Even though 2020 has been a year in which it's all about adult safety and protection, November is child safety and protection month. It's critical to note that children remain vulnerable, particularly in the home. My four children are long past those early years when my wife and I spent countless hours making sure each room was safe.

While sewing has gained in popularity this year among homespun hobbies, it's gone beyond making face coverings. Young adults have helped press that seaming interest by learning to sew to reinvent thrift store material, do crafts or simply fix what they have. But buying a basic sewing machine in Spokane has remained challenging.

The elves at Santa Express are learning new ways to bring Christmas joy this year – and keep fundraising for the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery. The annual pop-up shop is a spot where kids can find gifts for the special people on their list. In a more typical year, children would go to a physical store with a list of people and a budget.

Dr. Universe: Why does the internet go down? – Mia, 11, Sheridan, Wyoming. Dear Mia, The internet has helped many people connect with classmates, friends and family during the pandemic. But you’re right, sometimes the connection gets lost. My friend Dingwen Tao said we can think about the internet like a highway of information.

I’ve noticed that, in this dumpster fire of a year, people have been putting up their Christmas lights a lot earlier than usual. We could all use some extra cheer, right? And while I am definitely impressed with everyone’s get-up-and-go, all I can say is: The Dittos have you all beat. We’ve had our Christmas lights up since forever.

The idea came to 13-year-old Ethan Heffernan after attending the Indian Trail market with his mom, Leslie Heffernan. There were not a lot of vendors at the market, so why not start his own small business doing something he already enjoyed and join the other local entrepreneurs at the event, he said.

Like many things this year, the 44th annual Christmas Arts and Crafts Show hosted by Jim Custer Enterprises has been canceled this year, but only the in-person event. The show is continuing online with a virtual show featuring more than 100 crafters and artists.

Spokane Valley lost another piece of its history recently with the death of Bert J. Porter, a lifelong resident raised on his parents’ farm who would spend his later years giving back to the community where he grew up. Longtime friend Jayne Singleton said Porter was a true farm boy.

Mark and Sandi Sannes celebrated their 25th anniversary in April, a milestone to be sure, but enduring marriages run in the family. After all, Mark’s aunt and uncle recently marked their 65th anniversary and were featured in this series on Oct. 15.

Chances are wherever the extended McHugh family and friends are gathering today, they’ll be tucking into matriarch Barbara McHugh’s turkey dressing. While the group may be smaller than usual, Barbara, 92, hasn’t retired from the kitchen. “I’ll be making my dressing,” she said.

Something to remember is negativity doesn’t just take the joy out of life, it can take over our lives and even our physical health as stress and anxiety build up like it has this year. It also can leave us drained and wondering how we can celebrate a season of giving when we feel we don’t have anything left to give.

Safety and Thanksgiving features stories have been a staple of holiday coverage in newspapers for many years. That hasn't changed, but what is different are the issues. Pre-coronavirus, it was about safety on the road and air travel. However, folks are discouraged to make the trip home to celebrate Thanksgiving this week due to COVID-19. 

Turkeys are a part of the traditional Thanksgiving Day meal and have been a part of Indigenous traditions even longer. Here are some facts about turkeys that tell a little bit about where they came from and how they became a prominent part of the harvest festival of Thanksgiving.

If there has ever been a year in which it's easy to be anything but thankful, it's 2020. Since the novel coronavirus has altered life as we know it, we've had to make myriad adjustments. Masks are mandatory. We must be socially distant. Virtual learning is the norm. Concerts are on ice for the foreseeable future.

This year, while the pandemic keeps families at home, the Kiddomatic Film Festival is aiming to give children a glimpse of what life is like in other cultures and countries. "It's kind of like traveling, even though we're in this virtual land," said Carrie Richer, director of film festivals at the Roxy Theater in Missoula.

Most of the conversations I have with my kids these days are about the WiFi. Why is it so laggy? Why does it keep cutting out? I think they see me only as the family’s IT guy. To them, a father figure is just a fix-it-up handyman who should always maintain the mechanical serenity of the homestead.

Dr. Universe: Why do mushrooms grow in rings? We have a lot of giant ones in our yard right now! – Layne, 8, Spokane Dear Layne, When you see a ring of mushrooms, it’s likely they are exploring for food under the ground. Giant mushrooms in your backyard are not animals or plants. They are part of another class of living organisms called fungi.

I received a text from my friend Julie this morning. It was a screen shot of the sobriety tracker she keeps on her smartphone. It showed that, as of 9:22 this morning, she had been sober for exactly 4 years, 6 hours and 22 minutes. “It’s a miracle to see this,” she texted.

For 46 years, the flat stone lay hidden beneath the deck.Over time, the floorboards of the deck grew creaky, their color fading beneath countless steps and the heat of the afternoon sun. But the sentiment etched on the stone hasn’t faded.