Saturday, July 16, 2011

Billtown Blog

I hit this blog by sheer accident while doing a Google search for 5k Run/Walk's in the Bloomsburg/Benton/Berwick area. I'm looking to get into shape and was hoping to find one somewhat close to my house.

Billtown Blog is authored by "Billtown Blonde" of Williamsport. It is a blog about News & Commentary on Life in Willamsport, PA and the Surrounding Area. The most fascinating thing that I found about this blog was the blog roll. Who knew that there were so many bloggers from the Williamsport area? I hope that by linking Billtown Blog, some of the Williamsport bloggers will want their sites listed at NEPA Blogs as well.

This brings me to raise a thought provoking question: Is Williamsport technically part of NEPA? I am not sure. There are no set boundaries for the area known as "NEPA" (at least as far as I am aware). DB & I discussed this before going on the air on ComputerWise and a bit while on the show. What do you consider to be "NEPA"? Leave a comment with your response. I'd be curious to see what your thoughts are about this topic.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

From the mailbag: Jilly beans TALK

Hey,

I was wondering if you could include my blog, Jilly beansTALK, on the NEPA Blogs?

Thanks.. and do you know of any other NEPA style blogs out there? I've looked and looked and can't find any. I can't be the only person who has one!

Thanks a lot,
Jill

P.S. I really like your site!

Be sure to check out Jilly Beans TALK: A Plus-Size Style Blog!

http://jillybeanstalk.blogspot.com/

And how about it, NEPA? Does anyone know of any other style blogs based out of Northeastern Pennsylvania? If you do, drop us a line, and we'll be sure to list them here on NEPA Blogs!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

New Visions Studio and Gallery

New Visions Studio and Gallery
http://newvisionsstudio.blogspot.com/

Located at 201 Vine Street in Scranton.

We are an art gallery and all-over creative space for local artists We have monthly art exhibits, with openings on First Friday. We show all forms of art: paintings, drawings, photography, sculpture, installations, mix-media, ect. We teach art to children and adults and we sell hand-made and collectible goods!

Go check out the New Visions Studio and Gallery blog! And if you like what you see, why not visit them in person?

Saturday, July 09, 2011

Carl Abraham and his fascinating News Media Tribute Site

I want to preface this blog post by saying ahead of time how shocked I am that this website has never made it to our blogroll sooner (As an aside, his webpage is not a blog, but I strongly feel that it still deserves a spot on our blogroll).

(From LinkedIn) Carl Abraham is the Assistant News Director at WNEP-TV for those of you that don't know. A few years ago, through doing a Google search for WNEP, I came across his webpage - which can be found at http://www.carlabraham.com.

The webpage is broken out into the following sections:

Carl's Scranton PA Homepage
- There are a bunch of photos showing the downtown landscape and how it has transformed with the various constructions projects that have happened over there years.

WDAU-TV Tribute Web Site - A pictorial page of WDAU-TV (*ahem* now referred to as WYOU-TV)'s cast and crew. If you look hard enough, you can find David DeCosmo author of the "No News Is..." blog which is linked on our blogroll.

WNEP-TV Tribute Web Site - The WNEP Tribute Web Site section has the same feel as the WDAU website section, except (you guessed it) with WNEP cast members. I spy with my little eye....blogger Jennifer Wade and A. Pal in some of the photos posted, although, I'm sure there are many more faces you will will recognize.

Scranton St. Pat's Parade - Aerial photos of the city during the parade and various marchers along the parade route with some brief commentary about the parade.

**There are also links to a Genealogy Page and a NY Mets Fan Page

I think the page is worth a look if you haven't already as it is a historic look on NEPA's media presence and landscape and how it has evolved over the years. I sincerely hope that Carl keeps updating the "virtual museum" (as I like to call it) with pictures so we will always have a way to remember the past.

Have a great weekend everyone!
~M

Friday, July 08, 2011

Jim Thorpe, PA

After watching WBRE's news at 6pm tonight, I learned all about a Town-Wide Sidewalk Sale occurring in Jim Thorpe this weekend. I wanted to learn more about the event and the details so I could announce it on the NEPA Blogs Twitter page (as I do from time-to-time).

Jackpot!

I came across the Jim Thorpe, PA Wordpress Blog. You can find out all about the history, tourist attractions and upcoming events in Jim Thorpe. I'm not sure if you have ever been to Jim Thorpe or driven past it, but it is quite the charming little town. The blog is linked from the main JimThorpe.org website where you can find even more information about Jim Thorpe. I hope that you take the opportunity to check out the blog and website. I will link them both from the sidebar!

By the way, if you are interested in attending the Sidewalk Sale in Jim Thorpe this weekend, you can read all about the details of the event here.

(Or if you are too lazy...see below)

Jim Thorpe, PA hosts its fifth annual Merchants and Neighbors Sidewalk Sale. If you are looking for a great bargain, finding some fun stuff or hidden treasure, than come to Jim Thorpe’s Historic Downtown District Saturday July 9th and 10th, 2011. Noon to 5 PM, rain or shine – come and make a day of it.

A new site for We Shop Deals 4 You!

NEPA Blogger We Shop Deals 4 You has moved to a new website: http://weshopdeals4you.com/

For now, we will be maintaining links to both the old and the new sites.

Darling Stewie: A Cute Geeky Blog and Design Portfolio

I decided to do another brute-force search engine search for bloggers in Northeastern Pennsylvania. After picking my way through one about the Nigerian electricity service (called NEPA) and another by someone from Nepal, I came across this:

http://darlingstewie.com/

A Blog About Cute Geeky Stuff, Silly Drawings, & Kawaii Design

From her "What is This?" on the sidebar:

This blog is chocked full of adorable geekery, spooky chic fashion, internet magic, ridiculous drawings, and cute web design. I am not responsible for any brain damage that may occur. You've been warned.


It took me a while to be certain that Stewie (the blogger) actually has a connection to Northeastern Pennsylvania, but that was quickly cleared up when I noticed that she has a tag for posts about NEPA, which includes posts about Jim Thorpe, Hazleton, appearances in local newspapers, and web design for local businesses. (And if I had actually just checked her most recent post, I would have seen that she is in the process of moving to Wilkes-Barre!)

Go and visit Darling Stewie! Just try not to overdose on the cuteness. You've been warned.

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

The Right to Gripe

(This blog was shamelessly stolen from the sidebar of Mark Cour's Circumlocution for Dummies.)

The Right to Gripe (or, more accurately, THE RIGHT TO GRIPE)
http://therighttogripe.blogspot.com/

From the introductory post (which also serves as the blog header):

WELCOME TO THE RIGHT TO GRIPE

I had to do it! I had to create a blog so you and I could gripe about all of "The Crap" that we encounter everyday in our lives. Believe me, there is plenty! You can now come to this blog to Gripe because you have the right to do so. Over time, we will Gripe about topics ranging from sports to politics to just about all of the garbage that happens around us. When you Gripe, you can add your name or not. It's your right! You can vent any way you want. Use foul language if you are angry enough to and if you are offended, just Gripe It!
 
There's a lot to gripe about in NEPA, and this blog isn't afraid to do it. If you have a gripe, or just want to read other people's gripes, stop by THE RIGHT TO GRIPE!

Saturday, July 02, 2011

Happenings Magazine

As you know, Harold and I did an interview with Happenings Magazine several months ago about NEPA Blog Fest (Spring Edition) that was to appear in July's issue. I was very excited when the calendar flipped from June to July yesterday so I could see the fruits of our labor. I searched throughout Happenings Magazine's online PDF files of their magazine and to my dismay I did not see our interview. Deciding to dig deeper, I Googled myself (which kind of sounds perverted when you really think about it) using the phrase "Michelle Davies Happenings Magazine" and came across the interview. As it turns out, the interview appeared in the June edition of Happenings Magazine. I am extremely disappointed by this because I'm sure by now most copies of the June edition have long been recycled or thrown away. Luckily, my Google sleuthing skills helped me get the path and a screenshot of the article.

Click here to read the PDF

Or if you are too lazy for that, see below:

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

University of Scranton Small Business Development Center

From the mailbag:

Just wanted to let you know that the University of Scranton Small Business Development Center has a blog. Our center is one of 18 SBDCs in the State of PA and we help entrepreneurs in eight counties of NEPA.

http://scrantonsbdc.wordpress.com/

From their "About the SBDC:"

The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center or SBDC provides no cost small business consulting services that are tailored to fit the needs of small business clients of Bradford, Lackawanna, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne & Wyoming Counties. The center offers confidential individualized assistance designed to identify and address the problems of small business owners as well as individuals interested in establishing a business.

The program is jointly funded by the United States Small Business Administration, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and The University of Scranton.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

A Mommy's Blog About Places To Go In Northeast Pennsylvania

It's not a new blog that we're adding to the NEPA Blog lists - we actually first added it a few weeks ago. But the blogger, Cassie DeAng, has decided to take her blog in a different direction

A Mommy's Blog About Places To Go In Northeast Pennsylvania
http://mommiesfreeopinion.blogspot.com/

This blog is now a valuable source of links and information about places to go and things to do in Northeastern Pennsylvania! The new title hasn't "caught" on our sidebar yet, but be sure to check out the blog for lots of ideas about family fun in NEPA this Summer!

Friday, June 24, 2011

The NEPA Real Estate Photo Blog

We received a new blog submission via email from Gillian Peterson. I would like to say that she seen the ComputerWise TV show with Harold and I and was inspired to send us an email to list her blog, but I don't know if that is true...I will find out though!

The NEPA Real Estate Photo Blog
is the professional blog/profile for Gillian Peterson. She takes all the pictures, and posts all of the information and ideas to the blog. A one (wo)man show you may call it.

From the About Page: Hello! My name is Gillian Peterson. I am a 28-year-old licensed Realtor (RS308732) in the resort area of the Pocono Mountains. This includes areas such as historic Stroudsburg and Mount Pocono, as well as Tobyhanna, East Stroudsburg, Tannersville, Bangor, Windgap, Marshalls Creek, etc. Basically all of Monroe, Pike, Wayne, Carbon, Northampton, and Lehigh counties. I will not only blog about events in the Poconos, but also in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Nazereth, Northampton, and beyond!

Thanks for the submission, Gillian! I am adding her blog to the sidebar as I type this entry out. For the rest of you, please feel free to send your blog to nepablogs@gmail.com if you would like them to appear on our website.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

For anyone who missed NEPA Blogs on TV...

...and that would probably be everyone in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area, at least, since our show was pre-empted here by a baseball game (it did actually play live in the Lehighton/Kunkletown area), here is the schedule of repeat broadcasts of yesterday's ComputerWise TV:

REPEATS
Blue Ridge Communications TV 13
  • Thursdays at 4:00PM
  • Saturdays at 10:00AM

Blue Ridge Communications TV 11
  • Mondays at 10:00AM
  • Tuesdays at 7:00PM
  • Fridays at 7:30AM & 8:00PM

Service Electric TV 2 & 3
  • Sundays at 7:00PM
It is also on various cable stations throughout Eastern & Central Pennsylvania. Consult your local listings. Times are subject to change. The show can be viewed on Blue Ridge Cable FREE On Demand up to 6 days after original broadcast.

Jam in the Park


The Wilkes-Barre River Common is hosting a series of mini-concerts at the River Common Ampitheater. The "Jam in the Park" series happens twice a month on Thursday evenings at 6:30pm throughout the summer season. Admission is free and all are invited. Pass it along. It looks like it will be a diverse selection of music artists.

I noticed that RiverCommon.org is not linked from our sidebar. I will take the opportunity to link it now.

The River Common hosts a wide variety of entertainment and activities that are normally free to the public throughout the year.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Pocono Blogs

Pocono Blogs
http://www.800poconos.com/blog/

A blog consisting of posts by multiple writers from the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau.

From their main page:

Welcome to the Pocono Mountains Blog! As team mates at the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, we're constantly telling folks about our great outdoors, upcoming events, the low down on our accommodations and a bounty that includes some seriously good wine, micro-brews and a host of fresh fruit and veggies! This blog is an up close and personal narrative of our experiences living, vacationing, traveling and working in the Pocono Mountains.


Started in January 2008, with posts credited to thirteen individual authors plus the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau itself, Pocono Blogs is truly a team effort. It is also an excellent source of information for anyone interested in visiting Northeastern Pennsylvania's lovely Poconos!

Sunday, June 19, 2011

NEPA Blogs on ComputerWiseTv

Hey NEPA! Its been a while . . .

I haven't been posting blogs recently because I have a new job and am also taking classes over the summer semester at LCCC. That doesn't mean that I haven't been busy "behind the scenes".

Prior to BlogFest, I had secured an interview with NEPA Happenings magazine. I was working with journalist Kieran Kern to bring some attention to our bi-annual get-together. The interview should be hitting the magazine in July. You can pick-up a free copy at any of the following locations (from the website) - Over 30,000 magazines are distributed throughout a ten county area. You'll find Happenings at each of our advertiser locations. The magazine is also available at over 500 other locations in Northeast Pennsylvania. You'll find Happenings at such high traffic locations as banks, libraries, restaurants, hotels and shopping malls.
Happenings is also available by subscription. Be sure to pick one up to check out the interview next month!

Also, I wanted to announce that DB Echo and I will be on the ComputerWise TV show this coming week on Wednesday (06/22/11). In case you aren't aware, George Roberts' blog is linked on our sidebar. He is the host of ComputerWise. We will be discussing blogging topics, such as what a blog is, how NEPA Blogs got started, and why someone should create a blog vs. a Twitter or Facebook account. We hope that you tune in and watch us make train wrecks of ourselves on LIVE TV. Did I mention the show is LIVE? Yeah...it is.

From the website - here's where you can find the show on your cable dial:

Our TV Show

LIVE Wednesdays at 7:00PM ET
on Blue Ridge Communications TV 13
& Service Electric Cable
in Northeastern Pennsylvania

REPEATS

Blue Ridge Communications TV 13

  • Thursdays at 4:00PM
  • Saturdays at 10:00AM

Blue Ridge Communications TV 11

  • Mondays at 10:00AM
  • Tuesdays at 7:00PM
  • Fridays at 7:30AM & 8:00PM

Service Electric TV 2 & 3

  • Sundays at 7:00PM

As always, my hope is with these interviews and TV appearances that we attract more attention to the blogging community within Northeast PA. We have such a vast and diverse audience that there really is something for everyone.

Not to beat a dead horse, but should you want your Blog listed here, please send an email to nepablogs@gmail.com with your Blog URL and a brief description about what your blog is focused on and we will be happy to add you to the list!

Have a great Father's Day NEPA!
~M

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

A blog from Stroudsburg: Broken Lance Enterprises

And now a blog from Stroudsburg, one of several active ones that I've come across in my search. (Too often I find fascinating blogs that haven't been updated in months or even years. Eventually I'll be linking to a few if those, I think.)

Broken Lance Enterprises
http://www.wmjwatson.com/

Blog on writing and Civil War reenacting, with links to historic fiction and how-to resources for Civil War reenactors.



Putting together good stories, good writing, good art and people who appreciate all of that: Broken Lance Enterprises, a niche-boutique-micro (pick a word) publishing house built on a dream and fueled by hard work.
 
From the "About Me":
 
I publish stories guys will read. I write stories about history for people who wish they'd been there when it happened. I write murder mysteries where things blow up, people get hurt, problems get solved and monsters are hunted down and destroyed. Usually.

Monday, June 13, 2011

A blog from Towanda: The Life of an Army Wife

The Life of an Army Wife
http://thelifeofanarmywife1.blogspot.com/

This BLOG is about being a United States Army wife. We have been through recruiting and now a deployment. This blog is for any spouse, friend or family member that wants to put input into my life on how to deal with the ups and downs of being involved in the military life. Additionally for you to get information on how to deal with what is going on in your life too as a military spouse, family member or friend.

Tanya Smallwood

Towanda, Pennsylvania, United States

I am a wife to a wonderful man who serves in the US Army and I am a mother to two great children. I have one boy and one girl. I additionally have 17 years invested with working with children, running businesses and online selling. I have a BS in child development and psychology and I additionally have my Masters in business with a focus on human resources, marketing and management.


What more is there to say? Visit this blog.

Friday, June 10, 2011

A blog from Hazleton: Free Opinion Of A Mommy About Life Its Ups And Downs

Northeastern Pennsylvania is much more than just the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton corridor. Towanda, Tamaqua, Tunkhannock, Williamsport, East Stroudsburg, Pottsville, Bloomsburg - all are part of the uniqueness of Northeastern Pennsylvania, as are the many smaller places in-between.

Hazleton is not a small town by any means, and it's not at all far from the elongated splotch of communities stretching from Carbondale in the Northeast to Nanticoke in the Southwest. But I'm not sure if we have any bloggers from Hazleton represented on NEPA Blogs. If we don't, then this latest addition will be the first.

Free Opinion Of A Mommy About Life Its Ups And Downs is a blog written by Cassandra in Hazleton. From her main page:

Hello! I'm Cassandra! I'm 25 years old. From Pennsylvania. I'm a Mother, Wife, Sister, and Friend, I have Big opinions! I wanted to start to get them out there into the world! I talk about things on Facebook with people and then It usually ends up all messed up because there friends comment, people just act soo childish! So I would love to Post MY opinion on MY Blog and I would love if you Commented and even Debated with me!


We'll be adding Cassandra to our blogroll. She's new to blogging, so be sure to stop by her blog and give her some encouragement!

Free Opinion Of A Mommy About Life Its Ups And Downs
http://mommiesfreeopinion.blogspot.com/

If you live anywhere in Northeastern Pennsylvania and would like us to list your blog, just drop us a line at nepablogs@gnail.com and we'll be happy to add you to our links!

Monday, June 06, 2011

Unity Festival

The annual Unity Festival (or Festival of Unity) is being held in Scranton's Nay Aug Park on Saturday, July 9, 2011.  The organizers have a blog with information about the upcoming Festival, as well as posts about past Festivals stretching back to 2008.

From their About page:

This multicultural celebration continues to demonstrate the rich diversity of people in the communities of Northeast Pennsylvania and more specifically Lackawanna County.  Every year this festival grows in popularity because of our multi-ethnic representation and family oriented atmosphere that has attracted thousands of visitors and vendors from as far as New Jersey, New York, and Ohio.

...This intimate community event successfully began in 2005 in celebration of Melanian News bridging the gap to the merging cultures in Northeast Pennsylvania. It is our hope to continue it each year as an integral part of the unique heritage celebrations throughout our area. The festival is free to the public and all proceeds cover event expenses, planning, and community initiatives that improve the quality of life in NEPA.


And from this post:

Scranton is the First city in Northeast Pennyslvania to have an all inclusive cultural celebration that is beginning to take this nation by storm. Let’s not just be the first, Let’s be the best! Come on board for an inspiring day of fellowship under ONE sky….Leave NO one out…Come Celebrate ONE True community with us at Nay Aug Park, Saturday July 9, 2011.


Visit their blog and read all about it!


Unity Festival
http://unityfestival.wordpress.com/

Friday, June 03, 2011

This Just In...

Via a mention on Andy Palumbo's blog a little while back, here's the blog of Kevin Jordan, former radio and television reporter and former Director of Voter Services for Luzerne County.

http://www.kevinjjordan.blogspot.com/
This Just In...

I grew up hearing Kevin Jordan on the radio and then seeing him on TV, first as a reporter and then in his position of public service. It's impossible for me to read his posts without hearing them in Kevin Jordan's uniquely rich and mellow voice!

Reference Department, Albright Memorial Library, Scranton

I really have to apologize for overlooking this blog for so long. Not only have I stumbled across it in the past during brute-force searches, I have also seen several visitors to NEPA Blogs who were directed to us from the Albright Memorial Library Reference Department blog, which has linked to us for who-knows-how-long.

http://albrightreference.blogspot.com/
Reference Department, Albright Memorial Library, Scranton, PA

For the latest news and information from the Albright Memorial Library, as well as tons of useful links and notices about upcoming events, be sure to check this blog out!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

MAYDAY! Music Festival

I found this through convoluted means: Someone hit the NEPA Blogs site by way of a Google search for "mayday nepa." The only way I figure they could have wound up here was because of a tweet that appeared in the live updates for NEPA Twibe:

NEPA Blogs
May 24, 2011 ... NEPA Twibe - NEPA Twitter Users · LeesaCee: RT @MAYDAYMusicFest: MAYDAY is THIS Sunday at Kirby Park, Wilkes-Barre, PA. NOON-DUSK. ...

So, naturally, I drilled down a bit and found this:
 
MAYDAY Music Fest
http://www.maydaymusicfest.com/
Sunday, May 29, 2011
A music festival to benefit Soldiers' Angels
Kirby Park
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Noon - Dusk
Rain or Shine!


Visit our official blog to check out artist profiles and all the happenings!

Which of course brought me here:

http://www.maydaymusicfest.info/

Welcome to the official Blog of the 4th annual MAYDAY! Music Festival.

MAYDAY! first started in 2008 and continues to take place every Memorial Day weekend at Kirby Park, which is located alongside the Susquehanna river, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. All proceeds are donated to Soldier's Angels (http://www.soldiersangels.org/).

MAYDAY! features more than 50 musical acts (with an emphasis on electronic dance music and hip-hop, with some indie rock too!) performing on 6 stages as well as plenty of vendors, artists, great food and more!

This year's event will take place on Sunday, May 29, 2011. The festival starts at 12:00NOON and ends at 8:00PM sharp. MAYDAY! is an all-ages, family friendly, rain or shine event. Admission and parking are free.

Don't forget to visit the official MAYDAY! homepage at http://www.maydaymusicfest.com/

Thanks for reading and stay tuned!

I wish we had known about this sooner! The Mayday Music Festival is this Sunday. Check out their blog for details - and stay tuned, because this is an annual event!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Old Soul Swagger

The Old Soul Swagger blog was brought to my attention by Cheri Sundra on our NEPA Bloggers Facebook group. It is a community blog that Cheri Sundra and Scott Carey both contribute to on a regular basis. The premise for the blog is to salute all things considered "old soul". Not specific enough, for you? Check out an excerpt from the About Page:

Old Soul Swagger was founded in March of 2011 by internet marketer and entrepreneur, Scott Carey. Old Soul Swagger was created to serve as an online community for all things “old soul.” At Old Soul Swagger you can expect interviews, reviews, event updates, historical commentary and a surprise or two on our favorite pin-ups, rat rods, sideshow acts, steampunk, old school tattoos and anything else that tickles our fancy.

Old Soul Swagger is based in Wilkes-Barre, PA and will often times discuss/promote events. If you have an event that fits in with our theme that you would like to promote, please contact us here with any information. We look forward to hearing from you!!!

Interestingly enough, Scott is the son of my former boss who has a blog already listed on the side bar: The Copper Brew Kettle.

~M

Manic Frustration

One of @nepablogs most recent followers on Twitter is @DaleWilseyJr. By exploring his profile, I was able to discover that he indeed has a blog. It's called Manic Frustration. "It seems there's a fine line between creativity and insanity."

You can read more about the extensive background of Dale here, but I think the last paragraph on the About page sums it up best:

Right now, I sit in Tunkhannock. I work a 9-5 (really an 8-6) job to pay my bills. Books keep collecting on my shelves and words keep filling up blank pages in my notebooks or on my typer. Records keep spinning, music keeps playing. I still fish in the creeks and ponds around the area. The forests and mountains still bring me peace and memories from my childhood and, although this town is beginning to change at a rapid pace all around, the Tunkhannock I remember as a child still remains. It's the town in which my father grew up. His mother and father. It's still here and always a part of me no matter where life may take me in the future. I like it that way.

Enjoy!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Wilkes-Barre Roller Radicals

Northeastern Pennsylvania's one and only all-female roller derby team now has a website!

Wilkes-Barre Roller Radicals
http://www.rollerradicals.com/

From their "About Us" page:
We are Northeast Pa's one and only all female Roller Derby League.

Established in September 2009, the Roller Radicals are Northeastern Pennsylvania’s only women’s flat track derby league. We are an LLC and non-profit DIY league, bringing together skaters from all walks of life for a common purpose: the love of roller derby.The rules we play by are set by the WFTDA standard.

We not only skate hard and play hard but hope through the promotion of our sport, to show that girls can be competitive, athletic, intelligent, and beautiful!

Since this is a website, not a blog, it will go on the sidebar under "Sites About NEPA." Be sure to visit Wilkes-Barre Roller Radicals!

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Call for header photos!

Northeastern Pennsylvania is full great photographers, amateur and professional alike.  We've also got loads of excellent photographic subjects that are uniquely - or sometimes not-so-uniquely! - representative of NEPA, or of specific parts of NEPA.  I've culled a handful of photos from my collection that I thought might be eye-catching as part of the header of this blog, and once Michelle worked out the technical details and created the "sunrise" header (from a photo I took over my neighbor's house one morning) I made a bunch of them.  Some of them are less interesting than others.  But one thing I realized: they betray the fact that most of my photo safaris are done in Luzerne County, particularly in the Wilkes-Barre area.

So: If you have a camera, and you've got (or would like to take!) photos that you think would nicely reflect the beauty, diversity, and uniqueness of Northeastern Pennsylvania, or would just look good at the top of a blog page, please send them to us! 

Some guidelines:

1. Photos will be resized to be 920 pixels wide, 72 pixels per inch. If you could send them in like this, that would be great!
2. Photos should be 300-500 pixels tall, or roughly two to three times wider than they are tall.
3. Photos should include enough open space to plop the words "NEPA Blogs" in super-gigantic text somewhere.  If not blank space, then an area where these words can be inserted without covering anything essential.
4. Include a description of what is in the photo and where it was taken.  I'll insert this in a handwritingish font (Akbar, based on the handwriting of Matt Groening) somewhere along the edge or in some dead space.  If nothing presents itself, I can create a photo frame edge and put the description there.
5. Please also include how you would like your photo credited - name, blog address, blog name, or whatever!

I think that's it.  Any photos that you'd like to see featured as headers, please send to nepablogs@gmail.com. Thank you!

This is Getting Old

This is Getting Old is a sports blog which covers the Pittsburgh Penguins, the WBS Penguins, Penn State, the Pirates and the Steelers. Pretty much all sports teams in Pennsylvania, except for those originating from Philadelphia.

I received this submission from @nepablogs Twitter account (which hopefully, you are all following by now). I was unable to locate an about section on this blog to copy and paste in my post as I usually do. I can however, refer you to the the Twitter account from which the posting came from: @laclips / Brad from Scranton, PA.

From hisTwitter profile: ✔ *Burgh Verified* Penguins Hockey, Penn State Football and Pirates Baseball. I also like anything silky.

Enjoy!

Laugh to Live

Laugh to Live, LLC. is the website for a very interesting organization in which laughter is used as a means of healing...and it is based right here in Northeastern PA!

Ok, ok...you got me. This isn't really considered a blog at all. For that, I will be placing this website under the "NEPA Organizations and Companies" section of the blog roll. Jeannine is just so awesome and hilarious, that she deserves some attention in our blogging community. Last year, she performed (at the last minute I might add, after one of the other comedians bailed) at the comedy show that my Leadership Wilkes-Barre project group put on

About the Owner of Laughter to Live - Jeannine Luby has spent much of her life making people laugh. First entertaining family and friends and then performing stand-up and improvisational comedy over the past 13 years. She became a Certified Laughter Leader by the World Laughter Tour* in 2006 to further promote the benefits of laughter to audiences of all ages and interests through laughter exercises.

You can check out Jeannine entertaining an audience at Gotham Comedy Club in NYC here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a0ZlFs4eK0

CampTheSummit

Submitted via @jasonpercival on Twitter: "You should add @campthesummit http://campthesummit.com to the site. It's written by the most adventurous man in NEPA @patrickgensel"

CampTheSummit is the ultimate one stop shop (so to speak) for outdoor adventure lovers.

From the About Page: CampTheSummit is a Multi-Format Content outlet encompassing the adventure and outdoor recreation world. CampTheSummit.com was launched in September 2009. the site provides content ranging from video podcasts, and written articles, to audio content and more.

The blog was founded by Patrick Gensel, who has his own personal blog located at http://patrickgensel.com/blog/ which is more technology and photography based in nature.

I will be adding both of these blogs to the sidebar for your reading pleasure.


~M

Just Breathe

Just Breathe is the blog of my good friend Nicole Howell who is making the brave venture out of NEPA. She is moving to Arizona! Her blog, which she submitted to me via Twitter, will be featuring her moving tales as well as book reviews, photography and other miscellany.

"Writer. Poet. Techie. I'm never too far from my iPod." ~ Nicole

I will be listing her blog in the "Bloggers originally from NEPA" section of the blog roll, as she is counting down her last days of NEPA. NEPA will miss her, but there are limited opportunities in this area for someone as talented as her.

Good luck Nicole!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Franklin's Family Restaurants Reunion

Franklin's Family Restaurants Reunion
http://franklins-restaurants.blogspot.com/

A place where alumni can reconnect, share images and what have you

Franklin's Family Restaurants was part of a fast-vanishing aspect of American life: the locally owned chain of restaurants.*  This blog is written by a former short-order cook, assistant manager, and general manager who came into possession if a treasure trove of memorabilia and plans to share it online, along with many years of personal memories.  If you ever worked there, ate there, or just vaguely remember the place, stop by Franklin's Family Restaurants Reunion to reminisce!


*Shows you what I know!  I've already learned so much from this blog!

Friday, May 20, 2011

And now for something completely different...

From the NEPA Blogs mailbag:

Hello nepablogs@gmail.com

hello my dearest how are you and your family? hope you are fine,my name is Katrine,am 23years,am a Russian living in Spain,i will like to know much about you to establish a good relationship with you as am the only daughter in my family but my parents is late,please write back let me tell you much about me and also i have something special to share with you and also to send you my pictures.

Katrine


If Katrine had included a return address, I might have let her know that our mission is to provide links to blogs and other sites about Northeastern Pennsylvania or by people from Northeastern Pennsylvania. Sadly, it seems that she does not fit into either of these categories.

If you're a twenty-three year old Russian living in Northeastern Pennsylvania, we'll be happy to list your blog even if you're not the only daughter and your parents are not late.  Sharing special things and pictures with your readers is completely up to you.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

NEPA Solar

NEPA Solar
http://nepasolar.blogspot.com/

From the introductory post:

Alternative energy is the way of the future - and today! Solar energy is at the forefront of alternative energy. Many people are surprised to learn that Northeastern Pennsylvania provides an excellent climate for generating electricity from solar energy. In fact, the degree of solar energy available is comparable in many ways to Germany, the nation that leads the world in conversion of solar energy to electricity. (This should come as no surprise in either case: Both regions are covered in organic solar energy converters - trees - and have deposits of coal that represent solar energy stored in the past by vegetation.)

NEPA Solar, aka Solar in Northeastern Pennsylvania, will strive to be a central resource for individuals seeking information about solar energy, solar panel purchase and installation, and the economic benefits of solar energy.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Framing Faith

In the beginning, blogs were online journals maintained by individuals about their personal lives, sports, politics, or whatever they chose to write about.  Soon small businesses saw the potential for blogs as inexpensive ways to connect with prospective customers.  Eventually big businesses got into the act, too.  Now blogs penetrate every level of online activity, to the point that there's some debate as to how exactly to define a "blog" and differentiate it from a "website."

When a friend sent me this link a few months ago I thought it was interesting: a website promoting a book on a topic near and dear to me.  I wrote about the site on my blog, and connected with it on Facebook.  Despite the ".blogspot.com" address, I never really thought of it as a blog.  But as I've watched their updates come in on Facebook, I've realized that that is exactly what this is.
Framing Faith
http://framingfaith.blogspot.com/

Framing Faith tells the story of the faith of immigrants and their descendants, spotlighting ten Catholic churches in the Diocese of Scranton that were closed due to restructuring.

If you have published a book, promoting it through a blog is one approach to consider. If you're a local author or your book is on a topic relevant to Northeastern Pennsylvania, get in touch with us to have your blog listed on NEPA Blogs.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Stop Lou Barletta

From the email bag: Hello. My name is Dan Cheek and I'd be thrilled if you'd consider adding StopLouBarletta to NEPAblogs.

Personally, I'm kind of surprised that this blog is not already on the list. I thought for sure we added it at some point.

From the About Page: My name is Dan Cheek and I am the owner and author of StopLouBarletta.com. I started this website in April of 2008, shortly after Lou Barletta announced that he was mounting a second campaign for Congress. In my opinion, Barletta represented a horrible political candidate. He has, repeatedly, flip-flopped on important issues, refused to take stands on other issues, and has repeatedly used fear-mongering as his favorite political tactic. For all of these reasons, and more, I remain deeply opposed to Lou Barletta being elected to any higher office.

This blog has been added to the sidebar. Dan is a member of our Facebook NEPA Bloggers Group, should you want to network with him.

Fool On The Hill

A blog from the latest person to join the NEPA Bloggers Facebook group:

Fool On The Hill
http://foolothill.blogspot.com/

Lighthearted socio-political commentary from a working class voter

Melissa L. Sabol is a married mother of two and currently resides in North Eastern Pennsylvania. She enjoys freelance editing and writing.


If you have a blog you'd like to have listed, drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com or stop by the NEPA \Bloggers Facebook group!

Cooking Like Keller

"Cooking Like Keller" is a demonstrative cooking blog of a former NEPA resident. I will be adding this blog to the "Bloggers Originally From NEPA" section to the sidebar.

From the About section: Chronicling the culinary misadventures of an amateur chef in his attempts to cook and eat the most delicious food possible.

My first question after reading this blog was "Who is Keller? And why is the author cooking like him?" The answer of this question was found with a simple search of Wikipedia. The chef aspires to cook like his idol Chef Thomas Keller who is known for being a famous French cook.

**Michelle's Sidebar: If "Unexplained Things" was our first official Tumblr blog added to the site. Make "Cooking Like Keller" the second official Tumblr blog addition. As you can see from the differences in these two blog setups, Tumblr appears to be a highly customizable blogging platform much like Wordpress or Blogger.

Unexplained Things

If I'm not mistaken, I think this is our first Tumblr Blog addition. I was always under the impression that Tumblr was a micro-blogging platform, but that is not the case.

Anyway, enough rambling.

I submit for your viewing pleasure "Unexplained Things". This blog features photos and information about all things UFO, Paranormal, and the Unexplained. There is also a Facebook Group that you can join here. Additionally, you can follow the Twitter account here: @ibelievethings. The blog is run by DJ Smith of NEPA. If you want to give yourself a case of goosebumps you should look no further than this blog.

As always, if you would like your blog to be added to our site, please send an email to nepablogs [at] gmail [dot] com with your name, blog address and a brief description of your blog. We will be more than happy to add you!

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Found at random: Crystal Satriano Photography

While informing NEPA Mom about another matter, I came across this post on her site, which led me to this blog:

Crystal Satriano Photography
http://crystalsatrianophotography.blogspot.com/
Custom Location Lifestyle Photographer serving NEPA (Northeast, PA). Newborns, Maternity, Babies, Children, Teens, Seniors, Couples, Families, Boudoir & Weddings.


I think I'm going to start a category for "NEPA Photographers!"
 
If you're in Northeastern Pennsylvania and own a small business, a blog can be an excellent way to connect with potential customers. Don't wait for us to stumble upon you by accident!  Get in touch with us at nepablogs@gmail.com!

From the mailbag: Get Cryptic

Could you add getcryptic.com to your list? We are music event promoters, but we do try to update the site with new content everyday, whether it be interviews, an mp3, or upcoming shows in the area. Any questions let me know. Thanks!

Get Cryptic
http://getcryptic.com/


From the About page:
GET CRYPTIC is a multi-faceted entertainment collective based in Scranton / Wilkes-Barre, PA.


Check out Get Cryptic and see all the music-related updates!  If you have a blog and you're from or in Northeastern Pennsylvania, give us a yell!

Two by Holly Ord

On the NEPA Bloggers Facebook page, NEPA blogger Holly Ord has informed us of her two blogs:

Woman Tribune
http://womantribune.com/

From the About page:
Welcome to Woman Tribune, a webspace for women that explores and discusses our Woman Wide World.


There are countless websites and blogs out there and more are being created every single day. While most websites and blogs fall under a category or are shelved in a niche that’s terribly hard to break out of, Woman Tribune was founded with the mindset that there should be more spaces out there that give you a little taste of everything.


No one has just one interest or one topic they like to read about and Woman Tribune strives to have something that will interest anyone, regardless of their location or lifestyle. Woman Tribune is a space for women, for moms, single ladies, fashionistas, tech-savvy gals, entertainment buffs, concerned citizens of the world, pet owners, and much more.

and...

Menstrual Poetry
http://menstrualpoetry.com/

From the About page:
Menstrual Poetry is a feminist and extremely liberal opinion website that was launched in December 2007 as a response to U.S. politics and what is being said and done about social issues.

Menstrual Poetry is a website for free-thinkers; for people who reject the idea that greed and consumerism is and should be what makes up The American Dream. People should no longer be expected to be complacent with the government, both national and local, that they find themselves in and it is strongly believed that people rightfully deserve to have a voice and a platform to express their opinions, concerns and beliefs about the world they are equally a part of, regardless of gender, class, race, size, sexual orientation or gender identity.

This website works to hold administrations, corporations, businesses, the media and people accountable for the laws, decisions and images that they put out into the world, thus affecting the lives of people everywhere.


Go check out Holly Ord's blogs!  Remember, if you're a blogger from or in Northeastern PA and you want to get listed on NEPA Blogs and don't want to wait for us to find you, you can drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com, or contact us at the NEPA Bloggers group on Facebook! You can also give all your fellow NEPA Bloggers a linkiness boost by linking back to NEPA Blogs. Or, if you'd like, you can get one of our FREE buttons (we have plenty left) and post it on your site with a link back to http://nepablogs.blogspot.com/ !

Quick NEPA Blog Access

NEPA Blogs now has its own domain name!

Yes, that's right. Now if you visit http://www.nepablogs.org it is the same thing as typing http://nepablogs.blogspot.com. It is much easier to type and remember, HECK, you don't even need the WWW. My hopes are that since the URL (a.k.a. web link) will be easier to remember, that you will all visit more often. :o)

Have a great Saturday!!

~M

Ricochets Rapid Detail LLC

Ricochets Rapid Detail LLC is a Auto-Detailing business located in Scranton PA, and owned by Lucia and Dave Peregrim. This blog offers several tips about auto care and how detailing can preserve the interior and exterior of your car. You can also find them on Facebook by clicking here where you can view several photos of the work that they have done. I should also mention that the Blog is only one slice of their website. You can view all of the other contents by visiting http://ricochetsrapiddetail.net/ (this also includes information about their pricing and packaging in case you are interested in buying their services).

Also, Lucia is highly active raising funds for the National Scoliosis Foundation and puts on "Sounds for Scoliosis" each year. The event showcases several local bands scattered across several venues over a three day period. This year's event will be taking place from July 29-31, 2011. You can read more about the upcoming events on the Facebook Page or Webpage.

As always, I invite you to check out the above links to learn more. I will be adding the RRD Blog and Sounds for Scoliosis links to the sidebar for your viewing pleasure.

~M

Friday, May 13, 2011

Scranton Blogs: Content thief?

We're always on the search for local bloggers to link to from NEPA Blogs.  There are lots of blogs out there, and new ones getting started all the time.  One of the ideas behind NEPA Blogs is that if we create the right degree of linkability - many blogs linking to a central blog which links back to all of the other blogs - everyone will benefit.  The little blogs will benefit from being linked to by a site that is linked to by the big blogs, and the big blogs will benefit from being linked to by a site that is linked to by lots of little sites.

The structure of NEPA Blogs is designed to encourage posting activity.  The most recently updated blogs appear at the top of the sidebar, if those blogs are equipped with an RSS or Atom feed.  The more often you post, the more often you will be at the top of the sidebar, and the more easily readers will find your site.

We find blogs in all sorts of ways:  People can send them in, or we can come across them accidentally, or find them on another NEPA Blogger's blogroll.  Sometimes we go out and do brute-force searches on terms like "nepa blogger" or "wilkes-barre blogs" or "scranton blogs."

One of those last returned a hit for scrantonblogs.com.  It advertises itself as "A Blogging Network For Scranton Bloggers!"  Great, I thought, someone else is doing the same thing.  I'll just link to them and...

The content on Scranton Blogs looked a little familiar.  Very familiar.  Heck, I had written a lot of it.  And so had NEPA Mom, and Mark Cour, and Stephen Albert, and Andy Palumbo, and...

It was pretty unnerving to open up someone else's blog and see my own work looking back at me.  And it's not like someone was saying, "Oh, here's an interesting post from anothermonkey.blogspot.com." If it weren't for the fact that I had coded in a slug at the end of my posts during an aborted attempt to set up reposts to Facebook, no one would have known that I wasn't a blogger writing for a site called Scranton Blogs.

So who is responsible for this?

Heh, that's the fun part.  There's no "About Us" for Scranton Blogs.  There is, however, a little note at the very bottom that says "Copyright for all content is attributed to the original author, and their respective websites."  Not that they go out of their way to point to the original authors or their respective websites.  Clicking on my name points to http://scrantonblogs.com/members/d-b-echo/ - making me look like I'm a "member" of Scranton Blogs who writes for them.  (I am not, and I do not.)  Clicking on the post title for my most recent post points to http://scrantonblogs.com/2011/05/10/weekend-update/, rather than to http://anothermonkey.blogspot.com/2011/05/weekend-update.html.  So the copyright thing at the bottom is just lip service.

Fortunately, a whois search turned up some answers:

Registrant:
Artz Group Inc.


515 Center St.
Scranton, Pennsylvania 18503
United States


Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: SCRANTONBLOGS.COM
Created on: 13-May-09
Expires on: 13-May-12
Last Updated on: 30-Apr-11


Administrative Contact:
Group, Artz dns@artzgroupinc.com
Artz Group Inc.
515 Center St.
Scranton, Pennsylvania 18503
United States
+1.5702908301


Technical Contact:
Group, Artz dns@artzgroupinc.com
Artz Group Inc.
515 Center St.
Scranton, Pennsylvania 18503
United States
+1.5702908301


Domain servers in listed order:
NS2.BIOMEGATECH-HOSTING.COM
NS1.BIOMEGATECH-HOSTING.COM


Registry Status: clientDeleteProhibited
Registry Status: clientRenewProhibited
Registry Status: clientTransferProhibited
Registry Status: clientUpdateProhibited


I think I'll have a word with them. Though those email addresses don't look very functional.

In the meantime, I'll cross-post this on NEPA Blogs and Another Monkey.  And if this works the way I think it does, this post will automatically be displayed on the Scranton Blogs site as well.  Let this be their top story for a while.

UPDATE, 5/12/2011:
Now my posts aren't displayed there anymore, but the other bloggers' posts are. I've already let several of the other content theft victims know, and I can just work through the rest of the list.



The proper thing to do, if the person running Scranton Blogs wanted to do something like this, would be:


- Post excerpts from blog posts, rather than repost the whole things
- Include links to the original posts, both as a title and a "Read the rest here..."
- Give full attribution to the bloggers and blogs from which these posts are being taken
- Remove any language or architecture that gives the impression that the blog authors are actually working for Scranton Blogs


Not that it should be necessary for anyone to explain all that to this person. But apparently he still doesn't get it.

Wilkes-Barre: Crime, Fire, Law, Theatre, Photography, and Music

Here are just a few of the results that came up today for a Google search of the words "wilkes-barre" and "blog":

Crime-Free Wilkes-Barre by Charlotte Raup, President of the Wilkes-Barre Neighborhood Crime Watch Coalition

WB Fire Fighters Thoughts by Dan Emplit, "An over-caffeinated 18 year WBFD Engine 3 Driver, with 6 years Active Military service who has the clinging scent of gun oil about him."

Wilkes-Barre Pesonal Injury Blog from Rosenn, Jenkins & Greenwald, LLP

Gaslight Theatre Company - The blog of a Wilkes-Barre theatre company.

Earl & Sedor Photographic - From their "About Us:" "JB Earl and John Sedor have been providing their services as professional photographers locally – in Northeastern Pennsylvania in the Greater Wilkes-Barre and Scranton area – and nationally since 1984."

The Wanderer (http://www.stuofdoom.com/): "...a site about ghost towns, abandoned places, places with little known or forgotten history, roadside curiosities, and the occasional tourist trap. We deal primarily with southern New Jersey and the Pine Barrens, but we are now based in the Poconos and learning our way around Pennsylvania. Over the past few years, we’ve been slowly expanding and covering more area, going as far north as New England and as far west as Indiana."


Jeff Dietz Photography - Scranton / Wilkes-Barre PA Wedding and Portrait Photography

The photoblog of Darkershadesofbrown  - Scranton/Wilkes Barre wedding photographer Daniel Lanton

Spirit of Youth - "Spirit Of Youth is a blog about Wilkes-Barre hardcore past, present, and future and worldwide Straight Edge."



As always, if you're a NEPA blogger and you'd like to get listed and don't want to wait for us to stumble across your blog, please drop us a line!  And if you are listed on NEPA Blogs, please do all your fellow NEPA Bloggers a favor and include a link back to NEPA Blogs!  Or just grab this button and stick it on your site:


Thanks!

Monday, May 02, 2011

Kentucky Derby

This is an annual tradition that Gort42 started.

From his most recent blog post:

The 14th annual get together of the Saturday OT Committee and Operatic Society to watch the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 7th 4PM at Marks Pub 1287 N Washington St, Wilkes-Barre.

None of us are big horse race fans but this is just another excuse to infuse cash into the malt beverage industry to ensure it's liquidity. After all, we don't want D.G. Yuengling & Son to go the way of General Motors.

This is not a mega-meetup like the one last month a Rooney's (we will do that again in the fall) and it has not been sanctioned by the Northeast Blogging Council. But of course everyone is welcome.

You can RSVP for the event on Facebook here. Hope to see you there!

~M

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Blog Fest report, Spring 2011 edition

NEPA Blog Fest (Spring 2011 Edition) has come and gone.  For various reasons, I didn't get out of the house until after the event starting time of 6:00, by which time Michelle (who got there ahead of time) had texted me to be sure I was coming.  I picked my way along River Road / Main Street / Plank Road / South Main Street (the same street wears all these names between Plains and Pittston), noting the places where the Susquehanna River was lapping right up against the road, making a mental note to take another way back and hoping and praying that the river wouldn't experience a surge while we were all a stone's throw away at Rooney's.

I parked my car in front of the now boarded-up Valley Cat Rescue and walked a hundred feet or so down the street to Rooney's.  When I entered at 6:40 I was surprised to find the place half-empty - previous events had been jammed from start to finish.  I wondered if maybe the word hadn't gotten out. I myself had missed the initial announcement, as it was cleverly hidden away in a blog post on Dave Yonki's site entitled The LuLac Edition #1515, March 21st, 2011 - not exactly a title that screams "Blog Fest is coming!"  This post referenced a post on Joe Valenti's Pittston Politics - which, due to an unfortunate problem with blog architecture, does not have an RSS or Atom feed, and so his posts never appear among the list of most recently updated blogs.  (The bottom line is, if you're not making a point to read every word of every entry on these blogs, you might miss something and never be aware that it had been posted.) Even I had only mentioned this event in passing on a Facebook update when I found out about it a week or two after the announcement.

But Michelle had taken this ball and run with it.  She wrote up a post on NEPA Blogs that announced the event to the world, and especially to readers of NEPA Blogs.She posted about the event to the NEPA Bloggers group that she created on Facebook. Then she used her social networking skills with that newfangled Twitter thing to spread the word to the Twitter followers she has been gathering for NEPA Blogs.  She also contacted local media outlets about the event, got a notice listed in The Weekender, clued in some contacts at local news station WBRE, and just generally made sure that news of the event was out there, even among people whose primary interest in the world of blogging is not political.*

So I was puzzled by the absence of people at the event.  I saw Dave Yonki and Joe Valenti, who had organized the event and publicized it with their political contacts, sitting at a table chatting with a few people I didn't recognize.  I spotted a friend of Gort's and asked him if Gort - the founder of these events and the third co-blogger on NEPA Blogs, who is currently on hiatus from blogging - might be coming, but he wasn't sure.  Then I spotted Michelle on the other end of the bar and went to speak with her.  She told me that the place actually had been crowded from about 6:00 to 6:30, filled with candidates who had then headed out to a 3rd District event in Dupont.  Suddenly she spotted a familiar face where I had just been standing - Gort had arrived!  Now it was a party!

Michelle and I stepped down to talk with Gort, and I was called aside by Dave Yonki.  Before I could get to Gort I was chatted up by several of the candidates who had trickled in and were working the crowd.  (For a possibly complete list see Dave Yonki's after-Fest post.) I passed out Blog Cards and collected campaign cards and literature, and chatted with the charming, dedicated, and driven daughter of one of out local bloggers concerning her human rights legal efforts.  WBRE showed up with a camera crew, acting on Michelle's tip, and conducted some interviews that appeared on the 11:00 news - but have not, as far as I can tell, been posted to their website, pahomepage.com.

Unfortunately, while more and more politicians appeared as the night wore on, no additional non-political bloggers showed up, making the night one of mostly cocktail-party chatter between political bloggers and the politicians who are running for office.  Even more unfortunately, Rooney's kitchen and waitstaff were apparently overwhelmed by the sheer number of people who had showed up and decided that they would like something to eat.  Political chit-chat can work up an appetite, something I hope they keep in mind the next time there's an event held there.


From a political blogging point of view I suppose this was a relatively successful event, despite the unfortunate conflict with the event in Dupont.  (This was not the only conflict of the night, however, as the Luzerne County Historical Society dinner and the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association benefit Black and Blue Ball were being held last night as well.)  I would like very much to see future blogger gatherings where the focus is not on politics, but on the bloggers and their blogs.  Too often some people think of political blogs as the only sorts of blogs out there.  A look at the roster of blogs that have been added to NEPA Blogs over the years will show that there are many interests in the local blogging community beyond politics.  There are blogs about religion, photography, shopping, employment, beer, sports, cars, art, history, television - the whole scope of human experience, including and in addition to politics.  I hope to see some of these bloggers at future get-togethers!


Other accounts of NEPA Blog Fest (Spring 2011 Edition):
Blogfest turns out great crowd on Pittston Politics


*Michelle is also responsible for bringing NEPA Blogs out of an extended funk, resulting in more posts and more sites added in April 2011 than in the previous twelve months combined.

Button, button, who wants a button?

One of the original ideas behind NEPA Blogs was that it might be a nifty way to increase traffic to my personal blog.  Yes: pure, unenlightened self-interest. Create a central site that had a one-to-many relationship, with links pointing out to dozens, maybe hundreds of other sites, and then have all those other sites link back to the central site.  This would mean that every one of those sites would be just two clicks away from every other one of those sites.  Everybody would benefit!  I would start off by linking to all these blogs, and then ask everybody to link back to the central site so that every blog would now have increased linkiness by virtue of being linked by a highly-linked site.

Yeah.  I kinda forgot about that whole plan beyond the "linking to all these blogs" part.

BUT BUT BUT!!!  It's not too late!  All I have to do is contact the 150 or so blogs where I'm pretty sure the blogger has no idea they've been linked by NEPA Blogs, and ask if they would consider a link back to the site.  I'll get started on that...eventually.

In the meantime, if you're reading this and you're linked by NEPA Blogs, won't you consider installing a link to http://nepablogs.blogspot.com/ ?  This would be even easier if we had a button of some sort.  With my ham-fisted design skillz and my antiquated Adobe PhotoDeluxe program I threw together this:

But I'm sure there's someone out there who can do better!  Heck, I'm sure there are LOTS of someones out there who can do better, especially considering that I have no idea what the optimal design of one of these buttons is.  So, if you feel creative, why not take a crack at designing a button?  Send your submission to nepablogs (at) gmail.com. We'll list them all on the sidebar so people will have a variety to choose from!

Counseling Corner

Another local blog submitted via e-mail:

Counseling Corner

A blog by Michelle Herrigel, Psy.D., Clinical Director at The Devereux Foundation and a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania, providing public education and information regarding common mental health concerns.

http://michelleherrigelpsyd.blogspot.com/