Ever since I read about a woman named Betty Tudor more than 20 years ago, I have been unable to forget her tale. Her 19-year performance deserves an Oscar in the Academy Awards of Failure. A resident of Exeter, England, Ms. Tudor struggled to master…
There was a short lived game show that was on television from 2008-2009 called “Hole in the Wall.” Inspired by a Japanese television show, competitors were challenged to fit through a “hole in the wall.” A human form in various kinds of poses would b…
The Quad City Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. As part of the celebration, the symphony commissioned Bill Campbell, St. Paul member and coordinator of contemporary music, and others to write new music. Each composer…
One of God’s favorite tricks seems to be the hiding of certain Kingdom of Heaven treasures in unsuspecting places. Insert extraordinary objects into ordinary surroundings and you are bound to create surprise. It’s a play right out of the playbook of…
Jim Freeman, an 88-year-old in Spartanburg, S.C., has lived alone since his wife passed away. Trying to make ends meet using only his Social Security check, he receives meals and visits from Mobile Meals, A meal is cooked and delivered to him by volu…
2
Andrew Harris’ first job as a police officer was in the small town of Denison, Iowa. A number of people who call Denison home speak Spanish, so the 22-year-old brushed up on his Spanish skills and got to work getting to know the residents of the comm…
At some point between the age of 4 and 14, we seem to lose a fair amount of our curiosity. If you want proof—just spend a few minutes in conversation with a preschooler. Some estimate that the average child asks somewhere between 100 to as many as 35…
Chris Barnett spent a significant portion of his childhood in an extremely abusive home setting. As he grew into his teen years, he entered the foster care system, living with two different families from age 14 to 18. “I credit that time for where I…
When Ken Brooks moved to the Quad Cities with his wife, Katie, he was looking for a way to serve his community and spend time on the water. Years ago, he remembered seeing a news broadcast about the members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary – the uni…
The Nordic Choir will perform on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m. Tickets will be $15 for adults and $10 for students. The Valparaiso Chorale will perform on Thursday, March 5, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students or senior citizens. N…
Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, begins the season of preparation for Easter. With a theme of Soles of Faith, St. Paul people have a variety of opportunities to help make this journey a meaningful one of prayer and togetherness – to lace up their soles to pre…
Wearing a green apron put on by a classmate, the third-grader took off from one end of Friendship Hall to the other. In his hand, he carried a spoon outstretched, balancing a tiny blown-up blue balloon. At the end of his sprint, he carefully set the…