Her Times
By Pam Parker Erie Times-News staff blogger
Pam Parker's blog takes on everything from women's fun to momisms to lifestyles around Lake Erie and real estate. She'll take you down Memory Lane, up through sports and fun and off the grid. Get ready for laughs — it's more than just Pam. It's Pamdemonium.   Read more about this blog.
 Phone: 814-870-1821
Posted: May 20th, 2013

Sunset over the Flores Sea

Young people are tanning too much, and Erie’s Doreen Buckel wants to spread the word.

Her 28-year-old daughter, Jennifer, lost a battle with melanoma — the potentially deadly skin cancer. Jennifer, like a lot of young women, spent time in the sun and in tanning beds. Doreen Buckel, her friends and family members lined Peach Street to raise awareness of skin cancer during Melanoma Awareness Month.
See the WJET-TV video here of her efforts. Click here to see a WJET-TV interview with Doreen.

According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common of all cancers with more than 3.5 million skin cancers diagnosed each year in the United States — more than all other cancers combined. The incidence of diagnosis has increased over the past few decades.

Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun and tanning beds.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyleHer Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step grandmom to one.

Posted in: Uncategorized
Posted: May 18th, 2013

photo (7)In House to Home this week, you must read the story on the Atlanta Botanical Gardens — it’s only in print so no links today.

Also, Sue Scholz pays tribute to Donna Davis of the Presque Isle Garden Club. Read her story here.

Check out all our stories this week:

» Enter Historic Homes Contest
» Homeowners want automated security
» 10 tips to make fridge shine
» Homemade, natural remedies keep pests at bay
» How to take care of oak trees

Pam Parker has written about real estate, home improvement and remodeling for 25 years. She is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyleHer Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three and stepmom to three.

Posted in: Uncategorized
Posted: May 17th, 2013

sun2I have seen this idea in a lot of places, but the folks from Kohl’s sent me some really cute and inexpensive choices for sunglasses shapes that flatter your face for $17 and up. Here they are:

If your face is round: Create contrast, wear square or rectangular frames that are slightly wider than the broadest part of your face.  These floral shades at left are from L.C. Lauren Conrad at Kohl’s for $18 — on sale.

squareIf your face is square: Choose sunglasses with a higher top than at the bridge with oval or round frames that soften facial features. These babies at left are only $11 on sale at Kohl’s.

longIf your face is long: Choose angular and squared lenses. Try on those bad boys at right from Apartment 9, $13 on sale at Kohl’s.

sunglasses

If your face is oval: Anything goes. These cool Candie’s Retro Florals are $14.99 at Kohl’s.

cats eye

If your face is heart-shaped: Choose a pair that adds width to the lower part of the face. Glasses that are wider at the top and narrower at the bottom — aviators and cat-eye sunglasses are good choices. Check out these Cat’s eye lenses from Apartment 9 for $12.99.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyleHer Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom of three and step grandmom of one.

Posted in: Uncategorized
Posted: May 16th, 2013

WC3-300x291

Last year, my team and I tracked and interviewed countless murder suspects, got the dirt on wealthy families that shaped Erie history and had a rip-roaring good time at the Watson-Curtze Mansion.

I felt like I was at Downton Abbey. And you can too!

It’s a real life game of Clue where actors portray the suspects — and they are stationed in various rooms of the four-story mansion and neighboring Planetarium. Everyone has a story, but you can’t always believe it — because one of them is a murderer!

Is it the doctor? The gardener? The lawyer? The spurned ex-wife? The mistress? The nanny? The long lost son or the guy who pretended to be the long lost son? Clues, clues — you must find all the clues! 

Join us — dress in your best 1920s fashions, enjoy the cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and desserts. And find the murderer!

Saturday, June 15 at  6 p.m. The after party begins at 8 p.m.

Teams of six can register for $250 before May 24. After, teams are $300. The Erie County Historical Society will match individuals and couples with a group if you do not have a team.

If you can’t make the game … join the Roaring 20s themed after party at the mansion. Tickets sold separately at only $20.

Hurry — this event sells out every year! Call 814-454-1813 x24

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyleHer Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three and stepmom of three.

clue

Posted in: Uncategorized
Posted: May 15th, 2013

School super salariesAs the Millcreek Township School District board rushes to hire a new superintendent — and eliminate programs and jobs to fix the $9 million hole in the budget — I want to call attention to a report on the ridiculously high salaries for superintendents.

Fox News compiled a pretty good report on how school superintendents are making more money than governors. The map at left includes a link to a report from Fox News.

Gov. Chris Christie was incensed at the news that a school superintendent made more than he did — in a district that couldn’t afford to buy paper. Sound familiar?

All of this comes in the wake of the MTSD board rushing to hire a new super. Why? The Erie Times-News questions that right here. We should all question the rush to hire along with the salary and the benefits for the next MTSD governor –oops …  super.

Pennsylvania Governor Corbett made $183,255 in 2012 — he was the highest paid of all  governors in the United States, according to The Patriot News. Can you hear the “Wow” on that one? Click here for the story. Millcreek Township’s super Michael Golde, who has been on sick leave, made more than $170,000 for the school year. That’s less than the Pennsylvania governor’s pay — but not substantially — to run a 7,500-student school district. Get this — Golde’s pay comes close to California Gov. Jerry Brown, the seventh-highest paid governor at $173,000. Read more here

Let’s take note that the majority of states DO NOT pay supers on the same scale as governors.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyleHer Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three and stepmom of three — all graduates of Millcreek elementary and middle schools along with McDowell High School.

 

 

Posted in: Uncategorized
Posted: May 14th, 2013

JolieIn today’s New York Times that hit homes hours ago, Angelina Jolie wrote an opinion piece that announced a medical choice that many women have chosen — a preventative mastectomy — that reduced her 87 percent chance of contracting breast cancer to less than 5 percent. The video at left is from CNN.

Her mother died at age 56 of breast cancer.

Click here to read Jolie’s op-ed.

Here’s the very informative Huffington Post article.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyleHer Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom of three and step grandmom of one.

 

Posted in: Uncategorized
Posted: May 13th, 2013

p1lel_012711_ae_segwayeditoIt’s great news that Segways are coming to Presque Isle. I’ve ridden on Segways for fun during an interview with the former college president at Edinboro University (that’s me at left flitting around inside the student union building) and for even more fun when my daughter took me on a tour of Pittsburgh a few years ago at Paradise Tours.

In Erie, The Yellow Bike Rental Company added guided Segway tours to its popular rentals of bikes, trikes, surreys, tandems, and roller blades. The four tours a day start on May 25 at $50 per person. I am guessing they will be very popular.

Sign me up!

Here is Dana Massing’s story in today’s Erie Times-News.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyleHer Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom of three and step grandmom of one.

Posted in: Uncategorized
Posted: May 12th, 2013

MomsIn honor of Mother’s Day, I am reposting The Pennsylvania Conference for Women‘s e-mail message that quotes what women have said about their moms as role models — like the one at left. The Pennsylvania Conference for Women is the largest women’s conference in the state.  It is scheduled for Tuesday, October 29 in Philadelphia. Here are quotes from the website:

How was/is your mother a role model for your career?

My mom’s mantra was “make yourself indispensable” (i.e. do whatever’s needed, not just what you think you should be doing).

My mom always told us to do what makes us happy.

My mom had her own alteration business in 1948 before (and after) she got married. She taught me to be independent and not to settle – whip up a dress and a fabulous meal too.

My mom was a stay-at-home mom but also sold Tupperware and Avon. She had such a beautiful light about her, and people were drawn to her smile. I realized having positive energy and a good smile goes a long way.

Funny you should ask. I am a communications trainer and I reference her years in the banking industry all the time. I learned so much from her about how to treat people, how to be a true professional, and how to be a working mom. I am indebted to her entire generation of women who blazed a path for me and the women of my generation. I hope to do the same for my girls.

My mom didn’t have a high school diploma; she worked in sewing factories, long, hard hours for low wages, also waitressing. She inspired me to get an education so that I could earn a better life. I am grateful.

She told me to invent a product, I did, and millions of sales later I have her to thank!

Growing up, my sister and I witnessed my mother (a single parent) struggle and work long hours as a waitress. After many years she had enough and decided to better herself and her family by going back to school for nursing. While going to school full-time and working (and being a single parent was an even harder struggle), she graduated and has been a nurse for well over 10 years now. I am extremely proud of her hard work and dedication. Her persistence has taught me to succeed in everything I do. I would not be where I am in my career today if it were not for my mother.

My mom modeled communication, she took us to campaign, community, church…taught us to prioritize a balanced life…our God, our family, our community.

My mother started “take your daughter to work day” with two other women. She has paved the way for so many women scientists and inspired me to be a business owner. She’s my hero.

My mother owned a public relations company in the ’60s. She was very successful and always told me I had to find a career that I loved so that I would never have to depend on anyone else.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyleHer Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom of three and step grandmom of one.

Posted in: Uncategorized
Posted: May 11th, 2013

The ReservesI’ve been to The Reserves off Arbuckle Road before, but right now there are five houses for sale in that region, and all are impressive. Here’s a link to my story in this week’s House to Home. That hubba-hubba great room at left is inside 275 Edgewater Circle — open house tomorrow. The list of homes for sale is at the end of this article.

We have plenty more on the local front. Click on the articles below:

» High Point market puts accent on statement makers – Meadville’s Marie Feltz gives us the news 
» Orchids mimic animals at weekend show Sue Scholz is going to the orchid show this weekend at the ice rink — you’ll see more than flowers
» Chalk one up for paint flowing at flower shop I visited Le Jardin in Edinboro — some must see decorating ideas.

Here are details on houses for sale in The Reserves:
275 Edgewater Circle
• $649,900
• 1.18 acres
• 3,210 square feet
• Built in 2005
• Five bedrooms, four baths
• Karen Antonio, of Howard Hanna, is the listing agent. For a closer look, attend an open house Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m., or call Antonio at 825-6097.

329 Forest Run
• $595,000
• 1.04 acre
• 2,860 square feet with additional 1,962 square feet on the lower level where a wine cellar, complete bar, 25-by-43-foot movie theater are part of the package.
• Built in 2007
• Four bedrooms, three and a half baths
• Tim Smith, of RE/Max Real Estate Group, is the listing agent. Call him at 882-2498.

260 Edgewater Circle
• $775,000
• 1.53 acres
• 5,108 square feet sits on a creek and includes natural cherry woodwork, crown molding and much more.
• Built in 2005.
• Five bedrooms, four and a half baths
• Marsha Marsh, of Marsha Marsh Real Estate, is the listing agent. Call her at 440-8181.

200 Edgewater Circle
• $829,000
• 1.47 acres
• 3,936 square feet overlook a lush landscape along with an impressive patio and much more.
• Built in 2005
• Four bedrooms, three full baths, two half baths
• Loretta Schaal and Nedra Lehrian, of RE/Max Real Estate, list this home. Call them at 833-9801.

Schaal and Lehrian also have an older ranch listed for sale in the same vicinity. Here are the details:

250 Arbuckle Road
• $339,900
• 2.61 acres
• 2,588 square feet sprawls out in an impressively updated home that includes expansive outdoor living, a spacious four-season room and an in-ground outdoor pool.
• Built in 1955
• Three bedrooms and two full baths
Pam Parker has written about real estate, home improvement and remodeling for 25 years. She is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyleHer Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three and stepmom to three.

Posted in: Uncategorized
Posted: May 10th, 2013

shoesI’m not a flats kind of girl, but an e-mail spoke to me about “Earthing.”

The makers of Pluggz teased me about how good it feels to walk barefoot on grass or sand — they explained that it’s because we are in direct touch with nature  – Mother Earth.

We absorb energy, electrons that “ground” us — called Earthing. Well that caught my attention, so I visited the website and found  leather and linen ballet flats that have “pluggzproprietary” grounding technology, padded arches and heels with memory foam, moisture wicking, anti-microbial lining and trampoline heels for extra comfort and support. They retail for $129 per pair. I am hoping to get a free pair to try them out for everyone. They have a men’s version — flip flops.

White nails — they’re everywhereHuffington Post, Harper’s Bazaar and more. This photo is from InStyle. The white nails look pretty good and some folks add little decals, stickers and other adornments. Check it out in the latest edition of InStyle magazine. white nails

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyleHer Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom of three and step grandmom of one.

Posted in: Uncategorized

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