Lifestyle Columns
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Buyer takes issue with seller’s disclosure statementApr 14, 2026 5:13 pm - A seller said a home had no issues, but the home inspector found many. The buyer canceled the sale. Should the homeowner reimburse the buyer for the inspection fee?
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Cook smarter not harder: Simple recipes that work overtimeApr 09, 2026 2:59 pm - Some weeks call for ambitious cooking projects, but most call for smart ones — the kind that save time, stretch your grocery budget and make mealtime feel less chaotic. This trio of recipes — Lazy Pork Wontons for One, Oven-Roasted Pork Shoulder and Instant Pot Refried Beans — show how simple, satisfying staples can work harder for you.
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Can condo board include operating deficits in special assessment for repair project?Apr 08, 2026 10:23 am - Our condo board is wondering whether we can implement a special assessment for operating deficits in conjunction with a special assessment for exterior construction.
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Mom vs. Reese: Who has the best cornbread pie?Apr 08, 2026 5:28 am - I recently discovered Reese Witherspoon’s recipe for Corn Bread Chili Pie. It reminded me a lot of my Mother’s Corn Pone Pie. I headed for my recipe box and found my mom’s recipe from 1978. There were many differences between the two, but enough similarities to inspire this new best-of compilation.
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Creative collaboration: How Geneva retirement residents transformed poetry into musicApr 07, 2026 11:59 am - Lynda Cox and Bruce Petsche, residents of the GreenFields of Geneva life-care retirement community, have turned their friendship late in life into a musical collaboration.
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Protect your spring garden: Tips for bulbs, perennials and rosesApr 06, 2026 5:57 pm - Chicago Botanic Garden’s Tim Johnson shares tips on preparing your spring garden and propagating coleus cuttings.
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Broker denies agents avoid ‘deal killers’Apr 06, 2026 5:42 pm - As a real estate broker, I’m troubled about some of your articles’ suggestions that Realtors label good inspectors as "deal killers." This charge seems unfair and in poor taste.
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Condo board can sue developer over roof defectsApr 01, 2026 11:24 pm - No matter who owns the roofs in a condominium association, the board has the authority to take legal action on behalf of the owners regarding defects.
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Spicy Lentil Soup is warm, bright and comforting all at onceApr 01, 2026 6:08 am - This recipe for Spicy Lentil Soup seems to bridge both winter and spring. With lentils and rice at its base, it’s filling and comforting enough for a cold day. But then comes the bright green puree stirred in at the end — a hit of freshness that feels unmistakably like spring.
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Three lively, chillable wines to welcome springApr 01, 2026 5:07 am - With spring on the calendar and occasionally in the air, here are three lively, chillable and delicious wines to celebrate the season.