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A lung scan can be a lifesaver

If you are a smoker or a former smoker, and between the ages of 50 and 80, you may qualify or be eligible for a lung cancer screening exam. And it’s an exam that could be a lifesaver. According to the American Lung Association, lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in both men and women in the U.S., accounting for approximately one quarter of cancer deaths. There are several factors that can contribute to the development of lung cancer, including radon, exposure to hazardous chemicals, particle pollution and genetic factors, but smoking is the overwhelming number ...

Lesson of the pump handle

These are troubled and troubling times, as arguments persist over mandatory masks and vaccinations, over individual rights and parental rights. In a way, we as a community and a nation are fighting a civil war over fundamental concepts of how we live as a society. This civil war is not over slavery or civil rights. We are deeply, deeply divided over whether the common good is paramount, or whether individual rights take precedence over all decisions locally and nationally. Because we remain in the midst of a worldwide epidemic that has caused proportionally more disease and death ...

It’s important to vote in every election

On Tuesday, Pennsylvanians will cast their votes in local elections. While there are no federal- or state-level legislative offices on the ballot this year, these local municipal elections are an important feature of our democracy. Our local governments set and implement policies that have a great impact on our daily lives and we have the power to choose our elected officials. It is important to remember that your vote in 2021 is essential. While ballots will vary from county-to-county, some of the races contested this year in Pennsylvania will include city council seats, ...

A close encounter with Mr. Stinky

Recently my wife, Sandy, and our neighbor, Kim, planned a “girl’s night out” before the summer evenings cooled. It was pretty low key when you consider it was to be held on our patio and Kim lived next door. The menu consisted of a bottle of wine and “girl talk.” They got settled in next to the fish pond and seemed good for the evening. My wife’s dog, Abbey, was the only other guest and she was soon snuggled up with her head on my wife’s lap, sound asleep. I knew my role in the event as the only man was to keep out of the way, so I headed inside. I planned to curl up ...

Workers, labor takes spotlight amid ‘Striketober’ demonstrations

With strikes already underway in Pennsylvania and tens of thousands more workers preparing to walk off across the country, organized labor is drawing renewed attention — including in Washington, D.C., and Harrisburg. Shifting economic conditions through the coronavirus pandemic have spurred workers in many industries to strike, in some cases blaming employers for introducing longer hours and additional shifts. In Pennsylvania, Kellogg’s cereal workers have joined an ongoing nationwide strike, while ironworkers in Erie are picketing a manufacturer. Monday marks the strike ...

Legislating from bench … or not?

The American Revolution occurred because the people objected to the autocratic rule of the distant King of England. The founders wanted a limited federal government, subject to the will of the people. They selected a republic with a unique structure designed to stand the test of time. To limit the power of the Federal government, the Constitution they wrote enumerated all of the powers granted to the Federal government and reserved all other powers to the individual states. The Legislative branch was bi-cameral, with House and Senate representation allocated according to ...