Sheltering in place during the pandemic offered old duffers like me, nearing 81, plenty of time, maybe too much, to reflect. I wonder if other mature readers have been reflecting: Old friends around me are dropping like flies, and others are hobbled by physical and cognitive problems that lack good
Memorial Day photos reflect the traditional remembrance of the occasion when the focus is on those military personnel who make life’s transition, either in the service of the Nation, or in succeeding years. The Voice is filled with meaningful Memorial Day photos this week, however, other important items, which ordinarily
Last of two parts Winona LaDuke writes about Alex White Plume a leader of the Ogala Lakota tribe in the Spring 2021 edition of Yes! magazine. “More than 20 years ago, Alex White Plume, a leader of the Oglala Lakota, planted his first hemp crop on Wounded Knee Creek, on
On one side of the door, the north side, the triangular vase of lilies of the valley cascaded down the wood. On the other side of the door was a draft-stopping bear, legs akimbo, to keep out the Spring winds. How can it be that the opposites of one door
Musings: • Got baby formula, ladies? Sure, you do; it came with the baby, but you forgot you had it. It’s called “breast milk,” and you have a plentiful supply to fulfill the baby’s needs. Few women talk about it anymore, which is unfortunate, because the original product is more
Ever wonder what drives the placement of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and who will benefit from them? What about the working-poor and minority communities? Will they be able to take advantage of electric vehicles, their benefits, and the glut of associated technologies? As General Motors and other U.S. automakers
Summer unofficially will begin with Memorial Day and joyfully (hopefully) work its way through Labor Day, the unofficial end of Summer. With Memorial Day we enjoy activities and must pause to understand reasons in memoriam why we have a Memorial Day. As a society we should be dedicated to minimize
First of two parts Winona LaDuke writes about Alex White Plume, a leader of the Ogala Lakota tribe, in the Spring 2021 edition of Yes! magazine: “More than 20 years ago, Alex White Plume, a leader of the Oglala Lakota, planted his first hemp crop on Wounded Knee Creek, on
When Louis XIII succeeded as French king in 1610, Versailles was a prosperous hamlet set in an upland valley which was only partially cleared for cultivation. There were 200 residents near this primal woodland. The Latin word vertere means to turn the soil and immortalizes the “hard grind of the
Did you hear Donald Trump is writing a book? (I like to start out with something funny just like Joel Osteen.) Trump said it, so it’s probably not true. If it is, his biggest hurdle is that he’ll actually have to read a book to find out what goes into
The next special day and holiday on the horizon is Memorial Day, May 30, which was changed in 1969 as a federal holiday to the last Monday in May. Memorial Day is more than picnics, baseball games, and family gatherings. It is based on memorials for soldiers who died and
Reprinted from May 7, 2020 My first impression of Indians, which we now describe as Native Americans, wasn’t very positive. Our community movie theater ran many Friday night specials which starred cowboys who were always the good guy and fighting for justice against the bad-guy Indians. It was easy to
The deep blue waters of Lake Huron have seen the passage of Native American, French explorers, missionaries and fur traders. As early as 1000 A.D., Native Americans were summering on Mackinac Island and nearby Bois Blanc Island. They planted corn, came to fish, worship and bury their dead. It is
You’re an old-timer in Aurora, dear reader, if you: Knew the sites of the original City Hall and the original Post Office. Rode the Aurora city buses. Bought a hamburger at Prince Castle (two locations). Patronized the Sylvandell bowling alley. Drank an ice-cold root beer (with a half inch head
By Frank Patterson How do you wake up in the morning? Many begin their day with Good Morning, Aurora, or, its Wednesday Spanish-language version, Buenos Dias, Aurora, the podcasts with hosts Curtis Spivey and Monica Vasquez, respectively. Spivey, the show’s creator, describes the podcast as “the great American morning show.”
Orientation, Opinions, Optics! Often it is difficult to understand other individuals who are not in alignment with our way of thinking. Patience, perseverance, philosophical, often lead to accommodation, if not understanding. The Voice provides an opportunity for anyone to express a way of thinking without offering approval or disapproval. The
Last of two parts Teri Dunn contributed the following article in the Birds&Blooms magazine: “Mournings doves are beloved in backyards across America. Learn interesting facts you should know about the beautiful mourning dove. Mourning Dove vs. Eurasian Collared Dove “Mourning doves are often confused with Eurasian collared doves, or white-winged
Maybe one night when you’re out in the country, somewhere far away from the noise and lights of the city, the chirping of the crickets the only sound you hear while you’re looking up at the night sky with its thousands of brilliant, twinkling, stars, will you wonder how long
The wait is over! After a mandatory 72-year hold, the 1950 census has been released to the public. This is a great opportunity for the novice to get started with family history, or for the seasoned historian to gain access to all kinds of new information. To guide us through
We pack as much information into The Voice each week as possible. News items, photos, and features tell the stories of our communities. We seek to make it presentable and thoughtful. Often we leave out many items, perhaps often more items than is included. There are various reasons, however, when
