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Month: April 2015

My brother and Bruce Jenner

April 29, 2015Ed Ackerman Leave a Comment

My brother can sell anything. It means he’s always made a lot of money. It also means he’s always on an airplane. The good part is he usually gets upgraded to first class. The bad part is he’s always on… Continue Reading →

Bruce Jenner

What’s that, Francis? You love me?

April 24, 2015Ed Ackerman Leave a Comment

I get to introduce Francis Curry this morning, and I’ve been waiting a long time for this opportunity. Ever since a little incident which I’ll tell you about in a minute. The occasion today will be the annual Legislative Information… Continue Reading →

Not another beer blog

April 22, 2015Ed Ackerman Leave a Comment

I had a case of Summer Love two years ago. Don’t get excited. It’s a beer. A darned good beer by Victory Brewing Company. But I hated it. It was not the beer’s fault though. It was mine. I had… Continue Reading →

Beer, Prickly Pear, Shiner Brewery, Shock Top, Summer Love

There’s nothing like a beer

April 17, 2015Ed Ackerman Leave a Comment

“He was a wise man who invented beer.” – Plato, philosopher, circa 400 B.C. “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” – Benjamin Franklin, statesman, circa 1780 “I am a firm believer in the… Continue Reading →

Beer, craft beer, Electric City Brew Fest

Jumpin’ Jon’s final message

April 15, 2015Ed Ackerman Leave a Comment

Ernie G’s was jammed. I cannot recall if the guys playing were my friends Tony Alu and Joe Leone, who call themselves The Tompkins Street Duo, or my friends Tony Alu and Dave Grundmond, who call themselves The Duke and… Continue Reading →

Jon McHale

Tompkins Street in Kingston tonight

April 10, 2015Ed Ackerman Leave a Comment

Tompkins Street Duo. There, that was easy. When Tony Alu and Joe Leone decided the best way to spend their retirement years was to dust off their guitars and see what was left of their voices, coming up with a… Continue Reading →

Flaherty's, Tompkins Street Duo

National Beer Day deserves better

April 8, 2015Ed Ackerman Leave a Comment

Tuesday was National Beer Day and I have a problem with that. Why wasn’t I informed? Or I should say, informed in advance. I learned about it midway through the morning via a text from my wife who heard about… Continue Reading →

Beer, Genesse, National Beer Day

Remembering a holy little boy, and missing him

April 3, 2015Ed Ackerman Leave a Comment

Last night I had my first beer in 40 days. Thank you very much, Father Elston. I have “fasted” (technically, abstained) from beer and all alcoholic drinks during Lent for more than 30 years but always carried it through until… Continue Reading →

Good Friday, Lent

30 years ago today

April 1, 2015Ed Ackerman Leave a Comment

It sounded like an April Fools joke, but it was true. On April 1, 1985, 8th seeded Villanova beat number one Georgetown for the NCAA basketball championship. It was, and is the greatest championship game upset in the tournament’s history.… Continue Reading →

Final four, March Madness, Villanova, Wisconsin

About the Optimist

Ed Ackerman Ed Ackerman, a consulting editor and columnist for the Greater Pittston Progress, has served the people of Greater Pittston for 48 years, starting in the newspaper field at age 17. The Pittston resident will share his thoughts in this blog and in a weekly column published in the Progress. greaterpittstonprogress.com

RSS Ed Ackerman Columns

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