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Cuba should accept Trump’s ‘friendly takeover’

Columns

President Donald Trump has shown Cuba’s communist rulers two ways their reign over the island can end: the Maduro way or the Khamenei way. The Cuban regime is a mix of gerontocracy, nepotism and socialism. Its official face is President Miguel Diaz-Canel, but supreme authority still emanates from the 94-year-old Raul Castro, brother of the state’s founding dictator, Fidel Castro. Though the long-lived Castro clan seems to prove only the good die young, no one beats the actuarial tables in the end, and Raul’s days are drawing short. Cuba is overdue for a profound change, and ...

Feeling stranded by so-called friends

Columns

Dear Annie: I am the friend everyone calls when they need something. I am the one who remembers birthdays, checks in after surgeries, brings soup when someone is sick and sends the “just thinking of you” text. If a friend is going through a divorce, I am there. If someone’s child is struggling, I listen for hours. If there is a crisis, I show up. But lately, I have started to notice something painful. When I am the one having a hard time, the room gets very quiet. A few months ago, I went through a health scare. It turned out to be OK, thank goodness, but while I was waiting ...

I can’t stop Trump’s war, but I can show up for my community

Columns

While President Donald Trump initiated war against Iran last weekend, my family was out volunteering at our local community garden. Another war weighs heavy on me, but I know I do not control military orders. I cannot make Trump adhere to the Constitution and get a proper declaration of war from Congress. Nor can I control how Congress responds, or in this case, chooses not to respond. But I can pick up a rake and help my community prepare a garden for spring and feed our neighbors. Trump, with the help of a GOP-dominated Congress, has stripped billions of dollars from healthcare ...

How waist sizes get reduced with CoolSculpting, laser and lipo

Columns

DEAR DR. ROACH: I had several abdominal surgeries decades ago. Now that I’m approaching 70, I cannot seem to lose my tummy. My waist is approaching 35 inches despite a strict Mediterranean-style diet, walking or biking for over 30 minutes daily, and weight lifting daily. I would like to consider a more aggressive approach. My goal is to reduce my waist size, and nothing seems to help. I’ve been eating healthy and exercising for years. I am happy with my health (low blood pressure, normal bone density, and normal labs). Could you enlighten me on procedures such as CoolSculpting, ...

Bellefonte and PA boroughs story

Letters to the editor

James Sikorski, Jr. Wapwallopen I saw the story dealing with Bellefonte and PA Boroughs. Sadly, there is support for municipal use of automated traffic enforcement of all types, as well as municipal police radar. What you never see are questions about why rules, guidelines, and best-practices are not being adhered to regarding traffic engineering. If most people violate a law, then perhaps the law needs to be changed? There are rules and recommendations about how to post speed limits, set yellow light durations, how to place stop signs, etc. Setting up situations to make most ...

Pennsylvania’s economy depends on a competitive freight rail system

Columns

Pennsylvania is truly blessed, with our land abundant with timber and agricultural products, as well as the mineral wealth in the form of coal and natural gas below. And with one of the largest manufacturing industries in America, a competitive and affordable railroad system is vital to Pennsylvania’s economy. It helps empower farmers, miners and the entire state to prosper in the manufacturing marketplace, getting our products across the nation and beyond. America’s railways are the backbone of our nation’s economy as they provide safe, cost effective and energy efficient ...