Kim McMahill

"We stand now where two roads diverge. But unlike the roads in Robert Frost's familiar poem, they are not equally fair. The road we have long been traveling is deceptively easy, a smooth superhighway on which we progress with great speed, but at its end lies disaster. The other fork of the road / the one less traveled by / offers our last, our only chance to reach a destination that assures the preservation of the earth." — Rachel Carson

Lamego, Portugal is a city located in the northern part of the country. The city has many interesting things to see, but the most stunning is Our Lady of Remedies which stands above town. This Catholic Church sits atop a hill overlooking Lamego, and 686-steps lead from the town to the Sanctuary. Along the stairway are nine levels decorated with blue and white tiled friezes, sculptures, and fountains. The Sanctuary is stunning, inside and out, and is one of the main pilgrimage sites in Portugal.

  Reflect on Independence Day! June has been an interesting month in Wyoming, and I’m hoping July will be a little more boring. Yellowstone National Park and a number of gateway communities have been devastated by floods, destroying roads and bridges, and closing numerous roads. Many are once again open, but some will take months to repair. My heart goes out to all of those who have been impacted by the flooding. The list of holidays and silly events for July is shorter than most months, but one is very important, Independence Day. The Fourth of July is the birthday of our nation. It’s the day we celebrate and enjoy the benefits of the freedom which the framers of the Declaration of Independence signed and ultimately fought for. When many of our freedoms are under direct attack and others are being insidiously degraded, please take this time to consider what it means to be free and to live in a democracy (government by the people. Rule of the majority) vs an autocracy (government w

The list of July holidays and silly events is short, but one is very important, Independence Day. The Fourth of July is the birthday of our nation. It’s the day we celebrate and enjoy the benefits of the freedom which the framers of the Declaration of Independence signed and ultimately fought for. Freedom means freedom for all, not just a group who share a certain set of ideals. I hope this day can mark the day in 2022 when we set aside our differences, put away the hate, and focus on what it means to be free. I also hope our politicians reaffirm their commitment to their oath of office, the Constitution, and their obligation to the American People. Public service is to serve the public not oneself.   July 4 - Independence Day July 5 - National Bikini Day July 20 - National Hot Dog Day July 22 - Hammock Day