Stopping Human Trafficking

Criminals are targeting and recruiting vulnerable kids across SWFL


KATARIINA ROSENBLATT was recruited by a ring of human traffickers in South Florida to be sold for sex when she was 13. Like many victims of this crime, Ms. Rosenblatt recalled being a vulnerable youth with low self-esteem stemming from a troubled home life with an abusive father. Her experiences being sexually trafficked also left her with long-term emotional scars […]

Going to the movies is still a holiday tradition



The weeks between Thanksgiving and Jan. 2 are a strange twilight period that, you could argue, resembles a movie. The public suspends disbelief for a month-long holiday haze filled with alternately hectic schedules and lazy in-between times with family and friends mixed with deep-seeded childhood nostalgia and traditions that give everything a heightened sense of meaning, expectation and emotion. Maybe […]

The 11th province



Ever since the Vietnam War, many Americans have relied for peace of mind on a standing joke: I’m gonna move to Canada. Occasionally the joke became a reality. But usually it remained empty talk for those dismayed by missteps or backwards leaps executed with breathless stupidity or seemingly callous indifference by our elected leaders. The dilemma for many gonna-movers has […]

Share the road and pathway



As the rest of the country begins to experience the type of weather that understandably sends folks our way, the influx of snowbirds and tourists impacts not only our roads but our pathways as well. That fact means there will be many more opportunities for collisions, conflicts, mishaps and close calls. By following the laws and etiquette that we, as […]

Season’s retreatings



Still another Thanksgiving has passed, and I have done what I always do: nothing. I didn’t overeat and certainly didn’t travel. Getting together with family and friends can wait for a non-holiday. There is no way in the world I’m going to endure airports, long Transportation Security Administration lines and flights that are even more tortuous than normal. Ditto for […]

The albatross that Democrats deserve



There are sexual harassers, and then there is John Conyers, the Democrat from Detroit who made his congressional office an adjunct of his libido. The evidence suggests that Conyers believed that as a 27-term congressman, he was entitled to the Washington, D.C., equivalent of the Ottoman imperial harem. He routinely hit on his female staffers, and his office was a […]

Peace on Earth should begin with shopping



It is a very frustrating time of year when you go out shopping for presents. In fact, almost anywhere you go during this time is bustling with activity. The roads are packed, and tempers run short. This is the time to play some Christmas music and slow your heart rate down so you don’t get so worked up about little […]

Top pet traumas

Is it an emergency? Here’s what you should know when minutes count


Our dogs and cats hate to let us know when they’re not feeling well. It’s instinctive for them to hide illness and even injuries if possible. Some emergencies are obvious, though, and an emergency, by definition, requires immediate treatment. Any time your pet experiences one of the following conditions, you need to get him to the veterinarian on the double, […]

Pets of the Week

To adopt or foster a pet These animals are available for adoption at the Animal Welfare League, 3519 Drance St., Port Charlotte. All animals are microchipped, neutered and current with their shots. The shelter is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. To view adoptable pets, visit www.awlshelter.org. To adopt or foster a pet These pets are available […]

Giving back during the holidays



Amidst the celebration, it is important to remember the spirit of these holidays. It is a time to be grateful and to give back. Local organizations are once again stepping up to the plate, working hard to help those less fortunate in the community. There is a way that you can, too. Volunteering your time and energy to one of […]