Committed To Southern Colorado Seniors For 39 Years And Counting
Senior
Beacon JULY 2021
Vol. 40:6
Established February 1982
"If You're 50 Or Over You Should Read It!" 474 Consecutive Months!
Safe Senior Exercise Options For Summer (NAPSI)—Sunshine and warm weather have many people thinking about new workout options. If you’re ready to kickstart your fitness routine—but want to do so safely—consider these three simple tips:
1. Check in with your gym about its COVID-safe offerings. Many Americans who have been avoiding public places this past year are now looking to expand their horizons, including going
back to a gym. Growing numbers of gyms now offer outdoor workout spaces that include many of the weight training and aerobics equipment choices you previously enjoyed indoors—treadmills, stair climbers, weight machines, free weights—and even outdoor classes. Outdoors or indoors, many gyms continue to maintain at least six feet between each workout station, require masks within the space, and provide free hand sanitizer, clean equipment assurances and other COVID-safe protocols. Give your gym a call or visit the location to find out what specific COVID-safe guidelines are in place there, so you can determine whether you’re ready to resume your gym routine. 2. Increase your outdoor exercise routine. After being cooped up for
3% GUARANTEED RATE Check out page 19...
months, getting outside can work wonders for your physical health and emotional well-being. Take yourself to a park to explore a new walking or hiking path. There are several apps that can locate hiking trails near you. Challenge a friend to a regular game of tennis, pickleball or bocce ball. Or dust off your bicycles and enjoy the freedom of feeling the wind in your faces. Establishing a fun exercise routine with a friend can motivate you to keep it up and help lift your spirits. Older adults reported increased feelings of isolation last year. Exercising with a friend can help you shake off the loneliness blues. Being outdoors offers the added benefit of providing you with a dose of vitamin D. Your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium and to enhance bone health and immune system function. Regularly spending time outdoors is the most natural way to get the recommended 10 to 30 minutes of sun exposure several times a week. Just don’t forget to put on sunscreen. 3. Augment your workout with home exercise classes. National guidelines recommend that you get at least 150 minutes per week of exercise. To make sure you’re
meeting that, augment your workout routine with home exercise classes that you can view on your laptop, phone or other devices. For best results, mix things up. Incorporate cardio exercise classes with strength training videos that use resistance bands or free weights. If you want to improve balance or flexibility, try a yoga or tai chi class. Popular options such as the Silver&Fit® Healthy Aging and Exercise program offer a wide range of free online classes specially designed for older adults. Classes premiere daily on Facebook Live from 8 AM to 4 PM Pacific time, 6 days a week. You can join the scheduled classes at https://www. facebook.com/SilverandFit to enjoy engaging live with other online viewers. Or you can view the replays on YouTube at a time that’s convenient to you. You’ll find them at: www.youtube.com/silverandfit. Now can be your time to get back into a fitness routine—or start a new one. Find workout options that you love and that motivate you to stick with them. Then make the most of the season. As always, before you start any new exercise routine, talk to your doctor to discuss your goals and what types of exercise might be safest for you.
Page 2 - Senior Beacon - June 2021
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The “Medicare Tax” That Never Made It To The Medicare Trust Fund WASHINGTON, DC–A controversial “Medicare” tax on net investment income that was signed into law shortly after passage of the 2010 Affordable Care Act is expected to once again come under debate according to The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). “During the battle over The Affordable Care Act, a new source of funding — a 3.8% Medicare Net Investment tax was enacted — presumably as means to strengthen Medicare funding,” says Mary Johnson, a Medicare policy analyst for The Senior Citizens League. “But the truth is those revenues, which the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimates to be $27.5 billion for 2021, never actually made it into the Medicare Part A Trust Fund,” she says.” When Medicare solvency is under discussion, the focus is often placed on the Medicare Part A Trust Fund (hospital insurance), which is primarily financed by pay-
roll taxes. The last time Medicare Part A Trust Fund was forecast to become insolvent was in 2009. That year, the Medicare Trust Fund was forecast to become insolvent by 2017. In 2010, Congress enacted the Affordable Care Act which changed Medicare revenues in two ways. It added an additional payroll tax of 0.9% to the 1.45% of Medicare taxes paid by high earning individuals with wages over $200,000 ($250,00 if married). A second provision affecting individuals with this level of income, imposed a new 3.8% tax on a portion of net investment income. Estates and trusts can also be subject to this tax. While the additional payroll tax went directly to the Part A Trust Fund, the 3.8% “Medicare” net investment tax was never transferred to Part A. It wound up going straight into the U.S. General Fund where it could be appropriated for any government spending.
income tax should be “re-directed” to the Part A Trust fund rather than the federal government general revenue. “It’s about time,” states Johnson. At the time of passage DIGGING DEEPER: Who Pays the NIIT? of the The Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimates Affordable that the NIIT (net investment income tax) will Care Act, raise approximately $27.5 billion of tax revenue in this tax 2021. According to the most recent datafrom the Internal Revenue Service, the majority of the tax was widely is paid by higherincome households. This reflects referred the fact that the tax onlyapplies to those taxpayto as a ers with income (MAGI) above $200,000 if single or head of household and $250,000 if married “Medicare” filing jointly. tax in the media, by is made for the transfer of the tax tax and investment professionals, imposed by this provision from the and, many lawmakers sold it to General Fund of the United States the public that way. “Now those Treasury to any Trust Fund.” revenues are needed by the MediIn fact, unlike the additional Medicare tax on high earners, care Part A Hospital Insurance this 3.8% net investment tax was Trust Fund,” says Johnson. Part A not even a specific provision of is three years from insolvency and the Affordable Care Act. It was faces an estimated funding gap of a provision of a separate bill, the Health Care Education and more than $515 billion over the t’s time to dig out those cowboy Reconciliation Act of 2010 which next ten years. was passed about two days after boots, dust off that Stetson and join us TSCL advocates for legislation the Affordable Care Act. By setevery Tuesday at 1pm for line dancing. that makes affordability for Mediting up the revenues so that they This is in addition to our regular activities. care beneficiaries a priority. Mediwould flow to the General Fund, Congress by-passed earmarking care healthcare costs are the fastest Also, we are looking for anyone who might be interested those revenues for Medicare Part in teaching a weekly or monthly class or activity for our members growing cost that retired houseA or Part B Trust Fund. That here at the GAC. Please contact us at 719-275-5177 if you are interholds face, and beneficiaries often means when the funds are used ested. shoulder a heavy financial burden. for other government spending, We are still looking for volunteer drivers; all training provided, make the Medicare Trust Funds are “Cutting Medicare benefits, while your own hours. Contact us today! not earning any interest from the shifting more costs to beneficiar“Peace begins with a smile” –Mother Teresa federal government for the use of ies, would be the wrong way to those funds. Golden Age Center strengthen program financing” Now Medicare Part A is pro728 Main Street says Johnson. jected to again become insolvent, Canon City, CO 81212 perhaps by 2024. Policy experts are proposing that the revenues raised by the 3.8% net investment With 1.2 million supporters, The Senior Citizens League Happy July from the GAC! is one of the nation’s largest nonpartisan seniors groups. Its It’s time to dig out those cowboy boots, dust off that Stetson and join us every mission is to promote and assist Tuesday at 1pm for line dancing. This is in addition to our regular activities. members and supporters, to educate and alert senior citizens Also, we are looking for anyone who might be interested in teaching a weekly about their rights and freedoms or monthly class or activity for our members here at the GAC. Please contact us at 719-275-5177 if you are interested. as U.S. Citizens, and to protect We are still looking for volunteer drivers; all training provided, make your and defend the benefits senior own hours. Contact us today! citizens have earned and paid for. The Senior Citizens League is a proud affiliate of The Retired Enlisted Association. Visit www.SeniorsLeague.org for more information.
HAPPY JULY FROM THE GAC! I
GA C
(719) 275-5177
According to the Federal Register “Amounts collected under section 1411 are not designated for the Medicare Trust Fund. The Joint Committee on Taxation in 2011 stated that’s because No provision
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June 2021 - Senior Beacon - Page 3
Summer Concerts SALUTE TO SENIORS RETURNS at Pueblo Zoo
PUEBLO—The Pueblo Zoo has launched a new Summer Concert Series! Make sure to mark your calendar for the August installment featuring the country sounds of Triple Nickel!
The Summer Concert Series is a safe way to socialize at the Pueblo Zoo. Grab some friends, a chair or blanket and stake your claim on the lawn for live music from one of Pueblo’s favorite bands. Triple Nickel performs today's top 40 country covers, classic rock and "Americana-Country" originals. They have shared the stage with artists such as Emerson Drive, Brian White, Daryl Worley, John Michael Montgomery, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Mark Chestnut, Colt Ford, Grainger Smith, Vanilla Ice, Pat Green, Brett Young, Josh Abbott Band and Midland. Tickets are available online at pueblozoo.org/music, and concert-goers can pre-order from a choice of sandwiches or salad when they buy tickets. The event also features a wine/beer cash bar, pop-up Zoo Gift Shop, an interactive Concert
Kid’s Zone, and a visit with some of the rarest animals on the planet. A percentage of every ticket will go to the Zoo’s conservation efforts and helping animals in the wild.
The concert is Saturday, August 14, 2021 from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm. The band starts at 5:15 pm. Tickets are $15 for Non-Zoo Members, $10 for Zoo Members and $8 for kids aged 3 and up (under 2 years old are free). Tickets and information at pueblozoo.org/music
DENVER, CO. — The Salute to Seniors is coming to your living room again. The Salute to Seniors will be virtual on August 13 and 14, 2021 from 11 am to 1 pm. Learning from last year in which more than 80% of participants rated the educational programs as the most popular events, we are bringing you a panorama of educational programs, showcases, and entertainment. The ever-popular Active Minds, Denver, will compare the era of roads and bridges of the 1920s with the 2020s of broadband and internet. They will be joined on stage by Scott Denning, atmospheric science professor at Colorado State University, Fort Collins to discuss the “3 S’s of Climate Change”. Also performing on stage will be a narrated travel program on local, state, national and international destinations; diversity, inclusion, and health equity; and other current topics. The Forney Museum of Transportation will be returning with a showcase of some of their best 1920s cars and other modes of transportation. Jazz evolved in the 1920s with such
favorites as Louie Armstrong and Frank Sinatra. After Midnight Jazz Band will bring your favorite tunes to your living room so you can sing and dance with us in the comfort and safety of your living room. A Resource Fair and Expo will provide information and services from across Colorado to help you and your families find trustworthy, reliable solutions to your everyday needs. The Salute presents a fun, new virtual twist with dozens of sponsors offering resources, information, and tools for living healthy to help you live an independent life. One touch and you will be able to link to sponsors from www.seniornanswers.org and learn more about services. Sponsors will bring you short videos and offer free promotions. Request a personal consultation to learn more about the services. Admission is free. Register at www.senioranswers.org or call 1-855-294-6911 or 1-855-880-4777 (Spanish) and we will register you. Don’t miss the fun!
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Page 4 - Senior Beacon - June 2021
Connections Cafés at Acacia Park, Westside Community Center, Centennial Plaza, Murray
Week of 28th – 2nd
(Please visit silverkey.org/services/connections-cafe/ the day prior before 5 PM to reserve) 1 2 28 29 30 Chicken Piccata Swedish Meatballs Roast Turkey w/ Broccoli Stuffed Hamburger w/ w/ Noodles Gravy Chicken Breast Lettuce, Tomato & Pasta Blend Vegetables Peas & Carrots Mashed Potatoes Green Beans Onion Tossed Salad Mixed Vegetables Sweet Potatoes Carrots & Coleslaw Peaches High Fiber Cookie Orange Apple Pineapple & Cookie Diced Pear
CLOSED Week of 5th – 9th
4
TH
FOR
OF JULY
HOLIDAY
Week of 12th – 16th
Week of 19th 23rd
Dining from 11:30 am TO 12:30 pm
12 Chicken Taco Salad w/ sour Cream, Salsa and Avocado Corn Chowder Orange 19 Pulled Pork Sandwich Corn Seasoned Pinto Beans Apple Sauce
Reservations Required Daily
6 Sweet & Sour Meatballs Broccoli Jasmine Rice Salad w/ dressing Pear 13 Goulash Green Beans Salad w/ Dressing WW Bread Apple 20 Chicken Parmesan Pasta Cauliflower Salad w/ dressing Diced Pears WW Roll
7 Egg Salad on WW Bread Tomato Soup Vegetable Salad w/ Dressing Orange 14 Southwestern Chicken Peas & Carrots 3 Bean Salad WW Roll Orange 21 Beef Stew Lima Beans Whole Wheat Roll Pineapple Orange Compote
8 Swiss Steak Mashed Potatoes Peas Coleslaw Banana 15 Beef Stir Fry Peas Brown Rice Asian Cabbage Salad Apple 22 Chicken Alfredo Penne Pasta Caesar Salad Peas Strawberries
Reservations Required Daily
9 Broccoli Stuffed Chicken Breast Green Beans Sweet Potatoes Pineapple Tidbits High Fiber Cookie 16 Sandy’s Chicken Chile Tortilla Broccoli w/ Cheese Carrot Raisin Salad Diced Pears 23 Seasoned Cod/ Potato Medley Maple Glazed Carrots Banana Roll
Reservation Required Daily
Milk is served with every meal
Dine In Menu
Menu substitutions may occur without notice. Clients are advised to keep a 3-day supply of non-perishable foods and bottled water in the event of inclement weather or other emergencies that may cause a temporary suspension of service.
Why Not Give a Shout Out to
FOUNTAIN VALLEY MECHANICAL Thank them for sponsoring these menus!
SOCIAL SECURITY LETS YOU CHANGE YOUR DIRECT DEPOSIT INFORMATION ONLINE The most convenient way to change your direct deposit information with us is by creating a my Social Security account online at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Once you create your account, you can update your bank information from anywhere. We are committed to protecting your personal information, so we take steps to verify who you are. If you already have an account, we verified your identity when you created your personal my Social Security account. If you can’t remember your username or password, don’t worry. At the sign-in screen select "Forgot Username" or "Forgot Password" and follow the simple but secure steps to reset them. When you are ready to change your direct deposit, we highly recommend that you do not close your old bank account until you have seen your Social Security deposit show up in the new bank account. Remember, you can do much of your business with us online at www.ssa.gov/onlineservices.
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June 2021 - Senior Beacon - Page 5
SRDA NOVEMBER 2020 CALENDAR Special information from Pueblo’s SRDA (Plus)
Recreation Department is currently CLOSED due to Covid - 19. All information provided depends on when SRDA reopens, which includes Matter of Balance. Also, all outside activity start up, like AARP -Taxes and Driver Safety classes will be determined by their national office.
Senior's Shopping Time Scheduled EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article is rerunning because of the COVID-19 relief efforts. MANY STORES IN the area
are offering a separate time for senior only shopping to assist in keeping one of the most vulnerable populations protected from the spread of COVID-19. At this time, information for senior only shopping is as follows: Albertson’s Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7 – 9 AM Dollar General, 1245 Spruce Every day, 8 – 9 AM Dollar General, W. 18th Street Sundays, 8 – 9 AM Dollar General, 1502 Troy Every day, 8 –9 AM Dollar General, 609 Pueblo Boulevard Thursdays, 12 – 1 PM; All other days, 8 –9 AM Dollar General, 1610 Santa Fe Every day, 8 – 9 AM Dollar General, 2417 Prairie
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Call us: 719-545-8900 Every day, 8 –9 AM King Soopers North and South Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 7 – 9 AM LaGrees Every day, 8 – 10 AM Natural Grocers Sundays, 9 – 10 AM Safeway Southside and Pueblo West Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7 – 9 AM Sam’s Club Thursdays, 7 – 9 AM
Everybody has a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in Pueblo Save-A-Lot Every day, 7 – 8 AM Target Every day, 8 – 9 AM Walmart; South, North, Pueblo West, Neighborhood Market Every day 6 -7 AM All public and media inquiries in Pueblo are answered through the local hotline at Pueblo’s Joint Information Center. Pueblo COVID-19 Hotline is answering questions 8 AM – 5 PM, Monday – Friday, 719-583-4444. Everybody has a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in Pueblo by: ■ Minimize social activities and being physically close to other people. ■ Do not go to the emergency
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room unless medically necessary. ■ Wash your hands with soap regularly. ■ Cough or sneeze into elbow or tissue. ■ Stay home when you’re sick. ■ Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. Avoid close contact with sick people. ■ Clean surfaces frequently touched. Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment encourages residents to seek out credible, reliable sources of information on COVID-19: www.puebloemergency.info Pueblo’s COVID-19 Hotline 719-583-4444.
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Page 6 - Senior Beacon - June 2021
JAN MCLAUGHLIN
‘LIGHT FOR THE JOURNEY’
Columnist & founder of an international charity
“PRICE OF PATRIOTISM?”
F
ighting tears, I struggled to swallow the lump in my throat, but
it wouldn’t go down. The sight was overwhelming. Thousands of white tombstones in perfect formation with names and dates of young men and women, the imagery of grieving parents, spouses and children, pierced my heart. Silently I walked along the paved pathway beside rows of bleached headstones. Silent because there were no words to describe the ache in my heart for those who lost loved ones in this battle to save, not just Europe but America as well. Stinging hateful words rang in my mind. Vile bitter remarks spewing from rebellious ungrateful rioters who rage through American cities burning, looting and killing. “America was never great!” Statues of
American heroes toppled to the ground by spoiled brats determined to destroy history and the Republic. Those who have no clue what their right to say and do those things cost young patriots. Even worse are, senators, lawmakers and arrogant officials who smirk and chide while vowing to destroy every veteran’s rights and end their benefits, “I have an answer to the ‘soldier boy!’” One so called ‘elected?’ official snarled. “Get a job!” Evil oozes from smirking mouths. They will have their day in court. Will they still be smirking? In my journal notes this day at Omaha Beach, I wrote through tears, “Every Congressional member and Senator should be forced to walk this
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beach, pass through the museum and listen to the stories of the men and women who gave their lives for their country. Perhaps their eyes would have a different view of freedom.” Walking on Omaha Beach is surreal. Especially after visiting the D-Day museum and listening to dozens of real stories of men who died for my freedom and yours. Grass grows in the deep bomb craters above the beach. Exploring a German bunker brought chills even though the day was warm. A replica of a paratrooper whose parachute was snagged by a church spire tells one of the strangest events of the war. During the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, the paratroopers were easy targets for the German soldiers because many buildings were on fire in the little French village of Sainte-Mère-Église. The parachute of John Steele caught the spire of the church and he hung for two hours pretending to be dead before he was taken prisoner by the Germans. He later escaped when American troops invaded the village killing and capturing Germans. A movie was made about this incident. Steele is portrayed by Red Buttons in the movie, The Longest Day. Recently this quote crossed my desk. “There are decades when nothing happens and weeks when decades happen!” Do you feel we are in the weeks of decades happening? I am saddened that too many people are silent and cower to threats intended to “herd” a populace into submission through fear. Threats that take away liberties and freedoms our military men and women fought and died for. America was founded on Christian principles. We can’t remain silent. Patriots are coming out of the woodwork, standing strong amid perilous days. Multitudes of people are beginning to wake up. Pray it isn’t too late. Be a patriot or watch your country fall. Be a warrior for truth or be run over by a socialist agenda that is raging at our door. Most of all, PRAY. Pray for truth to be revealed. Pray for righteousness to prevail. Pray for justice in this country and around the world. Pray for the rescue of children who are being trafficked and brutalized for demonic purposes by evil people at every level who will soon be exposed. Justice WILL come. Our God is a just God. Halloween is over! Take off your mask and take your stand. Celebrate freedom and liberty. Celebrate this amazing country. Brave young patriots gave their lives for your freedoms. What is it costing you? What are you willing to give for your freedom? I will close with this quote from Mark Twain. “In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.” LFTJ© 2021 Jan McLaughlin. Jan can be contacted at 719-649-2937 or by e-mail Jansmail@reagan.com
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June 2021 - Senior Beacon - Page 7
NEWS
Pueblo Takes on the Fight Against Substance Misuse and Stigma PUEBLO –A traveling exhibit, “Your Words Have Power”, educates and empowers the community to help fight substance misuse and stigma for those seeking treatment. The exhibit showcases 15 Pueblo County residents who have experienced and/or seen the impacts of substance misuse and stigma. A soft opening will be held at the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment Monday, June 28, 2021, the exhibit is scheduled for travel to multiple locations in Pueblo through August. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, stigma related to substance misuse is shown to hinder those experiencing substance misuse to seek
treatment and help. Public stigma is often driven by stereotypes about people with substance use disorders, such as perceived moral failings or being perceived as dangerous that can cause negative attitudes toward people with substance use disorders. Stigma is one of the most commonly reported reasons for not participating in substance use treatment according to one nationally representative study. “There are words I’ve learned not to use – not to call myself and not to call other people alcoholics or addicts,” said Jean Howard, storyteller for the exhibit. Howard explained, “I realized that my words and other people’s words can cause
INSTEAD OF GETTING IRRITATED BY A PET PEEVE I EMULATED AN UNCLE’S ACTIONS.
quarters in my car console to fill meters, I also gave quarters to others I saw fumbling for change to fill their meters. And like Uncle Marion, I acted anonymously and inserted quarters into others’ meters. In reading Psalms 25, I believe following a good guide like God is the best way to practice heart.
unintentional harm to someone and stigmatize them – and not ever realize it.” The Your Words Have Power exhibit will be at the following locations:
El Pueblo Museum 301 N. Union Avenue July 17, 2021, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Storytellers will be present Rawlings Library 100 Abriendo Avenue
Month of August during hours of operation. Storytellers will be present Friendly Harbor 2713 N. Grand Avenue August 21, 2021, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Storytellers will be present For more information about the exhibit and future locations, visit https://bit.ly/311i16L
Practicing Heart
The City of Colorado Springs has a parking enterprise in the downtown area. Collecting parking meter money and charging initial $20 ticket fines, I believed the parking meters hindered businesses in deterring their customers from frequenting them more often. For a quarter, in most areas the downtown, a meter only bought 10 minutes of time. But all the meters accepted credit cards. With the money collected the corner streetscapes were constructed within a limited downtown area. In speaking to a construction supervisor, I learned one streetscape cost $157,000! When one of my uncles passed away, I attended his funeral service in Beaumont, Texas. At Uncle Marion’s service, one of my cousins, Mary, spoke from the podium about her father. Mary told about being with Marion for a trip to his downtown law office. She said he parked the car on the street and inserted some change in the parking meter. As they walked toward his office, Marion took his change and began filling other parking meters. He told her of his disdain for parking meters and filling anonymous meters saved others from getting parking tickets. Though I disagreed with the Colorado Springs’ parking system, there was little I could do to alter it. With my dislike for meters and to positively change the outcome of feeding meters I followed Uncle Marion’s example. Besides carrying a roll of
Questions to Ponder? 1. What guides are in your life? Do you have mentors, friends and colleagues who you meet with on a regular basis? Do you learn their knowledge and ask them to walk with you through difficulties and other applications? 2. What are the attributes of being a good follower? Look at verses 9, 12 and 15 of Psalms 25. 3. What are things can you do to serve anonymously like my Uncle Marion did? Practicing Heart is written by Charles H. Castle. The purpose of this non-fiction short story is to encourage, build, inspire, entertain, and give opportunities to laugh, smile and questions to ponder. His book Where are the Instructions? is available now and another book Who Do You Trust? will be coming out in 2021. If you are interested in giving the author feedback or have a publisher lead for his next book, contact him at CharlesCastle07@ gmail.com or CharlesCastle.com
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Page 8 - Senior Beacon - June 2021
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NEWS OF THE WEIRD
SPECIAL TO THE SENIOR BEACON FROM THE EDITORS OF ANDREWS MCMEEL Creepy
A TikTok user in New Jersey shared the unsettling scene that unfolded on June 10 as she pulled up carpet in her new home, the New York Post reported. "Ashley" showed followers the floorboards underneath the carpet, which appeared to show a bloodstained imprint of a human being and a chalk outline of a body, along with a 2018 date and a case number. "I wasn't bothered knowing someone died in my new house," Ashley said. Responding to comments on her video, Ashley tested the bloodstain by spraying hydrogen peroxide on it, which caused bubbling -- a sure sign that the substance was blood, some said. Still, Ashley isn't fazed: It "seems chill here. It's all good."
Inexplicable
The latest trend in plastic surgery in China, according to Gulf Today, is the pointy ear. The modified ears resemble those of animated characters or fairy tale creatures, and they give the face "a slender shape," the site reported on June 17. Doctors first insert cartilage or an implant in the back of the ear, then fill it in with hyaluronic acid. Plastic surgery clinics in China are experiencing such great demand that patients
have to get on waiting lists.
Fine Points of the Law
In December 2016, Cletus Snay hit a patch of black ice while driving in Bellevue, Ohio, and slammed into Matthew Burr's mailbox. Doesn't seem all that dramatic, but postal service guidelines specify that mailbox poles be able to break away, which Burr's clearly did not do. Burr had installed an 8-inch metal pole, buried 3 feet in the ground and fortified with rocks and dry cement poured on top, News5Cleveland reported. This immoveable fixture caused Snay's truck to roll and left him a quadriplegic. Attorney Kathleen St. John argued on June 16 to the Ohio Supreme Court that a property owner "is not justified in inflicting, without warning, bodily harm upon the person of a trespasser," but Burr's attorney, Doug Leak, calls the USPS recommendations "just guidelines" and said Burr was justified in reinforcing his mailbox after years of accidents and vandalism. The court is expected to rule soon.
Awesome!
Julia Yonkowski of Largo, Florida, only needed a $20 bill when
(old, grainy logo)
she visited the ATM at Chase Bank on June 19, but she decided to check her balance while she was there. What she saw on the paper slip surprised her: a balance of $995,985,856. "I was horrified," she told WFLA-TV. "I know most people would think they won the lottery, but I was horrified." She's tried several times to contact Chase, but she can't get through to anyone. "I get tied up with their automated system and I can't get a person," she said. "I don't know what to think."
Crime Report
As 34-year-old Paul Kiyan let himself into the home of Mat and Monica Sabz in Bel Air, California, on June 20, Monica watched on Ring video and alerted her husband, who was at home. Kiyan was naked, KTLA-TV reported, and as he wandered around the house, he helped himself to a shower and a pair of shorts. When Mat Sabz confronted him, Kiyan said the house was his. While he was there, Kiyan killed the couple's two pet birds with his hands; police arrested him on several felony charges.
Unclear on the Concept
Richard Turpin apparently just needed to borrow a truck, but he ended up with charges filed against him in Bratenhal, Ohio, on June 18. WJW-TV reported that a mail carrier parked his USPS van at the end of a driveway and walked up to the house to deliver the mail, giving Turpin a chance to jump in and take off. A witness saw the theft and called police, who caught up with Turpin a few miles away. When
they asked him why he took the truck, he cryptically answered: "A U-Haul." The police officer responded, "I don't think that's a U-Haul" -- but surprise! Inside, they found a big-screen TV that hadn't been in the truck earlier, according to the mailman. And no mail was missing. The mail carrier admitted he'd left the keys in the ignition.
What's in a Name?
The Smoking Gun reported that on June 18, a woman in St. Petersburg, Florida, was arrested after allegedly drunkenly slamming her car into a tree, a Taco Bell sign and the store's water meter, and then leaving the scene. The appropriately named Kanisha Booze, 34, is an employee at the Taco Bell. Police said Booze had "bloodshot, watery eyes, a dazed and blank expression on her face and an odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath."
Ewwwww
The Wellington Correctional Center in New South Wales, Australia, is being evacuated so that crews can clear the prison of dead and decaying mice and repair chewed electrical wiring, the Associated Press reported. Australia has been overrun with mice for months, which scientists say happens when rain follows several years of drought. Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Severin explained that "the mice have got into wall cavities, into roof spaces. They're dead, but then they start
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June 2021 - Senior Beacon - Page 9
NEWS OF THE WEIRD
SPECIAL TO THE SENIOR BEACON FROM THE EDITORS OF ANDREWS MCMEEL obviously decaying and then the next problem is mites."
Yeah, Science!
In a study published June 10 in the journal Green Chemistry, scientists at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland announced a breakthrough. They had genetically engineered bacteria to convert terephthalic acid -- a compound left over when plastic-eating bugs (discovered in Japan in 2016) do their thing -- to vanillin, the primary component of extracted vanilla beans that produces the taste and smell of vanilla. Global demand for the chemical is far outpacing the world's supply of natural vanilla beans. "Using microbes to turn waste plastics ... into an important commodity is a beautiful demonstration of green chemistry," said
Ellis Crawford of the U.K.'s Royal Society of Chemistry.
Deja Vu
It started as a joke on April 2, 2020, but after a month of Zoom meetings during which "Jackie," a resident of Washington, D.C., wore the same Hawaiian shirt and received nary a comment from her oblivious co-workers, the prank became a social experiment with a momentum all its own. Jackie told the Daily Mail that on June 16, 2021, she celebrated her last day of work by confessing to having worn the shirt to 264 consecutive Zoom meetings during the pandemic. The reaction? "When I told my team that I had been wearing the same shirt, they didn't know what I was talking about. They hadn't noticed," she said. "The intern liter-
SRDA MONTHLY MENU ABOUT THE MENU
● Nutrition Services (Congregate) Eligibility Policy: Individuals are eligible to participate in the congregate meals service in one of the categories listed in this below: Persons 60 years of age or older and their self-declared spouses of any age; Disabled persons under 60 years of age who reside with persons over 60 years of age, when the care and maintenance of the disabled person otherwise prevents the older adult from participating in the program and when the participation of such individuals does not prevent the participation of older adults and their spouses. The disabled person must accompany the eligible older consumer to the site; Disabled persons under 60 years of age who reside in housing facilities occupied primarily by older adults and at which congregate nutrition services are provided when such participation does not prevent the participation of older adults and their spouse Persons under 60 years of age who provide meal related volunteer services and individuals providing volunteer services at congregate meal sites during meal hours when the participation of such individuals does not prevent the participation of older adults and
ally said, 'On purpose?' So, there's that."
When a painting fell off the wall at their country home in Rome in 2016, the owners sent it to an art restorer for repairs. But during the cleaning and restoration process, it became clear that this wasn't just any painting: It was "The Adoration of the Magi" by Rembrandt, painted around 1632-1633 and long considered lost. Guido Talarico, president of the Italian Heritage Foundation, said the family that owns the painting has not expressed an interest in selling it, but that the work will eventually be made available to museums and galleries.
according to The Independent. And for the Spring 2022 season, Crocs are getting a crossover boost from luxury fashion house Balenciaga: New models feature a stiletto heel (which looks more like a Lego piece) under the traditional green or black perforated upper. The new model may cost as much as $1,000, but social media isn't on board. One tweet called them "an actual nightmare," and another commenter said she is "irrationally
Call SRDA at 545-8900 for congregate meal sites and Meals-on-Wheels info!
in one of the categories listed in this below: Persons age 60 years or older who are homebound or who are geographical-
Respite Care Program
“Pueblo’s Premier Assisted living Community” Respite care is temporary, short-term care lasting one day or longer. It gives your loved one the opportunity to socialize with others in a small, cozy setting. This gives YOU, the caregiver, time to yourself. Respite care can be used when: • You are going to be out of town on business • Planning a vacation • Allows you, the caregiver, time to participate in your hobbies and interests. 3 Douglas Ct. - Pueblo, CO 81001
719-544-3999 www.belmontseniorcare.com Become a fan of Facebook BSC is a local, private, non-profit corporation not affiliated with Belmont Lodge nursing home ly isolated; Disabled persons under age 60 years who reside with eligible consumers; and Spouses of home delivered meals consumers if, according to Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) criteria, receipt of the meals are in the best interest of the
BELMONT SENIOR CARE.. IS THIS SRDA MENU
experiencing a "renaissance,"
angry."
Belmont Senior Care
vent the participation of other older adults and their spouses. Nutrition Services (Home Delivered) Eligibility Policy: Individuals are eligible to participate in the Home Delivered meals service
Crocs went on sale less than 20 years ago, but they're already
Lost and Found
NOTE: Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19), meal sites are closed. Meals-on-Wheels is still open
their spouses; and Staff members of the nutrition program who are 60 years of age or older when such participation does not pre-
Weird Fashion
consumers. More Information For more information, please contact us at 719-543-0100. CONGREGATE LUNCH SITES Avondale Community Center 719-947-4180 409 2nd Lane Avondale, CO Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Beulah Center 719-485-3100 5903 Penn Avenue Beulah, CO Tuesday 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Colorado City Community Center 719-676-3059 5445 Cuerno Verde Colorado City, CO Tuesday and Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. JH Edwards Senior Center (SRDA) 230 N Union Avenue Pueblo, CO Monday through Friday 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fulton Heights Center 1331 Santa Rosa Pueblo, CO
PROUD TO SPONSOR Call them at (719) 544-3999
Page 10 - Senior Beacon - June 2021
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OPINION-EDITORIAL
ANN COULTER
Columnist, author and lawyer
THE JOHN LEWIS ACT IS THE DEMS’ PATH TO PERMANENT POWER Today, Democrats are using these new “voting rights” bills to ensure that 110% of black people vote.
THE OFFICIAL position of Fox News is that the Democrats’ John Lewis vote-stealing bill is “narrower” than the Democrats’ “For the People” vote-stealing bill. (This will be an exhibit in my museum titled, “Stupid People Can Never Help Your Cause.”) Yes, it’s “narrower” in the sense of being 1 MILLION times worse. The John Lewis bill will do everything the “For the People” bill does — and so much more! They just don’t tell us what, exact-
ly. The language of the bill is full of anodyne, uplifting language about equal voting participation — but the details will be turned over to left-wing zealots at the Department of Justice, suddenly empowered to enforce voting rules so insane that no elected official would dare vote for them. Inasmuch as nearly every congressional Democrat is fine with the provisions in the “For the People” bill — which are ludicrous — imagine how much worse the “You Can’t Blame Me” bill is. It will be faceless bureaucrats at the Department of Justice who give meaning to the happy words in the John Lewis bill. Federal government employees — i.e., the people actually making the rules — cannot be voted out of office. (Or fired — this is government work.) Indeed, these are people who could never be elected to any office on account of their repellent political views and, often, repellent physical appearance. This is how Democrats impose fascistic rules on the citizenry without ever having to cast a dangerous vote: They write laws with vague statements of high principle, then dump the actual rule-making onto a government agency, where refugees from the ACLU issue edicts outlawing private property,
due process, free speech and honest elections. Recall: — It wasn’t elected members of Congress who ordered a nice Idaho couple to halt work on their home because it was allegedly on a protected wetland (in the middle of a subdivision with many other homes). That was environmentalist wackos at the EPA. — It wasn’t elected members of Congress who required universities to deny basic due process rights to students accused of rape. That was feminist loons at the Department of Education. — It wasn’t elected members of Congress who directed Obama’s IRS to target groups with “tea party” or “patriots” in their names. That was liberal ideologue Lois Lerner and other civil service functionaries. The lunatics at these agencies look like Reason Personified compared to the DOJ’s voting rights attorneys. In 2013, author Charlotte Allen described one fair-minded DOJ staffer, whose job it was to rewrite state voting laws: “On the morning of January 21, [2013] just before President Obama’s second inauguration, Rep. Paul Ryan … was roundly booed by the gathered crowd as he left the Capitol to attend the ceremonies …. Within minutes Daniel J. Freeman, a young career trial lawyer with the Voting Section of the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division … took credit in a Facebook post for instigating the anti-Ryan derision.” Paul Ryan? Pencil-necked, open borders, Never-Trump Paul Ryan? That’s the guy who got Freeman so riled up? The obnoxious Freeman is no longer a young career trial lawyer at the DOJ. Now he’s a senior career trial lawyer at the DOJ. Among the innovations dreamed up by fanatics like Freeman, Arizona was informed it could not ask for identification from people delivering more than 10 early ballots. Nothing fishy about that! Arizona’s voting laws were subject to federal oversight because of its well-known history as a slave state and avid practitioner of Jim Crow. (I may have to check my notes on that.) Actually, Arizona was bossed around by liberal activists at the DOJ for 40 years because back in 1972, it didn’t have bilingual ballots. Those weren’t instituted until 1974. They may as well have donned white hoods and burned crosses! Oddly, Mississippi’s election laws were also subject to approval by the DOJ — despite the fact that
blacks already voted at far higher rates than whites in that state. By contrast, Massachusetts did not require oversight of its voting laws, although in that fancy liberal state, black people voted at far lower rates than whites. It’s almost as if only red states have their voting laws nitpicked by left-wing lawyers in Washington. I wonder if that would help Democrats win presidential elections? Ironically, meaning totally predictably, the original 1965 Voting Rights Act was necessary because Democrats were trying to prevent black people from voting. Today, Democrats are using these new “voting rights” bills to ensure that 110% of black people vote, even if they are convicted felons, don’t live in the state, didn’t actually fill out a ballot or are dead. It wasn’t until 2013 that the Supreme Court mercifully overturned key portions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. (Citing the overwhelming Senate vote for the wonderfully named Voting Rights Act, Justice Antonin Scalia remarked at oral argument: “This is not the kind of a question you can leave to Congress.”) While it’s great that ideologues like Dan Freeman had their wings clipped by the Court, the previous 40 years of their harassment tells you what they want to do. The John Lewis voting rights bill will put them back in the saddle! States will be ordered to keep dead voters on the rolls, give violent felons the right to vote and jettison any voter I.D. requirements. (Interestingly, even after all the media demagoguery, black people still overwhelmingly support voter I.D. laws.) There’s no disincentive to government lawyers pursuing frivolous cases to the end of the Earth. Even if they eventually lose, they don’t have to worry about court costs or legal fees. They don’t pay ‘em. You do. The “For the People” voting rights bill is the floor of what these petty bureaucrats will require. Those are the bare-minimum “voting rights” that will be imposed on the states by the DOJ. That’s the level of absurdity Democrats are willing to vote for in plain sight. What great ideas does Dan Freeman have that even Democrats couldn’t endorse on the record? What is the voting “rights” equivalent of the EPA’s relentless persecution of homeowners, the Duke lacrosse case or the IRS’s abuse of power? Because that’s what the John Lewis voting rights bill will deliver. COPYRIGHT 2021 ANN COULTER
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June 2021 - Senior Beacon - Page 11
New Attractions Highlight Pigeon Forge’s 60th Year As Vacation Destination clude BAAK Boutique, J&P Cycles, REI Co-op, Royal Bee, Azul Cantina, Cinnaholic, Cream & Sugar, and Currahee Vineyard & Winery. Weather permitting, guests can catch a free Friday evening Movie on the Lawn.
•Dollywood’s 36th season continues with the new Harmonies of the Heart and A Brighter Day live shows and the Summer Celebration festival.
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•Camp Margaritaville RV Resort offers three distinctly different ways to kick back and relax combined with a unique “five o’clock somewhere” attitude. The 37-acre property includes nearly 180 RV sites along with upscale bath and
M e dic a i d & P r i vat e Pay Ac c e p t e d
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•Another first in the world is the new Power Coaster at Rowdy Bear Mountain. The two-seat throttle-powered coaster karts travel an approximately 2,000-foot-long track that features thrilling S-turns.
Point of the Pines Gardens in Po
•The world’s first toy-themed mini golf course, Toy Box Mini Golf, features 18-holes brought to life by 30-foot-tall recreations of some of the most popular and nostalgic toys from the past and present, each becoming a favorite photo op. A toy store and laser maze complete the experience.
Affordable Assisted Living in a Scenic Setting
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•The Island at Pigeon Forge unleashes SkyFly: Soar America, an indoor flying adventure that takes passengers high above Alaska’s glaciers, the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, the Great Smoky Mountains, and a dozen more of the nation’s most beautiful natural wonders and iconic landmarks. Moving seats combined with sounds, scents, and mists are part of the picturesque journey.
•The Mountain Mile adds two new foodand entertainment-focused venues. Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown, a 43,000-squarefoot family entertainment center with a 300-seat restaurant featuring Fieri’s signature cuisine, a 14lane Duck Pin bowling alley, over 10,000 square feet of state-of-the-art arcade games and more. The Listening Room will serve live music alongside a full menu of American cuisine. Like its Nashville sister property, the 10,000-squarefoot venue features songwriters and vocalists on an expansive stage, plus indoor and outdoor dining. Other new tenants in-
Learn More: For further information, including safety measures, you can visit www.MyPigeonForge.com or call 800-251-9100
ina
What To See In Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
laundry facilities. The centerpiece is a 79-room lodge featuring a restaurant, bar, camp store, putting green and pool. It’s conveniently close to the Pigeon Forge Parkway but elevated, providing guests with spectacular mountain views.
As Pigeon Forge Executive Director of Tourism Leon Downey puts it, “Our top-notch variety of attractions and close proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park has endeared Pigeon Forge to multiple generations of families. We take great pride in the 60 years of cherished memories made in our city and look forward to many more.”
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NAPSI—If you’re like most Americans, you’re eager to get out of the house and out into the world. In fact, according to a recent Harris poll, 77 percent said they plan to take a trip this year. For more than 10 million people annually, a great place to visit is Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, now celebrating 60 years as the top family-friendly vacation destination in the Great Smoky Mountains with new attractions.
•Pigeon Forge visitors can take advantage of a 600-foot-long covered pedestrian bridge connecting the LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge, a city-owned events center, to the new Mountain Lot and 2,148 free parking spaces. The walkway is just blocks from the city’s new Mass Transit headquarters in Patriot Park. Pigeon Forge Mass Transit’s trolleys operate year-round with
one-day passes available for convenient, hassle-free transportation along the city’s six-mile Parkway.
Exit 146
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Page 12 - Senior Beacon - June 2021
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June 2021 - Senior Beacon - Page 13
FOR A HEALTHIER YOU
Cataract Surgery Saves An Avid Bowler’s Vision In Record Time NAPSI—If you ever
The day after surgery, Genida was able to read the whole way through the chart, top to bottom. “Dr. Wilson asked me, ‘Are you sure you couldn’t see before?!’ and I said, ‘Yes, I’m positive!’ It was amazing.”
have trouble seeing your way clear to getting your eyes checked, here’s a case to consider: Genida White could tell her vision was gradually getting worse, but she rationalized away the need to see an ophthalmologist—a medical doctor who specializes in eyecare. She could still do all the things she enjoyed, such as bowling every Monday. But mostly, she was nervous to hear what the doctor would say about her eyes. Her daughter provided the encouragement she needed, telling her about a radio advertisement she heard about free eye exams with EyeCare America. No more excuses; it was time for an appointment. While, unfortunately, Genida did receive the diagnosis she feared—she would need surgery to remove cataracts in both eyes—the results were brilliant. The improvement in her vision was swift and dramatic. “I’d never had eye surgery before,” Genida said. “Before I knew it, it was over.” Cataract Facts
Proof of her quick recovery was evident at the bowling alley, where Genida didn’t miss one Monday on the lanes. Is Eyecare America Right For You?
A cataract is when your eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy. People with cataracts describe it as looking through a foggy window; vision is blurred and colors are dulled. About half of all Americans over age 75 have cataracts. As you age, you’re increasingly likely to develop cataracts. Fortunately, cataracts are treatable. An ophthalmologist surgically removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with an artificial one. Cataract surgery is the most effective and most common procedure performed in all of medicine with some 3 million Americans choosing to have cataract surgery each
year. Thankful For Sight-Saving Surgery Within two weeks of calling EyeCare America, Genida had cataract surgery in both eyes—just in time to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday. She was amazed at how simple it was to set up the initial eye exam with EyeCare America and at how quickly her vision was restored. “Reading the eye chart was so bad at first,” recalls Genida. She could just barely read the last two lines of the eye chart during her initial eye exam with her ophthalmologist, Douglas Wilson, M.D.
If the cost of an eye exam is a concern, the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeCare America program may be able to help. This national public service program provides eyecare through thousands of volunteer ophthalmologists for eligible seniors, 65 and older, and those at increased risk for eye disease, mostly at no out-of-pocket cost to the patient. Learn More To see if you or someone you care for qualify, visit www.aao.org/ eyecare-america or follow @AcademyEyeSmart
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Page 14 - Senior Beacon - June 2021
Penrose (719) 372-3872 Florence (719) 784-6493
July 2021 Upper Arkansas Area Agency on Aging Nutrition Program
GAC
GOLDEN AGE CENTER Monday
A $3.00 suggested donation per meal is appreciated, but not required. 5
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday 1 # 99 Tuna Pasta Salad Cucumber Salad Peach Orange Juice SF Gelatin w/Banana Raisin Nut Cup Mitzie’s WW Rolls
Friday 2 #10 BBQ Pork Ribs Creamy Coleslaw Corn Cob Seasoned Greens Watermelon Bran Muffin
6 #30 Chicken Salad Sandwich Lettuce & Tomato Confetti Salad Beef Barley Soup Orange Juice
7 #60 Meatloaf Brown Gravy Roasted Sweet Potatoes Brussels Sprouts Tossed Salad w/Lite Ranch Pineapple Tidbits WW Bread
8 #58 Lentil Soup Egg Salad Sandwich Lettuce & Tomato Slices Banana
9 #81 Sloppy Joe on a Bun Scalloped Potatoes Broccoli & Carrots Apple
12 #6 Baked Potato Broccoli w/Cheese Sauce Salad w/Lite French Plum Fruit Cocktail Drop Biscuit w/Butter
13 #66 Pot Roast Brown Gravy Baby Carrots & New Potatoes Seasoned Green Beans Cantaloupe Raisin Nut Cup WW Bread w/Butter
14 #27 Chicken Fried Steak Cream Gravy Smashed Red Potatoes California Mixed Vegetables Apple WW Dinner Roll
15 #24 Chicken Cacciatore Seasoned Green Beans Smashed Red Potatoes Banana WW Bread w/Butter
16 #85 Spinach Cheese Squares Tossed Salad w/Pear Whipped Hubbard Squash Citrus Cup WW Bread w/Butter
19 #40 Cream of Potato Soup Tuna Salad Wrap Lettuce & Tomato Slices Creamy Coleslaw Peaches
20 #73 Roast Chicken Mushroom Sauce Steamed Brown Rice Seasoned Cauliflower Broccoli Mix Apple Pear Salad w/Almonds WW Bread w/Butter
21 #64 Porcupine Meatballs Whipped Potatoes w/Gravy California Vegetable Medley Pears WW Bread
22 #88 Stuffed Peppers Chopped Spinach w/Malt Vinegar Applesauce Cake WW Bread w/Butter
23 #55 Kielbasa Parsley Buttered New Potatoes Mixed Vegetables Baked Acorn Squash Pineapple/Mandarin Orange Compote
26 #112 Turkey Tetrazzini Italian Green Beans Strawberry Applesauce Chocolate Chip Cookie WW Bread w/Butter
27 #16 Beef Stroganoff Orange Spiced Carrots Pickled Beet & Onion Salad Orange WW Bread w/Butter
28 #53 Hungarian Goulash California Vegetable Medley Green Peas Pineapple Tidbits WW Bread w/Butter
29 #95 Taco Salad Salsa, Tomato, Lettuce Strawberry Applesauce Flan Custard Cornbread w/Butter
30 #48 Hamburger on a WW Bun Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Catsup, and Mustard Baked Beans Potato Salad Orange
CLOSED 4th of July Observance
Please call (719) 345-3064 before 9:30 a.m. for reservations for grab-n-go
Please call (719) 345-3064 before 9:30 subject a.m. for for grab-nmeals served Monday – Friday. All menus to reservations change. go meals served Monday - Fridays. All menus subject to change.
Menus are sponsored by
Canon City (719) 345-4112 Salida (719) 539-3351 July 2021 Florence Senior Center Upper Arkansas Area Agency on Aging Nutrition Program
FLORENCE SENIOR CENTER
Tuesday
Thursday 1 # 99 Tuna Pasta Salad Cucumber Salad Peach Orange Juice SF Gelatin w/Banana Raisin Nut Cup Mitzie’s WW Rolls
Friday 2 #10 BBQ Pork Ribs Creamy Coleslaw Corn Cob Seasoned Greens Watermelon Bran Muffin
6 #91 Sweet and Sour Chicken Brown Rice Asian Vegetable Blend Mandarin Oranges Fortune Cookie WW Bread w/Butter
8 #58 Lentil Soup Egg Salad Sandwich Lettuce & Tomato Slices Banana
9 #81 Sloppy Joe on a Bun Scalloped Potatoes Broccoli & Carrots Apple
13 #75 Roast Pork Loin Brown Gravy Smashed Red Potatoes Orange Spiced Carrots Orange Mitzie’s WW Dinner Roll
15 #24 Chicken Cacciatore Seasoned Green Beans Smashed Red Potatoes Banana WW Bread w/Butter
16 #85 Spinach Cheese Squares Tossed Salad w/Pear Whipped Hubbard Squash Citrus Cup WW Bread w/Butter
20 #8 BBQ Beef w/Chicken Rice BBQ Beef Brisket Chicken Rice Soup Creamy Coleslaw Banana
22 #88 Stuffed Peppers Chopped Spinach w/Malt Vinegar Applesauce Cake WW Bread w/Butter
27 #79 Salisbury Steak Brown Gravy Smashed Red Potatoes California Mixed Veggies Nectarine WW Bread w/Butter
29 #95 Taco Salad Salsa, Tomato, Lettuce Strawberry Applesauce Flan Custard Cornbread w/Butter
23 #55 Kielbasa Parsley Buttered New Potatoes Mixed Vegetables Baked Acorn Squash Pineapple/Mandarin Orange Compote 30 #48 Hamburger on a WW Bun Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Catsup, and Mustard Baked Beans Potato Salad Orange
A $3.00 suggested donation per meal is appreciated, but not required.
Please call (719) 784-6493 before 9:30 a.m. for reservations for grab-n-go meals served Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. All menus subject to change. Please call (719) 784-6493 before 9:30 a.m. for reservations for grab-n-go meals served Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. All menus subject to change.
ADVANCED DENTAL--in Canon City!!
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June 2021 - Senior Beacon - Page 15
SENIOR SAFETY
PUEBLO POLICE DEPARTMENT — 549-1200 | PUEBLO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE — 583-6125 | EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE — 520-7100 | COLORADO SPRINGS POLICE DEPT. — 444-7000 | FREMONT COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPT. — 784-3411 | CANON CITY POLICE DEPT. — 276-5600
Tire Experts Offer Safety Tips to Avoid Accidents and Repair Costs AS THINGS BEGIN TO OPEN back up, many people are
gearing up to hit the road for their weekend getaways, wedding excursions and road trips alike. When it comes to staying safe during road travel, there is nothing more important than making sure your tires are in tip-top shape and ready to perform. In conjunction with National Tire Safety Week, the experts at the
conditions and ruined rims. If your car doesn’t have automatic tire pressure notifications, check your tire pressure once every one-to-two weeks to prevent this repair and replacement costs.
SEASONAL TIRES – Wheth-
er they’re all-season or winter/ summer-specific, your seasonal tires should always be swapped out before seasonal weather hits. Summer tires are comprised with
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be uneven, the steering wheel can start to shake and this issue can cause problems with breaking or steering in the future. If any of these descriptors are true of your
vehicle, make sure you take it to a repair shop. You may or may not have to replace the tires completely.
TAKE BACK
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rubber compounds that are very flexible and offers more precision when turning and accelerating. However, these tires are not ideal to use in the winter months beLENGTH OF TREAD – The cause their flexible rubber makeworst thing for your tires is when up will freeze under 44 degrees the treads go bare or ‘bald.’ This Fahrenheit. To get the most out of means that the rubber on the tire has been worn down to a point that your seasonal or all-seasons tires, make sure you are switching them breaking or making turns could out according to the calendar and cause an accident. Depending on seasonal weather conditions. the tire maker and your driving frequency, your tires may need to ALIGNMENT – The alignbe switched out every year to two ment of your wheels can affect years for replacements. your tires. If your steering wheel AIR PRESSURE – Keeping the is favoring the left or the right (while the car itself is driving right amount of air in your tires at straight ahead), there’s a chance all times will circumvent the posyour tires are misaligned. If this sibility of a flat. Flat tires can lead to popped tires, dangerous steering is the case, the tire treads could new RNR Tire Express in Pueblo have compiled a short list of things to keep in mind this summer:
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Page 16 - Senior Beacon - June 2021
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REELING
MURDER, SHE THOUGHT JOE WRIGHT DIRECTS AMY ADAMS; OSCAR SOON? BETTY JO TUCKER Pueblo award winning film critic
I
hope Amy Adams wins an Oscar® soon. She’s already been nominated six times for her versatile acting talent in “ Junebug,” “Big Eyes,” “The Master,” “American Hustle,” “Vice,” and “ The Fighter.” In my opinion, she should have won a golden statuette for her fearless performance in “ Hillbilly Elegy” during 2020. Perhaps her role in THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW will hit the jackpot this year. It’s another difficult turn as a troubled woman who seeks solace in drugs and alcohol. Adams plays Anna Fox, a child psychologist suffering from
agoraphobia. Anna fears going outside her house and even keeps the lighting at a minimum, which sometimes makes it hard for us to see what’s happening in her spooky abode. Her psychiatrist (Tracy Letts) visits Anna at home and sometimes has a conversation with her on the phone. The other person she talks with is her tenant (Wyatt Russell), who lives in her basement and does some handyman work around the house. Anna also befriends a teenage boy (Fred Hechinger) from a new family in the neighborhood. Everything gets worse for Anna when this family moves close to her. A full-fledged mystery develops regarding whether or not a murder was committed by Alistair Russell (Gary Oldman),
But that helps her with this hard part.
the teenager’s father. Anna claims to have witnessed this crime, but Detective Little (Brian Tyree Henry) finds it hard to believe someone with mental problems like hers. Plus, the woman she thought was killed is very much alive.
She nails the role -- and that’s pure art. This dark movie is tough to see. It’s filled with grief and misery.
Agoraphobic stays inside. It seems to her the place to hide She mixes meds and booze each day to make her troubles go away.
But Amy Adams draws us in. And murder takes a twisty spin.
What does she do most of the time? Watching neighbors might be her crime. She sees abuse. What can she do? She gets involved and risks ensue.
Prejudice”) from Tracy Lett’s screenplay
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In Many States, Minors May Consent To Receive Covid-19 Shot Without Parent’s Knowledge
A District Administration survey conducted just before the FDA’s authorization for 12-15-year-olds to receive the COVID-19 shot found that only 3 in 10 parents said they would vaccinate their children right away, with most instead wanting to wait and see, or saying they would not get their child vaccinated at all or would do so only if required for school. However, with the authorization of Pfizer’s shot for 12-15-year-olds, a group that totals almost 17 million, minors can consent to receive the COVID-19 shot even without the parent’s knowledge in many states. The age at which a minor can consent to receive the experimental biological agent in Alabama is age 14; in San Francisco, 12; Philadelphia, 12; North Carolina, 11; South Carolina, 16. America’s Frontline Doctors (AFLDS) Legal Director Ali Schultz explained: “They can all consent, minors can consent, on their own, even if they live with their mom and dad who are married, they live with their parents, no issues, the child literally can consent at school to receive the vaccine, without the parents even knowing.” She continued: “We’ve had so many people reach out, and they were just heartbroken, they cannot believe that their child was able to get this without them even knowing, because as parents they were personally against the vaccine, and no-one even ran it by them. “And what’s even scarier: It’s up to the health care provider, in a multitude of states; Iowa, Idaho, Washington, Arkansas; so if a ‘health care provider’ deems that it is appropriate for a minor to get the vaccine, then they can do so without parental consent.” According to District Administration, although most states still require parental consent, “the landscape may be shifting slightly as more jurisdictions seek to encourage vaccination of young people.” Their specific findings are as follows: Most states (41) require parental consent for vaccination of minors below the age of 18, although one of these states (NE) requires consent below age 19. There are some exceptions to these requirements: * Many allow for certain minors,
such as those who are emancipated, homeless or living apart from their parent or guardian, or married, to self-consent. * Cities in two states (San Francisco in CA and Philadelphia in PA), have moved to allow minors, ages 12 and older, to self-consent for COVID-19 vaccination. * In one state (AZ), if a parent refuses to consent for COVID-19 vaccination, but if a child or a doctor requests it, a court order can be obtained to allow for vaccination. In 5 states, a minor’s ability to self-consent is based on a specific age as follows: * Two states where a minor must be at least 16 (RI and SC) * One state where a minor must be at least 15 (OR) * One state where a minor must be at least 14 (AL) * One state where a minor must be at least 11 (DC; in DC, each healthcare provider may institute additional requirements which could include requiring a parent or guardian to be present). The remaining 5 states apply the “mature minor doctrine”, meaning that there is no specific age cutoff but providers have discretion to decide if a minor possesses the maturity to consent for themselves (AR, ID, NC, TN, WA). This means that parental consent has already been required for 16-17 year-olds in most states (41) since the initial authorization of the Pfizer vaccine on December 11, 2020. Two additional states require consent for some subset of 12-15 year-olds, bringing the count to 43 states where most minors in this age group would need parental consent. Once the next group of children is eligible for vaccination, those below age 12, this number will grow to 45. National Vaccine Information Center‘s Barbara Loe Fisher commented on the “shifting landscape”: “This past year, we have seen many lawmakers in the U.S. and other countries vote to eliminate or severely restrict civil liberties in the name of the public health. One of the most outrageous legislative actions violating parental and human rights took place in Washington, D.C. in November 2020 when City Council officials gave doctors the power to vaccinate children as young as 11 years old and hide
what they did from parents. The D.C. Mayor refused to veto the bill and, in January 2021, the U.S. Congress sat on its hands and gave tacit approval to enactment of the most dangerous child vaccination law in America.” She continued: “In a breathtaking violation of medical ethics and several federal laws, the new vaccine concealment law in Washington, DC allows doctors to extract “informed consent” from young children too immature to know what informed consent means or what a vaccine reaction looks and feels like. The D.C. City Council majority, with only three members dissenting, cruelly disempowered parents by voting to make it illegal for a doctor, insurance company or school administrator to divulge a child’s vaccination history in records that can be seen by the child’s mother or father. “An 11-year old child does not know or understand his or her personal health history but most parent do. If a child has experienced previous vaccine reactions, has severe allergies or other health conditions that could increase vaccine risks, parents kept in the dark will not have a way to protect their child from further harm.
“Parents who don’t know which vaccines their children have been given will not be able to monitor them for signs of a potentially life-threatening vaccine reaction that requires immediate medical treatment. If the child is injured or dies after vaccination, parents will not know they must apply to the federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) before the filing deadline expires. “Parents will not know their insurance company has been billed for vaccines. Parents will not know that a school the child attends is in possession of their child’s secret vaccination records even when there is a vaccine exemption for religious belief reasons on file with the school. “This blatant violation of a parent’s moral right and legal responsibility to make medical risk decisions on behalf of a minor child was endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics22 and pushed through by the DC City Council, while the Mayor and the US Congress looked the other way.”
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SOCIAL SECURITY & YOU
JOSH WELLER, PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST-SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION - PUEBLO COUNTY, FREMONT COUNTY AND EL PASO COUNTY
Happy Birthday, Medicare! What Happens when You Turn 65 EDITOR'S NOTE: All of these valuable links are available on the SeniorBeacon.info website
THIS JULY MARKS the 56th anniversary of Medicare. Did you know you can apply for Medicare online even if you are not ready to start your retirement benefits? Applying online can take less than 10 minutes. There are no forms to sign and we usually require no additional documentation. We’ll process your application and contact you if we need more information. Knowing when to apply for Medicare is very important. You have a limited initial enrollment period to apply. If you miss the initial enrollment period, you may have to pay a higher monthly premium. If you’re eligible for Medicare at age 65, your initial enrollment period begins three months before your 65th birthday and ends three months after that birthday. Visit www.ssa.gov/benefits/ medicare to apply for Medicare and find other important information. Some Medicare beneficiaries may qualify for Extra Help with their Medicare prescription drug plan costs. To qualify for Extra Help, a person must be receiving Medicare, have limited resources and income, and reside in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia. Read our publication Understanding the Extra Help With Your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan for more information at www.ssa. gov/pubs/EN-05-10508.pdf. The official Medicare website at Medicare.gov offers many online services where you can find answers to these questions: What does Medicare cover? www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers Where do I find forms for filing a Medicare appeal? www. medicare.gov/claims-appeals/ how-do-i-file-an-appeal How can I let someone speak with Medicare on my behalf? www.medicare.gov/claims-ap-
peals/file-an-appeal/can-someonefile-an-appeal-for-me What do Medicare health and prescription drug plans in my area cost, and what services do they offer? www.medicare.gov/plan-compare Which doctors, health care providers, and suppliers participate
in Medicare? www.medicare.gov/ forms-help-resources/find-compare-doctors-hospitals-other-providers Where can I find out more about a Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D) and enroll? www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/ how-to-get-prescription-drug-cov-
erage Where can I find a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy in my area? www.medicare. gov/medigap-supplemental-insurance-plans Please share these helpful resources with friends and family today.
Page 20 - Senior Beacon - June 2021
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SOCIAL SECURITY & YOU Question: What are some of the documents Social Security will accept as proof of identity for a child? Answer: While you can use a birth certificate to prove age or citizenship, you cannot use it as proof of identity. Social Security needs evidence of the child’s existence after birth. An acceptable document must show your child’s name, identifying information, and, preferably, a recent photograph. Your child must be present unless the picture ID also shows your child’s biographical information (i.e., age, date of birth, and parents’ names). We generally can accept a non-photo identity document if it has enough information to identify the child (such as the child’s name and age, date of birth, and parents’ names). We prefer to see the child’s U.S. passport. If that document is not available, we may accept the child’s: • Adoption decree; • Doctor, clinic, or hospital record; • Religious record (e.g., baptismal record); • Daycare center or school record; or • School identification card. All documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents. To find out more, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnum-
ber. There, you can also find out what documents you need, fill out and print an application, and then bring or mail the needed information to Social Security. You may also want to read the publication, Social Security Numbers For Children, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs. Question: A few years ago, I lost my Social Security card. Now my credit report shows that someone might be using my Social Security number. I’m afraid they might ruin my credit. What should I do? Answer: Identity theft and fraud are serious problems, not just for you, but for the financial integrity of our agency. It also puts our national security at risk if someone dangerous is using your number to obtain other forms of identification. It’s against the law to use someone else’s Social Security number, give false information when applying for a number, or alter, buy, or sell Social Security cards. Keep in mind, you should never carry your Social Security card with you. If you think someone is using your Social Security number fraudulently, you should report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) right away. You can report it at www.idtheft.gov or you can call FTC’s hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4261) TTY: (1-866-653-4261).
Question: Why is it so important that my baby have a Social Security number? Answer: Your child may need a Social Security number if you are planning to open a bank account, buy savings bonds, obtain medical coverage, or apply for government services for the child. Your child will also need a Social Security number if you are going to declare him or her on your taxes. Getting a Social Security number for your newborn is voluntary, but it is a good idea to apply when your child is born. You can apply for a Social Security number for your baby when you apply for your baby’s birth certificate. The state agency that issues birth certificates will give us your child’s information and we will mail you a Social Security card with the child’s Social Security number. Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber for more information.
percent of their Social Security benefits. You must pay taxes on some portion of your benefits if you file an individual federal tax return and your income exceeds $25,000. If you file a joint return, you must pay taxes if you and your spouse have combined income of more than $32,000. If you are married and file a separate return, you probably will have to pay taxes on your benefits. You can read more about tax preparation in relation to Social Security at www.socialsecurity.gov/planners/taxes.htm. Social Security benefits include monthly retirement, survivor, and disability benefits. They don’t include Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, which are not taxable. You can also get a replacement 1099 or 1042S when you open your own personal my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/ myaccount.
Question: I suspect that someone I know is collecting Social Security disability benefits when they shouldn’t be. What is the best way for me to report fraud? Answer: You can report fraud online at http://oig.ssa.gov/report or call the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271. Social Security has zero tolerance for fraud and uses many proven tactics to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. Our Office of the Inspector General is relentless in its pursuit of people who conceal work activity while receiving disability benefits. We investigate and seek prosecution for people who receive benefits for a child or children who aren’t under their care, or who fail to notify Social Security of the death of a beneficiary and continue to receive and cash checks of the deceased. We also depend on you to help stop fraud.
Question: Someone stole my Social Security number, and it’s being used repeatedly. Does Social Security issue new Social Security numbers to victims of repeated identity theft? Answer: Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America, so you aren’t alone. If you’ve done all you can to identify and fix the problem, including contacting the Federal Trade Commission, but someone is still using your number, Social Security may assign you a new number. If you decide to apply for a new number, you’ll need to prove your identity, age, and U.S. citizenship or immigration status. You’ll also need to provide evidence you’re having ongoing problems because of the misuse of your current Social Security number. You can read more about identity theft at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.
Question: I haven’t received my Social Security Statement in the mail the last few years. Will I ever get one again? Answer: In September 2014, Social Security resumed mailing Social Security Statements to workers ages 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 who aren’t receiving Social Security benefits, and who don’t have a my Social Security account. Rather than once every five years, those over age 60 will receive a Statement every year.
Question: My same-sex partner and I recently married. Will we qualify for Social Security benefits? Answer: You may be eligible to apply for Social Security benefits. Many factors affect your eligibility for benefits, including how long you worked and your age. Social Security is now processing more claims in which entitlement or eligibility is affected by a same-sex relationship. We encourage you to apply for benefits right away, even if you aren't sure you’re eligible. Applying now will protect you against the loss of any potential benefits. You can apply safely and securely at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline. Learn more about Social Security for same-sex couples by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov/ same-sexcouples.
Question: I’m gathering everything I’ll need to file my taxes this month. Do I have to pay taxes on Social Security benefits? Also, where can I get a replacement 1099? Answer: Some people who get Social Security must pay federal income taxes on their benefits. Still, no one pays taxes on more than 85
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June 2021 - Senior Beacon - Page 21
Happy Birthday America
“If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
than to serve God’s people. God was able to use them mightily to show the way of building this nation to be “A city set on a hill.” Did God have a plan for America? When our Founding Fathers founded America, they felt their belief in God would guide their decisions for all generations of Americans. These just men believed their new nation would be the greatest nation in the world. They knew it would not be easy to defend the rights guaranteed in our Constitution, but they believed that all Americans would have equal rights and freedoms. We call this the “American Dream” and this is God’s plan for America. How many of the incredible blessings that have been poured out on this nation – how much of the grace which continues to cover this country – are a direct result of the obedience and willingness of our forefathers to die to self and to live for others. Only God knows. Happy 4th of July!!!!
“I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the gloom I can see Rays of ravishing Light and Glory.” John Adams to Abigail, on the passing of the Declaration of Independence. “This nation was founded by God with a special calling. The people who first came here knew they were being led here by the Lord Jesus Christ, to found a nation where men, women and children were to live in obedience to Him… This was truly to be one nation under God…. The reason, I believe, that we Americans are in trouble today is that we have PCC’s emphasis in the coming year forgotten this.” Peter Marshall, Pastor of East Dennis Community Church, will be to increase enrollment to Cape Cod. pre-pandemic levels, she said. The first settlers felt God had a plan Kay Owen-Larson is the co-founder for this nation. The first governor of and President of Crossroads Ministries Erjavec commended the Colorado Massachusetts, John Winthrop, said, and the founder of the Crossroads General Assembly for its commit“America is ‘ A city set on a hill’ , which School of Chaplaincy. This year marks ment to restoring higher education funding to its original 2020 level and would be a light to the whole world.” her 58th year in ministry. An author, speaker, teacher and pasnoted that PCC’s budget is expected Men like William Bradford, John Winthrop, and George Washington, tor, she has a heart for the elderly and to remain stable. who were among the first leaders would like to see many of them come “Because we were mindful and disof this nation, instead of aspiring to to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ ciplined throughout the pandemic, greatness, truly wanted nothing more in their last days. there is not a need to make additional budget cuts for this coming BACKED BY A academic year,” she said. PCC campuses are fully open for YEAR-ROUND the summer term and fall classes are expected to take place on a normal operating schedule. “We look forward to having people back on campus but we are prepared to meet our students wherever they need to be,” Erjavec said. “We’ll EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME OFFER! continue to emphasize the PCC Flex model that allows students to attend classes in person or virtually to accommodate their lives.” OFF OFF
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PUEBLO—Students and employees at Pueblo Community College received some positive financial news for the upcoming academic year. First, there will be no tuition increase for PCC students during the 2021-22 school year. PCC is part of the Colorado Community College System, governed by the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education. The SBCCOE voted in April to maintain the current tuition rate at all 13 CCCS schools for the upcoming year. “The pandemic has hit our students particularly hard,” said Joe Garcia, CCCS chancellor. “Our state board, recognizing that we cannot ask our students and their families to shoulder a greater share of the burden during these difficult times, made the wise but difficult decision to freeze tuition for the upcoming academic year. Our colleges are the most affordable, accessible options to obtain a high-quality education and workforce training – and we intend to keep it that way.” Second, PCC’s final 2021-22 budget was approved by the SBCCOE and includes a 3 percent raise for all employees effective July 1. “It was important to us to recognize the tremendous work our team has done over the past 15 months, often above and beyond their typical workload,” said PCC President Patty Erjavec. “We could not have navigated these rough waters without their commitment.” Erjavec also said most of the open positions that weren’t able to be filled in the midst of the pandemic will be restored, enabling the college to better serve students as they return.
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Page 22 - Senior Beacon - June 2021 ANCIENT FAERIE LORE: FAERIE HERBS AND POTIONS
GLEN VOLLMECKE Author: "Intermission a Place in Time."
Even today regardless of hygiene worries, lack of water and electricity, these wanderers/nomads from Romania, set up their multi colored wagons on farmers' fields without permission. Despite the characteristic hospitality of their hosts, a repulsive trashy mess is left behind.
Goblins, Faeries, Pixies and Gnomes, all are residing entities in the mystical underworld. These little people bizarrely contribute to our opinions, and imaginations accepted by us since birth. No nation on earth has escaped consequences by disregarding ancient origins, literally written in stone. Be it the gypsy door to door saleswoman, or a perilous saunter under the ladder, and don't forget the toss of salt over the left shoulder! Without knowledge of these intuitive statistics, we'd surely be expecting the bad omens certain to occur. As a six year old child I watched this peasant gypsy enter our street. With almost arrogant confidence and absolutely assured of a quick sale, she cradled her Scottish white heather in the straw basket. Without hesitation she rapped loudly on our front door. My mother's face was a study of apprehensive dread. Although a strong woman, but probably afraid of bad news relating to my dying father, without caution she asked 'how much?' 'Five pence' was the reply.
Fewer words meant so much. The only narrative missing was 'or else.' The deal was done. The customary good luck' was yelled by the drifter, (free of charge.) The tiny bouquet of heather lay in my mothers' palm. Her lips moved slightly, probably a silent prayer, barely observed by anyone except myself. Sadly it didn't work, my dad died several weeks later, but at least she'd known there wasn't culpability for not flinging the vagrant into the road. Another example of the mind's infinite discomfort and refusal to 'push our luck' relating to ancient customs and folklores. Even today regardless of hygiene worries, lack of water and electricity, these wanderers/nomads from Romania, set up their multi colored wagons on farmers' fields without permission. Despite the characteristic hospitality of their hosts, a repulsive trashy mess is left behind. The goblin, is another oddity worth mentioning in this series of stories. Wretchedly, faeries, trolls and goblins are defined by their ugliness. At risk of being dramatic, I'd say they're repulsive. But the physically twisted hobgoblin is wholly benevolent toward mankind. Gentle and hospitable these shy creatures are masked by their ostensible hideousness. Therefore it's wise never to 'judge a book by its cover. Legends from the quaint seaside village of Cornwall England (my own grandfather's birth place) speak of stunning faeries surviving without cares from workaday conditions, or trauma usually experienced by the human population. Yet peculiari-
ties occur often. These creatures have evolved in bizarre ways. For instance the fabled Scottish Peg Leg Jack, the Fachan has only one of each organ. For instance, one arm, one leg, and only one ear, all arranged on a pole type body. Some faeries are half fish, half goat, or half bird. The mer people are human from the waist up, and below 'have fins, and scales, tails like the fish. Able to exist in salt or fresh water and land, they are a composite of human and fish, so they're especially enthralling to mortal males. We all learned as children of fables and stories linked to the 'other' world, but this series offer validation that you never thought imaginable. Stay with these stories, and keep an open mind. Eventually you will find the child within.
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OPINION-EDITORIAL
DAVID SHRIBMAN
David M. Shribman is a North Shore native and Pulitzer Prize winner
BRINGING THE PENTAGON PAPERS TO THE PUBLIC This is It occurred 50 years ago this month, a story known primarily by people now dead but one that is vital for our times, and for all time. It is a tale about the Pentagon Papers, the Unitarian Universalist Church, a teeny publishing house, a radical historian, a renegade Pentagon employee, a couple of suitcases spilling over with secret documents, a meeting on Boston Common, a few FBI agents, and -- here is the poetry and poignance of it all -- a tourist walk called the Freedom Trail. And at the center of it all is an enigmatic senator who died at age 91 last weekend. The senator was Mike Gravel, a two-term Democrat from Alaska and two-time presidential candidate, an idiosyncratic politician who both alienated liberals (for his support for the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline) and delighted them (for reading the Pentagon Papers aloud on the Senate floor), and a central figure in one of the most important political, judicial and press episodes in American history. It was Gravel who assured that the Pentagon Papers got a thorough airing, arriving one July 1971 day at the Boston offices of the Unitarian Universalist church-affiliated Beacon Press "determined," as onetime assistant to a Beacon editor Deborah Johansen Harris (who was there when the senator arrived) said in a phone conversation the other day, "to have the entire Pentagon Papers published." And it was Gravel who met with Beacon editor-in-chief Arnold Tovell and radical historian Howard Zinn on Boston Common to plan their publishing strategy. The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and 14
other newspapers had published excerpts from the papers, but no major publishing house dared take on the entire project. Soon thereafter, the FBI arrived at the Beacon offices as well; Burnell O'Brien, the secretary to Press director Gobin Stair, bought time by gamely suggesting that the G-men take a stroll on the Freedom Trail, Boston's walking tour of Revolution-era landmarks, for a half-hour. The documents in Gravel's suitcases were a horrific mess, "an endless pile of notes," according to a Beacon account. They were the raw materials of history, and of a landmark lawsuit, documents like the Oct. 14, 1966, draft memorandum by Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara to President Lyndon B. Johnson that said -- in contravention to what the Johnson administration was telling Congress and the public -- of the war in Vietnam, "The prognosis is bad that the war can be brought to a satisfactory conclusion within the next two years. The large-unit operations probably will not do it; negotiations probably will not do it." Bombshells like that were in the documents that onetime Pentagon employee Daniel Ellsberg copied and was peddling around Washington, hoping that they would see the light of day so that Americans would see the futility of the war. Neil Sheehan of The New York Times showed interest in the papers -- he and Ellsberg were engaged in a dance of the documents that both found frustrating -- but Ellsberg's preference was for them to become public off of Capitol Hill. "Neil did not want the Times to be scooped by Congress," Ellsberg said in an interview. "He didn't want Congress to share the glory. He never really understood my motives, to have Congress look into (sitting President Richard) Nixon's policies, which by the way they never did. Now I realize it was because the hearings would be about the Democrats: how much the Democrats, going back to (Harry) Truman, had lied, especially LBJ. It would have been a political bloodbath for the Democrats, blamed for getting us in the war and then pulling the rug out
of the war effort. I thought Nixon would blame Vietnam on the Democrats and then get out. That didn't happen." The war over the papers -- resolved by a Supreme Court ruling in favor of the newspapers and asserting a strong presumption against government-directed "prior restraint" -- has become part of heroic American folklore, sealed by the 2017 Steven Spielberg film "The Post." "I was drawn to doing a character study of the moral fiber of (Post publisher) Katharine Graham in her most difficult decision, putting herself in jeopardy and her paper at risk," Spielberg told me. "Exposing the papers to the Times and then to the Post did not stop the United States from any of its military objectives and didn't put any soldiers at risk. It was a flashback report, and I always remember the idea that the Founding Fathers gave the free press the powers it must have to do its work and to serve the governed and not the governors." But the forgotten strength of character displayed by the Beacon Press never has been celebrated properly. "I will cooperate with you in your efforts to publish because there is an urgent need for Americans to understand our past errors so that we may exercise informed judgment to end the war in Indochina," Gravel wrote to Stair, "and because we must begin the process of restoring the people's faith in their leaders." For his part, Stair, who was subpoenaed to appear at Ellsberg's trial, regarded the publication of the Pentagon Papers as "a test of our purpose." He said he published the papers out of concern "at how rapidly the American press lost interest in the Pentagon study once the Supreme Court confirmed the public's right to this information." Aside to journalism students: I learned some weeks ago about Gravel's valises full of documents and his efforts to get the Pentagon Papers published, and vowed to write about it in this 50th anniversary year. But one thing led to another, and one column topic popped up after another, and it wasn't until
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last week that I finally was going to get around to calling Gravel, whose telephone number I had acquired in anticipation of working on this very column. Then -- truly as I was playing around in my mind the angle I would take -- I learned that he had died. This column is less rich because of my delay. There is a lesson in here for me in the last years of my career and for you in the first years of yours: Never put off making that phone call.
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