About Mary B. O’Neill

Mary B. O’Neill, Ph.D. is a contributing writer on a variety of topics. In whatever she writes, Mary tries to see the humorous and philosophical in the subject at hand. She is an adjunct instructor in philosophy at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, CT. Prior to that, she coordinated adult programs at the Scoville Memorial Library in Salisbury, CT and worked in numerous non-profit organizations including The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Before moving to the area she lived in London for nearly a decade. Mary writes a periodic column for The Lakeville Journal called The Agora. She lives in Lakeville, CT with her husband and three children.

Home Grown Magic

No disrespect to mountain laurel as the Connecticut State shrub, but perhaps it’s time to pass the torch to the humble, medicinal, and magical witch hazel.

This wonder shrub finds a suitable home in the woodlands of the northeast part of the country. While mostly present on the eastern side of Connecticut, you can find a […]

By |2020-11-25T18:58:59-05:00November 25th, 2020|Our Environment|

Housatonic Heritage

History runs through this region. It follows the Housatonic River as it flows through the towns of Litchfield and Berkshire counties. Set out in any direction, and you’re bound to encounter the area’s past. Because of this, in 2006, Congress designated this region as the Upper Housatonic […]

By |2020-09-25T17:54:01-04:00September 25th, 2020|Featured Article|

Mindful Eating

Mindful eating for me as a child meant focused attention on the present moment but to a different end. With seven hungry kids sitting around the dinner table, we were mindful of eating as quickly as we could. The first one done got the last pork chop, or […]

By |2020-06-29T23:22:33-04:00June 29th, 2020|Featured Article|

Tri-State Chamber of Commerce

Maps follow tidy boundaries that mark the borders between states in our Tri-state area, but up close those lines matter less. On the ground, our economies and businesses are serving people – regardless of where they are located. A coordinated strategy for our region is necessary and appropriate.

Making […]

By |2020-06-02T19:01:53-04:00June 2nd, 2020|Featured Article|

Scenic Hudson: Harnessing the Inspirational Power of the River

Ned Sullivan, president of Scenic Hudson, and his staff educate about and advocate for the Hudson River and the surrounding valley. He described the organization’s mission and accomplishments at a recent presentation organized by Noble Horizons.

A recent hike in Connecticut’s northwest corner took him to a height where he could see the interconnectedness between New York and […]

By |2020-05-14T17:16:22-04:00May 14th, 2020|Our Environment|

Anatomy of a Resume: The Summary Statement

Resume experts advocate abandoning the objective statement in favor of the summary statement. The summary statement sits at the top of your resume below your contact information and serves a very different purpose.

The objective statement of yesteryear is vague and centered on what you’re looking for. Use that valuable resume real estate for […]

By |2020-04-29T22:38:33-04:00April 29th, 2020|Elevator Pitch|

What’s a Resume for Anyway?

The role of the resume is in flux. Today, we must contend with online job postings and applications and electronic applicant tracking systems that screen and our resumes before a human lays an eye on them. This has led some HR professionals to assert that the traditional resume is dead, but there is no consensus. […]

By |2020-04-27T13:22:18-04:00April 16th, 2020|Elevator Pitch|

Smokedown Farm

Farming is part of the fabric of the northwest corner of Connecticut, so it’s not surprising that Englishman Dr. James Shepherd and his wife, California-native Katherine (known as “Shrevie”) chose this area to put down roots and fulfill their dream of owning and operating a farm.

After eight years […]

By |2020-02-29T16:34:19-05:00February 29th, 2020|Featured Article|
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