November 2012

The American Youth Harp Ensemble performs in some of the world's most prestigious venues, yet many people in Richmond aren't aware that the world-class group exists. The group's founder and artistic director, Lynnelle Ediger-Kordzaia, hopes to change that dynamic. On the surface, Ediger-Kordzaia may be soft-spoken and quiet, but the…

I once read that the average teenager texts the equivalent of “War and Peace” in one year's time, but like most adults, teenagers don’t consider this time spent as real writing. This disconnect is problematic. WDIMBT? It leads to what researchers Drew P. Cingel and S. Shyam Sundar call language…

  When you count your blessings this Thanksgiving, what will be on that list? For the more than 25,000 Americans who received a lifesaving transplant since last Turkey Day, the holiday will be infused with a whole new level of gratitude. On average, 78 people receive lifesaving organ transplants each…

My daughter Zora just celebrated her first birthday. Or, more accurately, the family celebrated it for her. At her age, life's a party. Every day brims with play and doting attention. If only the good times could roll uninterrupted from toddler to teen. She's got it so good these days…

I can chart my children’s maturation via their changing locations in the family car. First came the backward-facing infant seat, and then the forward-facing infant seat. Time passed and the infant seat was replaced by a child car seat, which was, in due course, replaced by a booster seat, and…

As the youngest of five kids by a whopping nine years… (Hey, who are you calling an accident?!) I have thus far managed to be spared Thanksgiving hosting duties. And since our family is typically traveling several hours to the feast, I usually don't even have to bring a dish,…

It was eighteen years ago in early autumn when my husband and I took our dog, Rosco, and our two-day-old marriage camping. Over the years, I've learned that most couples cannot begin to fathom why we would have thought a honeymoon camping trip was a good idea. But it was.…

M4K Richmond’s growing season begins November 2, 2022.  Participants grow a mustache to raise money for local children’s charities. Benefitting twenty charities to commemorate twenty years – including Children’s Hospital Foundation of Richmond, Feed More, ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation, SCAN of Richmond, CASA, and more. Support a local grower! ______________________________________________________________ More than a decade ago, local…

Q: I asked my brother what his three-year-old wanted for Christmas and he said that all his little girl does is play on his iPad. Do you have any advice for parents who think that's okay? A: I stand with the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding screen time. Their guidelines…

So many changes have occurred in the last decade in response to our country's economic circumstances - some good and some bad - making it difficult for consumers to know what to do. Various financial products and phrases that I've mentioned in previous articles may already be obsolete or in…

Decades after it was declared a major threat to wellness, exposure to lead is still the number one environmental health hazard for small children, and is entirely preventable. There is no safe lead level, so parents should always ask their healthcare provider for their child's lead level. Emphasis should be…

Wild Mushroom and Polenta Lasagna Generously butter 13x 9 glass baking dish. Slice 1 lb of prepared polenta into ½-in. Rounds. You can buy this in tube packages. Layer the bottom of the baking pan with polenta rounds. For mushroom ragout: Melt 2 Tbsp butter with 2 Tbsp olive oil…

Ten days after I got my driver's license, I was in a car accident. Another driver drifted into my lane and hit my car while tuning his radio. The good news is that everyone was okay. Only my car was damaged. Well, that, and my sixteenyear- old ego. The bad…

The works of internationally renowned artist Dale Chihuly will move you to creative innovation in your next project! Chihuly's Macchia blown glass forms originate from organic shapes like the flower and the seashell alongside his desire to use all 300 colors available in his "hotshop" Seattle studio. What you need:…