Opinion

Editorial

Should I Change My Name Too?

By Kacy Colston, Co-Editor-of-the-Month | March 1, 2019

I have a Google alert set up for my last name. I seldom see alerts, either because there are not a lot of Colstons around, or because they are not doing anything newsworthy. The last big flurry of alerts led me to follow the football career of Marquis Colston (maybe a relative)? Last year I started to see alerts for “Countering Colston.” It’s a nonprofit organization in England, dedicated to decolonizing the city of Bristol, and specifically campaigning against the celebration of Edward Colston (definitely a relative). My dad, who died when I was eight, told me stories about the amazing Edward Colston, and all the wonderful things he did to benefit the people of Bristol.

Editorial

How much is that puppy in the window?

By Tom Frenaye, Co-Editor-of-the-Month | March 1, 2019

  One of the interesting tools I use when writing or evaluating other people’s writing is software that measures readability. If writing is too complex, say college level, it may be too difficult for middle or high school students to read. If it’s too simple, then adults may not think the content is for them.   The major ingredients of difficult writing are long words, sentences and paragraphs.   In general, writing should be at the ninth grade level to reach 50 percent of adults.

Editorial

It’s a Great Day for the Irish!

By Mary Ann Muska, Co-Editor-in-Chief | March 1, 2019

Having grown up in Hungary Hill in Springfield, I developed great pride in my Irish heritage. Hungary Hill was named because of the immigrants who came from the west coast of Ireland during the great potato famine. Not long after the famine, an epidemic of tuberculosis struck the same area causing more immigration to the United States. Many of the new settlers found their way from County Kerry to the Hill which was fondly called “Home of the Irish.”

The pride that the Irish have in their country is overwhelming. Many countries have invaded Ireland but the Irish always fought back and succeeded.

Editorial

The Invisible People

By Carol Martin, Co-Editor-of-the-Month | February 1, 2019

Most of us are traveling on a highway once in a while, especially on a holiday, and stopping at a rest stop. Have you ever really looked at someone pushing a mop around on the floor or cleaning a restroom? Well, there they are in a thankless job for a probably minimum wage with no future promotion. And no tip jar. Many others get tips like a waitress or hairdresser and in other service jobs.

Editorial

Is Kindness Dead?

By Gene Zanor, Co-Editor-of-the-Month | February 1, 2019

It is easy to think that there is not much kindness in our very divided world. I looked up a simple definition of “kind” in Merriam Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary, which is meant for use by new English language learners. Their definition is “… showing a gentle nature and desire to help others….wanting to do good things and to bring happiness to others.”

About two months ago, I was surprised when a gentleman ahead of me in the checkout line of a dollar store, swept my few items into his pile and said “I got this”. Not expecting his kindness, I first reacted with “Oh, those are mine.” Then I realized he meant to pay for my items. I felt really touched and also had the desire to “pay it forward,” so I paid for the few items the woman behind me was buying. She too was surprised and repeatedly thanked me, telling me the items were to decorate her classroom for special needs students.