Coal Town Writer Natalie S. Harnett

By Joseph Peters         Her Debut Novel “The Hollow Ground” Recently, I was given a pretty amazing opportunity to interview writer Natalie S. Harnett, author of “The Hollow Ground,” her debut work of literary fiction inspired by real-life events in a Pennsylvania coal town where an underground...   Read More

James Harden Off the Court

By Meredith Rhoades Selfie by James Harden       At only 26, shooting guard James Harden of the Houston Rockets is already an elite basketball player. He grew up in Los Angeles and attended Arizona State University. He has been named NBA All-Star three times, All-NBA First Team two...   Read More

Do Grades Equal Intelligence?

By Serena Bennett         Intelligence. The dictionary defines it as “a capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding, and similar forms of mental activity; aptitude in grasping truths, relationships, facts, meanings.” However, schools define intellect with number and letter grades based on the amount of homework and classwork turned...   Read More

West End Walking Tour

By Nick Kupensky On Sunday, November 22, one day before what would have been Father Emil Kubek’s 158th birthday, I led the first West End walking tour of Emil Kubek’s Mahanoy City. More than 100 people participated in the event, which included speeches and presentations by Father James Carroll, OFM...   Read More

Letters to the Editor on Kubek Coverage

To the Editor: My husband John and I thoroughly enjoy reading Coal Cracker. Being of Slovak and Lithuanian descent, the Father Emil Kubek article was very interesting to us. The questions for Mr. Kupensky from Amber Lawrence gave us much knowledge about Father Kubek and about Mr. Kupensky’s life and...   Read More

Meander through Mahanoy City

Mahanoy City Meander will be held on Sunday, January 31, from 1-3 pm. It is the first Schuylkill On the Move county walk. About the Meander It is free and open to all. The walk will explore the “Town on the Level” with Paul Coombe of the Mahanoy Area Historical...   Read More

A Tradition of Christmas

By Taylor Walsh         As a tradition, my family has been making Christmas cookies for many years. We make all different colors, shapes and flavors. Here is my absolute favorite Christmas cookie recipe! My grandma, Joann Koback, taught me how to make them. We make them together...   Read More

A Christmas List by Our Comedy Team

By Joei Shaller and Ashley Stetson         All we want for Christmas is… SpongeBob’s #1 hat Bacon soap A Segway Movie tickets Taco Bell gift cards Share this article...

Smart Photos with Smart Phones

Pulitzer Prize Winner on Mobile Reporting Garry Pierre-Pierre, a Pulitzer Prize-winning, multi-media and entrepreneurial journalist, will lead the free Coal Cracker workshop “Smart Photos with Smart Phones” on Saturday, January 30, from noon – 2pm, at the Teen Canteen in Mahanoy City. The workshop is open to young people grades...   Read More

A Walk Through History

A Yale Scholar on the Streets of Mahanoy City By Amber Lawrence       I was lucky enough to interview Yale scholar Nicholas Kupensky, a teacher and author who has studied Carpatho-Rusyn language and literature. I asked him a few questions about his life and career, and a walking...   Read More

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