By Joseph W. Smith III Last week, I celebrated the 10th “Weird Words” column with a selection of 10-letter terms. Having thus observed my minor milestone, this week’s installment is devoted to something without which I could never do these pieces: the English dictionary. Back in pre-internet days, when folks always needed books or libraries
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 MOREMuncy Historical Society will host the Uptown Music Collective for the first time at its “Pops at Pepper Street” free concert. Bring your family, pack your chairs and blankets, and head out for an evening of priceless music! As the sun sets, relax, enjoy and share in the fun-filled, community-oriented public experience of this live,
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 MOREGoing through school wasn’t easy for me. Learning never came easy, and I had some major struggles. I dreaded most school days and went to the nurse’s office saying I was sick pretty often just to try and get out of school in my younger years. Certain years were worse than others because of teachers.
READ MOREOn a sunny and hot 90-degree July afternoon, a slight breeze, a covered pavilion, and a scenic view of folks enjoying boating activities on the Susquehanna River provided the backdrop as long-ago South Williamsport high school classmates gathered at the Susquehanna Boat Club. Many years ago, during his scholastic days, class president Bob Coolidge excelled
READ MORE“She felt fairly confident that with a great deal of practice and effort, she would succeed in the end.” ~ Matilda Roald Dahl is one of the most beloved authors of children’s books. One of his most popular works, “Matilda,” was adapted into a Tony Award Winning Broadway musical. The Lycoming College Summer Stock Program
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 MOREHappy first day of Summer to everyone! Our cover date this year matches the Summer Solstice, which to me, is a perfect thing. I couldn’t wait for the first day of summer vacation back in my day; it was my favorite day of school. I’m sure the students in the Loyalsock Township School District felt
READ MOREIf you love homemade arts and crafts and various types of delicious food, then Brandon Park will be the place for you this weekend, Friday, June 23rd and 24th. This always highly anticipated event has been a fixture on the Williamsport summer scene for more than 40 years. Brandon Park is always packed to the
READ MOREThe heading does not mean that Judge Arbuckle will lend you money, but what he does lend is his very valuable time — and of all places, in prisons. Federal District Magistrate William “Skip” Arbuckle was the guest speaker at the annual Volunteers Appreciation Dinner at the Allenwood Federal Correctional Complex on April 4th of
READ MOREOver 80 musicians will gather in Williamsport on Saturday to pay tribute to a beloved friend and mentor. Free and open to the public, the Albert J. Nacinovich Memorial Concert is slated for 7:30 p.m. on June 10 at the Williamsport Area High School auditorium. Nacinovich, a long-time area educator and 37-year
READ MOREYou can’t imagine life without your devices. Your cell phone, your computer: how else would you stay in touch, take photos, end arguments, keep documents? You need those links to civilization, you panic when you don’t have them. So what would you do, absent all modern conveniences? In “The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Women,” edited
READ MOREVocational programs attract students who do not want to attend a traditional college or university. Prospective trade school students can keep this information in mind as they consider if a career in the trades is right for them. 1. Students can often learn a trade and enter a related profession within 10 to 24 months
READ MOREMemorial Day has come and gone, but it should bring to our attention that there is a giant hole in our society right now, and we should be alarmed about it. The United States is going through one of the worst recruiting plights in our country’s history, and this should alarm us all. I have
READ MORESnollygoster. Numpty. Absquatulate. Gonk. Yes, those all are actual words. They’re taken from a list I started years ago, when I was teaching English at Loyalsock High School. Inspired by three students who compiled an oddball vocab list for fun, I instantly began amassing my own; eventually, I turned it into one of our weekly
READ MOREThe coronation of Charles III and his wife Camilla, king and queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, occurred on May 6th at Westminster Abbey. About 100 heads of state worldwide traveled to London for the occasion. It was estimated that as many as a billion people all over the globe watched
READ MOREStudents at Pennsylvania College of Technology and Lycoming College can enhance their studies on both campuses. A cross-registration program between the two schools permits students to complete courses and activities that are not available at their home institution. Examples of subjects that a Penn College student might take at Lycoming include music, religion and theater.
READ MORESchool days offer nearly endless opportunities for learning and exploration in the classroom, but education doesn’t have to end with the final bell. Parents can ensure their students feel energetic, creative and confident by inspiring snack choices that are as smart as they are fun to make together. Whether you’re whipping up a snack to
READ MOREA long-time radio personality, a business developer and community activist, a dedicated sports volunteer, and several “unsung heroes” are among those to be honored at this year’s annual Lycoming County Brotherhood Alliance banquet to be held on Wednesday, May 3, at the Genetti Hotel. The guest speaker for the banquet has overcome some daunting obstacles
READ MOREThe Williamsport Civic Chorus is one of this area’s oldest and most venerable musical organizations. They have been around for almost 80 years, and it will continue its fine musical tradition with its latest offering — its spring concert titled, “Jazzin’ with the WCC,” which features some of the biggest jazz hits of the ’40s
READ MOREOn Friday April 28th, and Saturday April 29th the Uptown Music Collective & UPMC North Central Pa will present “The Show Must Go On: The Music of Queen” at the Community Arts Center in Downtown Williamsport. There are very few bands in rock and roll history whose music is as unique, exciting, entertaining, and unforgettable
READ MOREAs the high school softball game wouldn’t be starting for another hour, very few fans had gathered at the field. As the teams were beginning their pre-game routine, a woman greeted me with a warm smile while stating, “Isn’t this wonderful!” Thinking she was referring to the beautiful day that had unfolded, I returned the
READ MOREWith the ground beginning to thaw and daisies pushing their way up through sun-starved soil, days are starting to look a little less dreary and a little springier. Parks are starting to fill up and clangs of bats are echoed throughout the neighborhoods. This can only mean one thing: baseball and softball seasons are in
READ MOREIf I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times. If you claim there is nothing to do around here, you aren’t even trying. I haven’t done one of these in a while, so let’s run through some upcoming local activities, because there is little in the world I enjoy more than being right.
READ MORECommunity health screenings are an important tool in preventive medicine, and it is with this in mind that students from Skills USA, at Central Mountain High School, held a Community Health Clinic in Mill Hall recently. The screenings included a series of pre-health screenings such as vital signs, blood sugar, blood pressure, and more! All
READ MOREWith eyes on the sky and a wide range of career options, Pennsylvania College of Technology’s emergency management & homeland security major staged its inaugural Wildcat Rotorfest on April 11. With an ideal spring day as a backdrop, the event showcased a variety of emergency response vehicles – including helicopters and ground-support vehicles – for
READ MOREA citywide cleanup. What a great way to celebrate Earth Day. That’s the thinking of the folks who have organized the citywide cleanup for Saturday, April 22, which happens to be Earth Day. The City of Williamsport Recreation Department is partnering with Lycoming College, Penn College, and Newberry Community Partnership to host a citywide spring
READ MORE“We want to guarantee the future of live music in our community,” says the mission statement of the Williamsport City Jazz Orchestra. “Music plays such a significant role in developing creative, intelligent minds and strengthening communities.” The popular local band will continue fulfilling these goals with its April 22 concert — which honors the music
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 MOREThis is to inform you of a “Call to Entry” for the Susquehanna Valley Shutterbugs “27th Annual Juried Photography Show.” The contest is open to the public and each photographer can enter up to four photographs. All entries will be judged by a panel of judges with recognized expertise in photography and/or the arts. Photographs
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
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