It seemed like winter would never end, then all of a sudden it was summer — or it appeared like it to me. I don’t know what happened to spring, but I am not complaining! I love the warm temperatures, the flowers blooming, the songs of birds in the morning and the green grass and trees. ...
I believe I fell in love with learning in the first grade, thanks to Mrs. Bartlett. Janie Bartlett was born on the same day as my mother, and they were colleagues and friends. When I look back on what I remember as a 6-year-old, I recall thinking that Mrs. Bartlett was beautiful, kind and ...
You've done it again, Eastern Ohio! One week ago today, we appealed to the public on page 2 of this newspaper, asking for donations to a toy drive to benefit the Martins Ferry Police Department. The effort was a part of our Business After Hours event, held in conjunction with the Martins ...
Believe it or not, spring has arrived. Yes, the season officially arrived a couple of weeks ago, though you wouldn't know it by looking out your window or walking out your door. At this writing, the temperature in Belmont is just at the freezing mark. Snow and rain - or some combination of ...
When was the last time you really took a day off? My husband, Mike, and I both have jobs that sometimes demand we work odd hours. We often find our selves at work at 10 or 11 p.m. or on a weekend. For that reason, our days off are not always the traditional Saturday and Sunday. And when we ...
It seems Eastern Ohio has been in the spotlight again in recent days, capturing the attention of politicians and industrial heavy-hitters. Last Monday, the Statehouse was buzzing with anticipation as Gov. John Kasich prepared to officially announce a "major international partner" for the ...
It may not always be easy to see, but people all around us are working to better our communities all the time. Sometimes, these people are elected officials, working in response to a public outcry or in an effort to fulfill a campaign promise. We expend a lot of energy being critical of these ...
I write a lot about the beauty of our region, but I have seen some ugliness here lately - and it’s had nothing to do with mud or flooding. Two things are at the root of the animosity I have seen among area residents - the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., and the well pad explosion and ...
I probably looked more like a pipeliner than a newspaper editor when I headed out the door for work on Thursday. With heavy rain in the forecast, my years in the news business told me to be prepared to get wet and dirty at some point during the day. I wore jeans and a sweatshirt and a pair of ...
Even if, inexplicably, you occasionally think about things other than professional baseball, consider this: Why are many premier free agents, particularly sluggers and starting pitchers, unsigned even while we are hearing the loveliest four words, “Pitchers and catchers report”? The ...
Republicans are understandably nervous about the parallels between the 2010 midterm elections that brought them to power and the 2018 midterms where Democrats envision a return to power. Eight years ago, a polarizing new president was facing his first midterm election. Progressives and ...
Dear Annie: My mother is 79 years old. She was born during the Depression, and I know that when she was younger, she didn’t get enough to eat. The problem now is that she still hoards food. She admits that she has a problem, but she can’t seem to stop buying food for the freezer. She has a ...
DEAR DR. ROACH: Recently in your column, you discussed the need for dosages to be exact in some situations. What about the medical marijuana issue? In our small town, there are four dispensaries. If someone truly felt he or she needed it for medical issues, would that person get the same ...
Dear Readers: You might pick a seat in the EMERGENCY EXIT ROW on the airplane because it has more legroom. That’s understandable, but be aware that if you sit in the emergency exit row, you have to be prepared to help the crew, if necessary. Here are some of the requirements that ...
Dear Annie: Though the holidays are behind us, I’m left with some lingering resentment. My problem is that we host too many guests. I married into a family of seven. This family has since grown to 30 people, even with the deaths of the mother and father. My wife and I took on the hosting of ...
DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently received my blood test results. My overall vitamin D was 40 (within the target range of 30 to 60 listed), but I noticed that it was broken up into vitamin D-3 (also 40) and vitamin D-2 (less than 4, and presumably 0 based on the overall score). What is vitamin D-2, ...
When next you shoehorn yourself into one of America’s ever-shrinking airline seats, you might encounter a new wrinkle in the romance of air travel. You might be amused, or not, to discover a midsize — say, 7-feet long — boa constrictor named Oscar coiled contentedly, or so you hope, in ...
The people here in Eastern Ohio are a pretty tough and resourceful bunch. For generations, we have worked on farms, in coal mines and in steel mills. We've raised families by making the most of limited resources. We have remodeled old homes and buildings for businesses, refurbished old cars ...
Dear Annie: It was a wonderful Christmas season. However, I’m finding myself more guilt-ridden than ever. Here’s why: My wife and I are “gifters.” We like to think of all the people in our lives whom we can think of — near, far, wherever they are — and try to give them ...
DEAR DR. ROACH: After a diagnosis of low thyroid levels, my formerly long, thick hair has thinned out. I’d say 50 to 60 percent over the years since menopause (I am 78). It is especially thin from the front to the middle of my head. All I have found to help my hair look presentable and fuller ...