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The short story of our long lives

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 ...

We need to stand united

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 ...

The importance of responsible gun ownership in rural communities

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 ...

View from Hickory Heights: Cool and easy hot weather recipes

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 ...

Rounding Third: Stacking up the many birthdays

Recently a friend told me that she always enjoyed columns about my mother. I laughed with her saying, “I’ve told her stories so many times, it feels like everyone would have heard or read them all.” But the calendar reminded me of a relevant one. Friends have heard the story, but it has never made it to print. It’s time appropriate as you will see. Mom died at the grand age of 98. As I write this, on my mother’s birthday, July 15 th, she would be 106… the age she aspired to be. It’s an interesting story. Mom grew up hard-scrabble. Her mother died when she was only ...

Rapp’s inconsistency comes through in I.D. bill

Hopefully others read the July 5 editorial regarding the voter I.D. bill that Kathy Rapp was quoted complaining about not being brought to the House floor for a vote so we can decide about the issue at hand in the November elections. Unfortunately she fails to see the irony in her complaint as she did the same thing when it came to the bill about hospital staffing that was brought before her committee so why does she complain at all? Isn’t that kind of like the pot calling the kettle black? I seem to remember a bill about hospital nurses and patient needs a while back and her ...