Now, as the snow melts and the maple trees turn tumescent, it’s sugar-harvesting time.
Miles of plastic tubing may have replaced the traditional buckets, but the end result remains just as sweet.
Mary Lee Zechman, known as “The Maple Lady” in Lancaster County, recalls the intense labor needed to collect when the sap was running in the [...]

Enjoying winter weather can be challenging, especially if you’re stuck inside because of the temperatures. Not to worry. In Northeastern Pennsylvania, there’s one event that’s cooler than cool – and I’m not just talking about the temperature.
The Clarks Summit Festival of Ice will take place February 11-15, 2010, encompassing both President’s Day Weekend and Valentine’s [...]

Three bits: My racing buddies all got together at the River Town Race Series (RTRS) season awards luncheon, held at Danville High School. Participants of the 2009 RTRS were awarded for their accomplishments in the series.  It was really cool to see everyone with whom I’d brushed elbows throughout the year.  The food was as [...]

If your experience with ice sculptures begins and ends with punchbowl swans at a wedding reception, you owe it to yourself to head to the Victorian town of Franklin in Venango County this weekend. This Saturday, February 6, in the city’s Fountain Park from 10 am to 4pm is the Franklin On Ice Festival.
This [...]

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a complex person when it comes to winter (and thus, the holidays). While I love wearing cozy layers, drinking hot tea, and baking Christmas cookies, I have a very low tolerance for cold weather. If there’s snow on the ground, I’m OK with winter for a few [...]

I know tons of people who’s favorite holiday of the year is Halloween – it’s fun to get dressed up in costumes, and take your kids out to get tons of free candy – or to go trick-or-treating yourself!
Well, fall is in the air, and that means a lot of things, but one in particular [...]

Pine Grove has one traffic light, two grocery stores and three pizza shops. Sandwiched in a valley near the border between Schuylkill and Lebanon Counties, the small town where I grew up is equal parts coal region and Pennsylvania Dutch farmland, with the accents and last names of both. It’s heyday may have come and [...]

Pennsylvania has a long rich brewing tradition and one that’s being kept vibrant, thankfully, by the seemingly ever-increasing number of craft brewers. You don’t believe me? Notice how the major brews, like Budweiser, now have beers with lime and wheat in them, in an attempt to appear more like a specialty, craft item? It’s true.
This [...]

For me, it doesn’t feel like fall until I do four things: 1) Buy and plant orange and yellow mums, 2) Decorate the yard with pumpkins, 3) Rake leaves for a few hours (yes, the 90+ trees in our yard require a heck-of-a-lot of raking, so I start early) and 4) Attend a fall festival [...]

The leaves are starting to change, the weather is getting cooler and Halloween costumes are on the shelves in all of the stores. That can only mean one thing – it is almost time for the Pennsylvania Apple ‘n’ Cheese Festival
The festival will be held October 3-4, 2009 in Canton at the Manley-Bohlayer farm. Last [...]