Lifestyle Columns
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How to turn your discarded Christmas tree into a feast for birdsJan 05, 2026 1:41 pm - When the holidays are over, instead of putting your Christmas tree on the curb for garbage collection, repurpose it in the garden with birdseed and suet ornaments for winter birds.
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Can condo board discontinue unit owner forum at meetings?Jan 05, 2026 1:30 pm - Our board of directors just issued a statement saying that it will no longer include a homeowner's forum at the beginning of board meetings. Is this legal?
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Should we remove our asbestos ceiling?Jan 05, 2026 1:22 pm - Our home’s textured ceiling contains 5% asbestos. Should we spray paint to cover it or pay a contractor $3,000 to remove it?
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Are proxies counted toward a quorum at association meeting?Dec 31, 2025 3:10 pm - Very few owners attend the annual meeting of our association; most contribute via a proxy. Are the proxies counted toward a quorum?
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Too cold outside? Look for indoor garden tasksDec 30, 2025 5:53 pm - It’s cold outside, but gardeners can keep busy with maintenance or preparation tasks, such as checking on vegetables in winter storage, shopping for seeds, organizing your garage or tending to bulbs that you’re forcing to bloom indoors, such as paperwhite narcissus.
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Water issue not disclosed in trustee saleDec 30, 2025 3:14 pm - New homeowners discover the home they bought from a family trust had a major ground drainage problem at the time of the sale. Buyers have since learned the Realtor was aware of the issue and hid it. Who is liable for damages?
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New businesses, fond farewells and historic preservation: A look back at the top stories of 2025 in Talk of the TownDec 29, 2025 9:57 am - New businesses and developments, historic preservation, museums and a fairy garden were among the top stories in Dave Heun’s Talk of the Town column in 2025.
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Why gray squirrels and black walnuts go together so wellDec 28, 2025 3:00 am - For many years, we’ve been finding black walnut bits on the benches surrounding our campfire circle. I know where the walnuts come from and I know gray squirrels are eating them.
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The ‘best birds’ of 2025: Snowy Owl, Mountain Bluebird and more arrived this yearDec 26, 2025 2:00 am - As 2025 comes to a close, “Words on Birds” columnist Jeff Reiter takes a look back at the year in birding.
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Does association have to comply with utility company’s request?Dec 22, 2025 4:21 pm - Our homeowner’s association board recently received a request from a utility company to temporarily use part of our common area to access utility infrastructure in the existing public utility easement. They also want to use part of our common area to store equipment during the project.