Wednesday, June 19, 2013
     
 
 

Where We Live

Saturday, May 1, 2010

We're standing on a gentle, grassy slope in Orefield. It's a warm spring day; a day made for children to laugh and play, their voices ringing across the open fields.

It's the kind of day my sister Kay would love. She'd be frolicking with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, making each one feel like the best, most talented, most special and loved child in the world.

But the children aren't laughing today as we stand in Jordan Lutheran Church Cemetery. Their little faces are somber, and they sit quietly, waiting for the grown-ups to stop weeping.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

By JOE PLASKO

jplasko@tnonline.com

The Tamaqua Area School District is considering a realignment in its elementary schools.

The district has three schools that house students in Kindergarten through grade five: Tamaqua Elementary, Rush Elementary in Hometown and West Penn Elementary, not far from the Village of Snyders on Route 309.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

By GAIL MAHOLICK

gmaholick@tnonline.com

Entitlement is a word that has been on my mind a lot these past few weeks.

What bothers me the most some people's sense of entitlement.

I've seen some crazy things lately and people who wrong others often act as if they did nothing wrong. They feel entitled to things they cannot pay for.

These people are so sadly lacking. It amazes me as to what is going through the minds of people and how entitlement seems to pop up in the most unsuspecting places.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

There are fly by night pipe dreams, and then there are golden opportunities that are too good to pass up.

The redevelopment of a one-time industrial zinc-smelting giant into a sustainable high tech office park in Palmerton certainly appears to be the real McCoy.

On the surface, the conversion of the former New Jersey Zinc Co. into a state-of-the-art business park would seem to be a win-win scenario for all parties involved.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

By KAREN CIMMS

kcimms@tnonline.com

A couple weeks ago my daughter was visiting and I said to her, "Guess who I got an e-mail from Bion Tsang."

Her friend looked at her and said, "Your mother knows Beyoncé?"

Not quite.

We had a bit of a chuckle over that, but no, as a lot of local lovers of classical and chamber music know, Bion Tsang is an incredibly talented cellist and former artistic director of the sadly now defunct Laurel Festival of the Arts.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

This week, a 3 1/2 day trial ended in Monroe County in which Thomas Senavitis of Kunkletown was acquitted of vehicular homicide in an accident which claimed the life of Senator James Rhoades.

The accident happened on Oct. 17, 2008.

Listening to the testimony during the trial, there were a number of things that came to mind, nothing to do with the jury's verdict.

Here is some advice I received during that trial:

Ÿ Don't jump to conclusions.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

We're sitting in the library of our century-old farmhouse. The room, painted a soft pink with a wide border printed with stacks and rows of old books, is comfortable, with a well-used recliner and love seat that once belonged to a dear friend's mother. An antique claw-foot table stacked with tomes from the 1800s is tucked between two high bookcases. A sideboard that, in more genteel days, held starched table linens and polished silver, now is crammed with video tapes. A television set sits on top, alongside a small black cable box.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

By AMY ZUBEK

azubek@tnonline.com

Since Bob and I got engaged on Sept. 14, life has changed drastically for me.

No, I haven't moved out of my house yet, changed jobs, or had any major things happen since saying "Yes, I will marry you" to my boyfriend of over two years, but life as I knew it prior to being a blushing bride-to-be has been altered.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

I love winter.

Well ok, let me define that a little more.

I love the winter memories I have of growing up in the Midwest.

The first seasonal South Dakota snowfall could happen as early at Halloween.

My homemade Halloween costumes were usually larger than need be just in case I had to wear a parka underneath.

It would be unlikely that this snow would stick around for long but it was always a reminder that lots more would soon be on the way.

Thanksgiving was always cold and by December the farm dams and ponds were already frozen over.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

By STACEY SOLT

tneditor@tnonline.com

This Valentine's Day will mark an important milestone for my husband and me. February 14 is the ninth anniversary of our first date.

We're still young enough that we celebrate our "first date" anniversary each Valentine's Day. It's fun to remember those first awkward months of dating, when you're first getting to know a person and learning more about them.