PHIL IN THE BLANK: Birthday bash

I’ll be celebrating my birthday on Friday in town this year. I’ve been going south for a summer break the past few years to visit family in Alabama. It was getting to be routine, heading down to Huntsville and spending Father’s Day with my dad and brother, my June 22 birthday with family, then Hamacon, […]

PHIL IN THE BLANK: Eighties enough

The film “Karate Kid” hit theaters on my 15th birthday, June 22, 1984. I was about the same age Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence were supposed to be, though actor Ralph Macchio in particular was quite a bit older. Like Daniel and Johnny, I was a student of the martial arts, at a karate studio […]

PHIL IN THE BLANK: Kudos to RUSH

Congratulations to Team RUSH students, coaches, mentors, and volunteers on their hard work this season, earning the world championship title in Detroit! I met with some of them last October, when they were coaching robotics for the elementary kids – the Junior FIRST Lego League. Coach Kyle Hughes told me they had their sights set […]

PHIL IN THE BLANK: Because I’m Batman

Some unexpectedly warm and snowfree weather a couple weekends ago left me with a decision to make. Ohayocon, an anime (Japanese animation) convention, was coming up in Columbus, Ohio. I usually preregister for these conventions but stopped doing that for this one because it’s always scheduled in January. I reserved a ticket for it in […]

PHIL IN THE BLANK: Teachable moment?

Principal Gary Kaul described perfectly the circumstances behind Dr. Rod Rock’s decision to resign as superintendent. It’s a betrayal. He chose to engage in whatever happened in this “inappropriate” relationship with a former Clarkston High School student, over and despite his obligations as superintendent which he knew so well. It seems to be very inexplicable, […]

PHIL IN THE BLANK: So long ’17

This year went by fast, as usual. Parking was a big issue in downtown Clarkston at the beginning of the year and it still is now. There have been a few setbacks. I remember keeping a lookout daily for that parking kiosk to show up at Washington and Main every day in July, then in […]

PHIL IN THE BLANK: Closing time

The curtain has fallen (or more like slid across the stage) on the Clarkston Village Players show I’ve been working with, “Morning’s At Seven.” It’s my fourth production so far, all with CVP within the last couple years. Its closing leaves me with the same bittersweet sense of accomplishment and loss I’ve felt with the […]

PHIL IN THE BLANK: Curtains for computer

There’s nothing like a dead computer to focus one’s priorities. I kept everything on there, despite the nearly constant advice of just about everyone who knows anything about data management. The laptop suffered a fall to the floor. It was balanced on the arm of a recliner, but the incident is of course mostly due […]

PHIL IN THE BLANK: Legal eagles

I’m learning some legal jargon while covering the City of the Village of Clarkston’s lawsuits. Like city attorney Thomas Ryan’s “Lone Rangering,” “lone wolfing,” and “shotgunning” references, when he’s talking about how it’s not just him saying the 18 documents at issue in the case should not be released. Also, the “Chinese wall,” mentioned by […]

PHIL IN THE BLANK: New season for CVP

The new Clarkston Village Players season is well underway, with one play under their belts and the second set to hit the stage this weekend. The players put on a great show with Steve Martin’s “Underpants” in August, a comedy inspired by an early 20th century German drama. CVP’s new production of the comedy “Here […]