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DEAR ANNIE: The gift — and challenge — of having 2 cultures

DEAR ANNIE: My mother is German, and my father is American. Growing up, I was raised with traditions from both cultures, but I have never felt fully part of either one. Last Christmas, my mother made a traditional German dinner and invited several relatives. I tried to join the conversation, but my German is not fluent, and everyone kept switching to English for my sake. They were being kind, but I felt embarrassed and strangely separate from my own family. A few weeks later, I brought homemade German cookies to an American friend’s party. Everyone loved them, but they treated the ...

HINTS FROM HELOISE: Coffee can help you live longer

DEAR HELOISE: My husband hates coffee and asked me to switch to tea, but I don’t like tea. He says that coffee damages our health. Is this true? — Shelly J., in Little Rock, Arkansas Shelly, studies have been done on thousands of people to discover the effects of coffee on the human body, and for the most part, a consumption of about 3-4 cups a day (roughly 400 mg of caffeine) doesn’t harm people. In fact, coffee lowers the risk of premature death, Type 2 diabetes, and heart failure. The beans also have antioxidant properties. Coffee only becomes dangerous if it’s drunk ...

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH: High level of calcium has many causes

DEAR DR. ROACH: A few years ago, at the age of 65, I was hospitalized and in critical condition with a calcium score of 14 mg/dL. After many tests, the diagnosis was hypercalcemia. After a 10-day hospital stay, I was discharged, and every test in the book was done to find the cause. All tests came back negative as to the cause, and still to this day, it isn’t known what could have caused this. Any ideas? — G.V. ANSWER: Hypercalcemia” just means a high calcium level, and there are many causes — some of which are quite serious, including several cancers. A level of 14 mg/dL ...

Got money questions?

Finding good financial advice can be stressful — and expensive. That’s one reason why chatbots have become an increasingly popular and free alternative. But using artificial intelligence to answer your pressing money questions also carries hidden dangers. I’m a finance professor who ...

Senior News

DAY OUT: On Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., all are welcome to join the Saving Our Seniors of Mahoning Valley group at a free health and wellness event. Saving Our Seniors is a collaborative group of organizations with the common purpose of assisting older adults as they age. Join the group and visit over 90 vendor tables full of information on all options for aging your way. Free health screenings will be available. Refreshments and giveaway items provided. Individuals who attend will be eligible for a free basket raffle. The event will also host The Senior Showcase. Senior Showcase ...