Out and About Blog by Norm Stutesman

A little late for this notification, but better late than never. This is “City-Wide Clean Up Week”. This annual event usually happens around the first part of spring. All this week, city residents can place items at the curb and Waste Management will pick them up. There will also be dumpsters downtown for residents and business owners in the downtown …

I’ve always thought it would be nice to learn sign language. This would come in handy, especially when attending a social function with your significant other and wanting to share a thought or two without speaking out loud. Of course, this would only work if you both could communicate using sign. I mention this because I recently gave a presentation …

Every April we have a rendezvous with destiny. This rendezvous involves the taxman. Oops, I’m sorry, the “Tax Person”. Some have already filed returns for 2017, and some have even received money back, if they managed their finances properly. If you owe the IRS, you have until April 17, because the fifteenth falls on a Sunday. I wish you all …

I mention this every year, because I think it’s interesting that I’ve never run out of something to say every week for the past twelve years. There have been many changes over the years. Some were good and some not so good, but like everyone else, I’ve done what I can to adapt to them. I have a nicer office. …

At one time, there were municipalities where your vehicle had to have a village or city sticker displayed on a corner of your windshield. In order to be issued a sticker, your vehicle had to pass a safety inspection. The inspection included having a working horn, headlights that weren’t broken or burned out, a working license plate light, and tires …

In the past I’ve shared some interesting facts on cucumbers. At this time, I’d like to enlighten you a little bit on maple syrup. Pancakes, waffles and French toast just aren’t the same without it, yet I do know at least one person who enjoys sausage gravy on his pancakes. I’ve never tried it, so who am I to offer …

By now your clocks should have been reset one hour ahead. Last Sunday was the day when we switched to Daylight Savings Time. No one has ever given me a good reason why we still do this. Maybe it takes an act of Congress to make it happen. Good luck with that. They are way too busy. St. Patty’s day …

When you look in the mirror, do you consider yourself good looking? I think most of us consider ourselves to be rather plain. There are some, of course, who think they’re the cat’s meow. I doubt if Madonna or Brad Pitt consider themselves homely. I’m pretty sure that even Ivana Trump looks a bit scary at 4 AM. Please remember …

If you follow Facebook on a regular basis, you’re aware of how many times the Veteran issue is brought up. For many years, the problems that veterans faced were put on the back burner. Thank you to whoever it was that put it higher on the priority list. As the current commander of the local American Legion post, and a …

Last Wednesday, February 14, was not only Valentine’s Day, but it was also Ash Wednesday, a special time in the religious world. It signifies the beginning of Lent, a time when we should give up something we truly enjoy. As for me, I’m giving up lima beans and going to the gym. It will be rough, but I’ll do what …