The poem may inspire devotional writing by readers of this column; it will remind some readers that the Lord transforms stony hearts.
Good Friday draws nigh.
A Bible verse about drawing nigh to God, James 4:8: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
Posted 3-27-26
Palm Sunday arrives on March 29, 2026
By Steven Brodsky
… opportune (it’s always opportune!) to “look up and see the cross.”
… may we come to a deeper understanding of 3:16, i.e. John 3:16, to the glory of the Lord!
John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Posted 3-15-26
Chandler Moore, Colton Dixon, Lizzie Morgan, Ashes Remain, and Scout and The Saints to perform at the 2026 WJTL Fest at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
By Steven Brodsky
… The 2026 WJTL Fest will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
Through March 16th, discounted tickets are priced at $39.99 each plus a processing fee.
March 17th – May 16th, tickets will be available for purchase at $49.99 each plus a processing fee.
WJTL Fest is a lawn concert event. Bring blankets or lawn chairs for seating.
Posted 3-12-26
Praying Psalm 143:8 in the evening
By Steven Brodsky
Perhaps you have considered, or will consider, including the words and/or sentiment of King David’s Psalm 143:8 in your evening prayers.
Psalm 143:8 KJV: “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”
May we hear God’s lovingkindness in the morning and know the way that we should walk.
Posted 2-20-26
Frost and thaw
By Steven Brodsky
Many millions of Americans have been greatly impacted by frost and thaw in recent weeks.
Photo by Steven Brodsky
On January 14, 1866, congregants of the Metropolitan Tabernacle church in London, England were reflecting on frost and thaw, and God, as Charles Haddon Spurgeon (who was known as the “Prince of Preachers”) was delivering his sermon “Frost and Thaw.”
… said Jelly Roll in his acceptance speech at the 2026 GRAMMYs after winning the GRAMMY in the category of Best Contemporary Country Album for Beautifully Broken.
Yes, Jesus is for everybody!
Congratulations to Jelly Roll on winning this GRAMMY, and thanks to him for reminding us that Jesus is for everybody:
Attention wildlife artists: the Pennsylvania Game Commission is now accepting entries from Pennsylvania residents for its 2027 Working Together for Wildlife Art Contest; the featured category of the 2027 Working Together for Wildlife Art Contest is Pennsylvania shorebirds
By Steven Brodsky
The Pennsylvania Game Commission issued the following news release today, April 14, 2026:
WILDLIFE ART CONTEST UNDERWAY
It’s time to break out the paint brushes and easel.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is accepting works for its 2027 Working Together for Wildlife Art Contest, with entries due by July 31, 2026.
The 2027 featured category is Pennsylvania shorebirds. Qualifying submissions must include at least one of the following species: American golden-plover, black-bellied plover, buff-breasted sandpiper, dunlin, greater yellowlegs, killdeer, lesser yellowlegs, long-billed dowitcher, pectoral sandpiper, piping plover (Great Lakes population), red knot, ruddy turnstone, sanderling, semipalmated sandpiper, short-billed dowitcher spotted sandpiper, upland sandpiper, whimbrel, white-rumped sandpiper, and willet.
Unlike previous years, this year’s contest is restricted to paintings. One or more shorebirds can be featured in an original, full-color, horizontal or vertical painting with a horizontal or vertical image of 14×20 inches or 20×14 inches, leaving no important subject matter within one inch of outside border, due to cropping. The painting must have a 2-inch white border or mat, unframed but signed. The total project size should not exceed 18×24 inches or 24×18 inches. To protect anonymity during judging the signed name will be covered.
All submissions for the 2027 contest must be submitted online at https://www.pgcapps.pa.gov/WorkingTogetherforWildlifeForm by 4 p.m. on July 31. Artists may submit more than one work, but for each submission, there is a nonrefundable $50 entry fee. Artists 18 and younger can enter for free.
All entries will be reviewed and evaluated by a committee of qualified Game Commission personnel.
The artist whose painting is selected for the 2027 Working Together for Wildlife fine art print series will receive $5,000, plus 25 artist proof prints. The winning artist must pencil-sign up to 200 limited edition fine art prints produced from the original painting, with signing conducted at the Game Commission’s Harrisburg headquarters, and the artist receiving the cash award after the prints are signed.
In addition, cash awards will be presented to other top-finishing artists. The artist submitting the second-place painting will receive $1,500; third place, $1,000; fourth place, $800; and fifth place, $500. In the event of a tie, the awards for the two places will be combined and split evenly.
Participating artists will have the chance to view entries after final selections are made.
Official rules about the contest are available on the Contests page of the Game Commission’s website. Each artist must be a Pennsylvania resident. For further information, contact the Game Commission 1-833-742-9453 (1-833-PGC-WILD).
Founded in 1980, the Working Together for Wildlife program has raised over $2 million for wildlife management and research across the Commonwealth.
“Revenues received from the sale of signed and numbered prints help finance wildlife research and management programs in Pennsylvania, meaning participating artists not only have a chance to take home winnings, but to help fund wildlife conservation through their work,” said Lauren Ferreri, who leads the Game Commission’s Bureau of Information and Education. “By inspiring artists, engaging the public and allowing both to help benefit wildlife, the Working Together for Wildlife program continues to promote the Game Commission’s role in wildlife conservation and serves as an important reminder that we all can make a difference.”
Posted 4-14-26
A Conversation With Victoria Browning Wyeth
By Steven Brodsky
Victoria Browning Wyeth is the granddaughter of Andrew Wyeth and the niece of Jamie Wyeth. She is the great-granddaughter of N.C. Wyeth. Victoria is widely known for her dynamic gallery talks and lectures on the life and art of Andrew Wyeth. Victoria is a gifted photographer; her photos have been exhibited at a number of museums.
What are some of your fondest memories of your grandmother?
One of my fondest memories of my grandmother were our nicknames for each other. I always called my grandmother by two names: “Betsy” or “Mamma Sheep Turd.” I realize the second name might raise a few eyebrows so let me explain. I grew up in New York City, but would spend every summer in Cushing Maine with my grandparents. As a young girl, and as a grown woman, I have always detested sand, dirt and bugs. When I was about nine or so, my grandparents purchased Allen Island (near Port Clyde, Maine), and, in addition, a very large flock of sheep to help with the lawn “maintenance. Along with the sheep came sheep turds…. EVERYWHERE. So, she called me “City Slicker” and I called her “Mamma Sheep Turd.” When I was in college and we wrote each other letters, the post office at my college would giggle when they handed me a letter because of the return address. I always smile when I think of the looks people gave us when we used these names for each other.
My second fondest memory was when she taught me to put on makeup and put my hair in a French twist. I can still feel her hands in my hair helping me pin it up. When it came to applying makeup she would always say, “Vic… less is more.” To this day I am not much of a makeup person.
Finally, my most recent favorite memory involved cooking for my grandmother (and my uncle Jamie) on Sunday nights. Betsy was the chef in the family – her meals were simply out of this world yummy. Mashed potatoes, cookies, creamed eggs, popovers, etc. You name it and she could make it. After my grandfather died she scaled back her cooking quite a bit. Around six or seven years ago I started cooking Sunday dinners for my family. I wasn’t the best chef at first; I burned fish more than I would like to admit. One of the things that still brings a smile to my face was watching her gobble up every last morsel. She would look at Jamie and me and say, “mmmmm this is good.”
Betsy handled much of the business affairs of her husband Andrew. What prepared her for this?
She always had such a powerful business sense. I’m not quite sure where this came from, but she handled Andy’s business affairs with such grace and intelligence. She was quite the inspiration.
Please describe how Betsy furthered the career of Andrew?
My grandmother helped further his career by supporting him in numerous ways. The most important was through her love: she loved him with all of her heart. She would always tell him what she thought of his newest painting – if he needed to simplify something, if the color was too intense, etc. She was also very instrumental in titling many of his paintings.
What was the extent of Betsy’s involvement in titling the paintings of her husband?
She had a huge role in the titles. Take the painting Wind from the Sea. When my grandparents were discussing the piece Betsy said, “It looks like a wind is coming in from the sea.” Andy replied, “That’s it!! Wind from the Sea.” Her vocabulary was most impressive. For example, she would do the New York Times crossword puzzles in ink. This gave her an incredible bank of words to choose from when she helped to title the work.
Her ability to title wasn’t limited to paintings: when I was in graduate school and writing long research papers, I would call her and tell her my paper topic. She would then call me back with a title. For example, I wrote a paper on shell shock in British troops during World War I. She came up with the title “Over the Top.”
Were you able to observe Andrew while he was painting? If you were, did he discuss what he was working on?
Andy HATED having people watch him paint. He felt that having you watch him paint was an invasion. The only times I watched him paint were: (1) outside my window in the summer. He would work on watercolors or drawings outside my parent’s house in Cushing, Maine. He didn’t know I was looking, but I was. I couldn’t help myself. This is when I was a young girl (under 13). (2) When I would accidentally walk into the house when he was working on something. I would apologize and he would smile and say, “Hi darlin’. I’m just finishing up.” (3) When I posed. This was my favorite because we got to discuss everything. I would barrage him with all sorts of questions about his work, his life, his friends, etc. The last time I posed (back in 2005) I was giving lectures at the Brandywine River Museum. It was so cool because I would incorporate what we talked about into my gallery talk that day.
How sensitive was Andrew to what critics wrote about him?
He couldn’t have cared less what the critics thought.
Which paintings of his do you believe he remained most attached to?
He was almost always most attached to the painting that he was working on.
To your knowledge, were there times in Andrew’s life when he was without artistic inspiration? If there were, how did he reacquire inspiration?
To the best of my knowledge this never happened. Even when he was in the hospital (for a hip replacement) he drew his hospital room and the view out the window. He was inspired by everything and everyone.
Of the photos that you took of Andrew Wyeth, is there one that especially evokes cherished memories? Can you share those memories with us?
The one I took of him painting outside my window in Cushing, Maine. He was painting me and we would start working very early in the morning – 6:45 a.m. I overslept one morning and rushed downstairs. As I looked out of the living room window, I found him sitting out there with his watercolor pad on his lap, tissues everywhere (to blot the paper) and his watercolor box by his side. Whenever I get sad and miss him, this is what I think of and it always makes me smile.
You’ve given many pro bono talks. Which of those talks have been most gratifying to you? Please tell us why.
My favorite talks, pro bono and paid, have been the ones I have done at the state and local prisons. I feel that those who are incarcerated should be exposed to art as much as possible. Since they can’t go to a museum, I bring a museum to them. For example, this past January I lectured on the work of my grandfather to the gentlemen at the Maine State Prison in Maine. I went on January 16th – which is a very special day for me – the anniversary of my grandfather’s death. It was a beautiful snowy day and I packed my car up with a bunch of my uncle’s and grandfather’s watercolors and drawings and headed to the prison. I thought it would be fun to create a pop-up gallery in the prison and even more interesting to bring one of my grandfather’s models with me. It was a very special day for all of us. I will never forget looking at the reactions on the guys faces as they looked at the art.
The Brandywine River Museum of Art is currently closed to the public (as are other museums) because of the COVID-19 crisis. Is there a painting in the Museum’s collection by Andrew Wyeth that, at this moment, you are especially looking forward to seeing when the doors reopen?
I love seeing my grandmother’s portrait – Maga’s Daughter. I’m very excited to go visit her and say hi.
Did you know that the fiction writer mentioned in a hugely popular song recorded by The Police was a lepidopterist and a scientific illustrator of butterflies?
By Steven Brodsky
… That fiction writer, Vladimir Nabokov (the author of Lolita), was born on April 22, 1899.
This article appears here in commemoration of Vladimir Nabokov’s birthday tomorrow.
“Don’t Stand So Close To Me,” written by Sting and recorded by The Police, alludes to the novel Lolita and namechecks Nabokov. (The pronunciation of the name “Nabokov” on the record is different than how Nabokov pronounced it.)
Want to learn more about Nabokov and the passion that he had for lepidopterology? Read his memoir Speak, Memory.
Posted 4-21-26
Final approval to Pennsylvania’s 2026-2027 hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits was given by the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners
By Steven Brodsky
The following news release was issued by the Pennsylvania Game Commission yesterday, April 11, 2026:
FINAL 2026-27 HUNTING SEASONS APPROVED
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to the 2026-27 hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits.
All 2026-27 seasons include the Sundays that fall within their listed start and end dates. Also, seasons that previously ended on Saturdays largely will end on Sundays, providing additional days of opportunity throughout the year.
The lone exception is for migratory game birds. There will be no Sunday hunting for migratory game birds – including waterfowl, woodcock and mourning doves – this coming season.
The Game Commission surveyed migratory game bird hunters in recent weeks, which showed a slight preference for keeping Sundays out of migratory seasons, allowing seasons to stretch farther. That, combined with federal rules that say if Pennsylvania starts incorporating Sundays into migratory seasons, it must do so always – there’s no going back – led commissioners to exclude Sundays for the 2026-27 seasons. Agency staff and board members say they will revisit the issue prior to 2027-28 after further study and input.
The full slate of migratory game bird seasons, which are set through federal frameworks, will be announced after they are finalized.
The approved 2026-27 seasons include several significant changes:
For wild turkeys, a bag limit of one spring gobbler is approved to offset possible additional harvest due to the inclusion of Sundays and ensure that harvest rates remain within sustainable levels. Hunters are reminded that no Sundays are open for the upcoming 2026 spring gobbler season. Sunday hunting for spring turkeys won’t begin until 2027.
For white-tailed deer, minor adjustments to date structures of extended firearms, flintlock and late archery seasons are approved to reduce complexity and to ensure season lengths correspond to sporting-arm efficiency and management objectives.
For black bears, in WMUs 3C and 3D, a longer archery bear season (overlapping with the entire first segment of the archery deer season) is approved to increase harvest in response to bear-human conflicts in these areas.
For elk, a new early October firearms season segment is approved to limit crowding and maintain hunter satisfaction under current and potential future increased license allocations. The late firearms elk season is approved to be moved later in January to avoid conflicts with major holidays.
For small game, the squirrel, ruffed grouse, rabbit, pheasant, bobwhite quail and woodchuck seasons all are approved to remain open during the firearms deer season.
For furbearers, WMU 5A is approved to be opened to bobcat hunting and trapping, and WMUs 2G, 3A, and 4C are approved to be opened to river otter trapping. Habitat and population data indicate that these units can support sustainable harvest for these species.
The Game Commission also announced 1,469,000 antlerless deer licenses will be allocated statewide for 2026-27, which is up from the 1,312,000 licenses allocated for 2025-26.
Allocations by Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) are as follows, with the allocation from the previous license year appearing in parentheses. WMU 1A – 52,000 (46,000); WMU 1B – 44,000 (44,000); WMU 2A – 49,000 (44,000); WMU 2B – 62,000 (59,000); WMU 2C – 117,000 (93,000); WMU 2D – 112,000 (96,000); WMU 2E – 63,000 (51,000); WMU 2F – 67,000 (51,000); WMU 2G – 57,000 (57,000); WMU 3A – 21,000 (21,000); WMU 3B – 53,000 (53,000); WMU 3C – 57,000 (57,000); WMU 3D – 52,000 (52,000); WMU 4A – 64,000 (64,000); WMU 4B – 71,000 (60,000); WMU 4C – 51,000 (51,000); WMU 4D – 120,000 (83,000); WMU 4E – 61,000 (61,000); WMU 5A – 65,000 (46,000); WMU 5B – 86,000 (86,000); WMU 5C – 101,000 (98,000); and WMU 5D – 44,000 (39,000).
Once again this year, each Pennsylvania resident hunter will be guaranteed one antlerless deer license in the Wildlife Management Unit of their choice, as long as they buy the license before sales open to nonresidents. Resident hunters can purchase a guaranteed tag at any time between 8 a.m. on June 22, when 2026-27 hunting licenses go on sale, and 8 a.m. on July 13, when nonresidents are eligible to purchase an antlerless license in WMUs where licenses remain available.
All hunters may purchase a second antlerless license for any available WMU in the second round of sales to begin July 27 at 8 a.m. Similarly, the third round begins at 8 a.m. Aug. 10, when a hunter can get a third license. The fourth round – during which hunters can purchase additional tags to reach their personal limit of six active antlerless licenses – begins Aug. 24 at 8 a.m.
After the guaranteed period closes, though, all antlerless licenses are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis, with tags only available before the allocated number for the WMU is sold out.
Meanwhile, 155 elk licenses (80 antlered, 75 antlerless) were allocated across four 2026-27 elk seasons, which includes a new October season in which rifle hunters will get to experience some of the elk rut.
For the Sept. 12-27 archery elk season, 15 antlered and seven antlerless tags are available across open Elk Hunt Zones. For the new Oct. 3-11 season – the first regular firearms elk season segment – 15 antlered and 15 antlerless licenses are available. The Oct. 31-Nov. 8 second regular firearms season provides 26 antlered and 25 antlerless licenses, while the Jan. 9-17, 2027 third regular firearms season offers 24 antlered and 28 antlerless tags.
Elk license applications for the 2026-27 seasons go on sale May 1. The application process will be different this year, and the Elk Hunt Zones are being reconfigured and renamed, so hunters might need to familiarize themselves with these changes prior to applying.
Antlerless deer and elk license allocations are based on scientific data and staff recommendations tailored to meet population objectives within each WMU and Elk Hunt Zone.
The final 2026-27 hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits appear below.
FINAL 2026-27 HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS
SQUIRREL, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined):Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license – Sept. 12-27 (6 daily, 18 in possession limit after second day).
SQUIRREL, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Sept. 12-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2027 (6 daily, 18 possession).
RABBIT (Cottontail): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license, and Mentored Permit Holders age 16 and under – Oct. 3-18 (4 daily, 12 possession).
PHEASANT: Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license, and all mentored hunters, regardless of age – Oct. 10-18 (2 daily, 6 in possession). Male and female pheasants may be taken in all WMUs. There is no open season for taking pheasants in Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas, except as authorized by executive order.
PHEASANT: Oct. 24-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28, 2027 (2 daily, 6 in possession). Male and female pheasants may be taken in all WMUs. There is no open season for taking pheasants in Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas, except as authorized by executive order.
BOBWHITE QUAIL: Sept. 1-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-March 31, 2027. No limit. There is no open season for the taking of bobwhite quail in the Letterkenny Army Depot Bobwhite Quail Recovery Area.
WOODCHUCK (GROUNDHOG): July 1-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-June 30, 2027. No limit.
HARE (SNOWSHOE RABBIT) OR VARYING HARE: Dec. 26-Dec. 31, statewide (1 daily, 3 season).
CROW: Aug.20-March 21, 2027, on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. No limit.
STARLING AND ENGLISH SPARROW: No closed season, except during the regular firearms deer season. No limit.
WILD TURKEY, FALL (Male or Female): WMUs 1A, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B and 4D –Oct. 31-Nov. 15; WMUs 1B, 3D, 4C and 4E – Oct. 31-Nov. 8; WMUs 2A, 2F, 3B and 3C – Oct. 31-Nov. 15 and Nov. 25-27; WMUs 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E – Oct. 31-Nov. 20 and Nov. 25-27; WMUs 5A and 5B – Oct. 31-Nov. 3; WMUs 5C and 5D – CLOSED TO FALL TURKEY HUNTING.
SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license, and mentored hunters 16 and under– April 24-25, 2027. Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt.
SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): May 1-31, 2027. Daily limit 1, season limit 1. From May 1-16, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon; from May 17-31, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.
DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D: Sept. 19-Nov. 27 and Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit. One antlered deer per hunting license year.
DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Oct. 3 –Nov. 20 and Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.
DEER, ANTLERLESS MUZZLELOADER (Statewide): Oct. 17-25. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.
DEER, ANTLERLESS SPECIAL FIREARMS (Statewide): Oct. 22-25. Junior and Senior License Holders, Mentored Permit Holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) Holders, and Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in U.S. Armed Services or in the U.S. Coast Guard only, with required antlerless license. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for a license and hold a valid adult license or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706. One antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.
DEER, REGULAR FIREARMS (Antlered and Antlerless) Statewide: Nov. 28-Dec. 13. One antlered deer per hunting license year. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.
DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (Statewide): Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027. One antlered deer per hunting license year. One antlerless deer may be taken with a general license antlered deer harvest tag, and an antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.
DEER, ANTLERLESS EXTENDED REGULAR FIREARMS (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D): Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.
DEER, ANTLERLESS EXTENDED REGULAR FIREARMS (WMUs, 4A, 4C, 4D and 5A): Dec. 26-Jan. 18, 2026. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.
DEER, ANTLERLESS EXTENDED REGULAR FIREARMS (Statewide DMAP): Dec. 26-Jan. 24, 2027. Only on properties enrolled in the Deer Management Assistance Program. An antlerless deer with each required DMAP harvest permit.
DEER, ANTLERLESS (Military Bases): Hunting permitted on days established by the U.S. Department of the Army at Letterkenny Army Depot, Franklin County; New Cumberland Army Depot, York County; and Fort Detrick, Raven Rock Site, Adams County. An antlerless deer with each required antlerless license or permit.
DEER, ANTLERLESS (Agricultural Deer Control): Aug. 1-April 15, 2027. An antlerless deer with each required agricultural deer control harvest permit.
BLACK BEAR, ARCHERY (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D): Sept. 19-Nov. 27. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR, ARCHERY (WMUs 3C, 3D and 5B): Oct. 3–Nov. 20. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR, ARCHERY (WMUs 1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A): Oct. 17-25. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR, MUZZLELOADER (Statewide): Oct. 22-25. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR, SPECIAL FIREARMS (Statewide): Oct. 22-25, Junior and Senior License Holders, Mentored Permit Holders, Disabled Person Permit (to use a vehicle) Holders, and Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in U.S. Armed Services or in the U.S. Coast Guard only. Also included are persons who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for a license and hold a valid adult license or qualify for license and fee exemptions under section 2706. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR REGULAR FIREARMS (Statewide): Nov. 21-24. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR, EXTENDED FIREARMS (WMUs 2B, 5B, 5C and 5D): Nov. 28-Dec. 13. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
BLACK BEAR, EXTENDED FIREARMS (WMUs 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4E and 5A): Nov. 28-Dec. 6. Only 1 bear may be taken during the license year.
ELK, ARCHERY (Antlered or Antlerless): Sept. 12-27. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.
ELK, REGULAR FIREARMS – FIRST (Antlered or Antlerless): Oct. 3-11. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.
ELK, REGULAR FIREARMS – SECOND (Antlered or Antlerless): Oct. 31-Nov. 8. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.
ELK, REGULAR FIREARMS – THIRD (Antlered or Antlerless): Jan. 9-17, 2027. Only one elk may be taken during the license year.
FINAL 2026-27 FURBEARER HUNTING SEASONS
COYOTE: No closed season. No limit. Outside of any big game season (deer, bear, elk and turkey), coyotes may be taken with a hunting license or a furtaker license, and without wearing orange. During any big game season, coyotes may be taken while lawfully hunting big game or with a furtaker license.
OPOSSUM, STRIPED SKUNK and WEASEL: No closed season, except during the firearms deer season. No limit. May be hunted any hour, day or night, from July 1–Nov. 27 and Dec. 14–June 30, 2027. May only be hunted from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise from Nov. 28–Dec. 13.
FOX and RACCOON: Oct. 24-Feb. 21, 2027. No limit. May be hunted any hour, day or night, from Oct. 24-Nov. 27 and Dec. 14–Feb. 21, 2027. May only be hunted from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise from Nov. 28–Dec. 13.
BOBCAT (WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A): Jan. 9-Feb. 3, 2027. One bobcat per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.
PORCUPINE: Oct. 10-Nov. 27; Dec. 14-24 and Dec. 26-Jan. 31, 2027. (3 daily, season limit of 10).
FINAL 2026-27 TRAPPING SEASONS
MINK and MUSKRAT: Nov. 21-Jan. 10, 2027. No limits.
COYOTE, FOX, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, STRIPED SKUNK and WEASEL: Oct. 24-Feb. 21, 2027. No limits.
COYOTE and FOX, CABLE RESTRAINTS (Statewide): Dec. 26-Feb. 21, 2027. No limits. Participants must pass cable restraint certification course.
BOBCAT (WMUs 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5A): Dec. 19-Jan. 10, 2027. One bobcat per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.
FISHER (WMUs 1B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E): Dec. 19-Jan. 10, 2027. One fisher per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.
RIVER OTTER (WMUs 1A, 1B, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C and 4E): Feb. 13-21, 2027. One river otter per license year. Licensed furtakers may obtain one permit each.
SNOWSHOE OR VARYING HARE Sept. 1-March 31, 2027 (1 daily, 3 season).
MINK, MUSKRAT, FOX, OPOSSUM, RACCOON, STRIPED SKUNK and WEASEL Sept. 1-March 31, 2027 (No limits).
MIGRATORY GAME BIRD Seasons and bag limits shall be in accordance with Federal regulations.
Posted 4-12-26
Pennsylvania’s Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) regulations were amended today by the Pennsylvania Game Commission
By Steven Brodsky
From a Pennsylvania Game Commission news release that was issued today, April 11, 2026:
CWD REGS AMENDED
The Game Commission today adopted changes to regulations regarding Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), adjustments made to better protect the state’s white-tailed deer and simultaneously help hunters.
Hunters no longer will be prohibited from transporting harvested deer – including high-risk deer parts – between any two locations. But hunters statewide would be required to dispose of high-risk deer parts through their commercial trash pickup, and expressly prohibited from disposing of high-risk parts on the landscape after a deer is moved from the harvest site.
Other changes include eliminating the regulatory prohibition on the use of cervid urine-based attractants in any outdoor setting – state law already was changed to make these attractants legal – and providing the Game Commission’s Executive Director with the discretionary authority to establish targeted restrictions on feeding deer and other wild cervids in relation to CWD.
The Game Commission’s goal in managing CWD always has been to mitigate risks related to the disease across the Commonwealth. The agency determined that eliminating restrictions on moving high-risk deer parts or requiring the use of cooperating processors and taxidermists when parts are moved would not impact that, so long as any and all high-risk parts are disposed of properly.
That’s the real key, making sure that all high-risk parts – from deer harvested everywhere in Pennsylvania – are disposed of the right way.
The new regulations are preventative in nature. If high-risk deer parts are disposed of in the trash stream, it eliminates the possibility they will introduce CWD to a new area, and otherwise limits the disease’s spread.
These changes will become final upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, which usually takes about six weeks.
Posted 4-11-26
Pennsylvania’s 2026 trout season opens today, April 4, 2026
By Steven Brodsky
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) issued the following news release on April 1, 2026:
HARRISBURG, Pa. (April 1) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) reminds anglers that the statewide Opening Day of Trout Season is this Saturday, April 4! Anglers can begin fishing at 8 a.m.
Throughout the 2026 season, the PFBC will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 684 streams and 130 lakes open to public angling. These figures, which are consistent with the number of trout stocked over the past decade, include approximately 2.3 million Rainbow Trout; 698,000 Brown Trout; and 128,000 Brook Trout. As with past practice, the average size of the trout produced for stocking is 11 inches in length with an average weight of .58 pounds.
The PFBC will also stock approximately 72,000 trophy-sized trout measuring 14″-20″. Approximately 18,000 golden Rainbow Trout, weighing an average of 1.5 pounds, will also be stocked during preseason and in-season stockings. PFBC partner cooperative nurseries sponsored by sportsmen’s groups and other organizations will combine to raise an additional 1.1 million trout that will be stocked into public waterways throughout the trout season.
During the regular trout season (Opening Day through Labor Day), anglers may keep up to five trout (combined species) per day measuring at least seven inches long. During an extended season from September 8, 2026, through February 15, 2027, the daily limit is three trout.
Find Stocked Trout Waters
To locate waters that have been stocked with trout, anglers can review the 2026 Trout Stocking Schedule on the PFBC website (Fishandboat.com). Trout fishing opportunities will continue to be abundant statewide with replenishment stockings occurring throughout the spring.
Get Your Licenses and Permits
Permits and licenses are available using the Huntfish.pa.gov online portal and in-person at nearly 700 license issuing agents. All anglers, including youth, are required to have their own account within the licensing system, which can be created either online or at a retail license issuing location.
Fishing from a Boat?
Anglers who plan to fish from a boat on Opening Day of Trout Season are reminded that the PFBC’s cold weather life jacket requirement is in effect from November 1 through April 30. Under this rule, anyone aboard a boat less than 16 feet, including all canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards, is required to wear a life jacket. Children ages 12 and under should always wear a life jacket while boating in Pennsylvania.
Prepare for Fun!
Whether you’re fishing for trout or any other species of fish this season, take advantage of the PFBC’s online maps to find great places to fish, learn about different types of fishing such as fly fishing and ice fishing, and review catch-and-release techniques for handling fish on the Get Started Fishingpage on the PFBC website.
Posted 4-4-26
For many magnolias
By Steven Brodsky
Photo by Steven Brodsky
… spring is the season to come into bloom.
Enjoy the sight of blooming magnolias.
Many people have pleasant magnolia-related memories.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission issued the following news release today, March 23, 2026:
GAME COMMISSION RELEASES DEER HARVEST ESTIMATES
Pennsylvania hunters harvested about 6% more deer in the 2025-26 hunting seasons than they did the year before, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission estimates.
The statewide 2025-26 deer harvest was estimated at 505,600 deer, 185,310 of them antlered and 320,290 antlerless.
By comparison, the statewide 2024-25 harvest was estimated at 476,880 deer.
The year-over-year increase is equally attributable to rises in the antlered and antlerless deer harvests. Both were about 6% higher than the year before.
It’s notable, however, that 2025-26’s antlered deer harvest was up about 9% over the most-recent three-year average, and the antlerless harvest was about 17% higher.
That was partly by design, in regard to antlerless harvest, said Game Commission Deer and Elk Section Supervisor David Stainbrook.
The objective in most of the state’s 22 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) was to reduce deer numbers, either because deer were negatively impacting forest health, Chronic Wasting Disease is present and increasing harvest might slow the spread, or both.
To help meet those harvest objectives and expand hunter opportunity, the Game Commission offered additional antlerless licenses last season.
That hunters responded – helping guide local deer populations toward target levels by buying hunting licenses, obtaining available antlerless deer tags and filling them – is no surprise, said Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith. For more than century, hunters have been a powerful force for conservation.
“Pennsylvania has a strong hunting heritage, one that brings hundreds of thousands of hunters together in groups large and small each fall and winter to enjoy days with family and friends,” Smith said. “But this is about more than just fun and tradition.
“Deer are one species that can impact the composition of their own environment, with consequences not just for themselves, but for our forests and fields and all the other wildlife that habitat sustains. Hunters, by managing deer, buoy not only deer, but all our other natural resources. Their time afield is a commitment to stewardship that deserves our thanks.”
The Game Commission’s harvest estimates are calculated using antlered and antlerless harvest reports submitted by hunters in combination with data from deer checked at processors across the state, Stainbrook said. Last season, hunters reported more than 150,000 deer – by far most often using the online reporting form – and Game Commission personnel checked more than 25,000 deer at processors.
Statewide, about 29% of deer hunters took an antlered deer. That’s the highest success rate since at least 2007.
Most of those bucks were older ones, too. Two of every three were at least 2.5 years old.
Meanwhile, hunters turned about 25% of antlerless tags into harvested deer. That’s consistent with past seasons, as is the fact about 70% of those deer were adult females.
Looking at the harvests by season, hunters once again took more deer overall in the regular statewide firearms deer season than in any other. It accounted for an estimated 299,230 deer, counting 89,980 antlered and 209,250 antlerless.
Archers, meanwhile, took an estimated 182,190 deer, 94,290 of them antlered and 87,900 antlerless. Muzzleloader hunters got 24,180 deer, 1,040 of them antlered and 23,140 antlerless.
It’s worth noting that firearms seasons account for the majority of the harvest in most WMUs. Archery harvests make up the majority in more-developed WMUs (such as WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D), where the use of firearms might be more restricted. Archery hunting is critical, Stainbrook said, to effectively manage deer in those more-suburban areas.
In the meantime, here’s a look at the estimated harvest by Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) for 2025-26, with 2024-25 estimates in parentheses for comparison:
Season-specific 2025-26 deer harvest estimates (with 2024-25) harvest estimates in parentheses) are as follows:
WMU 1A: archery, 5,740 (5,240) antlered and 4,250 (4,900) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 60 (60) antlered and 1,150 (900) antlerless.
WMU 1B: archery, 5,560 (4,930) antlered and 3,460 (3,150) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 40 (70) antlered and 1,140 (750) antlerless.
WMU 2A: archery, 4,140 (4,160) antlered and 2,850 (3,140) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 60 (40) antlered and 1,350 (860) antlerless.
WMU 2B: archery, 6,860 (6,230) antlered and 7,870 (7,850) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 40 (70) antlered and 730 (350) antlerless.
WMU 2C: archery, 5,710 (4,940) antlered and 5,610 (5,820) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 90 (60) antlered and 1,790 (980) antlerless.
WMU 2D: archery, 8,010 (7,080) antlered and 5,670 (6,700) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 90 (120) antlered and 2,230 (1,700) antlerless.
WMU 2E: archery, 3,530 (2,940) antlered and 2,380 (3,250) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 70 (60) antlered and 920 (750) antlerless.
WMU 2F: archery, 4,340 (4,320) antlered and 2,430 (3,260) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 60 (80) antlered and 1,270 (940) antlerless.
WMU 2G: archery, 2,750 (3,210) antlered and 2,210 (1,690) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 50 (90) antlered and 1,390 (710) antlerless.
WMU 3A: archery, 2,980 (2,380) antlered and 1,160 (1,510) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 20 (20) antlered and 640 (390) antlerless.
WMU 3B: archery, 3,570 (3,060) antlered and 3,080 (1,950) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 30 (40) antlered and 1,220 (450) antlerless.
WMU 3C: archery, 3,170 (3,970) antlered and 2,950 (2,570) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 30 (30) antlered and 1,250 (730) antlerless.
WMU 3D: archery, 2,780 (2,570) antlered and 2,680 (2,260) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 20 (30) antlered and 620 (340) antlerless.
WMU 4A: archery, 1,670 (1,460) antlered and 1,570 (1,950) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 30 (40) antlered and 630 (250) antlerless.
WMU 4B: archery, 3,250 (2,860) antlered and 3,950 (3,950) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 50 (40) antlered and 1,050 (450) antlerless.
WMU 4C: archery, 4,850 (3,960) antlered and 3,690 (3,770) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 50 (40) antlered and 910 (530) antlerless.
WMU 4D: archery, 3,830 (3,540) antlered and 3,460 (4,000) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 70 (60) antlered and 940 (600) antlerless.
WMU 4E: archery, 3,550 (3,670) antlered and 4,180 (4,610) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 50 (30) antlered and 1,420 (790) antlerless.
WMU 5A: archery, 2,480 (1,970) antlered and 2,320 (2,660) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 20 (30) antlered and 480 (240) antlerless.
WMU 5B: archery, 6,960 (7,400) antlered and 8,230 (7,730) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 40 (100) antlered and 1,270 (570) antlerless.
WMU 5C: archery, 5,850 (5,510) antlered and 8,690 (8,330) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 50 (90) antlered and 610 (370) antlerless.
WMU 5D: archery, 2,580 (1,990) antlered and 5,180 (5,500) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 20 (10) antlered and 120 (100) antlerless.
Unknown WMU: archery, 130 (150) antlered and 30 (50) antlerless; and muzzleloader, 0 (0) antlered and 10 (20) antlerless.
Posted 3-23-26
Life jacket requirement in effect through April 30, 2026
By Steven Brodsky
Photo by Steven Brodsky
The following news release was issued by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC):
HARRISBURG, Pa. (March 9) – With warmer temperatures expected to arrive this week across portions of the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) reminds anglers and boaters that the annual cold weather life jacket requirement remains in effect through April 30.
“While many of us are looking forward to finally putting this year’s frigid winter weather behind us, don’t be fooled by a few days of sunny skies and balmy air temperatures that tend to be temporary this time of year,” said Ryan Walt, PFBC Boating and Watercraft Safety Manager. “Even though you may be anxious to get outside to enjoy your favorite activities like fishing and boating, please remember water temperatures are still bitterly cold and present tremendous danger to someone who falls into the water.”
From November 1 through April 30, boaters are required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet in length or on any kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. The requirement applies to all Pennsylvania waters and violators are subject to fines.
Sudden cold-water immersion, or cold-water shock, occurs when a person is unexpectedly plunged into cold water resulting in an involuntary gasp where water is often inhaled. This uncontrollable reaction causes panic, hyperventilation, inhalation of water, and inhibits the ability of a person to swim.
According to Pennsylvania boating accident reports, nearly 80% of all boating fatalities occurred because boaters were not wearing life jackets. Since the mandatory life jacket wear law was enacted in 2012, the PFBC has seen a significant drop (approximately 50%) in the percentage of boating incidents resulting in fatalities during the cold weather months.
Posted 3-11-26
A Conversation With Katie Fallon, Author of ‘Vulture: The Private Life of an Unloved Bird’
By Steven Brodsky
Katie Fallon is a co-founder of the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia. She’s worked with many species of raptors and other kinds of birds. Katie’s books include Cerulean Blues (2011) and the recently released Vulture: The Private Life of an Unloved Bird. Her essays have appeared in a number of literary journals. She has a lifelong love of nature. I’ve heard that the first word she ever spoke was “bird.”
Your new book gives vultures, particularly turkey vultures, the positive attention these non-predator raptors deserve. What brought about your interest in these maligned birds?
I’ve been fascinated by vultures for at least fifteen years. There was a roost near where I lived in West Virginia; every day I’d drive by this big, old dead tree with ten or so turkey vultures hunched in it. They became a familiar sight, and I looked forward to seeing them. Vultures are big and kind of dramatic, and in flight, there’s nothing more beautiful. In addition, they’re the ultimate recyclers—they turn death into life.
Many people in the U.S. have an aversion to vultures. Speak about this.
I think vultures remind people of their own mortality. It can be a little creepy to think about a large, dark bird waiting to consume your body when you die. In general, I don’t think people in the US are comfortable with thinking of our bodies as food. Vultures remind us that life will continue after we die, and that some life will continue because we die. They remind us of our animal bodies. Which can be unnerving!
In the absence of vultures, we’d have major health issues to contend with. Tell us why.
Vultures clean up our ecosystems by removing animal carcasses that could potentially contaminate soil and water. They can eat animals that have died of anthrax and botulism. In the absence of vultures, mammalian scavengers could increase in number, and many mammalian scavengers such as raccoons, skunks, feral dogs and cats can spread rabies; vultures do not. Several vulture species in India have suffered catastrophic population crashes in the last twenty years, and public health has suffered. India leads the world in human rabies cases, and the number of cases has increased as the number of feral dogs increased in the absence of vultures.
People get close to vultures by attending your presentations that feature non-releasable birds. How are these birds acquired? How are they trained?
The nonprofit I co-founded, the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia, keeps eight non-releasable raptors for educational purposes (you need permits from the US Fish & Wildlife Service to do this, of course – the birds aren’t pets or personal property). All of our birds were injured wild birds that cannot return to the wild. We have three vultures. Lew the turkey vulture was hit by a car and suffered an injury to his shoulder that prevents flight. His “girlfriend,” Boris, was shot in the wing, and by the time she reached us the bone had already healed incorrectly. Our black vulture is Maverick, and he was hit by a car, which resulted in a shoulder injury that prevents adequate flight.
Our birds are all trained using positive reinforcement. We avoid negative reinforcement and punishment, and we try to empower the birds to have some control over their environments. We condition behaviors by offering food rewards when the birds perform the behaviors. Vultures (especially our black vulture!) learn quickly, and they are a lot of fun to work with.
What myths and misunderstandings about vultures do these presentations help to dispel?
People are surprised at how clean and charismatic the vultures are – and how beautiful they are up close, despite their featherless heads.
What vulture behaviors do people find to be most interesting?
People often ask if vultures throw up on us; our education vultures usually don’t (unless they get scared). Vultures also expel liquid waste on their legs and feet, probably to clean them as well as to keep cool. This often fascinates people as well.
Which species of vulture are found in Pennsylvania and neighboring states?
We have turkey vultures and black vultures. During the last Ice Age we may have had California condors, too, and possibly some other now-extinct vultures.
What has been learned about migration of these species?
Hawk Mountain has taken the lead on turkey vulture migration research. Dr. Keith Bildstein and his team have placed transmitters and wing tags on turkey vultures all over the Americas. They’ve learned that our eastern turkey vultures are partial migrants—some spend the winters in Florida, some on the New Jersey shore, some in Virginia, and in many places in between. Many western turkey vultures are complete migrants, leaving their breeding ranges in Canada and heading all the way to South America. And still others in the American southwest migrate into Central America and return. It’s fascinating how the different subspecies have different migratory strategies. Dr. Bildstein and his colleagues have ongoing research projects about turkey vulture migration, and are discovering more all the time.
Vultures have spectacular flying ability. What makes this possible?
Turkey vultures are very light – they have almost the same wingspan as a bald eagle but weigh less than half what an eagle weighs. Their wings are long and broad, and are made for soaring.
How high can they fly?
The Ruppell’s vulture holds the record for the highest-flying bird. Unfortunately for that individual, it was hit and killed by a jet flying over Africa at 37,000 feet.
Vulture: The Private Life of an Unloved Bird informs readers about lead toxicity in vultures. What is the extent of the problem? How do vultures ingest lead?
Vultures (and eagles, hawks, crows, ravens, and owls) can ingest small pieces of spent lead ammunition in animal carcasses or “gut piles” left by hunters. When someone shoots a white-tailed deer, for example, the deer is usually field-dressed, and many of the organs are left. This can be a delight for vultures and other scavengers! In ecosystems, scavengers often follow the big predators to clean up the leftovers; here, the same thing is happening—a human is the big predator, a gut pile is the leftover, and a vulture or eagle is the scavenger. However, if small lead fragments are still in the gut piles, avian scavengers can inadvertently ingest the lead and become sick. Lead toxicity from spent ammunition is the biggest obstacle in the way of California condor recovery.
The Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia provides rehabilitation for injured birds. What kind of care do vultures receive?
We’ve treated vultures with a wide variety of injuries and ailments—broken bones, head trauma, lead toxicity, soft tissue injuries. Every bird we admit receives an immediate comprehensive examination by an avian veterinarian, and is then treated as necessary with antibiotics, antifungals, anti-inflammatories, fluid therapy, or chelation therapy. They also receive orthopedic surgery if necessary. We do our best to get the birds back out in the wild if possible.
It must be very joyful to enable an injured bird to regain flight ability. Please tell us about a memorable release.
Two and a half years ago we released a female turkey vulture that had been shot with a shotgun—she had three pellets embedded in soft tissue. We had to leave the pellets in her body because removing them would cause damage. Once she was nursed back to health, we released her wearing a transmitter to track her movements. We learned that she travels to northern Georgia in the winters and comes back to West Virginia in the breeding season. We are thrilled that this vulture was able to return to the wild—and thrive!
Vulture watching is growing in popularity. Turkey vultures are very widespread. Where are some of the best places and times to observe them?
In many parts of the southeastern United States, you can see turkey vultures any day of the year in a variety of habitats. In the winter, vultures can be observed roosting together in and near many cities: in Virginia, check out Leesburg, Staunton, Radford, Pulaski, and Charlottesville; in West Virginia, many vultures can be observed migrating in the fall over Hanging Rock Tower in Monroe County and over Harper’s Ferry in the eastern panhandle. During the summer and fall, the overlook at Cooper’s Rock State Forest near Morgantown, WV, is a sure place to see turkey vultures. Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania, of course, is an excellent place to watch turkey vultures and birds of prey during migration, especially in September and October.
What stimulated your interest in nature?
I’ve always been an outdoors person. I grew up in northeastern Pennsylvania, and I had horses as a kid. I spent a great deal of time with my horses, trail riding and competing, and when I got a bit older I often went hiking and camping with friends and family. One of my favorite childhood hiking spots was Ricketts Glen State Park—it’s filled with hemlock trees and many gorgeous waterfalls. It’s definitely worth checking out if you visit northeastern PA.
Was “bird” your first word?
Yes! My parents had bird feeders in their yard when I was a baby (well, they still do) and my mother says she used to hold me in front of the window to show me the birds at the feeder. One day, she said, “Look at the birds! Look at the birds outside.” And I nodded and said, “Bird.” I haven’t stopped talking about them since.
Additional information about Servant Stage Company’s soon-to-open musical revue ‘A Broadway Melody’
By Steven Brodsky
Photo courtesy of Servant Stage Company
… comes to us via this just-issued Servant Stage Company news release:
Lancaster, PA – Servant Stage is thrilled to present A Broadway Melody, an original musical revue celebrating a century of unforgettable Broadway music, touring to venues across Lancaster County in April and May, including The Ware Center, Magic & Wonder Dinner Theatre and Lancaster Alliance Church. This dynamic production brings together beloved songs, fascinating history, and the stories behind the music that has shaped American theatre for generations.
A Broadway Melody takes audiences on a vibrant journey through the decades—from the golden age of Rodgers and Hammerstein to the contemporary hits of today—featuring iconic songs that have defined Broadway’s legacy. Along the way, audiences will discover the composers, cultural moments, and creative forces that brought these works to life, offering both entertainment and insight into the enduring power of musical theatre.
“As we began shaping A Broadway Melody, we kept coming back to one question: why does this art form endure?” says Producer and Arranger, Tyler Hoover. These songs have connected generations, told powerful stories, and given voice to so many human experiences. My hope is that audiences don’t just enjoy the music—they walk away reminded of why theatre still matters today.”
Featuring a talented cast of performers from across the region, A Broadway Melody highlights the artistry and passion of local artists in an intimate, cabaret-style performance. With dynamic vocal performances, engaging storytelling, and seamless transitions between eras, the production captures both the spectacle and the heart that have made Broadway a beloved cultural institution.
In keeping with Servant Stage’s mission to make outstanding live theatre accessible to everyone, all performances of A Broadway Melody will be offered on a pay-what-you-will basis. This unique approach ensures that audiences of all ages and backgrounds can experience exceptional theatre regardless of financial means
Performances run from April 9th to May 9th at venues across Lancaster County, including April 11th-12th at The Ware Center (42 N Prince St, Lancaster), April 26th at The Magic & Wonder Dinner Theatre (3065 Lincoln State Rte, Paradise), and May 1st-3rd Lancaster Alliance Church (210 Pitney Rd, Lancaster). Tickets can be reserved online atServantStage.org or by calling (717) 455-0255. Advance reservations are recommended to ensure seating before shows sell out.
About Servant Stage: Servant Stage is a non-profit theater serving Lancaster County since 2011. Through its innovative approach to theatre, Servant Stage reaches more than 50,000 audience members each year with Pay-What-You-Will performances. Upcoming performances include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (June-August), Anne of Green Gables (September), and Joy to the World (November-December).
Photo courtesy of Servant Stage Company
Posted 4-1-26
Servant Stage Company to present ‘A Broadway Melody,’ a cabaret-style revue that celebrates 100 years of Broadway musicals
By Steven Brodsky
… Performances will take place in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, April 9, 2026 – May 9, 2026.
Consistent with Servant Stage Company’s mission to make exceptional theatre experiences accessible to everyone, all tickets are pay-what-you-will.
Visit A Broadway Melody — Servant Stage for additional information and links to order your tickets for featured performances of this revue.
Posted 3-23-26
Shackled and unshackled listeners
By Steven Brodsky
… have been enjoying episodes of UNSHACKLED!, the iconic radio drama show, since 1950.
Janis Joplin’s album ‘Pearl’ was at the top of the Billboard 200 chart 55 years ago, on February 27, 1971
By Steven Brodsky
… The album, released on January 11, 1971, would go on to be in the number one position on that chart for a total of nine weeks.
From Pearl, Janis Joplin’s recording of the Kris Kristofferson-penned “Me and Bobby McGee”:
Janis Joplin passed away on October 4, 1970 at age 27.
Posted 2-27-26
One doesn’t need to be a grammarian
By Steven Brodsky
… to recognize the verity indicated by the double negative in this song’s title, and by the inclusion of the title’s words in the dialogue of the song’s speaker/character:
Though “I Don’t Think Much About Her No More” has no connection to Valentine’s Day, I’ll make a tie-in here to the upcoming unofficial holiday.
It’s easy to surmise that the song’s speaker/character could find Valentine’s Day to be especially difficult.
Same for many others.
It’s not always kind to wish people: “Happy Valentine’s Day.” These words can be hurtful to some people who won’t be having a happy Valentine’s Day.
Let’s be kind.
Posted 2-7-26
Happy 71st birthday wishes go out to Steve Earle
By Steven Brodsky
… Steve Earle was born on January 17, 1955.
Steve Earle’s birthday is especially opportune to revisit (or visit, if you haven’t been there before) “Copperhead Road” via this video:
Posted 1-17-26
It’s magic
By Steven Brodsky
… when a song exceptionally and effectively conveys an emotionally charged inflection point.
That kind of magic kind is evident in “This Magic Moment,” a song penned by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman.
The Drifters recorded “This Magic Moment” on December 23, 1959, 66 years ago, with Ben E. King singing lead.
In commemoration of that recording session, enjoy the magic:
Posted 12-23-25
Cold turkey
By Steven Brodsky
… left over from Thanksgiving will have many of us “on the run” to refrigerators over the next couple of days.
Some (in the spirit of Thanksgiving) will be appreciative of having cooked and refrigerated turkey that’s left over from Thanksgiving. (I’d probably be more appreciative of left over pumpkin pie.)
“Cold turkey” has an entirely different meaning in this song:
Posted 11-27-25
18 minutes and 36 seconds
By Steven Brodsky
… is sufficient time for readers of the Entertainment, Culture andMore column to enjoy this recording of “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” in its entirety:
Some radio stations have a tradition of airing the recording on Thanksgiving Day.
We don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving Day to enjoy “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree”!
Arlo Guthrie recorded “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” in 1967.
Art Garfunkel was born on November 5, 1941 in New York City.
Posted 11-5-25
Two trippy songs
By Steven Brodsky
… are being shared here today on the 58th anniversary of the release of a beloved rock album.
The album: Disraeli Gears.
The band: Cream.
Disraeli Gears was Cream’s second studio album.
Disraeli Gears was released on November 2, 1967.
From Disraeli Gears:
Posted 11-2-25
Time may be on your mind upon waking up on Sunday, November 2, 2025
By Steven Brodsky
… Daylight saving time ends on November 2, 2025 at 2:00 a.m.; clocks will fall back an hour in most of the U.S.
And time may be on your mind today.
Posted 11-1-25
With up to 20 inches of snow in weather forecasts for a number of states in the U.S.
By Steven Brodsky
… memories related to literal and metaphorical cold fingers come to mind.
I’m acquainted with the discomfort of literal (very) cold fingers, having experienced fingers-numbing conditions while ice fishing, snow shoveling, etc.
And I’m not lacking experience with metaphorical cold fingers.
Most of us can recall personal experiences with cold fingers.
Whatever our experiences have been or are with cold fingers, we can be grateful that Bill Morrissey addressed the cold fingers theme with great artistry and vulnerability:
Posted 10-27-25
This’ll be a day to enjoy
By Steven Brodsky
… this recording of “That’ll Be the Day”:
The single for Buddy Holly’s “That’ll Be the Day” was in the number one position on the Best Sellers in Stores chart on September 23, 1957, 68 years ago.
Posted 9-23-25
‘I’m just a long-haired son of a sinner’
By Steven Brodsky
… sings Jelly Roll in “Son of a Sinner” (one of my favorite Jelly Roll songs):
We’re all children of sinners.
And all of us have sinned.
Nonetheless, God loves us.
Romans 5:8 KJV: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Paul Simon heard Jessy Dixon perform ‘The Wicked Shall Cease Their Troubling’
By Steven Brodsky
… in Radio City Music Hall in 1972, which prompted Paul Simon to invite Jessy Dixon to sing with him on Saturday Night Live. The two would go on to tour together in the U.S. and overseas for eight years.
Enjoy this video of Jessy Dixon singing “The Wicked Shall Cease Their Troubling” at The Dome:
Job 3:17: “There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.”
Jessy Dixon passed away on September 26, 2011 at age 73. This post appeared in the Conversations About Faith section of the Entertainment, Culture and More column.
Posted 1-10-21, Reposted and Revised 8-19-24
How meeting Livingston Taylor at a concert affected the career of John Flynn
By Steven Brodsky
John Flynn has been interviewed several times for this column. In a 2011 radio interview, John and I spoke about Livingston. We did so again last year in this interview for this column.
John, where and when did you first meet Livingston Taylor and how old were you at the time?
Gene Shay introduced me to Livingston back in the ’80s. It was prior to one of his appearances at the old Bijou Café in Philadelphia. I was in my early twenties and just starting out. I was a big fan of Livingston’s and I had just appeared on Gene’s radio show on WMMR. I heard Gene mention that he was going to host Livingston’s show, so I asked for an intro. Gene was just too nice to say no.
What was going on in your life?
I was playing some bar gigs, writing songs and mailing demos to Nashville. This was a few years before I got signed to my first publishing deal down there.
Describe what took place. What did Livingston tell you?
To begin with, Livingston was incredibly gracious. As a performer, I really see that now in hindsight, because usually the last thing I want to do before a show is to meet new people and have them sing their songs to me. Actually, I don’t think I’ve met anyone before or since who would have extended themselves in this way to a stranger. But that’s exactly what happened. Gene apparently bragged about me enough to get Livingston to hand me his guitar and sit down directly in front of me. He asked me to play him a song and listened with an almost unnerving, totally focused attention. When I was done he asked if I had any more. I did a second song and he asked for another. I was only too happy to oblige, figuring that if he’d listen to three songs he must be hearing something he liked. When I finished singing, Livingston kind of scrunched up his face and got real thoughtful. There was a long pause. Then he said, “John, there are so many wonderful ways to spend your time in this life. Take a walk, read a good book, spend some time with someone you love. Please do ANY of these things rather than write any more mediocre songs.” The rest was a little bit of a blur. He talked about Cole Porter and Yip Harburg, writers I didn’t really know much about at that point. He really challenged me to study the greats. He spent like ten minutes talking about song structure, and he played me these long-forgotten but really beautiful introductions to popular old standards. – Unknown (at least to me) musical salutations from bygone eras, that had been intended by their composers to set the mood and put the listener in the proper frame of mind to receive the coming song. He even explained that he would be doing relatively few of his own songs in his show that evening because great songs are rare, and a song should be great if you’re gonna sing it. That was the bottom line. If you weren’t going to try to write a great song, then why write one at all?
How did you respond to this at the time?
I guess I was disappointed. But disappointment wasn’t all I took away from the encounter, because Livingston could have easily tossed me a few compliments. He was probably never gonna have to see me again so that would have been the easy thing to do. But I sensed that he respected songs and songwriters too much for that. He chose the harder path and told the truth. He threw down the gauntlet. And, in my way, I accepted the challenge that night. I determined to work much harder at my craft. To really try to write great songs. I’m not saying that’s what I’ve always accomplished. But he got me to aim there. I’ve always been grateful for that.
How did the encounter impact your life?
I’m here forty years later answering questions about music.
Author’s note to readers: Livingston Taylor is a professor at Berklee College of Music.
… after recalling this morning that the City of Philadelphia had honored Solomon Burke by having declared that July 19, 2002 would be “Solomon Burke Day.”
Solomon Burke (March 21, 1940 – October 10, 2010) was born in Philadelphia.
Posted 7-19-24
There weren’t many attendees at Bob Dylan’s Carnegie Hall debut performance
By Steven Brodsky
… nearly 62 years ago, on Saturday, November 4, 1961. Reportedly, 53 people purchased tickets to see the then 20-year old Dylan perform in a small auditorium that was located in Carnegie Hall. Tickets were priced at $2.00.
Bob Dylan did not perform “Blowin’ in the Wind.”
The song hadn’t been released nor had it been recorded.
Bob Dylan recorded “Blowin’ in the Wind” on July 9, 1962 at Columbia Recording Studios.
The recording was released on the A-side of a single on August 13, 1963 (the B-side is “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right”); it appears as a track on the album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, released on May 27, 1963.
Bob Dylan’s Philadelphia debut didn’t draw much of crowd either, as this concert too was performed prior to the release of “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Gene Shay invited Dylan to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to perform the concert. The concert took place on Saturday, May 3, 1963 at the Philadelphia Ethical Society building on Rittenhouse Square. Approximately 45 people were in attendance. Tickets were priced at $1.50.
A few months before Bob Dylan’s Philadelphia debut, Dylan performed “Blowin’ in the Wind” on a television show:
Gene Shay told me that Dylan’s Philadelphia debut concert almost didn’t take place: the sound system components for the concert were inaccessible.
Gene Shay passed away from COVID-19 on April 17, 2020. He is greatly missed.
Posted 10-4-23
He was the ‘Jackie Robinson of television’; on his ‘show rode the hopes and fears and dreams of millions of people’; his show debuted nationally on November 5, 1956
By Steven Brodsky
… He was Nat King Cole, the first African American to host a television show on nationwide television. That show was TheNat King Cole Show. Today is the 66th anniversary of the national debut of the Nat King Show on NBC TV.
Nat King Cole ranks among the most acclaimed jazz and pop musicians of all time. Born as Nathaniel Adams Coles in Montgomery Alabama in 1919, he would go on to achieve recording and concert performance success that was nearly unmatched by others of his generation. “Mona Lisa,” “Unforgettable,” “The Christmas Song,” are among the nearly 700 songs that he recorded. Well over 100 of Nat King Cole’s records charted. He was a prominent presence on national television shows (he appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show on six occasions).
The Nat King Cole Show was popular and attracted some of the most sought-after entertainers, but it could not secure a national sponsor (other than a few sponsors for brief periods of time before the show expanded from 15 minutes to a half hour). There were 30 sponsors with cooperative arrangements supporting the show across the country on local stations, but nationwide—not one.
In an essay in the February 1, 1958 issue of Ebony titled “WHY I QUIT MY TV SHOW” by Nat King Cole (as told to Lerone Bennett Jr.), Nat King Cole said, “For 13 months, I was the Jackie Robinson of television… On my show rode the hopes and fears and dreams of millions of people.”
… Yes, it’s spring in the Northern Hemisphere, but no matter the season where readers are located, that summer feeling has a way of haunting people.
Perennially enjoyable for many of us, Jonathan Richman’s “That Summer Feeling”:
Posted 4-11-26
Prime spring picnic weather is coming to many regions in North America in the coming weeks
By Steven Brodsky
… Hopefully, a song character that we last visited here in spring 2023, the self-referenced “sad sack Sir Galahad” from Harry Chapin’s “If My Mary Were Here,” will be able to truly enjoy “cheddar cheese and wine” or another picnic food and non-alcoholic beverage with the woman he spoke of as “my Mary,” and if not with that Mary, with someone whose presence will help ensure that a picnic will be mutually enjoyable during spring 2026. His unenviable situation was no picnic.
Happy picnicking.
Posted 3-22-26
‘Down At The Borderline,’ the title track from the fourth installment in VinceGill‘s ‘50 Years From Home’ EP series on MCA, was released today
By Steven Brodsky
Enjoy “Down At The Borderline”:
From a news release:
NASHVILLE, TN – February 13, 2026 – The guitar on the cover of Down At The Borderline says everything about the fourth installment in VinceGill‘s 50 Years From Home EP series on MCA.
It’s a white 1953 Fender Telecaster that Gill bought for $450 in 1978 from Del City Music in his native Oklahoma, and it’s been Gill‘s main guitar ever since. “It’s real special,” he remarks. “I’ve got several other old Fender Telecasters, but that one just suits my hands, suits my ears. Everything about it is kind of a huge part of my entire catalog of playing guitar over all these years.” Testifying to that status is the worn finish on the guitar’s body.
Instruments featured on the cover of each EP are from Gill’s personal collection. For Down At The Borderline he chose his iconic 1953 Telecaster.
It’s appropriate, then, that the six new songs on Down At The Borderline, as well as “Liza Jane” from his 1991 album Pocket Full Of Gold, feature plenty of six-string rockin’ and more of an uptempo demeanor than its three 50 Years From Home predecessors. “There’s a little more zip on this EP,” Gill agrees, “some more guitar playing. Some of the earlier EPs have been singer-songwriter songs, not a ton of whittling around on the guitar. These songs are fun to stretch out a little bit on and just play some guitar.”
Down At The Borderline leads off with its title track, a rockin’, Cajun-flavored tune co-written with Liz Rose about a joint in Thibodaux, Louisiana where “they play the Zydeco and wrestle alligators,” with a sawdust floor and a shuffleboard table, as well as a matron, Mable, who keeps “a loaded pistol in her beehive hair.” The female voice on the song, meanwhile, is none other than country superstar Lainey Wilson, a proud native of Baskin, Louisiana. “Once I set it in Thibodaux I asked Lainey to come sing on it. She graciously said yes, and she killed it!,” Gill says. “I didn’t know if she’d be up for that; it’s hard to get somebody when they’re knocking it out of the park like she is, but she did, and I love the sound of our voices together.”
“Releasing a song with VinceGill is truly a dream come true,” states Wilson. “I’ve had the chance to get to know him over the past few years and share the stage together, so being able to finally make music together means the world to me.”
Gill wrote “Never Saw It Coming” with Stephan Hogan, who he met while judging a guitar contest in Los Angeles. They stayed in touch, and when Hogan moved to Nashville, Gill invited him to do some songwriting together. “He’s very talented. I’m gonna root for him,” says Gill.
Gill has been carrying the Bakersfield-flavored “Pink Cadillac” with him since 2023. He owns a red 1973 Cadillac Coupe de Ville himself but had no problem taking a little creative license with the song. “On some of these songs I’m not trying to write War and Peace or anything; they’re just fun,” he explains. “Not every song needs to be serious.”
The chugging “Come Back” is another co-write, with Harper O’Neil. “She’s a young artist who’s incredible,” Gill says, “a great, soulful singer who’s starting to make some noise in town.” The song is marked by what he calls a “brainiac move” by fellow guitarist Tom Bukovac; “The solo that happens was Tom, and I wound up playing an octave higher and then a harmony to that. That’s a great-feeling track.”
The slow-paced tear-jerker “Love Died” is a collaboration with longtime friends the Warren Brothers and upstart Preston Cooper. Wendy Moten sings on the track as well, much to Gill‘s delight; “It’s some of the best singing you’ll ever hear when she cuts loose.”
Gill revs things back up for “Whole Lot of Cowboy Left in Me,” a rocking and defiant statement of purpose that features CMA Musician of the Year Paul Franklin’s stone country steel guitar. “I’m not much of a cowboy,” Gill, who co-wrote the song with Josh Thompson, fesses up. “I’ve got some boots and all, but I’ve never done much horseback riding or any of that stuff.
Nevertheless, he convincingly captures the authentic character of the song’s narrator. “I understand it very well. I grew up in Oklahoma; that’s where the National Finals Rodeo was held every year, before they moved it to Vegas. My family grew up on farms, and I played in so many honky tonks, so many bars, and I’ve been around so many of those characters. So, it was natural for me to write about ‘em.”
It’s appropriate that Down At The Borderline would close with Gill’s guitar-slinging 1991 hit “Liza Jane.” This EP follows the previous 50 Years From Home volumes I Gave You Everything I Had, Secondhand Smoke, and Brown’s Diner Bar.
Gill recently announced dates for his upcoming summer tour, which culminates in a 6-night residency at the historic Ryman Auditorium. He will continue to tour with the Eagles as well. Last month it was announced that Gill will be awarded the Ken Burns American Heritage Prize, an honor presented by American Prairie. He was also recently presented with the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. Complete tour information available HERE.
Posted 2-13-26
Remembering Dan Fogelberg
By Steven Brodsky
… who passed away eighteen years ago on December 16, 2007, with a song of his that succinctly and effectively conveys liquefying of emotion with these words: “the snow turned into rain”:
On or near Christmas and New Year’s Eve, many people will experience liquefying of emotion (regardless of external weather conditions).
Posted 12-16-25
Harry Chapin, who was an extraordinary humanitarian, songwriter, performer, and recording artist, made the world ‘a better place to be.’
By Steven Brodsky
… Harry Chapin was born on December 7, 1942.
In commemoration of Harry Chapin’s birthday, let’s listen to the highly empathetic portrayals of the song characters in “A Better Place to Be”:
Harry Chapin passed away on July 16, 1981 at 38 years of age as the result of a car accident.
Posted 12-7-25
Leonard Cohen and Billy Joe Shaver drew upon the same Bible verse
… The verse is Isaiah 64:6. As translated in the King James Version, the verse reads: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
I’m writing about Leonard Cohen’s “If It Be Your Will” and Billy Joe Shaver’s “If You Don’t Love Jesus.”
Most people who’ve heard the songs haven’t encountered the verse directly (and most of this column’s readers haven’t heard the Billy Joe Shaver song).
In the Leonard Cohen song, Isaiah 64:6 is alluded to in the line: “In our rags of light, all dressed to kill.”
In the Billy Joe Shaver song, an allusion to the verse appears as: “Take your rotten rags of righteousness and stuff ’em up your self.”
Jelly Roll’s (Jason DeFord’s) opening statement at a Senate committee hearing
By Steven Brodsky
Thank you, Jelly Roll!
Posted 1-12-24
In tribute to the late Jimmy Buffett
By Steven Brodsky
… I’m pleased to share links to a nearly one-hour phone interview that Clay Eals did with Jimmy Buffett on October 26, 2000 for Clay’s book Steve Goodman: Facing the Music.
Sharing that observation in commemoration of Robert Frost’s upcoming birthday.
Robert Frost was born on March 26, 1874.
Robert Frost’s poetry has made a significant difference in the lives of many readers; some of them have found that his poetry “made all the difference.”
Posted 3-23-26
‘April Come She Will,’ soon
By Steven Brodsky
… and many streams in the Northern Hemisphere will soon be “ripe and swelled with rain.”
When April arrives and streams will be full, an abundance of potentially valuable writing prompts may present themselves, especially to externally and internally observant writers who will have pens and paper on hand to promptly act upon prompts.
Photo by Steven Brodsky
Trout fishermen and fisherwomen need landing nets when fishing streams.
Streamside writers need pens and paper to properly “land” some better writing prompts.
Posted 3-20-26
March, actualized as a character
By Steven Brodsky
… appears in Emily Dickinson’s poem “Dear March—Come in—(1320).”
March draws nigh, opportune for some readers of the Entertainment, Culture and More column to pen a March-related poem, short story, or song.
Readers who are sufficiently prompted by the Emily Dickinson poem (or their calendars) can soon be seeing new March-related writing of their own on their screens and/or writing pads.
Posted 2-25-26
If geographically situated to be able to ‘listen’ to the sounds of winter
By Steven Brodsky
… attentively “listening” to those sounds can be valuable.
… may wish that they could stay in those woods longer, and some of them will regret not bringing a pen and pencil to write while inspiration will still be warm.
Ink in a pen and inspiration can freeze on a snowy evening.
I’d better move on!
There are “promises to keep” and “miles to go before I sleep.”
The Jersey Shore was accessible to Walt Whitman; he resided in Camden, New Jersey.
Accessible to us is the speaker of the poem’s unencumbered narrative centered on a stormy beach scene.
The narrative seems to reflect the poet’s having been in a heightened state of awareness at a beach during a storm. Mindfulness meditators might recognize that state as “choiceless awareness.”
The poem was originally published in 1880. Thankfully, we’re able to enjoy “Patroling Barnegat” in 2026.
Referencing and reading about the Jersey Shore brings Southside Johnny (John Lyon) to mind.
My best wishes go out to Southside Johnny on his retirement.
At year’s end: three things that can serve writers well
By Steven Brodsky
… Listed here:
Capture impressionable experiences on paper or screen while those experiences are still fresh.
Mine conversations for potential writing prompts.
Balance time participating in end-of-year social activities with time observing others engaging in those activities. (This can be problematic for writers who don’t want to risk being perceived as wallflowers.)
And a bonus: read writing that may prime your creativity pump by others.
… pens a letter in John Prine’s song “Christmas In Prison”:
If that song character experiences God-enabled breaking of shackles of sin (perhaps he already has experienced this), you may be able to envision what a letter about that might describe.
You probably can, if you have had that experience.
John 8:36: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
(Did you know that Paul wrote four epistles while imprisoned? Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon are Paul’s prison epistles.)
On the ninth anniversary of the 2016 Nobel Prize ceremony wherein Bob Dylan (who wasn’t present at the ceremony) was honored as the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature recipient
By Steven Brodsky
… That ceremony took place on December 10, 2016.
It is especially opportune enjoy:
Posted 12-10-25
A delivery of writing prompts
By Steven Brodsky
… can arrive in the form of Christmas cards (those with and those without handwritten messages).
Potentially valuable writing prompts go unnoticed when holiday cards are mindlessly discarded with used gift wrapping paper, boxes, etc.
Writers/readers: will you apprehend those prompts or will they and the cards that contain them get away?
Ted Kooser served as the U.S. Poet Laureate from 2004-2006. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 2005.
Posted 12-6-25
Writers encountering snow
By Steven Brodsky
Photo by Steven Brodsky
… may find the encounter to be serendipitous.
It seems quite possible that a particular encounter with snow served as a writing prompt for the well-known poet Frost. (Yes, it was fun to write snow and Frost in the preceding sentence.)
Hedgerow Theatre’s smartly staged production of Kate Hamill’s ‘Little Women’, under the direction by Abby Weissman, is a touching tale of a predominately female family, who are not perfect, don’t always get along or fit in, but who nonetheless remain a ‘union’. The story is set in the 1860s – early 1870s during the American Civil War as the March sisters, and their country, in liminal states, struggle with inward and outward changes, limitations and expectations, and is deftly reflected by a cadre of very talented actors, designers and crew.
Louisa May Alcott began her novel Little Women in 1868 under pressure. She did not want to write about girls and especially not boring “moral pap”, however she caved in to her publisher’s demand for a story for little girls in order to support her sisters and mother because her father could not. What Alcott did do was to base her ‘girls’ story on her own siblings. The characters, Meg (based on Alcott’s sister Anna who wanted married life, wonderfully brought to being on stage by Minou Pourshariati!), Beth (Alcott’s sister Elizabeth who passed at age 23 from scarlet fever, sweetly portrayed by Olive Gallagher), Jo (a tom-boy based on Alcott herself, played with plucky perfection by Marissa Emerson ) and Amy (Alcott’s headstrong sister May, done with superb spunk by Jameka Monet Wilson), and of course Marmee (their mother, tenderly rendered by Emily-Grace Murray), became some of the most beloved of the era.
Alcott’s enduring realistic, imperfect, squabbling family tale is yet in print, has been translated into numerous languages, made into films, theatrical productions and produced for television.
L to R: Leo Mock , Marissa Emerson, Minou Pourshariati, Emily Grace, Murray Jameka, Monet Wilson and James Arthel Reilly
The first stage play, written by Marian de Forest, was produced with the permission of the Alcott family in 1912 on Broadway’s Playhouse Theatre. A number of other theatrical renditions of the book have since been produced. Playwright Kate Hamill’s ‘Little Women’ explores feminist and gender perspectives, strengthening Alcott’s Victorian era introduction of strong female roles, and being yourself, even taking it further. There is also the sense of Wilder’s ‘Our Town’, of times gone by that can’t be reclaimed except in memory and affection. This sense was augmented by sinuous musical scene changes, accompanied by adaptive lighting (Lily Fossner). Amazingly agile actors, who also play various instruments (Musical Direction by Matthew Mastronardi), as well as the essential support of the production team and crew create an aura of times past, yet manage to strike a chord upon issues of today.
Just in time for the Holiday Season, ‘Little Women’ reminds us of family – while not perfect, yet loved and prized… AND, there is a small bonus finale concert with Christmas Carols and more!
LITTLE WOMEN by Kate Hamill
Adapted from the novel by Louisa May Alcott
Remaining shows run December 4th – December 28th
Tickets at https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=294555 or call 610-565-4211
Hedgerow Theatre 64 Rose Valley Rd., Media PA 19063
Take note: The testing schedule is posted on the linked page.
Posted 10-6-25
A Conversation with Captain Melbourne ‘Butch’ Arbin III of the Ocean City Beach Patrol (Ocean City, MD)
By Steven Brodsky
It’s an awesome pairing: 10 miles of award-winning beach and the renowned, heritage-rich Ocean City Beach Patrol. Since its start in1930, the OCBP has kept millions of visitors safe. At the helm is Captain Arbin. This is his 46th year with the OCBP. He became captain in 1997.
There’s an abundance of appreciation for Captain Arbin and the men and women of the OCBP. Subsequent to a radio interview I did with Captain Arbin in 2011, I received an outpouring of comments from listeners praising the work and presence of Captain Arbin and the Patrol. Life is precious. Captain Arbin and the more than 225 lifeguards under his command protect it and enforce ordinances on a nationally top-ranked beach, enabling an outstanding shore experience for Ocean City’s visitors.
What prompted your decision to sign on as a lifeguard?
I was on vacation with my family in 1972 and met one of the guards. Crew Chief Mark McCleskey was stationed at 43rd Street and aftertalking to him during that week, I thought what a great job this would be and he encouraged me to try out. My father also worked with a man in Baltimore whose son, Greg Pittman, was on the Patrol. I went back to Parkville and my mother signed me up for a senior lifesaving class at Woodcroft pool. The next summer when I was 15 (no age requirement back then) I tried out, but being a runner (I ran track at U of M in college) I was not as fast as the competitive swimmers and they only needed a few guards so I was not hired. I went back to Baltimore and got a job at the Cromwell Bridge Road Holiday Inn as a pool lifeguard. However, when I returned to OC that same summer on the family vacation, I checked in with Captain Craig and since they now had an opening he asked one of his lieutenants to give me the test. It was during the beginnings of a Nor’easter and based on my never quit attitude, I was hired. I was on a stand the next day and had my first rescue at the inlet. My family returned to Baltimore and I remained in OC on my own at 15. My mom tells me she cried the entire way home. It was many years later that Mark McCleskey would reappear back in my life when his son Parker joined the Junior Beach Patrol.
Another interesting turn of events was that my high school track coach and mentor, Don Wann, who had also graduated from Parkville High School, attended University of Maryland on a track scholarship and returned as a physical education teacher to Parkville (I followed the same path), would retire, move to Ocean City and work for me on the patrol.
Do many recruits join the OCBP for similar reasons?
Yes, most (90 percent) are recruited by current or past members of the Patrol. Many tell me that they have been coming to OC their entire lives and always looked up to the guards and wanted to be Ocean City lifeguards. We call them surf rescue technicians or SRTs.
What qualification testing is done for potential recruits?
Because of the unique demands of the job, the Beach Patrol does not require or recognize certification of past experience with other agencies. All individuals seeking employment with the Ocean City Beach Patrol must successfully complete all aspects of a 10-phase pre-employment physical skills evaluation and pass an English language verbal comprehension/proficiency test. They must successfully complete: a 500m swim (off-site) or a 400m ocean swim in 10 minutes or less, a series of simulated rescues with and without the aid of a rescue buoy, a deep-water physical skill evaluation of holds and releases, a victim transport training session and victim removal test, a buoy preparation training session and mock buoy-runs, a rescue medley of 150m run and a 100m swim through the surf and 150m return run (on-site). Each applicant must complete a candidate questionnaire and actively participate in an informational interview with beach patrol staff. The final step is an interview with the beach patrol captain after receiving a recommendation from the interview committee to be given an appointment to the Surf Rescue Academy.
How long into your involvement with the OCBP did you come to realize that you and the beach patrol could develop a decades-long relationship?
As I was in high school, I needed to decide what I wanted to do in life. After considering police work, joining the Marines or college, the Marine recruiter who had gotten close to me said, “If you go to college and don’t like it we will still take you, so give college a try.” (Captain Arbin attended college and afterwards entered the teaching profession. – S.B.) I knew being an educator would allow me to have summers off….I now warn recruits that if they don’t want to be teachers they probably should not get involved with the Patrol.
How have the training and work responsibilities of the OCBP’s surf rescue technicians evolved over the years of your involvement?
The basic job has not changed much at all: watch for people in trouble, run as fast as you can to that area, swim out with a buoy (flotation device), make contact and keep them calm, return them back to safety, run back to the stand and be prepared to do it all again. However, the training and organization have changed tremendously. When I started I tested on day one and was on a stand the next. Now we have 8 days at the Surf Rescue Academy where all training and certifications take place, followed by 3 weeks of on the stand supervised probation. We also have advanced certification as well as a leadership development program. There is also a very objective supervision and evaluation program to assure that all of our employees are progressing as expected.
What does the training at OCBP’s Surf Rescue Academy entail and what goes into the probation period that follows graduation?
As we do not require any certifications or prior experience to work as a surf rescue technician, we include everything needed to be successful in the 65 hours at our Surf Rescue Academy, over 8 days. During these 8 days there is a combination of physical training/skills, classroom instruction and on the job training with an experienced supervisor. Following the 8 days, the PSRT (probation SRT) is assigned to a crew for “supervised probation on a stand. Each week, for the 3 weeks of “supervised probation,” the crew chief will provide written feedback to each PSRT in the crew. This will include an evaluation of how they are doing on various aspects of the job, a recommendation on areas for improvement and a goal that has been written by the PSRT. This information is then passed to the next supervisor to assure that the PSRT is making adequate progress towards the goal of being removed from probation and becoming an SRT 1. (This includes a pay increase.)
Those seeking to return to the patrol have to recertify every year. Tell us about this.
There are two aspects to veteran recertification. First is requalification. All returning SRTs must requalify on both the timed 400 meter run followed immediately by the 500 meter run. They must meet the same requirements as a candidate trying out for the first time and I personally time every requalification and will not allow even a 1 second failure to continue guarding.
Second aspect is recertification/retraining. All certifications are updated which include first aid, CPR, AED, critical skills in search and recovery, sand collapse, management of spinal injuries as well as other topics determined to be emphasized that season.
This is done in a single day and is scheduled in groups of 18-20 while still maintaining full coverage of the beach.
Teamwork and personal responsibility are essential for OCBP’s surf rescue technicians. Please speak to this.
Candidates are told during testing that they are being judged on teamwork and encouragement of each other. We work in crews which are like smaller family units (20 crews) with 7-8 members. They are expected to do what is right even if they think no one is watching (integrity) and to always uphold our high standards. Each is the backup for the SRT next to him or her.
The SRTs interact with all sorts of people. How does the patrol help them to develop the necessary communication skills?
We start working on this during the testing and we train and practice this during SRA and we include this on the PSRT evaluations. We actually have them practice presenting to each other during SRA. Once placed in a crew, the crew chief will have them assist during safety seminars and give them feedback. If they are going to work with any of our youth programs they are required to attend a specialized training and certification.
What physical training is required of SRTs during the patrol season?
All SRTs are required to complete their crew’s designed workout for the day, alternating running and swimming workouts. We also have competitions throughout the season (local, regional and national). We also have competitions specific to women and youth. By using competition to motivate our staff, they work out on their own (without pay), yet it benefits the Patrol.
This helps the SRTs to remain alert and focused while on the stand, yes?
Working out does keep you alert. We also give many tricks and tips to help stay alert on the very slow days (cold and rainy). We have a policy that anytime a Beach Patrol mobile unit passes behind the stand that SRT must stand to acknowledge that he or she saw the vehicle. If the SRT fails to stand then we can do a closer check. The most critical skill that an SRT has is the scan (looking north and south and then all around).
What else is incorporated into the work day to ensure that SRTs are at their best?
They are expected to get off the stand several times and do ordinance checks from the stands to their north and south. They also are seen by both the crew chief and area supervisor several times each day. They have other tasks that they must do each day: semaphore, working out, filling out the chalkboard on the back of the stand, moving the stand and building a sand pile.
In August 2015, the patrol had a very busy two days rescuing people from rip currents. Tell us about this.
Perfect storm…tides, surf, wind, weather, crowds. We had a tropical depression in the Atlantic Basin which caused larger than normal waves. We had some wind (helps waves to build in size), a midday outgoing tide, and we had large crowds all wanting to be in the ocean.
With all this water coming across the sandbar being trapped in the “trough” it must make its way back out, which is the mechanism for a rip current.
In OC, MD 95 percent of our rescues are rip current related.
Once we start seeing this trend, we will pull everyone out of the ocean, have the SRTs call the beach patrons on their beach over to the stand, and give a “safety talk.” This does two things. It educates the people and also stops all the action and allows us to reset.
What is a typical number of rescues for the patrol in a beach season?
We say 2,000–4,000. However, if we have little tropical activity we are at the low end; if it is a busy tropical season we are near the higher number. Because of our increased efforts at public education, we are seeing a more informed public which has reduced the number of rescues while on duty, but even more important is there are many fewer deaths while we are off-duty.
Parent distraction is a safety issue. Please speak to this as a reminder for parents to keep their eyes on their kids while near any body of water.
People are relaxed on vacation and things are more flexible. What we see quite often is that each adult thought another one was watching and the child has wandered away before the adults realized it. Although we have lost individuals from 1 year old to 90 years old, most are 4–10. What parents don’t realize is that to children all umbrellas look alike and once they are past the “berm” (high spot before the beach slopes to the ocean), they can’t see where they just came from. Also, add in that the current will move people along the beach and that they may exit the water far from where they entered. Once children realize they are lost they start the walk of fear, usually walking with the wind to their backs. We have located children as young as 4 years old many miles from the family. Children should be introduced to the SRT on their beach so they know that the lifeguard is a safe person and they should go to them if they can’t find their family.
Each SRT is trained in dealing with lost or found individuals. A lost individual is the person a family member reports as missing and a found individual is when we have the person who is missing. A very important part is keeping parents calm and with one of the SRTs, otherwise we locate the child and now have missing parents. The SRT will get very basic information from the parent (name of child, age, color of bathing suit) and send this up and down the beach using semaphore (the flag language used to communicate between stands). Most children are located within 5–10 minutes once we have been alerted. In addition to semaphore, the information is radioed to the 911 center.
We locate between 1,000–2,000 missing individuals each season, with a 100 percent success rate. Dads lose more children than moms.
What causes most spinal injuries in beach areas?
The three major causes are diving into shallow water, body surfing, and body boarding. We always say feet first, as a reminder to check the water depth with your feet not your head. Another very dangerous time is during “shore break” activity. Shore break is when the waves continue to build in size and strength and only break once they arrive onto the beach rather than breaking over a sandbar into a deep trough. The person who is riding that wave is thrown headfirst onto the beach. We call this going over the falls…wet sand is no more forgiving than concrete. If hit wrong it can cause a serious neck or back injury or even death. When riding a body board, you need to remain on the rear half and if you are getting ready to go over the falls you can go off the back of the board and prevent being slammed.
How do the SRTs deal with possible spinal injuries?
Because of the unique nature of a spinal injury in the surf zone the method used in a pool or lake (backboard before removal) will not work and has the potential to make the injury worse.
By working with emergency doctors, we have modified a technique developed in Hawaii. Our method has been continually refined over many years and uses the SRTs to act as a human backboard to remove the injured person from the surf while maintaining stabilization on the head, neck and back until we can lay the person down away from the moving water. Once in this position, we maintain stabilization until a paramedic does an assessment and determines what is the appropriate treatment.
We know from feedback from past patients as well as medical professionals that our technique not only works but has successfully allowed people whose injuries were life threatening to not only live but to walk again.
We not only train and practice for our personnel but we have shared this technique with many other lifesaving organizations. Several years ago, we trained workers at the National Aquarium in emergency response that would be needed should employees be injured while working with large mammals. The training was conducted in one of the National Aquarium’s large tanks.
Most people aren’t aware that the OCBP is involved with marine mammal rescues. Please tell us about this.
Because of our presence on the beach it is highly likely that a stranding of a marine mammal may occur during our on-duty hours. For this reason, each of our staff have a first responder overview of what to do as well as what not to do if a stranding occurs in his or her area of the beach.
One of the requirements to be certified for a supervisory position, is that each person must complete the full marine mammal rescue training. This assures that during a response we have a more highly trained individual on the scene who can assist the National Aquarium with determining the best course of action for the particular stranding. This advanced training is taught by staff from the National Aquarium and includes a manual and an end of course exam.
What events during your service with the OCBP have been the most gratifying?
…meeting my wife Penny in Ocean City, my son Michael working for the patrol, and watching the SRTs during a serious situation all knowing their parts and doing exactly as expected.
Although it is not an official part of our mission, we change lives and I get to see individuals grow and do great things.
I was invited to see one of our past crew chiefs, Matt Maciarello, be robed as the youngest Circuit Court judge in Maryland.
One of our guys came to us as a high school dropout and was very close to being terminated. But with the discipline of the Patrol, returned to college and received a PhD in physiology. He is now a professor at Miami University.
What events have been the saddest?
The preventable loss of life. Each year for 3 years in a row, a parent died while attempting to rescue a child that the parent had allowed to go swimming while guards were not on-duty. In one case, the father and one of his daughters drowned while another was saved with CPR over an hour and a half after lifeguards had gone home for the day.
In another case, the mom gave in and allowed her 2 sons to swim just 20 minutes before we came on-duty. When they started to yell for help she did what any mother would have—she went in the ocean to help. She drowned.
In the 3rd case, a family was on the inlet beach when the two oldest sons were pulled away from the beach in a rip current. The father went to help but drowned in the attempt. The 2 boys were picked up by a passing boat and survived. All of this occurred while the wife and mom sat on the beach with an infant in her arms and a 2-year-old crying for her attention as she watched what was happening. Once she realized what had happened she just collapsed into my arms sobbing.
What do SRTs find most challenging about their work?
Uncooperative adults who try to hide things from the SRTs. The SRTs have a lot to do, including not only watching the 1,000s of people on their beach but also enforcing ordinances and laws. Yet, grown adults will play games of trying not to abide by the laws and this causes the SRTs to spend too much time trying to get these adults to do what they are supposed to do.
Another issue is staying alert on days when no one is on the beach. It is a very long day if there is nothing to do or look at.
What do SRTs most enjoy about their time on and off-duty in Ocean City, MD?
The fellowship of the other members of the crew and Patrol. For many of our people these become lifelong relationships.
They also enjoy working out and playing sports.
You work year-round. (Captain Arbin has another job outside of patrol season.) Do you ever vacation and can you enjoy a beach in a “civilian” mode when off-duty?
A very sore subject with my wife of 38 years. We never went on a honeymoon and have only taken one family vacation to the Bahamas. However, we do go on a work and witness mission trip each year.
I can enjoy the beach…but I always have a heightened level of awareness when on the beach, unless I am napping in the warm sun!!!
If you had it to do all over again, would you hesitate for a moment to submit an SRT application to the OCBP?
Not for half a second….It has been an incredible 46 years and it has shaped, to a large extent, the man I have become.
Brandywine Native Garden Hub, a new online resource designed to inspire gardeners of all levels and skillsets. Photo by Mark Gormel
The Brandywine Conservancy is thrilled to announce the launch of the Brandywine Native Garden Hub, a new online resource designed to inspire gardeners of all levels and skillsets. The Brandywine Native Garden Hub is a free, user-friendly website that serves as both an educational guide and an interactive database for anyone interested in incorporating native plants into their landscapes. Naturally occurring in a specific region without human intervention, native plants have adapted to the climate and soil over time, making them easier to grow and maintain, plus they directly benefit pollinators, wildlife, and the local ecology. With the Brandywine Native Garden Hub, users can search for and learn more about native plants specific to Pennsylvania and northern Delaware, save their favorites to personalized “Garden Boards,” and browse through a suite of educational resources to help enhance their gardening success.
Now available at www.NativeGardenHub.org, the Brandywine Native Garden Hub contains information on more than 250 native plant species found in our region. Each plant profile contains everything you need to know about the plant—from growing conditions to key attributes and wildlife benefits—along with photos that show different growth stages. Users can also personalize their searches by filtering for plants according to their garden’s specific growing conditions, including sunlight exposure, soil type, and soil moisture. Plants can even be sorted by the user’s preferred attributes and benefits, including plant type, height/width, peak bloom time, bloom color, deer resistance, fragrance, and more.
To help visualize and plan their dream gardens, users can create a free account to build personalized “Garden Boards” that are customized to their unique growing spaces. Boards can be curated for the spaces users currently have, the type of gardens they are looking to start—such as a container garden for smaller spaces or one designed to attract specific pollinators—or even boards for future garden inspiration. Once users set up their boards, they can “pin” their favorite plants while browsing to save them for building out their garden plans. Users can also add, edit, and create as many Garden Boards as they’d like, which can be referenced at any time on both desktop and mobile devices.
To equip users with even more tools for success during their gardening journeys, the Brandywine Native Garden Hub also features a wealth of educational resources. Users can dive into the beginners guide for getting started with native plants or browse through other articles, including topics on how to prep a container garden, tackling invasive species, and seasonal gardening tips. Additional articles will be published throughout the year for continued learning.
For more than five decades, the Brandywine Conservancy has been a trusted leader in growing and promoting the use, preservation, and appreciation of native plants. The Brandywine Native Garden Hub is the latest extension of this work, providing a digital platform to help gardeners bring the benefits of native plants to their own landscapes. To start your journey with native plants, visit www.NativeGardenHub.org.
