My 9-year-old daughter looks older than she is. Always has. Kids and - worse - grownups who should know better comment on it all the time. ...more

March 22, 2009

What can parents, especially those of girls, do to temper culture's pressure to grow up way too fast? ...more

March 19, 2009

The faces change from year to year, about as fast as the style of the clothes they wear. The students and even the teachers come and go. The curriculum evolves and so do the methods by which it is taught. But through it all, a school is one of those institutions that define a community. Richey Elementary School, 6807 Madison St., has been part of New Port Richey for 50 years, longer if you consider classes were held there in 1957 before the building was officially completed and "opened" for the start of the 1958-'59 school year. ...more

February 25, 2009

We grownups are often too busy, too stressed or just too plain tired to remember just how important the power of imagination happens to be. While we might have enjoyed our days of wonder and merriment in playing make believe as children, far too many of us forget this side of ourselves when we reach a certain age. ...more

February 11, 2009

Have they started asking yet? Every parent knows that at some point, usually at 4 to 7 years old, their little one will pine for a little one of his or her own. Chances are, many letters to Santa included a plea for a fuzzy buddy. ...more

December 26, 2008

The latest computer-animated offering from Disney is a smile-a-minute joyride of knockout visual effects, laugh-out-loud humor and a story that snuggles right up next to your heart. ...more

December 12, 2008

Money's tight! And when it comes to belt tightening, there are ways to spend less and still have a terrific holiday season. ...more

December 9, 2008

The 10th annual community craft fair will be full of the creations of local crafters, bakers and cooks from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at United Community Church, 1501 La Jolla Ave. ...more

October 8, 2008

SPACE CHIMPS If you're old enough to read this review, you aren't the target audience for "Space Chimps," a movie about chimpanzees sent in search of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. "Chimps," from the animation studio that gave us "Valiant," is more one of those cartoons parents at least won't mind sitting through while little Miss or Mister 8-and-younger gets his or her chuckles at the cute-talking primates. ...more

July 17, 2008

Teach your kids how to kick cigarettes superhero-style with DC Comics' newest Justice League comic, "No Smoke Without Fire." ...more

June 14, 2008