Yet again, a word on fracking. Both sides of the fracking debate are well worn by now. While many in the county (and country) are excited about the potential economic boon, others warn of a potential bust. The only benefits Athens County will gain from fracking operations will be a short-term influx of money.

I have a unique connection to Athens – it is home to Ohio University, mine and my parents' alma mater – and of course it remains the home of friends, family and fond memories. I had all of this in mind when the Athens County Commissioners considered a proposal to restrict natural gas and oil development.

Apparently, Ohio Gov. John Kasich cannot look at an Ohio state park without drooling. Now he plans to build ATV trails at Burr Oak State Park.

Numerous articles and letters to the editor have appeared in our local papers and on Facebook recently regarding the BellaVino building. I hope this letter will clear up several issues that are becoming confused in the discussions about the sale of the 22 W. Stimson Ave. property.

This is an open letter to the Athens County Commissioners (the signatories to the letter are listed at the end):

These are comments I made outside the Ohio Statehouse on Jan. 10:

My partner and I own three food businesses in Athens — Village Bakery, Della Zona — which means "from the region" in Italian — and Catalyst Café.

One of the more troubling things about the fracking controversy is the notion that the decision to frack is a private decision and not a community decision.

I have received many emails, phone calls and letters about my selling BellaVino, both the property and the business. I asked to meet with The Athens NEWS, as you already know, last week in order to tr

On the eve of our celebration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I was reminded what it means to be a Christian witness in a pluralistic democracy. Dr. King was able to speak out of his own particular place within the prophetic African-American Baptist tradition.

A new study, titled "The Impacts of Gas Drilling on Human and Animal Health," shows that fracking fluids, methane gas exposure and other gas-drilling related contamination can have a serious impact on the health of both humans and animals.