Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers gets there with folk strings style

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, “Almost There” Label: Words and Music Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers starts this dozen-song collection off with “Eight Days in January,” an interesting story in which the Syracuse singer, songwriter and acoustic strings player enlists the help of Rani Arbo on fiddle and harmony vocals. I thought I was off on a trip to…

The corner is long … and dark

We passed the Winter Solstice mark Sunday here in the Northern Hemisphere, officially moving into the fourth season, the coldest season. The darkest season. We are gaining light. That corner is always turned on the solstice, designating the day when the tilt of the earth begins to move us more prominently toward the sun for…

A gift of song from Todd Hobin

Syracuse singer and songwriter Todd Hobin sent out an email to friends and family last night, and I just opened it now. The member of the Syracuse Area Music Awards Hall of Fame talks about a fruitful 2014, tells of good plans ahead for 2015, and, most importantly, shares the story behind his original Christmas…

When have you had enough in a movie series?

At the end of “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,” Ben Stiller’s character Larry looks out of the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan wistfully and thinks … And we think … To read my review of this third installment in this comedy franchise for my weekly Monday film blog review on the…

I’m swimming with the pretty Fish of Gold card

The artistic hand of Fishy has brightened my holidays. All of them. Fish of Gold’s hand-drawn card (then printed out) arrived by U.S. post yesterday morning. Fishy gave me a smile with her snow person up front visiting from the left coast, and many smiles with her inside message. I am now wished thoroughly well,…

Captain Poblano, true traveler

Why she’ll always be my dear wife Karen, Chapter I’ve lost count: When the mail came today, I was handed a bubble envelope and told to open it. A present had arrived via U.S. post, ordered special by my beloved spouse. Alas, it came six days late for my Beddian Birthday but five days before…