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Our opinion: Shopping local an investment

On Saturday, Warren County will join the rest of the nation in celebrating Small Business Saturday. It’s a celebration too big and too good to pass up. Geared to the start of the holiday shopping season and coming on the heels of Black Friday blowouts at national big-box retailers, the sole focus of the day is to encourage consumers to shop at locally owned and operated enterprises and thereby contribute to the myriad benefits that practice produces. American Express began Small Business Saturday in 2010, and in 2011, the U.S. Small Business Administration wisely joined in as a ...

Our opinion: Giving thanks for U.S. ways

Too often, we prosperous, free Americans take our many blessings for granted. Nearly all of us enjoy material wealth that is the envy of billions of people in other lands. We are free to do nearly anything our hearts desire, as long as our actions do not harm others. Our nation itself is a blessing. Our government is our servant. Public policy is meant to benefit us, not the other way around, as is the situation in many other countries. We govern ourselves by consensus, in effect - providing any agreement by the majority is not detrimental to those who happen to be in the minority. ...

Our opinion: Ringing in kindess this holiday

The Salvation Army does much to help our communities. And at this time of year, they could use our help. The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign, famous for its bell-ringing as Americans conduct their holiday shopping, is launching soon. Our local corps of the Salvation Army is looking for volunteer bell-ringers and we invite everyone and anyone with a little free time during this season to consider helping the organization out. And, of course, we invite everyone to chip in when they see the Salvation Army’s red kettles. As joyous as Christmas and the holidays are for many, ...

Our opinion: State has to help with sub shortage

A parent raised a good question during last week’s Warren County School District board meeting - why are students being monitored in auditoriums rather than taught in classrooms? The answer is simple. County schools often can’t find a substitute teacher to teach classes when a teacher is absent, leading to what are essentially big study halls. We all remember study halls. There wasn’t much learning going on there unless students were serious about their academics - and we know that definition doesn’t encompass all of the students in a big study hall. Our problem is felt in ...

Shapiro needs to commit to disability funding

As the dust settles from the 2024 election, Pennsylvania’s leaders must now prepare for the 2025 Legislative Session and the forthcoming Fiscal Year 24/25 budget debate, as families, caregivers, and individuals in the Intellectual Disabilities and Autism (ID/A) community look to Gov. Josh Shapiro to champion crucial funding needs. Last year’s budget delivered a historic funding boost for ID/A services, reflecting Governor Shapiro’s deep commitment to this essential community. However, the final enacted budget fell $93 million short of the Governor’s proposed funding—a ...

Our opinion: Worx is making some progress

We have many doubts about Warren Worx, and while not all of those doubts have been quelled yet we are encouraged by something discussed at this week’s City Council meeting. The city of Warren and Youngsville Borough have revitalization teams. But not all areas in the county have such bodies to focus on things that can breathe new life into smaller townships and boroughs. John Papalia of WCCBI said Warren Worx is creating a revitalization team in Sheffield. Once a team is created the group can work to develop a plan for the township that can be used to drive new development, new ...