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Expert tips to organize your home for fall

Lifestyles

From the walk-in closet to the kitchen pantry, catch-all spots make all the difference in daily routines -- but only if they’re kept neat and tidy. Family organizing expert Jessica Litman, also known as “The Organized Mama,” is on a mission to help families declutter and stay organized. She’s sharing her pro tips for getting your home in shape for this busy time of year. Clear Away Cabinet Clutter. ‘Tis the season for autumn chili, stew and other comfort foods. That means it’s also time to put your essential slow cookers and pans where you can reach them, so food prep ...

Scare up a house at home

Lifestyles

Everyone deserves a good scare come Halloween. Some people sit down to horror movie marathons, while others page through thrilling books from famed horror writers such as Stephen King and Dean Koontz. However, hands-on scares can be just as effective, which probably accounts for the popularity of haunted hay rides and haunted corn mazes. Homeowners looking to provide their own share of scares to friends and family — or to create a scream-worthy tableau for the visiting public to enjoy — can consider some of these haunted house ideas. Create a spooky ambiance The fear of the ...

Man has spent years building custom flutes

Lifestyles

WAMPUM (AP) — Jonathan Landell could have played with a professional symphony orchestra. However, the Wampum resident opted instead to spend his life building one of their instruments. Now, the 75-year-old flute maker is really happy he did. Landell, who moved to Wampum in 2021 and is ...

Pros and cons of vehicle touchscreens

Lifestyles

Look into just about any new car and you’ll either find a touchscreen or “virtual buttons” that seek to approximate the function of a mechanical button. The appeal of touchscreens and virtual buttons on new cars is to make the vehicle appear sleeker and pack more features into limited dashboard real estate, but numerous studies have shown that these interfaces prove to be more of a hindrance than a help, as it makes ordinary tasks harder to accomplish. There’s no denying the impact that smartphones and tablets have had on modern vehicles. Look into just about any new car and ...

Halloween craft ideas for kids

Lifestyles

Halloween is an enjoyable holiday for all, but particularly for children. Kids enjoy the opportunity to channel their whimsy and imagination, whether that involves choosing a clever costume or helping design the theme and scope of home decorations. Parents, guardians and educators can channel the creativity inspired by Halloween into various craft projects. Crafts can not only keep children busy when the “I’m bored” lamentations inevitably turn up, but crafts also are a way to keep children off of screens. Plus, the items that children create can be used to decorate rooms in the ...

Five reasons to shop small

Lifestyles

The importance of small businesses to the economy cannot be overstated. Though national chains often garner publicity, local businesses are equally, if not exceedingly, worthy of attention. What defines a small business as “small” varies significantly, but these businesses are generally privately owned and generate far less revenue than big corporations. General consensus also defines small businesses as companies with fewer than 500 paid employees, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. Here’s a deep look at why small businesses are so vital, and why consumers ...