Fun, easy ways to keep kids learning all summer

Did you know 96 percent of teachers say that each fall, students appear to have forgotten or lost some of the knowledge or skills they learned the previous school year?

Spiritual reader having trouble with faith

DEAR HARRIETTE: I grew up religious and went to church faithfully every Sunday with my grandmother. As I grew older, I noticed that religion can and has been used to justify bad behaviors toward others. This caused me to question what I had been taught — especially as an African American.

Man ready for romance spoils mood without his teeth

DEAR ABBY: I dated a man several years ago, and we just hooked up again. In the interim he had all of his teeth pulled. His dentures are ill-fitting, and he refuses to get them adjusted. As a result, he goes without any teeth, which I find a whole lot less than sexy.

Unhappy wife is loath to be first in her family to divorce

DEAR ABBY: I am an attractive woman who has been married for 30 years. I think my husband has been cheating on me for most of them. Through the years I have seen the telltale signs and confronted him many times. But he continually tells me no, he would never do anything.

Halotherapy should be taken with a grain of salt

Dear Doctor: I keep hearing about something called halotherapy, or salt therapy. Can it really help people who have respiratory problems and inflammation? I’ve heard that it’s good for arthritis and for regulating blood pressure, too.

More ways to weather natural disasters at home

Whether it’s hurricanes, tornadoes or snowstorms, natural disasters can occur anywhere at any time. When they do, it’s often sudden, so being prepared ahead of time is key.

Escalating violence is signal for wife to leave relationship

DEAR ABBY: My husband has always had anger issues. Recently, they have progressed from targeting inanimate objects to targeting me. A few weeks ago, when he got upset, he punched the navigation screen in my car out.

Basal tears crucial to eye health, cause blocked ducts

Dear Doctor: I’ve got a blocked tear duct that I’m told requires surgery. My eye weeps, but it isn’t painful. However, it has become infected once. What can you tell me about this condition, and what are my treatment options?

Husband okay being away on anniversary

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am about to have my wedding anniversary. My husband and I have been married more than 20 years, so we are not in need of a fuss to acknowledge our anniversary. It does bother me a little, though, that my husband was asked to go away for work on our anniversary weekend.

A night to bask in Hub City optimism

On Thursday Clinton Mayor David Berrong will host his third annual Love the Hub party.