Published May 20, 2008, 7:05 AM EST

by SUSAN JURGELSKI / New Era Staff

LANCASTER, Pa. - Sydney Bush is in a hurry to go fast.

The Lancaster 4-year-old does a spirited bunny hop and yanks at her father Pete's hand.

In kid time, nothing moves fast enough, and after getting off the Turtle Whirl ride at Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park, she's revved up for the ro......

Published May 20, 2008, 7:04 AM EST

by KEVIN FREKING / Associated Press

WASHINGTON - What do former patients think about the care they received at your local hospitals? The government wants to make it easier for you to find out.

Federal health officials in recent years have made strides to improve transparency in health care. But measuring how well hospitals do their job can be......

Published May 20, 2008, 7:03 AM EST

by SUSAN JURGELSKI / New Era Staff

LANCASTER, Pa. - SUCCESS FOR LINDSAY'S HOPELindsay Weierbach is fighting for a cure.

Earlier this month, the 17-year-old Lancastrian held the first fundraiser for her foundation, Lindsay's Hope, which is committed to raising funds for Jefferson Memorial Hospital's scleroderma ......

Published May 20, 2008, 7:02 AM EST

by LINDA BUCH / New Era Columnist

LANCASTER, Pa. - Q. I would very much like to take a surfing class when on vacation in Hawaii next March. The requirements are that participants must be in good physical shape and good swimmers. I'm not in bad health, but I still smoke and know I could be in better shape. Any ideas? — Sue Schmidt, San ......

Published May 20, 2008, 7:01 AM EST

by DR. ANDREW WEIL / New Era Columnist

LANCASTER, Pa. - Q. I've recently moved into a house with a big, beautifully planted backyard, but I know nothing about garden plants. Are there any potentially harmful outdoor plants that I should identify and try to remove, in order to protect my kids and my dog?A. Although some plants are p......

Published May 20, 2008, 7:00 AM EST

by MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL

LANCASTER, Pa. - Dear Annie: My wife and I have two wonderful children in their early 30s. They live in other cities but occasionally visit us with their respective companions. We have no problem with our son's girlfriend or our daughter's boyfriend spending the night. These are serious adult relationships....

Published May 19, 2008, 10:33 AM EST

by MARY BETH SCHWEIGERT / New Era Staff

LANCASTER, Pa. - Joyce O'Brien can't save your life.

But she can save your life savings.

First you have to go back to school.

O'Brien, a community liaison in state Attorney General Tom Corbett's new Elder Abuse Unit, leads free seminars packed with tips to avoid the most common scam......

Published May 19, 2008, 10:32 AM EST

by JOE VULOPAS / New Era Columnist

LANCASTER, Pa. - Holding the hand-addressed brown envelope, the student approaches my desk.

"Do you really think Oprah will open it?"

"Don't know," I shrug.

"But she might, right?"

I smile. "I think Oprah will."

She places the envelope on top of the stack with the others — the ones for......

Published May 19, 2008, 10:31 AM EST

by RACHEL BECK / Associated Press

LANCASTER, Pa. - Just because baby superstores have products stacked to the ceilings doesn't mean most of what they stock is worth buying. In fact, parents should pass by much of it.

That's the advice coming from Heather Maclean, who has made a business of cutting through the clutter of baby merchandise......

Published May 19, 2008, 10:30 AM EST

by MARCY SUGAR & KATHY MITCHELL

LANCASTER, Pa. - Dear Annie: I will be 40 this year and really want to celebrate this milestone in my life. In the past, my husband has told me he needs plenty of notice to plan something special for my birthday, but we've never done much. I don't require a lot to be happy, but this time I wanted to go all o......