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An author’s opinion on book bans

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: A local resident e-mailed me recently to let me know there are people in Steubenville trying to cut funding for your local libraries. Why? Because the libraries are carrying books like mine, “The Legend of Jamie Roberts.” The books I write have LGBTQ+ characters. This is reason enough for some people to try and convince others to cut funding from your local libraries. That’s unfortunate, because public libraries are great places to seek stories and information from perspectives besides your own. These folks will try to couch it in “concern for the ...

Questions about diocese remain

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops held a meeting from Nov. 10-13 and on the agenda was the fate of the Diocese of Steubenville. Since the closing of Holy Name Cathedral in 2008, and the destruction of the diocese in the years that followed, nothing was done by the hierarchy to investigate what Bishops Daniel Conlon and Jeffrey Monforton were doing. For those that do not know, a bishop, once appointed to their position by the pope, is the sole person in charge of the workings of the Diocese: This includes all churches, schools, cemeteries and properties. All are ...

Remember to give thanks for what you had

Local Columns

Well, we blinked. And already it is November. November. The month in which the leaves fall. The month in which the days shorten and darkness sets in before the 5 p.m. news. November. The time when we are tasked with the responsibility of making sure each and every decoration is hung just right, and with making sure every cookie is baked perfectly. With finding a gift for everyone on our list and hoping it is not one they want to return. We blinked. And already it is November. The Halloween candy is just about gone. Christmas is right around the corner. Porches have replaced ...

History in the Hills: Our native history

Local Columns

Most of us here in our area are descended from immigrants. Many of my ancestors came over in the 20th century from Europe for a better life. My great-grandmother, on the other hand, had ancestors here going back to the 17th century, and they are interesting to track down. As a student of history, I found this aspect of my family tree rewarding because I can place them in different time periods of American history. With that history though, my family only came to this part of the world for a job when the mills came. My wife on the other hand, although she grew up in Brooklyn, has ...

Post election exhale

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: As someone who’s proud to be involved in our local politics, I want to take a moment to reflect on this election season and extend my sincere congratulations to all those who stepped forward to run for public office. Whether your campaign ended in victory or not, you showed something essential to the health of our democracy: A willingness to serve. Running for office requires courage, hard work and a genuine desire to make our communities better. Every candidate who put their name on the ballot contributed to that effort. To those who won — congratulations ...

This is no joke

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: Comedian Gianmarco Soresi has a bit where he nervously explains the technical difference among pedophile, hebephile and ephebophile — diagnostic distinctions psychologists use for abhorrent sexual proclivities — while begging the audience to bear with him because he “has a point.” The punchline: “... the reason we don’t make those distinctions is because it’s very hard to explain the difference without sounding like a pedophile.” Apparently Megyn Kelly missed this obvious reflection when she said of Jeffrey Epstein, “He was into the barely legal ...