As these Weird Word columns seem to strike chord with Webb readers, some of you may wonder just where I find all this oddball vocabulary. Of course there are numerous books listing weird words; but I try to avoid simply ransacking these — and in the same way, I don’t make a habit of grabbing
READ MOREAs I watch what’s being spun on TV, I can’t believe the hosts of an ABC morning show want me to believe that they’re knowledgeable and will help educate the American people on what’s really going on in the world. They might as well follow that up with if they don’t, David Muir will on
READ MOREThe year was 1929 — the year of the “Great Stock Market Crash” that ushered in the Great Depression. Herbert Hoover was President. The first Academy Awards were presented with “Wings” winning Best Picture. The Philadelphia Athletics won the World Series. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemmingway was published. Foster Grant mass produces sunglasses
READ MOREI am what they call a basketball junkie. Former player. Wannabe broadcaster. Retired Coach. Fan and parent. Yes. I have been associated for all of my life. I have seen my fair share of games this basketball season. I have made an effort to see every local high school squad at least once. Several college
READ MOREA 75-yard game-winning overtime drive engineered by Patrick Mahomes gave the Kansas City Chiefs the Super Bowl victory, their third NFL title in five years, and put the finishing touches to the past football season in dramatic fashion. Local sports attention now switches to the upcoming high school basketball and wrestling tournaments underway to crown
READ MORERoses are red, violets are blue Don’t forget Valentine’s Day, or shame on you! As February’s mid-point approaches, Valentine’s Day falls on the heels of President’s Day and Ground Hog Day, marking the third ‘celebration’ of the year’s shortest month. At a recent family event on a sunny Sunday afternoon, conversation shifted to Punxsutawney Phil’s
READ MOREBack when Mike Rafferty started this tradition (back in 2012 if you’re keeping score), he used to come up with clever puns for each of the predictions. I’ve tried to do this over the years, but 1. I’m not as clever as Raff and B. Even if I were that clever, this piece has grown
READ MOREWith the winners of the NFL championship games determined, the debate will rage on for the next twelve days as to which team will emerge from Las Vegas as the 2024 Super Bowl champ. Both opinions and money will flow freely as it is estimated between 20 & 25 billion dollars will be wagered on
READ MOREExchange week. Party week. Travel week. Rest-up week. Whatever these December days between Christmas and New Year’s may be called where you reside, you can be assured of one thing when it comes to the media; its broadcasts and pages will be filled with a lot of ‘year-in-review’ lookbacks. With so much increased violence, corruption,
READ MOREThis week’s Weird Words continues its holiday theme with another dozen terms we rarely use at other times of year. Our previous installment focused on religious vocab like manger, noel and Kris Kringle; here are 12 more, with a slightly secular slant. (Remember, in this space we’re concerned not so much with traditions as with
READ MOREWhen did the Farrelly brothers get so touchy-feely? This is the filmmaking duo Bobby and Peter, who gave us such oft-crude comedies as Dumb and Dumber, Osmosis Jones and There’s Something About Mary. And then in 2018, Peter directed the moving race-dramedy Green Book, which won three Oscars — including Best Picture. Now Bobby has
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 MORELast week, Webb’s Weird Words wandered into the wonky world of sesquipedalian terms — meaning “long” or “polysyllabic” (literally: “one and a half feet”). Today by contrast, we’ll look at the other end of the spectrum — with a selection of diminutive, Lilliputian or teeny-weeny words. (Sorry, there aren’t too many comical synonyms for “short.”)
READ MOREWhenever the accomplishments of local basketball talent are discussed, Kelly Mazzante’s name is at the forefront of the conversation. Such was again the case with the recent announcement that Mazzante had left Bucknell University to accept an assistant coaching position at Georgetown University. The former Montoursville High School and Penn State University standout enjoyed a
READ MOREThe question has long been pondered — “If a tree falls in the forest, and there’s nobody around to hear, does it make a sound?” Around these parts, that’s most likely the same reaction rendered to the recent news that the City of Oakland and the Oakland Athletics have begun divorce proceedings. After years of
READ MOREInitially, the mentored hunting program was open only to youth under 12 years of age. Still, the program has expanded in recent years to offer opportunities to unlicensed hunters of all ages. Mentored hunters are not required to take a Hunter-Trapper Education class before obtaining a permit to hunt through the program. The purpose of
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
READ MOREAs this is being written, I have no idea which version of the old adage “March comes in like a lion and leaves like a lamb” may hold true. Regardless of how the weather may treat us during the month ahead, one thing is for certain; of the many basketball teams and wrestling squads that
READ MOREAs another NFL season comes to a close, it’s time for our yearly rundown of Super Bowl picks and predictions! Mike Rafferty started this tradition over a decade ago, and it has been so much fun to continue the tradition each year! Let’s start around the office. Jaime is up first with an Eagles win
READ MOREJanuary 22, 2003, we published the first issue of Webb Weekly. As you can see on the cover, our cover story that was about the upcoming Super Bowl. Man, have we covered a lot since then. Going back through and looking at past issues this week has been a trip, to say the least. The
READ MOREHappy Birthday to the Webb Weekly. And special thanks to those who are fans of this page. I am truly humbled by all of your feedback and positive vibes. I want to give some love and congratulate a few — props to the boss man Jim and my lovely editor Steph for allowing me to
READ MOREWhat a week it was to open the New Year. Buffalo Bills’ safety Damar Hamlin in the biggest football game of the NFL season before a national audience, suffered cardiac arrest upon being hit. This showed the risk versus reward and love of the game — but to what extent that every football player faces.
READ MORESouth Williamsport, as a community, will entertain the men of the Livonia Camp 66 of the Civilian Conservation Corps on Wednesday evening next week at a banquet, entertainment and dance. Over 165 enrollees are expected to attend. Ever since the St. Patrick’s Day flood the residents of the borough have had in mind some kind
READ MOREThe Cadillac Cats, Neil Tapp, Ben Brandt and Soul Miners Union, and Chris LaRose and the Hex Highway Blues Band are all set for the Billtown Blues Association’s annual fundraiser Sunday, November 6th, at the Genetti Hotel in downtown Williamsport. The music kicks off at 4:00 p.m. and will parallel the organization’s silent auction, where
READ MOREDescribing himself as “a basketball junkie,” newly named South Williamsport girls’ basketball coach Dean Kriebel’s upcoming on-court challenge isn’t nearly as daunting as the ten-month cancer foe he successfully defeated during the past year. “Two years ago, I had the opportunity to get back in the game coaching the boys’ seventh-grade team, and I really
READ MOREKids cancer’ — what an awful term! Cancer itself is horrible in and of itself, as applied to anyone, but when it affects a child who is just starting their life, it is especially devastating for that child and the family that loves them. We have, no doubt, all lost someone to this dreaded disease,
READ MOREIt is a promotional spot that has appeared over and over on the MLB TV network. In the feature, former outfielder Cliff Floyd is seen counseling Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton on wearing “bling” during games. With gold chains wrapped around his neck, Floyd advises, “You’ve got to look good, but you have to be
READ MOREGolden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr made an impassioned plea to take stronger action this week. He had very little to say about basketball in a press conference a few hours after the incident. Nineteen innocent children and two teachers were killed at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas. Kerr refused to entertain any questions
READ MOREOn Thursday, that welcomed familiar cry of “play ball” will once again echo across the scenic acreage of Williamsport’s Historic Bowman Field as the nation’s second-oldest baseball park will usher in another season of baseball when the Crosscutters begin year two as members of the MLB Draft League hosting the State College Spikes. Now known
READ MOREThe concept of service and care for others is an integral part of the mission of St. John Neumann Regional Academy. In this spirit, the school’s senior project, “Packages with a Purpose,” is being carried out. The packages that are part of the project contain items for cancer patients at the Hillman Cancer Center at
READ MORECalendars throughout the area denoted nothing special about March 18. However, at one anxious building on Penn Street in Williamsport, that third Friday in March was indeed a red-letter day. At about the same time, St. John Neumann Regional Academy graduate Kevin Anderson was taking the floor with his Delaware Blue Hens against Villanova in
READ MORETraced back to the ancient days of the Roman Empire, warnings have existed to “beware the ides of March,” a saying forecasting troubled times ahead. Sports is but a mere sideshow to the more important segments of human existence we face these days, but if the post-game skirmish played out on television following the recent
READ MOREWell folks, great news, we have reached the middle of February. We all get to enjoy more than 45 minutes of daylight than just a short time ago at the beginning of January. Punxsutawney Phil has put in his one day’s work and returned to his posh pad for another year. I would expect nothing
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