Jim Bishop: Something new, fresh personifies this joyful Eastertide

Jim Bishop

It was one of those too rare early spring days that unexpectedly emerge out of the blue. The sky remains clear, the air fresh, temperatures slowly rise and hover in the low 70s and the distant haze dissipates, revealing the purple majesty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I could only be outside a short time,…

Press Conference: Jim Grobe

Contributors

Wake Forest football coach Jim Grobe talks with the news media on Monday. Wake (2-4, 1-2 ACC) will face Virginia Tech (4-2, 2-0 ACC) on Saturday in Blacksburg. On losing nine games decided by four points or less since November 2008 “Number one is we are playing good teams. That’s the problem. When we’ve been…

Press Conference: Jimbo Fisher

Chris Graham

Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher talks with the news media in advance of his team’s game on Saturday with Virginia. Pretty good defense you’re facing this week? “Very good, they are 12th in the country, and seventh in scoring. You go watch VMI, watch Richmond, they are a very go program and then go…

Jim Bishop: Where the elite meet to eat

Jim Bishop

Amazing how a certain setting, conversation or sudden encounter can trigger nostalgic mental images of another time, another place. Recently in a gathering of friends I was ticking off eating places in the greater Harrisonburg area that I once frequented but no longer exist. Some favorites included: – The Old Virginia Ham cafe, the space…

Jim Bishop: And now for something completely different …

Jim Bishop

I am unique, just like everybody else, the saying goes. Don’t we all want to be considered unique, distinctive, to stand out from the crowd? When we perceive or call someone else “different,” usually it’s not meant as a compliment. More often, it translates as weird, odd, peculiar, even bizarre, and we take steps to…

Jim Bishop: It still looks pretty good from the road

Jim Bishop

Column by Jim Bishop Submit guest columns: [email protected]   I hardly recognized the place. But then, it was Laurelville Camp with a Rt. 2, Mt. Pleasant, Pa., address when I had my main associations as acamper, staff member for two summers and a counselor. Today, it’s Laurelville Mennonite Church Center to reflect the broader range…

Jim Bishop: Giving Commencements the Third Degree, Part II

Jim Bishop

Column by Jim Bishop Submit guest columns: [email protected]   Oh, you’re still awake, actually contemplating these insightful(?) words from one who has jockeyed the litter-strewn obstacle course of life for nearly 65 years, wishing that such counsel had been bestowed on me at my own high school and college commencements eons ago.

Jim Bishop: Opun the window … but watch out for the pane

Jim Bishop

Column by Jim Bishop Submit guest columns: [email protected]   What is that distinct, almost overpowering aroma? Spring hath sprang, or is it sprung? – sounds like something just broke – in the Valley of the Shenandoah, so fling wide the doors, throw up the window sashes (bet they’re sticking because they, although inanimate objects, innately…