Newsletter
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Warrior's wounds might not all be visible
By SonnyLong in Helping Hands
I have a story planned for Monday's paper about a former World War II prisoner of war. I never met Alfred Zbranek. In fact, he died on April 19 at 97 and will never see the story. But writing about ...
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By SonnyLong in Helping Hands
How awesome was it that someone the caliber of Emmitt Smith came to Victoria to speak. Not only did he deliver an inspirational message for a large crowd at Faith Family Church, he met with smaller groups of young people ...
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By SonnyLong in Helping Hands
The coolest thing happened to me this morning. If I am on time when I leave for work, I sometimes stop at a convenience store on the way and get a coffee. Today was no different. I exchanged "good mornings" ...
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By SonnyLong in Helping Hands
I kiss my mother gently on her forehead. Sometimes she stirs, wakes up momentarily and says, "Hey baby!" Other times she just sleeps, unaware of my presence. Visiting mom every weekend in The Heights nursing home in Gonzales is something ...
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By SonnyLong in Helping Hands
One of the great things about my job and the covering the nonprofit beat, is the awesome events that area organizations put together as fundraisers and that I, from time to time, am privileged enough to attend. Last week was ...
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By SonnyLong in Helping Hands
An Advocate reporter is out among the public every day. We "range" at various restaurants, and other places in Victoria and into the counties around Victoria asking the question of the day, talking to people about story ideas, hearing complaints ...
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By SonnyLong in Helping Hands
Just overheard a widow dropping off a thank you note to run in the newspaper. "I so enjoy the Advocate in the morning with my coffee. It's like an old friend coming to my home every day,"' she said. That's ...
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How long is a moment of silence?
By SonnyLong in Helping Hands
I read on Facebook about the proposed moment of silence at 8:30 a.m. Friday for the victims of the school shooting in Connecticut a week earlier. I was in a busy place of business as the time approached and the ...
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By SonnyLong in Helping Hands
I am wearing pink today, I think for the first time in my life. It's not a color that I ever thought went well with this 6-3, 250-plus pound frame. Not that I look bad in pink -- it has ...
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By SonnyLong in Helping Hands
I don't claim to be one of Manuel De Los Santos' best friends. I was a colleague. A peer. When Manny, who died Monday, came to the newsroom from the circulation department at the Advocate, we had daily interaction. He, ...