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An ode to January and new beginnings

I recently learned that the month of January was named after the Roman god Janus. He was known as the protector of gates and doorways. This, in turn, symbolized beginnings and endings. Janus was depicted with two faces, often one was a young version facing one way, the other an aged one facing the opposite way. You can see how January became the perfect time to stop and reflect on our past year and look forward to the new one stretching out before us. We are given a new clean slate, an opportunity to keep the things in our life that are working and eliminate or change those that are ...

Christmas past – the 1970s

The sights, tastes, and sounds of Christmas in the 1970s were indeed unique and easily identifiable. It all began with a trip to grandma’s house where she proudly displayed the tree she painted in ceramics class. The one with the colorful plastic bulbs that lit up and made the whole tree glow. I think those of us who were adolescents at the time were less than impressed, but many of us now own one, evoking those childhood memories. It is funny how that happens as you age. Various things we didn’t value back in the day, now become an important part of our celebrations. Oh, and ...

It’s for the kids. No, seriously

I spent most of my time at The Sentinel behind the sports desk, where I made most of the acquaintances I have in Mifflin County. Out of all those I’ve met, two stand out, because of their desire to do something for the community’s children and their future (and not their own kids!). “No one is more passionate about Babe Ruth baseball than Ray Wilde.” I’m quoting myself there, from a column I wrote in 2014. But there’s a better way to say the same thing: Few people care more about the young people of this community — at least, the ones who play baseball — than Ray ...

Last week, the leader of the Pennsylvania House Democrats was sworn-in to office in a secret ceremony as part of an illegal and illegitimate power grab that redefined the term “majority” to claim that a 99-101 minority gives them control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Here is the problem: That claim is supported by neither the math, nor the law. On Nov. 8, 2022, all 203 House seats were up for election. Following that election, 102 seats were won by Democrats and 101 were won by Republicans. Here is where the problem for Democrats claiming the majority begins: One ...

A look at Christmas past, Part 2

After reminiscing with many of you after my last article, I decided there just had to be a part two. As you shared with me your experiences, it shook loose a lot of memories I had forgotten so, here goes. Let’s dive even deeper into our Christmas experiences focusing specifically on the danger level of most of our Christmas presents. Many would never be allowed on the market today. I am not sure if our parents were very trusting of us, or were trying to get rid of us, but either way, let’s explore a few examples. How many of you spent hours creating Creepy Crawlers? What could ...

Everyone has a Jim Shilling story

Just about every person in Mifflin County’s world of athletics has a Jim Shilling story. Jim, a long-time fixture first at Lewistown’s YMCA and later at the Juniata Valley YMCA in Burnham, passed away at the age of 85 back on Nov. 6. Jim possessed an unbelievable love of children and young adults, and he displayed an incredible willingness to help others. I can’t be totally serious, though! Jim loved to be a joker at times, too, and he was known to pull a prank or two. I was first exposed to Jim as a 7-year-old at the Lewistown YMCA. I recall watching in amazement as Jim ...