Talcum powder is back in the news following a May 2, 2016 verdict against Johnson & Johnson, in which it was ordered to pay $55 million to a woman who contracted ovarian cancer after years of her using Johnson’s Baby Powder for feminine hygiene. This verdict comes on the heels of a $72 million verdict this past February against Johnson…[...]

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When we marry, we hope it will be a fairy tale marriage lasting forever. Some marriages work out and unfortunately, a lot more don’t these days. I’ve been very blessed to still be madly in love with my husband. I’m not here to tell you that it has been easy, because it hasn’t always been.  The one thing that is…[...]

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My son, Andrew, is nearly 38 years old and I can still remember all those days we spent at the Sistersville Park during baseball season. Eating hot dogs and sloppy joes for supper, late baths, washing baseball uniforms till midnight to be worn the next day…those were some busy days.  Before Andrew ever starting playing baseball, I used to feel…[...]

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As May is National Physical Fitness Month, I’d be remiss if I didn't take the time to reflect on what being physically fit has brought to my life. The list goes on and on. I personally make sure that six days a week, I go to the gym to lift weights followed by some cardio. I decided nearly two years…[...]

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According to researchers at Johns Hopkins, medical errors may actually be the third leading cause of death in this country. The study, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), calls attention to the inadequacies of death certificates in correctly identifying an individual’s cause of death due to medical errors; and recommends changes for measuring national vital statistics to facilitate better…[...]

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Osteoporosis means "porous bones." Our bones are strongest at about age 30 then they begin to lose density. More than 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, which is significant bone loss that increases the risk of fracture. About half of women 50 and older will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime. While some factors are inevitable and uncontrollable, there are…[...]

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Weather in the Northern Panhandle is always a bit erratic. But this year’s weather has been so topsy-turvy that it’s downright maddening. In late December, there was a stretch of almost summerlike weather when I was tempted to pull out my shorts.  Then came the craziness.  Snow, followed by melting, freezing and more snow.  Then the warm weather returned, not…[...]

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In all the years I’ve been a paralegal, I am periodically reminded why I do it. It’s what drives me and it makes me want to find justice. My heart truly goes out to each person and family that I meet.  From a professional standpoint, this may not be a good thing or even a healthy attribute, but I wouldn’t…[...]

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I recently read this article and thought it may save a life. A group of imprisoned rapists and date rapists were interviewed on what they look for in a potential victim. Here are some actual facts: 1. The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle.  They are most likely to go after a woman with long…[...]

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The 17-year Cicadas have arrived. I don’t know if I was imagining this or not but I was out on my deck at lunch yesterday and I was hearing some sort of clicking or crackling sound.  I looked around and there about a foot from me perched on the railing was a Cicada—large wings and red eyes—just as I remembered. …[...]

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