“Comedian” Kathy Griffin is feeling persecuted. Too bad. She has no one but herself to blame. Too many entertainers seem to have forgotten that people pay well to see, watch and listen to performances they consider, well, entertaining. In Griffin’s case, some people thought for years ...
Black Friday is behind us, today is Small Business Saturday, Monday is Cyber Monday and Tuesday is Giving Tuesday — 24 hours for residents to share their generosity this holiday season to nonprofits in need. During its inaugural year in 2015, over $30,000 was raised locally on Giving ...
I was appalled that the sponsors of House Bill 5095 (ending ballast water treatment) are so insensitive to the plight of Michigan's coastal communities they would rush this bill's passage without listening to those directly affect. This bill, sponsored buy Sue Allor among others, would strip ...
One of our greatest treasures here in Michigan is our water — the Great Lakes, fresh water inland lakes, rivers and streams. It is my constitutional responsibility as a state representative, and my duty as a northern Michigander to ensure that we protect this incredible natural ...
It is human nature to enjoy listening to horror stores. MidMichigan Health-Alpena is an easy target. People come to the hospital and sometimes the problems are impossible to fix. It then becomes an opportunity to share tales of woe. After two recent inpatient stays, I was reminded how ...
So, the holidays are in full swing. Are you ready for the onslaught of all things Christmas? Not me, I just have lots of random thoughts ... ∫ Have you seen the ad with the father and daughter where she has lots of videos and it closes with the father checking his phone while driving at ...
In response to Mr. Shuman's letter in regards to Thunder Bay Theatre's production of Hamlet, I'd like to inform him that he has completely missed the point of the production and has obviously not heard of adaptation. Changing the setting or time period of a piece of literature is not a new ...
Last week I got my annual "What I'm Not Thankful For" list out of my system. Sorry. It had to happen. You ever try holding that many gripes and whines inside? Not easy or healthy. This week it's time for a few utterly random things and people I'm thankful for. Such as: Newspaper readers. I ...
Former Circuit Court Judge Joseph P. Swallow wrote in the Nov. 15 Alpena News that the Constitution protects those who protest by kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem and the presentation of our flag as well as those who stand. Technically he is correct. However, as our ...
By the time you’re reading this column, I’m sure the turkey won’t be the only thing that’s been stuffed. In fact, seconds are most likely already behind you and you’re rounding the bases, heading toward your third sometime today. So often when we think of Thanksgiving what ...
It all began with a letter to the editor. The Bolenz Jewelry Holiday Parade that Northeast Michigan residents have come to love and adore all began with a simple question: “Why not a lighted parade at night?” A reader who will forever be known as Alpena Lena wrote a letter to the ...
Today is a time for reflection, for giving thanks and for remembering the many blessings that we have experienced this past year. Some of us are filled with more thanksgiving than others, but all of us should, if we stop and ponder it for a while, have something to be thankful for today. ...
When classes graduate from Institute of Organizational Management, they choose a song that plays as they walk into graduation. The song my class chose was Halestorm’s, “Here’s to Us.” We could have picked a traditional graduation song like Bruno Mars’ “Today My Life Begins,” or ...
When most men are found to have harassed or attacked women, they pay a price. It may be dismissal from a job. It may be a hefty lawsuit judgment or out-of-court settlement. Sometimes, that helps predators escape criminal prosecution. You will not be surprised to learn things are different ...
Money does not grow on trees, even if some politicians want you to believe it does. For that reason, tax reform bills in Congress include some “losers.” For some people to get tax relief, someone else has to pay. But the bottom line on both the reform bill approved last week by the ...
My lifetime has taught me to admire, respect and love the truth that is my country. In my youth I was taught to believe that our free press is our protector and our protector will always be there to tell us the truths we need to know and understand. This is the reason the press was revered and ...
On Friday night the unthinkable happened. Almost all of Alpena lost their municipal water supply. At about 11 p.m., I received a text from a co-worker asking if we had any change in water pressure as their faucets were only letting out a trickle. I was reading so I got up to check. Our water ...
The Alpena Plaza Pool at the senior high school is a valuable asset to the community and I am so glad it's here. Otherwise, I'd be curled up in my recliner watching the days to by and all the time steadily growing stiffer and weaker. Actually the Plaza Pool's simple “water walking” ...
Suicide rates for teenagers increased substantially from 2010-15, at the same time use of social media by young people shot up. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study hints the two phenomena may be linked. It would be foolish to suggest, based on this one study, that social ...
Here we go again. While most folks look forward to the holiday season with great warmth and anticipation, certain public employee unions do not because it seems every time this time of the year rolls around, House Republicans are fixing to chill the warmth and kill the anticipation. Years ...