Make sure you volunteer

I used to visit a homebound member who had a beautiful yard. Her and her late husband had farmed their place for many years. In the backyard was a beautiful tree much younger than the stately trees towering the backyard. I asked her about the tree and she told me it was a “volunteer tree.

Joyce Kilmer has withstood tests of time

Senior citizens say that you have to be tough to handle old age. Joyce Kilmer Forest would certainly qualify as an “old timer “and has withstood several tests of nature and man. Most notable was the arrival of the chestnut blight that virtually wiped out the American Chestnut tree.

Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt

I have six kids, so I may deal with more finger-pointing than most. It’s shown itself early and often in all the children I’ve raised.

Easter victory!

The 1847 Battle of Buena Vista was a victory for an American force that was outnumbered, 3-to-1. In 1850 – recounting the battle in Congress – Rep.

Is this the end of E Pluribus Unum?

The last two columns I’ve written have been about what seems to be a sensible, middle-ground solution to the public education crisis in our nation.

Rough Riders left mark on local history

Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt – who was the 26th president of the United States – may be better known for his fierce group of fighters made up of Native Americans, miners, cowboys and former law enforcement officers.

History of St. Patrick's Day

We celebrated St Patrick’s Day on Friday. While seen as a celebration of all things Irish, Patrick was not Irish and he was born Magonus Sucatus. One great thing to celebrate is St. Patrick is an example of how to do evangelism right.

Throwing a little Sunshine your way

After 3½ years as publisher/editor of The Graham Star, I trust that, by now, you have spent the first several days of this week knowingly celebrating National Sunshine Week.

The future of public education – hopefully

Many still argue the public school system can be repaired, but more people are growing convinced that it’s time to replace it.

For such a time as this

With Christians observing the season of Lent – and churches hosting their spring revivals – our friends in Judaism celebrated Purim on Wednesday. Purim means “lots,” and is named for the way the date was decided for eliminating all Jews from Persia by casting lots.