Part 2: A Fun Weekend: A Social Movement Rally!

This is part 2 of the events over my birthday weekend last month. Our friend visited and we did a lot of activities. Today's blog is about the No Kings Protest. It was a sea of people who are extremely upset about the way things are right now in the U.S. 

(Photo: Over 1,000 people lined the streets of this small NH town on Oct 18, 2025)

Since we feel strongly about the way things have been going (not the correct way), we decided to investigate and be present for one of several No Kings Protests in New Hampshire. We were told that it was twice the size of the same protest that was held in June. That says something. The signs were great.  From "Release the Epstein files" to "Project 2026: Jail Trump and Musk" to "Science Saves Lives."

WHAT IS "NO KINGS"? - The No Kings protests, also known internationally as the No Dictators or No Tyrants protests, is a series of demonstrations, largely in the United States  against what the organizers describe as authoritarian policies of Donald Trump and corruption in his administration. This particular protest was held on October 18, 2025.  

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 3 takeaways from Saturday's No Kings nationwide protests 

October 19, 2025 By Alana Wise, Chandelis Duster , Emma Bowman, NPR

One of the biggest days of protest against the Trump administration's policies happened on Saturday in cities around the U.S. The overriding theme of the marches was the accusation that President Trump is behaving more like a monarch than an elected official.

It marked the second massive wave of protests organized by No Kings — a network of progressive organizations fighting against Trump's agenda.

Organizers said about 2,600 No Kings events were planned across nearly every state, and that it projected a bigger turnout than the 5 million it said attended its previous nationwide action in June.

(Photo: Local protest in a southern NH town)

What factors Prompted this protest? 

Energized by a slew of actions taken by the administration since the summer protests, the group cited widespread immigration detentions carried out by often-masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, the administration's aggressive slashing of federal education resources and environmental protections, gerrymandering and other concerns.

Here's a recap of how the protests unfolded.

1. United in protests to 'protect America' 

Protesters showed up to oppose a wide range of issues, including the administration's immigration tactics and its push for federal and military intervention in Democratic-led states as a way to tackle crime. The diversity of concerns was strung together by the broader messaging of democracy, constitutional rights and the freedom the U.S. was founded on.

In Washington, D.C., demonstrators filled Pennsylvania Avenue near the U.S. Capitol, many holding signs that read "No Kings, No Tyrants." Many people wore yellow, a color organizers said is to show unity.

Uriah Kitchen of Delaware, who attended the protest with his son Elijah, told NPR "we made a pledge of allegiance when we were in school and this is what it's all about."

"This is why we're here, we're here to protect America," Kitchen said.

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an Independent who caucuses with Democrats, addressed D.C. protesters in remarks slamming tech billionaires who he said have become richer and more powerful since Trump became president. Sanders singled out Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg "and the other multibillionaires who were sitting right behind Trump when he was inaugurated."

On the West Coast in San Pablo, Calif., Maria Floriano attended a No Kings event with immigration on her mind. Wearing a hat and shirt decorated with butterflies, she compared immigration to butterflies and said "migration is beautiful" and "an act of courage."

"We want them to know that there are people fighting for them, that not everyone feels that they're not welcome here," Floriano said, noting the protest was held in a Bay Area community home to a large population of immigrants.

2. The Trump administration and Republican lawmakers weighed in 

(Blogger's Note: They are Obviously CLUELESS)

House Speaker Mike Johnson slammed Saturday's protests as a "hate America rally," and other Republicans have derided the event as anti-American.

Responding to NPR's questions about the protests, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said: "Who cares?"

Trump was not at the White House during the protests but on a visit to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Connecticut House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora told Connecticut Public that he considered the "No Kings" messaging of the protests "divisive." He also doesn't share protesters' concerns but supports their right to exercise their First Amendment rights.

"I think our democracy is still strong as ever — but, you know, they're free to express themselves," Candelora said.

3. Peaceful protesting with song and dance 

Despite the many criticisms that anti-Trump protesters came to preach, there were displays of optimism, hope and whimsy in several cities.

Inspired by protesters in Portland, Ore., people in Los Angeles, Hartford, Conn., and elsewhere showed up to march in inflatable animal costumes. Song and dance broke out in Salt Lake City and other cities.

As with the previous mass No Kings protests, revolutionary messaging showed up in demonstrators' clothing, chants and signs as protesters sought to remind people that America was founded in opposition to monarchy.

The protests were largely peaceful. Police in New York City and Washington, D.C., where rallies drew some of the day's biggest crowds, said no protest-related arrests were made.

"The Governor has authorized state active duty for training to help ensure the Guard will be ready to respond if needed to help keep people safe," Youngkin spokesman Peter Finocchio wrote in a statement to VPM.

The Texas Newsroom reported that Abbott said in a statement of sending the Guards to Austin: "Violence and destruction will never be tolerated in Texas." The newsroom also reported that state troopers were stationed at entrances to the Capitol grounds inspecting bags but protesters said the law enforcement presence felt smaller than the previous "No Kings" event in June.

Saturday's rally was peaceful and there were no arrests, according to the Austin Police Department.

NPR's Joel Rose and KQED reporter Brian Krans contributed to this report.

(Photo: Some of the over 1,000 protesters lining the main street of a southern NH town) 

Part 1: A Fun Weekend: All About Nubble Lighthouse

Last month, over my birthday weekend, our friend Lynn visited for a couple of days and we enjoyed a number of things, including local places, a great rally, a paranormal investigation, forest walks and more. Today's blog is part one: Nubble Lighthouse. Nubble is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world.  

(Photo: Rob, Tom, Lynn at Nubble Lighthouse) 

ABOUT NUBBLE LIGHTHOUSE - The Nubble Lighthouse, also known as Cape Neddick Light, is  a historic and picturesque lighthouse on a small island in York, Maine. Built in 1879, it is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world and is visible from the mainland park, Sohier Park, though it is not accessible to the public. You can enjoy views of the lighthouse from Sohier Park, where there is also a gift shop, and during special events like the Christmas lighting ceremony.

(Photo: Nubble Lighthouse. Credit: R.G.) 

LOCATION - The lighthouse is situated on Nubble Island, about 100 yards off Cape Neddick Point in the village of York Beach. Looking at the lighthouse from the parking lot, you are facing east, so there have been many pictures of beautiful sunrises behind the lighthouse!  

(Photo: Nubble Lighthouse. Credit: R.G.) 

HISTORY -  Construction began in 1879, and the lighthouse was put into use the same year to guide ships through dangerous waters following a shipwreck. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. 

(Photo: Sign from UNH about the program at Nubble)

CONSTRUCTION - The 41-foot tall cast-iron tower was built in 1879, following an appropriation from Congress in 1874. The lighthouse has a classic New England style, with a Victorian keeper's house featuring gingerbread trim. Its grounds are decorated with miniature cast-iron lighthouses on the railing of the lantern room. 

(Photo: Lynn and Tom standing in Sohier park. Credit: R.G)

SCIENTIFIC USAGE TODAY - The waters around the lighthouse are used for research by the University of New Hampshire's (UNH) scientific diving program and other institutions. 

   UNH uses the waters around Nubble Light as as training site and has a robust diving program where students, faculty and staff use scuba to conduct underwater research experiments.

   Researchers from many institutions along the Gulf of Maine have used the Nubble waters because of the ease of shore diving and the high diversity of marine life under the surface. 

(Photo: Signage about the lighthouse and the park that faces it. Credit: R.G)

STILL ACTIVE TODAY! - Nubble Light is still an active aid to navigation, though it became automated in 1987. Ownership and maintenance: After its automation, the town of York acquired ownership of the lighthouse in 1998 and is responsible for its preservation and upkeep. The U.S. Coast Guard maintains the light and horn.

PUBLIC ACCESS - The lighthouse and island are not open to the public, but you can view the structure from the nearby mainland park. Viewing from land: The best views are from Sohier Park, located at the end of Nubble Road in York Beach. There is free parking available at the park, but the spaces are very limited. You may have to drive around the small lot for a while. 

(Photo: Waves crash against the rocks on the northern part of Nubble island. Credit: R.G.) 

GIFT SHOP -  A gift shop is available at Sohier Park, with proceeds benefiting the park and lighthouse. They sell tee shirts, post cards (my favorite thing), candy, taffy, puzzles, coffee mugs, stickers, and all kinds of things. 

SPECIAL EVENTS -  A popular event is the lighting of the lighthouse and buildings for Christmas, which begins at dusk on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving and lasts until early January.

 

(Photo: A look at the coast of Cape Neddick, Maine, looking north from Sohier Park. Credit: R.G) 

Idiot of the Week: Man facing animal cruelty charges for whipping, dragging dog

Animal abusers are some of the most vile people, and this week's idiot claimed he was pet sitting when he abused a dog. Fortunately, he was arrested.  

(Photo: Pluto the dog who was abused and brought to the Boston MSPCA for adoption. MSPCA-Angell  ************** is in Boston, MA. Thanks to the many concerned citizens who reached out after seeing a video of a man and a dog circulating online, we’re sharing an important update: we have the dog, and he’s safe. 💙 This 1.5 year old pup is now named Pluto, and he’s settling into the our care. Pluto is fun, bouncy, and absolutely thrilled to meet new people. He’s also strong and energetic, and he is working through a big life transition, so we’re looking for a home that can offer him the gentle structure and stability he deserves. Our Law Enforcement team is actively investigating the incident from the video with support from Boston Animal Control and other agencies. We’ll share more when we’re able, but for now, our public focus is on getting Pluto ready for a bright future.* Credit: Boston MSPCA 

Boston man facing animal cruelty charges for whipping, dragging dog, claims he was pet-sitting

 The man told law enforcement that he was pet-sitting the dog and was trying to train it, and further alleged that the dog bit him.

By Darin Zullo, October 23, 2025 , Boston Globe

A Boston man is facing animal cruelty charges after he allegedly mistreated a dog he claimed to be pet-sitting, prosecutors said.

Akeem Pierre, 42, was charged Thursday, Oct. 22, 2025 in the Dorchester division of Boston Municipal Court with animal cruelty and animal cruelty by custodian, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Pierre was released on personal recognizance and ordered to stay away from the dog he allegedly mistreated, not own any animals, report to weekly probation meetings, and undergo a mental health evaluation.

Law enforcement from the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) were first notified of the alleged incident June 13 when they received a call and video from “a concerned citizen.” In the video, Pierre can be seen walking a red and grey merle mix dog named Pluto and “repeatedly whipping the dog across the face and head with the leash,” the DA’s office said.

Pierre also allegedly screamed and swore at Pluto while dragging the dog behind him and lifted Pluto into the air by the leash. He later told officers he was pet-sitting Pluto and was trying to train the dog by tapping it on the nose, according to the DA’s office.

When confronted with the video, Pierre claimed that Pluto bit him, though the video does not show this, prosecutors said. Pluto, who was “located and successfully surrendered” through the MSPCA, was uninjured and has since been adopted, prosecutors said.

The MSPCA said when he was surrendered in June that the dog is “remarkably friendly.”

VIDEO OF PLUTO AFTER BEING BROUGHT TO THE MSPCA FOR ADOPTION:

Pierre is due back in court Dec. 4 for a pre-trial hearing. He also has a pending second offense in Dorchester from 2021 for operating under the influence, according to the DA’s office.

“There are laws in place to protect pets from cruel and violent treatment just as there are laws to protect people from violence,” Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in the statement. If a set of facts supports charging someone with animal cruelty we will not hesitate to move forward.”

Members of the public reporting animal abuse are encouraged to call the Animal Rescue League hotline at 617-426-9170 x110 or the MSPCA hotline at 617-522-6008 or 800-628-5808.

Hero of the Week: Man in China Has Prevented 469 Depressed People From Jumping Off Bridge

 This week's hero is a man who lives in China and has prevented over 450 suicides by despondent people who thought of taking their lives on a bring in China. Here's the story.

(Photo: Fifty-six-year-old Chen Si keeps a watch on the Yangtze River Bridge in Nanjing. Credit NDTV) 

Man Has Prevented 469 Depressed People From Jumping Off Bridge

Chen wears a red volunteer's uniform with the words "cherish life every day" written in Chinese and patrols the bridge 10 times each day.

Edited by:Anoushka Sharma, Aug 01, 2024

Dubbed the "Angel of Nanjing," a suicide prevention volunteer has prevented 469 individuals from jumping off a bridge in China during the course of 21 years, as per a report in the South China Morning Post.

Fifty-six-year-old Chen Si keeps a watch on the Yangtze River Bridge in Nanjing, the capital city of Jiangsu province in eastern China. To stop individuals from jumping, Chen strikes up conversations with others who are lingering or mindlessly strolling across the bridge. Additionally, he has helped save lives by pulling people back from the brink and helping those who have already dove into the river.

Donning a red volunteer's uniform with the Chinese phrase "cherish life every day" printed on it, he has been monitoring the bridge ten times a day for almost 20 years.

(Image: Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, looking from the southeast bank to the northwest view. Credit: Wikipedia) 

In the year 2000, Chen witnessed a girl who appeared to be in need walking on the bridge. He came over to her, worried that she might be in trouble, and struck up a conversation in an attempt to cheer her up. She had no money, but he got her food, water, and a ticket home. For Chen, it was the first time he had thought of someone jumping from a bridge to end their life. "I realised that these people could be saved," he said.

Since September last year, he has saved several hundred people. The 56-year-old said he learnt to understand when someone is feeling down by their posture. "People with an extreme internal struggle don't have relaxed body movements, their bodies look heavy. I want to tell these people that as long as you have breath, you have hope to start your life over," he told New Weekly.

He has used his savings to rent places for people he helped and also helped them with other expenses. Once, he helped save a girl who had been selected for a university but could not afford the tuition fee. Chen also helped her raise over $1,400. Another time, he saved a woman from jumping because her husband cheated on her. "Over the years, I've realised that simply pulling someone back from the brink on the bridge doesn't completely lift them out of their predicament," he said.

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Helplines Vandrevala Foundation for Mental Health 9999666555 or help@vandrevalafoundation.com TISS iCall 022-25521111 (Monday-Saturday: 8 am to 10 pm) (If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist.)

Halloween NEWS Article: This Upper Marlboro home might be the most haunted one in Maryland

If you listen to WTOP-FM newsradio, Washington, DC today you'll hear a story about Linville manor with Rob Gutro and Winn Brewer being interviewed about their book and the manor ghosts. You can listen live at wtop .Com as it will repeat each hour. Here's the printed story (with a short video!)

This Upper Marlboro home might be the most haunted one in Maryland (if you believe in ghosts)

John Domen | jdomen@wtop.com ,October 31, 2025, 5:13 AM

Inside Maryland's most haunted manor, according to paranormal investigators

It’s a property that dates back hundreds of years, and in that time, it’s seen its fair share of untimely deaths. But does that mean Linville Manor in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, is the most haunted house there is?

The original home was built in the early 1700s, though a massive fire in 1849 destroyed the original structure. Up until the 1950s, it was owned by the Bowie family (you may have heard about the city north of Upper Marlboro named after them), who rebuilt the home in the same spot, building on the same foundation and same brick-walled basement where the original home stood.

In 2018, the home was bought out of foreclosure auction by a man named Winn Brewer.

Although the structure needed a substantial amount of work, he saw the building’s potential and went all in on trying to fix it up.

“All I knew was, it was a great real estate deal,” Brewer said. “Let’s see if we can make it an event space, maybe a wedding venue. And very quickly, the ghost kind of decided, ‘not quite so much.'”

Brewer admits to always being interested in history and at least amused by ghost stories growing up. Then, guests renting the house out through short-term rental apps and people who bill themselves as ghost hunters and paranormal experts started visiting and having their own experiences.

“So in every single room of this house, there is activity,” Brewer said, as he began a guided tour of the home. “Everything you see in a ghost show happens here. Mists, orbs, unexplained lights, responses, knocks, voices in distant rooms, footsteps, moving furniture.”

In all, Brewer and his friends said they think there’s at least 10 ghosts, including a cat, that haunt the property. He said what really stirred things up was rehab work he did in the basement to replace the boiler system.

“Many paranormal folks, researchers, will tell you that if you disturb the foundation of the home, there’s a good chance you might have paranormal activity to follow,” he said.

While the basement saw substantial renovations when new owners bought the home in the ’50s, Brewer said the bricks that make up the walls date back to 1717, and some of them are still charred by the fatal fire that was sparked in 1849.

“I had this renovation done, we removed the radiator, and at that point, a whole different vibe came over the house,” Brewer said.

“We started hearing footsteps up and down from the basement over and over again. There is an uncomfortable feeling across the house, almost like a very heavy vibe. And even guests that were staying would report this feeling … one group even left a recorder down here, and they heard just very aggressive breathing.”

Maryland’s most haunted

That’s when Brewer called a man named Rob Gutro, a medium who investigates paranormal activity. The two have also teamed up to write a book about the home.

“What we found was quite a number of — quite a number of ghosts that inhabit the property,” Gutro said. “I ran into a woman that was apparently one of the burn victims from the 1849 fire in the backyard. That’s before we even got in the door.”

Inside, he said, there were five more ghosts in the front hallway as soon as he walked in.

All in all, some of the ghosts are believed to be victims of the fire. Another is a 3-year-old girl named Lily, and who — if you believe in ghosts — was perhaps photographed at least once by one of Brewer’s friends.

In the ballroom, which was added to the home in the ’50s, Brewer said someone, or something, keeps moving a chair into a specific spot facing out to the backyard.

“Airbnb guests would say, ‘Hey, I thought that, you didn’t come into this space when we rent it,'” Brewer said. “I’d say ‘I wasn’t down there.’ I would think that maybe a kid or someone had moved it. But it happened time and time again.”

He later found out a former resident of the home liked to sit in front of the window to watch trains go by when he got sick. In one of the upstairs bedrooms, a room that historically was where women gave birth, Brewer said no matter how neatly made the bed is, one side always looks like someone had laid in it.

It started during the pandemic, and Brewer said he later found out another former owner of the home died in that room, too.

“People will now report … if they slept on this side of the bed, they would hear someone get into the bed beside them at night,” he said, pointing to the other side of the bed. “If they sleep over there, it feels like somebody sits on them in the middle of the night.”

When morning comes, Brewer said people report feeling someone caressing their arms or their cheeks, likening it to a mother’s touch.

“The midwives of this house were extremely good at what they did, and other notable families in the area would actually bring the pregnant mothers here to have their births because the midwives were so well-known,” Brewer said. “So we don’t know if we have the ghost of a midwife. We don’t know if we have the ghost of this expectant mother trying to induce the labor, but people will see a woman in white pacing.”

There’s also been the sound of people slamming doors, walking down steps or standing in front of people laying in bed — especially if it’s a woman sleeping there. But both Brewer and Gutro have come to believe when that happens, it’s not because a ghost is trying to scare anyone.

“We’ve described to guests, like, ‘Hey, if you’re experiencing anything intense like this, it might just be because a ghost is kind of fond of you, like you’re bringing back some kind of happy memory,'” Brewer said.

“We’ve, in fact, since had guests that, once they acknowledge something’s going on, they’ll have a conversation with the ghost, and the room just sort of settles, and he almost becomes like a helper to them in some way.”

“In some rooms where there were traumatic things that happened, or there were emotional things that happened, people who tend to be sensitive and emotionally sensitive tend to have more of a sense of what happened in a particular room,” Gutro said.

Lifting the spirits

While touring the house on Wednesday, Brewer walked the upstairs rooms with an EMF detector, a device used to measure unseen electromagnetic fields in the rooms. If none of the lights were blinking, or only one or two green lights were blinking, it was no big deal.

There were a few instances where the lights would blink into the yellow, orange and red lines, though, even as the reader laid on a bed six feet away from anyone. In the world of the paranormal, it’s supposed to indicate the presence of a ghost, even if you can’t see it.

The activity inside the home really kicks up in the middle of the night — 1:11 a.m. to be exact.

“The ghosts have told ghost hunters, paranormal investigators, that they actually congregate in the lounge around 1:11 to not only remember their past lives, but to talk about the people who are in the house that day,” Brewer said.

Ultimately, the experience wasn’t as spooky as when a reporter from The Washington Post visited a few years back, though it was also a briefer experience.

“There have been countless people who have stayed there, and many of them have had their own interactions,” Gutro said. “So you don’t have to be sensitive, you don’t have to be a medium or a paranormal investigator. You just have to stay there, and you may meet one of the earthbound ghosts that linger there.”

Brewer stays in an apartment he had built on the side of the home. He said he’s communicated to the ghosts that it’s a “no ghost zone” on the property, and that they aren’t welcomed there.

The spirits seem to abide by his rule, according to Brewer. But if they’re there, they’re at least cooperative, he said. 

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John Domen

John has been with WTOP since 2016 but has spent most of his life living and working in the DMV, covering nearly every kind of story imaginable around the region. He’s twice been named Best Reporter by the Chesapeake Associated Press Broadcasters Association. 

 jdomen@wtop.com

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•  @JDDsays
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Book of the Week: The Twisted Dead by Darcy Coates

Here's an Appropriate book of the week because it's Halloween!  It's a fictional paranormal book from Australian author Darcy Coates called  "The Twisted Dead." It's book three in the Gravekeeper series. I previously read book one, so I need to find book two in the series. This is a GREAT BOOK!! - I finished it in a week... I took it everywhere, including dog walks! 

The lead character, Kiera, has a gift of seeing and communicating with earthbound ghosts. She lost her memory so only has a slight awareness of who she was, but made a new life tending a cemetery, cleaning gravesites, helping ghosts cross over. 

In this book, she tries to help a man rid himself of all ghosts of his ancestors who feed on him and weaken him. When she also tries to help comfort a friend whose classmate was murdered, she uncovers a dark secret tied to her past.  So, there's lots going on here. 5 of 5 stars

ABOUT THE BOOK- Keira must decide if she should use her ability to contact ghosts to help the man who once tried to kill her.

Hunted and haunted, all she wants is to put her mysterious past behind her and move forward with her new friends as Blighty Graveyard's groundskeeper. But then she receives an invitation to dinner at the local recluse's crumbling ancestral estate. The mansion is steeped in history that is equal parts complicated and bloody—and at its center is the man who once tried to kill her, now begging for her help.

Dane Crispin believes his home is haunted—and that the unquiet dead clawing through the ancient house are after him. Unnerved but intrigued, Keira opens her second sight and discovers he's right: resentful specters cling to Dane…and if she can't find a way to stop them, threaten to consume everything in their path.

There's something dark happening in the world beyond most peoples' vision, and if Keira isn't able to sever the ties between the living and the dead, the chained spirits may not be the only things twisted beyond saving.

Halloween Week: Story from my book "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead" - Child Ghost

Because it's Halloween week, I thought I would share part of one of my experiences that appears in my second book "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead," by Rob Gutro. It's just a small part of a longer story and full investigation of an historic property Riversdale, Maryland, but this will put you in the Halloween frame of mind!

EXCERPT from "Lessons Learned from Talking the Dead" by Rob Gutro

Ghosts of Woman, Child Haunting Riversdale Mansion, Maryland

Riversdale is a mansion and a National Historic Landmark in Riverdale, Maryland. In February, 2011, we joined the Inspired Ghost Inspired Ghost Tracking team for a private tour of the mansion because some docents there reported strange goings-on.

(Beginning of the investigation and other ghosts appear in the story before this point) The girl who was communicating with me was Amelia, who lived from 1816 to 1820. Amelia showed me one of her favorite toys, although I didn't see a wooden rocking horse in the house.

I learned that most of the original furnishings of the family were missing, sold and not in the house, so Amelia could have had a rocking horse. Later I learned Amelia had eight siblings, five of whom reached adulthood.

I shared these messages with Margaret, and told her at the time that I didn't know who gave me the messages, but the sender, Amelia, became clear while touring the house.

Margaret took photos when I mentioned I sensed the presence of the ghostly young girl and adult woman. In one of the photos Margaret took, four orbs appeared, confirming that there was a presence in the room. In fact, there were two more ghosts in the room than I sensed. Because four of the children died at a young age in the house, the other orbs could have been those of her children. Apparently, I didn't sense the others because they were not as outspoken as the woman and the little girl.

(CAPTION: This photograph shows two orbs in the same room where both Rosalie and Amelia came to me. There were also two other orbs in the room. Credit: Margaret Ehrlich, Inspired Ghost Tracking, Maryland.)

After the docent finished his introduction, he led us into a first floor "office" that had wallpaper from the 1800s. One corner of the room had original wallpaper and showed a mural of people in a forest. The rest of the room was papered with a similar mural that was donated by a museum and was a close match. I happened to be standing near the corner of the original wallpaper when Rosalie gave me a physical sign of her presence and it startled me!

I was listening to the docent with my back toward the wall and no one standing behind me when I felt what was like a cold hand on the skin of my back (through my sweater and shirt)! It was on my back right shoulder, and I realized it was Rosalie trying to get me out of the room. It was unnerving to feel an actual cold hand on my back, as if it reached through my clothes and touched my skin!

FOR THE REST OF THE STORY - Read "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead" by Rob Gutro

Halloween Week: Short Story from my book "Ghosts and Spirits: Explained"

Because it's Halloween week, I thought I would share a short story that appears in my first book "Ghosts and Spirits: Explained" by Rob Gutro.  A woman named Jennifer worked in a hospital in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. and shared her experience.

Ghosts in a Former Hospital

Submitted from: Jennifer N., Maryland

I worked night shift for 7 years in an elder care facility. The building had originally been the county hospital about 100 years ago. Some of the elderly female residents I was assisting would tell me that they had delivered their children in this building when it was a hospital. While working there, many unexplainable things happened to me.

Strangely, I didn't experience any of the hauntings at the facility until after I had returned from a trip where I had my first paranormal experience. Once I had my first experience in this care facility, I had so many unexplainable things happen that I don't know where to start.

I think the first thing happened one sunny morning when I was just getting off work and heading out to the parking lot to get in my car. I was the only person in the parking lot - everyone else in the facility was busy getting residents ready for breakfast. As I approached my car I suddenly heard a woman crying loudly. She was crying as if something horrible had just happened. I immediately started looking for this woman as I thought it might be a fellow nurse needing consoling or possibly a visitor very upset about something. I walked all around a large flowering bush from which the crying seemed to emanate but there was nobody there.

I began walking down the driveway beside the facility that led to morgue behind the building. The loud crying persisted throughout my walk to the back of the building. It was as loud as it was when I was next to my car in front of the building. It seemed to be following me. I could find no living person crying. The crying lady followed me back to my car never answering my questions as to who she was, what I could do to help her or why she was crying. I finally drove home and went to bed.

I experienced the crying lady two more times, both inside the building and on the wing closest to the driveway to the morgue. My assistants also heard her. We checked all of the rooms to no avail. None of the residents were crying, they were all fast asleep.

The cook had a similar experience when he was arriving to work early in the morning. It was still dark outside and he was the only person in the parking lot. He heard the crying lady behind the same bush where I had thought she must be.

He brought his flash light with him and pushed the bush back fully expecting to find a living person there. When he discovered no living person behind the bush he made his way back into the building as fast as he could.

 EDITOR'S NOTE: It sounds like a woman at the facility may have perished outside and is still wandering around lost and panicked, and needs to be crossed over.

Halloween Week: Difference Between Graveyard and Cemetery

Since this is Halloween week, today's blog is about the difference between a graveyard and a cemetery. It makes sense when you read about it!

Here's The Difference Between A Cemetery And A Graveyard

People use these words interchangeably, but they aren't entirely the same.

By Caroline Bologna, Huff Post, Oct 12, 2025

During Halloween season, it’s not uncommon to see your neighbors’ front yards adorned with fake tombstones and ghosts. While some might refer to this as graveyard decor, others go with cemetery.

Indeed, people tend to use use the words “graveyard” and “cemetery” interchangeably. But is there any difference between the two terms? Below, we break it down.

(Photo: Last year's Halloween picture (L to R): Tyler, Cody and Dash) 

What is a graveyard?

To understand the difference between a graveyard and a cemetery, start by taking a look at the definitions of each term. A graveyard is an area of land, often next to a church, where people are buried.

During the Middle Ages, wealthy or otherwise influential Christians were generally interred inside a church after they died, often in a crypt beneath the floor. Less wealthy congregants were buried outside in the churchyard, and that section came to be known as the graveyard. This practice continued for many centuries.

(Photo: Cemetery in South Berwick, Maine)

The compound word graveyard stems from the proto-Germanic “graban,” which means “to dig,” and “gardan,” which refers to an enclosed area of land.

What is a cemetery? Like a graveyard, a cemetery is also defined as a place where the dead are buried, but it’s a relatively newer concept.

By the early 19th century, population growth was rapid. Church graveyards filled up, and there was a need for new burial grounds. Thus, independent sites called “cemeteries” became more common as designated final resting places.

Cemeteries are typically not affiliated with a specific church, so you don’t have to be a congregant to be buried there. They’re also often located away from a town or city center to allow for more space.

As for the etymology, the word “cemetery” stems from the Greek “koimeterion,” which means “dormitory” or “resting place.” Early Christians came to use the term to refer to a person’s final resting place (rather than in the literal sleep context).

(Photo: Cemetery in South Berwick, Maine)

What’s the difference?   To be clear, using graveyard and cemetery interchangeably is acceptable by today’s standards, but graveyard still primarily refers to the area of a churchyard used for burial.

So if linguistic precision is your jam, then you’ll want to say “graveyard” when referring to a resting place on church grounds and “cemetery” in reference to more modern, separate burial grounds. Some cemeteries have religious affiliations, but they’re generally not tied to a specific place of worship.