A New Essay at Front Porch Republic

“A Pleasant Blast From the Past: Why a Working Scoreboard Still Matters”

Hey everyone,

I’m grateful to share that Front Porch Republic published one of my essays today:

“A Pleasant Blast From the Past: Why a Working Scoreboard Still Matters”

You can read it here:
https://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2026/05/a-pleasant-blast-from-the-past-why-a-working-scoreboard-still-matters/

The piece began with a small moment at my son’s recent baseball game — the first time all year that the scoreboard was working. That took me back to youth baseball in rural Iowa, and to the small acts of service that used to hold community life together almost without anyone noticing.

The essay is about more than scoreboards. It’s about the small public things that draw a community together and the quiet responsibilities that keep them alive.

Thanks, as always, for reading.

Ray