Good writers understand “Brevity is the soul of wit,” which means, keep it short. Add another truth, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” and it’s a wonder we all don’t write comic books. I suppose the 160,000-word novel I wrote could have been 160…

Springfield is changing – and for the better. A renaissance in Springfield began several years ago with the revitalization of our downtown, thanks to the courage and creativity of a group of entrepreneurs. Many of those entrepreneurs and small businesses are still here and a…

A reader asked me this week if the man she just started dating would be compatible with her in a long-term relationship. She is born under the sun sign Gemini during the lunar Year of the Rabbit, and her new beau was born under the…

On Wednesday, Jan. 20, in his inaugural address, the new president repeatedly intoned the theme of “unity.” He outlined the challenges facing us as a nation: the ravages of the coronavirus, including the loss of over 400,000 lives, millions of unemployed, businesses closed or in…

Last year at this time, a reader of The Chronicle asked me if 2020, the Year of the Rat, would be a good year for him. He was born under the sun sign Sagittarius during the lunar Year of the Sheep. I was happy to…

FILE PHOTO Jim and Pat Edwards visiting Washington, D.C., in 2019, in front of the U.S. Capitol. I am heartbroken. The attack on the United States Capitol building and members of our House of Representatives and Senate was too fresh for me to write about…

FILE PHOTO Residents in Springfield attend a flag-raising event in November 2020 for Veteran’s Day. Statement from Lane County Board of Commissioners Chair Joe Berney in response to today’s events in Washington, D.C.:   Berney What we are witnessing in our nation’s Capitol does not…

Blum I received this note from two Italian friends. It reminds me how important America is – not just to us, but to many around the world. In light of Covid, perhaps a celebration of democracy could happen by July 4. “We think there is…

Richard Heyman From the desk of the Colonel. “In all my 90 years out of the 96 I have lived, never did I witness anything to embarrass, enrage me or make me so ashamed as the large numbers of Citizens of our great nation when…