. — Calvin Luther Martin, PhD . I write this while news sources frantically piece together the circumstances of a school shooting in Florida. At least 17 people, students and teachers, killed. At least 14 wounded. The death toll will likely rise as the critically injured succumb to wounds. Kids shot and killed by another […]
“Bang bang, you’re dead!” School shootings Read More »
— Calvin Luther Martin, PhD . Behold the chair! What’s remarkable is its location. (As realtors are fond of saying, Location, location, location!) Several weeks ago its owner, a tenant at 21 Washington St., discarded it as trash, dropping it off the front porch where it shamelessly sat in full view in a neighborhood
. — Calvin Luther Martin, PhD Meet the two women running for Malone town supervisor. Andrea Stewart and Mary Scharf differ in personality and professional background, while both present formidable credentials for the job of leading this community. I interviewed them, separately, for this article, and here is my take on each. . Andrea (Andy)
Andrea Stewart or Mary Scharf: Which one for Malone Town Supervisor? Read More »
. — Calvin Luther Martin, PhD . Malone has a drug problem. So does the rest of America, although for our purposes this is irrelevant, since you and I don’t live in the rest of America; we look at the rest of America on TV. What I’m about to describe isn’t a TV program; it’s
Malone’s jaw-dropping crime statistics: We need a detective & third judge Read More »
. — Calvin Luther Martin, PhD . Mike Maneely One reason I support Mike for village trustee is his uncompromising support of our police department. It never ceases to amaze me how people living outside the village express the (stupid) opinion that Malone doesn’t need its cops. Nitwits who say this obviously don’t have to deal with the
Our Picks: Mike Maneely, Andrea Dumas, Carl Sherwin Read More »
— Calvin Luther Martin, PhD . Robert Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values. The book was a classic when I was a young man. Pirsig published it in 1974 — after 121 publishers had rejected it. It sold over 5 million copies. One hundred twenty-one publishers were pretty darn
Mike’s Point of View Read More »
. — Calvin Luther Martin, PhD . Rats are turning up in people’s homes in alarming and unprecedented numbers in the Depot area, down below the Franklin County courthouse. . “I had one on my damn porch,” writes one incensed neighbor. “It about gave me a heart attack. The little fucker chewed a hole in my big plastic
Rattus rattus: Malone’s rat plague Read More »
. Calvin Luther Martin, PhD . When I was 40 and a university professor, my best friend (believe it or not) was an 11-year-old boy. My son Forrest. Earlier this week, 11-year-old Nick Benardot was smashed by a motorist as Nick was on his way home from school. (He’s alive, in a medically-induced coma with
When darkness crushes us: Nick Benardot Read More »
. — Calvin Luther Martin, PhD . If you had told me a year ago that Donald Trump was going to run for President, you and I would have laughed. If you had told me a year ago that I would be supporting Trump for President, we would have laughed even harder. I’m not laughing any
. Two little mice Swift, soft, furry Scurry from some recess Or hidden little nest In the palace of my mind Two little mice Feet padded Noses pink Whiskers long Teeth razor sharp Two little mice One called Fear The other Anxiety Explore Every corner Of the palace of my mind Two little mice Play, hide Tease, fight
“Two Little Mice” (a poem) Read More »
Editor’s note: This article was written by Nina Pierpont at this time of year, 8 years ago. It’s worth re-reading. . . — Nina Pierpont, MD, PhD . This is a blog for people who like to go outside and see what’s coming up or coming back or singing now that it’s spring. Please
Birds returning, frogs waking up: What’s back Read More »
. — Susy Cantwell* . For two centuries my homeland, Hungary, was a province within the sprawling Ottoman Empire. As a child, I thrilled to tales of skirmishes between heroic Hungarian patriots and villainous Turks. Time has a way of healing old wounds. Hungarian bitterness toward Turks would eventually be displaced by hostility toward more recent invaders. Hence, when the opportunity arose to spend several
Witness to Revolution: Istanbul with Susy Cantwell Read More »
. Editor’s note: When I read the newspapers about the Middle East my reactions run from horror to incomprehension to anger to sorrow. Somewhere in that pile of news — that mess — there are real people living real lives, or at least trying to. I yearn to meet these people — the ordinary people.
Panties & Burkas: Travels with Susy Cantwell Read More »
. — Calvin Luther Martin, PhD . Vote! This Tuesday. November 3rd. Don’t even think of using the tired excuse, “But my vote doesn’t make a difference!” I know this excuse; I used it for years. It’s horseshit. And you know it. It’s defeatist and self-fulfilling. . . We are the beneficiaries of centuries of blood, sweat, and tears
General Election 2015: Meet the Candidates Read More »
. — Calvin Luther Martin, PhD . Same man in both photos, correct? Just a different event, right? Wrong. Although the similarities are striking. » both are named Charlie » both are just one hot biscuit away from 330 lbs » both are about the same age — called “old.” LOL! » both are grandfathers
Charlie Robert: Bear of a man Read More »
. — Calvin Luther Martin, PhD . If you don’t know Ed Lockwood, that’s him in the gray silhouette, above. This is him, below. Calm, thoughtful. Unflappable. A man at peace with himself and the world. Should you ever find yourself stranded on a desert island, Ed’s the guy you want to be stranded with. Besides having
Why do 151 kids like Ed Lockwood? Read More »
— Calvin Luther Martin, PhD . Can you pick out which one is Peter Dumas? Truth be told, he’s not in the photo, but he’s been in this muddy brawl many a time. They say it’s not a brawl, but I don’t believe it. They say they’re playing a game. Called rugby. But pictures don’t lie. Rugby
Peter Dumas: “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re taking this to trial!” Read More »
. — Calvin Luther Martin, PhD . Malone has a problem. I’ve come up with a name for it. The “Invisible Mayor Syndrome.” I’ve lived through one administration of Joyce Tavernier, two of Joe Gokey, two of Brent Stewart, and now two of Todd LePine. Joe, Brent, and Todd all suffered from the Invisible Mayor
Mike Maneely: The man who wants to be a (visible) mayor Read More »
. — Calvin Luther Martin, PhD . Any day, now, this man is going to get a phone call from the intense-looking man, below. The man awaiting the call is Hugh Hill, a Malone Village Trustee running for re-election. (I very much hope he gets re-elected. More on that in a moment. First, let’s address the tube
Hugh Hill wants new lungs . . . and your vote Read More »
— Calvin Luther Martin, PhD . Notice the expression on this man’s face. He’s smiling ever so slightly. Why? Because he’s looking out the window at this. His name is Phil Hans. He’s a member of the Malone School Board. He’s running for Malone Village Trustee. He’s a dairy consultant with Food Commodities International. But this
Phil Hans is worried. You should be too. Read More »
. — Calvin Luther Martin, PhD . This is a story about a mouse. (This isn’t a bedtime story; it’s an election-time story. Oh, and it’s a true story.) The mouse was born and raised here. There was nothing remarkable about this mouse when it was a little mouse. It got into the usual kinds of
Wayne Miller thinks Malone should join the 21st century Read More »
— Calvin Luther Martin, PhD . How much would you be willing to pay to spend a night in this? (Here’s a few close-ups.) . Still undecided? This might sway you. . . Imagine waking up to the dawn chorus of larks and sparrows, and gazing out on the rolling, bucolic landscape through this splendidly arched window. A
Miracle on Mill Street Read More »
— Calvin Luther Martin, PhD .At the beginning of the college football season his senior year, he snapped a finger in practice. The orthopedist warned him to skip the season if he wanted his hand to heal properly. “Otherwise, you will pay dearly for this injury later in life.” “Nope!” promptly replied the strapping young man, smiling.
Craig Carriero: District Attorney? Read More »
. — Calvin Luther Martin, PhD . Dave Merrick is running for Malone Town Justice. (Yes, he’s the son of Don and Debbie Merrick. Don, as many of you know, was Principal at Franklin Academy for many years. Debbie was a celebrated obstetrics nurse at Alice Hyde.) Their son David, a Tenth Mountain Division veteran who saw combat in
Why we support Dave Merrick for Malone Town Justice Read More »