Good Morning

Image 1: Mrs. Kilmer's room.

                The classroom is plain, like any other classroom. The teacher’s desk sits in the front by the door, the old wood worn from years of use, and the drawers groan when they are opened. There are some posters on the wall, quotes from The Scarlet Letter, The Raven, and To Kill a Mockingbird. The shades on the windows are pulled down half-way, just enough for the room to stay cool in the summer, but to also to let a trickle of sunlight escape from the bottom. There’s no carpet on the floor, and smooth wood has tiny scratches from years of students walking in and out and desks being shuffled around. All in all, it seems a pretty average classroom, except for the old armchair in front of the teacher’s desk. This arm chair – a big, pink monstrosity of a thing – is the favored seat of Mrs. Judy Kilmer, the English teacher who taught in that classroom, in that chair, for years.

              Judy Kilmer stands at five-foot-nothing, a sixty year old woman with a sharp tongue and nerves of steel. She teaches English Literature, Journalism, and Creative Writing with passion and excitement, all the while engaging her students with stories of her life in the 70’s, filled with bra-burnings and protests. Every day she enters her room and says “good morning’ to her students, even when it’s two o’clock in the afternoon, and sits down in her armchair before starting class.      
            Mrs. Kilmer had wanted to be an English teacher since her third year of high school. When asked if anyone had inspired her to pursue this career, she smiled fondly and replied “Carol Kocher”, who had been her English teacher then. “I never wanted to do anything else,” she claimed. “That was it.”

                She currently works and West Scranton High, where she went to high school. “It’s still the same,” she says with a chuckle. She’s taught at several schools in the area over the years, including Riverside, Scranton Central (now Scranton High), and Scranton Tech. Still, West Scranton remains her favorite. “It’s home,” she says.



Image 2: Left-Scranton Federation of Teachers president, Rosemary Bland.
Right-Scranton School District Superintendent Dr. Alexis Kirijan.

          Being a teacher in the city of Scranton isn’t easy. The taxes are high, the budgets low, and the option of the profession is even lower. “People don’t like us ‘cause we’re in a union,” Mrs. Kilmer says. The teacher’s union of Scranton has been the butt of jokes in many political cartoons in Scranton’s newspaper, The Times Tribune (see image 2). It’s not a very high paying job, and the benefits aren’t great either. Despite that, Mrs. Kilmer claims to never have wanted to do anything else. “That was it for me,” she says, and her chest swells a little with pride. “I like my job. I would never do anything else.”

              Mrs. Kilmer enjoys the personal interaction she has with her students on a day-to-day basis. She tries to form a personal connection with each one, and many remember her fondly. She has attended graduation parties, weddings, and even baby showers of former students. To her, school should not consist of sitting at a desk and taking notes; it is so much more than that. “It’s educational, it’s spiritual, it’s social. It’s everything all at once,” she says earnestly. Students she has taught over the years still visit and ask for advice on politics, work, and life in general. She has made such an impact that some even visited her when she was in the hospital due to medical complications. She smiles softly when she says “a whole mess of kids came into the room one night with all these flowers and all these balloons, and that was very nice”. 

             Her approach to teaching differs from some. Rather than just sitting at her desk and having students copy notes, Mrs. Kilmer prefers to have in depth conversations with the class, and get all the students talking about their views and options. Though she has mastered this technique over the years, she recalls some incidents that didn’t end so well. “When I was younger, I used to like to sit on a desk, on top of a desk, and really get in there and teach. One time I was attempting to get off the desk, and I fell flat on my face." She laughs and shakes her head. "And the kids were hysterically laughing, but at the same time trying to pick me up.”

                Though Mrs. Kilmer is coming toward the end of her career as an educator, she doesn’t plan to leave the education system entirely. “I might run for school board,” she says thoughtful. She has been involved with the Scranton school board for many years already, and still believes that there is much work to be done, starting with the food. She recalls one student, a boy from Turkey, who refuses to eat the processed meals they serve in the cafeteria. “I have a kid now that doesn’t go up to the lunch room, so this is what I do; I go up to Wegmans and I buy him a box of these,” she gets up and fetches a box of fruit grain bars off the counter, “every now and again, and he sits every day and that’s what he has for lunch.” She also considers getting more involved with politics, and fighting to end the ‘No Child Left Behind’ program, which, in her opinion, seems to force students with disabilities like ADHD and ADD into regular classes that can’t provide the help they need. “It’s a nice name, but not a nice idea,” she claims. “Nobody’s winning there.”

Image 3: Mrs. Judy Kilmer, 2015

                  Close to retirement, Mrs. Kilmer often reflects on what she hopes her students will take away from her classes. “I want my students to realize that literature has been written to connect the dots of life,” she says. “I hope that they find themselves, and most of all I hope that they realize, too, that it shouldn’t be a rat race every day; there should be some happiness . . . I hope that they have a lifelong love of learning, especially of reading, you know? And that writing can sometimes be a real asset in their lives, even if nobody else reads it.” Even at the end, she has no regrets when it comes to being a teacher. “I found my career, as I’m starting to come to the end of it, the best choice I could have made. I’m doing exactly what I want to do, what I’m supposed to do, and I feel as though I make a difference . . . I could not be happier.”

The Right Hand Man



Figure 1: see note

          "Ding," the grey elevator door opens slowly and reveals a middle aged man. He is about 5'6", medium frame, a mild tan, black sleeked hair, with a five a clock after shave. He has a lime green button down shirt with a black tie, grey slacks, midnight color pointy shoes, along with grey glasses hanging off his left shirt pocket. Briefcase in hand, he trudges forward with a faint smile on his face. As he strolls down the narrow hallway (Figure 1), he encounters a Caucasian woman with short brown hair, a blue blazer, short black skirt, and black flats. "Good Morning David" she utters in a soft voice as she swings her hand towards him for a handshake. "Good afternoon Dean." Smiles stretch across their faces and their hands shake in a quick manner. As her head nods, she quickly lets go of his hand, walking away saying, "See you at 8 for the meeting." David nods his head as he responds in a husky voice, "Okay Dean." He heads towards his room and upon entering, there is a brown sign on the door saying, "Assistant to the Dean, David Vazquez Gonzalez."

            Dr. David Vazquez Gonzalez started working at Bloomsburg as the Assistant to the Dean of the College of Education on August 2nd, 2015. "This is a very interesting position. It looked demanding, but I was up for a challenge. Not only that but teaching here would have great benefits for my two daughters as well," David exclaimed. David would only commute a five minute walk and his daughters would get benefits from the school as well, a position he would not let down. David embarked on this journey from Georgia. He had left his teaching position at Dalton State College and came to Bloomsburg for a new experience. "I love it here. It is hard work, but Bloomsburg is a great place. This is a job I would like to retire from." David has been in education for over 25 years. He holds two Doctorates. One in Higher Leadership at Nova Southeastern University in 2003 and the next in K-12 Education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2005. He has practically been in almost every field of education. From a teacher at the University of Puerto Rico, to the NYC Board of Education, to a principle at Roberto Clemente Charter School, to a Director of World Languages in Philadelphia, to being the Assistant to the Dean, he has truly been everywhere. "Education is something that should not vary from state to state, or country to country. Education is something that should be the same everywhere and have the same goal, to help people grow." Although many people do not understand exactly what he does, David dedicates everything to his job now.

             Many people overlook what the Assistant to the Dean does, yet it is a very strenuous and tedious job. They do multiple activities. "I once had to develop a timeline from our reports for the 2019 CAPE visit. I had to gather data on my own, and create this timeline predicting how our programs would be. It was very difficult because if my information was wrong it could jeopardize everything." David developed timelines, as well as the most important activities, making sure all the programs get a critique by the State and International Associations. The programs here are basically all the departments at Bloomsburg. English, Psychology, Sociology, etc. Without the Assistant to the Dean, there would be no programs. David must know all the policies, and then work individually with each department to get them accredited.  After they get accredited by the State, then they move on to the International Associations. This means a lot of paper work, meetings, and workshops. Meetings and workshops can be held anywhere in the state of Pennsylvania. They typically last more than five hours. With David already working from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 5 days a week, this meant no breaks. However, that is not the hardest part of the job. Developing assessments and aligning them is the last thing David wants to do. He must develop each assessment for each program and make sure they are all aligned together. This takes months to do, and with deadlines, this job can become your worst nightmare. 

Figure 2: see note

         "This is a very challenging job, but the challenges keeps me motivated. But if there was one thing I would change, it would be my office space," David conveys as he looks around his clumped room. The office resembles a perfect square, about 9 ft. wide on each side. A white circular desk cuffs around half of his office. Dirty tan blinds cover the window on the north side of the room. A white cabinet sits next to his black roller chair. A small Aspire laptop, black phone, mini printer, and paper adorn the desk. Having no AC, a white fan lays on the floor underneath his desk. All around the room are Puerto Rican decorations, flags, and many souvenirs. On the left side of the room, a small book shelf rests on top of the desk. An assortment of colors are filled within the books. Right on top of the book shelf (Figure 2) is a mini Puerto Rican ship with a name tag that reads, "David Vazquez Gonzalez." The room had a soothing mixture of a coffee and febreze scent. On the south end of the room, there is a white board with the program lists. A variety of different Spanish songs can be heard coming from David's computer. "My room is a bit closed, but it doesn't stop me from doing my work. I am a proud Puerto Rican, I love that I can decorate my room with my culture. My hope is that I will be able to decorate for Halloween too," David said with a bright smile as he looked around the room.

Figure 3: see note

         "Knock knock," said the Dean as she knocked at his door. David tries to concentrate on his work with his face somewhere between melancholic and stressed (Figure 3). "David it is 8 a.m., let's go the meeting." David turns around in his chair and faces her with his hands clasped. "Ah, I am sorry, I was caught up in the world of assessments, but okay, let us go." He brushes off his frown, quickly gets up as he pats his pants down and proceeds beside her. They exit his office heading towards the meeting room. The Dean walks gracefully with a faint smile. On the other hand, David has a nervous look, clenching his hands tightly. They enter into a circular room with a large brown rectangular desk in the center with four black chairs surrounding it. The Dean sits in the one farthest from the entrance as David slowly takes a seat on the chair to the right of her. "Okay. So David, I recognized that you seem stressed. Is it the job, or something else?" the Dean discloses with a concerned look on her face. David looks down at his lap, takes a deep breath and then speaks. "It has nothing to do with the job. I truly love this job and I am very grateful. I am just worried about my daughters. I do not know if they are adjusting well here. They just moved from Florida to be with me. I've missed 10 years of their life. I don't know if I am being a good father," he says in a trembling voice. "David, being a parent is no easy task. If it was easy, then anyone could do it. Your daughters will be fine. Take this time and make up for it. College is an experience. They will get stressed and do a lot of hard work, but you just have to be there for them. You are an excellent worker so I know that you are an excellent father. Don't worry," the Dean announces with a bright smile. David looks up at her green eyes as he inhales a deep breath and relaxes. "Thank you. You're right. I needed that. Everything will be okay." David finally smiles. As the Dean rises she says, "Do not fret, everything will be alright." David joyfully smiles and replies "Gracias, everything will be okay. The Dean slowly walks away and in a light voice speaks, "De nada. Now I am off for my real meeting, keep on working hard at the office and at home!"

             David does work very hard at home and at the office. A day in his life is like no other. At 5:30 a.m. his alarm goes off. As he gets up, preparing for a new day, he makes a quick breakfast, whether it be a piece of toast with cheese or just black coffee, fuel is a necessity. He then walks to work and arrives at 6:30 a.m. on a good day. Once he arrives, he greets everyone he sees, and heads to office. Once in his office, he opens up his computer and checks his mail. Everything important is taken care of first. After the mail is done, it is off to finish paperwork. David will sit at his desk until 12 p.m., his lunch break. With an hour to spare, he either chooses to walk home and make a quick lunch, or just stay at his office and keeps working. Regardless of his choice, there is always work piled up in his wait. If he chooses to go home, he packs up his stuff, walks home, makes a quick meal, eats at a mile a minute, then walks back. If he chooses to stay, then he just keeps doing paperwork. After lunch is typically when meetings begin. Some meetings can be from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m., even 12 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. Once his day is over, he walks home, and showers. He then cooks for his daughters and indulges in Puerto Rican food. By this time, it is already 8 p.m., which means time to sleep. However, before sleeping, David always checks on his daughters to see if they need any help. Once he accomplishes that he can sleep, only to repeat this long day again the next day.

           David is a very intelligent man, who has an enormous amount of dedication to education.  He is a man who is articulate and witty. A man who takes initiative and perseveres in all he does. "This job may be the hardest job I have ever had, but it is also the job that I have learned and grew the most from. Being the Assistant to the Dean is not something a lot of people know about. I do a multitude of work, but I am the Dean's right hand man, it is a given. I strongly believe it is worth all the hard work," states David. "David is one of the hardest workers I have ever had and it has been such a pleasure to meet him," says the Dean. Hard work does pay off. Maybe one day, upon entering his sleek new room, there will be another brown sign on the door, but this time saying, "Dean, David Vazquez Gonzalez."    

Life MAT-ters

When people are asked where they would love to be the most, the average response is a tropical island, beautiful mountains, or within city limits. However, Roger Sanders' response would be a stingy smelling, damp, humid wrestling room with two huge maroon, squishy mats. To him, the Bloomsburg University wrestling room is more than that. Written on the maroon wall in huge yellow letters is, "We expect academic All-Americans and National Champions." This quote is exactly what Roger Sanders is all about.

Bloomsburg University Wrestling Room

Roger Sanders was a 5'9, stocky, athletic freshman at Pennsbury High School trying out for the high school basketball team. His days as a basketball player did not last long...until one day a couple of his friends convinced him to try out for the high school wrestling team during his sophomore year. His father, not too fond of the situation, did not want him to try out. He thought wrestling was "all a show". However, on the morning of high school wrestling tryouts, Roger tossed his wrestling bag out of the bathroom window so his dad didn't know he was taking it to school. His secret affair with wrestling ended quickly when a co-worker of his father approached him with an article saying that Roger had pinned six straight wrestlers as a newcomer. "My dad was more mad that I lied to him rather than trying out for the team," Roger said. However, Roger convinced his father to go to a match, and since that day his dad became his number one fan, never missing a match. Throughout his high school wrestling career, Roger only lost one match, winning the district championship twice. Wrestling consists of three, two minute periods in high school. In college, it consists of one three minute period and two, two minute periods. This may not seem like much, but wrestling involves constant determination and stamina and the wrestler must be on their game 100% of the time. 

Roger (standing), wrestling an opponent
at West Chester University

When Roger was on the hunt for colleges, West Chester University and the University of Maryland showed interest, but Roger chose West Chester University because it was much closer to home. During his years at West Chester, Roger remained undefeated in dual meets. He placed third in the NCAA Wrestling Tournament his sophomore year and was the NCAA Champion his senior year. Roger also was a 3X Middle Atlantic Champion and a 3X All-American. Needless to say, this 5'9 wrestler was very successful throughout his years at West Chester.

Roger's love for wrestling was not quite ready to end. He was offered a coaching position at Palmyra High School in Palmyra, Pennsylvania. He coached there for two years before moving to the next level as the head coach at New York University (NYU). Roger clearly turned NYU's program around, showing his talent of coaching. Before Roger, NYU had lost 33 out of the 36 matches. However, when Roger coached, the team went 50-18 in the five years that Roger coached. "It was the team. I never won any of those matches. Those guys put all their effort into turning the program around." This just shows how humble Roger really is and how he realizes that wrestling is a team sport, not just a group of individuals.

Roger then moved to Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, where he began coaching what was then known as Bloomsburg State College, for his final destination. To say that Roger was successful in his twenty-one years of coaching is an understatement. As the coach at Bloomsburg, Roger's team had a fifth place finish at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Tournament, with eight Pennsylvania Conference team championships and two Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) team championships. Roger also coached 47 wrestlers to the Pennsylvania Conference Championships, and 27 wrestlers to the Eastern Wrestling League Championships. He also was the coach of six NCAA Division II All-Americans and nine Division I All-Americans. He was the backbone of some of the greatest wrestlers in the entire country. Out of all the years of Roger's "wrestling life", the moment that stands out to him the most was when Shorty Hitchcock won not only the Division II National Championship as a 177 pounder, but the Division I National Championship as well. This made him the best 177 pounder in the entire nation; he has Roger Sanders to thank for that. Roger was also a very proud coach when Ricky Bonomo became a 3X Division I Champion at 118 pounds. This is an accomplishment that only few people in the country have achieved, even today. Roger was so ecstatic that he got to see two athletes that he really enjoyed and worked so hard on become so successful. Roger glowed with excitement and joy just talking about the two wrestlers, even years later. As a team, Roger was also very proud of the moment that the Bloomsburg Wrestling team defeated Penn State University at home, a tense rivalry where Bloomsburg came out strong.



Roger coaching at
Bloomsburg University

After 21 years of coaching at Bloomsburg University, Roger knew it was time to come to the end. The wear and tear of his wrestling years were starting to take full effect. He had one hip replacement, followed by three more in the future. Traveling around the country with his team was something he could no longer do. Roger decided to retire from the coaching position and spend time with his wife, Nancy, and two children, Julie and Traci. He pursued teaching at Bloomsburg as a physical education teacher and exercise science teacher for ten more years.

Today, still living in Bloomsburg with his wife, Roger still pops in on wrestling practices, giving his two cents to the team. And you bet that those wrestlers listen to every word that comes out of his mouth, soaking in the years of knowledge. Current sophomore wrestler at Bloomsburg University, T.C. Warner, said, "Roger is very well-respected in the wrestling room. He's demonstrative and he's willing to help anyone. He improves all of our technique within just one or two practices and he gives us a different variety of moves that are out of the norm." Many of the Bloomsburg wrestlers said that he is "just plain-hard."

Roger coaching Ricky Bonomo, a
Bloomsburg wrestler then...

Roger coaching Bloomsburg
wrestlers now...

Current Bloomsburg University Wrestling head coach, Jason Mester, simply recalled Roger, with big eyes and a shake of his head, as "unbelievable". Being the current head coach, Jason Mester knows how hard Roger must have worked to achieve the impossible. He is nothing but grateful that Roger helps out occasionally during practices. He feels that Roger has brought history to the team and meshes the past with the present. "He bridges the gap that I can't." With a smirk on his face, Mester says that Roger "gets things done".

When asked what Roger misses the most about wrestling, he jokingly says "nothing". He doesn't miss the recruiting, fundraising, etc. However, he will tell you that he misses getting the wrestlers ready for a big match and the 1 on 1 aspect. "It's just you, no excuses," he says with a look on his face that truly shows a love for the sport. He misses the rush you get when the referee blows the whistle to start the match, the shake of the hand between the wrestlers, and the full out fight to the finish until the time on the clock has expired. Roger surely did live a full "wrestling life". 

A Gentleman's Sport

        "Golf is a game that's deceptively simple but endlessly difficult, that's why I think it's become so popular and the overall love for the game will never die", enthusiastically explains Jeff Austin, owner of Rich Valley Golf Course and Clubhouse in beautiful Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Jeff launched his business back in 2003 with his wife, and since then Rich Valley has developed in one of the favorite golf courses of the south central Pennsylvania area. Jeff, who shares his love for entrepreneurship with his wife, designed the course himself and received the start up capital from his wife's greeting card business. 

(Figure 1)
View of clubhouse from 4th hole green

   
        Rich Valley boasts a 500 yard driving range for amateurs and regulars alike to hone their skills, and gain a good feel for the distance of each club they utilize. The driving range also features two 5 story high sections of netting to prevent balls from flying onto the course itself. The golf ball dispensing machine, looking similar to a small vending machine, provides balls for the golfer's who wish to practice on the driving range. Tokens, that can be purchased at the clubhouse, are inserted into the machine and a bucket is placed under the machine. The machine then drops a certain number of bright yellow golf balls, depending on which token was inserted, into the bucket. On the opposite side from the course contains a small 3 hole-circuit that provides a cheap, fun, yet challenging course geared more towards families and novice golfers. The circuit is accompanied by an 18 hole miniature golf course, built in 2013, that was designed to be a scaled down model of the actual course. Finally, the center of the Rich Valley complex houses the clubhouse (see Figure 1), featuring the Rich Valley Pro Shop and Nolo's Restaurant & Lounge. Recently renovated, the clubhouse exterior shows off a sleek and stylish slanted roof design with wooden sides painted a calming rustic shade of orange. Reinforced with brick and concrete foundations, the clubhouse acts as a beacon and represents the start and finish line of the day for the golfers that play there. 

 
        When we walk into the Pro Shop, we are immediately greeted by Barry the clubhouse manager and course superintendent. He kindly offers a free, juicy hotdog, and informed us about the many specials and deals the pro shop is currently advertising. The pro shop's lined with every golf product imaginable including; balls, clubs, bags, gloves, towels, tees, hats, shoes, shirts, pants, and many more. The price of each item marked by a small circular sticker with a number written in black sharpie. The set up is similar to a retail store, with clothing and equipment in the back, and the more impulse items right on the counter next to the register. Barry, wearing a white polo shirt and khaki pants, rightfully is known for having a great sense of humor and being very witty. He always wants to come off as someone who is easy to talk too, makes his customers feel relaxed, and ensured that there experience at Rich Valley will be incredible. Barry checks our tee time and hands us our scorecards, pencils, and keys to the golf carts we'll be using. "I don't want to see a scratch on these puppies, alright fellas?", he jokingly remarks with his signature smirk, "I saw you gents driving in and I got to say I'm a little worried about my dear golf carts. I'm just pulling your leg! Goodluck!" 

(Figure 2)
The short par-3 12th hole has many hazards

      The course's beauty leaves most people speechless their first time golfing there, because it catches everyone by surprise. Located in a relatively open area, not even the surrounding army of trees can block the view of the majestic Appalachian Mountains standing tall in the distance. The course entails a lot of twist and turns, very similar to a snake slithering through the tall grass that inhabits the outside areas of the course (see Figure 2). Golf carts whiz down the fairway and cart paths like cars merging on and off the interstate, and the yellow flag sticks stand proudly on the green, intimidating the approaching players and waving in the cool breeze. Sand traps are sprinkled throughout the course, and the two water hazards claims many victims each day, some never escaping their grasps. The only sounds that can be heard are the leaves of the trees, rustling in the wind, and the distant sound of traffic on a nearby highway. Playing a round of golf on Rich Valley is a calming experience that brings people relaxation and care-free attitudes.

       
        The suns beats down on my back as I make my backswing on the par-4 5th hole, and the ball soars high into the clear blue sky. Then I watch as the cool, calming breeze sends my ball sailing into the sand trap, not even close to it's intended target. Feeling betrayed and distraught, I sluggishly trudge back to the golf cart for my ride of shame, hoping to retrieve and evacuate my ball off the beach and onto that short green grass. During the round I played at Rich Valley, I also learned of many of the rules or golf etiquette that every player must follow, as golf is a gentlemen's sport, and the etiquette helps keeps the game safe and minimizes damage to the course and equipment. Examples of proper golf etiquette include: repairing divots on fairway and green, standing still, not being in the fellow golfers line of sight to distract him/her, marking balls for identification, raking the sand trap, yelling "fore" in the case of a poor shot heading towards another group's area, slow groups should allow groups playing at a faster pace to pass them, etc. Golfers are also expected to dress the part, business casual usually being the dress code and proper choice of golf attire.

(Figure 3)
Nolo's Restaurant and Lounge on the second level of the Clubhouse

 
        After shooting a forgettable score on the spectacular 18 hole course, the group makes its way to Nolo's Restaurant & Lounge (see Figure 3), where all golfers are welcome to relax, eat some delicious food, and reflect on the day's round of golf. The inside of the restaurant is low lit, and perfectly blended with the classical, relaxing jazz music. Only to be drowned out by the conversations of the many guests inside. Each table has a white tablecloth and perfectly arranged silverware, which are tastefully painted on the walls as well. The windows give a great view of the action on the 18th hole, and are similar to the windows of a limousine, in that you can see out but not into them. Waiters quickly approach new tables immediately after being seated and treat them to a warm, crisp bread basket. Nolo's offers a wide variety of food, drinks, and desserts, the clubhouse favorite being the delectable, juicy Nolo's Hanger Steak. Grilled to perfection, the chef, like a painter with his painting, glazes the steak with sweet honey barbecue sauce, but then maliciously adds a few drops of hot Tabasco sauce to spice up the taste buds. The steak is then set on top of french fries so that all of its juices, aromas, and sauce are transferred to the crispy, salty steak fries. Josh Wilken has been working for Rich Valley for over ten years now, and believes that Nolo's holds one of the top spots for best restaurants in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. I love the atmosphere here the most definitely, this is a great place to work. The food is so fantastic, I take all my lunch breaks here, and the atmosphere compliments every aspect of this place perfectly. The managers and Jeff are also very kind and just overall great people to be around and work with. I've been given many opportunities to move up from bus boy, to waiter, and now I'm being told I have an interview next month to become the new staff manager!" Rich Valley has always been family owned, and customers believe after visiting Rich Valley, that they are now part of this huge family.

(Figure 4)
Jeff Austin, the owner of Rich Valley, explains how the first
part of the course he designed was actually the Clubhouse.

     
       After visiting Nolo's, I finally found the owner, Jeff Austin, working out in the heat, planting flowers near the new miniature golf course. Jeff's white-striped collared shirt and tan khaki pants were covered in dirt and sweat stains, and a big straw hat and sunglasses shielded his light brown, shaggy hair and eyes from the scorching, blinding sun in the sky (see Figure 4). Not knowing better, he could easily be mistaken for just another worker, but luckily my friend who worked there part time pointed him out to me. He takes pride in being a true working man in everything he does, but claims he has never worked a day in his life since opening this course up. "I've always had a passion for golf, so when the opportunity to build and design my own course became reality, I was super stoked to get started. I assisted in all the labor required to physically build the course, and I'm usually the first one to arrive in the morning and help maintain the course. It's just something I love getting up in the morning to do everyday." He goes on to explain how golf is different than most other sports because there are no teammates, to help you or blame for the loss. Also, most professional events last 4 days (thursday-sunday), which is considerably longer than any other sports like football, basketball, soccer, etc. That means that golfers have be mentally sharp for 4 days instead of a few hours like other athletes, and mental strength is harder to achieve than physical strength. The whole game is all in your head, your mental stability in pressure situations can make or break you when you need it the most. A golfer's mental strength, sharpness, and stability is the difference between a shank that goes into the pond, or making a 40 foot putt for the win. "Anybody can play golf, which is another reason why I love it so much. We see young high school and college kids playing for fun, adults playing in tournaments or on "business trips", and then you have the old farts like me that seem to be there every day and play a round. You meet a lot of incredible people, and make a lot of long-lasting relationships."

      Golf is a intriguing sport that has been around since the 15th century, first originating in Scotland. The first golf clubs and balls were constructed on wooden sticks and small circular rocks, and over time, golf has evolved into a game that is enjoyed by the millions who play it everyday. Golf is a sport that requires great concentration, discipline to mechanics, and mental endurance. A great golfer is one who stays focused on the next shot, instead of marveling or pouting over the last shot. Many have sought after the perfect golf swing, however it is more than likely an impossible feat, seemingly close, yet always just out of the player's grasp. "Reverse every natural instinct and do the opposite of what you want to do, and you will probably be very close to having a perfect golf swing.", explains Jeff Austin, (quoting Ben Hogan, famous professional golfer) who says that human imperfections are what make golf a challenging sport. He believes that is also the reason it is one of the most popular sports in the world, because it's a game of mistakes and the players that make the least amount of mistakes win almost every time. "We as humans strive to be perfect, but we always fall a little short of our goal for perfection, that will never change, which means people will never stop playing golf, and I'll never be out of business."

A Little Piece of Heaven

Summer is the time where all the madness starts with people of different ages. This is the time for no school, sleeping in late, seeing friends, and most importantly having fun. Everyone goes into summer thinking it's going to be the best one they’ve had, but everyone ends up saying the same thing, “I wish I had a beach house” or “ I wish I could go to an Island”. Well no one usually says that they want to go to a lake especially people that have grown up in New Jersey. New Jersey is known for the ocean so why change what we know.

Deer Trail Lake in Pocono Pines, PA happens to be a 15 acre spring fed lake that not many people known about. It is one of the more private lakes in the Lake Naomi Community. The only people that really know about Deer Trail Lake are the people with the lakefront homes. The Lake Naomi community requires a certain amount of trees around the lake to keep the lake looking beautiful with scenery as well as adding to the privacy of people’s homes. 

The warm dock brings in the rays of sun that shines onto everyone's skin; the water stays calm and clear as a small breeze goes by. The calmness of the water will bring you into a peaceful state of mind where one is able to think of their inner thoughts. Kids are laughing in the distance at the sandy beach off the lake while running in and out of the water splashing each other. The fish are jumping as the poles are being casted into the water by the retired men on their boats.

Soon my neighbor Marian floats over to my dock on her raft. She soon starts saying that she use to be on the Timber Trails Lake in the Lake Naomi Community for 10 years and has only been on Deer Trail for 5 years. “It’s funny because we never even knew that Deer Trail Lake existed but now my husband and I don’t want to leave” said Marian. Her and her husband, Harvey, use this house as a vacation home. It's somewhere her two children and four grandchildren could come to have fun. 

When in the lake, water shoes are a must since the floor of the lake has two different elements being rocks and mud. The rocks are always nice to stand on but without shoes, they are extremely slippery while the mud is almost indescribable from the mysterious texture that hits your skin. As one swims or walks farther into the lake, they will notice that the temperature of the water changes constantly. There are several warm and cold spots through out the lake that pop-up randomly. 

This community is a family oriented place that has tons of activities to participate in at the three Lake Club Houses. There is one club house in Lake Naomi, one in Deer Trail, and one in Timber Trails. Each club house is meant for different activities but all three can be used by someone in this private community. The one club house in Lake Naomi has a huge pool that is off the lake. It is a unique pool considering it looks like it is pretty much on the lake and is the largest heated outdoor pool in Pennsylvania. The club house located in Deer Trail is the recreation/community center. It has the gym, indoor pool, sauna, indoor courts for sports, and outdoor tennis court. The last club house is in Timber Trails which has a golf course as well as an outdoor pool with the feature of a rock wall to jump off of into the pool. For a more in-depth look at the club houses, view this video:

Party at "The Link"

     Protruding above the rest of the buildings in southern Philadelphia rests Lincoln Financial Field or "The Link", home of the Philadelphia Eagles and the Temple Owls. Since the final brick was laid in August of 2003, the stadium has been a prominent figure of Philadelphia's skyline. As one gets closer to the stadium on a September Saturday afternoon, loud music and rowdy tailgating parties can be heard. Philadelphian fans are notorious for being passionate towards their home teams, especially when they're awaiting a key rivalry game. Today's matchup: The Penn State Nittany Lions versus The Temple Owls. "We're gonna get you guys this year! I can feel it coming! You're going down tonight!", slurs a highly intoxicated Owl alumni to a gentleman with a Penn State jersey on. To which the opposing fan chuckles and replies, "You say that every year, how about backing it up!" It doesn't take an expert to see that these teams have a history of hard fought battles on the gridiron, and the crazed tailgates hosting up to 50 fans each tell the whole story. Each and every fan, player and coach are ready for this years season opener.
    
     "We should be pretty good this year.", discusses the Owl's head coach, Matt Rhule. "The past few seasons have looked pretty promising." Mr. Rhule has been on Temple's coaching staff for six years before joining the New York Giants as an offensive line coach for the 2012 season. He then returned to Temple as the head coach in December of 2012, and he's been there since. "My first full season coaching the Owls was the 2013 season , all of our fans hated me," laughs Rhule. "I mean, I don't blame them, we were lousy! I believe our record was 2-10. The next year we fought towards four more wins as the team progressed to 6-6." Temple fans, players, and students hope to see an even bigger improvement throughout the 2015 season. What would be a better way to build confidence and publicity than a win over one of the best teams in college football!?
    
     As a fan enters the stadium, they are first met by a slew of intimidating security guards in their blue uniforms who are ready to stop and frisk anyone who looks somewhat suspicious. One of these persons of interest being a young girl who barely looked like she could hurt a fly. Her outraged father made sure he let the guard know how unwarranted the extensive search was. But hey, the man is just doing his job. Arriving at the entryway of the corridor to the sections of the stadium, any person would be intimidated by the larger-than-life sized murals of former football players that have played on the field that he is about to be face to face with. "DONOVAN McNABB-Quaterback. BRIAN WESTBROOK-Running back.", the names of these former players lead the newcomer to their seats. When the fan arrives at the hallway that has their section number on it, nothing can prepare them for the sight that is about to be experienced. With the light at the end of the tunnel getting brighter and more clear suspense fills the football-lover who suddenly feels like a giddy child on Christmas morning waiting to open their presents. At last, the moment has arrived. Stopping dead in their tracks the average football fan is in awe of the inside of the colossal structure built around a 100x53 yard plot of grass (Figure 1). A sea of green that is made up of individual seats can be seen as far as the eye can see, each one unique with its own story about what it has witnessed in its life at Lincoln Financial. Walking to their seats, one can hear the warm up music as the players get in the zone and ready for the upcoming battle. The aroma of cheesesteak and sunscreen fill the air. Men and women can be seen covered from head to toe in body paint. From all over the stadium comes the smooth "hiss" of the carbonation from beers being opened. The warm seat kisses the back and buttocks of every fan in the house who isn't too excited to be standing and jumping in place. The excitement calms as kickoff comes near.
    
     At the top of their lungs, the entire student section screams "WE, THE T" as the kickers foot comes in contact with the ball and the game is underway. After receiving the ball, Temple quickly drives down the field and scores a touchdown. The stadium erupts and the alma mater of the
university can be heard being played by the band. Seasoned fans and Temple alumni proudly sing along with the tune. A man with salt and pepper colored hair begins to sing obnoxiously into the face of another man wearing blue and white. His melody is quickly interrupted, though, as the Penn State fan's fist smashes into the other man's jaw. Needless to say, both men are promptly thrown out of game. As they leave, the rest of the fans forget about the confrontation and focus their attention to the owl doing backflips on the 35-yardline.
    
     "I really love the atmosphere here. I love feeling the power to stir up the entire crowd and cheer on the home team," expresses veteran senior mascot, Matt Martino. He sounds almost too excited as he shares, "Not to mention I'm getting paid for this!" Matt is one of three Temple student mascots who take turns attending most of the university's sporting events. "It's really no comparison. My view beats those crumby, overrated 50-yardline seats too. The whole job is a win-win-win situation." Matt is definitely right about that, but it must be taken into consideration that the fans on the 50-yardline don't have to wear an eight-pound mascot head when they watch the game. "My day starts when the players' days start. We usually board the bus to the stadium three hours before the game. As a team, we walk straight to the locker room. I sit in a separate room as coach Rhule goes over a final game plan. After that, we all get suited up and we head to the field. We are met there by the newest music to get loose to. About a half-hour before the game we go back to the locker room. The players are allowed ten minutes to do any pregame rituals or good luck strategies to prepare their minds for the game. We then leave the locker room and start the walk back to the field. One of the stadium workers gives us the "okay" to run out on the field, and this moment is truly indescribable. We are confronted by fireworks and screaming fans as we come out of the tunnel onto the field." (Figure 2)
    

     Trash talk between fans of both sides of the contest are continuously heard throughout all four quarters of the game. Temple leads by 17 points as the end of the final period approaches. Within the last minute of the game the student section realizes that victory is sealed. They chant all sorts of profanities with no sense of the families around them, but no one attempts to stop the crowd of students, most in their early twenties. The final horn sounds, and the game comes to an end. 10-27 is the final score as Temple beats Penn State for only the fourth time since 1931. There is no delay as red and black fireworks blast from the top section of the stadium and an even bigger flash comes from the cameras trying to capture the radiant image. As fans start to file out of their seats and into the endless lanes of traffic, the smiles on their faces go from ear to ear until the next Saturday when they do it all over again.

Cole's Hardware

      Come on home to Cole's, Cole's Hardware. Come on home to Cole's This very jingle has been around for some time, but the stores that made it famous have existed even longer. Since the 19th century Cole's (see figure one) stores have served central Pennsylvania and its sounding areas with all the hardware nicknack, and hard-to-find essentials right around the corner. In 1883, J.H. Cole established the first Cole's in Danville. Later, during the Depression era, J.H. Cole would convert the business into a produce shop to keep the Cole's name going. In 1962 Cole's would associate itself with a national buying group, and from there on the company would blossom to feature over 15,000 different products and excellent customer service.

Figure one

      Painting can be difficult, there are just to many factors that can effect a jobs outcome. Well to Robyn Frankford, this is a challenge that she accepts every day. Robyn is a highly trained assistant paint specialist. She has been trained by Benjamin Moore, and Cole's hardware. She has long brown hair, with charming blue eyes and a laugh that could make anyone cheer up. Robyn takes pride in her job; she's been employed by Cole's Hardware for five years. She began as a part time employee, but now works full-time as an assistant paint specialist. Robyn leaves every customer with a satisfied feeling that the paint they chose is the right paint for them.
    
    Being a paint specialist Robyn has a peculiar job. She must balance her time correctly. Time is money in a retail business and with that Robyn takes her job extremely seriously. She finds time throughout the day to do walk-throughs, fronting, cleaning, organizing paint fan decks, And most of all helping customers. Robyn explains, "Our busiest time is during the summer, when it's so busy back here it looks like we're giving paint away for free." Just in time two customers arrive with a paint request.