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Maintaining transparency through newspapers, websites

Life is hectic. Keeping track of work, home, and family commitments is challenging enough. Now imagine adding another task to your daily routine: checking multiple government websites just to find out what your local and state officials are planning to do. You would have to monitor the websites of your school board, township supervisors, borough council, sewer authority, zoning hearing board, county commissioners, and other government bodies that make decisions affecting your daily life. That could become reality if lawmakers weaken Pennsylvania’s public notice law by allowing public ...

School sale puts ban on choice

I see that one of the stipulations governing new tenants in the Youngsville school building bars its use as any kind of educational facility, i.e. charter school. Remember way back when we were told that charter school students’ outcomes were inferior to public schools’? That was proven to be untrue, as evidenced by our successful local charter school, a flower which sprouted and had the chance to flourish despite all efforts to stamp it out, as seems to be the current goal of established public education regarding school choice. Now we see the argument shifting to using poor ...

Postmaster offers stamp of approval for neighbors

I am heartened to read your newest feature, “Meet Your Neighbor Monday.” It is a wonderful example of the spirit and engagement that makes this community so special. As the Postmaster, seeing that kind of local pride is exactly why I am so excited to serve the residents here. In rural communities and small towns, the Post Office is a familiar and trusted part of local life — one that helps connect neighbors, supports local businesses, and provides an important public service people rely on every day. That is not something I take lightly. My goal is to serve Warren with ...

Life advice comes from a wise old frog

When I hop to my computer each morning, I promise myself I won’t fritter away my time. Fuggedaboudit. I get some of my best ideas while frittering. On Monday, I didn’t have frittering time to spare. I was cleaning up some of my messier computer files when I stumbled across an article I copied last May from the Baltimore Sun newspaper. I had completely forgotten about it. Upon rereading, I knew why I kept it. It brought back a lot of fun memories. It is about one of my favorite people: Kermit the Frog, star of stage, screen, and swamp. Yes, Kermit acts like he is one of us. ...

These birds have me completely puzzled

I’m a puzzler. I’ve tackled jigsaw puzzles, word puzzles and occasionally number puzzles since I was a kid. And oh, the happy, smug satisfaction it brings. I begin my day puzzling with my first cup of coffee. Every morning, I do three types of word puzzles on the computer. By the time I finish, my sleep-slit eyes are open, I’m vertical, and taking nourishment. Dear Richard refills my coffee cup. At bedtime, I do the newspaper puzzles. Then this Christmas, to my delight, my grandson, Malcolm, gave me a jigsaw puzzle. A gift I would be thrilled to get every year. This ...

Dairy’s role prominent in state, county

Do you know what the Dairy Community does for Warren County? Hi I am Miranda Gates, your 2025-26 Warren County Dairy Princess and I am here to tell you. Based on the 2022 NASS Agricultural census performed, there were a total of 4,027 farms in Pennsylvania, 455,024 dairy cows and the average herd size is 113 cows.The dairy industry creates 45,502 jobs in the state. In 2022, Warren County was the home to 29 dairy farms mostly family owned and operated with 3,053 cows residing. The average herd size is 105 cows. These farms operate and employ other individuals to keep the farm running ...