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Don’t forget to stop by the MDC Nature Shop at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center to find perfect gifts for the nature-lover on your Christmas list. Whether their passion is birding, bowhunting, gardening or fly fishing, the MDC Nature Shop has something for every nature enthusiast...

The holidays are fast approaching and it is very common for people to have headaches, neck pain, back pain, or even illnesses that ruin their traditions, traveling and family time. Here are a few tips to help reduce your risk. 1) Stay flexible. During the winter months the weather is colder and the days are shorter. ...

Feel the joy of meaningful giving this holiday season at Belladona Salon & Spa. Whether you are in need of a fresh look for the holidays or looking to pick up some gifts for loved ones, Belladona Salon & Spa has everything you need to make this holiday season beautiful. ...

Every gift you need to purchase this holiday season can be found at Zickfields Jewelry & Gifts! This family-owned business in downtown Cape Girardeau has serviced our community for more than 80 years, provides exceptional customer service, and has a master craftsman with more than 50 years of experience for all your jewelry needs...

Before you gather around the table this holiday season, make sure these foods are NOT within your pets’ reach. 1.) Bones. While dogs and cats have a natural inclination to chew, we do not recommend giving them leftover bones. Real bones can splinter, leading to choking, intestinal blockage or tears in your pet’s digestive system. ...

At Thanksgiving, many are grateful giving. With that heartfelt spirit, you may wish to donate your time serving meals or your money to an organization that feeds those less fortunate. Your kindness is needed to feed the children of the Cape Girardeau community...

Your grandfather’s watch, a treasured heirloom, still works but needs a new battery. Who do you trust to replace this? Kenny Lee Jewelry, of course. Maybe you just bought a new watch but the band is too big, or a ring needs to be resized. In addition to the expert and timely repair work that Kenny Lee offers quite affordably, he also sells beautiful, quality jewelry and watches...

Old Town Cape has the spirit when it comes to celebrating the holidays! Let nostalgic events such as the Parade of Lights bring a twinkle to your eye and attend new events such as the Outdoor Holiday Market to check off your shopping list. With more than 75 unique shops, you can find a gift for everyone on your list, and they’ll love hearing all about the special place you went to pick out their gift. ...

Medicare Part D open enrollment may feel like open season to you. There is so much information coming at you might feel caught in the crossfire. Let me provide some basic information. Part D has five phases: We recommend an annual Medicare review during open enrollment as plans change yearly. ...

The air is crisp, the leaves are falling and decorations are going up — holiday party planning season is here! Whether you’re in charge of planning parties for your family, friends or business, ensuring all the details are in place has the potential to be a stressful and expensive matter. It doesn’t have to be, though; with these three party-planning tips, help yourself enjoy the holidays this year as much as the guests you’re entertaining.

SHOP LOCAL: Jayson Jewelers Consolidating Locations, Offering Storewide Sales for Holiday Shopping Jayson Jewelers is making a move this season, consolidating the Crossroads store and moving all remaining jewelry to the home store in Historic Downtown Cape Girardeau. ...

They say you never realize how much you miss something until it’s gone. It’s certainly true when it comes to your hearing. The fact is, your daily life will be affected by hearing loss. Here are a few examples: The good news is there’s no such thing as a bad time to see your audiologist and get a hearing exam. As soon as you feel like your hearing is getting worse, book an appointment and begin to enjoy life again...

Although he is the mascot of the world's most popular theme park and entertainment brand, the mouse is usually not a welcomed guest inside your home or business. In years past, with our experience, colder weather is synonymous with increased rodent activity. But can you blame them? I would certainly want to find a warmer place to live and nest if I were a mouse. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable and is absolutely not a healthy thing you want to live with...

Give reminders of the true meaning of Christmas with a beautiful nativity scene from Knaup Floral. Whether you are looking for a smaller tabletop model or a larger, statement piece, Knaup Floral has your gift or décor for your home. Knaup Floral features a wide variety of styles and price ranges to fit your budget...

If Huckstep Body and Paint, Inc. is the first place you go for a repair quote, you probably won’t look any further. But you should, so you know the true value of a great job. Zach Huckstep is the fourth generation to run the business, and just like his dad, grandfather and great grandfather, he knows that because his name is on that work, it needs to be a quality job...

November has finally arrived, along with our first frost of the season. Many local stores and vendors rushed to cover all of their plants to help prevent the frost from stunning their products. There are many interesting things that happen to your lawn during the winter months as warm season grass lays dormant and cool season grass will continue to stay green and healthy. ...

As the 30th year of Leadership Cape draws to a close, per tradition, Chamber members were presented an array of community improvement projects developed by Leadership Cape participants at First Friday Coffee. While several projects throughout the years have come to fruition, the goal of the projects is to improve leadership skills by intentionally exposing participants to the realities of working with different personality types...

We know shopping on Amazon can be convenient, but this holiday season, we’d like to remind you local businesses deliver far more for your dollar.

When it comes to gift giving for a new mom, we naturally think of getting her something for the baby. The truth is, everyone else thinks the same way, so she probably has tons of diapers, bibs, pacifiers and cute little onesies to last a lifetime. The last thing a new mother is doing is thinking about herself, so it’s up to us to do it for her with a gift just for her and not for her little one...

October is Positive Attitude Month! Your thoughts matter more than you think! Studies show people who see the glass half-full reap the benefits of lower stress levels resulting in a longer life span, lower instance of cardiovascular disease, lower chance of depression, better resistance to illnesses such as the common cold due to a higher immune system and better coping skills when life’s challenges present themselves...

You might say I rescued my Rosie girl, a miniature dachshund, but the truth is she rescued me. Thirteen years ago, I enjoyed college but still felt lonely at times, missing family and friends back home in Jackson. I searched numerous places until I found the perfect ‘apartment dog.’ Rosie has experienced college life, married life, a move back home to Southeast Missouri and more. She loves shopping, attending sporting events and traveling...

We all eat healthy, right? Well, at least we try to eat healthy. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), every adult needs to take in two to three cups of vegetables and one and a half to two cups of fruit every day. But in our fast-paced, on-the-go lifestyles that does not always happen. ...

Looking after both the batteries and your hearing aids will help extend the battery life span. Storing your hearing aid batteries properly is a good start. You should keep them in a dry place at room temperature where they won't be damaged by excess moisture or too much cold or heat...

There’s one day out of the year there is truly no better time to become a member of the Cape Chamber. That day is the Membership Blitz.

It’s my favorite time of year. The weather is getting cooler and leaves are changing colors. Plus the pumpkin spice lattes, backyard bonfires and Halloween festivities! I don’t drink coffee, but I appreciate the fact other people enjoy it! The professional pest control industry is very similar. Most of our customers absolutely do not like or enjoy dealing with pest issues, but they appreciate the fact there are some of us who do...

Holy hot September, that was rough. Seeding season for your yards has come down to the ultimate crunchtime! The ideal soil temperatures for overseeding your yard with cool season grass ranges from 55 to 70 degrees, depending on what type of seed blend you’re utilizing...

Professional development is an important, ongoing part of business success. It should permeate all levels of organizations large and small. And while most employers would agree with the importance, many have come up short with sustained implementation.

Blue light blocking glasses are eyeglasses with a noticeable yellow or amber tint on the lenses that block out all damaging light. Blue light blocker glasses can come in no correction, various powers and prescription lenses. So, let’s talk about why we should be wearing blue light-blocking glasses...

Whiplash. What is it? How likely are you to get a whiplash? What are the long-term risks? Whiplash is defined as an injury caused by a severe jerk of the head, causing it to go from front to back or side to side. Whiplash happens in a matter of seconds — more quickly than your tendons and muscles can protect you — and can cause multiple joint, muscle and nerve problems. ...

Ever wonder why you and your pet are both itching? It could be fleas. It only takes one or two fleas to cause a multitude of problems for your pets, your home and even you. Our recent milder winters have increased the flea population locally. Fleas thrive in warm, humid weather. These pests can even survive in carpeting, bedding and on furniture, including during the colder months...

It is that time of year again: Flu season. The “flu” is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. The two basic types are influenza A and influenza B, with A usually being more severe. It is transmitted through the air from the breath of an infected person or a cough or sneeze. Signs and symptoms of influenza are rapid onset of fever, sore throat, muscle aches and cough. Some people also have runny nose, headache, burning chest and light sensitivity...

Inc. Magazine tells us celebrating is very critical to success — even suggesting if you don’t celebrate, you are likely to burn out. Celebrating changes your physiology and psychology, strengthens your network and attracts more success.

The average hearing aid can last up to seven years. But many people experience shorter life spans. To prolong the life of your hearing aids, it’s crucial to take care of them the best that you can. Here are a few tips for how you can do that: First, cleaning your hearing aids prolongs the life span. ...

It’s amazing to think September is already here. Moving forward in the next weeks and months ahead, we should begin to see the transition to cooler temperature and cooler soil. Hopefully the extreme, stressful heat of summer has ended. This year has seemed like an enigma compared to years past concerning the amount of rainfall we have had since January. ...

The importance of networking shouldn’t be discounted when you are building a successful business. While some people are naturals, others understandably struggle getting started. How do you make a good and lasting impression?

It’s tailgate season again! Whether you pregame at home or at the stadium, if you are hosting an upcoming tailgate party, it’s time to think outside the box. Like camping, tailgating is taking a turn for the glamorous. With portable Wi-Fi hotspots and fancy chairs hitting the mainstream, tailgates as you know them will never be the same again. There are certain tailgate essentials that will take your party from moderate to chic!...

We’ve all heard the news stories about debit card scams, data breaches at big box retail stores, as well as online breaches. Here are a few tips to help protect your financial information. Be careful about online purchases. When making online purchases, it’s important to make sure that you’re on a secure website from a trusted vendor...

Often, the trickiest part about being a pet owner is simply not knowing what your pet is trying to tell you. This is especially true for independent, lovable cats. In fact, noting your cat’s bathroom routine can tell us a lot about what your pet is experiencing...

Do you know what your child’s backpack is doing to their spine? Recently, we have seen more children dealing with neck pain and possible scoliosis-related issues. One of the first questions to ask is, "How much does your child’s backpack weigh?" An improper backpack weight and placement can cause major problems such as scoliosis, headaches, backaches, lower back pain, knee pain or hip pain. Here are the facts:...

Each year, the Cape Chamber releases an annual report. This document serves as a great reminder of why the Cape Chamber exists and outlines exactly what we’re up to.

One of the top goals of parenting is to teach your children how to be successful, happy adults. Since making smart financial choices is so critical to a successful adulthood, it’s important to start teaching your child about healthy spending and saving habits early.

One of the common causes of hearing loss is exposure to loud or damaging sounds. When reading this, it’s easy to think about thunderous noises. But, there are plenty of everyday sounds that can hurt your hearing as well. 1. Music. Listening to music puts you at risk of gradual hearing loss. ...

Hepatitis A is a highly-contagious viral infection that causes inflammation to the liver. It is contracted by ingesting the virus from the infected person’s stool through contaminated objects, food or drinks. Hepatitis A can cause a mild illness that lasts a few weeks to a severe illness that lasts a few months. Symptoms of Hepatitis A include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, diarrhea, clay-colored stools, joint pain and jaundice...

We all want a lush, green lawn, but that's not so easy with Missouri's summer sun. Dry, hot summer days cause stress to your grass’s roots that are trying to preserve moisture. Proper aeration — introducing air into your grass — and over-seeding, or planting grass seed directly into turf without tearing up the turf, could be part of your lawn care solution. ...

The professional pest control industry is well-equipped to handle a wide array of issues homeowners, business owners and consumers in general deal with throughout life such as termite, spider, ant, mosquito, bedbug, roach and rodent infestations, to name a few. ...

What do we hear frequently from our existing employers about job applicants? From businesses to schools, churches to parents, charities to civic organizations, there is much discussion about the lack of soft skills, or essential skills, in the world today.

One of the goals of parenting is to help teach your children how to be successful and happy adults. Since making smart financial choices is critical to a successful adulthood, it’s important to start teaching your child about healthy spending and saving habits early...

You know that time of year when the temperature starts to cool — or in our case heats up in the Bootheel — and that dreaded school supply list is sent home? While you will most definitely need to pick up a few folders and loose-leaf paper, let’s chat about what your kids will really need in order to have the best school year. ...

Many people wanted to improve their health but are overwhelmed with information. Here’s a short list to get you started: The Do’s -- which should represent 80% or more of your diet and lifestyle. The Don’ts -- which should be 20% or less of your diet and lifestyle...

Just as your family doctor prescribes eating your daily fruits and veggies, we veterinarians strongly recommend heartworm prevention for your pets. From the thousands of pets I have treated, I believe it is not IF your pet will contract heartworm disease, it’s WHEN if you don’t keep them on preventative medication...