Children love guessing games. A favorite one is called “What's in the Box?” It's something that families can do anytime, anywhere to encourage children to analyze, narrow options, and make a reasonable guess. They will need to listen carefully when they shake the box and analyze what could ...

NIAGARA, Wis. — I recently read an excerpt from “The Velveteen Rabbit” written by Margery Williams that brought tears to my eyes. Here it is: “Real isn’t how you are made,” said the Skin Horse. “It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, ...

KINGSFORD — Don Pedo, chairman for May, opened the Monday Golden K meeting. Alyce Derwinski took over from there, getting the piano keys rocking with some favorite “oldies.” Under the direction of Al Calcari, singing soon took over and filled the room with melodic voices. “I’m a ...

AURORA, Wis. — The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Florence County will host an AARP Smart Driver Course from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, at the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Learning Center in Aurora. The course is geared toward drivers 50 and older; however, ...

Sometimes a springtime atmosphere needs a little nudge. Here is an easy table decoration activity for springtime family gatherings that gets the flowers inside and brightens the house. Why do these little extra activities? New studies report adults are talking with children only a total ...

NIAGARA, Wis. — This week’s column is a bit of a departure, in that it will not be discussing a senior issue. It stems from a Letter to the Editor that I read in the April 22 issue of this newspaper that was written by a woman from Caledonia, Wis., a village of 23,000 in Racine County. ...

POWERS — Easter was a busy time at Pinecrest Medical Care Facility in Powers this year. The Easter Bunny made a personal visit to the senior living facility — filling the hallways, living rooms, dining rooms and two greenhouses with 4,000 eggs. Staff and residents were on hand to help ...

By JOAN JOUPPI For The Daily News KINGSFORD — The birds are singing, the flowers are working their through the winter mulch, rabbits are hopping and the trees are stretching their branches, glad to be free of the snow cover. Sunshine or not — spring has sprung. Monday morning saw many ...

Sandi Poindexter, grandparent and worldwide traveler has more suggestions for traveling solo with a grandchild based on research and personal experience in part two. She suggests to set expectations, reinforced by parents. Beside the basics of where, when, and how, there are the creature ...

NIAGARA, Wis. — Last week, I began a discussion of seniors and driving — how and why our abilities change with our increasing age. I included a list of signs that may indicate a senior has a driving issue that needs attention. We continue the discussion this week by examining when it is ...

By JOAN JOUPPI For The Daily News KINGSFORD — Sharon Scholke, chairperson for April, got the Golden K meeting rolling. Sitting at the piano this Monday morning was Sue LeDuc, filling in for Alyce Derwinski — a pleasant surprise to have her play. Don Pedo jumped up to direct the singers. ...

By Janice Jonet Elder and Disability Benefit Specialist ADRC of Florence County 715-528-4890 FLORENCE, Wis. — Many people work after they claim early Social Security retirement benefits. Yet if you earn additional income and have not reached your full retirement age, it may reduce ...

Elsie Klump celebrated her 100th birthday Thursday at Maryhill Manor in Niagara, Wis. Klump’s friends and neighbors came out to celebrate during the nursing home’s monthly birthday celebration with a cake, balloons and live music performed by Ray and Mindy Pilon.

Several years ago, a song was released titled “The Way.” The melody was catchy enough, but the lyrics were rather haunting in that they chronicled the fate of an elderly couple who just drove off in their car one day and were never heard from again. No one — not even their children — ...

Living in the Upper Peninsula, one prepares for weather changes on a daily basis. Looking out on a white landscape, it seems appropriate to lay the Easter bonnet next to the Stormy Kromer hat and be ready to switch the Easter basket for a snow shovel. Monday morning, things quickly began ...

Every spring bags of plastic colorful eggs appear in stores. They are inexpensive and appeal to kids of all ages. Here are some springtime fun activities with the eggs which encourage discovery and learning. You will need about a dozen plastic assorted color eggs which come apart in the ...

NIAGARA, Wis. — For as long as I can remember, I have loved trees. My memories of the many different houses in which we lived as a kid usually include the kind of tree that was in the backyard. And, of course, my grandparents’ farm about which I wrote last week had any number of trees that ...

By JOAN JOUPPI For The Daily News KINGSFORD — Spring appears to be giving its very best try, with milder temperatures, larger puddles and shrinking snowbanks. With the hope of seeing more and more greenery, the Golden K gathers at the First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford full of ...

NIAGARA, Wis. — In last week’s column, Arletta Johnson Meysembourg shared her memories of her mother’s Swedish cooking. It triggered my own memories of my grandmother’s kitchen on the farm. My grandparents were German farmers and had inherited a small family farm on the shore of Rush ...

By JOAN JOUPPI For The Daily News Kingsford — April Fools’ Day one can usually expect to be a party to some fun antics. As the Golden K met on Monday, it was obvious this day would prove to be different. Alice Derwinski on piano teamed up with director Margaret Trudell — together they ...