A Piece of My Heart: Discovering Lisbon
October 29, 2026
I never really imagined the size of my heart to be anything other than average, but lately, I am beginning to believe it must be oversized. It has to be, because how else could I explain the phenomenon that, even though I leave pieces of it wherever I adventure, it still seems to be functioning just as it should? That is how I felt leaving my most recent adventure destination, Portugal. Once again, I felt as though I was leaving a piece of my heart behind, much as I did when I left the Rocky Mountains and the red rocks of the Southwest. The plans for this trip began many months ago when my children and I started discussing our next family vacation. Someone suggested we attempt an international trip together, and after tossing around a variety of destinations, we settled on Portugal. Why not? Just because our group of adventurers included four children ranging in ages from one to seven didn't necessarily mean the trip was destined to be a stressful disaster. I am happy to report it was anything but that! Both parents and children were amazing. The parents demonstrated incredible patience, flexibility and endurance, and I could not have been prouder as a mother and grandmother. Learn More
Honkin' Great Things Happen When a Community Comes Together
October 29, 2026
That was certainly evident during this year’s Goose Day season, when our team of “someone shoulds” was alive and well throughout the Juniata River Valley. You know the people I mean, the ones who say, “Someone should do this,” and then, instead of waiting for someone else, they step up and make it happen. This year, local volunteers gave generously of their time, creativity and talents, while businesses came out in full force to participate in, sponsor and support the many Goose Day happenings. And the result was something pretty special. The Goose Day season got rolling with the annual Goose Day Road Rally, where 31 cars and 118 very enthusiastic and very decked-out riders wound their way through Mifflin County in search of proverbial gosling gold! Learn More
The Little Moments We Treasure Most
October 29, 2026
It doesn’t really matter how old your children become; you never stop wanting to be their biggest cheerleader. Last weekend, I had the opportunity to do just that. My son Matthew, one of my twins, had been training for months and was ready to run a half marathon. As soon as I heard about this admirable goal, I circled the date on my calendar. Little did I know that the day would become so much more than watching my son cross a finish line. It would become one of those days I know I will treasure forever. It began early. Matthew’s wife and their two children, ages six and seven, were up and ready to walk out the door at 6:45 a.m. I expected there to be a little poking and prodding to get everyone moving that early, but there was none. They were all excited to cheer on their husband and father. Learn More
The Queen Aliquippa Bridge: A Forgotten Local Connection to George Washington
October 29, 2026
Fate has once again caused me to cross paths, in an unexpected and rather roundabout way, with the father of our country, George Washington. I was recently on my way home from Chambersburg when a bridge sign caught my eye. We had crossed this same bridge many times, but for some reason, this was the first time I noticed the signage. It read: Queen Aliquippa Bridge. My curiosity was immediately piqued. Who in the world was Queen Aliquippa? And why was there a bridge on Route 522, crossing Aughwick Creek in Shirley Township, Huntingdon County, named after her? I grabbed my phone and began investigating. The more I learned, the more fascinated I became. And I quickly realized that if I had never heard of Queen Aliquippa, there were probably many others in our community who hadn't either. Learn More
