Opinions
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Daily News • Saturday, February 28, 2015
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The First Amendment
Newspaper of the Year 1983, 1996, 1997, 1998 EDITORIAL BOARD Publisher Julie Stafford President Rob Stafford Past President Larry Carbonelli SMS Board Member Linda Stafford
News Editor Elisabeth Waldon Community Member Don Gibbs Community Member Chuck Miel Community Member Sylvia Warner
VOICES
Veterans are great bets for employment
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he veteran unemployment rate in Michigan in 2013 was 10.6 percent, the second highest rate in the U.S. That dubious distinction is nothing to be proud of, but hopefully, a new effort by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency will change that. The agency has created programs to bring together veteran talent and employers. It prepares vets for a career outside the military through interviewing skills and resume building — skills that already are just a standard part of high school and college seniors waiting to enter the workforce. Veterans have many skills learned in the military that can be translated into the “real world.” Why couldn’t a mechanic trained to work on complicated aircraft find a mechanic job after he or she returns home? What about simple leadership skills? Can’t they be translated into a management job as well? When veterans with the proper training in an area want to work in that field, the agency provides aid similar to vets returning to civilian life as students. Lansing Community College’s military medic-to-paramedic is one example of a veteran fast-track program. The vets-to-work situation, though, cuts both ways. The agency also educates employers on how to hire vet talent. The classic 1946 film, “The Best Years of Our Lives” depicted the struggles returning vets have in finding employment, or if they do find employment, the struggles they face. Were the resources now available to vets offered then, perhaps those fictional — and, of course, non-fictional people — wouldn’t have had to face those difficulties. The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency’s website has links to many resources and can be found at www.michiganveterans.com. Veterans — or even families and friends of veterans — should take a look to see how those coming home from the service or a tour of duty can better assimilate in the working world. That would benefit everyone. The Mining Journal (Marquette), Feb. 18 Voices are reprinted from other Michigan newspapers whose views do not necessarily represent the opinions of The Daily News.
PUBLIC FORUM
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Anti-abortion fanatics Dear Editor, or weeks now we’ve seen the abortion blame game splashed across the Opinions page of The Daily News. Some folks claiming that the Democrats are responsible for all of the “lives” that have been lost since Roe v. Wade. Yet others claiming that abortion is “murder” and accuse those that support “choice” as being accomplices to murder while simultaneously professing that the Republicans in Washington sincerely care about all of the major issues of the day and believing that abolishing abortion should be their top priority. I’d be willing to bet that more “lives” are lost via poverty and or the diseases associated with poverty than deaths via abortion. I’d bet that more “lives” are lost via pollution; a major contributor to climate change, or the diseases associated with pollution than deaths via abortion. Heck, I’d even bet that more “lives” have been lost via the insanely unnecessary wars that the neo-cons have thrown
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us into; yet the abortion issue takes priority? Really? So if we are in fact as some proclaim morally obligated to overturn Roe v. Wade, then aren’t we also morally obligated to assist in providing the best possible care and support for those lives that through our self-righteous acts we’ve preserved? Shouldn’t we be the champions of those representatives in Washington that support the institutions and programs that assist these women and families in their time of need rather than supporting those members in Washington that want to eviscerate or eliminate the very institutions and programs that have been put in place to help these folks? Anyone thinking that they can simply throw a handful of spare change into the offering basket at church on Sunday to solve the problem and thereby absolve themselves of their responsibility in the matter is being disingenuous at best. Gregory D. Krammen Greenville
Home remedies — Part I
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y new puppy has a favorite hobby. He searches for pens, which are everywhere at our house. He then goes onto the beige carpet and chews them all up. Oh, he leaves the shell. He will only eat so much plastic On My before he draws Mind the line and says, By Maureen “No more!” Burns So, I am left with a bunch of ink scribbling on my nice carpet. Well, OK, it isn’t that nice, but it’s all I’ve got. What to do!? Today someone reminded me that hair spray takes out ink. Voila! I knew that, but had forgotten. My mind can only retain so much valuable information. It seems to have a leak somewhere. Things keep falling out of it. But this important tidbit made me think of home remedies that work. When I asked others, they came up with some good ones. Some were definitely iffy, but who am I to judge? Lynne Welder said her mom always had her gargle with warm salt water if she was getting a sore throat. She said she still does and it still works. Her advice got better, though, or weirder. You decide. She said for a cold, she was taught to drink hot tea mixed with honey and pepper. I am not a pepper fan. I think I might prefer the cold. Lynn had one more idea. “I’m not sure if this counts as a home remedy, but I think God created us to move, so walking, running, swimming, biking, yoga, and of course, water aerobics, just make your body happy and run smoothly,” she said.
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This is certainly true and probably good to share even though it isn’t technically a home remedy, especially during America’s beginning of the year focus on health. My friend, Bev Geyer, said, “I have restless leg syndrome. Some people have been helped by drinking tonic water. It has to do with quinine being in it. Some people say that having an orgasm helps, something about dilating the blood vessels.” She added, “I have no comment about testing those theories.” Neither do I. I will leave this remedy for you to explore. Tom and Sharon Pridgeon offered some good things: “Clean your stainless steel appliances with olive oil. Spray your yard with clear liquid dish detergent and water to control mosquitoes.” Both of these ideas sound way too simple to believe, but I do. They went on: “For toenail fungus, use Listerine mouthwash.” This tidbit of advice came from Tom’s friend. Luckily, Tom has never had to test this one. Personally, I never thought I’d write the words “toenail fungus” in a column. For those of you who suffer from this malicious malady, you may be excited to give this remedy a try. Rosemary Klackle said, “To remove salt stains from shoes and boots, dip a cloth in a mixture of 1 tablespoon white vinegar to 1 cup water.” I think folks know that one, but just in case some poor sucker doesn’t and is walking around with salty shoes — this one’s for you. Thanks for reminding us, Rosemary. Deb Christensen advised us to use “Peroxide, Dawn dish soap and baking soda for carpet stains. For those stubborn greasy spots that appear on sweatshirts, I use Stanley Degreaser or 20 Mule
Team Borax.” Pat Marston shared, “I use the dryer sheet to clean the lint trap of the dryer. It works like a charm.” I am embarrassed to say, other than wiping off the lint, the thought of cleaning the lint trap has never entered my feeble mind. I have used the dryer sheet in water in a burned pan, though, and it helps take the burned yuck out. Lavender is good to help get your sweet self to sleep. A spray or drop on the pillow eases your rest. In Spain, they used to tell me to have some sugar after exercise so I wouldn’t get sore. I always tried it and I never got sore. Not sure if it worked or if I just enjoyed the sugar. One person told me she rubs menthol into her temples and by her nose if she gets a headache. I dab it by my nose when I feel stuffed up and it allows me to sleep with ease. So much nicer than taking a drug. Linda Daniels makes a potion she uses as a cough medicine: “It got me through the gunk that was going around at Christmas. I used it as often as I needed it: 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, 1 tablespoon cider vinegar, 2 tablespoon water, 1 tablespoon honey.” Gisela Peek’s advice made me laugh out loud. Gisela is from Germany and her grandmother told her, “If you ever get jaundiced, get a live fish and tie it around your waist and leave it on for three days.” Gisela does not recommend it and neither do I. It certainly does fall into the home remedy category, though. I dare you to try it. Maureen Burns, a Greenville resident, is a professional speaker and author. Her e-mail address is maureenburns@maureenburns.com.
Winter fun in days gone by
leighing, skating and sledding were popular winter pastimes in Greenville in days past. The fun sometimes turned dangerous but with a little common sense and planning it could be made safer. Take sleighing, for instance: “Street racing From the with fast cutters is Archives dangerous to B y Sandy pedestrians, as Main was daily evidenced on Lafayette Street during the fine sleighing of last week,” wrote the Greenville Independent editor in 1874. And he had personal knowledge of same: “On two occasions a fast cutter with black horse and lady driver came near running over a representative of the Independent — and if he could scarcely escape, it is seen the danger to children and the old and decrepit was great. “We hope that on ordinary occasions the ordinance against fast driving will be enforced to the letter.” “But,” he went on to say, “we trust that no objections will be made to fast cutters on holidays. On such days nobody cares for business and little business is done — everybody is after recreation. By common consent the day is given up to enjoyment.” On Christmas afternoon, he noted, “the street was crowded with swift-gliding sleighs and the air was full of the harmony of merry jingling bells. Everybody was on the street who could secure a horse and cutter, and everybody else looked on and enjoyed the sport who could
secure a good standing-place in doors or out.” Sledding was enjoyed by youngsters, although it too could be dangerous when they coasted downhill on the street. “Boys and girls have been having much enjoyment coasting down Cass street on long bobs, carrying great loads from above the school building down to the neighborhood of the river,” reported the Independent in 1911. “A casualty occurred last evening at the crossing of Cass and Franklin streets. A load of lively boys and girls was nearing the M.E. church crossing as an automobile was approaching from the south at a lively gait, nobody on the watch at the crossing.” Because of the buildings on the corner the driver didn’t see the sled until near the intersection. Unable to stop, he turned sharply west but the rear of the car swung around and hit the sled near the middle. Thankfully, injuries were minor. The Independent suggested that “if bobs are permitted to course down Cass street or any other, sentinels should be posted at crossings.” The city came up with a better idea in 1937, as reported in the Independent. “Greenville youngsters will now have a safe place to slide following action by the street committee of the city council today. The two blocks west of Cross street on Orange street have been closed to traffic by the city street department and the snow and ice will be graded down level for a good sledding surface.” The Independent noted, “Two deaths have already occurred in West Michigan cities due to collisions between sleds and autos in the streets and Greenville does
not want to add to that toll.” Two more streets were added to the closure list the next year: “The three streets which have been closed to traffic for coasting have been iced today by the street department. The three hills are on Franklin street back of the schoolhouse, extreme south end of Webster street and west Orange street.” Ice skating was popular with people of all ages but skaters falling through the ice on ponds or rivers was a worry. Greenville provided a safe place to skate in 1938, as reported by the Independent: “The skating pond which the city of Greenville has been making on the Black Athletic Field is now completed and will be opened to the public this evening. A large floodlight has also been placed there, through the co-operation of the Consumers Power Co., to furnish the light upon the field.” The Independent reported on the opening the next day: “The skating rink at the Black Athletic Field was well initiated last evening when nearly two hundred skaters assembled to try the ice. A smooth surface has been obtained and the rink is floodlighted. It promises to be a popular gathering place for townspeople as well as students.” It was so popular, in fact, that a week later the Independent said the present size of the skating pond was proving inadequate so a rink of similar size was being constructed next to the current rink and would be ready for use in two or three days. Plus, the Independent noted, “Parents can breathe a sigh of relief in knowing there is no opportunity for the children to get into the water.” smain@staffordgroup.com