Columnists – Page 2 – The Times of Noblesville

23Nov

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Columnists, Tim Timmons

Focusing on the negatives? Really?

By Tim Timmons Tomorrow is the day we set aside to offer thanks. In a world where way too many of us focus on the negatives, perhaps we might keep a few things in mind. According to our government, 16,673 of our friends and neighbors have died from this pandemic. That’s just about the size of Lebanon. (And please, for those who claim the figures are inflated could we agree that too many haven’t survived? Can we at least find common ground on that?) It’s been a long time – almost two years – of living with this new normal. At least there will be more family gatherings tomorrow than we had a year ago. That’s something to be thankful for, especially when maybe, if we’re lucky, the end of this madness might not be too far away. Perhaps we should keep that in mind instead of spend...

Musical weekend ends with sad, post-show blues

23Nov

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Betsy Reason, Columnists

Musical weekend ends with sad, post-show blues

The Times photo by Betsy ReasonThe cast of Disney’s “High School Musical” take their bows at Noblesville High School over the weekend, as seniors will have performed their final musical for their senior year. By Betsy Reason For the past 14 weeks, Noblesville High School theater students have been rehearsing for last weekend’s production of Disney’s “High School Musical.” Patrons who attended any of the four performances were likely amazed at the singing and dancing of our young people. Those students have been rehearsing every day after school Monday through Friday and even some Saturdays. When rehearsals were finally over and the show opened on Friday night, I could feel the energy on stage. Cast and crew members have spent so many hours together and have had so much ...

22Nov

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Columnists, John Marlowe

Room at the table

By John Marlowe I’ve been contemplating Thanksgivings past, and I keep wondering where we put everyone. It wasn’t uncommon for us to go over the river and through the woods to various family houses for Christmas, but I only recall a few Thanksgivings that we didn’t spend at home. Our house just wasn’t that big. Nevertheless, aside from one Thanksgiving at my Uncle Stewty and Aunt Carol’s house in Traverse City, one with my maternal grandparents in Mobile and one in Chicago with my Aunt Sharon and Cousin Jim, I believe we played host to all the rest. My favorite Thanksgiving was the year I graduated from the “kids’ table” in the living room, to fill the empty slot at the grown-ups’ table. The move was made possible by the departure of my 101-year-old great-grandmother in Au...

22Nov

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Columnists

What Thanksgiving looks like this year

By Carrie Classon My mother sent a photo of a huge female turkey sitting on her bird feeder. The giant, ungainly creature looked ridiculous, perched on the little wooden roof of a feeder intended for chickadees and nuthatches. “She has been hanging around for two days now,” my mother wrote. “Maybe our Thanksgiving dinner?” Even before my mother sent this, I was thinking Thanksgiving looked a little strange this year. I’ve heard the complaints, year after year, about how we’re rushing the season, how we want to get through Halloween and Thanksgiving before we start thinking about Christmas. We don’t want turkeys dressed in Santa hats or a Christmas tree surrounded by pumpkins. Being something of a purist, I usually agreed. But this year, I say: Bring it on. Of cour...

Good Samaritan is preparing for holidays, seeking donations

20Nov

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Betsy Reason, Columnists

Good Samaritan is preparing for holidays, seeking donations

The Times photo by Betsy ReasonThis week and next week are exceptionally busy for Noblesville’s Nancy Chance, founder and executive director of Good Samaritan Network of Hamilton County, which offers not only holiday assistance distribution but also a free Thanksgiving Day meal. By Betsy Reason When Nancy Chances sees a need, she finds a way to fulfill that need. And while she’s always helping others, she never asks to be recognized. But rather she asks for donations of food, clothing and money, to help those less fortunate. She works her magic through Good Samaritan Network of Hamilton County, an organization that she founded and is in its 41st year. Originally known simply as Good Samaritan, the organization provides food and health care for thousands of county residents ...

Ask Rusty – About computing COLA and Congressional Pay Increases

19Nov

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Columnists

Ask Rusty – About computing COLA and Congressional Pay Increases

By Russell Gloor Dear Rusty: What determines the amount of the cost of living increase for Social Security as compared to the cost of living increase for Congress? Last year Social Security got less than 2 percent, while Congress got a 10 percent cost of living increase. Why the double standard? What items are used to determine the cost of living increase? Signed: Inquiring Mind Dear Inquiring Mind: I’m happy to explain how the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Social Security is computed and, although it’s outside the realm of Social Security I usually deal with, how members of Congress get raises in their pay. The normal COLA formula affecting Social Security uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, known ...

19Nov

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Columnists

Looking back on Veterans Day: Hoorah for those who serve and who have served

by John Grimaldi, editorial contributor for the Association of Mature American Citizens Remember when the nation had unflagging respect for our men and women in uniform, when we took pride in observing Veterans Day, the Marine Corps birthday and the anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Navy? Remember presidents in the past who encouraged the nation to stand proud for our servicemen and servicewomen; to recognize the sacrifices they willingly endured for love of country? Observance of those military observances, all three of which occurred over the past four weeks seemed to lack enthusiasm. Why? Sadly, a report prepared by The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute earlier this year showing that the nation is losing confidence in our military may hol...

19Nov

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Columnists

Have compassion for lonely elders – there are a lot, and they need your help

by John Grimaldi One man’s agony: “I am 77 years old. I was happily married for 55 years but I lost my wife a year and a half ago. No, she didn’t die. In fact, she is in great physical health-- except for her Alzheimer’s Disease. She is in a Memory Care Facility. I see her a couple of times each week. Her confinement and my isolation have left me devastated. I love her and wake up each and every morning sad and abandoned.” It’s not easy growing old and alone, no matter the circumstances. And, while that man’s situation is particularly difficult, a growing number of seniors will be condemned to spend the winter of life in solitude in the coming years. The Association of Mature American Citizens cites a report produced by the Joint Cent...

There’s a whiff of change (& reefer) in the air

19Nov

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Brian Howey, Columnists

There’s a whiff of change (& reefer) in the air

By Brian A. Howey What do Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, industrialist Charles Koch, former House Speaker John Boehner, Sarah Palin and Snoop Dogg have in common? They all back marijuana reforms. The rapper Dogg is no surprise, having built his career on a foundation of bongs and kush. But Justice Thomas? He recently wrote, "A prohibition on intrastate use or cultivation of marijuana may no longer be necessary or proper to support the federal government's piecemeal approach. Federal policies of the past 16 years have greatly undermined its reasoning. The federal government's current approach is a half-in, half-out regime that simultaneously tolerates and forbids local use of marijuana.” And Speaker Boehner? "My thinking on cannabis has evolved," he said. "I’m convi...

Ice plaza, holiday lights, markets, musicals, more

19Nov

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Betsy Reason, Columnists

Ice plaza, holiday lights, markets, musicals, more

Photo courtesy of the City of NoblesvilleFamilies enjoy the temporary Federal Hill Commons Ice Plaza in Noblesville, opening on Saturday for the holiday season. By Betsy Reason If your calendar is anything like mine, then you already have a full month of holiday activities beginning this weekend, including Ruoff Music Center’s Magic of Lights and Saturday’s opening of Federal Hill Commons Ice Plaza, plus a Handmade Vintage Market and a holiday lights walking tour. Noblesville First UMC’s Bags, Baskets & Blessings is happening this evening, and Noblesville High School’s fall musical, Disney’s “High School Musical,” continues through Saturday, and Fishers High School’s fall musical, “Mamma Mia!” opens tonight and continues through Sunday. As we get into Thanksgiving break, C...