I have a confession to make. I am a nerd. Not the kind who dresses up as a Klingon and attends Star Trek conventions, but the kind who knows all 270 Division I college football programs (including their mascots) and the MLB Cy Young award winners for the past 20 years. That’s right, I’m a […]
Continue ReadingOpinion
SHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Recruiting brings sports full circle
I’ve been covering high school sports for about four years, three of which have been full-time. And before high school sports were my main focus, I spent three years covering sports at my alma mater, Georgia Southern University, with a large focus on GSU’s Division I FCS (formerly I-AA) powerhouse football program. I’ve seen dozens […]
Continue ReadingPAST AND PRESENCE: Mary Jane Jackson Parolini: A real queen
Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series about Mary Jane Jackson Parolini. Looking back to 1956, Mary Jane Jackson Parolini said it was an incredible year. It was her senior year at Plant City High School, and she was busy that year being a class officer, homeroom officer, a thespian, a Kiwanette, […]
Continue ReadingOBSERVED: Daughter injured in freak accident
I’ve always been bothered by those signs in factories or industrial work zones that read, “This site has been accident-free for X days.” If the number is really low, then everyone who sees it wonders what had just happened. If the number is high, then it seems like disaster is about to strike any second […]
Continue ReadingJOSHING AROUND: God’s love is the ultimate academy award
Several years ago, I played a small part in the movie, “Why I Got Married, Too,” directed by Tyler Perry. Although it has been a while, I am still not 100% sure how to describe the experience. In my past, I had been an extra in a few films and knew how to blend in […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: It’s hard being a die-hard fan
Sports have the ability to have an effect on a lot of things. They can bring people together or tear them apart. They can give a city hope or send that same city into a state of depression. I was hoping to be able to write a more uplifting, lighthearted and inspirational column this week […]
Continue ReadingPAJAMA MAMA: You can keep your fork
New Year’s resolutions tend to go in one year and out the other. Or at least for me they do. My never-ending resolution since having my two children is to return to my pre-baby size. I have done it once or twice in the last six years, but I always find my way back to […]
Continue ReadingOBSERVED: Haircut satisfies grandfather’s wishes
My eyesight is pretty bad without my glasses. They’re not quite Coke bottles — but they’re close. Most days, I lament my near-sightedness, and all those ads for LASIK catch my attention.
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Tentative alignments bolster rivalries
A few weeks ago, the Florida High School Athletic Association released the tentative football classification realignment for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years. Appeals can be sent to the FHSAA Executive Director Justin Harrison until Jan. 18, but if the proposed realignment holds up, all three area football teams will compete in the same class […]
Continue ReadingNewtown Bee keeps town at heart in Sandy Hook coverage
By Michael Eng | Managing Editor The sun had almost completely set by the time my wife and I arrived at our children’s preschool to pick them up Dec. 14. As we entered their classroom, I stood in the doorway for just a second, taking in our 2-year-old daughter, Aria, and 4-year-old son, Lyric, before […]
Continue Reading