Culture

. — Michael J. Fournier, Guest Editor . Should You Go First Should you go first and I remain —To walk the road alone, I’ll live in memory’s garden, dear, —With happy days we’ve known. In Spring I’ll watch for roses red —When fades the lilac blue, In early Fall when brown leaves call —I’ll

. — 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

. 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

. — 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

. 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.

— 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

. — Calvin Luther Martin, PhD . Winter solstice.  Christmas eve.  And I am a hibernating bear, deep within the cave of winter dreams. All my life I have sensed a strange convergence between solstice and Christmas, like two vast planets wheeling into near collision.  Then each slowly spinning off on its separate course into

— Calvin Luther Martin, PhD I was 17 at the time.  In Southern California.  A college friend, Mike Madden, had invited me to spend Thanksgiving with him and his family, since I couldn’t go home for the holiday. Mike and his mom lived with his mom’s dad, a retired medical doctor.  I remember sitting in the living room with

News Flash (November 5th) Andrea Dumas just won a seat on the Malone Village Board!  New to political office, she ran against two incumbents — and prevailed over both.  (We’re delighted to see Joe Riccio returned to office.  He’s a wise and thoughtful man, and essential on that board.  Brian Langdon did a creditable job as trustee, and deserves

A warm summer evening.  Fair Week.  The stands jam-packed.  The excitement is palpable.  A rhythm & blues legend is about to perform. The crowd explodes in applause as four young men take their position on stage.  Four singers who will be inducted, seven years later, into both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of

—Calvin Luther Martin, PhD   Detail from dust jacket of “The Horse in Art,” John Baskett David Minnich, Director of the Wead Library, was honored this week by a gift of books from Dr. Nina Pierpont (my better half). Pierpont made the gift to celebrate Mr. Minnich’s century of service as Librarian.  (If not a