Out and About Blog by Norm Stutesman

This is the final column for 2016. I’m taking the rest of the year off and recharging my brain. I do this at this time every year. The next column will be on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. One of the weird things about beginning a new year is remembering to change the year when writing a check. Then, with all …

As a toddler, taking a nap was something I didn’t enjoy doing. At this time in my life, taking an afternoon nap has become quite enjoyable. It has become something that is also quite necessary, unless I want to find myself falling asleep during Jeopardy. I’m an early riser, even without an alarm clock. I don’t need to get up early …

We received our first measurable snowfall on Sunday, December 4. Channel 3 News said that the snow would start to fall around 1 PM that afternoon, and for once, their forecast was right on the money. We arranged our Sunday plans so that by 1:30 PM we were secured inside the house, the cars were tucked away in the garage, …

Seventy-five years ago this week, several squadrons of Japanese Zeroes woke up a sleeping giant by attacking Pearl Harbor. December 7, 1941 has been often referred to as “a day that will live in infamy”. In memory of this day, the American Legion Honor Team will conduct a brief ceremony at Riverside Cemetery, at 1 PM, at a memorial for …

By now, your Thanksgiving guests have gone home, or you have returned from visiting relatives or friends, and are now ready to begin planning for Christmas. I’m sure many of you ventured out on Black Friday and took advantage of some really fantastic deals. I hope you didn’t sustain any injuries from fellow shoppers as you grabbed the last remaining …

This Thursday is Thanksgiving, a day when we should all reflect on the many things for which we are thankful for. It’s also a time for families to get together and enjoy each other’s company and share a little love. We should all do this more than just once a year. The family unit is not what it used to …

Thanksgiving is a week from Thursday, yet the stores are already getting ready for Christmas. It would be nice if we could appreciate these special days at a slower pace. It’s unfortunate that, when we think of Thanksgiving, we think more about Black Friday than about the day when we should be reflecting on things for which we are thankful. …

We recently attended a play which featured grade school and junior-high students. The audience was made up mostly of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other fans of all ages. The play was clever and well produced. The talent exhibited was more than exceptional. It was downright good. I’ve appeared in quite a few plays put on by community theatre groups, …

Welcome to November! This is a very busy month for all of us, beginning with a week from today, Tuesday, November 8. November 8 is Election Day, a day when only the foolish will stay home and not cast a ballot. I don’t care if you vote for a write-in candidate named Bugs Bunny, as long as you vote. You …

I recently realized that I don’t really have a lot of buddies anymore. Oh, I have a buddy that I have lunch with once a week and I have a buddy that I might go with to the Conservation Club every so often, but I don’t have anyone that I feel comfortable with going to their house and asking if …