Happenings from the Heisey

January 10, 2026

Happy New Year! Hope you had warm and comforting holidays! Thanks to everyone: hosts, volunteers, guests, for participating in the Haven Holiday tour on Dec. 14. It was a great experience. Wines, Shines and Brews in the Wilds is the new name of our ever-popular Wine in the Wilds, and there is a larger variety of offerings! The date is April 25, 2026. Discounted ($30) pre-sale tickets are available www.wineinthewilds.com. Our officers and committees have been hard at work preparing events for 2026. Check it out! From the President’s Desk — Annual Meeting January 28, 2026: Noon ...

A taste of nature can provide balance and calm during the workday

January 10, 2026

NEW YORK (AP) — The crisp crinkle of fallen leaves beneath your feet. The swish and trickle of water moving through a stream. A breath of crisp, fresh air. Spending time in nature can be invigorating or produce feelings of peace and calm. But many professions allow little time or access to ...

Could that dresser become a kitchen cabinet? The art of upcycling old furniture

January 10, 2026

Maybe it’s a scratched-up old sideboard found at a yard sale and turned into a snazzy media console. Or a couple of well-traveled vintage trunks given a new home as bedside tables. Designers and DIYers are breathing new life into old furniture, not just restoring but reimagining and ...

Why ordering takeout or calling the dog walker might lead to a happier relationship

January 5, 2026

It turns out, love may benefit from a little less labor. Couples who spend money on time-saving services — like getting takeout, hiring a housecleaner or calling a dog walker — report greater relationship satisfaction, especially during stressful periods, says Ashley Whillans, a ...

The nation’s 250th anniversary arrives with a call for year-round community service

January 3, 2026

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission wants to turn America’s 250th birthday celebration into the country’s single biggest year for volunteering. But America Gives, the program unveiled Wednesday just before the U.S. begins commemorating the 1776 signing of the ...

Volunteering with children can build character and create lasting family memories

December 27, 2025

NEW YORK (AP) — When Cami Teacoach’s son turned three she set out to find volunteer opportunities they could do together. He made Valentine cards for senior citizens. They hiked and picked up trash. He helped harvest produce at community gardens and made seed balls out of mud, throwing ...