Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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To quote Benjamin Franklin, “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” I am positive that most of us would agree we pay too much in taxes, including inheritance tax. The question is, can counties afford to do away with inheritance tax revenue? Eliminating the tax would increase the tax levy by several cents. That means you and I - all taxpayers - will be required to mak...
Move aside, Carmela Soprano. I’m in my mob wife era. Cheetah print? You name it. I’ve got it. Shirts, skirts, dresses, jeans, sweaters, boots. You could say cheetah is one of my favorite colors. Plether leggings? Own a pair. Big sunglasses? Check. Flashy gold jewelry? Double check. Big messy hair? Break out the two-inch barrel curling iron and red can of Sexy Hair Spray and Play. What’s missing? I don’t have a full-length fur coat, but I do have a long denim jacket trimmed in some kind of faux...
John Lajba has grown accustomed to having Lady Liberty loom over him while he works in his downtown Omaha studio. Still, the sculptor would rather see the weathered 9-foot copper statue depart his studio shelf – its home for the past 30 years – and placed back where it belongs. "It's been ... out of sight and out of people's memories for too long," Lajba said. He might get his wish. Momentum appears to be building to restore and return the statue to its pedestal in Omaha's Turner Park, whe...
Several items I cherish most in life are found in a recipe box atop the refrigerator. The other, tucked away in my office in the file cabinet. The items have two common threads. They are handwritten in cursive by Grandma Larson and my parents. Dad’s and Grandma’s pieces have similar attributes: precise penmanship, straight strokes, perfect loops. Mom’s handwriting is a bit more fanciful, letters strung together with sweeping lines, curlicues highlighting each capital letter. If I ask any of my...
To borrow from the Rolling Stones, “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you’ll find, you get what you need.” This has been one of my favorite songs since the 1970s. Yes, that admission definitely dates me. And, its placement in the 1983 movie “The Big Chill” hits home. I thought it was an odd, albeit appropriate choice for the soundtrack. Who would’ve known a month after viewing the movie with my parents and sister, we’d be burying Laurie’s fiancé, six weeks before t...
Were you part of the mad rush at Target stores, trampling others or being pushed out of the way, to snag one of the hottest items in the retail world? Were you part of the Stanley stampede, where the lucky prize, if you were able to snag it, was a limited Target and Starbucks collaborative cosmo pink tumbler? Don’t confuse this particular tumbler with the winter pink shade also sold at Target. Seems that one is difficult to find, too. Don’t worry, I wasn’t standing in line on New Year’s Eve to...
What does it mean to be authentic? Credible. Trustworthy. Real. Genuine. These synonyms for the 2023 word of the year, as selected by the folks at Merriam-Webster, make an important statement about the times in which we live. In an interview with the Associated Press, editor-at-large Peter Sokolowski said searches on the dictionary’s website for the definition of “authentic” are normally high. But in 2023, Sokolowski reported searches were “boosted to new heights.” “We see in 2023 a kind of cris...
The final minutes of Christmas 2023 are counting down. It's nearly midnight, the house is quiet except for the steady hum from the corn stove and an occasional cough from Scott, who is tucked in bed, fast asleep. I'm sitting in the dark (except for the glow of my computer screen), looking at holiday lights from Cade's place across the street and Steve and Linda's next door. The constant glow brings a sense of peace and calm, a welcome reprieve from the blowing snow landing in the area last...
Have you started Christmas shopping or are you one of those people who have completed the task and have everything wrapped? I belong to the first group. While I blame my tardiness on my over-scheduled time, part of me also knows I don't need to hurry because I can get everything I need locally. The push for shopping local hit home last week, when a 20-something year old shopped the Sidebar for holiday gifts. She told me she's "keeping it local." Her holiday gift giving will feature only items...
An email landed in my inbox and caught my attention. I don’t watch a lot of television, unless the Weather Channel and sporting events count. And, if by some chance I watch a network show, I’m continually disillusioned by the number of advertisements promising health benefits ... until you read the fine print and learn all the unwanted side effects. According to newly-released data from the Federal Communications Commission, based on complaints about commercials, the top five most con...
Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird” is one of my favorite novels. Perhaps it’s because of the lyrical motion of the words she employs in telling the story of Jem and Scout and their father Atticus. Maybe it’s because of the lessons Lee imparts: don’t be judgmental, treat others the way you wish to be treated. I believe it provides a realistic portrayal of life in the deep South during the depression era. Let’s not sugarcoat it. Lee saw plenty of social injustices growing up in Monroeville,...
Isn’t it amazing how a game changes over the years? During the late 1960s, Mom coached volleyball in Clay Center. I remember sitting on the stage in what later became known as the “old gym,” watching her toss the ball to the girls, running some kind of hitting drill. I can see a line of girls practicing their underhanded serves, some of the balls skimming over the top of the net and landing in the back corner of the court. I vaguely remember a few games taking place against area schools. There...
“Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story.” I read this quote, by author Mason Cooley, recently and it made me think about Halloween traditions and costumes from my childhood and ones my kids wore. Mom loved Halloween. She’d decorate our house with pumpkins and black cats and ghosts. Then, on Oct. 31, she’d create a tablescape by the front door, with a kitschy orange plastic pumpkin overflowing with candy, black taper candles and a notebook with parchment paper, so trick-o...
I made two confessions this weekend to friends from long ago. We reconnected Saturday at the Northeast Nebraska Motorsports Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Norfolk. I serve as secretary on the board of directors, thanks to longtime family friend Troy Weyhrich, whose dad, Don, drove the unforgettable $1.98 modified. Don hailed from the Wausa area, as did my dad. Summer months were spent at the racetrack when I was young: Friday nights in Hastings, Saturdays at Mid-Continent Raceway and...
For the past month, I’ve been sorting through photographs taken by our staff. I had an idea for a newspaper page, but it simply didn’t come together. I’ll save the idea - along with the photographs - for another time. What was I looking for? The truth, which can be seen in all snapshots. Photographer Lisette Model was a 1940s street photographer, best known for work defining human character. She was a pro at using reflection and levels to show and contrast a parallel universe at street level...
Last week's poll question has stirred a craving for pizza. Specifically, Mom's homemade pizza. The crust wasn't fancy. Usually, she whipped up the recipe printed on the Bisquick box and added a few herbs and spices to make it her own. She'd brown seasoned ground beef, mince a yellow onion, chop black olives into rings and dice mushrooms and green peppers. A thin coating of pizza sauce and generous amount of mozzarella made it a special treat. Homemade with love, not a quick and easy takeout...
I wonder if people who think nothing cool happens in Nebraska have paid attention to the Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska contest, sponsored by the state’s manufacturing alliance. ICYMI, here’s how it works. Manufacturers and related sectors were invited to nominate their favorite Nebraska-made product. The top 16 were placed in a bracket, with head-to-head voting taking place. What products made the top 16? Chocolate Meltaways from Bakers Candies; M Grills Big M Smokers made by Kinney Man...
A free press has been always a common denominator in this country’s history. Since the origin of the “Federalist” papers, which offered the ideas which became the U.S. Constitution, the press has played an active role in being the watchdogs - or fourth state - ensuring American citizens, and their civil liberties, are protected. The free press serves as the voice of the people, providing transparency and challenging government abuse of power. In several states, including Nebraska, lawma...
Since Scott and I have been married, we've had one pet, a chocolate lab named Copper. When she died a few years ago, the thought of bringing another pet into our home never crossed our minds. How could she be replaced? She'd been a loyal companion ever since someone dropped her off in our driveway at the farm. A few years ago, Elizabeth and I suggested we adopt a dog from the local shelter. The newsroom could use a news hound. Someone to keep us company while we pound out the paper on deadline...
Ask 10 people who they would choose as the most loved television or movie couple and you’ll get 10 different answers. While Ross and Rachel spark excitement for “Friends” followers, the chemistry between Robert Kincaid and Francesca Johnson, in “The Bridges of Madison County,” is undeniable. Questions like this make me chuckle, especially when I receive a press release from a London-based public relations firm, letting me know that Lois and Clark top the most-loved list for a lot of Nebraskan...
Random thoughts on a Tuesday, as this week’s deadline looms: • Sometimes, an overactive imagination can be detrimental. I have a list of 10 column ideas, but the analogies weren’t panning out. Oh, the words were flowing, no doubt about that, but the mental image wasn’t connecting among the dots. There’s always next week. • Small-town community celebrations are simply the best. The Page and Orchard communities put on great events this past weekend. From the purple and white balloons drifting fr...
As I’m writing this week’s column, it’s the day prior to my birthday. I’ve got German chocolate cake, oozing with homemade coconut pecan frosting, on my mind. It’s my favorite birthday treat. That’s why I had to laugh when an article, published by “The Conversation,” mentioned one of the latest life hacks is “treat culture.” It’s not an entirely new idea. Consumers have been soothing their souls and rewarding small victories by purchasing treats for time immemorial. In the past, a new piece of clothing or pair of shoes filled my treat habit...
Another year, another milestone. The volume number on page one's flag notes a flip of the calendar. This edition marks the beginning of what will culminate in our fifth year of publishing the "Summerland Advocate-Messenger." It's been a whirlwind. It's required late and/or early hours. It's meant hard work, occasional frustration and an intense amount of laughter. Plus, it's been some of the most rewarding work in which we've played a part. We believe in the power of community journalism, how a...
Our family gained six new members recently. They’re cute and cuddly, afraid of getting too close to anyone but their mom. A momma cat - we call her Patches - invaded our deck early this spring. I told Scott she obviously is - or was - someone’s house cat. She’s kind of tame, kind of wild. Patches also brought several feral friends of the male persuasion with her, taking over our wrap-around porch and backyard, invading our neighbors’ homes, too. Around the first of June, Patches deliver...
Katie Lee, a cookbook author, cooked up the perfect essence of summer when she said, “If summer had one defining scent, it’d definitely be the smell of barbecue.” Oh, so true. Summertime takes me back to days gone by, recreating visions of Dad grilling steak or pork chops on a charcoal grill in the backyard. The waft of barbecue reminds me of burgers on the grill and neighborhood get-togethers. And, since I’m writing this three days before my favorite holiday, I’m craving a juicy, stuffed b...
