back to top

Columnists

FRED FIRST: Can You Hear Me Now?

Yes, I have not said much lately, here at the one month mark. Ann has lived in Assisted Living/Memory Care down the hall now for four weeks. And thanks for...

BECKY MAUPIN: Moms’ Needs Always Come Last—And That Has to Change

You’ve probably heard the phrase “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” but if you’re...

ROBERT L. MARONIC: Greta Thunberg’s Warped Sense Of Justice

TIME magazine's Person of the Year in 2019, Swedish child-woman and virulent antisemite, Greta Thunberg,...

DAWN CUSTALOW: How Americans Can Take Hints From the Europeans and Enjoy Summer Vacation to the Fullest

It’s that time of year again for Americans to indulge in our one-week trip –...

BOB BROWN: Show Us How Injustices Are Resolved With Dignity

President Donald Trump and entrepreneur Elon Musk have a unique opportunity to show the world...

FRED FIRST: Lonesome Highway: First Steps

Sunday 6 Apr 2025 2:18 a.m. What I want to write about here over the coming months will be harder than anything else I have...

BOB BROWN: The Spiritual Mind

It is challenging but informative and even encouraging to discuss what some have called the “vague term of spirituality.” William James (1842-1910), anAmerican philosopher...

FRED FIRST: Sapsucker Economics

This longer-than-usual piece was bound for “book three” that Covid extinguished. The working title was going to be “One Place Understood” with a dozen...

ROBERT L. MARONIC: Tesla Terrorists Should Do Hard Time In Prison

There are presently only five Tesla dealerships in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The closest one to Roanoke is located in Richmond, which is 189...

DAWN CUSTALOW: Language Learning in an Expat’s World

Ex – “out of”; patria – “country.” Expat – I didn’t even know this expression until I had left my native land of Virginia,...

BOB BROWN: Good Teachers

My Mother and Dad were Good Teachers My mother (1898-1971) had six children. I’m the youngest. She was 14 when she married my father (1892-1985);...