Maggie is a regular visitor at the Audubon Villa nursing home in Litz, Pa. She is a golden retriever. Maggie and her owner, Ginny Wiskeyman, are volunteers with the Animal Assisted Therapy program of the Susquehanna Valley. The late Dean Martin (no relation to the singer) was one of Maggie's first clients to visit. A multiple sclerosis patient, Martin couldn't speak, sit up or control his arms. Ginny put Maggie on a chair so Dean ... [full story]

Getting old is expensive.  Getting sick is expensive.  Getting both old and sick is extremely expensive.  It can drive an otherwise loving couple into divorce. Two calls to the senior legal helpline this week came from older women seeking advice regarding the desirability and legal implications of obtaining a divorce; not because they no longer love their spouses, but for asset protection purposes.  In both instances, their husbands agree.  They don’t want the cost of ... [full story]

Gordon Dahl, a young economist at University of California San Diego, is part of a wave of creative thinkers in his field moving beyond the familiar - inflation, unemployment - to study such eyebrow-raising topics as sumo wrestlers and the Ku Klux Klan.   THERE WON'T BE BLOOD - Economist Gordon Dahl has written a paper about the impact of violent movies on crime. The study says that over a period when violent films were aired ... [full story]

MONTALCINO, Italy - Wandering the hilly, narrow cobblestone streets in our home base of Montalcino, a medieval city of interlocking passageways, steps and alleyways curving around and through and behind and beyond the main square, I reminded myself that I was walking through history spanning 800 years.   WHERE THEY WORSHIP - St. Antimo's Abbey is a beautiful Romanesque church, located just south of Montalcino in southern Tuscany. CNS Photo by Victor Block.    WINE ON THE WAY ... [full story]

KOHALA, Hawaii - OK, so you've already toured the volcano area, taken a helicopter ride over the mountains and valleys of Hawaii's youngest and largest island, swam and played with the dolphins, and enjoyed the gorgeous beaches and golf courses. What to do next?   MADE IN HAWAII - Visitors to the Waimea Hawaiian Homestead Farmers Market look at a wide variety of local products such as produce, flowers, baked goods, potted plants and crafts. CNS ... [full story]

Linda Foley is the first to admit that she has changed in the 11 years since she became a victim of identity theft. "I still do not trust people the way I used to," she said. "My husband will tell you my personality has changed. I am more suspicious, more skeptical. I see the possible criminal aspects more than I used to."   RESCUING IDENTITIES - Jay and Linda Foley are the founders of the Identity ... [full story]

Q: Our children were given a kitten several months ago. At the time we did not even know the sex of the cat. We are now pretty sure that our cat is a female. Because our cat roams the neighborhood freely most of the time we are concerned that she might get pregnant. How will we know when she is old enough to breed? As you can tell, we are very ignorant about reproduction in ... [full story]

After talking with one daughter who is trying to care for her mom on the East Coast, I decided it's worth revisiting the subject of long-distance caregiving. Looking out for a parent is difficult. Add the constraints of distance and it can be even more frustrating. Believe me, my sister, Bobbe, and I tried caring for our ailing parents by plane and finally gave up. Mom and Dad had sort of agreed it was time ... [full story]

Steven Gimbel isn't a flirt. "I'm more of your analytical, nerd, geek type," he says from his Pennsylvania home.   FLIRTING AND HURTING - There is a line between flirting and leading someone on. CNS Illustration by Manny Franco.  But Gimbel, a philosophy professor at Gettysburg College, has given the topic much thought. "When you constantly observe 18- to 21-year-olds, it's something you see a lot of," he says. With only a little coaxing, Gimbel agreed to ... [full story]

Anticipating the majestic beauty of the National Cherry Blossom Festival - held March 29 through April 12 - visitors flock to Washington, D.C., for its stunning live floral displays.   WASHINGTON'S FAMOUS CHERRY TREES - Springtime in the nation's capital is highlighted by the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, when cherry trees donated by the city of Tokyo in 1912 draw thousands of visitors. CNS Photo by E. David Luria.  Guests who reserve the hotel's Very Cherry Willard ... [full story]

Q: My best buddy died, and I have been asked to speak at his memorial. Should I fib a little and say he was the greatest guy in the world, or tell it like he was? We had been friends since grade school. Also, how long should I speak? A: Remember, you will only be a part of the ceremony and to keep your comments short, no more than three to five minutes. Write your ... [full story]

Isn't it time to return to the thrilling days of yesteryear - as depicted in those vivid radio shows like "The Lone Ranger," "The Shadow" and "Gunsmoke?" Television is in the doldrums as the writers' strike drags on. We are sentenced to watching reruns or old pilots resurrected from the cutting room floor - and, of course, there are endless "reality shows," far removed from reality. But there is a delightful entertainment medium that has ... [full story]

The daughter's situation isn't uncommon: A stubborn parent who needs help but won't take it. A caring daughter caught between duty and guilt, stymied by indecision and inexperience. Eleanor Roth, a friend in North San Diego County, asked me for help dealing with her stubborn mother on the East Coast. "I think she is terrified of losing her independence. She is mentally all there, but physically, she's a mess. Of course, I feel guilty because ... [full story]