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  Nothing to do this weekend? The Trib-Star's 'BASH offers suggestions

  Community Theatre of Terre Haute’s main stage season finale opens this Friday, with the hit Broadway comedy “Social Security,” directed by Sonni Crawford.

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  ISU plans hearing on proposed tuition/fees increase

  Indiana State University will conduct a public hearing at 2 p.m. June 4 to receive input on a proposed 1.95 percent increase in student tuition and mandatory fees for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years.

Liz Ciancone

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May 1, 2012

LIZ CIANCONE: What to make of that mild winter

Liz Ciancone Special to the Tribune-Star The Tribune Star Tue May 01, 2012, 09:24 AM EDT

TERRE HAUTE — I’m old enough to have seen some interesting fluctuations in weather, but this year has taken the gold-plated trophy.

I kept waiting for winter. The sweaters had been dry-cleaned and were waiting for the onslaught of the first cold snap. I had not dug out the long underwear, but I knew where it was and could grab it within minutes of need. My boots were waterproofed and ready. I had mastered the art of adjusting the thermostat. All systems were “go”.

The only problem was that winter, as we think of it in West Central Indiana, never made the schedule.

March, rather than making its debut like the proverbial lion, came in more like a drowsy pussycat. In fact, I can cast my mind back only a few weeks to recall days and days of record-breaking temperature highs. During that 80-degree period, I actually made a note to myself to remember where I stashed the long underwear in case we get winter next year.

Was it only a year ago we had an ice storm for the record books? I remember I thought about skating across the lawn to the mailbox, but I gave it up after a couple of steps. I’m not Evel Knieval.

And, it wasn’t too many years ago that snow was almost too deep to shovel. Of course, that was way back when we lived in Northern Illinois and were schooled to expect nothing better.

I may have mentioned before the winter of my ninth Christmas when I got my first pair of ice skates. I wanted so much to give them a test run, but the snow was terribly deep.

However, Dad got out the snow shovel, walked down the hill to Blackberry Creek and shoveled off a 12 by 12 square from the ice below all that snow. I was thrilled to give my new skates their maiden run and have remembered ever since the effort it took Dad to leave a warm house for a cold walk.

I just don’t know what to make of this year. Maybe it’s just a cyclical weather pattern as the dubious insist, or maybe there really is something to global warming.

I just hope our abnormally warm winter won’t translate to an abnormally hot summer. I don’t do hot.

Liz Ciancone is a retired Tribune-Star reporter. Send e-mail to opinion@tribstar.com.

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Copyright 2013 News From Terre Haute, Indiana. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Liz Ciancone

• LIZ CIANCONE: Smell of fresh air gave way to dryers

  Remember when clean clothes smelled like fresh air and sunshine rather than fabric softener and dryer sheets?

  May 20, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Courts see a different appearance than cops

  Have you ever noticed the transformation between the arrest of an accused lawbreaker and the first appearance in court?

  May 14, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: We always want more than we need

  Washington seems more preoccupied with the unemployment rate than they are about the constant stalemate. Still with thousands out of work and the unemployment rate hovering somewhere between 7 percent and 9 percent, it does deserve more than a passing nod.

  May 7, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Old age is in email of the beholder

  My Best Friend isn’t much for writing letters, so email has opened a new world for him. He can dash off a few words to a high school friend or his college roommate — now living in Florida and Washington State,

  April 30, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: A memory test from the oldtime radio days

  For some reason, I seem to be the go-to source for all sorts of obscure information out at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center.

  April 23, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Friskey no doubt was in favor of gun control

  I once owned a gun. Actually, it was Dad’s gun and I was allowed to use it. He bought an air gun which shot BB’s to protect our home — in a way.

  April 16, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: A robin stops to welcome the spring

  I saw a robin the other morning. It was not the first robin of spring, of course. A few of the more daring robins had opted to spend the winter and, although they looked pretty sorry about it on a few occasions, it was a fairly mild winter.

  April 9, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: The mystery of the small animal mascot

  I hope you won’t think I’m picking on small animals, but I’ve been thinking about Easter and the Easter bunny.

  April 2, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Rising up to defend the poor groundhog

  I read in the newspaper the other morning that Punxsatawney Phil is being hauled into court and charged with falsely predicting an early spring. I am volunteering my services as counsel for the defense.

  March 26, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Keeping eye out for signs of spring

  The problem with expecting a groundhog to predict the arrival of spring is that there are groundhogs scattered all over the country. The Pennsylvania groundhog may not see the same kind of weather as the groundhog out here in Dobbs Park. In this way, false hopes are roused and the groundhog loses credibility as a meteorologist.

  March 19, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Not every other name smells sweet as a rose

  It was either Romeo or Juliet who said, “What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

  March 12, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Innocence appreciated when you’re growing up

  I grew up rather stupid. I didn’t realize it at the time. Neither did my teachers who seemed to think I had “promise.”

  March 5, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Years along rivers make them feel like home

  I’ve been following plans for celebrating “The Year of the River” with interest. Rivers have played such a role in my life that I’ve celebrated a good many rivers. The Wabash River is merely the most recent example.

  February 19, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: There are always cat stories to be told

  I was asked the other day why I write about dogs I have known, but never about cats. “What’s the matter?” they asked, “Don’t you like cats?”

  February 12, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Sharing the family history

  My Grandmother lived with us. Ed and I were eager audiences for her family stories about the Cooks. Mom also shared her memories of growing up with three brothers.

  February 5, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Do we want our privacy or not?

  We Americans are a strange bunch. We insist upon our right to privacy, yet we neglect few opportunities to parade our personal business in public.

  January 29, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: The low humor of Mickey Mantis

  I’m told that a pun is the lowest form of humor. I guess that typecasts me! I love them, but then, I like any type of word play.

  January 22, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: For now, justice is served in Bball Hall

  News this past week brought justice of a sort. The folks who decide these things have declined to pick anyone to be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame this year.

  January 15, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Well, what would you do with only 1 sock?

  Let me ask you something.

  January 8, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Movie memories don’t include many of the lengthy variety

  There has been lots of reporting lately about how long movies are becoming.

  January 1, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Resist that big ‘let down’ on the day after Christmas

  Today is the big day. That makes tomorrow a sort of let down — rather like “What have you done for me lately?”

  December 25, 2012  

• LIZ CIANCONE: No thanks to getting mags delivered via the Internet

  I am a creature of habit. I like to know what I’m doing and I need to know how to do it. That’s why I am annoyed when corporate America seems determined to drag me, kicking and screaming into the age of Internet.

  December 18, 2012  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Everyone has a favorite holiday

  I suppose everyone has a favorite holiday. My guess is that, for most of us, that holiday is Christmas. It's a holiday with a miracle no matter how old we get.

  December 15, 2012  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Christmas season puts time back into focus

  It’s a funny thing about time. It can speed along so that you cannot believe that your kids can possibly be old enough to have good sense, or it can drag its heels while you wait for that first grandchild or while you are saving up for something really special.

  December 4, 2012  

• LIZ CIANCONE: The bottom line is what drives ‘Black Friday’ sales

  Why is it called "Black Friday"?

  November 27, 2012  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Have we lost the meaning of holiday?

  I’ve been considering a lost-and-found ad to see if anyone knows what’s happened to Thanksgiving.

  November 20, 2012  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Magic is always there with live theater

  I’m a pushover for live theater. But movies? Not so much. For me it’s like the difference between canned peas and those picked fresh from the garden. Movies even COME in cans.

  November 13, 2012  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Maybe the Cubs will win it all next year

  I was relieved to have the World Series ending before the snow flies. Heck, it didn’t even last into November this year.

  November 6, 2012  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Holiday decorating better when personal, simple

  I fear that I am becoming an old poop!

  October 30, 2012  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Surprises from mail worth the extra penny

  I understand that the cost of pursuing my hobby will be going up by a penny come the year 2013.

  October 23, 2012  

• More Liz Ciancone Headlines

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