About: Margaret Vander Weerdt

To the Class of 2017, May is the month that finds many of the flowers opening their buds to display the best they have to offer and, in a way, our schools are opening their doors to display the best they have to offer – their graduating classes. Graduation day is probably one of the few...

About 120 years ago today in 1898, the North Pole was discovered. I’m sure it is an interesting place, and I’m also sure since I don’t care much for cold weather I probably wouldn’t care much for the place. However, I read this week that the South Pole is actually colder, who knew? Most people...

Growing up, there were a few things I decided I never wanted to be, and one of them was a teacher. This month, I had a couple of thoughts about being a teacher. I think teachers are very fortunate this year as they didn’t have to “fight” the green issues of St. Patrick’s Day because...

This is probably the only column I’ve ever written over a week before it is printed. You see, I’ve been on vacation to Florida. My favorite Florida brother-in-law sometimes checks what I write about my traveling experiences, especially when I’ve spent some time with him. But I planned not to write on this vacation so...

Since I have to endure winters in Iowa, this winter really hasn’t been too bad. But there are news features and also those people who remind me of the “wonderful” things about Iowa’s winters. I’ve been writing them down, and since this is the month spring arrives, it’s time to get the good things out...

Growing up, M&M’s were the “melts-in-your-mouth-not-in-your-hands candy,” which doesn’t seem to be promoted as much as it once was. Tomorrow, Friday, Mar. 3, the candy will have its 76th birthday. Millions of the colorful, bite-size chocolates come pouring off conveyor belts at a factory in Hackettstown, NJ, every day. M&M’s have been one of America’s...