The Independent- Summer 2008

The regional magazine, The Independent, formerly The Westsider, features local business profiles each month, in addition to features stories realted to “Creativity, Culture and Change.” For the summer 2008 issue, I wrote about Marty’s Blue Room in Nanticoke and Top Value Kitchens in Shavertown. Enjoy! I think I posted a blog once before, but the Independent’s new website rocks! Check it out.

The Westsider is now The Independent: December Issue

The Westsider magazine has a new name: The Independent. The mission of “Creativity, Culture and Change” is still the same, however the reach of the magazine has extended from the West Side and Back Mountain communities into the entire Greater Wilkes-Barre area. In this debut issue, I have three stories:

Solid Cactus on the Move- a Q&A with President and Co-Founder

Profile: Sound Solutions- profile on local business

Profile: Rebennack’s Appliance- profile on local business

There is also an article from my friend and mentor, Andrea Frantz on a great local journalism teacher, Les Nichols. And, the rest of the magazine is jam-packed with lots of great material — news and creative writing- from some of the best writers in the area.

If you are local, be sure to look out for this magazine at locally-owned businesses. It is a great publication and I am very proud to have been a part of it for the past two years.

Fall Issue of The Westsider

The fall issue of the Westsider is filled with lots of great stuff (as usual)- and this issue focuses a lot on the Back Mountain area of the Wyoming Valley.

The article that I contributed to this edition was “Kingston Celebrates 150 Years.” For the story I interviewed a long-time resident and Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee chairperson Sandra Kase, about all the activities surrounding this milestone.

My story starts out like this:

Atherton. Hoyt. Dorrance. Loveland. Reynolds. Butler. Bennett. Dilley. Pringle. Pierce.
When driving through the side streets of the borough of Kingston, take notice of the street signs. These street names are more than just a way to get from here or there. They are more than just a way of labeling mailing addresses for its residents and businesses. They are a tribute to the history of the borough, many of the signs bearing names of important people who founded Kingston a century and a half ago. Other streets- and landmarks are named for prominent early residents.

And, I was also the subject of an article written by Westider writer and Wilkes U. student Megan Krisanda on the Wilkes book I compiled.

For more on the Westsider, visit this cool magazine online.

The Westsider Summer Issue

I have been so busy getting ready and then attending the Wilkes MA in Creative Writing Residency that I haven’t kept up with this blog.

I have three stories in the new issue of the Westsider Magazine- plus a cool charicature of me with all the other staff. It’s soo cool. I will edit this post later to add it– I must scan it in, first.

One of my favorite local stories of all time is the story I have on local pharmacies– and why they are better than the chains.

I also interviewed a local screenwriter for a story called “Rod and Reel.”

Finally, I had a story– which I also did last summer– about local summer camps for kids.

You can find the Westsider at dozens of supporting businesses in the Back Mountain and West Side. If you are from out of the area, visit http://www.westsider.org/.