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What other newspapers are saying: Breast cancer MRIs are smart, cost-effective

Sometimes, people want things from the government that sound great but just aren’t cost effective. It would be fantastic if utilities came without a bill, for instance. Long hot showers without worrying about paying for either the water or the heat? Who wouldn’t like that? But services come with a cost, and someone has to pick up the tab. More familiar are the government regulations that require we take smart steps that cost money. Want to drive a car? Prove you have insurance. In 2023, Pennsylvania took the rarest of legislative actions. It made a good move that came with a ...

Rumor is just that, a rumor

Do you remember playing the game in grade school where someone in the room whispers something to the next person and each person whispers to the person beside them until the last person tells what they heard? What the last person heard is never what the first person said. That is true of a recent rumor that is floating around the Juniata Valley. The rumor states that the Sentinel will be closing this year…different people have heard different dates. However, the rumor is COMPLETELY FALSE. THE SENTINEL IS NOT CLOSING. PERIOD. So, if you hear this rumor, please set the record straight.

Daylight savings time begins again

It’s that time again. Leaves have begun falling. The calendar flips to November. And, beginning Sunday, the 9-to-5-ers of the world will begin to see it getting dark outside before their commute home. That’s right, it’s time to turn your clocks back one hour. While the temperature may not feel like autumn yet, we will soon begin preparing for family meals, toy drives, and holiday parties. And on Sunday, we have the unique opportunity to enjoy one extra guilt-free hour of sleep. While this may seem like a dream to some (no pun intended), health experts have argued that ...

Address youth mental health issues before crisis

As an emergency physician, I have seen firsthand the devastating impact of untreated mental health conditions. For far too many young people, the first time they access mental health care is in a moment of crisis — often in the ER, when their symptoms have already escalated beyond what community care could have addressed. Waiting for crises is simply not the way to approach mental health. We wouldn’t wait until a child is severely physically ill to treat an illness, so why are we doing this with mental health? As we marked World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, we must take a serious ...

Stay safe while enjoying trick-or-treating

Trick-or-treating is almost upon us, and with it the necessity of reminding families and motorists to prioritize safety. As excited as your children are to select their costumes, it is important to remember that costumes should include reflective or brightly colored portions to assist with visibility. Masks should not obscure or block children’s vision. Costumes should not hinder children’s ability to safely walk and cross streets. Flashlights and glow sticks can also help children be seen by motorists, preventing tragedies. Families, of course, should look both ways before ...

Schools tackle new ‘R’ by weighing use of student phones

For centuries, schools have focused on teaching students the three Rs – reading, writing and arithmetic. Recently, a fourth “R” has crept into the daily curriculum – restricting use of students’ cell phones. The debate is not only ongoing here in the Juniata Valley but is in progress coast to coast. Locally, administrators, educators and even school board directors differ on the notion of restricting usage of cell phones on school grounds. Some schools make students place phones in their lockers. Others require them to be checked in before class. But some are OK with having ...