ArcaMax

The number of children uprooted by Haiti’s spiraling gang violence has nearly doubled in the last year to 680,000, while those in need of humanitarian assistance now stands at just under a quarter of the country’s estimated 12 million population.

Meanwhile, with more than 1,600 schools directly affected by the violence – including 1,080 ...Read more

Q. My ex just changed the email address that he uses to communicate with me to include a derogatory reference to me. It’s obvious what he’s doing, but I’m having a difficult time staying calm. What’s good ex-etiquette?

A. First and foremost, it’s important to acknowledge that any attempt to disrespect you, especially in a shared co-...Read more

They say birds of a feather flock together and while that may be true most of the time, I have proof it is not true all the time. Our 12-year-old grandson and a jet-black Cayuga duck sitting beside him, with its long neck and head resting on the boy’s shoulder, have been flocking together for weeks.

The boy says it all began because the duck�...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Planned Parenthood is appealing a Las Vegas judge’s decision to not to block a Nevada law that requires doctors to notify parents of minors seeking an abortion.

District Judge Erika Mendoza rejected the request for a preliminary injunction on Sept. 26, writing in an order that the plaintiffs had not established a likelihood of ...Read more

In "Danger, No Problem," author Cindy Fazzi has written an engaging mystery about one man’s continuous pursuit of the one he let get away. The story unfolds over 20 years, with chapters alternating between the past (1998, 2008) and the present, illustrating how Domingo’s relationship with his target, Monica Reed, evolved and ultimately led ...Read more

Jerardyn sat quietly on the bus, her mood relaxed as her eyes scanned the fleeting horizon of Southern California one August afternoon.

But as the U.S.-Mexico border wall, a towering barrier of steel pillars, came into view, she began taking big, deep breaths. Her heart began to race as she clutched her immigration documents and tried to hide ...Read more

'THE SMASHING MACHINE'

Rated R for language and some drug abuse.

What it’s about: A biopic of MMA fighter Mark Kerr, following his career in the late '90s.

The kid attractor factor: This is a serious adult drama, not for younger audiences.

Good lessons/bad lessons: Some of those with the most guts don’t get all the glory.

Violence: ...Read more

Q. This is sort of an ethical question. My ex-wife remarried two years ago and even though this sounds a little weird, I find I like him, poor unsuspecting sap. I can tell he cares about my kids and he’s actually a good influence.

Here’s the deal. My ex has always liked her wine, and I suspect it’s causing some problems over there. Her ...Read more

I am an accidental gardener. If anything I plant grows to maturity, and by some fluke of nature becomes edible, it is sheer accident.

If we had to survive on what I grow, we would both be very, very thin. Spaghetti thin. We are not spaghetti thin; we are more like rigatoni.

Several years ago, I dreamed of growing potatoes. I threw some ...Read more

There’s something about a small town that makes it the perfect setting for a thriller. On the surface, you’ve got quiet streets, neighbors who wave as they pass, kids riding their bikes without a care. But scratch just a little deeper and you’ll often find lies stacked as neatly as wood piles, secrets pressed down tightly, hidden well, ...Read more

It’s always a treat as a reader to find a book that delivers a powerful social message as well as tells a good story, and that’s exactly what we get in "Under Their Watch" — Charlie Ketchey’s compelling and moving novel about the challenges facing a pair of dedicated child-care workers.

Child-care caseworker Cameron Springer and John ...Read more

'ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER'

Rated R for pervasive language, violence, sexual content, and drug use.

What it’s about: A former revolutionary has to regain his skills and reunite with his comrades to save his daughter.

The kid attractor factor: This is an incendiary political adult drama — not much appeal for kids.

Good lessons/bad lessons:...Read more

My husband is one of those people who can sleep anywhere, anytime.

He can sleep sprawled halfway on and halfway off the sofa, in a straight-back chair, with three grands crawling all over him styling his hair, and during cross-country flights with severe turbulence.

It’s a gift. The man is so gifted he can even fall asleep while I’m ...Read more