A growing number of American families rethink packed schedules as children show a clear preference for unstructured play. The Harris Poll surveyed more than 500 children ages 8 to 12 across the United States, and found 45% say they would rather play with friends in activities not organized by ...

Dear Annie: For most of my life, I picked the wrong partners. Over time, I realized it wasn't bad luck. I was choosing what I had seen, not what I had actually done the work to earn. Those patterns came from my family and the system I grew up in, and I kept recreating them. A few years ago, I ...

Dear Heloise: When I moved into an apartment that had recently become nonsmoking, I quickly learned that the odor from previous tenants can linger for far longer than expected. Even after maintenance aired out the apartment with a fan, the tobacco smell was so strong that I woke up my first ...

Wells Lions raffle winner ESCANABA – The $250 winners of the Wells Lions Club’s 52-week raffle for week 30, dated Feb. 23, are EJ Kostreva of Ishpeming and Doc Bricco of Gladstone. St. Thomas breakfast ESCANABA – St. Thomas the Apostle Church, found at 1820 9th Ave. N. in Escanaba, ...

ESCANABA- As winter wears on and cabin fever sets in, snowbound Yoopers adopt snowbanks! Yes, these monstrous mounds of snow become like family. We talk to them. We swear at them and laugh with them. We give directions to our homes by saying, “My driveway is just three giant snowbanks ...

Dear Heloise: To Susan L., as a retired registered dietitian who specialized in pediatrics, I absolutely do not recommend popsicles as a snack. They are high in simple sugars and can be high in added sugar, with limited vitamins and minerals and no fiber. There are numerous other healthy snacks ...