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Longer mortgages wouldn’t pay off in the long run

We all know that housing has become less affordable in recent years, and there’s no easy answer for changing it. President Trump’s proposal for 50-year mortgages shows how there’s no easy answer. It sounds great because of the potential for lower monthly payments. It’s important, however, to consider all the ways it could negatively affect the housing market. For one thing, I wouldn’t bet the farm on the idea that buyers would choose lower payments. They’d have more purchasing power. They might decide to just pay more for a newer or bigger house. Even if they opt for ...

Country School Kids — Verlane Willard Ross and Lois Willard Giles — ‘Growing Up in Sodus Township’

This series arises from a February 2025 interview with two Willard sisters, Verlane and Lois, and a subsequent visit to their former country school. Lois passed away recently, so we dedicate this series to her memory, grateful for her and her sister’s generosity in sharing their early life with us. Verlane (Willard) Ross was born to Bertha (Hendrickson) and William Vernon Willard in Tracy, Minnesota on March 14, 1939. Her younger sister, Lois (Willard) Giles, was born in Tracy on August 12, 1942. Verlane was the second and Lois the fourth of five daughters born to Bertha and William. ...

What is insomnia?

It’s not uncommon for people to have issues with sleep. Most will get back to regular sleep patterns sooner rather than later. What if the difficulty with sleep does not stop? What if sleep problems go on and on? Impaired sleep is a threat to a person’s general well-being and ability to function. The typical name for this problem is insomnia. Sleep disturbance is so important that it really should be addressed sooner rather than later. Impaired sleep, at a minimum, can impact your memory, your ability to think, your job performance, how you interact and socialize with ...

My Cororna

It started out as an ordinary, run-of-the mill winter cold. It’s been a few years since I’ve had a cold, so I thought OK, I’m due. Generally, my colds are simply an annoyance. Seldom do I take anything for it. Besides, the syrups that are commonly used to treat the symptoms of a cold taste so horrible that you want to scrub your tongue with soap and water. My cold journeys usually go like this: I develop a slight case of the sniffles. This is followed a day to later by some light to moderate coughing. A week later, it’s all over; the symptoms resolve, and life goes on. Not ...

Ice spoons for specks

When it comes to ice fishing, a hot bite for crappies under the hardwater is tough to beat. While sometimes these finicky fish need to be finessed with tiny jigs tipped with spikes, in presentations more suited for bluegills, the best bites where crappies are aggressively feeding and slamming small spoons are often the most memorable. That’s not to say one can’t get away with some small spoons these days though, either, as more and more lures cater to crappie anglers on the ice. What follows are some tips to get the most out of an enjoyable spoon bite for crappies. Line it up Of ...

It’s difficult

Please excuse me for being a downer, but in today’s world, it’s difficult to stay upbeat and positive. Why is it hard to see the light today? Well, let me list a couple of downers, and, then, finish with some uppers. Within the least few days, the happenings in our country scare the heck out of me. As a nation founded on the rule of law and democratic values, how did we become a nation similar to other non-democratic countries? How can we not respect territorial integrity? The short term and the long term repercussions of what’s happened will be felt by everyone, and the ...