A butterfly bush sends lone purple blossom high into the Syracuse autumn sky

Our butterfly bushes have always been the late bloomers. Slowly but surely in this backyard garden in Syracuse, N.Y., these babies become big achievers, too. The purple-blooming bush has always stood tallest as the growing season progresses. As autumn falls deeply at last upon this city neighborhood of Eastwood, one single branch has taken its…

Jonny Gray edges ‘Big Sexy’ Shawn Smith on ‘The Voice,’ but everybody should be proud

The Air Force guy beat the sergeant from Utica last night on “The Voice.” When coach CeeLo Green finished his judgment of the performance of Tom Petty’s classic rock song “Refugee,” he picked Jonny Gray of Arizona over Shawn Smith of Central New York. It was a fair and memorable fight. Green picked a good…

Get ready for ‘Big Sexy’ Shawn Smith’s second appearance on ‘The Voice’

Music lovers in Central New York have been waiting two weeks for Shawn Smith’s second appearance on “The Voice.” The singer and guitarist from Utica was the very last performer to make it past the blind audition round at the season five start of NBC’s popular singing show. His down-home take on the Zac Brown…

Sometimes the name matches the talent. Take a shot at adding to the list

Once in a while you take notice of a person, pinpoint their profession, and feel the need to declare, “Of course!” I am convinced there are those among us who are destined to become what we become from the moment we are born to certain parents. Genes? Well, sure, but that is not my point…

Yeah, you’re beautiful, but don’t get too big for your collar

Remember when you were growing up and your parents seemed to pull out a camera not only at the best of times, but at the worst of times? Well, it didn’t happen in my family. My folks clicked away at birthday parties, neighborhood parties, holiday parties, graduation parties … you get the picture. Frank and…

A rainbow suddenly appears in golden hour of dusk

The rainbow curved majestically over the roofs of the houses across the street as my dear wife Karen pulled her car into our driveway, home from yesterday’s work at last. A drizzly late afternoon had just then given way to a slight break in the gray clouds. The rainbow was backdropped by that sudden golden…

It takes a special cup to deliver my morning coffee

The break-up came while I was standing at the kitchen sink, hands submerged in hot, soapy water. It was totally unexpected. I could not believe what I heard. I’d thought our relationship was perfect these last few years. First thing every morning, she made me smile. She smelled fantastic. She felt great in my hands.…

A newly dug addition to our Syracuse front-yard garden will be ready to accept new occupants come spring

As our growing season here in Syracuse, N.Y., winds down for a long winter’s nap, my dear wife Karen and I have noticed what a really big year it’s been for the mid-yard garden in front of our house. In fact, It may have been too hardy of a second year for the forsythia. In…

I take the NFL Red Zone for a spin and end up dizzy and dazed

It sounds enticing, this NFL Red Zone channel that I can click onto my flat screen at 1 p.m. Eastern any and every football Sunday. The Red Zone, you see, does all league-related surfing for you. With a cool voice riding in the back to moderate, The Zone promises to take you to all the…

Blood, Sweat & Tears original Richard Halligan to visit Syracuse for lecture, show

I always knew that my good friend Bob Halligan Jr. put his blood, sweat and tears into his music. But not until he sent out a message this morning did I realize that an original member of the group Blood, Sweat & Tears was the Syracuse songwriter and musician’s first cousin. Richard Halligan is coming…