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The magic of an ordinary birthday | Mark’s Remarks

Bless Andrea Degenhart’s heart. Every year she wishes me a happy birthday in her column. You would think that all of us at the Republic-Times are one big happy family…

The airwaves | Mark’s Remarks

In my hometown, we have a little radio station that started broadcasting in the 1950’s. I grew up listening. In the mornings, there would be commentary from the announcer, a…

Leave no crop behind | Planet Ryan

Back in mid-May, I told you about my near-insatiable urge to plant a garden. Perhaps it’s just one of those things you feel you have to do as you get…

Waiting for Rosie | Mark’s Remarks

I know most of you remember watching “The Jetsons” when you were a kid. Or maybe when your kids were kids, or whatever. The stuff on that show seemed centuries…

The night the lights went out | Mark’s Remarks

Recently, we had a power outage that was, I thought, wonderful. It seemed everything halted for a time. We lit candles and sat around in the quiet, really enjoying each…

How hard is it to smile? | Mark’s Remarks

I went to a local business office not too long ago. A lot of you must go there from time to time. I will try to be as vague as…

The Rodent Destroyers | Planet Ryan

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated with snakes. I’m not talking about keeping a house full of them in cages or any kind of domestication –…

The Hex | Mark’s Remarks

I don’t really believe in hexes, but I do something I call putting a “hex” on old houses. Maybe it should be called “saying a prayer for an old house.”…

Oh well | Mark’s Remarks

Let’s face it: we are, for the most part, a self-centered society. How many times do you listen to a conversation, all the while focusing not on what the other…

Dreams? | Mark’s Remarks

I always read Roald Dahl’s Big Friendly Giant to my fourth graders every year. It is a fun, complicated and terribly disgusting book. Kids love it. One fun part of…