John Last

1 week ago | erienewsnow.com | John Last

I can't tell you how many basements I've visited since I started to do these Last Word stories. Usually, it's to see a model railroad display. I’ve seen other people use their basements to display some wonderful artwork they have done. I enjoyed those stories. That's why I'm visiting another basement today. It’s Chris Trott’s basement on Erie's east side. Chris invited me to his basement to see some beautiful artwork he's made over the past 40 years.

1 week ago | erienewsnow.com | John Last

I received an email from a man who told me he was retiring after 45 years in business. He's closing his shop. He's giving me the opportunity to tour his company before it closes down for good. It's all about the food industry. So, I'm all in! I'm visiting the Equipment Exchange Company of America, located in Lake City. Owner Bob Breakstone is at the wheel as we take off in a golf cart. It's a great way to view the kind of equipment that is exchanged here.

3 weeks ago | erienewsnow.com | John Last

I was watching a professional golf tournament on television a couple of weeks ago. It was being played on an historic course in Philadelphia. The announcers spent a lot of time pointing out that the course was designed by A.W. Tillinghast. I thought to myself, Hey! I've seen that name before. I'm following my memory back to the Erie Golf Club located on Old Zuck Road in Millcreek Township. The name Tillinghast can be found on every hole on the course. The Tillinghast name is on the pin flags.

3 weeks ago | erienewsnow.com | John Last

I've found many places in Erie where I can go to relax, meditate, and find some inner peace. I should visit those places more often. There's one location that was not on my list. I thought it was a place for silliness, not for silence and serenity. I’m visiting the labyrinth at Frontier Park in Erie. I've visited here many times with my grandsons. They like to race with me through the circles and curves. There's always a lot of laughs as I try to catch them. We have fun.

4 weeks ago | erienewsnow.com | John Last

As a father and a grandfather, I've read a lot of children's books. I’ve read books such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Bear Who Didn't Like Honey. Today, I want to tell a true story that should be turned into a children's book. Let's call it The Little Tree That Couldn't Find a Home. Story time on The Last Word takes us to Penn State Behrend. Let’s begin. There is a nice white flowering dogwood tree gracing the area beside the historic Glenhill Farmhouse at Penn State Behrend.