I am acquiring costume paraphernalia for Halloween parties that haven’t even been conceived yet.

If there is a costume contest, I will be there with bells (and wigs and masks and tutus) on.

I have been known to carry a cape and wizard hat in my car just in case of a sartorial emergency. And it has come in handy, thank you very much.

There is an artistry to a good costume. The combination of whimsy and vulnerability necessary for a grown adult to commit to a public game of dress up with an outfit inevitably revealing a glimpse into their spirit is endlessly charming.

Be brave this Halloween. Put down the “this is my costume” T-shirt. You’re better than that. Let me help!

1. Nostalgia factor

There is nothing like dressing up to make you feel like a kid again. If you’re drawing a blank on who to portray, think back to your favorite childhood cartoons, movies, action figures, books, cereal mascots or video game characters. Sure, you might not find a readymade Count Chocula or Junie B. Jones costume available in a big-box store near you, but it’s not hard — and can even be pretty fun, if you ask me — to gather some pieces here and there that get the job done. Make the 7-year-old version of you smile! Plus, there’s nothing like the high of locking eyes with someone who also loved the obscure computer game character you’ve embodied and seeing their face light up, too.

2. Get thrifty and crafty

Once you’ve honed in on who or what you want to be, a thrift and craft store will make it come to life. Dedicate a day to hitting a few thrift spots to find the perfect blue jacket to pull off Cap’n Crunch. Stop by a craft store on your way home to pick up some blue posterboard so you can DIY his hat. If you work better in teams, host a costume crafting party one weekend in October. Invite your friends over, throw on a spooky movie and supervise each other’s hot glue gun usage while you work on your masterpieces. You’d be surprised how much money you can save picking up glasses, jewelry, leather jackets, jerseys or whatever you’re in the market for at a thrift store. I once thrifted a hand-sewn ET costume clearly made with love by a janky seamstress, and it remains a Halloween costume highlight.

3. Shop local for accessories

If the costume you’ve settled on requires accessories that feel a bit too specific to make or thrift yourself — a sword, a certain wig, a mustache, fangs — then Denver is home to great local costume shops that beat out the chain retailers every time. Lakewood houses Disguises, at 10500 W. Colfax Ave., where you can walk through a maze of costumes and accessories all year round. South Broadway’s Wizard’s Chest, at 451 Broadway, offers year-round help with costumes, a professional theatrical make-up counter, and all kinds of aesthetic accouterments. Witch hats just look better when they’re bought locally, folks.

4. Retro is the way to go

If you really want to stand out this Halloween, an easy way to take a basic costume — witch, astronaut, clown, vampire — and give it a unique spin is to style it vintage. Look up old Halloween costume photos, scour eBay for retro plastic masks or do your hair and makeup reminiscent of a bygone decade. A retro space girl! A 1920s clown! A 1950s robot! Check the thrift stores for some of that authentic antique goodness or shop your grandma’s closet. Play with decades and have some good, old-fashioned fun.

5. RIP

When in doubt, zombie-fy yourself. If you’re going to recycle an old costume, paint your face green and rub some eyeliner under your eyes and, voilà, you’re the zombie version. Even better if you’ve got a pretty costume — ballerina, princess, cheerleader, etc. Coming from the gal who was Zombie Jo March (of “Little Women,” of course) a few years ago, anything can be zombie-fied, friends. Unleash the brains-eater within.

Our Golden State harbors many treasures, a few of which can be found on a trip north to the San Francisco Bay area where visitors can explore nature and history as they restore, refresh and reset perspectives.

Where is this possible? Three locations stand out as perfect sites for restorative journeys: Angel Island State Park, which lies a short ferry ride from Tiburon; China Camp State Park, a wild and historic space near San Rafael; and Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historic Park, situated in Richmond. Travel between the three, all located north of San Francisco, is just under 30 miles, making them an easy adventure that bypasses the urban congestion of the big city.

Angel Island: Solitude and history

A walk around Angel Island today combines an embrace of natural beauty with the physical remnants of our nation’s fraught history.

Great views and most points of interest are found along the island’s five-mile perimeter road, reached most quickly via the Northridge Trail, which climbs 140 steps, some of which require an extra push to bypass a missing tread. It’s slow work for a backpacker carrying 30-plus pounds, and though handrails are present, the way is narrow enough to preclude easy passage of slower hikers.

Once emerging on the paved road surface, views of the bay, of Oakland, the Bay Bridge and San Francisco begin to unfold as does the history of the land.

Dating from the Civil War, Angel Island has served as a defensive position, way station, detention center, and launch point for thousands. During the Civil War, fortifications at Camp Reynolds on the island’s southwest side were constructed to protect San Francisco against Confederate attack. The island also was used as a quarantine center and discharge station for troops returning from war; it housed a U.S. Immigration Station for some 30 years, and served as a launch point for troops headed to war in the Pacific.

Perhaps less known, but likely no less significant, some 700 Japanese Americans were briefly interned here during World War II. The government chose this location to hold a hearing in an attempt to deport union labor leader Harry Bridges, and, during the Cold War, Nike anti-aircraft missiles were here. The former missile site, along with U.S. Coast Guard stations now on the island, are closed to visitors.

But there’s still plenty to see and do, and numerous ways to get around. In addition to hiking, island visitors can rent mountain and electric bikes as well as arrange tram tours of the island sites.

Ferries from Tiburon and San Francisco deliver visitors to a terrace at Ayala Cove, where State Parks employees help direct traffic. A small cafe, bike rentals and tram service are nearby as well as a small gift shop and a kiosk where campers check in to confirm their reservations and campsites.

Upon arriving, to the right lies the trail up to the perimeter road, and the walk eastward to the U.S. Immigration Station, Fort McDowell and East Bay, Sunrise and the North Garrison Group campsites.

To the right is a picnic area, the visitors center, and a route to the Civil War installations, the western Kayak Group and Ridge campsites on the southwest side of the island.

Wind can be an issue for campers. The Ridge campsites are reported to have the best views of San Francisco, but also high winds. A recent visit found even the more protected East Bay sites windy, but the nighttime view of the lights from Oakland, the Bay Bridge and San Francisco is still stunning.

Campsites are a step above primitive, with nearby water, pit toilets, picnic tables and food lock-up boxes provided. Visitors in search of flush toilets and wash basins can find them at the visitors center and the immigration station; they’re also reported at other building installations on the island.

For school groups and first-time visitors, perhaps most attractive for exploration are the former U.S. Immigration Station and Fort McDowell, said to have the eerie feel of a ghost town.

Slipping in between groups of youngsters on school trips to the Detention Barracks Museum at the immigration station, it’s easy to get a feel for how challenging and sad life could be there.

Dormitories served as a stopping point on a journey to America for between 500,000 and 1 million would-be immigrants. As many as one in five were denied U.S. entry, and it’s estimated that more than 100,000 each of Japanese and Chinese immigrants were held here. Families were split between men’s and women’s dorms. Some were held for as little as two weeks; others were detained for months.

Wandering through the all-but-empty dormitories today, visitors see the spaces marked by the vertical support poles, which once housed nests of bunks. Carved into the wood walls, faint Chinese characters emerge with personal messages of grief, longing and anguish at their separation from loved ones.

On the second floor are spaces where the immigrant experience is recreated, with furnishings and personal belongings on display as if they were left by recently departed owners.

Below the detention center barracks, Angel Island’s original fog warning bell sits at the end of a landing pier where the immigrants made their first steps onto U.S. soil.

A little more than a half-mile farther down the perimeter road, visitors can explore the empty shells of Fort McDowell, the buildings of which served as detention camp, quarantine and recruit center before an World War II expansion as it became a major embarkation point for some 300,000 servicemen heading to war in the Pacific Theater.

Today, the buildings stand as mute witnesses to the mobilization of past war efforts. You can walk around and through some shells of structures that were used as hospitals and look over giant barracks, and a massive barrel roof building where cooks could serve more than 1,400 men in one sitting and 12,000 meals a day.

The building also housed a movie theater, a basketball court and had space for dances and entertainment on stage. Today, it’s a crumbling behemoth, closed off but still impressive.

Nearby are barracks, a guard house, the old Post Exchange building, officers’ quarters and a church.

The wall of a World War II hospital building on the right as one enters the site also still bears the imprint of the U.S. artillery symbol of crossed cannons indicating earlier uses of the building. A walk around the building gives ample opportunity for visitors to peek in and see external walkways and staircases that form an intricate connection for rooms and floors. Warning signs advise visitors not to venture inside.

Camping? The turn up to the East Bay campsites follows a road uphill between two service buildings between the immigration station and Fort McDowell. The walk takes campers past a side turn to a group site uphill past a roadside water spigot, after which a fork in the dirt road gives campers an option to head right to the East Bay sites or farther forward to the Sunrise sites.

Early and mid-week sites may be easier to secure, and don’t be surprised by wildlife. On a recent trip, a scat deposit near the picnic table gave evidence of a nocturnal visitor.

Also, when pitching a tent, take care to select the most level ground available or else your sleeping bag slides and awkward positions within the tent are likely. Igloo water coolers were provided at East Bay sites, and park workers were onsite checking conditions. A small camp stove and hiker’s rations were sufficient for the day.

San Francisco weather conditions can be variable, so it’s best to check temperature forecasts when packing to camp.

Getting there: Visit via ferry service out of Tiburon or Golden Gate; parks.ca.gov, 415-435-5390

China Camp State Park: Strange beauty

About 14 miles north of Tiburon, via State Route 131 and U.S. 101 north, is San Rafael; beyond are the wilds of the China Camp State Park. This strange and beautiful location is open from 8 a.m. to sunset for daytime visitors, with a hosted campsite for overnight stays. Note: Recent fires have affected travel in this area, so check travel advisories.

Where campsites on Angel Island offered extensive panoramic views of the East Bay, China Camp visitors sleep among tall trees that see evening mists pervade the night as turkeys and deer wander through the area.

In the 1880s, China Camp was home to a fishing village of some 500 who caught and dried shrimp for export to China, but the enterprise was all but shut down after a ban on shrimp exports, restrictive fishing laws and the Chinese Exclusion Act made the micro-economy unsustainable. In the years since, only one family held on, the Quons, who operated a general store, cafe at the pier and continued to shrimp using new, legal methods.

The resident shrimper of the Quon family died in 2016, but the pier, shrimp processing equipment, cafe and an old, idled boat on the beach are there to explore and enjoy.

Nearby, visitors heading northeast on the winding park road will find a turnoff to the campgrounds just south of the park’s eastern gate. With 30 closely configured campsites, full bathrooms, firepits, foodboxes and picnic tables, overnighters at China Camp will find a peaceful, comfortable landing to shake out their gear and enjoy the surroundings.

Campsites are a short distance from the parking lot, where live-in hosts will pop out of what looks to be a permanently parked Airstream to offer advice or assistance as needed. Visitors have to pack or carry in their gear some 50 to 300 yards, but wheeled bins are available for those with big loads.

Once settled, campers can follow the Shoreline Trail from camp to make a loop around Turtle Back Hill, a promontory that juts out into a brackish, intertidal salt marshlands. On a recent visit, native flowers were prominent along the shaded pathway, as were numerous growths of poison oak.

Getting there: 730 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael; parks.ca.gov, 415-456-0766

Rosie the Riveter: Honoring home front heroes

For those headed toward Angel Island and China Camp coming from the Sacramento area, it’s easy to take in the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historic Park in the morning and finish the day at China Camp. And if the goal is to explore national and California history, this site fits right in.

Pre-World War II Richmond is described as a small, working-class community with a combination of industrial and rural landscapes. A Pullman refurbishing factory was there, and railroads and Standard Oil, too. It provided access to shipping via a deep-water channel completed in the 1920s, and Richmond had shipping terminals and a Ford motor assembly plant.

In 1940, Richmond’s population was 23,600. With its already built infrastructure, the city was primed to become a powerhouse of the U.S. wartime production effort; it quickly exploded to a population of 93,700 with a complex of four Kaiser shipyards that produced 747 vessels, mostly Liberty and Victory ships, needed for the U.S. armed forces.

The park’s visitor center is located in the old Oil House, which supplied power to the adjacent historic Ford Motor Assembly Building that was used for Jeep and armored vehicle production during World War II.

Inside, visitors can learn about how pre-fab techniques helped modernize and speed shipbuilding techniques, and how vital women and minority workers were to the U.S. and Allied victories of World War II. Women weren’t just riveters, as the museum’s name might imply; they were welders, draftspersons, machinists, painters — and did any job a man could do.

Workers came from across the country. They were single women, mothers and wives, from across many racial and ethnic backgrounds. This is in part due to Executive Order 8802 that required fair hiring practices in the defense industry. Bolstering that order was the Double V campaign, a national effort promoting victory on two fronts: abroad against fascism and the Axis powers, and at home against systemic racism and discrimination.

Exhibits in the museum explore this history with dynamic displays and films recounting the efforts of those working on the home front.

Getting there: 1414 Harbour Way South, Suite 3000, Richmond; nps.gov/rori, 510-232-5050

Know before you go

ANGEL ISLAND STATE PARK

For more about the history of Angel Island and to plan a trip, visit the following websites — especially before booking a campsite and to confirm that ferry schedules are suitable for your travel plans.

California State Parks

Camp site reservations:

– Individual sites are $30 per night, with an $8.25 reservation fee.

Tiburon ferry service:

– Summer service runs daily; travel time roughly 15 minutes; adult ticket, $18. For campers, reasonable multiday parking is available at the lot near City Hall, about a half-mile from the ferry terminal.

Golden Gate ferry service to Angel Island:

– Daily service; travel time roughly 30 minutes; adult ticket, $15.50.

Angel Island Conservancy

Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation

National Trust for Historic Preservation, “Messages from Angel Island” 

By FRANCESCO SPORTELLI

FIUMICINO, Italy (AP) — Dog owners often face a dilemma before traveling: leave your beloved pet with a sitter or at a kennel? Both require quite some planning and logistics, which can be stressful and time-consuming for fur parents.

Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport has sought to streamline the process by opening one of the first on-site hotels at a major European airport, following a similar initiative in Frankfurt. Dog Relais’ workers even retrieve pups from the terminal so travelers can proceed straight to their flight.

“This project is fitting into a strategy to provide a very immersive experience to passengers,” said Marilena Blasi, chief commercial officer at Aeroporti di Roma, the company that manages Italian capital’s two airports. “In this case, we provide services to dogs and the owners of the dogs.”

Basic rooms at the dog hotel cost about €40 ($47) and feature temperature-controlled floors and private gardens. More timid or solitary dogs can be placed in kennels at the edge of the facility, where they interact with staff rather than other dogs in the common grass pens. At night, ambient music that has a frequency with a low, soft tone — 432 hertz — designed for relaxation is piped in through the rooms’ speakers.

There are optional extras that range from the usual grooming, bathing and cleaning teeth services, to the more indulgent, such as aromatherapy with lavender or peppermint scents to help induce calm, or arnica cream rubbed into aching muscles and joints.

Owners unsatisfied with standard-issue webcams for checking in on their canines from afar can spring for a €60 (about $70) premium room equipped with a screen for round-the-clock videocalls. They can even pamper their pet by tossing a treat via an application connected to a dispenser.

The facility not only provides its services to travelers, but also to dog owners who need daycare.

Working in human resources for Aeroporti di Roma, Alessandra Morelli regularly leaves her 2-year-old, chocolate-colored Labrador Retriever there.

“Since I’ve been able to bring Nina to this dog hotel, my life, and the balance between my personal and professional life have changed because it allows me to enjoy my working day and my personal travels in total peace and tranquility,” said Morelli, 47.

Dario Chiassarini, 32, said he started bringing his Rottweiler puppy, Athena, to Dog Relais for training, another service on offer, because it’s clean, well-organized and its location was easily accessible. And he said he plans to check his beloved pup into the hotel whenever he and his girlfriend need to travel.

“We will rely on them without hesitation and without doubt — both because we got to know the people who work here, which for us is essential, and because of the love they have for animals and the peace of mind of knowing who we are entrusting Athena to,” said Chiassarini, who works in car sales. “It is certainly a service that, if we should need it, we will make use of.”

The dog hotel has proved popular so far. All 40 rooms were occupied in August, when Italians take their customary summer vacation and millions of passengers come through Fiumicino. Occupancy averaged almost 2/3 since doors opened in May, said Blasi.

The same month the dog hotel opened, Italy’s commercial aviation authority changed rules to allow large dogs to fly inside plane cabins for domestic flights, provided they are inside secured crates. The first such flight will take off on Sept. 23, according to transport minister, Matteo Salvini.

Salvini admits that while many are happy with having their pups on the plane, others may feel annoyed. However, at a pet conference on Sept. 16, he said: “We always have to use judgment, but … for me it’s a source of pride, as well as a step forward from the point of view of civilization.”

Associated Press writer David Biller in Rome contributed to this report.

In interviews with The Baltimore Sun, exorcists claimed these are not movie scenes but moments they’ve witnessed firsthand. And what’s more, requests from the public to undergo the ancient ritual are multiplying.

Today, more than 50 years after Linda Blair’s head spun in the hit film “The Exorcist” and nearly 15 years after the Catholic Church convened its first U.S. seminar on exorcism in Baltimore, the priests who claim to do battle with demons are in more demand than ever.

At the time of that Baltimore meeting, about two dozen exorcists practiced in the United States; today, it has more than six times that amount.

“We’re getting more and more people needing an exorcism,” said Monsignor Stephen Rossetti, a Washington, D.C.-based priest who has been conducting the solemn religious rite for more than 20 years. “There are only about 150 exorcists in the country, and they are being flooded with requests, including from many desperate people pleading for assistance. We can’t keep up with the demand now — and it’s only going to get worse.”

As anyone who has seen “The Exorcist,” the 1973 psychological thriller by director William Friedkin, knows, an exorcism is a prayer encounter in which a trained clergyman calls on the power of the Holy Spirit to dispel a demonic entity or entities believed to be harassing, oppressing, or possessing the bodies of human beings.

In the Christian worldview, the Devil is an angel who was expelled from heaven for rebelling against God’s will. Christians also believe an array of demons — lesser but similarly rebellious spiritual figures — were cast out along with Satan, and that the dark figures work together to sever the connections between human beings and their creator.

“What’s an exorcism? It’s breaking your relationship with the devil or an evil spirit,” said the Most Rev. Thomas Paprocki, the Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, who organized and helped run the landmark Baltimore symposium.

The movie showed that the process can be terrifying and dangerous. Filmgoers saw Blair as Regan McNeil, the 12-year-old victim of demonic possession, spit bile, spew curses in Latin, levitate, throw a priest across the room, and in a moment that made movie history, grin maniacally as her head whirled around 360 degrees. Exorcists claim these moments reflect the very real battle between good and evil.

Exorcists interviewed for this story said their screening process shows that more than 99% of those who claim possession are suffering from a mental illness. Even when a demonic presence is discerned, it’s rarely as severe as the one portrayed in the movie.

“While most cases are not as intense as the 1973 movie, there are wild things that occasionally happen,” said Rossetti, a licensed psychologist and the author of exorcist books, including “Diary of an American Exorcist” (2021) and “My Confrontation With Hell.”

“Objects do get thrown across the room; people do vomit up strange objects; they do speak in demonic voices, often have superhuman strength and can have occult knowledge and communicate in foreign languages.”

Sudden temperature drops also happen, he added, and victims do react strongly to holy water and other sacred objects. He has seen a few levitate.

“These sorts of things happen, but not daily,” said Rossetti, who participates in up to 20 exorcisms of varying intensities per week, often at the St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal in Washington, the ministry of deliverance he founded 24 years ago.

The center serves individuals who reside within the Archdiocese of Washington, regardless of their religious affiliation. The territory includes Montgomery, Prince George’s, Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties in Maryland.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore, like the vast majority of the nation’s 173 dioceses, has a team of individuals trained to conduct exorcisms, but Christian Kendzierski, a spokesman for the archdiocese, said officials declined to comment due to the sensitivity of the topic.

Few who conduct or view the ritual are eager to discuss it, and the church generally shields the process from the tabloids. But some cases are inherently sensational, such as when Rossetti sought to liberate a woman he calls “C,” who had been cursed by self-described witches.

After Rossetti and his team prayed over her, he recalled, she “vomited up an ugly, thick, black liquid” — and hours later, a text message appeared on her phone: “You’ll have [a] migraine all night for throwing me up, b–ch.”

Rossetti favors sharing such experiences to bring the service to wider attention at a time when, in his view, the American public has become far less committed to formal faith practices. In addition to his books, he keeps a blog on his exploits and conducts an online deliverance prayer session with attendees from more than 50 countries.

Shrieking cats

Then, as he describes in his 2020 book, “Demonic Foes: My Twenty-Five Years as a Psychiatrist Investigating Possessions, Diabolic Attacks, and the Paranormal,” a priest Gallagher knew brought a woman he refers to as Julia to his home office.

The night before her visit, he told The Sun, he and his wife were awakened at 3 a.m. by the sound of their two normally friendly cats shrieking and clawing each other.

When Julia came to his home the next morning, Gallagher said, she introduced herself with a smirk and asked him how his cats were doing.

What he saw as he observed her over the next few weeks convinced him her condition could not be explained by medical science. On one occasion, he recalled, during a drive with Julia and the priest, she appeared to fall asleep, then said, in a suddenly deeper-than-usual voice, “You never learn, you f—ing priest! She’s ours, leave her alone, or you’re going to be sorry.” When she awoke, she had no idea where she was.

Another time, he said Julia told him she could “see” a friend of his even though the man was several states away. When Gallagher called him to check, the man confirmed her description of his attire (a blue windbreaker) and what he was doing (walking on a beach).

Gallagher later attended several exorcisms of Julia — a self-described Satanist. The sessions fell short of liberating her, but they were the first of hundreds he has witnessed while emerging as one of the world’s most widely consulted scientific experts on demonic possession — and he said he has been seeing more cases than he can fit into his busy physician’s schedule.

“Anybody who thinks there are no Satanists is just as wrong as anybody who thinks that Satanists are around every corner,” he said.

A victim levitating

He said he has never heard of a head spinning but he said it’s common for afflicted people to physically resist entering a church, have the strength to throw a grown man across a room, manifest totally white eyes, speak in Russian or Latin, or — a sign he says means a demon is being expelled -— foaming at the mouth so badly that “you have to get a bucket.”

He also witnessed in Rome a victim levitating about two feet above her chair. He and four other team members had to hold her down.

“This went on for a few minutes,” he said.

Now retired, the priest still gets multiple requests per week, and “it’s hard to blow off people who are suffering.” He helped establish the Pope Leo XIII Institute, an educational center on exorcism, in the Chicago area in 2012, and like almost everyone in the field, he’s a member of the International Association of Exorcists, an organization the church founded in 1994 and boasts more than 900 members.

The priests interviewed for this story have theories as to why exorcism is in demand. Some point to the growing number of Americans drawn to the kind of alternative practices — tarot cards, astrology, the use of Ouija boards — they believe are like catnip to demons.

Rossetti said there are three steps toward “getting possessed” — abandoning one’s faith life, committing serious sins, and practicing the occult — and “a frightening number of people, including young people, going down this path.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that years from now, many of them will have demonic afflictions,” he added.

Still, he and his colleagues have faith that God has power over Satan, and as long as they bring the faith, strength and humility the task calls for, he’s sure it will set the captives free.

“It’s a great confirmation of the faith and one of the graces of this ministry,” he said.

Have a news tip? Contact Jonathan M. Pitts at jonpitts@baltsun.com.

As the weather cools and pumpkin spice season returns, many of us find comfort and enjoyment in a cozy latte or festive tea. Whether preparing your daily cup at home or grabbing a beverage from a trendy café, these small indulgences can have a bigger impact on our health than we realize.

Coffee and tea both come with potential health benefits, but sweeteners, creamers, whipped cream and other add-ons can lead to excess added sugar, fat and calories. With well over half of Americans drinking coffee every day, the way it is prepared matters. Here are strategies to navigate the top ingredient concerns when preparing or ordering your favorite hot (or iced) drink.

Be Mindful about Sugar

A medium pumpkin spice latte contains about 32 grams or eight teaspoons of added sugar. Women and men should aim for no more than six to nine teaspoons of added sugar daily, respectively. When ordering specialty teas and coffee drinks, consider ordering your drink with fewer pumps of syrup or requesting sugar-free options if available. Even reducing the standard amount by half can be enough to satisfy a sweet tooth. At home, try flavoring your coffee or tea with cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom or vanilla extract instead of syrups. These add warmth and enhance aroma without hidden sugar.

Choose Creamers Wisely

Many creamers actually contain no cream or milk at all. Instead, they can be loaded with oils, stabilizers, emulsifiers, sugar and water, providing little to no nutritional value. When shopping for coffee creamers, look for products with milk or cream listed in the top three ingredients. A splash of milk, non-dairy milk or half and half can also be a good choice. For those who prefer flavored creamers, choose those with less added sugar and keep an eye on the serving size.

Milk Matters

What you choose as a base for your espresso drink, milk tea and other beverages can make a difference. Whole milk and heavy cream add richness, but may not always be the best option. For example, skim milk, 2% milk and unsweetened non-dairy alternatives such as oat, soy or almond milk contain less fat, saturated fat and calories compared to whole milk and heavy cream. If you love lattes, try an Americano with a generous splash of milk. This way you’ll get the same amount of espresso and a similar taste as a latte, but with much fewer calories and fat.

Customize your Order

When ordering a coffee or tea drink, make it healthier by customizing it. Baristas are used to requests like “light whip,” “half sweet” or “skinny.” These simple changes can cut down on hundreds of calories and tablespoons of sugar over the season without compromising taste and enjoyment. In fact, making healthy requests or choosing a Tall instead of a Venti size can be the difference between a balanced treat and an unintentional sugar overload.

Savor Mindfully

Finally, make it a ritual. When we slow down and enjoy coffee or tea as part of a mindful break, satisfaction is increased. A sprinkle of cinnamon, a dusting of cocoa powder or a teaspoon of local honey may be all it takes to elevate a simple cup into something special. Try out some of these smart sipping strategies so your everyday favorite beverage can easily fit into your healthy lifestyle.

LeeAnn Weintraub, MPH, RD is a registered dietitian, providing nutrition counseling and consulting to individuals, families and organizations. She can be reached by email at RD@halfacup.com.

By MARK KENNEDY

The Emmy Awards weren’t all about Seth Rogen walking up the aisle in his burnt brown tux to collect yet another award. It just sometimes seemed that way.

Rogen’s “The Studio” won a total of 13 Emmys, breaking the all-time record for most wins for a comedy series. Rogen himself won four, tying the record for most Emmys won by a single individual in one night.

“I’m legitimately embarrassed,” Rogen admitted at one point.

But behind the undeniable march of “The Studio” were some other pieces of Emmy history. The youngest male actor ever was crowned for the series “Adolescence” and “Severance” star Tramell Tillman became the first Black actor to win in his category. And the up and down year of Stephen Colbert hit a high.

An adolescent makes history

Owen Cooper, 15, shattered the Emmy record for youngest male acting winner.

The “Adolescence” star won best supporting actor in a limited or anthology series. The Netflix four-part series which traces the emotional fallout after a U.K. teenage stabbing, became a sensation, a sort of 2025 version of last year’s “Baby Reindeer.”

In his acceptance speech, Cooper revealed he only started acting classes a few years ago and encouraged those watching to step out of their comfort zones.

“A couple years back I didn’t expect to be in the United States, let alone here. Tonight proves if you listen, you focus and you step out of your comfort zone, you can achieve anything in life. I was nothing three years ago. I’m here now,” he said.

The record for youngest male actor had previously been held by Scott Jacoby, who was 16 when he won in the supporting drama actor trophy for “That Certain Summer” in 1973. The youngest Emmy winner ever is Roxana Zal, who won a Primetime Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a limited series in 1984 at age 14.

Cooper beat Javier Bardem, Bill Camp, Rob Delaney, Peter Sarsgaard and his “Adolescence” co-star Ashley Walters.

Stephen Colbert going out with a bang

“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” won the award for best talk series for the first time, just months after learning it was being canceled.

In July, CBS announced it was ending the show, attributing the cause to financial reasons. The series will go off the air in May 2026.

Colbert, who has hosted his show since 2015, was gracious, thanking CBS for his shot and quoting from Prince’s hit “Let’s Go Crazy”: “If the elevator tries to bring you down/Go crazy, punch a higher floor.”

Earlier in the night, he turned his time as award presenter into a job ad, getting a standing ovation as he approached the microphone to announce the winner of lead actor in a comedy series.

“While I have your attention, is anyone hiring? Because I’ve got 200 very well-qualified candidates with me here tonight. We’ll be available in June,” he said.

He then pulled out a resume and an old headshot but realized he only had the one copy. “Harrison Ford, could you get this to Spielberg?” He ran over to Ford, who seemed to promise he would.

Tramell Tillman charms

Tramell Tillman made history, but he made it all about his mom.

The “Severance” star became the first Black actor to win best supporting actor in a drama playing the creepy, unnerving Seth Milchick.

Tillman thanked his first acting coach — his mother, who was also his date.

“You remember what you want to remember. You make time for what you want to make for. Do the work. Show up. And most importantly, for the love of God, don’t embarrass me in public,” he said. “My first acting coach was tough, y’all, but all great mothers are.”

Tillman, holding the statuette high, added: “This is for you. I am full, I am humbled, I am honored.”

A fake ER worker honors the real ones

Noah Wyle’s narrative was just too powerful to deny. After getting five nominations without a win for “ER,” the actor came back to don scrubs 30 years later and won his first Emmy for playing another emergency doctor on “The Pitt.”

Wyle thanked HBO Max and Warner Bros. Television for allowing “the conditions to exist for lightning to strike in my life twice.”

And then he dedicated his award to those in the health care field.

“To anybody who’s going on shift tonight or coming off shift tonight, thank you for being in that job. This is for you,” Wyle said.

A little politics

CBS is likely wiping its network forehead that a bitterly divided nation didn’t make the Emmys a divisive place.

Yes, Javier Bardem wore a kaffiyeh in support of Palestinians and Television Academy Chairman Cris Abrego criticized Congress for voting to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. But Donald Trump and Charlie Kirk were never mentioned on the broadcast and even Stephen Colbert — never shy to mock the powerful — stayed apolitical.

The most explosive it got was when “Hacks” star Hannah Einbinder ended her acceptance speech win with vocal support for the Philadelphia Eagles, an expletive aimed at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and a call to “free Palestine.”

Speeches that cost a lot

At the last Emmys, host Anthony Anderson turned to his mother to enforce shorter acceptance speeches. This year host Nate Bargatze used guilt.

He revealed he would pledge $100,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America but that donation would shrink by $1,000 for every second a winner exceeded their 45-second speech limit.

Some winners went too long — like Einbinder, who promised to pay the difference — and some went purposely fast — like John Oliver and Rogen — to take advantage of a new rule Bargatze proposed: Every second saved from the 45-second limit would get back $1,000.

In the end, Bargatze promised to still donate not just the original amount, but — when adding CBS’ contribution — came out to be a full $350,000.

“Go to heaven a-shoutin’”

Phylicia Rashad introduced the in memoriam section, highlighting the loss of her TV son, Malcolm Jamal Warner, the “Cosby Show” star who died in July. “Like all our friends and colleagues who transitioned this past year, Malcolm Jamal Warner remains in our hearts.”

Then Lainey Wilson and Vince Gill sang a tender “Go Rest High on That Mountain” during the tribute, which included Teri Garr, Ozzy Osbourne, Chuck Woolery, Loni Anderson, Bill Moyers, George Wendt, Loretta Swit. Maggie Smith, David Lynch, Richard Chamberlain, Linda Lavin, Anne Burrell, Michelle Trachtenberg and Quincy Jones. Notable absences were Hulk Hogan and Polly Holliday.

Tributes, tributes, tributes

The Emmys looked back by celebrating the anniversary of several shows, including having Reba McEntire, Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman performing the theme song of “The Golden Girls” for its 40th anniversary.

Jeff Probst was on hand to celebrate the 50th season of “Survivor,” presenting the award for scripted variety series as if it was a tribal council meeting.

Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham stood in a replica of their Connecticut home set to celebrate “Gilmore Girls,” a coming-of-age story, blending wittiness with relatable family dynamics that celebrated its debut 25 years ago.

Additional tributes honored “Law & Order’s” 35th anniversary, featuring Ice-T, Tony Goldwyn, Mariska Hargitay, S. Epatha Merkerson and Christopher Meloni.

“Grey’s Anatomy” — the longest-running prime-time medical drama in American television history — was supposed to mark its 20th anniversary with appearances by Eric Dane and Jesse Williams. Only Williams was there; Dane revealed his ALS diagnosis in April.

Ray Romano and Brad Garrett had a mini-reunion of “Everybody Loves Raymond.” It was one of the night’s funniest bits, with both men sad about how long it had taken them to be back at the Emmys. Garrett wondered if he’d make the in memoriam section after he died. “If it’s a slow year, no doubt,” Romano told him.

This story corrects the title of “Baby Reindeer.”

For more coverage of this year’s Emmy Awards, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/emmy-awards

By JESSICA DAMIANO

If the wait for bulbs to bloom in spring seems excruciatingly long, you can pot some up now and enjoy a floriferous winter indoors.

Gardeners are constantly gaming the system, using fertilizers to force plants to direct energy toward more blooms, more fruit or faster growth; starting seeds indoors to ensure earlier tomatoes; and using row covers or cold frames to extend the season. So why not bend nature’s schedule to gift ourselves some joy during the bleakness of January?

That is, after all, what professional growers do to fill all those pastel-foil-wrapped pots of tulips and daffodils sold as Easter plants.

All you need are clay pots, potting mix, ordinary spring bulbs and some patience.

How to do it

Fill pots with the mix, then set grape or standard hyacinth, tulip, daffodil or crocus bulbs — or a combination — just beneath the surface. (Tulip bulbs should be angled with their flat sides facing outward so that their eventual leaves unfurl over the container’s edge.)

Store the pots at about 55 degrees Fahrenheit for four to six weeks to ensure good root establishment, and water regularly to keep the soil slightly moist. An unheated basement or attached garage could serve well, depending on your location.

Then prepare for the deception.

For the bulbs to bloom, you’ll have to convince them that they’ve lived through winter. You can achieve this by placing the pots in the refrigerator (away from fruit, which releases ethylene gas that inhibits sprouting) for 12 weeks.

If you find yourself growing impatient, you can remove them from the fridge after six weeks, but they will take longer to bloom.

And if you’re feeling creative, take one pot out at the six-week mark, then remove another every couple of weeks. You’ll be rewarded with a succession of blooms that will last through winter.

After the chilling period, move the pots into the warmth and light of your living space, where they’ll grow and bloom in as little as two weeks. If you live in a frost-free region, you can even plant the chilled bulbs outdoors.

Aside from water, the plants won’t require anything from you, as bulbs contain all the stored energy and nutrients they need to survive and thrive.

When the danger of frost has passed, you can move your plants into the garden. Tulips may not reappear next year — that’s a gamble with nothing to lose — but you can expect daffodils, crocus and hyacinths to bloom again alongside their bedmates.

Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice.

For more AP gardening stories, go to https://apnews.com/hub/gardening.

Just after Labor Day, movie studios become more serious-minded about the films they are releasing — with the upcoming awards season in mind.

That means titles, directors and actors will start showing up on theater marquees that studios hope will be repeated on Oscar night.

Not that the popcorn season has popped its last kernel. Plenty of potential blockbusters will be hitting theaters this season along with expected “prestige” films.

This fall season is no exception, with awards contenders getting carted out amongst the crowd-pleasers.

And, of course, plenty of sequels, reboots and remakes will be in the picture. This fall, for example, brings the hard-luck rockers from “Spinal Tap” back to the big screen in a much-anticipated sequel. “Downton Abbey” gets a “Grand Finale.” Bill Condon offers a new take on “Kiss of the Spider Woman.” And Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi star in Guillermo del Toro’s new adaption of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.”

In short, film fans can look forward to a rich assortment of new and time-honored cinematic stories this fall.

We took a look at a few (44!) of the most promising titles hitting theaters from Sept. 5 to Nov. 14. Note: Release dates are subject to change.

September

“Twinless”: A single-for-a-reason guy (director/screenwriter James Sweeney) enters a support group and gets cozy with a straight twin (Dylan O’Brien, in a dual role). Confused? Not to worry; this hot, cringey jaw-dropper makes sense out of an increasingly outlandish situation. (In theaters Sept. 5.)

“The Conjuring: Last Rites”: The Smurl brood from Pennsylvania hire paranormal-busters Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) to remove a most unwelcome demonic houseguest. Billed as the final in the franchise. (In theaters Sept. 5.)

“Spinal Tap II: The End Continues”: Hollywood’s insatiable appetite for late-blooming nostalgic sequels (“Beetlejuice,” “Happy Gilmore”) continues with director/co-screenwriter Rob Reiner’s ADU to his 1984 mockumentary classic.  It takes place 41 years after with those estranged metalheads and documentarian Marty Di Bergi (Reiner) prepping for one last boisterous concert. Paul McCartney and Elton John crash the party. (In theaters Sept. 12.)

“Paper Bag Plan”: Oakland native Anthony Lucero’s big-hearted follow to his Oakland-set “East Side Sushi” follows a terminally ill father (Lance Kinsey) as he shows disabled son (Cole Massie) the ropes on bagging groceries so he’ll thrive independently. Both performances are phenomenal. (Opens Sept. 12 at the Grand Lake Theater, Oakland; Sept. 19 at Cinelux Almaden Cafe & Lounge, San Jose.)

“The Long Walk”: Some Stephen King diehards consider his 1979 dystopian psychological thriller, written as Richard Bachman, to be his bleakest. That’s saying somethin’. This one is about teen boys in an authoritarian America participating in a brutal and lethal walking contest. (In theaters Sept. 12.)

“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale”: The 1930s prove a topsy-turvy time for the Crawleys as they weather scandal and money woes, all of which disrupt the lives of the people who work for them. (In theaters Sept. 12.)

“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba — The Movie: Infinity Castle”: Anime fans are already queuing up for the latest outing that’s based on the insanely popular fantasy manga and series. (In theaters Sept. 12.)

“HIM”: Executive producer Jordan Peele hands the big-league ball over to talented El Cerrito-born filmmaker Justin Tipping (“Kicks”), who directs/co-writes a sports horror story about a gifted young athlete (Tyriq Withers) training at a freaky football camp overseen by a sunsetting game veteran (Marlon Wayans). (In theaters Sept. 19.)

“A Big Bold Beautiful Journey”: Two of today’s most beloved actors — Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell — unite for a romantic fantasy wherein strangers get a chance to revisit their pasts. Kogonada (he of the the criminally underrated “After Yang”) directs. (In theaters Sept. 19.)

“The Lost Bus”: Matthew McConaughey is a school bus driver and America Ferrera is a teacher who team to save schoolchildren during the horrific 2018 Camp Fire in Butte County. Director Paul Greengrass co-wrote the screenplay. (In select theaters Sept. 19; streaming on Apple TV+ Oct. 3.)

“One Battle After Another”: Paul Thomas Anderson attempts the near-impossible again, adapting another wily Thomas Pynchon tome. (He had limited success with “Inherent Vice.”) Leonardo Di Caprio, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, and Sean Penn hop aboard for this wild ride wherein a pack of quirky ex-revolutionaries queue up to save one of their daughters. (In theaters Sept. 26.)

“Eleanor the Great”: In Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut, June Squibb portrays a longing-for-connection 94-year-old who sparks the attention of a journalism student after she shares a story that’s not her own. (In theaters Sept. 26.)

October

“The Smashing Machine”: Will Hayward native Dwayne Johnson score an acting nom for his portrayal of real-life MMA fighter Mark Kerr? With Benny Safdie helming this bio-pic, it wouldn’t surprise us. (In theaters Oct. 3.)

“Anemone”: One of our acting greats — Daniel Day-Lewis — comes out of retirement for a drama he co-wrote with son, Ronan — who directs. The Oscar winner plays a hermit who reconnects with his brother decades after a traumatic incident. (In limited release Oct. 3; expands Oct. 10.)

“Shelby Oaks”: A horrifying videotape propels a woman on a hellish odyssey to pinpoint her long-missing sister. It’s YouTube sensation Chris Stuckmann’s horror debut. (In theaters Oct. 3.)

“Good Boy”: Some might well shout out “nepo puppy!” upon hearing that the doggie hero in this horror film is played by director Ben Leonberg’s retriever Indy. Don’t. Word is this effective horror ditty set in a haunted country home features star turns from its director, canine star and others in the cast. (In theaters Oct. 3.)

“Bone Lake”: Wicked and kinky games between two couples turn bloody in a cabin in the woods. This erotic horror film has been shocking early audiences. (In theaters Oct. 3.)

“Tron: Ares”:  After the meh “Tron: Legacy” (2010), Disney hopes to rev up the engines of this franchise. Jared Leto is in the driver’s seat in an AI-themed actionfest set in the real world. Original star Jeff Bridges gives it gravitas. (In theaters Oct. 10.)

“Roofman”: In this film based on a true story, a robber (Channing Tatum) camps out for six months in a Toys “R” Us store but finds that double-life challenged when he meets a customer (Kirsten Dunst). Derek Cianfrance

(“Blue Valentine”) directed and co-wrote this comedy-drama. (In theaters Oct. 10.)

“Kiss of the Spider Woman”: Both the Tony-winning musical adaptation and the 1976 novel it was based on, which also begat an award-winning 1985 feature, serve as the inspiration for Bill Condon’s music-infused version with Diego Luna, Tonatiuh and Jennifer Lopez. It’s centered on a relationship between two people in prison. (In theaters Oct. 10.)

“If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”: Rose Byrne’s gaining buzz for her committed performance as a stressed-to-the-breaking-point mom who leaps from one crisis to another. Conan O’Brien plays her not-so-helpful therapist. (In select theaters Oct. 10.)

“After the Hunt”: The past of college professor Alma Olsson (Julia Roberts) and academic egos collide when a brilliant student (Ayo Edebiri) lobs a sexual abuse accusation the way of Alma’s colleague (Andrew Garfield). Luca Guadagnino (“Call Me By Your Name,” “Challengers”) directs this conversation-starter, which sparked a vigorous post-screening convo after its Venice Film Fest screening last weekend. (Opens Oct. 10 in Los Angeles and New York; Oct. 17 elsewhere.)

“It Was Just an Accident”: Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi’s intense drama continues to gobble up awards on the festival circuit, including the coveted Palme d’Or at Cannes. The premise is a grabber: A mechanic believes he’s run into the cruel jailhouse captor from his past and takes matters into his own hands. (In select theaters Oct. 15.)

“Ballad of a Small Player”: “Conclave” director Edward Berger jumps from bishops to gamblers for this adaptation of Lawrence Osborne’s much-praised novel set in Macau. Colin Farrell rolls the dice in the lead. (In select theaters Oct. 15; available on Netflix Oct. 29.)

“Good Fortune”: The trailer alone promises huge laughs, as a bungling angel (Keanu Reeves) becomes too involved in the lives of a down-on-his-luck gig worker (Aziz Ansari, who also directs and stars) and an obscenely rich venture capitalist (Seth Rogen). (In theaters Oct. 17.)

“Frankenstein”: Mary Shelley’s Gothic classic comes to life again, this time with Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein, Jacob Elordi as The Creature and Mia Goth as Elizabeth and Guillermo del Toro directing. (In select theaters Oct. 17; on Netflix Nov. 7.)

“Black Phone 2”: Villains never stay dead and buried, at least in the horror film world. Case in point: The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) who haunts the living daylights once again out of a now-17-year-old Finn (Mason Thames) and his sister at a snowed-in winter resort. Scott Derrickson returns to direct.

“Hedda”: Nia DaCosta (“Candyman”) gives Ibsen’s classic story and iconic character a modern revival with Tessa Thompson portraying Hedda, who’s confronting harsh societal expectations and demands. (In select theaters Oct. 22; available on Amazon Prime Oct. 29.)

“Regretting You”: Colleen Hoover’s tearjerker of a best seller about a mom (Allison Williams) and daughter (Mckenna Grace) and the fraught relationship between the two that settles in after a tragic accident stars Palo Alto native Dave Franco and Monterey native Scott Eastwood, as well Mason Thames. (In theaters Oct. 24.)

“Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere”: Director/screenwriter Scott Cooper hones in on a pivotal period in the career of The Boss (Jeremy Allen White): the making of his brilliant 1982 acoustic album “Nebraska.” Will the smoldering star of “The Bear” land an Oscar nod like Timothée Chalamet did for playing Dylan? Looks hopeful. (In theaters Oct. 24.)

“Bugonia”: In yet another bizarre head trip from filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos, two “worker bees”(Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis) become convinced a CEO (Emma Stone) is intent on obliterating our world. So they kidnap her. Will Tracy’s screenplay uses the 2003 Korean comedy “Save the Green Planet!” as its jumping off point. (In New York and Los Angeles Oct. 24; opens wide Oct. 31.)

“Blue Moon”: The often-inebriated lyricist Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke) hangs out at a New York bar on the eve of the premiere of his collaboration with Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott), the musical “Oklahoma!,” and becomes smitten with an enchanting woman (Margaret Qualley). Richard Linklater directs. (In theaters Oct. 24.)

“Nouvelle Vague”: What transpired during the making of Jean Luc-Godard’s French New Wave classic “Breathless”?  Richard Linklater’s black-and-white film imagines it. (In select theaters Oct. 31; on Netflix Nov. 14.)

“A House of Dynamite”: Director Kathryn Bigelow’s thriller with Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson focuses on a missile getting aimed at the U.S. and the countdown over what to do next. (Available on Netflix Oct. 24.)

November

“Train Dreams”: The Sundance crowd embraced Clint Bentley’s adaptation of Denis Johnson’s novella about an early 20th century logger and railroad worker portrayed by Joel Edgerton. (In select theatres Nov. 7; on Netflix Nov. 21.)

“Predator: Badlands”: Dan Trachtenberg revitalized the “Predator” franchise in 2022 with the Indigenous-themed “Prey” and he looks to be carrying on that tradition with a futuristic rejiggering in which a Predator that’s been rejected from his clan teams with a female robot (Elle Fanning) and takes on a new nemesis. (In theaters Nov. 7.)

“Sentimental Value”: The Cannes crowd gushed over Joachim Trier’s latest drama, which reteams the director with the iridescent Renate Reinsve (“The Worst Person in the World”). She plays one of two daughters sucked into her father’s filmmaking world. (In theaters Nov. 7.)

“Nuremberg”: Pressure reaches the boiling point for a psychiatrist (Rami Malek) determining whether infamous Nazi leader Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe) is mentally sound to stand trial. Director James Vanderbilt adapts author Jack El-Hai’s “The Nazi and the Psychiatrist.” (In theaters Nov. 7.)

“I Wish You All the Best”: When their parents kick them out for revealing they’re nonbinary, Ben (Corey Fogelmanis) moves in with their estranged sister and finds connection and friendship at a new school. Tommy Dorfman steps into the director’s and producer’s chair and adapts author Mason Deaver’s heralded YA novel. (In theaters Nov. 7.)

“The Running Man”: Edgar Wright put his electrifying directorial skills to work with his take on a 1982 Richard Bachman (aka Stephen King) novel that was turned into a 1987 movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Glenn Powell enters the danger zone as a contestant participating in a deadly game. Colman Domingo looks to be a scene stealer as the host of “The Running Man” show. (In theaters Nov. 14.)

“Keeper”: Prolific Osgood Perkins (“Longlegs,” “The Monkey”) gives us another multi-layered horror story, this time penned by “Dangerous Animals” screenwriter Nick Lepard. It’s set in a cabin in the woods where a couple (Tatiana Maslany and Rossif Sutherland) gets sucked into a vortex of terror. (In theaters Nov. 14.)

“Now You See Me, Now You Don’t”: A diamond heist brings veteran and newbie illusionists together in the latest installment of a franchise that again boasts a killer cast (Jessie Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Rosamund Pike, Morgan Freeman and more. (In theaters Nov. 14.)

“Jay Kelly”: With his longtime manager (Adam Sandler) by his side, an introspective 60-year-old actor (George Clooney) considers his place in the world while attending an Italian film festival honoring him. Noah Baumbach’s dramedy costars Billy Crudup, Laura Dern and Greta Gerwig. (In theaters Nov. 14.)

“Sirat”: The search for a young woman brings a father and son to a rave in Morocco in this twist-filled, genre-defiant feature from Oliver Laxe.

Contact Randy Myers at soitsrandy@gmail.com.

Students in Michigan have returned to school and with that comes a need for drivers to stay on alert and aware of school buses cruising through communities picking up children and dropping them off.

“Traffic tends to spike during the first days of school as many parents opt to drive their children,” Adrienne Woodland, a spokesperson for AAA-The Auto Club Group said in a news release. “We advise adding 30 minutes to your morning commute. Drivers running late are more prone to speeding, which endangers lives.”

Motorists also need to be aware of Michigan’s laws requiring motorists to stop when approaching a school bus pulled over with its red lights flashing and STOP arm extended.

The only exception is on a divided highway with a raised divider, yet 20% of Michigan respondents in a survey by AAA admitted to driving around a school bus while its red lights were flashing, which could result in fines and fatalities. A similar survey by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) estimated nationwide there were more than 43.5 million illegal school bus passings during the 2022-2023 school year.

AAA provided this explanation of the laws in Michigan: “When it comes to a two lane street all drivers moving in either direction on a two-way street must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children and the school bus stop arm is withdrawn.

“In the case of a multi-lane paved median all drivers moving in either direction must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children AND the school bus stop arm is withdrawn.

“Traffic approaching an oncoming school bus on a divided highway do not need to stop if there is a raised barrier such as a concrete divider or at least five feet of unpaved space separating the lanes of traffic. However, these motorists should slow down and watch for students loading or unloading from the bus.”

AAA offers drivers these tips for school zone safety:• Avoid distractions• Remain focused on the road. No texting, eating or multitasking while driving.• Brake for safety• Slow down and stay alert. School zones are unpredictable, so be ready to stop at a moment’s notice.• Keep a watchful eye on pedestrians and bicyclists• Be aware of school zone signs, crossing guards, AAA School Safety Patrollers, and anyone walking or biking. Always yield and drive cautiously.

Other survey stats:• 46% admitted to speeding in an active school zone.• 33% admitted to using their hand-held cell phone while driving in active school zones.

Nationwide, nearly one out of every five children (age 14 and under) killed in traffic crashes are pedestrians, however, safety experts say distracted walking can be just as dangerous as distracted driving.

“Now is the time to talk to your children about traffic safety,” Woodland said. “Discourage students from wearing earbuds or looking down at digital devices while standing at the bus stop or walking near traffic. Otherwise, they may not hear an approaching vehicle.”

As part of its School’s Open Drive Carefully campaign, AAA has put together a guide for  parents of young pedestrians and offers the following tips:

For student pedestrians

• Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings and avoid using headphones or looking down at your phone when near traffic.• Use sidewalks where available. If not, walk against the direction of traffic so you can see oncoming vehicles.• Make yourself easier to be seen by wearing reflective, bright colored clothing.• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street to make sure the vehicle is stopping.

For bicyclists and those using scooters

• Always wear a helmet.• Ride with traffic and use bike lanes when you can.• Do not wear headphones so you can detect approaching traffic.• Cross streets at intersections- not from between parked cars.

For students riding the bus

• Arrive at least 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.• Stand five steps away from the curb.• Wait for the bus to stop completely and for the bus driver’s signal before boarding.