(BPT) - The sun is shining, flowers are blooming, and pollen counts are soaring ... and that means millions of Americans are dealing with the sneezing and wheezing that comes with seasonal allergies. While allergies are sometimes considered an uncomfortable nuisance, for the 25 million Americans with asthma, seasonal allergies can trigger serious attacks that if not managed properly could lead to a visit to the ER. In fact, asthma is responsible for half a million hospitalizations each year – 60 percent of which are caused by patients not taking their medication as prescribed.

(BPT) - Warm weather is here, bringing barbecues, picnics and more time spent outdoors. Everyone should be able to enjoy these popular pastimes, including the up to six million Americans at risk for a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis. For these people, a bee sting, shrimp on the barbecue or a latex balloon may lead to a life-threatening emergency. That’s why it’s important to have a plan in place to help avoid allergens and be prepared if accidental contact occurs.

(BPT) - Often, we don’t think about heroism until we see it in action - when disaster strikes and ordinary people exhibit extraordinary courage and compassion to help victims in their time of need. The truth is, however, that the best of human nature is on display every day in the lives of millions of Americans who work in public service jobs across the country. Sometimes all it takes to tap that inner hero is an opportunity – and the education – to serve others.

(NAPSI)—As a young child, Ryan Haass spent much of his time on a tractor in Devine, Texas. The Haass family heritage revolves around farming and tractor restoration. When Ryan was 10, the Texas drought was so bad that his family retired its tractors and turned to cattle ranching. With idle tractors around the farm, Ryan’s older siblings, Randolph and Amie, discovered an interest in restoration and began participating in competitions.

Koko FitClub, located at 10785 N. Oracle Road, is offering parents the opportunity to get their kids active this summer with Camp Koko, a four-week camp where boys and girls, ages 13-18, will learn the proper ways to exercise and eat.  The first camp runs June 3rd through June 27th and the second camp runs July 8th through August 1st.  

Summer is just around the corner, and for many that means increased outdoor activities such as hiking and swimming.

In honor of Mother’s Day, I’m sharing a rather humorous conversation that I recently had with a long-distance friend via text (with her permission). I hope you find it as entertaining as I do. While the names have been changed to protect anonymity, the story is completely true.

(StatePoint) Transitioning from high school to the next life stage can be a time of excitement for young people, but it can also be a time filled with uncertainty.

(BPT) - There’s nothing like the smell of a home-cooked meal wafting through the kitchen for hours and hours – that is, if you have time to prepare such a meal. Since most of us don’t have that sort of time on a daily basis, many time-pressed cooks are rediscovering pressure cooking: an age-old cooking method that makes mealtime fast and easy.

Most people spend Mother’s Day bestowing flowers, gifts and heartfelt sentiments upon their moms. But for some, knowing how to honor their mother is not so easy. After all, mothers are only human, and not all of them are perfect.

(NAPSI)—Road trips with children can be daunting, but with AAA’s expert advice, your next family car trip can be both safe and fun:

(NAPSI)—Did you know there are 525,000 minutes in a year? The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children wants you to take 25 of them to talk to your child about safety—the same amount of time it takes to watch a favorite TV show. It could save a child’s life.

(BPT) - The second the school bell rings signaling that school’s out for summer, it seems that children immediately forget everything they’ve studied over the past nine months. When they return to school in the fall, playing catch up takes time.

It's been more than 24 hours since three grown women and a 6-year-old child were rescued from a home in Cleveland where they were being held hostage.

It took just over 15 hours for a 12-member jury to find accused boyfriend killer, Jodi Arias, guilty of first-degree murder.

The following is a Facebook post on one of my grandsons’ Facebook page. “My beautiful mom she means the world to me I don’t know what I‘d do without her! I have the BEST MOM IN THE UNIVERSE!!!” It also had a picture of her smiling and making a victory sign. This brought tears to my eyes. This grandson has grown through a pretty difficult life and I realize the depth of his statement. He is 20 now, has his own apartment, works as an assistant manager for Jimmy John’s, attends Pima County Community College, and is an aspiring artist. 

Century Theatres

(BPT) - As summer approaches, many parents are worried about the summer learning slide, and with good reason. Students who do not participate in enrichment and learning activities during the summer break can lose roughly 22 percent of the knowledge and skills they gained during the previous school year, according to the National Summer Learning Association.

Today’s children grow up in a vastly different technological world than that of their parents or grandparents. While you may fondly recall a favorite storybook stored on your nightstand, many kids today are reading using their parent’s smartphone or tablet. Digital devices are becoming a regular part of a child’s life, and parents should understand what this means for how kids learn and grow.

Technology has been connecting families for generations. The invention of the phone let us hear voices of loved ones far away, and the creation of the Internet helped us to see them. Today, those same technologies that we’ve used to bring our families closer together are helping us to connect with and support families who are worlds apart. In doing so, the very concept and experience of “gifting” and philanthropy is being transformed.

(BPT) - If you worry about the kind of car your teen will drive, you’re not alone.

Northwest Fire District firefighters and paramedics were called to the 8200 block of North Equator Loop just before midnight after receiving a 9-1-1 call indicating that a small child had been found in the backyard swimming pool. The home is near Cortaro Farms and Oldfather Roads. The initial 9-1-1 call was received at 11:43pm. Bystanders reported that the child was pulled from the pool where CPR instructions were given from 9-1-1 dispatchers until Northwest Fire crews arrived 4 minutes later.

(BPT) - Summer is approaching and many parents will be sending their children off to camp. If your child wears hearing aids and is set to attend a summer camp for kids of all abilities, here are five things you can do to help your child get the most from his or her summer camp experience: