- Aiken Standard (The)

In recent days I have felt the need to share the theme of this article with you out of a sense of love and encouragement.

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Q. Marijuana is being accepted as a legitimate medical treatment in more and more parts of the United States. Even its use as a recreational drug has been legalized in many areas. From an ecological standpoint, does the production of…

When the Aiken County Animal Shelter is full, as it has been most of this spring and early summer, the stress level for the dogs rises considerably. The adoption floor is louder with barks and howls, and the dogs become…

Welcoming a new generation into the world never gets old.

The ancient Roman author Seneca the Younger is credited with the following statement: “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.” This is certainly true in the case of the Aiken Symphony Orchestra.

Since summer is officially underway and the temperature and humidity are up, this is a good time to revisit some commonsense guidelines to make exercise, work and play outdoors in the summer heat safe and enjoyable for your entire family.

While browsing in a bookstore the other day I noticed a display-table with a sign reading: “Cope Table.” The bookstore manager had noticed the number of current books on “coping” and had cleverly placed copies of them on that one…

I began my career in the early ’70s as a life insurance agent for Metropolitan Life in Augusta. I had just earned my MBA from Wharton in insurance, and the prospect of participating in a management training program and living…

Irises and lilies have a well-deserved reputation for being pretty, whether in a swamp, a woodland or someone’s carefully tended garden. For some people, beauty is reason enough to protect a species. A more pragmatic (and anthropocentric) reason to preserve…

The Atlanta campaign of 1864 always seemed like a puzzle to me, replete with many pieces that require some concentration in order to make them fit into a satisfactory whole. Indeed, from the time that the federal force under the…

“My father didn’t do anything unusual. He only did what dads are supposed to do: be there.” — Max Lucado

It was a Tuesday morning when my husband John went to walk dogs at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. In the first kennel there was a beautiful 6-year-old black Lab patiently waiting to be walked. He had been found walking…

I suppose one shouldn’t have a favorite uncle, but I do.

Democratic political leaders like to scold their political opponents with a finger-wagging “that’s not who we are.” President Obama coined that phrase in harshly criticizing his predecessor’s treatment of terrorists captured in Iraq; President Biden often uses the same […]

The school year has ended for kids in our area. Long summer days to play, sleep in and relax are an important part of growing up. But many educators and health professionals are concerned about what gets lost, and what…

The journey of life places an unusual amount of stress on all of us . We are experience the unique situation where stress is expressing itself in collective rebellion such as with traffic controllers who went on strike several years…

If you are approaching retirement age, you are going to soon be faced with important decisions regarding the employer-sponsored retirement plans that you have been a participant in.

The most famous triumphal arch is undoubtedly the one that Napoleon conceived in 1806 as a monument to his early military victories. He was, of course, inspired by the ancient stone gateways constructed by various Roman emperors to serve as…

“Marriage. The roots are deep. The covenant is solid. The love is sweet. Life is hard. And God is good.” — John Piper

I am not a true birder. In a walk through the woods, true birders stop, raise a finger, alert others to the birdsong and then identify the bird. Sometimes they point out the bird itself, proving that indeed it was…

This is the time of year when we get excited for families to come and adopt dogs and cats. Summer gives everyone plenty of time to acclimate a new pet to their home and routine. We even have a trainer…

There were well over 100 people in the large room. Some were sitting next to the side walls while most of us were standing in the middle looking upward.

Yes, we have a major gun violence problem in the U.S. – I don’t know anyone, left or right, who disagrees. But to deal intelligently and effectively with that problem we need to know a little bit more about it.

Over the past several months, we have seen the price of oil and natural gas skyrocket. The war in Ukraine is a major contributor but an increase in demand as we exit the pandemic is also a factor. Our reliance…

Do you need to exercise every day? Or could you exercise on just a couple of days instead? According to one study, saving your exercise for the weekend can give you the same health benefits as spreading your exercise out…

The idea for cryptocurrency first began in the late 1980s, and the idea was for a currency that could be sent untraceably and in a manner that did not require the involvement of a bank. In 1995, American cryptographer David…

Inspiration is the impulse which sets creation in movement. It is also the energy which

“I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.” – Abraham Lincoln

The shelter is closed on Sundays but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a crew of staff members who come to clean and feed the pets. We also have a team of volunteers that walks all the dogs.

Q. My third-grader came up with these two questions: What animals do not have tails? How many different ways do animals use tails?

"Last night I had a crazy dream

Whatever pleasant reveries we were enjoying last Wednesday went up in smoke with the horrifying news of yet another school shooting, this one in Uvalde Texas.

Walking and running are widely used modes of exercise to improve fitness and promote weight loss. The energy expended (calories burned) during walking or running can be directly measured in a lab or estimated based on speed and body weight.…

I’ve been wrestling with the story of the stoning of Stephen, the first martyr of the church. I was tempted to title this article “Get Stoned With Stephen,” but that would be an illustration of how language has changed over…

What are RMDs anyway, and how are the required amounts determined? According to the IRS, you cannot keep retirement funds in your tax-favored account indefinitely. As a rule, you must start taking withdrawals from your IRA, SIMPLE IRA, SEP IRA…

“The patriot’s blood is the seed of freedom’s tree.” – Thomas Campbell

Q. How many kinds of alligators and crocodiles live in the United States? In a recent discussion I said one. Everyone knows about alligators. Someone said crocodiles are found in Florida. Then somebody else piped up that a third crocodile…

Dogs, dogs, dogs. Everybody is always talking about dogs. I’m always talking about dogs. What about cats, though? Can we talk about cats?

Variety is the name of the game at the Aiken Artists Guild show each year. On view at the Aiken Center for the Arts until June 16, this annual exhibition of the work of guild members includes over one hundred…

The ringing of the telephone was unexpected and out of place.

How quickly things change. Not long ago, lulled into complacency by our energy independence, a vibrant economy and a seemingly peaceful world, we embarked on a noble quest to save the planet from climate change, regardless of cost or consequence.

When it comes to exercise, the most important thing is that you do it. When you are starting out, almost anything you do will have health and fitness benefits. As little as 30 minutes per day of moderate aerobic activity…

Ivan, a Russian industrial worker, appeared at the gates of his plant at the end of the working day pushing a wheelbarrow filled with sawdust. He was halted and sternly questioned by the guard.

“Love is the only reality and it is not a mere sentiment. It is the ultimate truth that lies at the heart of creation.” – Rabindranath Tagore

Some people love opera for the pageantry; they relish the elaborate sets, lavish costumes and special effects. Others attend operatic performances for the music alone, often closing their eyes to what is happening on stage to focus solely on the…

Some of our native animals are now outnumbered by species from other countries. The release of animals from other lands has become a nationwide phenomenon. Some have established breeding populations and can pose a problem as predators or competitors to…

As a child I found the library to be an important place.

Following HBO’s award-winning miniseries on Chernobyl, Netflix has decided to take a shot at Three Mile Island. But they whiffed. Their documentary "Meltdown: Three Mile Island" misses completely the important lessons of TMI – and it comes at a time…

Since May is National Bike Month and this week is National Bike to Work Week, this is a good time to think about cycling and other forms of active transportation.