Columns

This past June, American Association of Retired Persons and National Geographic published results of their joint “Second Half of Life Study” in the AARP...

Every year in May, older Americans are recognized for their contributions to our communities and nation. A meeting in April 1963 between President John F. Kennedy...

By Harriet Phelps As in all things, 2020 this has been an unforgettable year for high heat and drought. The “non”soon did not produce any...

The holidays are upon us. With the chaos of running back and forth getting ready to celebrate, it is important for us to remember...

As the cost of a college education continues to increase, parents and students should seek ways to pay for tuition without creating debt. One...

Not many like it, but, eventually, it happens to all of us, whether we like it or not. We get older. The aging process is long....

If oleanders are toxic, why do we have so many of them growing in Maricopa? Here’s the scoop on the good, the bad and...

Everybody loves tomatoes. Ninety-three percent of all American gardening households grow their own tomatoes. Tomatoes didn’t arrive in the United States until the 1820s, but they...

Algebra (specifically, high school algebra) truly is a gatekeeper to a student’s future. Non-technical college degrees generally require completing a college algebra course, which might...

French marigolds (Tagetes patula) have been a garden staple for decades because they’re easy to grow and add a splash of color to any...

Everything I need to know about inflation, I learned in grade school — too much money chasing too few goods and services. Supply and...

In two previous columns, we looked at how the teaching of math in the elementary grades has reduced the number of students taking advanced...

More than 34 million Americans have diabetes and one in five don’t know they have it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and...

Of an estimated 21,000 existing houses in the city limits of Maricopa, nearly 8,000 of them are at least 15 years old. At that age,...

For many years, efforts have been made to entice more women to pursue careers in engineering. Today, if you ask somebody to describe an...

By Joan Koczor Have you ever been asked if you have a hobby and thought, “good question”? Maybe you like to watch TV or go online...

By Harriet Phelps, PsyD It is time to be thankful.  We all may be missing something from the impact of the COVID virus.  Its effects...

We’re not getting any younger. So, you may want to make end-of-life decisions to protect your loved ones. This might not be the most upbeat...

Some people regarded Brian Simmons as the town nuisance, and he certainly did have a history of bizarre behavior around Maricopa. This month in our...

By Harriet Phelps The winter weather conditions outside do not matter if you have a blooming plant. I need only light and a blooming plant...

Getting others to understand our needs and ideas can be complex. The desired outcome is understanding, but how do we get there? What is...

Just think about it: the opportunity to celebrate National Maricopa is a Great Place to Live Day. Don’t laugh. You could make it a reality....

Defining mental health or its opposite — mental illness — is a daunting task. Mental health includes our emotional state: how we feel, how we...

It’s August, and we have not quite given up on summer and are wondering when it will end. The temperatures are consistently in the...

A geriatrician is an expert in the branch of medicine or social science dealing with the health care of elderly people by prevention and...

This past year brought many challenges. Many of us are dealing with unexpected health issues. COVID-19 left its mark. Inflation had a profound effect. Several...

The word “elementary” has two seemingly conflicting definitions. For some, elementary means basic or simple as when Sherlock Holmes said, “Elementary, my dear Watson.”...

More than 2,000 continuing-care retirement communities exist nationally. They include all phases of senior living: independent, assisted, memory care and skilled nursing, packaged into...

You may have seen the TV commercials, but there is more than meets the eye with chia (Salvia hispanica), the iconic seed of the...

With the holidays right around the corner, it’s an ideal time to start planning for the festivities. Enjoying the holiday cheer will help maintain...