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Category: Local Interest

Items of local interest to the four-state area (Western Md, Southern PA, Northern VA, and Eastern WV).

The Outdoor Theater Experience: Cheaper Than You Think

The Outdoor Theater Experience: Cheaper Than You Think

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Nothing beats being able to combine two good things and turning them into one great thing.  Chocolate and peanut butter, Crown Apple and ginger ale, or Steve Martin and Martin Short are fine examples.  For me, that means cool, autumn evenings and watching classic movies.  Since movie theaters are still mostly closed due to the pandemic (or just starting to reopen at limited capacity) and drive-ins are all but extinct (but making a comeback in some areas), the next best…

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‘Tis the Season – For A Bonfire

‘Tis the Season – For A Bonfire

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I do love fall.  In addition to the dropping evening temperatures, which allow me to open my windows wide and take in the cool breezes as I slumber, the long and dark evenings allow me to partake in another favorite pastime that highlights the season. A bonfire. There’s plenty of ways to have one, from fancy store-bought fire rings, outdoor fireplaces, chimineas, or just a simple circle made out of rocks.  Pile in the wood, light it up, pull up…

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Summer’s Over – Will Fall Be Any Better?

Summer’s Over – Will Fall Be Any Better?

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Wow, this week marks the beginning of September.  I know summer doesn’t “officially” end until September 22nd, but when the kids are starting back to school – let’s face it, summer is over and fall is here. I don’t know about you, but the summer of 2020 will be memorable only in the fact that I’d like to forget it.  Due to the “C” and “P” word (“COVID-19” and “pandemic”, respectively), the last three months have been quite the slog,…

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Summer Tomatoes: A Seasonal Treat

Summer Tomatoes: A Seasonal Treat

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I love to eat “seasonally”, which means enjoying the fruits and vegetables that are in their prime growing and harvesting months.  In today’s society, we’ve become so accustomed to having everything available to us at all times of the year that we often miss out on enjoying nature’s bounty when its rewards are at their most fragrant, flavorful, and in most cases, economical. For example, let’s talk tomatoes (which are in their prime as we speak). Sure, you can buy…

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My Plant-Based Diet – A Nine Month Check-In

My Plant-Based Diet – A Nine Month Check-In

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If you’re a frequent reader of this blog, you may recall that I switched to a plant-based diet back in November of 2019.  To be clear, I did this for my own personal health reasons, as the data I’ve looked at shows that a meatless/dairy-free diet has some significant health benefits.  I don’t go around shaming other meat-eaters, waving signs, or attending PETA rallies.  I’ll also still eat meat from time to time (if it’s the only option available or…

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The End of an Era: My Local Poker Game

The End of an Era: My Local Poker Game

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They say time changes everything.  Sadly, I lost a friend this past week.  Her name was Nell Simmers.  She was 81.  For many years, she lived in a small house behind mine – just across the alleyway.  Nell was the kind of grand lady whose personality instantly made whoever she was with feel at ease, and she’d talk to you as if she had known you her entire life, even if she just met you.  A true local gem.  As…

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College Visits in a COVID-19 Era

College Visits in a COVID-19 Era

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My youngest is entering her senior year in high school this year, so that means that we’re well into the planning and preparations for gearing up for her post-high school education.  SATs have been taken (multiple times), high school classes have been chosen with care, and it’s now time to start narrowing down the field for colleges.  I’m a big proponent of physically visiting a college BEFORE signing one’s name on the dotted line.  Sometimes, a campus will just click,…

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The Food & Beverage Business: COVID-19 Edition

The Food & Beverage Business: COVID-19 Edition

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I’ll admit, due to the pandemic, it’s been a summer to remember (or forget, depending on your point of view).  With all of the social distancing, rules, and just plain fear of catching the COVID-19 virus keeping customers away, running a business during the past six months has been anything but easy. Today, I’ll focus on restaurants and other food eateries, one of the hardest hit sectors in the recent economic downturn.  ‘Business Insider’ recently reported that as many as…

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Another School Year is About to Begin – But This Year is A Bit Different

Another School Year is About to Begin – But This Year is A Bit Different

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Following on the heels of last year’s school calendar ending with a rushed and emergency distance learning set-up (locally, our kids were forced to online learning in March to finish out the school year), this year school officials (in Maryland) have already announced that the upcoming school year will start out (on August 31st, 2020) with distance learning (no onsite presence) until the COVID-19 situation can be assessed and reviewed. This, of course, has received mixed reviews from local parents…

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The Dog Days of Summer: Yep, They’re Here

The Dog Days of Summer: Yep, They’re Here

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One of the things I love about living in Western Maryland is the change of seasons.  I enjoy the changing colors of the leaves in the fall, the cold snap on my face in winter, and the greening and promise of spring.  Unfortunately, I have to take the seasons as a package deal, so I must also put up with the stifling heat of summer (even if it’s only for a few months). Now, there are those I know that…

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