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Editorials and columns

Since I’ve been far too busy lately to write another column for this space, here’s a highly abridged version of the speech I gave at the 2026 Alpena High School graduation held at the stadium. “What a joy to be here. What a privilege to be able to speak to some of my favorite people sitting in front of me today. “You asked me to speak and gave me permission to give you some advice. I’m just going to remind you of three things, but, as it’s already well after 2:00, I won’t be able to make sure you get to the dentist on time.” (I know one shouldn’t explain his jokes, ...

Buckle up. Here we go again

Editorials and columns

Michigan voters will decide in November whether to stage the state's 5th constitutional convention since 1837. Up until now there have been four such gatherings resulting in 148 changes to state laws via that so-called Con-Con. In 1961, the last time there was such an effort, a civil group ...

4,000 students is the number that matters most

Editorials and columns

Thousands of conversations, countless hours of volunteer time over nearly seven weeks, more than 2,000 petition pages, and dozens of misplaced pens are just some of the statistics for the effort to recall Alpena Public School board members Sarah Costain, Monica Dziesinski, and Eric Lawson. However, the time, effort, and materials for the recall are just a footnote in our initiative. Nearly 4,000 is the number that matters to the dozens of volunteer circulators and the thousands of voters who have signed the petitions. No, it’s not about the 3,771 signatures we need to trigger the ...

How to keep loving America -- even when it hurts

Editorials and columns

The approach of July 4 is making my heart hurt. Love of this country is deep-dyed in my soul, but pondering how or even whether to celebrate the semiquincentennial provokes a riot of mixed feelings. The right -- and not just the MAGA right -- responds to any queasiness about this particular ...

We have the right to recall, sign the petitions

Letters to the Editor

The Alpena Public Schools Board of Education has a problem. Multiple members of the school board are casting votes that waste taxpayer money that is supposed to fund our schools. Their names are Eric Lawson, Monica Dziesinski, and Sarah Costain. All three members have “voted no to a $150,000 grant for a rain garden at Alpena High School”. Who turns down free money? All three members “voted yes to hire a second law firm, Kallman Legal Group for Alpena Public Schools.” Lawson and Dziesinski “voted yes to award a paving contract to a higher bidder.” Lastly, “during 2025, her ...

"United We Stand and Divided We Fall" and where it all began!

Letters to the Editor

The U.S. Pledge of Allegiance is a patriotic oath expressing loyalty to the American flag and the United States of America, traditionally recited in schools and at civic ceremonies. It was originally written by Francis Bellamy in 1892 and has undergone several revisions, with the most recent change adding "under God" in 1954." Wikipedia 2026 I'm proud to be an American, but with less certainty. God does not create nations, people do, and we created a nation to represent all of our citizens. All of our citizens born with certain inalienable rights, the existence of God not included ...