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Local Commentaries

Offering perspective to rise in Autism

There’s been a lot of buzz lately about the dramatic rise in autism diagnoses. In 2023, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that 1 in 36 children have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a staggering increase from 1 in 10,000 in the 1970s. To understand this surge, we need to look at ...

Philosophy to ‘build up’ brings better way of life

Preface: It often takes a lifetime of interactions within one’s community and with loved ones to establish a philosophy that guides a person’s ethos for their professional development. I was lucky to come across the “we build up” theme in the summer of 1991 on the Pleasant Township ...

Schools don’t consider lost revenues

With all of the other issues with the plan to close the Sheffield and Youngsville High Schools, is there the possibility of the district losing revenue due to this decision? Have they already lost revenue due to just the discussion of closing schools? What happens with yet another empty ...

Escalators and elevators

I was intrigued when a beautiful wooden escalator crossed my desktop. I immediately began my research. It seems that the beauty is part of Macy’s Department Store in New York City. I think I probably rode it when I was with the grandchildren. I know we did not ride it when we visited Santa ...

Big Julie wuz one of a kind

I was standing in the checkout line at a Country Fair in Erie when I heard the big tough man’s voice behind me. He was on the phone. “You tell doze guys I’m gonna take care-a dem poysinally when I get back.” He added profanity for emphasis. I hadn’t heard an accent like that – ...

It’s time for ‘National Popular Vote’ system

We hear the words, “I don’t vote because it won’t count.” Every United States citizen has the right to vote to preserve our democracy, and has a right to feel that their vote counts. How your vote for president counts is decided by the way the state legislature translates actual vote ...