–by Mary Helen Darah I find it highly therapeutic to stock the food pantry at Sylvania Area Family Services (SAFS), especially during the pandemic. Focusing on expiration dates and keeping my rows of canned goods neat and tidy was and is a welcome reprieve from hearing about rising hospitalization numbers and thinking about my medical frontline daughter’s exposure to it all when she’s at work. … Continue reading Sunny-Side Up!

–by Mary Helen Darah People often ask why I go by Mary Helen when just “Mary” would suffice. The reason is I could never be without ‘Helen” after having been adored by two loving “Helens” who were my grandmothers. Now my family is blessed to have two “Sues.” The first, beloved matriarch, Sue, my mom, passed away on Thanksgiving in 2019. We recently welcomed our … Continue reading Sunny-Side Up!

–by Mary Helen Darah A friend was recently complaining about the cold and the impending winter before us. Of course she did so while walking across Main Street for a warm donut on a brisk morning in downtown Sylvania. Please, the woman is clueless as to what a REAL winter, an up north winter, feels like. Mind you, when I’m here I feel like a … Continue reading Sunny-Side Up!

–by Mary Helen Darah I used to call myself a runner, which frankly was a bit of a stretch. Historically, I would put on Janet Jackson, manage to move in a forward direction for three songs, then turn around for home. My running was like my mom’s meatloaf. It wasn’t pretty but it got the job done. I never thought of hitting the pavement again … Continue reading Sunny-Side Up!