The April day I fell for the ‘Boys of October’

October 5, 2023

On baseball’s Opening Day that year, I was 12-years-old. It was a Tuesday, and it was going to be the biggest day of my life. Julie McNamara, my new best friend, had extended the invitation from her father. “Would you like to come to see the Red Sox with us next week? It’s Opening Day at Fenway.” Would I? Would I? Are you kidding me? The only big deal event I had ever attended was when my mom took me to the Ice Capades at Boston Garden. But Fenway Park?! W-O-W. I loved baseball. At that age, I was making the transition from diehard tomboy with a good right arm, to ...

Country facing a crisis over our values

September 30, 2023

For many years this country has been going down a slippery slope. In the last two-plus years things have accelerated to a nearly unsustainable rate, and it may already be too late to make enough corrections to right the ship. Inflation is at or near an all-time high partly due to major cost of energy that is driving up the cost everything. Crime is running rampant, and the justice system is full of creed and corruption, all while transforming into a political, two-tiered legal system. Our borders are wide open allowing a huge influx of millions of illegal aliens, who are also bringing ...

View from Hickory Heights

September 29, 2023

I was inspired by a sermon preached last week by our pastor. He talked about the five senses. He finally ended on the sense of touch being different than all the rest of the senses because it is not centered on the head as all of the others are. The next day this quotation crossed on one of my screens. I am sorry but no name was attached so I cannot give credit. “The seven wonders are: seeing, hearing, touch, taste, freedom, laughing and loving.” This is what really triggered this column. People often ask where I get my ideas. I get them from listening and reading. One thing we ...

Ritual of respect is often powerful

September 28, 2023

This past week was rough. Three good friends passed on to their creator – in four days. In between calling hours and funeral rites, I’ve had some time to think on the reality of the losses. Death is a subject most people don’t like to talk about. But we live with its reality every day. If we’re older, it’s almost as if we live in a waiting room. I like to keep my waiting in the back of my mind. The very back. I bumped into an acquaintance at the cemetery on Saturday. She lost her husband this past May. This lovely lady and I commiserated about losing a spouse and the ...

E-Verify brings out best in construction crews

September 23, 2023

Pennsylvania’s construction workers are some of the hardest working citizens in the nation. An excellent example came this summer when a stretch of I-95 collapsed in Philadelphia. In just 12 days, approximately 200 workers with the Philadelphia Building & Construction Trades Council had it repaired. For such an impressive workforce, our laws to protect that workforce need to be just as impressive. That is why I sponsored legislation that went into effect earlier this year – Act 141 of 2022, also known as the Public Works Employment Verification Act. The Public Works Employment ...

Still no answers for school funding

September 23, 2023

Pennsylvania is at a public education crossroads. Following the ruling of the Commonwealth Court earlier this year that labeled the state’s system of funding public education unconstitutional, the Basic Education Funding Commission is holding several hearings around the state as they undertake an essential task of reviewing the distribution of state funding for basic education among the state’s 500 school districts. They are also required to prepare a report of their findings for the General Assembly. Gov. Josh Shapiro stated in his March budget address, “President Judge Renee ...