Apparently I blinked and the 1998 chick flick “Practical Magic” developed a huge cult following. The film, about witch sisters Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian (Nicole Kidman) Owens, came … more

“By Any Means” is a movie about two disparate FBI employees that can’t decide if it wants to be a “Buddy Cop” movie or not. The pair are mismatched, but are they “comically” … more

Writer sends a strongly worded letter Dear Mother Nature, Normally, I wouldn’t question a single thing you do. I’m a big fan of your work. Starry skies? Awe-inspiring. Tropical … more

If there’s one horror franchise that loves its jump scares, it’s “Insidious.” The 2010 original is best known for a red-faced demon appearing out of nowhere. But that film also boasted an … more

I watch the CBS Evening News almost every Friday. Not for the news. I watch it to see their short segment, On the Road with Steve Hartman, that ends the news on Fridays. They show good people and … more

The dialogue-free Road Runner/Wile E. Coyote cartoons are my favorite of the Looney Tunes. No jokes centered around annoying accents or speech impediments, just pure physical comedy. Of course, … more

From my combination man cave/workshop behind our house, I can still look out and see the old tree in my mind’s eye. I had known about it for a long time until one afternoon this past March when … more

A columnist gets to know her competition more

Back in 2019, brothers Benny and Josh Safdie delivered one of the best films of the year, and possibly the decade, with “Uncut Gems.” The film was, as I wrote in a review earlier this year, “a 135-minute anxiety attack.” And I mean that in the best possible way – I have enormous amounts of respect for movies and filmmakers that know just how to push my buttons. Now in 2025, the Safdie brothers have graduated to solo projects. Benny didn’t fare too well with “The Smashing Machine” (whose review I quoted earlier), though Dwayne Johnson did earn a surprise Golden Globe nomination for playing MMA fighter Mark Kerr, so maybe there’s some life in that film after all. But Josh has found both commercial and critical success with his new film “Marty Supreme,” and he did it by sticking with what works. more

The finder of missing things more

Today, Dec. 31, is the last day of 2025, a fitting time to remember loved ones we have lost. Likewise, tomorrow is a time for starting anew while honoring, rather than dismissing, the loves of our past. more

I sat in on a Sunday evening service a few weeks back in which the preacher offered suggestions on how to better read the Bible. more

Five fear-busting reminders for Halloween more

I come from a long line of hot tea drinkers, so filling my pretty cup with an aromatic brew has become the “perfect start” to my mornings. Recently, I set my cup on the counter to cool while I helped the two-year-old go “potty.” A minor distraction. Mere minutes. Yet, when I returned, I found a gnat swimming in the luscious amber liquid. I stood there, staring down at the bug in disgust. Who knows what germs a gnat carries. Naturally, I poured the tea down the drain. Death for the gnat. A fresh cup for me. It's strange, though. Isn’t it? One minor distraction can allow a gnat to land in our drinks. It just takes one little gnat to ruin a perfectly good cup of tea. more

Plans are underway for another national birthday — the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States of America. more

As someone who loves the great outdoors, this is my favorite time of the year. I am betting that for most of you reading this, it is your favorite time too. It is a special feeling that comes over us. more

I’ve been an active member of many civic organizations since coming to Buffalo in 1978. I had never before been a “joiner,” outside of Future Farmers of America in high school. The eldest son of a former FFA member, I didn’t give joining FFA any thought at all. I just did it. That was what farm boys did. more

Unless you lived in a city all your life, you have probably driven or walked down an old dirt road. Maybe it was a road home, a road to grandparents’ house, or to a favorite fishing or hunting spot. more

Coming of phone-age in complicated times more

As we observe National Newspaper Week Oct. 5-11, I am compelled to mention two small town weeklies which remain faithful to the country newspaper tradition. more

Fries with a side of kindness more

Life is full of unexpected surprises. I wouldn’t have thought the simple act of going to a produce auction would introduce me to a new recycling friend that I just hadn’t met yet! Her name is Michelle Perry. She and her husband, Mark, own and operate The Pumpkin Patch here locally. We were discussing the vast quantities of produce and the relatively short shelf life some can have. MIchelle told me the pumpkins they use to decorate their farm continue giving much longer than the recognized fall season. For Example, she gives lots of her leftovers to her daughter who then stores them in her cool, dry basement to use to supplement feed for chickens for as long as a year or even more. more

Sitting in my outdoor swing this warm Sunday afternoon, I am cautioned by thunder rumbling in the south. more

When off the grid goes all wrong more

I was walking along a gravel bar while fishing a creek when I saw it. The sun was shining on it like a beacon, guiding me to it. I knelt, picked it up, and held it gently in my hand. It was a Native American arrowhead. more