Lifestyle Columns
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Refunds from negligent home inspectorsFeb 17, 2026 2:08 pm - After we bought our home, multiple problems were discovered. None were reported by our home inspector. When we called to complain, he said his liability is limited to a refund of his inspection fee.
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Listen up: 10 podcasts for birdersFeb 16, 2026 10:18 am - Until recently, listening to a podcast was a now-and-then thing for me. Now I can’t get enough. Podcasts about birds and birding are my new toy.
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How repurposing historic buildings breathes new life into the Tri-CitiesFeb 12, 2026 3:30 am - Geneva, Batavia and St. Charles have joined the trend of repurposing old buildings for new uses, with historic structures renovated into apartments, restaurants, businesses and community spaces.
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How to handle condo owner who pounds on ceiling when hearing neighbor’s noiseFeb 11, 2026 11:40 am - The owners of a unit in our condo building are harassing the owners above them for everyday noise and retaliating by pounding on the walls and ceilings. What can the board do?
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One go-to, many dishes: Easy weeknight sopes start with tried-and-true Skinny Pizza DoughFeb 11, 2026 5:41 am - Biz Velatini’s Skinny Pizza Dough is a no-brainer for quick weeknight dinners and lighter homemade pizzas, but it can also be the foundation for so much more. In this collection, that same simple, reliable dough transforms into crispy-edged chicken chorizo sopes — proof that one good recipe can open the door to an entire lineup of meals.
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Whole kernels make buttermilk cornbread even more perfectFeb 11, 2026 5:35 am - The preparation and the cast-iron skillet are a big part of what has always made this cornbread so delectable. Now, to make it even better, Don Mauer adds a can of sweet, whole-kernel corn.
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How to choose and care for cut flowersFeb 10, 2026 4:07 pm - Valentine’s Day is coming, and cut flowers make a great gift for your special person.
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Homeowner concerned about foundationFeb 10, 2026 4:00 pm - I found a house that I really like, but the home inspection report says there may be foundation problems. How can I determine the cost to fix the foundation, and if in it actually needs to be fixed?
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How Kane County historian verifies Underground Railroad safe housesFeb 04, 2026 11:41 am - Eric Krupa, the collections and exhibitions manager at the St. Charles History Museum, has worked to verify local sites that were part of the Underground Railroad during the Civil War.
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Chop, roast, blend: Creamy, hearty Sheet Pan Soup is the easiest you’ll ever makeFeb 04, 2026 5:55 am - Got things to do but still want a hearty, homemade dinner? Crank up the oven and make the easiest soup there is — sheet pan soup. All you have to do is chop up some vegetables, roast for 45 minutes, dump everything into a blender with broth and coconut milk and — voilà — you have a creamy, deeply satisfying concoction.