Year 2022 in review
Aurora retired chief of police, Kristen Ziman, signing her recent book; the late Robert O’Connor; Retiring Aurora Fire Department chief, Gary Krienitz; and much more in the 2022 review!
New Year: Keep the positive, shed the negative
Year-end reflection is a common theme in media, interested persons given to thoughtfulness, and those who seek improvement in many areas. Affixing a value judgment to a year, good, bad, or, indifferent, may have some rules to an evaluation, however, it is more of a personal reflection. There may be
Indigenous peoples viable in Michigan since late 1600s
Indigenous peoples for thousands of years occupied the Grand River Valley. By the late 1600s the Ottawa occupied territory around the Great Lakes and spoke one of the numerous Algonquian languages. They founded several villages along the Grand River. The Ottawa called the river far-away-water due to the river’s length.
New Year’s resolutions never worked, not even for Babylonians
Here we are again in a brand new year. And as Tennessee Ernie Ford sang way back in the 1950s, “Another day older and deeper in debt.” Overspending on Black Friday wasn’t even a thing then. So anyway, what will 2023 bring? Who knows? Hopefully, the last of Trump, brought
Entering new year offers variety of real reflection
Holidays or Holi-Daze? Busy ordinarily includes shopping, visits with relatives, travel, party-mentality, religious atmosphere, changes, consistency, fatigue, relief, reflection…. Most years contain minimal variation and a change of pace at the same time. There are wide ranges of celebration and attitudes. No one size fits all. Holidays or Holi-Daze? Add
Mothers in prison rarely see their children or families
Reprinted from November 28, 2019Last of three parts Nearly two-thirds of imprisoned mothers have never received a visit from their children. Jill McCorkel, professor of sociology and criminology, Villanova University in Philadelphia, submitted the following article to The Conversation. “Prison visits are expensive. Traveling to remote locations means that many
A good read: The Judge’s List to Love Unexpected
So much to read and so little time! Let the wind howl outside and be warm inside with your favorite beverage and a good read. Is there any pleasure quite comparable to a good book, a fireside and daylight to read? • John Grisham’s release last year was “The Judge’s
Winter weather conditions call on warm trends
The weather forecasts indicate Winter is on the way. The timing this year for Winter weather matches the calendar. The first day of Winter: Wednesday, Dec. 21. Thursday, Dec. 22 through Saturday, Dec. 24 the forecast indicates snow, cold, wind, bitter, temperatures. Earlier this week the weather forecast was for
Merrie Old England holiday time in 1509 full, sparse
Let us take a journey back to Merrie Old England and the time of King Henry VIII in 1509. More than 500 years ago the Tudors did not have Christmas trees, or Santa Claus. Christmas Eve in the countryside would have found the peasants working in the fields taking care
Holiday gifts’ changes modify, extend, concepts
Because this week is the last time you’ll be reading my words here before the holidays (you are reading them, aren’t you? If not, I don’t expect you’ll be reading this parenthetical statement), I’d like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, a Joyous Kwanzaa, a Restorative Incontinence
Holidays personal, revival to human existence
Holidays can be quite personal from youthful memories to new beliefs to respect for other religious beliefs. Holidays can vary in importance for various persons and groups. Respect for other beliefs, or, non-beliefs, is integral in civil society. Much of respect is understanding elements, however, thin of how others in
Thoughts on race relations, freedom, justice, equality
Long-awaited, the backstory regarding the killing of 14-year-old Emmett Louis Till is being told nearly 70 years after his death. The movie, Till, recounts the kidnapping and killing of the black boy who, while visiting his cousins in the deep South during Summer 1955, was brutally murdered by racists, Roy
Holidays a real mixture of joy and stark reality
It is not a news bulletin in any way, however, our world is involved in the build up to the holiday season. In little more than two weeks Christmas will be celebrated and so will Hanukkah, both followed by Kwanzaa, an African American culture celebration. There is a special day
True free speech should be defended, not treason
In the November 24 issue of The Voice, David Hoehne wrote a letter to the editor challenging John and Nisha Whitehead’s “apparent elevation of Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers paramilitary group as an icon of free speech or First Amendment rights.” I want to thank him for that
Batavia flag contest, DuPage 211, news items
Good news, bad news. Hard-hitting news, lightweight news. The Voice offers a voice to its readers and community members. We are a conduit and not a scandal sheet. We aim to investigate and make readers think. We offer a variety, both in content and in geographical reflection. There is a
Bits and Pieces: Native American population to Orchids
December once again! So it is time for little bits of information sure to enlighten. Bits: In 1850 native Americans were counted as 400,764 population and in 1890 the Native Americans population was down to 248,253. The American frontier was declared officially closed in 1890. From the Atlantic to the
The Chas has a dream to run a newspaper in Aurora
This week is essay No. 300, dear reader. I’m shooting for No. 400! The Chas has a dream. He dreams of becoming a newspaper publisher. In the early 20th Century, Aurora had three major daily newspapers, the Aurora Beacon (a conservative point of view), the Aurora Star (a liberal point
Rural areas older, sicker, poorer
By Tammie Sloup,FarmWeek Rural communities are older, sicker, and poorer. “It’s a terrible marketing line,. but a great elevator speech when trying to communicate the uniqueness of rural communities,” said Alan Morgan, chief executive officer of the National Rural Health Association. Morgan, who has more than 31 years of experience
Holidays held for specific reasons, thankfully
Thanksgiving Day holidays propel us ever faster into the thick of the many significant holidays. Can late December be far behind and Christmas and New Year’s? There will be Pearl Harbor’s Remembrance, December 7; Hanukkah, December 18-26; Kwanzaa, December 26-January 1, 2023. We always can find meaningful holidays. Perhaps Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day season offers positive thoughts
Is our glass half full, or half empty? Much of our perspective depends on expectation, experience, exceptions. Life is filled with challenges in various forms. If the mind-set is that perfection is the only acceptable form, disappointment will be in the saddle on our journeys through life. If we truly