I have a new BFF.

Her name is Josephine Hodaffer, but everybody calls her Josie.

She is a little timid (a lot, actually). She is also affectionate and loyal, energetic and curious. She’s easy to talk to, and having her around seems to reduce my stress even though she is somewhat high strung herself.

Josie is a Boston terrier who belongs to my brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Marie Compston. Josie came to stay with my husband, Mike, and me last week while Larry and Marie were away from home.

I have been a “dog person” for my entire life, but I don’t currently have a dog of my own. Don’t get me wrong; I love our cat, Fu, and enjoy her company every day. I just seem to have a different kind of connection with dogs.

That’s something that seems to run in my family. My dad definitely had a way with dogs. They were naturally drawn to him, and I never saw a dog that didn’t obey his commands whether they knew him or not.

Both of my brothers are also dog lovers, and we have had quite a few canines among us over the years. There was my childhood pet, Taffy, who was a fluffy, white poodle-terrier mix. Not only was she fun to play with and very obedient, but she practically did gymnastics climbing on exposed floor joists, porch bannisters and ramps and walking long distances on her hind legs when coaxed to do so.

My brother, Steve, once had a big, white German shepherd named Zap and, later, a very furry, blonde dog named Buckwheat. Both were extremely well behaved and very protective.

Bostons, however, seem to be a favorite breed for several of us. Josie is the third Boston to be the center of attention in Larry’s household. Her predecessors, Gabby and Sophie, were the dogs my nephews, Jim and Zach, grew up with. I can remember those dogs pacing in circles around areas where the boys were playing – always on guard over their little people.

My own Boston was named Houdini. Mike and I had him for 14 years, and he left a huge void in our lives when he passed away. Houdini was an anomaly: He had one blue eye and was enormous for a Boston. According to the American Kennel Club, Bostons can range in weight from under 15 pounds up to 25 pounds. Houdini weighed 35-40 pounds his entire adult life. He was always trim, though, just abnormally large.

The AKC also describes the breed as “a lively, highly intelligent, smooth coated, short- headed, compactly built, short-tailed, well balanced dog, brindle, seal or black in color and evenly marked with white.” Houdini was all of those things and more.

Josie is Houdini’s exact opposite in many ways. She is small — I believe she definitely falls in the “under 15 pounds” category. Like him, she is also trim, but she is rather dainty. She behaves well on a leash, whereas Houdini would drag me down the street.

I truly enjoyed Josie’s company, especially because it has been a few years since we lost Houdini. Josie followed me around the house, tilted her head curiously as she listened to me talk, and she spent a fair amount of time cuddled up against me on the couch.

Fu might disagree with this statement, but I say Josie is welcome to come visit at any time. And when she does, I hope she will stay for awhile.

Also during the past week or so, I have spent a fair amount of time at the Belmont County Courthouse in St. Clairsville. I was doing some research for an article, and I visited multiple departments within the building.

One thing I learned is that each office is full of busy, hard-working people — and their job duties vary widely. From those in the Treasurer’s Office who were accepting property tax payments from long lines of residents to the deputies operating the metal detector at the main entrance, each county employee I encountered was courteous and helpful, and many of them seemed to be experts in a particular area or field.

County residents do not have to go to the courthouse to pay their taxes or to take advantage of many of the services offered by the various departments within it. But if you haven’t been to the courthouse in a while – or if you have never been inside it – I urge you to stop for a visit.

Not only is it impressive to watch the hustle and bustle of employees there serving the public, but the building itself is beautiful inside and out.

Located at 101 W. Main St. in St. Clairsville, the Second Empire-style structure was built in the 1880s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The three-story building is made of sandstone and features high, arched windows, a symmetrical design and a central tower and dome that once housed a 3,800-pound bell that is now displayed in the courtyard.

The interior of the building contains old mosaic tiles that form geometric designs, but it also features modern amenities such as a new elevator, climate control and efficient lighting. The exterior is currently being renovated, so visitors must navigate through some scaffolding to enter.

Even if you don’t have any business to conduct, I urge you to stop by the courthouse sometime. After all, it is the “people’s house,” and it is a part of our local history that we can be proud of.