The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Corry State Fish Hatchery in Erie County has been operating for 150 years

By Steven Brodsky

The 150th anniversary of the Corry State Fish Hatchery is spotlighted in a Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission news release.

I’m sharing this excerpt from that news release:

Corry, PA (October 15) – Quite the milestone for the Corry State Fish Hatchery in Erie County today, as the facility celebrated its 150^th anniversary.  The hatchery was founded in 1876 as the ‘Western Hatchery’  and is the oldest continuously operating hatchery in the Fish and Boat Commission’s hatchery system.  Staff at the Corry hatchery raise more than 330 thousand Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Golden Rainbow Trout each year, accounting for about ten-percent of the state’s stocked trout.  The occasion was marked by a walking tour and proclamations from Governor Josh Shapiro and the state Senate and House of Representatives.  The Corry State fish hatchery operates 365 days a year, even on holidays, and is open daily from 8am to 3pm for public tours.

Posted 10-16-26

A ‘Do Not Eat’ advisory has been issued by the Pennsylvania Departments of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Health and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) that extends to all species of fish within the entire Wissahickon Creek Basin 

By Steven Brodsky

This news release was issued by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC):

HARRISBURG, Pa. (October 7) – The Pennsylvania Departments of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Health and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) have issued a “Do Not Eat” advisory for all species of fish in the Wissahickon Creek Basin, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, due to the high levels of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS).  PFOS, a “forever chemical,” was found in sampled fish tissue above the 0.04 parts per million “Do Not Eat” advisory level.

The “Do Not Eat” advisory extends to all species of fish within the entire Wissahickon Creek basin.

Because of this consumption advisory, the PFBC has canceled a trout stocking that was scheduled for October 15, 2026, on Wissahickon Creek, Section 04, in Philadelphia.  To address the loss of angler opportunity on this stream and gather public input on future options for stocked trout management on Wissahickon Creek, the PFBC will hold a public meeting on Thursday, November 5, 2026, from 6-7 p.m. at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, located at 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road, Philadelphia, PA 19128.

PFOS is one of a group of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemical substances (PFAS) that readily build up in fish tissue.  Pennsylvania’s Fish Consumption Advisory Program has been evaluating sport-caught fish in Pennsylvania waters for various contaminants, including Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, and heavy metals.  Pennsylvania recommends different quantities and frequencies for fish consumption based on the species and where it is caught.  Pennsylvania began collecting fish tissue samples to test for PFOS to incorporate those findings into the recommendations.  Levels detected in fish tissue sampled from Wissahickon Creek were over the 0.04 parts per million (40.0 ng/g) “Do Not Eat” advisory level.

More information on PFOS and other PFAS chemicals

More information on fish consumption advisories

Water Quality Contaminants of Emerging Concern

Posted 10-11-26

The breached Hoffman’s Mill dam on the Brandywine Creek in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania has been removed 

By Steven Brodsky

… Hooray!

The site of the dam removal project as it appeared on October 6, 2026:

Before sharing an excerpt from a Brandywine Conservancy news release about the completion of the dam removal project, I’ll make this recommendation to readers of this column: don’t miss the exhibition By Design: The Worlds of Betsy James Wyeth at the Brandywine Museum of Art.

By Design: The Worlds of Betsy James Wyeth will remain on view at the Brandywine Museum of Art through January 10, 2027.

By Design: The Worlds of Betsy James Wyeth | Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art

From the aforementioned Brandywine Conservancy news release:

Chadds Ford, PA, October 7, 2026 — A stretch of the Brandywine Creek in Chadds Ford is now flowing freely again following the removal of Hoffman’s Mill dam, a late-19th-century low head dam located just upstream from the U.S. Route 1 bridge in Chadds Ford and Pennsbury Townships. The work to remove the breached dam completes a nearly six-year effort led by the Brandywine Conservancy.

Originally built to power Hoffman’s Mill—now part of the Brandywine Museum of Art—the dam supported an active sawmill until the mid-20th century. In recent decades, it served no functional purpose and was breached on its western side. The Conservancy began evaluating the removal of the dam in 2020 and concluded it would be a net benefit to the Creek and the surrounding community. The dam removal will: improve safety and recreation by eliminating a hazard for paddlers, tubers, and other users of the Creek who needed to portage around the dam to continue downstream; restore aquatic habitat and fish migration previously blocked by the dam; and help reduce flooding in the Chadds Ford area. With no real storage reservoir, the dam trapped debris carried by floodwaters—increasing the artificial height of the impediment—which exacerbated flooding events in Chadds Ford and upstream of the dam. The removal of the dam was also identified as a recommended flood mitigation project in the 2025 Brandywine Flood Study—published and led by the Conservancy in partnership with Chester County Water Resources Authority and University of Delaware Water Resources Center.

“After nearly six years of planning, design work, and permitting, it’s incredibly rewarding to see the removal of the dam and the Brandywine Creek returning to its natural free-flowing state,” said Rob Daniels, project manager and Assistant Director of Community Services at the Brandywine Conservancy. “Freeing this stretch of the Creek benefits our broader mission and some of our ongoing efforts to improve recreational access to the Brandywine, lesson flooding in the Chadds Ford area, and to assist in a regional effort to facilitate the migration of American shad up the Brandywine to spawn, a migration pattern that has been stalled since the first dams were constructed in Wilmington, DE back in the early 1700s.”

“This project is a win for everyone who loves the Brandywine Creek, from the paddlers and anglers who use it to the neighbors who live alongside it and the fish and wildlife that call it home,” said Grant DeCosta, Director of the Brandywine Conservancy. “We’re grateful to our funders, partners, and broader community who have helped make this long-awaited moment possible.”

The dam removal project was funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Chadds Ford Township, and Pennsbury Township. Engineering consultant Ramboll provided design services, guided the extensive permitting process in partnership with Conservancy staff, and oversaw the construction work. Stonewood Landshaping, a firm experienced in stream restoration and stormwater projects, conducted the dam removal.

The Conservancy coordinated with a variety of stakeholders in the vicinity of the dam site, including the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, PECO, and the East Penn Railroad. As part of the larger permitting process, input was also sought from both Townships, the Chadds Ford Historical Society (a neighbor of the project), the Chester County Planning Commission, and the Delaware County Planning Department.

To honor the site’s history, the Conservancy documented the dam with photography and video and is evaluating ways to reuse materials from the site. The Conservancy will also develop educational opportunities to share the history of Hoffman’s Mill dam and the role it played in the Chadds Ford area.

Posted 10-9-26

In God’s timing

By Steven Brodsky

… leaves of deciduous trees are displaying vibrant autumn colors.

Hallelujah for God’s timing and for the beautiful foliage of autumn!

Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 (don’t skip Ecclesiastes 3:11) at: Ecclesiastes 3 (KJV) – To every [thing there is].

About the authorship of Ecclesiastes: Who wrote the book of Ecclesiastes? Who was the author of Ecclesiastes? | GotQuestions.org. I believe that King Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes.

Did you know that King Solomon was a naturalist of the first order?

Read 1 Kings 4:33-34 at: 1 Kings 4 (KJV) – So king Solomon was king.

Enjoy autumn 2026!

Posted 10-8-26

On a garter snake day afternoon

By Steven Brodsky

… this garter snake appeared to be using a shrub as an ectotherm’s equivalent of a hammock:

The garter snake wasn’t being sluggish (not-so-good pun alert: slugs are part of its diet) on what was a hot afternoon. It was thermoregulating on top and among the branches and leaves of a shrub.

Nearby, humans were drinking cold beverages while resting on hammocks, chaise lounges, and lawn chairs when they weren’t taking refuge in airconditioned rooms.

Posted 8-27-26

Lovely

By Steven Brodsky

… you might agree, is this exquisite butterfly chrysalis:

Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Posted 7-30-26

On a dog day afternoon

By Steven Brodsky

… these world-class foxhounds enjoyed the thrill of the chase:

The foxhounds were doing what they were bred and trained to do; lucky dogs they were (and are).

Enjoy the photo on a dog day afternoon (or at any other time) from the comfort of your home.

Posted 7-13-26

Reminding us of the pleasure of spreading one’s ‘wings’ in the great outdoors

By Steven Brodsky

… is the cormorant pictured above.

In the coming weeks, many people will be spreading their wings while engaging in outdoor recreation (re-creation)!

Posted 7-6-26

It’s a season to enjoy the great outdoors

By Steven Brodsky

… God’s creation, the natural world.

May this also be a season for many people to come to know God as their Lord and Savior.

Ecclesiastes 3 (KJV) – To every [thing there is]

Posted 6-18-26

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.

Katie Fallon’s website address is: www.katiefallon.com.

Posted 4-6-17, Reposted 10-29-19

 

Don’t wait for frost to appear on the pumpkin

By Steven Brodsky

… to enjoy this classic enduring-love-themed recording:

Frost conditions or not, “love the people that God gives you.”

The song “The People That God Gives You” is referenced in an article that’s currently posted at: Conversations About Faith – delcoculturevultures.com.

Posted 10-15-26

56 years ago, Janis Joplin passed away on October 4, 1970

By Steven Brodsky

… at age 27 from an overdose.

A short number of days before her passing, Janis Joplin recorded the Kris Kristofferson-penned song “Me and Bobby McGee.”

That recording was released as a single and as a track on Pearl.

The single rose to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart on March 20, 1971.

In memory of Janis Joplin, let’s listen to that iconic recording:

Posted 10-4-26

‘The Endless Road,’ an award-winning documentary about Tommy Emmanuel, was released today

By Steven Brodsky

… Enjoy the trailer for this documentary:

From a news release:

October 2, 2026: Today, GRAMMY-winning guitarist Tommy Emmanuel released The Endless Road, a documentary film chronicling his life and career. Told through intimate backstage footage, concert performances, rare archival material and unfiltered interviews with Tommy’s closest friends and family (as well as stars like Joe Satriani, Jason Isbell, Monty Python’s Eric Idle, Steve Vai, Barry Gibb, and Olivia Newton-John), the film examines the scars of childhood trauma, breaking cycles of self-destruction, and the ambitious rise of a man determined to bring happiness to all corners of the globe with his music. The Endless Road is now available to rent and download on Amazon, Apple and Google, and will be coming soon to other platforms.

Posted 10-2-26

Cherish is the word

By Steven Brodsky

… that many fans of music from the 1960s could use to describe their affection for this song by The Association that rose to the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart 60 years ago (on September 24, 1966):

Evidence of cherishing the song: singing the lyrics of “Cherish” while listening to the embedded audio.

Posted 9-24-26

Ian Anderson turned 79 years old today

By Steven Brodsky

… Ian Anderson was born on August 10, 1947.

Happy birthday wishes go out to Ian Anderson!

Posted 8-10-26

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.

John Flynn’s website address is: http://johnflynn.net/.

Posted 3-29-19, Reposted 8-6-24

Thinking about Solomon Burke

By Steven Brodsky

… 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

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 The Nat 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.”

Posted 11-5-22

 

Godly counsel

By Steven Brodsky

… for pastors and other ministry leaders came through the speaker of my radio this morning when this teaching by Dr. Charles Stanley was broadcast: LISTEN | Prayer & Proclamation.

About In Touch Ministries: About Us.

Posted 10-14-26

October is Pastor Appreciation Month

By Steven Brodsky

Readers of this column who are temporally and eternally blessed by Bible-believing, Bible-teaching pastors who tell them “like it is” in a godly way, might want to make sure that their pastors know how much they are appreciated during October, Pastor Appreciation Month (and during every month).

Enjoy:

Posted 10-5-26

There’ll be joy

By Steven Brodsky

… in many Bible-believing, Bible-teaching houses of the Lord tomorrow—hallelujah!

Have a blessed Sunday.

See 1 Thessalonians 5:16. 

Posted 10-3-26

‘Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man’

By Steven Brodsky

… are words that famously appear in this Allman Brothers recording that was released in 1973 (53 years ago):

Though the above embedded recording is one of my classic rock favorites, this isn’t a moment for ramblin’: The Lord welcomes ramblers to enter into personal relationships with Him; ramblers can know God as their Lord and Savior.

Life is too precious to ramble it away by living outside of the center of God’s will.

Just As I Am

Posted 9-25-26

The response to a social media post: more than 170 people declared their faith in Jesus and were baptized in the ocean in the UK

By Steven Brodsky

… Hallelujah!

This is truly a good news story:

See Matthew 28:19-20 at: Matthew 28 (KJV) – In the end of the.

Gospel means good news.

The gospel is the greatest news!

Posted 9-22-26

‘The People That God Gives You’

By Steven Brodsky

… a song that was co-written and recorded by Aaron Wilburn, was referenced in this column on March 9, 2021.

A message appeared yesterday on the screen of the cell phone of someone that God has given me that announced that someone that God has given her had passed away.

The recipient of that message was visibly upset.

Friends that were were present, people that God has given her, asked her to tell them about what had caused her upset.

She told them, and then she remembered the article that had been posted here that referenced “The People That God Gives You.”

Yes, she spoke appreciatively about the song.

Life experience affirms the relevance of “The People That God Gives You.”

Posted 9-21-26

The worship song ‘Holy Forever’

By Steven Brodsky

… will be included in a number of church services tomorrow and during the week because “Holy Forever” is much admired, and because “Holy Forever” beautifully proclaims that Jesus is holy forever!

See Philippians 2:9-11 at Philippians 2 (KJV) – If [there be] therefore any.

Posted 9-12-26

Sharper than any knife is the Bible

By Steven Brodsky

… any knife.

The Bible is sharper than the cherished knife that Guy Clark’s father had owned, a knife that’s featured in the lyrics of this autobiographical Guy Clark song:

And the Bible is sharper than my cherished knives that I’ve attentively sharpened on a whetstone.

See Hebrews 4:12.

Conversation about Guy Clark appears at: Revisiting With Tamara Saviano, Author of ‘Without Getting Killed or Caught: The Life and Music of Guy Clark’ – delcoculturevultures.com.

Posted 9-1-26

Autumn harvest in the Northern Hemisphere is near (autumn begins on September 22, 2026)

By Steven Brodsky

… Some of the most loyal readers of this column are farmers.

May farmers in this column’s readership have an abundant and successful autumn harvest!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRDaPEaDJ7Ei

Posted 8-18-26

Spotlighting words from three Bible verses in Hank Williams’ song ‘I Saw The Light’

By Steven Brodsky

… Listen for this lyric line: “For straight is the gate and narrow’s the way.”

See Luke 13:24: Luke 13 (KJV) – There were present at that.

See Matthew 7:13-14: Matthew 7 (NASB20) – Do not *judge, so that.

Just how narrow is the narrow gate? | GotQuestions.org

Those who are born again-saved have seen the light referenced in the Hank Williams song.

Hallelujah for God’s redemptive love.

John 3 (NASB20) – Now there was a man

Posted 8-16-26

The Aaronic Blessing

By Steven Brodsky

Pastor Chuck Smith singing the Aaronic Blessing in 1979: Blast from the past- Pastor Chuck Smith sings “The Lord Bless Thee”.

See Numbers 6:24-26: Numbers 6 (NASB20) – The LORD bless you, and.

Be blessed.

Posted 8-10-26, Revised 8-28-26

A video of some scenes from a Calvary Chapel’s ocean baptisms that took place around 1972

By Steven Brodsky

… includes audio of Love Song’s song “Feel The Love” and photos and video of Pastor Chuck Smith. (Pastor Chuck Smith founded the Calvary Chapel movement.)

Some born again-saved and baptized readers of this column will find themselves tearing up with joy when they watch that video: Calvary Chapel ocean baptism circa 1972.

Matthew 28:19-20: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Posted 7-28-26

Those who have been blessed by the revival of the ’60s and ’70s called the Jesus Revolution

By Steven Brodsky

…  may certainly want to proclaim “alleluia” or “praise the Lord”!

From the time and heart of that revival:

Be blessed!

Posted 7-10-26

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.”

https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/psalm/psalm-143.cfm

May we hear God’s lovingkindness in the morning and know the way that we should walk.

Posted 2-20-26

 

 

 

October is underway

By Steven Brodsky

… concurrent with rising concerns that many people have that the month will be fleeting, as are their mortal lives.

Robert Frost’s poem “October” aligns with those concerns: October | The Poetry Foundation.

James 4:14: “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

Of course, eternity is forever.

Posted 10-2-26

Some writers might be off their gourd

By Steven Brodsky

… to not be mindful of the delights of autumn.

Enjoy autumn 2026!

Posted 9-28-26

Some leaves from deciduous trees are precociously fluttering to the ground

By Steven Brodsky

… Not very precociously, however, as astronomical autumn will arrive in the Northern Hemisphere on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 8:05 p.m. ET.

Opportune is the opportunity to enjoy the seasonal transition period and to take writerly notice of some of the natural world’s innumerable potential writing prompts.

Taking advantage of this opportunity can result in a satisfying harvest on screen and paper.

“And who’s to say where / The harvest shall stop?”

Writing often begets writing.

The quoted question is comprised of the last two lines of this poem by Robert Frost: Gathering Leaves | The Poetry Foundation.

Posted 9-18-26

In memory of Wendell Berry

By Steven Brodsky

… readers of this column can take inspiration from the poem “How to Be a Poet”:

Wendell Berry passed away on August 31, 2026 at the age of 92.

Died: Wendell Berry, Kentucky Poet and Novelist Who Loved God’s Creation – Christianity Today

Posted 9-12-26

High schools across the U.S. are invited to register to participate in the National Endowment for the Arts’ Poetry Out Loud poetry recitation competition that will be taking place during the 2026-2027 school year

By Steven Brodsky

From a news release that was issued today, September 3, 2026, by the National Endowment for the Arts:

Washington, DC—Poetry Out Loud®, an arts education program of the National Endowment for the Arts, is returning for the 2026-2027 school year, inviting high school students from across the country to participate in this dynamic poetry recitation competition that is designed to improve public speaking skills, build confidence, and teach about literary history and contemporary life.

Schools and organizations are encouraged to visit PoetryOutLoud.org for free poetry education resources, including an anthology of classic and contemporary poems, and to contact their Poetry Out Loud state coordinator to register for this year’s official competition.

“Each year, students, parents, and teachers tell us that Poetry Out Loud has a lasting impact on participants,” said Mary Anne Carter, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “By studying and reciting poetry, young people discover new ways to connect with language, express complex ideas and emotions with confidence, and stand before an audience ready to use their voice.”

Since this arts education program began in 2005, more than 4.6 million students and 89,000 teachers from 22,000 schools across the U.S. have participated in Poetry Out Loud.

The program starts at the local level in a classroom, school, or an area organization. Participating students select, memorize, and recite poems from the Poetry Out Loud anthology. Winners may then advance to a regional and/or state competition, and ultimately to the National Finals, where $50,000 in prizes and stipends are awarded annually to competitors and their home communities—including a $20,000 prize for the National Champion. The 2027 Poetry Out Loud National Finals will take place April 27-28, 2027, in Washington, DC.

Poetry Out Loud is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with participating state and jurisdictional arts agencies and managed by Mid Atlantic Arts. Mid Atlantic Arts administers the Poetry Out Loud National Finals and all aspects of the monetary prizes.

Why Poetry Out Loud Matters

National Endowment for the Arts research shows that students who participate in Poetry Out Loud showed improved writing and analytical skills. Research also found that participating students showed increase in self-confidence and reported that reading and listening to poetry helped them think about situations from multiple perspectives.

These skills extend far beyond their application to a poetry competition, helping students in other school subjects and as they enter the workforce.

Poetry Out Loud can also have a positive impact on schools, helping to build community, forging stronger bonds between teachers and students, and bringing together students who may not have otherwise formed connections.

How to Participate

To register for the 2026-2027 program, schools and organizations should contact their state arts agency. All types of high schools are welcome to participate, including public, private, parochial, independent, charter, and homeschool. Non-school organizations, such as after school clubs, libraries, or nonprofit organizations, may choose to run Poetry Out Loud as well. Students unable to participate at their school or a local organization should contact their state Poetry Out Loud coordinator to discuss other opportunities for inclusion in their state’s official competition.

Posted 9-3-26

With the autumn apple harvest season drawing nigh

By Steven Brodsky

… some of the readers of this column are looking forward to eating freshly picked apples and writing.

It’s easy to envision Robert Frost having enjoyed that delicious gustatory and literary combination; an apple orchard was located on his farm and he was a picker of apples at that orchard.

Enjoyable before, during, and after autumn apple harvests, this poem by Robert Frost: After Apple-Picking | The Poetry Foundation.

Posted 8-25-26

For those who want to write autobiographically about being redeemed and transformed by the Lord, and for all other readers of this column

By Steven Brodsky

… I’m sharing this video embed:

May Big Daddy Weave’s song “My Story” be a blessing to you.

I came across an interesting article a few minutes ago. You’ll find that article at: How do I share my Christian testimony? | GotQuestions.org.

Posted 6-26-26

Whether or not to cast literary pearls before swine

By Steven Brodsky

… Writers grapple with this issue.

Swine can be as cute (or cuter) than the piglets pictured above; often they aren’t.

Casting of “pearls before swine,” in a different context, is addressed in Matthew 7:6.

Posted 6-10-26

A less traveled road

By Steven Brodsky

… can make “all the difference,” as can this well-known poem by Robert Frost: The Road Not Taken | The Poetry Foundation.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shackled and unshackled listeners

By Steven Brodsky

… have been enjoying episodes of UNSHACKLED!, the iconic radio drama show, since 1950.

Episodes of UNSHACKLED! are accessible at: https://unshackled.org/on-demand/browse-all-programs/.

John 8:36: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

Note to readers: This post appeared at: https://delcoculturevultures.com/2025/05/06/conversations-about-faith/.

Posted 6-6-24, Revised and reposted 5-6-25

 

The National Gallery of Art’s 10th National Gallery Nights series will begin on September 10, 2026

By Steven Brodsky

… and will continue on the second Thursday of October and on the second Thursday of November 2026 in the National Gallery’s East Building.

Visit National Gallery Nights | National Gallery of Art for additional information, including information about how passes will be issued.

Posted 8-17-26

Purchasing school supplies

By Steven Brodsky

… evokes memories of school experiences.

My memories of art classes are positive. My art teachers were outstanding; they were quite unlike the fictive first teacher that appears in this linked Harry Chapin song: https://youtu.be/4cVpkzZpDBA?si=Fm5xt2z3NyWncCL3.

Fortunately, that fictive teacher would likely now be no longer teaching and subjecting students to lessons that most would view as best to be unlearned.

Posted 8-17-26

The National Gallery of Art has announced its selection of 50 finalists in its social media open call for reinterpretations of works of art in the National Gallery’s collection through original short-form videos

By Steven Brodsky

… Congratulations to the finalists!

Open Call | National Gallery of Art

From a National Gallery of Art news brief issued today, June 15, 2026:

As part of its commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, the National Gallery earlier this year called on digital creators throughout the country to reinterpret works of art in the museum’s collection. After receiving over 1,600 proposals, the museum has selected 50 top creators. The National Gallery will post their creative reimaginations on its social media throughout 2026.

Posted 6-15-26

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.

Posted 6-8-20

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.

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 4^th – December 28^th
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

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. 

The Ocean City Beach Patrol’s website address is:   https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/emergency-services/beach-patrol/ .                                                    

Posted June 1, 2018

 

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.