Latest news with #Worsham
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Teens, screens, time pressure and other challenges to navigate on a family road trip
If you're going to be road-tripping with your family this summer, get ready to embrace unexpected moments of both connection and inevitable chaos. I found both when I packed up the car with my husband and two kids — one of them a teenager — for the eight-hour drive from Boston to Niagara Falls. We had taken long road trips as a family in the past, but our kids, now 8 and 14, were older. My son, firmly in his 'closed-door, don't talk to me' phase, wasn't exactly thrilled about spending over 460 miles trapped in our smallish Nissan Rogue. We also live in a part of the country where we don't spend much time in cars in our everyday life. How would we all manage the close quarters? Here's some of what I learned — along with advice from the experts — about not only surviving a family road trip but having a good time: First, why do it? Many road-trip veterans cite the chance to bond and create family memories. Eighteen-year-old Samara Worsham, for example, spent 30 days crossing 25 states with her family in 2022. Now preparing to leave for college, she says she cherishes that time on the road. 'There were long stretches with no cellular data, leaving us nothing to do but talk,' she said. Along with visiting U.S. landmarks, Worsham's fondest memories include hotel pool swims with her siblings, and her father's mission to sample every fast-food chain across the country. There are practical advantages to the family car trip too. 'It's more economical than flying, especially with a big family,' says Jamie Davis Smith, a lawyer and writer from Washington, D.C., who takes a road trip every year with her husband and children. 'Plus, you don't have to rent a car at the destination.' Get family input on the itinerary Alain Robert, founder of The Travelologist, a Canadian travel agency, recommends including the whole family in planning. 'Ask what they'd like to see or do. Build around everyone's interests,' he advised. 'Once you have a backbone itinerary, share it and manage expectations.' My family, in particular the kids, wanted to get there as soon as possible. They had their eyes on the destination, not the journey. Include some cheesy stops — if you can take the time Davis Smith said her family loves to discover quirky roadside attractions; on one trip, they had fun stopping at the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama — a store that sells lost airline luggage. Inspired, I downloaded the Roadtrippers app and mapped out a few detour-worthy stops. Our shortlist included the Jell-O Museum in LeRoy, New York, as well as the Schuyler Mansion (of 'Hamilton' fame) in Albany, New York. But best-laid plans... We quickly realized that an eight-hour haul didn't leave much wiggle room for exploration. Lesson learned: Keep daily driving to six hours or less if you want time to explore. We didn't have time for either of those two stops. Whether you bring your pet or not, prepare for extra costs We briefly considered bringing Rosie, our 2-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, but the hotel we'd booked at Niagara wasn't dog-friendly. No friends were available to watch her, so at the last minute, we boarded her at our vet — a first for Rosie. We hadn't expected she would need two new vaccines, and we had to squeeze in a vet appointment two days before departure. This meant a steep bill the morning we left, and boarding costs awaiting us when we returned. Travel journalist Kelly Burch, who road-tripped around the U.S. for seven months with her husband, two kids and senior dog, warned that pet policies on the road can be unpredictable. One budget hotel near Yellowstone National Park wouldn't even allow their dog to stay in their RV on the property. 'Triple check pet policies,' she advised. Teens... Knowing my teenager would need space, I splurged on a junior suite. He got his own bed, slept late and had the space to recharge. The suite came with a small kitchen and a breathtaking view of Horseshoe Falls — well worth the extra cost for three nights. If we'd stayed longer, I would have reconsidered the splurge. But since we saved money by not flying, the room felt like a worthwhile tradeoff. ... and screens If your kids are on the younger side, divert them with family car games. 'If you start the screen early, it can be difficult to convince them to do anything else,' says freelance journalist Stratton Lawrence, 43, who has written for Travel & Leisure about his family road trips — without devices. He's driven with his young kids and wife from South Carolina to the Pacific Coast twice, including one three-month stretch on the road. Even older kids, he says, will appreciate something like a deck of cards or a paper atlas to see the geography. 'If you're going to be in a car for 100-plus hours, the kids aren't going to be entertained watching TV that whole time, so you have to have other things,' he said. Overall, I think my teenager thought the trip was OK. His friend happened to be visiting Niagara Falls with her family and staying in the same hotel where we stayed. That was a welcome surprise. He also seemed to like our daytime outings, especially the boat ride into the Horseshoe Falls, where we got drenched with water. I figure, if a trip is mostly OK for a teenager, it's a success.
San Francisco Chronicle
6 days ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Teens, screens, time pressure and other challenges to navigate on a family road trip
If you're going to be road-tripping with your family this summer, get ready to embrace unexpected moments of both connection and inevitable chaos. I found both when I packed up the car with my husband and two kids — one of them a teenager — for the eight-hour drive from Boston to Niagara Falls. We had taken long road trips as a family in the past, but our kids, now 8 and 14, were older. My son, firmly in his 'closed-door, don't talk to me' phase, wasn't exactly thrilled about spending over 460 miles trapped in our smallish Nissan Rogue. We also live in a part of the country where we don't spend much time in cars in our everyday life. How would we all manage the close quarters? Here's some of what I learned — along with advice from the experts — about not only surviving a family road trip but having a good time: First, why do it? Many road-trip veterans cite the chance to bond and create family memories. Eighteen-year-old Samara Worsham, for example, spent 30 days crossing 25 states with her family in 2022. Now preparing to leave for college, she says she cherishes that time on the road. 'There were long stretches with no cellular data, leaving us nothing to do but talk,' she said. Along with visiting U.S. landmarks, Worsham's fondest memories include hotel pool swims with her siblings, and her father's mission to sample every fast-food chain across the country. There are practical advantages to the family car trip too. 'It's more economical than flying, especially with a big family,' says Jamie Davis Smith, a lawyer and writer from Washington, D.C., who takes a road trip every year with her husband and children. 'Plus, you don't have to rent a car at the destination.' Get family input on the itinerary Alain Robert, founder of The Travelologist, a Canadian travel agency, recommends including the whole family in planning. 'Ask what they'd like to see or do. Build around everyone's interests,' he advised. 'Once you have a backbone itinerary, share it and manage expectations.' My family, in particular the kids, wanted to get there as soon as possible. They had their eyes on the destination, not the journey. Include some cheesy stops — if you can take the time Davis Smith said her family loves to discover quirky roadside attractions; on one trip, they had fun stopping at the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama — a store that sells lost airline luggage. Inspired, I downloaded the Roadtrippers app and mapped out a few detour-worthy stops. Our shortlist included the Jell-O Museum in LeRoy, New York, as well as the Schuyler Mansion (of 'Hamilton' fame) in Albany, New York. But best-laid plans... We quickly realized that an eight-hour haul didn't leave much wiggle room for exploration. Lesson learned: Keep daily driving to six hours or less if you want time to explore. We didn't have time for either of those two stops. We briefly considered bringing Rosie, our 2-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, but the hotel we'd booked at Niagara wasn't dog-friendly. No friends were available to watch her, so at the last minute, we boarded her at our vet — a first for Rosie. We hadn't expected she would need two new vaccines, and we had to squeeze in a vet appointment two days before departure. This meant a steep bill the morning we left, and boarding costs awaiting us when we returned. Travel journalist Kelly Burch, who road-tripped around the U.S. for seven months with her husband, two kids and senior dog, warned that pet policies on the road can be unpredictable. One budget hotel near Yellowstone National Park wouldn't even allow their dog to stay in their RV on the property. 'Triple check pet policies,' she advised. Teens... Knowing my teenager would need space, I splurged on a junior suite. He got his own bed, slept late and had the space to recharge. The suite came with a small kitchen and a breathtaking view of Horseshoe Falls — well worth the extra cost for three nights. If we'd stayed longer, I would have reconsidered the splurge. But since we saved money by not flying, the room felt like a worthwhile tradeoff. ... and screens If your kids are on the younger side, divert them with family car games. 'If you start the screen early, it can be difficult to convince them to do anything else,' says freelance journalist Stratton Lawrence, 43, who has written for Travel & Leisure about his family road trips — without devices. He's driven with his young kids and wife from South Carolina to the Pacific Coast twice, including one three-month stretch on the road. Even older kids, he says, will appreciate something like a deck of cards or a paper atlas to see the geography. 'If you're going to be in a car for 100-plus hours, the kids aren't going to be entertained watching TV that whole time, so you have to have other things,' he said. Overall, I think my teenager thought the trip was OK. His friend happened to be visiting Niagara Falls with her family and staying in the same hotel where we stayed. That was a welcome surprise. He also seemed to like our daytime outings, especially the boat ride into the Horseshoe Falls, where we got drenched with water.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Teens, screens, time pressure and other challenges to navigate on a family road trip
If you're going to be road-tripping with your family this summer, get ready to embrace unexpected moments of both connection and inevitable chaos. I found both when I packed up the car with my husband and two kids — one of them a teenager — for the eight-hour drive from Boston to Niagara Falls. We had taken long road trips as a family in the past, but our kids, now 8 and 14, were older. My son, firmly in his 'closed-door, don't talk to me' phase, wasn't exactly thrilled about spending over 460 miles trapped in our smallish Nissan Rogue. We also live in a part of the country where we don't spend much time in cars in our everyday life. How would we all manage the close quarters? Here's some of what I learned — along with advice from the experts — about not only surviving a family road trip but having a good time: First, why do it? Many road-trip veterans cite the chance to bond and create family memories. Eighteen-year-old Samara Worsham, for example, spent 30 days crossing 25 states with her family in 2022. Now preparing to leave for college, she says she cherishes that time on the road. 'There were long stretches with no cellular data, leaving us nothing to do but talk,' she said. Along with visiting U.S. landmarks, Worsham's fondest memories include hotel pool swims with her siblings, and her father's mission to sample every fast-food chain across the country. There are practical advantages to the family car trip too. 'It's more economical than flying, especially with a big family,' says Jamie Davis Smith, a lawyer and writer from Washington, D.C., who takes a road trip every year with her husband and children. 'Plus, you don't have to rent a car at the destination.' Get family input on the itinerary Alain Robert, founder of The Travelologist, a Canadian travel agency, recommends including the whole family in planning. 'Ask what they'd like to see or do. Build around everyone's interests,' he advised. 'Once you have a backbone itinerary, share it and manage expectations.' My family, in particular the kids, wanted to get there as soon as possible. They had their eyes on the destination, not the journey. Include some cheesy stops — if you can take the time Davis Smith said her family loves to discover quirky roadside attractions; on one trip, they had fun stopping at the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama — a store that sells lost airline luggage. Inspired, I downloaded the Roadtrippers app and mapped out a few detour-worthy stops. Our shortlist included the Jell-O Museum in LeRoy, New York, as well as the Schuyler Mansion (of 'Hamilton' fame) in Albany, New York. But best-laid plans… We quickly realized that an eight-hour haul didn't leave much wiggle room for exploration. Lesson learned: Keep daily driving to six hours or less if you want time to explore. We didn't have time for either of those two stops. Whether you bring your pet or not, prepare for extra costs We briefly considered bringing Rosie, our 2-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, but the hotel we'd booked at Niagara wasn't dog-friendly. No friends were available to watch her, so at the last minute, we boarded her at our vet — a first for Rosie. We hadn't expected she would need two new vaccines, and we had to squeeze in a vet appointment two days before departure. This meant a steep bill the morning we left, and boarding costs awaiting us when we returned. Travel journalist Kelly Burch, who road-tripped around the U.S. for seven months with her husband, two kids and senior dog, warned that pet policies on the road can be unpredictable. One budget hotel near Yellowstone National Park wouldn't even allow their dog to stay in their RV on the property. 'Triple check pet policies,' she advised. Teens… Knowing my teenager would need space, I splurged on a junior suite. He got his own bed, slept late and had the space to recharge. The suite came with a small kitchen and a breathtaking view of Horseshoe Falls — well worth the extra cost for three nights. If we'd stayed longer, I would have reconsidered the splurge. But since we saved money by not flying, the room felt like a worthwhile tradeoff. … and screens If your kids are on the younger side, divert them with family car games. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. 'If you start the screen early, it can be difficult to convince them to do anything else,' says freelance journalist Stratton Lawrence, 43, who has written for Travel & Leisure about his family road trips — without devices. He's driven with his young kids and wife from South Carolina to the Pacific Coast twice, including one three-month stretch on the road. Even older kids, he says, will appreciate something like a deck of cards or a paper atlas to see the geography. 'If you're going to be in a car for 100-plus hours, the kids aren't going to be entertained watching TV that whole time, so you have to have other things,' he said. Overall, I think my teenager thought the trip was OK. His friend happened to be visiting Niagara Falls with her family and staying in the same hotel where we stayed. That was a welcome surprise. He also seemed to like our daytime outings, especially the boat ride into the Horseshoe Falls, where we got drenched with water. I figure, if a trip is mostly OK for a teenager, it's a success.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
County official tapped to be WA's next health secretary
The Washington state Department of Health in Tumwater on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard) Washington has a new health secretary starting next month. Dennis Worsham will take over the Department of Health after serving as head of the Snohomish County Health Department since January 2023. Gov. Bob Ferguson announced Monday that he'd appointed Worsham to the job. He starts July 7. Worsham was the county health department's first director after its shift from a separate health district to being integrated with county government. He started his career there in the 1990s. At that time, Worsham, who is openly gay, was tasked with managing the response to sexually transmitted diseases like HIV. Before becoming director, he worked for other agencies. He served as a regional health officer for King County, deputy state secretary of health in the mid-2010s, and interim director of the Seattle and King County public health department. Worsham has a bachelor's degree in health services administration from Eastern Washington University. 'His decades of experience and broad skillset will help chart a new vision for public health in Washington state,' Ferguson said in a statement. Worsham, who grew up in Othello, in Adams County, said 'it is critical that we continue to build a system that earns the trust of communities and strives for every person to have equitable access to the care and resources they need to thrive.' 'Public health is not just about addressing illness and injury — it's about preventing them,' he continued. 'It's about preparing for the unexpected, addressing root causes of health inequities, and investing in systems that protect people before a crisis begins.' The health department oversees everything from drinking water safety and the state's response to the opioid crisis to communicable disease outbreaks. It took on a higher profile as the state navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. Worsham is taking over for Jessica Todorovich, a previous chief of staff at the agency, who has served as its acting director since January. The last permanent health secretary was Dr. Umair Shah, who took over in late 2020 during the pandemic and stepped down in January to 'spend time with family while exploring what is next on my horizon.' Shah has since founded Rickshaw Enterprises, a consulting firm focused on improving health outcomes. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
