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HINTS FROM HELOISE: Teaching children lessons on finances

DEAR HELOISE: Regarding the post from Victoria R., in Kingston, New York, as a single mother, I found it difficult and tedious to take my early teens school shopping. I added them both to a designated credit card, and I gave them a limit and a list of what they needed to purchase! They did great! Not only did this method teach them to budget, they now had a viable credit history. It was a great learning lesson. We’re now doing this for our grandchildren. — T.C.S., via email T.C.S., it’s a good idea as long as they don’t overspend. It’s important that you give them ...

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH: Cardiac patient’s thirst runs rampant

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m 74 years old, and I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure with a recent ejection fraction of 25%. My cardiologist has me taking empagliflozin (Jardiance) and furosemide (Lasix) daily. With moderate cardio exercise therapy every other day and two diuretics daily, my thirst runs rampant during the evenings, and I find myself drinking fluids to compensate. Am I nullifying the intended purpose of the diuretics? — D.P. ANSWER: The main purpose of diuretics is to remove excess salt and water from the body. However, we all need some salt and water, so the ...

Bats: Our furry, flying mammals

Attending The Ohio State University’s lecture on “Ohio’s Bats-the Master Class,” with Todd and Ann Cartner, I realized how much I did not know about them. One important reason we should embrace bats in our community is pest control. Evening and night consumption of insects by bats is ...

Webworms feed on over 600 species of trees, shrubs

This time of year we begin seeing them — the webs of worms in trees, encompassing a group of leaves and causing damage (or at least concern) regarding tree health. While many patches of these webworms cause alarm, they don’t damage trees enough this time of year to cause significant concern. Fall webworms begin as a snow white moth (some with black or brown spots) that mates, then lays masses of yellow eggs on the underside of leaves. The hairs from the female protect them, as these hairy caterpillars grow into dark, hairy 2-inch caterpillars. Some have black and some have orange ...

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 mahoningclinic@osu.edu. ...