A U.S. senator's look when he realizes his faux pas Americans can find a significant difference between Eric Schmitt and Forrest Gump. For instance, one is a lovable, albeit intellectually-challenged young man. The other has just demonstrated that he is very similar to a fictional character played by Tom Hanks who often appeared to be clueless. And, one is a fictional character played by Tom Hanks, one in which he won an Oscar in 1995, and the other was hoping that a great pe

Class of 1966 Left to right: Barb Ketchessin Pysher, Lillian Nadolsky Guzic, Patty Martynuska Oravecz, Darnell Yarnish Steberger, Elva Costlow Lutton, and Kathy Moyer. Standing: Hugh Conrad, Larry Summerville, Joe Stauski, Frank Kawtoski, Romie Robine, Tim Panek, Marilyn Muldoon Krisko, Bruce Wheeler, Linda Glenn Behe, George Klayko, and Linda Marks Novotny. When 54 students walked across the stage to receive their diplomas in May 1966, we knew that it was an ending and a beg

Larry, wife Debbi, and son Tyler while living the fruits of the American Dream I remember this particular recruiting talk very well. As a head football coach, I met with Larry Senko and his parents, Ed and Margaret, at St. Francis College in Loretto, Pa. on a cold winter morning in early 1985. Larry had been a very good lineman for Mon Valley Catholic High School in Western Pennsylvania, and he was visiting St. Francis to see if he would like to earn a degree from the Loret

Dr. Paul Offit, Professor of Pediatrics at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Lancaster County in Pennsylvania is now the epicenter of the worst measles outbreak in the United States in the past three+ decades. In August, two children died from measles-related illnesses in Lancaster County, but the county coroner — who is a general practitioner and has no pediatric background — argued that measles did not cause the death of the one of the children after the state and medical

Destroying the Kennedy family legacy His father gave him his name as the family built a legacy of service and dedication to their country. It takes very little to destroy it — and even his family today despises him. However, to place a drug addict in such a position of power is one of the worst choices any president could make. And now that measles is running rampant in the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania, people are investigating his role in propagating diseases,

“Memories”: Now on the library shelf! We are now in September 2026, and the plans for the 60th anniversary of our graduation are etched in stone. Imagine what it was like in May 1966 as we accepted our diplomas, the last class from Lilly-Washington High School to do so. We were only 17 or 18 or 19 years of age, but life was ahead of us. And what a life it has been! Now, we are almost finalizing our eighth decade on this planet, so we have to celebrate. Here are the details: A

Looks great! Well, I no longer have that wonderful Lilly garden that my brother nastily took away from our family lore, but returning to Cambria County, I thought that maybe I would see if I could raise a few tomatoes in Johnstown. The Lilly garden provided enough potatoes for the family from August through the next April, and we added tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, zucchini, asparagus, and when the rabbits stayed away, lettuce, beets, and green beans. The result for 2026? Succes

The Kennedy who destroyed the family legacy of service and humanitarianism Back in the 1950s, I was a young child. I suffered from the usual maladies of youth, but the one that I remember most clearly was the Measles. All I remember is having a rash over my body, and our family doctor, Dr. Charles Solomon, aka Doc Solly, treated me for it. I remember being violently sick for days and he managed to treat me through the vagaries of the illness. My parents had arranged for me to

How quickly we forgot the devastation I took the vaccines, wore a mask, followed scientists' advice, and never contracted Covid. I was around people in the same house who contracted Covid, yet I did not. Luck? Perhaps, but I believe that it occurred for two reasons. I was vaccinated not just once but continue to receive the updates. Second, I followed the advice of scientists who told us to mask up, keep social distance, avoid crowds, and take care of myself -- and most impor

The First Amendment protects all religions Neil Gorsuch will never be seen as a liberal in legal philosophy. He is not as far right as Alito and Thomas are, but he is close. That is why many conservatives were outraged when he correctly interpreted the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States, shocking those of us who have known that for years — while the SCOTUS ignored it. The first words of that amendment are very easy to understand, but are often misinterpr

June 02, 2020 Kershaw Shannon, my first black friend Johnstown High School Yearbook, 1963 ... and the words of Jesus Christ were so important, if only people would heed them As our nation battles another losing effort in combating racism, I am immensely grateful that I never became a racist. Growing up in an all-white coal-mining community in Western Pennsylvania, I never encountered a black in person until I was about ten-years-old. More about that later, but that experienc

Repost from August 17, 2017 ... a wonderful friend during those six years Over the course of the past 45 years of my professional life, I have met some very classy people. Whether it was in education, coaching, journalism, public life, sports, or volunteer activities, many people have impressed me during this time. However, I truly believe that Jerry Roberts was the classiest person of them all, along with being the most knowledgeable about defensive football. In addition,

… The 1968 championship QB is calling audibles from heaven A repost from another site about five years ago. On a few nights in late October 2010, I slept overnight at the Conemaugh Hospital palliative care unit. My brother, Father Jim, was clinging to life at the end of a long battle with cancer, and this unit was designed to make life easier for those in the final stages of disease — and for the families who wanted to spend their last days with their loved ones. It was at th

1966 -- 2026 This may be our last class reunion — only time will tell, but we want to make it one that all will remember. The Class of 1966 will hold its 60th Class Reunion on Sept. 19, 2026, at the Lilly American Legion. We will have more details in the future, but we wanted to let everyone know about the date. I sent in the contract and the money today, so we are all set. We need members of the class who might want to serve on a committee. We do not need a tremendous amount

Conemaugh Hospital Some members of Congress are attempting to improve the American health care system by eliminating ownership of hospitals and nursing homes by organizations that they believe have been destroying the system. This would have a tremendous impact in the state of Pennsylvania, including in Johnstown, Pa., where the sole hospital was taken over more than a decade ago by a group financed through a private equity firm. Questions about the future of this organizatio

The United States made tremendous sacrifices during World War II, and without them, the world could have been under the control of two authoritarian despots named Hitler and Hirohito. However, arriving there was a treacherous road. The country had been dominated by isolationists in the 1930s, men like Charles Lindbergh and Father Charles Coughlin who were opposed to any kind of action in foreign wars. Coughlin was a Catholic priest with a tremendous national radio following w

The Birthrighter: “A Golden Generation” of US Soccer”? First, I have to make an admission. I have never watched a World Cup game in my 79-year history. I played it as a youngster at a summer camp in Pennsylvania and enjoyed it, but I know none of the rules — except for the red card. I realize that it is played with a round ball and you have to kick it through a goal. That is the depth of my knowledge. However, with the interest in the World Cup, I thought that maybe I should

Thomas Jefferson: The author of the Declaration of Independence The history of what became the United States of America should be written by historians, not politicians. If historians were to be honoring those who were key in drafting the Declaration of Independence, which is what July 4 actually celebrates, they would not be thinking primarily of Ferris Wheels or reflecting pools or a series of un-historical freedom trucks. Instead, they would be encouraging Americans to rea

Joey McGivney leading Fox Chapel Phil McGivney’s love of basketball started in a rural area of Western Pa. known as Scanlon Hill, a few miles outside of Lilly, Pa., a small coal-mining community bisected by the Pennsylvania Railroad. His family were the Scanlons, and his Aunt Ruth was a member of the first girls basketball team at Lilly High School in the 1920s. His uncle also taught him the rudiments of the game as a youngster. Phil's passion for basketball grew quickly, and

The Crisis by Thomas Paine December 23, 1776 THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness