Halloween is this week, which means the spooky season in full swing. And as with most things this year, All Hallows Eve is going to look a little bit different. While conventional trick-or-treating has been shelved this year, there are many Halloween activities you can still enjoy safely.

Halloween is just around the corner, and some are already thinking ahead for what they will dress up as this year. As unfortunate as conventional spooky celebrations being put on hold is, there’s no reason not to enjoy All Hallows Eve by dressing up. No matter where you shop to gather the items for your costume, you are bound to have seen a section labeled as “Steampunk.” Here, you are bound to find monocles, large-brim hats covered in gears and chains, corsets, googles, frills, and brass.

From the outside, this style appears to be what a goth would choose if they discovered a color other than black. But steampunk is now its own entity; more than just a Halloween costume, steampunk is now its own subculture.

Racial injustice, police brutality, protests, and the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and several others, have all become topics of both conversation and argument in dining rooms, classrooms, and boardrooms across the country. In and amongst these current and polarizing events and issues, the topic of equality and equity in the United States continues its discourse as light is shed on its importance during recent days.

If you have a loved one experiencing dementia, Idaho State University’s Continuing Education and Workforce Training is offering courses targeted on gaining a greater understanding of the symptoms and behaviors of dementia.

“After taking this course, people will have tools in their toolbox to effectively handle some of the behaviors their loved one displays,” Joanne Trammel, occupational therapist and one of the course’s instructors, said. “They will have resources for immediate help in crisis situations, support groups, etc. They will walk away knowing that having dementia does not have to be a stigma or something to be ashamed of but rather a challenge to overcome and now they have ways to handle the challenge better.”

There are three upcoming sections: Dementia Behaviors and Dementia Essentials.

On Feb. 17, Section 1 - Dementia Basics will provide attendees a broad overview of dementia and warning signs.

On March 13, Section 2 - Dementia Behaviors will dive more deeply into the stages of dementia and the difficult behaviors that may accompany them. Attendees will come away with strategies for how to deal with these behaviors and provide meaningful activities for their loved ones.

On April 14, Section 3 - Dementia Essentials will provide attendees with information for support to include caregiver support, legal support, community support and available resources.

To register for Demystifying Dementia Behaviors, or for additional information, visit the course description here.

If you’re anything like me, by this point in the year you’ve stopped paying mind to the day on the calendar and have fully embraced the Groundhog Day lifestyle.

For me, and for many others it seems, this has been a rife opportunity to go through a backlog of things you’ve always meant to enjoy. Maybe during this time you’ve picked up a new hobby, possibly inspired by our article from a few months ago about some fun titles to get you interested in video games. You're not alone. In fact, a third of all Americans have been playing more games.

Did you know there’s a way to make a little extra money by playing video games?

As the fall semester nears, schools and universities across the world are still having to learn how to deal with the new realities of life, and Idaho is no exception. Social distancing measures have made educators find ways to adapt familiar learning practices into something different.

Most are still adapting to the “new normal” of reality in the midst of a pandemic. For Idaho State University’s Continuing Education and Workforce Training (CEWT), this has led to offering our summer courses entirely online via Zoom lectures.

My first experience kayaking was an experience I will never forget. Kayaking wasn't an activity I ever thought I would engage in, let alone enjoy. Culturally, non-land activities such as kayaking and other water sports were deemed as unnecessary and borderline dangerous.

As you’ve probably already expected by now, this year’s Fourth of July, as with many other holidays, will look completely different.

Tired of spending your endless amounts of free time watching television or movies? Maybe right now is the perfect time to try your hand at some video games. I have no shame in admitting that I have spent most of my freetime these last couple months gaming.