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Be an angel and help with Christmas giving

Across our communities, some businesses and retail establishments have chosen to host Salvation Army Angel Trees this season. They are tangible reminders that each tag hanging from a branch is a child who, without you, might not have as merry and bright a Christmas morning this year. But with your help, so much is possible. Each tag is a child whose parents aren’t in a position to ask Santa to fulfill a wish list so long the gifts under the tree spill over into the next room. But just maybe, with you acting as a go-between, there will be a few new toys, clothing, shoes, books, games ...

Columbus Neo-Nazi march was repugnant

Letter writers to The Columbus Dispatch were spot on earlier this week with a response to a neo-Nazi march in the Short North neighborhood of our state’s capital on Nov. 16. “The variety of people living and enjoying themselves in each other’s company in this neighborhood must feel to them like a constant repudiation of their goals and fantasies. Let’s keep it up,” wrote Justin D’Arms and Joanne Goldhand in a letter the Dispatch published Tuesday. Other city and state officials rightly jumped to denounce the tiny gathering of those so covered in clothing and masks it was ...

Smokeout is a great time to ‘clear the air’

Today is a good day to clear the air, so to speak. It’s the annual Great American Smokeout — marked on the third Thursday in November — when smokers, hopefully, will make the commitment to stop smoking for the day. The goal is to convince smokers that if they can quit for 24 hours, they can quit for good. You don’t have to stop smoking in one day. Start with Day 1, literature from the American Cancer Society reminds. It’s a great first step to stopping an extremely bad habit that could lead to dire consequences. Like with most efforts, there is good news and bad news to ...

Supporting each other: Preventing suicide and healing together

As the coordinator of the Columbiana County Suicide Prevention Coalition, I want to take a moment to reflect on the challenges our county has been facing. Recently, we’ve seen a rise in suicides, and with the holiday season fast approaching, I feel it’s crucial to address how we can support one another. The holiday season is often associated with warmth, joy, and togetherness, but for many, it can also be a time of deep sadness, isolation, and heightened stress. The pressures of the holidays can amplify these feelings, making it an especially difficult time for those who are ...

Women’s Suffrage Monument planned

Ohio has played a significant role in our country’s history on many levels — from the Underground Railroad to conquering the skies (and space). It’s no surprise that Ohio played a significant role in the women’s suffrage movement, too. Salem played a big role. According to data, the Ohio Women’s Convention at Salem in 1850 met on April 19–20 in Salem — a center for reform activity. It was the third in a series of women’s rights conventions that began with the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848. It was the first of these conventions to be organized on a statewide basis. ...

Replacing Vance in Senate will be DeWine’s decision

Gov. Mike DeWine has a big decision to make: Who will he select to replace U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance who will resign to be sworn in as vice president of the United States? Vance’s political career has skyrocketed in a short time. After getting the coveted endorsement from Donald Trump before the May 2022 Republican primary for the Senate seat, Vance had never held political office. Vance won the crowded Republican primary and then defeated Democrat Tim Ryan in the November 2022 election for the post held for 12 years by Republican Rob Portman. About 18 months into his Senate term, Trump ...