Senior designs for safely entering, exiting your house
When considering safety factors to adapt your home as you grow older, look for good visibility, excellent lighting, accessibility and no trip hazards. Be...
Maricopa seniors should be prepared for disasters to augment city plans
While images of hurricanes and wildfire destruction have been in recent news coverage, homeowners, renters and business owners can ill afford to ignore other...
Brandenburg: Seniors, are you drinking enough water?
By Al Brandenburg
The triple digits are upon us and the summer forecast promises more scorching temperatures. The extreme heat underscores the need for seniors...
Brandenburg: Fend off threats to Social Security now
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated many of the issues faced by Social Security, which provides at least 70% of income for about one in six...
Koczor: Step into new year with lessons learned from pandemic
Every great tragedy leaves its mark. WWII. The Great Depression followed the stock market crash in 1929 and lasted 10 years. The attack on...
Senior advocate: Is it time for a geriatrician?
A geriatrician is an expert in the branch of medicine or social science dealing with the health care of elderly people by prevention and...
Master Gardener: Prepare that new vegetable garden now
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...
Master Gardeners plant seeds with advice, expertise
Many newcomers and inexperienced gardeners in Arizona need advice to successfully grow flowers and vegetables in our desert climate and soil conditions.
Often, that expertise...
The depression danger in aging adults
By Al Brandenburg
Depression is not a normal part of aging, but can develop in later years— and it can be dangerous.
The Centers for Disease...
Take it easy in the new year
One year ago, we thought 2021 would pass quickly. The effects from the Covid Virus have held steady with many consequences. Those realities have...
Coping with stressful news: Keep things in perspective
Today’s news reports have been less than encouraging for exiting a globally traumatic event, such as the COVID crisis, to cope with. While feelings...
Tomatoes come in all shapes, sizes, colors
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...
Hot! Hot! Hot! Gardening in July
By Al Brandenburg
Another year and again I am watching my plants wither in the 100-degree-plus heat. Gardening in Arizona in July can be difficult...
Brandenburg: Long COVID may result from autoantibodies
BY AL BRANDENBURG
An increasing number of COVID-19 survivors are experiencing symptoms weeks or months after the infection has cleared in what is known informally...
Siegel: Advanced Math for elementary students, please
In January 2016, I began this education column with two purposes. First, provide readers with new ideas about teaching and learning through the lens...
Russian invasion brings back memories for Province resident
EDITOR’S NOTE: Over the past few weeks, the world has witnessed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In the 1990s, Iraq invaded Kuwait, which led to...
Dog days of summer cause panting foliage
By Al Brandenburg
Although we've made it through the hot, dry months of June and July, our vegetable gardens have pretty much given up the...
AP courses can help make college affordable
As the cost of a college education continues to increase, parents and students should seek ways to pay for tuition without creating debt. One...
A senior center, defined
With a senior center opening soon here in Maricopa, it’s an appropriate time to consider what one should provide.
Senior centers should:
• Serve as a...
Chief: Community valued partner on police beat
It has been a few months since my last column on how the Maricopa Police Department is policing your community.
In that column, I discussed...
Smith: Dealing with uncertainty, leave them laughing!
Back when I was hiring employees, I would always add a couple of extra desired skills to the job description— the ability to deal...
Podiatrist: Prevent this common foot ailment
By Dr. Alex M. Stewart DPM, FACFAS
Dr. Stewart of Maricopa Foot and Ankle Center is board-certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle...
Siegel: More women wanted in engineering
For many years, efforts have been made to entice more women to pursue careers in engineering. Today, if you ask somebody to describe an...
Siegel: Teaching responsibility in elementary school
Readers of this column may remember a primary academic goal in elementary school was learning the three R's – Readin’, Ritin’ and Rithmetic. Today, a fourth R is required: Responsibility. Several educators...
The beauty of mathematics
What is mathematics?
To many readers of this column, it is subject matter you must learn in school with a series of rules and methods...
Brandenburg: Heat can be fatal
June has baked us to a crisp and July isn’t going to be any better with temperatures in the triple digits. As bad as...
Technology helping more seniors age at home
By Al Brandenburg
Americans are living longer, and most would prefer to age in their own home and community, rather than going to a hospital...
Smith: Sleep – it’s a big deal!
On average, adults need about 7-9 hours of sleep. Researchers say people can survive longer without food than without sleep! It’s a time for...
Koczor: preventative measures for a healthy brain
A recent article from Mayo Clinic states we are living longer than previous generations and should prepare ourselves to encounter new health risks, like...
Siegel: What does an academic coach do?
Most everyone knows what an athletic coach does, yet many are ignorant about the duties of an academic coach.
By next school year, all Maricopa...