  Conserva- tionist Gifford Pinchot who was the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service also asked the President to speak to public school children about conservation.  On April 15, 1907, President Roosevelt issued an Arbor Day Proclamation to the school children of the United States about the importance of trees and that forestry should be taught in U.S. schools.  So, what do you do to celebrate Arbor Day?  Plant a tree?  Did you know that one large tree can provide a day's supply of oxygen for up to four people.  Did you also know that 20% of the world's oxygen is produced in the Amazon Rainforest.   And, did you know that carefully positioning trees around your home can reduce a household's energy consumption for heating and cooling by up to 25%.  

Trees, the lifeblood of the world.

This past Wednesday in my Lancaster morning newspaper was a story about a new program that will plant 10,000,000 new trees in Pennsyl- vania over the next seven years with Lancaster County being the epicenter for the project.  In the past I have mentioned that Lancaster County is known as the "Garden Spot of America" and this is one more example of why it is known as such.  The Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership is being called one of the most ambitious environmental restoration efforts in state history.  Many of the trees will be planted to establish buffer strips along farmland streams to reduce runoff as well as along urban streets to stem stormwater flooding.  Pennsylvania is allocating $800,000 to get the program started.  The kickoff to the campaign was held in Lancaster, since Lancaster County has been cited as one of the major reasons for soil and nutrient farm runoff which is affecting the nearby Chesapeake Bay.  Nutrients spur algae that rob the water of oxygen needed for aquatic life.  The trees may help curb that runoff.  I'm not sure if the announcement of the tree plantings had anything to due with Arbor Day, but it looks as if it was coordinated to fall at the same time.  Well, I hope you enjoy your Arbor Day and maybe plant just a flower or so if you don't plan to plant a new tree in your yard or along your front curb.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "Trouble In Amish Land" Story

It was an ordinary day.  At one time it was ordinary, but today there is a problem in "The Garden Spot Of America".  For years now I have told of the outstanding farmland that is found in Lancaster, Pennsylvania where the majority of farmland belongs to The Amish and Mennonite Sects.  

Amish spreading manure on their fields.

Well, the farmland is still there, and probably will forever be there, but it seems that the farmland may be the reason for my story today,  Lancaster County, PA has just been ranked as 8th worst in the nation in annual soot!  For those not knowing what soot might be, it is fine particulate matter floating in the air.  And, how does Lancaster County get those high amounts of soot to make it 8th worst in the nation?  The answer is the "Big 3": cows, cars and coal.  

Many industrial complexes in Lancaster look like this.

On many of those farms you will find cows and other similar animals that emit ammonia from manure (poop) and urine.  That's never going to go away in pastoral Lancaster County and I suppose and hope that the emissions laws for motorized vehicles using petroleum products for their power source, that were recently ordered changed from the past Presidential administration to the current administration that now allows less efficient smog controls, will be returned to past policies.  But, Lancaster also happens to be in an unfortunate geographical location downwind of pollution generated by power plants to the west and such large cities such as Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Harrisburg and Washington, D.C.  Depending on the direction the wind may be blowing on any one day, it could easily change the reading used to rank counties in the testing.  As I examined the article more closely I realized that the ranking is based on statistics taken from 2014-2016.  Now what sense does that make?  

Brunner Island now is using natural gas instead of coal.

That's more than a year ago and doesn't take into considera- tion that since 2016, nearby Brunner Island in York County, who has been cited many times for excess pollution and whose fumes pass frequently over next-door neighbor Lancaster County, has been changing from coal to natural gas to produce electricity.  Pollution can travel for miles and miles as was noted when a wildfire in Albert, Canada in 2016 caused the smog levels in Lancaster County to spike significantly. Might have been the day that the readings were taken in Lancaster County that led to the poor readings and thus the poor ranking.   I guess I should tell you I am upset about all the smog and soot produced in and around Lancaster County, since close to 40% of those living in Lancaster County are either considered children (under 18) or seniors (over 65).  

Red-headed woodpeckers from the late 1800s to present day
are lined up in chronological order to show the difference of black
carbon, known as soot, on their feathers.  This photo is from
the Field Museum in Chicago.  Photo by Tristan Spinski.

And, I have personally noticed a change in my respiratory conditions in the past few years.  My nose runs non-stop many days which leads to constant mucus in my throat which leads to more spitting which leads to many more "That's gross" comments from my wife.  Air pollution is known to lead to premature death and can cause a variety of lung and heart diseases.  It is a big problem for those with diabetes, adult asthma, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pediatric asthma and new lung cancer cases.  Why can't we solve all the problems?  Money!!  Jobs!!  Politics!!  Want to name a few yourself.  

Barbara, a friend of Carol and mine, lives in
Sint Maarten and sent this photo of the dump
that has been burning for over 10 years.

Carol and I have friends on the island of Sint Maarten who have been battling a nearby municipal dump that has been burning for years and years. They now need to stay inside or wear a mask depending upon which way the wind blows.  The dump is right next to the capital town of Philipsburg.  They have written letters to just about everyone they can think of  including the top officials in the Netherlands which controls the island.  They have received no help!  The dump is close to the cruise port where thousands of tourists depart to visit Philipsburg daily.  What can they do?  Again: Money, politics, etc.  Here's hoping that Lancaster County will be able to solve their problems so those of us who are most affected due to age can live pollution free.  Maybe it will happen in my lifetime, but I'm not counting on it.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

PS - The following 2 letters were sent by residents, including my friend Barbara, to those who can do something about pollution on the island.  Now it is up to those in power to actually do something about it.  Just as in the United States, we only hope the government will take the concerns of the citizens to heart and do something.  If not...get new people in charge during elections.

A more recent view of the dump and the air quality.

                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                     February 6, 2018

His Excellency Eugene Holiday 

Governor of Sint Maarten

Falcon Drive 3

Harbour View

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten

Mr. Chris Johnson 

Office of the Dutch Representative in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten

Your Excellency,  

The Sint Maarten Pride foundation, a community environmental nonprofit foundation, has been noting frequent violent landfill fires that have been flaring up before and after hurricane Irma. Even more worrisome is the violent flare up of the second Irma dump on February 4th. 

Our Group has noted that our local government has made no headway with a project of a modern waste to energy plant, or a plan of shipping waste off island.

Our concern is that it is well known that the landfill has reached its expiration date several years ago and instead of our government placing this issue as a high priority of finding a long-term solution, government instead created a second landfill dumping area. 

This situation is exasperated by the mass waste of post hurricane Irma where not only regular household waste is discarded but also combustible containers and materials that should not be dumped on landfills due to their fire flammable dangers. 

Your excellency, our group is appealing to you as we have lost faith and trust in our local government in ensuring that our citizens health is secured. In fact we are worried that our children and adults are exposed to this environmental hazard and the toxins every single day. The landfill is constantly smoking and too often flares up as raging out of control fires.

Not only are our firemen exposed trying to battle the constant fires but our residents far and wide are exposed to the foul burning odors. 

We are hereby requesting you to place pressure on our local government to expediently find a long-term solution to this hazard affecting the people’s health. 

Our people should not be expected to walk with face masks and close their windows and doors as a daily exercise. These procedures in fact do not even properly protect anyone from the toxic fumes.

With this letter we are also appealing to the King of the Netherlands, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, to intervene on behalf of us the people in his Kingdom, as it appears finding a solution to the landfill is outside the scope of the local authorities.

With no headway being made by the local politicians and governing bodies, and the instability of our local governments not being able to govern properly due to government falling almost every 12 months, we are left no choice but to appeal to his Majesty, King Willem-Alexander, to intervene. 

No longer should our people wait and hear political rhetoric while our people are dying of cancers and respiratory diseases. 

People in the Dutch kingdom are guaranteed clean air in the constitution and so should it be for those living on Sint Maarten. 

As a community environmental group our focus is not only the environmental hazard but the wellbeing, health and hygiene of our residents and visitors.

Our livelihood of tourism is at stake but more importantly our health and future livability as a people.

We trust you will take our appeal on the landfill issue and the raging fires seriously. Our group would like to see a final modern waste solution found immediately. One that we can be proud of, one where our quality of life and our future in health can be guaranteed. 

Sincerely,

Barbara Cannegieter 

Secretary of Sint Maarten Pride Foundation 

Jadira Veen

President of Sint Maarten Pride Foundation

Most recent letter.  Click on to enlarge it.  

The "Eyes Aloft" Story

This is a pre-radar listening device to hear enemy planes.

It was an ordinary day.  Looking for a few old photographs online when I came across a pre-radar listening device.  Rather interesting black and white photo that showed a young man listening for enemy airplanes by means of an unusual contraption that had curved metal units on either side of his head that I suppose were used to detect noise from airplane engines.  To think that people used items such as this to help defend our country was astonishing.  

A Spotter's Shack for the Army Air Forces
Ground Observation Corps.

A few years ago Carol and I made our third visit to Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.  We met a native Hawaiian by the name of Jimmy who as an 11 year old child lived on a farm close to Pearl Harbor.  He told us about the day that the harbor was bombed; December 7, 1941.  They had no warning until they heard the bombs dropping.  He and a few of his friends sat on the railroad tracks near Pearl Harbor and watched the Japanese planes dropping bombs on the harbor.  Someone reported that the Japanese had landed so his family went into the nearby hills and found refuge in a mountain cave.  

Signing up to be tested to be an airplane spotter.

They stayed there for three days before they returned home to find Martial Law had been declared.  Perhaps if they had some type of warning system in place it may not have been as scary or may have been prevented.  I also recently read about a system that was developed to prevent the exact same thing from happening.  It involved as many as 1,500,000 Americans who became part of the Army Air Forces Ground Observation Corps.  

Book titled "Know Your War Planes."

By July of 1940 the town of Mayfield, New York had organized volunteers and set up regular schedules by December 10, 1941.  Citizens of Kent, Connecticut also began the same observation schedule with many observation points that were manned by citizens of every age from high school students to senior citizens working in pairs.  The observers were meant to serve as an early warning system to avoid another surprise attack like the one at Pearl Harbor.  They had to stay current on all military planes and therefore studied sketches and photos of current military aircraft.  People all over the United States prepared and trained to be plane spotters.  For all the preparation, only one German airplane ever entered American air space during the war.  Just so happened that the plane had been captured by American airmen who flew the captured plane to Florida.  

A chart showing shapes of enemy aircraft.

Local plane spotters in the area were informed of the arrival, but they still reported the plane to test their effectiveness.  They reported the model and make of the plane before it ever reached land.  Plane spotters were trained to look at planes on the horizon and ask "How Many?", "Where are they headed?" and "Are they ours or the enemy's?"  These plane spotters were part of the Army Air Forces Ground Observer Corps (aka GOC) who manned observation posts along both east and west coast locations.  The posts were staffed around the clock and were anything from a specially built structure to family's posts in their upstair's bedrooms.  All that was needed was a telephone, binoculars, an official identification book with photographs and silhouette drawings of warplanes from Allied and Foreign countries.  

Patches and pins were issued to plane spotters.

When a plane was seen or heard they recorded as much information as possible and then called the information into an Army Center.  It was reported that Boy Scouts to little old ladies manned the posts.  The only requirement was that they pass a training course.  Many had models of the planes with them to help with the ID.  So many models were needed that the government put out a call for children and hobbyists to build half a million models for official use.  Our entire country was involved in the war.  

There was even music written titled "Eyes Aloft."

Even blind men were plane spotters.  They distinguished the different planes by the noise of their engines.  Coca-Cola even offered a popular manual to plane spotters called "Know Your Planes" for ten cents while Wonder Bread offered an Aircraft Spotter Dial.  By 1943 the Aircraft Warning Service was put in reserve due to the nation's new radar technology.  Posts in Hawaii remained active until the end of the war.  I visited a few websites that talked about plane spotters and many wrote about being one.  All these people are in their late 80s to 90s at this time.  Tough to imagine a time in history when the entire population of the United States pitched in to help save our nation.  I'm sure they were all proud to be Americans.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "So Bobby Wasn't Full Of Crap!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  A day sometime in the fall of the mid-1960s and I'd just arrived at the "Rat Race" after a full morning of classes on the first day of the fall semester at Millersville State Teachers College.  

Old Main on the campus of Millersville State Teachers College.

The "Rat Race" was the gathering place for lunch and conver- sation with friends I had made during my first two years at the college from where I would graduate and start my career as a teacher.  The "Rat Race" was near Old Main, located in a central part of campus, easily reached by undergraduates from all areas of the college.  I entered and headed to the second floor where a lunch line provided my mid-day meal as well as a chance to play a game of bumper pool or a game of darts.  As I rounded the last curve in the stairs, there were most of my friends I had grown to know during my first two years at the college on the south-west side of the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Pulled up a chair next to Bobby and began asking him about his day.  "Hey, my English Lit. teacher told us she used to be the secretary for Ameila Earhart," he said to me.  

Miss Norah Alsterlund

I looked at him and said, "You're full of crap!"  We went back and forth, he telling me about his classes as well as a bit more about Miss Alsterlund, the alleged secretary while I told him of my second level photography class I had with Ansel Adams.  Needless to say neither one of us believed the other.  We spent many days that semester playing pool and darts as well as talking about our classes before it was time to head home for Christmas break and the start of yet another semester in January.  I kept in touch with Bobby for a few years after graduation, but one day I saw in the paper that he had died.  His name came to mind once again the other day when I read in the Lancaster Newspaper about a woman by the name of Norah Alsterlund who had lived in Millersville for close to 20 years and had taught at Millersville State Teachers College in the mid-1960s.  Story said she lived on Manor Ave. in Millersville, PA and taught English for a few years at the college before moving to Silvis, Illinois in 1991.  As I read more I found that she was born in Moline, Illinois, graduated from high school there and entered the University of Michigan.  She transferred to Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts and earned a degree in English.  

Famed pilot, Amelia Earhart.

Took a job writing for Cosmopolitan Magazine and was assigned to work with Amelia Earhart on her regular magazine column that promoted aviation for women.  It was the same Ameila Earhart who was known as "Lady Lindy" and who was the first female solo pilot to cross the Atlantic in 1932 in 14 hours and 56 minutes.  She eventually embarked on a flight around the world with her navigator Fred Noonan who were never found.  Well Miss Alsterlund eventually returned to Smith College to help low income students with an innovative furniture exchange.  Miss Alsterlund died on January 24, 1996 at the age of 90.  As I read the entire article I immediately realized that Bobby was really telling me the truth about his English teacher.  Wow!  Would have loved to have met her.  If only I hadn't doubted Bobby I may have been able to hear a few stories about Amelia Earhart.  Times pass and we can't return to days gone by.  At times that's so sad.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.        

The "My Wife Tops The List At Last" Story

Ravioli ala Carol with butter sage sauce.

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting on my leather lounge eating Ravioli ala Carol and watching "Wheel of Fortune".  Not just any ravioli, but my wife's ravioli.  She has finally made it to the top of my list of favorite ravioli.  Now, to be fair, my list for years was based on places we enjoy eating, but after eating her butter sage ravioli for the last year or so, I finally decided to put it at the top.  On February 20, 2010 I posted a story about my favorite ravioli.  At the time a small local restaurant that had opened a few years earlier named Ciros was on the top of my list.  I loved their Ravioli Quattro Formaggi with sauteed shrimp, garlic and asparagus.  

Ciro's Ravioli Quattro Formaggi with shrimp.

Then they went and substituted the asparagus with broccoli rabe and that did it for them.  They were replaced by Chesapeake Inn's Crab Ravioli in a creamy crab aurora sauce.  It had big pieces of jumbo lump crabmeat that filled the ravioli as well as floated on the top of it.  I must admit I still love the stuff, but we only get to the Chesapeake Inn a few times a year and I need my favorite ravioli more times than that.  My third place choice back then was a place called Cafe Mileto that was in Germantown, Maryland.  Washington DC Magazine had picked the restaurant as one of the best Italian eateries in the DC area and we did manage to eat there most every time we visited our daughter and her family who lived nearby the restaurant.  

Chesapeake Inn's Crab Ravioli.

The Ravioli Rose was outstanding and they baked it in their wood-fired oven.  So then my daughter and her family up and moved and there goes my #3 pick.  My fourth place ravioli back in 2010 was a place in St. Martin called Il Nettuno which was located in a small waterfront village called Grand Case which was referred to as the culinary capital of the Caribbean.  I loved their Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli with sage butter sauce and had it every year when we made our trip to Grand Case while on vacation.  But now the eatery has disappeared.  Actually disappeared!  

Cafe Mileto's Ravioli Rose.

The island was struck last year by a devastating hurricane and many of the restaurants on Restaurant Row were destroyed.  So Carol, knowing how much I enjoyed their ravioli, decided she would make me her version of the ravioli with sage butter.  And boy was it great!  She makes it for me a few times a month and I know I will never tire of it.  

Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli with sage butter.

The flavor is tremendous and she adds just the right amount of sage to the melted butter.  A glass of my favorite wine makes it the perfect meal.  So, the other night as I sat and ate my evening meal while watching "Wheel of Fortune" I told her I think she has mastered the recipe that it is now my favorite.  Now, we plan to head to Chesapeake City this weekend with our friends Jere and Just Sue and if we eat at the Chesapeake Inn, I'll have to make make a critical taste test.  One way or another, having Ravioli ala Carol on my menu ever week or so will be hard to top.  Always tastes better at home in front of the TV.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

The "April 22nd - Earth Day" Story

It was an ordinary day.  April 22 - Earth Day - 2018.  So what do you do for Earth Day?  Plant a tree?  Go around your neighborhood, picking up trash?  Take your recyclables to the curb for tomorrow's trash pickup?  Ride your bike instead of driving the car?  Are you doing something to help conserve energy or keep the earth clean?  Today we celebrate the 48th anniversary of Earth Day and the birth of the modern environmental movement.  So, how have we been doing the last 48 years?  Depends upon whom you ask, I guess.  Earth Day began in 1970, the same year that the Beatles recorded their last album "Let It Be", the Concorde made its first supersonic flight, the Chicago Seven were found guilty, Aswan High Dam was completed, the United States and England lowered the voting age to 18 and over 100,000 demonstrators arrived in Washington D.C. to protest the war in Vietnam.  Were you alive in 1970?  That was the year that people in the United States were pumping leaded gas through their multi-carbureted massive V8 cars, farmers put large amounts of fertilizer on their fields that found its way to rivers and streams when it rained, industries belched out smoke and sludge without any worries of consequences or bad press and air pollution was a sign of prosperity.  The word "Environment" was found more often in books or in spelling bees than on the evening news or national press.  Something had to be done!  But there were some who did take notice and did try to do something.  One person, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin, after seeing the results of a huge oil spill the year before in Santa Barbara, California, decided it was time to do something.  Following the lead of inspired student anti-war rallies, he realized that if he could infuse that same energy with an emerging public awareness of air and water pollution, it could bring environmental protection to the forefront of a national political agenda.  

The Senator announced an idea for a National teach-in on the envir- onment to the national press and media.  He recruited Republican Congress- man Denis Hayes to help him with the idea.  April 22 was selected as the date, since it fell between Spring Break and Final Exams at most educational institutions.  And, back in 1970, who wouldn't like a good chance to rally and demonstrate just about any good cause.  On that date in history, over 20 million Americans took to the streets and parks to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment.  People all over realized they were all fighting for the same fight and shared the same values; A Clean Earth.  By the end of 1970 the United States Environmental Protection Agency was begun with the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts.  

In 1990 Earth Day went Global with 200 million people in 141 countries bringing environ- mental issues to the world stage.  Recycling efforts began worldwide.  In 1995 President Bill Clinton awarded Senator Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom which is the highest honor given to civilians in the United States, for his role as the Earth Day Founder.  But, the job of a clean globe will never be finished.  Today the Earth Day Network has more than 17,000 partners and organizations in 174 countries.  More than a billion people will be involved in Earth Day this year making it "the largest secular civic event in the world."  Will you be part of it today, and if not, why?  It really is your civic duty you know!  And, it's mine as well!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.   

The "It Was All About The Whole-Wheat Pancake" Story

It was an ordinary day.  That was for all but a young Lancaster inter-city teacher named Kyle.  A little over a week ago the Lancaster City School District administered the PSSA tests to all students.  PSSA stands for Pennsylvania System of School Assessment and is given to all students to decide how much money the state of Pennsylvania will be giving to the school district the next year.  School Districts that do well on the test usually fare better than those that do not.  Lancaster School District's Edward Hand Middle School is located in an impoverished area of the city with 95% of the students coming from households with low-incomes.  The school offers free breakfast and lunch to all students everyday of the school year.  For many they are the best, and perhaps only meals, they get each day.  It is also a proven fact that students perform better when they are well nourished.  On the day the test was administered, breakfast was offered to all students.  One young teacher, Kyle, took it upon himself to go one step further and prepare one whole-wheat pancake for each student in his classroom he was monitoring that morning.  There is nothing in the rules for administration of the test that says you many not give students a whole-wheat pancakes while they are taking the test.  There is a rule that teachers should not do anything that would interfere with actively monitoring the test.  So what do you think?  Well, when it was found that Kyle was passing out whole-wheat pancakes during testing he was visited by the administration and told he was being suspended without pay for making whole-wheat pancakes for his students while they took the exam.  He was also told that a vote for his termination would be held the following Tuesday evening at the school board meeting.  Kyle is a well-respected teacher by all his students.  He has taught eighth-grade social studies at Hand since 2013.  He carries the title in the school as the "eighth-grade dad" by not only students but by their parents.  He also is the Student Council co-adviser and coached the school's basketball team the past two years.  He was also the high school freshmen athletic manager.  Hey, do you know how hard it is to find someone like him?  I taught high school for close to 35 years and it's tough to find teachers who are willing to take on extra-curricular duties.  And here is a guy that goes way beyond the call to duty...and whose students love him.  Well, the next day, after finding out that one of their favorite teachers was going to be fired, one young girl organized about 30 other Hand students as well as a few high school students who more than likely had Kyle as a teacher in the past, and stood outside the school for over two hours in protest to his firing.  The young lady told the newspaper that the only distraction in the classroom was when the assistant principal entered to admonish her teacher, and not eating pancakes.  The young teacher told the Lancaster Newspaper that he was suspended without pay until the school board could vote the following night at the monthly meeting.  The newspaper contacted the school about the problem and they replied that no teacher can be dismissed without the School Board first approving a written notice that offers the opportunity for a School Board hearing.  This past Tuesday night at the School Board meeting over 100 parents came in support of their children's favorite teacher, as well and their own favorite.  The large group was told there was never any action taken to get rid of Kyle and there would be no vote taken on the problem.  He was still a part of the staff of Edward Hand Middle School.  No where did I read about the following applause and cheering, but I'm sure there must have been some.  Every school has teachers who are liked better by students than others.  Doesn't mean they are a better teacher or know more about their subject than other teachers, but it does tell you that special teacher have a knack of communicating better than maybe others can.  And, from my own personal experiences, Middle School, or in my case Junior High School, history was not one of my favorite classes I had as a student.  It is tough to teach and tough to learn and if you can get a teacher that can make history exciting, good for them.  And evidently Kyle was one of those special teachers and the students as well as their parents knew that.  I'm so happy the problem was absolved and if they don't want it to happen next year, the PSSA testing services should add to their rules:  No serving Whole-Wheat pancakes during testing!  If they don't, I'd be surprised if other teachers don't try to feed their students something nourishing also.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Hey, They Named A Camp After Him: Part II" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just turned left off of SR272 North and headed back Schoeneck Road to try and find Camp Rodgers.  My brother lives nearby and he gave be directions to the camp after I called him a few hours ago.  

Found Camp Rodgers close to the intersection of Camp
Rodgers road and Indiantown Road.

Camp Rodgers is the church choir camp that opened in 1911 at a small town known as Pequea along the Susque- hanna River in Pennsyl- vania.  It was a place that St. James Episcopal Church organist and choirmaster George B. Rodgers started to reward his choir members with a summer outing along the river.  Before long it was moved to Schelle Island, a small island in the middle of the Susquehanna River and given the name of Camp Rodgers after the founder. 

Entrance to Camp Rodgers as it appeared in 1957.

In 1956 a fired destroyed the main building and the church bought property in Schoeneck to replace the camp on the river.  The new camp was dedicated on June 9, 1957 and welcomed visitors for the first time.  One of those campers was a young boy named Larry, better known to you as LDub.  I spent three years at the camp, loving every minute of the experience.  The property was 18 acres in size which included 3 acres of woodland and a pond of considerable size, which we called Indian Lake as well as a farmhouse and six small cottages where the campers stayed.  

The new entrance bridge over the stream that carries
water from the lake.  In the right background can be
seen a white house.  The same house that appears on
the previous photo to the left.  

I also remember a rather large pavilion where we played ping-pong and board games on days it might have been raining.  Close-by was a really neat waterfall that stood perhaps 10 feet tall, at least to a young boy it seemed that big, that was a picture of rare beauty.  I have fond memories of fishing most every day in the little area under the waterfall as well as the lake above the falls.  

Indian Lake was drained when the stone dam broke years
ago.  This photo shows the area where the lake used to be.

Indian Lake was used for boating with lessons in handling of boats and canoes as well as fishing, but swimming was limited due to the muddy bottom.  In 1959 a swimming pool measuring 20X50 feet was built to allow lessons in all aquatic skills including swimming and diving.  The camp also offered hand crafts, horseback riding and athletics.  Oh yeah, they had daily flag-raising ceremonies as well as a daily church service.  Everyone was responsible for making their bed for cabin inspections before we ate breakfast as well as KP duty a few times a week.  

Morning pledge to the flag during camp week.

I can remember a candy table that you could partake of if your parents had placed any money in an account for you.  I do remember most campers sharing their candy with those whose parents couldn't afford an account for them.  I can remember two different camp directors during the years I went to camp; a Mr. Thompson and a Mr. Breitigan who were both teachers during the school year at Edward Hand Junior High School in Lancaster.  

Boating on Indian Lake.

For choir members, camp was free and in 1969 scholarships were awarded for under- privileged children in Lancaster.  Eventually the camp was opened to a few other churches in the community.  For those who had to pay, the fee was $22.50 a week for St. James members and $24.50 a week for non-members.  This included camp activities, meals, lodging as well as health and medical insurance.  

The swimming pool at Camp Rodgers.

An allowance fee was required for everyone which covered items bought at the camp store, craft materials and incidentals.  They urged that no child be provided more than $2.00 a week.  Eventually camp enrollment declined and finally at the end of 1969 the camp was placed up  for sale.  My trip today was to find the camp once again and take a few photos.  After locating the camp I was greeted with a NO TRESPASSING sign.  Took a few photos from the road and headed for a visit with my brother who lives close by.  We talked about my visit and then Steve told me he was a camp counselor for two years when he was in high school.  Reminded me that one of my fellow teachers as well as the Godfather of my daughter, Mr. Jack Newell, was the camp director when he was a counselor.  Ah, the memories continued as we talked a few hours.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Camp church service held every day.

One of the 6 bunkhouses at Camp Rodgers.  I am the boy on the top right bunk. 

Ping-pong time.

KP (kitchen patrol or food prep) duty in the kitchen.  

The "Hey, They Named A Camp After Him: Part I" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Looking at one of my favorite Facebook pages, "The Lancasterian".  As I scrolled down the page I found a photograph of the entrance to Camp Rodgers which at the time the photograph was taken was located on Camp Rodgers Road near the town of Ephrata in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  I made a comment on the "The Lancastrian" and received a few comments in return.  

Pamphlet showing the Church Camp
on Camp Rodgers Road in Schoeneck.

Wasn't long before I dug out my small pamphlet titled "A Day at Camp Rodgers" to see how much I remembered about the small church camp that I enjoyed so much when I was young.  It was back on December 8, 2009 that I first posted a story here telling about my experiences at the camp, but I never told much about how the camp began and the comments on "The Lancastrians" were leading in that direction.  So, I dug out my book titled St. James Church 1744-1944 by Klein and Diller and began my search.  St. James Episcopal Church began in 1744 and had a variety of organists and choirmasters during it's history, but one of the best was Mr. George B. Rodgers who was recommended by a small church committee who traveled to Princeton, New Jersey to hear him play and interview him.  Wasn't long before he was hired on February 8, 1910.  

Mr. George B. Rodgers for whom the camp was named.

He spent 32 years at St. James and during that time began the boys choir at St. James as well as gaining recognition throughout the community for his musical library for the choir, his lenten organ recitals and his work with the youth of community.  He held his first church camp at nearby Pequea on the Susquehanna River in 1911.  A few years later he changed the location to the town of Goldsboro where he rented a cottage near the river.  

Fathers and sons in the choir.  My dad and I are in the
back row on the far right.  Dad and I both attended
summer church camp as children at Schelle Island
in the Susquehanna.

Wasn't long before the camp carried his name and was moved to a small farm house on Schelle Island near Goldsboro.  It was meant to be used by the youth in the community with those who were in his boy's choir allowed to go for free.  My father was one of those choirboys who had a chance to go to Mr. Rodgers' summer camp on Schelle Island.  Then in 1942 he retired as the organist and choirmaster, but was allowed to spend his summers at the church camp on Schelle Island.  Three years later he suffered a stroke at the camp and was brought back to Lancaster where he stayed in a Convalescent home until his death.  

Camp Rodgers on Schelle Island.  The building shown
here burned to the ground on May 4, 1956.

After Mr. Rodgers retirement, a few other organists filled the position until on Feburary 1, 1944 Mr. Frank McConnell became organist and choir- master.  Mr. McConnell continued the boys choir and the tradition of sending choir members to Camp Rodgers in the summer for a healthful summer vacation in a religious atmosphere.  I attended the camp for the first time in 1955 at the age of 11.  Memories I retain from my stay that year were jumping into the cold Susquehanna River at 7:00 AM every morning before breakfast, seeing one of the other campers shoot himself in the knee with an arrow from his own bow and seeing a large female snake run over by a lawn mower and watching as many baby snakes wandered under our sleeping quarters.  Then on Friday, May 4 of the following year the main camp building which was nearly 200 years old was destroyed by fire.  

Another photograph of Mr. George B. Rodgers.

It was impossible to fight the fire since no equipment could reach the island before the old farm house was destroyed.  The loss was great for the church camp since it was such a big part in the life of the parish since 1911.  Two days after the fire the church Vestry made a decision to erect a temporary building on the island for the coming camp season.  A pre-fab structure was taken by boat to the island and men of the church, including my dad, helped erect the building.  The new building held the dining room, kitchen and cook's quarters.  Then on December 21, 1956, the Vestry purchased  property consisting of 18 acres including 3 acres of woodland and a lake of considerable size.  A farm house and 6 small cottages were situated on the property.  The camp was moved from Schelle Island for $21,500.  The new Camp Rodgers near Schoeneck was ready for campers.  The road that leads to the camp was renamed Camp Rodgers Road and all was well once again.  Follow along tomorrow and I will show you some of the photos that were published in the pamphlet that I have saved all these years.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

PS - The following is a two-page letter my dad sent to his mother when he was at Camp Rodgers on Schelle Island.  The second page was actually folded so it has to be read as the left side and then the right side.  Dad was 12 years old at the time he wrote the letter.  Click on photos to enlarge them.