There’s a New Sweet Spot Downtown – No Ifs, Ands, or Buts About It

Eau Claire has a new candy store: Ifs and Buts Candy and Nuts

For Greg and Tammy Clark, their new candy store – Ifs and Buts Candy and Nuts (331 Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire) – is an opportunity to bring something sweet to their hometown of Eau Claire amid a time that seems nothing but sour ...

Reid All About It: Eau Claire author’s latest book full of fun to spark kids’ learning

At story time, even the most focused of youngsters will eventually tire of “This Little Piggy,” The Itsy-Bitsy Spider,” and “Five Little Monkeys.” If you’re a teacher, librarian, or parent – what then? Prolific author, librarian, educator, and rapper (more on that later) Rob Reid has the answers in his latest book...

Farewell to Swing Sets

childhood gear carries memories of days gone by

Frida Kahlo once said “Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away.” I would like to claim that I was enjoying a mindful moment of reflection ...

8 Tips for School-Year Meal Planning

prep early in the week to help your family eat healthier and more efficiently

If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. As a working mom, I could not agree with that statement more. Since the birth of our daughter just over a year ago I have been meal planning my butt off and I ...

Orange, Black, & Teal

specially painted pumpkins make Halloween less scary for kids with food allergies

Halloween can be a scary time for the millions of families across the country managing food allergies. Food allergies are a potentially life-threatening conditions and are a growing public health issue ...

Who Will Be My Friend?

that’s the question asked (and answered) in a retired teacher’s colorful tale

The Chippewa Valley’s youngest readers have a new book to enjoy at story time. Colfax author Jeanne Styczinski has published her third book, Who Will Be My Friend?

A Tale of Canoeing Customs

kayaks and speedboats may be faster, but there’s no better way to relax and explore Wisconsin waterways than a good old canoe

Canoeing the rivers of Northern Wisconsin has been a tradition for children in our family since the 1930s. I have a tinted picture of my dad and his cousins swimming in the Cedar Falls Rapids of the Flambeau River in the 1930s when they were ...

The Natural Approach

Bradley Method of childbirth training emphasizes role of father, value of drug-free labor

When Amanda and Tim Gunderson were preparing for the arrival of their first child four years ago, they became interested in an approach to natural childbirth known as the Bradley Method. No one taught it locally, however, so the couple ...