Sisters who rock: Heart in concert

Dan and Julie had a bit of a 70s flashback recently when they saw Heart perform at the Bergen County Arts Center in Englewood.

Ann Wilson (center) still has the powerful voice that propelled hits like "Barracuda" and "Crazy On You." She and her sister Nancy (left on guitar) and a strong backing band played many of their best-known songs and a few new ones, and finished up with a fun cover of Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog." 

In memory of Joan

We are sorry to report the passing of Joan, maternal grandmother of Marie, Danny and Ozzie and great-grandmother of Xander. She is also survived by her daughter Anne Marie, five sons, 12 other grandchildren and 11 other great-grandchildren.

A Philadelphia native, Joan lived most recently in Whiting, N.J., where she had many friends and was involved in many church and community activities. Our condolences to all her family.

Marie shares this photo and writes: "This beautiful Philly girl taught me how to play cards and bake a cake. I love you, Grandma."

Snow day! Winter takes hold in the East

A couple of inches of snow fell in Fredericksburg, Va., on Tuesday night, enough to cancel school on Wednesday. Xander, a kindergarten student at Hugh Mercer Elementary School near his home, bundled up to get outside and enjoy the snow day.

A bit more snow is expected late Friday in Fredericksburg - and on up the East Coast, which has been in the grip of bitter cold temperatures this week.

Earlier this month, Tish took this photo near her Cape Cod home after a light snowfall.

Got snow? Got pictures? Please share them!

'Summertime' in winter, with Lizzie on flute

The Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School Concert Band performed George Gershwin's "Summertime," among other numbers, in the school's winter concert Jan. 17.

Lizzie, a senior, plays flute in the band. Her mom, Tish, sent us a link to this video, taken by another member of the audience.

The music starts about one minute into the video. Lizzie is seen to the right of the conductor, at the beginning of the number and from about the 2:43 mark to the end.

C'mon, give us some news!

Beatles press conference, 1964

The Birch Street Web is approaching its sixth anniversary and now proudly boasts more than 725 posts. But Webmaster Dan needs help with this labor of love. To keep this site vibrant, PLEASE be a "content contributor" as well as a reader.

Short notes, long stories, tidbits of information that Dan can write up -- all are welcome. Photos, videos or links to the same are great.

It's easy: Just e-mail birchstreetweb@gmail.com.

Don't be shy! Keep in touch! Help the Birch Street Web live on! Thanks!

Christine steps up from Teens to Twenties

Former Teenager Christine

Dan and Julie announced today that Christine has moved on from her post as senior Teenager in their household after seven successful years.

Effective today, Christine enters the ranks of Twentysomethings, joining her cousins Genevieve, Vivien, Shanna, Kevin, Liz and Rebecca. She is continuing her studies as a sophomore at Rochester Institute of Technology's College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.

"Parents could hardly ask for a better Teenager than Christine," her mom and dad said in a statement. "We wish her well in her new position, and are confident she will accomplish great things in the coming years."

Christine has turned over full responsibility for Teenager duties in her immediate family to her brother, Andy, who is approaching the half-way mark of his seven-year term.

"On the 12th day of Christmas..."

12 members of the drumline of the SPFHS Marching Band.
File photo from Oct. 1,2011.
Andy is 3rd from left.

A brisk start to the new year

This Facebook photo appears to show a rather chilly Mary and her admiring daughter Shannon after Mary took part in the annual Polar Plunge into Lake George on New Year's morning.

Times-Union photo

The Saratogian reported that "more than 1,200 zany revelers ... raced into Lake George’s wind-whipped, bone-chilling waters Tuesday for this year’s Polar Plunge, held at Million Dollar Beach. ... Three waves of people — the first two had 500 each — ushered in 2013 with the spine-tingling ritual. A frigid north wind howled down the white-capped lake, making the 25-degree air temperature feel more like zero. Snow covered the beach as Polar Bears danced in bare feet to get warm. The water was a “balmy” 35, not quite cold enough to make ice."

Why do they do it? As far as we know, the answer is: Why not?

Holiday week's (mostly) wintry scenes

There was a good bit of white around Christmas this year from the Midwest to the Northeast. As usual, it's hard to beat the accumulation found at Deep Creek Lake, Md.

Dolores and Hugh arrived at their lakeside condo on Thursday (Dec. 27) and found 18-20 inches of snow on the ground. "Over the weekend, we had another 10 inches," Dolores writes. "Just thought you would like to know that we are still above the piles.

"Note the lump on the left in one photo. That is our grill. Not a good day to cook out! Just a normal day in Garrett County."


In the New York area Christmas Eve brought a dusting of snow quite appropriate to the occasion.

Floridian Courtney enjoyed the gentle snowfall while visiting her mom, Nanette, on Shelter Island.

The image at right is captured from a little video clip Courtney posted on Facebook.
A more significant snowfall came Saturday the 29th, when Dan took this photo of Birch Street Media headquarters just before heading to the Yonkers gathering that day.

By contrast...

Owen, Tish and Lizzie missed any snow on Cape Cod over the holidays as they spent 10 days in Charleston, S.C. Tish took these very warm-looking photos of a colorful Charleston sunset.

How did you ring in the New Year?

Christine's annual party with friends and Apples to Apples

Courtney and friends in Florida

Let's see your New Year's scene!

Welcome to 2013!