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Anticipating A Different Thanksgiving Proclamation

On the cusp of our nation’s 250th birthday, the Pilgrims can’t be ignored. Not only did our nation have its roots embedded in the Mayflower Compact written “in the name of God,” but their enduring legacy is evident in our country’s recognition of thanksgiving to God. The first presidential proclamation of thanksgiving in 1789 by George Washington read: “Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor… [let us] all unite in ...

The Dog Days Of MAGA

The Trump administration has gone to the dogs—in more ways than one. It’s well known that Trump doesn’t hold “man’s best friend” in high regard, and a trend is emerging where dogs have become unwitting pawns and casualties in the war over empathy. Trump is the first President since Andrew Johnson to not have a canine companion or other pet in the White House and has deployed the term “dog” to demean women he dislikes or finds unattractive. In the 2024 campaign, Trump repeated the racist, thoroughly debunked lie that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio were killing ...

Explaining The Message Of No Kings

I am responding to the letter in paper on the No Kings march and rally held in two locations in our county. He completely missed the message of the movement. Instead he focused on some who used profanity, the words Nazi or dictator in their signs. He completely ignored the speeches made, the songs sung and the unity of almost 800 people in Fredonia and an additional 400 in Jamestown who say “No Kings.” He also seemed to have no idea why anyone would come to the rally wearing an inflatable costume. I will attempt to explain some of this to him and other readers who may hold ...

Patronizing Indulgence Is Out Of Order

Did you read the Oct. 11 Associated Press story about the new leader of a religious denomination in the United States? Never mind which denomination. That’s not the point. The focus of the story is that the denomination’s membership is almost entirely white, while the new leader is black. ♦♦♦ What really matters is the new leader’s ideas, character, and ability, not his melanin level. Nevertheless, the denomination should be proud in this sense: It’s not all that many decades ago that no almost entirely white denomination would have elected as any leader, much ...

How To Pay For Medication Not Covered By Medicare Part D

Question: My part D plan doesn’t cover one of my medications. Can I just pay for it with cash? Answer: I often have individuals tell me this time of year that next year one of their medications are not covered by their plan. Is it possible to keep their coverage and get this medication another way. Sometimes medications that are covered can be cheaper for cash than their insurance coverage price even when it is covered by their plan. Remember than your insurance company is negotiating that cost with the pharmacy and the pharmaceutical company. Sometimes those prices seem to be ...

They Asked If It Was A Success

Our garage sale was almost two weeks ago. For days after, everyone wanted to know how we did. “Was it a success?” Well, that depends on your perspective. Are they asking about how much money we made? How much stuff we sold? How many people showed up? Truthfully, if the goal was to create more and better organized space in the garage – yes, it was a roaring success. But if the goal was to create a net addition to our savings account, it was a spectacular failure. Despite the raw, miserable days, a respectable amount of people showed up. The regulars. I didn’t know many of the ...