Fins Up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today, I will be in Camden, NJ attending the Jimmy Buffett concert. Hopefully we will stay dry.





Here is a little tune that I always sing when I'm driving in Jersey.

Through the rain, a busy weekend planned

For all the rain we have been having lately in the Keystone State, there is quite a bit to do this weekend.

Starting on Friday, I will be attending my sixth Relay for Life as a cancer survivor. Seven years ago, it wasn't on my radar screen. Here is brief history of how the Relay's got started.

On Saturday, hopefully summer gets underway a day early. I will be in Camden, NJ attending my annual Parrothead Jimmy Buffett concert......."Fins Up"!!!!

Sunday, hopefully if I am still standing, I will make an appearance the 14th annual Mother Cabrini picnic which is a direct decedent of the St. Stan's Father's Day Polish Picnic. Nothing could beat the picnic held in Springfield up in the "Polish Poconos."

Knights of Columbus win 2009 Title

Knights of Columbus win 2009 Shamokin-Coal Township Little League AA Title

The Knights of Columbus won three straight games in the double-elimination playoff format to take the title. On Friday, the Knights rallied from three runs down in the sixth to advance in into the championship round. On Saturday, the Knights beat Rob's Roofing 15-6 to force a deciding game.

The Knight's withstood a three-run Rob's last inning rally to hold off the Roofers, 9-7 in the final.

Pitcher Follows a Road Less Traveled

Brad Hassinger/For The Daily ItemBrad Hassinger, second from right, poses with his family at the induction ceremony for the Elizabethtown College Ira R. Herr Athletic Hall of Fame. An Upper Dauphin grad, Hassinger pitched in the minor leagues for the Phillies and Braves. With Hassinger, from left, are his mother, Nada, his father Dick, wife Heather and brother, Kerry.
Photo courtesy of www.dailyitem.com

It was the summer of 1978 and I was playing little league baseball for the St. Stan's Condors in Shamokin as part of the Twin County Little League. Although we weren't sactioned by Little League Inc., we were a very good league.

As the season winded down, I along with four other teammates were chosen to play in on league all-star team for a tournament based in Millersburg against other towns in the Lykens Valley.

One of the players on that all-star team was a 10 year-old from Berrysburg, PA named Brad Hassinger. Brad and I had not talked in 31 years but he had the great honor of being inducted into the Elizabethtown College Hall of Fame.

Here is a great article from William Bowman of the Daily-Item.

Not only does the article talk about the induction, but also a stellar minor league career that if not for a trade involving a Cy Young winner, "Haas" as we called him could have made the majors.

As a 10 year-old, Brad had blazing fastball and could play a great third base when not pitching. His brother Kerry was also a great player and was two years older than me.

In that tournament, our league took second place losing two in a row to Williamstown. Williamstown was led by George Ancheff who's son Ben was a big cog in Williams Valley's District Championship season.

Contradictions in Northumberland County?

In the June 2nd edition of the Daily-Item, questions were raised if the county could afford a full-time budget director.

In the June 3rd edition of the News-Item, non-union employees of the county were given a 2 percent raise.

All the while the county is staring down an 800K budget gap.

What is the prudent thing to do???

End of an Era

When the final bell rings today at Transfiguration Ukrainian Catholic Elementary School in Shamokin, it will mark the closing of the last single parish supported school in Shamokin City and lower Northumberland County.

Shamokin City once had St. Edward, St. Stan's and St. Mary's and Transfiguration. Coal Township had St. Joseph's and St. Stephen's and St. Anthony's located in Ranshaw. They are now all gone. Transfiguration will maintain a pre-K and kindergarten.

Remembering 1984

Since I am celebrating my 25-year high school reunion in a few weeks, I like to point out the way some things were in 1984. June 4th marks the 25th anniversary of the release of Bruce Springsteen's iconic album Born in the USA. Seven singles from album made the top 10. The album was also the first CD manufactured in the US for commercial sale. CD's were imported from Japan at the time.

Although never released as a single, my favorite song of the album is No Surrender.

Here is a clip from the title cut:

Sunset at Indian Hills Golf Club

Sometimes in life we have to take time out and enjoy the small things in life like a sunset. Indian Hills Golf Club in Paxinos, PA provides just the opportunity.

Dr. Vince Pitiglio seen in the foreground

Richard Wheeler Memorial, May 30th, 2009

A painting of Wheeler done by sister Margery Wheeler Mattox

Wheeler at Gettysburg Memorial

Wheeler with fellow 3rd Platooner Leonard Mooney who was in attendence Saturday at age 96.

Veterans Day 2006 with President George and First Lady Laura Bush

Front row from left to right: Chick Robeson and Wheeler. Back row from left to right: Chuck Lindberg and Ira Hayes

This past Saturday, May 30th in Pine Grove, PA, a memorial tribute was held for author Richard Wheeler at the Pine Grove Theater. Wheeler who passed away on October 22, 2008 was cremated by request with no formal service. The event was presented by Wheeler's sister, Margery Wheeler Mattox and the Pine Grove Historical Society.

Presentations were given by Steven Krott and Steven Wagner. Guest speakers included Dr. Joe Yarworth of Albright College, Sargeant Major Herman Clemens (Ret.) Army National Guard and Steven Krott. Remarks were given by Joel Whitehouse and Dennis Chamberlain of the Pine Grove Historical Society. The introduction was given by Margery Wheeler Mattox.

I had a chance to meet Wheeler some six years ago while convalescing from an illness. I thought I would try to research if there were any men still alive that served with my grandfather in Guam in August of 1944. My grandfather was wounded in August of 1944 receiving the Purple Heart. Since my grandfather died in 1976, I knew this would be a huge mountain to climb. Wheeler was able to provide information on few army units to serve in the Pacific during World War II. Naturally, I spoke to Wheeler about his three days on Iwo and wrote about it here. I was able to locate families of men that served in my grandfather's unit but they rotated through either before or after my grandfather.

A reception was held after the tribute at the Wheeler's home, Nutting Hall. Among those in attendance was 96 year-old Leonard Mooney who served as Colonel Dave Severance's (Ret.) communication man. Mooney was accompanied by his nephew who was also a Marine that served in Iraq. I made the comment to the nephew that I hope I can get around that well if I make it to 96. His nephew said, "When my unit was deployed to Iraq, he firmly shook all 200 members of the group."

Throughout the day, people remembered Wheeler for his shyness, but also his sense of humor. Wheeler was limited by his war injuries and had to use a cane and suffered from vertigo. Recently, he was hospitalized for a shrapnel infection some 60 years after the battle. In international circles he was known as being a military author and historian, but also wrote a collection of over 800 poems typically in humorous rhyme.

This poem was given to my by Wheeler a few weeks before his death:

ETERNITY IS LOOMING

My years are nearing 87.
I'm mighty close to Hell or Heaven.

Though Heaven's touted as very nice,
I plan to spurn this Paradise.

Whenever I ponder its effort-free quiet,
I'm moved to dismal boredom by it.

Iver lived as and active kind of guy
Who rated creative endeavors high.

Perhaps I can wangle a deal with Satan
To spend Eternity busy matin'.

Here is my favorite Wheeler quote taken from Bloody Battle:

"As for Death, I had come face to face with that old ogre
and noticed he was mostly a sham.
I'd enjoy the truce he granted me,
but would live with the feeling that when he renewed his fight in earnest,
I'd be able to make my surrender without begging for terms."

Once again, another member of the "Greatest Generation" has passed. A man who I called on as an author and historian, in the end I would call friend.

Semper Fi.