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Bonamassa, Mule brings different shades of blues to Youngstown

Ticket

YOUNGSTOWN — The first thing I did when I got home from Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre on Sunday was check my hair. The way Joe Bonamassa and Gov’t Mule’s Warren Haynes were cuttin’ heads last night, I was sure I’d gotten at least a trim. The co-headlining doubleheader drew more than 4,000 downtown on a warm summer night. Both musicians are steeped in the blues but take it in somewhat different directions. Wearing a tailored blue suit and sunglasses, Bonamassa is the flashier dresser — and player. Just about every number in his 12-song, 90-minute set had extended ...

Bridge by Steve Becker

Lifestyles

There are hands where declarer seemingly has no choice but to hope for a 3-3 split in a key suit. But because that division occurs only 36% of the time, he should not accept these odds without first looking for a way to improve on them. South failed to make that effort on this deal. He played ...

Servants’ hearts needed

Lifestyles

Since January, Jenn Engle of Howland has spent much of her spare time with folks who are facing their final chapter. As a volunteer for Heartland Hospice, which is based in Boardman, she is paired with clients in the program, offering companionship as part of their end-of-life care. Hospice ...

School backpack overload: Heavy bags can strain kids’ bodies

Lifestyles

Backpacks can be fashionable and functional, but they can also be too heavy — weighed down by digital devices, musical instruments, sports equipment and more. Some kids carry home a laptop or tablet and textbooks, too. It’s good to be prepared, but kids who walk to school or participate in extracurricular activities may be lugging more than their bodies can handle. Lockers and classroom storage aren’t available everywhere — and a child carrying too much weight might not be ready to learn. As families begin back-to-school shopping, here’s how to know if your child’s backpack ...

DEAR ANNIE: She can’t be her grieving mother’s caregiver

Lifestyles

DEAR ANNIE: My father died two years ago after more than 50 years of marriage. Since then, my mother seems to have stopped living. She spent her entire adult life caring for my father and raising our family. She rarely did anything just for herself. My father handled the finances, made most of the decisions and was the more social one. Now my mother calls me several times a day. She asks me to make appointments, pay bills, arrange repairs and help with even small decisions. I love her and want to help. But I have a job and a family of my own. Lately, I feel more like her parent than ...