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MOV Climate Corner: Solar could stabilize your budget and save money

Switching to electric energy is my strategy for stabilizing home energy costs. Global events, like the conflict in Iran, highlight the volatility of gas prices. As I transition my home to be fully electric, the long-term cost of electricity is my primary focus. After a hail storm damaged my roof in April 2026, I revisited solar energy and discovered a new leasing option. Leasing is ideal if you aren't sure you'll remain in your home for 25 years. It requires no upfront cost, provides high-output panels, and offers immediate savings by locking in a fixed electric rate for 25 years — a ...

The Way I See It: Comics have entertained readers for a century

Through wars, depressions and social upheavals, the comic pages of the newspaper here and elsewhere have given readers something to smile about every day for the past century. We all need something light in our lives, and through a wide range of different strips the daily antics of Snoopy, ...

Cracking the Code: Go your own way

This week the grandson of my neighbor who was in the the July 4th ATV accident in our neighborhood, rang my doorbell. “Do you want to play basketball Mr. Kozera?” I was surprised and happy to see him. He looked fine. “Are you allowed to play basketball.” “Yes, as long as I don’t overexert myself.” He told Lynnda and I how the accident happed, the ambulance ride, the concussion and overnight at the hospital. Young people heal fast. We played PIG, a stationary shooting game. It was good to be able to play with him again. I asked why he and his friend weren’t wearing ...

Unusual names in early Washington County

Names of early settlers in Ohio were quite different and strange-sounding from today. Many reflected Puritan virtues (from New England settlers), Biblical figures, Greek or Roman classic names. Here are a few I've noticed. Readers likely have many curious names in their families or acquaintances. Return Jonathan Meigs Sr. was an early settler in Marietta, a distinguished Revolutionary War veteran, surveyor, and civic leader. His son, R. J. Meigs, Jr. was Ohio's 4th governor. "Return"? According to family lore, Meigs Sr.’s grandfather Janna (another unusual name), was courting a young ...

Backyard Gardener: Invasion of the spotted lanternfly

Hello Mid-Ohio Valley farmers and gardeners! This week I want to talk about a new pest that has been found in West Virginia, the spotted lanternfly (ycorma delicatula). It officially has been found in Wood County and will certainly spread to other areas. Native to Asia, this pest was first detected in Berks County, Pa., in the fall of 2014. However, it has since spread to 14 counties in southeastern Pennsylvania, as well as counties in Virginia, Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey. In 2019, a small population of spotted lanternflies was found near the town of Bunker Hill, W.Va., in ...

Downtown is more than a street — It’s the heart of Marietta

When people hear “Main Street,” they often picture one road lined with shops and restaurants. But in Marietta, we are fortunate to have something even greater: an entire historic downtown that tells our story, fuels our economy, and connects our community.
 Marietta Main Street doesn’t represent just one block or one corridor. It works to strengthen and support all of historic downtown Marietta — every storefront, every side street, every small business, and every gathering space that makes our community unique.
 Downtown is not just a collection of buildings. It is an ...