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Don’t wait – vaccinate

Wondering whether or when you should get your seasonal vaccines this year? Well (provided your doctor agrees), the answers are yes; and, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, right now is still a good time. Staying up-to-date is important for the latest COVID-19 vaccines, flu shots and maybe even respiratory syncytial virus, if you are of a certain age or risk group. “Right now is the best time” to get all the recommended vaccinations, said Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s “the single most effective ...

Taking ‘Pride’ in holiday festivities

One of the nation’s most cherished Thanksgiving Day traditions is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. This year, “Country Roads” will be echoing throughout New York City as the Pride of West Virginia, the 330-member West Virginia University Marching Band, makes its second appearance at the extravaganza. Last at the parade in 2016, band leaders learned last year during the Backyard Brawl against the University of Pittsburgh that they had been selected for the honor. The band will be just one of 11 marching bands in attendance Thursday morning. “Participating in the 2016 ...

Celebrate the season with a parade

Communities throughout the Tri-State Area will have a little extra sparkle during the next couple of weeks as parades help to celebrate the Christmas season. Parades offer an opportunity for families and friends to gather and celebrate the season, while giving communities a chance to show off the good things they each have to offer. Floats, marching bands, dancing schools, homecoming queens and members of local service organizations will be joined by vehicles representing police and fire departments and other first responders. The highlight of each parade is the arrival of Santa Claus, ...

Lighting up our communities for the holiday season

The special glow that comes with the Christmas season once again will be seen as communities across the Tri-State Area hold their light-up events. Those evenings help to create a sense of joy and anticipation as they bring residents together to celebrate and enjoy a festive atmosphere where camaraderie always is on display. Celebrations began on Nov. 13, when the Christmas tree in Weirton’s North End was lit. That led up to Saturday’s Christmas on Main Street in Weirton. The annual event, presented by the Weirton Festival Committee, included vendors and family-oriented activities, ...

Do the right things for schools, even if it’s difficult

Paul Hardesty hit the nail on the head last week regarding lawmakers who say they want to avoid school consolidations and/or see smaller schools for our students. “Well, guess what … they have the ability to effectuate the change,” he said. Hardesty is a state board of education member and legislative liaison. He is the previous state school board president and a former Democratic state senator from Logan County. His point was focused mostly on the money made available to county school systems. “We are hemorrhaging population loss in public schools. It’s going to get ...

Consider the source

During an age in which a universe of information is at most people’s fingertips, it is no surprise to learn some are changing their approach to how they consume what they consider to be news. In fact, Pew Research Center analysts, with funding from the Knight Foundation, reported earlier this week a study showing approximately 20% of Americans say they regularly get what they consider to be news from digital influencers — most of whom (85%) are found on Elon Musk’s social media platform X. Only a slightly higher number of those who responded said they were Republicans than ...