The last quarter is one of my favorite times of the year. With Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even New Year’s Eve all occurring within the span of those three months – or actually two (Oct. 31 – Dec. 31) – you get to celebrate a variety of holidays. We dress up in costumes, give thanks […]
My young friend Mary is a single working mother, 65. Jake her son, is 11. Mary works just below the eligibility for health care. Her son is covered through CHIPS, the state insurance for kids. Life is tough for Mary. Currently she is paying more than 45 percent of her income for housing expenses. So […]
Greetings, friend. Thought we should get to know each other and so, I’ll start. … Fall has always been my favorite season. I enjoy the colorful display of the leaves on the trees, the Vs of geese flying south, unpacking my favorite sweaters, and sipping hot cider on the front porch. However, with the daylight […]
When you have the responsibility of writing a newspaper column every month, sometimes the most difficult aspect – at least in my case – is finding a topic, especially one that’s worthy of several hundred words and that I know enough about. This month, my thoughts are all over the place, so if this seems […]
The adverse opinion issued recently by the Illinois Auditor General’s office of its compliance audit of the Department of Children and Family Services deals not only with certain financial irregularities within the agency, but it also shines a harsh light on the failure of this agency to protect the children within its care. DCFS exists […]
Coming out of a coma after 70 years into a society he doesn’t recognize, a man ask a younger person to explain the world today. Oh come, sir, I humbly ask, what has become of the country from my past? Your question, old man, is odd and strange. Have you not been aware of the […]
“To keep your marriage brimming, with love in the loving cup, whenever you’re wrong, admit it; whenever you’re right, shut up.” – Humorist/poet Ogden Nash When I was 16, after taking a driver’s education course and intensely studying the Rules of the Road booklet from the Secretary of State’s office, I got the wallet-sized card […]
By Jan Bosman And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, Speak to us of Children, and he said: “Your children are not your children.” – Poem by Kahlil Gibran,“On Children” I have one son and one daughter. Today I’m going to talk about my son. He and I flew to Colorado […]
By Craig S. Tebo Obtaining your normal weight is not as difficult as you might think. If you can understand what causes weight gain, you can achieve it. A healthy diet consists mainly of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Each of these contain an ample supply of the nutrients we need such as vitamins, minerals, […]
“Obvious: ‘scuse me, is that your nose or did a bus park on your face? Meteorological: everybody take cover, she’s going to blow! Fashionable: you know, you could de-emphasize your nose if you wore something larger, like … Wyoming.” – “C.D. Bales” (Steve Martin) in “Roxanne” responding to a “big nose” comment with three of […]
Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.
Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.
Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.
Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.
