Local News and Events

Irish Greeting"Top o' the mornin' to ya!"Irish blessing “Wherever you go and whatever you do, may the luck of the Irish be there with you.”     Old Irish Blessing "May you have all the happiness and luck that life can hold—and at the end of your rainbows may you find a pot of gold."    Irish Blessing “May the winds of fortune sail you, may you sail a gentle sea, may it always be the other guy who says this drink's on me.”     Irish Blessing "May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future."     Irish Blessing “May love and laughter light your days and warm your hearth and home.”       Irish Blessing "May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back."     Bing Crosby "When Irish hearts are happy, all the world seems bright and gay. And when Irish eyes a... 03/16/2025

One of my favorite foods any time of the day is a good donut!  Even though my family is Southern, I am not a Krispy Kreme fan.  I have always favored Dunkin' Donuts, which has a good thing since I lived in Boston for two years and both my husband and my daughter went to Boston College.  You can't throw a pebble in the Boston area without hitting a Dunkin Donuts!  One thing I like about Dunkin Donuts is that they will personalize donuts to celebrate the local sports teams - like these purple frosted donuts celebrating the Baltimore Ravens football team and the red white and blue donuts celebrating the Washington Capitals hockey team..                  Happily, the world of donuts has grown beyond the competition between Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts.  In Washington we have a number of b... 03/16/2025

National Quilting Day 2025March 15, 2025 is National Quilting Day!! All you quilters in The Rain, how did you celebrate the day?I drove to Intercourse, PA, to meet my quilting friends at The Old Country Store, and I bought some fabric to finish a quilt and some fabric for quilts I have in progress. Then we went for lunch in Leola, a great place called Gracie's.  If you are thinking about learning to quilt, there is no time like the present. Howard County Community College has a quilting class starting next month.If you are looking for a retreat experience, consider joining Mid-Appalachian Quilters and attending their summer retreat for 3 days of classes, lectures, and programs with great national quilt teachers and lots of other quilters.Quilting is my passion, my sewing desk is right n... 03/15/2025

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced a plan to trim the USPS workforce by 10,000 employees through a voluntary early retirement program. In a letter to Congress on Thursday, DeJoy stated the goal is to cut costs at the financially struggling agency, which currently employs about 635,000 people. The retirement program was initially announced on January 13th.Adding intrigue to the cost-cutting measures, DeJoy confirmed the involvement of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk. DeJoy signed an agreement with the General Services Administration and DOGE to help identify further efficiencies within the USPS.A source indicated this move is intended to appease DOGE. DeJoy’s first meeting with DOGE representatives reportedly took place earlier this week.The collabo... 03/15/2025

Test Your Irish Knowledge! 🍀🌈🍀💰How Much Do You Know About St. Patrick's Day?19 St. Patrick’s Day Fun Facts You Might Not Know... St. Patrick's Day -- a day when everyone is a little bit Irish! But St. Patrick’s Day is more than just shamrocks, leprechauns 🍀🧑‍🎤, and wearing green—it’s a holiday filled with rich history, surprising traditions, and fascinating myths. Celebrated on March 17th, this Irish holiday honors St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, but there’s so much more to the story than you might think. From the truth about St. Patrick himself, to the history of St. Patrick's Day parades, to why people wear green on St. Patrick's Day, to how much money Americans will spend celebrating St. Patrick's Day, these 19 fun facts will test your knowledge and maybe even teach you som... 03/16/2025

 NINA HOLLANDER A TOP 100 COLDWELL BANKER REALTY SALES ASSOCIATE IN THE CAROLINAS I'm honored to be ranked #31 in Coldwell Banker Realty's Top 100 sales associates out of 1,600+ agents in North and South Carolina for gross commissions generated in February 2025. My thanks to all my loyal clients who've continued to support my business year in and year out since 1999 with their business and referrals.   "You don't earn loyalty in a day. You earn loyalty day-by-day." ... Jeffrey Gitomer It can't be said often enough: I'm beyond grateful to have the most loyal and supportive clients any Realtor® would be fortunate to have! Where would we Realtors® be without our loyal clients who support our business with their referrals and repeat business? So thank you, all! "You can't buy clients. You e... 03/15/2025

Bonita Springs’ newest brewery, Chubby Mermaid Brewing will sample its beer, pretzels and homemade beer cheese at Grumpy Goat Coffee’s next Sips & Bites free tasting event on Thursday, March 27 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. In addition, Pansardo Italian Food Specialties will sample their Italian sponge cakes. The Grumpy Goat roastery is located at 28280 Old 41 Rd., Unit 11, Bonita Springs. The tasting event is open to the public. Attendees can meet their local master coffee roaster and other artisan food and beverage experts and enjoy samples of their creations in a casual, happy hour style setting. Additional exhibitors include Kristi’s Key Lime Cookies, Noble Brews, Olde Naples Chocolate, Liberty Cove Interiors and Global Wellness Source who will be providing free tastings including gourmet ... 03/14/2025

"Classic Chiropractor or Network Chiropractor and what is right for your family."If you live in Redmond, WA, you're lucky to have access to a choice when it comes to your family chiropractic care. Not only are there multiple chiropractors to choose from, but you also have a choice in the type of care you can receive. While you have a classic chiropractor in Redmond WA, you can also look at Network Chiropractors. When it comes to the traditional method of chiropractic care, the classic chiropractors use spinal manipulation and joint manipulation, sometimes referred to as High Velocity Low Amplituted (HVLA). This type of chiropractor relies on rapid movements to restore normal joint mobility and reduce pain by breaking up restrictions in the joint. A Network Chiropractor relies on a diffe... 03/14/2025

Parade, Party, & Plenty of Green: Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Charlotte! 🍀March 15, 2025 In Uptown Charlotte The Queen City's beloved St. Patrick’s Day Parade is back this Saturday, March 15th, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM! Kicking off at North Tryon and 9th Street in Uptown Charlotte, the parade will feature vibrant floats, energetic marching bands, and talented Irish dancers. The celebration continues with Charlotte’s Going Green Festival, where you can enjoy live Irish music, Celtic arts and crafts, delicious food, and a variety of vendors. Charlotte's St. Patrick's Day Parade tradition began in 1996 with a small group of people, accompanied by a bagpiper, walking down Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte to mark the day. Since 1996, it has grown into an all-day extravaganza when Charlo... 03/14/2025

Photo Journalism and Wordsby Patricia Feager A rainbow of colors awaits visitors at The Tulip Farm in Pilot Point, Texas. Spring has officially begun to bloom in Denton, County. Thursday, March 13, 2025, was the perfect day to pick, but then again, isn't every day when there are opportunities to pick Tulips a perfect day?Color in landscape creates a mood but a vase or pitcher of Tulips to wake up to in the morning makes the day even brighter. As of now, the sun did not rise. But Tulips makes me feel happy. Joy to the world! Spring has sprung. For other parts of the country, I hope it won't be long.  No day, nor tulip can ever be taken for granted is what I was thinking. What does it feel like to be walking through the Tulip groves at the Tulip Farm located in Pilot Point? Hmmm... To me ... 03/14/2025

Salt Lake City — Tax season is here, and if you're feeling like you're caught in a whirlwind of confusion, you’re not alone. Between President Trump, Elon Musk, and the IRS making headlines, it’s hard to know where to look. Add in changes to tax laws and, well, you might feel like you need a seatbelt just to survive filing this year. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s the lowdown on the chaos and how to handle it.What’s All the Fuss About?Let’s start with the basics: The IRS has been dealing with a lot. Between ever-changing tax laws, mounting firing of IRS employees, and DOGE the agency has had its hands full. Toss in the fact that some pandemic-era tax credits have expired, and now tax refunds are down by about $1,000 per taxpayer, and things are looking a little chaotic.I... 03/13/2025

The single pane cartoons I feature by Timmothy Timm are strips that are actually submitted and printed in The Northern Sentry Newspaper (official newspaper of the Minot AFB). Timmothy basis these cartoons on something he read in the previous weeks paper.The Amtrak Empire Builder runs from Chicago to Seattle daily and is the only Amtrak service Minot offers. The Timm family has made good use of this service to visit Tina Timm when she attended The Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD).With the many choices of ways to travel the Empire Builder is often a good choice. I think what I liked best is that you can carry a lot of luggage but in addition to that the seats are comfortable and the rates are reasonable.If you are considering a trip I encourage you to consider Amtrak. I wish M... 03/15/2025

Activities Coming in 55+ Leisure World of Maryland March 13 - 23, 2025NUTRITION AND BREAST CANCER Thursday, March 13, at 10:30 a.m., Clubhouse I My Active Senior, in partnership with Montgomery County, hosts a rescheduled breast cancer awareness discussion featuring a two-time breast cancer survivor who will share nutritional tips, educational resources, and free gifts. This presentation aims to educate and support seniors affected by breast cancer. Free, but registration is required at the Lifestyle office in either clubhouse.  MOVIE: ‘’IRISH WISH’’ Friday, March. 14, at 1:30 p.m., Clubhouse II Auditorium In this charming romantic comedy, a woman makes a spontaneous wish while attending a wedding in Ireland, only to find herself in an unexpected twist of fate that challenges her views ... 03/13/2025

HEY MOM, I'M IN THE NEWS!Well, sort of…Imagine scrolling through CNBC’s latest article on the mortgage market and—BAM!—there it is: a beautiful photo of a home from our very own listing. No heads-up, no tag, no "Hey, can we borrow this?"—just our hard work being showcased for the world to see. Flattered? Absolutely. Surprised? A little. Ready to turn this into a marketing win? You bet!CNBC, We Appreciate the Free Advertising!We know real estate is a competitive game, and let’s be honest—great photos sell homes. So it’s no wonder that CNBC saw our listing and thought, Yep, that’s the one! We take pride in making homes look their absolute best, and clearly, our efforts are making waves—even in national news.Of course, we wouldn’t mind a little credit. A simple “Photo courtesy of Matt Helg... 03/13/2025

Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities Expire March 31Medicare in-home telehealth coverage that was expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic is set to end on March 31, 2025. Starting April 1, 2025, people with Medicare must be in an office or medical facility for covered telehealth services, with some exceptions for in-home telehealth appointments due to mental health, acute stroke, and end-stage renal disease. Visit medicare.gov/coverage/telehealth to learn more.Medicare Enrollment Deadlines ApproachingIf you missed your initial Medicare Enrollment Period or want to switch your Medicare Advantage Plan, you have until March 31st to: Enroll in Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and/or Part B (Medical Insurance) as part of the Medicare General Enrollment Period; or Switch to a different Medicar... 03/16/2025

Montgomery is a spectacular city!  Its warmth, Southern hospitality, high quality of life, and low cost of living make it an ideal place to work and live. While it is a mid-sized city, it has a small-town feel, giving you the best of both worlds!Midtown Montgomery is home to the city’s most diverse area. The people living there encompass all socioeconomic levels and include residents of varying ages, races, and orientations. In fact, people living in Midtown not only tolerate diversity; they welcome it and celebrate it!You will find everything you want from a big city in Midtown Montgomery; from world-class arts and theater to excellent health care facilities, to a bustling restaurant and retail area, and while every city has its own unique history, Montgomery is home to some of the mos... 03/12/2025

State Wide RealtyFarmville, VA 23901Celebrates St. Patrick's Day 2025The history behind St. Patrick’s Day is a bit different from the traditions that are done today in America. St. Patrick, the patron Saint of Ireland, is known for converting numerous Irish to Christianity. St. Patrick died on March 15, 431 and the Irish started a St. Patrick’s Day feast and religious festival to honor the day.          Irish emigrants in the U.S. began using St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate all things Irish, making it more of a secular event than a religious one. The traditions of wearing green, shamrocks, leprechauns and pots of gold have all evolved over the years as symbols of St. Patrick’s Day. Restaurants will dye beer green and some cities will even color a river green. It is said that if you don’t... 03/12/2025

SoberRide Free Ride HomeIf you are planning to celebrate with alcohol on St. Patrick’s Day, Monday, March 17, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and the Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) remind residents not to drink and drive. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly half of all traffic deaths on St. Patrick’s Day involve drunk drivers.MCDOT urges residents who choose to celebrate with alcohol to plan ahead for a safe ride home.Residents are urged to make plans before heading out to celebrate and to consider using one of the following safe ride options: SoberRide is a free ride home program offered by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program, in partnership with Lyft. A limited number of promotional codes for Lyft will be... 03/15/2025

This is a big deal for Spanish Springs starting at 3:00 pm with the parade.  If you never attended you need to come early, the parade is highlighted by the decorated golf carts, yes retired people have too much time on their hands, got to love it!  Strolling stilt walkers, bag pipers, clowns (the real ones) and thousands of people dressed for the occasion.  Seven food vendors, 36 market vendors, free photo booth so you can share with those not living here yet (rub it in).Playing from 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm is Cleghorn, the musical engine of CLEGHORN is renowned fiddler Dylan Cleghorn and his father, the legendary Texas guitarist John Cleghorn. CLEGHORN’s unique brand of “Celtic rock” mixes their original songwriting with high-energy fiddle and bagpipe tunes.  I sure all the beverage shac... 03/16/2025

Denver had enjoyed temps into the low 70's, and to see these in late February and early March are HEAVENLY.    I have been washing comforters and washable mats and sure it making everything smell so good indoors! HOWEVER, living in Colorado, we know a dry warm early spring could mean fire danger in the near future.   We have had some storms bringing snow, but not that much.When we have warmer temperatures early in the year, the trees, bushes and plants all get confused, and when the next snowstorm coming through can kill them.   If we get too many leaves on the trees, and get wet/heavy snowstorms, it breaks branches.SO, we have to be careful what we wish for.   (Still enjoying this warm weather!)  03/13/2025