What better way to welcome in the new year than with fresh air and the peacefulness of the great outdoors? On Jan. 1, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation is hosting its annual First Day Hikes celebrations at state parks, historic sites, natural areas, canal trails,...

Have you ever had this candy? It goes by lots of names. Growing up in Oregon, we’d visit a candy shop in Cannon Beach that called it “seafoam.” My British mother called it “cinder toffee.” I’ve heard sponge toffee, golden crunchers, hokey pokey and fairy food, but “honeycomb candy” seems to be the m...

“My husband has a lot of tools at home. Do you have any ideas on what I could get him?” I’ve heard this so many times as a hardware store sales associate. Why does it have to be so hard to find great gifts for the people we’re closest to? Country Culture has your back! We’ve compiled an extensive id...

The holiday season often means a full calendar and even fuller grocery lists, making meal planning more important than ever. Whether you’re planning a full menu for the celebration of the season or repurposing leftovers, the “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” brand, funded by beef farmers, has the reci...

The holiday season has officially begun, which means many of us are about to jump on a month-long juggling act involving gift lists, grocery lists, guest lists and the occasional existential crisis in the snack aisle. (Or is that just me?) But here’s the good news: Holiday entertaining does not have...

As you prepare to decorate your home this holiday season, consider the bounty of garden elements and other natural options available to brighten up your holiday displays. Many of these can be gathered up at no cost and, better still, can be simply tossed in the compost pile during clean-up. Juniper,...

Dear Paw’s Corner: I know you're probably going to scoff at this, but we want to give our kids a puppy for Christmas. The whole cute scene by the Christmas tree and all. This isn’t a last-minute decision, as we have been talking about it for several months. We feel that our children, who are 10 and ...

The Virginia Egg Council used the American Egg Board’s 2025 campaign, “Meant to be Broken,” in this year’s search for the best egg recipes that would be appropriate for holiday entertaining, gifting or enjoying. Sixteen local fairs across Virginia hosted preliminary competitions throughout the summe...

The digital era has its benefits. People from all over are able to connect almost instantaneously. Computers have made fast work of many tasks that once took hours or days to complete. Information or even funds can be shared at the click of a button. But for all of the benefits technology has provid...

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation announced that the 2026 Empire Pass is now available for purchase. The $80 Empire Pass provides unlimited day-use vehicle entry to New York State Parks, state boat launch sites, arboretums, park preserves and Department of Enviro...

With the holiday season fast approaching, UConn Extension released a new fact sheet, “Smart, Savvy & Nourished: Eating Well on a Budget During Holiday Seasons.” This resource offers practical, research-based tips to help families and individuals enjoy nutritious, festive meals without overspending. ...

During the hectic holidays, an eye-catching display of plants may seem like the perfect gift solution, particularly at the last minute. But is it? Is the intended recipient a plant lover? Will they welcome the gift, or will it be something they’ll feel obligated to water (when they remember) and fee...

The New York State Department of Ag & Markets encourages shoppers looking for that perfect holiday gift item to support local growers and producers this year by shopping at a Taste NY Market. New York’s regional Welcome Centers’ Taste NY Markets and other Taste NY stores located around the state, in...

Cooler temperatures bring many things, including the arrival of fun and festive holidays. But flu season also kicks into high gear between the months of December and February. Although flu season runs from October to May, a combination of factors during the chilliest months of winter, such as increa...

Once the Halloween candy disappears, holiday travel is a hot topic for news outlets everywhere. Everyone heading to Grandma’s or back home for the holidays has to run the gauntlet of flight cancellations, delays, higher fuel expenses, traffic jams and the inevitable threat of foul weather, all of wh...