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20 Thanksgiving turkey recipes

Roasted or fried, seasoned or simple 鈥� Here are 15 different ways you can prepare your Thanksgiving turkey.

“You’re actually spreading bacteria up to five feet away,” Goodwin said of the splash effect that can occur when you wash a turkey. “Items that you have sitting over on the other counter can be cross contaminated with these raw juices.”

Proper cooking kills bacteria

Turkeys should be heated to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The juices running clear is not an indication of a safe temperature. Instead, a thermometer should be used to check temperature in three places: “The thickest part of the breast and the innermost parts of the wing and thigh,” Goodwin said.

There are no shortcuts for safe defrosting

Defrosting a frozen turkey in the refrigerator will take about 24 hours for every five pounds. If you need a bird defrosted right away, Goodwin said, completely submerge it in cold water and change that water frequently.

“Change the water every 30 minutes,” Goodwin said. “Be mindful you need to cook the bird immediately after it鈥檚 thawed.”

Don’t rush the stuffing

Food safety experts would prefer it if you didn’t put stuffing inside your Thanksgiving turkey. But if you do, Goodwin said, wait until the last minute to put it inside the bird, and pack it loosely. Just like the turkey, stuffing should be heated to 165 degrees.

Don’t leave leftovers out too long

Get help if you need it

The USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline is staffed by live experts Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. They are available online and over the phone, even on Thanksgiving Day.

“You’re getting that one-on-one food safety expertise. It’s a really great resource,” Goodwin said.

The hotline for calls is 1-888-674-6854. Online questions can be answered .

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D.C.

The test confirming D.C. children aren’t sick needs to be taken on Monday Jan. 2 and submitted by 9 p.m. that night to the District鈥檚 .

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Tests were made available before the break, but can still be picked up at any one of the city’s COVID-19 centers located in each of the eight wards.

Additional details on testing can be found .

Montgomery County, Md

In Montgomery County, the school system’s chief medical officer strongly encourages staff and students to test prior to returning from the holiday break, especially if they have any symptoms of, or a potential exposure to COVID-19.

“Staff or students testing positive for COVID-19 must report their result through the MCPS COVID-19 Reporting Form and follow CDC isolation guidelines. Cases that are self-reported are reflected on the MCPS COVID-19 Dashboard,鈥� the .

Fairfax County, Va

In October, Fairfax County Public Schools stopped its requirement of testing students who are asymptomatic for COVID-19 .

However, beginning on Tuesday afternoon, FCPS encourages students and staff to take advantage of free diagnostic testing, which is available without an appointment. They will need to register first in the school system’s online portal.

Students eligible for testing need to either be exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, or have been exposed to someone with a confirmed case.

You can find additional details .

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The most common way people give back is by making cash donations from bank accounts or through PayPal, a credit card or check.

Kevin Scally, of , which evaluates the financial health and transparency of charities nationwide, said there are other ways to give, some of which can have tax benefits to you. “I certainly recommend that you connect with a tax professional,” he said.

“One of the ways is donating a stock. When you donate a stock that you’ve held for one or more years, you can actually avoid the capital gains tax,” Scally added.

You can learn about ways to give that include everything from providing skilled services to donating blood or vehicles on the .

Point of sale transactions are becoming more popular. That involves being given an option when paying for something to include a set dollar amount donation or rounding your purchase total up to the nearest dollar.

“Anytime that you’re giving, you should definitely know where you’re giving to. And in some of those cases, you might not necessarily know that,” Scally said. “They say, ‘Hey, will you round up to support the animals?’ And you say yes, but you don’t necessarily know which organization you’re supporting.

“We want to make sure that everybody who’s giving is giving with their heart, but also giving with their head,” Scally said.

Charitable giving also can be accomplished by volunteering through , for example, or through acts of service that benefit others.

You can collect items to be distributed as donations, too, but ask a few questions first.

“The most important thing is certainly making sure that it’s something that an organization can actually use,” Scally said. “It’s really good to get direction from the organizations that are on the ground, and actually dealing with the constituents that are impacted by (whatever the situation) and understanding what it is that they truly need.”

Noting that people’s needs are growing and that the nonprofit sector is an important safety net to society, Scally said people should feel empowered to give, whether it’s $5 or $5,000.

“Maybe you don’t have any money at all, and you can go out and volunteer. Or, some of the things like we talked about of donating stock — there may be other creative ways for you to be able to give,” he said. “And it’s not only good for the end beneficiary, whether that’s a person, an animal, the environment, you name it; it’s also good for you.”

There are lots of studies, he said, on the .

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The American Lung Association’s campaign aims to help people quit in order to聽 .

“If you are planning to make a New Year’s resolution this year to quit tobacco use, first and foremost, make sure you are quitting all tobacco products,” said Jennifer Folkenroth, national senior director of tobacco programs with the .

Don’t lean on e-cigarettes or other tobacco products to help wean yourself off cigarettes, she said. The in helping smokers quit.

“Quit, don’t switch,” she said. “Quitting means ending your addiction to nicotine for good, and you can do that successfully with a tobacco treatment plan that includes counseling plus FDA-approved cessation medication.”

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Seven FDA-approved medications help with the physical symptoms, and there are a half-dozen counseling options, including phone, in-person group sessions, or even a self-help booklet.

Because it takes an average tobacco user between eight and 10 tries before they quit for good, Folkenroth called quitting a journey and not an event.

A team approach that leads to the best chance for success includes talking with your health care provider to get an FDA-approved cessation medication, then connecting with counseling and additional help by enrolling in the at at 1-800-LUNGUSA. It prepares you by identifying your triggers and smoking patterns and routines, to come up with alternatives and replacements to help assist with the urges and cravings.

You also need to recruit people to be part of your support system.

“Who is really going to be there for you throughout your journey that you can call on anytime you’re having a really tough urge or craving to use that tobacco product? You can call on them for support to talk you through it, or even set up rewards for different milestones that you may meet being tobacco-free,” she said.

, quitting smoking is one of the most important actions people can take to improve their health.

“Everyone can quit. Fifty million people in the United States are proof that it’s possible to quit. So don’t give up; don’t stop trying. And give us a call.” The American Lung Association is here on standby at 1-800-LUNGUSA (800-586-4872); or you can visit us online at ,” Folkenroth said. “We would love to support you through your journey to freedom from tobacco dependency in Tobacco Free ’23.”

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WRAP will give Lyft app users in the area a $15 credit for rides taken home.

鈥淭he average fare for this program is less than $15. So it actually really does take the majority of people home. But let’s say your fare is $20 鈥� we’re still going to pay for the first $15,鈥� said WRAP President Kurt Erickson.

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The program serves people of legal drinking age in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County in Maryland; all of D.C., and Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties in Virginia, and all the individual cities and towns within them.

鈥淥苍 , we will upload a code. You can simply download the Lyft app, if you haven’t already done that on your phone, and then enter the SoberRide code in the apps promo section,鈥� Erickson said.

The New Year鈥檚 Eve code will be posted at 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31. It鈥檚 good for use from 10 p.m. through 4 a.m. Jan. 1.

Until then, you can get $15 off one ride taken home in Lyft鈥檚 D.C. coverage area through 4 a.m. Friday, Dec. 30, by using the code DECEMBERSAFE22.

Thursday, Dec. 29, through Monday, Jan. 2, between 4 p.m. and 4 a.m. each day, Maryland residents calling a Lyft ride in the state are eligible to receive one $20 ride-share credit while supplies last, courtesy of the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration鈥檚 Highway Safety Office. The Lyft code for that credit is NYEMAKEAPLAN2023.

Meanwhile, Metro will stay open until 2 a.m. that night, and it’ll be free after 8 p.m.

The last time WRAP offered New Year鈥檚 Eve SoberRide in earnest in 2019, it was used by 921 people who otherwise might have been driving under the influence.

Since its inception in 1991, more than 83,000 people have taken advantage of the SoberRide program.

Erickson said Halloween was their second-busiest night, with 943 people using the program. That performance makes Erickson confident the local collection of Lyft drivers will be able to handle the demand on New Year鈥檚 Eve.

鈥淏ut we would urge people to call ahead 鈥� meaning that when they’re ready to go or before they’re ready to go 鈥� go ahead and engage your app and try to get your driver as soon as you can,鈥� he suggested.

It costs about $60,000 a year to host SoberRide.

鈥淲e would welcome support and people can right online,鈥� Erickson said.

WRAP is 501(c)(3) charity; donations to help pay for the service and support the fight against drunk driving and underage drinking in the Washington Metropolitan area are fully deductible to the extent of the law.

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Seasonal influenza activity remains high but is declining in most areas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 鈥� but Health Director Dr. David Goodfriend isn鈥檛 celebrating yet.

鈥淚t’s a challenge during the holiday season to really track these numbers well, because when there’s a lot of people that are traveling, some people may test more, some people may test less,鈥� Goodfriend said.

鈥淲e’re really going to get a sense once everyone comes back from their Christmas and New Year’s travels and vacations, and kids start coming back into school.” The first and second weeks of January are when it’ll be clear “whether we’re going to have the second surge of flu and COVID,鈥� he said.

Goodfriend emphasized that everyone who has not gotten a flu shot or an updated COVID-19 booster needs to do so.

鈥淲e’re ‘wait and see’ in terms of numbers, but not ‘wait and see’ in terms of protection,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o, definitely, if people have not gotten their flu shot, it’s not at all too late to get your flu shot. The flu season typically goes into March.鈥�

To avoid being part of a problem that could strain the resources of area hospitals, emergency departments and community urgent care centers, Goodfriend recommended several best practices that helped keep flu and other ailment numbers low while the pandemic persisted: Wash your hands regularly; cover your mouth with your elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze; avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth; avoid time around others who are looking sick, and if you’re sick, stay home.

鈥淣o one is so important that they need to go to work, go visit friends or go shopping when they’re sick,鈥� Goodfriend said. 鈥淏ecause all you’re doing is passing your infection on to others.鈥�

If you鈥檙e in a high-risk category for severe infection, he said, it is also particularly important to keep distance from others, minimize the crowds you鈥檙e involved in and consider wearing a mask.

鈥淲e’re getting into New Year’s Eve, and people are going to New Year’s Eve parties coming off of Christmas parties,” he said. “Remember there is a lot of virus going around, and those [parties] are great opportunities for you to catch the virus, but also potentially for you to pass it on to someone who’s going to have a much harder time fighting it off.”

Goodfriend also said to know when to seek care. He said relatively young and healthy people with no underlying medical conditions, who just have some respiratory symptoms, can likely take care of themselves at home with over-the-counter medications to alleviate symptoms.

鈥淚f you’re medically fragile, if you have underlying medical conditions, if you’ve been cautioned by your doctor, that if you do get sick, it might progress to something quickly, then don’t wait,” he said. “You err on the side of caution. Get medical care through your doctor, an urgent care, or, if needed, an emergency department. We don’t want anyone to have a bad outcome because they waited.鈥�

Emphasizing the need for people to do everything they can to stay healthy, Goodfriend repeated the call for vaccinations and mitigation strategies to get through this winter.

鈥淭his is probably going to be a tough winter. We don’t know yet. We don’t know what January will bring us,” Goodfriend said. “But everything is pointing to a continued tough year for respiratory infections this winter.”

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The study at the leading respiratory hospital in the U.S. 聽鈥� some preschoolers, but mostly teenagers between 13 and 17 years old. The facility conducts research on and sees .

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The condition, peripheral airway obstruction, is not the typical constriction of the large airways, but of the really small airways that can’t always been seen with a regular pulmonary test. It鈥檚 identified using a sophisticated, .

鈥淏ecause some of the usual tests that people use are negative, a lot of times they鈥檝e been told, 鈥楾his is anxiety, this is in your head, this is going to go away.鈥� Now, most of the time, it does go away after a few months, but in the kids that we’re seeing, it could last for a long time 鈥� for months, and sometimes even for over a year,鈥� said .

鈥淎 lot of it is a quality of life issue. These are not kids who are ending up in the emergency room,鈥� Rabinovitch said. 鈥淭hey are kids [who often] were competitive athletes, who no longer can exercise like they did before. Sometimes, it’s younger kids in school who just can’t keep up with sports. Some of them also have shortness of breath, not with exercise, but a lot of what we’re seeing is exercise intolerance. And that’s really the quality of life issue 鈥� for a kid or an adolescent, not being able to participate in athletics, you know, is a big deal,鈥� he said.

Similar to asthma, the condition can be treated with physical therapy and medications administered with inhalers.

Rabinovitch emphasized that 鈥渓ong COVID happens in kids, and not just in adults鈥� 鈥� and because it is treatable, parents shouldn鈥檛 dismiss persistent symptoms.

鈥淜ids that have sleep issues, kids that are complaining of chest pain have chronic cough, shortness of breath, or just can’t exercise like they’ve been able to do before … should see a specialist who could do some sort of sophisticated testing on the lungs, and someone, preferably, who knows about long COVID,鈥� he said.

Rabinovitch noted that lung symptoms frequently happen in conjunction with other issues, including behavioral health symptoms, such as anxiety and depression.

鈥淵ou need a really integrated approach, including rehab, behavioral health, pulmonary, sometimes other sub specialties to really put it all together.鈥�

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“The adult children all get together, they all see what’s going on, and they basically agree that either immediately or right after the holidays, they’ll start looking at options 鈥� that’s what happens every year,” said Andrew Carle, a faculty member at the .

Looking to move a loved one out of his or her home involves myriad options.

“First of all, understand the difference between a professionally managed senior living community, and one that is may be more of a ‘mom and pop,’ that doesn’t mean that some of the mom and pops aren’t good,” Carle said. “But it’s a difference between, you know, Starbucks, where you know what you’re going to get, and Joe’s coffee shop where maybe the coffee is good, but maybe it’s not.”

The professionally managed ones are the very large national providers, such as , , . Carle recommends beginning your search with large national providers that, at least in theory, have the resources to perform well.

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, and all have licensing survey results of facilities publicly available.

“You’re not looking for a perfect score,” Carle said. “There’s sometimes these little things that are fixed before the surveyor even leaves. You’re looking for major deficiencies, (such as) major staffing things, fines 鈥� if they’ve ever been fined, and how recently have they been fined? A fine from 10 years ago maybe isn’t relevant, but how are they doing today?”

Carle, who has been designing memory cares for 25 years, describes it as the ICU of senior living, and probably the most complicated.

“Memory care services vary dramatically in this country,” he said. “Some of the providers have gotten very, very good at it. Some basically just put up a keypad secured door entrance and not much else.”

Carle recently designed the new in Fairfax, that won the as the best senior living renovation remodel project in the nation last year.

While he says it’s near capacity for residents, “I would say go to The Virginian and see what the memory care looks like there. So, you can at least compare it to something that just won a national award. You really, really need to understand the difference in memory care.”

When it comes to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, a person’s needs change at different stages of the disease 鈥� and each family’s situation is unique.

“There is no one-size-fits all formula when it comes to Alzheimer’s care,” said Cindy Schelhorn, Senior Director of Communications and Marketing with the Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area Chapter. “The Alzheimer’s Association is here to help. to learn about different types of care and how to choose care providers.”

The group’s 24/7 help line at 800-272-3900 is staffed with specialists and master’s-level clinicians who can answer questions and provide assistance.

Before choosing an assisted living facility of any kind, Carle recommends making multiple visits.

• Spend some time.
• Visit on different days of the week and varied times.
• Have a meal.
• Chat with residents. If they’re not comfortable letting you chat with some folks that’s a red flag.
• Ask to see the activities, life enrichment calendar.

“Pick out an activity that looks like it might be of interest to your mom,” Carle said. “Ask if you can visit during that activity to see what’s going on in the room, how many residents are attending, it’s one thing to have a calendar, it’s another thing to have residents routinely showing up for the activity.”

Consider a respite stay.

“Almost all these communities will let you move mom or dad in for 鈥� it’s usually a minimum of two weeks because there’s a lot of paperwork,” Carle said. “But two weeks to 30 days 鈥� this is a good chance for a family caregiver to take a break by the way and to let mom or dad know that they need a break.”

He said multiweek visits sometimes can change a reluctant person’s mind about transitioning into a new living situation.

“The mom or dad who insisted they would never leave their home when you come back to pick them up realizes they love the place, and they don’t want to go anywhere,” he said.

Are senior care facilities affordable?

Carle said assisted living for two to three years is a “big purchase” that should be carefully researched, but not an unaffordable one for any senior living in a home (they would sell that) they have owned for many years, and is likely paid for.

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The holidays can be full of stress and anxiety. What have you done for yourself lately?

Taking care of yourself and doing something that relaxes you or brings joy has myriad of benefits.

“Self-care can help you manage stress, boost your mood, and lower your risk of illness. Even small acts of self-care in your daily life can have a big impact,” said Dr. Barbara Bazron,

Activities of self-care can be specific to individuals who might need to relax more or less.

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Self-care strategies include:

• Eating healthy food and getting enough sleep at consistent times.
• Exercising and staying active.
• Visiting with family and loved ones.
• Volunteering or doing community service.
• Checking in on those in need and neighbors.
• Focusing on positivity by identifying and challenging negative thoughts.
• Learning to say “no” if asked to take on too much.
• Setting goals, boundaries and priorities.
• Practicing meditation and relaxation breathing techniques.
• Having an attitude of gratitude.

“Remind yourself daily (to) have things you are grateful for. Be specific. Think about it at the end of the day. And really congratulate yourself on what you are really grateful for,” Bazron said. “Mental health is a critical part of physical health.”

Just like with physical illnesses, Bazron said there are times when professional help is needed for help to address mental well-being.

“Remember, you’re not alone. We’re here to help you. You can ,” she said. “When you call 988, a trained crisis counselor will answer the phone, will listen to understand how the problem is affecting you, provide support and share resources as needed.”

The 988 lifeline provides live crisis center phone services in English and Spanish, and use of a language line can provide translation services in more than 250 additional languages. There also is support for people who are hard of hearing or those who are deaf.

According to Bazron, nearly 98% of people who contact 988 get the crisis support they need and do not require additional services in that moment.

In the District, however, “If necessary, our community response team can come to your home and come wherever you are in the community and provide you with the support you need in person,” she said.

D.C.’s Community Response Team can be called at 202-673-6495.

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Neither should the ubiquitous plastic red cups.

We know you put in hard work wrapping and stuffing your gifts this holiday season! We also know that all that hard work will eventually be ripped apart! Give your wrapping paper, boxes, bags and stuffing paper a cheerful send-off by properly recycling and discarding your waste.

鈥� Fairfax County Public Works (@ffxpublicworks)

Holiday related items that , according to the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services include:

• Strands of Christmas lights.
• Tinsel because it contains plastic.
• Plastic bags, bubble wrap and foam peanuts.
• Christmas tree lights or broken bulbs.
• Metallic or foil wrapping paper.
• Wrapping paper that is coated or has glitter.
• Bows, ribbons and tags.
• Stockings, holiday sweaters and other clothing.
• Glass.

it is dropped off at disengaged areas, where big purple dumpsters are in place. Dozens of locations in Northern Virginia participate in the Purple Can Club Glass Recovery Program. Otherwise, it can be taken to the I-66 Transfer Station, the I-95 Landfill Complex, or placed in the trash.

Holiday related items that are OK to put in the recycling bin:

• Most wrapping paper.
• Cardboard boxes.
• Paper boxes.

Live Christmas trees stripped of all decorations will be picked up by collectors in Fairfax County if placed on the curb during the first two weeks of January.

for ways to reduce waste related to holiday food and gifts on its website.

MOM’s Organic Market also takes holiday lights for recycling.

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Between the winter solstice 鈥� the day of the fewest hours of sunlight 鈥� and the summer solstice 鈥� the day with the most light 鈥� people all over the world will be raising money to fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s disease.

Jill Jamieson has personal family history with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease. Both her mother and father have sisters who had Alzheimer鈥檚. It claimed her father鈥檚 life when he was in his mid 70s.

鈥淢y dad, he was, he was an articulate, brilliant man who was always the light of every room,鈥� Jamieson said.

She said it was a 鈥渟oul-destroying, crushing thing to watch鈥� a loved one go through the disease. It was also horrible to witness what was happening as a family.聽 She said she is hopeful that a cure can be found.

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鈥淚 think that’s a call to action for all of us. And I will do everything I can to raise awareness and interest and money for the cause,鈥� she said.

In 2004, she started a group called Memory Joggers, the purpose of which was to do adventure runs and extreme runs to raise money and awareness about Alzheimer’s.

that Jamieson is running late next month will be grueling. She鈥檚 preparing to run 183 miles in a week. It will involve a total of 68 hours in an airplane, running a marathon, and immediately jumping on a plane to the next destination.

鈥淵ou’re fueled by airplane food and aspirin; then you just go to the next place, get off the plane, run, etc. And so there are lots of issues, lots of concern 鈥� I know that anything could happen,鈥� she said.

Jamieson said she launched her foray into extreme events through Memory Joggers as a way of honoring her father. But, it was also a way to imprint indelible memories.

鈥淟ife is short, tomorrow’s never guaranteed and so the idea of prioritizing, doing things that you’ll remember the rest of your life, whether or not you have cognitive challenges, I think is important,鈥� Jamieson said.

“I try to live every day as if I can’t remember anything after tomorrow. At least maybe someplace imprinted in my soul, I’ll remember these amazing adventures that my aging body and I got through.鈥�

.

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suggest that using mobile devices for calming children 3 to 5 years old corresponds with a decrease in executive functioning and an increase in emotional reactivity.

“The findings of this study suggest that, particularly in young boys or young children with higher surgency, the frequent use of devices for calming should be avoided,” researchers found.

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What the study identifies as surgent temperaments involve kids who are a little bit more tightly wound, so they have more challenges with emotional dysregulation in general. These children can be hyperactive, very impulsive and view every little thing as a big deal, according to, a board-certified child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist with the Mid Atlantic Permanente Medical Group of Kaiser Permanente.

Patton-Smith said executive functioning, as noted in the study, involves mental processes that typically happen in the prefrontal cortex that enable people to focus, attend, plan, execute multiple tasks and have impulse control.

“Emotional reactivity happens when there are intense emotions that are triggered by an external event. And often, the event leaves you feeling hurt, angry, defensive, and (it) can cause someone to lash out or be very impulsive, which can then cause issues that a person would later regret,” Patton-Smith said.

Offering perspective on using mobile devices to calm preschool-aged children, Patton-Smith who practices in Burke and Falls Church, Virginia, said coping with difficulties is part of healthy childhood development that can improve emotional intelligence and decrease emotional reactivity.

“Having kids go through tantrums, or at times have challenges where they are feeling frustrated is not a bad thing. We’re not trying to completely eliminate that because that’s something they have to work through, so they can improve impulse control as they get older,” Patton-Smith said.

children aged 2 to 5 not have more than one hour total of screen time per day.

“When they are using phones, electronic devices of any kind, to help decrease this natural processing growth and development, we are preventing the process from taking place and increasing the likelihood of more outbursts down the road,” Patton-Smith said.

Offering alternatives for how parents might otherwise respond, Patton-Smith said begin with empathy.

“What does that mean? Understand that instead of trying to fix a situation, and tell them why they don’t need to act that way. Identify the feeling and mirror it back. This helps them understand that they can have these feelings and be able to work through them. And when kids feel heard and understood, that helps them calm in general,” she said.

For example, if a child is having a tantrum because the parent said no to going to the playground, Patton-Smith said the parent can say, “Hey, I know you’re mad that we’re not going to the playground. I understand that. And that’s OK. This is something we have to work through together.”

Something else that works when kids are having meltdowns is distraction.

“If a child is having some sort of ongoing challenge 鈥� they’re upset with something I said or something that a parent said 鈥� I’ll switch to something else, like, ‘Hey, what are you going to eat for lunch today?’ Or, ‘Hey, that’s a wonderful blue color on you.’ So that is very helpful because kids have a short attention span anyway,” she said.

Distractions might include doing something fun, such as winking at them or .

Parents who identify situations that might trigger a child may anticipate what’s coming and talk with them about it ahead of time.

However, new triggers can emerge, Patton-Smith said, adding that it is essential for parents to talk to their child or to create an environment that is “less stress-inducing.”

“So it’s consistently just monitoring the child and seeing what’s happening and tracking them in real time,” she said.

The duration of the study was from August 2018 to January 2020 鈥� before the pandemic.

“So the thought is that there’s actually more use of external devices, including mobile devices in kids since COVID. So this actually might be a little bit more of an issue than even the researchers found in their ,” Patton-Smith said.

If parents are becoming concerned about tantrums 鈥� seeing tantrums in other areas outside of home, such as at school or in social situations 鈥� and they seem to be significantly increasing, Patton-Smith suggests reaching out to the school or the child’s medical care provider for some more tips.

Patton-Smith recommends the website for information and guidance on screen time.

“There are also contracts you can make with your kids to help with that process, especially with older kids, and ideas, tips on how to just help kids emotionally regulate and build up empathy.”

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The campaign says that if you think someone is struggling, you should to reach out and potentially save a life.

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“If they voice thoughts and concerns about suicide, or that life is not worth living, we ought to recognize and know that talking with him is not going to make it worse,” said , a former president of the University of Memphis, distinguished university professor of psychology and director of the Rudd Institute for Veteran and Military Suicide Prevention. “An expression of caring and concern will always help and always make it better.”

When somebody is coughing or having other physical problems during flu season, “We ask … are they feeling OK? We need to do the same thing,” he said. “We need to ask her, ‘How are you feeling? How are you doing?’ And just having a conversation, when somebody is feeling down low, isolated, is really critical.”

On average, in 2020, there were 16.8 veteran suicides per day, according to the — nearly double the number for non-veterans.

The U.S. Army suffered more suicides in 2021 than any other year since the Sept. 11 attacks, a found.

Rudd outlined what to look for:聽Someone who’s having difficulty might not be sleeping well, may seem isolated and detached, depressed, or sad. They might say things such as “I just don’t feel like life is worth living,” or “I feel hopeless about the future,” or “I feel like a burden.”

If that’s the case, Rudd said, “Engage them in a conversation about what’s going on. And simply ask them, ‘Can you tell me a little bit more about how you’re feeling and what kind of difficulty you’re having? What kinds of things are you struggling with?’ And allow them the room and the space to talk about that.”

Help and resources are available. The Military/Veterans Crisis Line number is 800-273-8255, via text at 838255 or chat at , and the has a specific line devoted to veterans. Just dial 988 and then press the number 1 to talk with a veteran.

“The 988 number is always available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” Rudd said. “You can talk with somebody that is familiar with the military environment, the unique demands of military life — someone that will be more likely to understand the unique issues that veterans struggle with.”

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D.C. leaders announced on Monday that a long-promised affordable replacement of torn-down housing is ready for new tenants.

The Rise at Temple Courts is Phase I of the Northwest One project at 2 L St. NW.

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“I’m a fourth-generation Washingtonian, one of the residents of the original Temple Courts,” Ward 6 resident Nathan Brown said at the ribbon-cutting for the new residential building.

“Twenty years ago, on this land that we’re standing on, you would have seen me playing basketball in the parking lot with my neighbors, and laughing while they grill at the neighborhood barbecues,” he said. “That all ended when Temple Courts was demolished in 2008.”

Out of the 220 units in The Rise at Temple Courts building, 150 are dedicated as “affordable homes,” and of those, 65 are (or soon will be) occupied by former residents of Temple Courts. Their rent is 30% of the Area Median Income. There are 85 units priced at 60% of the median income.

“Rise at Temple Courts is more than just a building. This is a reminder that D.C. is for everybody,” Brown said. “And as my friend and leader Rufaro Jenkins always says, ‘If you were here, if you were a part of poverty, you deserve to be a part of prosperity.’ So to all my fellow former residents 鈥� let’s prosper,” he said with emphasis.

Referencing the site’s history, D.C. Council member Anita Bonds told those assembled about the tent village that sprang up there , “trying to get the attention of Congress to say poor people matter, too.”

“Today’s event is yet another delivery on promises made a few decades ago 鈥� that Temple Courts and Sursum Corda, affectionately known as Northwest One, would return,” said Bonds, who chairs the housing and community development committee.

“Over the years, former community residents have asked: ‘What about Temple Courts? Is it coming back?’ Well, today it’s happening, because the Northwest One is breaking ground on this hallowed land,” she said. “If you look next door, you see another building going up and another building.”

The New Communities Initiative began during the administration of Mayor Anthony Williams as a way to revitalize distressed public housing and the surrounding neighborhoods into

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AAA Mid-Atlantic projects the vast majority of people intending to travel more than 50 miles from the region between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2 will drive.

“As is typical for most of these holidays, the vast majority 鈥� in fact, 90%, or slightly over 2.2 million travelers in the DMV area 鈥� will be driving to their holiday destinations this year,” said Ragina Ali, public and government affairs manager with AAA Mid-Atlantic.

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About 141,000 people will fly, which is up about 16% from last year.

The resurgence in travel this year is even stronger among people taking what’s listed as “other” modes of transportation 鈥� up 25%.

“That translates to about 95,000 people who will be taking trains, buses, cruise ships. And that is actually where we’re seeing the largest increase similarly to what we saw with Thanksgiving,” she said.

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Ali said people hitting the road will enjoy cheaper gas than the country has seen since October 2021 鈥� the national average Thursday was $3.19 a gallon, down from $3.31 a year ago. In the D.C. area, the average was $3.24 per gallon, 10 cents less than last year.

Ali said drivers should check the weather forecast and travel conditions before leaving home 鈥� along the route as well as at their destinations.

Everyone this time of year should have an emergency kit stocked in their vehicles to be prepared for any eventuality. Last winter, the debacle on I-95 in Northern Virginia stranded some motorists for 27 hours. People who experienced it haven’t forgotten.

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