Tag Archives: reporting

First try at New Hive: A graphic on BAE Systems and the proposed shutdown of the Bradley Industrial Base

shutdown

So, it’s 10 p.m., and I really wish I was watching Chicago Fire.

However, I got addicted to New Hive instead. Continue reading

A month of music: A lack thereof and a LIVE concert

The stage of the Strand all decked out for Think Loud's after party on Feb. 28. Later in the night, the curtains opened and Live played with a backdrop of empty seats.

The stage of the Strand all decked out for Think Loud’s after party on Feb. 28. Later in the night, the curtains opened and Live played with a backdrop of empty seats.

The past couple weeks, for me, have been about music.

First, there was the lack thereof.

Last week, we broke this story about Harley-Davidson removing radios from its plants as a matter of safety and productivity protocol.

I know what you’re thinking. (Some people even emailed me to share their two cents.)

“Why is this a story?” 

“What are you going to write about next? The contents of Harley’s vending machines? The employees’ bathroom breaks?”

Truthfully, this isn’t really a story about Harley at all. Continue reading

Four days in Newtown: Reporting on the Sandy Hook school shooting

The benches in front of Edmond Town Hall serve as memorials. The benches spell out a quote by William Edmond: "History has a secondary utility, which by relieving our minds from the fatigue, more serious occupation invigorates and prepares us for fresh exertion."

The benches outside Edmond Town Hall became memorials to Sandy Hook victims. Together, they spell  a quote by William Edmond: “History has a secondary utility, which by relieving our minds from the fatigue, more serious occupation invigorates and prepares us for fresh exertion.”

He never showed up.

That, for some reason, is where it became real to me.

Somewhere between the piles of flowers, makeshift memorials, and barrage of funerals at St. Rose of Lima church, it hit me hard in a Sandy Hook hair salon on my last day of reporting from the Connecticut town.

Marci Benitez, a hair dresser at Fun Kuts, planned to cut 6-year-old James Mattioli’s hair on Saturday.

The appointment came and went. Benitez thought the young boy’s mother had forgotten, until she saw his name on a list released Saturday. Continue reading

A week of Johnson Controls: Reporting on the York employer’s possible relocation

Future home of Johnson Controls? We'll just wait and see.

Future home of Johnson Controls? We’ll just wait and see.

Last week got pretty wild.

For months, we knew a Fortune 500 company was looking to relocate within York County to Hopewell Township using a tax incentive program that needed approval from the school board, township and commissioners.

If they didn’t get what they needed, they’d likely go to Maryland — or so we’re told.

Not knowing who it was frustrated the hell out of me. Continue reading

Boyer prepares to weather the storm: A list of pro tips for journalists covering Sandy

After I performed the list of tasks below, I wrote this blog while consuming a Grey Goose and orange juice. Gotta load up on Vitamin C before the storm, kids!

Hurricane Sandy is on her way. As a resident of Pennsylvania, I’m following along with the traditional inclement weather protocol of panicking while purchasing bread and milk like it’s the end of the world.

As a journalist, this preparation includes a few extra things.

1. First, I fed the Boyermobile. It was hungry.

Here I am at Rutter’s on Pennsylvania Avenue filling my car with gas and wearing my jammies just because Cost: $48. But it’s necessary.  I’ll probably be out-and-about tomorrow, and if there’s no power I can charge my devices in the car.

2. I stocked up on supplies. Need to keep my glucose up.

Pro tip: Runts, Sour Patch Kids and assorted licorice thingies are crucial to the operation.

3. I loaded up my psychedelic orange gym bag with clothes and deodorant in case I’m stranded somewhere awkward tomorrow and can’t catch a boat to Walmart.

There may or may not be toilet paper in this bag. You can never be too careful.

As you can see, I’m all ready for Sandy. I’m also halfway through my vodka and orange.

I’m going to finish that and get to bed.

Signing off, folks.

ScribbleLive app, cookies and Christmas sweaters: Highlights from this weekend

It was a busy weekend over here in Boyerland. Here’s the rundown:

1. Attended my first high school football game Friday night with the NewsVroom, the York Daily Record/Sunday News’ mobile media lab.

It was a cold night to be outside. Here’s a photo of business editor Cathy Hirko attempting to nab fries from someone named “The Mummert.”

Continue reading

Back at it! Visit me Thursday at John’s Diner in Fairview Township.

I love diner coffee. I snapped this one after a visit to Alexander’s near the York Fairgrounds.

So, I have to catch my breath here.

It’s been an interesting month.

For most of September, we were down a man (or woman) on the business desk, which has led to minimal time to focus on fun things, like hanging out with random people.

(Though I did manage to have some fun with my toys.)

But I’m back. Back with vengeance. And I’m headed where no man has gone before.

…well, at least I haven’t. For more information, click here. Continue reading

From iPhone photo, to online, to print: Royal Farms chicken takes a tumble

A large chicken takes a tumble.

So, this is a first.

I was working this Saturday, and all hell broke loose with the weather.

I was driving back to the office from lunch when a monsoon erupted.

I called my editor and asked if I should get a photo of something going on to post with a web update.

The rain. People hating the rain. Whatever.

Continue reading

Something I learned: How to make sure your tweets show up on location-based maps like Gathering Point

So, I was starting to get mega POed, because my tweets weren’t showing up on these  Gathering Point maps folks are starting to make at the office.

I felt left out.

I went to the Location Services tab in the Settings app on my iPhone and thought I activated the Twitter switch:

 

Alas, my tweets were still lost in an abyss. Continue reading

Mapping social reactions to the York Galleria mall cockroach infestation: I’m multi-platform, yo.

This is the closed food court, caution tape and all. My editor, Cathy Hirko, noticed I’m getting a little artsy fartsy with my iPhone photos.

The other day, I posted about Gathering Point, this neat tool you can use to make social maps that update in realtime to complement stories.

On Tuesday, I had the perfect opportunity to see it in action: A cockroach infestation that closed the food court at the York Galleria mall.

On a side note, that day, I pretty much almost crashed my car on Rt. 30.

En route to the mall, I had my notepad pinned against the steering wheel while I took notes from Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Samantha Krepps. Continue reading