You know that feeling when you’re around someone who just makes everything feel a little lighter—supported, cared for, hopeful? That was Darrell Handy, and sadly, he passed away unexpectedly recently. Darrell Handy Darrell was a longtime community leader in Defiance and the surrounding area—someone who made a lasting impact everywhere he served. Throughout his career, he wore many hats: working at Titan Tire in Bryan, serving as Executive Director of the Defiance Area Chamber of Commerce,...

This column first ran over a year ago, but with the recent passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson, I felt moved to share it once more. My brief encounter with him shaped me in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time, and it left me with three lessons that have guided every chapter of my career: 1. Don’t judge first impressions. 2. Always stand up for what you believe in. 3. One person truly can make the world better — Rev. Jackson proved that. I was 19, working at The University...

My favorite Christmas movie? Hands down — Elf with Will Ferrell. One year, I was watching it with my three daughters, and we got to the part where Buddy the Elf is heading to New York to meet his biological dad. Just before he leaves the North Pole, a deep-voiced Narwhal pops out of the icy water and says, “Buddy, I hope you find your dad!” I turned to my girls and said, “Wouldn’t it be cool if Narwhals were real?” Cue the laughter. “Uh, Mom… they ARE real.” I was defiant. “Oh sure, and next...