Opinion

January marks the annual observance of School Board Recognition Month. The Syracuse American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 100 would like to take a moment to thank our Board of Education and Mr. Kraus for their leadership, commitment to our students, staff and community. We appreciate their efforts in leading us into the future. The job as a school board member is tough and maybe entails more than the individual board member bargained for when they initially decided to run for the board. The hours are long and the thanks few and far between. We often forget or don’t realize about the personal sacrifices they as board members make. Many do not realize the time spent in meetings and on committees, attending school functions, reams of reports, proposals and other information to read and study, a host of difficult decisions to make, advocating for our school.

Nebraska Public Service Commissioners recently elected leadership positions for 2022. District 1 Commissioner Dan Watermeier will remain chair for a second year.

Dear Amy: I’m conflicted. I am a single mom and relationship-wise have had very bad luck.

The amount of time people spend outdoors has dramatically decreased, as the Environmental Protection Agency now reports the average American spends 87 percent of his or her time in a residence, school building or workplace.

Getting out and about is a vital component of many seniors’ daily lives, but it’s important that aging men and women recognize how much exercise is healthy for them. The Department of Health & Human Services notes that adults need a mix of physical activity to stay healthy. That mix should be a combination of moderateintensity aerobic activities, which can include golfing, swimming and even gardening, and muscle strengthening activities like weightlifting that make the muscles work harder than usual. The DHHS recommends adults combine 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week with at least two days of musclestrengthening activities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that these guidelines are safe for individuals who are 65 and older, generally fit and have no limiting health conditions. Individuals who do not fit that criteria should consult with their physicians before beginning a new exercise regimen, as it’s possible that they could be putting their health at considerable risk if they attempt to follow guidelines designed for people who are generally fit. It’s also important that healthy seniors avoid overdoing it in regard to exercise. Though the DHHS suggestions are the minimum recommendations, going too far beyond those guidelines without first consulting a physician could increase seniors’ risk for injury, illness or even death.