Reading Eagle Editor Harry Deitz

08/20/2024

I was interviewed by Matt Spade for the Shamokin History YouTube Channel and talked about my start in journalism and three books I wrote about Shamokin natives who excelled in their chosen professions: my father (“Our Father’s Journey”), Stan Coveleski (“Covey”), and Jake Daubert (“Gentleman Jake”). You can watch the video here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkJhSqjZqQI

07/26/2024

Watch this interesting interview of my father talking about the biggest news stories he covered during more than 70 years as a journalist in Shamokin. Thanks to Matt Spade.

Founded in 1835 by the discovery in the region of anthracite coal. Shamokin was built on coal in many ways but it has been called "HOME" by so many people. T...

06/21/2024

Choose happiness: Messages of hope for times of hopelessness

All of us have days when life is hard. Sometimes too hard. Frustration, confusion, uncertainty, loneliness, depression, anger, emptiness, pain . . . and many other feelings create those bad days. We feel lost. Hopeless.

I had one of those days several weeks ago. Sometimes help comes when we least expect it. When I got in my car that morning, this song came on from my playlist.

The song is “Revelation” by Third Day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u0P9kwfF4s

My life has led me down the road that’s so uncertain
And now, I am left alone and I am broken
Trying to find my way
Trying to find the faith that’s gone

This time, I know that You are holding all the answers
And I’m tired of losing hope and taking chances
On roads that never seem
To be the ones that bring me home

My life has led me down this path that’s ever winding
Through every twist and turn, I’m always finding
That I am lost again
Tell me when this road will ever end

Give me a revelation
Show me what to do
’Cause I’ve been trying to find my way
I haven’t got a clue
Tell me, should I stay here
Or do I need to move?
Give me a revelation
I’ve got nothing without You
I’ve got nothing without You

There’s another well-known song by Third Day, “Cry Out to Jesus,” that also addresses hopelessness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmVxRl5bc4Y

To everyone who’s lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
When you said goodbye
And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there’s nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right
For the marriage that’s struggling just to hang on
They’ve lost all of their faith in love
And they’ve done all they can to make it right again, still it’s not enough
For the ones who can’t break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you’re not alone in your shame
And your suffering
To the widow who suffers from being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
And for the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
And there is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He’ll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus

Those songs may not fix your problems, but they can provide a new perspective.

The key thing to remember is, don’t give up. The answer comes in God’s time, not our own.

During the 10 years when I wrote my “Editor’s Notebook” column, I often offered advice. It wasn’t aimed only at my readers. Sometimes my writing served as a reminder to myself. So I reread them and try to follow what I wrote years ago.
If you are struggling in your life, I hope this helps:

True happiness comes when we choose happiness

We all have choices in life. Why don’t we choose to be happy?

That’s not always easy, and I fail at times. But I’ve reached the point where I’m tired of letting people and things around me bring me down. So I’m trying to change that.

The secret to happiness is focusing on the things that lift us up, and there really are many more of those positives than we realize. The problem is, we tend to focus more on the negatives.

You can have six good days in a row, but your week is ruined by one bad day.

You can receive dozens of compliments, but you focus on a single criticism.

You can accomplish countless successes, but one failure overshadows all of them.

Why are so many people so unhappy? It may be that our expectations are too high. We want perfection; a life without problems. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t set high standards or have lofty goals, but we need to be realistic.

Many times it’s little things or things we can’t control that bring us down: a loss by our sports team; conflicts with co-workers; lack of finances; feelings of being ignored, left out, neglected or abandoned; lack of consideration; struggles to meet demands and obligations, which overwhelm us, steal our energy and make us too tired to face each day.

I have more than my share of problems, headaches, pain and disappointments. But I also have more than my share of blessings. Far more than my share. So why shouldn’t I focus on those? After all, they are much more pleasant.

Doesn’t it make more sense to consider what you have instead of what you lack? People prefer to be associated with positive people.

I do know people who seem to be too happy. They bubble with enthusiasm to the point that they overwhelm those around them. You find yourself asking: Is it real? But, does it matter? If that’s what makes them happy, why should I judge them or bring them down? Even happy people have down moments. Besides, people recognize genuine happiness.

Happiness isn’t just about that outward display. It’s about how you feel inside. How contented you are with your life. How satisfied.

There are so many things that can lift us up. Here are things to consider whenever the world gets you down.

■ Look at the sky at any time during the day or night and consider the vastness of the universe. Think about the way the Earth and all the other planets revolve around the sun in such an orderly manner and have for time that is countless without colliding. Then realize how insignificant all your troubles are in comparison.

■ Look into the eyes of a baby and see the innocence and unlimited potential that exists for him and the future of this world.

■ Consider how life began, how new life begins every second of every day and how precious every one of God’s children is in the world.

■ Resolve that kindness is the only appropriate response to cruelty if there is to be any hope of erasing the latter.

■ Understand that a smile can dry up more tears than tissues, sleeves and towels.

■ Treat each new day as an opportunity to do something positive in the world.

■ Realize that when you’re gone the memory of what you did in life will fade within a generation or two, but the love you pass on will last forever.

■ Look in the mirror every morning and understand that the only one who can make you unhappy is the one looking back at you.

■ Slow down. Often it’s the pace and the competition that takes away your happiness. Let someone else get ahead of you in line or traffic and know that in the bigger picture of the world it’s not going make much of a difference in getting to your destination.

■ Remind yourself that life on Earth is temporary. In the end, we all will die, so concentrate on celebrating and treasuring the time we have and those around us. Life changes so quickly. Why waste a single moment?

It all comes down to perspective, approach and attitude.

You can know true happiness, but not until you choose not to be unhappy.

Music video by Third Day performing Cry Out To Jesus. Facebook- http://smarturl.it/cqq3bzTwitter- http://smarturl.it/qef4nvWebsite- http://smarturl.it/f0q5fg...

06/20/2024

I had the honor of talking about Jake Daubert and my book, “Gentleman Jake,” for the podcast “Sports’ Forgotten Heroes” with Warren Rogan. You can watch the video program at the attached link.

Jake Daubert was a star for the Brooklyn Robins and Brooklyn Dodgers during the early 1900s and finished his career with the Cincinnati Reds. He played durin...

03/21/2024

Nice article about my Tuesday program on “Gentleman Jake” at Schuylkill Haven.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — For seven years, a modest two-story house at 217 E. Liberty St. was home to a baseball star who some view as the greatest first baseman of

02/09/2024

Book signing
I will be among several Sunbury Press authors who will sign books at Barnes & Noble, 4445 Southmont Way, Easton, from 12-4 on Saturday, February 24. I will talk about and sign copies of my two baseball books, "Gentleman Jake: The Success and Tragedy of the Deadball Era’s Greatest First Baseman" and "Covey: A Stone’s Throw from a Coal Mine to the Hall of Fame."

Book author Harry Deitz writes about interesting people and experiences.

01/20/2024

Sunbury Press, publisher of three of my books, is celebrating its 20th year in business with a 20 percent discount through the end of January. Use code 20/20 at checkout. You can find a direct link to my books at my website,

Book author Harry Deitz writes about interesting people and experiences.

01/01/2024

Seven years ago, at the beginning of 2017, I wrote a column listing 17 simple ways to improve the world in the coming years. They still apply today. If you’re looking for a New Year’s resolution, here are some for consideration.

Imagine how much better the world could be if all of us resolved to make the world a better place. Imagine how much better it could be if just one of us did that. It really isn’t difficult. We just need to make up our minds to do positive little things that will add up to positive big things. Often, they are things that don’t take much time or energy.
They may not cost anything. But the rewards—the paybacks—are immeasurable. So, in the spirit of a new year, here are 17 simple and easy things we can do to improve the world around us.
1. There’s an old caution sign at railroad crossings: Stop, look, and listen. It also should apply to communication and understanding. Think how much better things would be if we stopped or at least slowed down, looked a person in the eye and really listened to what he or she has to say. That certainly would derail some of the anger and misunderstandings in the world.
2. Say something positive to someone every day. You may never know how much a kind word or a compliment will mean to that person, but you will feel better after you’ve done it.
3. Make a donation to a charity. Money helps, but donations also come in the form of your time.
4. Don’t make judgments. There are people in the world who judge us before they know us. They judge us before they know all the facts. They disapprove when we have different opinions. Sometimes there isn’t right or wrong; there is just different. Don’t just talk tolerance; practice it.
5. Say hello to a stranger. How much effort does it take? What is the real risk? Many of our best relationships began with a simple “hello.”
6. Give something anonymously to someone in need. Don’t look for recognition or appreciation. Focus on what you can do for a “he” or “she,” instead of asking, “what’s in it for me?”
7. Have a conversation with a child. Not a lesson or a lecture. You may be surprised at how much you can learn and how much you can teach when you talk and listen.
8. Make a call to someone you haven’t spoken with in years. Better yet, visit that person.
9. Don’t wish away a single day. How often have we been anxious for a day to be over? We only have so many days, and we don’t know how many. So even when things are going really badly, don’t give up on that day. Think positive, and make every day special. And consider tomorrow a new opportunity to do what we weren’t able to do today.
10. Say you are sorry. It’s never too late, and it’s not as painful as it may seem.
11. Forgiveness isn’t only one of the best things you can do for others. It also is one of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself. It removes burdens. It helps you to see clearly. It repairs what is broken. Time may reduce our pain but doesn’t always remove it. Forgiveness will.
12. Take a quiet walk. Look at the world around you. How can you help but marvel at God’s creation when you push away all of the distractions in your life?
13. Happiness isn’t something we are given. It’s something we choose. So choose happiness.
14. Cherish your memories more than your possessions. They not only are more important, but they will last much longer.
15. Smile. I can’t think of an expression that can have a more positive impact on someone else—and on yourself. It’s difficult to be angry or cranky when you’re smiling.
16. Pray for peace. If you believe in prayer, you already understand its power. If you don’t, what do you have to lose?
17. Tell people you love them. It’s something you can’t do too often. It’s something they will never tire of hearing.

12/08/2023

Great Christmas present:
https://harrydeitz.com
https://www.sunburypress.com/collections/all-books/products/gentleman-jake?variant=41103668543581
https://www.amazon.com/Gentleman-Jake-Success-Deadball-Greatest/dp/B0CF45CKPZ/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=X4oaa&content-id=amzn1.sym.add701ed-2d82-4af9-b095-43fa71d1fb4e%3Aamzn1.symc.0be80b80-fece-46bc-88bd-c8e6394f049e&pf_rd_p=add701ed-2d82-4af9-b095-43fa71d1fb4e&pf_rd_r=TN5JJCH16KCHTW1EYCEY&pd_rd_wg=i00in&pd_rd_r=e4e45bd0-568f-4ac8-b843-56e292ed46b0&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_atf_m

10/16/2023

I will present a program on my latest book and sign copies at the Wyomissing Public Library’s “Meet the Author” program at 6 p.m. Wednesday, October 18.

Gentleman Jake: The success and tragedy of the Deadball Era’s greatest first baseman, is the life story of Jake Daubert, who escaped a life in the coal mines to become a two-time major league batting champion and most valuable player but died at 40 because of an undiagnosed genetic condition. He lived in Schuylkill County and was well-known in the Reading area 100 years ago as a baseball player, trap shooter, and businessman.

The event is open to the public. The book is available at sunburypress.com and on Amazon. I will have some copies of all my books at the program.

06/11/2023

Coming soon: The fascinating life story of Gentleman Jake Daubert. Although he escaped the dangerous Pennsylvania coal mines to become the best first-baseman of the Deadball Era, he suffered an early and tragic death. Go to my website for a preview.

Coming soon: Gentleman Jake Jake Daubert could have followed the path of two of his brothers and died as a young coal miner. Instead he died as an active baseball player. Baseball provided an escape from the dangerous coal mines of Pennsylvania, but it couldn’t save him from an undiagnosed genetic...

10/27/2020

Extraordinary woman’s touch is not forgotten

Today marks the 130th anniversary of the birth of my grandmother. She was one of the greatest women I’ve ever known and had a significant influence on my life. She died almost 38 years ago, but there aren’t many days when I don’t think of her. Here is a column I wrote about her in 2011:

https://retirededitorsnotebook.blogspot.com

Columns and commentary by a long-time newspaper editor