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Do what you can to help others who are struggling

It is one thing to be told there is anecdotal evidence the need for support of food banks is only growing. It is quite another to learn there is hard proof. According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal, Ohio food banks are seeing record-breaking amounts of need. In part because changes to the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, advocates say growing needs are not being met. According to the Southeast Ohio Foodbank, approximately 1 in 6 people in the region are affected by food insecurity. “Rising food prices, the end of SNAP Emergency Allotments, wage ...

Small businesses are a local economic lifeline

Today is Small Business Saturday. Not to be confused certainly with everything that went on yesterday with Black Friday. Today is special because it reminds us that our small, locally-owned businesses are the heart of our communities. We all shop at the big stores. Certainly there are local folks working for the big guys. But the reality is that when you spend your money with a locally-owned small business, you make an immediate impact — perhaps for an individual, a family, and your community as a whole. The big guys certainly provided benefits with an array of offerings under a ...

Congrats to Johnson and carefully choose successor

News out of Youngstown this week may have come as a disappointment to Columbiana and Mahoning counties residents who have learned they can depend on having a representative as principled and conservative as our own Bill Johnson working on their behalf in Washington, D.C. Though he will no doubt do a remarkable job as president of Youngstown State University, he will leave big shoes to fill as U.S. Representative for Ohio’s 6th District. Johnson has served our region well for 7 terms. But he’s not done just yet. “This is not a goodbye … I will continue serving in the House for ...

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day

There is some debate over exactly when the first Thanksgiving was celebrated on our soil. Many trace it to a 1621 celebration in Plymouth in present-day Massachusetts. That feast and thanksgiving was prompted by a good harvest. It was, according to historians, actually celebrated between the Pilgrims and Indians. It’s been going on ever since. The message is timeless: giving thanks for an array of reasons. Even those we all take for granted day in, day out. Year in, year out. Pause and take a deep breath. Then let it release slowly. Be thankful for a simple breath of air. And it ...

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day

There is some debate over exactly when the first Thanksgiving was celebrated on our soil. Many trace it to a 1621 celebration in Plymouth in present-day Massachusetts. That feast and thanksgiving was prompted by a good harvest. It was, according to historians, actually celebrated between the Pilgrims and Indians. It’s been going on ever since. The message is timeless: giving thanks for an array of reasons. Even those we all take for granted day in, day out. Year in, year out. Pause and take a deep breath. Then let it release slowly. Be thankful for a simple breath of air. And it ...

Be careful if shopping for a pet this holiday season

As we approach the time of year when some families may be considering whether it is a good idea to bring a new pet into the family at Christmastime, news out of Holmes County reminds us there is a lot to consider in such a decision. Should a family determine they have the time, resources, willingness and whole-house agreement to make the commitment to love and care for a pet for the rest of its life (no pet should ever be a surprise or spontaneous gift), the next question is where to find the right pet. When looking to bring a dog into the family, it is essential to avoid rewarding ...