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MOV Climate Corner: Public lands need protection

For the first eight years of my life, our family lived in a small rented house in Steubenville, Ohio. We had a tiny yard lacking any trees, so my mom would take my siblings and me to a local park. She would pack us a picnic lunch complete with a thermos of lemonade and we would ride the bus to Steubenville’s Beatty Park. The time we spent at the park was magical. I think it makes me appreciate how valuable public lands like state parks and wildlife areas are today. In SE Ohio, parks also help our local economy. The outdoor recreation economy netted Ohio $20 billion in 2024 and ...

Cracking the Code: Good thoughts to ponder

As I write this, we are leaving Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, after a pleasant visit. Lynnda and I left Easter Sunday afternoon for a trip to Florida and a cruise with our youngest son and his family. I’m sharing some of our experiences this week that may give you things to think about. We flew Breeze Airlines out of Charleston because we can get a direct flight into Orlando. We heard about long lines at airports. None at Charleston (CRW). The airport is a 15-minute drive from our house. We drove, parked, checked in, went through security and were at our gate in less than 30 ...

Backyard Gardener: Ornamental trees to replace the Callery pear

Hello Mid-Ohio Valley farmers and gardeners! Everyone is enjoying the beauty of spring flowering trees and shrubs around the Mid-Ohio Valley. This spring you will notice hundreds of white blooming trees along the highway, interstate and even in rural areas. Many of these white blooms belong to an invasive species, the Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana). If you have planted a “Bradford,” “Cleveland Select,” “Aristocrat” or “Chanticleer,” you have planted a variety of the Callery pear. It has become one of the most popular ornamental trees in North America due to its showy ...

MOV Climate Corner: No kings, no exceptions

By Jean Ambrose Easter is the most important day in the year for Christians. It commemorates the state torture and execution of a political protester and agitator, Jesus of Nazareth, more than 2,000 years ago — and the disappearance of his body two days later. No one could have anticipated that minor event would become the foundation of a religious and political movement spanning millennia, one that today claims about 62% of Americans as followers. In historical terms Christianity’s spread was remarkable. Early Christianity created a radical community rooted in the belief that ...

No matter how you measure it, a Firkin is a lot of butter

When Rufus Putnam and his group of men set out to form Marietta 228 years ago, they did a little shopping along the way to make sure they would have enough to eat. Among their purchases was 500 pounds of hard bread and a firkin of butter. Last year I wrote a long account of their April ...

Living Democracy: Religion clauses

Living Democracy Joy Cowdery The First Amendment has two provisions concerning religion: the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause. The Establishment clause prohibits the government from “establishing” a religion. The definition of “establishment” is unclear. Historically, it meant prohibiting state-sponsored churches, such as the Church of England or favoring one religion over another, or favoring religion over non-religion. Key cases have centered on school prayer, religious displays, and state funding for religious institutions, often requiring a ...