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Columns

The garden welcomes spring

Hear ye! Hear ye! March 20 is the first day of spring. So how is the home gardener supposed to prepare for such an auspicious occasion? Right now, there are plenty of chores to tackle, in preparation for the coming season. Read on for just a few of fun activity ideas to get the sap flowing for ...

Guns on college campuses, tax cuts tilted toward the wealthy

That title pretty much sums up the bulk of the activity of the West Virginia Legislature’s 2023 General Session. Senate Bill 10, the “campus carry bill,” passed the House of Delegates on Feb. 21. It had previously passed the Senate, and Governor Jim Justice said he would sign it. The ...

Valentine hearts for the garden

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching -- a time when giving flowers to loved ones is a wildly popular tradition. If your loved one happens to be a gardener, you’re in luck, as they typically are the easiest to please. So think about giving to them live plants, especially those that dazzle ...

‘Cut the income tax in half, we’ll get more revenue!’

So said Governor Jim Justice in his State of the State address to the West Virginia Legislature, when it convened the 2023 Regular Session on Jan. 11. And he said we don’t need to raise another tax to make up the money. Instead, the overpowering economic improvement we’ll get from reducing ...

A bean for every pot

There will be no planting outside today, in this January weather. Rather, we'll be storing holiday decorations, eating the last of the fudge and gazing out of the window at the landscape. Not-yet-gelled plans for the coming growing season will continue to swirl in our thoughts. While tackling ...

New legislature commences on Wednesday

This is my last column as “Delegate” Doyle, but as I mentioned last month, The Shepherdstown Chronicle has graciously permitted me to continue writing this column on a monthly basis. My last duty as your delegate will be to attend the state legislature’s January Interim Meetings, to be ...

Celebrating National Poinsettia Day

You don’t need to be a gardener to celebrate Dec. 12 as National Poinsettia Day. Poinsettias are one of the most favored plants for celebrating the holiday season, with their beautiful coloration ranging from white, pink and red to variegated. Euphorbia pulcherrima’s connection to the ...

Legislature comes to the Eastern Panhandle

The state Legislature held interim meetings at Cacapon State Park in Morgan County on Nov. 13, 14 and 15. “Interim” refers to the interim period between regularly scheduled legislative sessions. Each regular session lasts for a 60-calendar-day period and runs from late winter to early ...

A tough nut to crack

There is no better nut for healthy holiday apple cakes than the oil-rich black walnut. Having a bold, earthy flavor, this walnut is the perfect match for spunky spices such as nutmeg, clove and cinnamon. You’ll find these bagged nuts at a princely price in area grocery stores. But if you’re ...

Water woes in our future?

A few weeks ago, the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) held a public hearing on the purchase of two small community water systems near Charles Town. That was the tip of an iceberg. Jefferson Utilities, Inc. (JUI) and the Charles Town Utility Board (CTUB) are competing to buy both ...