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My experience with comfrey

I have always been fascinated by plants that seem to have a story of their own, and comfrey is one that continues to capture my attention. With its broad, hairy leaves and delicate bell-shaped flowers, comfrey may not look particularly remarkable at first glance. But once I learned more about this old-fashioned herb, I began to understand why it has been grown and valued for centuries. Comfrey is a hardy perennial that thrives in moist, fertile soil. Once established, it produces large leaves throughout the growing season and flowers that attract pollinators. It can grow several feet ...

The difference between bed bugs and bat bugs

Finding a small, reddish-brown bug in your home can be concerning, especially when it resembles a bed bug. However, not every bug that looks like a bed bug is one. Bat bugs (Cimex adjunctus) are close relatives of bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) and can sometimes be found indoors, making identification important. Traveling to far areas of the globe shrinks our world and allows pests to travel in our belongings home with us. Bed bugs are common in many areas of the world, and many people never think about what is in bed with them. Bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed and feed ...

Calendar

Here are upcoming gardening events through the Ohio State University Extension Office. For more information and a complete list, contact: • OSU Mahoning County Extension Office, 490 S. Broad St., Canfield. 330-533-5538. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. • OSU Trumbull County Extension Office, 520 W. Main St. Suite 1, Cortland. 330-638-6783. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Plant and Pest Clinic You can submit your questions by calling the Mahoning County office at 330-533-5538 or emailing us at mahoningclinic@osu.edu. ...

DEAR ANNIE: My sudden boyfriend isn’t the right match

DEAR ANNIE: I’m 22, working full time in the city, and recently started dating a guy I met through a mutual friend. We’ve only been seeing each other for about a month, and he really is a sweetheart. The problem is, the more I get to know him, the more I wonder whether we are simply in very different places in life. He is in his late 20s, lives at home and works part time as a delivery driver while waiting to start a city job sometime next year. I understand that people go through transitional periods, but from what I gather, he was unemployed for about a year before taking this ...

HINTS FROM HELOISE: When removing linoleum

DEAR HELOISE: You needed to provide an alert about toxicity in the letter regarding linoleum, as the writer indicated that the linoleum was “old” and ugly. Unfortunately, older forms of linoleum from the 20th century contain asbestos. It should be left intact or removed by a professional that can handle and dispose of the toxic material. — Steve, via email DEAR HELOISE: When I purchased my home, I was told that the glue used to install linoleum in the 1970s contains asbestos. The cost of removing the asbestos was over $3,000. I laid the new flooring over the old linoleum so ...

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH: Frequent MRIs and cancer surveillance cause patient anxiety

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m writing to seek your perspective on a diagnosis that has caused me significant anxiety. A recent incidental finding on an MRI, followed by an endoscopic ultrasound, revealed a cluster of several small cysts (3-7 mm) in my pancreas. They’re suspected to be branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs). My main pancreatic duct is mildly enlarged. My doctors have recommended an MRI/MRCP with and without contrast in six months, followed by ongoing monitoring every six months to two years. I’ve been told that IPMNs are precancerous but usually ...