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Addressing growing distance with a friend

Lifestyles

DEAR ANNIE: I have a friend, “Rosie,” who kicked me out to the curb (metaphorically speaking) when her sister moved into her mobile home park. Prior to her sister’s moving into the neighborhood, Rosie and I saw a lot of each other. I was always sewing for Rosie, her husband and her mother-in-law at little or no cost. I sent food to her after her surgery. I helped Rosie’s sister with planning Rosie’s 60th birthday party. Meanwhile, when I had health issues and told her, she didn’t contact me afterward to see how I was. When I had a baby shower for my daughter, she did not ...

Bridge by Steve Becker

Lifestyles

1. Double. The best way to show the strength of this hand is to start with a double. A simple overcall of two clubs would not adequately address the game possibilities and might lead to missing a good game contract in spades, diamonds, clubs or even notrump. It is true that a takeout double of one major suit tends to imply good support for the other, but this does not mean that such support is absolutely guaranteed. The more important consideration is to show the general strength of a hand, and the double in this case serves that purpose best. You plan to bid two clubs over ...

Americans without kids less confident about retirement

Lifestyles

As Americans weigh whether to have children and the effect on their financial future, those without kids are significantly less confident about meeting their retirement goals, according to the 2026 Annual Retirement Study from the Allianz Center for the Future of Retirement, part of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life). Americans without children are least likely to feel confident in their ability to meet their retirement savings goal (54%), compared to Americans with kids (72%). Among parents, those with one to two children (74%) are more likely to feel ...

Big Blanket will join the Party

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The Block Party is a “big tent” event, bringing together many components — music, comedy, vendors market, food, community, etc. — under one banner. This year it adds a “big blanket” to that big tent. The Block Party 2026 at B&O Station in Youngstown is adding a third stage for ...

‘Bang Bang’ takes aim at The Playhouse Downtown

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New Castle, Pa., native Ingrid Ullrich traveled the world performing on cruise ships and with renowned organizations such as Cirque du Soleil. Those opportunities stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic and then she suffered a hip injury while teaching dance. “I sadly, unfortunately, ...

Ticket stubs

Ticket

Cyclists plan 53rd Century ride on Sept. 20 Registration is underway for the 53rd Northeast Ohio Century bicycle tour on Sept. 20, sponsored by the Out-Spokin’ Wheelmen bicycling club. Riders will gather between 7 and 10 a.m. at the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge, 6400 state Route 46, Mecca. The 25-mile route will visit the Hartford Apple Festival and the Hartford Hill Winery and Brewery. There also will be 10-, 50- and 51-mile routes, and century riders can reach their 100-mile goal with the two longest routes. Support vehicles will be available to assist cyclists until 5 p.m. ...