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Though former Free Lance–Star columnist Rob Hedelt has retired, that doesn’t mean Christmas spirit will be missing this year. His 33rd annual list of “Grand Holiday Displays” is coming soon,
My reporting duties took me to the now-reopened Chuck E. Cheese location in Central Park, and wow, was I surprised by what I found there. In addition to a cool, wall-sized video screen and a lighted dance floor that responds to footsteps, much of the storeâs interior is filled with video and skills games the likes of which Iâd never seen. OK, part of that is that surprise comes from having children now in their 30s. My wife and I missed out on the whole Chuck E. Cheese amusement approach to attracting restaurant customers. And forgive this aging columnist his ancient memories of chi...
IâM SHARING the last responses to my âBright Sideâ feature, for which readers sent details about the things they turned to during the coronavirus pandemic to stay busy and sane. Iâll begin with Donald Wright, a retiree from Locust Grove who grew up in a suburb of Chicago, worked for 30 years at the Library of Congress and traded his house in Arlington in 2003 for his home in Orange County. Wright is like others who have added a whole host of new hobbies and pastimes to fill the many hours spent inside. Wright said heâd always wanted to have a fish tank, so when he tho...
A week or two ago, before a big rain, I attacked the bare spots in my lawn with a vengeance. First came a process that I felt later in my lower back. I worked my cultivating hoe with three sharp tines down into the spots where no grass was growing. The theory goes that if youâre going to reseed, you need to loosen the soil down an inch or two so the seeds can take root and grow. Steps two and three included tossing some grass seed down into the nicely worked bare spots and then adding my newly favored topper, a mix of soil, organic matter and starter fertilizer. Itâs meant to kickst...
I just want to see people again, whether it be friends and coworkers, family or even acquaintances.