Teen Talk: Weekend Reviews: ’Potter’ better as book, again
OK, Summer’s nearing its close, and despite the rage over movies such as "Transformers" (excellent, by the way), and "Pirates of the Caribbean 3" (ditto), you’ve really been focusing on one thing _ Harry Potter. With the fifth installment of the movie series premiering days before the seventh, and final book, Potter mania has definately been at it’s highest.
Tech GP: Setting up home network not difficult
As I write this I’m working as part of a project team installing a large wireless network at a 100-plus year-old prep school in the Adirondacks, and it was suggested that I write about wireless networking for home users, since I’ve never really approached that topic before.
Tech GP: Setting up home network not difficult
As I write this I’m working as part of a project team installing a large wireless network at a 100-plus year-old prep school in the Adirondacks, and it was suggested that I write about wireless networking for home users, since I’ve never really approached that topic before.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Stay sane during shopping season
The National Retail Foundation’s 2007 Consumer Intentions and Actions Back-to-School survey reports that the average American family will spend more than $500 on back-to-school merchandise this year, for a total of about $18 billion nationwide.
Teen Talk: Dear Dina: Try to get to know stepdad’s children
My mom is getting married again in about a month. The guy she is marrying has two kids. I’m 14, his daughter is 12, and his son is 8. Even though my mom has been with him for two years I never really spent much time with his kids because they lived with his ex-wife.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Follow a mellow flick road: Movie time can be family time
One of my fondest childhood memories is watching "The Wizard of Oz" every year with my mom. We’d sit on the couch together, snuggled up under a blanket. I’d hide my face whenever the flying monkeys made an appearance. They _ along with Wonka’s Oompa Loompas _ creep me out even now.
Teen Talk: On the go: Jobs today can teach lifelong lessons
We all need money to survive. Well, not money exactly, but the provisions that money allows us to have. I’ve always sort of had a problem with money. I strongly dislike it and the effects it has on people. Some people spend their whole lives to make as much of it as they can. Some people waste all they have and live their lives with nothing, barely surviving.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Librarians give their picks for summer
Summer is traditionally the favorite season of book-lovers because books can be enjoyed in a variety of outdoor locales.
Teen Talk: Weekend reviews: A little bit of something for all types
I have come to realize that this is my last column and that there are so many bands out there that people to know about. I have decided that I want to review bands themselves and some new music that is out there
Senior Scene: About your health: Get clear view of cataracts
By age 65, one in three Americans has some form of vision-impairing eye disease. Most do not know it because there are often no warning symptoms or they assume poor sight is a natural part of growing older. By detecting and treating eye disease early through annual, dilated eye exams, seniors can preserve their sight. The most common cause of poor vision in seniors is cataracts.
Around the arts: Internship is much more than a job
It is 10:30 at night, and I am driving along state Route 357 on my way to the Franklin Stage Company. My 14-year-old daughter is volunteering as a stage-hand at the theater, working on their production of "Midsummer Night’s Dream."
Monday, July 30, 2007
Many non-baseball-related events set across the area this weekend
Tens of thousands of tourists and locals are expect to converge on Cooperstown this weekend for the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Weekend. Without a doubt, Cooperstown will be abuzz from sun-up to sun-down.
Senior Scene: As Time Goes By: Beauty of summer in city, country
"Summertime and the living is easy, fish are jumping and the cotton is high." Why is it that when I ask for a mint julep or a frozen daiquiri I always get a can of beer _ whatever is on sale at six cans for a dollar? I try to be a classy guy.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Many non-baseball-related events set across the area this weekend
Tens of thousands of tourists and locals are expect to converge on Cooperstown this weekend for the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Weekend. Without a doubt, Cooperstown will be abuzz from sun-up to sun-down.
Senior Scene: As Time Goes By: Beauty of summer in city, country
"Summertime and the living is easy, fish are jumping and the cotton is high." Why is it that when I ask for a mint julep or a frozen daiquiri I always get a can of beer _ whatever is on sale at six cans for a dollar? I try to be a classy guy.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Arts activities keep kids busy on break
Opportunities abound for children and teens to be involved in summer arts and theater programs in this area. Summer is the time to stretch those creative wings and try things there isn’t time for during the school year.
Teen Talk: Dear Dina: Get rid of boyfriend, best friend
My best friend just stole my boyfriend! I had recently noticed that they had been talking more and hanging out more, but I didn’t think anything was really going on between them. I found out though when I went to the mall yesterday and saw them together.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Functional folk arts offer connection with history
Hear the words "folk art," and you might think only of decorative knick-knacks in a souvenir shop For those who practice traditional arts, the term means a lot more.
Teen Talk: On the Go: Find what makes you come alive
A blank page stares back at me. An empty canvas craves a painter’s touch. The strings of a violin wait for the bow to be drawn across them. The forlorn road wants a traveler to share it’s beauty with. The world longs for you to leave something beautiful behind.
disABILITY: It’s fine to be imperfect and unique
Don’t sweat it. Nobody asked us to be perfect here, although, now that I think about it, nobody ever asked us to be unique either, so perhaps we do have a reason to be concerned.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Couples gamble on triple 7s: 7/7/07 popular day for weddings
It’s hard to say where humankind’s superstitions about numbers came from but it would be equally hard to deny its impact. A fair number of hotels omit numbering the 13th floor. Friday the 13th has long been viewed with caution or with horror, thanks to a popular series of slasher flicks. Our aversion to 13 is so well established that there is even a name _ triskaidekaphobia _ for an extreme reaction to it.
Teen Talk: Weekend Reviews: Player making a Ruckus on campus
For a change, I decided to try to have my mom’s input on this review. I had a wide variety of new music for her to listen to and see if I should do my review on this album or that album. Let’s just say that my mom and I do not have common music tastes. We sat in the kitchen on my one day offm and I started to play some music, hoping she could help me out.
Senior Scene: About your health: Exercise, eat right to stay healthy
Healthy aging? It sounds like a contradiction in terms. But for older Americans it means exercising and eating right _ plus a whole lot more. There are four keys to aging with style: physical fitness, social wellness, mental wellness and financial fitness.
Music Beat: Band without a plan showing success
Are you a fan of classic country/folk and tunes from the ’70s? If so, you may already know about Just Throw Money, a local band with a large and loyal following.
Teen Talk: Teenhood Today: Like it or not, guns serve vital purpose
At last, the end has come _ the world’s end, if you care to know. Funeral pyres are being lit across the nation in mourning, while improvised newspaper captain’s hats drift across kiddie pools like viking death ships loosed across the seas; the reign of Captain Jack Sparrow is over at last. Let us grieve.
Senior Scene: As Time Goes By: ’The Secret of Mocking Laughter"
The other day I got very excited. Excitement is very important for seasoned citizens because it may be the only time they exhibit life. My excitement came from the announcement that a movie about Nancy Drew was opening in Oneonta.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
The Gap: A working holiday, an educational side trip
This is not about a trip to a retail clothing store _ although that trip may be part of the process. "The gap year" is the international phrase used to describe a break from formal education between high school and college.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
The making of a #1 Dad: Readers share views on their fathers
Last month, we asked our readers to tell us what made them admire their dads. It could have been their favorite memories, the best advice their fathers ever gave them, whatever their dads did to make their children think their father is a No. 1 dad.
Senior Scene: Looking back: Chickens stayed even after farm gone
The year was 1972, and, sad to say, the bottom fell out of the wholesale egg business. How can a farmer make any money on glutinous chickens, the high price of feed, and medium-sized eggs selling for only 39 cents a dozen? So on we moved to greener pastures. (No pun intended).
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Mac vs. PC: Users divided over best platform
There is a bitter divide in the heart of my household. No, it is not about politics. No, it is not about discipline or food or money, which is usually what parents with kids argue about. No, my husband and I can’t agree on computers.
Admittedly, it’s a small conflict. But like so many issues that divide this globe, our conflict is bipolar, where each party thinks his or her position is the only way to live.
Senior Scene: About your health: Take steps to fight bladder cancer
Considered a cancer of the aging population, bladder cancer is not commonly recognized in the younger population. In the elderly, bladder cancer is most often found in men and it is often directly associated with a history of smoking.
Around the Arts: Art can bring out one’s true voice
The Kubiak Gallery at Wilber Mansion recently exhibited work by French artist Raymond Verdeguer. His thought-provoking block prints are deeply political, commenting upon a variety of global, economic and social issues.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Day Trippin’: Short trips can offer lots of fun
Ahhh, here we are on the brink of summer _ a welcome time of year in upstate New York. During this season many people are eager to step out and enjoy the lazy, hazy days of the season. Whether it be in caverns, well below the ground, stepping back in time, fishing and swimming, or dancing the night away to the blues _ take a look at what Otsego, Delaware, Schoharie and Chenango counties all have to offer.
Senior Scene: As Time Goes By: Too many rutabagas? When pigs start to fly!
Some people claim they have green thumbs and use no Miracle-Gro to make gardens so bountiful that the veggies fall from the vine and march right into the kitchen. My gardens are noteworthy because if planted on coal-black soil there would be a desert in three weeks and the oasis will have run dry.
Teen Talk: Teenhood Today: ’Diversity’ push left out sexual identity
Come on now, be reasonable; move the lighter away from the newspaper. All the readers who have patiently endured my past expressions of genius must have realized somewhere between the inane pop culture references and the cheerful, consistent assaults on hippies worldwide that it would someday come to this _ the demon spawn with the face of an onion and the editorial depth of The Onion that insists on popping up in their Lifestyle sections once a month has finally done a column on homosexulaity. Help us Jesus; help us Tom Cruise.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
No such thing as ’typical’ canoe
Perhaps no other style boat has the elegance and grace of the simple canoe, and yet no other style boat has as long and storied history as the canoe for both functional and recreational purposes, either; indeed, the basic canoe design can be traced as far back as ancient Greece.
Senior Scene: From the Office: Choices help make healthier futures
May is Older American’s Month and a good time to talk about issues affecting older adults, including the focus of Older American’s Month and changes coming soon to New York States Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage, or EPIC.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Words of wisdom for college grads
May is the month when the cycle of life begins anew, and college seniors graduate from the realm of academia into the wider world.
Teen Talk: On the Go: Prom is what you make of it
I want to tell you a story about a friend of mine who attended a larger public school’s prom this year. Here’s a little taste of her night. She and her date rode in a stretch limo to the site of the grand march. Now the scene is a school gym and the bleachers are full of parents and other spectators. But the sport is not the usual one tonight.
Senior Scene: Looking back: Arnold always in trouble on farm
Along came a new boarder on the chicken farm. His name was Arnold, and Arnold was a Yorkshire pig. Yes, he was just like his counterpart on the long-ago TV program "Green Acres." At first he was cute, but as he got bigger, Arnold became a No. 1 menace.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Local older moms say age
has advantages, disadvantages
Mothers, mothers-to-be, stepmothers, those with natural motherly instincts, foster mothers, home-away-from-home mothers and grandmothers, all deserve to put their feet up on Sunday. Mother’s Day honors women as life-givers, caregivers, teachers and protectors.
Senior Scene: About Your Health: Unneeded tests waste your money
Many people in our community "of a certain age" (including this author) have recently received direct mail solicitation from a company advertising "We can help you avoid a stroke ... four tests in less than 1 hour."
Music Beat: Virtual world can help grow careers
Students in the State University College at Oneonta’s music industry program recently presented a most unusual concert. The concert had music, but no musicians were on stage. Audience members were encouraged to walk around and talk during the concert and to look at artwork on display on the wall. The audience asked enthusiastic questions after the first two pieces of music had been played.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Getting to ’I do’ without disaster
When it comes to planning a wedding, the advice is always the same: start early and be organized. But this is usually easier said than done.
Tech GP: Learning never stops in computer world
About 20 years ago, a man named Robert Fulghum wrote ``All I Really Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten." My wife being a kindergarten teacher, we of course had a good chuckle when we heard about it. The book went on to dominate the New York Times’ bestseller list for more than a year.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Digging into genealogy: Family histories tell more than names
Anyone can become a private detective who unearths nuggets of history. All you really need is a whiff of curiosity, a couple of documents and an ample supply of patience. According to some armchair genealogists, a little bit of madness doesn’t hurt, either. It’s an addictive hobby and one that frequently turns in to an obsession.
Teen Talk: Dear Dina: Dating not just physical aspects
I’ve been going out with this boy for 2½ months, and we’re still in "the holding hands and a little kiss" on the cheek stage. I want to get further with him, but I don’t think he’s ready to go any faster then we are right now. I really like him, but if he is not willing to move any faster, and I am, I don’t know what to do. I’m helpless, what should I do?
Senior Scene: From the Office: Volunteering empowers all of us in many ways
You hear it more and more. The numbers of volunteers are shrinking. At least that’s what they say. "They" being that invisible group of experts who always seem to know everything about everything. If indeed, they are correct on this issue, and since this is National Volunteerism Month, I thought I’d share a few ideas on why I think everyone of us should be volunteering somewhere.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Earth Day: Everyday actions can help, locals say
This year marks the 37th anniversary of the first Earth Day in 1970. Earth Day was established by Sen. Gaylord Nelson, who passed away in 2005 at the age of 89, and others because they were troubled that the state of our environment was a non-issue in politics.
disABILITY: Positive thinking alone won’t work
Positive thinking, visioning and sending "good vibes" into the world doesn’t necessarily guarantee a thing if you don’t take the right action steps and work hard. Good execution is just as important as having a positive vision.
Teen Talk: On the Go: For new experience, join, listen to orchestra
The lights become dim, an audience sits in hushed anticipation waiting for sound to fill the silence; a man steps to center stage and raises his arms; then as he lowers them the music fills the, room swooping low and soaring high on the mountains of a song. The musicians dressed in black move as one caught up in the tide of the harmonies.
This is how my sister, April, and I both view an orchestral performance even though we see it from two different viewpoints; she from the house, and I from the stage.
Senior Scene: About your health: Skilled nursing facility can help
I consider myself a fairly healthy person, but recently I spent nearly a month in a skilled nursing facility recuperating and receiving rehabilitative services for what was a severely fractured and repaired leg. I was also one of the attending physicians at the same skilled nursing facility.
Around the Arts: Oneonta needs to focus on the arts
When I was a little girl, I had a Fisher-Price Play Family Village.
My "village" was a Main Street, complete with its own traffic light and telephone booth, a movie theater, a barber shop, police and fire stations, and a doctor’s office. There was also a studio loft on the second floor, with shag green carpeting and an outdoor patio.
Fisher-Price may have called it a Play Family Village, but looking back, I was the 7-year-old mayor of a quasi-SoHo/Greenwich Village.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Easter Bunny’s helpers
Everybody knows that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole and the elves help him make all those toys. But where does the Easter Bunny live? Who helps him make all the yummy chocolate eggs and bunnies that he fills our baskets with?
Teen Talk: Teenhood Today: In U.S., we have right to offend
Ever since we became old enough to spell out our first naughty words in alphabet soup noodles, every American has had it drummed into her dear little ear: "The First Amendment gives you freedom of religion, free speech, and freedom of the press."
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Easter Bunny’s helpers
Everybody knows that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole and the elves help him make all those toys. But where does the Easter Bunny live? Who helps him make all the yummy chocolate eggs and bunnies that he fills our baskets with?
Teen Talk: Teenhood Today: In U.S., we have right to offend
Ever since we became old enough to spell out our first naughty words in alphabet soup noodles, every American has had it drummed into her dear little ear: "The First Amendment gives you freedom of religion, free speech, and freedom of the press."
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Not-so-Serious look at history of humor
Deep within the bowels of an Oneonta college campus _ the exact name of which is being withheld to protect the project _ scientists are tinkering away at crafting a unified theory of funny. The door to this secret laboratory is marked only with a rubber chicken.
Teen Talk: Dear Dina: Don’t stay with cheating boyfriend
I have been dating this boy for about three years. Last weekend, I went away with my family. I came back and everything between my boyfriend and I seemed fine. The other day he came to me and confessed that he had cheated on me while I was away. I really like him and now I don’t know what to do.
Senior Scene: From the Office: Thoughts on fading heroes
One of my mother’s earliest childhood recollections was that of observing the servicemen in uniforms as they mounted the troop trains that led them to foreign battlefields during World War I. It must have been quite a sight for a young girl with an active imagination. From New York they would board steamships that would take them to Europe and then to the muddy trenches where they would brave mustard gas, machine gun fire and influenza.
Parenting Imperfect: Lowered expectations get better results
You go into this parenting gig with such high expectations. My baby, you think, will cure cancer, solve the Middle East peace conundrum and adopt every infant in Malawi before Madonna can get her hands on it.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Not-so-Serious look at history of humor
Deep within the bowels of an Oneonta college campus _ the exact name of which is being withheld to protect the project _ scientists are tinkering away at crafting a unified theory of funny. The door to this secret laboratory is marked only with a rubber chicken.
Teen Talk: Dear Dina: Don’t stay with cheating boyfriend
I have been dating this boy for about three years. Last weekend, I went away with my family. I came back and everything between my boyfriend and I seemed fine. The other day he came to me and confessed that he had cheated on me while I was away. I really like him and now I don’t know what to do.
Senior Scene: From the Office: Thoughts on fading heroes
One of my mother’s earliest childhood recollections was that of observing the servicemen in uniforms as they mounted the troop trains that led them to foreign battlefields during World War I. It must have been quite a sight for a young girl with an active imagination. From New York they would board steamships that would take them to Europe and then to the muddy trenches where they would brave mustard gas, machine gun fire and influenza.
Parenting Imperfect: Lowered expectations get better results
You go into this parenting gig with such high expectations. My baby, you think, will cure cancer, solve the Middle East peace conundrum and adopt every infant in Malawi before Madonna can get her hands on it.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Dressing it up ... and down for spring
To paraphrase an old expression, in spring, a young woman’s fancy turns lightly to thoughts of ... dresses. And open-toed shoes. And anything but hats, scarves, coats, wool socks and boots. This spring, women craving a change from winter’s drab duds have a lot to look forward to. Here’s a guide to navigating some of the foremost trends for spring and summer fashion, with some help from local retailers.
Teen Talk: On the go: Leaving U.S. can open eyes of teens
Have any of you teens out there had the amazing opportunity of traveling to another country? I got back from Nicaragua about three weeks ago and this was my first time to leave the U.S.
Senior Scene: Looking back: Life on chicken farm hard for dog
It was back in the early 1970s, when I married a chicken farmer and had quits an education. But this experience is not about me, per se, but instead pertains to our adorable black cocker spaniel named Georgie-Porgie.
Teen Talk: Weekend reviews: Fall Out Boy falling out of favor
Since the first time I heard Fall Out Boy, I have loved the group. My favorite album by it is its second release, "Take This To Your Grave." I have bought every Fall Out Boy album, and I think I only listen because of Pete Wentz, anymore.
Around the Arts: We mustn’t lose theater experience
Three times a year, the Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts screens a series of independent and foreign films at the Oneonta Theatre 1&2. The film series is one of our most popular programs, with a loyal audience that is versed in film history and passionate about cinema as art.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
For women only: Local gym members say comfortable, noncompetitive nature appealing
Nationwide, women of all ages are discovering the benefits of exercise. Studies have been conducted finding that regular exercise can decrease a women’s chance of certain types of cancer and is vital in maintaining bone density, which is essential in preventing osteoporosis.
Teen Talk: Teenhood today: Alcohol, dances mix much too often
Today’s typical high school dance is a far cry from the waltz-ridden, brightly costumed affairs of preteen yore. Every seventh-grade girl is expected, no, obligated to spend at least three anxious hours in front of her mirror before her first dance, preening and pondering. Will he be there? Will he ask me to dance? Will I be pretty, oh so pretty? Why am I talking to myself in such a high voice? It doesn’t make sense.
Senior Scene: As Time Goes By: Number please? Can you hear me?
How did we ever manage to live before the invention of the cell phone? I don’t care where you might be, Timbuktu or Cooperstown, no matter where you look there will be somebody standing with this thing pressed to the sides of his heads talking, seemingly to no one nearby.
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Alternative healing gaining ground
When we get sick, most of us run straight to our doctor or to the drug store for medicine. But more and more people are experimenting with alternative healing methods to deal with their ailments, or to simply to maintain a healthy body, mind and spirit. Many of these procedures have been around for a long time but have only recently become accepted by segments of Western society.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Internships: Getting your foot in the door: Real-world experience a plus for students
In 1985, the year that a majority of today’s college seniors were born, the percentage of people age 25 years and older who obtained a bachelor’s degree was around 20 percent; today that number has climbed to nearly 30 percent. With more people graduating from college, students are left searching for alternative ways to stand out to employers.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
The best and worst: Readers tell their picks of presidents
On Monday, the nation will celebrate Washington’s Birthday, which is usually referred to as Presidents Day. We thought this weekend would be a good time to look back at our presidents.
Senior Scene: About your Health: Don’t let glaucoma steal sight
In the beginning, you don’t notice any symptoms. In time, though, your peripheral vision gradually worsens. Your field of vision eventually narrows so much that you seem to be looking through a tunnel. Because the signs appear so gradually, you don’t realize you have developed glaucoma. Unfortunately, there is no cure for glaucoma and vision lost is vision lost forever.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Make Valentine’s Day HIS day: Treat your man to gifts on Feb. 14
Only two holidays on the average American calendar are gender specific: Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Other than that, all other special days _ such as Hanukkah, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter or the Fourth of July _ are celebrated based on a person’s tradition rather than on a person’s unmentionables.
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Gridiron Grub: Liven up Super Bowl party with readers’ recipes
People across the Heartland of New York will be huddled around their televisions Sunday, as the Chicago Bears face the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI. Close by, in many cases, will be pizza, subs, beer, chips and dip.
Teen Talk: Dear Dina: First steps are to eat healthier, get active
This year I made a resolution to become fit and lose some weight. I don’t really know what steps I should take to attain my goals. I don’t like going to the gym and working out for hours. It seems too boring for me. What should I do?
Parenting Imperfect: Mooching some lessons from the cat
I’d like to think that my children have learned every good thing they know from either my husband or me. It would be such a shame if all of our spectacular parenting tricks went completely unnoticed.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Dine and Dash: How fast is fast food? Speedy service the norm locally
Time is precious to everyone. Like money, we "save" time in various ways, only to turn around and "spend" it on something else. In an age when speed and efficiency are highly prized, the fast-food restaurant drive-through is a perfect example of this save-and-spend mentality.
Teen Talk: On the Go: Big Apple can offer excitement and beauty
Don’t you love when you tell people you live in New York, and they assume New York City at first? The grand and glamorous "Big Apple" is an alluring city of art, celebrities, culture, bustling businesses and people. This huge conglomeration of excitement that is the city often overshadows the rest of our state!
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Plan now for college: De-stress application process
One of the most exciting times in a person’s life is finishing high school and moving on to college. It is the age and opportunity for independence and personal responsibility.
Teen Talk: Weekend Reviews: Teenagers can relate to Boys Like Girls
I was sitting in one of the dining halls with my friend Nick. There are exactly four televisions in the dining hall we were sitting in. On at least two, the channel is MTV U, the college music channel. I actually think that the televisions were donated by the channel.
Music Beat: ’Waiters’ serve Southern gospel message
Six years ago, a small group of men hosting their wives at a church dinner thought it would be nice if the men served the meal dressed as waiters and then sang to their wives. Bill Eckardt, the group’s organizer, said, "We wore white shirts and black trousers and bow ties, the sort of dress you might see on some one serving in a decent restaurant. Over the years, we’ve kept the same dress style, even though we’ve greatly expanded our audience.
Senior Scene: As Time Goes By: My flights: One fancy, one not so much
If you recall the first flight of Orville and Wilbur Wright then you are much older than I. But I do recall pictures of one of the Wright brothers stretched over the wing of the plane with all of the room in the world.
Parenting Imperfect: ’Listening’ came too early on my list
"Listening" was a stupid idea. This year turned out to be a silly time to try to listen. In fact, my New Years resolution for 2007 is to spend 365 days plugging my ears and shouting "la, la, la" loudly enough that the neighbors call the cops.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Predicting ’07: Local officials look toward future
The new year is almost upon us, and with any beginnings, there is anticipation, expectations and hopes that accompany the resolutions and commitments, in addition to the reflection on the past year.
Senior scene: Looking back: Radio let our minds run wild
Back in the late 1930s, Saturday evening was highlighted by entertainment on the radio. We were very young then and TV was a long way off. Radio had some spooky programs that we just couldn’t miss. Two of our favorites were "I Love A Mystery" and "Inner Sanctum." The introduction with the squeaky door opening always got us into the mood for suspense and our imaginations ran rampant.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Don’t Panic, There’s still time to `wrap up’ your shopping
It’s the day before Christmas and you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping. You still have people to buy things for. The clock is ticking. Ticking. Ticking. What will you do? What WILL you do?
Teen Talk: Weekend Reviews: Brand New has new maturity and depth
When my friend Donny came back from Columbus Day break, he brought with him a CD that contained unreleased songs by the band Brand New. I was ecstatic when he let me listen. Some how a friend of his got some of the demos from the group’s new album. They were obvious demos because the music was definitely not final.
Senior Scene: About your health: Treatment of aortic aneurysms possible
Although 15,000 people die each year from ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms, most of these deaths can be prevented with adequate screening and repair. Abdominal aortic aneurysms affect approximately 5 percent of the United States population greater than 65 years of age.
Around the Arts: Jurors see artwork in different ways
During this holiday season, theUpper Catskill Community Council of the Arts staff has been asked to jury several community arts events, including parade floats, performances, gingerbread houses and Christmas trees.
Teen Talk: Teenhood today: No one cares to stop cheaters
As we crossed into the age of the 21st century, many of the problems in American society seem to have reflected over this boundary and reappeared as mirror opposites of themselves.
Tech G.P.: Protection only as good as your update
Here was an accident waiting to happen. Or, more properly, a computer waiting to be infected. Like the proverbial lamb waiting for the slaughter, it would only be a matter of time. Probably a short time.
Saturday, December 2, 2006
Cooler weather no reason to be still
Even though we all knew it was coming, it’s hard to not be a little surprised by how quickly winter pounces on you. The cold and the snow does make us all dream of holidays and hot cocoa. The gray skies and howling winds make us focus our energies indoors, bundled up against the elements with our nearest and dearest.
Start, or continue, tradition this season
Cinnamon, pine, green-bean casserole, Chex mix, candles, apple pie, brisk air, hot chocolate _ those are all aromas that remind me of the holiday season. They bring me back to a quiet and fantastic place full of memories.
Family outing became comedy
It was in the 1970s and the children were young, energetic and raring to go. We, too, were young-er _ and were eager for a family outing (and something relaxing).
Being positive can make big difference
We all face challenges at one time or another, but that doesn’t mean we can’t stay in control of our own lives.
As human beings we are naturally inclined to be in charge of ourselves and our environment. If we think we don’t have control of our lives because we see our obstacles as insurmountable, we stay where we are. And, that kind of complacency guarantees that our problems will become steady companions.
Music Beat: Young composer shows lots of talent
Last week, I was a member of a group of professional musicians from throughout the state who gathered together in the State University College at Oneonta’s state-of-the-art recording studio to work under the direction of Hartwick Assistant Professor Alejandro Rutty.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
What are you thankful for this year?
Thanksgiving is a time for all of us to make note of what we are thankful for. In honor of Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, we asked our readers to let us know what they give thanks for this year.
Current events not only for adults
Current events. It’s probably not the first concept that springs to mind when you think of issues among American teens, but then lots of things aren’t; for example gangs or gambling or Paris Hilton within certain regions of California.
Pills can’t always fix all our ills
I never thought so many people would be interested my experience with pills. For all of you who contacted me, "thank you" _ sometimes I wonder if I’m the only one reading the column. I guess taking pills is a large part of the life of a seasoned citizen.
Christmas ideas for geeks on list
It’s almost Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday. Then, after Thanksgiving, comes the beginning of the craziness of holiday shopping.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Striking the perfect balance
It’s after 5 o’clock on a Saturday night, and Bruce Stratton is just finishing polishing the bowling alleys at the Hi-Skor Lanes in Earlville. By 6 p.m. the couples league arrives, many with their children in tow, and the once-quietness of this small-town bowling alley is shattered by the clickity-clack-clatter of falling bowling pins.
Saturday, November 4, 2006
First-time voters: Political choices important to all
What was the first thing on which you had to make a choice? Juice or milk? Potatoes baked or fried? Coffee or tea? Paper or plastic? Purchase or lease?
Saturday, October 28, 2006
A BATtle of Wits: The stuff nightmares are made of
The night was neither dark nor stormy; it wasn’t Friday the 13th, nor Halloween. No mirrors had been broken or ladders walked under. It was, in fact, a perfectly lovely, breezy, summer evening. Everything seemed normal _ until the creature arrived.
Teen Talk: Weekend Reviews: New Found Glory has found hot, new sound
Well, I am now in college. New people, new places and new things to do. One night, I was hanging out with my friends Kristen and Kayla when one of the RAs was making his last rounds at midnight. Little did I know that we would soon be friends. I was walking back to my room, my roommate had some of her friends over and Matt (the RA) decided to walk into our room to say hi.
Senior Scene: About Your Health: Alzheimer’s disease: Good news, bad news
The good news may be that if you are reading this, you probably don’t have it. If you are like most people, you worry about losing your memory. Maybe you misplace your keys more often, or names of acquaintances don’t come to you easily. Perhaps you arrive in a room in your house only to discover you have no idea why you went there. This is not likely the start of Alzheimer’s disease.
Around the Arts: Art not always about the end result
Art is a discipline that is highly demanding and requires enormous dedication in the quest for perfection. Audiences assess artistry by a standard of impeccability. Thousands of hours of rehearsal and planning and creating go into the goal of flawlessly executing the artist’s vision.
Teen Talk: Dear Dina: Tell right away about dangerous situation
Dear Dina,
I started college this fall. Overall, the experience has been amazing. I have made some really great friends, and my classes are going really well. However, the other night I was walking back from the library around 9:30 p.m. by myself, after typing up some assignments.
Saturday, October 7, 2006
Teen Talk: On the Go: Fall into autumn with many activities
Fall has fallen. That saying is one of those classic sayings we hear during this season. But it's fairly true. This season creeps up on you, then lazily pours out all at once.
disABILITY: Being blind is not my biggest hurdle
For me, the last six weeks have been packed with new challenges and plenty of discouragement. Despite it all, though, I have truly found a deep sense of hope to help me through.
Group celebrates Italian heritage
Sitting at the Corfu Diner on Main Street in Oneonta, across from Joseph Fioravanti, past president of the Oneonta Italian American Club, and listening to Fioravanti relate the history of his family and families of other Italian-Americans in Oneonta, one is reminded of the power of the American Dream.
Thursday, October 5, 2006
Library Corner
Dr. Charles Hartley will present a program titled "Electric Power, Global Warming, the Carbon Cycle and Biomass" at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, at Huntington Memorial Library.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
The Colors of Autumn
What color can't you see at this time of year? While indigo is not part of the color spectrum, it still cannot be left out of the fall foliage spectrum.
Teen Talk: Weekend Reviews: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus not faking it
Occasionally in the mornings, I will flip through the music channels to find something to listen to while I am getting ready for the day. About a month ago, I was doing exactly this. Every channel seemed to have a commercial; it was driving me nuts. So I settled on MTV2. It seemed to be showing the best videos this particular morning.
Music Beat: Hometown boy making good in NYC
A few weeks ago, I received what the music business calls an "unsolicited" CD in the mail. An unsolicited CD, as you might imagine, is a free sample from a band that hopes you'll like their music and want to hear more.
Tech G.P.: Wikipedia.org an incredible website
Back in pre-Internet days, I used to chuckle to myself when in a movie, or on TV, some high-profile crime fighter or international spy had an underling who could _ with only a few keystrokes _ bring up any requested information about anything on an old-fashioned computer terminal.
Teen Talk: Teenhood Today: No wonder teens don't like to read
Books and teenagers. For as long as anyone who wasn't around during the days when a "teenager" was defined as, "overgrown son or daughter too ugly to be married off at age 12 in exchange for a far-more-becoming Clydesdale cross" can remember, the two words have repelled one another like hippie stoners and all understanding of the word hygiene.
Fall fashion loves the '80s
Anyone over the age of 25 will probably recognize a lot of the trends being touted as fall's hottest: many of them appear to be ripped straight from the 1980s, minus the acid-washed denim and big hair.
Longtime program encouraged children to save
Nowadays, we hear so much about people being deeply in debt, and consumer credit counseling companies seeking their business. Meanwhile, college freshmen are being offered credit cards.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Say Cheese: Local producers create their own dairy delicacies
One of the current hot phrases is the culinary world is "eat the view." Literalists may wonder how they are supposed to consume their lawn furniture or their neighbor’s house. Those with more imagination and love of food and the environment know that "eat the view" is more about snacking on what is local.
Senior Scene: From the Office: Program helps track wanderers in Otsego
A countywide partnership of law enforcement, emergency services, the Alzheimer’s Association and the Office for the Aging has launched a rapid response program to protect people who wander and bring peace of mind to their families, caregivers and communities.
Parenting imperfect: Bandages can ease pain, cause headaches
Soon, my 4-year old girl will no longer have to be concerned about smearing on sunscreen. Our little Diva will still be going outside, of course, but there won’t be one square inch of her skin exposed to the sun. If her latest phase continues, adhesive bandages, many of which have princesses on them, will cover her entire body by this time next week.
Teen Talk: On the Go: Try to enjoy what today has to offer
The mind, one of the body’s most vital organs, is amazing in its capabilities and the amount of information it’s able to take in, store and then spit back out when necessary. God really designed something intricately astonishing when he came up with this one.
Saturday, September 2, 2006
Classrooms a no-no for electronics
Today’s parents can remember when back to school shopping meant new clothes, notebooks, pens and pencils. Now, there’s a wide array of gadgets that kids might view as "school supplies" cell phones, digital cameras, iPods, Game Boys and the like.
Around the arts: Cats, herders balance each other in art world
A very long time ago, I briefly worked as the administrative assistant to a church minister. She had on her wall a cartoon clipped from a newspaper that I have mentally and publicly referred to many times. A cowboy astride a horse, I recall, was desperately trying to lasso and steer a pasture full of house cats. They were having no part of his organizational efforts.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Wines and ciders and beers, oh, my!
Wine and beer creators are not on every street corner in this region of the state. They are select artisans who have shown that it is not the quantity of wineries and breweries that an area has, but the quality of the wine and beer that these few produce that is what really counts. They have proven their point very tastefully
Teen Talk: Teenhood today: Wear your safety vest while surfing the Internet
World Wide Web, information superhighway, cyberspace, it doesn’t really matter what you call it. Initially designed in 1973 by the U.S. Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (here to be affectionately dubbed ARLN, or Absolutely Ridiculously Long Name), and for the last time NOT Al Gore, it was meant to allow people to connect and communicate via their pariah computers and some deftly strung phone lines.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Summertime tradition: Lemonade stands still popular for kids
In this hustle-bustle age, full of iPods and power walking, many quaint traditions have gone the way of the dodo. Drugstore soda jerks, for example, are more the stuff of memory than experience. So are car hops and black-and-white televisions.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
On the Go: There is much to love about baseball
Summer romance, snow cones and twilight are a few of the things I love about baseball games. It’s a favorite national sport that everyone knows and many take part in. I, myself, have many great memories of the sport.
Looking Back: Sis’ dare taught me lesson I appreciate
Being the middle child I either had to side with my older sister or my younger brother. Very rarely was there a threesome. Sometimes there is a lot of competition between siblings, but back when you are very young, that word doesn’t come to mind. For us, that most assuredly was true.
Various options making choosing hard
It’s just a simple fact of life. As we parents age, our children become more knowledgeable in computer technology than we do.
Saturday, August 5, 2006
Flooding doesn’t stop county fairs
The immense damage caused by the flooding in this region has affected everyone here in major and minor ways. As the stories of disaster recovery continue to be told, the Otsego, Chenango and Delaware County fairs are intertwined with devastation and recovery to ensure relaxation and celebration.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Tipping: The scales Who, how much to tip not often clear
In her 1922 classic, "Etiquette," Emily Post wrote the following:
"Each ordinary first class passenger, now as always, gives ten shillings to the room steward or stewardess, ten shillings to the dining-room steward, ten shillings to the deck steward, ten shillings to the lounge steward. Your tip to the head steward and to one of the chefs depends on whether they have done anything especial for you. If not, you do not tip them."
Teen Talk: Teenhood today: ’Mature’ language, ratings not for mature
C’mon, out with it.
When was the last time you winged a colorful adjective toward your boss’ back (first making sure he was sufficiently out of earshot, of course) after being presented with a week’s worth of files sporting a 24-hour due date?
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Family reunions: Uniting generations for generations
It’s estimated that more than 200,000 families will hold a family reunion this year, with tens of thousands of households traveling 50 to 300 miles to attend the annual event.
disABLILTY: Grief should not be avoided nor feared
Back in April, I had written about my experience being with my grandfather in the last hours of his life. I went on to reflect a bit about how we all face many "deaths" before we even come to the end of life itself.
Around the Arts: Our rural arts scene has so much to offer
Occasionally, someone in the community will ask me, "What is an arts council?" They wonder how the Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts is different from a gallery or an arts center. Most of the time, however, people don’t ask. In the course of conversation it becomes evident they believe, as I once did, that what occurs at Wilber Mansion is the extent of council programming.
Teen Talk: Teenhood today: Unhealthy obsession with obesity
Is it just me, or is the Fat Factor all that you ever hear about on the news these days (besides our latest bombing of yet another no-good Communistic global-warming-causing Son-of-Sam Iraqi shelter)?
Senior Scene: As Time Goes By: Aches and pains are true friends
I always enjoy people who say, "I woke up one morning and knew I was getting old," or "Wow, she sure aged overnight she has more wrinkles than a raisin." Hogwash. Growing old starts the minute you are born, which is one of the two instantaneous experiences we will have in life. (The other is death.)
Saturday, June 24, 2006
A perfect wedding: Planning is key to having dream day
Marriage is commonly referred to as the most important event of one’s life. And recent decades have seen the expansion of what is now known as the "wedding industry," a pastiche of professions related to all things nuptial, valued at $70 million a year.
Senior Scene: Looking Back: Turtle gave me scare, adventure
It must have been back in the late 1940s. That was the time I had reached one of the high points in my life: passing my driver’s test. That is one of the most satisfying accomplishments at the age of 17.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Finding treasures in others’ yards
It’s that time of year again, when garage and yard sale signs sprout up beside the road alongside the first peonies of summer. And like the first blooms on a lilac tree, those crooked signs posted on trees and telephone poles, or stuck on a front lawn, hold the promise of discovering possible treasures at "just the right price.&#quot
Senior Scene: About your health: Nutrition matters as we age
The word nutrition refers to the collection of knowledge about the foods people eat to survive. We live in a time of plentiful food, yet evidence suggests that large segments of the population are poorly nourished. How can this be?
Music beat: Delaware County guitarist’s career evolving
Most of us know a guitarist who spends a lot of time practicing his instrument and is very dedicated to becoming a good musician. In your mind’s eye, you can see this person bent over his guitar, listening intently for that elusive, perfect note or chord.<
Teen Talk: Teenhood today: Adults must admit drugs are a real problem
It’s one of those topics that are fine to generalize ("Don’t take pot, kiddies, or you’ll wind up a one-legged hobo picking up trash off the streets for pawn shops!"), but when the time comes for naming names or pointing fingers, most people tend to edge away, mumbling that, well, the details aren’t important, just, "Drugs are bad, mm-kay?"
Senior Scene: As Time Goes By: First love can be blind, for a while
Have you ever wondered about what happened to old girlfriends or boyfriends? Have you ever thought about someone you might have married but didn’t for whatever reason? Somehow, the other day, I got to thinking about the first girl I ever fell in love with.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Serving overseas: Families cope with loved ones being far away
Armed Forces Day, which is Saturday, is the ideal time to reflect on the sacrifices being made, not only by the members of our armed forces serving abroad, but by the families who wait at home for them.
Teen Talk: On the Go: Writing for newspapers a wonderful experience
Ever since I was young, I always wanted to write for a newspaper, or write and publish my work. I always tried to write about things that interested me, and about things that would interest those who would read what I have written. I was given that chance last year, and since then have been doing so for this newspaper.
Senior Scene: Looking back: ’Peeper ponds’ taught us life lessons
Back in the late 1930s, each springtime was special for my brother and me. We couldn’t wait until all the frost was gone and it was warm enough for the frogs to end their winter-long hibernation and lay their jelly-like eggs. This was our yearly trek, and is still fresh in our minds after all this time
Around the Arts: Audience members are artists in observation
am relatively new to the world of art. My background in community development and marketing brought me to the directorship of the Upper Catskill Community Council of the Arts almost two years ago. Since then, I have had the unique privilege of working with many talented artists and creative people.
Saturday, May 6, 2006
Surviving TV-Turnoff Week; Local residents stay busy without TV
Cooperstown Elementary School Principal Teresa Gorman is the first to admit that giving up TV for a week isn’t easy. To support an effort organized by her school’s PTO, Gorman joined students in going without TV from April 24-30 during the 12th annual TV-Turnoff Week.
Lessons learned away from the set
It’s the first day of TV-Turnoff Week, and my family has agreed to go without television for seven days. We watch a fair amount: "Sesame Street" is part of my 2½-year-old’s morning routine, my almost-9-year-old stays up for "American Idol" on Tuesdays, and my husband and I watch a couple hours of TV just about every night.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
From drab to fab: Reinventing rooms can be cheap, easy
Sometimes after a long winter, a home looks like it can use a little sprucing up. After sitting around watching too many Home and Garden Television programs, anyone can start to feel a little inadequate about her home decor.
Parenting Imperfect: It’s really hard to describe mundane things
As much as I hate to admit it, I am a writer. It isn’t as practical an occupation as, say, plumbing, but it can be useful on occasion. I have a knack for drafting a killer Christmas card letter. I can type upwards of 80 words per minute, so I can always find work as a temp. And I can always think of something pithy and wise to write in a greeting card.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Activities set across area for April 22 observation
Before the observation of the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, the majority of Americans were not concerned about the detrimental effects of modern technology on the environment.
Senior Scene: Looking back: Cars were a big deal in earlier days
Many a heated debate among our young men (now oldsters) took place back in the 1940s and ’50s. It seemed like a continuous verbal dual of "She’s the greatest ... wait till you hear her go ..." and they weren’t talking about us gals.
disABILITY: Letting go can offer hope, help us grow
Earlier this month, I made a spur-of-the moment trip back up to Syracuse, where I am originally from. I’d received word that my granddad, who had been sick and progressively getting weaker, was quickly losing ground. I didn’t want to miss out on "seeing" him one last time.
Teen Talk: Teenhood today: Being employed has many benefits
Responsibility is a quality that everyone must learn to possess in his or her life. As a teenager, the amount of responsibility you have becomes the underlying factor in how prepared you will be later on in life.
Tech G.P.: Many myths have very old kernel of truth
I don’t watch much TV anymore there just aren’t very many programs that I think are interesting. One that I do occasionally watch is the Discovery Channel’s "Mythbusters." I guess I just have a basic interest in the "truth," which makes the idea behind the show appeal to me.<
Senior Scene: From the Office: Planning for the long term needed
In the past year we’ve been reminded of the importance of having our affairs in order. Everyone older than 18 should have a health-care proxy in place. Forms are available through your health-care provider or agencies such as Office for the Aging and Hospice.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Local gardeners ready to go
It’s that time of year when many of us start to anticipate the appearance of crocuses, daffodils and hyacinths brightening the landscape that has been so drab for too many months.
Senior Scene: Many at risk for kidney disease
According to the National Kidney Foundation, 20 million Americans have chronic kidney disease and another 20 million are at risk to develop this disease. Seniors are at greater risk than most of the general population.
Around the Arts: Public money for arts groups well worth it
The city of New Orleans, still devastated after Hurricane Katrina, decided to hold its annual Mardi Gras celebration in spite of protests that the $2.5 million price tag would be better spent on rebuilding efforts. City officials argued that the anticipated $300 million in sales revenue generated from the event would ultimately be better for New Orleans.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Diet, exercise, time keys for new mom to lose baby weight
Almost everything about becoming a mom is surprising. The first shock is generally how much you can love something so tiny. The second frequently involves how little sleep you are actually able to enjoy. The third shock, however, may be the cruelest. Even after the baby and all of the various fluids have left your body, you still have to wear maternity clothes after you’ve evicted the infant.
Senior Scene: From the Office: Celebrate life’s gift today and every day
At first, I thought it was just me. Or perhaps it was just my imagination.
I have always had a vivid imagination. Surely, what I perceived to be an escalating attitude of negativism must be due to something I simply imagined. People could not really be this cynical, day in and day out!
Parenting Imperfect: Idiot box not nearly as bad as it used to be
The TV used to simply be another piece of furniture, one that occasionally displayed colorful images the Diva adored. Baby Mozart, created by that evil genius Julie Aigner-Clark, used to be reliable enough that it could provide 23 minutes worth of unencumbered time to grab a shower.
DisABILITY: International athletic competition not over yet
On Dec. 8, the spark of anticipation for the 2006 Winter Olympics was lighted along with the Olympic Torch in Rome. The torch, along with a spirit of unity and peace, traveled around the whole of Italy: Christmas in Sicily, New Year’s Day in Naples and finally reaching Turin on Feb. 9 for the opening ceremony.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Home-school life For Clune family in Laurens, daily lessons include reading, history, God, math, music and much more
Jan. 31 was unseasonably rainy. The ice covering the beaver pond across from the Clune family’s sprawling house, which is set back on an isolated road, was continuing to melt. It seemed likely, however, that the rain would turn to snow before long. Then, maybe, the muddy ruts in the road and the wet gravel would freeze into solidness.
Music Beat: Evan Shea lives on through his music
If you visit the music department at the State University College at Oneonta and walk past the studios and practice rooms on any afternoon or evening, you are likely to hear an exotic mixture of musical styles, including classical and jazz, rock and baroque, hip-hop and electronic, ska and world music, which are all a reflection of the changing musical styles that mark the modern music industry.
Senior Scene: As Time Goes By: Regressing back to childhood can be fun
Why is it that retired, seasoned, senior citizens, live in the past? What is it about the past that is so exciting that we can never seem to let go of it? Is it because things were so wonderful then, compared to now? Is it because we live in a society that doesn’t want us, doesn’t understand us and doesn’t know what to do with us except lock us away in a nursing home or The Manor? Why do some cultures revere the aging process while others find it burdensome?
Monday, February 4, 2006
Super Bowl Pools: Gambling often part of fun for the big game
Few holidays are open to all.
Christmas, Passover and St. Patrick’s Day have their own limits according to religion, creed or ethnicity. Valentine’s Day requires a special someone to give your chocolate and flowers to, if you really want to embrace the spirit of the event. Halloween and July Fourth seem to be the closest thing our culture has to all-access celebrations.
Senior Scene: From the Office: Long-term care must be priority
Recently I discovered a book republished by the Town of Stowe (Vt.) Historical Society titled "Three Score and Ten Union Society: Being Autobiographical Accounts of the Experiences by Some Early Residents of Stowe, Vermont," recorded in 1874-75.
Senior Scene: From the Office: Long-term care must be priority
Recently I discovered a book republished by the Town of Stowe (Vt.) Historical Society titled "Three Score and Ten Union Society: Being Autobiographical Accounts of the Experiences by Some Early Residents of Stowe, Vermont," recorded in 1874-75.
Rural Three offers tips to help break smoking habit
Nicotine is a powerful addition, and quitting is one of the hardest tasks a hardcore smoker may ever face, but the goal is very difficult to reach when a quitter lives with a smoker.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing opportunities abound
It’s hard to not notice the people who have a healthy glow, a vibrancy and life exuding from them, especially this time of year. These glowing people do not have to be young or dressed in high winter fashion and don’t even need to have models’ physiques.
Teen Talk: Teenhood today: We must fight to protect privacy
The criticisms leveled against the Bush administrations since the Dec. 16 disclosure of the National Security Agency in an article for the New York Times are serious, but historically speaking, they’re nothing new.
Senior Scene: As Time Goes By: Speculating on future for Dick and Jane
To those of you who e-mailed me about this column appearing more often, don’t tell me, tell The Daily Star.
Thanks to all of you who have contacted me saying how much you liked the "Dick and Jane" story and asking me what happened to them as they grew up.
Saturday, January 7, 2006
Dealing with winter: Seniors develop different strategies
On an early winter morning in Oneonta, flocks of birds dip and soar over the valley that is lying under yet another covering of fresh snow. The birds light on some leafless trees, and smoke pours up from chimneys into the pale sky. St. Mary’s chimes the hours, as it does throughout the year.
Teen Talk: Dear Dina: Dad being in war zone for holidays is difficult
Dear Dina,
My dad is currently serving our country in Iraq. This was the first year that he wasn’t able to spend Christmas with the family. It was very hard to enjoy the holiday without him here. At dinner there was that empty chair at the table where he always sat. Everyone tried to have a good time, but in the backs of our minds we kept thinking about it.
Senior Scene: From the Office: Symptoms of aging can be managed
It is a fact that age takes its toll on our body. According to the "wear and tear" theory: skin thins, bones thin and become susceptible to fracture, the heart pumps less efficiently, the bladder shrinks and muscle mass decreases so our body slumps, throwing off our balance.
Parenting imperfect: What a difference a word can make in life
For the past couple of days, I’ve been trying to come with my word for 2006. It’s a tradition that I lifted from a friend a few years ago. Each New Year’s Eve, he would write down a word that he would focus on in the coming year. Since I know a wonderful tradition when I see it, I co-opted it as my own. Once the children are old enough, I intend to encourage them to play along as well.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Water and waiting best treatment
It’s a well-known (and frequently cursed) fact of life that the only thing capable of sobering someone up after drinking their weight in tequila shooters is time.
Whether floating down the winter holiday party circuit or blowing off steam at a local bar, you have to wait out the body’s capacity to metabolize the alcohol consumed.
Senior Scene: BOCES an invaluable resource
This takes me back many years into the early 1970s, back to when I married a widower with two young children, 8 and 11. We became a family of five since I, too, was widowed with a 13-year-old daughter.
disABILITY: Dog was more than a best friend to many
Vicky Deming, a longtime resident of this area, and her service dog, Elkon, were key in paving the way for increased disability awareness and improved accessibility right here in Oneonta. It was back in 1997 when Deming faced security guards and initial orders not to bring her dog back into the public shopping area of the Southside Mall. That event not only increased people’s understanding and awareness of service animals, but it also brought to light other accessibility issues that needed to be addressed there on the premises.
On the Go: Start year off right with easier resolution
The New Year is almost here, and that means many people of all ages, shapes and sizes will be ready to step forward and sacrifice one pleasure they have in life for one year in hopes to better themselves.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
’Tis the season: Winter holidays offer warmth, light
Charles Schulz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip, sometimes touched on theology in his cartoons. In one strip, Linus and Charlie Brown are walking home after visiting Santa at a department store. Charlie Brown asks Linus, "So, what did you talk to Santa about?" Linus replies, "We talked about Hanukkah. We discussed Judah Maccabee and the cleansing of the Temple." In the last panel, Linus tells Charlie Brown, "It isn’t often that you meet a Santa Claus who likes to talk about religion."
Teen Talk: Dear Dina: Take time to get to know him as a friend
Dear Dina,
I recently met this guy, and I really like him. He says he likes me too and that he wants to be with me, but right now he isn’t looking for a relationship because he is recovering from a previous long-term relationship.
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Homemade for the holidays: Many options when making gifts from scratch
This year, as the holiday season approaches, many of us are experiencing an increased cost of living and are looking for ways to cut back on holiday spending.
Making your own gifts is a good way to save money while exercising your creativity and blessing family and friends with thoughtfully made things.
Teen Talk: Weekend reviews: Vonnegut’s classic offers complex look at life
Caeleigh Hartwell, a senior at Laurens Central School, is now writing Teen Talk’s "Weekend Review" column. Any comments or suggestions can be directed to Hartwell by writing to her care of The Daily Star, P.O. Box 250, Oneonta, NY 13820.
Saturday, November 19, 2005
What do you give thanks for this year?
Thanksgiving is a time for all of us to make note of what we are thankful for. In honor of Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, we asked our readers to let us know what they give thanks for this year. The following are some of the responses
Tech, G.P.: First rule: Match computer to your needs
One of the things I’m most asked about is buying a new computer.
Although many ask my advice, and I obligingly give it, what they usually want is for me to validate the decision they’ve already made.
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Fabulous thrift-store fashion
Maybe you needed an inexpensive suit for a job interview. Or you were looking for funky clothes to create the perfect Halloween costume. Or it could be that your clothing budget doesn’t stretch to include brand-new, brand-name fashions.
Senior scene: From the office: Death must not be taboo subject
Mom died what one might call a graceful death. She had fallen in her house and suffered a severe blow to the head. After two weeks in a hospital and another two weeks in a skilled nursing facility, she quietly took two deep breaths and departed.
Saturday, November 5, 2005
disABILITY: Independent living involves many things
Back in March, I began working for Springbrook, formerly known as The Upstate Homes for Children and Adults. The people I’ve had a chance to meet, work for and work with from that organization have been amazing.
Teen Talk: On the Go: Do you like to write? Try to get published
Most young writers may feel they cannot be published because of their age and the though that no one will ever want to publish a teen’s work. Well, that is not true. In fact, it may even be easier for teens to be published than adults!
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Daylight-saving time: Time change spurs mixed feelings
When daylight-saving time ends Sunday, some people will enjoy the extra hour of sleep, some will grumble about the approaching earlier dark evenings, and others will forget to change their clocks altogether.
Music Beat: Fetish Lane on the right track to success
Fetish Lane, a popular local band, will play a Halloween party from 6:30 to midnight Saturday at the Major’s Inn in Gilbertsville. The band and the audience will be in costume with a theme of "The Movies."
Teen Talk: Teenhood today: Intelligent design in classroom not smart
In order for a proposition to be true, it must also have a chance of being false. Since all propositions taken on faith have absolutely no chance of being false, they also have absolutely no chance of being true. Thus all religious propositions taken on faith have absolutely no chance of being true" an application of Karl Popper’s falsifiability corollary to Kurt Gφdel’s incompleteness theorem.
Saturday, October 8, 2005
Religious fasting: Abstaining from food part of many faiths
Most of us live in a plentiful world where hunger is a choice we can make. Commonly, it’s a decision dictated more by a few vanity pounds or a hectic schedule, rather than not having an adequate food supply.
disABILITY: It’s too easy to put unfair labels on people
As a young child, Anne Rielly was diagnosed with speech and perceptual delays. Today, however, Anne has overcome many of these initial barriers and lives life to the fullest. She has a healthy self-respect and a positive attitude about life.
Saturday, October 1, 2005
e-romance is not often easy
Online dating has been around for years. Many people you know have tried it, perhaps even you!
Saturday, September 17, 2005
Stay warm, be cool: No need to look frumpy this season
ONEONTA As summer draws to a close, the fashions of fair weather must be put away. Fall’s rainy days and dipping temperatures banish flip-flops, open-toed shoes and other carefree footwear, and winter coats, mittens and hats must be pulled from the mothballs for another season.
Teen Talk: Dear Dina: There are many ways to make friends
Dear Dina,
I have just moved to a new town, and I will be starting high school soon. I am very nervous because I don’t know anybody and I am a shy person, so making friends isn’t easy for me. I want to enjoy my new high school but I am going to have a hard time adjusting. What should I do?
Imperfect parenting: Torn between good, bad of dawdling Diva
If nothing else, life with a newborn has made me nostalgic for the days when the Diva was this wee. I pine for this not because I miss the continuous feedings and lack of sleep. No, what I really miss are the days when she was simply noisy luggage who I could pack up and take out with a minimum of irritation.
Teen Talk: On the Go: Films help beat blues of back to school
Summer vacation is over, and students are shuffling back to the dusty classrooms filled with textbooks and the smell of chalk in the air. Now, many are dreading these inevitable activities, but fear not!
Saturday, September 3, 2005
Living with muscular dystrophy
Whether children like it or not, school is just around the corner. Many have been preparing for the new year for weeks.
Music Beat: Religious music a constant for singer, industry
It’s no secret that the music business has had some pretty hard times in recent years. Even though the global record business earns $40 billion dollars annually, the U.S. share of global sales has decreased, music executives have been linked to "payola" scandals and many consumers who used to buy albums are now downloading that same music for free.
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Challenges of school shopping
It’s August, and with school starting next month, many children and teens are planning their new fall wardrobes, and parents are wondering how they’re going to pay for it.
Senior Scene: From the office: Changes can offer excitement at all ages
Well, it looks like the die has been cast. In an editorial that I wrote in the winter of 2002 in our agency’s newsletter, I complained about risking life and limb while shoveling snow off the roof of our house after an exceptionally heavy snowfall.
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Off to college with mixed emotions
While many of us find summer the most relaxing time of year, many high school graduates preparing for college don’t feel quite the same.
Senior scene: Looking back: Victory garden rewarding, took work
Being just a little kid then, I don’t remember much of the late 1930s, but I do remember my mother and grandmother doing a lot of canning. We had a gigantic vegetable garden, which was eventually called a "Victory Garden."
disABILITY: Getting a guide dog was a double blind trial
In the past few weeks I’ve learned more about blindness than in all the rest of the 24 years I’ve been living with this visual impairment I have.
Blindness doesn’t only refer to a condition of the eye, it refers to a condition of the heart, too.
Saturday, August 6, 2005
Stretching a budget: Staying at home with kids worth challenges of living on one income, local families say
Local couples who have made the choice to live on one income so that one parent can be home with the children say the rewards are far greater than the challenges.
Despite making some material sacrifices, they say they don’t feel that they are deprived of anything; to the contrary, many say they feel much richer since they’ve adopted a simpler lifestyle.
Senior Scene: About your health: Depression should not normal part of aging
Question: My mother, for the past few months, has seemed depressed. She lost my father a year ago and recently moved into senior apartments. She often will not call when she needs something, because she says that she does not want to bother us and she is just sitting at home. I feel that she is depressed. My brother say’s she is fine and not to worry. What should I do?
Saturday, July 30, 2005
How does your garden grow?
Rosmarinus officinalis, Atropa belladonna, Nelumbo nucifera; this is not a spell from the latest Harry Potter volume, but instead are scientific names for plants that are very much of this world.
Teen Talk: Teenhood today: Story shows teens must stand for something
Teens live on Planet Earth, but probably not for much longer, as global warming is a reality, no matter how much George Bush tries to deny it. That’s how I’ll start my column!" I said aloud, hands gripping the hair at my temples in absolute frustration after four fruitless hours of Internet searches.
Tech G.P: ’Malware’ can be stopped, with some work
The last time we talked, I gave you some background on "malware," what it was and where it came from. It’s such a widespread, serious and complex problem that it needs two columns to adequately cover.
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Fairs near; kids prepare
Local events offer participating youths fun, lessons, more
Dear Dina: Help friend escape gaming addiction
Dear Dina, I have this friend who I am really worried about! See, what worries me the most is that she sits at home and plays these computer games all the time. She has become addicted. At first it wasn’t so bad, but now it’s just way out of hand.
Parenting Imperfect: Pregnancy memories fade, but reality hurts
If I were a betting sort, I’d lay good money that almost every woman who has weathered the journey through nine (technically, almost 10) months of pregnancy and the painful indignities of labor has the same thought the instant the baby is out: I never want to do that again.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Coolin’ off at the swimmin’ hole
What do you do on a hot summer day when there are no nearby pools and you would like to cool off? You "go country" and swim in the nearby creek, of course.
Music beat: Heavy metal musician works for ’a new age’
HEAVY METAL MUSIC.
Those words evoke a picture of loud, raucous concerts performed by sweaty and rebellious young men with long hair and scornful displays of anger, contempt and perhaps hopelessness for the world around them.
Saturday, July 2, 2005
Fireworks add sparkle to holiday
Patriotism and pyrotechnics have gone together since our nation’s first Independence Day celebration in 1777.
Senior Scene: As Time Goes By: Don’t let the parade pass you by
Do you sometimes get the feeling that the parade is passing you by? As retired seasoned senior citizens, we seem to belong to a forgotten race of people too stubborn to die and make way for the "younger generation," whatever that might be, and too poor to be ignored.
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Disgusting incident starts the second-guessing
Just when I start to get cocky about the parenting thing, it slaps me down. The most recent example was just a few Saturdays ago, when the Diva and the Hub and I trekked to a local home-made ice cream establishment in the countryside.
True friends won’t put on pressure to smoke
Dina Perazone, a Roxbury Central School junior, answers questions asked by her friends and submitted to her. You can send your questions to Dina by mail to Dina Perazone, P.O. Box 190, Roxbury NY, 12474, or by e-mail to
punkrockrrr13@hotmail.com.
disABILITY: Don’t build barriers against disabled people
By Kate Pavlacka
If you have ever felt a little uncomfortable or nervous when dealing with a disabled individual, you’re not alone. If not, you’re likely not being completely honest.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Summer’s almost here: What’s a kid, parent to do?
With summer only 10 days away and schools closing, the last thing you want your children to be doing is staying inside glued to the television or video-game screen.
Summer recess poses a special challenge to parents in terms of child care and in how to keep their children entertained.
’Mommy Camp’ offered us a unique experience
Parents on a tight budget face the extra challenge of what to do with the kids over summer.
So one lean season, I simply had to get imaginative: I asked my then-8-year-old daughter, Briana, what she thought of "Mommy Camp."
Around the arts: Art, in all of its many forms, is for everyone
By Kathleen Frascatore
"I celebrate myself; And what I assume you shall assume; For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you." Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass (1855)
For me, Walt Whitman made all the difference.
Saturday, June 4, 2005
Old is new, with twists, at the prom
By Sean Kingsbury
Every May and June, the Heartland of New York plays host to one of America’s most honored traditions the senior prom.
Senior Scene: As Time Goes By: Retirement often is not what you expect
By Henry F. Geerken
A while back, I wrote to the editors of The Daily Star stating that there was a gap in their news coverage because there was little that pertained to retired lifestyles or situations involving "seasoned," or senior, citizens.
They got in touch with me and said, "We’ll take your thoughts under consideration."
Teen Talk: Teenhood Today: Knowledge is power to protect our future
By Hannah Sheehan
At this point in time, saying that teenagers have a false sense of immortality would be a gross understatement. Their unique failure to see the long-term consequences of risky behaviors, from speeding to binge drinking, becomes increasingly apparent with each tragic headline.
Teen Talk: Dear Dina: Different college may make you happy
Dear Dina,
I just started college in January. I waited about a year to go because I wasn’t totally positive that college was right for me. Friends and family kept telling me I should go and pressuring me to go.
