PA Live! Blog of the Week: 50 Things to Know

NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.

Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is 50 Things to Know by Lisa Rusczyk (http://50thingstoknow.com/, which replaces http://50thingstoknowblog.blogspot.com/).

Lisa Rusczyk has seen a lot. A wife, a mother, a homeowner, a writer, a blogger (in addition to this blog, she's also the blogger behind the "Charlie the Cavalier" blog), and a person who has worn many other hats, she's had a lot of experience in a lot of different areas. Why not share what she's learned with the rest of the world? And while she's at it, why not invite everyone else to share the things they've learned with the rest of the world?

That's the basic idea behind 50 Things to Know. Since February 2013, Lisa has been taking things from the very basic to the somewhat abstract and breaking them down into lists of fifty pieces of advice. The advice is sometimes obvious, sometimes obscure, and sometimes of the "why didn't I think of that?" variety. These lists are full of hints, tips, and advice for everyday situations, from someone who has been through them.

Lisa realizes she doesn't know something about everything, and invites readers to submit lists of their own! Several of her lists have been turned into books available through Amazon. But in many cases the advice is right there on her blog. Why not check out 50 Things to Know and see what she has to say?

If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!

Para-Dice Jackson

Para-Dice Jackson
http://paradicejackson.wordpress.com/

A fashion-focused blog by Para-Dice Jackson, born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, now a Scranton-based mother of two boys and a student at Marywood getting simultaneous bachelor's and master's degrees in Advertising and Public Relations.

I met Para-Dice Jackson at last year's NEPA Blog Con. I asked her what her blog was about, and she replied "Socialite Living." I had no idea what that meant, and I still don't. But maybe if I read through all the posts she's written since she started her blog in January 2012, I'll be able to figure it out. Or maybe I'll ask her if I run into this year's NEPA Blog Con, being held October 5 at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke!

About the header image: September 11, 2013

The quiet patriotism of a flag flying over the Scranton Times building in downtown Scranton; in the foreground, The Vintage in the old Manhattan Project Room on the ground floor of the Hotel Jermyn provides an art space for writers, painters, photographers, musicians, actors, and artists of every sort.  That wasn't what I set out to capture when I took this photo after a meeting of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Writers' Collective a few months ago. I just thought it was a pretty image, and I happened to have my camera with me.

Autumn is coming, and with it opportunities to capture the beauty of Northeastern Pennsylvania as the trees deck themselves out in lavish colors for a few weeks. If you have a seasonal photo or any image you'd like to see used as the NEPA Blogs header for a week, send it to us at nepablogs@gmail.com.

PA Live! Blog of the Week: Onomahuna

NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.

Watch this episode on the PA Live! site: http://www.pahomepage.com/story/blog-of-the-week-jim-babinskis-onomahuna-september-10th-2013/d/story/K0hEj5gFqUKxVxmocPZDmg


Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is Jim Babinski's Onomahuna (http://onomahuna.com/).

There are lots of food review blogs out there, but this isn't one of them. Jim Babinski didn't set out to judge restaurants and the food they serve. Instead, on Onomahuna he showcases local eateries that might otherwise be missed. As he writes, "If someone visiting you for the first and last time asked to sample local food where would you send them? Those are the places I want to feature here."

Onomahuna focuses mainly on eateries in and around the Scranton area, which really isn't much of a limitation given the sheer number and variety of places to eat there. It would take a very long time just to sample some of the food at each of the places listed! Jim is also open to blog post contributions from others who would like to share information about their favorite places to eat. Full details are here.

Onomahuna has a broad web presence, including a Twitter account (for the most up-to-the-minute information) and a Tumblr page that used to be the main blog site but now serves mainly to redirect people to posts on the main site, http://onomahuna.com/. If you want to find out about, as Jim puts it, "fun local places to grab a good meal, catch up with old friends and enjoy your day," any one of those would be a great place to start - as long as it gets you to Onomahuna!



If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!

About the header image: September 4, 2013

The header image for the week of September 4 through September 10 is a hauntingly beautiful yet disorienting shot of a sunset over downtown Wilkes-Barre from an unusual vantage point. This picture was taken by NEPA Blogs co-administrator Michelle Hryvnak Davies at the 5th Annual Rooftop Party to benefit the Osterhout Library on August 9, 2013. It is posted on Michelle's blog Sweet Valley Sunrises, which contains hundreds of gorgeous sunrise photos from Michelle's home in Sweet Valley (though it it should be noted that this particular photo is neither from Sweet Valley nor a sunrise!)

If you have an image from around NEPA that you'd like to see used as the header for NEPA Blogs, just send it to us at nepablogs@gmail.com.

PA Live! Blog of the Week: FilmBuffOnline

NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.

Watch this episode on the PA Live! site at http://www.pahomepage.com/story/blog-of-the-week-filmbuffonline-september-3rd-2013/d/story/h1LIMJmfm0y45xM_4ktshg.


Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is FilmBuffOnline (http://www.filmbuffonline.com/FBOLNewsreel/wordpress/).

FilmBuffOnline is a world-class movie and entertainment blog. Since February of 2003, Rich Drees and his crew have been posting movie reviews, movie history, producer and director info and lots of other goodies that film buffs would enjoy.  Their tastes and the movies they enjoy are an eclectic mix, with a strong predilection towards comic book blockbusters, science fiction, and anime- and manga-based films that have been popular for so long. But with dozens of entries each month,  FilmBuffOnline is bound to touch upon something of interest for every film buff!

If you're a fan of films, FilmBuffOnline is definitely a blog worth checking out. And keep in mind, this isn't being written by a bunch of industry insiders in Los Angeles. It's a true NEPA Blog, written by people from NEPA who you might run into every day!

If you're passionate about something and want to share it with the world, a blog is a great way to do it. Rich Drees and his friends are passionate about movies, and they let the world know about it in FilmBuffOnline.

What about you? What are you passionate about? Show it to the world with a blog!

If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!

Blogfest Fall 2013

Northeastern Pennsylvania Bloggers will be hosting the 8th semi-annual Blogfest at The Red Mill

• 340 S Main St
• Pittston, PA 18640-2367
• Friday September 27th at 6PM

This is an informal gathering of bloggers, candidates for office, elected officials and anyone interested in politics or blogging. There is no charge for admission.

Since it's inception 3 years ago Blogfest has been described as the best political event of the season. No speeches are allowed and the rule is agree to disagree but don't be disagreeable. Many local and statewide candidates will be attending.

RSVP on Facebook

From the Mailbag: The Lake Region Something

Happy Labor Day NEPA!  We all know that blogging can be a "labor" of love and one of our bloggers just started a third....you read that correctly....third blog!

NB-

I have a new monthly blog/online magazine titled THE LAKE REGION SOMETHING at http://lakeregion.blogspot.com/.

The LAKE REGION SOMETHING is for those who live in the region and those who visit, or would like to visit, the region.

It will feature lots of interesting "stuff" on entertainment and popular culture, taxes and personal finance, travel, etc, etc, etc, as well as information on local events and activities.

Please pay us a visit.

RDF

http://robertdflach.blogspot.com/

http://wanderingtaxpro.blogspot.com/

Read my tax articles at -http://www.mainstreet.com/category/authors/robert-d-flach-0

You may remember we previously linked to Robert's tax related blogs back in December.  Give Robert's newest blogging adventure some respect by checking out the Lake Region Something.

King of Kings Gyros blog

King of Kings Gyros is a local "chain" of gyro shops, with two locations - one on 37 Public Square in Wilkes-Barre, and one on Rote 309 (103 Casey Avenue) in Wilkes-Barre Township. In addition to making and selling gyros - the Greek sandwiches, not the mechanical components - they also have their own blog!

King of Kings Gyros blog
http://eatmoregyros.com/category/blog/

The most recent entry on this blog tells of an event coming up this Sunday, September 1 - National Gyro Day! Check out the blog, and then go get some gyros! Support a local business, and have some fun on National Gyro Day!

About the header image: August 28, 2013

Summer may be coming to a close, but festivals aren't done yet. Here's a big one coming up: La Festa Italiana, being held this coming weekend (August 31 - September 2) on Courthouse Square in Scranton.  This picture of last year's festival as it was being set up was taken by Jim Babinski (onomahuna.com).

As Summer turns to Fall don't forget all the fairs going on and coming up, including the West End Fair (August 25 - 31), the Wyoming County Fair and Sullivan County Fair (both August 28 - September 2), the Luzerne County Fair (September 4 - 8), and, of course, the big one - the Bloomsburg Fair (September 21-28!)


If you have any photos you'd like to submit as the NEPA Blogs header image, send them to nepablogs@gmail.com!

PA Live! Blog of the Week: Nadja Notariani, An Author's Adventures

NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.

Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is Nadja Notariani, An Author's Adventures (http://nadjanotariani.blogspot.com/).

Nadja Notariani is another local author. Her writings tend to be novels in the adult romance genre, with an overlay of fantasy and the occasional dose of the paranormal. Her blog, however, has its feet firmly planted in reality. Nadja Notariani, An Author's Adventures is primarily a writing blog, intended not just to promote and publicize her own works but also to provide useful tips, information, and resources to other writers. Since March 2011 she has been sharing her adventures as an author, her advice for fellow writers, and scenes from her everyday life.

Northeastern Pennsylvania has a great many artists, poets, and writers, and it is always good to see the sort of success someone from the area has achieved in the creative arts - and to know what kind of work it took to achieve that success. Nadja Notariani, An Author's Adventures gives that insight to authors and readers alike.

Any aspiring writers these days need to be willing and able to make their presence known online. A blog is just another tool in that toolkit - but a vital and essential one. See what an author can do with a blog in Nadja Notariani, An Author's Adventures.



If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!

About the header image: August 21, 2013

As summer draws to a close, so do the bazaars and festivals that make summers so special in NEPA. Here's an image of the St. Faustina parish festival in Nanticoke, complete with pony rides! There are still a few more festivals to be held in NEPA before the summer is truly over. If you have some images of the summer that you think might bring some warmth to the cold winter days that lie ahead, send them in to nepablogs@gmail.com!

PA Live! Blog of the Week: Gale Martin, Author and Speaker

NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.

Watch this episode on the PA Live! site: http://www.pahomepage.com/story/blog-of-the-week-gale-martin-august-20th-2013/d/story/I5mx46C8Hk-Rm389jgM_Qg


Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is Gale Martin: Author and Speaker  (http://galemartin.me/blog/)..

Gale Martin, as the title of her blog suggests, is an author and speaker. She lives in Lancaster but got her M.A. in Creative Writing from Wilkes University. The Wilkes program has produced many excellent writers whose blogs we have featured previously - including Amye Archer, whose blogroll was where we found this blog.

But Gale Martin: Author and Speaker is not a writing blog. It is a "Life" blog, and an excellent example of that sort of blog. Since October 2010 Gale Martin has used it to share with her readers selected excerpts from her life, her travels, her adventures - and even sometimes her writings! As a skilled and talented writer, her blog posts are excellent reads, whether they're about sweaters, sneakers, mice, hot dogs, zucchini, or Tom Jones. Gale Martin: Author and Speaker is an excellent blog for any reader, and for aspiring writers and bloggers it can certainly be a source of inspiration - and an example of a way that writing for general audiences can be entertaining and informative. Be sure to check it out!


If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!

Upcoming Blogger Events

There are some interesting upcoming events in the Blogosphere...

Mark your calendars.


Tuesday, August 20, 2013 (tomorrow) @ 6PM:  Whiskey Bacon's "Traveling Circus" of foodies will convene at Aurant's in Duryea.  RSVP here.


Sunday, August 25, 2013 @ 7PM:  Dale Wilsey Jr. invites you to .... Katie Watkins Wisnosky and her Breaking Ground Poets have been bringing some class acts to the area to perform.  Andrea Gibson was here, Buddy Wakefield is coming and on August 25th, Anis Mojgani will be performing at TwentyFiveEight studios in Scranton.  The arts scene in NEPA is strong, but we need to maintain that strength by supporting one another and keeping events like this a possibility.  Everyone is welcome.  If you're new to poetry or spoken word, this isn't "Roses are Red shit".  This is the real deal.  Anis will lay down life lessons.  RSVP on Facebook.

Also, Dale has a new blog that he wants you to be aware of:  http://dalewilseyjr.com/blog.  Check out the new digs when you get a minute!


Saturday September 14, 2013 @ 7PM:  Scranton Story Slam Fall 2013: Jessup.  Come out and hear true, five0minute tales about life in Jessup at St. George's Restaurant in Jessup.  For speakers and ticketing information, visit http://scrantonstoryslam.com/SSLM/home/upcoming-slam/fall-2013-jessup/


Friday, September 27, 2013 @ 6PM:  SAVE THE DATE!  NEPA BlogFest will be held this evening at a location to be determined.  More information will be forthcoming.


Saturday, October 5, 2013 @ 9AM:  The second annual NEPA BlogCon will be held at Luzerne County Community College's Educational Conference Center.  Tickets are $30.00 and go on sale this week on Wednesday August, 25.  All proceeds from this year's event will go to the Blue Chip Animal Refuge in the Back Mountain.  More details can be found at http://nepablogcon.com.

If there are events you'd like us to know about and share, drop a line to nepablogs[at]gmail.com.

Highway 81 Revisited

Are you looking to quell your inner savage beast?  Well then I have a local music blog that might do the trick.

http://www.highway81revisited.com/

From the about:  Highway 81 Revisited is made up of music-loving writers who hail from all over. Each writer shares his or her unique perspective on music via album and concert reviews, interviews with artists and industry professionals, recaps of the nation's biggest music festivals, and commentaries on the latest music news and videos. 


Michael Lello is the founder and editor of Highway 81 revisited.  If his name sounds familiar to you, it's probably because he was the editor at The Weekender circa 2007-2011.


Right now the blog has reviews of the Peach Festival which is taking place on Montage Mountain this weekend.  I've also noticed reviews of other local and regional concerts.  Of course there are interviews and a fun section called "My Back Pages" which explores our relationships with the music we grew up with.


If you have a suggestion of a blog we should be featuring on NEPA Blogs, drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com.

About the header image: August 14, 2013

I was hanging out with my fellow writers after last month's Third Thursday Open Mic Poetry Night at The Vintage in Scranton. (The next edition is this Thursday!) I leaned against my car, rested my head on the roof, and looked up - and realized I could see both the Hotel Jermyn (home of The Vintage) and the Bank Towers building across the street. I pulled out my camera to see if it could get the same view, and here it is. The image is a time exposure, taken without a tripod, so the images are slightly blurred. It was also taken without a flash, so the illumination is provided by the ambient electrical lighting on Spruce Street in Scranton at night. The buildings seem to be leaning over the viewer, stone titans looking with disdain upon the puny humans below. Bank Towers is on the left, and the Hotel Jermyn is on the right.

(On a related note, the photography of Poet/Writer/Photographer Alvin K. Nurse is currently being featured at Starbucks in the Steamtown Mall in Scranton. His series is called "Scranton Looking Up," featuring photos of Scranton architecture taken from a view many people miss - looking up. His photos are on display through September 4.)


Submit your header photos to nepablogs@gmail.com .

PA Live! Blog of the Week: Food Photos and Library Crime

NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.

Watch this episode on the PA Live! site: http://www.pahomepage.com/story/blog-of-the-week-food-photos-and-library-crime-august-13th-2013/d/story/CeAPAOSxPUefvUbUIV_NRQ

Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is Food Photos and Library Crimes by Brian Fulton (http://foodphotosandlibcrime.tumblr.com/.)

Some blogs are given such clever titles that it's impossible to know the content until you've read half a dozen or more entries - and even then you might be wondering what the title has to do with the blog. Not Food Photos and Library Crimes  Scranton-based blogger Brian Fulton (who has been featured before on the Blog of the Week with his Pages from the Past blog, reproducing historical entries from the Scranton Times) has a Tumblr blog that is literally full of food photos and stories of crimes that took place in or involved libraries. As if that isn't enough, Brian also sprinkles in posts about anything else he feels like - hey, it's his blog, his rules.

Check out Food Photos and Library Crimes and you'll be amazed and sometimes disgusted by the wide range of culinary delights featured there. You'll also be amazed and sometimes frightened by the range of activities that can take place in a library. But mostly, you'll find a great blog that's lots of fun to read!


If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!

Steel City Retro

I honestly forgot where I found this blog.  It may have been on Twitter or Facebook.  The last few weeks have been a social media blur.  ...Anyway....this blog is based in the Lehigh Valley, but covers vintage fashions across the state of Pennsylvania (including NEPA)!

Steel City Retro

"Bringing you the best vintage finds PA has to offer, from Scranton to Souderton!"

Blog:  http://www.scretro.com
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/steelcityretrodotcom


From the About:

Our Mission:  SCR is for lovers of all things retro. Dedicated to finding the good citizens of the Lehigh Valley affordable accessories, and other goods & services that are locally-based and affordable, with an emphasis on clothing defined by the style of its decade.

The blog also has a "submit" feature where business owners and shopaholics can submit their vintages goods or finds:  http://www.scretro.com/submit/


So if you are a lover of retro fashions, burlesque, and pin-up girls this blog is for you!

About the header image: August 7, 2013

The header image for the week of August 7-13 comes to us from Jim Babinski (onomahuna.com). This Lackawanna Railroad bridge is a familiar sight to people who drive in downtown Scranton, and is as much a part of the landscape on Northeastern Pennsylvania as other places and things we thought would never go away. How many of these familiar places will be around for future generations, and how many will vanish in our lifetimes?

Send in your header image photos to nepablogs@gmail.com. 

PA Live! Blog of the Week: Jim Thorpe, PA

NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.

Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is Jim Thorpe, PA (http://jtccjimthorpe.wordpress.com/).

If you've never been to Jim Thorpe, you're missing out on a remarkable treasure tucked away in the hills of the Poconos. Called "The Switzerland of America," this Carbon County borough features beautiful architecture, historic lodging, and fine dining options. And it has one other thing going for it: Jim Thorpe, PA, a blog that keeps you informed of everything going on in the area.

Jim Thorpe, PA is a blog aimed at tourists, but it's so much more. Since September 2009 this blog has posted information all about Jim Thorpe, PA- events, attractions, and visitor tips, things of importance to newcomers to the area as well a longtime residents. Whether you live in Jim Thorpe, already have a visit planned, or are just looking for somewhere to visit, check out the Jim Thorpe, PA blog to see what's going on.

Other municipalities can learn quite a bit from this blog. Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Hazleton, Pittston, Honesdale - none of these places have blogs (or websites) anything near the Jim Thorpe, PA blog. Not only does this site help to define the online image of Jim Thorpe, it also allows people to focus on the positive, on the reasons for visiting in the first place, and the great things about living there. What would it take for Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Hazleton, and all the other places in Northeastern Pennsylvania to create blogs of their own on par with Jim Thorpe, PA?

If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!

Andy Palumbo Suggestions

My friend and fellow co-worker Andy Palumbo sent me a twitter message the other day (ok, maybe more like a month ago) with some new bloggers he wanted to see us link to.

"John Quigley's A Green Thing blog"

http://johnhquigley.blogspot.com/

John Quigley is a former Hazleton mayor.  He talks about green living and fracking on his blog, which we all know is a hot button issue in Northeast PA these days.

From the About:  

A GREEN THING

The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a Green thing that stands in the way. Some see Nature all Ridicule and Deformity...and some scarce see Nature at all. But to the eyes of the Man of Imagination, Nature is Imagination itself.

William Blake, English poet (1757-1827)

Experienced leader with a diverse career in the not-for-profit, public, and private sectors. Served as the founding executive director of a non-profit economic development corporation and as a 2-term Mayor of a city of 25,000 residents. Held a number of management positions with two industry-leading companies in the private sector and taught economics at a Pennsylvania State University branch campus. Wrote a weekly public affairs column for a northeast Pennsylvania newspaper and served as government relations manager with a statewide public interest organization. Most recently, served 2 years as the third Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.



Next up...

"The Pix Chick"

http://thepixchick.tumblr.com
http://thepixchick.wordpress.com

Jeanne L. Kenney is "just a chick with a camera, walking around taking pictures of stuff".  You can also find her work on her Facebook Page, Twitter and her website http://www.thepixchick.com.



If you haven't visited in a while, you should take another look at Andy's blog.  Right now he has some bad photography featuring buildings in Wilkes-Barre that may be on the endangered list (staying with our Hotel Sterling theme on our blog this week).  I must say that Andy is probably one of the more dedicated bloggers I know.  He posts something new every day.  I wish I had that level of energy for my personal blog!

NOTE:  Jeanne informed me that she moved from the Tumblr blog to Wordpress due to technical issues and will be using that blog from now on to post.

Have a suggestion for a blogger that we aren't linking to?  Drop us a line: nepablogs@gmail.com.

Facebook Finds

Today, I figured that I'd share some of the blogs that Harold & I recently discovered through Facebook.  If you didn't already know, we have a group on the social media site where local bloggers mingle, bounce ideas off each other and share posts...we encourage you to join if you haven't already.

"The Life of Kyle"

By: Kyle Magda

http://thelifeofkyle.com/blog.html

Kyle has been at it since October 2012 writing about sports (a lot of NASCAR and running), health and nutrition, life and whatever else crosses his mind.

"Just Amusing Myself"

By:  Susan Keller

http://justamusingmyself.wordpress.com/

Susan introduced herself as an occasional writer in our group, but she was impressed with all of the different voices and topics of blogs in the area.  She's hoping more posts will come as she works the muscle.  Her blog is mostly about life, but life as a mother.  I enjoyed reading her recent posts and look forward to coming back for more!

"Donna's Addiction"

By:  Donna Gard

http://donnasaddiction.blog.com/

From the first post:  My name is Donna and I am a Freelance Photographer/Event Planner and I found a new addiction…Blogging! Since I love planning events and taking pictures, that is what you will find her on my Blog.  Here we will be discussing events that I have had the pleasure of  organizing as well as events that I have attended.  With pictures, crazy yet sometimes deep dialog,  and some quick wit, I am hoping to drag you into my crazy world of Event Blogging!  Now let’s have some fun and stay tuned for my first crazy Blog!



All of these links will be added to our blogroll on the side bar for your reading enjoyment.

...And while we are on the topic of Facebook, I'd like to remind everyone to stop by and "like" our page: https://www.facebook.com/nepablogs

Happy Saturday!

About the header image: July 31, 2013

This week's header image is from co-administrator Michelle Hryvnak Davies and shows the Hotel Sterling in Wilkes-Barre mid-demolition this past weekend.

In a sense, the Hotel Sterling is responsible for the founding of NEPA Blogs.  Back in October 2005 I went on a photo expedition in and around Wilkes-Barre. A major stop on that tour was Kirby Park, where I got some wonderful photos - including this one:

I wrote "In the distance, obscured by the Eagle on the right, is the once-proud Hotel Sterling - currently slated for demolition, I believe."

Shortly thereafter someone left this comment: "Super pics. One correction, the Hotel Sterling is not going to be demolished. There is a plan to renovate it as part of the riverfront project."

The person who left this comment called himself Gort. I think this was the first time I had a comment from him, and I followed the link on his name back to his profile, and then to his blog, Gort42. I quickly learned that he was one of the leading political bloggers in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and was networked together with many other political bloggers throughout NEPA and beyond.

Months later, when I had the idea for creating a local blog network, I realized that Gort had already gathered together links to many local political blogs. All I had to do was go to his site and steal them. Then I decided that this would be far too much work, and it would be easier to ask him to join as co-administrator - and add the political blogs himself.

It turned out, in the long run, that both of us were wrong. While the Sterling may not have been slated for demolition in October 2005, the plans to incorporate it into the riverfront project fell through. As of this writing, the Hotel Sterling is nothing but a pile of rubble waiting to be carted away. Some major artifacts from it were removed and preserved, and thanks to some intrepid photographers (see the end of this post) the now-vanished views from within the Sterling have been recorded for posterity.

NEPA Blogs has actually featured the Hotel Sterling numerous times in its header images. Here are some (but probably not all) of them.

You should also definitely download a copy of local guerrilla historian, urban archaeologist, and photographer Cheri Sundra's e-book, Welcome to the Zombie Hotel Sterling.

Abandoned and rotting away along the banks of the mighty Susquehanna River, the zombified Hotel Sterling tells its tale of fading grandeur and woe to an urban explorer who infiltrates the deteriorating structure, seeking to photographically document the reality of the condition of the building, as the hotel waits for its beloved community to decide its fate, once and for all.

It's free through August 3 - Cheri doesn't want anyone to think that she's looking to make a quick buck from the destruction of this historic building.


Submit you photos to be featured as the NEPA Blogs header! Send them to nepablogs@gmail.com.

PA Live! Blog of the Week: Satellite News

NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.

Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is Satellite News (http://www.mst3kinfo.com/).

Don't be misled by the title of this week's Blog of the Week. It's not a blog with news about satellites, or a blog that delivers news by satellite. No, it's just about one satellite in particular...the Satellite of Love, home of Joel (later Mike) and the 'bots!

If you have no idea what this is about you missed out on a fun part of the 1990's. From 1989 through 1999 viewers tuned in every week to Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K to fans) to watch as the hapless maintenance man Joel (later Mike) and his robot friends were forced to watch cheesy movies ("the worst we can find") by Joel(later Mike)'s sadistic Mad Scientist bosses. The movies were laughably bad, chosen from the 1950's all the way to the early 1980's, but what made the show great was the running commentary supplied by Joel (later Mike) and the 'bots.

NEPA resident Chris Cornell and Brian Henry have been running Satellite News in one form or another since at least September 2000. Their blog features episode reviews, news about what everyone's up to now, and historical tidbits about the people who starred in and made the movies that made up Mystery Science Theater 3000. For fans of MST3K, Satellite News is a smorgasbord of information, while for the uninitiated...well, it gives you something to come back to after your first exposure to the show. (Try the episodes featuring "Pod People" or "Torgo"!) MST3K is a show with a national and world-wide fanbase, and it's fantastic to know that the definitive blog for the show's fans is generated right here in Northeastern Pennsylvania!

If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!

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!

From the Mailbag: Pocono Record Blogs

We received this message earlier this week from a reporter at the Pocono Record Newspaper.

Hi,

I’m  a reporter here at the Pocono Record who also handles digital matters. We have some great recurring blogs by local folks that I was hoping you could pick up and add to your site. One focuses on running, the other on weddings and another on Pike County. Let me know if you need any more information.

Thanks.

These are our most frequently updated blogs:

Running the Poconos

http://blogs.thepoconos.com/running-the-poconos/2013/07/23/stuff-round-the-mill-130723/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RunningThePoconosAndBeyond+%28Running+the+Poconos+and+Beyond%29

Yesterday’s Photos (Vintage and archival images of Monroe County)

http://blogs.thepoconos.com/yesterdays-photos/2013/07/23/nude-drawings-banned-from-courthouse/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thepoconos%2FRxqM+%28Yesterdays+Photos%29

Pocono Wedding Talk

http://blogs.thepoconos.com/weddings/2013/07/21/backyard-wedding-take-special-consideration/

 I like Pike

http://blogs.thepoconos.com/i-like-pike/2013/07/22/new-sign-for-new-library-in-milford/

Camilo H. Smith
Reporter

Michael Sadowski also had a popular blog at the Pocono Record called "Pop Rox" which has recently slipped into our 3+-Months-since-last-update blogroll.  This blog fell to the wayside after he left the newspaper and area (he and his wife appear to be working from the Harrisburg area now).  Hopefully, these new blogs will fill the void that Michael left behind.

Enjoy, and happy Sunday.

From the Mailbag: PA Media Board

This was message board was originally linked to on October 23, 2011 by Gort, but I'm reposting it again.

Bob Quarteroni: I had a blog site for a while but shut it down when it got to be nothing but flames and insults.  It focused on NEPA media. I just saw that nepamedia proboards has been shut down.  Add that to the fact that Joe Butkiewicz was ousted/quit at the TL today and I have a personal thing going with him, I'm going to restart it.

 It's http://pamedia.proboards.com and if you could mention/list it that would be great. Any questions you can always reach me here. Thanks in advance. Bob Q

Unfortunately, Bob doesn't know the different between a message board/forum and a "blog site".  He's running a message board...not a blog site.  At any rate, in light of the NEPA Media boards being shut down, I figured this would be worth mentioning....again.

I've been watching this site for several years and it's never gone anywhere.  Maybe now it will finally take off.

Good luck and happy flaming.  Play nice kids.

About the header image: July 24, 2013

Northeastern Pennsylvania abounds with natural beauty. The header image for the week of July 24 - 30 Is an image from Ricketts Glen State Park and was taken by Nicole Karr of Springhouse Shop and Studio (http://www.springhousewoodshop.com/blog).

Have you gotten photos from someplace beautiful in NEPA this summer? If you have, please send them to us at nepablogs@gmail.com and we'll use them as the NEPA Blogs header sometime soon!

PA Live! Blog of the Week: Indraloka Animal Sanctuary Blog

NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.

Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is the Indraloka Animal Sanctuary Blog (http://indralokaanimalsanctuary.wordpress.com/).

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary is based on a thirty acre farm in Mehoopany and is home to more than one hundred and fifty animals who would otherwise be euthanized or slaughtered. Since February 2011 the Indraloka Animal Sanctuary Blog has told the stories of those animals: heartbreaking stories, inspiring stories, stories that will fill you with joy, stories that will bring you to tears. Many of the stories are accompanied by achingly beautiful pictures of the animals who call Indraloka home, pictures just as moving and powerful as the stories they illustrate.

Indraloka has a web presence beyond its blog, including a more traditional website  and a Facebook page. But I believe the blog format serves an incredibly valuable function, by providing a space where the stories of the Indraloka Animal Sanctuary and its inhabitants can be told in the way they deserve to be, with long, lyrical passages and plenty of images. Check out the Indraloka Animal Sanctuary Blog, and prepare to be deeply moved..



If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!

About the header image: July 17, 2013

In the NEPA Blogs header for July 17 through July 23, 2013, poet and playwright K.K. Gordon makes a point during the June 2013 edition of the Third Thursday Open Mic Poetry Night, held the third Thursday of every month at The Vintage, 326 Spruce Street in Scranton and presented by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Writers' Collective, with poetry starting at 8:30 PM. Admission is free and all are welcome to present their original works. Sign-ups begin at 8:00 PM.  The next edition of this event takes place Thursday, July 18, so if you miss it you'll have to wait until August 15! The original (and extremely dark) photo was taken by me, and brightened up by Michelle Hryvnak Davies.

Do you have a photo from some event that makes NEPA special? Submit any photos you think would be good headers for NEPA Blogs to nepablogs@gmail.com. (And a big thank you to everyone who has submitted images recently! We'll be posting them all soon!)

PA Live! Blog of the Week: The Oracular Beard

NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.

Watch this episode on the PA Live! site:  http://pahomepage.com/palive-details?nxd_id=362212


Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is The Oracular Beard by Jared A. Conti (http://theoracularbeard.blogspot.com/.)

Some blogs are about a single topic. Some are about many things. Jared A. Conti's The Oracular Beard definitely falls into the second category. Since July 2011 Jared has been presenting a mixture of poetry, book reviews, and music reviews, among other things. Jared is working on a  post-apocalyptic graphic novel set in his home base of Lock Haven, so many of his reviews are of post-apocalyptic literature. It looks like some of the ideas for this story may occasionally find their way onto the pages of The Oracular Beard. If you're interested in poetry, music, or literature of the post-apocalyptic variety, or just would like to get a glimpse of the inner workings of a creative mind, be sure to pay a visit to The Oracular Beard!


If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!

New Political Blogs

With the recent news of the LAG Towing contract suspension, Mayor Leighton stating crime in Wilkes-Barre city is down, and the soon-to-be demolition of the Hotel Sterling, there has been a ton of political blogs that have popped up.  I believe that I've located these blogs in the comments sections of various articles on the local newspaper websites.

Luzerne County Conflict
http://luzernecountyconflict.blogspot.com
By: "Huey P."

WB Truth
http://wbtruth.blogspot.com
By: Mark Robbins


This one has been around for awhile...but it looks like Gort was debating on adding it.

Inside the Gulch
http://insidethegulch.com
By:  Bob Zaruta



Speaking of Gort, where are ya buddy?  Come back.  We miss you and hope everything is ok. 

About the header image: July 10, 2013

The header image for the week of  July 10 - 16, 2013 is a shot of windmills at Waymart, taken by Andy Palumbo (andypalumbo.blogspot.com.) During the month of June a slightly different crop of this image served as the header image for Andy's own blog. He talks about the windmills and shares another image of them on this post.

If you have an image you'd like to see featured as the NEPA Blogs header for a week, send it to us at nepablogs@gmail.com.

PA Live! Blog of the Week: La Cascina

NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.

Watch this episode on the PA Live! site:  http://pahomepage.com/palive-details?nxd_id=359092

Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is La Cascina (http://oldtiogafarm.wordpress.com/).

La Cascina is the journal of Old Tioga Farm, located in Stillwater in Luzerne County. On that property Justin and Dillon Naylor operate a farm-to-table restaurant in the tradition of Italy, in a stone farmhouse that dates to 1831. While the blog, which has been publishing since September 2010, provides extensive information about the restaurant, it also provides plenty of background material about the guiding principles of and attitude towards food that are so important in making Old Tioga Farm much more than a simple farmhouse restaurant. The posts on La Cascina  reflect the old-world charm of the farm and restaurant. The Naylors will even share the occasional recipe!

Seating at the restaurant at Old Tioga Farm is extremely limited. Reservations are required and must be made months in advance of any planned visit. But you don't need a reservation to visit the blog La Cascina, which is open year-round! If you're someone who enjoys artisan-crafted food made and served in the finest traditions of the Italian countryside, Old Tioga Farm is definitely worth a visit - and so is La Cascina.

If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!

About the header image: July 3, 2013

The NEPA Blogs header for July 3 through July 9 is a patriotic image of a parade in Montrose. The image was submitted by Leni Konstas of whiskeybacon.com. Leni also designed the header itself!

This week not only includes the July 4th holiday, but also marks the 235th anniversary of the Battle of Wyoming, which took place July 3, 1778, in which a ragtag collection of old men, young boys, and others fought against a superior force of Tories and their Iroquois allies in what is now Exeter. They fought to defend the settlements of the Wyoming Valley, which provided critical supplies for the Continental Army and was at the time the northwestern frontier of the colonies. The Wyoming Monument stands in tribute to their sacrifice.

Enjoy your holiday, and remember what it stands for!


If you have an image you'd like to see used as the NEPA Blogs header, send it to us at nepablogs@gmail.com.

PA Live! Blog of the Week: Runningful

NEPA Blogs will be presenting a "Blog of the Week" on WBRE's PA Live! every Tuesday. PA Live! airs weekday afternoons on WBRE from 4:00 to 5:00.

Watch this episode on the PA Live! site: http://pahomepage.com/palive-details?nxd_id=357262

Our PA Live! Blog of the Week this week is Runningful by Alicia Magda (http://www.runningful.com/.)

Alicia Magda loves to run. Her blog, Runningful, is all about running: every aspect of it, the wonderfulness of it - its name is actually a combination of "Running" and "wonderful," which gives you some idea how she feels about it. She has been blogging about running since March 2012, and has extensive experience in the sport, having taken part in 5k runs, half-marathons, and other running events.

In Runningful Alicia tries to communicate the wonderful aspects of running for both experienced runners and people who are interested in getting into running but haven't started yet. She shares tips for runners, product reviews, and personal experiences. Whether you're an experienced runner, a novice just getting into the sport, or are simply curious about what's involved, Runningful has something for you. Check it out!


If you have a blog you would like us to link on NEPA Blogs, or know of a blog you think we should link, please let us know! You can always drop us a line at nepablogs@gmail.com!