Stories,photos

176 results total, viewing 131 - 140

The many faces of a community newspaper editor

The editor of this small newspaper finds herself in the position of doing many jobs she never dreamed of as a young, inexperienced and naïve journalism school student. When you start out at … more

Fran Ostendorf | 5/12/16

Our new website is up and running – have a look

I am surrounded by smart people who are never at a loss for words. Friends, family members, colleagues are all capable speakers with lots of valuable things to say. I, on the other hand, start … more

Fran Ostendorf | 4/28/16

No lack of community here!

We have so much going on in our community! As many of you have noticed, there’s often too much for our small staff to cover. And lately there’s been so many interesting events that you, … more

Fran Ostendorf | 4/15/16

Vacation? It wasn’t meant to be

Next year, I may volunteer to be the poster child for the “Get your flu shot” campaign. This was supposed to be my long-planned spring-break staycation. I was taking a week … more

Fran Ostendorf | 4/13/16

Reflections on a ‘big’ birthday

I recently celebrated a milestone birthday. Those who know me personally know which one it is. For those of you who don’t, you’ll just have to guess as I’m not revealing which milestone I’ve achieved. Suffice it to … more

Fran Ostendorf | 3/3/16

Summer dreams

A recent conversation between adult members of my family made me realize the impact of camp on multiple generations. The conversation went something like this: Question: Why didn’t I go to Jewish camp? Answer: Nobody ever considered … more

Fran Ostendorf | 2/19/16

Looking back, moving forward

We’ve spent a lot of time talking about the weather again. But this time, the topic centers on what a mild winter we’ve had so far. One year ago, I was writing this column from my home office. The weather was awful; the snow piling up. A … more

Fran Ostendorf | 2/5/16

Thinking about writing to the editor? Here’s how

Recently, I’ve been asked many questions about letters to the editor and contributors’ columns (op-eds). We love when our readers take enough interest in our content to write to us. We also love getting feedback, and we value the diverse … more

Fran Ostendorf | 1/22/16

Backyard bird buffet brings joy to winter

For as long as I can remember, wherever I have lived, there have been bird feeders in my backyard. My current home is no exception. Backyard birds have always been a source of endless fascination. You start to recognize their songs and their … more

Fran Ostendorf | 1/7/16

Travel with meaning

For more than 30 years, at this time of year, my husband and I have traveled to visit his family in Chicago. It hasn’t mattered where we’ve lived, what our work or financial state. I’ve been pregnant; children have been sick. We’ve gone. The … more

Fran Ostendorf | 12/25/15