Ann Silverthorn

I recently began reading a book that I picked up at a library sale last summer, called Helen and Teacher by Joseph P. Lash. Within the first few pages, I learned about the woman whose education paved the way for Helen Keller’s fame. Here are seven facts about Laura Bridgman: 1. Laura Bridgman (1829-1889) was the first deafblind person to become famous,…

I’ve been hearing, and you have, too, about Obama’s proposed changes to the path to citizenship. As I listened, I realized that I didn’t know much about what it takes to become a U.S. citizen, so I really didn’t know what Obama was changing about the process. I figured the best thing to do was to…

As an adult who recently visited Orlando without children and busied herself while her spouse was in his conference sessions, I thought I’d share some helpful/interesting facts about the I-Ride Trolley, which can get you anywhere you want to go around International Drive. Here they are: 1. The trolley travels north and south on International Drive with slight…

So, your spouse (or partner) is going to Orlando and wants you to tag along. You’ve already been to Disney more than once. You’ve been to Orlando umpteen times for conferences yourself. You don’t mind a few days of warmth and downtime, but what else can you do to make the time worthwhile and give…

Last year, my son invited the family to participate in a CBS Sports March Madness bracket group. I had fun clicking through the teams on the site, basing my picks on nothing but whims and emotion. You see, I know next-to-nothing about sports. Not surprisingly, I ended up placing last in our group, and for all I…

Over the past few months, we’ve been hearing a lot about President Obama’s executive action on immigration. There are several parts to this action, including strengthening our borders, making illegal immigrants accountable for their actions, and streamlining the immigration process. Having recently researched what it currently takes to become a citizen, I thought I would like…

Most of us think of Presidents’ Day as a day off of work or a day that you check your mailbox and the mail hasn’t come. Here are some other facts about this national holiday that you might not have known and links to interesting articles about each. 1. Presidents’ Day is celebrated on the third…

We’ve all been hearing about measles outbreaks lately, and there are some of us who barely pay attention to the reports, while others find the news terrifying. Here are seven things to know about measles, distilled from reputable Web sites. So there you have it. Seven quick facts about measles.  If you’re not sure if you…

Let me clarify. My iPhone itself didn’t kill the snowman, but my preoccupation with it caused the snowman’s demise. Here’s what happened. This morning I arose and stumbled toward the back door with Nutmeg and Nora, our Cairn terrier rescues, to let them out into the near-zero degree, pre-dawn air for their garden visit. While I waiting…

Ever wish you had a snappy checklist for air-travel essentials? I usually try to assemble these items the night before I fly, but I often forget something. Then, I go on a mad scramble around the house, when I should be heading to the airport. So, I put this handy list together, and I am…