Columns

By Frank Passic As we approach the upcoming Labor Day holiday on September 1, we are reminded of the contributions union labor has made here in Albion through the years. During World War II, our local factory unions banded together…

“One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.” ~ Hans Christian AndersonThis is the last week of my second session of “Heart Healthy” at the Beacon Wellness Pavilion. We will have the week of Labor Day off before we…

By Scott SullivanEditorPsychoGreat news on the crazy front. A new website aims to share knowledge and lead discussions about psychopathy, a disorder characterized by fearlessness, difficulty inhibiting behaviors plus severe lack of empathy and remorse.We all know psychopaths. Charles Manson,…

    Over the past few years, we have heard the phrases “sanctuary city” and “sanctuary state”many times.  In the US, it has become politically divisive because sanctuary cities and states have traditionally been labeled liberal or “blue states” where the…

With Congress on vacation for the entire month of August (how dare they) and very little else happening, the Cracker Barrel rebranding hit center stage in last week’s news cycle. The CEO and Marketing Manager rolled out a new contemporary…

By Frank Passic, Albion Historian             One of Albion’s community assets is its downtown brick Superior Street on M-99. It has existed since the beginning of the 20th century. This summer, the Michigan Department of Transportation is doing some maintenance…

“Every act of love is a work of peace, no matter how small.” -Mother TeresaA brief reminder about the upcoming open house at the American Legion this Saturday, August 23. The open house will run from noon until 4 p.m.…

It is that time of year again when anyone engaged in agriculture, whether farming, gardening or visiting fruit and vegetable markets, begins to harvest the fruit of their work. Already, the peaches are about ready to pick. Beats, beans, tomatoes,…

By Scott SullivanEditorFinding JesusLast time we checked on Florida Man, he was had moved on from building Alligator Alcatraz and trying to cross the Atlantic in a hamster wheel.Recent headlines:

Life as Performance Art: Joan AndersonG C Stoppel     Joan Anderson died on the 14th of July this year at the age of 101.  I suspect her name is hardly familiar anymore, but she was perhaps the greatest social influencer in…

The dream of homeownership, once a clear stepping stone into adulthood, now feels like a mirage for many Michiganders under 30. Despite living in a state often touted for its affordability, structural barriers have erased much of the margin that…

By Frank Passic SHELDON BLOCK IS DOWNTOWN ALBION LANDMARK             Recently you may have observed the building that presently houses Parks Pharmacy in downtown Albion at 318 S. Superior St. is being repainted along with some necessary repairs. This is…

“Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use.” -Emily PostA reminder about the Open House, Saturday, August 23, at American Legion Hice-Shutes Post…

I love knock-knock jokes. Usually they are corny, but usually put a smile on the faces of those to tell them and those they are told to. “Knock, knock. Who’s there? Anita. Anitia who? A needa something to eata.” Everyone…

By Scott SullivanEditorWays & MemesRubber dildoes are raining down on WNBA games and the women’s basketball league’s not happy.The first neon green one, flung from the stands at the Golden State Valkyries-Atlanta Dream game, struck some players as a joke.…

Michigan’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — a lifeline for roughly 1.4 million residents — is being chipped away, quite literally, by inadequate technology and sluggish enforcement.In fiscal year 2024, fraud in Michigan’s SNAP program surged by nearly 400%, reaching…

“A man is just about as happy as he makes up his mind to be,” said Abraham Lincoln. A contemporary French writer we’ll call “C” added, “It takes tremendous courage to be happy.”“C” has every reason to be miserable. She…

“You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” -A.A. Milne The public is cordially invited to an Open House, Saturday, Aug. 23, at American Legion…

One of the most unsettling things that I have noticed among adult Christian men and women in the great confusion about the Bible, what it teaches, and what the Church teaches.This is not confined to ordinary lay people, but to…

By Scott SullivanEditorSt. Nick’s BonesSanta Claus is dead but not buried in Bari. That’s the latest from archeologists who believe they’ve discovered the tomb of St. Nicholas under his namesake church in south Turkey.St. Nicholas — known for anonymous gift-giving…