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Can’t we all just get along?

Imagine sitting at an outdoor concert, enjoying the evening’s warm summer breeze, your attention fixed on the musical act performing on stage. Your favorite artist starts the second song of his set, and you begin to sing along. Suddenly, out of nowhere, an object is hurled in your direction, striking you in the back of the head and knocking you unconscious. You awaken a few seconds later to searing pain as security guards and other strangers gather around. As unbelievable as it sounds, that hypothetical scenario can – and did – happen, to Michael Mollenkopf, at the recent Jason ...

The Terrible Trolley unveiled

Just in time for the start of football season, the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Chartiers Township unveiled its latest restoration project, The Terrible Trolley, so-named for the yellow Terrible Towel that Pittsburgh Steelers fans wave at games and rallies. Painted black and gold and bearing the Steelers logo, the restored trolley traveled down the city’s streets from 1980 to 1986. It was rebuilt in 1989, then retired in 1998. Early on, the Terrible Trolley went by the name Streetcar 1713, built in 1949 by the St. Louis Car Company, and originally ran on Pittsburgh Railways’ ...

Education part of addressing workforce future

The Sun-Gazette has emphasized — and will continue to emphasize — that jobs, workers, housing and energy are critical components of the revitalization or sustainability of our region. Pennsylvania College of Technology and Lycoming College have consistently proven their worth as assets to our communities. A recent hearing helmed by state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township and state Sen. Dave Argall, R-Rush Township, on workforce development demonstrated this yet again. As our reporting on that hearing in the Sept. 5 edition of the Sun-Gazette noted, Pennsylvania’s population ...

Tailgating is fun, but staying safe is name of game

Football season is upon us, and with it comes the excitement and camaraderie of tailgating parties. While there’s no harm in a little fun, those partaking in grilling, drinking alcohol and finding their way to and from tailgating events should keep some safety tips in mind. According to a press release from AAA – The Auto Club Group, sports fans should follow these tips on safe grilling, making sure you have a designated driver and more. Tailgating in stadium parking lots brings fans together, but it also brings open flames, hot coals and flammable materials into close ...

How South Carolina’s ‘Angel Tree’ was saved from development

When Samantha Siegel’s best friend took her to see an old live oak tree on Johns Island in South Carolina, she had no idea it was about to change her life. Samantha was a college student going through a hard time. Her friend just wanted to get her out of the house for a while. They went to see a tree estimated to be 300-400 years old and known as the “Angel Tree.” It’s 65 feet tall, and it shades approximately 17,000 square feet. When Samantha placed her hand on the tree, “It just filled me with hope and love,” she said, “and it just felt like it was taking all of the ...

It’s time to winterize, together

If you’ve stepped outside lately, you’ve noticed it: the subtle bite in the morning air, the maples tossing their gold onto sidewalks, the distant smell of someone’s first fire of the season. Fall in central Pennsylvania doesn’t sneak up; it announces itself in a swirl of leaves and the sudden urge for an extra blanket. For some, autumn is a season of nostalgia—high school football, the crunch of leaves underfoot, neighbors waving as they rake. For others, it’s a reminder that winter’s not far behind, and neither is that to-do list we all pretend we don’t see. Let’s ...