Don't let your home improvement project like a paint job or driveway repair turn into a nightmare. It's prime time for home improvement scammers, and they've got their sights set on unwary consumers. The Better Business Bureau has suggestions for beating these fly-by-night contractors at their own game.

If your reading list is looking a bit thin these days — and really, whose isn’t after sticking around the house for a year? — you’ll like the following book suggestions. They come from Mel Valva, reference associate at Brunswick Library. All debuting this summer, make room on your list for these seasonal hot picks.

Have you noticed? Kayaking is the over-50-friendly way to get a bit of exercise and explore Northeast Ohio's gentle rivers and scenic lakes. Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a perfect way to get your feet wet, so to speak, with kayaking. You can paddle the Cuyahoga River and ride a train back to your car, much like their bike & train excursions.

While we often consider the stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination against people on the basis of their age as imposed from others, ageism is often directed at one’s self and can be implicit. It occurs with very little awareness or intention and literally impacts the social interactions and life of each and every one of us. It's time to get out of our own way and challenge the assumptions imposed by others and subconsciously accepted by ourselves.

Preventing elder abuse through improved social supports like senior center programs, in-home services and transportation helps our older adults to live independently and contribute to the vibrancy of our community.  Reporting suspected abuse helps lift the veil of secrecy that puts older adults in harm’s way.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is on June 15, when we unite to prevent the mistreatment of and violence against older people. This includes protecting them from scams that claim to be from the Social Security Administration. SSA Public Affairs Specialist Brandon P. Smith tells us what pitfalls to watch out for.