You'll like him. He has a natural smile and a sense of humor. He's kind of tired of the d... We're connecting with the Gens

He's kind of tired of the dating scene. And he's been under stress lately. Seems his favorite pickup truck bit the dust, and he's had to search for new wheels. It hasn't been easy. No one can part amicably if your truck's name was Bruiser.

Did I mention that you'll like Rich? He's an art teacher in Horseheads. He sometimes sounds like a curmudgeon in training - fussing about kids these days - but that's because he cares.

"Wow, one thing that does bother me these days is the fact that so many kids spend their days planted in front of the TV with their fingers glued to a remote control or a joystick," he notes. "...They should be building forts, jumping their bikes, and kissing frogs."

"One thing is for certain though, I never go a day without having a kid make me smile and rarely leave work without another great story to tell."

Go the www.stargazette.com and look for the link to "Plugged In." Click on the link, then look for the column header called "Blogs." Click on "Random Tips from Rich," and meet Rich.

He's no different than a lot of 20- and 30-somethings who are juggling busy lives in the Twin Tiers. They barely have enough time for themselves much less local TV or - dare we say - their hometown newspaper.

If you missed the Thursday and Friday editions, rummage through the recycled newspaper pile (or look under Uncle Floyd's chair). You'll find the Plugged In series also comes in newsprint. Reporters Brooke Sherman and Catherine White spent time getting to know the Tiers' Gen-Xers and Gen-Yers, offering insights into what makes some stay and others go.

They worry about jobs, families, friends and the quality of life. You can't call them future leaders since many already are making a difference in the community.

So maybe Uncle Floyd got distracted and threw away the Star-Gazette. That's OK. Archived stories are on the Plugged In Web page - along with podcasts, videos, photo galleries and blogs.

We'll continue to tell the stories of Twin Tiers young adults by identifying trends and asking them for the unfiltered truth. The Plugged In series - in print and online - represents the Star-Gazette's latest commitment to you.

This is cache, read story here