Columns
Pat’s Bits and Pieces: ‘Tis the season
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
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
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
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
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…
May I Walk with You? MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?
I’m scared! Even though Jesus says, “Be not afraid.” I am. Why? Recent experiences and happenings have me on edge. Fewer people are attending mass. There is a lack of priestly and religious vocations, not in just the Catholic Church,…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorBird PlayI knew it would be a long night when my wife’s parrot hit a bus.It started when she and our daughter asked if I wanted to take them to get the birds’ beaks and nails trimmed.No.“Then you…
Mike’s Musings: Thanksgiving a time for family, not politics
As we approach Thanksgiving and the holiday season I would like to make a few observations.First, I don’t think we need to get upset over politics. I’ve read on social media, where if you voted for Trump you will not…
Life as Performance Art
Many of us are making plans for Thanksgiving Day Nov. 28 this year. We might be traveling or others traveling to see us. Maybe the great feast will be at home or somewhere else. Turkey and all the trimmings could…
Looking Out: Preserves
by Jim Whitehouse “So what happened then?” I ask Hilly, who’s been telling a story about painting a huge old house one summer when he was in college. He got to the part about lugging a 40’ ladder up to…
HISTORICAL NOTEBOOK
By Frank Passic FRANK E. DEAN With the recent sale/return of the nearly 100-year-old Bellemont Manor by Albion College in October back to members of the Dean family, we are reminded of the heritage this family-clan has had in…
“Out and About” Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, and sugar
I’m putting this column together on Sunday, the day before Veterans Day. I always try to have it completed earlier, but my schedule has prevented me from getting to it until now. I must finish this column by today so…
Pat’s Bits and Pieces: Deer Hunting Season opened today
Hunting Season arrived this morning with all of the annual “hoopla” especially a bit north of here where I grew up.It really is a special time of year in this, the “North Country.” I include Clare County because this is…
May I Walk with You? BECOMING HEROES OF HOLINESS
Halloween, All Saints Day, All Souls Day, October 31, November 1, November 2. A triduum that reminds us of the Easter Triduum, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday.It’s the Pascal Mystery, the Death, and Resurrection of Jesus to save…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorGravity’s RainbowExtra! Extra: Could Gravitational-Wave “Memories” Prove Einstein Wrong?Scientific American gave us this grabber headline recently, claiming Albert Einstein’s 1916 general theory of relativity may soon be refuted. Or maybe not. If there’s one thing I love about…
Life as Performance Art
I had my first brush with censorship in junior high school when I wanted to read Chinese Communist Chairman Mao Tse Tung’s “Little Red Book.” Everyone was talking about it and a few politicians wanted it banned from the United…
Mike’s Musings: Recalling a grassfire that I started, and praising those that rescue us
I missed Fire Prevention Week by a month, but I do want to send a shout out to the brave firefighters in this country.I have never had a fire burn down my house (fortunately) but I did have a grass…
Looking Out: Say it right
by Jim Whitehouse Something just occurred to me. Back in my youth, I was on a track team. I was a shot putter. I put the shot. I practiced putting the shot. Later, I took up golf, which swallowed me…
Out and About: Patriotic celebrations, Thanksgiving, and volunteering
“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, One Nation evermore!” -Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.A SECRET TO A LASTING RELATIONSHIPA real lasting relationship requires a lot of tolerance. You have to accept that the other person is not perfect. Disappointments,…
Pat’s Bits and Pieces: I’ll never be a hunter
I can’t believe Deer Hunting (gun season) is only one week away now.I grew up in an honest to goodness hunting family.Dad taught me gun safety before there were classes for such things and I have very fond memories of…
