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A rough political road ahead for Sherrod Brown

For the first time in 32 years, Democrat Sherrod Brown no longer holds public office. If you go back 50 years, Brown was an elected official for 48 of them, starting as a state representative, first elected in 1974, and after eight years, he spent another eight as Ohio’s secretary of state. After losing reelection, Brown was out of elected office for two years before winning a U.S. House seat in 1992. With Ohio a solid Republican state, is there a place for a 72-year-old progressive-populist Democrat who has spent nearly all of his adult life as a politician? Brown said Dec. 17: ...

Winter months can have negative mental, physical effects on older adults

Editor’s Note: The following column was originally published Dec. 17, 2022. Thanks to breakthroughs in medicine and nutrition in recent years, we are living longer than ever before. But this increase in life expectancy also brings an increase in the number of diseases, injuries and impairments that affect older adults. With this in mind, we at the local Visiting Angels office in Salem have created this series of articles to keep our older population and their families informed and to offer some practical advice for meeting the challenges faced by seniors and those who care for them. ...

Ex-Rep Ryan still hears the siren call of politics

By his own account, Tim Ryan, a Democrat who represented the Mahoning Valley in the U.S. House for 20 years, has achieved his ideal professional-personal life balance. “I am so happy right now,” Ryan told me. “This is the happiest I’ve been personally and professionally in a long time so it’s hard to kind of change course.” Yet he still hears the siren call of politics. Ryan is making more money than he ever did as a lobbyist and working for a technology firm, gets to go on national television and write opinion pieces for Newsweek about his thoughts on politics. He has ...

Holiday season a good time to check on older loved ones

Editor’s Note: The following column was previously published Dec. 4, 2021. Thanks to breakthroughs in medicine and nutrition in recent years, we are living longer than ever before. But this increase in life expectancy also brings an increase in the number of diseases, injuries and impairments that affect older adults. With this in mind, we at the local Visiting Angels office in Salem have created this series of articles to keep our older population and their families informed and to offer some practical advice for meeting the challenges faced by seniors and those who care for ...

Embracing the spirit of Hospice volunteering within Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties

The holiday season is a time for reflection, gratitude, and generosity. As the lights twinkle and carols fill the air, we are reminded of the importance of human connection and the joy that comes from giving to others. In this season of giving, there’s no better way to embody the true spirit of Christmas than by becoming a hospice volunteer. And as the New Year approaches, volunteering in hospice care can be a meaningful resolution—one that transforms not only the lives of others but also your own. Spreading Holiday Comfort and Joy For many hospice patients, the holidays can be a ...

US Reps. Rulli, Joyce roll in campaign dough

It was a foregone conclusion that Dave Joyce and Michael Rulli, the two Republican congressmen who represent the Mahoning Valley, were going to win reelection. The only questions were: By what margin and how much money would they raise? The quick answer to both is: a lot. Joyce, R-Bainbridge, will start serving his seventh two-year term representing the 14th Congressional District next month. The district, which includes all of Trumbull County, had a 9.7% Republican advantage based on statewide partisan voting results during the previous decade. That number will definitely increase ...