We have a sacred fly in our house. For two weeks now, all four of us have made it our mission to kill that thing. I know I have hit him with…
Category: Editorials
Emerald’s Gem Box: Shop Locally This Season (especially this season) – Support your hometown businesses –
In one week we will gather around our tables, with our family and friends, and celebrate Thanksgiving. This time of year it is brought to the forefront of our minds to give…
Letter to Editor
Recently the Journal ran a letter from a dedicated liberal who took a subscriber to task for being a veteran who supported Trump. He was quite critical of the writer, accusing him…
From the sunny side: Pack a shoebox
One doesn’t have to look far to see that times these days can be challenging, to say the least. It seems like this year has hit us with every kind of “whammo”…
Diane Lynn Pinkard
Miss Diane Lynn Pinkard, age 54, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020 in Jacksonville, Fla. She was born in Madison, Fla. to Alfred and Frances Pinkard. She lived in Crystal River…
Learning As I Go: Veteran’s Day
Whether a regular church attender or not, most of us are familiar with the Hebrew leader, Moses. He was the one God chose to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and into…
Emerald’s Gem Box: Florida signed a death warrant for small businesses
A death warrant for small businesses was signed with the approval of Florida Amendment 2 on last week’s ballot. Amendment 2 (Raising Florida’s Minimum Wage) received 60.8 percent of the vote, narrowly…
From the sunny side: Vote for happiness
To say the past months have been a trying time would be the understatement of all understatements. Watching and waiting on the recent election results can certainly add to anyone’s anxiety level,…
Learning As I Go: “Halloween is over already!”
“Halloween is over already!” my son cried from the backseat. Elephant tears ran down his cheeks as he boohooed all the way home. “No more costumes,” “No more candy,” “No more running…
Emerald’s Gem Box: How will you act tomorrow? Like an adult or a child?
By the time this paper hits the streets, the polls will still be open for a few more hours. Tomorrow, or the next day, or the next day, we will find out…
Learning As I Go: Sit in your seat
“In front of you is a piece of tape on the table. Write your name on the tape. This is your seat in the main auditorium for the remainder of the conference.”…
Emerald’s Gem Box: GET OUT AND VOTE!
Early voting has begun and, according to news reports, the turnout is great! That is such a fantastic fact; considering how low voter turnout has been in the last several years. According…
From the sunny side: Unity
I had a conversation with someone recently and a thought hit my mind. That’s not unusual for a thought to hit my mind. Sometimes, a really good thought hits my mind and…
From the sunny side: Looks aren’t everything, but they do matter
I don’t consider myself to be an extremely superficial person. I generally try to see the “person inside” rather than looking at outside appearances. I do admit there were instances in my…
Emerald’s Gem Box: County Referendum and State Amendments What they really mean
We are down to the wire! It is officially VOTING TIME! Early voting has begun and the polls have been bustling; absentee ballots are being mailed in; while some citizens like to…
Learning As I Go: My tribe
It was obvious he was upset. He walked through the house with his head hanging down. The summer had been long, boring and lonely. COVID-19 sucked most of the fun out of…
From the sunny side: Elevator music
Of the many fond memories of time spent with my father, taking road trips and the music that he would play often sticks out in my mind. One particular trip was when…
Learning As I Go: Are you ready?
Whenever I hear about someone finding out they have cancer, there’s a lump that forms deep in my throat. Immediately I go back and remember our own news. I relive the emotions…
Emerald’s Gem Box: Happy birthday, Kennedy
Two years ago, I entered into the elite and amazing group of grandparenthood; and I must say being a grandmother (AKA Glamma) is absolutely wonderful. My perfect little granddaughter, Kennedy Elizabeth…
From the sunny side: Differences
I’m sure y’all know by now that I try to stay away from too much “political stuff” here. I figure there’s enough of that in other places. If you are a regular…