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Education part of addressing workforce future

Editorials

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 ...

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

Editorials

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 ...

Tailgating is fun, but staying safe is name of game

Editorials

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 ...

It’s time to winterize, together

Editorials

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 ...

Lesher Poultry Farm sunflowers in full bloom

Local Columns

Last Saturday, I found myself standing in the midst of what can only be described as sunflower heaven. We’re not talking about a few flowers in someone’s backyard. No, these were sunflowers as far as the eye could see, a golden ocean stretching toward the horizon. I stood there absolutely awestruck, soaking in the sea of proud yellow blooms swaying in unison, cradled in the arms of a warm breeze. Each flower seemed to have a personality of its own, but together they moved like a perfectly orchestrated, captivating floral dance with a host of bees along for the ride. It was almost ...

Are solar farms becoming the new NIMBY?

Editorials

What do solar farms have in common with fracking, strip clubs, halfway houses and landfills? On the surface, it might be hard to see. Solar farms and fracking couldn’t be more different, with one promoting green energy and the other built on fossil fuels. Adult entertainment might be questionable, but halfway houses are about encouraging recovery from drug addiction or criminal behavior. Landfills are unpleasant but necessary. So where do they all intersect? They are all things people have protested. If they must be allowed, fine, but put them somewhere else. On Tuesday, Derry ...