I don’t think I’ll ever get this “green grass” lawn thing; this summer, our first in Webster City, has been a bit more of “crunchy brown.” At least I have time to enjoy the walks through Our Neighborhood, meeting new folks. Some are visitors, like me… others more long-time ...

Years ago, I came across a little acronym that helps me almost daily: K.I.S.S. It stands for “Keep It Simple, Stupid.” How much easier life would be if everyone just kept things simple. Someone, or something, always seems to come along and complicate things. I remember a time years ...

Yesterday was the Fourth of July, one of the biggest holidays of our country. It certainly does more than mark the middle of summer, reminding us that “Back to School” sales will begin shortly. Known for outdoor gatherings, parades and fireworks, not so much of the holiday includes ...

Ah, the warm days of summer. The smell of chlorine. The sounds of laughter and lifeguards’ whistles. The cool touch of water on sweltering skin. The sight of firm young bodies bronzed by the sun. Yes, the pools are open and it’s swimming season once again. For millions of Americans, it ...

Last Saturday, I was privileged to speak to more than 50 people, most from here in Webster City. The talk was on the American Civil War and some of its impact on our city and Hamilton County. My sincere thanks to Carolynn Miller for organizing and publicizing the event in the Mulberry Center ...

Of all the changes I have seen in my lifetime, one of the more dramatic is how Americans eat. Well, sure, we still eat with our mouths; perhaps I should say, “how our meals are prepared.” Three decades ago, folks who know such things claimed that for the first time in our society’s ...