Post-Tribune

Scientists: Timber in Lake Michigan centuries old

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:10:22 -0500

FAIRPORT, Mich. (AP) — A wooden beam embedded at the bottom of northern Lake Michigan appears to have been there for centuries, underwater archaeologists announced Tuesday, a crucial finding as crews dig toward what they hope is the carcass of a French ship that disappeared while exploring the Great Lakes in the 17th Century. Expedition leaders still weren’t ready to declare they had found a shipwreck or the long-lost Griffin. The ship, commanded by the French explorer La Salle, was never seen again after setting sail in September 1679 from an island near the entrance of Green Bay, in what …

New Great Lake exhibit opens at Shedd Aquarium

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 22:46:11 -0500

Two-year-old Carson Bobek squealed, then recoiled as he plunged both hands into the icy water exclaiming — “Too far!” He gestured to a 4-foot, toothless black fish that slowly lumbered by and carefully stuck near the gravel-lined bottom of the 1,440 gallon tank Tuesday at the Shedd Aquarium’s newly revamped Great Lakes exhibit, “At Home on the Great Lakes.” A second, then a third fish, called sturgeons, swam past — giving Carson and his fellow “sturgeon-petters” another chance to stroke the back of the Great Lakes’ prehistoric fish. Afterward, Carson, who was with his family, giggled and said the exhibit …

Enjoy strawberries with a new pairing of goat cheese

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:12:36 -0500

In an updated version of the classic strawberry-cream cheese pairing, fresh June strawberries get new life when coupled with goat cheese. Admittedly, this twosome is trendy, but there’s something a whole lot less overbearing—and less annoying—than anything cascading with shards of maple bacon, a river of salted caramel or a glob of frosting and cake welded together on a stick. It’s one trend that is imperishable, much like its cream cheese predecessor. The strawberry and goat cheese pairing, while unusual, has advocates yelping for its savory-sweet flavor combo. Unlike its strawberry and cream cheese brethren, it is fairly mild and …

Confessions of a multitasker

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:12:56 -0500

My name is Charlotte and I am a multitasker. Thank you for allowing me to speak at this meeting of Multitaskers Anonymous, or MA -- so appropriate given that ours is an affliction especially connected with motherhood. As other 12-step programs have taught us, the first step to recovery is admitting we are powerless over our addiction. The fifth is admitting the exact nature of our wrongs. I am here now to do both. You will appreciate the efficiency, I’m sure. Anyway, on a recent morning, I needed to go to the gym, take the dog out for a walk, …

Cool down with your own homemade frozen treats

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:12:27 -0500

In 1905, 11-year-old Frank Epperson left a mixture of powdered soda, water, and a stirring stick in a cup on his porch. It was a cold night, and Epperson awoke the next morning to find a frozen pop. He called it the “Epsicle.” It was a hit with his friends at school, and later with his own kids. They constantly called for “Pop’s ‘sicle.” So in 1923, Epperson changed the name and applied for a patent. A couple of years later, Epperson sold the rights to the brand name Popsicle® to the Joe Lowe Company in New York. The rest …

Lake City Library dedicated to Challenger astronaut

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 02:10:06 -0500

Although I like to fly, I never really had any desire to be a pilot. In “Zephyr Takes Flight” by Steve Light, we meet a young lady who is fascinated by flying. Zephyr loves planes so much that she is always drawing them and making them. She makes them out of all sorts of things she has around. She tries to get her grandmother interested in her latest model, but Grandma is busy reading. Dad is busy cooking and Mom is busy building. As Zephyr zooms around the living room with her latest model, we watch as she crashes into …

Widow works to preserve Evers’ civil-rights legacy

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:12:00 -0500

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Myrlie Evers-Williams acknowledges it would be easy to remain mired in bitterness and anger, 50 years after a sniper’s bullet made her a widow. Instead, she’s determined to celebrate the legacy of her first husband, Medgar Evers — a civil rights figure often overshadowed by peers such as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Events including a black-tie gala are being held this week to remember Evers, the first Mississippi field secretary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He was 37 when he was assassinated on June 12, 1963. …

Start small to make big fitness changes

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 02:03:12 -0500

DRS. ROIZEN AND OZ: Like many others, you may want to lose weight and exercise, but somehow you can’t keep those goals? How’s a person to stay on track?

Sunscreen slows skin aging, if used often enough

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 23:03:45 -0500

WASHINGTON (AP) — If worry about skin cancer doesn’t make you slather on sunscreen, maybe vanity will: New research provides some of the strongest evidence to date that near-daily sunscreen use can slow the aging of your skin. Ultraviolet rays that spur wrinkles and other signs of aging can quietly build up damage pretty much anytime you’re in the sun — a lunchtime stroll, school recess, walking the dog — and they even penetrate car windows. Researchers in sunny Australia used a unique study to measure whether sunscreens really help amid that onslaught. Participants had casts made of the top …

Enjoy summertime favorite strawberry now

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 02:02:43 -0500

Over 53% of 7- to 9-year-olds picked strawberries as their favorite fruit. It is definitely one of my favorites too! And this is strawberry season. Enjoy fresh strawberries right now. Selecting Commercial Berries at the Grocery Look for bright red berries with fresh green caps on. When you remove the caps you tear cells in the berries, activating ascorbic acid oxidase, an enzyme that destroys Vitamin C. Visually check each package, making sure there are no signs of mold growth. If one berry is molded, mold spores will have traveled throughout the entire package. Research has linked mold to some …

Hardy chive creates light summer taste

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 02:02:53 -0500

As light as the flavors of summer are supposed to be, they more than often are not. Graduation parties, barbeques, even Father’s Day dinners specialize in salads laden with mayonnaise, meats charred from the grill and saucy sops that top them. Tasty? Of course. But if it’s a fresh, light flavor you’re seeking, then these popular summer favorites rarely measure up. And even though the season’s best produce is still in an adolescent stage, there are a few fresh flavors now in season. Chive is one of them. This hardy herb pops up when there is still frost on the …

Three helpful new mom sites

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 02:03:21 -0500

As a first-time mom, I ask a lot of questions. Why does my 5-month-old son wear size-9-month clothes? How will I know when he starts to teethe? What organic baby food is really organic? If possible, I ask friends and family for advice. At scheduled appointments, I ask our pediatrician. At 5 a.m., when I want to know about baby ear wax, I Google it. True, there is a lot of misinformation on the Web, and mommas arguing on message boards offer little help. I still managed to find some great online resources. Here are my top three suggestions for …

Trade winds drop, and Hawaii gets muggy

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 23:03:45 -0500

HONOLULU (AP) — Part of what makes living in Hawaii so pleasant is the gentle breeze. Arriving from the northeast, it’s light enough that it is barely noticeable but strong enough to chase away the humidity. It’s a natural draw to the outdoors. It is not uncommon to show up at a house to find its residents relaxing out in the covered porch or in the car port, not their living room, and enjoying the cooling winds — and a cool drink. Nowadays, experts say, these breezes, called trade winds, are declining, a drop that’s slowly changing life across the …

Mellencamp mural stirs debate in his hometown

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 02:07:31 -0500

SEYMOUR — Indiana rocker John Mellencamp likes to sing about the small town where he grew up, but some in his native Seymour aren’t sure they want to see the singer’s likeness on a building downtown. Artist Kay Fox has proposed creating a mural depicting several images of Mellencamp and installing it on a building that houses This Old Guitar music store in downtown Seymour. She said it’s a way to honor the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer for his contribution to the arts. “I’ve been wanting to do this for years,” she said. The proposal needs permission from …

Pinterest opens new approach to party planning

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 02:06:46 -0500

The Pinterest age of gawking at recipes and do-it-yourself crafts has pioneered a whole new approach to party-planning—or at least a throwback to homespun party-planning. The pinboard-style social network can, in part, be credited with revitalizing the art of throwing a social gathering. Gourmet recipes made easy and beautiful decorations deemed doable take away the need for caterers and also offer an opportunity to showboat one’s crafty skills. With graduation season at its peak, Pinterest is awash with ideas for parties. Full spreads for sit-down dinners, buffets for backyard barbecues and kitschy ideas for décor make the planning process so …

Raising healthy eaters and active children

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 02:06:36 -0500

In the United States today, we are obsessed with dieting; yet, as a nation, we are getting larger each year. In fact, one in five children in the United States is considered overweight. Parents often feel helpless or confused about how to prevent eating problems. Thankfully, there are many ways parents can foster healthy attitudes about eating, nutrition, and exercise. Ten Ways Parents Can Promote Healthy Eating and Exercise Habits 1. Eat Together. This is perhaps the most important way to foster healthy attitudes about food in your children. Create mealtimes that are happy and involve conversation and laughter as …