Lifestyle & Trends - Community

Volunteering: Helping others could actually help you

The health benefits of volunteering are well documented and include reduced stress and risk of disease, an increased feeling of self worth and possibly even increased life expectancy. It is no wonder that for many people with chronic conditions, volunteering can even help maintain or improve one's physical health.

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Drivers: 10 things you need to know about sharing the road with motorcycles

Anyone who rides a motorcycle knows it comes with risks. The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) estimates that 4,762 motorcyclists died in accidents in 2009. Now for the good news: It was the first time in 12 years that motorcycle fatalities decreased.

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New hope for old malls

There is new promise for the nation's malls. A fixture throughout America's cities and towns for decades, the conventional mall is in a state of decline. It is possible to rethink yesterday's malls with a creative vision that will return them to their prominent place in communities and realize lasting social, cultural and economic value. For example, just this summer, the former Santa Monica Place in Santa Monica, Calif., was transformed into a new center that, while operated like a mall, feels and functions like a part of the city.

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What you need to know to prepare for natural disasters

Whether it's a wildfire, hurricane, tornado, flood or another natural disaster altogether, your family should know what to do when in danger.

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Can buildings help keep you healthy?

We spend 90 percent of our lives indoors, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. A typical day can include traveling from home to work and back home again with a few periodic trips to schools, the grocery store, the bank, malls and entertainment venues. We depend on our homes, offices, retail stores and other structures to keep us safe; but can buildings also help keep us healthy?

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Five everyday items to donate instead of recycle

Wouldn't you like to go "green" and help provide deserving individuals with everyday items that can help improve their lives? Many charities collect and refurbish used items some find necessary for everyday activities, like eye glasses and hearing aids, as well as monetary donations.

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Helping drivers safely share the road with bicyclists and runners

Now that summer is here, avid runners and bicyclists are out in droves, taking advantage of every opportunity to enjoy the activities they love. While it can sometimes be challenging to share the road with them, it's important to keep driving safely top of mind, especially at this time of year.

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Wanted: a new generation of lifesavers

Less than 8 percent of victims who suffer cardiac arrest at home, at work or in other public places survive. And fewer than one-third of cardiac arrest victims gets CPR from a bystander. The American Heart Association wants more people to take action and help cardiac arrest victims.

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Rebuilding Detroit

Almost every single list of America's most depressed cities features Detroit at or near the top. Cities like Detroit that were built on industry have suffered in recent decades as manufacturers have taken their business to developing companies with lower production and employment costs. While some would like to paint a bleak picture of Detroit's future, it is important to remember that the city is no worse off than European cities like Belfast or Turin that have managed to rebuild themselves in recent years.

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Teens: Join Twilight's Nikki Reed to 'do something' good this summer

Are you a teen that is going to camp, hosting a neighborhood block party, or playing baseball this summer? Are you a parent who wants to encourage your child to do something good for others or get more involved in their community? This summer, join the Do Something 101 school supply drive: www.dosomething101.org.

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