DEAR ANNIE: I’m writing because I feel embarrassed even admitting this, but I’m starting to dread parts of my own life that I worked hard to build. I’m 52, married for 24 years, and we have two grown kids who are mostly launched. Our son is across the country, and our daughter lives ...

Here is a fine hand from a team-of-four match. At the first table, the bidding went as shown, and West led the king of spades. Declarer ruffed with dummy’s jack and played the king of trump. East took the ace and returned a trump. Declarer won with the nine and ruffed his last spade with ...

DEAR HELOISE: First, I’d like to say that I enjoy reading your hints each day. Here is a novel idea my late mother once said to me: “Why don’t you give me flowers now when I can enjoy them, not when I am dead and cannot?” I find it rather sound advice. What say you? Thank you. — ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: In 2021, I drove to the hospital with chest and back pain. I was told that I needed an emergency surgery to remove my gallbladder. During the procedure, I suffered a heart rhythm disturbance, which they were able to stabilize. (Months later, a doctor indicated that they had to ...

Humperdinck returning to Packard WARREN — Engelbert Humperdinck brings his Celebration tour to Packard Music Hall on March 28. Best known for classics such as “Release Me,” “The Last Waltz” and “After the Lovin’,” Humperdinck, 89, won a Golden Globe award for entertainer of ...

The Cleveland Museum of Art will celebrate its 110th anniversary with exhibitions featuring 20th century American master Andrew Wyeth and 19th century French impressionists. Opening Sept. 20, “Spectacular Freedom: Andrew Wyeth and the Modern American Watercolor“ will feature more than 100 ...

The success of the single “Rise Up” indicates smooth jazz fans will find Darryl Alexander’s new album worth the wait. The Youngstown native, who now lives in Boardman, has been getting airplay on terrestrial and internet radio stations with “Rise Up.” It peaked at #9 on ...

Mahoning Valley Historical Society announced temporary closures for its two museums — one for a few days, the other for a month. The Tyler History Center, 325 W. Federal St., Youngstown, will be closed this weekend and reopen Tuesday with regular hours, which are noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday ...

The engagement and approaching marriage of Kayla Kapel and Santino Bianco, are being announced by the couple’s parents, Greg and Marriane Kapel of Lyndhurst, and Tina Bianco of Girard. The groom-elect is also the son of the late Philip Bianco. The bride-elect is employed as a registered ...

Mr. and Mrs. J. Ralph and Marilyn Seidner III of Salem, celebrated their 71st anniversary on Dec. 6, 2025. J Ralph and Marilyn Seidner III were married Dec 6, 1954. Their life together has been a rich tapestry of adventure, creativity, family and unwavering devotion. Their life spans states ...

Daniel and Kathy Glozer, lifelong residents of the Youngstown area, celebrated their 50th anniversary on Sept. 13, 2025. Mass was held at St. Luke Catholic Church and dinner at Alberini’s Restaurant, both attended by immediate family members. Daniel Glozer and the former Kathy Gromada ...

Charles and Gail Ann Holquist, of New Middletown, held a 70th anniversary celebration on Aug. 30, 2025, at Welker Park in New Middletown, hosted by the couple’s three children. Charles Holquist and the former Gail Ann Osborne were united in matrimony on Sept. 10, 1955, at Chapel of Friendly ...

This is the time of year when people get concerned about how much they’ve been feasting the last month — Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, Tuesday, etc. We’ve been packing it in and packing it on. Do not panic! There is no need to sign up for a gym membership. You weren’t going ...

Mark Twain once said of fellow author Rudyard Kipling, “Between us, we cover all knowledge; he knows all that can be known, and I know the rest.” There’s great wisdom in that. Like Twain, I, too, am pretty handy with things that can’t be known. Why do I focus on what can’t be known? ...

It’s the last weekend before Christmas, which has me thinking — I’m thinking that it’s almost time to round up a bunch of thoughtful gifts to give. The best part is I don’t even have to put on pants. I can recline here in my easy chair, tap a few keys, scroll through a few ...

What is it about detail people? If I tell you I’ll get back to you later, that’s precisely when you’ll hear back from me — later. I don’t see how I can be any more exact than that. Yet some persnickety people insist on knowing the time, down to the minute. My late wife — and ...

If you’ve read this column for any length of time, you know this already: When I write, you are rarely getting the version of me that has everything neatly processed and packaged. You’re usually getting me mid-thought, mid-feeling, mid-trying-to-figure-it-out. Unfortunately — or ...

Have you ever sat in the in-between? You know the moments I’m talking about. The space after not knowing and before really knowing. The awkward, heavy, quiet space between Point A and Point B. That place where everything feels suspended and nothing has settled yet. It might be one of the ...

This one is a little different than what I usually write. And before I even get into it, I want you to know this didn’t happen to me directly. It’s a story I heard from someone very close to me, and I’m sharing it because the bottom line matters. The meaning matters. And honestly? I ...

You know, I truly believe I’m a better person because I moved back home. Washington, D.C. gave me the knowledge and experience of doing business, learning business, innovating business. It was a place where ideation and my continual need to grow weren’t just accepted — they were fed. ...

In my earlier years of gardening, I was attracted to and purchased unusual plants. Many of those didn’t survive beyond their first year. As I have “matured,” I have redirected my purchases toward the easy-to-grow natives that feed our local pollinators. The hotter, drier summers have ...

Here are upcoming gardening events through the Ohio State University Mahoning County Extension Office. Contact the Extension Office, 490 S. Broad St., Canfield, at 330-533-5538. For a complete list of events, visit https://mahoning.osu.edu/events. Plant and Pest Clinic What: Stop by to ask ...

As I watched a woodpecker banging away at a tree, it made me think, why don’t woodpeckers get headaches or suffer brain trauma from all that drumming? So, I looked it up. Once again, nature has created a miracle that does not allow the woodpecker to get headaches or become dizzy. ...

Our temperatures have continued to fluctuate, but our winter weather will eventually remain colder and the darkness will cause us to bundle up, keeping ourselves warm. The days are gaining minutes of light in the morning and evening, but it will be a couple of months before we notice ...