FROM the FARM: Memorial Day a time for honoring family past and present

Phil Potempa's weekly farm column recipe.

Family of Edwin and Judy Noga and sons of Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Edwin Noga, 83, seated, with wife Judy and their sons David (left to right), Danny, Richard and Ed, in the kitchen of their home in Winston-Salem, N.C. Edwin is the first cousin of Chester Potempa, father of Times columnist Phil Potempa. A recent reunion included Rich Noga's recipe for grill…

ANDREA NEAL: For growth's sake, cut Indiana income tax

Popular perception to the contrary, Indiana is not a low-tax state. When you add up all the different taxes – property, sales and income assessed by federal, state or local government – we rank right in the middle.

Duke looks to end bowl drought vs. Cincinnati

CHARLOTTE, N.C. | Duke wide receiver Conner Vernon sees Thursday night's Belk Bowl against Cincinnati as a perfect opportunity to help the Blue Devils' football team emerge from basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski's shadow.

Holiday events: Trees, lighting displays and more

From elaborately decorated trees to drive-through lighting displays to boat parades and train shows, a variety of holiday spectacles are being staged through the end of December and into early January around the country. Here are a few of them.

Holiday vacations can create family memories

Instead of making the traditional trek over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house, many Northwest Indiana residents are using the holidays as a time to get away from it all.

Tips for de-stressing holiday entertaining

NEW YORK (AP) — With a little planning, a little help and a lot of resolve, holiday entertaining doesn't have to mean you're too stressed out to enjoy your own party.

Biltmore gives special Christmas tree new life

The Christmas tree Joseph Gray bought his wife back in 1972 grew at the end of their driveway for 40 years, reminding them of the joy of the first holiday season they spent together in their home on Roan Mountain in Tennessee.

Yummy: lunch sacks with DIY character

A desire to recycle, save money and add that personal, imaginative touch is what entices many crafty people to create what easily can be bought. This time of year, that includes crafting a lunch sack.

Mom-and-pop decor companies carve out niches

For small, mom-and-pop shops that produce goods for the home but don't have big advertising budgets, the Internet helps level the playing field, bringing customers who are looking for something different.

Eclectic works star in Gary International Black Film Festival

Compelling topics and interesting talents will take the spotlight during a monumental arts event in Gary this weekend.

Edwin and Judy Noga and Sons of Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Edwin Noga, 83, seated, with wife Judy and their sons David (left to right), Danny, Richard and Ed, in the kitchen of their home in Winston-Salem, N.C. Edwin is the first cousin of Chester Potempa, father of Times columnist Phil Potempa. A recent reunion included Judy's recipe for a moist co…

A road trip

Times Columnist Phil Potempa's oldest brother Tom, and parents Peggy and Chester, stand by one of the original sheriff's cars along Main Street of Mount Airy, N.C., the hometown of Andy Griffith.

FROM the FARM: Moist coffee-flavored cake a family find

Phil Potempa's weekly farm column recipe.

Penske waiting for more info on Allmendinger

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. | AJ Allmendinger was silent Sunday, a day after NASCAR suspended him for failing a random drug test.

OFFBEAT: Readers help with details about Paula Deen and restaurants

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

GOOD LIFE: A Foodie Guide To College Towns

College towns in the U.S. come in different sizes, from the tree-lined streets of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to New York City, arguably the cultural and business epicenter of the country. For foodies, each town offers vast options of eateries from food trucks serving Korean tacos to white-…

Syracuse remains on top of Top 25

Syracuse is on top of The Associated Press' college basketball poll for a second week and UNLV and Virginia are newcomers to the Top 25.

Kentucky new No. 1 in AP Top 25

Kentucky is back at No. 1 in The Associated Press' college basketball poll for the first time since the 2009-10 season and Saint Louis is back in the Top 25 for the first time since 1993-94.

Pamela Allison

Reader Pamela Allison, who now lives in Durham, N.C., and is formerly of Michigan City, has been working on her late mother's special recipe for homemade sweet potato pie.