With the holiday shopping season in full swing, many of us are busily working through wish lists, hoping to find the perfect present for the children in our lives. Safety should come first when choosing toys for kids – at holiday time and throughout the year.

November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, a time to raise awareness about this specialized care and to recognize the dedicated caregivers and professionals committed to providing comfort and support to patients with serious, chronic and/or life-limiting illnesses.

Also known as alpha-gal allergy or red meat allergy, alpha-gal syndrome is on the rise in Massachusetts, particularly on Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard, where lone star ticks have expanded and become established.