"‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ turned out to be better than expected" by: Jessica Shepard

   Often times when a movie comes out that’s based on a book that I’ve had no interest in reading, I’m not putting much hope into the flick.     Mostly because I’m not emotionally invested in it already and sometimes because even the briefest synopsis doesn’t appeal to me.

"Kayaking adventure is attracting attention" by: Willie Younger

   Paddling With A Purpose is a kayaking adventure designed to draw much needed attention and affirming responses to the veterans’ suicide crisis (averaging 20 deaths a day since 9/11).

"Telling my trials to help others face their own" by: Mike Reddell

  I often find myself at odds with the world for a host of real and imagined ills.      I really try to keep a positive perspective on life.

"Am I really getting old or did the pandemic leave me ill-prepared?" by: Jessica Shepard

   For as long as I can remember, my parents, grandparents, and older peers have always said that soreness is a whole other experience when you get old.      I’d heard it all about “getting” old and how things just don’t “work” like they used to.

"Just as you thought you knew the direction you hit another fork in the road" by: John Sample

   You have to credit earning reports from Wells Fargo, Citibank and Morgan Stanley sending the indexes up significantly last Friday.      And you have to acknowledge the economy has many hurdles in its path, but it is still strong.

PSA: Strengthen your ‘three-legged stool’ for retirement

   For many years, Americans paid for their retirement through three sources: employer pensions, Social Security and personal savings and investments – the so-called “three-legged stool.”      But things have changed.      First of all, most employers no longer offer guaranteed pensions.

"Attitude all important in airplanes, marriage" by: Caleb Gibson

   While taking a flight in a small plane in Washington state, marriage counselors Les and Leslie Parrot were given some interesting information from their pilot:    “We crossed over the islands of Puget Sound and approached the lights of a local airport.

"Reel Reviews: ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’ hilariously improves on first Minion movie " by: Jessica Shepard

   Since “Despicable Me” debuted in 2010, there’s been a love-hate sort of acceptance attached to the Twinkie-shaped minions themselves.      Their little overalls, goggles, and distinctly yellow bodies made them more adorable than any other villain’s henchmen in animation or live-action film.

"Nothing like a walk in record temperatures" by: Mike Reddell

   I’m writing this Monday morning for this week’s paper in hoping the string of 100+ temperatures will have abated a bit.    Not that dropping from triple-digit to mid-90s readings – the forecast for this week - will mean a lot of difference, but it will somehow seem better.

"Seeing old buildings are getting new lease on life feels good" by: Jessica Shepard

   So, I got a chance to tour the new plasma donation center – Parachute – last week.    I’ve got to say that the facility is amazingly bright and more comfortable than I expected.