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Vietnam vet accomplishes personal mission on Honor Flight’s 50th trip
WASHINGTON, D.C. — We met at the airport in the dark hours before dawn. The gate area was crowded. Dressed head to toe in red, white, and blue, she leaned across the empty seat between us and told me she “was on a mission.”
U.S. Army Specialist Mary Anderson-Kokell was the youngest, and the only woman among the 74 veterans who were on their way to Washington, D.C. to visit the war memorials built in their honor.
It was indeed a special mission for the hosts of the free, daylong trip. Southeast Florida Honor Flight was celebrating its 50th flight honoring veterans with a day for which many of them have waited way too long.
But Mary had a much more personal mission.
Daylight saving time: It’s not plural and it was never about the farmers
Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2 a.m. — which is the official hour to set all of our clocks back to standard time. But most of us will probably “fall back” before we go to bed Saturday night.
That’s unless you reside in the states of Arizona (except the Navajo Nation) or Hawaii. Or the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, which also do not observe daylight saving time.
Stuart’s Rain Cat Recording Studio supports Treasure Coast’s DIY music scene
There is a street in America’s happiest little seaside town that sees more panel trucks than foot traffic. It’s lined with power lines, delivery doors and trash bins. It runs along the back side of the charming shops and boutiques in downtown Stuart. There is magic happening back there.
Hidden in plain sight, with no signage and its window blacked out, is Rain Cat Recording Studio, where musical creativity thrives and the hopes of dozens of local artists springs eternal.
Missing dog brings community together
WALTON ROCKS BEACH ─ It was the first time in 13 years that the pointer/lab mix disobeyed a recall.
Her owner, Janine Pollard, knew immediately that something was very wrong.
Pollard, a retired pharmaceutical salesperson, and Darcy have been together since the dog was an eight-week-old pup. The dog has won multiple awards in more than 1,000 obedience and agility competitions.
Together, the pair enjoy a morning walk along the shoreline at Walton Rocks Beach three or four times a week. They’ve been doing so for the past six years.
That Wednesday morning started out like so many others, Darcy trotted into the treeline of sea grapes and mangroves at the leash-free, dog-friendly beach, like she often does, but when called, she did not come back. It was about 8:20 a.m.
Hello Ginny? It’s Graham Nash calling.
It’s not everyday you get a call from rock ‘n’ roll royalty.
Nash is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee, a Grammy Award winner and an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
The legendary artist called last week from his Los Angeles home to chat about his Jan. 30 appearance at The Sunrise Theatre to promote his upcoming album.
One of the first things I asked him about was his rigorous tour schedule, and in terms too colorful to print, the 73-year-old Brit told me he was not “messing” around.
What does a lightning strike feel like? ‘Like a horse hit you in the back of the head’
Ironic, isn’t it?
The Sunshine State is the lightning capitol of the United States. Florida sees more strikes per square mile than anywhere in the country, according 2021 data from Vaisala, the company that owns the National Lightning Data Network. Only 10 percent of lightning strikes are fatal, according to the NWS Storm Data, which leaves 90 percent of lightning strike victims with various degrees of injuries, disabilities and stories to tell. Here are some of them: