Wanderlust in Hudson Valley: A mother-daughter adventure

May 24, 2025

As our children grow into adults with lives of their own, it becomes increasingly difficult to find quality time together. So, when my daughter Joy and I discovered we each had a free weekend, we seized the opportunity to spend time together. Already afflicted with a serious case of wanderlust, I was thrilled to share an adventure with her in New York’s Hudson River Valley. The two-hour drive from Joy’s home in Philadelphia flew by as we chatted nonstop, catching up on life and laughing at old memories. We arrived in Nyack, New York, just in time for dinner. Our home base was a ...

Tomatoes are very useful in Bev’s Kitchen

May 14, 2025

Hello from the kitchen! It’s mid-May and things are blooming. In spite of having a brown thumb, I refuse to give up growing things. I planted basil, thyme, rosemary and tomatoes. I think tomatoes are the most useful garden item in the kitchen. I almost called it a vegetable but it’s actually a fruit. Two of my adult children won’t eat tomatoes but they like sauces, ketchup and tomato soup. Hmm. My top five uses for tomatoes are stuffed, marinara, mixed vegetable juice, spaghetti and meatballs and homemade pizzas. Happy cooking and gardening from my kitchen to yours. Eat well, ...

My Mother: Bouffants, bargains, bravery

May 10, 2025

Mother’s Day is here, and until now, I’ve never truly shared much about my mother. I’ve mentioned her here and there, but today, I’m diving in headfirst. My relationship with my mother wasn’t always smooth. But as I grew older and became a parent myself, I’ve learned to view her through a more compassionate and understanding lens. It’s easy to spot the flaws in someone, especially a parent, but choosing to focus on their strengths is where understanding comes, and love deepens. I was a child of the 1960s, and my mother taught my brother and me the value of hard work. ...

Ashlie Crosson more than deserving of teaching award

May 1, 2025

Mifflin County’s very own Ashlie Crosson was officially awarded Tuesday with the title of National Teacher of the Year. I personally can not think of anyone more deserving of such an award. As a 2024 graduate of Mifflin County High School, I had the great honor of experiencing first hand the amazing teaching skills that have earned Crosson this recognition. I have countless anecdotes I could share exemplifying the great impact learning from Crosson had on my life, but the greatest one is me writing this - as a reporter for the Lewistown Sentinel, much of my professional ...

Nana’s Disney adventure continues magic

April 26, 2025

Last time we were together, I shared days one and two of my great Disney adventure with my son, his wife, and my two grandchildren, Sloan, who is six, and Oliver, who is four. Today, we pick up the magic with days three and four. On day three, we kicked off the day with a trip to Hollywood Studios. By now, we had accumulated quite the assortment of merchandise — balloons, toys, souvenirs — and there was no convincing the kids to leave their new treasures behind at the hotel. The stroller had turned into a mobile gift shop. If the kids jumped out and you weren’t hanging on, it ...

Leftovers create fine dining in Bev’s Kitchen

April 23, 2025

Hello from the kitchen! Unless you live in a cave, I’m sure you’ve seen the price of groceries in the stores. It tends to make us use up as much as possible and not throw out leftovers. I love making new dishes from what’s in the crisper drawer. My most recent creation was “crisper drawer soup” made from leftover items. In a soup pot, throw in leftover chicken, chicken stock, part of a jar of salsa, a handful of chopped peppers and onion, corn, leftover Mac and cheese, herbs and a couple tablespoons of taco seasoning. Put a lid on the pot and simmer for a couple hours. ...