By Joseph W. Smith III Last week’s “Weird Words” marked installment No. 12; so I took those two digits as a theme and picked out several goodies from pages 1 and 2 of my ever-growing oddball vocabulary list. But I got only halfway through that selection before running out of space. Here is the other
READ MORENancy Grauso-Eby, D.O. UPMC Primary Care August can be a hectic and stressful, yet exciting time of year for children and parents. You’re rushing around to make sure they have new school supplies, meeting new teachers, and adopting and adjusting to a new schedule. With so much “new” going on, let’s help make sure your
READ MOREMaybe it’s me, but I was surprised and a little astounded at the seemingly underwhelming response to the presence of a Little League team from Cuba playing at the Little League World Series for the first time. The 8,000 fans on hand enjoyed the tight 1-0 game, a loss to Japan, but the fact that
READ MOREShould a fictitious game have been played between the above two-mentioned organizations, the sports page lead might have read: ‘After jumping to what seemed like an insurmountable lead, LLB held on for dear life as the Big Ten rallied from behind with a far-reaching attack that ultimately fell just short of tying the game in
READ MOREIt feels like once the 4th of July fireworks are quelled, stores and advertisements start gearing up for back-to-school way faster than any of us are ready for. However, as of the writing of these words (August 1st), bookbags, lunchboxes, water bottles, new clothes, and underpants have all been purchased for the first days of
READ MOREWhen I was a kid growing up in western Pennsylvania, when I wanted to go fishing, I did what all the other kids did — I dug some night crawlers and went fishing. It was in my high school days when all that began to change, and artificial plastic worms were introduced. I thought it
READ MOREMy wife gives away her Southern roots from time to time with her vocabulary, such as when she uses a word like “catawampus.” It means “all screwed up.” I think we might be looking at a “Catawampus Congress” in Harrisburg these days. It started with convening the 2023-2024 legislation session of the General Assembly of
READ MOREFor several years now, Pennsylvania hunters have been able to mentor youths while hunting for several species of game birds and animals. Pennsylvania was the first state to adopt a Mentored Youth Hunting Program, and the program has enjoyed a growing success as adults take young hunters under their wing and spend valuable time outdoors
READ MOREARIES – Mar 21–Apr 20 Sometimes you feel a need to be in charge to prove that you are capable, Aries. This week take a back seat and fall in line with the established modus operandi. TAURUS – Apr 21–May 21 You may get into the habit of focusing on past mistakes, Taurus. This week,
READ MOREHomeowners’ fasciation with a lush, green lawn is something that has developed over time and is still “growing” strong. According to a 2019 survey conducted on behalf of the National Association of Landscape Professionals, 81 percent of all Americans had lawns and 79 percent said a lawn is an important feature when buying or renting
READ MOREAfter looking at the title of this piece, some of you probably think I’m a little mixed up right now; it’s fishing season, and hunting seasons are still a couple of months away. Basically, that’s true, but there is one critter that offers prime hunting opportunities throughout the summer months, and that’s the common groundhog
READ MOREThe irony of the mainstream media is that they honestly do not see how biased they are. Here is a classic example from the Associated Press (AP). Their lead sentence in a July 1st article stated, “The Supreme Court just finished issuing its biggest decisions of the term, killing President Joe Biden’s $400 billion plan
READ MOREDo I apologize now for missing certain dates, or just wait till the end of the year to do so? Good grief. First, Mother’s Day, then Father’s Day. It’s scary how fast time goes. It doesn’t help that I write a week ahead, plus I have a one-track mind lately. It was perfect that I
READ MOREIf you had told my friends or me while growing up in western Pennsylvania that someday you could hunt elk in our state, we would have said you were crazy; after all, there were probably less than 60 in the state, and it was rare to ever spot one. I would have been even more
READ MOREWhat are your children doing this summer? Taking time off from school is fun and often highly anticipated, but it’s important that they stay productively engaged during this down time. Keeping them mentally and physically strong will help benefit them in the long run, especially when it’s time to return to school in August. Physical
READ MOREWhen you hear the word ‘pepper,’ I bet the first thing that comes to mind is ‘hot.’ Yes, some are hot, but did you know that there are hundreds of different varieties of pepper plants? Some varieties can be as sweet as sugar. Peppers are a vegetable that I enjoy growing. Pepper plants are easy
READ MOREOver the years, I have tried many different methods to support my tomato plants. I can remember working with my father in his garden, pounding in the individual wooden stakes to support each plant. They would break or rot within a few years, and we would have to replace them. When I started planning for
READ MOREMy Pap, Floyd Liddick, has been gone for seven years now. My Gram, Lois Liddick, and Pap had a house about a half mile up the road from us. Driving by was part of my daily routine. Gram would be out watering the flowers, and Pap would be up working in his garden or on
READ MOREIn a recent article, distinguished sportscaster Bob Costas detailed the awe he experienced when as a youngster, his father took him to his first Major League Baseball game at Yankee Stadium. The stadium’s meticulously manicured green grass was a sight he has never forgotten and instantly drew him to the game. While Bowman Field is
READ MOREMy least favorite task when gardening is weeding. I often think that when I pull one weed, two more weeds appear! Over the years, I have tried many ways to control weed problems. Below are some ways that may help prevent weeds from taking over your garden. One of the easiest methods is to look
READ MOREIn honor of Mother’s Day, I have a special message for the ladies. Actually, it’s a message for anyone who struggles with having faith in themselves — or even in God. In a callous world that mercilessly judges and compares everything we do to an impossible standard, it’s not unusual to think, “I am not
READ MORESpring and summer present ideal growing conditions for many plants, making these seasons an ideal time to tend to lawns and gardens. Though it’s easy to succumb to the temptation of exotic plants, avid gardeners and eco-conscious planters recognize the significance of native plants. Novices may not realize that native plants are much better for
READ MORELast week I finally found some time to plant my seedlings, so this week, I will go over some pointers for plant care. Tomatoes are a staple fruit in most vegetable gardens — tomatoes like well-drained, loose, and fluffy soil. Tomatoes require 6-8 hours of sunlight per day and grow well when supported with a
READ MOREThe “Growing and Cooking” Pre-Summer Used Book Sale is Friday, May 19th (10 a.m.-6 p.m.) and Saturday, May 20th (9 a.m.-2 p.m.) at the Montoursville W.B. Konkle Library on Broad Street. It is time to stock up before summer vacation. Generous donors have provided us with a healthy supply of fardening and cookbooks, so let’s
READ MOREAfter some weird weather to kick off May, we have finally turned the corner on spring weather! The final frost has passed, so that means it’s the perfect time to plant something! As the old saying goes, “Give a man some vegetables, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to grow
READ MORENurses just don’t get enough credit. Their job is hard! I can tell you right now that I couldn’t do it. Growing up, I watched my Momma work for the hospital — from a school nurse, to taking care of people in their homes. It was great having a nurse for a mom, EXCEPT (notice
READ MOREGardening is a worthwhile endeavor that not only passes the time, but can be a form of exercise and relief from the daily grind. Gardens also provide ample opportunity to experiment, as individuals can produce everything from vegetables to bountiful blooms. Recent years have witnessed a growing emphasis on eco-friendly gardening that aims to reduce
READ MOREJames V. Brown Library cardholders of all ages can experience Big Library Read, the world’s largest digital book club, with a National Book Award Finalist novel. From May 3-17, booklovers with a valid Brown Library card join thousands of others around the globe in borrowing Grace M. Cho’s evocative memoir, Tastes Like War, from their
READ MOREOne of the most interesting and unique fundraising events that benefits worthy causes in the area is the annual “Bowl for Kids’ Sake” event that benefits Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northeastern Pennsylvania, which serves the Lycoming County area. It takes place Saturday, April 15 from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.at Faxon Bowling Lanes. Bowl for
READ MOREPhoebe Wagner, Ph.D., Lycoming College assistant professor of English, is releasing her debut novella. Titled “When We Hold Each Other Up: A Solarpunk Novella,” the book mixes the sci-fi, fantasy, and solarpunk genres. It is being published by Android Press, and comes out on Tuesday, April 18. The Publishers Weekly review describes the book as
READ MOREMiniclover is drought-tolerant, simple, stunning and sustainable with low-to-no maintenance That lush, green lawn most strive for is struggling to survive as our climate experiences “weather whiplash,” meaning abrupt swings in weather conditions from one extreme to another. Last season, drought conditions were so dire in California billboards shouted, “Brown is the New Green.” This
READ MOREThe game flashing across the TV screen was a bit of an afterthought as our conversation centered on the day’s activities. Suddenly, Jean pointed out, “That’s Dwight refereeing this game.” The game was the PIAA Girl’s 3A state championship game between Dunmore and River Valley from Hershey’s Giant Center. That Dwight was longtime friend and
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