Kenneth Feder’s 2nd book on Barkhamsted Lighthouse is NOW AVAILABLE 😁 He is also providing a 30% discount code for both the physical hardbound book and the eBook.
1st book: Feder, Kenneth (1993). A Village of Outcasts: Historical Archaeology and Documentary Research at the Lighthouse Site. (Mayfield Publishing)
Other books by Kenneth Feder can be found on Amazon
Ken had included me in his dedication of this amazing book ❤️ & to the “generations speeding onward in an ever widening circle.” Truly warmed my heart to see this~
You can download the PDF of Barkhamsted Lighthouse Archaeological Preserve book (2017) for free HERE
Links:
https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~mypages/genealogy/Lighthouse%20Tribe/Lighthouse.html
https://www.rockvillemama.com/chaugham.htm
“Dreams are voices of ancestors.”
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- 2026 Native American record releases and how to use them for research
This spring two major things happened at once. FamilySearch pushed a huge batch of new and re-indexed records in its April 2026 update, over one billion records total, and inside that update was an expansion to the core Native collection: United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940. At the same time the National Archives and […]
- Navigating Mental Health, Loss, and Survival in America Today
We are living in an era of profound overwhelmedness. Behind the closed doors of our neighborhoods, people are quietly carrying immense burdens. We are seeing friends navigate painful divorces, neighbors losing businesses they poured their hearts into, and everyday Americans simply losing touch with the joy of living because they are entirely focused on just surviving.
Depression is a very real, very present issue in our communities. The compounded grief of personal loss, economic instability, and a deeply divided political climate has left many feeling isolated and exhausted. It is time we talk about it openly, look at the facts, and most importantly, share the resources that can save lives.
The Real Toll of Economic and Political Stress
The stress we are feeling is not just in our heads—it is a documented, national crisis. Financial insecurity and political division are fundamentally altering our mental well-being.
In the American Psychological Association’s (APA) 2024 Stress in America survey, 77% of adults reported the future of our nation as a significant source of stress.
The economy is the second most common stressor, affecting 73% of adults.
Day-to-day survival is becoming harder, with 65% of adults citing housing costs as a significant driver of anxiety.
Sadly, the very financial pressure causing this distress is also a barrier to healing, as 60% of people have avoided seeking mental health support specifically because of the cost.
When we talk about the “economy,” we aren’t just talking about numbers on a screen; we are talking about the loss of livelihoods, the strain on marriages, and the deep anxiety of not knowing how to pay for basic necessities. This chronic stress keeps our bodies in a constant state of fight-or-flight, eventually leading to severe anxiety and depression.
A Silent Epidemic: Understanding the Suicide Crisis
When the weight of these losses—whether it is a business, a marriage, or a sense of hope—becomes too much, the consequences can be devastating. We must face the reality of the suicide crisis in our country so that we can actively prevent it.
Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, resulting in over 49,000 deaths in 2023 alone.
Overall, suicide rates have increased by about 31% from 2003 through 2023.
These numbers represent mothers, fathers, siblings, and friends. They represent people who felt they had run out of options. But there are options, and there is a massive network of support waiting to catch those who are falling.
Hope and Help: Suicide Prevention and Resources
If you are reading this and feeling like the walls are closing in, please know that you are not alone, and your life is incredibly valuable. Reaching out for help is the bravest thing you can do.
In July 2022, the federal government launched the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This service provides 24/7, free, and confidential support for people in distress, as well as prevention and crisis resources.
You can call, text, or chat 988 from anywhere in the country to be connected with a trained crisis counselor.
Between July 2022 and September 2025, about 19.1 million calls, texts, and chats were routed to these crisis centers.
That number tells us something vital: Millions of Americans are asking for help, and they are receiving it. You do not have to carry this weight alone.
Let’s Check on Each Other
We cannot always fix the economy or change the political climate overnight, but we can change the environment in our own circles. Check on your strong friends. Check on the friend who just closed their business. Check on the family member going through a divorce.
Grace, compassion, and a listening ear can be the lifeline someone desperately needs today.
Sources and Documentation
For further reading and to verify the statistics shared in this post, please refer to the following official reports:
American Psychological Association (APA): Stress in America 2024: A nation in political turmoil. This report details the significant stressors impacting Americans, including the economy and the political climate. (Available at: https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/stress-in-america/2024)
U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO): Suicide Prevention: Capacity and Federal Assessment of the 988 Lifeline (July 2026). This report documents the tragic rise in suicide rates to over 49,000 in 2023, alongside the utilization metrics for the 988 Lifeline. (Available at: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-108114)
LifeStance Health Research: Financial Stress, Anxiety, and Depression (July 2026). This details the psychological load of financial distress and the barriers to affordable mental health care. (Available at: https://lifestance.com/blog/financial-stress-anxiety-depression/)
To my family and friends,
Recent events have really put things into perspective for me, reminding me just how much we all rely on one another. Life can be heavy right now, and so many of us are carrying things we don’t always talk about.
I just want to remind everyone: we got you. We are here for each other. Let’s make a promise to get back to taking care of one another, checking in, and making sure nobody has to walk through hard times alone.
❤️Love you all, just pick up phone and call someone, we are stronger together~ - LINEAGE LOG – DUBOIS KINSHIP PRESERVATION SERIES
The document “LINEAGE LOG – DUBOIS KINSHIP PRESERVATION SERIES.pdf” is a comprehensive genealogy workbook created by Coni Dubois. It is designed as a professional working archive to meticulously document family history. The workbook provides structured templates for recording a wide variety of genealogical data, from basic relationships and vital records to oral histories, migration patterns, […]
- We the “True American” People: Sovereignty, Labor, and the Path Not Taken
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity…” — Preamble to the United States Constitution (1787) 1. Native American Sovereignty and the […]
- Unlocking History: The 1821 Estate of Mary Chogum
Unlocking History: The 1821 Estate of Mary Chogum When we dive into old court archives, we often expect to find a grand last will and testament detailing exactly who got the family heirlooms. But sometimes, what a person doesn’t leave behind tells an even more compelling story. While this historical probate packet from the Simsbury […]
