Magazine

Holiday traditions can be difficult to explain. There’s always the glass pickle that kids try to find on the Christmas tree, usually for an extra little gift. That almost always ends up in an argument, but hey… it’s something we’ve always done. I know a guy whose family serves Jack Daniels and root beer. Years back, his dad asked his sister-in-law for a “Jack and Coke,” but there was no cola so she substituted root beer, thinking he wouldn’t notice. They’ve celebrated that mistake every year since.   ...

A classic “Saturday Night Live” sketch from the ‘70s featured Dan Aykroyd as a smarmy, fast-talking toy executive defending his company’s “Bag O’ Glass” and “Teddy Chainsaw Bear” holiday offerings. Few of us have given our grandkids anything that dangerous — at least, not on purpose. Yet toys that seem perfect may not be safe. Age matters. ...

Palliative care and hospice care both focus on a patient’s needs and their quality of life. Palliative care manages treatment and other needs. Hospice care focuses on the period closest to death. Understanding the differences between the two can help someone decide what level of care is best. The care can change based on health changes. ...

Supported entirely through donations, C.A.V.A. may not be as well-known as other groups that aid veterans, but its work packs a big economic punch for those who need it, especially here in Northeast Ohio, home to 130,000 veterans, many elderly, disabled or homeless. ...

Leaving a legacy to your precious grandchildren is an important responsibility for grandparents. King Solomon told his son (Prov. 13:22), ”A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” Grandparenting is a level playing field; the poor and prosperous alike can pass on the greatest inheritances of all: love, wisdom, encouragement, memories and lessons learned.  ...

Con artists adapt their tactics to pull on people’s heartstrings and loosen their purse strings. Complaints about bogus charities spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, and unscrupulous solicitations surge during wars, hurricanes, other disasters... and holidays. ...

A great thing about living in Northeast Ohio is the many parks and trails that make for beautiful settings for walks throughout much of the year. As we move into late fall and early winter with its cold — sometimes bitter — weather, those trails can become icy and dangerous.   The good news is that exercise can be moved inside. ...

It’s taken me nearly 50 years to return to a gym. My husband and I recently joined a fitness center so we wouldn’t spend winter evenings pre-napping in front of the TV before heading to bed. There may be worse reasons for joining a gym, but I haven’t heard them. ...