ROSS TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Seven years ago, combat veteran Jack Mook was a hard-nosed Pittsburgh detective who stumbled upon two young brothers who showed up intermittently at the boxing gym where he volunteered. The boys were living on the edge of despair: Their birth parents had failed ...
Dear Annie: My husband and I are in our early 60s and have been married for eight years. I have four adult children and 11 grandchildren, while he has one son and two grandsons. My children are scattered across the country, while his son lives in the same small town as us. Yesterday, ...
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am almost 88 years old. All seven of my children came down with chickenpox at different times. I took care of them all, and never contracted the virus. I didn’t have it as a child or as an adult. Should I get the shingles vaccine? I have lupus and thyroid disease. I ...
KYLE PECK Port Matilda There are three kinds of people in the world: - Those who make things happen - Those who watch things happen, and - Those who wonder what happened. No matter which group you are in, you should care about legislative rules. People striving to make things ...
The year 2020 hasn’t been one to remember — in fact, for a lot of people it has been an outright nightmare. The pandemic, along with political turmoil and social unrest, has brought anxiety, heartbreak, righteous anger and discord to many. Amid such suffering, people need some ...
JOSEPH DeCRISTOPHER Lewisburg A matter of incredulity for those who, from Day One, found it hard to consider Donald Trump as worthy of deference or respect continues to be the loyalty shown him by both (1) the base of voters who support him and (2) the opportunist politicians intent on ...
Dear Annie: I’m 76 years old and need to know if I’m behind the times where etiquette is concerned. I have never been married and have not been around “young folks” a lot, so maybe I’m just behind the times. My only niece, “Marji,” a 40-year-old, invited me to Thanksgiving ...
JAY D. MYERS Hughesville For once I have to agree with Donald Trump. There was obviously voter fraud in the presidential election, in my opinion. There is no way that 74 million Americans voted for Donald Trump. I demand recounts in Indiana, Texas, Florida, Wyoming and Montana. There ...
BY KEITH ROACH, M.D. DEAR DR. ROACH: No one seems to understand a bad habit of mine, especially dentists! I bite off the loose skin on the inside of my cheeks. I remove little bits of cheek matter that is loose and sort of just hangs and is rough. It’s sort of like picking at a scab or a ...
KATHRYN MCFATE Loganton People in Clinton County are sick and dying from COVID-19. It is everywhere. Our seniors are at risk. Our families are at risk. And that evil president is down playing golf. refusing to sign legislation, refusing make the transition from his party to the ...
My grandma always told me attitude was everything. Each point of view was mine to take, my choice to sigh or sing. Whenever I was feeling blue or found myself bereft, She said, “Don’t dwell on what you’ve lost; embrace whatever’s left.” The bright side found her every ...
We want to keep our wishes for 2021 pretty simple so let’s just offer this: We fervently hope and wish that the grand gesture of a handshake will return. Oh, we do like the elbow bump meant to protect us from this awful virus, but nothing is like a grateful handshake as a greeting or ...
BARBARA NEUMULLER Port Matilda The Pennsylvania Republican legislators are poised to pass a second vote to adopt a constitutional amendment that gives them total control over who can and cannot be on the state Supreme Court. By creating “judicial districts” to replace statewide ...
The ceiling fan is spinning round Going nowhere fast. My chin’s propped up on folded arms Half locked in the past. The future’s there but indistinct So many ways to bend it. The past will have its say, I’m sure But what comes next will mend it. — Dianne Tuck
Stand tall and proud. Sink your roots into the Earth. Be content with your natural beauty. Go out on a limb. Drink plenty of water. Remember your roots. Enjoy the view! — Ilan Shamir
When you have memories of me, I hope you smile at the safety you felt, Dance at the freedom you experienced, Sing as you relive the passion, and promises fulfilled, Desires delivered beyond your wildest imagination I hope you bask in what it felt like to be Whoever you wanted to ...
Dear Annie: Like so many others, I lost my old job because of COVID-19. I was a waitress in a small restaurant and bar. Now, I work in a yarn mill. I am not unfriendly with my co-workers, but don’t socialize with them, as we have very little in common. There is a former co-worker, who now is ...
BY KEITH ROACH, M.D. DEAR DR. ROACH: Two years ago, I received the high-dose flu vaccine at my doctor’s office. It resulted in a severe case of SIRVA bursitis in my shoulder. I suffered for three months, taking Tylenol after getting two shots of steroid from my orthopedic surgeon and ...
DUANE EMERT Lock Haven Is breaking and entering into someone’s property legal in Lock Haven? I went to the two-bay garage I’ve rented with a friend for many years. I noticed the lock was busted off. When I opened the door, our property was all thrown to one side, and a dark red 2004 ...
It will not be a surprise if months of pent-up frustrations prompt many people to blow off more than a little steam this New Year’s Eve. The evening is viewed by many as the one time a year they let their hair down, anyway. There is nothing wrong with having a little fun, of course. But ...