No to LHU integration, yes to rightsizing

June 30, 2021

We oppose the integration of Lock Haven University with two of its sister schools. But we support a strategic right sizing of Lock Haven University to strengthen its footing so to become more aggressive and successful in how it nurtures and serves young people and adults looking to learn, experience and build a career and a better life for themselves and their families. How painful this process of “integration” undertaken by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education has been as alumni, staff, faculty, students and the community reel over the prospect of LHU becoming a ...

Volunteers at Fly-In deserve our gratitude

June 23, 2021

We’re grateful for the many volunteers who make the annual Sentimental Journey to Cub Haven — the Piper Fly-In — possible. This year’s event — the 35th annual — comes after last year’s was cancelled due to COVID-19. It runs through Saturday at the Piper Museum, the William T. Piper Memorial Airport and adjoining Castanea Picnic Grounds. Lock Haven will always be the home of Piper Aircraft and its vaunted Piper Cub — the plane that taught our pilots to fly in World War II. Let the skies clear so they can be filled with all kinds of general aviation aircraft this ...

Daily data on COVID-19 still important

June 21, 2021

America continues to “open up” from the frightful, tragic months of the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to the ongoing, massive vaccination initiative made possible by the dedicated, expert researchers whose abilities unlocked the unknowns that were keys to the vaccines’ development. Still, despite the vaccination progress achieved thus far, the U.S. continues to witness troubling infection levels, especially among people who have chosen risk of getting seriously ill over the opportunity to avoid that unwanted, potentially deadly fate. Meanwhile, health officials say that the U.S has ...

Walk a trail and you will be refreshed

June 17, 2021

We hope you’re enjoying our fledgling, series of stories and photos on hiking and biking trails in our region. We’re getting wonderful feedback on the series — and great suggestions! We live in a part of America that is blessed with great hiking trails. We live in a region that has stunning beauty. The trees... so many trees. The mountains... beautiful mountains The streams, creeks and the river. Our water of life. Too many of us take this beauty — these natural resources — for granted. The growth of ultra hikes in our area is testament to the opportunities for ...

Anticipating collision on state budget

June 11, 2021

During “regular” years, Pennsylvania lawmakers spend the month of June trying to scrape together enough money to produce a balanced state budget for the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1 — or at least a budget that on the surface appears to be balanced, even if it really is not. This year the challenge does not revolve around scraping together enough money to balance incoming revenue with the money that will be outgoing. Instead, the important task lawmakers and the governor’s office face is to ensure that whatever new and surplus funds are available, as well as ...

Schools must keep guard up vs. COVID-19

June 7, 2021

For Pennsylvania school administrators and boards of education, this summer will present a major challenge on the health front related but also different from what they were forced to contemplate during the darkest months of the COVID-19 pandemic. That formidable challenge will be the need to devise good strategies for trying to ensure their districts’ medical health from the perspective of “routine” infectious diseases such as the common cold, flu and gastrointestinal upsets. While most of calendar year 2020, as well as the first months of 2021, were a nightmare as school ...