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There's ink in my veins (and all over my skin). Headlines and deadlines are my life.
I believe everyone has a story to tell, and it is my job to tell them. I write the "Ink Spot" column for the Weekender in Northeastern Pennsylvania, highlighting tattoo artistry and the stories behind the artist. I have a wide portfolio and wide range of writing styles, spanning from traditional arts & entertainment feature work, to hard news, to creative writing pieces.
WILKES-BARRE - Not terribly excited about any of the current choices for president? A speaker Saturday at the annual meeting of the Eastern Pennsylvania Philosophy Association has a solution for you then - let government leaders be selected by a lottery system instead of an election.
PLAINS TWP. - The Woodlands was bustling with activity on Sunday, with vendors promoting healthy living, wellness and, above all else, inner peace. The Inner Peace 2016 Spring Health and Wellness Expo kicked off at 10 a.m., touting over 20 vendors and six keynote speakers, helping promote a holistic approach to health and wellness.
In the heart of Kingston - tucked away off Wyoming Ave - is a portal to another side of life. To most, it's a simple brick building, however inside, you can step into the cosmic mind of tattoo artist, Nate Kaschak. Kaschak is the quiet type, unassuming on the outside but inside - now, that's a different story.
Working in the beauty industry isn't simply cut and (blow) dry. Ashley Evert isn't your typical 21-year-old girl. She can be found bouncing around between stylist stations at The Chop Shop; the orchid-haired beautician is a master juggler.
WILKES-BARRE - Obstacles either weigh us down or challenge us to rise above. That message was proclaimed loud and proud over Public Square on Sunday afternoon, as hundreds gathered for the eighth annual Ruth's Place Walk for Hope.
EDWARDSVILLE - To some, walking into the doors of Victoria's Candies simply floods the senses with the sweet smells of handmade chocolate, but for others, it's much more than that. For some, a walk into Victoria's Candies floods them with sweet memories.
MOUNTAIN TOP - For many children, sitting on Santa's lap is a Christmastime rite of passage. But these days, it's not a simple feat. With long lines, harsh fluorescent lights, steep prices and the general hub-bub of a crowded mall, even the most patient child is often frazzled and overwhelmed by the time they reach St.
Salem, Massachusetts holds a very special place in the heart of tattoo artist Brent Simon. As the site of his engagement, his honeymoon and a source of great inspiration, Simon said the location is "truly magical."
WILKES-BARRE - On a brisk October morning, the mood was reverent in Hollenback Cemetery, as the autumn leaves contrasted with the stark grey of the mausoleums and gravestones lining the hallowed ground. Hollenback Cemetery, one of the oldest in the entire region, is the final resting place for many Wyoming Valley residents, including the late Judge Jesse Fell.
WILKES-BARRE - Ready. Set. Dodge! Excitement was running high at the 109th Field Artillery Armory Sunday morning, as over 800 people flocked from all over the region to participate in the eighth annual Zachary Shoemaker Dodgeball Tournament. More than 26 teams came out to battle.
Have a favorite pizza place? Scranton natives Jeremy Saltry and Joey Dominick are looking to take a bite out of Hollywood - and all it will take is a little slice of home. Saltry and Dominick are the creators and braintrust behind the upcoming documentary "Tray - A Cut of Culture."
MOOSIC - The Peach Festival is returning to Scranton for its fourth year- and this year looks pretty juicy. The Peach Festival, touted as "the only Allman Brothers Band inspired and curated festival in the Northeast" is returning to Montage Mountain on August 13 through 16 as a four-day-three-night engagement promising a weekend filled with great entertainment, great company and opportunities to make some great memories.
Tucked away off Route 309 in Mountain Top, Whitey Ellis is hard at work crafting his latest custom tattoo design. Ellis, born in Southern California but raised in Harveys Lake, has been tattooing for nearly four years, but he's been creating for as long as he can remember.
SCRANTON - Despite Mother Nature's best efforts this winter, the staff at Montage Mountain couldn't wait any longer. Let there be snow ... boarding and skiing. Thursday, Jan. 7, saw Montage Mountain's opening day for the 2016 ski and snowboarding season.
By Rachel Holly For Weekender While some folks around NEPA chose to celebrate their Fourth of July holiday with fireworks displays, others gathered at The Pavilion at Montage Mountain to watch the Boys of Zummer Tour 2015.
Bundled up in heavy coats and scarves before the sun even rose over the levee in Kirby Park, runners had a simple mission Saturday - help people stay warm at all costs. The 12th annual Relay for Heat, sponsored but the Wilkes Running Club, benefited the Martin Luther King Jr.