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Honoring bio and bonus dads on Father’s Day

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:31 GMT

Q. I am 19. My mom and dad divorced when I was 12. It was difficult, but we all got through it, particularly because my mom married a really kind and understanding man about 4 years ago. I am close to my dad and would never do anything to hurt him, but I am looking for some way to also honor my bonus dad this Father’s Day. Do you have any suggestions?A. I always say, “You can’t have too many people love your child,” and you are living proof. Kudos to dad and bonus dad for both supporting you — and I hope they supported each other while raising you. It’s not enough to both love and care for you, it’s just as important that they acknowledge and each other and realize that they both have tried their best. Acknowledging someone’s good work eliminates jealousy and promotes teamwork. If any endeavor needs teamwork, it’s raising kids.When my own daughter got married, there was the classic question of who would walk her down the aisle. She had a great relationship with both dad and bonus da...

Free blockbusters + the great outdoors = awesome summer nights around Boston

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:31 GMT

‘Tis the season for blockbusters, for swashbuckling and monsters, teen romance and animated adventures. But it’s also summer, so you want to be outdoors. Thankfully you can munch on popcorn while watching a shark eat people or a superhero save the day or whatever your blockbuster taste is and still be outside. And you can do it all for free.Parks, beaches and city spots host free movies all summer. Here is where to start:“The Mummy,” June 21, sunset, the Greenway’s Wharf District ParkBrendan Fraser tries to be Harrison Ford and does a half decent job. Before Fraser and Rachel Weisz battle the diabolical reincarnation of the Egyptian priest Imhotep, come see Brown University archaeologist and Egyptologist Dr. Laurel Bestock. The good doctor will discuss her own excavation and archaeological field work in Egypt ahead of the screening. More movies at coolidge.org“Guardians of the Galaxy,” June 23, 7 pm, Boynton Yards, SomervilleRemember when  Chris Pratt was the schlubby, loveable goof...

Son could be homeless because of irresponsible ex

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:31 GMT

Q. My ex-wife has always been financially irresponsible.  During the divorce process, I was told I could not just take on paying certain things in exchange for reduced child support.  I earn a good living, as does she, but she is always broke, and when she has money, all she does is shop.Our son has gone through some recent growth spurts and has outgrown everything.  I have replaced all of his clothing, shoes, and hockey equipment this year.  His mom refused to buy him new things claiming she had no money to do so. She just served me with a complaint to increase child support claiming that she suspects my income has increased.  Well, it has but not by much.When we exchanged financial statements, I learned that our former marital home is in foreclosure and she still makes the same good money she earned before.  To make matters worse, she is supposed to pay me for my equity in five years when he graduates high school.  Now our son is going to have to move as a result of her behavior a...

Shi: America needs cameras in the courtroom for Trump’s trial

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:31 GMT

The country is living through history with the first-ever federal indictment of a former president. A grand jury of Miami residents charged Donald Trump with 37 federal counts, ranging from the willful retention of national defense information to obstruction of justice. Given the unprecedented situation the nation is witnessing, it only reinforces why we must cover it in the right way.At its core, what the federal indictment shows is that a former president thought he was above the law. Recorded conversations between Trump and his lawyers reveal that he knowingly kept classified information and failed to turn it over when asked. The indictment sends a message to the country that no one — even the former president — can escape justice and accountability.What happens next is arguably more important, though. Now that Trump has been arraigned at a federal courthouse in Miami and pleaded not guilty, the federal judge overseeing the case, Aileen Cannon, will begin the trial process in whi...

Outgoing Aubrianna loves to sing and dance

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:31 GMT

Aubrianna is an energetic and social young girl. She loves the outdoors, music and the arts. She loves making music playlists, especially for her favorite movies. Aubrianna is outgoing and loves to showcase her singing and dancing. She recently became very interested in ballet. Another all-time favorite for her is getting her hair done.It is important for her to be around children her age, so she can develop positive and appropriate social skills; engagement in clubs and intramural sports greatly benefit her and assist in her continued growth. Aubrianna has made friends in her current placement and at school.Aubrianna’s adoption worker is hoping to find a two-parent home in the Jamaica Plains area where Aubrianna can be the only child, as she thrives when she is able to be provided with individualized attention. Clear instructions and routine in the home will ensure that Aubrianna can be successful. Aubrianna is very affectionate and is looking forward to meeting her forever f...

Editorial: Will we ever know the depth of pandemic fraud?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:31 GMT

The late American satirist P.J. O’Rourke once cracked that “Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.” The $32 trillion national debt is one testament to the accuracy of his observation. The billions and billions of dollars that Washington squandered during the pandemic is yet another.The Associated Press unveiled the results of an investigation headlined “The Great Grift,” cataloging how the federal government got ripped off in its effort to mitigate the economic carnage of COVID. The fraud was so widespread that it might be another two years before federal accountants can tally an accurate total. For now, however, the wire service report pegs the figure at about $420 billion — or 10% of the $4.2 trillion the government spent on pandemic relief.“Investigators and outside experts say the government, in seeking to quickly spend trillions in relief aid, conducted too little oversight during the pandemic’s early stages and instituted too ...

Come for the Travelers Championship, stay for the Hartford fun

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:31 GMT

They’re names that even the most casual of golf fans know immediately: Finau, Scheffler, Rahm, Thomas, Fleetwood (who treated the world to an exciting sudden death shoot off in Canada last week, McIlroy and more.The top golfers in the world will be competing from June 22-25 in the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, a less than two-hour drive from Boston proper.There are still tickets to get a look at those greats in action (https://travelerschampionship.com/tickets/). But there’s another superlative attraction to take in as well: Hartford.The city of Hartford, just a 14 mile zip north of Cromwell, may just be the perfect addition to a day – or days – spent with the champions.Those who settled Hartford (https://hartford.com) embraced the arts, nature, and all those things that make life good. In the Victorian era, it was a haven for artists, writers and thinkers, and they left their mark.Be it pre or post tourney day, you can add all kinds of extr...

What to watch: ‘Secret Invasion,’ Juneteenth celebrations & more

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:31 GMT

It’s a great week for crime dramas, comedy, music, documentaries and much more.Sunday“Rob Schneider: Woke Up in America” (Fox Nation): The former “SNL” star puts his two cents in in this new stand-up special.“Ridley” (PBS, 8 p.m.): A retired detective (Adrian Dunbar, “Line of Duty”) is called back in to consult on a tough case in this new mystery drama.“The Walking Dead: Dead City” (AMC, 9 p.m.; also BBC America): Franchise odd couple Maggie and Negan (Lauren Cohan, Jeffrey Dean Morgan) spin off into their own show.Monday“Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom” (CNN, OWN, 5 p.m.): Gospel great Kirk Franklin, 1990s girl group SWV and Questlove from the Roots are among the stars taking part.“Do the Right Thing” (TCM, 5 p.m.): A Juneteenth marathon kicks off with Spike Lee’s powerful 1989 drama about racial tensions in Brooklyn.“Xernona Clayton: A Life in Black & White” (Bounce TV, 6 p.m.): An unsung hero of the civil rights movement has her stor...

N.E. dogs need heartworm prevention, too

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:31 GMT

Dear Dr. John,I have read your column with interest for a long time! It has always been a great source of information. Today I write to you regarding heartworm and how often preventatives should be given. Some of my friends have been told that since we are in the Northeast that there is much less risk for heartworm disease to occur and, as such, the preventative monthly pills need only be given during the warmer summer months. Is that correct or appropriate? I have always given my dogs the heartworm preventative medications throughout the year as my vet has always suggested. D.C.Dear D.C.,Thank you for your kind words. I have been writing my column going back to 1987 and it has been gratifying to think that I have been able to answer questions and give advice about pets and matters relating to veterinary medicine for so long.Your question is timely as we step into the warmer summer months and, interestingly enough, my first column was about heartworm! To my chagrin, there are a few ...

Get ready for a revolutionary musical lineup as WasFest hits Boston

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:31 GMT

On April 12, 1968, jazz giant Charles Lloyd, electric blues innovators Paul Butterfield, and folk king Tom Rush played on the same bill at the Fillmore East in New York. It was a night like no other, and nights just like this happened across the ’60s at dozens of clubs. Revolutionary bills as rule not exception guided Don Was as he booked the first-ever WasFest at Boston’s Wang and Shubert Theatres“(Boch Center president) Joe (Spaulding) and I were reminiscing about how the old Bill Graham shows at the Fillmore were this wild mixture of artists that would only happen once,” Was told the Herald. “We asked, how can we do some unique events that aren’t going on tour, that aren’t being filmed for a TV show, that are never going to be seen again.”Presented by the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame and the Boch Center from June 23 to 25, WasFest will deliver on Spaulding and Was’ dream.Was got free reign to book the artist and art-forward event. And he’s the perfect guy for such a job.Curr...