Q. My wife’s ex-husband is a contractor and very handy. I am not. We have been married for five years and she still calls him to fix the hot water heater or repair a hole in the drywall. I would love to just hire someone but with COVID-19, I have been …
Lori Borgman: Are you smart enough for a smart key car?
The rental car we picked up on a recent trip was bright red, had push-button start and a smart key. A smart key looks more like an oversized thumb drive for a computer than a key with teeth. We drive old cars with keys with teeth, the kind you put in t…
Motormouth: Which brake lights are best?
Q: Your article on car strobe lights reminded me of a useful study of brake lights I learned about while a student at the University of Michigan — long ago. The combined running/brake lights were least effective; if the following driver was looking awa…
News briefs
NY priest charged with molesting Philly boy years agoPHILADELPHIA — A Staten Island priest has been charged with molesting a Philadelphia boy from 1995 until 2002, beginning when the child was 10 years old. The Rev. James Garisto, 73, who spent nearly …
Heidi Stevens: As mental health struggles rise, kids’ needs have changed. And so must we.
A couple of quotes have been swirling around in my head ever since I read about parents in several states protesting mental health services at their children’s schools. The first quote is from Kahlil Gibran’s beautiful poem, “On Children,” published in…
This week’s bestsellers from Publishers Weekly
Here are the bestsellers for the week that ended Saturday, Jan. 22, compiled from data from independent and chain bookstores, book wholesalers and independent distributors nationwide, powered by NPD BookScan © 2022 NPD Group. (Reprinted from Publishers…
Television Q&A: Is ‘Devil in the White City’ adaptation still happening?
You have questions. I have some answers. Q: We’ve been hearing for 10 years that Leonardo DiCaprio will star in the film version of “The Devil in the White City.” It’s been a long time coming. Is this movie going to be made? Hope so! A: Still in the wo…
Quick Fix: Veggie French stew a hearty meal
Fricassee is a traditional French stew. Fresh vegetables and wild mushrooms flavor this light, vegetarian version. Rice and lentils are added to make a hearty meal, which all cooks in one skillet. Canned lentils and microwaveable rice help make this a …
Redbox’s top 10 DVD rentals
The top 10 DVD rentals at Redbox kiosks for the week of Jan. 17: 1. Dune (2021) — Warner 2. The Addams Family 2 — Universal 3. Halloween Kills: Extended Cut — Universal 4. Venom: Let There Be Carnage — Sony 5. Last Night in Soho — Universal 6. No Time …
Best times for anglers
(Table for Jan. 30-Feb. 13) This table lists top fishing times and days for the coming weeks. For best results, begin fishing one hour before and continue one hour after the times given. Times apply to all time zones. ——— Sunday.………………….10:…