Dear Annie: My sister “Claire” and I have always been close, but things have shifted since she had her first baby eight months ago. I understand that motherhood changes things, but lately I feel like I’ve been pushed to the sidelines. Every conversation revolves around the baby, and when ...

Dear Heloise: When a baby girl is due, I give the grandmother to-be a traveling tea set. It is for a first-time grandmother to congratulate her on her new title and set the stage for special tea times together in the coming years! -- Dave and Corrinne Berkland, in Universal City, Texas SPARE ...

The Independent calendar lists upcoming meetings, facility hours and events in and around Marshall. To have your group’s events listed, email the information to news@marshallindependent.com or submit the information to our virtual newsroom. Today Household Hazardous Waste Facility, open 8 ...

Dear Heloise: Irene from Beaverton, Oregon, wrote that she used sticky notes on her bathroom mirror to remember appointments. I understand her dilemma. I used to do this, too, but then I took it one step further. Several years ago, I put a calendar on the wall right next to my mirror and put ...

Dear Worn Out: My three brothers and I are all senior citizens, and throughout our lives we have endured a very difficult relationship with our mother. From the time we were children, she was physically and emotionally abusive. She controlled us, manipulated us, lied to us and often gaslighted ...

Dear Heloise: In the Advocate in Louisiana, I saw two recommendations in your column that I’d like to add to: First, wooden cutting boards have been proven to be the safest option of cutting boards. Detailed tests conducted by at least two universities show that wooden boards remain safe ...