"Reel Reviews: ‘Elemental’ promotes being true to one’s self, healthy family dynamics" by: Jessica Shepard

   While it was pretty slim pickings for new flicks at the theater last weekend, I did drop in and catch “Elemental” on the big screen.    Now, as far as kid’s movies go, this one wasn’t too bad.

"Trip to Kerrville was a pleasant journey to decades past" by: Mike Reddell

   I mentioned in last week’s column that I was headed to Kerrville for two memorials to past colleagues at the Kerrville Daily Times.

"Summer Solstice brings reminders of when summer was fun" by: Jessica Shepard

   Look, I know that technically the Summer Solstice is tied to the longest day of sunlight in the northern hemisphere.      Coincidentally, that was on Wednesday.      And even though the day marks the official start of summer, I think we’ve been enduring enough heat warnings already.

"Predicting the future easy but hardly ever correct" by: John Sample

    Another holiday shortened trading week.        Maybe we need a rest as the S&P 500 stock index has risen for five straight *  weeks and the NASDAQ index has risen for six straight weeks.

PSA: Biggest threats to a comfortable retirement?

   What are your biggest threats to a comfortable retirement?      Consider inflation.      It’s been high lately, but even a relatively mild inflation rate can erode your purchasing power.      So, after you’ve retired, it may be desirable to own some investments with growth potential.

"Parents are the best way to learn about who God is" by: Caleb Gibson

   Family is important. The role of a father is important.       Mother’s Day is one of the most popular holidays out of the year yet Father’s Day ranks 18th.       Nevertheless parents are an important fabric of a successful society.      According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2022, 18.

"Reel Reviews: ‘Flash’ proves Keaton still the best Batman overall" by: Jessica Shepard

   I think the hardest part of watching any superhero movie is when they reboot a franchise all over again and the audience is forced back to square one with new faces trying to liven up an old storyline we’ve heard about before.

"Learning more about the power of music thanks to social media" by: Jessica Shepard

   For a while, when I was a kid, I’d tell people I loved music – which was universally true at that time.     But, like with anything, as a child grows and forms their own opinions, my feelings about music have also changed.

"Summer is finally here and it’s a good time to relax for a while " by: John Sample

   We made it past the debt ceiling crisis only to be faced with a Federal Reserve meeting this week.       The consensus opinion is that the Fed will pause this month.

PSA: Special needs trust could ease families’ stress

   If you have a family member with special needs, you might face some financial concerns.     How can you maximize the financial support your loved one requires?     One tool to consider is a special needs trust.