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It’s easier to vote for Garrity than Shapiro

Is Gov. Josh Shapiro really the best candidate to run our Commonwealth? I don't think so! If he is always touting affordability, then why is he the highest-paid governor, earning $253,870 per year, out of all 50 states? Maybe he should take a pay cut or decline his salary. At that point, he would be putting his money where his mouth is! That doesn't seem too affordable for the taxpayers to me. Yep, that's right. He makes more than Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California. As a matter of fact, of the 10 highest-paid governors, only two are Republicans! All ...

Now is time to revisit abortion discussion

Having lived when abortion was illegal and watched its legalization, I think it’s time to have a hard discussion about the role of abortion in 2026. Abortion is not a new or progressive idea. Throughout human history, both ancient and recent, abortion has been used to end a pregnancy. Pregnant women have had to navigate a lack of the compassion and support now available. Centuries ago, pregnant women could be sent to the workhouse, cast out onto the street or denied medical care, resulting in complications or death. Their children could be forcibly placed in horrific orphanages. ...

The mice, St. David, and the knobs

The story begins with a cat and a stove. Our Maine Coon, Finian, used to camp in front of the stove at night. It took me a while to realize he was on sentry duty. It was a particularly winter behavior. Although I never actively look for signs of a mouse resident, it finally occurred to me that ...

There’s still time to prepare for Election Day

After nearly a year of debate and litigation, all issues about voting are settled for Pennsylvania, and there have been no changes. Tuesday, Nov. 3 is time for us all to vote. Here are reminders of important deadlines and resources for all Pennsylvania voters. You can learn about voting in Pennsylvania at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/vote. You can link from there to register to vote, to change your registration (for example, address change), to check your registration if you are unsure about whether you’re registered, to request a mail-in ballot, to find your polling place, and ...

Keep future, not past, in mind for downtown

The debate over 231-237 Pennsylvania Avenue West should ultimately come down to one question: What gives Warren the best opportunity to put this property back into productive use for the next several decades? There is understandable support for preserving the existing building. Historic buildings contribute to Warren’s character, and preservation should always be seriously considered. But preservation also has to make economic sense. This building dates to 1920, has been vacant, lacks functioning utilities, needs significant work, and has been described by the city engineer as ...

Edibles with a shelf life of 25 years

It began during another cleanout day in the garage. We expect to be moving within the year and are trying to purge everything we don’t use. It’s a nightmare. The dictionary defines purge: “to get rid of whatever is impure or undesirable; to cleanse; to purify.” Well, anything stored ...