My Personal Blog

Thirty years ago in spring 1997, I was a sixth grader at Delahunty Middle School.  Along with ninety other sixth graders, I spent one week at the McKeever Environmental Learning Center in Sandy Lake between April 28 and May 2. We reported to our homerooms as usual on the morning of April 28, 1997.  I had a suitcase packed with clothes for the entire week, an emergency blanket, a single use camera to take pictures, the Accelerated Reader book I was reading at the time, and the tree cookie I had made in Art on a previous Friday morning.  After tuning into Channel One News and our morning announcements, we hopped on board the buses that would take us to Sandy Lake and the McKeever Environmental Learning Center that would be our home base for the next five days where we would experience Sunship Earth. This trip was spearheaded by my sixth-grade science teacher, the late Paul Estock.  Upon our arrival, we were met by a series of counselors from Hickory High School's class...

As a Penn State alumnus from the class of 2010 and a lifelong Penn State fan living in Mercer County, I've been thinking about something I believe the community could use:  a regular social gathering for Penn State alumni, former students, fans and friends right here in Mercer County. I'm not talking about another formal meeting or a singles group.  I'm talking about getting local  Penn Staters together on selected Saturdays when the Nittany Lions are playing a home game. Imagine meeting at a local Mercer County venue a couple of hours prior to kickoff, enjoying some food, talking Penn State football, meeting other local Penn Staters, and participating in some Penn State-themed activities before watching the game together. Why Mercer County? There are plenty of Penn State fans and alumni in this area, but I haven't found a regular social gathering specifically designed to bring them together. That's an opportunity. Rather than expecting Mercer County Penn Staters to...

Nearly 20 years ago, I attended a dinner theater in Sackets Harbor, New York that left a lasting impression on me - but not for the reasons anyone would hope. I went expecting an enjoyable evening that combined a meal with live entertainment.  Instead, I left feeling disappointed and overlooked.  My experience that night made me feel that many attendees were not included in the meal service, and even when I asked I could get something as simple as nachos because I was hungry , the answer was no.  I went home wondering why the evening had turned out that way, and I was so upset that I cried myself to sleep. For a long time, I kept these feelings to myself.  It has taken me nearly 20 years to break my silence about why that experience affected me so deeply. The lesson I took away isn't that every dinner theater is the same.  Rather, it's that hospitality matters.  When people attend an event, they should feel welcomed, valued and included.  No one should...

While I was messing around with ChatGPT following the conclusion of the season of Jeopardy! Masters on Tuesday night, I asked how would my Jeopardy! tournament champions Melissa Eaton, Beth Work, Nick Cerroni, Derek Work, Cody Work and Peyton Columbus compare to the six players who participated in Jeopardy! Masters (Yogesh Raut, Victoria Groce, Andrew He, Paolo Pasco, Long Nguyen and Juveria Zaheer). ChatGPT told me that my six champions would make up a Mercer County All-Stars team going up against the very top tier of televised Jeopardy! champions.  It is a fascinating comparison, especially with my tournaments having a different purpose and structure. My very first champion Melissa Eaton would be compared to 2024 Masters champion Victoria Groce.  Like Melissa, who has earned one each of gold, silver and bronze in my tournaments, Victoria has done the same thing in Jeopardy! Masters. Beth Work, the winner of the Summer 2013 Tournament, would compare to Juveria Zaheer. Nick Ce...

What an end to the 2026 season in the Lawrence/Mercer County Church Softball League! Once again, the Covenant Speed/Power dominated the league and remains the league's kingpins, winning its tenth consecutive Chet Cameron Memorial Trophy.  The team only lost one game and only allowed one home run all season. Covenant's ability to prevent runs is their defining strength even against more explosive offenses.  Opponents rarely beat the Speed/Power with the long ball in a league where home runs can often change a game quickly.  It's the kind of season people who follow the Lawrence/Mercer County Church Softball League will likely remember for years, much like an undefeated or one loss championship team.  What Covenant did in preventing home runs forced teams to string together multiple hits instead of scoring with one single swing.  Covenant's defense turned a lot of hard-hit balls into outs.  In a one-loss season, Covenant was strong in reliable pitching (Eric ...

The recent reports this week out of Cromwell, Connecticut have the PGA Tour having the desire to play tournaments in major cities across the country. A Facebook page called Fried Egg Golf suggested courses in cities such as New York City, Washington DC, Denver and the like where they should go and where they'll likely end up. If the PGA Tour does a tournament in Pittsburgh, where should they go?  Simple:  Oakmont Country Club.  But where will they likely end up?  There's Sewickley Heights Golf Club, Quicksilver Golf Club, the Club at Nevillewood, Southpointe Country Club and Nemacolin Mystic Rock.   If they do a tournament in Hampton Roads, where should they go? I can only think of the River Course at Kingsmill Resort.  But where will they likely end up?  Virginia Beach National, Sleepy Hole, Greenbrier Country Club, or Bide-A-Wee.   If they do a tournament in Cleveland, where should they go? Easy.  Canterbury Golf Club.  But where ...

There has been a lot of discussion in recent years about the Class of 2020 and how many young people lost milestone experiences such as prom due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Ever since then, I have occasionally wondered whether the Shenango Valley could support a different kind of community nostalgia event - something along the lines of a cross-generational 80s/90s throwback formal night for adults. I'm not talking about a literal recreation of high school prom, but a relaxed and welcoming evening built around the fun atmosphere people remember: music from the 80s and 90s, dancing, balloons, retro decorations, prom-style photos, colorful lights, and the kind of upbeat energy that defined those eras. In many ways, it feels surprising that Mercer County has never really developed a signature event catered around that kind of nostalgia.  The area already has banquet halls, DJs, community venues, and people who clearly enjoy retro-themed gatherings and music from those decades. The ...

I arrived at church before mass this morning expecting a normal lector assignment.  Ministry Scheduler Pro, the church bulletin and an email I received Thursday had all listed me as scheduled, so I was simply preparing to serve as usual. Shortly before mass began, I was given a different instruction from another ministry.  It wasn't dramatic, but it did create a moment of uncertainty - especially because it didn't match what I had seen in the official schedule.  In the end, everything proceeded and the mass was celebrated, but that brief confusion has stayed with me throughout this Sunday and made me reflect on how important clear communication really is for those of us who volunteer. Serving as a lector has helped me appreciate how much coordination happens behind the scenes.  Most of the time, communication through Ministry Scheduler Pro, email and the church bulletin work very well.  When those align, everything is clear and straightforward, and I can focus o...

CAUTION:  This entry is about a sensitive topic that I have spoken about for many years. I have said for many years that bullying in schools continues to be a major problem.  It isn't just an issue in Hermitage, Altoona, or Wyalusing.  It isn't just in issue in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  It's a national epidemic that too often leads to kids who are being bullied take their own lives, which is too many young lives lost due to incidences of bullying. I previously said that the states should place the onus on the schools to implement stricter zero tolerance policies regarding bullying and enforce them to their fullest extent by punishing those who bully and protect those who are being bullied and/or are witnesses lest they face the forfeiture of half of their state funding that comes from their state legislatures (e.g., Harrisburg).  Then there was the next best thing of local municipalities put local laws on the books that prohibit public bullying of other...

On Wednesday morning, PA state representative Charity Krupa of Fayette County harshly grilled the president of Penn State University in a House Appropriations Committee Hearing on state-related universities in Harrisburg.  Rep. Krupa took a shot at the university president for being a hypocrite by turning her back on seven branch campuses while at the same time asking for a total of $394.4 million in funding.  Krupa specifically mentioned that the university also approved $1 billion in discretionary spending (including $700 million earmarked for the ongoing renovation of Beaver Stadium, $50 million to buy out James Franklin's contract, and a $1.4 million raise in the president's salary). Krupa asked why taxpayers are being asked to pay more while there is no more money to keep seven branch campuses open (including Shenango) without transparency with the public and accountability.  She pointed out that her proposed legislation would require advance notice given to the comm...

Penn State basketball has a passionate fan base, bur for too long, the men's and women's programs haven't contributed points to the Learfield Directors' Cup like other sports do. Programs like wrestling, women's volleyball, men's and women's ice hockey and lacrosse, and football consistently carry the Cup totals.  In contrast, basketball currently contributes zero points, leaving a major gap compared with schools like Duke, UNC and Stanford. Imagine just one Sweet 16 run adding between approximately 60 to 80 points, an Elite 8 run adding 100 to 120 points, and a Final Four run that could earn 140 to 160 or more points, which would be enough to shift Penn State several spots in the Cup standings. In the Learfield Directors' Cup, each school must include at least 12 countable men's sports and at least 12 countable women's sports.  At least 4 men's sports and at least 4 women's sports must be team sports.  These are common examples of mandat...

If I decide in 2029 I am going to run for the Hermitage School Board, then I will make a promise to protect all victims and witnesses to bullying and severely punish those who bully other students. Why am I saying this?  Because the topic of bullying in schools hits home for me because I was a victim myself. If a student who I'll call Andy bullies a student who I will call Gina over her learning disability, and a student who I'll call Steve witnesses Gina being bullied, and Gina is the one hit with a three day out of school suspension, I will not approve of such disciplinary action taken against Gina because she was the victim and Steve witnessed it.  Rather, Andy should be the one hit with the said three day out of school suspension because he bullied Gina. Too often I see posts on social media from parents about their children being bullied and then getting suspended for protecting themselves against said bullies.  This issue is a major problem in the United States that...

This morning I posted on Facebook about a proposed awards program in the City of Hermitage. The Coach of the Year Award would go to a coach from either the Hickory Hornets athletic teams or to a coach on the various teams sponsored by the Parks & Recreation Department. The Employee of the Year Award would go to someone who works for the city and has provided outstanding work for the city. The Police Officer of the Year Award would go to a member of the Hermitage Police Department who has provided outstanding service to keep the city and its residents safe. The Firefighter of the Year Award would go to a member of the Hermitage Fire Department who has provided outstanding service to the city and keeping its residents safe. The Volunteer of the Year Award would go to a city resident who has freely given their time to provide outstanding service to the city. The Student of the Year Awards would go to 13 students in the Hermitage School District (one in each grade level from kindergart...

Mercer County, Pennsylvania has had its share of famous natives, including: Andre Coleman (Hermitage) Rodney White (Hermitage) Gerry Ricciutti (Sharpsville) Glenn Jones (Hermitage) Marc Howard (Sharon) Dick Bestwick (Grove City) Bill Cardille (Farrell) Dolly Neely (Mercer) Jack Marin (Farrell) Trent Reznor (Mercer) Nolan Reimold (Greenville) Alf Landon (West Middlesex) Judson Flint (Farrell) But did you know these famous folks visited Mercer County: Alex Trebek (host of Jeopardy! visited Greenville in 1994 as guest conductor of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra) Arnold Palmer (7x major champion visited Hermitage in 1996 to dedicate Buhl Park driving range) George H.W. Bush (former vice president visited Wheatland in 1985 following F5 tornado) Mike Pence (former vice president visited Grove City in 2017 to deliver keynote address at Grove City College commencement) Joe Paterno (Penn State football coach visited numerous times for recruiting) Jay Paterno (Penn State trustee visited Sharo...

This is a special 40 for 40 extra about my 40 favorite sports calls of all time.  (Note:  This list will include some of my church softball podcast calls, but will not include any connected with evil Ohio State unless evil Ohio State lost the game in question.) 40.  January 8, 2000:  2000 AFC Wild Card, Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee Titans v. Buffalo Bills, fourth quarter, Titans trailing 16-15, kickoff The Titans were trailing by 1 point with 16 seconds left in regulation and needed a miracle to win the game and advance to the divisional round. The kickoff return play was named "Home Run Throwback" by the Titans and was developed by special teams coordinator Alan Lowry. He had learned the play in 1982 as a member of the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff, watching SMU execute a similar kickoff return to score the winning touchdown in the final seconds of its game at Texas Tech. The Titans had practiced the play once a week during the regular season. The practi...