Massive Blog Round-up (Part 1)

It's been a while since I've posted here. I'm not going to lie, I miss it a lot. Job commitments were the primary reason that I've stayed away as long as I have. Now that I have more time and freedom on my hands, I figured I'd ease in slowly by going through our mailbag which has been neglected for a while. I'm going to do this in two parts because there are a ton of unanswered emails to contend with. If you have emailed us, fear not! The email is still sitting (likely unanswered) in our inbox. I will be getting to it shortly! Without further ado....part 1 of my inbox clean-up.


Chris Bohinski's NYC Smile 4 Me
https://www.nycsmile4me.com
NYC Smile 4 Me's mission is to spread happiness, positivity, and joy by chronicling Boh the Smile Guy asking the same 4-word question to everyone he meets,“What makes you smile?” Chris (AKA "Boh the Smile Guy") currently lives in Wilkes-Barre Township (despite the NYC title of the blog) and has been featured on PA Live! and also in the Healthbeat segment with Mark Hiller.
Submitted on 3/8/18

Anthracite Unite
https://anthraciteunite.com
Anthracite Unite is a collective of working class scholars, artists, and activists from Pennsylvania’s Anthracite Coal Region. We’re focused on mending divisions within the working class and reimagining what is possible.

Henning's Local
www.henningslocal.com
This isn't really a blog, it's more of a website and it's TECHNICALLY in New York, but they have some cool stuff going on that they wanted to inform you about through us. So if you are vacationing or looking for something different to do that's within a short drive of Northeast PA, be sure to check them out. From the email: "Each week Henning’s Local will be screening favorite films about mothers, from the unforgettable evil villains to classic characters who stole our hearts. In addition to our regular menu, we will be offering a prix fixe meatloaf dinner, and blue-plate specials at the bar. Bring mom, and her dinner is on Henning. #eatlocal #momsmeatloaf"

No Time For Wine
https://notimeforwine.com
Brenda writes "I am originally from Susquehanna County and have been working on my blog www.notimeforwine.com  It documents my move from Single Mommy working a full time job, to now Married Stay at Home Mommy adjusting to my new life." 

NACL Theater
https://www.nacl.org/
Tannis Kowalchuk painstakingly includes NEPA Blogs on all of her press releases for the NACL Theater productions, some of which look very interesting. This is another one of those "not blog" submissions, but I feel guilty for not having given her a mention before. NACL (National Americal Cultural Laboratory) is a non-profit theater company in the southwestern Catskill region. If you are in the area or passing through, it's worth checking out.

Here's to Happy Endings
http://www.herestohappyendings.com
Kelly writes "I'm from northeast PA and have a book focused blog that I thought might be neat to have listed on your site! I've had the blog going since June of 2015, and it's updated pretty much daily and has a decent following. It features book reviews, discussions, giveaways, and other book and reading related things."

570 Menu Blog
https://570menu.com/blog/
Explore blog posts about local restaurants and nightlife. 

The Green Dish
http://www.thegreendishblog.com
Welcome! I'm Caroline, the blog's author and I've been struggling for the past few months with the decision of becoming vegan after watching a few documentaries (Food Inc, Forks Over Knives and Vegucated), and the more I think about it, I know the best decision for me is to become vegan. Changes are not easy and that's why I decided to create this blog as a way to encourage not only myself but also others, to share my journey throughout this new year and new lifestyle. I'll be sharing many vegan recipes and I hope you'll join me here at The Green Dish - One Healthy Dish at a Time!

I Heart Direct Sales
http://iheartdirectsales.blogspot.com/
Rebecca wrote me and asked if I would include her blog in our blogroll last March (as in 2017). Eeek! Sorry, Rebecca, I'm bad at emails. After revisiting this blog, it appears to have been abandoned. Who knows, maybe she'll pick it back up after seeing this post.

Lovely In Gold
https://lovelyingold.com
Kelli writes "I am a NEPA fashion and lifestyle blogger and would love to submit my blog to your site. My blog is called Lovely in Gold."

Mark's Bike Tock
http://marksbiketock.blogspot.com/
We know Mark from his work over on Mark's Tech Tock blog. He started a new blog last year about biking. To refresh your memory, Mark is a professor of engineering technology at a community college. "In my spare time I enjoy riding my bike on car free trails. I am especially happy riding a trail I have never been on before. I ride 3000+ miles per year and so far have been on over 70 trails across 9 states. I ride in temperatures from 10 degrees F to 105 degrees F."



That is the inbox from March 2018 back through January 2017. Tomorrow, we'll dig even further back in time!  
 

Pedaling to Peace and Prosperity

Another blog from the NEPA Blogs inbox!

Pedaling to Peace and Prosperity
http://lauriecann.wordpress.com/

Laurie lives in Tioga County, near the Pine Creek Rail Trail. An avid bicyclist, she enjoyed her time on the trail greatly - until events off the trail robbed of her ability to enjoy her time on the trail.

She's decided to take it back, to reclaim the trail, to embark on a healing journey - by bicycle.

From the "About" section:

We all have the ability to heal within us. We all have the tools for healing around us. The question, always, is whether we have decided it is easier to remain broken.

So pedal with me to peace and personal prosperity. I have no idea of where this ride will end, but I am up for the journey . . . wherever it may lead.

Ride along with Laurie on Pedaling to Peace and Prosperity!

BikeNEPA

 
Dale Culp from "Dale Rides His Bike" started a new blog recently called "bikeNEPA".  As I'm sure you could figure out by the title, the blog is all about biking in Northeast PA.  He's trying to draw more attention to the sport and mode of transportation and wanted us to give it a mention.

From the About:

Biking is for everyone. Biking isn’t just for the rich; it’s not just for the poor, either. It’s not a middle-class thing, it’s not a “white” thing, and you definitely don’t need to be wearing spandex shorts just to do it. Biking is for everyone. It’s a sport, it’s a mode of transportation — it’s a lifestyle.

 Our mission is to make bicycling safer for everyone — safer for cyclists, pedestrians and, yes, car/truck/bus drivers as well. Biking is for everyone, really.

 This is a community site dedicated to biking in NEPA. Whether you do it in the streets or prefer the trails of North-East Pennsylvania, we have you covered.

Biking in NEPA is great, but it carries its share of risks, as well. We always encourage the use of proper safety equipment and strict adherence to the rules of the road and local laws for your municipality. Likewise, we encourage all cyclists in NEPA to contact local lawmakers when it comes to getting better infrastructure — such as segregated bike paths, better lane indicators and increased awareness of cycling in NEPA. Get involved! There are a LOT of us out there, we can make the streets better for everyone!

We’re here to inform and educate, but we’re here to have fun, too. This site will have plenty of information on upcoming cycling events in NEPA. Group rides, charity rides and other events that involve cycling. Just visit the Events page for more information.

Looking for a local bike shop? We have a page dedicated to locating a shop near you. Go local! Support small businesses who need your help and can provide MUCH better service than a big box chain department store. When it comes to things like proper fit, quality parts and service, don’t trust the “*mart” stores to worry too much about your safety. Count on a local mechanic to fix your ride up the right way. Visit the Bike Shops page for more information.

bikeNEPA is here for everyone, and we mean it when we say “everyone” because biking is for everyone.

 Ride on.

Spread the word about bikeNEPA community blog and don't forget to follow them on Twitter and Facebook too!

Dale Rides His Bike

It's been a while since we got a bunch of new blogs for the lists by way of the NEPA BlogCon. We'll be adding them one at a time for a while, though you can see the whole list here. Here's another one:

Dale Rides His Bike (http://dalerides.blogspot.com/)

From his "About" page:


Hey, there! My name is Dale Culp, and I'm a bicycling adventurer.

My goal is to show you the world through the eyes of a bicycling enthusiast as someone who loves going on long rides along back roads, visiting trails and exploring North-East Pennsylvania.

If you'll follow me, I'll show you what some of these places look like, how to get to them and how to keep yourself from getting hurt while riding through them. We're going to have a really good time!

Dale has been keeping up the riding - and the blog - even as the weather has gotten colder in recent weeks. How long will he be able to keep going? Find out by following Dale Rides His Bike!