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Gray Areas: Rock4Reason turns 10, and some free ice cream

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Assorted ramblings from the world of entertainment: • Rock4Reason marks its 10th anniversary with a new location for its Rock ‘n’ Hop Fundraiser. The group was founded a decade ago by Frank and Heather Lindsay and Matt and Jennifer Durno to aid local families dealing with cancer. It’s grown into an organization with a 13-member board, but it remains all-volunteer — all money raised goes to help the everyday needs of those fighting illness. It has raised more than $175,000 and helped 550 families since its inception. The goal is to surpass $200,000 total by the end of this ...

Hopewell’s ‘Glassheart’ reimagines a Beast-ly tale

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A tale as old as time gets a new twist at Hopewell Theatre. Reina Hardy’s “Glassheart” will be staged this weekend at the Youngstown community theater. “Glassheart” originally was scheduled to open in June and run for two weeks, but it was postponed due to an illness in the ...

Dear Annie: A season of distance, not goodbye, from daughter

Lifestyles

DEAR ANNIE: I am an 86-year-old mother of three children, a grandmother of six and great-grandmother of eight. We have always had a great relationship with our children. Our youngest daughter, who has always been close to us, went through a stressful divorce. Her husband had an affair, and she divorced him. She always came home every few months, or we went to see her. In the past few years, she has only come home twice a year, only for a day or so at a time. I am no longer driving, so going to visit her is not an option. She calls almost every day. She says there is nothing wrong. But ...

Hints from Heloise: Keeping absorbency of clothes

Lifestyles

DEAR HELOISE: Here’s a hint about maintaining clothes’ absorbency. Perhaps I had previously learned this from you, but it’s worth repeating as long as we’re on the subject. Softeners decrease clothes’ absorbency, so dry them without any softener. — John S., in Newbury Park, California DEAR HELOISE: To open plastic bags at the grocery store, I lick the inside of my wrist (much cleaner than my fingers) and touch this spot to dampen the fingers on my other hand. — Joanne M., in Rancho Mission Viejo, California DEAR HELOISE: I just read about someone who was stressed ...

Former students celebrate Leonardi’s legacy

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Tony Leonardi died in 2001 at age 62, but his legacy continues due to the many working musicians who studied with the founder of Youngstown State University’s jazz studies program. Many of his students and former colleagues will celebrate that legacy with a concert Saturday at YSU’s ...

Red yeast rice can reduce LDL levels

Lifestyles

DEAR DR. ROACH: I read your response to a recent question regarding drugs to reduce cholesterol levels. In your response, you talked about the risks of taking niacin and its potential side effects. You commented that statin drugs remain the first-line treatment for reducing heart disease risk and for people who are at an increased risk. As a follow-up, my cardiologist recommended several months ago that I take something called red yeast rice. I’ve been taking this product for many months now, and it does seem to have reduced one of my cholesterol components. What do you think of red ...