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Opinion

What self-care and vehicles have in common

Editorials and columns

My 1990 Jeep Comanche is a beauty—but it will not move. It has air in the tires, gasoline in the tank, and everything it needs for a road trip. The engine is sound, but it still will not start. Why? Because the battery is drained. At times, we can appear ready—even capable—yet still lack ...

How to help young men

Editorials and columns

Society has done a terrible job guiding teenage boys as they grow into men. Local communities and society more broadly have something important to offer teenagers -- guidance. A 15-year-old has never been 35 or 45. Swamped with hormones and a still-developing brain, he has a poor ...

Reflections on my 10-year Alpena-versary

Editorials and columns

ALPENA - Ten years ago my husband Scotty and I moved here from Sacramento, California where we had lived for the previous decade. The land of sunshine, governators, and some of the best Mexican food that has ever entered my belly had lost its luster and we just wanted to be back in Michigan ...

Pathways to child independence

Editorials and columns

Wanting independence for our children is a dream that every parent has before children are even born. We dream of enjoying their successes and being involved in the creation of their own family and career. However, circumstances and situations arise and the structure of your child’s ...

Eulogy for a Canine

Editorials and columns

My sister-in-law's dog, Molly, died recently. She was a sweet, graying Portuguese water dog, one of the gentlest pups I've ever met. She displayed a propensity for stealing food off the counter, refused to walk in heat, rain or cold and had an unhealthy obsession with eating dirt, but ...