Have you ever wondered if there are any differences between a city bus and a school bus---both in terms of how you ride the bus as a passenger or how you drive as a motorist sharing the roadways? Well, yes, in fact, there are differences

When doctors talk about controlling and lowering our cholesterol, they sometimes talk about “good fat” and “bad fat” which can be very confusing. Diane Dressel, a Registered Dietitian in Mayo Clinic Health System’s Weight Management Services Department, explains what it all means.

We all have a different interpretation of what is considered “overweight” or “too thin.” But as long as you maintain a HEALTHY weight…you are just fine and right where you should be!

I think ALL of us parents have said to our kids to “eat your fruits and veggies so you will grow up to be healthy and strong!” But do we parents practice what we preach?!

In our state of Wisconsin alone, approximately 8,000 children are living with foster families on a typical day. And there continues to be a need for even MORE loving foster parents in our area.

Attention Moms! Are you looking for a way to engage your kids in fun, educational activities and also introduce them to other playmates their age? And are you as a mom hoping to find a social network of other moms that you can turn to for advice and friendship? Then you may want to consider joining MOMS Club of Eau Claire!

According to the CDC, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years. Learn about a summer camp to help kids make important lifestyle changes needed to achieve and maintain a healthy weight!

Each year, more than 15,000 children and 15,000 adults – approximately 80 people per day – are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the U.S. There is nothing you can do to prevent type 1 diabetes, and as of now, nothing you can do to get rid of it. But a group of students from the Marketing and Management Program at CVTC is coordinating a Spring Fun Fest Charity Event to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation which will hopefully someday find a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

According to a new state report, for the first time in Wisconsin’s history, more people are choosing cremation for their deceased loved ones over burial.

Who says a dad needs to wait until his daughter’s wedding reception to have that special father-daughter dance?! Why not do it NOW?! The Eau Claire YMCA will be holding their 22nd annual Father-Daughter dance on Saturday, April 13th, so every dad out there will have an opportunity to dance with his little princess!

Nobody likes to think about dying, but there are many advantages to planning your funeral in advance. Millions of people choose to pre-arrange their funerals every year because they see the value in doing so.

The Chippewa Valley Museum, located within Eau Claire’s scenic Carson Park, is inviting the community to come and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Eve on Saturday, March 16, 2013 with live entertainment, educational presentations, a limerick writing contest, food tastings, and much more!

Attention women! Did you know that there is an event celebrating YOU on March 14th?! Yes! A Celebration of Women!

Many schools have parent-teacher organizations---commonly known as PTO or PTA. But there is a brand new parent organization just getting started in our area that is supporting our kids in their learning and growing through establishing “connections” between them and others in the community.

Many of you may be unaware of a program in our state that is designed to help promote and maintain the health and well-being of nutritionally at-risk pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children.

Bullying and Cyberbullying are at an all-time high in this country. StompOutBullying.org reports that “1 out of 4 kids is bullied and up to 43% of students have been bullied while online.” And one local Girl Scout Troop wants to help do something about it.

Do you have a high school or middle school student who needs help getting transportation to and from school each day? Perhaps your home isn’t on the school bus route, and your work schedule makes it next to impossible for you to drop your child off at school and pick them up each and every day.

Many businesses and households around the globe are joining in the effort to “go green” and help create a culture of environmental responsibility. The Eau Claire Transit System is no exception.

As a parent, I am always looking for some great, simple ideas for snacks I can send to school with my kids….something that is easy to pack, easy to transport, yet HEALTHY!

There are many great and useful parenting education classes offered by different organizations throughout the Chippewa Valley. But sometimes it’s hard for parents to physically attend these classes due to things such as busy work schedules, after-school activities for their kids, and the issue of who will care for their children while they attend the class. But what if I told you can now attend a class without ever leaving the comfort of your own home…and after the kids are snug in their beds?

It’s great for parents to have close relationships with their kids and to be involved in their lives. But sometimes, parents can become TOO involved and not let their kids figure things out for themselves and learn from their own mistakes.

Playing outdoors in the wintertime can be so much fun for kids participating in activities such as sledding, snowboarding, skiing, skating, and fort-building to name a few! But having fun also comes with some risk.

The world of learning and technology is changing every day. Sylvan Learning Directors, Kayann Bock and Megan Hotujec of the Eau Claire location introduce Sylvan’s latest method of instruction called SylvanSync™.

The definition of “improvisation” is “To invent, compose, or perform with little or no preparation.” I think many of us have had to improvise both in our personal and professional lives when things don’t go exactly as planned! It can be frustrating and nerve-wracking at times, but figuring out how to deal with those unplanned events can be very beneficial to both adults and kids alike!

We teach our kids from a very young age that they should never talk to strangers. But do we teach them that same rule as it applies to the Internet? And do we, as parents, follow our own advice? The World Wide Web can be a very fun and educational place for us ALL to explore, but it can also be a very dangerous place if we do not use it safely.