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The little things that mean so much to locals

It’s funny how little things really matter to people. Several months ago, a local business — the Bethesda Pizza Parlor — was forced to close its doors when the floor of the building where it was located failed. I had been watching social media posts and developments within the village with interest, waiting to see when the shop might reopen. When it seemd the time was getting close, I asked reporter Robert DeFrank to see what he could find out. While it turned out that I was right and the business was preparing to reopen in a different location, Robert learned that the ...

Developing our strengths — both personally and regionally

Dad was a carpenter. It was a skill he chose to develop. Maybe it was in his genes. He went through a carpentry apprenticeship to help him develop his skills. We lived in a rented row house in Pittsburgh. The landlord decided to sell the property and we had to move. I remember my parents talking in the evening. Mom was in tears. She called every available rental property in the newspaper. At the time I had three younger brothers. Every landlord Mom called asked how many kids they had. As soon as Mom said, “Four boys,” they hung up. My parents’ only choice was to be build a ...

Who knows you? (And who trusts you)

We have a large extended family. My Dad had three brothers and a sister. Mom had five brothers. We were a blue-collar family. When someone was moving they didn’t hire a mover. They called family and everyone showed up to help including us kids. Someone always knew someone who had a truck. The women prepared food for everyone when the work was done. Family members had a lot of skills to help each other. Most important, with a large family came a large network. Dad was a carpenter. He used his skills to help others in the family. When our TV went out, Dad called “Whitey” the friend ...

Escaping ‘Into the Woods’ at the Towngate

A couple of weeks ago, I shared that my husband, Mike, and I had decided to make this a summer of concerts. Rather than taking an official “vacation,” we opted to simply attend any and every concert that caught our attention. Last Sunday, though, we did something a little different, and it was just as much fun! Because my husband has a friend and colleague in the cast, we decided to attend Towngate Theatre’s production of “Into the Woods.” I had no idea of what to expect — I didn’t even bother to look up any information about the play. ike wanted to go, and that was ...

American mining needs Generation Z help

By 2030, Gen Z will be 30 percent of the American workforce. This tech-savvy generation has strong ideas about the places and cultures in which it wants to work. And one of the recurring opinions heard from Gen Zers is the longing to get out from behind the desk, to find a place where collaboration is key and where the work is impactful. Gen Z, here’s an idea for you: American mining. Mining needs you. Mining needs your skillset and energy, and it may be exactly what you’re looking for, even if you don’t yet realize it. The opportunity is extraordinary. By 2029, with a ...

Our amazing minds — tools that we must harness

Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon and a former Republican presidential candidate, said, “I’m the only one to separate Siamese twins, the only one to operate on babies while they’re still in their mother’s womb. The only one to take out half of a brain, although you would think if you go to Washington that someone had beat me to it.” That statement made me think about the power of the mind. What he said was both comical and thought provoking. Maybe you have heard this one too, “You don’t have a brain in your head!” But you know it’s simply not true. If a person is ...