Jacqueline M. Ruffino This year, America celebrates its 250th birthday—a remarkable moment in history. Two hundred and fifty years ago, in 1776, a group of determined men signed the Declaration of Independence and gave birth to a new nation founded on liberty, courage, and hope. It is hard to imagine all that has happened since…
Tag: Jacquie’s Corner
May 2026, Features
Jacquie’s Corner: What Is Decoration Day? What Is Memorial Day?
Josephine M. Ruffino Why is Memorial Day celebrated only one day a year? On this day, flags, red, white and blue, wave outside our homes, outside office buildings and other places as far as our eyes can see on this designated day. Flowers and flags are placed on all the graves, North, South, East and…
March 2026, Features
Jacquie’s Corner: Springtime and a New Life
Jacqueline Ruffino The flower buds are beginning to show their little heads in all colors. Opening their eyes, unfolding their little petals, and sending out the exotic aroma of delicate perfumes. Gardenia, rose, lilac, magnolia, jasmine, orange blossoms, and the smells of fresh cut grass. How delightful to be surrounded among these glorious, colorful floral…
Features, February 2026
Jacquie’s Corner: Biography of Saint Valentine
Jacqueline M. Ruffino Before I enlighten our readers about Valentine’s Day and how it came about, I will ask each of you to remember your first Valentine card you received or gave out to a cute little boy or girl. I received my first Valentine card at five years old from Gerhardt. Cute, blond hair,…
January 2026, Features
Jacquie’s Corner: Let There Be Within These Walls
Jacqueline M. Ruffino Platt Let there be within these walls Beauty where each shadow falls Lovely pictures, books, and chairs Music every silence shares Windows letting in the light Sun and moon and stars at night Shelves and cupboards filled with food A place for love’s sweet interlude Little things of sentiment Photos showing some…
December 2025, Features
Jacquie’s Corner: The Happiest Christmas Ever
Jacqueline M. Ruffino-Platt This story took place almost 20 years ago and brought you, the readers, up to present days. I was blessed and wanted to share with you. Born and raised in New Jersey, I decided to spread my wings to an unknown location. I headed south on the freeway until I reached Virginia,…
Features, November 2025
Jacquie’s Corner: Another Best Birthday Again
Jacqueline M. Ruffino-Platt On my birthday, which I recently experienced with my family and very good friends, I was grateful for all the joy blessed to me. My husband John, I ask him every time, “How do you find such wonderful cards with such beautiful thoughts and words? You always take it upon yourself to…
Features, October 2025
Jacquie’s Corner: Another Best Birthday Ever … Again
Jacqueline M. Ruffino-Platt May the coming year’s trip around the sun be the best ever. Each year as we grow older, and sometimes wiser and happier, we receive “Happy Birthday,” “Best Wishes,” “Have a Wonderful Day” from our family and friends. My mailbox is filled with beautiful cards with meaningful sentiments. This year I was…
Features, September 2025
Jacquie’s Corner: High School Days to Remember
Jacqueline Ruffino I was looking forward to high school, St. Cecilia High School, Englewood, N.J. Travel by two buses and a 45-minute walk to reach the campus. The tuition fee was quite expensive for my mom’s reach at those times, $10 every month. St. Joseph’s High School was closer to our home where the fee…
August 2025, Features
Jacquie’s Corner: Another Chapter Back in My Early Days: A Special Time
Jacqueline M. Ruffino Remembering many years back when the pastor of the little church across the street from my home in New Jersey asked me to look after his father- in-law who was very old and could not feed, dress, or bathe himself and needed assistance. I was quite young at the time, 19 years…