~ The following was published in The Floyd Press on August 5, 2010 and online HERE.

About 60 people gathered at the Winter Sun Hall on Thursday evening for a presentation and public discussion on the environmental impact and health effects of mountaintop removal mining. Following a potluck on the Dogtown Roadhouse porch, local organizer Theresa Gigante greeted attendees and thanked local businesses who made donations in support of the event. (more…)

“I want to see them at the Grammys next year or at least on the main stage at Floydfest,” I said to my neighbor Bob Grubel about the Flying A’s who were in town from Austin, Texas for some gigs and a house concert. (more…)

1. In the Global Village at Floydfest I went from a talk on the teachings of Buddha to petting a milking cow named Primrose.  I met a young boy who was carving a bowl out of stone in the primitive arts camp, danced in my bare feet on the grass to the music of a surprisingly good band, and laid in a hammock to wait for the full moon.  Video HERE. (more…)

1. Old Crow Medicine Show sang my favorite song about the “Down Home Girl” who came right off Maggie’s Farm … Well I swear your perfume, baby, is made out of turnip greens … Every time I kiss you girl, it tastes like pork and beans … (Video HERE .) (more…)

Floyd’s Blue Mountain School, the independent school that my sons went to when they were young, had an open house at the end of the school year. Visitors were invited to tour the buildings and teachers were on hand to answer questions. Here, BMS board member Ed Gralla (pictured seated) and BMS director Shelly Emmett (wearing a skirt) greeted visiting families. (more…)

I joked with my good friend Rowan (one of my son Dylan’s best friends growing up) that I was routing for the Netherlands’ team because I had a past life in that country.  He, whose brother and his family live in Spain, thought differently on the matter. (more…)