In the midst of a global pandemic canceling concerts and closing schools, Milton Hershey music teacher and composer Jen Wagner struggled to find a way to connect with her students and inspire them through the troubling times.
SUNBURY — Pariticpants at an annual horseshoe tournament will get to enjoy nature and the spirit of competition this weekend.
A number of traditional Fourth of July celebrations have been canceled due to the COVID pandemic, but the skies won’t be completely empty in the Valley this year, as some organizations have decided to move forward with their traditional fireworks displays to celebrate America’s independence.
LEWISBURG — Make a colorful shirt, see how big a really big soap bubble can get, and take a fresh look at a hula hoop ... all in an hour.
After numerous weeks without playing live music, Brandon Barnhart was one of the first local musicians to share in a public venue after the COVID-19 outbreak, bringing years of experiences with numerous Valley bands and a more recent solo career.
LEWISBURG — Think a catalyst causing an exothermic molecular reaction isn’t your thing? Then try watching a puking watermelon without laughing.
There was a time in the theatre (much like many professions) where it was illegal for women to act on the stage.
MONTGOMERY — On the same night, at approximately 300 drive-in theaters across the country, people will be watching the same film and listening to the same music
Though the COVID-19 shutdowns led to the difficult and heartbreaking decisions by community theater groups to cancel many of their spring and summer productions — some for which they had already put so much work into — they haven’t let it break their spirits. The shows will go on — albeit in…
Even though the pandemic forced their doors to close, public libraries in the Valley have never stopped serving their communities. From creative online programs to curbside pickups, they have kept their patrons supplied with educational and entertaining reading materials and activities. Now …
With Susquehanna Valley counties entering the state’s green phase, bars and restaurants will be open, with restrictions, at last. But how do people feel about returning to live music events? What precautions, if any, do they plan to take?
“Going yellow” was a welcome relief for pubs and eateries, allowing them to seat customers outside with social distancing measures. “Going green” is even better, still with social distancing but allowing indoor, seated service at 50 percent occupancy.
BLOOMSBURG — COVID-19 shutdowns haven’t stopped The Exchange, in Bloomsburg, from doing what it does best: promoting artists and connecting them with one another.
From rescue efforts at Ground Zero in New York City during the attacks of 9/11 to helping his premature daughter endure 36 surgeries, Dave Miller has plenty of inspiration for the songs he writes.
NORTHUMBERLAND — It may be too soon to burst into a rousing chorus of “Happy Days Are Here Again,” but Jay Seidel is excited to see a clearing in the sky when it comes to seating patrons again at his well-established, railroad eatery.
Today’s story-packed Keeping the Beat interview with Dave Miller marks a milestone moment for our podcast series.
SUNBURY — Despite the coronavirus lockdowns that have led to cancellations of a number of Susquehanna Art Society events planned for the spring and into the summer, member artists are finding the extra time has been good for their creative juices to flow more freely.
SUNBURY — Iron Vines Winery opened on Raspberry Avenue just five months before pandemic shutdowns forced the closure of all restaurants and bars. That might have been enough to shutter some new businesses, but Iron Vines is finding ways to reach their friends and fans.
The recipe for success for those who aspire to start their own band boils down to the fundamentals, according to Jamie Rodgers, of Middle Road Acoustic. “The more you play — the more you practice — the better you get,” he said. “Find the people you have fun around, put the time in, and be su…
Sometimes it’s less about the smoothly rehearsed moves and more about the fun and sheer joy of making music that gives the audience a good laugh. That’s the kind of music performed by The Less Boys.
Blues fans are going to have to wait a while for the return of the popular Briggs Farm Blues Festival after event organizers opted to postpone it until next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
I don't remember a time in my life where I didn't love monsters. But just like every other thing I enjoy — from movies to food to even the action figures I still play with as a grown man with a wife — I'm a bit of a snob.
The recipe for success for those who aspire to start their own band boils down to the fundamentals, according to Jamie Rodgers, of Middle Road Acoustic.
I'm sorry to tell everyone, but Star Wars isn't "science fiction." The Skywalker saga, at its core, is space fantasy. "The Mandalorian" is a space western, and "Solo" is a heist movie in space.
MIDDLEBURG — Growing up in a family that provides rides, games and food trucks for carnivals and fairs, Alycia Benner, 27, “waited and waited” to buy her own fried veggie truck to add to the family business this year.
Out of his 12 years of service in the United States Navy, there is one day that will forever remain in Milton resident Dave Jones’s memory. In April 1989, while stationed on the USS Iowa battleship, a gun exploded during a routine gunnery exercise, killing 47 of his shipmates.
Feeling a bit musically stir-crazy in mid-March, Cathy Douglas suggested that she and her husband, Scott, record and share online a rendition of the song “Danny Boy” for St. Patrick’s Day.
Using a cell phone placed on a pillow, Scott and Cathy Douglas recorded the song "Danny Boy" at their Cooper Township home in mid-March as a way to have some fun during quarantine, then shared it online. The response led to a series of 50 daily music posts as the couple hopes to cheer up and…
In truth, I've always been a bit of a home chef. Yes, it may have been just mixing taco seasoning into my macaroni and cheese, but that's home cooking.
NORTHUMBERLAND — Dave Renn is in his 32nd year as the owner/operator of the Point Drive-In theater. In all those years, this is only the second year he has had to open the theater a little later in the season. The first time was four years ago, when he underwent bypass surgery that delayed t…
Life seemed a little surreal for 9-year-old Antonio Andrade when he first saw the Beatles' famous appearance on the Ed Sullivan show.
LEWISBURG — As the coronavirus quarantine continues, The Campus Theatre has added to its selection of virtual film experiences for people of all ages.
Van Wagner wasn’t about to let the coronavirus end his streak of performances at a Millheim pub. Instead, he created a celebration with other musical family members and friends.
Mother’s Day is yet another holiday that will be impacted by social distancing and quarantine. But even though it might look different this year, moms can still be honored and celebrated, and perhaps in even more meaningful ways as we make more intentional efforts to get creative and show he…
Addicted to a variety of drugs and alcohol, a 21-year-old Allan Scott vaguely remembers praying out to God for help while drunk one night.
As the binge-era has blossomed, so too has the true crime genre. Once relegated to TruTV, Lifetime and the History Channel, true crime documentary series have become one of the most powerful genres on streaming channels and apps.
Like many families, the COVID-19 quarantine has certainly pushed the Mitchell family, of Winfield, to try and create a new normal over the last few weeks. With seven children, ages 1 to 16, it’s been especially challenging to keep everyone entertained at home all day, every day.
LEWISBURG — Let it rain. Or snow, for that matter. Neither bad weather — nor unwelcome viruses — can dampen the spirits of this first-of-its-kind, virtual craft show.
There's no shame in it. Sometimes police detectives are at a dead end. And if "The First 48" teaches us anything, it's that they'll probably give up after day two. But have no fear fair citizens, there are those who love to assist the police any way they can, even though they have absolutely…
As coronavirus-sparked quarantines shut down live concerts, local musicians who depended on those events for financial stability were suddenly left scrambling.
Forty-seven days ago, I sat with a truncated audience at Warrior Run Middle School as students emotionally wrapped a powerful show after months of rehearsals and research, set-builds and sacrifices.
To some, reality television is a guilty pleasure — you know it's bad but you like it anyway. Others believe that reality television shows humans at their worst and rewards them for it. Over the last 20 years, the genre has given birth to several subgenres that have become part of the America…
LEWISBURG — The Campus Theatre may be temporarily dark, but that hasn’t stopped some determined college film students from hosting the film festival they’ve been working on all year.
MILTON — Full-time professional magician Brent Kessler would normally be busy right now performing his signature close-up and parlor magic at venues throughout the central Susquehanna Valley. But as with most entertainers, the COVID-19 shutdowns have led to cancellations and reschedulings. H…
Noting their son’s burgeoning interest in art, Ken Hunter’s parents purchased him a paint-by-numbers set.
