You Call That a Blizzard?! The Blizzard of 1978 vs. The Storm that Tried  By George V. Howe   You call that a blizzard? If you grew up anywhere near Boston, you don’t compare snowstorms by inches. You compare them by how many days of school were cancelled or better yet, how dramatically someone says, “Yeah, but it wasn’t ’78.” …

Turning 60: A Milestone Worth Laughing About Turning 60: A Milestone Worth Laughing About By: George V. Howe As most of you know by now, I tend to take a lighter view of most things, which is to say I try and find humor in it all. It’s just easier that way. What most of you may NOT know is …

So Now What? So Now What?  By George V. Howe   I love the holiday season but it also can become confusing – that “holiday void” between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s that delightful stretch of days where the Thanksgiving leftovers have evolved into a new species, your social calendar is full but you’re really not sure with what, and you’re …

Teenage Drivers: The Road to (Mild) Panic Teenage Drivers: The Road to (Mild) Panic By George Howe   Well, it’s finally here. Not that I needed another thing to keep me up at night but Cali turned 16 this past summer and with it came a set of car keys. Yup! And I thought boys were going to be my …

Cooperstown: Field of “Stinky Smelly” Dreams Cooperstown: Field of “Stinky Smelly” Dreams By Nolan Howe   My baseball team spent almost a year fundraising for our trip to Cooperstown All-Star Village, where we would be competing with 84 other baseball teams from around the country. We finally got to go at the end of June and we stayed for a …

Appalachia Service Project – Life in Perspective   Appalachia Service Project – Life in Perspective By Cali Howe This past June, I had the opportunity to travel to West Virginia as part of a Pembroke Youth Service Project in the heart of the Appalachia Mountains. During my week-long stay, I worked alongside a dedicated team to build a wheelchair ramp …

When it comes to estate planning, naming beneficiaries on your investment accounts is a powerful tool because it helps assets pass directly to your heirs, avoiding probate. But how you name beneficiaries can vary depending on whether the account is a retirement account or a non-qualified (non-retirement) account. For retirement accounts such as IRAs and 401ks, beneficiary designation is essential.  These …

Diamonds and Downpours: When Baseball Meets Monsoon Season Diamonds and Downpours: When Baseball Meets Monsoon Season By: George V. Howe   As many of you know, I am a youth baseball coach to my son Nolan and his merry band of misfits. And the way this year is going, I’m going to add “meteorologist” to my title. For the record, …

Dogs vs. Cats: Where Do You Stand?   By George V Howe   Well my furry fanatics, it’s time to settle this once and for all. Considering the divisiveness of our times, I’d thought I’d add one more topic to debate: dogs vs. cats. I don’t think this will rise to the level of Red Sox vs. Yankees, Hamilton vs. …

The End of Ski Season   Ah, ski season. The glorious few months when I pretend I’m an elite athlete gliding down snowy mountains, only to spend a good chunk of my time skiing 200 yards behind Nolan and Cali, and the rest of the time realizing ski boots suck and my feet are completely reshaped to match the interior of …