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Suggestions in response to Firestone Park: Postings in the Park column

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, My letter is in reference to the June 5, 2026 article, “Postings in the Park,” written by Pat Tingle. Pat asked for suggestions on how to improve the “dismal” appearance of the park gardens. I worked at Firestone Park for four-and-a-third years. Because I took ownership of my designated gardens, they received my excellent care. Often the work load was overwhelming; however, it was a privilege being surrounded by all the beauty in the Firestone “Flower” Park – that was my name for the gardens. My boss, Keith Kaiser, resigned mid-May 2025. After he resigned, ...

America at 250: A reminder that all are created equal

Editorials

As our country celebrates not just any Independence Day, but the 250th anniversary of one of the boldest declarations in human history, the festivities give us an excellent opportunity to look back on two-and-a-half centuries of this American experiment and check ourselves against what the founders hoped they were setting in motion. Draped in red, white and blue and surrounded by flags and fireworks, it is easy to forget how we got here and why we are free to celebrate as flamboyantly as we’d like. Richard Henry Lee made the motion to declare independence in June 1776, but not ...

A True Fourth of July: Perry Township Annexation Decision by the Ohio Supreme Court

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, As I and my neighbors have waited for, the State of Ohio legal system still has some common sense. The Ohio Supreme Court has refused to hear the case of City of Salem vs Columbiana County Board of Commissioners et al. I would like to say our Perry Township has won the battle, but neither side really wins due to the high costs of the legal fees. We do retain our independence, identity, and our Perry Township services, which are second to none. The purpose of this letter is to thank the individuals responsible for the successful outcome of the idiotic attempt to annex ...

Ohio cannot afford a cap on credit card interest rates

Letters to the Editor

Earlier this year, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced legislation to cap credit card interest rates at 10%. Since then, other U.S. Senators have put forward additional proposals to cap rates. As a longtime elected official in Columbiana County in Appalachian Ohio, I can say with certainty that any cap on interest rates misses the mark on what members of our community need. Over the last several years, Columbiana County has been a hotbed of new investment and economic development. Main Street storefronts that once sat empty are being filled. Small businesses are the backbone ...

When trauma is also grief

Columns

Recognizing that June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month, we are challenged to look at PTSD not only as a clinical disorder, but as a form of traumatic grief. It is the body, mind, and spirit carrying profound losses that have not yet found a safe place to be fully mourned. After a traumatic event, individuals certainly grieve the person or people who died, but they also grieve their own sense of safety, trust, identity, innocence, faith, or the future they once thought they would have. This reframing matters deeply. Too often in our society, symptoms are treated ...

New visitors center offers deep dive into Firestone legacy

Columns

FIRESTONE LEGACY AND VISITORS CENTER It sits right at the Main entrance to the park, on East Park Avenue. Couldn’t be a better location for it. When it came on the market, there were all kinds of possibilities for its use. It could have been the main administration and maintenance ...