As I write, backbiting and finger-pointing have begun among Florida politicians about the timing of evacuation orders before Hurricane Ian. Having made a dreadfully ill-timed joke in this column about the kind of divine retribution often cited by religious cranks as the cause of natural disasters, I’m inclined to be forgiving. Mistakes were made because the storms are inherently unpredictable.
According to the National Wildlife Federation, fall is a good time to rake up leaves and let them become shelter for wildlife. Leave a section of your yard with raked-up leaves a few inches deep, and wet the pile down if it's a little too dry and might blow away. It'll eventually become the perfect shelter for small animals like salamanders, chipmunks, turtles and shrews, as well as beneficial insects like earthworms.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I work a fulltime job for a startup company, but I do product promotion through social media on the side. As a freelancer, I get paid hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars for my social media work. When my company learned I do pretty well with my independent work, they were impressed. My boss asked that I promote the startup on my personal pages. Since he made this request during a meeting, I felt like I was being put on the spot. I didn't agree to do it, but I didn't decline.
Kanien’keha:ka raonatswa’tahtshera ne tewaa:raton. Tsi tiotahsawen ne tsi lohontsa:te tiotahsawen ne tewaa:raton ahontswa’te, ratina’tonhkhwa Shonkwaia’ti:son raotswa’tahtshera ...
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DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend moved out of her mother's house in early 2021, and her mother graciously allowed me to rent her room for a low price. I'm well aware that they were doing me a big favor by letting me move in. I'm comfortable and happy there. I have a great relationship with my friend's mother — who is now my landlord — and she has never made me feel unwelcome. She constantly tells me I can stay as long as I like.
President Biden visited Puerto Rico this week, bringing federal aid and emotional support to the victims of Hurricane Ian. “I want the people of Puerto Rico to know I’m committed, my entire administration is committed to standing with you every step of the way as long as it takes,” Biden vowed.
This past week we attended the memorial for my husband Peter's oldest sister, Shelley.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I work freelance on a project that uses several teams to complete work. I was asked to provide creative guidance to one of the teams, and it is proving to be difficult. These people do not believe they need to answer to me.
CLINTON DAILY NEWS EDITORIAL