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Treasure today here, plan for next generations

There is something about Warren County that is easy to overlook when you live here long enough. The hills become familiar. The Allegheny River becomes part of the landscape we hardly notice. The farms, forests, old homes, small businesses, churches and back roads become ordinary. But perhaps ordinary is the wrong word. There is nothing ordinary about a place that has held generations of people's lives. People were born here, worked here, raised families here, worshiped here, struggled here, loved here and eventually were laid to rest here. We are not simply living in Warren County. ...

They came from away

A few years ago, I saw the Broadway production of “Come From Away.” The much-loved musical play tells the story of what happened in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland on that most tragic of days, September 11, 2001. Almost immediately after the tragedies, American airspace was ...

River plans can’t forget the fishermen

I’ve wondered for a long time about the difficulties of fishing from the bank in Warren County, compared to using a boat in the river. The Allegheny River is surely one of the best rivers in Pennsylvania for such a challenging sport. I would like to say here, I’m not writing to ...

Even in dispute, Canada is our neighbor

I grew up in Port Huron, Mich., along the St. Clair River. Some of my earliest memories are of looking across that river at Canada. It never felt like a foreign country to me. It was simply our neighbor. As children we would stand along the river and wave to people on the other side, and sometimes they would wave back. My family even had Canadians in it. That was just part of life. I learned at a very young age that a border could separate two countries without separating people. Those memories have come back to me in recent months, and honestly, they make my heart ache. I am ...

Self-inflicted wound state can still avoid

How do you intentionally cut the income of tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians? By undermining an industry that’s become essential to local businesses, veterans’ organizations, fraternal clubs and small businesses across the commonwealth. For nearly two decades, skill games have been part of Pennsylvania’s local fabric. They help keep neighborhood establishments open, support VFWs and American Legions, fund volunteer fire companies and provide a financial lifeline for organizations and social clubs. In all, thousands of Pennsylvanians rely on the supplemental income from these ...

Your politics won’t protect you from the surveillance state

The newly appointed director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Erica Schwartz, made federal priorities clear during her recent confirmation hearing: “Abortion surveillance is absolutely a critical component of what the CDC is currently doing.” She assured members of Congress she would ensure that states weren’t “hiding abortions” under the auspices of “emergency care.” Abortion defenders were quick to condemn Schwartz’s comments, while others pointed out that the post-Roe v. Wade landscape affects not only elective abortions but also women facing ...