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In Ashland, a new house, an old watch and a mystery solved

Lifestyles

ASHLAND, Va. (AP) — As work was getting underway at a new home site in Ashland, Hanover and King William Habitat for Humanity construction manager Jeff Ell thought to himself he ought to go over the property with his metal detector. Ell, who has been with Habitat for two years, does not always use his metal detector on job sites, but the urge was strong on this one. “Just curiosity — buried treasure, Viking gold or something,” he said with a laugh. “You just never know what you’ll find.” That is for sure. On that day, Ell found a couple of run-of-the-mill coins and ...

Kimberly Palmer: How to stay safe from financial scams

Lifestyles

NerdWallet While there’s no way to guarantee you’ll completely avoid financial scams, there are steps you can take to reduce your chances of falling for one. Scammers tend to contact you first, create a false sense of urgency and then ask you to send money or share personal information. A good strategy to protect yourself is to verify the identity of anyone who contacts you and claims to be your bank by hanging up and placing a call to a confirmed number yourself. If you do come into contact with scammers, consider reporting them to the authorities and following up with your bank to ...

Computer that helped launch the Apple empire being sold at auction

Lifestyles

BOSTON (AP) — A vintage Apple computer signed by company co-founder Steve Wozniak is being sold at auction. The Apple-1 set in motion the company that in June became the first publicly traded business to close a trading day with a $3 trillion market value, according to RR Auction in Boston. The computer has been restored to a fully operational state and comes with a custom-built case with a built-in keyboard, the agency said. “It’s an incredibly rare commodity,” said Tim Bajarin, chairman of Creative Strategies, a technology research firm with deep knowledge of the industry. ...

Getting their kicks on Route 66

Lifestyles

There’s no greater All-American road trip than the one travel buddies Tina Walls and Christa Blake took this summer along iconic Route 66 – also known as U.S. Highway 66, the Mother Road (courtesy of John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath” or the Main Street of America.  Given its “66” designation in 1926, it’s arguably the most famous road in the country and a roadside culture sprung up along Route 66 – motels, diners, gas stations and other tourist attractions – that inspired songs, films, TV shows, books and even a clothing brand through the years. Historic Route ...

How to enjoy fresh Maine lobster this season

Lifestyles

Family Features As people look to change what’s on their plates, it can be tough to know where to begin. From social media-inspired recipes to trendy menu offerings, there are many options. That’s why restaurant owners Katie and Thom Werner are recommending a staple that’s sustainable, fresh and versatile: Lobster. The Werners own the popular Island Lobster Co. restaurant in Peaks Island, Maine where Thom works as a commercial fisherman and supplies most of the lobster served. The Werner family is well versed in the iconic Maine Lobster fishery, coming from a long line ...

Boost browning on lemony shrimp skewers with 2 pantry staples

Lifestyles

Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Cooking shrimp until well-browned without overcooking can be a difficult needle to thread. To help with this, we often coat the delicate seafood with an aromatic marinade using ingredients that speed browning, such as sugar or fat. We include both in a puree for this recipe from our book “Cook What You Have,” which draws on pantry staples to assemble easy, weeknight meals. And then we use the puree two ways. First, we make a quick blend of garlic, olive oil and fresh herbs — scallions, parsley, cilantro, basil or any combination will taste ...