Pope Francis is Time’s Person of the Year; Vatican is not surprised
LONDON: Just nine months into his pontificate, Time magazine has named Pope Francis its Person of the Year, reflecting the energy and the new, overwhelmingly positive image that the former Argentine...
View ArticleStudies: Some cancer treatments can be skipped
SAN ANTONIO: Tens of thousands of women each year might be able to skip at least some of the grueling treatments for breast cancer — which can include surgery, heavy chemo and radiation — without...
View ArticlePeople Helping People — Dec. 13
People Helping People is a list of charitable causes in our area that need donations or volunteers. The Beacon Journal has not investigated these causes, so donors should verify their worthiness and...
View ArticleHome and garden happenings — week of Dec. 14
Buy a raffle ticket from the Portage Patchers Quilt Guild, and you just might wind up with a handmade quilt under your Christmas tree.The guild is raffling a queen-size quilt made by its members. The...
View ArticleAsk Mary Beth: When should vinyl siding be replaced?
Q: My house was built in 1995 and has vinyl siding. My wife and I see no current problems or adverse conditions with our siding, but what signs should we look for to indicate it’s time to install new...
View ArticleSmart alarm clock keeps you informed
Remember when an alarm clock just woke you?Now there’s one that helps plan your day.Paired with your smartphone, Quirky’s Nimbus clock can be customized to tell you whatever you need to know the first...
View ArticleAudubon Society publishes birdhouse guide
One of the best ways to attract desirable birds to your yard is to put up a house where they can raise their young.Margaret A. Barker and Elissa Wolfson teach readers how to do that in Audubon...
View ArticleTips for making outdoor decorations
Whether you want to make like a pioneer or just save some money, fashioning outdoor holiday decorations from natural materials is a great way to go.Garden club members who decorated Wheatfield Village...
View ArticleSkin color change could signal several underlying conditions
Q: My Lhasa apso’s pink belly has turned to purple. No other symptoms have appeared. Can you help me? — S. T., TallmadgeA: I don’t have much information to go on but I will touch on the most common...
View ArticlePlant Lovers’ Almanac
Winter is not yet officially here, but we have a few harbingers at hand now. Perhaps traffic patterns are ruined by ice and snow, but patterns on plants of that same snow and ice are far more...
View ArticleGive a pet a home for the holidays
I have always been a sucker for a schmaltzy book or movie at Christmastime, as long as the story doesn’t sacrifice an animal to pull at the heartstrings in order to squeeze out a few more tears.Let’s...
View ArticleMary Beth Breckenridge: Wrap artist Alton DuLaney puts pizzazz in presents
My family members don’t even need to look at the tags anymore to know which Christmas presents come from me.Almost always, they’re adorned with wide ribbon tied in a simple shoelace bow. I like to...
View ArticleGarden clubs decorate Hale Farm houses
Bath Twp.: In the 1800s, there were no craft stores selling faux greenery or garden centers offering ready-made pine roping and fresh wreaths.If houses were decorated at all for Christmas, it was with...
View ArticleNew study finds problems with TV ratings system
Violent dramas on the broadcast networks carry milder parental cautions than cable shows like The Walking Dead but can equal them in graphic gore, a failure of the TV ratings system, a new study...
View ArticleIf you go to Fort Myers
LodgingVacation rentals are popular in Southwest Florida, but there also are a wide variety of hotel options, from budget properties to exclusive resorts.• Casa Ybel Resort, named a “Best Places To...
View ArticleFollow in Edison, Ford’s — and now basketball fans’ — footsteps with visit to...
FORT MYERS, Fla.: Fort Myers became known as “Dunk City” after Florida Gulf Coast University’s men’s basketball team went on an improbable journey to the Sweet 16, and now is scoring points by offering...
View ArticleWhat’s for dinner? Grilled Chicken Mandarin Salad
These days it is not hard to find a friend or family member who is following a gluten-free diet.With so many folks being diagnosed with celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity in recent years, there has...
View ArticleLife in Brief — week of Dec. 15
Tips for keeping decor safe over the holidaysHoliday decorations, if not handled right, could involve potential fire hazards. Here are five tips for keeping safe:1. Make sure natural and artificial...
View ArticleJohn Rosemond: Home schooling not appropriate for child who is disobedient
Q.: My 5-year-old son is an only child whom I home school. He talks back, argues and generally wears me down. I need help getting to him to realize that no is no, that I mean what I say. I know I’m the...
View ArticleKids behaving badly — other people’s kids, that is
He’s the toddler who always bites. She’s the 6-year-old drama queen prone to “it’s mine” fits and hair-pulling. The problem, for you anyway, is they belong to your best friend, your neighbor or your...
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