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Being the hope Dear Editor, Help can’t wait when disaster strikes. Whether a family needs shelter, food or a sympathetic ear, generous donations to the American Red Cross help ensure they never face a crisis alone. The need for this support is constant. In 2024, local Red Cross volunteers responded to 52 home fires in Northwestern PA and assisted more than 150 people who were affected. Your donation can provide relief and care, such as: - $5 for a blanket to wrap around a person’s shoulders. - $11 for a nutritious meal, snack and drink. -$24 for comfort kits, each with ...

Other voices: More vaccine lessons ahead

Our Opinion

The measles outbreak that began in Texas is now up to 228 cases in two states, 23 hospitalizations, and one dead child, and still health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is hedging on the obvious, which is to get vaccinated. “Good nutrition remains a best defense against most chronic and infectious illnesses,” RFK Jr. wrote in an op-ed, though parents should “understand their options to get the MMR vaccine,” for measles, mumps and rubella. Then in an interview, he promoted treatment of steroids and cod-liver oil as producing “almost miraculous and instantaneous ...

View from Hickory Heights: A great way to spend your money!

Local Commentaries

“A little reminder that in a few years you won’t remember how much that trip cost, but you will remember the moments you experienced.” Learning and Exploring Through Play Now, years later I realize what a wise move I made taking the grandchildren to New York City. First, I took the girls. I planned the whole trip through a group from Sheffield. Tom and Sue did many trips but the only ones I participated in were the New York City adventures. Now that I think about it, I also went with them on a cruise that boarded in Boston. That was my first trip after I lost my husband. It was ...

Alien invaders are not just little green men

Our Opinion

A minute after I opened my computer, it started screeching. The three loud alarms were accompanied with flashing mushrooming blobs. I felt my heart clutch. No. No. NO-O-O-O-O! I was sure it was a crash. The end of my laptop. The last time my blood ran that cold, was when my previous computer bit the dust. This turned out to be only a dastardly mess but I didn’t know that for the first 45 minutes of panic. Supposedly, my primary security software was demanding that I use their program. But I already had their program! What is this? I followed the directions because I had complete ...

Our opinion: Office missing accountability

Our Opinion

Two scandals confronting our state, in our view, converge on one underlying issue. A state senator from Allentown has noted that in 2024 alone, Gov. Josh Shapiro spent at least $300,000 in tax dollars on flights. While that cost by itself should concern Pennsylvanians worried about the fiscal future of their state, there is a possibility — perhaps even a likelihood — that the actual cost was higher. “The data provided by PennDOT is woefully inadequate,” Sen. Jarrett Coleman said, according to The Center Square report. “The PennDOT logs are full of inaccuracies and ...

Our opinion: Solar has benefits for schools

Our Opinion

Pennsylvania schools are interested in the idea of installing solar panels on schools. Frankly, they’re more interested than state officials thought they would be. In its pilot round of funding for the Solar for Schools program approved by the state Legislature in 2024, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development reported receiving 88 grant applications from schools across 25 counties. Schools requested $88 million in funding — more than three times the available $25 million. Another $25 million for the program has been included in Gov.Josh Shapiro’s budget ...