(NewsUSA) - We've missed birthdays, holidays and so many of our favorite activities during this pandemic. But with the COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots--which are free and widely available--we can finally get back to spending time with family and friends. Have questions about COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots? The Eldercare Locator can provide information to help you make informed choices--and when you're ready, connect you to local resources that can help you come up with a plan to get vaccinated, whether it's your first shot or a booster.

The Eldercare Locator can connect older adults, caregivers and families to services in their communities--services that make getting the vaccine safe and convenient. The Eldercare Locator is a national, federally funded hotline that provides older adults and their families with information on important topics, including COVID-19 and the vaccines, transportation, support services, housing and more. Trained staff connect callers with Area Agencies on Aging and other community-based organizations that provide personalized support to help older adults stay healthy and safe.

Contacting the Eldercare Locator is easy. Visit the website at eldercare.acl.gov to browse the listing of online resources or to enter your ZIP code to find services in your community. Interested in talking directly to an Eldercare Locator specialist? Live operators are ready to take your call and can also be reached by chat or email. Whether you or your family need assistance with meals or home care, or a caregiver needs training, education or a break from caregiving responsibilities, the Eldercare Locator can help.

Visit eldercare.acl.gov to learn more about services in your area and to chat with the Eldercare Locator's trained staff online. Give the Eldercare Locator a call at 800-677-1116 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, Monday-Friday. Callers can request to speak to a specialist in any language. Support is also available by email at [email protected].

The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the Administration on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Community Living and is administered by USAging.

(NewsUSA) - With its beautiful looks and remarkable durability, Real American Hardwood™ has long been a beloved material in American home interiors. "Homeowners are always looking for fresh and exciting ways to use wood," says Linda Jovanovich of the American Hardwood Information Center. "They often find inspiration in the work of the best architects, designers, and decorators, sought-after talents who offer trendsetting ideas on using oak, maple, walnut, and other classic species." So, we checked in with five of the most accomplished residential designers in the business to uncover the top trends in hardwood for the year ahead -- and beyond.

Hardwood planks on walls and ceilings: The ultimate flooring material is used increasingly to clad vertical and overhead surfaces, as in this contemporary Austin bedroom by Texas-based Cornerstone Architects (@cornerstonearchitectsllp), where an entire wall of walnut boards brings warmth, color, and texture to the sleek, modern interior. "It's plain sawn with a natural oil finish," notes principal Bob Wetmore. "That makes it a bit more rustic by showing a lot of grain." Photograph by Andrew Pogue

Hardwood in the bathroom: Today's designers look at bathroom vanities and cabinets as if they were stand-alone pieces of fine furniture, specifying solid hardwood construction and elegant hardware. For his own house, architect Donald Powers of Union Studio in Providence, Rhode Island, (@unionstudioarch) used quarter-sawn white oak everywhere, including for bath cabinetry. "We chose a very simple palette throughout," he says. "It's peaceful rather than exciting, and that's exactly what we wanted." Photograph by Anthony Tieul

Herringbone hardwood floors: Although herringbone flooring, which uses solid hardwood blocks to create a geometric pattern, originated in 17th-century France, it can fit seamlessly into contemporary settings. "Whitewashed oak gives traditional parquet a modern vibe in this Texas kitchen," says Carina Coel of Austin-based Restructure Studio (@restructurestudio), who worked with the homeowner, an interior designer, on the project. It's elegant and timeless but also a little bit country, thanks to the finish. Photograph by Michael Hsu

Exposed Wood Beams and Trusses: "Wood beams overhead can help to create architectural drama," says New York-based designer Glenn Gissler (@glenngisslerdesign), who used them to striking effect in the living area of a new Maine lake house. "They also establish a human scale in an oversize room with a soaring ceiling like this one." Expect to see more of them if the trend toward bigger and bigger houses continues. Photograph by Jonathan Reece

Wood slats: Surfaces clad with vertical or horizontal wood slatting have become ubiquitous in recent years. Slats can add visual and architectural interest to an interior while maintaining a sense of lightness, as is the case in this basement rec room remodeled by Chevy Chase, Maryland-based architect Bruce Wentworth (@wentworthstudio). "We hid columns with a poplar-slat enclosure," Wentworth says. "It anchors a seating area while accommodating a TV and storage."

Cerused oak: This distinctive finish, known in Britain as "limed oak," dates back to the 16th century, but it's becoming popular again for furniture and panelling, as in this Greenwich Village townhouse, another project by Glenn Gissler (@glenngisslerdesign). "Traditional oak panelling might have been too overpowering for this hallway," Gissler notes. "But by cerusing the wood-applying a white pigment that reveals grain lines and lightens the color slightly-the space looks fresh and modern." Photograph by Gross & Daley

Visit www.hardwoodinfo.com for more about trends in American hardwoods. 

(NewsUSA)

"The Bucharest Dossier"
by William Maz

"The Bourne Identity" meets John le Carré's "The Spy Who Came In from the Cold." CIA analyst Bill Hefflin is a man apart -- apart from life, apart from his homeland and apart from love. At the start of the 1989 uprising in Romania, Hefflin -- a disillusioned Romanian expat -- arrives in Bucharest at the insistence of his KGB asset, a man code-named Boris.

As Hefflin becomes embroiled in an uprising that turns into a brutal revolution, nothing is as it seems … including the search for his childhood love, which has taken on mythical proportions. With the bloody events unfolding at blinding speed, Hefflin realizes the revolution is manipulated by outside forces, including his own CIA and Boris, the puppeteer who seems to be pulling all the strings. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3ApLE10.

"The Burden of Innocence"
by John Nardizzi

Innocence is pain when you're locked in a cage. Private investigators Ray Infantino and Tania Kong take on the case of Sam Langford, a man framed for a murder committed by a crime boss at the height of his powers. The gangsters know that, in the new Boston, vulnerable witnesses they manipulated years ago are shaky.

Old bones will not stay buried forever. When a vicious gangster and a corrupt cop team up to derail the investigation, the stakes are higher than ever. It's a crime thriller written by "a bold new poet of American noir -- "this is the book Chandler would have written if he'd been a real-life private eye," says author Ellen McGarrahan. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3oHmzfl.

"The Prague Connection"
by Will Steadman

The collapse of the Soviet regime with perestroika meant big trouble for the KGB; rebellious groups of agents in the satellite countries have shaped a plan to resist Moscow's reforms. Portable, backpack-size nuclear weapons will be their key to success. The weapons are safely hidden until Lena, a beautiful Russian physicist working in the U.S., raises the alarm.

When Petrov, a nuclear weapons expert and son of a KGB agent, goes missing with the chemicals needed to arm the weapons, Putin and the West are in a state of panic. Brandt Swindon, a CIA operative, and his CIA-agent lover, Casey Stephens, are enlisted as part of a joint Russian/NATO team to find the weapons before disaster strikes. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3dRC8uS.

"The Paris Photo"
by Jane S. Gabin

A marvelous blend of mystery, historical fact and romance with great attention to detail, this novel is based upon the experiences of the author's father in Paris during the last part of WWII. Finding a previously unknown photo among her late father's papers, college professor Judith Gordon sets out to locate the boy in the group picture almost 70 years after it was taken.

The story is the tale of a young mother who courageously protects her child, Guy, by keeping him hidden during the war; but there is a long-lasting cost. Critics have called it "totally engaging," "fascinating," "beautiful" and "a phenomenal accomplishment." Purchase at https://amzn.to/3p66AaP.

NOTE: BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - Women often juggle many important duties. They are caregivers, business owners, household managers, community leaders and volunteers. Balancing these varied responsibilities often affects their financial needs and outlook, and it can present some challenges to reaching their personal and financial goals.

Working with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional can provide some clarity for women who may feel overwhelmed or uncertain about their finances. CFP® professionals are trained to provide competent, ethical financial advice and can be trusted advisors who help you see the bigger financial picture.

Here are five benefits of holistic financial planning for women.

1. It alleviates financial stress. Changes in employment, family circumstances or housing are just a few of the things that can cause concerns about your financial future. A CFP® professional can help you weather these ups and downs, recommending sound financial strategies that keep you on track to reach your goals.

2. It supports career transitions. Many women take time off from their careers to care for children and family members. Millions of others may be reevaluating their current jobs against their needs and values, potentially leading to a career change. These decisions have important implications for your income, earning potential and retirement savings. A CFP® professional can help you clarify your priorities and plan for your next career move.

3. It helps your business thrive. If you own a business (or would like to), a CFP® professional can collaborate with you to create a financial plan to guide you through the start-up phase, company growth and expansion, and succession planning.

4. It lets you determine your legacy. Estate planning is important for all women, but especially those who have considerable assets, such as real estate, insurance policies and retirement accounts, to bequeath. A CFP® professional can help you develop a thorough estate plan that fulfills your financial desires.

5. It gives you confidence in your tomorrow. Creating a holistic financial plan that helps you establish short- and long-term life goals is a crucial step in mapping out your financial future. When you have a strategy and a financial plan, it's easier to make financial decisions and stay on track to reach your goals.

Visit LetsMakeAPlan.org to find CFP® professionals in your area. A trustworthy financial advisor will help you focus on your needs and concerns and effectively manage your financial future.

(NewsUSA) - A real estate brokerage paying you for the honor of handling the sale of your house?

It's true -- and maybe just the latest sign of how sizzling hot the real estate market is.

In fact, under the innovative Homeowner Benefit Program, you don't even have to be ready to sell now -- or even in the near future -- to immediately receive a check that typically runs between $800 to $3,000. You just have to agree that MV Realty, which launched the program in late 2018 and continues to expand it across the nation, will broker the sale for you if and when you are ready.

"It's a win-win situation," says Amanda Zachman, the founder of MV Realty, which has the highest 5.0 rating on the real estate website Zillow.com. "The homeowner gets money now and ongoing access to a high-quality real estate brokerage that believes real estate is more than just some one-time transactional deal. And we get a future client."

Intrigued? Then before we even get into the details, consider this month's headline from Fortune.com that should warm the heart of every potential home seller: "It's the Mother of All Seller's Markets."

Meaning, the two key factors that made 2021 a record-shattering year, with cities like Miami witnessing home prices soaring by as much as 32.5 percent, both remain in play:

* A tight inventory.

* Demand so rampant -- including from investors paying cash -- that, as CNBC reported, "houses are selling on average 10 days faster than they were a year ago" when all you heard about was people fleeing big cities because of COVID.

"On top of all that," notes Zachman, "what we're now seeing are many buyers looking to lock in still relatively low mortgage rates in anticipation of the Federal Reserve raising interest rates multiple times this year."

Headquartered in Delray Beach, Fla., MV Realty now offers the Homeowner Benefit Program through its licensed agents in 33 states (Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin).

What makes the program so extraordinary is that homeowners get to keep the money from the brokerage, which is based on the estimated value of their home, even if they never choose to sell.

That's money that can be used for anything they want. Home renovations. A much-needed vacation. One homeowner was able to host their 5-year-old's dream birthday party at Disneyworld.

Meanwhile, homeowners get the benefit of a top-rated real estate brokerage's expertise, including information delivered on everything from current market trends to a personalized home analysis.

And if they do choose to sell? That's when the full-service MV Realty really jumps into action by using its highly structured proprietary process of listing and valuing a home. And -- here's the key -- maximizing said home's marketability by using its multiple resources to promote it both nationally and internationally complete with professionally taken photographs. A sale earns the brokerage the competitive local commission rate.

"With the market the way it is, now is one of the best times ever to sell," says Zachman

(NewsUSA) - For the past two years, the pandemic has impacted our daily lives, and consumer priorities around healthy eating and cooking have shifted as more people are eating and cooking at home. The pandemic has also caused a change in dietary habits, and many people have gained weight, in what is known as the "Quarantine 15."According to a recent study by Nutrisystem, 76% of people gained as much as 16 pounds between March and July 2020.

With warmer weather and a sense of normalcy around the corner, many people are focusing once again on their health and wellness goals. Courtney McCormick, Corporate Dietitian at Nutrisystem, says "losing weight and eating healthy doesn't have to be hard," and offers these reasons on why frozen meals can be that solution you need to get back on track.

Frozen Meals are Portion Controlled

Frozen meals not only take the guesswork out of portion control and re-teach reasonable portion sizes, but single serving, portio-controlled meals, such as frozen meals, are also a proven method of weight loss, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Plus, many frozen options, like Nutrisystem's new premium meals are packed with protein, to keep you feeling full longer and help you stop reaching for that after dinner snack. 

Frozen Meals are Nutrient Rich 

"Frozen meals taste great and are good for you," says McCormick. The frozen food industry has been working hard to focus on adding plant-based ingredients, like vegetables, to frozen meals. In these meals, veggies are often harvested at the peak of freshness when they have the most nutrients.

Frozen Meals are Convenient

Frozen meals eliminate prep time in the kitchen. "You no longer have to spend significant time in the kitchen preparing a healthy dinner for the family," says McCormick. Frozen meals help get dinner on the table quickly. As an added bonus, many companies, such as Nutrisystem, will deliver meals right to your door.

Frozen Meals are Sustainable

According to a recent article, the average American household throws out about $1,500 in food waste each year. The USDA has similar data. "We all have good intentions of eating leftovers, but oftentimes they end up in the trash," says McCormick. With frozen meals, there is no need to store leftovers or over-purchase ingredients.

Frozen Meals are Versatile

Frozen meals leave the door open for creativity. Additional vegetables can be added to meals on the side as an accompaniment. Think sliced red peppers with hummus or a caprese salad. Frozen meals also cater to different tastes and include a variety of different flavors. There is something for every palate with frozen meals.

Now is the time to say yes to focusing on your health and wellness goals and embrace the convenience and versatility of frozen meals.

For more information, recipes and inspiration for healthy side dishes, visit leaf.nutrisystem.com.

(NewsUSA) - March Madness is here, and more exciting than ever. Even people who don't bet suddenly find themselves obsessed with the office pool (virtual or in person) or getting in on Uncle Howie's family pool (and having a better bracket than Aunt Matilda).

But there is another great way to get in on the fun and maximize your March Madness odds. Online sports betting offers unique opportunities not only to bet, but to win and to get paid (a much better deal than getting the I.O.U. from the office or Aunt Matilda).

The best online sportsbooks are those with the most options. BetUS, a pioneer in online sports betting with more than 25 years in the business, provides recreational sports bettors with fun and sophisticated experiences. March Madness is no exception. This year, March Madness betting through an online sportsbook will be even more popular, as fans continue to view more games on a wider range of online devices.

Some of the ways you can enjoy March Madness betting include placing bets on the ultimate tournament winner, as well as betting separately on which teams make the Final Four or Sweet Sixteen.

BetUS allows members to place March Madness predictions on games before they happen, or to place bets live during games. Other options to explore include parlays and round robins, which can result in larger payouts.

Some tips from BetUS experts for picking a winning March Madness betting bracket include:

- Strong schedule. Look for teams that have played others with tough reputations and solid records.

- Winning streaks. There is something to be said for the streak; often when a March Madness team is on a roll, it rides its momentum all the way to the championship.

- Strong record of away game wins. Many March Madness games are played on the road, and a team that can adapt to new settings has an advantage.

Don't miss the extra benefits to be found on BetUS: friend referral bonuses, and also the BetUS loyalty program, which helps you get the most from each wager.

"For every real-money sportsbook wager you make, you will earn points. As you acquire points you will progress through the six tiers of BetUS Rewards, with each tier unlocking more exclusive rewards. The more you play, the more you will be rewarded," says Tim Williams, Director of Public Relations for BetUS.

Check out BetUS.com for more information and to get started, just in time for the Big Dance.

(NewsUSA)

"Help Baby Walrus"
by Ilia Tversky

This book is a collection of children's poems translated from Russian and written for the author's son, David. The heroes of the poems are real and fictional toys, animals and unusual creatures that accompanied David throughout his joyful childhood. Now they will become friends of many other children. The first poem is about a yellow walrus who needs to be pulled from a puddle and out of danger.

The poems, geared for young children or perfect for read-alongs by parents, are accompanied by striking and engaging illustrations. The author is a science researcher in the field of chemistry. He lived the first part of his life in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) and afterwards emigrated to Israel. Purchase at https://amzn.to/34S16ZZ.

"Accusation"
by Paul Batista 

Fans of John Grisham and Scott Turow will devour this cutting-edge thriller. An icon's life implodes … at two in the morning. World-renowned and revered actor Aaron Julian is awakened at that early hour by his agent, who informs him that he has been accused of sexual harassment. Young actresses will break the story on primetime TV that morning.

Aaron and his celebrity pop-singer wife, Veda, vehemently deny the charges and hire the powerful defense lawyer Raquel Rematti. But when the plaintiff's lawyer is murdered in Central Park, the stakes skyrocket, and the conspiracies spiral out of control. Despite revelation after revelation, Aaron continues to proclaim his innocence. The outcome -- impossible to predict -- is guaranteed to stun and to linger with you for a long time. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3FisYUj.

"Masters of the Broken Watches"
by Razi Imam

It's an action-adventure like "Indiana Jones," a science adventure like "Jurassic Park" and a human feel-good story like "Slumdog Millionaire." Sebastian Miles and his team of marine biologists stare at their watches. Time outside their lab has jumped forward by 22 hours. Minutes before this illogical space-time event, they were analyzing a mysterious glowing nodule extracted from an unknown marine specimen. News of this marine life reaches powerful governments, inadvertently triggering a race to hunt, capture and control it. But they have never faced a team of scientists known as the Paramarines.

This genre-bending novel leaves readers on the edge of their seats. It's a captivating adventure, heartbreaking story of love and true display of human ingenuity and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3qE6EhZ.

"First Patients"
by Rod Tanchanco

What was it like to be that patient caught in a medical crisis that sparked a medical milestone? "First Patients" reads with the pace and excitement of a top-notch medical thriller, providing an enthralling view into the history of medicine and revealing the extent of human inventiveness, resilience and compassion.

Often marked by the desperate need to save human lives, developments in medicine have invariably started with patients: people whose ordeals have fostered the advancement of medical knowledge. This book is a collection of such incredible true stories of pioneer patients, from an 18th-century farmer who became the first vaccinator, to a doctor in the 1980s who drank a beaker of bacteria to prove the cause of peptic ulcers and many more. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3tTy8U3.

NOTE: BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - The American Kennel Club® (AKC), the governing body of dog sports in the United States, is teaming up with the dog supplement brand YuMOVE® to educate pet owners about helping their dogs live their most active life, for life.

YuMOVE is now the official dog joint sponsor of the AKC. The partnership reflects the importance of maintaining and improving joint health for dogs of all shapes, sizes and breeds at every stage of life.

Whether your dog jumps across the agility course or just jumps off the couch for daily walks, joint and hip care are important to keeping your furry friend healthy and active.

YuMOVE has been improving the health of dogs for 15 years, since it made its debut at an agility show in the United Kingdom, and has become the U.K.'s no. 1 dog joint supplement. The chewable tablet is made with natural ingredients, and includes the unique ActivEase® Green Lipped Mussels -- a super-concentrated source of high quality, joint-soothing Omega-3s, sustainably sourced from local farmers in New Zealand. Dogs love the taste, but YuMOVE backs it up with efficacy. It is scientifically proven to work within six weeks and is the only dog hip and joint supplement backed by two canine clinical studies.*

"The health and well-being of dogs is a priority for the AKC, and we know that responsible owners want their dogs to live long, healthy lives," says Dennis B. Sprung, President and CEO of the AKC.

"We are thrilled to work with YuMOVE and to highlight the commitment dog owners have to the wellness and joint health of both canine athletes and dogs everywhere."

This April, YuMOVE introduces its newest dog joint supplement into the U.S. market. YuMOVE Plus+ Hip & Joint Supplement provides extra high-strength joint support, and contains 20% more ActivEase® Green Lipped Mussels than the original YuMOVE chewable tablets for adult dogs.

"We're delighted to work with the American Kennel Club, becoming their official dog joint supplement sponsor. We want dogs globally to live their most active life, for life," says Fiona Hope, CEO of Lintbells -- home of YuMOVE.

"That's why we're excited to launch YuMOVE Plus+ in the U.S. and to become the official dog joint supplement sponsor of the AKC. This will help to ensure that dogs throughout their canine action sport careers, as well as dogs everywhere, have access to a joint supplement that truly makes a difference to their performance and recovery."

To help dog owners see the joint difference in their dogs, YuMOVE is offering 30% off on any YuMOVE hip & joint supplements by using the one-time code "DogAthlete30" at checkout. Or dog owners can save 40% every month when they sign up for a subscription using "DogAthlete40" at checkout.

For more information on the AKC, visit www.akc.org.

Visit www.yumove.com for more information about YuMOVE products.

*Double-blind, placebo-controlled, objectively measured canine clinical studies with Royal Veterinary College 2015 (data on file) & School of Veterinary Science, Massey University 2020 (manuscript in preparation) -- six-week study by the Royal Veterinary College.

(NewsUSA) - The more pessimistic you are about the state of the economy, the greater the odds that it's affecting your financial decisions -- and not necessarily in a good way.

That's the conclusion of a new national survey from financial services firm Edward Jones and Morning Consult. Topping the list of people's concerns? Inflation. However, it's one thing to be among the 83 percent of U.S. adults surveyed who cited it -- or even the 41 percent who said they'd considered it in their decision-making process in the past nine months -- and quite another to get so worked up about the inflation rate's steady rise (or other issues like the employment rate and supply chain disruptions, for that matter) that you wind up doing something rash.

Alas, according to the survey, one in five Americans admit to primarily making emotional decisions when it comes to their personal finances.

The figure is even higher for Gen Z investors, with more than one in three of those age 18 to 25 saying the same.

And that's where the potential danger lies.

"When people become worried about their finances, their natural desire is to want to do something -- anything -- to make that worry go away," said Laurel Newman, a behavorial scientist at Edward Jones. "But it's important not to let fear, anxiety or even excitement over the stock market derail long-term goals."

The financial crisis of 2008 proved how costly acting on raw emotion can be.

From the market top on Oct. 9, 2007 through the bear market bottom on March 9, 2009, the S&P 500 index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average both lost more than half their value. But investors who stuck it out -- as opposed to panic-selling everything and eating what would otherwise only have been paper losses -- saw the S&P rally 331 percent from that low through its all-time high on August 29, 2018. That works out to a compound annual growth rate of 16 to 17 percent.

The bright spot in the survey was that, despite the ongoing economic uncertainty brought on by the COVID pandemic, 79 percent of respondents still managed to have made carefully planned financial decisions over the same nine month period as their "emotional" counterparts. Many credited their levelheadedness to working with a financial advisor.

You can find a trusted local Edward Jones advisor here. And the firm's free online tools include an instructive guide for avoiding emotional investing mistakes.

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Past performance of the markets is not a guarantee of future results. Indexes are unmanaged and not available for direct investment. Returns do not include commissions, taxes or other fees which would reduce performance.