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Your balance impacted by vision

DEAR HELOISE: I learned during postsurgery physical therapy that balance is highly impacted by vision. Therapy exercises that were done with closed eyes were significantly impacted. I highly agree on using some form of light when walking at night to prevent or limit falls. — Steve W., via email DEAR HELOISE: This is in response to the woman who was so concerned about the size and personalities of Maine Coon cats. Tell her to get two or three, and she’ll never be disappointed. — Peggy M., via email Peggy, Maine Coon cats are known for their warm, loving personalities and ...

College grad wants independence

Q: I’m a college graduate in my mid-20s. Unfortunately, my mother seems unable — or unwilling — to acknowledge that I’m an adult. How can I help her understand I’m not a kid anymore? Jim: It’s relatively common for parents to struggle with the idea of a daughter or son moving ahead into full adulthood. There can be any number of factors involved; for example, this issue often arises in families with a history of marital conflict and divorce. The empty-nest years can seem especially threatening to a woman who, for whatever reason, has likely been pouring much of her emotional ...

A clock design ahead of its time

Connecticut is home to some of the most famous American clockmakers of the 18th and 19th centuries. Names like Eli Terry, Seth Thomas, and the New Haven Clock Company are familiar to today’s buyers of antique clocks. There are plenty of lesser-known Connecticut clockmakers who did not quite reach the same levels of fame, but whose designs continue to generate interest from collectors. Jonathan Clark Brown, or J.C. Brown, born in Connecticut in 1807, worked as a case maker for several clock companies. His designs often had distinctive shapes, which have descriptive names like Acorn ...

Tired of turning the other cheek with daughter-in-law

DEAR ANNIE: Where do I begin? My son and our family have put up with our daughter-in-law for 15 years. Although she appears charming to others, she is downright crude to me. I have ignored her rude remarks to me for years, letting time pass, but there is always another conflict. My son puts up with her outbursts of anger, but then she turns to me and unloads her frustration. I’ve told them both to get into counseling, but it always goes in one ear and out the other. The holidays are coming up, and I’ve decided not to even bother with a family dinner if she’ll be there. I’m ...

From the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County “My Sister, Goose” by Alyssa Capucilli  As Goose’s big sister, Miranda helps to guide Goose and her big imagination every day. Goose wants to wear fancy high heels to play at the park! Goose is excited to wear her bathing suit to school! Goose’s unique and splashy fashion choices are the hallmark of her persona. As a responsible big sister, Miranda takes seriously the job of offering gentle and nurturing counsel to Goose, suggesting more practical choices instead. This new picture book by Alyssa Capucilli, who is ...

How to create more interior space for winter

After a summer and fall spent outdoors, winter drives many people back inside. Homeowners may take inventory of their interior spaces in winter and find that there isn't as much room as they would like. When entertaining inside, a home may feel particularly cramped. Creating an open, inviting indoor environment requires maximizing spatial design but not necessarily expanding square footage. By focusing on a few strategies, homeowners can maximize interior flow. CHANGE FURNITURE LAYOUT Being able to move around a space more easily may come down to rethinking the furniture layout. ...