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.

"The Story I Never Experienced!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading my Sunday local newspaper's "Living" section.  One story immediately caught my eye.  Perhaps it was due to being on page 1 of the "Living" section, or maybe because the story was titled "Mothballs, wake-up call all part of basic training."  The story was featured as the "I Know A Story" entry that is featured every Sunday in the Sunday News.  At the top of the story was a color photograph of a pair of loosely tied tan combat boots in front of a blurred red, white and blue United States flag.  The story was written by Dan Jerchau who was drafted into the U.S. Army when he received his notification on February 17, 1971.  He reported he received a scary letter from the President of the United States that read:  "Greetings, you are hereby inducted into the Armed Forces of the United States and are to report to your local draft board at 50 S. Duke St., Lancaster, PA, on March 2, 1971, at 5:50 a.m."  His life was about to change.  He got drafted into the U.S. Army for 2 years.  He had just turned 19 years old and now had to notify people who knew him.  People like his friends, relatives, his boss, his church and his girlfriend.  The war in Vietnam was going on and he was pretty sure that's where he was headed.  The day arrived and his mother dropped him off at 5:50 a.m. at 50 S. Duke Street.  He kissed her goodbye for three months.  He was told that he would be going to the New Cumberland Army Depot near Harrisburg and then to Fort Dix, New Jersey, for basic training.  He raised his right hand and took "The Oath" and was officially in the Army.  One guy refused to take the oath and was taken away, never to be seen again.  Dan was put on a train to Trenton, New Jersey and arrived by 10:00 that night.  They were put on buses and driven an hour to Fort Dix, where drill sergeants ran onto the bus screaming at us to get off the bus.  He kept thinking, "This can't be happening to me!"  They then were taken to a huge barracks about 200 feet long with bunks arranged in rows as far as the eye could see.  The whole place smelled like mothballs.  They were issued clothing; underwear,  shoes, boots and a little cloth bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste, a razor and a tiny can of shaving cream.  Next, they got into another line for sheets, a pillow case and a blanket.  They were assigned a bed and shown how to make an Army bed.  It was now about 11 p.m. and all of us were dog tired.  We instantly dropped off to sleep.  It seemed like an hour later when we heard a horrible crashing noise with men shouting at the top of their lungs.  One drill sergeant shouted, "Get up!"  Another one shouted, "If you're still in bed....you're wrong!"  The crashing noise came from both drill sergeants.  Each man had two metal garbage can lids being used like cymbals as they ran between the rows of beds.  The noise was deafening, and it worked.  Men started to scramble out of their beds and formed lines.  It was 5 a.m.  I woke up smelling mothballs.  It took a few seconds for me to remember where I was and the most horrible feeling washed over me.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  Oh no.  Two years of this!  I actually thought we would be awakened every day just like this.  I was in Fort Dix for three month and then was sent to Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia, for another three months of military police training.  After basic training, we were treated much better.  MP school was actually fun.  I did get sent to Vietnam, but as a policeman and not an infantry soldier.  My time in the military was not nearly as bad as I'd imagined, and the experience shaped my life.  Now, fast forward 10 years, and I was married with a 3-year-old son.  I was now a local police officer.  I was napping after a long day at work and just before supper, my dear wife woke me from my nap with a kiss.  I told her, "You know, being awakened with a kiss is SO much better than garbage can lids."  Oh, and to this day, I still hate the smell of mothballs!  The author lives in East Petersburg, PA.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The Remarkable Strawberry Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about the remarkable strawberry.  You know....the fruit that you enjoy with your morning meal.  The fruit you use for strawberry shortcake.  The fruit....I could go on and on and on....if I cared to.  

But, the story must progress.  Everyone and everything from The Beatles ("Strawberry Fields Forever") to Tiny Tim ("Strawberry Tea") has sung the praises of the delicious red fruit.  And now researchers from the Illinois Institute of Technology are singing its praises, too.  At Nutrition 2024, they shared their controlled, randomized study, funded by the California Strawberry Commission, that looked at the impact that four weeks of daily consumption of eight strawberries had on cardiovascular health.

Thirty-six women and thirty-two men, ages 20 to 62, who were overweight participated.  Those who ate a cup of strawberries a day had far healthier blood flow and blood pressure (measured by flow-mediated dilation of the artery in their arm) than those who didn't get a daily dose.  In fact, their risk of cardiovascular problems, like heart attack and stroke, was calculated to be eight times less than folks in the control group.  What is it about strawberries that make them so heart-friendly?  A cup a day provides more than the recommended daily value of vitamin C and a good dose of potassium, iron, calcium and magnesium.  Those nutrients reduce inflammation and support healthy heart functions.

And now, a new study indicates that CoQ10, also found in strawberries, can improve how the heart pumps blood in folks with cardiovascular disease.  Other studies have found that CoQ10 works as a polyphenol that protects cells from damage and helps prevent blood clots.  To find out more about the health benefits of strawberries, read the iHerb.com's blogs, "Freeze-Dried Strawberries and Cardiovascular health," and "Coenzyme Q10 Health Benefits."  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - Are you ready for a strawberry yet??

The "Racing At A Snail's Pace," Story

It was an ordinary day.  Monday and a new week is upon us.  Reading a story in my local newspaper about racing.  Not automobile racing, but snail racing.  Yes...the gastropod type of  snail racing.  Paris was recently home to many of the world's impressive athletes, including some of the fastest human beings on the planet.  Among the competitors gathering for the Olympic Games were runners who can knock out a marathon win in just over two hours, 1 mile in under four minutes and 100 meters in less than 10 seconds.  This month, the rural village of Coongham, England, played host to a less likely group of athletes: dozens of garden snails.  They had gathered to compete in the World Snail Racing Championships, where the world record time for completing the 13.5 inch course stands at two minutes flat.  At that speed - roughly 0.006 mph - it would take the snails more than six days to travel 1 mile.  "It isn't the greatest spectator sport in the world," said Nicholas Dickinson, who organizes the race with fellow snail master Ian Haynes.  But, the glacial pace of the gastropods is the product of Olympic-level exertion.  Most of a snail's soft body is composed of a single, muscular foot.  The foot secretes a thin layer of mucus while waves of muscular contractions propel the animal forward.  It's a form of locomotion the requires 12 times as much energy as running.  Britain has a history of quirky competition, scuba bog snorkeling and worm charming, and the snail race in Congham dates back to the 1960s, Dickinson said.  "Snail racing is just another one of those wonderful Britirranean, but has become so widespread globally that it is often considered a pest.  Traditions that, I guess, we felt almost a duty to maintain," he said.  The race also offers an occasion to celebrate the common garden snail, Cornu aspesum, which is native to the mediterranean but has become so widespread globally that it is often considered a pest.  No previous snail racing experience is required.  Nor is a snail.  "Anyone who's just interested can hire one of our snails from our stable," Dickinson said.  This year's race took place on a gray, rainy day.   "It was a really awful British summer day," Haynes said.  But until the hail hit, at least, it was a good gastropod weather; snails are sensitive to drying out and thrive in moist environments.  There were 85 snails, divided into eight heats, in contention for the title.  The race course was laid out on a piece of damp fabric draped over a table.  The snails began the race inside the smaller of two concentric circles in the center of the table; the winner was the first snail to traverse the 13.5-inch expanse and reach the outer circle.  Before each heat, Haynes gave the signal for the race to begin: "Ready, steady, slow!" he said.  And they're off, sort of.  Some snails appeared to lock in on the finish line, making steady, if not speedy, progrsss.  Others were quick off the starting blocks before opting to travel in circles.  A few tried to hitch a ride to the finish line by fastening themselves to the competitors ahead of them.  The snail masters dutifully detached these freeloaders.  "That's unfair racing tactics," Dickinson said.  "It's like Usain Bol starting off the 100 meters with me saying, 'I'm going to come on your back, Usain, and just jump off at the last 10 meters.'"  After two hours, the field had been winnowed to eight finalists, who faced off in the grand final.  In the final, Jeff, a big bruiser of a snail, took an early lead and never relinquished it.  "He just had his head out and was going for it" Haynes said.  After 4 minutes, 5 seconds, it was official:  Jeff was then world champion.  Jeff promptly left a slime trail across the base of his trainer's trophy.  Traditionally, the winning snail also receives a large head of lettuce, but this year, Dickinson had forgotten to buy any.  "I will have to rectify that," he said.  "I could be accused of not fulfilling my snail master duties."  He added: "People, I think, can't quite work out whether I am for real.  Because, we do take this very, very seriously.  But we also recognize that it is slightly bonkers."  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "A LEGACY LIVES ON IN LANCASTER COUNTY" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just opened my front door and had my morning newspaper drop into the house. There on the front page of my LNP newspaper was a photograph of Ann B. Barshinger with a lengthy story of her life.  The headline read: LEGACY LIVES ON with a sub-head that read "At Memorial Service, Community Remembers Philanthropist's Compassion, Generosity And Humor."  If my story today seem's a bit to long, I'm sorry, but Ann deserved every bit of the space on my computer.  Ann Barshinger, a philanthropist who grew up on a farm and gave away about $50 million to Lancaster County organizations before her death at 100, was remembered for her generosity humor, humility and compassion for others during her memorial service this past Friday.

Ann Barshinger

Fittingly, the service was held inside the Ann & Richard Barshinger for the Musical Arts building on the campus of Franklin & Marshall College.  It's the same building where Richard Barshinger was a student at the college more than 80 years ago.  The building, first constructed in 1925, was dubbed Hensel Hall then and was later rededicated in 2000 as the Ann & Richard  Barshinger Center for Musical Arts in Hensel Hall.  "We're sitting in one of more than a dozen physical facilities that bears the Barshinger name," said David Hanson, CEO of Fulton Private Bank, which focuses on services of individuals who have substantial wealth.  Hanson was among a half-dozen people who spoke onstage during the hourlong service reflecting on the life of Ann Barshinger, a philanthropist known for aiding numerous landmark projects and initiatives in Lancaster County.  Barshinger, who grew up on a farm in Glen Rock, York County, died July 21 at Willow Valley Communities in West Lampeter Township, where she had lived since 2001.  She was 100.  "She gave to over 50 organizations...art, health, education, feeding the homeless, and religion.  If she saw a need, she met it," Hanson said.   "I never worked with somebody who had such a wide range of charitable interests.  She has left an unbelievable impact."  Barshinger was buried alongside her husband at Red Lion Cemetery in nearby York County on July 26.  Ann Barshinger's most famous quote about her philanthropy was, "You don't see a U-Haul behind a hearse."  Barbara Altman, President of Franklin & Marshall College, who attended the burial and Friday's service, said, "I can attest to the fact that as we followed the Hearst to the cemetery, a U-Haul was not hitched to the hearse."  The line drew laughter from the crowd of about 100 people, including Lancaster City Mayors...both current and former, Danene Sorace and Rick Gray.  On September 30, 1930, at 7 years old, Ann waited with her family for hours to be one of the first cars to cross the Columbia-Wrightsville bridge," said Elaine Kowalski, who though power of attorney acted as Barshinger's agent.  "We are so grateful that Ann crossed that bridge in 2001 to become a permanent resident of Lancaster County."  Ann and Richard Barsinger had been married 54 years when Richard died in 2001.  "They had planned to move to Willow Valley before his death in 2001," said Rick Boyd, Ann Barshinger's nephew.  "As it turned out, Ann made that move alone and began her third act, which she found richly rewarding: For more than two decades Ann took great pleasure in redistributing her financial assets to organizations in Lancaster and York Counties."  Richard had inherited Red Lion Co., which was founded in 1920 by his grandfather, Simon Barshinger.  The company was later sold to ConAgra, and Ann and Richard used their wealth from the sale of that plant to fund their philanthropic endeavors.  "She told me about the time she shot a groundhog," said the Rev. Carol Lynch, president emerita of Lancaster Theological Seminary.  "Dick was looking out a window.  He saw a groundhog interfering with the pool cover.  He asked for her to get him a gun.  He aimed it and she pulled the trigger.  She got the groundhog.  It's kind of an oddball story but it describes the partnership she had with Dick in her philanthropy.  He loaded and aimed this tremendous philanthropy made possible because of his business.  Ann pulled the trigger on transformative gifts to worthy organizations in this region."  Fulton Private Bank helped Ann Barsinger manage her money.  It's there she worked with Kowalski, who upon retirement became Barshinger's power of attorney.  "My favorite story about Ann is when she was a child," Kowalski recalled.  "The community was building a church and her family didn't have that much to give.  But Ann and her brother collected stones from her farm to be used for the foundation of the church". That church still stands today as New Hope Fossil's United Church in Glen Rock.  "Little did she know at the time that she would someday give away over $50 million," Kowalski said.  Dr. Randall was among the six speakers Friday.  Oyer is the medical director of Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health's Cancer Risk Evaluation Program and clinical professor of medicine and is founding medical director of the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute.  The two-story 70,000-square foot institute, made possible in part due to a substantial donation from Barsinger, opened in 2013 in East Hempfield Township.  

The 46 million Barshinger Cancer Institute in Lancaster, PA

"Ann gave her time and effort, influence and advocacy, and her advice and emotional support," Oyer said.  "She was more than a donor.  Ann was involved, invested and a perpetual partner to the organizatons she funded because she believed in our mission and trusted in our outcome.  She took pride in the work we did and gave us all the credit."  The Barshinger's donation supported numerous projects at F&M, including the Ann & Richard Barshinger Life Sciences Building and the Winter Visual Arts Center, among others. A $10 million state grant for the life sciences building was matched by a $10 million donation from Ann Barshiinger in 2005.

Richard Boyd, nephew of Ann, speaks during memorial service for
Ann inside Ann & Richard Barshinger Center for Musical Arts
at F&M College on August 16, 2024.

Additionally, Barshinger endows the $4 million Ann Boyd Barshinger Scholarship Fund, which supports tuition at F&M for deserving students from Lancaster and York Counties.  Altman noted those contributions during the service and shared thoughts from previous F&M presidents and a few former students who were benefactors of the scholarship fund.  "The word 'philanthropy' comes from the Greek language meaning love of humanity." Altman said.  "Now we generally understand it as a desire to promote the welfare of others.  By any and all definitions, Mrs. B. was the incarnation of philanthropy."  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Ann with one of her best friends.

Through The Viewfinder....Exploring The Art Of Photography

It was an ordinary day.  Reading a column in my local newspaper that was titled "THROUGH THE VIEWFINDER...Exploring The Art Of Photography.  Through the Viewfinder is a weekly feature by LNP/LancasterOnline photographers exploring the art of black-and-white and color photography.  Today's featured photograph was by Suzette Wenger who has been with the Lancaster Newspaper for many years.  She even made yearly visits to my photography classes when I was still teaching high school.  It often would show the girls in my classes that they too can be just as successful as the boys in the field of photography after seeing Suzette's work.  Suzette's column today read...If you've recently spent time outdoors, you might have noticed it's not as quiet as it normally is.  The annual go-day cicadas have emerged from the ground, and they make a plethora of noise that reminds us it's summertime.  Sometimes they are called the annual cicada or locusts, but they are named for their arrival around the time when Sirius, the "Dog Star," is visible at sunset.  Basically, they are alive in July and August, as they live from four to six weeks during the "go days of summer."  The critters are larger than periodical cicadas, which appear every 117 years.  The nymphs for this type of cicada take two to three years to complete their development, but some adults emerge every year because of the overlapping of generations.  Today's image was shot with a Nikon D700 with a 105 mm micro lens.  A tripod was used to capture this image that was shot at 1/60 of a second shutter speed, the f-stop was f-11, and the ISO was set to 100.  Bounce fill flash was employed to record this photo.  Processing was completed in Photoshop with some minor burning around the edges.  Thanks Suzette for the great photos you have taken for many years, both in black and white as well as color.  I don't think I ever saw one of your photographs that wasn't processed to perfection.  And...thanks for the many trips you made to Manheim Township High School to speak to my photograph classes.  The students really enjoyed your presentations as well as I did.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

Photograph by Suzette Wenger

Scientists Await Star's Explosion Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading an article in one of my latest newspapers titled... "Scientists Await Star's Explosion."  The sub-head on the story was titled... "Amateurs keep watch for titanic blast far in space that could happen any day."  The story was written by Los Angeles Times reporter Noah Haggerty.  It read...Every clear night for the last three weeks, Bob Stephens has pointed his home telescope at the same two stars in hopes of witnessing one of the most violent events in the universe - a nova explosion a hundred thousand times brighter than the sun.  The eruption, which scientists say could happen any day now, has excited the interest of major observatories worldwide, and it promises to advance our understanding of turbulent binary star systems.  Yet for all the high-tech observational power that NASA and other scientific institutions can muster, astrophysicists are relying on countless amateur astronomers like Stephens to spot the eplosion first.  The reason?  It's just too costly to keep their equipment focused on the same subject for months at a time.  "I think everyone will look at it while it happens, but sitting there just looking at it isn't going to make it happen," said Tom Meneghini, the director of telescope operations and executive director emeritus at the Mount Wilson Observatory.  "It's like a watched pot," he joked.  The star is so far away that it takes 3,000 years for its light to reach the Earth, meaning the explosion occurred before the last of the Egyptian pyramids were built.  It will appear about as bright as the North Star for just a few days before fading into the darkness.  Once it's spotted, some of the most advanced observatories on Earth and in space will join in watching, including NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.  T Coronae Borealis, also called the Blaze Star, is actually two stars - a hot, dense white dwarf, and a cooler red giant.  The dwarf star, which ran out of fuel long ago and collapsed to roughly the size of Earth, has been siphoning hydrogen gas from its larger neighbor for about a human lifetime.  This stolen gas has accumulated in a disk around the dwarf like a hot, messy version of Saturn's rings.  Soon, the disk will grow so heavy that it will become violent and unwieldy, and inevitably, explode like a thermonuclear bomb.  Neither star is destroyed however, and the process repeats itself roughly every 80 years.  This time around, there's an army of enthusiasts like Stephens ready to sound the alarm when the star goes nova.  Far from mere hobbyists, a number of these amateur observers have published their own scientific research.  Stephens even built his own observatory as an addition to his house in Rancho Cucamonga.  "The city thinks it's a sunroom," Stephens said.  After the inspector stopped by, he removed the screws securing the roof, allowing him to roll it off to reveal the clear sky to his telescope.  Every night, he turns on the telescope and spends more than an hour taking data, which he later posts to an online community of amateur astronomers who monitor the star almost nonstop.  Estimates on when the nova will occur vary, but most astro-physicists agree it will happen before the end of the year, and likely by the end of August. I can hardly wait to see the explosion!!  I'll try and not miss this big event!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

"Tigger The Cat Reunites With Owners" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading in my morning newspaper about a cat that had ben missing for 2 years and finally was reunited with its original owners.  Cat's name was Tigger and he was originally from the little town to the north of Lancaster, Pennsylvania known as Lititz (pronounced Lit-tit-z (yeah...I know it sounds funny or even obscene).  Story goes like this...Karen Bamberger recognized the orange-and-white cat that showed up at her home in Lititz, PA last week.  She had seen it on neighborhood posters as well as being posted on "Nextdoor", the hyperlocal social media app.  Karen, a retired teacher in the local Warwick School District,  marveled at the beauty of the cat, figuring that it wasn't a feral cat.  She said, "He was very friendly.  He even jumped  up on my lap."  She knew that it must belong to another person or family, but had no idea whom or where they might live.  Karen, who had recently got her own cat, had all the supplies needed to take care of the stray until she could find a home for him.  She kept the cat on her screened-in rear porch while she tried to figure what to do with him.  She then connected with Anita Barr of Elizabeth Township, which is near Lititz, and tried to figure what to do with the cat.  Barr took it to the Lititz Veterinary clinic where they learned that it had been micro-chipped.  The cat belonged to Jeremiah and Lauren Geib and their two children of Boyertown, Pennsylvania, about 40 miles northeast of Lititz.  Even crazier, the cat--whom they found out was named "Tigger" had been missing for 2 years.  "The mystery was how the cat made it from Boyertown, Berks County, to Lititz in Lancaster County, 40 miles northeast of Lititz.  And....for the cat to have survived for TWO years was remarkable.  Somebody along the way must have taken care of the cat.  Well, Barr and Bamberger arranged for a meeting with the cat at the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Warwick Substation.  "The (parents) showed me a photograph of their daughter holding Tigger like a little baby.  The cat was probably about 5 to 6 pounds at that time.  Today it probably weighs about 20-25 pounds.  He was hugh.  He was being fed well during his two years of lifetime.  Barr and Bamberger said seeing how happy the children of the Bamberger's were was the best part of the reunion.  In typical cat fashion, it was hard to tell how happy the cat was!  The story reported that cat traps can be purchased online or at retailers such as Harbor Freight and Tractor Supply.  People who might be interested in adopting a cat or kitten can visit Last Litter Rescue thorough gmail or by calling 717-875-9421.  Barr and Bamberger stressed the importance of getting microchips implanted in pet cats.  "It was really the microchip that was instrumental in reuniting the pet  to the owner.  "So...even if it is a housecat, it might be best to get your cat microchipped.  That way it will always be a happy ending.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Anita Barr (right) reunites Tigger the cat with the Geib family.

   

The "New Light Shed On Stonehenge" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about the 'Altar stone' which originated in Scotland - not Wales - new research concluded.  The ancient ritual meaning of Stonehenge is still a mystery, but researchers are one stop closer to understanding how the famous stone circle was created.  The unique stone lying flat at the center of the monument was brought to the site in southern England from near the tip of northeast Scotland, researchers reported Wednesday in the journal Nature.  It's not clear whether the 16-foot stone was carried by boat or through land - a journey of more than 460 miles.  "It's a surprise that it's come from so far sway," said University of Exeter archaeologist Susan Greaney, who was not involved in the study.  For more than a hundred years, scientists believed that Stonehenge's central sandstone slab - long called the "altar stone" - came from much closer Wales.  But a study last year by some of the same researchers showed that the stone didn't match the geology of Wales' sandstone formations.  The actual source of the stone remained unknown until now.  For the study, the team was not permitted to chip away rocks at the site. but instead analyzed minerals in bits of rock that had been collected in previous digs, some dating back to the 1840s.  They found a match in the sandstone formations of orchid Basin in northeast Scotland,  a region that includes parts of the tip of the Scottish peninsula as well as the Orkney Islands.  "That geological 'fingerprint' isn't repeated in any other area of sediment in the U.K." said Abeeystwyth University geologist Nick Pearce,  study co-author.  Greaney said the difficult logistics of moving the stone such a long distance show a high level of coordination and cultural connection between these two regions of ancient Britain.  Stonehenge was constructed around 5,000 years ago, with stones forming different circles brought to the site at different times.  The placement of stones allows for the sun to rise through a stone "window" during summer solstice.  The ancient purpose of the altar stone - which lies flat at the heart of Stonehenge, now beneath other rocks - remains a mystery.  "Stonehenge isn't a settlement site, but a place of ceremony or ritual," said Heather Sebire, senior curator at English Heritage, who was not involved in the study.  She said that past archaelogical  excavations had not uncovered evidence of feasting or daily living at the site.  Previous research has shown cultural connections - such as similarities in pottery styles - between the area around Stonehenge and Scotland's Orkney Islands.  Other stones of Stonehenge came from western Wales.  While Britain is dotted with other Neolithic stone circles, "the thing that's unique about Stonehenge is the distance from which the stone have been sourced," said Aberystwyth University's Richard Bevins,  study co-auhor.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The World Heritage Site of Stonehenge is seen in Wiltshire, England.

The "Say It Ain't So! Story

It was an ordinary day.  Opened my paper to the "Nation" section and there, right in front of me, was the headline the read..."Shore amusement site to close!"  It's the end of an era on the Ocean City, New Yesey boardwalk.  Gillian's Wonderland Pier, the locally renowned amusement park is closing after 94 years - though patrons with tickets still have a few weeks to hop on the Giant Wheel before the space closes.  I remember riding on the many rides as a child back in the 1940s, as a parent riding with my children in the 1970s and just a few years ago in the 2000s with my grandchildren.  How can they even think of closing the place?  Well, the story in the newspaper tells me I have a few weeks to hop on the Giant Wheel before the space closes.  In a letter published on social media and posted on the wooden ticket booths throughout the pier, Jay Gillian, the current operator of the facility, said he was embarking. on a new chapter in his life as the amusement park was "no longer a viable business."  The note said 6th Street pizza and Grill would also be shuttering its doors.  Gillian said the amusement park and 6th Street Pizza will be open through Indian summer weekend, which typically is in October.  "It's been my life, my legacy and family," he said.  "It' sad to let go.'  Yet sustaining the park was no longer possible through "increasing difficult challenges." He did not elaborate.  Gillian, the Ocean City mayor and only the latest to take the reins of the multigeneration family-run operation, said in his note that he first started working at the park when he was 13 years old.  The amusement park had run into trouble in recent years, making headlines in 2021 when Gillian defaulted on $8 million in loans.

At the Wonderland Pier under wind, gray changeable skies, families lined up as usual Friday for the iconic rides, from the caterpillar roller coaster to the giant Ferris wheel to the little fire engines with the bells for the toddlers.  Parents said they were left wistful by the news.  Many had been coming since they were kids, and despaired at not being able to continue the tradition with their own young children.  Ken, Jen, and son Aaron Lucas, 7, of Chalfont, Bucks County, were outside the funhouse mirrors on Friday.  It's their third time there this week, Jen said.  Like so many, the Lucases have indelible, joyful, and very specific memories of the iconic rides at Gillian's.  "My mother, myself and Aaron rode the Tilt-a-Whirl twice," Jen said. "We laughed like hyenas!  My husband said he always knew when we were coming around because he could hear us laughing."  Businesses on the boardwalk worried about their future, specifically what the next summer season would look like. Gillian said he would be ending his multiyear lease and because the property is not his, he can't speak to its future.  Jody Levchuk, whose business JiLLy'sArcade has been on the boardwalk since 1976, said the modern Ocean City boardwalk has had two competing and complementary amusement parks for as long as he can remember.  Already, many business owners are wondering what the loss of one could mean for foot traffic for neighbors who enjoy business from families headed to Gillian's.  "It's scary what next summer looks like over there because unless there's just not enough time to make proper use of that property," he said.  Council member Keith Hartzell, who challenged Gillian for mayor and warned that the Pier might be replaced by hotel construction, called it "a sad day for Ocean City."  He worried that the end of the boardwalk would suffer from the loss of the iconic draw.  "Ocean City hates change," he said.  "This is a devastating blow of change."  As for my wife and I...I most certainly will miss it, but I am past the age when I will miss the rides and the atmosphere of the pier.  What I will miss the most is the chance for my grandchildren and their children and so on to have the same chance to feel their stomach drop as they head down the slopes of the rollercoasters and the thrill of riding about the city on the Ferris wheel.  I will never forget those experiences!!  So sad to have to say goodbye!  And, as is said so many times...Say It Ain't So!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "So What Happens To Ex-President Donald Trump Now?

It was an ordinary day.  Following the stories about President Trump and wondering what he will do about attempting to run once more.  Whether you like him or despise him....he had done something wrong and was tried and found guilty for it.  And...as the first ex-President to be convicted of crimes, Donald Trump becomes the first who has to negotiate the reality of being a felon in the U.S.A.  Can he still run for the Presidency again?  Unbelievably he can!  A felony conviction will not disqualify Trump from continuing his campaign, even if he were jailed.  Hard to believe, but that's the law of the land.  If I, as a teacher, was convicted of a crime similar to what Mr. Trump did, I would never be allowed to teach again.  No school district would want me to be around children again and chance I do something to one of them.  But, I guess that is different than what Mr. Trump did to the United States.  Under the constitution, all natural-born citizens who are at least 35 and have been a resident of the U.S. for 14 years can run for President.  At least two candidates with criminal convictions have run for President before, albeit unsuccessfully.  I guess the majority of the citizens of the United Stats didn't want to chance the same thing happening again in those two cases.  And...that's very possible for that to happen if Mr. Trump runs again for President.  But, could Mr. Trump still vote?  Well...that's to be determined!  For Trump to lose his voting rights, he would need to be incarcerated at the time of the November election, a scenario that is ethnically possible, but unlikely given his anticipated appeal.  In Florida, where Trump lives and has voted since 2020, a felon's eligibility to vote depends on the laws of the state where the conviction occurred--in this instance, New York, which evokes felons' voting rights only while they are incarcerated.  Therefore, if Trump receives a probationary sentence and continues to live in Florida, he would maintain his eligibility to vote.  Likewise, if his appeal of a jail sentence were to extend beyond the election, he would be able to vote.  But...can he travel?  Trump's passport will not automatically be seized by the U.S. Government, but he could find it more difficult to travel to some countries.  Thirty-seven nations--including Canada and Mexico--bar those with criminal records from entering their borders.  The travel restrictions would potentially complicate Trump's presidency if he were to win another term.  Some governments could choose to waive the ban, but it's unclear which would do so.  As far as the other cases he is currently saddled with...it could influence his strategy and alter the public perception of him and his legal troubles.  For instance, the guilty verdict could bolster the prosecution's case in the eyes of the public and legal observers, potentially influencing jury perceptions and trial dynamics.  The convictions could also impact Trump's willingness to negotiate plea deals or settlement agreements.  Prosecutors may try to use the New York verdicts to undermine Trump's credibility in future trials, and the judges may take the convictions into consideration when determining sentencing.  Mr. Trump is facing charges in Florida for allegedly hoarding classified documents and obstructing the government's efforts to retrieve them, in Washington related to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election, and in Georgia in connection with his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election result in that state.  One thing is for sure.....Trump was prepared.  Mr. Trump has already capitalized on his conviction.  His campaign said it raised a stunning $53 million in less than 24 hours.  Yet even as he vows to appeal, Trump is shifting from the courtroom to the campaign, to test whether American voters really want to elevate a convicted criminal to the nation's highest office.  As for me...well, I'd have to think and think hard about that before I would do so!  How would I explain all of that to my children if I had young ones again?  And...with all the people in the United States who are worthy and willing to become President...why do we need to have a convicted criminal back in the highest office of our United States?  Are we that hard up?  I think not!!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.         

The "Shark Seen Swimming Close To Jersey Shore??" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Amid chatter about the rare sighting of two basking sharks about 5 miles off the coast of Cape May County, a different kind of shark was up close and personal to bathers recently in Cape May Point.  "It was in knee-deep water," said Ben Swan, chief of the Cape May Point beach patrol, "within 5 yards of the shore."  Lifeguards cleared the water for about an hour, Swan said, and the shark swam back out to deeper waters.  Bathers returned to the ocean, and nobody was too bothered about it, he said.  "Look at that, it's a shark, man" one man could be heard on widely circulated video that shows two fins protruding from the shallow ocean swimming around.  "So they called everyone in."  Swan said these types of sharks are common, though not typically that close to the shore.  "We get these types of sharks," he said.  "It looks like a brown shark.  The sharks that we have, they swim around all the time.  We swim out there as lifeguards.  We know these sharks are swimming below us."  He said that type of shark doesn't endanger bathers, preferring to feed on small fish and crustaceans.  "It was very, very close," said Melissa Hasse, the beach patrol administator.  She speculated that the shark was going after a school of fish in shallow waters.  The shark sighting triggered awe among some folks, and rolled eyes among others at the reactions.  "Imagine being shocked at ocean life," commented one person on Facebook.  Another answered back: "Give  your sarcasm a break!  All my years in Cape May, I have not gone to the beach to find a shark swimming that close along the shoreline where people swim.  You have to admit it is worth mentioning and enjoying the opportunity to witness.  We can be such a smug bunch!"  Monday's shallow-water shark followed news of a less common shark, the basking shark, being spotted twice by the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center, about 5 miles off the coast.  "This individual was estimated to be 15-20 feet in length cruising along at the surface about 5 miles offshore," the group wrote in a Facebook post attributed to "Naturalist Melissa."  "They are the second largest shark species alive today!  We know this is a different individual from the one we had last week because the notches do not match on this dorsal fin."  As for me swimming in the waters where the sharks call home....I'd rather search for a swimming or wadding pool before swimming with the sharks.  I would rather return the next day if I had my choice.  PS - As for me....I must say I have been visiting the Jersey Shore for almost 80 years now, and have never seen, or have even heard of, a shark sighting while I was swimming in the water, no matter what beach along the coast it might be.  Have I just been lucky?,  or are all these stories  made up to make you be more careful if you come to the Jersey Shore?  My wife and family love the Jersey Shore and will return to it in the near future if possible.  I guess I will be more vigilant the next time I visit, but to be frantically scared if I happen to see a fish fin go by while swimming  may be even more dangerous than to carefully find my way toward shore and tell the lifeguard on duty.  I assume they are trained as to being able to tell what type of fish is swimming in the area at the time and what you should do about it if it may be harmful to you.  Don't want to ruin your vacation by being bitten by a shark, but then again, you don't want to ruin your vacation by sitting on the shore all day when the waves are breaking along the coast in front of you. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an oridnary guy.   

The "Iconic Honky-Tonk Gets Religion! Yeah...Right!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  The title of the story in my newspaper told it all.  Robert's Western World is known as Nashville's most authentic honky-tonk and synonymous with country music.  But for an hour on Sundays, no one can drink alcohol; everyone must listen to Christian music.  This is "Sunday Gospel Hour" in the Tennessee capital known as Music City.  For nearly 20 years, worship at this honky-tonk has been led by the Rev. Ron Blakely, a 71-year-old musician and Catholic convert who was ordained a priest in another faith tradition.  "It's been a blessing," he said of his weekly gig.  He was interviewed at his log cabin in the outskirts of Nashville where he rehearsed before the Sunday service with sheet music and scripture.  "It's not like I got a board of elders and I have to meet all the money to pay the bills," he said, comparing it to regular houses of worship.  "I'm just there, playing my guitar and giving the message that God puts in your heart."  On a reeent Sunday, he strummed his guitar, wearing a black crucifix and white cowboy hat, while his daughter, Mimi Fischer, sang Patsy Cline's "Life's Railway to Heaven" in an angelic voice that moved some to tears.  The stage was decorated with a fluttering U.S, flag.  "Her voice was just beautiful," said Sonia Davis, a nurse visiting with her husband from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  She didn't know about the gospel hour until she walked into Robert's place.  "I cry a lot," she said, chuckling and wiping tears after the show-turned-worship.  "I feel other people's emotions, and I felt there was a lot of emotion from hearing her, and the fact that she was performing with her father, and it was like family.  At Robert's, some locals and dozens of tourists from across the nation have found their church sitting on the barstools of this beloved honky-tonk.  It is on Lower Broadway across from Garth Brooks' multilevel entertainment space and just steps from the Roman Auditorium -- The so-called Mother Church of Country Music.  "When I sing those songs, I want for people who hear them to have a glimpse of what it is to feel and follow Jesus," said Fischer, who was joined that Sunday by her daughter Skyler, in charge of the red tip jar that later was passed around to the audience.  Around them, posters and framed photos of musicians, neon signs for bourbon and beer and seven lines with cowboy boots -- a remnant of the locale's previous life: a boot and nothing store called Rhinestone Western Wear.  These days, Robert's is proudly known for it no-frills style as one of the last remnants of traditional country music and often stands out from the many brightly lit, TV-tuning bars on Honky Tonk row.  It is home of the Recession Special with its famous fried bologna sandwich, Moon pie, potato chips and a Pabst Blue Ribbon, although on Sundays drinkers must wait to get their beer until after the service.  "You can hang for the entire device and then get a beer," said John McTigue III, the band's drummer and Blakely's best friend since they met outside Robert's more than a decade ago.  Robert's is owned by JesseLee Jones, a Brazil-born, longtime Nashville resident and the leader of the honky-tonk's house band, Brazilbilly.  The devout Christian likes to say that it's not about the building -- for you can find God anywhere -- and he doesn't mind losing money for a sober hour if  "Father Ron," as he still called himself, can help everyone at Robert's have "church."  "People say, 'Oh, it's a bar.'  Well, I beg to differ -- Robert's is not a bar.  it's a honky-tonk.  Yeah, we sell beer and liquor, because we're in business.....but we ain't got no televisions on the walls!"  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

Tracking Our Ancestors.......Newly Dated Footprints Show That Humans Lived In North America Far Earlier Than We Knew....

It was an ordinary day.  Reading an article titled "Tracking Our Ancestors" which tell of newly dated footprints that show that humans lived in North America far earlier than we knew.  Story read....Ancient human footprints, preserved in a dry lakebed at White Sands National Park in New Mexico, reveal remarkably vivid vignettes of life in the late Pleistocene: children jumping in puddles and splashing, a group of hunters stalking a giant sloth.  The scientists studying these footprints initially estimated their age as between 11,500 an 13,000 years.  But now, radiocarbon dating has allowed experts to make a bombshell discovery:  The oldest of these footprints are nearly 23,000 years old.  For many decades, archaeologists were convinced that the first people to arrive in the Americas came some 13,000 years ago, after the Ice Age glaciers melted.  The White Sands footprints, whose age scholars estimated again, in a paper published this past October, by analyzing tree pollen and quartz grains in the sedimentary layers, provide the most conclusive evidence to date that humans were actually here much earlier, toward the end of the last ice age.  It's possible that they reached North America more than 32,000 years ago.  Now, "we need many more sites to make sense of where they came from and by what route," says Matthew Bennett, a professor of environmental and geographical sciences at Bournemouth University in England and lead author of two scientific papers about the footprints.  "The lasting legacy of White Sands is to point the way to a new archive of evidence."  The footprints were made by people walking on damp ground at the edge of a lake.

Some are visible to the eye; others can only be found by ground-penetrating radar.  Bennett knows of older human tracks in Africa and other parts of the world, but none, he says, "tell such a vivid, relatable story."  His first paper dating these tracks detailed a perilous journey undertaken by what appears to be a small woman or adolescent female, carrying a child on her hip, walking fast across the muddy lakeshore.  "There were hungry predators around, including dire wolves and sager-toothed cats," says Bennett.  "We can see where she slipped in the mud at certain points ..... We can also see the child's footprints where she set it down, presumably because she was tired and needed a rest."  Based on the size of the footprints, it appears the child was less than 3 years old and did not accompany the older female on the return journey.  Did she drop the kid off in a camp?  Were they traveling among dangerous animals on the slippery lakeshore?  "There's no way of knowing," says Bennett.  "But, if you've ever rushed to get somewhere important when carrying a tired toddler, you've experienced a very similar emotion" ---even if you weren't looking over your shoulder for saber-toothed cats.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The Beloved Banyan Tree Is Still Recovering From A Devastating Fire! Story

It was an ordinary day.  Talking with my wife about traveling to the island of Hawaii one more time.  We have been to the island of Hawaii three times while traveling with our friends Jere and Sue.  Each visit took us to various locations in Hawaii with trips all three times to one of my favorite islands known as Lahaina. It was back in August of 2023 that a deadly wildfire swept through the town of Lahaina on Maui.  Flames scorched the 151-year old banyan tree that sat along the historic town's Front Street.  The banyan tree is the oldest living one on Maui, but is not a species indigenous to the Hawaiian islands.  India shipped the tree as a gift to commmemorate the 50th anniverary of the arrival of the first Protestant missionaries to live in Lahaina.  It was planted in 1873, a quarter century before the Hawaiian islands became a U.S. territory and seven decades after King Kamehameha declared Lahaina the capital of his kingdom.  The tree is widely beloved and fondly remembered by millions of tourists who have visited Maui over the years.  Carol and I, along with our friends Jere and Sue were a few of those tourists. For generations, the banyan tree served as a gathering place along Lahaina's waterfront.  By many accounts, it was the heart of the oceanside community -- towering more than 60 feet and anchored by multiple trunks that span nearly an acre.  The enormous tree has leafy branches that unfurl majestically and offer shade from the sun.  Aerial roots dangle from its boughs and eventually latch onto the soil to become new trunks.  Branches splay out widely, and have become roosting places for choirs of birds.  The 2023 fire charred the tree and blackened many of its leaves.  But it wasn't the flames so much as the intense heat that dried out much of the tree, according to Duane Sparkman, chair of the Maui County Arborist Committee.  As a result of this loss of moisture, about half of the tree's branches died, he said.  "Once that section of the tree desiccated, there was no coming back," he said.  But, other parts of the tree are now growing back healthy.  Those working to restore the tree removed the dead branches so that the tree's energy would go toward the branches that were alive.  To monitor that energy, 14 sensors were screwed into the tree to track flows of cambium, or sap, through its branches.  "It's basically a heat monitor," Sparkman said.  A planned irrigation system also will feed small drops of water into the tubes.  The goal is to help those aerial roots "bulk up and become the next stabilizer root."  The system will also irrigate the surrounding land and the tree's canopy.  "You can see a lot of long, long branches with hundreds of leaves back on the tree," Sparkman said, adding that some branches are even producing fruit.  Sparkman estimates that Lahaina lost some 25,000 trees in the fire.  These included the fruit trees that people grew in their yards as well as trees that are significant in Hawaiian culture,  such as the ulu or breadfruit tree;  the fire charred all but two of the dozen or so that remained.  Since the blaze, a band of arborists, farmers and landscapers - including Sparkman - has set about trying to save the ulu and other culturally important trees.  To help restore Lahaina's trees, Sparkman founded a nonprofit called Treecovery.  The group has potted some 3,500 trees, he said, growing them in "micro-nurseries" across the island, including at some hotels, until people can move back into their homes.  I only hope it will grow back to the size that I remember it to be years ago.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - my photo aren't the best since I never took a photo of them while on the island and the photos from the newspaper were not very good.  

This photograph was posted in the newspaper.  It shows a view 
of the Banyan Tree after a deadly wildfire swept through the town.
The historic tree is at the top center of the photograph

This photograph shows the new leaves now sprouting from the
historic Lahaina Banyan tree in Lahaina, Hawaii.