Many American parents are accustomed to frequent conversation with their children in their late teens and early 20s, yet a parent may feel her or his conversation with the child is entirely one-directional — calls, texts, and personal messages are rarely returned.

Holidays often bring to mind iconic images of the whole family gathered around the dinner table. But when the imaginary tinsel and cooking aroma clears, the truth is that many families can't be together during the holiday season.

Nearly 16 inches of rain fell in Wisconsin from June to August, which is about 4 inches above average, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. The increased moisture levels bring about some difficult challenges for Wisconsin homeowners.

Community groups often host food drives at various points during the year to fill local pantry shelves. Donors can enhance the value of their gifts by ensuring the food is safe, nutritious and of high quality.