Cycling community strong in Central Pennsylvania

July 16, 2019

Whether your preferred bike ride features 20 miles, 40 or more, summertime in Central Pennsylvania offers lots of opportunities to compete, recreate or relax. This weekend marks the 24th annual Bicycle Ride for Multiple Sclerosis. The Glimcher Keystone Country Ride has become a Central Pa. tradition, and will once again draw hundreds of cyclists for the two-day, 150-mile excursion from Hollidaysburg to Happy Valley and back. Bicycle enthusiasts prepare for months for the challenging trek, which also offers beautiful scenery, enthusiastic volunteers, and the personal reward of ...

US women celebrating on top stage

July 2, 2019

I vividly remember falling in love with women’s soccer. It was exactly twenty years ago when the USA women, led by the likes of Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain captured the Women’s World Cup in a history-making moment for women’s athletics. The largest audience ever tuned in from all over the globe to watch the Americans’ victory over China, punctuated by Chastain’s jerseyless celebration at the Rose Bowl stadium. The impact of that special team continues to ripple through the sport today: it was so much more than the coveted trophy and hard-fought title to the ...

Memories of Father’s Day and fishing

June 18, 2019

This weekend, many celebrated Father’s Day. The holiday is full of memories and traditions, including Jim Lane’s beautiful tribute column to his dad that is printed in the Mirror each year. For some families, Father’s Day means a day at the ballpark; for others, it’s a backyard barbecue. For my dad, Father’s Day meant fly fishing. An avid sports fan and outdoorsman, my father savored every season. In the fall, he loved to hunt and watch football at any level; in the summertime, he followed baseball and NASCAR and cut firewood; and in the winter, he’d pass the time on ...

End of school year observations abound

June 4, 2019

The region’s final graduation ceremonies are taking place this week, with all of the pomp and pageantry, tears and cheers we’ve come to expect from the traditional, transitional ceremonies. Called “Commencement,” for many high schools and colleges, meaning “a beginning or start,” it often feels much more like the end of an era. As high school students make the walk across stages in auditoriums, gymnasiums or football fields, emotions abound: joy, relief, sadness, regret, nostalgia and gratitude for the years gone by; excitement, expectation, and anxiety for the years to ...

Reflections on PSU’s graduation

May 7, 2019

I had the honor of attending a Penn State University graduation over the weekend. The Bryce Jordan Center floor, where we’ve watched so many basketball games was transformed into a pseudo-ceremonial auditorium. Hundreds of blue and white seats faced the dais, decorated with what looked like baby elm trees. Huge blue and white banners adorned the curtains behind the main podium. And in the stands hundreds of families looked down, trying to find their son or daughter, grandson or niece, telephoto lenses a must to capture a photo of an individual student in a sea of navy blue caps ...

Penn State packs a perfect punch with its B-W weekend

April 16, 2019

Some general observations while enjoying the springtime weather and the springtime sports. n Could Penn State pack any more into the Blue-White weekend? The spring football scrimmage highlights what has become over the last two decades a showcase for all things sports and all things Nittany Lions. Some Penn State programs have bigger reunions on this spring weekend than during homecoming festivities in the fall. But in addition to the alumni gatherings, the weekend marked some significant celebrations and notable comings and goings: New Lady Lion basketball coach Carolyn Kieger ...