DEAR READERS: Before we rush into a brand-new year, I want to pause and say thank you. Thank you for reading, for writing in and for trusting me with the parts of your life you don’t always share at the dinner table. Thank you for letting this corner of the page be a place where we can talk ...

DEAR HELOISE: The letter about preventing carbon monoxide poisoning by getting a monitor for your home is a must but, it didn’t go far enough. You should get a monitor that you can also travel with. How many articles have we read about carbon monoxide poisoning in vacation rental homes, ...

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your column daily in my local newspaper. The people who write in often describe themselves as “healthy” or “in good health.” Then they always add that they are taking some sort of medication for some sort of ailment. Can you please clarify which attributes make a ...

Let’s say you’re declarer at three notrump and West leads a heart. Your first problem is whether to play the queen or the four from dummy — but this is not really a difficult choice. It’s better to play the queen, but let’s see why. If the queen wins, which means that West has the ...

DEAR ANNIE: I’ve read plenty about empty-nest depression and how to cope with it, and I managed that stage just fine. I enjoyed my grandchildren and watched them grow into teenagers. But now I’m struggling with something different: how to handle the emptiness of the holidays. I have two ...