Marathon Man

First appearing in The Tecumseh Herald, Nov. 2, 2023 Boston, London, Chicago, Berlin, and New York City have something in common that is said to have originated in ancient Greece: these are the top five cities worldwide for marathon runners. Although millions have run 26.2-mile courses around the world, they still represent a small percentage … Continue reading Marathon Man →

We’re all in this together

First appearing in The Tecumseh Herald, Oct. 11, 2023 "That government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth." These words have been used by politicians over the past 160 years, but they were first utted by Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, at a … Continue reading We’re all in this together →

Thanksgiving joy

First appearing in The Tecumseh Herald, Nov. 2016, 2023 Writing a regular column is both a joy and a challenge, and right now, in this space and time, I am finding it a challenge to find joy. We are right at the start of our holiday season, with Thanksgiving just days away, and I think … Continue reading Thanksgiving joy →

The Community Newspaper

First appeared in The Tecumseh Herald, January 6, 2024 As I reflect on the past year--it went pretty quickly, didn't it?--I think about the stories I've written for The Tecumseh Herald and the many people I've had the pleasure of interviewing. Most of you know I love my work at the Herald and I'll always … Continue reading The Community Newspaper →

Declan McNelis

Most people would describe Declan McNelis as an amiable, affable and patient person with a great sense of humor. For a tour bus driver, these are essential qualities. McNelis, who will turn 60 in July, is a coach driver who spends his working hours piloting a tour bus around Ireland. He navigates the tightest turns … Continue reading Declan McNelis →

Are you a ‘friendly wave’ or a ‘flip him off’ person?

In January, the New York Times published the results of one of its "Opinion Page Focus Groups." This weekly feature brings together "subsets of Americans and explore assumptions that others might have — digging deeper into them, challenging them, in some cases stamping out stereotypes." This focus group was made up of 11 law enforcement … Continue reading Are you a ‘friendly wave’ or a ‘flip him off’ person? →

The Bomb

"If there is another world war, this civilization may go under." These were the words of J. Robert Oppenheimer in a 1950 interview. Oppenheimer, considered the "Father of the Atomic Bomb," is the subject of a biopic directed by Christopher Nolan, which opened July 20. As of Aug. 6, "Oppenheimer" had grossed $500 million worldwide. … Continue reading The Bomb →

Sr. Nancy Murray presents St. Catherine of Siena

A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of watching Sister Nancy Murray, O.P. perform her one-woman show on St. Catherine of Siena. It was probably one of the best programs I've ever seen. Murray, a native of Chicago and the biological sibling of comedian Bill Murray, is an Adrian Dominican Sister and St. … Continue reading Sr. Nancy Murray presents St. Catherine of Siena →

Tecumseh will celebrate its 200th birthday in 2024

Next July, Tecumseh will celebrate its bicentennial, marking 200 years as a community. While there likely aren't any residents who remember the centennial, a fair number of us can recall bits and pieces of the festivities from 1974. I was turning 16 that summer. I was a sophomore at THS, and working at the Dairy … Continue reading Tecumseh will celebrate its 200th birthday in 2024 →

March Madness

March Madness. For as long as I can remember, this has been a "thing" every spring. I don't really follow basketball, but if I had to pick one sport (besides golf) that I will watch, it's college basketball and usually during March Madness. I'm not sure why, but there is something almost hypnotic about the … Continue reading March Madness →