Crystal

MIKE TAYLOR: Flying cars before baldness, please

It was in eighth grade that I realized I was going to be too old to enjoy the wondrous future of the 21st Century. This realization came while watching an educational film produced by the General Electric company. Mrs. Wuornos showed a lot of educational films. She hated kids and…

Putting your aging parents’ wishes first

As your parents grow older, it may be time to talk with them about financial and aging issues, which may involve difficult conversations. You’ll want to be careful how you approach this. Mention ahead of time that you’d like to talk to them about their future plans and reassure…

SANDY MAIN: Once Upon a Daily

160 years ago “Bears” — These ursine quadrupeds have not yet all passed south. Many pay the forfeit of invading the corn fields and orchards of our farmers, yet southward they tend their way. The largest one killed we have heard of was shot in this township on the 26th inst., by…

AMISH COOK: A little farm life and a lot of helping hands

Good morning! Stillness reigns in our quiet countryside as another dawn breaks. An occasional crowing from Austin’s bantam rooster reminds me that my dream of living on a farm has come true. We may not have all the animals I’d like to have, but it’s a start. The post AMISH COOK:…

EMILY CASWELL: Building your brand thanks to a Commitment to Culture is no coincidence

Some people say there is no such thing as a coincidence, but I like the idea of a coincidence. Defined as “a surprising or striking event where two or more things happen at the same time by pure chance, without any planned connection or causal link,” I find a coincidence one of…

NATHANIEL MADONNA: Help! I know too much

We live in an age of information. A LOT of information. In just a couple clicks and a few seconds, we can know what’s going on anywhere in the world. From wildfires in Canada to conflicts in the Middle East to political drama to another celebrity death, we’re constantly bombarded…

MIKE TAYLOR: Fun in the sewer

I think I’d be smarter today were it not for the fact that, as a child, I used to play in the sewer. It might have been only a storm drain of some kind, but whatever it was, there were some mighty sketchy items floating around in that murky water. The post MIKE TAYLOR: Fun in the…

What does financial fulfillment actually feel like?

Feeling financially fulfilled means so much more than just the number in your bank account. It’s about being able to take your family out to dinner without calculating whether you can afford it. It means sleeping soundly on a Sunday night, knowing that if the water heater gives…

SANDY MAIN: Once Upon a Daily

160 years ago “Trotting” — The lovers of horse flesh have rare sport every Saturday on the Fair Grounds at Cook’s Corners. Last Saturday there was some pretty good trotting on the Mile Track. Trials of speed were made between Sapp’s Mare and Rider’s Mare for a purse of $100 with…

Traffic Fatality in Holland

GUEST VIEW: Circle the wagon, the midterms are coming

The race is on for upcoming midterm superiority, as we are constantly bombarded with deceitful or false TV ads, warning us of the danger of supporting opposing candidates. By November, some of us may be panting and screaming for breath from all the wild political bantering and…

MIKE MCALVEY: Remembering

This comes a little late, but today’s article is actually being written on Sept. 11, 25 years after the attacks on America on Sept. 11, 2001. Do you remember where you were? It was one of those tragically iconic moments that provided us with a permanent image of where we were,…