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Eulogy for an irreplaceable canine

My sister-in-law’s dog, Molly, died recently. She was a sweet, graying Portuguese water dog, one of the gentlest pups I’ve ever met. She displayed a propensity for stealing food off the counter, refused to walk in heat, rain or cold and had an unhealthy obsession with eating dirt, but otherwise, she was an excellent pooch. My kids also grew up with her. They don’t remember a time before Molly was born. And though she didn’t live with us, they somehow felt as if she were also a little bit “their” dog. During the pandemic, my sister-in-law, who lived across the street from ...

Homeowners in Ohio trying to stay afloat

Rising prices and a general economic malaise are hitting home — literally — in Ohio, as a new report shows foreclosure activity is increasing in the state. Realtor.com says the Buckeye State has a foreclosure filing rate higher than the national average — 1 for every 2,787 housing units. That is sixth on the list — just ahead of New Jersey, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. The national average is one in every 3,701 housing units entering foreclosure proceedings. The report shows elevated foreclosure activity particularly in Cuyahoga, Highland, Jefferson and Lake ...

The case against Iran war

I am an Iran hardliner. But I’m struggling to understand how other hardliners can be so credulous about President Donald Trump’s leadership of this war. It’s as if you were stranded by the side of the road and accepted a ride from an obviously drunken driver. Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal editorial board scolded those of us who were not cheerleading for this war: “There’s remarkable pessimism in the media and political class about the U.S. bombing campaign against the terrorist regime in Iran. Five days into the war, you’d think from the coverage and ...

Don’t make Christianity political project

Two thousand years ago, Jesus of Nazareth entered Jerusalem on a Sunday with crowds cheering on the arrival of a king. Riding on a white donkey, the crowd laid palm branches on the ground for him. Before the week was out, Jesus would be dead. Many of those who heralded his arrival would, by Friday, be cheering for Barabbas, a murderer and jeering the Messiah. Men want political solutions for spiritual problems. Barabbas started an insurrection against the Roman occupiers. The people of Jerusalem expected Jesus to be a warrior and political operator. Instead, he told them not to give in ...

Easter orchids

ORCHID: To Flying High Inc., a Mahoning Valley nonprofit focusing on workforce development, for its Adopt-A-Bed fundraiser that has potential to cultivate lasting rewards on two fronts. First, participants in the program at the Mahoning Valley Greenhouse in Mineral Ridge learn critical agricultural skills in raising healthy vegetable plants. Second, once the vegetables are fully grown, Flying High will use its mobile market to distribute the healthy food to pantries and underserved food deserts in the Valley. For all those wishing to see this program grow by adopting one of the limited ...