Excuse me, are you listening? 13-15

 Dear Readers,

 
My mother, Kay Carrington, was just in Lansing for a visit.  She is is too funny.  My friend, Belinda Thurston, owner of JustBYoga, is compiling a cookbook.  She asked  some of her friends to contribute.  I can cook.  However, I mostly cook Caribbean food.

Read More

Interpersonal Edge: Courage is a muscle – use it!

  By Dr. Daneen Skube

Tribune Media Services
 
Q. There are many people I admire in my career, but I think they were all born with a whole lot more courage than I was. I know they had to risk failing or looking foolish or being disappointed. Do you think that some people just start out with more self-confidence? How can I compete with people who are simply born braver than I was?
 

Read More

Jill on Money: Protect your portfolio against inflation

By Jill Schlesinger
Tribune Media Services
 
 Two years ago, when the Federal Reserve announced that it would engage in its third round of bond buying (“Quantitative Easing”) to spur economic growth and help reduce unemployment, fears of runaway inflation bubbled up. 

Read More

Consumers Energy Foundation Supports Farm Award Program

 From the Consumers Energy Foundation, Chris Thelen, Lansing Area Manager, and Carolyn Bloodworth, Director of Corporate Giving; from the Historical

 Society of Michigan, Larry Wagenaar, Executive Director, and Kellie Bolster,Centennial Farm Program Coordinator.
 
Photo by Rick Garcia

Read More

Research Student Defends Her Dissertation While Opening Up New Possibilities in Brain Research

 Above:  Michigan State University President Lou Anna K. Simon stands beside Carmel Annette Martin-Fairey, who is doing some exceptional research in the neuroscience world.

Courtesy photo

Read More

TAX SOLUTIONS: New Michigan Offer Program

  By  A.J. Gross, C.P.A., E.A.

 
 Governor Snyder signed into law HB 4003.  HB 4003 allows the State of Michigan to negotiate Michigan taxes.  This is exciting news for Michigan taxpayers!  For the first time ever, Michigan residents will be able to negotiate Michigan taxes for less.  The new law will start in 2015.

Read More

News Spotlight: Information from BWL about Phone Scam Alert

 

The Lansing Board of Water & Light (BWL) has received several reports of scam imposters threatening commercial customers with loss of service if they do not make a utility payment over the phone.

Read More

Kiplinger on Travel: Fabulous travel freebies

 

By Erin Burt and Rebecca Dolan
Kiplinger
 
 Each year we round up a list of fabulous freebies, valuable offers with few or no strings attached. This year’s list is packed with more something-for-nothing deals than ever. Here are our favorite travel freebies.

Read More

Jill on Money: Ten home buying mistakes

 

By Jill Schlesinger
Tribune Media Services
 
  After that nasty weather in the first quarter of the year, the much hoped for housing recovery never quite took hold during the normally vibrant spring buying/selling season. Despite the Polar Vortex, there were other factors that kept a lid on housing buyers, including the fact that tentative buyers were spooked by rising prices, especially in certain hot housing markets. 

Read More

Interpersonal Edge: To land a job, walk a mile in employer’s shoes

 By Dr. Daneen Skube

Tribune Media Services
 
 Q. I’ve been looking to get a better job and can’t figure out how anyone gets hired these days. I send my resume into the technical black hole of computer websites and never hear back from a human being. How can you get a new job when you can’t even connect with anyone in the organization?

Read More