A Friday the 13th adventure in Blairstown, New Jersey, where the original “Friday the 13th” was filmed. Hockey-masked, machete-wielding men roam as horror fans renew wedding vows in what has practically become a holiday for this small town. You just have to be there, so I went.

To find out how a Civil War relic was returning home after many decades, I had to track down one of the collectors involved for an interview. The result is a fascinating glimpse into history and the people who pursue it.

This ambitious project — 40 separate stories — required copious research through generations of archival methods, cataloging relevant headlines, story selection, writing and graphic design, planning and scheduling. The results are compiled here in the introductory post. My personal favorite is the protector of the Chicken Lady.

On the 20th anniversary of Bethlehem Steel's sale, four interviewees tell their tales of individual realization that the industrial titan was doomed.

Huh. Spotted lanternflies, while invasive and dangerous to trees and agriculture, can still serve a purpose. (And I love this headline.)

My ongoing almanac-style series for lehighvalleylive.com recalls local historical headlines from 10, 20, 25, 50 and 100 years ago. Researched the old-fashioned way (with microfilm in the library), featured articles typically focus on famous people or events — the things that make readers go, "Oh yeah, I remember that!"

Billy Joel has been singing about Allentown (about Bethlehem, really) for 40 years. But how do the people living here then and now feel about that? Interviews with union steelworkers, historians, mayors and local economic cheerleaders come together in this in-their-own-words style recounting of a song that captured a snapshot of hard times, for better and for worse.

It takes a lot to move the Appalachian Trail. I spent one recent Saturday on a walk in the woods with these trailblazing volunteers, documenting with words and photos their mission to reroute the AT.

Another attempt to add voice to my writing, this time describing the desire for Musikfest fun during still-uncertain times.

2022 NEW JERSEY PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARD WINNER | 2022 KEYSTONE MEDIA AWARDS HONORABLE MENTION: As we hit one year of COVID-19, our coronavirus coverage team presented personal stories of challenge — a reminder of what we have all endured, and what we still faced. For me, it was a chance to reconnect with my friends who endured a life-threatening bout with the pandemic virus.

2021 TONER PRIZE WINNER | 2021 OJA FINALIST | SOCIETY OF NEWS DESIGN 2020 AWARD OF EXCELLENCE | 2021 KEYSTONE MEDIA AWARD WINNER: As co-lead reporter in the Swing County, Swing State project, I helped develop unique 2020 Election coverage, including coordinating and writing this centerpiece feature on the diversity of one of Pennsylvania's most important counties. For a month, I headed up and down one county road — at times even going door to door — asking people of different political persuasions to talk about their motivations. The result is an award-winning story told in a way never before seen on our website.

2021 NEW JERSEY PRESS ASSOC. AWARD WINNER: A history feature that compared local storylines from the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic to the present day COVID-19 news. Inspiration for developing an ongoing historical headline feature, Lehigh Valley Then. Submitted to the NJPA in a portfolio of history pieces.

2021 KEYSTONE MEDIA AWARDS WINNER: An AA group was getting the cops called on them during the COVID-19 shutdown. They needed someone to tell their story. Submitted under the news diversity category.

This one was personal. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, someone I knew personally became the local hospital's first person to come off a ventilator — and live. In this historic moment, I took it upon myself to tell one family's story.

To cover the local impacts of climate change, I sought out some of the people who already feel it most accutely: winemakers. Going to farms and soliciting industry experts, I sought to explain a complicated topic in a more relatable way. This was done in conjunction with Covering Climate Now, a global collaboration of news outlets.