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View From Hickory Heights: Ah Rhubarb, Much, Much More Spring Bounty For Taking

I think often of my great-grandmother’s house. She was an immigrant from The Netherlands or Holland as she preferred to call it. Both great-grandma and great-grandpa were immigrants. I am not sure how they ended up living in Dunkirk, but they did. He worked for the railroad when he came to Dunkirk. Their house was the last house on the street near the railroad. I think maybe he walked to work. I never knew great-grandpa because he died before I was born. However, I knew great-grandma well. When I was in grade school, they were building schools in town. The older students switched ...

Turning 14 For A Golden Retriever Is A Milestone

The celebratory date is today and, while I’m writing this at the end of March, today ranks high on my list of things to look forward to. She might prefer her birthday, which is May 1, and I’m not forgetting that for a moment. My calendar already has the appropriate stickers. Turning 14 for a golden retriever is a huge accomplishment, no doubt about it. For all the dogs I’ve loved, none has ever reached that milestone — or even come close. Still, it’s the date Molly came to live with me that I’ll mark. It was a struggle to get her out of the stranger’s car — ...

Our House Is Very ‘Draft-y’ In April

In 2014, the movie, “Draft Day” was released, starring Kevin Costner as General Manager of the Cleveland Browns preparing for, and executing, his game plan in building the Cleveland Browns Football Team before the 2014 season. It was based on the annual NFL Player Draft and even featured appearances by Jamestown’s own Roger Goodell, the present NFL Commissioner. Being a lifelong Browns fan, I thought the fictional Sonny Weaver, Jr. executed a fantastic draft, using ingenuity and savvy in making deals on his draft day. After seeing the real draft that year, I wish the real ...

You’ll Freeze In The Dark!

Last Sunday, Mother’s Day, made me think how my mom warned me, as a young teen: “Work hard! Or you’ll freeze in the dark!” Sometimes, the warning ended, “Or you’ll starve in the cold.” She grew up during the depression. She and her peers were sensibly worried about freezing in the dark. The message scared me, and I worked hard in school. When I got my first job, I always put some pay in a savings account, even when (OK, it was long ago) I made only $132 a week. I feared a bad future, and I wanted to make sure I could support myself. This wasn’t all good. I’ve ...

NYS Has Just Outdone Itself

For decades, high-tax, big-spending, and big-regulation policies from New York state government have decimated much of New York. These policies have hurt people, particularly young people. Many who grew up here, and benefited from our tremendous schools, have fled New York. Pick any label you like for these policies. Discouraging, callous, and outrageous are among those that fit. It’s not the label that matters though. It’s the policies. They’re the principal reason for decades of decline in jobs in much of New York, notwithstanding tremendous efforts of many. We know ...

The Similarities Between COVID-19 In Us, CWD In Deer

Why doesn’t the Game Commission put facemasks onto Pennsylvania’s deer? People are wearing facemasks to lessen the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Shouldn’t deer wear facemasks to lessen the spread of chronic wasting disease? Well, no. I made that “face masks for deer” suggestion as a joke. I just chuckle at the mental image. The serious reality is that chronic wasting disease is showing up in deer disturbingly close to hunting grounds in west-central Pennsylvania, including Clearfield and Jefferson counties. The Game Commission is asking for comments, according to ...