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The Passing of a True Shepherd

I have been fortunate, in my life, to have served under, with, for, and alongside some truly great leaders, not just of organizations, but of men, women, and children. I have watched some of these people serve others willingly, unconditionally, unbegrudgingly, without judgement, and always with a smile on their face. Some of these people have made a huge difference in my life, in the life of my bride, and the lives of my children too. You can say some of these people can be compared as shepherds leading flocks toward their destination, watching over them every step of the way, ...

Americans, Grocers, Grapple With Ongoing Food Shortages, High Prices

Are you stocking up on food? Because I did a deep dive into high food prices this week and some experts are warning that it's only going to get worse over the next year or two. I got walloped at the grocery stores last week, spending double what I normally do. Granted, that included toiletries and some cleaning supplies, but seriously? $400? I didn't even buy a ribeye. "We're going to continue to see price increases, probably for the next two years or so," says Phil Lempert, an analyst and food trends expert perhaps best known as the Supermarket Guru. Experts blame Covid for our ...

Developing Resilience Through Life’s Hardships

Alyssa McCutcheon, LMSW Family Service of the Chautauqua Region Chances are you can think of that one friend or relative you know that seems to radiate strength and resilience in times of hardship. Maybe they’ve been through an illness or major life-changing event, yet they continue to persevere and “bounce back” while others in the same type of circumstance seem to fall apart. These individuals may appear to have a natural knack for toughing out the hard times, but what if you were told that this is a strength virtually anyone can harness? You can be capable of calmly riding ...

Glimmers Of Hope And Sidewalk Chalk

I was recently sitting on the porch enjoying the pleasant weather on what I’m assuming will be one of the last afternoons of summer. My kiddos and their friend came racing out the door and grabbed up their scooters to ride up and down the street. After a while, they seemed to tire of their game, and I remembered I’d just bought a huge box of chalk. I set them loose with it — and they ended up drawing a roadway and a parking lot, complete with a city hall and a police office. They busied themselves quite quickly with something as simple as sidewalk chalk — and I couldn’t help ...

This Wimp’s Reason For Wearing A Mask

I ought to have your safety in mind when I wear my COVID-slowing mask in public. That would be noble. But I have a more gut-level motivation: Fear. Stark, naked fear. Fear of COVID is in the mix, but it is way back in my subconscious. Fear of getting my face slapped is right out there in front. It started about three weeks ago. I developed what we used to call a cold, with could-be-COVID symptoms: A dry cough, fatigue, muscle/body aches, congestion, runny nose, and post-nasal drip. And sneezing. More on that in a minute. I am fully vaccinated (Pfizer). I didn’t get ...

Be A True Patriot In Your Community

People generally have a basic understanding of the long-term civic story of the community where they live if they’ve lived there for any length of time. Their version may not be totally accurate, but most people are able to connect their community’s past to what is happening there now. This usually gives them hope for a better future for themselves and their neighbors, especially if most members of their community can quickly identify their local patriots. However, that can be tricky. True patriots don’t generally label themselves as such. They also don’t waste other people’s ...