As chair of the New York State Assembly’s mental health committee, I was encouraged to hear Gov. Hochul highlight the need to focus on livability, affordability and safety. Expanding and improving access to clean energy, health care, childcare and housing are key factors if we are to help our families. more

Where does your water come from? more

To me, participating in meetings on the local level is critical to protecting the environment, and improving our way of life.  more

Amidst an ongoing and worsening mental health crisis in New York State, Gov. Kathy Hochul has taken action that will deeply impact the availability of affordable mental health services for constituents across the state.   more

The American Heart Association supports Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plans to achieve a tobacco-free next generation of New Yorkers by proposing to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products and increase the cigarette tax.  more

On January 10, 1924, a Black woman, 60-ish, travels by mule cart from her Newland, NC family farm on the rim of the Great Dismal Swamp to the Pasquotank County seat in Elizabeth City. more

Many see New Year’s as a “beginning event,” marked by a plan to start over again. With our resolutions that we promised ourselves, and our hopes we project out into the universe, the new year shines brightly with all its possibility. more

The finalized rules issued by the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) for the treatment of fracking wastewater in the river basin, and the export of water for fracking elsewhere, leave numerous loopholes that still allow for contamination. Since such wastewater is known to contain both radioactivity and so-called “forever chemicals” recently deemed by the EPA to be dangerous to health at any concentration, such contamination would be effectively irreversible. more

A recent ruling by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), granting a variance to Bob Weigers in developing a parcel of land on Hankins Road, should be reconsidered in light of the wide-ranging effect it would have on the character and quality of the Scenic River Designation that the Town Plan was designed to preserve.  more

I just received one of the best presents ever—the passing of “Elizabeth’s Law,” named in memory of my daughter. more

Staying dedicated to recovery takes work, and potentially becomes increasingly complex over the holiday season. Even someone who has never struggled with addiction, but wants to abstain from alcohol … more

Despite how fun and festive the season is, it can also be quite stressful, whether you’re searching for the perfect gift or hosting a party or gathering with family members.  more

In past eons, the purpose and rationale for war have, for the most part, been obvious and clear. In a world primarily dominated by scarcity, “other people” (tribes, etc.) sometimes had what you and presumably your people wanted and likely needed, so you took it all by force and celebrated the conquest as the spoils of war. The conquest included not only mass murder, but a large-scale dose of raping, looting and pillaging those you had defeated.  more

I am writing this letter on behalf of Mr. Marc Anthony. I have known Mr. Anthony since 1985, when I first met him as a co-worker at a local livery on the Delaware River. From the day I met Mr. Anthony, 37 years ago, I’ve appreciated and admired his candor, strong work ethic and integrity, sense of humor, reliability and trustworthiness. more

This holiday season, you should “shop small” on Small Business Saturday, which falls on November 26. more

Thanksgiving is less than a week away, and just like you, I am heading into the holiday season thankful for so many things in my personal and professional lives. more

Take politics out of the equation, and look at ourselves on a human-to-human level. I am sure we are not all attractive on a scale of one to 10. But we act as if that is all that matters in life—the trophy wife, the trophy car or the trophy house. more

In 1983, the bald eagle had all but disappeared from Pennsylvania’s woodland creeks and lakes. more

In 2020, the U.S. produced 367 million metric tons of plastics — equivalent to the weight of 1,108 Empire State Buildings. That amount is on track to quadruple by 2050, unless — Unless we act now to change course. more

During a visit to my former physical therapist, she launched into that old Fox News saw about “welfare queens” who live the high life on the public dole. Because I feared that she might continue with some version of the Willie Horton story, I reacted quickly, but calmly. “Have you ever worked in Welfare?” I asked. more