After 27 years and five Emmy awards, Jean Passanante is retiring as a soap scriber. When her "General Hospital" contract expires this August, she has other plans for her life; in a social media post she wrote: "Friends, soon I'll have more time for pie-baking because I've decided not to renew my contract with General Hospital," Passanante wrote. "I'll retire from soap-writing in August. The irony is that Con Ed must replace a gas pipe, and they show no signs of doing that in the foreseeable future. So we have no oven. It's like the Twilight Zone episode in which all Burgess Meredith wants is to read, and after a nuke drops on his town, he finds himself among the ruins of the library with all the books he can possibly read at his fingertips. And then he breaks his glasses." She told Soap Opera Digest, "I have been pondering it for a long time. It's a pretty consuming kind of job and you need to get your head clear of it every once in a while. It's been a great 27 years, or something like that — it's a long time!"

In reaction to twitter trolls who said she was fired, she retorted "I am leaving on my own terms, not being fired. Sorry to disappoint you." Some GH viewers have been very cruel to her and co-head writer Shelly Altman. Does GH have some issues yes. It also has some great things going for it. Take it from one who tried to do write a soap — it's not easy. Years ago I was asked if I wanted to head write a soap — it was my dream proposal, but it turned out to be a nightmare. Not just because of the things I stated, but the deadlines; the stories that were not allowed to be told, actors who insisted on rewriting scenes that were essential to upcoming plotlines. Many "GH" stars have taken to twitter with posts about how much they are going to miss her. "I'm soooo sad about this. You're amazing @PFossil," Laura Wright (Carly Corinthos) shared "But the story isn't done... you beautiful woman," added Michelle Stafford (Nina Clay). "Keep soaring! "Jean Passanante has been a tremendous talent to the ABC family," said Vicki Dummer, head of Current Series Programming, ABC Entertainment in a statement. "Having come full circle — she began her career with ABC in 1992 — it is only fitting that she has decided to end her story where it began. While we are all sad to see her go, we are immensely impressed by her creative contributions and are grateful to have worked with her throughout her career and wish her well in her retirement."

The Depavia household is in full celebration mode. Kassie won her grueling battle with Leukemia, she is back on the Days set playing Eve and hubby James has landed a role on "General Hospital." The role is very hush, hush; he starts shooting later this month.

James and Kassie met while she played Blair on "One Life to Live" and he was Max. They are a lovely couple and have made it through a lot, including dealing with the fact that their son was deaf. Now a teen, he has had surgery to help restore his hearing and is doing well.

There are rumors afloat that a major character is returning to "General Hospital." The show will not confirm or deny, but in the Fall a "much missed" character is headed back. It is most likely one of these three: Nik, Morgan or the real Jason.

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.