School districts around the country are developing plans and preparing to make decisions whether to hold classes, in-building, virtual, or, even not at all. There will be national impacts, of course, however, school boards, communities, and districts, will make the final decisions. • The U-46 Board of Education, in the
First of three parts Mary Rinaldi and Ashish Prashar posted the following article in Fast Company, a business magazine in print and online. “Imagine a world without prisons. It may sound radical, but for millions of black and brown Americans, this fantasy is urgent and necessary. Prison has been a
“A short introduction to learne to swimme.” -C. Middleton circa 1595 The year was 1909. The Messina earthquake of 1908 struck the Straits of Messina in southern Italy and destroyed cities and caused up to 150,000 deaths. Compare that to 636 Italian deaths from COVID-19 as of April 7, 2020,
It’s hard for me to crack the writer’s block this week, because I’m constantly bombarded with the latest Trump idiocy and inanities. Let’s see if I can change the subject slightly. I can focus on face masks. It’s now confirmed by doctors and other science professionals, that wearing a face
COVID-19 cuts a wide swath into our daily lives and routines. The impending Fall school year is in jeopardy of several potential tragedies. If students miss a school year, or, a half-year, because of contagion of the novel virus, it would be a tragedy. Students, especially younger, more pliable children,
July had arrived. Not of a thousand Julys as the song went, but this July. Anna was playing tennis with her friend Janet. It was a hot July day and the friends had been playing tennis together for the last 10 years. The thermometer hovered at 85 degrees. The sun
Tear it down! That seems to be the rallying cry across these United States (or is it these “Untied States”?) in a loud and clear voice against white supremacy. Most of the action is taking place east of the Mississippi River where white supremacy once held sway in the Southeast.
Important items cross our paths with the celebration of Independence Day and have difficulty securing space. For example: • Representatives of Batavia Reconnected disbursed checks recently to 11 Batavia businesses for up to $1,500 to cover additional expenses during COVID-19. Every little bit helps. Most communities are making efforts to
John Adams, who was graduated from Harvard College, was the husband of Abigail Smith Adams, and the father of six children, one of whom, John Quincy Adams, became president of the United States and served one term in the 1820s. John Adams was a lawyer, a farmer, and a revolutionary.
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Our president, Dr. D. Trump, has denied permission for Dr. Fauci to speak to news outlets so he will be the only source of COVID-19 information. That’s good news because The Donald has said the 99% of COVID cases are harmless. There may
Living in a rural central Illinois town, Toulon, population 1,400, I am alert to any forces that might spur relocation to hinterland communities, which are often struggling to maintain population and vitality. Are the pandemic and recent urban, sometimes violent protests such prompts? I conclude there might be some, modest
Liberty. Freedom of speech. First Amendment rights. Independence. Self-determination. They are components of Independence Day and the resultant celebrations which are important to many U.S. residents, including individuals who inhabit these parts of our world. Those lofty goals are still a part of what most of us seek to achieve:
The rolling thunder of heavy metal began at 9 p.m. Saturday, April 1, 1865. When the big guns destroyed the Confederate defenses around Petersburg, Va., the Union army led by General Ulysses S. Grant might end the four-year old Civil War and the United States would be divided no more.
Police brutality is a fact of life. It has been around ever since police agencies were created to enforce the laws and to protect the citizens from criminal activity. In every nation-state, in every era, one will find numerous instances of how ill-trained police officers enforced the laws, sometimes inventing
Call it Plan B. Call it going right when things go wrong. Call it making lemonade when issued lemons. Much of redirecting energies to an improved state or a positive ending is what many do in the situation altered by COVID-19. The 2020 school graduates, at any level, have been
We share some prophecy from the Hopi Nation: Hopis’ ancient knowledge and prophecies are warning through many signs, that we have entered a dangerous period in our lives. Mankind must return to peaceful ways, and halt the destruction of Mother Earth, or we are going to destroy ourselves. Joseph White
The year was 1787 when the idea for the presidency was born at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Taking notes was James Madison which then thrust the room full of delegates into a sudden silence. All knew it was a moment of fateful significance. After days of heated argument and
Poor Donny. The stadium wasn’t quite full, not even one-third full, actually, for his self-congratulatory weekend rally in Tulsa. Because The Donald doesn’t believe in reading, he had to go by visuals and even he could see that 6,200 in attendance is a few less than the million red hats
Wide-ranging thoughts and observances offer the following statements: • Clarity can evolve out of chaos of any kind. Those who make better efforts find more peace. • Chaos between police and protesters can evolve into understanding, if given an opportunity. • Each must seek understanding and not be rigid in
“Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Jesus to Mary Magdalene at his empty tomb. (John 20:15) The cave, east of Aix-en-Provence, is called Sainte-Baume. According to Roman Catholic tradition, Mary Magdalene spent the last 30 years of her life there. The surrounding forest leads to a small
