Mark’s Remarks
Compassion for the bug | Mark’s Remarks
As the school year begins, I find myself spending every waking moment at school. I often go in early in the mornings on weekends or after the kids have gone…
Read MoreNo boys allowed | Mark’s Remarks
When I first started teaching almost 25 years ago, there were only a few men on the staff. In my own particular grade level, there were no men. When you…
Read MoreListen to the words | Mark’s Remarks
Go figure. I like to listen to the oldies station. If you’ve read any of my columns about my love of history, that will come as no surprise. However, it…
Read MoreThe magic of an ordinary birthday | Mark’s Remarks
Bless Andrea Degenhart’s heart. Every year she wishes me a happy birthday in her column. You would think that all of us at the Republic-Times are one big happy family…
Read MoreThe airwaves | Mark’s Remarks
In my hometown, we have a little radio station that started broadcasting in the 1950’s. I grew up listening. In the mornings, there would be commentary from the announcer, a…
Read MoreWaiting for Rosie | Mark’s Remarks
I know most of you remember watching “The Jetsons” when you were a kid. Or maybe when your kids were kids, or whatever. The stuff on that show seemed centuries…
Read MoreThe night the lights went out | Mark’s Remarks
Recently, we had a power outage that was, I thought, wonderful. It seemed everything halted for a time. We lit candles and sat around in the quiet, really enjoying each…
Read MoreHow hard is it to smile? | Mark’s Remarks
I went to a local business office not too long ago. A lot of you must go there from time to time. I will try to be as vague as…
Read MoreThe Hex | Mark’s Remarks
I don’t really believe in hexes, but I do something I call putting a “hex” on old houses. Maybe it should be called “saying a prayer for an old house.”…
Read MoreOh well | Mark’s Remarks
Let’s face it: we are, for the most part, a self-centered society. How many times do you listen to a conversation, all the while focusing not on what the other…
Read MoreDreams? | Mark’s Remarks
I always read Roald Dahl’s Big Friendly Giant to my fourth graders every year. It is a fun, complicated and terribly disgusting book. Kids love it. One fun part of…
Read MoreA book of stories? | Mark’s Remarks
Sure, there are some parts of the Bible that are hard to understand, and there are parts of the Bible many people struggle with. It’s easy to argue. People will…
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