Articles by Amy Shankland

Look up to the Light

For those of you who have been paying attention to my column and this paper in general, you may have noticed I had a major event recently. I couldn’t have…

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A new husband

My husband John retired March 2, which we’ve been planning for months now (Readers, don’t let the headline panic you, he’s not driven me crazy and ran me off.) Since…


Who rescued whom?

It’s common to adopt a pet from a shelter. When we do, we often say we “rescued” our dog or cat. But I’m not sure this is truly the case….


No filter

I believe one of the joys of warmer springtime weather is chatting with neighbors you haven’t seen since fall. Most adults stay cooped up at home when the weather is…


Dog walking ballet

Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve loved to walk my dogs. Seeing our pets’ joyful faces and furiously wagging tails, along with hearing their barks of excitement when I…


What’s my umbrella stand?

During a recent deep cleaning/decluttering session of our home, I paused in our laundry room and let out a dramatic sigh as I stared at one annoying object. “Honey ……


Dear Small Business Owner

Dear Small Business Owner, I see, hear, and empathize with you. For almost 10 years, I’ve been in your shoes leading a small fundraising consultancy. We specialize in finding grants…


Becoming that pet owner

I’m big believer in the saying, “Never say never.” I received a reminder of this fact during a conversation with my husband John last week. As I was preparing to…