Lifestyle Columns
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A little luxury, and other reasons to decant wineMay 06, 2026 5:36 am - Once, every wine needed decanting; today, not so much. But in exchange for convenience, are we giving up pleasure?
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Ask a vet: Why is my dog scratching?May 05, 2026 11:10 pm - My dog is constantly scratching his stomach area that has now become red and irritated. He doesn’t have fleas. What might be causing his condition?
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Spring garden temptations are real, but discipline beats impulse buysMay 04, 2026 5:36 pm - Bright, colorful flowers do much to cancel out good judgment when it comes to buying plants. Focus on the discipline of planting the right plant in the right location
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Asbestos overlooked in previous columnMay 04, 2026 5:09 pm - I am a weekly reader of your column, which usually includes great information. But I would like to point out that the answer you gave regarding asbestos in attic insulation fell short.
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Why Gilded Age tycoon will be honored with sculpture in St. CharlesMay 01, 2026 4:26 am - Former St. Charles resident Archie Bentz was behind the push to commission a sculpture to honor baron John Warne “Bet-A-Million” Gates, whose fortune was inherited by Dellora A. Norris.
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Essential spring garden tasks when you're running behind scheduleApr 27, 2026 4:54 pm - If you are running late getting your garden cleaned up, just continue removing garden debris from beds and cutting back perennials.
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Removing roots from septic systemApr 27, 2026 4:24 pm - We had the septic system inspected. The contractor found a large mass of tree roots in the tank and recommended we flush 10 pounds of copper sulfate down the toilet. We’re concerned this won't get rid of the roots or that it might harm or kill trees in our front yard.
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King Arthur gluten-free yellow cake mix a lucky findApr 24, 2026 9:25 am - Recent journeys testing boxed baking mixes landed me on another new-to-me product: King Arthur Flour’s Gluten Free Classic Yellow Cake Mix. How was it? Excellent, with a definite, authentic vanilla flavor, and it nearly melted in my mouth.
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News seniors can use: High school journalists publish newspaper for retirement residentsApr 22, 2026 11:23 am - A trio of Batavia High School students have created a bi-weekly newspaper which they distribute to residents of Batavia retirement communities.
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A new spin on ‘rails to trails’: Community effort brings century-old CA&E rail car to Illinois Prairie PathApr 22, 2026 10:39 am - Riders and hikers on the Illinois Prairie Path will soon get a glimpse of railroad history when a historic train car will be transported to a new 60-foot track at Villa Park’s Ardmore Station, itself vintage 1908.