What’s in a name? A lot for those who change theirs
Before Christopher Frank of Niagara Falls, N.Y., researched his family tree, he knew his ancestors did not immigrate here by choice. "They were slaves who were shipped here from Africa,"...
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How family members cope with estrangement
Even though she became a widow young, Cynthia Gross said she gave her daughter, now grown, everything she wanted, from dance and piano lessons to family vacations at Disneyland. Together...
Dorm days are over? Some parents buy condos, houses for students
Talk about a story problem. While those fictional textbook scenarios whipped up to help elementary school kids may be behind you, some parents and their college-age children are sitting at...
Keep your friends close, your landlord closer
As a postal carrier, Tawanda Dickerson, 43, gets to know a neighborhood quickly. So, when she subbed for a co-worker in Rogers Park a couple of years ago, it gave...
Wendy’s franchise owner bikes across U.S. in support of adoption
By the time Natasha Santos, now 28, was adopted, she was 16 and had lived with six foster families. To would-be adoptive parents, the New York City resident says, "It's...
Is friends-first approach key to lasting relationship?
Who is more likely to remain together — the couple who were friends before they became romantic or the couple who sizzled from Day One? Janet Nast, 58, and Tom...
Graveyards give you the spooks? Many homeowners like living near cemeteries
Even a cursory knowledge of George Romero's 1968 cult classic "Night of the Living Dead" or the Steven Spielberg-penned spine-chiller "Poltergeist" suggests that having a graveyard around — or underfoot...
Bedtime should be the same time year-round, say sleep experts
There's not much they can do about Independence Day, said Eric Bennion of the no-matter-what, 9 p.m.-bedtime rule he and his wife, Shelly, impose on their sons, William, 12, and...
More couples choosing nonclergy officiants for nuptials
As their 2014 wedding approached, Shannon Monte, 28, and Randy Johnson, 30, reviewed their to-do list. Flowers? Check. Venue? Check. Food? Check. Ceremony officiant? Um ... A member of the...
Boosting curb appeal: Top 5 tips to aid power of your home’s 1st impression
Whether you plan to sell your house this year or after your last child leaves the nest, being a homeowner includes keeping the house in tip-top shape. Yes, you can...