Ventura County Star Stories: Family

The insidious approach

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 08:01:00 -0000

HACKENSACK, N.J. — By the time they reach middle and high schools, most teens have heard the lectures: Stay in school, don't drink and drive, don't do drugs.

So instead of preaching the same old sermons in an effort to persuade kids to make positive choices, Matt Bellace takes a different approach — he makes them laugh.

'Ultimate' thrill for dog lover from Ojai

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 08:01:00 -0000

A successful writer and editor, Carol Kline of Ojai also is a confirmed dog lover, so when the opportunity arose for her to help put together a book titled "The Ultimate Dog Lover" with veterinarian Marty Becker and authors Gina Spadafori and Mikkel Becker, she jumped at the chance.

Parents are right: Good health equals better grades

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 08:01:00 -0000

It could improve your grades. Of course, parents have always known that. Now, in the first study of its kind, researchers at the University of Minnesota have proved it. They matched grade-point averages with the typical health issues such as smoking, drinking and stress reported by nearly 10,000 college students. They found a clear connection between student health and academic success.

Moms are also out searching for work

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:01:00 -0000

A consultant in Maryland says "SAHMs" — shorthand for stay-at-home moms — are fueling a revolution in online commerce as they find ways to offer goods and services from easy-to-run-at-home companies.

Chinese numerology forecasts lucky future for Ventura twins born in August

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 07:00:00 -0000

When Brody and Brooklyn Hinks were born on Aug. 8, 2008, at 8 and 8:01 a.m., the parents of the twins could not help but marvel at the prompting of the number associated in China with prosperity and good luck.

A wedding divide: To go upscale or scale back is the question

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 07:00:00 -0000

A tight economy has some brides using homemade wedding cakes instead of bakery cakes and iPods instead of DJs. Yet others spare no expense for a once-in-a-lifetime blowout with limousines, top-of-the line photography and romantic ceremonies at wineries.

Family Briefs: Aug. 23

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 07:00:00 -0000

Nina Garcia helps make the call on "Project Runway" about who's in and who's out.