August has arrived. Between Memorial Day and now there have been celebrations, protests, riots and battles throughout the world. In the midst of a world-wide pandemic, some economies are opening up, while others stay closed or shut down. In the U.S., some states formerly recognized Juneteenth and discussions have occurred about making it a national holiday….
Or Decoration Day, as it used to be called, began in a variety of places throughout the parts of our country impacted by the Civil War. Initially, it was held on different days within different communities. Questions exist as to when and where the first ceremony was held. However, all ceremonies began shortly after…
Change can be hard; and with the spread of the COVID-19 virus, life has suddenly changed for many of us. We are currently in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. We are trying to adjust to our new normal; and we do not know what normal will be once the pandemic has abated. So,…
As a geographer, it intrigues me to know that even in the same place, people with different backgrounds and cultures will often make different decisions. What drives those decisions? Is it the stories they grew up with? Or the stories they tell themselves? Do they understand how their history and their environment are shaping…
Holidays are past. A new year and a new decade have begun. The end of January is approaching. Did you make New Year’s Resolutions or set goals for this year? How is that working out for you? Each day, each hour, each minute actually provides the opportunity to start again. However, it is the…
Not everyone gets the genealogy bug. We get that. Some people aren’t interested in the past. Other people want to know their family history. However, they do not have the time or desire to do the work necessary to compile a family tree, and then fill in their family history. After all, compiling a family tree…
Today an incredible amount of content is seemingly available at our finger tips. We don’t even have to leave home. With a computer, smart phone or tablet, we can access the internet from multiple locations, including the comfort of our own home. Using a variety of search engines, we can find information on almost…
What is geography, exactly? Geography is the study of how humans interact with their environment over time and space. Geographers do more than just ask and answer questions about where things are. We also ask: How? Why? What if? Geography has two primary disciplines: physical geography and human geography. Physical Geography Physical geographers are interested…
“The Last Bridge: Her Own True Story, Elvera Ziebart Reuer” is the story of the journey and evolution of a young woman caught up in the events of history. Forces beyond her control tear her life apart again and again. It is her courage, faith and tenacity that carry her and her family through…