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REILLY: Just say no to family travel
This is the time of year when many of you will be thinking about vacation plans.

HICKMAN: Author unravels our decision-making process
First you say you do, and then you don't

Lessons drawn from four tragic deaths
The saying goes, "Only the good die young." Within the past month and a half, three of my friends and a family member - all of them young - have passed on.

GUEST COLUMN: Three Jackson concerts were too many
It is most unfortunate that Mark Farinella chose to play the race card in his story on the Foxboro selectmen denying Chuck Sullivan's request for three back-to-back concert dates at Sullivan Stadium back in 1984 ("Jackson played part in Pats' history that was real 'thriller'" June 26).

Do horses still have 'right-of-way?'
There is no question that everyone has a stake in highway safety and that competency standards for drivers are ethical and necessary. Age is a factor in these competencies so we don't allow children to drive until they reach age 16, which we have somehow divined to be the right point to start. It also seems reasonable to set standards at the other end of life since it is a scientific fact that aging diminishes driving competencies.

Thoughts as nation's 233rd birthday nears
It was great to see thousands of people crowd downtown Attleboro for the first of what is anticipated to be an annual event, the Expo for the Senses, on Saturday. When the Wednesday Night Markets started going downhill, at the same time that downtown was beginning to resemble a ghost town due to the rise in empty storefronts, it became clear that if the market or anything similar were going to return, it had to be in a once-a-season format.

HAND: Small town dreams big
The dedication of the Paul Spadoni baseball field in Plainville last week was yet another astonishing but unsurprising chapter in the history of volunteerism in the town.

GUEST COLUMN: They're running away from US jobs in Mexico
In "Our next civil war" (June 28) Betsy Shea-Taylor purports to offer, "in a heartbeat," the basics of the immigration crisis, especially as it pertains to Mexico. One of the major valves of that heart, however, is missing from her analysis: the role of foreign (especially U.S.) business in the non-choice of so many in Mexico regarding emigration, as well as the accompanying responsibility of the American market in this matter.

FLANAGAN: OK, it's a wasteland, but look at that picture now
The changeover from analog to digital television took place seamlessly, we reported the other day. This can mean one of two things:

GUEST COLUMN: 'Lower creatures' better at avoiding single-party rule
In a recent fascinating article ("Swarm Savvy", Science News, May 9), we learned how swarms of ants, bees, fish, and primates (yes, that includes us) make collective decisions that are usually correct. Evolved over millions of years, with extinction at stake, an effective, quorum-based decision-making process has emerged. It works wonderfully for honey bees, rock ants and guppies. Humans? Not so much.

The taxman comes calling on the middle class
As state and local governments near the beginning of a new budget year, the middle class will get an extra jolt of recession economics. Recessions have the effect of shifting more of the tax burden to middle-income families and this is the worst recession since the Depression.

Our next civil war
Some 150 children are reportedly appealing to President Barack Obama to halt deportations of their parents until Congress overhauls our immigration laws.

Secret Samurai's night at the roller rink
When aspiring rock musicians pick up a guitar or sit behind the drums for the first time, very often they imagine a wonderful fantasy of playing to thousands of adoring, screaming fans. When I had become just proficient enough at the drums to be able to play along to a few songs on the radio, I'd close my eyes and pretend that I was on stage with Weezer or Aerosmith or the Rolling Stones. I'd play along with The Who and desperately try to keep up with Keith Moon's animalistic fills, dreaming that I was on a huge stage with spotlights in my face, looking out to a sea of people.

Plenty of room for more LOL
Anyone know about any laugh clubs around here? No, I'm serious.

Mansfield board should stick to penny-ante game
When playing poker, bluffing is an integral part of the game. You try to convince your opponent you are holding a much better hand than theirs, thus getting them to "fold" out of fear of losing even more. If they do, you don't have to show your cards, so they are never sure if you were bluffing or not.

REILLY: Driven to extreme measures
As you know, there is a furious debate under way over testing for drivers over a certain age.

FLANAGAN: Thoughts between the drops
With his directive for Attleboro firefighters to stop mowing the grass at the South Attleboro station, and the recreation department to take over the job, reported last weekend, Kevin Dumas has etched his name into the history books: He's the first mayor to ask firefighters to do LESS work.

GUEST COLUMN: Uncle Sal needs you!
More than at any time in decades, our friends, neighbors and family members are finding themselves out of work, often out of their homes, and in desperate need of all of our help to find food, clothing and shelter.

Mom's words echo to daughters
The Sun Chronicle's Living Well Editor, Jessica Kosowski, frequently seeks readers' thoughts on topics, and after she asked people to share ways in which they thought they had become like their mothers, I started thinking about how things I routinely tell my two daughters resemble the pearls of wisdom that my mother, gone 12 years, would say to my sister and me. So, with another Father's Day having just passed, here are some things I say that echo my Mom:

ETHICS IN THE NEWS: Should state license a private matter?
With same-sex marriage so much in the news, I thought it would be good to take a look at the deeper ethical issue that is too often overlooked. Sometimes a concept like licensing can be made clearer by looking at its opposite side and this may be a useful way to begin this commentary on marriage licenses. To have the power to grant a license for something is to also have the power to prohibit it. Consider the fact that your own marriage could be prohibited by law. I suspect that most of us would agree that for the government to assume such sweeping power over people's private lives and choices they ought to have some very convincing reasons.

Attleboro's own Boo Radley House
It doesn't always take coal subjected to intense pressures over ages to produce a diamond; sometimes a timely visit can have the same results. Allow me to offer up an example.

KIRBY: North's mall, 20 years later
Here's an example of how much things can change in 20 years: A front page story in this newspaper in June 1989 told about hiring at Emerald Square, the mall that would open later that summer in North Attleboro. The key to the story? Jobs were so plentiful that stores were having a tough time getting enough workers.

SHEA-TAYLOR: How to be a great dad? Look to White House
President Barack Obama is widely viewed as a great dad. He appears to be, but not solely because he dotes on his daughters.

BRISTOL: Gadgets and dads: A great combo for today
It's Father's Day and I've been staring longingly at the newspaper ads for smart phones. They're so cool - the ads as well as the phones - with their colorful icons holding the promise of amazing apps that will enable me to do almost anything, possibly even read minds.

D'ARCONTE: Nice town, Mr. Gettys, but listen...
I stopped in Gettysburg on my way home from North Carolina last week, and came away with my head full of iconoclasms.

GOUVIEA: FYI to rep: Something is better than nothing
I have a particular pet peeve when it comes to elected officials. I really get angry at the ones who vote against governmental reforms because they say they don't go far enough.

BROWN: Putting on the gloves for round three
I always wanted to do an heroic act like save someone from the top of a burning building, which would be triply heroic considering my tremendous fear of heights and fire. Silly me. More seriously, I wonder if I could be the case study in finding out what makes cancer tick or how to fend it off successfully.

Guest essay: Base tests on need, not age
As a result of recent news there is a lot of concern now about driving tests for all older drivers. On the other hand, there is concern that legislation based on age alone is discrimination.

AUCK: Embracing change, scary though it is
I've decided that it's time for me to embrace change. I need to learn to love change, expect change, pray for change, create change, and make change whenever and wherever exact change is appreciated.

KESSLER: Rainbow had last word
Sometimes miracles happen, and other times you have to work to make them happen.

FLANAGAN: Word play: Close your mouth and be unabashed
The word "unabashed" bugs me - sort of - in the same way that "uncanny" does. We know from the "un" at the beginning that these words mean not something. But not what?

REILLY: Parenting myths debunked
Not long ago, we received an e-mail with some startling information. No, not that we were due several million dollars in lottery winnings from the Republic of Cameroon, although that was certainly nice to know.

KIRBY: Who needs newspapers? All of us do
Like many industries, the newspaper business has struggled recently. It's gotten to the point where some have wondered if newspapers are still necessary.

SHEA-TAYLOR: More babble from the Internet brook
"What we've got here is a failure to communicate."

GUEST COLUMN: North town meeting by the minute
As a representative town meeting member in North Attleboro for four years, I have a factual perspective on what transpires at a town meeting. In fact, most of the work of an RTM member begins long before the gavel strikes the meeting to order.

D'ARCONTE: Time for some new thinking
The times they are a'changing - even though I was in the audience at PPAC the other night to see Cheech & Chong - and so some of the old thinking may no longer pass muster. For example:

ZUCK: Only in the movies
If you want advice about your love life, never look to the movies for the answer.

BRISTOL: Knowing when it's time to sell...
I had occasion the other day to reread the chapter on home buying in a financial advice book. The book by noted author Jane Bryant Quinn came out in 2006, just before the collapse of the real estate market.

GOUVEIA: Now Mom is gone...
I have never really felt old - at least, not until this past Sunday. Now I'm feeling a bit more mortal, and more than a little lost and lonely.

GUEST COLUMN: Mass. needs real reform, not symbolism
All too often in government, decisions are based on what is politically expedient rather than what is fair.

FLANAGAN: AHS '44: The energizer class
They learned science from Harry Cooper and Kenneth Goding, French from Marjorie Pierce, English from Rachel McIntire, discipline from Principal Philip Garland and Acting Principal Freeman Hall and a work ethic from the community around them.

KESSLER: Why run relay? Because so many can't...
Ten years is a long time to be committed to anything, let alone a massive fundraiser involving thousands of people either participating or volunteering. And the fact that I plan on walking and jogging the track at North Attleboro High School this weekend, along with hundreds who have been a part of all 11 Relays For Life for the American Cancer Society held there, is a humbling experience.

REILLY: Toilet Repair 101
Time again for Home Owning 101, the column that answers the many questions homeowners have about repair and maintenance, chief among them being, "Is that supposed to smell that way?"

GUEST COLUMN: 1960's other memorable election
I was recently re-reading Pete Hamill's book "A Drinking Life." He recalls a bar at 17th Street and 10th Avenue called Boops, which prominently displays posters urging patrons to vote for Ms. Rheingold 1952. This triggered some lines in my mind from long ago -

GUEST COLUMN: Spirits tax would produce an economic hangover
Massachusetts residents and tourists will soon have to pay more bucks per bottle if the Legislature gets away with increasing taxes on distilled spirits - already one of the highest-taxed products in America.

KIRBY: A simple message for kids
Floating around North Attleboro right now are about 20 blank pieces of paper and notebook covers with my autograph and a simple message: "Keep reading."

D'ARCONTE: A little hug goes long way
I have to confess that even though I was raised Italian, I didn't hug much growing up.

HAND: Boys left behind?
The top two graduates at North Attleboro High School this year were girls.

GUEST COLUMN: Beware of sleight of hand on ethics reform
Amid talk of ethics reform on Beacon Hill, the governor and the Legislature are proving to be masters in the art of sleight of hand. While one hand draws public attention to the dazzle of ethics legislation, the other is quietly pushing through bills that would open gaping ethical loopholes.

BRISTOL: Why the Globe should stick with the New York Times
When The New York Times bought The Boston Globe some 15 years ago, Globe people were pleased and proud. Today, the Times Co. is threatening to shut the Globe unless its unions accept major cuts to wages and benefits.

SHEA-TAYLOR: Mixed message to kids
Children are losing every right to privacy, their personal lives made transparent, every move tracked. What happened to boundaries?

ZUCK: Dose of reality cures climate envy
As one of the many New Englanders who have fled the harsh winters to live in beautiful San Diego, I know I have nothing to complain about when it comes to the weather. In the nearly four years I've spent living in Southern California, I have never had the need to pick up a snow shovel. I own two sweaters, neither of which has seen the light of day. I have scraped ice off my windshield the same number of times that my nose has gone numb from the cold, which is none.

GOUVEIA: Welcome to Norton 1974
As my wife and I were driving last Sunday, we both realized that day marked the 35th anniversary of our graduation from Norton High School. My first reaction to this revelation was my wife is really getting old - but I wisely didn't share that thought with her.

GUEST COLUMN: Changes in SERVE
Thank you for your editorial on May 29 concerning the SERVE New England food co-op. SERVE has been active in North Attleboro since the early 1990's. Located at Sacred Heart we have "satellite" sites at Circle Court, 22 North Washington and Elm Terrace to make food delivery easier for senior participants.