Good stuff happening all over the Valley

People can say a lot of different things about me, and they do, but one charge they can never make with accuracy is: "Geez, Groller, don't get around much do you?"

My Wednesday began in the morning with a trip into Palmerton (second time within a week) to Blue Ridge Country Club for the Bo Tkach Memorial Golf Tournament.

Gorgeous morning. Beautiful facility.

Man, it's so tempting for me to want to get out my clubs, which haven't been used even in anger for about 10 years, and get back into golf.

But somehow you tend to take in all the breaktaking scenery and enjoy your surroundings more when you're not spoiling it by making bad shot after bad shot.

I stayed at Blue Ridge for more than an hour and walked part of the course with Jim Tkach.

Even though he's busy as heck, it's not an easy day for Jim and his family to get through.

Hopefully, it's clear by now after what we've written in the aftermath of Owen Thomas' death that suicide among our young people is a serious issue and needs more attention. Unlike cancer and things like diabetes, which I have, it's very difficult to detect the danger signs with mental health issues.

I wish I could have stayed and heard Larry Kindbom, the coach from Washington University speak.

My column today just touched the surface of some of his heartfelt thoughts on the matter, but the more we talk about it, the more awareness we can create, the more lives that are going to saved because there's a lot of hurting going on out there and a lot of young people are struggling with depression and mental health issues.

The more we can get them to seek help before it's too late, and make sure that help is available, the better our world will be. Larry was ready to hit the links when I talked to him, but he's a guy I hope to be in contact with again.

But my day was only beginning at Blue Ridge.

Later in the afternoon, it was over to Bethlehem for the Liberty-Northampton softball game, and again, I appreciate any place that offers a refreshment stand and I had a hot dog and a Coke there (my standard supper so many nights at this time of year). Liberty is a tough place to watch a game. Very caged in feeling and it's even difficult to gain field access for interviews. But we got in our share with both teams after the K-Kids' 4-1 win ended.

And before heading back to home base to do some writing, I had one more stop. I headed over to the South Side of Allentown and found the Cumberland Gardens Rec Center and spent some time in there talking with members of the Dieruff girls basketball team. They are doing a camp over there for kids in 4th, 5th and 6th grades. I think it's great that they are reaching those kids while they are young and trying to give them some basketball knowledge and teach them about the importance of school, positive involvement, community etc. Those interviews are for a future column on what the Dieruff girls are doing.

So, from way up atop Palmerton in Carbon County to Allentown's southern edge, it was a busy day, but one filled with lots of positive things going on in our community.

Today, we're on the road again to Philly for Phillies-Cardinals baseball. The way things have been going, Phillies fans will likely enjoy this one more than I will.

FROM KEITH GROLLER