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Fall is a good time to plant trees and shrubs

Fall is a good time to plant trees and shrubs. Naturally, it depends on what you're planting and the condition of the tree or shrub you choose. As long as the soil is moist or you add water, your plant will get off to a fast start next spring. When watering newly planted trees and shrubs, ...

Fall routine at the McKinley household

This routine is getting old and more of a challenge with every passing year. Although it feels like “all good things must come to an end,” fall is still my favorite season. I hope it is yours, too. And, I hope my list inspires you to get out and enjoy the beauty this season has to offer. I love the colors, the food, and the crisp fall air, and the cozy, warm clothes. However, I don’t like dealing with millions of leaves, spent perennials and annuals. But I do, what choice do I (we) have? I like my grass, so the leaves need to be mulched or composted. I start the fall schedule by ...

Valley Grows 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 ...

How to handle mean, disrespectful bosses

DEAR ANNIE: I have worked for the same company for six years and, until recently, truly enjoyed my job. I have always had strong reviews, good relationships with my co-workers and a reputation for being dependable. Eight months ago, we got a new boss, and the entire mood of the office changed. She rarely raises her voice or says anything openly cruel. Instead, she criticizes people in subtle ways, changes instructions and later insists that we misunderstood her, and often questions employees in front of the group. She will praise an idea one week and act as though it was a terrible ...

HINTS FROM HELOISE: Downsizing service can be valuable

DEAR HELOISE: There are downsizing services available if you’re willing and able to pay. You can find them online. They help with decisions regarding what to donate and what to keep. The one I used even took a carload of things to Goodwill. — Dena G., via email DEAR READERS: A letter recently ran where a reader mentioned that ingesting lard was dangerous, and a doctor wrote in to let us know that lard itself isn’t inherently dangerous. However, because it’s high in saturated fat, it’s best when used in moderation. The excessive consumption of lard, especially alongside ...

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH: Woman weighs risks of treatment

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a very healthy and active 74-year-old woman, and I’m also quite proactive with my health. I get bone scans done every two years and have osteopenia in both my hips and spine. But because of a T12 fracture in 2018, which was followed by a kyphoplasty, I was recently recommended to see a specialist for more extensive blood work and scans. These scans also showed osteopenia, but in my wrists (which were never previously scanned), I have severe osteoporosis. With the severe compression between the T11 and T12 vertebrae, I know I need to do something. The first ...