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Columnists

ROBERT L. MARONIC: Is Phase Two Of Trump‘s Peace Plan In The Gaza Strip Doomed To Fail? – Part I

Phase one of Trump‘s twenty-point peace plan in the Gaza Strip, which began on October 9, called for a ceasefire, cessation of military operations, along with a hostage and prisoner...

FRED FIRST: Approaching the Longest Night

Yes, you’re right—if you’ve even noticed—that this space has been neglected for some weeks now,...

A Life Well-Lived: Shirley Padgett Lester (1947-2025)

Shirley Padgett Lester of Vinton went to her heavenly reward October 4. Below is the...

BOB BROWN: How the White House Functioned With a Diminished Biden “Presidency”

Permit me to think out loud as an old-fashioned person who respects authority, history, and...

JOHNNY ROBINSON: The Gratitude Perch

On the old road up Mill Mountain, part of Roanoke’s fabulous greenway system, there’s a...

MELINDA MYERS: Homegrown Garnishes Add Flavor, Nutrition and Eye Appeal to Meals

Make your meals just a bit more special with homegrown garnishes.  You invest time and money growing, purchasing, and preparing quality ingredients. But do...

MIKE KEELER: Covid Cuisine Idea #276-12

But first, why couldn’t you sleep last night? It was probably the Harvest Moon, the full moon of Autumn marking the end of the...

SCOT BELLAVIA: It Takes a Village

When I was in school, teachers each considered their class the most important. They thought themselves astute to load their students with as much...

MELINDA MYERS: Grow Garlic this Fall for Flavorful Meals and Health Benefits

Add a bit of flavor and health benefits to your main course with some homegrown garlic.  This vegetable has been used for thousands of...

SCOTT DREYER: Will Supreme Court Nomination Default to “Smear and Destroy?”

With the September 18 passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Supreme Court is (once again) at the forefront of our national conversation -...

MIKE KEELER: “Pi-KAHN,” or “PEE-can”? Who Knows!

We've learned that pandemics are times of intense personal and communal distress, softened somewhat by the simple act of cooking. So, in the interest...