Columns

Pat’s Bits and Pieces: Christmas Chaos Countdown

Pat’s Bits and Pieces: Christmas Chaos Countdown

Editorial Staff Dec 13, 2024 4 min read

OMG, there’s only eleven days left until Christmas!Guess I really have to get some projects finished, wrapping and decorating – and baking done pretty soon…Jack has the entry to our little place looking pretty festive with lights all around, plus…

Blue Star

Blue Star

Editorial Staff Dec 11, 2024 4 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorOutside the BoxYou don’t see orgone accumulators a lot these days. I blame science. They were all the rage in the 1950s when every luminary from William S. Burroughs to Orson Bean sat in coffin-shaped boxes designed to…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Dec 11, 2024 4 min read

Lately, we have seen the phrase Deus vult — Latin for “God wills it” — in the news.It first used by Pope Urban II in 1095, when he launched the first Crusade. He wanted to convince kings and sub-jects to…

Mike’s Musings: Penny should have not been brought to trial

Mike’s Musings: Penny should have not been brought to trial

Editorial Staff Dec 11, 2024 3 min read

A 26-year-old former marine has had his life turned upside down after trying to subdue a stranger on a subway in New York City. Daniel Penny jumped in to stop the stranger who was threatening to kill other passengers. For…

Looking Out: Where am I?

Editorial Staff Dec 6, 2024 3 min read

by Jim Whitehouse “Which way?” I holler back to Dr. Routemeister as we approach an intersection on our bicycles. “Turn right!” he hollers from behind.   Two miles later, we are approaching another corner, and as usual this time he…

Historical Notebook: STARR COMMONWEALTH FOR BOYS WORLD WAR II CHRISTMAS STAMPS

Historical Notebook: STARR COMMONWEALTH FOR BOYS WORLD WAR II CHRISTMAS STAMPS

Editorial Staff Dec 6, 2024 2 min read

By Frank Passic For many years in the 1940s through 1960s, Albion’s Starr Commonwealth For Boys west of town annually issued their own “Christmas stamps” as a way of bringing attention to this esteemed organization’s needs during the holiday season.…

“Out and About” Pearl Harbor, jumper cables, and the Medal of Honor

“Out and About” Pearl Harbor, jumper cables, and the Medal of Honor

Editorial Staff Dec 6, 2024 3 min read

“America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.” -Harry TrumanWelcome to the last month of 2024. This is the time to reflect back on a year that was great for some…

May I Walk with You? A BEAUTIFUL CHURCH

May I Walk with You? A BEAUTIFUL CHURCH

Editorial Staff Dec 6, 2024 3 min read

It’s done! It didn’t take hundreds of years as some cathedrals in Europe and certainly didn’t cost as much, but the renovation of St. Cecilia Church is finally finished. My first reaction was awe! We no longer participate in mass…

Pat’s Bits and Pieces: Christmas traditions

Pat’s Bits and Pieces: Christmas traditions

Editorial Staff Dec 6, 2024 4 min read

December is here again and we are wrapping up the first week of December already. That means that Christmas is now just 18 days away counting Christmas Eve.I have most of my shopping done, but the “making” is going pretty…

Blue Star

Blue Star

Editorial Staff Dec 4, 2024 4 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorFlorida ManThe onset of winter brings to mind Florida man, inspired by sunshine, moonshine and other substances to achieve feats such as: Down by Law Mi Casa es Su Casa All in the Family Creature Features Only the…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Dec 4, 2024 5 min read

 When it started getting cold this year and snow was in the air, someone spotted me walking and wanted to know why my coat was unbuttoned. “Don’t you know it’s cold?” she asked. If I don’t happen to have on my…

Mike’s Musings: Words to live by

Mike’s Musings: Words to live by

Editorial Staff Dec 4, 2024 3 min read

I found this post on Facebook. I unfortunately don’t know who the author is, but I haven’t read anything lately, that expresses best, how to live our life. Follow these basic tenets and you will be a great person. Personally,…

Looking Out: Compound angles

Editorial Staff Nov 29, 2024 3 min read

by Jim Whitehouse “Are you working on anything in your shop these days?” says old friend Lyle Pratt. “Ugh,” I say. “Ugh?” “Yes.  Ugh. I need to go back to school and take more math,” I say. “Shop class, you…

“Out and About” Thanksgiving, a medical scare, and snacks

“Out and About” Thanksgiving, a medical scare, and snacks

Editorial Staff Nov 29, 2024 3 min read

This is the week of Thanksgiving. The one time when we should reflect on the many things we have to be thankful for. If you have a roof over your head, food on your table, and friends and family, you…

May I Walk with You? HELL

May I Walk with You? HELL

Editorial Staff Nov 29, 2024 3 min read

I don’t know of anyone who likes talking about the possibility of hell as the final place where some people may spend eternity. Hell has been described as a place where one exists in torment for eternity. Pope Benedict described…

Pat’s Bits and Pieces: ‘Tis the season

Pat’s Bits and Pieces: ‘Tis the season

Editorial Staff Nov 29, 2024 4 min read

Since I am writing this Tuesday (early deadline this week folks), we haven’t had our family Thanksgiving dinner yet, but I am really looking forward to it.I love turkey and dressing and cranberries. (and mashed potatoes and green bean casserole…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

Editorial Staff Nov 27, 2024 6 min read

    There is nothing new about the retail sector’s Black Friday except that it seems to start earlier this year.  The name comes from the hope that customers will do sufficient holiday shopping that they will convert eleven months or…

Mike’s Musings: Stop with excuses, buy local first

Mike’s Musings: Stop with excuses, buy local first

Editorial Staff Nov 27, 2024 3 min read

It’s small business Saturday this weekend, and that gives me an excuse as to why you should shop with your small retailers and stay away from the big chains and online buying.Our small towns are treasures. People love to visit…

“Out and About” Lion Club Toy Drives, the Polar Express, and vaccination

“Out and About” Lion Club Toy Drives, the Polar Express, and vaccination

Editorial Staff Nov 22, 2024 4 min read

This is the time of the year when our thoughts and actions are drawn toward the act of helping those in need. The motto of Lions Clubs International is “WE SERVE”. Lions help those in need every hour of every…

Pat’s Bits and Pieces: Fall is over and the holidays are nearly here again

Pat’s Bits and Pieces: Fall is over and the holidays are nearly here again

Editorial Staff Nov 22, 2024 4 min read

I’m just not ready for what comes next.After days and days of cloudy, gloomy, rainy, chilly weather, the sun came out for a few minutes today (Tuesday). It didn’t last very long unfortunately and the dark clouds on the horizon…

By Mike Wilcox
Owner/Publisher

Every year, as the Christmas season draws near, I’m reminded just how generous our communities can be. For nearly two decades, Wilcox Newspapers has hosted what’s become one of my favorite traditions: our Annual Christmas Wish Program.

It started simply enough. We asked readers who were struggling to write in and tell us what would make their Christmas a little brighter. The idea was to connect local families in need with local people who wanted to help. Over the years, it’s grown into something truly special—and this year, we’re doing it again.