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It’s Now Cool To Chill Out

Back in the 1960s, people were side-eyeing things like meditation, yoga, and “finding your inner self” as if someone had just suggested chatting with their toaster. Fast forward to now, and suddenly everyone has a morning mindfulness routine, a favorite breathwork app, and a strong opinion about Himalayan salt lamps. What was once “far out” is now basically a Tuesday. Even talking about energy, vibes, and intuition—once reserved for barefoot philosophers in fields—has made its way into boardrooms, brunch tables, and your neighbor’s Facebook captions. And let’s not ...

Expensive Round Trip To Priceless Laughter

I was backing out of a downtown parking space when something flashed on my dashboard. The mileage calculator changed to a wrench. OMG. What’s wrong? This is not good. It was late Tuesday, and I was leaving for Dayton Thursday morning. I was heading for the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop – a professional, fun, and stimulating conference. I couldn’t wait. And now this? It was almost 5 p.m., so I drove directly to my mechanics. Rick and Mark have kept me safely on the road for more than 15 years. On my way to their shop, I glanced up at the oil sticker on the windshield. ...

Spring Construction Starts On Bridge

If you have driven over the Chautauqua Lake Bridge lately, there are signs that spring construction work has started. The wooden railing along the centerline of the bridge to protect workers as they walk has been completed, cranes have started to put platform barges back into the water, and some more concrete removal has started on the south section on the Bemus side. From what I have heard, DOT officials are hoping to finish completing the restoration of the pavement and railings on the south side of the bridge this summer. If they can achieve that goal, then next winter we ...

Protest? Why Bother?

At ‘No Kings’ rally all the way back in June last year, I stood at the corner of 6th and Washington holding a sign that read: “If you care more about someone’s legal status than his 34 felonies, you might want to check your humanity.” The truth behind those words is worth repeating. Simply being in this country without papers is a civil violation, and crossing the border without inspection is only a misdemeanor. What other misdemeanors are we reacting to with such fervor? Humanity should weigh heavily in our judgment. For the life of me, I don’t understand our nation’s ...

SAVE Act Is Hard For Women

I submitted my passport application this week. The total was $190 including processing fee at the post office in addition to the eight-dollar passport photo. I am fortunate that the expense was an irritation and not part of the grocery budget. Luckily, I had a certified copy of my birth certificate on hand. I married my husband shortly after turning 18 and that is the only legal document I have bearing my maiden name. A planner by nature, I thought I would feel relieved knowing that if the SAVE Act is passed, my vote will be protected. Since crossing it off of my to-do list I’ve just ...

RNC Ironically Bucks Red State’s Law

Federal law establishes Election Day for federal offices as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? But wait. What about mailed absentee ballots? What about mail-in ballots? Does federal law mean such ballots must arrive at local boards of election by Election Day? Or does federal law mean they need only be postmarked by Election Day? At issue before the U.S. Supreme Court, with a decision expected by June, is this very question. The challenge is to Mississippi law, which requires that ballots (1) be postmarked by Election ...