column
Wood ducks leave the nest after one day
by Diane Constable The beautiful wood duck is not the most common duck in our area. It is usually found around marshes, swamps and slow-moving streams, particularly where there are trees. The scientific name, Aix sponsa, means “water spouse,” as the male of this diving water bird looks like he is a groom dressed up […]
Positive Parenting: A parenting mission statement captures values you want to project to your children
by Dr. Erin Clifton We live in a world of constant change and hurrying, so we decided to slow down, take a breath, and dive deeper into something mentioned previously in this column. Think about how parenting advice and practices seem ever changing. Think about how you have evolved over the decades. Having a clear […]
Clyde’s Corner: Munith Rod & Gun Club experience shared across generations
by Clyde Whitaker Hello again, everyone. My story this month takes us back to the ’60s, then up to present day. I think most of you remember that my family moved to the corner of Fitchburg and Territorial roads, just outside of Munith in the early ’60s, buying our house from Norman Friermuth. Little did […]
Active Aging: Enjoy summer safely: Take precautions to make the most of warm weather
by Stacey Mason Summertime is a wonderful time to be a Michigander! Our state offers many enjoyable activities during this beautiful season. If you’re one of the fortunate ones, you might be boating on the lake, lounging at the beach, biking on Mackinac Island, camping at a state park, or attending one of the many […]
‘Blood and Iron’ masterfully describes the pre-WWI rise and fall of the German Empire
by Chuck Wisman A book titled “Blood and Iron: The Rise and Fall of the German Empire 1871-1918” ordinarily evokes images of a mind-numbing tome with half-page paragraphs, an over-abundance of footnotes, way too many pages, and the driest of writing. To many, such books would serve a better purpose as a door stop or […]
Dear Gabbie:
“Dear Gabbie” is written with the simple hope of bringing a few smiles to your day and is not meant to replace the advice of professionals… especially your mom! Dear Gabbie: I’m hoping you can help to make our book club enjoyable once again. We have one member who insists on dominating the conversation and […]
Bridge to Wellness: Focusing on spirituality in health care takes in the whole person
by Angie Adiska, RN According to “Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, Third Edition” by the American Nurses Association, “Nurses have long observed that when illness or brokenness occurs, healthcare consumers, whether individually or with family or friends, often turn to their source of spiritual strength for reassurance, support, and healing.” My faith called me […]
Munith Rod & Gun Club experience shared across generations
by Clyde Whitaker Hello again, everyone. My story this month takes us back to the ’60s, then up to present day. I think most of you remember that my family moved to the corner of Fitchburg and Territorial roads, just outside of Munith in the early ’60s, buying our house from Norman Friermuth. Little did […]
Rural Perspectives: The dandelion has a long history of success
by Diane Constable The dandelion is a common, nonnative plant with quite an interesting history. Its scientific name is Taraxacum officinale, otherwise known as the common dandelion, and it is one of the most successful plants in the world. It belongs to the composite family of flowers, and is related to daisies, asters and sunflowers. […]
Reading Between the Lines
‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ is a remarkable, bright read by Mary Jo David On a recent visit to my daughter’s home, not only did I score some quality time with grandkids, I also came away with some great reads! My daughter is a much more well-rounded reader than me. As I browsed her collection, I had […]