"The leaves are definitely turning in New Hampshire," friend Judy Barlow reported to me this week in an e-mail, "and my three kids are always the first to point out the beautiful reds and golds in our neighborhood. But to the kids, it's not really an appreciation of nature — it's more a sign…

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband is tired all the time. He functions, but frequently has to sit to recoup his energy, even after a shower. He is diabetic and has been for over 10 years. He does not take insulin and manages to keep his A1C within 7.1 to 6.9. He weighs 207 pounds, and he’s 6 feet, 1…

If you will have holiday shopping to do this year, you need to get started on it now. Manufacturers and store owners are saying there will be shortages.

LIBERTY — Shawn Garland, owner and artist at The Artisan Market, 118 N. Main St., Suite B in Liberty, has been helping with the Liberty Fall Festival Committee and found out some spaces won’t have vendors this week so she hatched a plan. She will be coordinating a chalk art contest.

When combat vet Josh Peters got an invitation to the Friday, Sept. 17 Kansas City Royals game, he thought it would be a wonderful gesture to receive a round of applause from the supportive crowd at the K.

OATS Transit is open for regular transportation service, however face masks are required on the bus due to COVID-19. OATS Transit follows Federal Transit Administration requirements, which means face masks must be worn on public transit through Jan. 18, 2022.

LIBERTY — The final Moonlight Yoga session of 2021 at Stocksdale Park, 901 S. La Frenz Road, will take place at 8:15 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20.

Weekends are made for families, and fall is all about the changing color palette of the great outdoors. Put them together, and you have the potential for awesome adventures in your neighborhood and beyond. When you get home, keep the memory alive with these two hands-on activities using foun…

DEAR DR. ROACH: What is the difference between eccentric LVH and concentric LVH? Which one is more dangerous and needs more attention? My mother was diagnosed with severe eccentric LVH for body surface area with adequate systolic and diastolic functions. What does that mean? — C.F.

This winter is not going to be a repeat of last year, at least not at my house. COVID will no doubt keep raging around the world, limiting our options for activities, canceling plans that were made with fingers crossed.

LIBERTY — High school sweethearts Robert Lee Girvin and Christine May (Oshel) Girvin are celebrating a life moment not many get to, seven decades of marriage. The couple attended Seaman High School in Topeka, Kansas, together.

KEARNEY — The Jesse James Festival parade will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, in downtown Kearney.

Many components combine to define a home’s interior. Some homeowners may be partial to certain styles, such as ultra modern or farmhouse, while others may opt for a more traditional look that cannot necessarily be categorized as one style or another. Though many homeowners may spend consider…

Farmhouse style homes are having a moment.

KANSAS CITY — The Fall Parade of Homes returns to the Kansas City metro area starting Saturday, Sept. 18. The parade runs through Oct. 3.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am an 83-year-old female with bladder problems. I get up two or three times a night and usually make it to the bathroom. I thought it would be good to see a doctor in case the problem got worse. An operation was mentioned, which I am not interested in, so they gave me a pes…

Well, that certainly didn’t last long. My town’s recreation center opened last week for indoor walking only — no classes, no basketball, no anything else — then shut down again just as quickly.

"You can have your cake and eat zucchini, too," said 24-year-old Josh Plank when I wandered over to a landscaping project he was digging in in my neighbor's yard. I knew he had a garden of his own, so I eagerly asked what I should do with three humongous 18-inch-long zucchini that dominated …

HOLT — Early records show that in 1821 on the lot that is now home to New Direction Church, a handful of settlers gathered to worship together.

Hail to kale! I'm not sure what brought the green, leafy, good-for-you veggie into such renown, but try to open a foodie magazine or blog without some recipe bowing to its virtues. I've been following the trend and now dutifully toss it into stir fries and salads, and even let it stand alone…

To better serve those needing to report concerns of abuse, neglect and exploitation of elderly and disabled Missourians, the Department of Health and Senior Services’ Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline revised its hours of operations to 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

DEAR DR. ROACH: My son, who is 30 years old, was recently diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea and currently uses a CPAP machine. He says does not want to use this for the rest of his life, therefore, he has researched surgery to correct his OSA. Recently he consulted with a sleep e…

Have you ever listened to a podcast? A podcast is a digital audio or video file that you can access from the internet. They’re often in a series that you can tune into one at a time, almost like radio on demand. They’re usually associated with a website where you can find out what’s availabl…

KANSAS CITY-NORTH — On the morning of Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6, more than 700 runners are expected to participate in the 10th annual Kansas City Temple Run. The race starts at 9 a.m. at the Kansas City Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 6751 NE 70th St.

CLAY COUNTY — As September is National Suicide Prevention Month, three groups united to offer an awareness event called Connection is Protection from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, at North Kansas City’s Macken Park Shelter No. 1, 1000 E. 27th Ave.

Magician Todd Lamanske’s act is known all over the Northland. He regularly performs at such places as Trago Bar & Tapas near Liberty, Nick & Jake’s and Stone Canyon Pizza in Parkville and for corporate groups. He has also been seen performing roaming magic for at the Courier-Tribune …

SMITHVILLE — The Smithville Rotary Club hosted a dedication Saturday, Aug. 28 of a “Welcome to Smithville” sign located on the north end of the city. The sign was placed on Smithville Community of Christ Church property at 19400 N. U.S. Highway 169.

DEAR DR. ROACH: What is your opinion of the alkaline diet? I have several friends who have battled cancer, and they have adopted alkaline diets as adjuncts to their cancer treatments. Do alkaline diets assist in the treatment and prevention of cancers, or is it just another urban myth? — T.F.C.

Mention "slow-cooker meals" and your mind no doubt drifts to chilly fall and winter weather eating.

The recreation center is open again! While they tried to do a “soft opening,” word traveled quickly. Going to the rec center won’t be as it was before, of course.

LIBERTY — International Plastic Modelers Society, Western Missouri 2021 Modelfest will begin with registration at 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 28 at the Liberty Christian Fellowship Church, 1815 W. Liberty Drive.

LIBERTY — The impact of organizers for the Liberty African American Legacy Memorial and Clay County African American Legacy is reminiscent of Harriet Tubman’s words, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to r…

Stella Holdsworth, 4, daughter of Alanson and Taylor Holdsworth of Smithville was named the 2021 National American Miss Missouri Princess Queen at the state pageant held in Branson.

As the 100 deadliest days of summer come to an end, highway safety officials are encouraging drivers to not let down their guard.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I suffer from depression. It comes and goes, but I’ve been feeling sad, worried and angry, as well as irritable, for the past four months or so. I force myself to function. My family doctor prescribed a 37.5 mg dose of Effexor once a day to start and after one week, twice a d…

If your young kids and grandkids like blowing bubbles, they'll love this activity. When the colored bubbles dry on construction paper, they will become the eye-catching background for one-of-a-kind artwork.

Don’t count your money before it’s in hand, of course. But word is that the Social Security increase we see in January could be as much as 6.1%, the largest since 1983.

KEARNEY — Think about public art. What is the first artistic expression that pops up? Is it neighborhood murals? For Gerri Spencer, a city alderman and director of Kearney Historic Museum, it is.

There’s flower power in kids’ and their moms’ imaginations. Just ask Robyn Anderson, busy mom of three active daughters.

If you read the news, you know there are serious questions about how well the vaccines we’re been taking actually protect against COVID. Especially worrisome is the protection they offer against the Delta variant that’s sweeping the world.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 78-year-old female who has suffered from acid reflux for many years and has been taking Prilosec (omeprazole) for at least 15 years. I have heard that it is not meant for longtime use. If I don’t take it, I have such heartburn I can’t sleep and am in misery all day and…

Many weather experts predict a destructive disaster season this year. Because of this, the American Red Cross seeks volunteers to help on the ground and by being blood and platelet donors.

LIBERTY — The deadline for barbecue teams to register to participate in the 11th annual Holy Smoke BBQ Contest is Sunday, Aug. 15.

LIBERTY — Love INC is currently in need of baby care items like lotion, ointment, shampoo and wash.

GLADSTONE — A hazardous waste collection event will be from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 14, in Happy Rock Park, located at 76th Street and North Antioch Road in Gladstone. Mid-America Regional Council’s Solid Waste Management District and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources is off…

Can we do this? Exercise twice a week for 10 minutes each time to prevent Alzheimer’s disease? Of course we can.

DEAR DR. ROACH: Can Lyme disease send a person into Parkinson’s disease? I tested positive for Lyme — I had the bulls-eye rash, fever and terrible headaches. After a month on doxycycline, my left arm started shaking and my neurologist diagnosed me with Parkinson’s. The doctor said it had not…

"Squirt ... and slide, squirt ... and slide," chant 7-year-olds Cy and his friend Jane, as they clean and polish hardwood floors to the beat of Beatles tunes. Simply put, they're dancing away the grime!