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WINSTON WEEKLY[1] April 12, 2026 Vol. 4, No. 15 PLIABLE PIPEFISH[2] Slender and toothless, pipefish are related to the seahorse. With more than 225 species throughout the world, they suck in their prey with their long, tubular snout. Their existence has been traced back fifty million years. Swaying back and forth in seagrass beds, reefs,…
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WINSTON WEEKLY[1] April 5, 2026 Vol. 4, No. 14 AMAZING ALMONDS[2] Although many of us are familiar with and have experienced the beauty of Washington, D.C.’s cherry blossoms, almond blossoms are equally beautiful. With a honey-sweet fragrance like jasmine, almond blossoms are mostly white or pink with a magenta center. Although the blossoms are short-lived,…
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WINSTON WEEKLY[1] March 29, 2026 Vol. 4, No. 13[2] BARN SCENES As late spring approached during my childhood in Wisconsin, so too did the barn swallows. Incredibly acrobatic creatures, they dive-bombed anything and anyone that ventured near their nests. As the spring kittens arrived, the ensuing battle between the mother cats and the swallows was…
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WINSTON WEEKLY[1] March 22, 2026 Vol. 4, No. 12 GIANT JUMPERS[2] In the spirit of March Madness, another type of athlete is among us: the grasshopper. Their massive hind legs give them the ability to jump the entire length of a basketball court! Their hind legs are also used to produce sounds by rubbing them…
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WINSTON WEEKLY[1] March 15, 2026 Vol. 4, No. 11 PAWS FOR BOOKS[2] Rescue dogs have inspired many businesses, and Lisa McCormick’s bookstore is no exception. Soon opening in historic Parkville, Missouri, Typo’s Bookstore (www.typosbookstore.com) is named after Lisa’s first rescue dog, Typo the Newshound. Lisa, a graduate of Park University and an award-winning author and…
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WINSTON WEEKLY[1] March 8, 2026 Vol. 4, No. 10 COURTHOUSE COMFORT[2] Golden and Labrador retrievers are particularly suited for comforting anxious or traumatized individuals. Known as “facility dogs,” they are specially trained from puppyhood for a minimum of two years. From placing their head in one’s lap to giving someone a gentle nudge, facility dogs…
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WINSTON WEEKLY[1] March 1, 2026 Vol. 4, No. 9 RARE AND WONDERFUL[2] French zoologist and paleontologist Frederic Cuvier described the red panda “as the most beautiful animal he had ever seen.” Today, less than 10,000 remain in the wild. Although their name suggests a relationship with the giant panda, they are more closely related to…
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WINSTON WEEKLY[1] February 22, 2026 Vol. 4, No. 8 THE ECLECTIC WORLD OF EELS[2] While much has been written about the metamorphosis of caterpillars, the transformation of eels is even more fascinating. Starting as flat, transparent, and somewhat leaf-shaped larvae, they transform into elongated glass eels. As they continue to develop, they turn a brownish-pink…
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WINSTON WEEKLY[1] February 15, 2026 Vol. 4, No. 7 A WHALE OF A HEART[2] With arteries the diameter of a dinner plate, blue whales have the world’s biggest heart at nearly 400 pounds and five feet in length. Sonar can detect a blue whale’s heartbeat from nearly two miles away. Below the surface, a blue…
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WINSTON WEEKLY[1] February 8, 2026 Vol. 4, No. 6 AUSTRALIA’S FLIGHTLESS BIRD[2] Watching Australia’s flightless birds brings an entirely new dimension to birdwatching. Emus, within a group of birds known as ratites, are native to Australia. Occasionally growing up to six feet in height and weighing up to 130 pounds, their muscular legs and three…
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