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Dear Annie: The gift — and challenge — of having two cultures

Dear Annie: My mother is German, and my father is American. Growing up, I was raised with traditions from both cultures, but I have never felt fully part of either one. Last Christmas, my mother made a traditional German dinner and invited several relatives. I tried to join the conversation, but my German is not fluent, and everyone kept switching to English for my sake. They were being kind, but I felt embarrassed and strangely separate from my own family. A few weeks later, I brought homemade German cookies to an American friend’s party. Everyone loved them, but they treated the ...

Sixty-five-year old gets hospitalized due to hypercalcemia

DEAR DR. ROACH: A few years ago, at the age of 65, I was hospitalized and in critical condition with a calcium score of 14 mg/dL. After many tests, the diagnosis was hypercalcemia. After a 10-day hospital stay, I was discharged, and every test in the book was done to find the cause. All tests came back negative as to the cause, and still to this day, it isn’t known what could have caused this. Any ideas? — G.V. ANSWER: “Hypercalcemia” just means a high calcium level, and there are many causes — some of which are quite serious, including several cancers. A level of 14 mg/dL ...

Senate women losing numbers — and power

Quick: How many women elected to the Senate are serving right now? The answer is 25, or 25%, one-fourth of all members, according to the Senate Historical Office. And, I just noticed, there may be an exodus of Senate women coming up in the November election. That number of 25 is a record-breaker, as high as it’s ever been. But after a steady climb, a dramatic decline of women senators is likely on the horizon. On the Republican side, Joni Erst (Iowa) and Cynthia Lummis (Neb.) are getting out of the game: retiring. Susan Collins (Maine) is vulnerable to a challenger. Most ...

Dear Annie: Bothered by bad breath

Dear Annie: I have been married to my husband for over 50 years. While we are physically unable to have sexual relations due to several health factors, I’m not missing it. Why? Because he has terrible hygiene practices and the biggest is not brushing his teeth enough. He has horrible halitosis now. I can barely manage to travel short distances in the car with him. He likes to listen to music, but in the car, he whistles to it. He’s always unaware that when he does this, I put my hand over my nose and mouth, and direct the AC vents up toward him to help blow it away. He angers ...

Kovels Antiques: Turning trash into treasure

Very little is known about folk artist Carl Worner, and much of what is known comes from his art. He lived from about 1860 to 1930 and, during his lifetime, made more than 100 carved and painted wooden dioramas inside glass bottles. He is said to have asked for empty bottles and cigar boxes ...

Should you wash your prewashed lettuce? An infectious disease expert explains how to eat your greens safely during the cyclospora outbreak

Salads — along with other fresh produce — are some of the healthiest foods you can eat. Leafy greens are rich in vitamins A, C and K, folate, potassium and magnesium. They also contain lots of fiber, which supports a healthy gut microbiome, promotes fullness, helps regulate blood sugar, and may contribute to healthy aging and better cognitive function. But an ongoing 2026 outbreak of cyclosporiasis, caused by the cyclospora parasite, has sickened more than 11,500 people across the United States with explosive diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms and has put a damper on ...