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01.15.10
You never know

How many times have parents and teachers heard their darling children complain, "Why do I have to learn (history, math, English, etc.)? I'm never going to use it!"

From the limited perspective of youth, we never imagine how the seemingly idiotic things we learn in high school, and even college, will become useful many, many years later.

I had some excellent language teachers when I was in high school. I don't actually remember their names, but I can conjugate Latin verbs and have entire conversations with myself in Spanish to this day.
01.08.10
Only in Bellevue

On Monday, Jan. 4, The Citizen staff attended five different municipal meetings. At the first four, the procedure was pretty much the same. The meetings began at the advertised time with the swearing-in of newly-elected officials, followed by the election of a president and vice president. They then moved quickly through such first-of-the-year business as naming committees, appointing a solicitor, and setting meeting dates for the coming year. The meetings ended with everyone sharing refreshments and good will.
12.24.09
Our best to you

The Citizen offices have a special guest today -- a tiny puppy named Cooper who belongs to a friend but likes to visit with his Aunt Connie.

Normally Christmas Eve is a day filled with last-minute holiday hysteria, as we realize that time has just about run out on all the things we haven't managed to do in the last month. Maybe even the last year.
12.18.09
Street cred

The vast majority of Lincoln Avenue building and business owners missed a great meeting this week about the Allegheny Together program.

By "vast majority" we mean all but about a half-dozen. Actually, less than that.
12.11.09
Shall we?

Most societies -- like most religions -- find that things work a whole lot better when they have rules. Given the boundless creativity of human beings, it's just a whole lot easier when people are told very clearly what they can and cannot do.

There are some, of course, who will argue that it is possible to create a utopian society in which boundaries are determined by the individual. That's why there are a bunch of 40-year-olds walking around with names like Moonbeam and Lettuce. Hippie communes died out real fast once those kids hit junior high.
12.04.09
One vote

People who like to excuse their absence from the polls on election day by saying that their votes don't count should be taking note of what is going on in Bellevue. Just one vote can make a world of difference in a multitude of ways.
11.27.09
'tis the season

After a couple weeks of pretty much nonstop nastiness at municipal meetings -- highlighted by one resident actually accusing a Kilbuck official of putting melted marshmallows in her mail box -- I am issuing a plea that we all remember that this is a season of love, giving and joy.

Yeah, right.
11.20.09
Happy Thanksgiving

Even though I am a vegetarian, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.

No, it's not because we get a day off in the middle of the week. That just causes more problems than it's worth when you work for a newspaper with a weekly deadline.

Thanksgiving provides me with what I like to consider a "reality check."
11.13.09
Rapidly approaching

Looking out at the warm, bright sunshine, it's hard to believe that Christmas is just a few weeks away.

But believe it or not, the holiday season is rapidly approaching, complete with that extra long "to do" list as we prepare to celebrate family, friends, and the joy of the season itself.
11.06.09
After the vote

Local voters may have sent a message last Tuesday, but I'll be darned if I can figure out what it was.

We definitely saw a bit of the Republican backlash that occurred across the country, but then how do you explain the vote in Ben Avon? Three Democratic incumbents were tossed out of office, but one of the top vote-getters was a 19-year-old Democrat.