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Three-shower garden days

Summer officially came in last Thursday with 95-degree days and my anxious eyes on the weather radar, hoping one of those red or yellow or even green blobs would veer over Gas Valley and bless my parched garden. “Two-tenths of an inch,” Honey hollered, reporting from the rain gauge after one heavy but all-too-brief downpour. These are three-shower days for me, “shower” in the sense of an overhead spray of water from our plumbing, washing off prodigious garden dirt and sweat. I turn the water temp down to lukewarm, and sometimes to cold at the end to close those pores, and ...

Sunny Days: The importance of Vitamin D for seniors

Did you know that your body needs vitamin D in order to absorb calcium? Calcium is essential for maintaining strong bones and teeth, therefore vitamin D is essential too, especially for seniors. One of the easiest ways to get this vitamin is from the sun. The body naturally produces vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunlight. As little as 10 minutes a day a few times per week can make a big difference. Vitamin D also supports a variety of other functions such as: — Strengthening the immune system — Reducing cancer risk — Boosting mental health and reducing ...

So, what went wrong with Rulli’s winning campaign?

The day before the special 6th Congressional District election, a Republican I’ve known for years texted me: “You get the feeling tomorrow’s special is going to be a lot closer than people think? I do.” On the night of the election, the Republican texted me, “Looks like I even underestimated how bad he did.” Michael Rulli, a Republican state senator with two grocery stores in Mahoning County, beat unknown Democrat Michael L. Kripchak 54.7% to 45.3% in a district that has an 18% advantage for Republicans based on voting results in partisan statewide elections over the past ...

Gardening is a great hobby for older adults

Editor’s Note: The following column was originally published April 3, 2021 Thanks to breakthroughs in medicine and nutrition in recent years, we are living longer than ever before. But this increase in life expectancy also brings an increase in the number of diseases, injuries and impairments that affect older adults. With this in mind, we at the local Visiting Angels office in Salem have created this series of articles to keep our older population and their families informed and to offer some practical advice for meeting the challenges faced by seniors and those who care for ...

Drone wars expose nation’s Achilles heel

As the U.S. struggles to counter China’s dominance of mineral supply chains, Americans must recognize far more is at stake in this industrial arms race than just economic competitiveness. Our national security hangs in the balance—and quite literally so do the lives of our sailors, soldiers, and marines. Consider the emergence of industrialized drone warfare in Ukraine. Drones, particularly small drones — not tanks or hypersonic missiles — have become decisive weapons. The surge in small drones has turned the front lines into a no-man’s land for soldiers and vehicles ...

Why swimming is a great form of exercise for seniors

Swimming is an effective way for seniors to stay physically active and boost their health. Not only is it fun and relaxing, it poses less risk for injury than other activities and can be done by people of all ages and ability levels. Plus, it does not require any special training or additional equipment. Swimming offers a wide range of benefits to seniors and can be a great way to gently exercise the entire body: — It is gentle on the joints. Even seniors with arthritis or limited mobility can enjoy swimming. It does not put strain on the joints the way other exercises might ...