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Happy birthday, America!

As I prepared this column, I fondly remember reading that the most important thing to emerge from the historical period known as the Age of Enlightenment was the United States. I’m not sure how historians measure such things. However, I certainly endorse the concept that these United States, a diverse mixture of people from all over the globe, was the best thing produced from a period known for logic and reason, rationality, and the search for truth. Ours is a nation in which the common person could, and often did, triumph over those who were in positions of privilege. And that ...

I would have liked to grow up in the ‘50s, too

So many times I wish I had grown up in the 1950s. Just like those in the Class of ‘54. Those “Leave it to Beaver,” days. With dances. Soda shops. Football games. The time when, “Andy Griffith” was going to be televising its new television program every week. Boys didn’t dress like a bum. (Sorry, boys.) Girls didn’t hate each other the way they do now. (Sorry, girls.) I certainly don’t care for the way people treat one another over the internet. So I stopped using it. I rarely visit those sites. I honestly don’t care for the drama. I’ve had enough to last me a ...

Fresh West Virginia political potpourri

For those sitting on the edges of their seats waiting to hear news that U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., has begun his signature drive to get on the November general election ballot as an independent candidate for governor of West Virginia by the Aug. 1 deadline, please don’t hold your breath. This Thursday, Manchin will be co-headlining a fundraiser for Huntington Mayor and Democratic candidate for governor Steve Williams with former one-term Democratic governor Bob Wise in the lobby of the Hotel Frederick in downtown Huntington. Much as I stated in a previous column, Manchin’s ...

Keep an open dialogue with recreation

It would appear plans for renovations to Starvaggi Memorial Pool are finally going to move forward following years of discussion. Opened in 1968, the pool and the park in which it is located were built under the guidance of Michael Starvaggi, and donated to the city by Starvaggi Charities. There have been some updates to the facility over the years, such as the locker room areas and the addition and subtraction of some amenities, but, for the most part, the actual pool itself hasn’t changed in the almost 60 years it has been in operation. Officials warned more than a decade ago ...

Protecting yourself and your loved ones

He was a U.S. Navy veteran from Charles Town. After serving his country, he went to work for the federal government. He saved his money, invested it wisely, and accumulated enough to enjoy retirement. But he was lonely and so he passed his time at the local American Legion to be around other people. The veteran’s cognitive abilities were in decline, something recognized by Sam Bunner, an employee at the Legion. Sam befriended him, and became a caretaker of sorts, taking him to doctor appointments, and ultimately to a lawyer to sign a power of attorney. Sam used that power of attorney ...

History in the Hills: Looking at early news

A few weeks ago, I read the editorial in the Steubenville Herald-Star that commemorated the birthday of the newspaper. According to the story, June 7, 1806, “was the day Lowry and Miller published the first edition of their newspaper, the Western Herald, from a small house on North Third Street in Steubenville. After surviving several mergers and changes in ownership, that publication became the Herald-Star in the late 1800s.” Thinking about the age of the paper, it is fascinating to imagine that there was a fully operational newspaper in the town considering it had been a ...