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Features

Longing to connect with a quiet son

Dear Annie: My son lives at home, but he has no interest in talking to me. He doesn’t eat meals with me and my husband. He just stays in his room and comes downstairs to cook his own food, which is invariably a pan-fried sandwich, possibly with air-fried breaded chicken, followed by crisps ...

Reusing plastic food bags

Dear Heloise: I started using plastic bags to freeze baked goods in. They hold up well. I now save all the food bags that contain products I buy. This includes the thin cellophane ones, which I use for short-term storage. I fold over the tops to let the air out and staple the ones for long-term ...

Briefs for Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025

Gladstone Library Friends drive GLADSTONE — The Friends of the Gladstone Library group is conducting its 2025 Membership and Donation Drive, accepting monetary donations through Wednesday. Those interested can donate or sign up for a membership at the Gladstone Public Library, 300 S. 10th ...

Losing my nephew to family politics

Dear Annie: My sister-in-law has disliked me for as long as I can remember. I’ve never fully understood why, but over the years she’s made her feelings clear in a hundred small ways — cold shoulders at family gatherings, pointed comments and a general effort to keep me at arm’s length. ...

Reader writes in with two hints

Dear Heloise: I have a couple of hints to suggest for your column: — I rubber band my accessible parking placard to my sun visor so that when I park in a parking space, I just have to pull down the visor to expose the parking sign. It is very visible, and I do not have to hang it back up on ...

Briefs for Friday, Dec. 26, 2025

Gladstone Library Friends drive GLADSTONE — The Friends of the Gladstone Library group is conducting its 2025 Membership and Donation Drive, accepting monetary donations through Wednesday. Those interested can donate or sign up for a membership at the Gladstone Public Library, 300 S. 10th ...