Columns, Editorials & Opinionnoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:25:18 GMTMovable Type Enterprise 4.29-advance http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/http://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/en-usnoColumns, Editorials & Opinionnoemail@noemail.orghttp://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/2009/03/final_column_heartbreak_mixed.htmlnoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:00:01 GMTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/rickfitzgerald//2822.2438784I had planned to write today about nominations for our Young Citizen of the Year award. I wanted to implore the community to send nominations before the April 2 deadline had passed. And I had planned to comment on the...http://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/2009/03/we_deserve_better_from_our_pub.htmlnoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:43:30 GMTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/rickfitzgerald//2822.2410771Life is full of disappointments. As children, we're disappointed in some of the decisions our parents make. As parents, we're disappointed with some of the choices our children make....http://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/2009/03/the_need_for_blood_donations_n.htmlnoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Fri, 13 Mar 2009 05:00:58 GMTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/rickfitzgerald//2822.2359352My year-long wait is over. I can give blood again. You have no idea how embarrassing it's been to be banned from giving blood for a whole year while serving on the board of directors of the Livingston County chapter...http://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/2009/03/nominate_a_teen_for_annual_you.htmlnoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Fri, 6 Mar 2009 05:00:01 GMTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/rickfitzgerald//2822.2318854Download nomination form We're hoping that the third time is the charm. This is our third year of honoring high school students who find a way to balance academics and community service ... along with all the other activities that...http://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/2009/02/dig_deeper_theres_good_news_ou.htmlnoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Fri, 27 Feb 2009 05:00:01 GMTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/rickfitzgerald//2822.2266340Yes, the economy is in the toilet and that's not good for anyone. But don't be fooled into thinking there's no good news out there. You just need to dig deeper for it. For those who may have put your...http://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/2009/02/world_war_ii_veteran_gets_his.htmlnoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:00:01 GMTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/rickfitzgerald//2822.2236784Dudley Scott, a man who for years has been making sure veterans have the proper ceremonial touch at their funerals through his participation in the honor guard unit of the local Marine Corps League, will be at the center of...http://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/2009/02/as_it_turns_out_lots_of_folks.htmlnoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:22:04 GMTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/rickfitzgerald//2822.2225633 I always appreciate getting comments about my column. It's encouraging to know someone is reading these weekly essays. But I must tell you that I'm getting lots more than the usual feedback on last Friday's column about the Hamburg...http://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/2009/02/let_that_eagle_soar_right_here.htmltag:eagletag:Hamburg Townshiptag:Howell Conference and Nature Centernoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Fri, 13 Feb 2009 05:00:01 GMTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/rickfitzgerald//2822.2199720Courtesy, Yvonne HospodorA bald eagle in the backyard of Ken and Yvonne Hospodor of Hamburg Township. the photo was taken Feb. 6. A week or so ago, as I was heading home after work, I spotted a bird soaring in...http://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/2009/02/celebrating_winters_offerings.htmltag:Howell Conference and Nature Centertag:winter weathertag:Woody the woodchucknoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Fri, 6 Feb 2009 05:00:01 GMTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/rickfitzgerald//2822.2162438Call me crazy, but I cheered earlier this week when I heard that groundhogs Woody and Phil predicted we would have six more weeks of winter. I wanted to do one of those run-and-slide-on-your-knees moves like Bruce Springsteen did during...http://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/2009/01/understanding_atmophere_wins_v.htmltag:Child Abuse Prevention Counciltag:Greater Brighton Area chamber of Commercetag:Vega Transportationnoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Fri, 30 Jan 2009 05:00:01 GMTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/rickfitzgerald//2822.2115060Rick Fitzgerald | The Livingston Community NewsPatricia and Jeff Vega, owners of Vega Transportation. Almost half of the employees at Vega Transportation are single moms. That means there are times when owner Jeff Vega has to be a little more...http://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/2009/01/brighton_needs_to_clarify_city.htmltag:City of Brighton cemeteriesnoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:00:01 GMTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/rickfitzgerald//2822.2087919Brighton resident Pat Cole is one of those people who seems to take pleasure in catching her local governmental officials making mistakes. She's pointed out improper display of flags at city hall and was so annoyed by the city's newly...http://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/2009/01/honoring_livingtons_top_citize.htmltag:Fred Boninetag:Laura Goldmantag:Livingston Citizens of the Yeartag:Mitch Goldmantag:Sam Danielsnoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Fri, 16 Jan 2009 05:00:01 GMTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/rickfitzgerald//2822.2047509The past 12 months have not been kind to many residents of Livingston County. The number of county residents who are just getting by is on the rise, regardless of how you measure it. Thankfully, there also are those who...http://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/2009/01/resolve_to_reach_out_to_others.htmltag:New Year Resolutionsnoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Fri, 9 Jan 2009 05:00:01 GMTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/rickfitzgerald//2822.2012139As we bring the first full week of the new year to a close, it's probably not too late to make a resolution or two. You know, resolutions are the thing to do at the start of a new year....http://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/2009/01/lets_start_the_new_year_with_p.htmltag:Amercan Legiontag:United Waytag:Whitmore Lake Health Clinicnoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Fri, 2 Jan 2009 05:00:01 GMTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/rickfitzgerald//2822.1947767It's the start of a new year .... although one that remains filled with lots of uncertainty. Lots of us are glad to see 2008 put to rest. It's been a rough one. But 2009 holds the promise of both...http://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/2008/12/lets_be_careful_out_there_driv.htmltag:Livingston County Undersheriff Mike Murphytag:winter drivingnoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Fri, 26 Dec 2008 05:00:01 GMTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/rickfitzgerald//2822.1947743There's nothing like a good snowstorm to bring out the best - and the worst - in Michigan motorists. If you were among those who did not have the option of staying nestled snug in your bed last Friday when...http://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/2008/12/giving_can_take_so_many_differ.htmltag:Karen Storeytag:Livingston County United Waytag:Maltby Middle Schoolnoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Fri, 19 Dec 2008 05:00:01 GMTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/rickfitzgerald//2822.1926120If ever you were inclined to make a year-end donation to the Livingston County United Way, Monday, Dec. 22, is the day to do it. Any donations made to the United Way that day will be double-matched by two anonymous...http://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/2008/12/students_find_the_homes_of_the.htmltag:Brighton High Schooltag:Livingston County Coin Clubtag:Ray Noblenoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:00:01 GMTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/rickfitzgerald//2822.1891796Courtesy, Ray NobleBrighton High School students Anastasiya Desyatova and Christopher Jones, won a "Lost Coins" contest at the school sponsored by custodian Ray Noble, right. Ray Noble has been collecting coins for 45 years. He got started with an 1897...http://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/2008/12/add_patti_or_beth_to_your_chri.htmltag:United Way wish Listnoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Fri, 5 Dec 2008 05:00:01 GMTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/rickfitzgerald//2822.1859120Who's on your Christmas shopping list? The kids? Mom and dad? Brothers and sisters? The neighbor who plows everyone's sidewalks? Your mail carrier? Most of us have at least a handful of people on our lists. And I'm willing to...http://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/2008/11/its_time_to_send_in_your_nomin.htmltag:Livingston Citizen of the Yeartag:The Livingston Community Newsnoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Fri, 28 Nov 2008 05:00:01 GMTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/rickfitzgerald//2822.1823477For the last two years, we've had the privilege of recognizing a caring and generous resident of Livingston County as our 2008 Livingston Citizen of the Year. Now it's time for you - our readers - to nominate those individuals...http://blog.mlive.com/rickfitzgerald/2008/11/share_holiday_feast_with_your.htmltag:Gleanerstag:Holidaystag:Thanksgivingnoemail@noemail.org (Rick Fitzgerald)Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:00:01 GMTtag:blog.mlive.com,2008:/rickfitzgerald//2822.1796802Thanksgiving weekend has always been family time at our house, even when it's not at our house. That's probably the case for many of you. What better reason do you need to get the extended family together than a holiday...