Impressions by David Maxwell

Halloween traditions, where did they originate?  The many customs we have today in relation to Halloween have their origins in the religious practices of the Romans and the Druids, therefore dating back many centuries. On October 31, a special feast was held to honor their gods. The custom of trick-or-treating and the use of “jack-o’-lanterns”…

I was all smiles this weekend in downtown Donalsonville as I walked the streets during Seminole County’s and Georgia’s inaugural Big Fish Festival. I saw something special happening and it made my whole body beam with pride. I saw members of every group in this community who have individually worked to make it better –…

This weekend marks the arrival of  the inaugural Georgia’s Big Fish Festival in downtown Donalsonville. For years festival attendees have been asking for a bigger and better festival, and this year much planning has gone into making it a whopper of a day-long event filled with fun, food and entertainment for the entire family. This…

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be strong enough to pick up a car? You probably think that job is best left to superheroes. Well, let’s think again. What if you had 20 or 30 people all picking up the car together? Isn’t that a little more in the realm of…

Seminole County’s First Responders are our community’s everyday heroes; brave men and women who live in our communities, risking their lives to keep us safe each and every day, all while telling you it’s all part of the job. Honoring these public servants, whose everyday acts of bravery, caring and selflessness, uplifts and strengthens our…

You felt the buzz, didn’t you? You know you did  – you’re sure of it. But when you grabbed your phone there was no emoji or missed call on the screen. Weird. If you’re one of the 79 percent of Americans who uses text messaging, then this has likely happened to you at least once.…

The absurd . . . Cupid better not aim his arrow anywhere near Bruce Vento Elementary School in St. Paul, Minnesota, next year. In fact, Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, ghosts and goblins – even Tom the Turkey and individual birthday celebrations – are no longer welcome. Why? The goal is to be more inclusive…

d k abt U bt im %-) Translated into English the above supposedly reads . . . “Don’t know about you, but I’m confused” Is text messaging destroying the English language? Numerous protectors of the integrity of English have certainly suspected so, and such concerns are raised constantly in the media. Some would argue that…

We need to put some bite into the city’s bark concerning the elimination of blighted properties in our community because there is a long and growing list of unsightly properties in this city and county that need to be repaired or removed. The leaders of our city and county have made bold moves to clean…

In 1886, Jekyll Island was purchased to become an exclusive Winter retreat for America’s most elite families. Known as the Jekyll Island Club, it soon became recognized as “the richest, most inaccessible club in the world.” For more than half a century, the nation’s leading families, including the legendary Rockefellers, Morgans and Pulitzers, came to…