Columns
-
Nature’s Ways: White-Throated Sparrow, a Winter Visitor from the North
—
by
“Oh sweet Canada, Canada, Canada” is the mnemonic often associated with the easily-recognized song of the white-throated sparrow, a common winter resident of Pennsylvania and states to our south. Flocks usually arrive here from Canada in October and don’t leave until late April or early May. While some species only sing while defending breeding territories,…
-
‘Tis the Season of Giving — and There Are Plenty of Local Organizations That Can Use Your Support
—
by
As someone who has worked in the nonprofit industry for a few decades, the end-of-the-year holiday season is often a time for one final push for donations. Donations are the lifeblood of charitable organizations and our generosity is what allows many nonprofits to do their good work and fulfill their mission. And if you are…
-
Penn State Football Dollars & Sense: Before/After Iowa, vs. the SEC, On the Road, Cliff the Graybeard & Franklin’s $1.2 Million Payday
in Columns, Local & Penn State Sports, Local News, Penn State, Penn State Football, Penn State Sports—
by
The following is a quick read. Promise. So, please, don’t opt out. In the next seven minutes, I dive into the dollars of James Franklin’s next payday, as well as sharing a sense of how the Nittany Lions have done on the road lately and vs. the SEC since joining the Big Ten. (Both about…
-
Front Yard Mission Promotes Neighborly Bonds and Holiday Cheer
—
by
It’s almost 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20. The sun is setting and the temperature is dropping, but energy is beginning to build in a Park Forest cul-de-sac. Neighbors of all sorts — senior citizens, 30-somethings, kids and dogs — are making their way to the end of Douglass Drive for a holiday celebration. Tables…
-
The Difference a Year Makes: From Snow Drifts to Snow Drops
—
by
Last year during the week before Christmas, we had snow, lots of it – 19 inches in State College. This year, snowdrops – those little white flowers that are the first to emerge from the warming earth. “They are such a joy to see after a long gray winter,” master gardener Martha Murdock writes for…
-
A (Frozen) Winter Warmer: Big Spring Spirits Adds a Cool Twist to Traditional Holiday Eggnog
—
by
I don’t know how it happened, but the holidays are upon us once again. The trees and lights are up, thestores are bustling, and Christmas music is playing everywhere you go. Whew, it sure is a lot of work: bakingthe cookies, figuring out gifts, and writing holiday cards. But in the end, it is all…
-
‘The Best Is Yet to Come’
—
by
So here we are at the end of another year when the global pandemic has extended “The Great Pause” longer than any of us could have imagined. It’s a great time to sit down and to intentionally take stock of how your life is going and to count your blessings. Despite any setbacks and challenges…
-
How Manny Diaz Fits with James Franklin’s Coordinated Management Style
in Columns, Latest Penn State News, Local & Penn State Sports, Local News, Penn State, Penn State Football, Penn State Sports—
by
When James Franklin came to Penn State from Vanderbilt in early 2014, he brought along eight of his nine assistant coaches and a management philosophy for letting his coaches coach and his coordinators coordinate. He concentrated on all the other stuff. “James is the leader of our program, so he’s going to insert himself in…
-
The Fed Is Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place
—
by
The Federal Reserve is having a tough time deciding on the best path forward. As with everyone, I am sure Fed Chairman Jerome Powell wishes he had a crystal ball that worked. In a long-ago article, I explained the function of the Fed and I will do a short synopsis here to help explain their…
-
Before the Bowls, What Have We Learned About College Football in 2021?
—
by
In October 2018 one of history’s most bizarre college football tweets surfaced on the account of former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmandinejad. Someone tweeted at him asking about the University of Michigan’s football team. In 2017, Michigan had finished 8-5, was in its 14th straight year without a Big Ten title and, despite being 6-1 at…