Business Perspectives
How to Turn a Swamp Into Money
How Beaver County’s Junction Park transformed a swamp into a trolley-era destination for affordable recreation, entertainment and community life.
The Fair, the Farm, and the Candidate in Clean Shoes
A look at Beaver County’s fair traditions, from Hookstown and Big Knob to tractor pulls, farm families, fair food and politicians courting rural voters.
The Sport of Kings, With Funnel Cake
Darlington Polo Club brings the sport of kings to Beaver County with night matches, dirt fields, family tradition, pickup trucks and funnel cake.
About That Warm, Fuzzy Feeling
Empathy matters, but compassion without consequences can mislead. Grandpa Jim explores why wisdom must ask what happens next.
Old Economy, New Lessons: Why Socialism Keeps Getting a Second Chance
Why socialism keeps returning, what history reveals about central planning, and how markets, social democracy, and communal experiments compare.
The People Who Built Economy — and Forgot to Reproduce
The story of the Harmony Society, Old Economy Village, and the celibate community that built wealth, industry, and a lasting legacy in Ambridge.
Yes, She Really Is That Into You
A humorous guide for older men on recognizing when a woman is interested, from subtle glances and mirroring to compliments, confidence, and companionship.
The Price We Pay for Hating Men
An argument against judging men or women as categories, exploring contempt, bias, relationships, and the social cost of replacing individuality with ideology.
A Good Walk Never Wasted
A witty history of golf in Beaver County, from Beaver Valley and Black Hawk to Olde Stonewall and hometown legend Bill “Putt” Gabal.
Learning to Hear the Music Beneath the Noise
A thoughtful review of Henri Nouwen’s Discernment, exploring attention, silence, identity, and learning to recognize God’s voice in ordinary life.
Christmas Is a Blessing—Which, Thank God, Comes But Once a Year
A thoughtful reflection on Christmas—its history, traditions, and contradictions—and why this demanding season still insists on pause, generosity, and gratitude in modern life.
Fusion Confusion: Why The Murder of an MIT Fusion Scientist Is Melting Down the Internet
A clear-eyed look at fusion science, internet conspiracies, and why the tragic death of an MIT physicist has nothing to do with suppressed energy, Tesla myths, or secret breakthroughs.
Dickens, Pittsburgh, and the True Meaning of Christmas
How Charles Dickens’s 1842 visit to smoky Pittsburgh helped shape *A Christmas Carol*, linking industrial life, compassion, and the enduring moral meaning of Christmas.
Washington Irving Reminds Us What Christmas Used To Be
A reflection on Washington Irving’s “Old Christmas,” exploring the enduring value of tradition, lingering, and shared rituals in a world increasingly shaped by efficiency and haste.
The Santa Claus Conspiracy
A witty Beaver County take on Santa Claus, arguing that Bonnage’s Toy Store—not Thomas Nast or Coca-Cola—was the true power behind Christmas belief.
The Unexpected Return of “Material Sovereignty”
A sharp look at how America’s obsession with efficiency hollowed out manufacturing—and why places like Beaver County may be poised for a quiet industrial comeback.
The Great Leveler: Why Newspapers Still Matter
A reflection on how algorithms replaced editors, and why communities like Beaver County still need shared, fact-based local news to sustain democracy and common ground.
The Value of a Newspaper
A 1913 essay praising the newspaper as democracy’s greatest educator, shaping public opinion, spreading knowledge, and serving as an essential, affordable force for civic progress.
The Bad News About Vet Care Your Hooman Won’t Tell You
A humorous canine-narrated look at rising veterinary costs, corporate clinic takeovers, and how pet care economics are reshaping households, budgets, and the pets we love.
When Christmas Came to Beaver County
A nostalgic journey through Beaver County’s Christmas past—bustling streets, local shops, ethnic traditions, and the enduring holiday spirit that still brings the community together.