The crazy idea of writing a book did not surface early. I had to wait until sanity abandoned me. A devoted reader since I was a kid, I always thought that books were the result of brilliant minds, great imaginations, and writerly skills. Ordinary people like me didn’t write books. But you ...

Yesterday I baked molasses cookies. Now you might wonder why I baked early. These cookies freeze very well. I made some in the shape of pumpkins and some trees and gingerbread men. We will have the pumpkins for Thanksgiving and the others will be for Christmas. This recipe has a history. My ...

I will always regard my 37 years in Jamestown as the best part of my life. As I always said I went to Jamestown to take a job but I stayed because I found a home until … the first two campaigns for Eddie Sundquist for Congress and then mayor. We didn’t succeed on the first but ...

There is a “walkway” of sorts being built at the Chautauqua Lake Bridge, though it is not a “bikeway/walkway” for the general public. What is under construction is a walkway and scaffolding platform for workers who will be rebuilding the bridge. I had wondered what was causing the ...

We interrupt this series of columns on serious subjects that matter to take on a subject that really matters. Well, sort of. What is that subject, you ask? Stores that you frequently visit and which—out of the blue—move much of their merchandise to different parts of the store. ≤ ...

"You Can't Go Home Again" is the title of a 1940 novel by Thomas Wolfe. He is correct. Last week, I tried. I could not go home again. Affection for the songs of the late country music star Johnny Cash sent me to my hometown of Warren. A tribute singer performed at the century-old Struthers ...