Here's the Scoop by Brian Sweeney

Now we’re all wet
This will hopefully be the final installment of Storm Columns. Sure, there will probably be traces of the monster snowfall still around in June at higher elevations. But everywhere else, this episode should be committed to memory and photographs very soon. Naturally, the actual snowfall amounts will continue to increase each time the story is related.

The Snowstorm – Part 2
Because I have many entries of The Snowstorm planned for this series, I thought it was important not to name them with Roman numerals. I think I speak for many others, when I say that Roman numerals aren’t that easy to figure out once they get past III. For instance, I’m willing to bet there are lots of football fans who have no idea which Super Bowl was just played.

So nice to see you... again... and again...
This is the beginning of a multi-part column. My storm observations will continue until I run out of things to write about “The Event” or until it melts. I’m betting on the latter happening first.

A mystery to me
So far this winter, I’ve read 112 books where the plot is something like this: hero is a grizzled (yet sensitive) war veteran who now spends his time chasing down bad guys. In several of these books, this work was done without the benefit of a paycheck — talk about a plot hole.

Hung out to dry
It’s become a cliché to state, “You don’t appreciate things until you no longer have them.” The fact is, it’s true. I guess that’s why it’s a cliché.

Nighttime makeover works wonders
When it was announced awhile back that a new company was purchasing the former A&P plaza, there was a collective sigh of relief from many local residents. The term “dump” is tossed around lightly these days, but an argument could be made that the former A&P plaza fit the description. Some things age well. Not strip malls. In fact, most strip malls never look good.

Where have I seen you before?
We recently took quite a long break from movie rentals. It seemed there was always something going on for about two years and movie-watching was no longer a top priority. Or maybe it was because we moved and hadn’t unpacked the box with the TV.

I swear — it was a mistake.
“Community paper.” That’s the best way to describe the Catskill Mountain News in two words or less. I’ve heard worse, of course. Especially in the past week! While providing coverage of “real stories,” the News still seeks to retain that wholesome, hometown flavor. With the exception, I guess, of the really, really bad swear word that made its way into print recently.

There’s no time for shorcuts
I’m starting to think that I am not cut out to live in this current time. Call me old — you won’t be the first.

Are they gone yet?
The 10-day “Period of Forgetfulness” has passed. Memories of “The Visit” are starting to fade. A bit. You see, over the holidays we hosted some friends and their young children. For two years…I mean two days. That’s 48 hours to those of you who don’t keep track of such things. It’s a very, very long time when half of the houseguests can’t tie their shoes.