Article Archives: Words with Woods

The Lorax of Indiana

February 11, 2021 | by CJ Woods III

A friend contacted me, distraught about an Indiana Senate Bill. I met Wesley Homoya — who signed his e-mail to me, “Ornithologist. Ambassador. Friend.” — in September 2016, and wrote of his passion for birding and nature in a column, “Bird Man of Indianapolis.” Since then, Wes has taken me … Read More

A Black History Story

February 4, 2021 | by CJ Woods III

This column first appeared in the Feb. 2, 2018 issue. In September, 1944, The Franklin Times published an obituary on its front page for a printer who, after moving from Noblesville, Indiana, died while employed as a pressman for the newspaper. Fred Hord’s long service to the paper was written … Read More

History Lesson

January 28, 2021 | by CJ Woods III

My youngest daughter, with a keen eye for history, asked if I could watch my granddaughter on Wednesday, January 20th. Since I have been replaced as primary caretaker for the 2.7 version of my youngest granddaughter — she goes to daycare while her mother works, and her grandmother picks her … Read More

We Are Done

January 21, 2021 | by CJ Woods III

On an episode of “The People’s Court” that I was watching, Judge Marylin Milian, after hearing conflicting and acerbic testimony from litigant and defendant, declared, “Stick a fork in me; I’m done.” I chuckled when I heard it, because Judge Milian has a direct and familiar way when meting out … Read More

It Will Take All of Us

January 14, 2021 | by CJ Woods III

As World War I was winding down in the spring of 1918, a strain of influenza unlike any seen before began to take lives. The wartime Allied and Central Powers nations had censors that suppressed the dissemination of that news, fearful of affecting morale. Spain, a neutral country during that … Read More