During the season of Lent, we tend to reflect a little more intently on Christ’s mission and sacrifice for us. Since He gave so much in giving His life to redeem us, it seems we could easily give up even a little for Him. Though the traditional idea of giving up something for Lent has not been something I have done, my friend and distant cousin, Carolyn, got me thinking more deeply about the season of Lent.
A few years ago, as Carolyn read her “Catholic Weekly” magazine with its daily d
Dear Kid,
Don’t grow up. Don’t turn into an adult. That’s my advice. Resist adulthood. Be a kid forever.
Right now, a lot of adults are angry in America. To be fair, we have a lot to be angry about. But adults can behave badly when they are angry. So please forgive us.
Because the truth is—and I shouldn’t be telling you this—adults can be pretty stupid.
Don’t misunderstand. I don’t mean we’re “stupid” in a negative sense. Truly, I don’t. After all, just because someone is st
“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold; when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade.” Charles Dickens*
‘Tis the month of shamrocks, aquamarines, and the vernal equinox. I’ll soon pull out my recipe for Irish tea cake to go along with a hearty stew, in lieu of corned beef and cabbage. I’ve just never been thrilled with cooked cabbage. My family (except for one sister-in-law and her daughters) has no Irish background that we know of.
Over the past several years, New York State has become notorious for politically driven, far-left ideology overriding reality, ideology overruling common sense, and, ultimately, ideology overturning the common good.
That’s been true on immigration, climate, fiscal practices, criminal justice, and other arenas of public policy which have become dominated by the one-party, largely far-left, highly politicized control of government.
The current crisis in our correctional facilities is now
Three days ago, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost about one thousand points, causing me great pleasure. Why? Because as a seasoned investor, these fluctuations provide a smorgasbord of stocks at deep discounts. Schwab’s platforms allow you to arrange your portfolio to show all of the big losers according to the sum of money they have lost.
This column offers you a way to look closely at the stock you’re considering buying by using information easily available in your brokerage account.
Wisdom... that value within our heart and soul which helps guide our steps on this path called life. An entity more precious than gold. Lady Wisdom’s knowledge often comes from experience, by learning and gaining insight the hard way… you know, those mistakes that can either break or make us. She brings a common sense, discernment, shrewdness… an innate understanding of what’s right and wrong. But this sound judgment can be lacking when we become distracted or enticed by what seems so right,
by Jeff Minick
Actress, mother of two, and school activist Sophie Winkleman began her recent address on children at the 2025 Alliance for Responsible Citizenship Conference in London by describing a recent scene from a packed London bus. Standing over a young man and a young woman, both intent on their smartphones, Winkleman noticed that each was on a dating site, “reading profiles of men and women who presented as extremely similar to the two of them.”
She concluded:
"Our bus rea
My last column covered the steps you need to take to get set up with your stock brokerage account and banking arrangements. This column will give you some tips for selecting stocks
for your portfolio.
My preference for stocks is limited to Consumer Staples, Healthcare, Utilities and Communications, to name a few. Also, because I am a Dip Buyer (buying stocks when their price dips below what I first paid for it), I also focus on the dividend yield of the stock which is, simply put, when so
Americans are arguing right now. And believe me, I get it. There is a lot going on. Everyone has differences of opinion.
But I wondered if we Americans couldn’t put aside our disagreements for a moment, and agree on a few things we love.
I’ll start.
I love quilting. Quilting bees, quilting circles, quilting parties. Americans didn’t invent quilting, but it’s an American artform nonetheless.
I used to watch my mother quilt with dogged persistence. Day after day. Month afte
Approaching final negotiations over a new state budget, it’s critical to begin stressing that this year’s budget must address the right priorities – and one of the top priorities, in my view, is the future of our local roads and bridges.
It’s a priority that I and local Assemblyman Phil Palmesano, together with many of our Senate and Assembly colleagues regionally and statewide, have long worked to strengthen. Since 2013, in fact, we have stood together with New York’s county and town high
Little lambs are so soft, cuddly and cute! In my mid-teens, my siblings and I were given a lamb which I promptly named “Lambie.” Very original, huh?! It was only intended until something better came to mind, but nothing ever did. She was a twin, abandoned by her mother and given to us by our cousin, Robert, from his flock. I didn’t know the breed, but she had light gray wool with a black face and black legs. Recently, one of my students who absolutely loves goats and sheep, and knows all t
Sometimes our best inspiration comes from the most unlikely place! With the admonition to be “in the world, but not of it,” we find ourselves living out our faith foundation among the world around us (Romans 12:2). After 6th grade graduation from Passaic (Pine Street) Christian School in New Jersey, my Dad felt it was time to live out my faith by attending public junior high. Despite the culture shock, I learned invaluable lessons.
Yet, I think we tend to compartmentalize “church/faith”
Yes, it is still February! February has the fewest days, making it the shortest month, but it doesn’t feel so. Most of us are so tired of heavy coats and boots that February seems to take much longer than necessary; sort of like adding insult to injury. Our attitudes tend to “drag us through the month”! Of course, winter won’t last forever but as another front comes through, we do wonder. This week is COLD!!
I have said (probably too often) “This too shall pass,” when something truly annoy
We’ve reached the final week of joint Senate-Assembly public hearings on Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2025-2026 proposed state budget, which began in late January. Conducted jointly by the Senate Finance Committee, and the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, these forums have examined and critiqued the governor’s proposal in some detail with testimony from state agency officials, public policy and fiscal experts, local government representatives, business leaders, educators, farmers, law enforcement,
Growing up, I was introduced to Saturday Night Live courtesy of reruns on Comedy Central. It was how I got to know Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman and then Adam Sandler, David Spade, and of course, Chris Farley. Occasionally I’d catch reruns of the first few seasons and once high school came around, I got to know some of the original cast members, but I think everyone has that one cast that was your first love and mine was that crew in the early 90s.
Ah but then came Will Ferrell, arg
Welcome to Small Potatoes, a new column designed to help those who believe their income level prevents them from participating in the stock market to growing their savings.
Investing using “Small Potatoes” is an idea that came to me one day when I visited a Wendy's in Owego, NY. While waiting for my order, I had the opportunity to speak with one of the employees there and was surprised to learn he was unaware that Wendy's was a listed stock that he, and anyone else can own. I thought about
It was a year ago this week when I joined legislative colleagues and school district representatives in Albany for a “Pump the Brakes” news conference to begin calling more urgent attention to what we now know could be the most costly state mandate ever imposed on school districts and local property taxpayers – if it keeps moving forward on its current timeline.
That’s right, the costliest mandate ever. It’s important to keep sounding the alarm because, on multiple fronts, this state’s all-
Blessed Are You… The Beatitudes, Jesus’ words of blessings to all who seek Him. They give us guidance on qualities of spiritual life that we should strive to live out daily. In effect, they are the reverse of what the world might consider valuable assets.
In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He told the crowds who were listening that they should “watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them… A good t
It is only the sixth day of this new month, but Valentine’s Day is only a week away. Do you remember the lacy-decorated box on the teacher’s desk, made to hold valentine cards? Do you remember those packets of little valentines, about 20 of them /box, we exchanged with each other? Valentine’s Day still can be a fun time that brightens our winter and gives us another chance to spread a little love around. One of my favorite poems for this occasion is by Robert Louis Stevenson:* “I will make
Not long ago, I wrote about a newly proposed state mandate causing yet more consternation out of Albany under which the state Fire Prevention and Building Code Council would require automatic sprinkler systems in every new home construction. The New York State Builders Association (NYSBA) estimates the mandate would increase the cost of building a home by up to $20,000-$30,000 at a time when skyrocketing construction costs already drive up historically prohibitive costs for homebuyers.
When
What is love? We say “I love you!” to our family and friends … but we also say we love a book, a movie, a car, a new outfit, our pets. Is love found in endless glowing words of romantic emotion or selfless acts to please another? What makes love tick? It’s the minutes between the anniversaries that make the memories special. Writing for our 44th anniversary in 2018, I thought this poem and reflection would be fitting for Valentine’s Day this Friday.
My husband used to write me special
Note: This column was originally intended to be posted January 23rd however I'm just getting to it now. My apologies for the delay -Chris
Here we are, past mid-January. With each fresh snowfall, our lawn is crisscrossed with tracks; cat, deer, rabbits, mice, and possum. There was one slightly larger track that featured long claws, and a dragging tail. I’m thinking it might be a fisher. I am envisioning nightly, wild, wild-life parties after our lights are out. Perhaps Fauns, Ents and
Public hearings on Governor Hochul’s proposed 2025-26 state budget were off to a quick start last week, especially on Day 2 when the Legislature’s fiscal committees focused on one of the fundamental debates facing New York: energy.
For many of us, New Yorkers deserve forthright and transparent answers to the key questions underlying what will be, if the state’s current Democrat leaders continue to pursue this agenda, arguably the single most costly public policy ever approved. Consequently,
