The "A 4-Year-Old Breaks Ancient Relic" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about  a 4-year-old young boy who accidentally broke a rare 3,500-year-old jar.  Happened in an Israeli museum, but the young boy has been forgiven and even invited back, as curators hope to turn the disaster into a teachable experience.  The young boy's father said his son - the youngest of three - is exceptionally curious, and that the moment he heard the crash last Friday, thought, "Please let that not be my child.  He's not a kid that usually destroys things," Geller told the Associated Press.  "He just wanted to see what was inside."

 The Bronze Age jar is one of many artifacts exhibited out in the open, part of the Hecht Museum's vision of letting visitors explore history without glass barriers, said Inbar Rivlin, the director of the museum, which is associated with Haifa University in northern Israel.  Rivlin said the jar was displayed at the museum entrance, and that the family quickly left without finishing their visit.  She wants to use the restoration as an educational opportunity and make sure they feel welcome to return.  Geller and his family were spending the summer break visiting museums and taking day trips around Israel to escape the tensions, Geller said.  There were a lot of kids at the museum that day, and Geller said he fervently prayed the damage had been caused by someone else.  When he turned around and saw it was his son, he was "in complete shock."  "My wife responded faster than me, she grabbed our son to take him outside and calm him down and explain that it was not OK what had happened," said Geller.  He went over to the security guards to let them know what had happened in hopes that it was a model and not a real artifact.  "We said, if we need to pay, we will, whatever will be will be.  But they called and said it was insured and after they checked the cameras and saw it wasn't vandalism they invited us back for a make-up visit."  Geller said his son didn't  quite understand the international interest in the broken jar, but their tight-knit community in Nahariya was following the media reports with interest and was proud of their local celebrity.  The Hecht Museum hopes to harness that interest to encourage more people to visit the museum and learn about artifact restoration.  That's what's actually interesting for my older kids, this process of how they're restoring it, and all the technology they're using there," said Geller.  The jar, which had been on display at the museum for 35 years, was one of the only containers of its size and period that was still complete when it was discovered.  It was likely used to hold wine or oil, and it dates to between 2200 and 1500 B.C.  Roee Shafir, a restoration expert at the museum, said the restoration will take several days because they use special glue to connect just a few pieces at a time.  The process will be documented for educational purposes.  Shafir, who will painstakingly reassemble the jar - even though he says he hates puzzles - still wants to keep the artifacts accessible to the public, even if accidents happen.  He said it's important for visitors to touch artifacts because that connection can inspire a deeper interest in history and archaeology.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.   

The "To Be Happy Tomorrow, Eat Fruit Today" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Polling indicates that 6 million older Americans are struggling with the physical and emotional challenges of depression.  That can lead to inactivity, poor nutrition and lack of social interaction, all fueling chronic health problems.  To protect yourself from that future, it's been long recommended having a posse and a purpose, getting plenty of depression-dispelling exercise, and making sure you manage stress with meditation and good sleep habits.  But, here's a new trick: eating fresh fruits in your middle years.  A study published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, surveyed more than 113,000 participants over 22 years (on average they were age 51 at the start and 73 at the end) to see what fruits and vegetables they were eating and if they developed symptoms of depression.  The researchers found that regularly consuming three servings a day of fruits such as oranges, tangerine, bananas, papayas, watermellons, apples and honey melon reduced the participants' risk of depression after age 65 by 21%.  Fruit has high levels of anti-inflammatory micro-nutruiants such as vitamin A and flavonoids (in citrus fruit and berries).  That may counter chronic inflammation (very common) that disrupts the gut microbiome, directly impacting the brain/emotional health via the gut-brain axis.  So, enjoy a serving of fruit with each meal and/or a snack.  Then, check out the free newsletter at LongvityPlaybook.com for 60-plus ways to achieve a healthy, happy older age, and Dr. Oz's iHerb.com blog 'The ABC's of Vitamins: Benefits of Vitamins A, C, D, E, and B."  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.       

How Often Should You Wash Your Bedding? Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about how often you should wash your sheets and pillow cases.  Seems that everyone has a different idea.  Follow along and you'll see what I mean.  Every morning when a good friend wakes up, she strips her bed and chucks her sheets into the washing machine.  It doesn't matter if it's a weekday or the weekend, if she has a light or a busy day ahead, if she slept well or tossed and turned all night.  The sheets will be washed.    "I let them do their thing, and I go make coffee feeling happy," says Libby Castle, 30, who lives in Washington D.C. "Then I throw them into the dryer before I work out.  After I grab a shower and the sheets are done, I throw them on the bed and start my day knowing that fresh sheets await me when I am ready to hop back into bed later in the day.  Health experts agree that Libby is onto something that could benefit all of us.  Knowing that fresh sheets await you could boost your spirits straight through to bedtime.  Health experts agree that there is something that most of us could benefit from by doing the same thing.  Sheets, pillowcases, and comforters can harbor dirt, germs, and allergens that affect our skin and overall health.  It's a buildup of all these contaminants, and eventually that could lead to skin irritation and acne breakouts.  You might notice your skin feels like it has clogged pores or folliculitis which happens when hair follicles become inflamed.  Or maybe your allergies, asthma, or eczema are flaring up because the dead skin cells we shed while asleep are attracting legions of dust mites. All are good reasons to make more trips to the washing machine.  But what's the sweet spot for washing frequency?  Experts were asked to share their preferred intervals for washing and how to do it well. 

Pillowcases - You rest your head on the dirtiest spot of the bed.  "Pillowcases are the landing pad for your skin, hair, and all the oils and dirt carried with them," says Jason James, who runs Dustpan & Brush, a home-cleaning service in Australia.  He recommends washing them at least once a week.  People who have sensitive skin or allergies often benefit from a more frequent routine, like every three to four days.  To help make clean cases last longer, shower before bed.  And don't forget your pillows; washing them once per season is the sweet spot, James says.

Comforter - If you use a blanket as your top sheet, it needs to be washed at least once a week.  But, if your blankets and comforter are not directly touching your skin, plan on washing them every two to three months, says Kathleen Razmus, director of operations, training, and development with ZIPS Cleaners, a dry-cleaning franchise.  "Dust and dirt will accumulate, so it's good to freshen it up," she says, "If the comforter is touching your skin, that's different, and you might want to make it more frequent.

Mattress - Every time you strip the bed, let the mattress breathe for a bit rather than immediately putting on a new set of sheets.  "Leave it for a few hours open," James advises.  Stagnant air and covered mattresses encourage dust mites, allergens, and mold spores to thrive.  And vacuum it two to three times a year, says Tonya Harris, and environmental-toxins expert who wrote The Slightly Greener Method.  If it smells, sprinkle on a thin layer of baking soda, let it sit for a few hours, and then cover it up.  

Sheets - At a minimum, you should wash your sheets once a week.  But a variety of factors call for more frequent washing.  One is the summer heat, since sweat "can lead to bacteria and odor on our sheets," says Harris.  Plus, allergens like pollen can travel inside with you, so washing more frequently can help reduce symptoms.  It's also a good idea to wash your sheets more often when you're sick or if you sleep with pets, Harris says.  In those cases, every three to four days should suffice.  

Mattress Pad -  People tend to overlook their mattress pads, but it's a good idea to wash them every two to three months, Razmus says.  Given that it helps protect your mattress from sweat, spills, bladder leaks, dust mites, and dead skin, it can get pretty dirty.  CHECK THE CARE LABEL closely; different materials call for different washing techniques.  

So what do you think???  Are you prepared to wash the bedding a few more times a week, or are you just going to keep doing what you are now doing?  I'm not sure what my wife will think after she reads what I just typed.  We certainly don't overdo the cleanliness stuff, but than again we do make changes now and again.  After reading the above information....I have a hard time believing that there are many people at all in the world who change their bed coverings as often as is suggested.  My guess is that everything that was written was meant to scare you into changing your bedding more often.  My wife and I might come down with a nose or throat problem a time or two each year...and we certainly don't follow what I just typed.  But, now that we know better...maybe we will try to make changes more often.  That, of course depends on how tired or willing we are to take the sheets and pillow cases off every so often.  I guess we will have to make a better effort to change the bedding more often and see if we feel any different when we awaken in the morning.  I for one believe that we still feel the same....well..... why go to all that trouble if that is the answer?   Time will tell!  I'll let you know how it goes!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Dom Pecora - FIXING BIKES, CHANGING LIVES " by Jaime Joyce

It was an ordinary day.  Just turned the page in my latest TIME Magazine and there stood a young man named Dom Pecora.  He had a story to tell that was titled FIXING BIKES, CHANGING LIVES.  The story was written by Jaime Joyce and was part of the "Kid Of The Year Stories".  The story read...By the time Dominick Pecora was 10 years old, he'd broken and repaired his bicycle many times.  He thought it made sense to upgrade to something sturdier, so he went to his mom with a big ask: "I wanted a really nice, expensive mountain bike," Dom, now 15, said.  His mom said no, but she did offer to help him raise the funds to buy the bike himself.  Dom figured he could earn money by fixing bikes, a skill he's honed by watching YouTube videos.  His mom set up a Facebook page - Dom Fixes Bikes - to spread the word about his services.  "We had a kind of pay-what-you-want theme," Dom recalls.  Eventually, he was able to purchase his dream bike. He also had enough money left over to surprise six other kids with brand-new bikes for Christmas.  That was in 2020, during the pandemic.  After that, "I just continued to do it," Dom says.  At first, he worked out of his home.  When more room was needed, he rented a one-car garage.  "There was no electricity, no AC, no heat," Dom says.  Plus, there was no bathroom.  Despite the challenges, Dom persisted.  Last September, he celebrated the grand opening of his first storefront, in Malvern, PA, where he does tune-ups and repairs and sells new and refurbished bikes.  During the holiday season he gave away 121 bikes, surpassing his goal of 100 a year.  Sponsorships and donations to his nonprofit help support his mission.  Recipients of donated bikes have included young people in recovery from addiction and individuals experiencing homelessness.  "Since the beginning, I always wanted everyone to be able to ride a bike, no matter their financial abilities," Dom says.  The process, he adds, is simple: "Everyone who applies for a bike will get a bike."  That's how 5-year-old Ilarii, a newcomer from Ukraine, got a bike.  Shortly after a request was made by his school, Ilarii was the proud new owner of a snazzy black-and-red BMX bike with training wheels.  "It was just such a nice thing for (Dom) to do," recalls Matt Coyne, a deacon at the Downington, PA parish that is sponsoring the boy and his mom.  Sarah Greim has also been touched by Dom's generosity.  She's executive director of the Timothy School in Berwyn, PA, which serves students with autism. "Riding a bike can be challenging for a lot of our kids," Greim says.  Last fall, Dom reached out to the school with an offer to donate bikes built for riders with special needs.  "It's such a joy to peek out onto the playground and see students riding these bikes and just having fun," Greim says.  "That's all thanks to Dom.  He brought this great experience into the lives of our students."  Pennsylvania state representative Melissa Shusterman, who represents Dom's district, has also seen the teen in action.  "He is an excellent example of how ambitious and plugged in young people are to the social issues of our time." Shusterman said in an email.  "His generosity and accomplishments are impressive and give me a lot of hope for the future."  For Dom, the passion remains pure - and personal.  "I love bikes," Dom says.  "For me, my bike represents a lot of freedom." Riding, he adds, is "a way to kind of clear my head, and it's like that for a lot of other people as well."  So..."Dear Dom...Many thanks to you for stepping up and taking charge of your own life.  I taught school for many years and I must say that you would have been in the top of my class when it came to "CLASS."  Yours truly, LDub 

Dom Pecora

Babe Ruth Jersey Sells For $24M

It was an ordinary day.  Reading that the jersey Babe Ruth wore when he called his home run shot during the 1932 World Series, hitting a home run to center field, sold at auction early this past Sunday for over $2 million.  Heritage Auctions said the New York Yankee slugger's jersey went for a record-breaking $24.12 million after a bidding war that lasted over six hours when it went on the block in Dallas.  The buyer wishes to remain anonymous, Heritage said.  The amount that the jersey sold for topped fellow Yankee Micky Mantle's 1952 rookie card, which the Dallas-based auction house sold for $12.6 million in 2022.  Boy, I knew I should have been a professional baseball player instead of a teacher!!  Chris Ivy, Heritage's director of sports, calls the jersey "the most significant piece of American sports memorabilia ever offered at auction."  He said in a news release that it was clear from the bidding that "astute collectors have no doubt as to what this Ruth jersey is and what it represents.  The legend of Babe Ruth and the myth and mystery surrounding his "called shot" came as the Yankees and Chicago Cubs faced off in Game 3 of the World Series at Chicago's Wrigley Field on October 1, 1932.  In the fifth inning of the heated game, Ruth made a pointing gesture while at bat and then hit the home run off Cubs pitcher Charlie Root.  "It is the most dramatic moment in World Series history, and it may be the most dramatic moment in all of baseball," said Michael Gibbons, director emeritus and historian at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum in Baltimore, MD.  The Yankees won the game 7-5 and swept the Cubs the next day to win the series.  That was Ruth's last World Series, and the "called shot" was his last home run in a World Series, said Mike Provenzale, the production manager for Heritage's sports department.  When you can tie an item like that to an important figure and their most important moment, that's what collectors are really looking for," Provenzale said.  Heritage said Ruth gave the road jersey to one of his golfing buddies in Florida around 1940 and it remained in that family for decades.  Then, in the early 1990s, that man's daughter sold it to a collector.  It was then sold at auction in 2005 for $940,000 and remained in a private collection until being consigned to Heritage this year.  There's been debate for decades over whether Ruth really called the shot.  But, Gibbons said there's home movie footage of the game that shows Ruth pointing, though it's not clear whether he's pointing at the pitcher, center field or toward the Cubs bench.  Regardless, he said, Ruth, who had a history of making predictions, clearly said, "something's going to happen on the next pitch," and he made it happen.  And, he said, Ruth himself said he'd called the shot.  "We think certainly that he did call his shot," Gibbons said.  News reel footage shows Ruth rounding the bases after the homerun and making a pushing out gesture toward the Cubs bench, as if to say "I gotcha," Gibbons said.  The "called shot," was an extraordinary moment from a man Gibbons called "the standard-bearer for all of Major League Baseball." "He was always uplifting, he was something very positive for this country to root for," Gibbons said.  "Then he caps it all off by calling his shot."  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

Mike Provenzale, production manager at Heritage Auctions,
talks about the 1932 Babe Ruth game-worn New York Yankees
World Series "called shot" jersey on display at Heritage Auctions.

The Headline Read....SUMMER STILL SIZZLES! Story

It is anything but an ordinary day today!!  Page 2 of my morning newspaper had a headline that read: SUMMER STILL SZZLES.  I say...When will it ever end?  In the city and surrounding areas of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the National Weather Service says the heat index will top 100 degrees today!  Hot and humid weather is expected to continue for Lancaster County today as the high temperature is forecast to reach the mid-to-upper 90s,  with a chance of reaching 100, according to the National Weather Service in State College, Pennsylvania.  The weather service issues heat advisories when it expects heat indexes to exceed 100 degrees!  According to the weather service, the heat index - what the temperature feels like to the human body with relative humidity combined with the air temperature - will reach a high of 105! degrees.  The weather service advises residents to stay in air conditioning as much as possible, drink plenty of water and watch for symptoms of heat stroke, including profuse sweating and dizziness.  Additional areas affected by today's advisory include Dauphin, Lebanon, Cumberland, Adams, York and eight other counties.  The weather service said the heat will dissipate as quickly as it came, with highs of 80 forecast for Thursday an Friday, respectively, and high temperatures in the mid-80s over the weekend.  And it's almost September!!  Tough on my body which is just 20 years away from a century old!  My plans for today are to walk the six blocks to the main building on the Woodcrest Villa campus after I eat lunch at home, and play a few hours of pool.  Perhaps I should head to the pool instead!  But, then again, the pool isn't real cold either.  And, when I'm ready to head home, I was planning on walking home.  Yeah...It's only a bit over a quarter of a mile that I have to walk, but us old folks can't walk as fast as we used to!  My wife and myself do keep the interior of our villa at about 70 degrees, but until we reach the front door,  it's pretty damn hot walking!  I know....I should just stay home today and out of the heat, but everyone keeps telling me I should keep busy and don't sit in front the TV all day long.  So...I will still plan to walk to the poolroom...and hope the noon-time sun will cooperate for at least the few blocks that I have to walk.  If you read another story on this site tomorrow, you'll know that I made it.  If not...send cards!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

The "A Salamanderlike Beast Once Ruled! Story

It was an ordinary day.  Scientists have revealed fossils of a giant salamander like beast with sharp fangs that ruled waters before the first dinosaurs arrived.  The predator, which was larger than a person, likely used its wide, flat head and front teeth to suck in and chomp unsuspecting prey, researchers said.  Its skull was about 2 feet long.  "It's acting like an aggressive stapler," said Michael Coates, a biologist at the University of Chicago who was not involvd with the work.  Fossil remnants of four creatures collected about a decade ago were analyzed, including a partial skull and backbone.  The findings on Gaiasia Jennie were published recently in the journal "Nature".  The creature existed some 40 million years before dinosaurs evolved.  Researchers have long examined such ancient predators to uncover the origins of tetrapods: four-legged animals that clambered onto land with fingers instead of fins and evolved to amphibians, birds, and mammals, including humans.  Most early tetrapod fossils hail from hot, prehistoric coal swamps along the equator in what's now North America and Europe.  But, these latest remnants, dating to about 280 million years ago, were found in modern-day Namibia, an area in Africa that was once encrusted with glaciers and ice.  That means tetrapods may have thrived in colder climates earlier than scientists expected, prompting more questions about how and when they took over the Earth.  "The early story of the first tetrapods is much more complex than we thought," said co-author Claudia Marsicano at the University of Buenos Aires, who was part of the research.  The creature's name comes from the Gai-As rock formation in Namibia where the fossils were found and for the late paleontologist Jennifer Clack, who studied how tetrapods evolved.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Enjoying One Of My Favorite Hobbies" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting in my "2nd bedroom/Office" typing another story for my blog.  The sun is bright, the wind is mild, and the birds are fighting for the food I have on the bird feeder of the tree that sits outside my bedroom window.  All is well!!  When my wife and I moved into our villa at Woodcrest Villas in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, we never suspected we would enjoy life as much as we do today.  The campus is beautiful, the housing units are remarkable and the shrubbery is everywhere.  We have a small tree about 10 feet outside our guest bedroom window which holds a bird feeder that welcomes all and any types of birds that may live in the neighborhood.  Seems that I must fill it at least once, or even twice, a day, depending upon whether it is raining or sunny.  Our cats, "The Gray Lady" and "Snickerdoodle" love to share the double window directly inside where the bird feeder sits on the tree about five feet off the ground.

Snickerdoodle is watching the feeder which is
directly in front of him, but in the right-hand upper window.

They could spend the entire day on the windowsill of the bedroom watching the birds if they didn't like to eat breakfast, lunch and supper.   Directly in front of the window is a shrub that is about a foot above the sill of the window, thus the cats can still see the birds, but do not tend to scare the birds.  I bought the bird feeder when we moved to Woodcrest and it has been a busy location in the front of our villa ever since.  At times we have a dozen or more birds vying for spaces on the tree or feeder, next to the bird feeder.

Six birds are feeding in this photo

The only problem we have is....the cost of birdseed!!  I too enjoy watching the birds as they sit on the edge of the feeder and peck away at the seeds in the tray at the bottom of the feeder.  At times they get a bit nasty and start to throw the food in all directions while trying to find a spot on the feeder.  I do find more sunflower seeds on the ground around the base of the tree, but they are easy enough to collect and place back in the feeder.  While I sit here typing today's story from an ordinary guy, I see about a half-dozen small birds on the feeder, trying to fill their beaks with as many seeds as then can.

The feeder is about half empty and it is only noon.

My friend "Snickerdoodle" is on the windowsill watching the birds with me, but with a different idea in mind.  The time is about 10:30 AM and the bird feeder is almost empty.  Just filled it before I went to bed last evening, but if there is feed in the feeder, there will be birds sitting on it filling their beaks with the seed variety that we place in the feeder.  Hey!  I don't mind if I have to fill it multiple times each day, since I enjoy watching the birds eat as much as my two cats enjoy it.  

Five o'clock and the feeder is almost empty.

Only problem is they have a different reason and idea in mind while watching the birds eat.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  Click on images to engage them.  

The "I Know A Story"...Grandson shares birding adventure with grandmother!

It was an ordinary day.  Reading a story shared by Kim Klugh telling how her grandson shared his birding adventure with her.  Chickadees.  Tufted titmice.  Red-winged blackbirds.  Male and female cardinals.  Kim observed all these birds in her Lancaster backyard and neighborhood.  However, on a recent trip to visit her daughter and her family in Ann Arbor, Michigan this past spring, she was able to do more than merely watch birds in their natural habitat.  Her grandson had shared with her, prior to the visit, that his first-grade class had visited Kensington Metropark the previous winter, where he had a unique experience.  Knowing how much I enjoy birdwatching, Theo explained that, at this park, a variety of birds landed on his fingers and ate seeds from his cupped hand.  My daughter, who had not accompanied Theo on his class field trip, was not entirely sold on the legitimacy of his account.  It was during the winter when Theo's class had visited the park and perhaps the birds were a little more likely to trust a free handout, but she wasn't sure how it would go when we visited the same spot during late spring.  Ever hopeful, my husband, our daughter, our grandson and I placed a small bag of birdseed in the car, applied sunscreen and donned our hiking caps for the birding adventure.  As soon as we arrived at the Metropark and parked the car, we were met by a sandhill crane trotting through the area. Now, if you've never seen a sandhill crane in the wild, their proximity can be slightly intimidating; we were definitely not there to feed them!  As we began our trek through the park, we spotted chipmunks on the path that did not quickly scurry from sight.  In fact, I couldn't believe how close we were able to get to them.  Up to this point, my experience with chipmunks had been that as soon as I spied one, it was usually gone from sight.  The four of us walked on until we got to a bridge from which we could observe a significant collection of blue heron nests built in the tops of a cluster of tall trees.  We watched these birds skim over the water and listened to their loud calls.  It was at this spot that my grandson asked for some birdseed. He then extended his arm with the seed in cupped hand, and within 30 seconds, a red-winged blackbird perched on his fingers and took some seed.  I was enthralled.  I immediately asked for some seed so I could copy his behavior.  "Marmie," instructed Theo, "remember, don't smile at the birds when they land on you cause your teeth will scare them!"  I followed his advice, and within a short time, a female cardinal was taking seeds from my hand after lighting on my finger.  Meanwhile, chipmunk were suddenly at our feet, scooping up seeds that had fallen from our hands.  We remained at this spot for a while, feeding an assortment of chickadees, a tufted titmouse, re-winged blackbirds, a nuthatch, a downy woodpecker and male and female cardinals.  We moved further along the bridge, as the birds kept returning to eat the seed from our hands.  I felt as if I had stumbled into a magical forest; the twittering bird-song from Disney's "Snow White" movie came to mind.  Theo had certainly not exaggerated his experience, and I was delighted that he had chosen to share this special birding encounter with his grandparents.  The author lives in Lancaster.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

  

The "Fall Focal Point" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Fall is just around the corner and summer bloomers are starting to wind down but, birds and other wildlife continue to need sustenance from plants.  Fortunately, buttonbush is filling their needs.  Buttonbush is sometimes referred to as honey balls and is the last to leaf out in spring and the last summer-flowering shrub to bloom in the garden.  It makes for its tardiness with its unique clusters of spherical, white blossoms that resemble golf-ball sized Sputnick satellites.  Set against the plant's glossy, dark-green foilage, they are truly otherworldly.  The shrub is native to eastern Canada and the continental United States, from Maine to Florida and west to the Great Plains, with some occurrences in the Southwest and California, as well as Cuba and Central America. In these areas it can be found growing wild near lakes and ponds, sometimes in standing water, and under large shrubs and trees in forests.  Its seeds, fruit and nectar feed dozens of bird species, including hummingbirds and waterfowl, butterflies, moths, bumble bees, honey bees and smaller native bees.  Some mammals, such as beavers, feed on the plant's stems and leaves, yet it is considered somewhat resistant to deer browsing.  The plant is hardy in horticultural zones 5 through 9 or 10 and thrives in full sun, part-sun, part-shade and shade, although blooming is best in sunnier spots.  It is an excellent substitute for the invasive butterfly bush which, despite appearing well-behaved in your home garden, invariably escapes via seeds spread by wind, water and birds to choke out native species in wild areas.  Because it's such a champ in waterlogged areas, buttonbush can also be used in rain gardens and put to work to control erosion in soggy sites.  In midsummer, the irregular-shaped, multi-stemmed shrub's arching, upright branches produce sweetly fragrant "button" or "honey ball" flowers that give way to knobby, green berries, which mature to red in autumn.  Those eye-catching fruits hold on long after the plant's leaves drop and persist through winter, or at least until migrating birds take advantage of them to fuel their journey.  Waterfowl and shorebirds enjoy them, also.  Usually topping out at 6-12 feet tall, common buttonbush can reach twice that height.  To contain its size and encourage better blooming, prune each branch by a third in late winter or very early spring before new growth begins, giving careful thought to creating your desired shape.  It will more than likely grow to 3 feet by the end of the summer.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.   

Buttonbush or Honey Balls

Dwarf Cephanlanthus "Sugar Shack" plant

The "Lancaster Native, Baseball Player Don Wert, Dies At 86 Story"

It was an ordinary day.  Just opened my computer and began reading about Don Wert, a Strasburg native and the starting third baseman for the 1968 World Series champion Detroit Tigers, who died at his home in Strasburg early Sunday.  

Wert, who had suffered a series of strokes over the past decade, was 86 years old. He played in the major leagues from 1963-71, all for the Tigers except for his final 20 games, playing with the Washington Senators in 1971.  “My dad was very private, an introverted kind of guy, and he wouldn’t really talk about much,” Wert’s son Scott said Sunday.  “The interesting thing was, if you engaged him in baseball talk, he would talk and talk and talk, and that’s how he would tell you his story.  “He was very proud of baseball and being with the Tigers, and that was how he sort of defined himself.’’  Wert was a three-sport star at Solanco High School in Lancaster County and briefly attended Franklin & Marshall College on an athletic scholarship.  He was signed by the Tigers organization in 1958, began his career in the minors, and by 1964, at age 24, had become the Tigers’ everyday third baseman. He finished 10th in voting for the American League Most Valuable Player award in 1965, and made the AL all-star team during the 1968 season.  Wert had a modest .242 career batting average but was known for key hits in big moments.  He had the game-winning single — in the ninth inning, with two outs, driving home Hall of Famer Al Kaline — in the Tigers’ AL pennant-clinching defeat of the New York Yankees late in the ’68 season.  “(When) I got to first base to touch the base, the field was loaded with fans,” Wert said in a 2018 interview with LNP | LancasterOnline’s Jeff Young in 2018.  “They all came out of the stands and I had trouble getting back to the dugout. The grounds crew came out and surrounded me, and got me back to the dugout.  Wert also had a critical single, off Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson, in Game Seven of the 1968 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Tigers came back from a 3-1 deficit to win that series.  The Tigers have won just one World Series title since, in 1984. Overall, the franchise, which began in 1894, has won four titles in its history. Wert’s 1968 team is beloved, in part, for their role in bringing a troubled city together during a violent summer in Detroit and many American cities.  “It was a time when the city was really down,” Wert told Young. “There were the riots. ... The Tigers pulled the city together.”  The camaraderie continued for decades, as Wert and his teammates attended reunions, old-timers games, fantasy camps and the like.  After retiring as a player, Wert stayed involved in baseball as a coach and umpire.  He was the head coach at F&M from 1977 through 1981.  Jack Frank, who coached at Elizabethtown High School in the 1980s, invited Wert to speak at a summer camp he held in southern Lancaster County.  “He was great with those kids,’’ Frank recalled Sunday. “He took time to talk to each one. Very, very personable. He sat and ate with them. “The thing I remember most is, we had a pitching machine and a batting cage, and he couldn’t resist getting in there. He hit until his hands bled, and, I mean, he was smashing the ball. The kids got to see what major-league bat speed was like.’’  Wert last got together with his teammates at the 50th reunion of the 1968 team in Detroit in 2018. He was 80 at the time.  Wert last got together with his teammates at the 50th reunion of the 1968 team in Detroit in 2018. He was 80 at the time.  He’s survived by his wife Marla, son Scott, daughters Barbara Hess and Kimberly Myers, and grandchildren Julia and Mason Myers.  Don was one of the very few professional baseball players from the Lancaster area who was successful in the big leagues.  I am sorry that I never had the chance to meet him, but still enjoyed hearing stories about him.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "One Final Story For Today" Story

It was an ordinary day.  My wife asked if I had read the story in our Sunday newspaper about the bike ride that was held yesterday in nearby Philadelphia.  I looked at her with a puzzled look and then she told me about it.  Seems like hundreds of people in various states of undress cruised the streets of Philadelphia yesterday to celebrate the 15th annual Philly Naked Bike Ride.  Now, how did I miss it??  I never see anything about it every year until it is too late.  Perhaps I should initiate a ride through the city of Lancaster similar to the Philadelphia ride.  Well.... hundreds of people in various states of undress cruised the streets of Philadelphia to cheers from onlookers Saturday evening in the 15th annual Philly Naked Bike Ride.  The annual ride, which started in 2009, is billed as promoting cycling as a key form of transportation and fuel-conscious consumption.  It is also meant to encourage body positivity.  Organizers stress, however, that participants aren't required to be completely in the buff, telling them to get "as bare as you dare."  Maybe jeans and a t-shirt??  Organizers  said the ride wasn't limited only to bicycles, but welcomed "all forms of human-powered transportation" such as roller blades, skates, skateboards and scooters.  They also point to a code of conduct that bars any kind of physical or sexual harassment.  I'm not sure if I would enjoy participation in a bike ride such as this or not.  Maybe if I watched it one time I could then decide if I would enjoy participation in it or not.  And...who would want to view someone riding a bike in the nude who was 80 years old.  Might make them sick!  The more I think about it, the more I know it's not for me!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy, 

"Look At It This Way" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Going through an old Saturday Evening Post Magazine when I came across a story that was titled "Look at It This Way".  The accompanying artwork was by Norman Rockwell and featured a drawing of a young boy being fitted for a new pair of glasses.  Brought back memories from a long time ago when I also had to go through the same thing.  I read the story and felt you might too have a young boy who may be experiencing the same as I did years ago....and might enjoy how he...and I...felt when we had to get a new pair of glasses.  So....read on....

Put a pair of glasses on a kid and you've shifted the course of their life.  Their spectacles might see them from getting punched, help them get better grades, or just make them look smarter.  Or it might make them subject to teasing.  When this cover appeared in 1956, for instance, it was widely assumed among kids that glasses made girls homie and boys sissies.  Certainly this young man believes it.  His pugnacious, just-barely-tolerating-it expression makes clear how little he wants glasses.  He had Norman Rockwell's sympathy.  As a child in the 1900s, little Norman learned he needed glasses.  His pair were fitted with round-lens frames, a style just then coming into fashion.  To his peers, though, the circular lenses had a lunar appearance, and he was nicknamed "Moony."  Norman already had a previous strike against him in the taunting world of young boys.  His mother had saddled him with the middle name Perceval.  When this became public knowledge, it earned him a second nickname: "Mercy Percy."  He tried changing his image.  He began lifting weights, doing pushups and deep knee bends.  After a month of exercising before his bedroom mirror, he saw an improvement.  His loss was our gain, because he decided, with his corrected eyesight, to take up art instead.  As for me...well my new eyesight gave me a better chance to see the baseball when I was on a midget-midget baseball team and I led the team in hitting....something I would never had done had I never received the glasses.  So you see...there usually is a reason for everything...be it good or bad.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

 

At the Optometrist, May 19, 1956

 

One Of My Favorite Photojournalists

It was an ordinary day.  Surfing on my computer and looking once again at a few photographs taken by long-time photojournalist Dan Marsha who lived and worked in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Dan has been with the Lancaster Newspaper for years.  He has taken photos of just about anything imaginable from photos of Kings, Queens and Presidents to photos of horrible accident scenes.  It was Dan's job and he had no choice but to take the photos of what he was told were needed for a story in the daily newspaper in Lancaster, Pennsylvnia.  Dan was one of my go-to photographers when I needed a speaker for one of my photography classes at Manheim Township High School.  He always found time to spend in my class and explain to my students how each photo was taken and for what story in the daily newspaper.  The students loved to hear his stories and to see the images he would project onto the screen in my classroom.  Some photographs were beautiful while others were horrific.  My only request of Dan was that he wouldn't present any photographs that wouldn't have been acceptable for the local newspaper.  I made that request of Dan, since I had seen a few of his photographs that would have been overwhelming for my high school classes.  For many years Dan captured his images in black and white, but eventually they were taken in color which would be used as

Photojournalist Dan Marscha

a color image in the newspaper, but still could be changed over to black and white if needed.  Dan explained how many of the photos were taken, both in black and white and color.  Explanations of lighting, movement in the photo and if the photo was to be in color or black and white were explained to my classes.  His camera and the lens he used were examined as well as the type and speed of the film that he used.  Dan was one of my classes favorite guest speakers.  Never had to tell them to behave themselves or to make sure they arrived to class on time when they knew he was to be my speaker.  I have included a few of the photos that he presented and talked about during my classes in the past as well as a photo of himself.  Many thanks to Dan for the many times he made visits to my classes when I was teaching at Manheim Township High School.  I enjoyed his presentations as much as my classes did.  Check out a few of the photographs that he had taken that were published in the Lancaster Newspaper.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  A few photos that Dan took for the newspaper follow...... (click to enlarge). PS - Dan was one of about a half-dozen professional photographers who spent time talking to my photography class.  I will add a few other stories in the near future to tell you about their visits and the photos they presented.

Amish buggies in parade

Barack Obama visiting Lancaster

Former student who became a well-known doctor....
Dr. Stephen Diamontoni

Religious passage tattooed onto young girl's back

One of Lancaster's oldest residents celebrating a birthday

Young man "shooting-up"

Lancaster County farmers at work

Landis Valley Farm Museum showing displays

Paul Newman in movie scene

Amish youth 

Fishermen in the spring on the
Mighty Susquehanna River

To Be Happy Tomorrow...Eat Fruit Today Story!

It was an ordinary day.  Reading a story in my local newspaper which was written by Dr. Mike Roizen who gives medical advice to readers of the newspaper.  Story read:  Polling indicates that 6 million older Americans are struggling with the physical and emotional challenges of depression.  That can lead to inactivity, poor nutrition and lack of social interaction, all fueling chronic health problems.  To protect yourself from that future, we've long recommended having a posse and a purpose, getten plenty of depression-dispelling exercise, and making sure you manage stress with meditation and good sleep habits.  But here's a new trick: eating fresh fruits in your middle years.  A study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, surveyed more than 13,000 participants over 22 years (on average they were age 51 at the start and 73 at the end) to see what fruits and vegetables they were eating and if they developed symptoms of depression.  The researchers found that regularly consuming three servings a day of fruits such as oranges, tangerines, bananas, papayas, watermelons, apples and honey melon reduced the participants' risk of depression after age 65 by 21%.  Fruit has high levels of anti-inflammatory micro-nutrients such as vitamin C, carotenoids (converted into vitamin A) and flavonoids (in citrus fruit and berries).  That may counter chronic inflammation (very common) that disrupts the gut microbiome, directly impacting the brain/emotional health via the gut-brain axis.  So, enjoy a serving of fruit with each meal and/or as a snack.  Then, check out the free newsletter at LongevityPlaybook.com for 60-plus ways to achieve a healthy, happy older age, and Dr. Oz's iHerb.com blog "The ABCs of Vitamins: Benefits of Vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and B."  See how much better you feel after trying out some of the information you just read.  I have already started to use the information above, but so far have not found any difference.  Of course...I only began my routine two days ago.  My guess is it will take a bit longer than two days!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "You've Been Warned! Story?

It was an ordinary day.  Just picked up my latest copy of "The Fishwrapper."  There were several interesting stories as well as "To Do" items, but the one quarter-page story that I found the most interesting was titled "You've Been Warned!"  These were actual warnings posted on products, packages and bottles.  I knew I just had to forward it to you through my blog.  How can anyone be so stupid that they need instructions such as those listed?  So... now you too  have it and..."You've Been Warned!"  

A. Instructions for a hairdryer.  Do not use while sleeping! 

B. A bag of Fritos.  You could be a winner! No purchase necessary!  Details inside.

C. A bar of Dial bath soap.  Directions: Use like regular soap!

D. A frozen dinner package.  Serving suggestion: Defrost

E. A hotel-provided shower cap box.  Fits one head.

F.  Marks & Spencer@ Bread Pudding.  Product will not be hot after heating.

G. Packaging from a Rowenta Iron.  Do not iron clothes on body.

H. Boot's children's cough medicine.  Do not drive car or operate machinery.

I. A bottle of Nytol@ (a sleeping aid). Warning: May cause drowsiness.

J. A Korean kitchen knife.  Warning: Keep out of children!

K. A string of Chinese-made Christmas lights.  For indoor or outdoor use only.

L. An American Airlines package of nuts.  Instructions...Open package, eat nuts.

M. A Swedish chainsaw.  Do not attempt to stop chain saw with your hands.

N. A package of Sunmaid@ raisins.  Why not try tossing over your favorite breakfast cereal?

A final note was placed at the bottom of the warnings that read:  In spite of warnings, often not much happens until the status quo is more painful than change. 

It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ornery guy!  

"Like When You See An Old Friend" Story

Its was an ordinary day.  A fine, bright Friday morning, just like so many other fine, bright mornings, Gary Pickle took a walk.  Pickle, a ranger who works at Northunberland National Park in England, just south of the Scottish border, was inspecting a route that winds past Hadrian's Wall, constructed by the Roman army in the second century.  He walked past the cleft where the Sycamore Gap tree had famously jutted out into the landscape before it was illegally cut down last year, and he bent down to its stump.  Astonishingly, improbably, there were eight shoots where the tree once stood.  Eight signs of life!  "It was like when you see an old friend," said Pickles, age 54.  " 'Oh, you're back, are you?' "  Pickles' discovery, announced Thursday by the park and the National Trust, a British conservation society, is a step toward national healing.  The felling of the tree in September shocked and horrified many British people.  Why would anyone ax something so lovely, so alive?  "People felt like their landscape - their heritage - was violated," said Rob Collins, a professor at Newcastle University who is a specialist in Hadrian's Wall archaeology.  Police conducted a swift investigation, and a legal process was underway: Two men were charged in April in connection to the felling.  They are set to appear in court this month, the BBC reported.  "People in the northeast of England, in Northumberland, have almost taken it as a personal affront," said Andrew Poad, general manager at Hadrian's Wall, which is partly managed by the National Trust.  For people in Britain and tree lovers across the world, these fragile shoots are poetic justice.  "Its nature's response to what's happened," Poad said.  He visited the tree Thursday morning and counted 12 shoots: a really good sign.  "We said, at the time, it was like having a bereavement," he said of the felling.  "Well, this feels like we've had a baby."  The British sycamore is known as the sycamore maple in the U.S., where the name is used for a similar type of native shade tree.  The Sycamore Gap tree, a beloved way marker, had grown for centuries along Hadrian's Wall.  It shot to cultural prominence in the 1990s, after it was featured in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves."  It was voted Tree of the Year in 2016 in the Woodland Trust competition.  People took wedding photos, graduation photos.  And family after family once gathered near its roots to scatter the ashes of loved ones, saying goodbye.  As the tree lay on its side last year, scientists rushed to gather its seeds and take cuttings from it.  Even if the tree was gone, they hoped they could rescue some of it genetic material.  "The seedlings that we've got are children of the tree, so they're actually genetically slightly different," said Andy Jasper, director of gardens and parklands for the national Trust.  The new growth at the site bears even more meaning, he said, "It is actually that tree, regenerating itself."  When Pickles saw the sprouts on his morning walk, he was delighted, but careful.  So he quickly took a few photos and left to tell his team.  "I didn't want to be seen snapping away, in case people's attention was drawn to it," he said.  Scientists and park officials are working to protect the vulnerable sprouts.  An expanded fence is in place to keep animals away. Officials are also asking visitors to stay away.  "We really need to treat it with kid gloves for the next few months and years, potentially," Poad said.  As for me, LDub...well, I can only hope to see it grow to my height before I say goodby to it.  I wish I could see it to total maturity, but reaching 80 in another month just won't work for me.  I will do my best to stay around as long as I can, but.....a generation or two doesn't seem to be on my schedule.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

     

The Way To A Truly Restful Vacation

It was an ordinary day.  Reading in Time Magazine about how to obtain a truly restful vacation.  Thought you might be able to use the information if you still have a trip planned for the end of summer.  

1.  Take a few short trips instead of one long one....Because the positive effects of traveling fade about a month after you return home....and because the planning process can make you happier than the trip itself....traveling more often could be key to improving mental health says Laurence Chan, instructor of medical psychology at Columbia University.  That means taking a few smaller trips may be better than taking one big trip, he says.  

2.  Temporarily delete or mute apps....it's hard, but put your phone away as much as possible---and consider deleting your work email app while you're gone.  Research has linked spending less time on one's phone to a more relaxing vacation.

3.  Have a loose plan....If you're aiming for a relaxing getaway, you shouldn't over schedule yourself.  But, don't under schedule yourself either, says Henley Vazquez, co-founder of the travel agency Fora.  "There can be the impulse to figure it out when you're there," she says.  But faced with an empty agenda, "we end up defaulting to checking our phones."  Instead, plan a half-day's worth of activities every day.

4. Cut your trip a day short....Even though you might dream of spending 10 days sunbathing in Hawaii, nine would be better if it means you have a da of rest and recovery between your vacation and returning to work or school, experts say.

5.  Go for a hike or a swim....One study found that when people exercise on vacation--regardless of whether they do at home--the had improved sleep, heart rates, and well-being.  Although a run on the hotel gym's treadmill is good, it's better to break a sweat in nature, as exercising outdoors can lower anxiety and stress.

6.  Choose a sun-drenched spot....Regular exposure to sunlight is good for the mind and body.  One study found that people experienced more health benefits from their vacation when they were in a sunny locale rather than an overcast one.  

Hope a few of the ideas for a more restful vacation might help you with your vacation this year.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "What An Awful Thing To Do!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Then I opened my morning newspaper and read the headline on page 3.  "Cat Found Shot With Arrow Makes Recovery!"  Now...who could possibly shoot a helpless cat with a bow and arrow?  They need to have their head examined...or better yet...have an arrow shot through their head.  I understand if you don't like cats for one reason or another, but that doesn't give you the right to shoot one with a bow and arrow.  The story in the newspaper read...A cat found in Pequea Township with an arrow lodged in its cheek has made a full recovery and is heading to an adoptive family.  Libby Rannels, an emergency responder with the Organization for Responsible Care of Animals, said the 6-month-old cat, named Zura by the staff, has been healing well.  Only a small pink scar on her left cheek remains less than a month after her attack.  The ordeal does not appear to have had a lasting effect on the black and white cat, who Rannels described as having a relaxed and easy-going personality.  "She loves to sit in the windows of our office and look out.  She's been great with our staff," Rannels said.  "She doesn't appear to have any sign of trauma that we've seen."  After the organization posted Zura's story on its Facebook page earlier this month, an older couple who had recently lost their own cat reached out to see if they could adopt her after the feline made a full recovery.  Staff found the couple to be a good fit, and Zura will be taken to her new home today.  "She's such a chill cat.  The whole staff at the Organization for Responsible Care of Animals is sad to see her go, but we are happy she's going too a good home."  A Pequea Township resident found Zura on July 25 in the 100 block of West Willow Road with a broken metal arrow shaft lodged in her cheek.  Rannels arrived and took Zura to the Red Rose Pet Care Center in Lancaster Township.  Veterinarian Nasir Shah took an X-ray of the cat and determined that the arrow had missed the cat's major arteries, jaw and trachea.  After making a small incision, Shah was able to safely remove the arrow without causing further damage.  Pequea Township police are investigating the incident and ask anyone with information to contact the department at 717-664-1180.  I suspect they want to shoot the person who did the nasty deed with a bow and arrow...right through their jaw!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

Zura

View showing where the cat was shot.

New Sculptures Are Added to Long's Park Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about two new sculptures that grace the entrance to Lancaster, Pennsylvania's Long's Park. The story in the newspaper began with...The next time you visit Long's Park, you might notice two new additions.  The sculptures by artist Matthew J. Leavell were installed at the entrance of Long's Park on Thursday, August 15.  The botanical-themed steel sculptures flank the park's main entrance.  Janice Henry, a member of the Long's Park Amphitheater Foundation board, initially approached Leavell about contributing art to the park as part of the foundation's 60th Anniversary celebration in 2022.  Though that timing didn't work out, Leavell revisited the idea last summer and offered to donate two pieces to the park, the news release said.  The sculptures are dedicated to the volunteers at the Long's Park Art Festival, the Summer Music Festival, the Summer Music Series and other initiatives.  "The installation of Matthew's sculptures is a wonderful realization of our 60th Anniversary goals," Henry said.  "It's a testament to the lasting impact of our volunteers and the community that supports us."  Level, who has a studio near downtown Lititz, is known for his whimsical metal sculptures.  His work is in private homes and gardens, municipal parks and corporate campuses across the country.  Leavell's donated sculptures are valued between $15,000 and $25,000.  Level, who moved to Lancaster in 2020, said the Long's Park Art Festival - held annually on Labor Day weekend - was pivotal in his decision to relocate to the area.  "Lancaster is punching way about its weight class in regard to the art festival," Level said in the news release.  "The production quality, the sheer scale, the number of volunteers, and the clientele that the event attracts are at least on par with some of the most prestigious and well-funded events in the nation."  Well....I just had to take a look for myself at the new sculptures that stand on either side of the main entrance to the park.  Grabbed my camera and snapped a few photographs to share with you to illustrate the new botanical sculptures that are at the entrance of Long's Park.  I live at nearby Woodcrest Villas which is about an 8th of a mile from the park.  The first photo in my story today was taken by the Long's Park Amphitheater Foundation and appeared in Lancaster's daily newspaper.

The photo shows Lititz artist Matthew J. Leavell installing one fo his new botanical sculptures at the entrance of Long's Park.  The remaining photographs are photos taken by yours truly.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - First 4 photos are from the left side of the entrance to the park while the second 4 photos are from the right side of the  entrance to the park.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.