Bald cypress trees usually draw extra attention during this time of year because their needles are changing colors and dropping to the ground like the leaves of many broadleaf trees. Since most needled trees keep their green needles year-round, this behavior seems unusual, but it’s completely ...
Last week, the Kansas Department of Agriculture announced that they had confirmed the presence of emerald ash borer in Spring Hill. The finding of this invasive exotic pest will lead to expansion of a federal quarantine and is a reminder to area residents with ash trees on their property to ...
The arrival of freezing temperatures is a good time to give attention to garden tools and equipment. Garden hoses should be drained, tools such as shovels should be cleaned to prevent the onset of rust, and mowers and other pieces of power equipment need to have fuel drained or treated. The ...
Medicare beneficiaries: Even if you’re taking advantage of the annual wellness visits that Part B covers, you might not be getting all that you can out of it. A cognitive assessment — included in these annual visits, if you ask your doctor — can help you keep tabs on your brain in five ...
An upcoming event aims to update Douglas County residents on behavioral health initiatives that are underway. “New Directions in Behavioral Health” is scheduled for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, May 6 in the auditorium of the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St. Bob Tryanski, the ...
A certain column or article from a certain health writer was missing from the Journal-World last week. For that, I apologize — but I also don’t. Here’s why: Neither you nor I nor anyone else has to be everything for everyone all the time. Sometimes, in order to save your sanity, you ...
I already know what you’re thinking — either you saw this one coming, or you think I’ve lost my marbles. If you’ve ever read this column, you’ve probably seen mention of some app or device or trick or nifty online service. After all, I’ve written about fitness trackers, apps for ...
I’ve occasionally considered going back to school to further my education. The problem is that most graduate programs don’t offer classes that I can complete on my own schedule at home in my pajamas, that have only optional assignments and that are completely free — of cost and of ...
Not too long ago, if you’d asked the average guy about wearable technology, he might have gestured to the Walkman clipped to his cargo pants, next to his beeper. The phrase has taken on an entirely different meaning. Today’s wearable technology gives us access to a massive amount of our ...
I’ve spent the past few years working at the Journal-World’s copy desk, meaning I’d head to work in the afternoons and head home around midnight five days a week. Just a couple of short weeks ago, the thought of switching to days as my role with the newspaper shifted into more reporting ...
In a somewhat unusual edition of Healthy Outlook, I wanted to give you a heads up about some changes for both the Journal-World as a whole and for the Health section. This past week, I started covering K-12 education and Douglas County government for the newspaper. I’ll still cover health, ...
Some of the effects of mindfulness are surprising, even to a local psychiatrist who has been practicing and teaching it for decades. “What (studies) show is that mindfulness, for either anxiety or depression, is as effective as medication alone or psychotherapy alone, which is remarkable, ...
A new year can help to get into the mindset of a new beginning. Still, sometimes just thinking about it isn’t enough. Keeping track of goals on paper or scribbled on a calendar works for some people, but there are smartphone apps that are more efficient and that fit better in a pocket. (We ...
It’s not always as easy to sleep healthfully as some people might think. For those who spend an hour or more tossing and turning every night, a good night’s sleep can feel like a distant dream. Now that winter is officially upon us, I’m ready to hibernate for a bit. Hopefully I can ...
Breathe easy, Kansas, with the knowledge that the state has less dust in the wind — that is, relatively low air pollution — compared to other states. Just make sure you brush and floss. The state only has 49.7 dentists per 100,000 population. These numbers are according to America’s ...
My holiday spirit tends to fluctuate. Some years, I’m a Sugar Plum Fairy; others, I’m a Grinch. (This year, I’m going a secular Unicorn route.) But you can expect a couple of things from me annually like clockwork: overdramatic lamentation of the cold and the short, dark, soul-stifling ...
Lawrence psychotherapist Ed Bloch is used to losing clients after just a few sessions — but that’s OK with him. It’s just the nature of Cereset, the new brain wave balancing technology he offers out of his new office at 5040 Bob Billings Parkway, Suite A1, near the western edge of ...
How do you make a splash and let people know about your new organization? A news release, flyers or a Facebook page are a few options. Or you could bring nearly 3,000 people to the University of Kansas’ Shenk Recreational Sports Complex for the “World’s Largest Community Workout.” ...
Lawrence veteran Mike Kelly was pleased to see many resources shared with those in attendance at a Veterans Affairs town hall Thursday at the Lied Center. However, he pointed out that he thought an important one was missing from the speakers' presentations. “They have a nurse triage ...
The Lawrence area has already experienced two winter precipitation events this year that have warranted the use of de-icers to keep roads and sidewalks safe for travelers. Although necessary in many instances, de-icers can be detrimental to plants, especially when used repeatedly over the ...