“If you want to understand today you have to search yesterday.”
Pearl S. Buck, American novelist (1892-1973)


  • The Art of Controversy

    My fascination with political cartoons began nearly twenty years ago when I stumbled upon a piece at a local flea market.  It was a serendipitous discovery—an 1874 Harper’s Weekly cartoon by Thomas Nast.  The glass had bubbled with age, but… Continue reading

    The Art of Controversy
  • Welcome To The Groove Machine

    Our lives unfold in chapters—some good, some bad, some that seem endless, and others that challenge us. Which chapter holds the most significance? That’s anyone’s guess. But now, midway through my fifties, I find myself in a chapter where I… Continue reading

    Welcome To The Groove Machine
  • The Pretty Crazy Girl

    I was living in Astoria, a vibrant neighborhood in Queens, when I first discovered Roosevelt Island. Nestled along the East River, the slender island offered a stunning view of the iconic New York City skyline. At one end, an aged… Continue reading

    The Pretty Crazy Girl
  • Thus Spake the Nightspirit

    Tradition is more than just a word—it’s a vibrant, living celebration that connects the past with the future. From family rituals to large cultural events, tradition bridges generations and shapes the collective identity of communities. In Phoenixville, one of the… Continue reading

    Thus Spake the Nightspirit
  • The Tragedy On Washington

    Music has always been a part of my life, evolving from childhood band practice to a decades-long career in the industry. Through it all, one constant has remained—music, like life, is ever-changing, often driven by tragedy and loss. One such… Continue reading

    The Tragedy On Washington
  • People Love Streets

    As we step into a new year, many of us take a moment to set our resolutions—those familiar promises to improve, grow, or change something in our lives. It’s a tradition that brings a sense of fresh beginnings, as we… Continue reading

    People Love Streets
  • Lifelines: Mennonite Church Cemetery at Herstine Chapel

    In the summer of 2024, preservation partners Rick Detweiler and Paula Hogan embarked on a three-month project to clean and restore the grave markers at Mennonite Church Cemetery, located behind the historic Herstine Chapel in Limerick Township, Pennsylvania. The cemetery… Continue reading

    Lifelines: Mennonite Church Cemetery at Herstine Chapel
  • All The Lovely Branches

    The holidays mean different things to different people, but they all share a common thread of tradition. For those who celebrate Christmas, the family Christmas tree stands as a beloved symbol of the season. Its sparkling beauty and festive spirit… Continue reading

    All The Lovely Branches
  • Gangster’s Paradise

    I regularly pour drinks behind the bar at Sellersville Theater, a popular music venue, alongside my good friends Ricky and Karl.  Recently, as I was pouring rounds for a long line of thirsty patrons, I thought back to the first… Continue reading

    Gangster’s Paradise
  • Chasing The Iron Horse

    Thanksgiving has long been a cornerstone of American culture, blending historical legacy with modern adaptations. While the 1621 Plymouth feast often dominates the holiday’s origin story, a lesser-known observance took place two years earlier when settlers at Berkeley Hundred in… Continue reading

    Chasing The Iron Horse