January 2026

To start the year, we feature the poetry of local poet Judy Dykstra-Brown. Judy was The Tennessee Writers Alliance National  Poetry Award’s first place winner in 2002, and she posts a minimum of one poem a day on her blog at https://judydykstrabrown.com/Her books include humorous poems on many subjects, memoirs and children’s books, all available […]

My closet rattles. One door is slightly ajar. Something is being batted about on the floor inside. A paw is visible now and then when it comes close to the bottom edge of the door. Once a nose with white whiskers peeks out, then shoots back in like a jack-in-the-box. My tiny new kitten was

The holiday season is finally over, and the lines at the checkout counters are back down to being almost bearable. I don’t know where the Three Wise Men bought their gifts for the Christ child, but if they had to stand in line at Walmart, they would probably never have started the gift-giving tradition. Speaking

It’s funny how New Year’s Eve sneaks up on you when you’re seventy-five. The Christmas decorations are still up and each night the soft glow of the strings of lights lulls you to sleep. Always one week after Christmas Eve, the last night of the year signals that another year will begin in just one

Start the New Year with Learning, Wellness, and Connection This January, The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) welcomes you into a new year filled with discovery, well-being, culture, and community connection. Whether you’re ready to learn Spanish, explore local traditions, improve your health, or simply enjoy something fresh and fun, LCS offers classes that help you

DIANA LEIDEL is an outspoken artist and second-wave feminist. Identifying as a “second-wave” feminist, Diana acknowledges and continues to fight for the hard-won rights of women, from the right to vote and property rights, to access to education and abortion secured by earlier generations. The heady 1960’s and 70’s brought an awareness of the pervasive

I first encountered Elly Contreras at a performance called To Whom I May Concern®,held at the St. Andrew’s Church in early April.Individuals in the early stages of dementia shared their personal stories. The hall was filled to capacity, and the audience was moved by the performance. A short while later I attended a second, similar

“If you can’t adopt, come volunteer,” says long-time Ranch volunteer Julie Wittmann. We hear from so many folks who say they wish they could help The Ranch but are unable to adopt a dog. Volunteering is the perfect solution. A volunteer for over seven years, Julie loves seeing dogs come into The Ranch and then

The hot and sticky air floated through the dingy windows of the rickety bus as it trundled down the main road towards Montevideo, Uruguay. Onboard were about 40 performers – swimmers, dancers and divers, all part of a second-rate water ballet show that had just flopped after an unsuccessful run at Rio de Janeiro’s Municipal

Centro Educativo Jaltepec invites the community to its Open House and Sponsor Appreciation Luncheon on Wednesday, February 4th, at the school’s campus. The program will begin at 11:00 a.m. with a presentation on Jaltepec’s history, its academic model, and the life-changing scholarship program that empowers young women through professional education, followed by a guided tour