It’s good to be back in your inbox, Pennsylvania. It feels like it’s been months, though it’s only been five days. 

In case you forgot, I was seeking suggestions last week on a name for the shiny grey mutt (pitbull/lab mix, we think) my fiancée and I recently adopted. They were calling him Vin Diesel at the shelter, which we weren’t particularly fond of. Completely unrelated, we had just learned that our friend Luke thought the “Vin” in Vin Diesel was short for Marvin, so we started calling him Marvin Diesel, as a joke. 

Spoiler alert: the joke name stuck. Marvin Diesel it is.

I sincerely want to thank the hundreds of readers who responded, proposing names ranging from old chestnuts like Lucky, Prince, and Buddy, to Smokey (the grey coat), to Greystone (the grey coat + the name of this news organization), to Monty (because he was adopted from Home at Last Dog Rescue in Montgomery County), to Dorian Gray, to my personal favorite (which my fiancée gave a thumbs down to), Marvin Grey.

In the end, we decided to stick with Marvin Diesel because:

A) He was already used to Vin Diesel, so we didn’t want to confuse the poor guy with an entirely new name.

B) He gives off Marvin Diesel energy, which is to say he follows me everywhere, wags his tail vigorously whenever spoken to, is completely receptive to strangers calling him Marvin Diesel, and completely unafraid to encroach on his “big brother” Wade’s turf, as evidenced in the photo below. 

C) Every time we say his name, we’ll always be reminded that our friend Luke legit thought Vin was short for Marvin. And that will never not be funny.

Wade (left) is learning to share the front porch couch with his new brother, Marvin Diesel. 

• Democrats across Western Pennsylvania are cautiously optimistic about U.S. Steel’s potential sale to Nippon Steel, a Japanese owned steel manufacturer. Find out more here.

• A divided Centennial School Board voted Tuesday night to hire former Central Bucks Superintendent Abram Lucabaugh as the district’s next educational leader. Get the story here.

• Gov. Josh Shapiro visited southern Somerset County Tuesday to see first-hand the flood recovery efforts that are underway, saying "I wanted to be here and let the community know that I give a damn about them." Learn about Shapiro's visit here.

• While Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti cruised to a dominant primary win last Tuesday, she may face a crowded field of challengers in the November election. WVIA has the story.

• A GoFundMe campaign is underway for the family of a Pennsylvania park resource ranger whose body was recovered two days after his kayak capsized on the Neshaminy Creek in Tyler State Park in Bucks County. Get the details here.

All aboard! Guests can spend the night at this Caboose in Shade Gap. (Contributed)

A summer vacation with the family can feel way more like a summer adventure depending on where you stay. Crashing for the night in a dome or a giant shoe just feels more, well, adventurous than resting for the evening at a cookie cutter hotel or lakeside cabin.

The good thing is, you don’t have to go far to find a unique vacation rental. Using Vrbo or Airbnb, you’ll find there are plenty of out of the ordinary options right here in Pennsylvania.

You can book a stay at this three-bedroom caboose located between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, where you can sleep in an old train, then ride the historic East Broad Top Railroad, which is only a 10-minute drive away. 

If your traveling party requires something a little larger, perhaps this 30,000-square-foot, modern-day castle—complete with three custom outdoor pools, a full-size indoor basketball court, a 72-seat movie theater, an arcade, two bowling alleys, and an indoor mini-golf course—in NEPA is for you.

For those who want to get a little adventurous this summer, we’re highlighting these and other truly unique Pennsylvania vacation rental properties.

Welcome to our weekly advice column, courtesy of Grace: She’s the big sister who shares her own mistakes so you can avoid making them, the coworker who builds you up to ask for the raise you deserve, and the friend who is always happy to listen.

We all need someone like Grace in our corner. Submit your own questions here. 

Family Healing

Dear Grace, 

I have been going to trauma-focused therapy for my childhood and it has really been helping. I’m hoping for a closer relationship with my parents moving forward, especially now as a mom who wants her child to know his grandparents. How do I talk to my parents about my mental health journey? How do I mend our relationship?

– Anxious But Hopeful

Dear Anxious But Hopeful,

Last month I answered a reader looking for advice on how to start a new chapter with her parents after years of distance. Now, I'm handing the mic to the readers to share their wisdom. 

Finally...

Scott Bielanin of Harborcreek caught this 53.5-inch, 42-pound muskellunge May 25 while fishing in Lake Erie for walleyes. (Photo: USA TODAY Network)

Lake Erie presented a Pennsylvania angler with a belated birthday bucket list fish of a lifetime in Erie.

Scott Bielanin, of Harborcreek, turned 52 on May 21, but he didn’t get his gift until May 25 when he hooked into a 53.5-inch, 42-pound musky.

“It’s a muskellunge, but I would call it an alligator,” Bielanin said laughingly about the large-toothed fish. “It was definitely a bucket list fish that I’ve had for a long, long time.”

While landing a 42-pound musky is certainly impressive, it’s not the state record. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission reports Lewis Walker Jr. of Meadville, holds the record with a 54-pound, three ounce musky he caught in 1924 in Conneaut Lake, Crawford County.

Do you or your company want to support The Keystone’s mission and showcase your products or services to an engaged audience of more than 375,000 subscribers at the same time?

Contact advertising@couriernewsroom.com for more information.

The best things in life are free, like this newsletter! As we look to grow our community in Pennsylvania, we could use your help.

Let your friends & family know about Keystone and earn a free T-shirt for helping to spread the word!

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Patrick Berkery. The Keystone Newsroom is happily free to read for everyone. Your financial support means a lot to us. Donate here.

Send us your feedback and news tips to info@keystonenewsroom.com