When it comes to hiking, easy is a relative term
The official National Park Service website listed the Lower Hawksbill Trail as an easy walk. I would soon discover that “easy” was a relative term. To be honest, I’m not sure what I thought the hike to the highest peak on the Skyline Drive would entail. I followed the preparation instructions as best I could. I packed bottles of water, snacks, a camera and accompanying batteries,...
Red crossbills are in the birding news
The two species of crossbills are always a delight to see in our part of the world. Most of the time they stay far to the north; however, some years they move south in large numbers. This year red crossbills have been showing up over a wide area. Large numbers have passed through the northern states of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, plus further east into New York and New England. A...
We are all one in Christ
A few months ago I went through a spiritual dry spell. The desire of my heart is to make a difference and deeply impact people by sharing the love of God in a way that will reach them at their core, to bring hope and healing to those who are in need. When I don’t see the seeds I’m planting producing fruit I would like or I don’t hear from people what I’ve written has hit home with...
Bringing outdoor plants inside for the winter brightens our rooms
With the advent of colder temperatures, our gardens are not looking healthy. The zinnias closest to our house are hanging on for dear life, and that keeps our house happy. While it is so difficult to say goodbye to our outside gardens until spring, to be completely honest, I have gotten rather weary of weeding. Most of the plants that have lived on the deck have had to move inside for the...
I took the pilgrimage to have a proper good time
Just over a week ago I hopped a plane for Nashville, grabbed a rental car and headed south. And as a white man who shaves his head on a regular basis, I felt it prudent to overemphasize that my destination was, in fact, Lynchburg, Tennessee, the historic site of Jack Daniel’s Distillery. That’s because only 20 minutes away were two “white lives matter” rallies scheduled during...
East Holmes middle school girls create ideal rooms with a view
After seeing the incredible attention to detail, the commitment to design excellence and the creativity involved in the annual Miniature Bedroom Contest for East Holmes eighth-grade girls, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see a whole lot of interior designers and architects arise in the near future. Eighth-grade students at Wise, Mt. Hope and Chestnut Ridge elementaries were asked to...
Understanding Community Hospice
According to Norm Mast, president and CEO of Community Hospice, there are a lot of people who don’t understand what hospice is really about. With locations serving this community and surrounding counties, “Our goal is to educate and address the unique needs of those we come in contact with who are facing a serious illness. We meet people where they are in their journey of life and help them...
Reader demands action to stop logging
Letter to the Editor: Did you know the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry wants to log 50 percent of the Mohican Forest? How do you feel about your public land being logged as a commodity and not protected for you and your children? What would Mohican look and sound like if half of all the trees went missing? There comes a time in every individual’s...Faith and Values in the Marketplace seminar slated for Nov. 13
The public is invited to the upcoming Faith and Values in the Marketplace workshop that will take place from 7-9 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 13 at The Gardens at Homestead Furniture, 8233 OH-241, Mt Hope. The workshop will be broken down into three topics. The first will be “Does Business Matter to Jesus?” and will be headlined by Beryl Jantzi, Everence stewardship education director. The...