By SPENCER, ERIN, LUKE, GRAHAM and GRACE KONDAK Our parents, Kurt and Beth Kondak, purchased Kondaks Community Market in October of 1988, just about one month after they were married. Just in their mid-20s, they risked a lot to invest their lives into this small grocery store and catering ...
I moved from my hometown more than 60 years ago. Urban Renewal went through and everything changed. I recall stories of my grandfather going out and getting lost. His memory was not that bad, but the landmarks he was so used to seeing disappeared. Once I saw what had happened in Dunkirk, I could understand his dilemma. Stores were no longer there. In some cases, nothing replaced them. It must have been very confusing to the old folks at that time. Two years ago, when I returned for a class reunion, I took the time to ride around the area. My husband and I went to look at my ...
The short story of our long lives Ben Franklin said that the two things you can count on in life are death and taxes. Ben was wrong. It turns out there’s a third universal certainty if we’re lucky enough to age: Shrinking. Most of us begin losing height after age 40. My shrinkage has been a hard fall. I was considered tall for approximately 92.7% of my life. I was 5’ 9” in the seventh grade - age 12. With my mother’s height being a half-inch shy of 6 feet, I trying to imagine myself as a tall woman. That was terrifying, especially when the 12-year-old boys came to my ...
As you know, on Saturday, not far from here in Butler, PA, a tragic and shameful assassination attempt was made on a former president and Republican presidential candidate resulting in the wounding of former President Trump, the killing of Corey Comperatore, and the wounding of David Dutch and James Copenhaver. Our hearts and prayers go out to all of the victims and their families. We must condemn, in the strongest possible manner, this assassination attempt. These actions were taken at a political rally which is a cornerstone process of our Constitutional Republic as President ...
As a lifelong resident of rural America, I understand the importance of hunting and responsible gun ownership. Our traditions are deeply rooted in the respect for nature, the skills passed down through generations, and the camaraderie shared in the great outdoors. In the face of recent events, I believe it is my job as a moderate to reaffirm my commitment to preserving these traditions while ensuring the safety and well-being of our community. Before becoming chronically ill, I learned to hunt with my family. Those early mornings in the woods were more than just a pastime—they ...
By ANN R. SWANSON This hot weather got me to thinking about how I eat when it is too warm to cook. I have several go-to things. First, I love cottage cheese. I fix cottage cheese with fruit and call it a meal. That makes a no bother lunch. Sometimes I go to my herb patch and get some chives. I like to put those into cottage cheese as well. If there are fresh tomatoes and cucumbers that is all the better. Spinach salad is one of my go-to things as well. Fresh spinach from the garden makes it even better. I spread my washed spinach on a plate and added a sliced hard-boiled egg, a ...
