Columns

How to identify poison ivy

The poison ivy rash can be very uncomfortable. Learning to identify poison ivy plants can help people avoid the rash. I can remember as a young girl watching my father suffer with a terrible rash from poison ivy.

Don’t give in to the pot decriminalization culture

Tom Wolf, lame-duck governor of Pennsylvania, announced on Twitter that he wanted the commonwealth to legalize pot. His comment was hailed as timely, necessary and courageous by many of his lame-duck followers on social media.

In D.C., politics springs eternal

Springtime has arrived in Washington, D.C. The National Cherry Blossom festival is underway. Some 3,700 cherry trees, given to America by the Japanese in 1912, will soon be in full bloom. I lived in the D.C. area nearly eight years and always looked forward to this time of year.

Some things in the Catholic Church will never change

The Vatican came out last week and confirmed that it would not be “blessing” same sex unions, a move that should have surprised no one. The church changes certain things all the time, adapting and updating as it sees fit.

What’s news? It depends on who you ask

I need someone to tell me what’s happening. Not a tinted version of events but what’s really happening. I make the request because mainstream (if there is such a thing) news outlets seem to fundamentally disagree about what’s important.

Colorful ball brought governors, trappers together

As late as the middle 1950s the end of the trapping season was celebrated by an elaborate Trapper’s Ball that included the crowning of a king and queen, speeches by governors and assorted dignitaries, and, of course, dining, dancing, and a sip of something stronger than soda pop.

Aggravation: Is it a board game or a way of life?

First off, Louis Armstrong was right about it being a wonderful world. And I realize many people suffer far worse troubles than mine. But still … I would die of shock if I ever experienced 10 consecutive minutes of comfort, serenity and dignity.

Long pier was first step into Gulf

The beginning of the offshore oil industry is commonly dated to the completion of a Kerr-McGee well south of Morgan City in November 1947, but drillers brought in the first well in the Gulf almost a decade before that, in the middle of March 1938.

Enough of the Royal Family

If only we had a vaccine that would cure our sick obsession with the Royal Family, I’d be the first to sign up. I’d cut in line for that. If 100% efficacy required three doses, I’d raise my arm for that.

Do you find Saint Patrick’s Day troubling?

“My father and mother were Irish, and I am Irish, too.