Today's Opinions

Years ago when I was a youngster, I heard older folks grumbling about all kinds of stuff. Seems like back then our politicians took time to listen and some wrongs were corrected or made a little easier for us.

Six years ago, Lancaster residents Sal and Lois Rao, reacting to a family tragedy, could have just faded away in their grief.

One would understand, but the Raos, despite their loss, opted to go another direction following the death of their son, senior state trooper Mike Rao.

Rao, while on duty in June of 2002 in Clarendon County, was hit by a car and later died as a result of his injuries.

The Raos decided to make something positive out of their situation.

On a recent Sunday, my family went to several different restaurants before we gave up on eating out. Why? Like 3 million other Americans, my son, Joel, has a peanut allergy.

According to the Mayo Clinic, allergic reactions to peanuts are the most severe of all food allergies followed by shellfish, fish, tree-nuts and eggs. Peanut allergies are responsible for 80 percent of fatal or near-fatal reactions each year.