SENIOR BEACON OCTOBER 2020

Senior Beacon SB Eldest & Locally-Owned Senior Newspaper in Southern Colorado

OCTOBER 2020

Vol. 39:9

Established February 1982

465 Consecutive Months!

Committed To Southern Colorado Seniors For 39 Years And Counting!!

Fear Itself

SPANISH FLU The Spanish flu started in February 1918 and finished in April of 1920, officially. It infected around

THE MATH of the Matter PUEBLO COUNTY

Population 168,424 Deaths Survival Rate

EL PASO COLORADO COUNTY 720,403

WORLD

5.758M

7.686B

37

176

1,960

1.01M

99.978%

99.975%

99.965%

99.986%

M = millions B = billions Notes: Most data is for September 28th or October 1st, 2020, dependening on the source Survival Rate calculation: deaths divided by population, converted to percentage, then subtracted from 100 Sources: Population: U.S. Census, Wikipedia; COVID-19: Pueblo County Health Department press release, El Paso County Health Dept., Colorado.gov, Wikipedia

500 million people and killed from 17-50 million people and possibly reaching as many as 100 million deaths (1). The higher estimates are from studies as recently as 2005,

which could be believed as more accurate, assisted by improved methods of research.

The Spanish flu, also called Brazilian flu, German flu, and the Bolshevik disease (1) created it’s own horrendous affects, ending in death, rather than exacerbating existing conditions and hastening death from those underlying conditions.

TRANSMISSION The 1910s and 1920s were vastly different than today, of course. The first trans-Atlantic flight was only in 1919. This was right in the middle of the Spanish flu pandemic. It carried no commercial passengers.

There were perhaps a few dozen or few hundred people to ever fly commercially on a plane at this time. People stayed very close to home. We had virtually no commercial air traffic.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a government entity, we flew a total of 1,570,234,021 global passenger-miles in 2019. Do you think any of those were from and to China or the U.S.? Would passengers have been transmitting COVID-19? Is it possible to completely avoid a previously unknown virus without trying?

The automobile was starting to grow in 1920. The Department of

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THIS CHILLING pandemic can be a benefit. We’re in a highly mobile, globalized world. There will be a time when we have a significant viral threat and our current preparations will serve us well.

It’s nice to see hand sanitizers around every corner, plexiglass when people are coughing, gloves and cleanliness in restaurants as a rule and not as an exception. This looks like the start of a new industry.

What it is not is a highly deadly pandemic. Even one death is tragic and too much but it must be put into perspective with neutral facts.

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Page 2 - Senior Beacon - October 2020

JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE RACES

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE CAVE JAMES R. GRASSO Former Chief Cook & Bottle Washer

I'VE HEARD THE expression "Come to Jesus

achieved in world history!

This is not even counting the constant drumbeat of pandering by those on the Left to groups they already have in their pockets.

Space doesn't give me enough room to add to this list but I think you all get the picture.

A very nice lady contacted me in early September.

She was very concerned that the folks in nursing homes and such will not be able to vote because it's like they are in prison (no one, including family members can even visit them in many of them) and wanted my readers to know about their plight and make sure our politicians do something about it.

I'm not very hopeful about them doing anything but one can always wish.

Our meeting with the Almighty can come at any time. You all know that but it would probably be a good idea if you are reading this to have a "Come to Jesus Moment." and soon.

We all (Baby Boomers and late Greatest Gens), really need to get square with our Maker. Catholics need to come back to their churches and faith. In fact, everyone should be praying for their own good and the good of their fellow man/woman.

When Jesus walked the earth His message was simple: Love the Father with all your heart (giving Him thanks for the gifts He has given you) AND "Love thy neighbor as thyself."

He said do that and you will be forgiven your transgressions and live in Paradise with Him when it's time.

So, in our times at this moment, turn to God and live the new covenant from Jesus. Nothing is easier or harder depending on your viewpoint! We live in unusual times ladies and gents.

We all seem to be looking for the answers to life. It's easy.

Turn to God. Godspeed to you and yours.

Moment" many times throughout my life. I've never really understood it because I was born a Catholic and went to Catholic school from 4th grade until graduation from 12th grade.

I say I never really understood it because it was and still is hard to fathom that anyone would need to wait until that moment came.

This year, 2020, many people have had their "Moment" including many Christians who are looking heavenward because of all that is happening and has happened this year.

Besides everything pandemic (been hard on "The Greatest Generation" folk who mostly stay in the house all day for months), we have riots every other day in many large cities across the nation fomented unwittingly by many professional athletes and of course the media types who get their kicks with chaos and scaring their viewers everyday all day (something they may regret someday).

We have had weird stretches of weather (how'd you like that wintry weather in early September?) and so many forest fires lit by wayward human beings that think if enough chaos continues they can topple the "greatest political experiment" ever

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◀ FROM FEAR, PAGE 1

Transportation had 8.1 million cars registered in that year. The BTS says we had 273 million highway vehicles in 2018. This is thirty times more vehicles travelling further and more often than in the past.

There are more of us are moving more often and at a much faster rate than a century ago. This would naturally mean we could transmit viruses faster.

Population density is important in transmitting many communicable diseases. The U.S. in 1920 had a population of 117 million people and 3.7 million square miles of land and territory (2). This equals a little over thirty people per square mile.

Today we have almost tripled that density.

More people, in contact faster and packed in tighter, leads one to believe that the coronavirus should be much more severe.

UNHEALTHY The Pueblo County Coroner, Brian Cotter, made a brave pronouncement in the Pueblo Chieftain. When asked about COVID and death he replied: “I have had that question a million times. How many people have died of COVID? And my short answer for that is, none,” Cotter said (3).

Mr. Cotter clarified the risk by saying: “People with serious underlying conditions are very susceptible to COVID and will react adversely to it, definitely.”

What is then killing people if not coronavirus? The answer is comorbidities. Having underlying health problems that combine with this

virus to bring about death. There is a lot written about this and it is worth looking into further to avoid danger.

We reached out to both Anthony Mestas, writer for the Pueblo Chieftain, and the Pueblo County Coroner for elaboration and received no response back from either. Are they in hot water? Do they not want to delve deeper into this political hot potato?

ANTIBODY TESTING David Goodman and Michael Rothfeld, writing in the New York Times, say one in five New Yorkers may have already had the virus, based on antibody testing (4). This is in the so-called ground zero for the pandemic.

The article was published on April 23, 2020. Now it is almost six months later. Undoubtedly, the infection rate should be much higher currently. Also, keep in mind the fact that modern people should be spreading this virus at a very rapid rate with increased density and travel.

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Based on those antibody statistics the survival rate is very similar to those that accompany this article in the chart.

be just as mysterious and unproven to work? There is no long term, reliable data on the problem; how can the proposed solutions be so absolute and accepted?

COVID-19, NOVEL CORONOVIThe title of this article is based RUS, CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC on President Franklin Roosevelt’s It goes by many names. It instills famous quote from his first Inaugufear. There is a lot of misinformaral Address, “So, first of all, let me tion and anxiety surrounding it.

Some believe it has even been poassert my firm belief that the only liticized and is a new Machiavellian thing we have to fear is fear itself— weapon. nameless, unreasoning, unjustified What name it does not go by, terror which paralyzes needed efapparently, is critical thinking. Why forts to convert retreat into advance is there not widespread publicity (5).” Thank you Mr. Roosevelt for of antibody results or widespread those insightful words. antibody testing? Why is there not widespread exposure of the high Written by the Senior Beacon Advisurvival rate of COVID-19? Why have there been no high-profile sory Board investigations into the countless allegations of false-positives on COVID tests? Why does any outlet SOURCES: not mention the danger of carbon (1) Wikipedia.org monoxide, caused by mask wear(2) 1920 Census ing? Why is there blind allegiance (3) Pueblo Chieftain newspaper to safeguards for a supposedly (4) New York Times newspaper mysterious disease? Shouldn’t the (5) HistoryMatters.gmu.edu proposed solutions and remedies

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Page 4 - Senior Beacon - October 2020

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SRDA OCTOBER 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

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Call us: 719-545-8900 Dollar General, 2417 Prairie 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

Everybody has a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in Pueblo Sam’s Club Thursdays, 7 – 9 AM 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 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 - October 2020

‘LIGHT FOR THE JOURNEY’

JAN MCLAUGHLIN

Director of Prayer for Prisoners International

TO VOTE OR NOT TO VOTE SHOULD NOT BE A QUESTION!

A

re you registered to vote? This question is not to ruffle your feathers but to commend you for registering and

to encourage you to follow through and show up at the polls. Or if you receive a mail-in ballot, take it personally to the courthouse or polling place and deposit it in the ballot box yourself. Trust no one with your ballot. Are you aware that outside of the “secret envelope” which is supposed to guard your vote and maintain your privacy, is a string of numbers followed by a D or R depending on your party affiliation? So much for our privacy.

My question, are you registered to vote, is also to commend you for using your right, privilege and yes, obligation as an American citizen to make your voice heard. Or the question might prod you to do your God given duty to have your say in an election that could change the course of history for everyone. Believe it or not, your voice is powerful. "Our political leaders will know our priorities only if we tell them, again and again, and if those priorities begin to show up in the polls." - Peggy Noonan You ask how can one vote make a difference?

Think, my friend! How can one drop of rain make a difference? Add that one drop to trillions and trillions of other drops and you could have a raging river or a broken dam.

Consider this: you are the first chair violin in the city orchestra. You decided to stay home. After all, how can one violin make a difference? What if the

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other members did the same? “By voting, we add our voice to the chorus that forms opinions and the basis for actions.” - Jens Stoltenberg One small candle will light a tiny sphere, but a multitude of candles can lead a host of lost people to Jesus. Should the widow have kept her mite, thinking this small amount couldn’t make a difference?

She gave it all, knowing that all the “mites” working together could help hungry, desperate people. Jesus commended her for giving all she had.

Shockingly, 25 million Christians are not registered to vote. Are you one of them? If you are, please get registered and vote! “Voting is the expression of our commitment to ourselves, one another, this country, and this world.” - Sharon Salzberg I was humbled to view hundreds of rows of white crosses marking the ultimate sacrifice of men and women at Normandy and Luxembourg. These brave war heros gave their lives for your freedom to worship as you choose, to speak freely and to vote your faith. Bob Dylan may have been thinking of those white marble crosses when he said, "I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom." Pastor Jentezen Franklin of Free Chapel Church in Georgia urges Christians to vote. “Christians must realize the radical left will restrict & control church if we don’t vote our faith this November! Are you registered to vote your faith?”

These powerful men understood the impact and privilege of one person’s vote. Lyndon B. Johnson said, “A man without a vote is a man without protection.” Abraham Lincoln: “The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” John F. Kennedy: “The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.”

May I stress to you the power of your prayers for this election to run smoothly and bring the outcome God wants? He will have His way. The amazing Pastor Peter Marshall exhorted, "May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right."

Freedom today is ours. I, for one, won’t risk losing it by refusing to vote. How about you? Are your children and grandchildren worth the effort? This is

▶ SEE LIGHT, PAGE 13

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October 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 7

NEWS

Reverse Mortgage Pros & Cons LIKE EVERY FORM of home This particular type of home financing is only available to financing, there are pros and cons senior homeowners and the program has been recently to each. For many, a reverse mortgage is a huge lifeline and well reformed to be more fair and favorable towards seniors. A resuited to their particular situation.

For those homeowners, the pros of verse mortgage, for many, is a solution that changes their life. a reverse mortgage outweigh the cons.

Here are some reverse mortgage or Medicare benefits the home. pros for your consideration.

• proceeds can be used for any Here are some reverse mortgage • the proceeds are not taxable purpose, other than purchasing an cons for your consideration.

• remain in your home as long as annuity • must have enough equity to you meet the loan terms* • the term of the loan goes to age qualify • retain ownership and on the • vacation homes and investment title as long as you comply with the 150 of the youngest borrower* • must meet with an independent properties are not eligible loan terms* 3rd party counselor for a 1-hour • a reverse mortgage has strict • the borrower is not responsible appointment regulations by the Federal Governfor the repayment of the loan • the loan can be fixed or adjustment • backed by the Federal Housing able-rate • closing costs are higher than on Administration • can purchase a home with a a traditional mortgage • no mandatory, monthly mortreverse mortgage, • there is a lien placed on the gage payment • OR can access your equity home • can pay off any time, no • OR can eliminate your monthly • there will be less equity for the pre-payment penalty mortgage payment heirs 3 ways to access your equity: *Must pay the property taxes, • loan balance can grow over time lump sum, monthly installments, homeowners insurance, other • not all properties qualify for a or line of credit housing fees such as HOA dues or reverse mortgage line of credit earns compound Flood insurance, live in the home • must be 62 years or greater to interest and is guaranteed 6 months or more a year as your qualify equity doesn’t count as income and shouldn’t affect Social Security primary residence, and maintain This particular type of home

financing is only available to senior homeowners and the program has been recently reformed to be more fair and favorable towards seniors.

A reverse mortgage, for many, is a solution that changes their life.

One couple we recently helped wanted to downsize to a house that had main floor living and no yard maintenance.

They had enough equity in their home to qualify for the HECM For Purchase (H4P).

They were able to purchase a home with main floor living in the neighborhood close to their grandkids and have NO monthly mortgage payment. For them, the cons of a reverse mortgage were outweighed by the benefits!

If you want to know if a reverse mortgage is right for your situation, you can get a free confidential analysis.

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Page 8 - Senior Beacon - October 2020

NEWS OF THE WEIRD

SPECIAL TO THE SENIOR BEACON FROM THE EDITORS OF ANDREWS MCMEEL Questionable Judgement ■ Ukraine International Airlines has banned a traveler from all future flights with the carrier after the unidentified woman opened an emergency door on a Boeing 737 and went for a walk on the wing as it was waiting at a gate at Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv.

CNN reported the passenger had traveled from Antalya, Turkey, with her husband and children in the Aug. 31 incident, when other passengers heard her say she was "too hot" before she popped open the emergency exit and went outside.

The airline criticized her for setting an inadequate "parental example" and threatened she may face "an exceptionally high financial penalty."

Airport security and doctors on the scene determined she was "not under the influence of alcohol and/ or drugs." [CNN, 9/4/2020] ■ A 51-year-old man from St. Cloud, Minnesota, was released from the Sherburne County Jail in Elk River on Sept. 12, but as he left the facility, he decided to take with him a DoorDash delivery that had been intended for a correctional officer working there.

The Star News reported the officer contacted the former inmate by phone to inquire after his $29.13 order, and the man said he thought his family had sent it to him. He was cited for theft. [Star News, 9/17/2020] Oops!

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■ Officials in Dania Beach, Florida, recently upgraded signs welcoming visitors to their city, including a small one that has greeted drivers for years along Dania Beach Boulevard, but local activist Clive Taylor took exception, pointing out that the sign is actually in Hollywood, not Dania Beach.

"The little sign was bad enough," Taylor, who is vice president of the Hollywood Historical Society, told the Sun Sentinel. "But to have Dania put up this mini-billboard with lights on it is wrong." Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy says he's confident the two towns can work together to resolve the issue. [Sun Sentinel, 9/17/2020] ■ An octogenarian in the village of Parcoul-Chenaud, France, set off a violent explosion in his attempt to kill an annoying fly, the BBC reported in early September.

Not realizing a gas canister in his home was leaking, the man used an electric fly swatter to battle the insect and caused an explosion that destroyed his kitchen and damaged the roof of his home.

While the man was mostly unharmed, he has had to move to a local campsite while his family makes repairs to the home. [BBC, 9/6/2020] Chutzpah Three unnamed Metro-North Railroad employees were suspended without pay on Sept.

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[Associated Press, 9/24/2020] Nature Caesar, a 16-year-old alpaca at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, was killed on Sept. 20 by a wild brown bear that tunneled under a fence while the facility was closed then left. Caesar, who had lived at the zoo for 15 years, was "a crowd favorite," executive director Patrick Lampi told the Associated Press.

The bear had been hanging around the zoo, knocking over trash cans and breaking locks, and was later euthanized when it returned.

Caesar's companion alpaca, Fuzzy Charlie, escaped the attack and was unharmed. Lampi said a similar incident took place about 20 years ago; that bear was captured and relocated to Duluth, Minnesota. [Associated Press, 9/23/2020] Collections September 22 marked the 60th anniversary of the day 14-yearold Boy Scout Steve Jenne scored a special memento of then-Vice President Richard Nixon's campaign visit to Jenne's hometown of Sullivan, Illinois. Nixon took a bite of a buffalo barbecue sandwich that day, then set it down.

"I looked around and thought, 'If no one else was going to take it, I am going to take it," Jenne told the

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719-547-5100

www.pueblowestfuneralhome.com

Clarissa Castillo-Forsythe Funeral Plan Counselor 719-225-3372 clarissa.castillo@yahoo.com

VISIT US ONLINE AT: SeniorBeacon.info

October 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 9

NEWS OF THE WEIRD

SPECIAL TO THE SENIOR BEACON FROM THE EDITORS OF ANDREWS MCMEEL Herald & Review, and the leftover has been in a glass jar in Jenne's freezer ever since. In 1988, word of the sandwich earned Jenne a spot on "The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson" and led his acquiring half-eaten items from Carson and fellow guest Steve Martin, as well as Tiny Tim and Henny Youngman.

[Herald & Review, 9/23/2020] Smooth Reaction A 78-year-old Spanaway, Washington, woman was alerted by her barking dog on Sept. 20, and opened her door to find "a man," she told KIRO, standing in front of her.

As "he turned and started to leave," the woman, identified as Sandy, said, "Oh, no, you don't," and picked up her shotgun and cocked it. The alleged intruder

plopped down on her porch steps and the two waited for police to arrive.

"You know, I've got grandchildren your age!" Sandy told him. Pierce County Sheriff 's deputies took the man into custody, but Sandy didn't press charges. [KIRO, 9/22/2020] Government in Action The Opa-Locka (Florida) City Commission voted 4-1 on Sept. 9 to repeal a 13-year-old ordinance that made wearing saggy pants a crime, the Miami Herald reported.

Around town, visitors can see signs reading, "No ifs, ands or butts ... It's the city law!" and showing two young men with low-riding waistbands, but Vice Mayor Chris Davis explained: "I felt it disproportionately affected a certain segment of our population, which is

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 their spouses; and Staff members of the nutrition program who are 60 years of age or older when such participation does not pre-

young African American men." The ACLU of Florida agreed. [Miami Herald, 9/13/2020] Frontiers of Farming Cockroach farms are not new in China, where the bugs have long been used in Chinese medicine, but a new facility near the eastern city of Jinan is gaining attention as a way to deal with food waste while producing organic protein supplements for animal feeds.

In four industrial-sized hangars, Australia's ABC News reported, rows of shelves are filled with food waste collected from restaurants through an elaborate system of pipes.

A moat filled with roach-eating fish surrounds each building to keep the roaches from escaping.

"In total there are 1 billion cock-

NOTE: Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19), meal sites are closed. Meals-on-Wheels is still open

roaches," farm manager Yin Diansong said.

"Every day they can eat 50 tonnes of kitchen waste."

Said project director Li Yanrong, "If we can farm cockroaches on a large scale, we can provide protein that benefits the entire ecological cycle." [ABC News, 9/19/2020] Armed and Clumsy A Pineville (Louisiana) police officer who reported he'd been "ambushed" on Sept. 20 has been accused of shooting himself instead, according to authorities.

The Pineville Police Department said John Goulart Jr. originally claimed that he'd been shot once in the leg, and that a second shot had hit the rear door of his police car while he was at a shopping center.

Call SRDA at 545-8900 for congregate meal sites and Meals-on-Wheels info!

Belmont Senior Care

Avondale, CO Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Respite Care Program

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“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 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 in one of the categories listed in this below: Persons age 60 years or older who are homebound or who are geographically 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 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

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

BELMONT SENIOR CARE... IS PROUD TO SPONSOR THIS SRDA MENU

Visit them or call 545-1834!

Page 10 - Senior Beacon - October 2020

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OPINION-EDITORIAL

ANN COULTER

Columnist, author and lawyer

INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN TRUMP SUPPORTER

DURING A BLM “peaceful protest” in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 30 (over George Floyd’s dying of a heart attack while in police custody in Minneapolis), James Scurlock was peacefully protesting by breaking into an architecture firm — hoisting an office chair and hurling it into two computer monitors, then ripping a phone from a desk and throwing it against the wall, as his friend shattered another monitor — all of which was captured on video.

Nearby, Jake Gardner, an Iraq War veteran and Trump supporter, was keeping watch over the two bars

he owned, The Hive and The Gatsby, aided by his 68-year-old father and a security guard. The peaceful protesters soon made their way to Jake’s bar, where they hurled a street sign through The Hive’s plate-glass window. He and his father rushed outside to prevent the peaceful protesters from storming his bar.

Scurlock’s friend, catching his wind after smashing computer monitors, knocked Gardner’s father to the ground. (It’s on tape.) Or as CNN’s Madeline Holcombe put it: “An unidentified man can be seen pushing Gardner’s father.”Gardner rushed to help his father, then backed away toward the bar, lifting his shirt to show the protesters he was armed, and telling them to move along. Again, it’s all on tape. Murmurings can be heard from the crowd: “That (expletive) got a gun” and “It’s not worth it (expletive) you stu–,” At that point, peaceful protester Alayna Melendez leapt on Gardner from behind (not subscribers to the Marquess of Queensberry rules, these peaceful protesters), knocking him down and into the street, whereupon yet another peaceful protester jumped on top of Gardner, who fired two warning shots in the air, scattering his first two assailants.

Again: all on tape.

Three seconds later, as Gardner was trying to get up, Scurlock

jumped on him from behind and put him in a chokehold — which I believe is considered definitive proof of intentional murder when performed by a police officer. In videos, Gardner can be heard yelling, “Get off me!

Get off me!”

With his right arm pinned, and Scurlock choking him, Gardner moved the gun to his left hand and shot over his shoulder, hitting Scurlock in the collarbone, killing him.

Or as The New York Times’ Azi Paybarah explained it: “Mr. Gardner got into a fight with one man, James Scurlock, 22. The two scuffled before Mr. Gardner fired a shot that killed him.” They “scuffled.” It brings to mind the Times headline from Nov. 23, 1963: “President Kennedy Dies in Dallas After Scuffle — Albeit at Great Distance — With Lee Harvey Oswald.”

Let’s be fair, though. Maybe Scurlock jumped Gardner, or maybe Gardner jumped Scurlock. Who knows? It’s not like there are 4 million videos of the incident.

Gardner was immediately taken into police custody for questioning and held until 11 p.m. the next night.

The Democratic district attorney, Don Kleine, his chief deputy Brenda Beadle, and all the homicide detectives spent 12 hours that weekend reconstructing the incident with multiple videos. Their unanimous conclusion? That Gardner shot Scurlock in self-defense.

Despite the delusional claims posted on “social media” that Gardner used the N-word — which, as we all know, is grounds for summary execution by any black person — none of the videos substantiate that. To the contrary, Scurlock’s own friend denied that Gardner said anything racial at all. (Apparently, you can’t believe everything you read on the internet.)

At 22, Scurlock already had a rap sheet a mile long, including home invasion, assault and battery, domestic violence — and, of course, he was in the middle of a crime spree that very night. Methamphetamine and cocaine were found in his urine.

But “the community” erupted like COVID in April. Nebraska state Sen. Megan Hunt (bisexual, graduate of a now-defunct college) repeatedly called Gardner a “white supremacist.” Another Nebraska state senator, Kara Eastman (bisexual), called Gardner’s shooting of Spurlock a “cold-blooded murder.”

(Why do I mention their sexual orientations? A lot of the hate toward Gardner seems to come from the transgender community for his posting on Facebook that transgenders would be restricted to the unisex bathrooms because a man in a dress had attacked a female customer in the ladies’ room.)

VISIT US ONLINE AT: SeniorBeacon.info

October 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 11

NEWS

Medicare Monday, Programs Go Virtual ENROLLED IN MEDICARE 1129 Pennsylvania St, Denver for a and trying to keep up with the packet of Medicare information on changing policies and guidelines?

October 9 and 16 or on November MEDICARE MONDAY Overwhelmed. New to Medicare.

2, 9 or 16. Park in the driveway and More overwhelmed. grab your Medicare packet off the Join the Colorado Gerontological Join us from your favorite device at Medicare Monday. The porch. Check www.senioranswers.

Society this fall for our virtual Medi- org for other locations throughout Medicare Monday program will include: care Monday educational programs the state.

Educational presentation and other support services on 2021 Find us on Apple Podcasts or Individual counseling changes and Medicare Parts A, B, wherever you get your podcasts for Medication management counseling C and D from the comfort of your Comparison shopping Medicare information on preventive home on your favorite device.

Resources on the porch on October 19 and 26, and benefits, 2021 changes, and New to Our Medicare programming November 2, 9, and 16 at 1129 Pennsylvania St, Denver, Medicare or listen to us on our YouCO 80203 includes virtual Medicare Monday Tube channel. educational programs covering Register for Medicare Monday “2021 Changes” and information for or Wednesday Lunch and Learn’s, those “New to Medicare”. Medicare by visiting www.senioranswers.org, Monday will be October 19 and 26.

Monday Virtual Educational Workshops clicking the blue button or calling Sessions will repeat on November October 19, 9:30 am - Medicare Changes 303-333-3482, 1-855-293-6911 or 2, 9, and 16. Times vary. Register at October 26, 1:00 pm - New to Medicare www.senioranswers.org for Medicare 1-855-880-4777 (Spanish) for help.

November 2, 6:00 pm - Medicare Changes Changes and/or New to Medicare November 9, 9:30 am - New to Medicare programs(s). Society counselors will Eileen Doherty, MS is the Executive November 16, 1:00 pm - Medicare Changes be standing by to answer your quesDirector of the Colorado Gerontological tions via the chat or on the phone Society. Her areas of expertise include Wednesday Virtual Educational Workshops at Noon and take your order for a goodie bag. management and administration of October 21 - Medicare & COVID-19 New this year will be Wednesday nonprofit organizations, education and October 28 - Medicare Advantage & Medicare Supplements Lunch and Learn’s on October 21, training on issues related to older adults, November 4 - Medicare & Federal Retiree Plans, VA, TriCare 28, November 4, 11 and 18. So grab advocacy and policy development on senNovember 11 - Medicare, Medicaid & Low Income Services a sandwich because all sessions will ior issues, and clinical practice in working November 18 - Medicare While Still Employed be at noon. Topics vary. Register at with seniors and families to manage their www.senioranswers.org for sessions lives in the later years. She has been the that affect you or your loved ones.

Director of the Society since 1982. She Counselors will take your individteaches Nonprofit Management for Fort ual questions during the sessions Hays State University. via chat. You can also request goodie bags.

The Medicare Monday programs and the Wednesday Lunch and Learn’s, will feature a virtual Medicare Expo.

Representatives from health insurance companies will share their 2021 products and services.

Do your comparison shopping for Medicare Supplements, Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug Plans, PACE programs, and more in the comfort of your home, request more information from individual Oakshire Commons PuebloWest Gardens Oakshire Commons North Point Gardens companies, and register for giveaways.

You can schedule individual counseling sessions to answer your questions with Society experts between October 15 and December 7. Prescription drug NORTH POINTE GAR DENS OAKSHIRE COMMONS PUEBLO WEST GARDENS review and counseling sessions will be available in a partnership with CU School of Pharmacy.

Schedule an appointment by calling the 960 E SAXONY DR-P.W. numbers below.

New this year will be Medicare on The Porch.

You can drop by CGS, For more information and registration go to www.senioranswers.org Call us at 303-333-3482 or toll-free 1-855-294-3971

Page 12 - Senior Beacon - October 2020

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October 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 13

FOR A HEALTHIER YOU Homework Can Pay Off For Caregivers FALL IS A great time for implementing change.

There's a fresh-start feeling and renewed sense of purpose and productivity that accompany the early part of a new school year, ingrained in us from our youth and perhaps also from years LISA M. PETSCHE Medical social worker of raising chiland freelance writer dren.

As well, moderating temperatures typically result in an increase in our energy at this time of the year.

Homework that pays off As a family caregiver, although you may not have returned to school, doing some homework in the coming weeks can pay off in terms of improving your well-being and that of the person you care for.

Read on for some suggestions.

Educate yourself about your relative’s medical conditions and share the information with him or her and other family members as appropriate, to ensure you have a common understanding.

Request a medication review by your relative’s primary physician or a geriatrician, to check for drug interactions and determine whether your relative still needs all of their prescriptions.

Arrange for an experienced lawyer to assist your relative in assigning powers of attorney for personal care and property (finances) and preparing a will.

Or review such documents if they were done some time ago, to determine if they need updating.

Self-care strategies It is well known that self-care can improve caregivers’ effectiveness and longevity in their role.

Read and give consideration to the following strategies.

Book an appointment with your primary physician if you are overdue for a medical check-up or you’re experiencing physical or mental health issues.

Buy a piece of home fitness equipment, such as a treadmill, or get some workout DVDs so you can exercise without leaving home.

Do something that provides you with meaning and purpose outside of the caregiving role, such as scrapbooking or researching your family tree.

It’s important to nurture your identity apart from your role as a

Educate yourself about your relative’s medical conditions and share the information with him or her and other family members as appropriate, to ensure you have a common understanding. caregiver. Revive an old pastime or try something new.

If it’s physically difficult for you to perform outdoor maintenance tasks such as mowing the lawn, tending the garden and raking leaves, or finding time is an issue, enlist the help of a reliable neighbor (consider hiring a teenager from the block) or contract with a reputable yard maintenance service.

If your relative can safely be left alone but you are anxious about the prospect, supply them with a portable phone and get yourself a cell phone so you can stay in touch.

An emergency response system may also help put your mind at ease.

If your relative can’t be left alone, research respite services in your community so you can arrange breaks from caregiving. It’s a winwin situation, because your relative will benefit from the added stimulation that comes from a visiting companion or meeting new people and trying new things at a community program.

In-home options include respite provided by home healthcare agency staff, an individual hired under a private arrangement (most often located via word of mouth or newspaper classified advertising) and a trained volunteer (for example, from the Alzheimer’s Association).

There are also adult day care programs and residential care

grateful

“When I decided to volunteer at Silver Key’s Food Pantry, I knew it would be rewarding. I was surprised to find out how thankful it makes me feel to help others who may not be as fortunate as I am. The seniors served through the pantry really appreciate the food and necessities they receive and I like knowing it helps them stretch their limited budgets further. I have a lot of fun making a difference in a senior’s life.”

Be part of something important.

Apply to volunteer at silverkey.org/volunteer or call 719-884-2300.

Silver Key

homes that have a short-stay program (so caregivers can plan a vacation).

To learn about resources, contact your local office on aging or the non-profit organization associated with your relative’s disease.

Connect with other caregivers.

Consider joining a community support group; some offer concurrent care.

Information on caregiver groups can be obtained from community social workers and your local office on aging.

Online caregiver message boards and chat rooms and electronic mailing lists or discussion forums are some at-home alternatives.

Lisa M. Petsche is a medical social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior health matters. She has personal experience with elder care.

VISIT US ONLINE AT: SeniorBeacon.info

Page 14 - Senior Beacon - October 2020

FREMONT COUNTY/SALIDA MENUS GAC ● Oct. 1: Sweet and sour chicken, brown rice, Asian veggie blend, mandarin oranges, fortune cookie, ww bread w butter ● Oct. 2: American lasagna, green beans, vegetable salad w lite Italian, banana, ww dinner roll ● Oct. 5: Baked potato, broccoli w cheese sauce, tossed salad w lite French, plum, fruit cocktail, drop biscuit w butter ● Oct. 6: Smothered pork chop, cream gravy, smashed red potatoes, collard greens, apple, bran muffin ● Oct. 7: Lentil soup, egg salad sandwich, shredded iceberg lettuce and three tomato slices, banana ● Oct. 8: Combination burrito, salsa, lettuce, tomato, cilantro lime rice, refried beans, citrus cup ● Oct. 9: BBQ pork ribs, creamy coleslaw, corn cob, seasoned greens, strawberries, bran muffin ● Oct. 12: Chili con carne, cornbread, spinach salad with mandarin orange and spinach salad dressing, apricot pineapple compote ● Oct. 13: Tuna noodle casserole, Italian green beans, spinach salad w mandarin oranges, ww dinner roll w butter, pineapple tidbits ● Oct. 14: Arroz con pollo, corn and zucchini Mexicana, tossed w lite ranch, apricot, ww bread w butter ● Oct. 15: Roast pork loin, brown gravy, smashed red potatoes, orange spiced carrots, orange, mitzie’s ww dinner roll w butter ● Oct. 16: Beef and sweet pep-

pers, steamed brown rice, orange spiced carrots, grapefruit, ww bread w butter ● Oct. 19: Chicken a la king, smashed red potatoes, seasoned asparagus salad w lite ranch, apple, ww bread w butter ● Oct. 20: Pasta primavera, spinach salad w egg and lite Italian, apple pear salad w almonds, plum, garlic bread ● Oct. 21: Hot turkey sandwich, whipped potatoes, asparagus amandine, pineapple mandarin compote, banana ● Oct. 22: Chicken noodle soup, chicken Caesar salad, ww saltine crackers, mitzie’s ww rolls, apple, orange juice, raisin nut cup ● Oct. 23: Spicy beef rice casserole, cut broccoli, sliced yellow squash, pineapple tidbits, ww bread w butter ● Oct. 26: White bean chicken chili, brown rice, cabbage w red pepper, banana, fortune cookie, ww bread ● Oct. 27: Salisbury steak, brown gravy, smashed red potatoes, California mixed vegetables, nectarine, ww bread w butter ● Oct. 28: Lemon baked fish, tartar sauce and lemon rice pilaf, creamy coleslaw, green beans and mushrooms, apple, ww bread w butter ● Oct. 29: Swedish meatballs, whipped potatoes w beef gravy, chopped spinach, orange, bran muffin ● Oct. 30: Taco salad, salsa, tomato, lettuce garnish, strawberry, applesauce, flan custard, cornbread

Menus are sponsored by ADVANCED DENTAL--in Canon City!!

Penrose (719) 372-3872 Florence (719) 784-6493

w butter SALIDA ● Oct. 1: Sweet and sour chicken, brown rice, Asian veggie blend, mandarin oranges, fortune cookie, ww bread w butter ● Oct. 2: American lasagna, green beans, vegetable salad w lite Italian, banana, ww dinner roll ● Oct. 6: Ham and beans, collard greens, cornbread, orange juice ● Oct. 8: Combination burrito, salsa, lettuce, tomato, cilantro lime rice, refried beans, citrus cup ● Oct. 9: BBQ pork ribs, creamy coleslaw, corn cob, seasoned greens, strawberries, bran muffin ● Oct. 13: Chicken cacciatore, green beans, smashed red potatoes, banana, ww bread w butter ● Oct. 15: Roast pork loin, brown gravy, smashed red potatoes, orange spiced carrots, orange, mitzie’s ww dinner rolls w butter ● Oct. 16: Beef and sweet peppers, steamed brown rice, orange spiced carrots, grapefruit, ww bread w butter ● Oct. 20: Tuna noodle casserole, mixed vegetables, sliced zucchini squash, sliced peaches, ww bread w butter ● Oct. 22: Chicken noodle soup, chicken Caesar salad, ww saltine crackers, mitzie’s ww rolls, apple, orange juice, raisin nut cup ● Oct. 23: Spicy beef rice casserole, cut broccoli, sliced yellow squash, pineapple tidbits, ww bread w butter ● Oct. 26: White bean chicken chili, spinach salad w lite Italian, apple, cornbread w butter, orange juice ● Oct. 29: Swedish meatballs, whipped potatoes w beef gravy,

Canon City (719) 345-4112 Salida (719) 539-3351

chopped spinach, orange, bran muffin ● Oct. 30: Taco salad, salsa, tomato, lettuce, garnish, strawberry applesauce, flan custard, cornbread w butter FLORENCE ● Oct. 1: Sweet and sour chicken, brown rice, Asian veggie blend, mandarin oranges, fortune cookie, ww bread w butter ● Oct. 2: American lasagna, green beans, vegetable salad w lite Italian, banana, ww dinner oll ● Oct. 6: Spinach cheese squares, tossed salad w pear, whipped hubbard squash, citrus cup, ww bread w butter ● Oct. 8: Combination burrito, salsa, lettuce, tomato, cilantro lime rice, refried beans, citrus cup ● Oct. 9: BBQ pork ribs, creamy coleslaw, corn cob, seasoned greens, strawberries, bran muffin ● Oct. 20: Meatloaf w sweet potatoes, brown gravy, roasted sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, vegetable salad, pineapple tidbits, ww bread w butter ● Oct. 22: Chicken noodle soup, chicken Caesar salad, ww saltine crackers, mitzie’s ww rolls, apple, orange juice, raisin nut cup ● Oct. 23: Spicy beef rice casserole, cut broccoli, sliced yellow squash, pineapple tidbits, ww bread w butter ● Oct. 27: Baked potato, broccoli w cheese sauce, tossed salad w lite French, plum, fruit cocktail, drop biscuit w butter ● Oct. 29: Swedish meatballs, whipped potatoes w beef gravy, chopped spinach, orange, bran muffin

Minnequa Medicenter...

Transitional Care Unit offering: private rooms, flat

screen TV, telephone, private dining Whether your need is for short-term, skilled, respite or long-term care, we provide: • Compassionate 24-hour nursing care • Daily in-house physical, occupational & speech therapies • Daily life-enhancing programs • Intergenerational activities with our on-site children’s Day Care • Monthly community events • Hospice/Palliative care • Free medical transportation • One block W. of Lake on Elko & California • On-Site Child Day Care • Resident Pet Program Medicare/Medicaid, Managed Care and VA contracted.

6

New Patients Welcome General Dentistry

719-561-1300

2701 California St - Pueblo, Co

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October 2020 - 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

'Passionately Pink' Virtual Series Offered WITH OCTOBER designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Dorcy Cancer Center at Centura-St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center is looking to raise awareness about the disease and show support for those affected by it through a series of virtual educational presentations titled, “Passionately Pink! A Journey to Surviving Breast Cancer.”

The one-hour presentations, which will be conducted live on Zoom from 4 to 5 p.m. each Thursday in October, will cover topics such as breast cancer screening, early detection and survivorship.

The schedule and topics are as follows: Oct. 1 – Personal Breast Health: Join Nurse Navigator Barbara Young as she shares information about screening guidelines and dense breasts and teaches you how to perform self-breast exams.

Oct. 8 – A Nutritional Guide for Women and Breast Cancer: Clinical Dietitian Amanda Taylor will provide nutritional tips for women who have had a breast cancer diagnosis.

Oct. 15 – Sexuality, Intimacy and Having Breast Cancer: Kara Hart, nurse practitioner from Rocky Mountain Cancer Center, will provide guidance on how to re-discover your body after the side effects from breast cancer treatment. She will review tips for how to reconnect with your body and create a space for intimacy.

Oct. 22 – The Importance of

This month’s Senior Safety Page is Proudly Sponsored byAMERICAN VEIN! Give them a call right away!

And thank themfor sponsoring this valuable addition to the Senior Beacon!!

Knowing Your Family History: Join Dr. Wendy Girard as she explains hereditary breast cancer, the red flags for hereditary breast cancer and how to pursue genetic counseling and testing.

Oct. 29 – Emotional Healing for the Mind and Body: Oncology Counselor Shannon McPherson will facilitate a therapeutic conversation with those who have been affected by breast cancer.

She will help normalize the fear of recurrence, body image and self-esteem.

For more information or to register, contact Brenda Biggerstaff, Oncology Program Manager at the Dorcy Cancer Center, at 719557-4548 or brendabiggerstaff@ centura.

Once registered, a Zoom link will be emailed with information on how to join the sessions virtually. Each session will have a different Zoom link, meeting id and password.

ABOUT CENTURA HEALTH Centura Health connects individuals, families and neighborhoods across Colorado and western Kansas with more than 6,000 physicians and 21,000 of the

The Need GoldenVolunteer Age Center continues...

We Drivers!

to provide grab-and-go meals, Monday-Friday County for seniors age The Golden Shuttle/Fremont 60+. Please call 345-3064 each day by 9:30am to let us know you will need a Transit meal. If youProgram are unable tohas pick up your meal,

we can arrange for Fremont County Transit to bring you to get your meal or you can designate someone to pick it up for you. There is no shortage on meals so we encourage anyone wanting or needing a meal to please call.

If you have not eaten with us before, you will need to fill out an intake form.

We ask for a $3.00 donation.

expanded service to Florence and Penrose which requires more drivers.

Also, Fremont County Transit is open and running. We can get you to your appointments or to the grocery store. Our drivers are taking every precaution and sanitizing our vehicles Call 275-5177 if you are between riders.

We can also pick up your pre-ordered groceries and deliver them to you. Let us know what you needinterested. help with and we will do our best to help or get someone who can. Just call 276-5200. Please call two to three days in advance so we can get you scheduled.

No special license needed.

JOIN US FOR BINGO! EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 1:30PM

best hearts and minds in health care. Through our 17 hospitals, two senior living communities, neighborhood health centers, physician practices and clinics, home care

and hospice services, and Flight For Life® Colorado, our caregivers make the region’s best health care accessible. We’re on a mission to build flourishing communities and whole person care. We’re Centura Health, and we’re your dedicated health partner for life. For information on Centura Health or any of the facilities in our network, please visit the Centura Health website.

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Page 16 - Senior Beacon - October 2020

REELING

FIRST FEATURE FILM BEHIND CAMERA PROVIDES CHILLS 'AMULET' IS AN AMBITIOUS UNDERSTAKING WITH AN EXCELLENT CAST AND FEEL BETTY JO TUCKER Pueblo award winning film critic

A

n old broken-down house, strange demons, and a massive forest -- all come together in AMULET, actress Romola Garai’s first feature film behind the camera.

She wrote the script and directed this unusual horror offering.

An ambitious undertaking, for sure.

While many things do not work out, the movie boasts intriguing cinematography

by Laura Bellingham and an excellent cast including Alec Secareanu, Carla Juri, Anah

Ruddin, Angeliki Papoulia, and the great Imelda Staunton (from the “Harry Potter” franchise) , who has a ball playing a seemingly helpful nun here.

The story follows Tomas (Secareanu), an unemployed former soldier haunted by a forest experience with Miriam (Papolia), a runaway.

He then agrees to help Magda (Juri), an attractive young woman, with her decaying house while she's taking care of her dying mother (Anah Ruddin).

As the film unfolds, strange things happen, and Tomas begins to question his own moral character and the essence of evil.

This is the first time I’ve seen Secareanu on screen, and I am quite impressed.

His changing facial expressions, body language and emotional range remind me of a young Antonio Banderas (be still my heart.)

From bright sunshine to creepy blur, “Amulet” wants us to endure a spooky tale – horror delayed, with confusion for us displayed.

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this horror flick seems gone awry.

brings wonder to the center court.

He makes a mistake. Is he good?

Can he stop evil as he should?

Dear Sister Claire, a caring nun, counsels Tomas because it’s fun.

Three other women bother him.

Will the amulet do him in?

Can evil be caught like a plague?

Amulet’s answer? It’s not vague.

Seeing this film may disturb you.

It’s not for all, just for a few.

It is best to avoid the beginning of evil. --- Henry David Thoreau (Released by Head Gear Films and rated "R" for some strong

But actors give it a grand try!

violence, bloody images, a sexual

Tomas, a young Banderas sort,

nudity. DVD available on October

assault, and brief language and 20, just in time for Halloween.)

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October 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 17

THE WELL-DRESSED GARDEN

Shrubs That Sparkle in Fall not just adding an unexpected pop of color to the fall landscape; you're also planting a rich source of food for birds.

Judson LeCompte, a product development manager for Proven Winners, travels North America and much of the rest of the world looking for great shrubs for gardeners. Growing up in Alabama, he learned to appreciate the pleasure of fall gardens. "It was the only time you could go outside and not die," he says of the southern heat. "Fall is my favorite time of year."

Beautyberry is one of his first choices among fall shrubs. "It's a no-nonsense plant," he says. "It does well across the country, it tolerates bad drainage and it thrives in heat."

Re-blooming shrubs may cause you to do a double-take in the fall garden.

The Bloomerang series of re-blooming lilacs is particularly striking, with a bright fall flush of fragrant flowers that all but cover the mounded plants.

Re-blooming azaleas light up the shade under trees with their flashy ruffled flowers. Shrub roses often put on a fresh and poignant display of fragrant blooms in fall, and the flowers tend to last a little longer in the cooler temperatures than they did in the heat of summer.

There's no need to wait until next year to give your garden a good jolt of color and life with shrubs that shine in the fall. This is a great season to plant, and, as gardening has surged in popularity this year, growers have put their efforts into increasing their inventory.

Garden shops are well stocked with excellent choices. Planting now gives shrubs a chance to establish healthy roots in the soil before cold weather

comes around. (Water well after planting.) You can expect to enjoy flashy foliage and, on flowering shrubs, fall blooms this year. Berry-producing shrubs are likely to be already loaded with fruit in their nursery pots.

Finding a great place for your new shrub is the easy part. A spot right along the front walk or on the edge of an often-used patio will let you get to know your new plant and will help you remember to water it once a week until the temperatures drop to freez-

ing. Take a look at your flower beds and pick a shrub to fill in a gap or to create a new point of interest between perennials, even as they fade. Make a place for fall-performing shrubs in beds along the foundation of your house or just by the front door, to show your seasonal colors until the holidays at the end of the year grab the focus. After that, your new planting will just get better -- much better -- every year.

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SUMMER IS SLIPPING away, but there's plenty of life left in the garden. As the season changes, the spotlight shines even more brightly on shrubs.

Shrubs are a garden's middle layer: Beneath the MARTY ROSS tree canopy and Freelance garden journalist and above the freesyndicated for-all of flower gardening columnist beds, shrubs give the garden most of its structure and texture. They anchor beds in place, define edges and dramatically punctuate the garden's spaces. They add not only substance and character, but color. Shrubs work very hard for us without asking for a lot of pampering -- and they don't fade away, like a summer romance, when the calendar turns to fall.

"Fall is what I started with," says Eva Monheim, whose book, "Shrubs and Hedges," extols the virtues of her favorite plants. Monheim's list of top shrubs naturally includes spring- and summer-flowering choices such as roses, spireas and viburnums, but she's especially interested in the sparkling shrubs of autumn and winter, prized for their flowers, colorful fall foliage, bright berries and graceful structure. These are the shrubs that make a garden interesting all year round, she says.

The best shrubs have something nice to offer in several seasons, Monheim says. One of her favorites is red chokeberry (Aronia), which has white flowers in spring and, in fall, leaves that light up the garden like a bonfire, rivaling the color of maples. It also has beautiful berries. Some chokeberries are tall shrubs, but others will fit in even a tiny garden: A cultivar introduced by Proven Winners, called Low Scape Mound, only grows to about 2 feet tall and wide, "and it's the cutest thing you ever want to see," Monheim says. "It blankets the ground."

Low-growing shrubs have the advantage of being extremely versatile.

They're great around the foundations of a house, where they never block the windows, and they fall neatly into line along a walk or around a patio.

Shrubs with bright berries are among the jewels of a fall garden.

Aronia's berries can be brilliant red or shiny black, depending on the species.

Beautyberry (Callicarpa) shrubs have long, arching stems covered in fall with clusters of rich purple berries that last for weeks. The eye-catching berries of hollies and viburnums show up from a distance but also draw you out into the garden to admire the display up close. And remember, when you grow shrubs with berries, you're

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Page 18 - Senior Beacon - October 2020

SENIOR CLASSIFIEDS

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This classified ad section of the Senior Beacon carries advertising of all sorts. The cost is $15.00 for the first 20 words or less and $.25 for each word over twenty words.

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TO PLACE AN AD either: VOLUNTEER

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(1) Write your ad in the space provided below. Please print clearly. _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ Phone:_________________ Your Name:______________________ Then mail ad and check (send no cash) to:

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October 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 19

SOCIAL SECURITY & YOU

JOSH WELLER, PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST-SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION - PUEBLO COUNTY, FREMONT COUNTY AND EL PASO COUNTY

COLA Likely To Be About 1.3 Percent SOCIAL SECURITY recipients

are likely to get a 1.3 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) in 2021, making it the second lowest ever paid, according to The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). “Our forecast is based on CPI data through August, and there is still one more month of consumer price data to come in before we get the official announcement in October, says Mary Johnson, Social Security policy analyst for The Senior Citizens League.

Based on historic trends, there’s only a 5 percent chance that the COLA could rise above 1.3 percent and a 15 percent chance that it could be lower. Although the inflation rate during May through August suggests the COLA could go up to 1.4 percent, the more recent three - month rate from June through August, and a new downward trend in gasoline prices seem to indicate it will probably be 1.3

Sil

percent,” Johnson says.

Should the forecast prove to be correct, this would make the 5th time since 2010 that there will be an extremely low, or even no, annual inflation adjustment. “This is more evidence that our system to adjust benefits for inflation, is broken,” Johnson says.

The COLA was zero in 2010, 2011, and 2016. It was just 0.3% in 2017. Since 2010, annual COLAs have averaged just 1.4 percent.

That’s less than half the 3 percent that COLAs averaged between 1999 and 2009. This has occurred at the same time that other costs experienced by retirees, particularly for healthcare and housing, have grown several times faster than the overall rate of inflation. But those costs have not been accurately reflected in the COLA. Why not? One major reason has to do with whose “market basket” the government is using to meas-

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ure inflation and to calculate the annual adjustment. Under current law, the Social Security COLA is determined by the percentage of change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). That market basket belongs to younger working adults under the age of 62 and doesn’t include the households of people who are retired.

The CPI-W gives greater weight (or mathematical importance) to consumer items purchased

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more frequently by younger people like gasoline and electronics.

Conversely, the CPI-W gives less importance to housing and medical expenses, two expenditure categories which form the biggest share of spending in households of older consumers. Those two categories have increased rapidly over the past decade but are not accurately reflected in COLAs. If that weren’t enough, the COLA doesn’t include

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SOCIAL SECURITY & YOU Question: I am receiving Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. I just got married, and I am wondering if my benefits, and my new spouse’s benefits, will stay the same.

Answer: If you marry, your spouse’s income and resources may change your SSI benefit. It is your responsibility to report your status change

to Social Security as soon as possible. If you and your spouse both get SSI, your benefit amount will change from an individual rate to a couple’s rate.

If you are receiving Social Security benefits as a widow, divorced widow, widower, or divorced widower, other factors to keep in mind are: • You cannot get benefits if you remarry before age 60; and

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• You cannot get benefits if you’re disabled and remarry before age 50.

Generally, your benefits end if you were receiving divorced spouse’s benefits and you remarry.

You can read more about SSI and Social Security benefits at our publications library, available at www. socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

Question: My father gets Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for a disability. He is now legally blind and wants to receive information from Social Security in an alternative format. How do I help him?

Answer: Social Security is dedicated to providing vital information in the most effective way for every recipient. There are several ways to receive information from us if you’re blind or have a visual impairment. You can choose to receive Braille notices and a standard print notice by firstclass mail; a Microsoft Word file on a data compact disc (CD) and a print standard notice by firstclass mail;

an audio CD and a standard print notice by first-class mail; or a large print (18-point size) notice and a standard print notice by first-class mail. You can request these special notice options by visiting www. socialsecurity.gov/people/blind.

Question: My father receives Supplemental Security Income. He recently moved, but he hasn’t reported his new address to Social Security yet.

What’s the easiest way to do that?

Answer: It is very important that Social Security has your father’s most up-to-date information, including any change in income, resources, or living arrangements. This will guarantee that he is getting the benefit amount to which he is entitled. You can learn more about the rights and responsibilities of Supplemental Security Income recipients at www. socialsecurity.gov/ssi.

Question: I have an appointment to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). What kind of information will I need to take with me?

Answer: To help make the application process go quickly and smoothly, you should bring • Your Social Security card or Social Security Number; • Your birth certificate or other proof of your age; • The name, Social Security number and date of birth or age of your current spouse and any former spouse. You should also know the dates and places of marriage and dates of divorce or death (if appropriate); • Information about the home where you live, such as your mortgage or your lease and landlord’s name; • Payroll slips, bank books, insurance policies, burial fund records, and other information about your income and the things you own; • Proof of U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status; and • If you are applying for SSI because you are disabled or blind, we will need to know detailed information about your medical illnesses, injuries or conditions o Names, addresses, phone numbers, patient ID numbers and dates of treatment for all doctors, hospitals and clinics; o Names of medicines you are taking and who prescribed them; and o Names and dates of medical tests you have had and who sent you for them.

Learn more by reading our publication, You May Be Able To Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) at www.socialsecurity.gov/ pubs.

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October 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 21

NEWS

now open Penrose Pizzeria & Pub located at 103 Broadway Street in Penrose is a local, family-owned and operated restaurant offering amazingly fresh, delicious, and homemade Neapolitan-style pizzas, pastas, salads and more! Our pizzas are unique because we start with a 3-day cold fermented dough that is hand-tossed, and we use only the highest quality and freshest ingredients. We also hand-make all of our sauces and dips, smoke our ham, brine and bake our chicken, and craft our own meatballs.

Come visit our newly renovated space that offers a clean and safe dining experience, and a full bar that now includes 12 taps serving domestic, craft, and local beers along with chardonnay and hard apple cider. Yes, we have white wine on tap!

We also have an incredible wine list and offer some very tantalizing cocktails. And for all you sports fans, never miss a game shown from one of our five TV’s!

We are open 7-days a week from 11am to 8pm with Happy Hour from 3pm to 6pm, Monday through Friday. Dine-in or carry-out. Visit our website at www.penrosepizzeriapub.com to learn more, view our menu, and even order online, or give us a call at 719-784-7346. And don’t forget to ask about our senior and military discounts.

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Page 22 - Senior Beacon - October 2020

ART

Artist Kim Mackey Returns WE'RE EXCITED TO welcome back one of our favorites. Pueblo artist Kim Mackey is showing in the Regional Gallery.

Kim Mackey grew up in Pueblo, Colorado.

He attended public schools and, through his interest and ability in art, won a scholarship to attend the Colorado Institute of Art in Denver.

Following art school, Mackey worked for several years as an illustrator, completing assignments for such clients as True West magazine, Western Horseman, and Capitol Records.

For the latest information visit www.sdc-arts.org.

Now in the galleries:

Inspiration: Dale Chihuly, James Mongrain and Vintage Venetian Glass From The George R. Stroemple Collection | Through May 8, 2021 Difficult History: Owning the Myth of the West | Through November 7 Sean O’Meallie: Line + Shape + Color + Noise | Through January 17, 2021 Kim Mackey | Through – January 17 Glass Art from Around the Region | Through – May 8, 2021 A Spirit of Tradition | Through December 6 In the Buell Children’s Museum:

◀ FROM COLA, PAGE 19

Celebrate Halloween & Day of the Dead | October 27 – November 7 Puebloween | October 30, 10AM12PM & 1PM-3PM Adventures in Art: From Pyramids to Printing Presses | Through January 9, 2021 Admission grants entry to both the Children’s Museum and Helen T. White Galleries and is $10 for adults, $8 for children, seniors 65+ and military. Arts Center members are always free.

Timed tickets must be purchase in advance.

Visit online at www.sdc-arts.org, or call 719-295-7200. Temperature checks and masks mandatory.

Medicare premiums. Research for The Senior Citizens League has found that Medicare Part B premiums are one of the fastest growing costs in retirement.

The COLA is intended to protect the buying power of Social Security benefits from eroding when prices go up. But when the annual inflation adjustment doesn’t go up in sync with rising costs, the buying power of benefits erodes. That chips away at the standard-of-living of all benefit recipients. Research by Johnson has found that Social Security benefits have lost about 30 percent of buying power over the past 20 years.

Questions about the fairness and accuracy of the COLA, which TSCL’s research, surveys, and supporters have raised, are getting attention in Congress. Recently the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to review efforts to measure the cost of living for older populations.

In its report, the GAO found that “the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) faces accuracy, timeliness, and relevancy challenges developing consumer price indexes (CPI) for subpopulations of blue-collar workers and older Americans.” The GAO went on to say, “BLS has not evaluated the extent to which its existing data are adequate to produce CPIs that reflect what these subpopulations pay, where they shop, and what they purchase…Without an evaluation, federal retirement benefits could be subject to adjustment based on potentially inaccurate information.”

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October 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 23

OPINION-EDITORIAL

DAVID SHRIBMAN

Insert his title here when you finally get it down

OUR CURRENT CENTERRIGHT MOOD IS NOT SO DIFFERENT THAN 1976 THINK THIS IS a different kind of election? Right about now during the 1976 presidential campaign, fully a third of the electorate was undecided.

This year, the undecideds comprise about 7% of the electorate.

What's the difference? The candidates, the country, the national mood, everything. But 1976 is a good place to start to understand what is happening with the candidates, country, national mood -- indeed, everything.

The candidates that year seem to us now to have been painted in earth tones. It didn't look that way in our bicentennial year. But history has a way of wiping away the extreme coloration of things, to reduce vivid shades to beige and taupe.

On the ballot was Gerald Ford, the incumbent president -- the only unelected chief executive in our history, a onetime partisan brawler who

transitioned seamlessly into a soothing presence: calm, assuring, tainted mostly by a pardon of his predecessor, Richard Nixon, that seemed like heresy at the time but that history has rewarded and redeemed.

His challenger was Jimmy Carter, another soothing presence, offering healing and honesty, himself enough of a bumpkin (the peanut farmer from the rural crossroads of Plains, Georgia, presented an appealing update on the log-cabin images of the 19th century) and enough of a sophisticate (his nuclear engineering background from Annapolis gave him a modern air) to be an unthreatening balance of past and present.

Let's not forget: Ford was a conservative, at least by that era's definition. Carter was a liberal, at least by the measure of the times. But in retrospect, they seem almost interchangeable, and though they battled earnestly and urgently, in time they came to respect, even to like, each other. (Years ago I worked on a lengthy magazine piece on how presidents pray during their White House years and had a revealing conversation with Carter. He asked if I had spoken with Ford, and I said I hadn't been able to get an interview.

He offered to call Ford. Soon thereafter, Ford was on the phone with me.)

Now let's look at politics 2020, and measure it by what I found in my mailbox the other day and what I heard on the telephone a day later.

First, from the mailbox: an 8.5-by11-inch cardboard placard with a picture of a wan-looking former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. with his arm around a demonic-looking Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. The message in boldface capital letters: "JOE BIDEN HAS COMPLETE-

LY EMBRACED THE RADICAL LEFT." On the back were charges that Biden would promulgate "the biggest (tax increase) in history," would "give amnesty to 11 million illegal immigrants, letting them compete for American jobs," and would support Green New Deal legislation that would have the effect of "destroying millions of blue-collar energy jobs and threatening our way of life."

Now the telephone: It was a top Democrat calling President Donald J. Trump "disgraceful and disgusting."

We can argue about who is responsible for this change; the public verdict on that question pretty much reflects the public poll numbers right now. Those who support Biden feel Trump deserves the blame. Those who support Trump believe Biden and his onetime patron, Barack Obama, are culpable.

But we cannot disagree that this election -- described by both sides as the most important of our lifetimes, a characterization that is employed every four years but really may be the case this time -- is being conducted in a country divided.

But hold it. Maybe the country is not that much changed after all.

Let's examine an important but overlooked Gallup Organization poll that was taken earlier this year, involving more than 29,000 interviews with American adults. It presents us with some intriguing, somewhat surprising, elements.

It tells us that Americans are leaning more Democratic than Republican. That should be succor for Biden's supporters. But it also concludes that the country remains "center-right." That should please

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Trump's partisans. It was a pretty much center-right country that confronted the Ford-Carter election.

That country in 1976 chose Carter, the Democrat. Then four years later, it chose Ronald Reagan, the Republican and the conservatives' conservative.

The contemporary narrative is that the Democrats have gone on a liberal toot, and Gallup tells us that the liberal wing of the party indeed did rise from 25% in 1994 (the year the Republicans ended four decades of Democratic rule in the House) to 51% in 2018 (the year the Democrats ended eight years of Republican rule in the House).

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Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns are the opinions of the writers and not necessarily that of the publisher. Senior Beacon is locally owned and operated.

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BEACON NEWS GROUP d/b/a Senior Beacon P.O. Box 8485 Pueblo, CO 81008 Publisher Beacon News Group Publisher Emeritus, CCO James R. Grasso Advertising Manager Ronald S. Phillips Advertising Executives Jan McLaughlin Rick Forman Mark Phillips Jim Grasso Graphic Design and Layout Christine Ina Casillas Distribution Manager Braden Phillips IT Support Robin Eckelberry

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Page 24 - Senior Beacon - October 2020

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