Items of local interest to the four-state area (Western Md, Southern PA, Northern VA, and Eastern WV).
Well, Halloween has just ended, and as the time changes and the weather becomes colder, the calendar shows that there are only a few weeks remaining until the end of another year. However, before we ring in that “Auld Lang Syne” and say “hello” to 2025, we still have some pretty big holidays to prepare for, and they will be here before you know it. Thanksgiving is next on the calendar (although retailers will make you believe there is nothing…
I’m not sure how many of you out there follow science and space news, but if you’re not watching the news coming from SpaceX, you’re really missing out. Now, I’m not a big fan of their imperious leader (Elon Musk), but his pocketbook is bankrolling this whole operation, so for that (at least), I give him props. He throws money at these far-flung space projects like he’s trying to win a bet with someone (maybe Mark Zuckerburg). For those of…
One of the things on our family’s “bucket list” is to someday see the Aurora Borealis – aka the “Northern Lights”. We talk about trips to Iceland, Norway, or Alaska, but in order to see the jaw-dropping splendor of this natural phenomenon in its prime, we’d have to travel in winter to places much more frigid than the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., which my girls are not too keen on, overall. Luckily, Mother Nature, in all her grand beauty,…
This past weekend, I celebrated another birthday. I turned 57, which is not old enough to qualify for Social Security, but still is old enough to say “may I have the senior discount, please?” at the movie theater. Anyway, at my age, a birthday is a good time to pause for a moment and reflect about the past, take stock of the present, and look forward to the future. I’ve made my share of life mistakes, but I’ve never had…
Well, another relatively dry and hot summer is in the record books, and I’m now looking forward to the cool nights and colorful landscape that makes fall my favorite time of the year, especially in the region where I live. In addition to the vibrant foliage, there are many other things that make autumn my favorite of all the seasons. What’s your favorite part of the fall season? Drop me a line in the comments below!
The beginning of September marks the start of college football season, and I spent a lot of time this past weekend channel surfing between YouTube channels watching various games (this week’s million dollar business idea – NFL RedZone [where only the scoring or big play highlights for all games are screened in one place live], but for college football. Someone can thank me later). So, who am I watching? Well, that all depends. I generally will watch a good Top…
The end of August signals the annual trek back to school for students all over the country. My youngest has started her fall semester at college, and I now get to navigate all of the daily school bus traffic on the local roads twice a day (be careful out there). My youngest is taking a Microeconomics course this semester, and I thought it would be interesting to follow along. So, while she attends her classes in person down south this…
The craft beer industry has grown by leaps and bounds over the past ten years. Now, in the beginning, that was a good thing. We were becoming more like Europe, where in countries such as Germany, it seems like every small town has their own brewery, and the beers there are generally good, unique, and flavorful. The first brew pubs were packed here in the U.S., and for connoisseurs of that wonderful, malty beverage, it was a golden age. Beer…
The first week of August means only one thing in my small town. It’s carnival week! Yes, that cavalcade of carnies, questionably-maintenanced rides, deep fried food, inflatable trinkets, and colorful, live entertainment descends once again on my little town, offering a week of summertime entertainment to young and old alike. The carnival marks the wind-down of the summer season, when kids know school is just around the corner and older folks know another summer is almost gone, soon making way…
Living in a rural area in the summer is a magical time. Gardens are in full bloom, and all over the countryside, local fruit and vegetable stands are busy, presenting fresh and just-picked produce used in our favorite summer recipes. They may be a formal market, a lean-to on the side of the road, or even just a small table at the end of a driveway (where payment is made on the honor system), but no matter where you find…