Pope John Paul II powerful example lives on today

February 25, 2023

Editor’s note: This saint series will feature a saint and how he or she is a meaningful example for us today. Pope Francis wrote that “the saints help all the faithful” for “their lives are concrete proof that it is possible to put the Gospel into practice.” Pope Saint John Paul II’s witness provides an example of humility. John Paul II was born in Poland in 1920. At the time of the Second World War, he was studying for the priesthood in an underground seminary. Prior to seminary, he was an actor and performed in plays to help the Polish people embrace their cultural ...

Fetterman has plenty of positive qualities

February 25, 2023

This is an open letter to the Pennsylvania Republicans. After reading the New York Times article about our U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, I must speak up. I will start with a few questions. How many of you have doctorates? Have any of you spent any time at all in Sen. John Fetterman’s presence? I have personally spoken to Fetterman and found him to be smart, funny, and open to thoughts and ideas. A man willing to listen to the problem, then work at solving it. I also have a similar word associative problem. If I understood the New York Times article correctly, many of you think ...

What is with the weather?

February 24, 2023

This weather makes me think that Punxsutawney Phil could have been wrong. The weather this week has been nothing but spectacular. Yesterday, even up here, it was 60 degrees in the shade and sunny. As I walked to the mailbox, I noticed that I had crocuses in the yard. They were in full bloom. This is only the fifteenth of February. It is early for crocuses. I am not the only one who noticed them. A friend posted crocuses that she noticed on her noon time walk – in town. I also noticed that one of my trees seems to be budding. We have not even had maple syrup season yet. ...

All of the predators want to do business

February 23, 2023

“Dearest Darling Madame,” last night’s letter beseeched me. The sender was someone I’ve never met and never want to, but she is calling me dearest darling? The nerve. She really does have to slather it on pretty thick, because what she is asking is impossible. This woman, and I swear, all her family, friends and acquaintances from Kazakhstan, or Bella Russe, or Chad, want my account numbers. Yup, those checking or savings account numbers where they can deposit my new riches. Delete. Despite how powerful my computer junk filters are, some of these appeals make it through ...

County reps keep loose schedules, solid pay

February 18, 2023

As we start into another election season, I think it’s time we address something that should be totally unacceptable to the taxpayers of Warren County. Warren County Commissioners are paid somewhere around $60,000 a year. That would be acceptable except there are no job requirements for the position. There are no set hours or no time keeping. They can choose to go to work if and when they feel like it. Two of the three commissioners, at the moment, have full-time jobs in addition to being commissioners. I’m sure they are trying to balance everything but the reality is that ...

Buying my first car

February 17, 2023

Everyone looks forward to buying their first car. I was no exception. I finished my last college exam and began to search for a car that evening. I decided to look for a second-hand vehicle because I thought that was all I could comfortably afford. I worked part-time from the time I turned 16. Now I was 21. I had saved some of my money although I treated myself to some of the clothes, I thought I really needed. First, I looked in the used car lots for possibilities. There were several models that seemed appealing. That night my mother was entertaining the women’s church group. She ...