Welcome back to “Chris' Corner,” where I try to steer clear of politics to focus on the common threads that connect us all. However, just this once, I need to veer slightly into that thorny territory. Not to stir the pot, but to address a deeper concern that transcends individual issues. more

Once every five years or so, we get a new television. Sometimes it's because we actually need one — like that summer when a lightning strike electrocuted several of our appliances. But most of the time, it's because Tom starts reading about the incredible picture quality on the newest TV screens, and he just can't stand it anymore. He needs to see it for himself. more

January is National Book Month, so why not get lost in a couple of great books this month to celebrate? Some of my favorite older titles in the New Year to consider: more

When it comes to being kind and helpful to your neighbors, people might wonder if it fits with liberal or conservative values. The truth is, kindness doesn’t belong to just one political side — it’s a universal idea that connects to both perspectives. more

Few sounds in winter are more unwelcome than that of a pitchfork scraping the hay loft floor. more

Recoiled and camouflaged against the aquatic vegetation they call home, the chain pickerel is a finely-tuned ambush predator that is arguably among America’s most underrated gamefish. Opinions of them are as varied as the striking emerald green chain-link patterns on their bodies, but for diehard fishermen like me who refuse to put down the stick in the middle of winter, they are a tackle-busting blessing. more

The title of this column is “Managing Expectations” and as I write this, I’m asking myself, “Whose expectations am I managing? Mine or theirs?” more

The start of a new year brings a sense of new beginnings and hope for many of us. Maybe you are like me and are vowing to give up a bad habit. Mine is cutting back on eating too many desserts! more

Sometimes, life’s most beautiful moments come not from the choices we make, but from the ones that are thrust upon us. We all know that life doesn’t always follow the path we expect. Every so often, it jolts us in a new direction, and we find ourselves somewhere we didn’t even know we wanted to go. more

I heard on the news some schools are banning cell phones. more

This morning, I stirred the white powder into a steaming mug of Earl Gray tea, watching it scatter and swirl like a freshly shaken snow globe until it melted from view. The powder is unflavored, but I added a generous dollop of honey so the tea would feel more like a treat and less like a treatment. more

Have you ever heard the saying, “When we are born, we look like our parents, but when we die, we look like our choices?” It’s a powerful reminder that while we may start life shaped by genetics and circumstances, it’s the decisions we make along the way that define us. more

What a beautiful snow we got Friday morning, wouldn’t you agree? more

One winter, after a heavy snowstorm, I decided to shovel the sidewalk for my elderly neighbors who had recently moved to our neighborhood after living in 14 different cities. When I finished, the wife came out with a steaming cup of hot chocolate and said, “Of all the places we’ve lived, you’re the best neighbor we’ve ever had.” more

I thought it peculiar when I first read a recent auto crash report in the local paper that the names of the people involved were omitted. more

We’ve waited all year for this annual event at the Summersville Branch Library! more

At the beginning of the year, I like to take some time to look over our web and social media stats to see which of our stories got the most attention. more

You all may know me as a newspaper lady — a hat I proudly wear — but you might not know my love for newsprint goes far beyond the joy I derive from curating, writing and editing the content that fills each newspaper’s pages. more

It’s Monday morning as I sit at my desk, a cup of freshly percolated hazelnut coffee within arm’s reach. It’s brewed in my trusty 1960s Corningware percolator, a relic that seems to make coffee taste better simply because it’s been around so long. There’s something timeless about the gentle bubbling and the rich aroma that fills the room — a comforting prelude to the reflections that come with the season. By the time you read this, Christmas will have passed, and I hope yours was filled with love, warmth, and a little bit of magic. more

Let's sneak one more recipe in before the year ends, it's a gift from me to you.  more