Story Hour started on Sept. 24, and it was a blast. Crystal Anderson read ‘Roll Away Pumpkin’ and ‘Spookley the Square Pumpkin.’ We had lots of kids join us in the fun. They made pumpkin windchimes, and for snacks they had pumpkin shaped sandwiches with cupcakes. Thank you, Crystal Anderson for hosting; you always do an amazing job.

Well, fall is here, and I won’t lie - it is my most favorite season. The days are cooler, the leaves are turning colors, harvest scents are in the air and the pesky insects are slowly dying! Life is good! Alas, along with the comfort of the change of seasons, it is also the start of the cold and flu season, which generally begins in October and can extend until May with peak activity often occurring between December and February. Amidst all the political campaign ads on television, we are also starting to see more commercials for cold and flu relief products as well as information on where and when to get your flu shots. Stores are stocking up with aisles of over-the-counter remedies for all your aching, sneezing, stuffy head, cold season symptoms. We have access to so much relief that it’s almost overwhelming to try and decide what to buy! Naturally, I began to think about the pioneer days and what people did to alleviate cold and flu symptoms.

“I finally carved a pumpkin,” my daughter announced. I kind of knew what was coming next. “My friends couldn’t believe I had never done that!” she exclaimed. “We always had pumpkins, but we usually painted faces on them,” I reminded.

Good dental health in children is crucial for overall well-being. Healthy teeth enable proper chewing, speech development, and contribute to self-esteem. Prioritizing dental health through education, preventive care, and regular check-ups lays the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles. The following topics are common discussion points of children’s dental health.

Would you like to grow a special flower in your garden? Something that is eye-catching? Something that is unforgettable? A team of gardeners and I have tested hundreds of annual flower varieties across North Dakota over the last 15 years. This included trials at the Dragonfly Garden in Bismarck.

On Wednesday, September 25, 61 high school students from Cavalier, Pembina, Park River, Hatton, and Midway participated in the first Northeast Regional Envirothon at Icelandic State Park. Each school had four or five students in teams. The Envirothon is an international environmental education competition that challenges students to learn practical skills and academic knowledge about soils, water, prairie, forestry, and wildlife.

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Menopause is one of those things that, let’s face it, will ultimately affect everyone with previously functional ovaries. Unfortunately we don’t talk about it enough, which makes it a topic riddled with misinformation. So… what is menopause?

“Fall is my favorite season,” my husband commented as we drove home one sunny afternoon. I agreed.

My meteorologist friends tell me that the word “normal” has very little meaning, as no year is ever really normal. Does that mean that every year is “abnormal?” I fear that the answer would take a long time and involve a deep dive into statistics.