September 2023 - WC BEACON Senior News

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30 My Walk Down Pennsylvania Avenue

On September 11, 2001, the mayor urged us to stay in our homes. Instead, I took a leisurely stroll down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the White House

There’s No Telling What a Lightsaber Can Do

4-year-olds should run for president. They’re truthful, energetic and can solve all the world’s problems with their ninja swords, fire trucks and Spider-Man capes

11 Unexpected Destinations with Beautiful Fall Colors

The northern U.S. has great places to view Mother Nature’s technicolor hues, but those in the know realize that her paintbrush is also busy in some unexpected places

38 Save Money by Paying Sooner

You

While

vegetables

24 Local Lore: Keep ’Em Flying Commemorative Air Force shares local plane’s historic claims to fame

26 WIN Concert Tickets!

Community Concerts brings Phat Cat Swinger, Hollywood’s hottest little big band to the Avalon

Nowadays, it’s hard enough to get 1% interest from a bank, so if you can save 5-10% by prepaying or paying earlier, that’s not so bad

40 Life’s a Beach: Part 2 of 3

Follow along this septuagenarian’s three-part series about uprooting, navigating change and preparing for an even better next chapter

42 Rotary’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Kings

King ’n Trio hosts concerts for worthy local causes

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Here’s what beneficiaries need to know

Celebrate age at Montrose-Delta BeaconFest

Getready to treat yourself to a funfilled day of learning and entertainment at Montrose-Delta BeaconFest on Thursday, September 14! Don’t miss this year’s show from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Montrose Pavilion, 188 Pavilion Drive.

BeaconFest is Colorado’s largest and funnest celebration for seniors, baby boomers and their families. No other senior expo around has live music, delicious food samples and a full schedule of educational seminars—all for FREE!

Visitors can register for fabulous prizes, including vacation packages, hot springs soaks, home furniture, restaurant gift cards and more. Local musicians with Valley Symphony Association, Jedi George, Jimmy Live and Robin Freed & Harps in Motion Ensemble will perform live in the Senior Center Ballroom.

Montrose-Delta BeaconFest is also the best opportunity to visit directly with more than 60 local businesses and national agencies devoted to helping older adults age well in Montrose and Delta counties. Learn from local experts in free seminars about Medicare, retirement options, breakthrough medical treatments, tips for identifying scams and more.

At 1 p.m., BeaconFest honors some of our community’s most giving and passionate senior volunteers during the Volunteer of the Year ceremony.

Montrose-Delta BeaconFest is sponsored by Humana; Aetna Medicare Solutions and Elk Ridge Health & Rehabilitation Center.

For more info visit: BeaconFest. BeaconSenior News.com or call 970-243-8829. ■

Me and my old man

Mydad wasn’t “old” when he started having kids, but he was definitely “older” when he had me. He already had two daughters when he married my mom, who was 20 years his junior. When my older sister was born, he was in his late 40s.

Growing up, I suppose I knew my dad was older than my friends’ dads, but it didn’t faze me. However, I remember my friends’ blank stares when I tried to explain why my niece—my older half-sister’s kid who was my same age—called him “Grandad.”

To me, my dad didn’t act any older than my friends’ dads. He had a great sense of humor, and to my knowledge, he didn’t start developing any serious health problems until he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s many years later.

I wish I could ask my dad how his experience compares to that of John Schmitz. This older dad from Montrose is taking first-time fatherhood in stride even when most dads his age are becoming grandparents. In this month’s cover story, read more about how age has better prepared him for fatherhood, along with his work helping other fathers and grandfathers become better role models for their kids.

WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S

The BEACON is a proud sponsor of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. See the ad on page 30 for more information on the upcoming walk in Grand Junction.

CELEBRATE GRANDPARENTS MONTH

Looking back, my grandparents’ influence is likely one of the reasons I’m here at the BEACON. Good grandparents fill in the parenting blanks and I had some of the best! So on National Grandparents Day, which is September 10, please let these important role models know just how much they mean to you. And for you grandparents out there, thank you for your love, patience and wisdom. Your guidance and encouragement mean more than you know!

MONTROSE-DELTA BEACONFEST IS SEPTEMBER 14

Come see us at the funnest senior event at the Montrose Pavilion from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursday, September 14! Free admission, live entertainment, food and seminars await! Plus, BeaconFest is your best opportunity to visit directly with more than 60 local businesses and national agencies devoted to helping you age well in Western Colorado. For more information about this year’s show, visit BeaconFest.BeaconSeniorNews.com or call 970-243-8829. ■

How do we get back the 9Health Fair (now 365 Health Fair) like we had for years? There were lots of booths, good health information and blood draws. Please, everyone rally together again to invite the 365 Health Fair back. Thanks to all the great work the BEACON does to support the community.

- Beth W.

Don’t let West Nile bite! (August)

Your article about West Nile Virus needs correction. I am a physician assistant working in Hotchkiss and I have diagnosed four people (all confirmed with positive viral testing) with West Nile infections over the past six weeks. This disease does not have to be reported to the local county health department, so there are likely many more cases of human infections. Thank you for educating the public about good infection prevention practices!

-

Shar B.

Summer Salsa Showdown

I want to send my condolences to the staff at the BEACON. I want you to know how sorry I am that you had to endure the task of making and tasting all those delicious salsa recipes! It must have been one of the hardest things to go through. I am sure as time goes by your burning lips and mouth will recover. I will keep you in my thoughts. Maybe you could look into a lasagna showdown. I might have a recipe for that.

- Deb M.

Caregiver Column (August)

I can relate! My experience is people generally lose friends when they choose isolation over relationships. The very title of your column (“It’s not funny anymore”) caused a flashback to 2021 when I read Robin Williams committed suicide after his jokes were not funny anymore. I have lewy body dementia. My wife has been my caregiver without pay for many years. I worry dementia may be driving her crazy, but we can’t turn back the clock, can we?

- Robert B

Me and my dad

My maternal grandparents, Von and Earl Wright.

My paternal grandparents, Ruth and J.B. Sandlin.

What first-time fatherhood looks like in your senior years

By April Fitzgerald • Photos and additional reporting by Cloie Sandlin

Seven years ago, John Schmitz was living out of his backpack and traveling the world. The retired combat veteran never thought he would eventually become a dad, let alone a first-time father in his 50s.

Then he met Ami while working with the National Park Service in Utah. They married in 2016 and moved to Montrose two years later. Now Ami teaches writing at Centennial Middle School while 56-year-old Schmitz is the main caregiver during the week for their two children: 6-yearold Orion and 4-year-old Cassi.

“I went from carrying a military backpack to a traveling pack to slinging a pink diaper bag,” said Schmitz.

Recent stories of older celebrities like Robert De Niro and Al Pacino becoming fathers in their 70s and 80s have brought attention to older dads. While these birth announcements aren’t the actors’ first rodeo with kids, a 2017 analysis by Stanford University researchers revealed the age of a new father in the U.S. rose from 27.4 to 30.9 years from 1972 to 2015. The percentage of new dads in their 40s doubled during that time, to almost 9 percent, AARP reports. But still, fewer than 1 percent of first-time fathers are over 50. While most dads Schmitz’ age have kids leaving the nest or are welcoming grandchildren, he was thrown into the world of dirty diapers, nap times and fussy eaters.

“I always felt I was meant to be a father,” he said. “I don’t move as fast, but I know I’m a lot better at this than I would’ve been 20 years ago.”

No doubt there are challenges and benefits to being a dad later in life, said Schmitz, who became a first-time father at an older age than both Pacino and De Niro did. If anything, he believes that time and age has better prepared him for both the joys and sacrifices of fatherhood.

A FATHERLY ROLE MODEL

Schmitz’ journey into fatherhood was quite the change after 20 years in the military.

“Just a few years ago I had people listening to me. Now nobody listens to me!” he said with a laugh.

Unlike his own childhood, with a somewhat absent military father, the fact that Schmitz has already had a career, earned his degree and traveled the world has allowed him the freedom to be more present with his kids.

“I’ve already done all my selfish things in life,” he said. “I’m also in a wiser position now and things don’t bother me as much. I don’t get upset when my kid writes on the wall, or when my daughter ‘helps’ me paint.”

When Schmitz discovered he’d soon be a dad, he knew very few men he could turn to for advice. That’s when he stumbled upon Life Choices Family Resource Center in Montrose.

“They were amazing to us,” said Schmitz’ wife Ami. “We got free clothes, a free ultrasound, parenting classes...”

And Schmitz found Schmitz spent 20 years in the Army and Navy.

support for new fathers as well.

“I realized I wasn’t alone. There were other dads asking for help who had no resources,” he said.

Schmitz started a blog to help encourage dads to do things with their kids and to start a community where dads could help one another. But as his blog grew, he started noticing that those conversations weren’t always positive.

“The blog started gaining traction, but I

The program flourished and Schmitz took it beyond his work at Hilltop. Now he collaborates with the Montrose Department of Human Services and Life Choices to sponsor the workbooks used in the class and offer the course free of charge to any men who are interested.

Men are also introduced to the program through vari-

they say, ‘We’re grandparents. We didn’t sign up for this.’”

Schmitz feels that the wide age range in the groups is beneficial because the men learn so much from each other. He says they develop a camaraderie similar to what he experienced in the military.

started seeing dads who weren’t getting good advice,” he said. “They were getting advice from other guys who were telling them, ‘Forget her!’ or ‘Take the kids and run!’”

Around the time he put his blog on hold, Schmitz came into contact with Hilltop, which had recently received a grant to start a new fatherhood program in Montrose and hired him to start it.

Schmitz got certified to lead the Nurturing Father’s Program, a 13-week evidence-based course designed to teach parenting and nurturing skills to men. Each class teaches effective skills for healthy family relationships and child development, and the course utilizes visualization exercises, goal setting, personal assessments, home activities and more.

For Schmitz, the program has been instrumental in informing his parenting.

“We father like we were fathered,” he said. “Without the program, I would have still raised my children based on the way my father raised me. Every time I taught the class, I learned something.”

ous community sources, including churches, probation offices, schools, hospitals and other parenting groups.

GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN

Schmitz is amazed at how the program has benefited men of all ages, including fathers, fathersto-be, stepfathers and grandfathers.

“This program is reaching out to a lot of older guys as well as younger ones,” said Schmitz. “In my last class, I had one guy whose first-born is like 38, but then he remarried and was fostering a child. One guy was a grandfather raising his kid’s son.”

U.S. census data shows that 7.1 million American grandparents are living with their grandchildren under 18. Some 2.3 million of those grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren, according to AARP.

“There are a lot of grandparents raising kids,” said Schmitz. “As a substitute teacher, and as a parent dropping off my kids, when I talk to them,

“I’ve seen guys shed tears in a class. I love the beauty and edification of seeing the participants communicate and share those bonds,” he said. Schmitz has guided over 100 men from as far away as Gunnison and Grand Junction through the program. Several have gone on to become certified facilitators themselves.

Alex Ramirez, a father of five, became a facilitator after the program helped change his life.

“I can’t say I’m the perfect father, but I can say that I have the tools in front of me to become a better father,” said Ramirez.

Ben McGee also became a facilitator after taking one of Schmitz’ classes.

“I didn’t have a good father figure growing up and because of that, I needed something to help guide me to be a better father,” he said. “I built some good friendships through the class and got a bunch of healing from my past.”

Schmitz’ outreach and commitment to supporting dads has certainly made a difference for many. To learn more or to enroll in a class, email Schmitz at JohnWSchmitz@yahoo.com. ■

“I ALWAYS FELT I WAS MEANT TO BE A FATHER. I DON’T MOVE AS FAST, BUT I KNOW I’M A LOT BETTER AT THIS THAN I WOULD’VE BEEN 20 YEARS AGO.”

John

and Ami Schmitz instill the love of the outdoors with

their

kids—even if it’s in their backyard.

Age-appropriate engagement is one of the things Schmitz teaches in the Nurturing Fathers program.

There’s no telling what a lightsaber can do

By Lynn Gendusa

Weston is our 4-year-old grandson who puts Curious George to shame.

I am officially changing his name to “Why Weston.” We can tell him the sun is shining, and he will ask, “Why?” Or we can say, “It’s time for dinner,” and his response is, “Why?” When we ask him a yes or no question, his immediate reaction is “No.” He says it before he thinks and then follows it with, “No, why?”

His imagination is off the rails. He will defend anything with his mighty red plastic sword, and those monsters, bad guys or snakes don’t stand a chance!

Recently, while he was staying the night, my husband told him to turn out the light when he left the restroom.

“Why?” he immediately questioned as his eyes grew wide.

You should have heard us trying to explain electricity to this little guy. After briefly describing Benjamin Franklin, the kite, Thomas Edison and the lightbulb, he responded with a fierce growl, “Well, I can make light with my lightsaber, and I’ll make lightning too!”

At that point, I just gave up and agreed with him. I forgot how 4-year-olds with vivid imaginations constantly chatter and say “no” before thinking.

I vaguely recall the little girl who often heard her mother say, “I just

give up!” My husband still swears I respond immediately, “No!” before I say, “Wait, what?” My imagination is still childlike, and I continue searching for answers to many of life’s “whys.”

Weston woke us early the following day. I rose with my hair a jumbled mess, no make-up, mismatched pajamas and furry house slippers adorning my feet. Weston began his morning rambling before I could understand a word.

Then he quieted and slowly spoke as he wrinkled his nose in disgust and exclaimed, “Grandma, why do you look so old?”

I was looking for the lightsaber to shock Mr. Why Weston, but then realized I needed the benefit of cosmetics and combed hair to look less than beyond ancient! Darn, those truthful kids! They can humble you in a nanosecond and topple your imagination with their truth.

Four-year-olds should run for president. They’re truthful, energetic and can solve all the world’s problems with their ninja swords, fire trucks and Spider-Man cape.

Weston’s mother informed me of a statistic declaring that an average 4-year-old asks up to 300 daily questions. My question is, “Who answers them?” Perhaps a better response is, “How do we answer their whys and whats?” Do we encourage their creativity and curiosity?

“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”

- Albert Einstein

We decided as a treat to take Weston to Walmart, where he could select a small toy. His excitement only increased his motormouth’s speed as we entered through the doors and passed the greeters.

He walked down several aisles, diligently searching for some mysterious toy. Finally, I stopped him, “Okay, honey, tell me exactly what you are looking for and I will help you.”

“It’s this watch that you wear that shoots out the tape,” he replied.

Gullible me attempts to find it on my phone so I will know what to search for. I must have traveled down those well-stocked rows several times before asking him, “Where did you see this watch?”

“I didn’t see it, but Grandpap told me about it!”

Yep, and right then, I knew another adult 4-year-old with a vivid imagination led us all on a wild goose chase down the aisles at Walmart searching for a fantasy.

I heard that curious, imaginative children are intelligent, but when I recall how I flunked algebra II, I question that. Honestly, as much

as I loved my parents, they did not understand or encourage my colorful imagination. It was easy for me to design those watches that shot tape and, later, rooms that transformed houses into homes as a designer.

Sometimes our life purpose differs from others, but we should always be motivated and supported by our peers and families.

When I write, I imagine you are sitting beside me, conversing about the whys in life and pondering the answers. I may look ancient, but I envision myself younger and avoid the mirror as much as possible.

So I understand Weston’s creativity and picture him one day writing a spy novel about a detective wearing a watch that shoots out answers and solves all the world’s riddles. Isn’t it often that idealists, questioners and honest ones will inspire us all to find solutions?

Ben Franklin and Thomas Edison were once 4-year-olds who continually asked, “Why?” They were the dreamers and inventors who changed the world. Could Why Weston change the world? Why not? Who knows what a lightsaber and a cape can do? ■

HE QUIETED AND SLOWLY SPOKE AS HE WRINKLED HIS NOSE IN DISGUST AND EXCLAIMED, “GRANDMA, WHY DO YOU LOOK SO OLD?”

Fresh Strawberry Pie

Recipe courtesy of Culinary.net.

Ingredients

1 pie crust

6 cups whole fresh strawberries

1 cup sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 cup water

sliced strawberries

1 cup sweetened whipped cream

Directions:

Heat oven to 450° F.

Press pie crust into 9-inch glass pie pan. Bake 9-11 minutes, or until lightly browned. Completely cool pie crust, approximately 30 minutes.

In blender, crush strawberries to make 1 cup. In saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Add crushed strawberries and water. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Cool to room temperature.

Arrange sliced strawberries in cooled crust. Pour cooked strawberry mixture evenly over strawberries. Refrigerate 3 hours.

Top with whipped cream and desired toppings. ■

See

Advocacy tips for family caregivers

Dear Laird: I just placed my wife in a community with memory care and I am fragile. They told me to not visit for a week or two so she can get adjusted. That just doesn’t seem right. I’m already down because I should be providing care; it’s my job as her husband. My real question is what do I do when I am able to visit? What are the rules? What should I expect? Signed, Levi

Dear Levi: Many caregivers consider placement to be fraught with feelings of failure. You want to provide all her care because you love her and you know her best, and can do the best job. Unfortunately, she needs more care than any one person can provide.

It’s an added gut punch when you’re advised not to visit for a while, but there’s a good reason. Your wife will be confused and unfamiliar with her new home. If you show up, she will likely cling to you and want you to take her home. Depending on your wife’s stage in the disease, she may continue to ask to go home for a year or so, and it’s heartbreaking.

But you are still vital to your wife’s care and can advocate for her. Here are a few ideas of how you can support her.

You will likely be asked to complete a form of her likes and dislikes. The more the staff knows about her favorite food, music, games, movie stars and so on, the easier it is for them to start off right. They need to know what she dislikes as well.

More important in the long run is your active involvement in the care plan, which covers medications and treatments and end-oflife directives. Staff members are required to follow the care plan, so you want to know what’s in it and can add what you want.

It’s important to earn the

CAREGIVER SUPPORT

BY LAIRD LANDON, PhD

respect of the care team early on. When you see examples of excellent care, thank the person and share their good deeds with management. Bring a token of thanks when you come: cookies, greeting card, flowers, etc.

Be consistent with your wife. Find the best time of day to observe her before approaching. Greet her with a smile and compliment her appearance. Avoid asking her questions. Even simple ones like, “How are you today?” may confuse her. Touch is very important as she will eventually have trouble responding to voice. Music is soothing. Bring her favorite songs and play them with her. Photos personalize her space and everyone will enjoy looking at them. You might set up a smart display that cycles through favorite pictures.

The facility may have a regular meeting for families, which are great opportunities to learn and contribute. The state also requires a quarterly meeting to update you on your wife’s condition. Bring your questions and be ready to actively participate.

Being a caregiver advocate is a big job, but patient-residents get better care when someone makes regular visits. ■

CAREGIVER SUMMIT

See Montrose-Delta Beacon Bits on page 56 for details on the free Caregiver Summit on Oct. 6

Send your questions to Laird in care of the BEACON, or email him at Laird@Family-Caregiver.org

Excellent Compassion and Care

• 24-Hour Monitoring of Health and Well-Being

• Medication Administration

• Assistance with Dressing, Grooming and Bathing

• Regular Exercise Programs

• Restaurant-Style Dining Room

• Regularly Scheduled Music, Entertainment, Special Events and Outings

• Religious services

• We can customize a program to include the additional assistance necessary to promote and maintain independence

To experience our residence please call us and schedule a complimentary lunch anytime

Sunglasses aren’t just for summer

7 tips on protecting your eyes from the sun

Styles of sunglasses may change each year, but one thing remains constant: sunglasses are key to protecting your eyes from the damaging rays of the sun.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can harm the eyes and affect vision. Cataracts, one of the primary causes of vision loss in older adults, are linked to long-term exposure to the sun’s harmful rays.

Here are some tips to protect your eyes from sun damage from the vision experts at Lighthouse Guild, a nonprofit that helps people who are visually impaired attain their goals through coordinated eye care, vision rehabilitation and other health services.

1. CHOOSE SUNGLASSES CAREFULLY

Select only sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays and are clearly labeled 100% UV protection or UV400. Consider wearing wraparound frames that wrap all the way around your temples so the sun’s rays can’t enter from the side.

Don’t get caught up on the color of the lenses, the price tag or the brand. The ability to block harmful UV light is not dependent on the cost or the darkness of the lenses.

2. HAVE YOUR SUNGLASSES TESTED

Not sure whether your sunglasses provide enough protection? Have an eye care professional test them with a photometer, which can gauge how effective the UV protection is on sunglasses.

3. REPLACE DAMAGED SUNGLASSES

Glasses that are scratched, damaged or have faded tints may no longer be effective. Replacing sunglasses every few years is a good idea.

4. SUNGLASSES ARE NOT JUST FOR SUMMER

Remember to wear your UV protective sunglasses whenever you spend time outdoors.

Sun damage to the eyes can occur anytime during the year, not just in the summer.

And while it may be tempting to skip sun protection on cloudy days, the harmful rays of the sun can pass through thin clouds and haze.

5. WEAR A HAT

In addition to sunglasses, wear a broad-brimmed hat or a cap to protect your eyes.

6. NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN

Looking directly at the sun at any time, including during an eclipse, can cause damage to the retina of the eye from solar radiation.

7. CHILDREN ALSO NEED SUN PROTECTION

Young children and teenagers should also wear sunglasses and hats or caps to protect against the harmful rays of the sun.

“Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun can damage the eyes and cause vision loss later in life,” said Dr. Susan Weinstein, low vision optometrist at Lighthouse Guild. “Wearing well-fitted sunglasses that block UVA and UVB radiation is essential for protecting your eyes.”

For more information, call 800284-4422 or visit LighthouseGuild. org. ■

Rockhounding: A

hobby that’s good for your health

By Scott Warren

Rockhounds are amateur rock collectors who are passionate about exploring the natural world in pursuit of that special mineral, fossil or crystal. Whether you’re collecting rocks to sell and make money, or you simply desire to display something beautiful in your home, this hobby comes with multiple health benefits that make it an excellent activity for older adults.

• Heart and physical benefits. We are fortunate to live in an area known for its wealth of minerals, fossils and crystals. Collecting involves walking and exploring our extensive public lands, which can help you manage your weight and improve your cardiovascular health.

• Cognitive benefits. According to a study cited by Physiopedia, musculoskeletal hand problems are common in those over 50 and increase after age 65. Sifting through stones or digging to loosen or retrieve a rock requires hand-eye coordination and preserves our manual dexterity. Additionally, the process of searching for, identifying and classifying rocks can help to improve focus and concentration, which positively relates to improved cognitive function.

• Mental health benefits. Spending time in nature has been

found to help with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression by relieving stress. Plus, when you find that special rock, it gives your self-esteem an added boost.

• Educational benefits. Rock collecting is perhaps one of the best ways to learn about geology and the gifts that Mother Nature has to offer. Gaining knowledge of earth’s different layers will help you identify the rocks you’re looking for, which makes the hunt that much more exhilarating and fun. The stimulation of learning something new can also help prevent cognitive decline.

• Social benefits: There are groups and clubs dedicated to rockhounding all over the world. Joining a club and meeting new people with similar interests can provide a sense of belonging, support and purpose. The Grand Junction Gem & Mineral Club is always seeking new members. The club meets at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 2328 Monument Road in Grand Junction.

If you like rocks then you’ll dig the 77th Gem & Mineral Show on September 23 & 24 at the Mesa County Fairgrounds. See the ad below for details. ■

September 23 & 24, 2023

Matcha vs. Coffee Unlock the energizing effects

Idrink both matcha and coffee on a daily basis. Both are popular beverages known for their health benefits and energyboosting properties. And while both contain caffeine, they differ in taste, nutrient composition and effects on the body.

Matcha has been an integral part of Japanese tea ceremonies for centuries, whereas the first coffee tree in the U.S. was planted in Hawaii around 1817. Matcha is made from finely ground shade-grown green tea leaves. The growing process increases chlorophyll and L-theanine content, giving matcha a vibrant green color and umami flavor. Matcha contains higher levels of antioxidants, amino acids and caffeine compared to green tea, as the entire leaf is consumed. When

you have matcha, you’re literally drinking crushed-up leaves.

Coffee, on the other hand, comes from the seeds of the coffea plant. It lacks L-theanine and chlorophyll but makes up for it with antioxidants, essential nutrients and caffeine. Coffee beans are roasted, which gives it that characteristic flavor and aroma.

Caffeine in both matcha and coffee can enhance alertness, cognitive function and memory. Matcha has less caffeine than coffee, but its effects can last longer due to the syn -

ergistic action of L-theanine. The calming properties of L-theanine can balance the stimulant effects of caffeine, providing a focused and sustained energy boost.

Both drinks may have a laxative effect, but matcha’s is milder due to its lower caffeine content and dietary fiber from ground tea leaves.

Traveling with matcha packets

DEAR PHARMACIST BY

SUZY COHEN

is convenient due to their compactness and versatility. Matcha can be easily mixed with hot water or added to smoothies, lattes or baked goods. I made my own matcha drink at the coffee station at my hotel just last month. Coffee packets are also portable, but when traveling you can almost always find a coffee machine or a Starbucks or Caribou Coffee (both have matcha as well).

Whether you prefer coffee or matcha, incorporating both into your routine can provide an enjoyable way to boost well-being and cognitive performance. Choose the beverage that best suits your taste and preferences, or consider combining the benefits of both by alternating or mixing them in creative ways. ■

For more articles and advice, sign up for Suzy’s newsletter at SuzyCohen.com

Welcoming Dr. Atwell to UAWC

Urological Associates of Western Colorado is delighted to welcome Dr. Michael Atwell to our growing healthcare group. Hailing from Geneseo, Illinois, Dr. Atwell’s unique, holistic patient approach stems from a diverse educational background at Hope College, where he majored in chemistry and studied an array of subjects, from philosophy to the arts.

Specializing in urologic oncology, voiding dysfunction, urinary stone disease and pediatric urology, Dr. Atwell provides comprehensive care to a diverse patient population. His clinical approach emphasizes immediate aid for acute conditions and fosters long-term relationships for chronic diseases.

Outside the clinic, Dr. Atwell is a passionate outdoorsman who looks forward to embracing the adventures Western Colorado and Eastern Utah offer. His lifestyle underpins his understanding of the importance of quality of life for his patients.

Dr. Atwell views his role as a physician and surgeon as a privilege, committed to delivering cutting-edge, personalized healthcare. His dedication to patient care forms the foundation of his practice.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Atwell. His expertise, holistic approach and commitment to patient wellbeing are invaluable additions to our healthcare community.

WHETHER YOU PREFER COFFEE OR MATCHA, INCORPORATING BOTH INTO YOUR ROUTINE CAN PROVIDE AN ENJOYABLE WAY TO BOOST WELL-BEING AND COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE.

Is your cat’s color linked to their personality?

Ask a dog owner what kind of pet they have, and you’ll likely hear a specific breed— Labrador retriever, dachshund, German shepherd. Ask a cat owner the same question and you’ll be met with a generic color or pattern—tabby, orange, black, tuxedo, tortoiseshell.

It’s estimated that 95% of household cats are the same breed: domestic shorthair. Despite little evidence to support the theory, many cat owners anecdotally assert that a cat’s personality is linked to the color of their coat.

If you’re like me and spend your free time watching cat videos on the internet, you may be familiar with the widespread reputation earned by fearless, friendly, outgoing and care-free ginger cats dubbed “orange cat energy,” suggesting with endearment that all orange cats ignite entertaining chaos in their wake.

At Roice-Hurst Humane Society, we’ve met our fair share of orange cats, but none have embodied orange cat energy quite like Alan, infamous for somehow climbing into the ceiling of our lobby in 2018. When Alan returned to Roice-Hurst after his aging owner became unable to care for him, his antics continued when he began inexplicably printing documents and playing music from the computer in our feline behavior room.

If you have a tortoiseshell cat at home—one sporting a spotty mix of black and tan, most likely female—you may be familiar with the term “tortitude” (tortie attitude). Calico cats are tortoiseshells with white on more than 20 percent of their body. Torties and calicos have

PET PERSPECTIVE

BY JENNA KRETSCHMAN

a reputation for being feisty, smart and independent.

One of our most memorable calicos was a hissy, spicy cat named Harley, who was rescued as a semi-feral cat living outdoors in rough condition. She was quite a sight to behold—half of her body was shaved because of severe matting, and she would swipe and hiss at anyone who dared to approach her cage. After months of diligent work teaching her to trust humans, intelligent Harley was trained to perform tricks like “sit” and “highfive” before being adopted.

That’s not all. Black cats are thought to be mild-mannered and mysterious, grey cats may be more timid and tabbies are perceived to be bold and active. However, it’s important to remember that these stereotypes are purely anecdotal and not based on scientific evidence. In fact, a variety of external factors contribute to each individual cat’s personality, like socialization, environment and life experience.

We meet lovable cats of all colors, patterns and personalities at Roice-Hurst. If you’re considering adding a feline to your family, stop by a local animal shelter to pick out your purrfect match, regardless of color! ■

The infamous Alan

ELVIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING

Submitted by Kathryn Hermanstorfer

In August 1977, I was a church secretary. One day the minister came to my office and said that his 9-year-old son had been watching television the evening before and broke the news to him that Elvis Presley had died.

His father asked him what Elvis had died of, and as the text scrolled across the bottom of the screen that read “Elvis dead at 42,” his son said, “I don’t know. Old age I guess.”

LET THE MASTER WORK

Submitted by Randal Hill

A teacher walked around her kindergarten classroom, looking at the artwork the students were creating. She stopped by one girl’s desk and asked, “What’s that you’re

painting?”

“God,” said the girl. “I’m making a painting of God.”

The teacher smiled. “That’s nice,” she said, “but nobody knows what God really looks like.”

The girl, keeping at her task, said, “They will in a minute.”

WEDDING CHECKLIST

Submitted by Ben Kuckel Jacob and Miriam are two seniors who met at a Florida retirement home and fell in love.

One day they go for a stroll to discuss their wedding, and stop by a drugstore on the way.

Jacob addresses the man behind the counter: “Are you the owner?”

The man answers, “Yes.”

“We’re about to get married. Do you sell heart medication?”

“Of course we do.”

“How about medicine for circulation?”

“All kinds.”

“Medicine for rheumatism?”

“Definitely.”

“How about suppositories?”

“You bet.”

“Medicine for memory problems, arthritis and Alzheimer’s?”

“Yes, a large variety.”

“What about vitamins, sleeping pills, Geritol, or medicines to help with Parkinson’s disease?”

“Absolutely.”

“Everything for heartburn and indigestion?”

“We sure do.”

“Do you sell wheelchairs and walkers and canes?”

“All speeds and sizes.”

“Adult diapers?”

“Sure. How can I help you?” the drug store owner asks.

Jacob replies, “We’d like to use this store for our bridal registry.”

WORD PLAY

Submitted by Rhonda Wray

My three favorite things are eating my family and not using commas.

How many optometrists does it take to change a light bulb?

Is it one... or two? One...or two?

It’s never safe to drop wordplay around a kleptomaniac because they’re always taking things literally.

A priest, an imam and a rabbit walk into a clinic to donate blood. The rabbit turns to the nurse and says, “I think I’m a Type-O.”

What’s the difference between a hippo and a Zippo?

One weighs a ton and the other is a little lighter.

NEW MEANINGS

Submitted by Shari Wells

The newspaper published a contest for readers in which they were asked to supply alternate meanings for various words. The following were some of the winning entries: Coffee (n.), a person who is coughed upon.

Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.

His grit and character have sustained his community and will strengthen future generations. Explore new opportunities for him to thrive in the coming season.

Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.

Pokemon (n.), a Jamaican proctologist.

Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk.

Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightie.

Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp.

Gargoyle (n.), an olive-flavored mouthwash.

Flatulence (n.) the emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller. Balderdash (n.), a rapidly receding hairline.

Rectitude (n.), the formal, dignified demeanor assumed by a proctologist immediately before he examines you.

Oyster (n.), a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddish expressions.

Circumvent (n.), the opening in the front of boxer shorts.

Frisbeetarianism (n.), the belief that, when you die, your soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck there.

ONLY THE TRUTH

Submitted by Victoria Lamb

While reading the newspaper, a husband came upon a study that said women use more words than men. Excited to prove to his wife his long-held argument that women in general, and his wife in particular, talk too much, he showed her the study results, which stated, “Men use about 15,000 words per day, but women use 30,000.”

His wife thought awhile, then finally she said to her husband, “It’s because we have to repeat everything we say.”

SUPER BOWL TICKETS

Submitted by Larry Ball

Bob receives a free ticket to the Super Bowl from his company. Unfortunately, when Bob arrives at the stadium he realizes the seat is in the last row in the corner of the stadium—he is closer to the Goodyear Blimp than the field!

About halfway through the first quarter, Bob notices an empty seat 10 rows off the field, right on the 50-yard line. He decides to take a chance and makes his way through the stadium and around the security guards to the empty seat.

As he sits down, he asks the gentleman sitting next to him, “Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?” The man says no.

Very excited to be in such a great seat for the game, Bob says to the man next to him, “This is incredible! Who in their right mind would have a seat like this at the Super Bowl and not use it?”

The man replies, “Well, actually, the seat belongs to me. I was supposed to come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Super Bowl we haven’t been to together since we got married in 1967.”

“Well, that’s really sad,” says Bob, “but still, couldn’t you find someone to take the seat? A relative or a close friend?”

“No,” the man replies, “they’re all at the funeral.”

THOUGHTS ON TIME

Submitted by Sue Glover

A guy said to God, “God, is it true that to you a billion years is like a second?” God said yes.

The guy said, “God, is it true that to you a billion dollars is like a penny?” God said yes.

The guy said, “God, can I have a penny?”

God said, “Sure, just a second.”

Community set to music

Troy Raper kicks off Valley Symphony season as its new director

By Leanne Goebel

education from Lesley University.

Troy

Raper’s dad was a guitar-playing road musician. When the bass player in his band died suddenly, he handed the bass guitar to his son and put him on stage.

Raper was already musical. He learned to play the banjo at age 5. He also played the fiddle. One year, he was handed a string bass to play in an orchestra and he learned the book of music in three days.

Decades later, Raper is a seasoned educator and an accomplished musician with broad performing experience. He sits as principal bassist for the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, records music as a studio musician, and performs regularly in jazz bands and as a concert soloist.

In May, Raper added a new job title to his vitae: Music Director and Orchestra Conductor for the Valley Symphony Association (VSA) in Montrose—a position he didn’t seek, but one that found him.

A MUSICIAN OF THE COMMUNITY

Few musicians on the Western Slope have done as much as Raper to bring people and music together, said J. Cameron Law, past president of the Colorado American String Teachers Association and member of the Colorado Music Educators Association Hall of Fame.

Raper grew up in northern Colorado near Red Feather Lakes and attended a one-room schoolhouse in Livermore. He worked on a ranch in Crystal Lakes and earned his bachelor’s in music education from the University of Northern Colorado, then a master’s degree in

He spent most of his teaching career in Palisade. He took that job, he said, because he knew the kind of students. They were farmers and ranchers, and they wanted to play music though they likely never had a private music lesson.

“When I went for my first rehearsal with Valley Symphony Association, I realized these, too, are my people,” said Raper, who retired from school teaching after 31 years. “They want to make music and play because playing good music and making art is fun. That really spoke to me, and I enjoyed that.”

After the VSA’s long-time conductor retired in the spring of 2022, the nonprofit began its search for the right person to take the helm by hosting guest conductors at each concert during its 51st season. The search committee gathered extensive surveys from musicians, audiences, organizational advisors and other relevant sources until it announced Raper as its successor earlier this year.

“During my guest conductor experience for the December Christmas by Candlelight concerts, I was impressed with the community support for the VSA and warm welcome I received,” said Raper in a VSA press release. “The musicians are quite extraordinary, and, most importantly, they care enormously about the future of the VSA.”

As for Raper’s plans for the future, he wants to incorporate a wide array of musical styles, add visuals and maybe even a drummer.

“The modern idea of a symphonic performance is not what it was 50 years ago,” he said. “We might

do rock and roll Vivaldi.”

In the end, all that matters is that “the musicians have fun, make art and have emotion while making music.”

FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA

Raper will kick off the VSA’s 52nd season on Saturday, September 9, at the Pops in the Park concert at the Montrose Amphitheater, where VSA musicians will take the audience a musical journey across the country, celebrating our rich heritage of culture and music “from sea to shining sea.”

About VSA Season 52

Raper hopes that the Western Slope community will come out and listen during the VSA’s only free concert of the season.

“The idea is to share Americana music from coast to coast,” Raper said. “We will start with ‘Washington Post’ and move across the country with musical themes, ending with a Beach Boys’ piece and a salute to the armed forces with ‘American Frontier.’”

Pops in the Park is followed by a five-concert series at the Montrose Pavilion between November and April.

“There is no AI in what we do,” Raper said of himself and the VSA’s dedicated group of all-volunteer musicians. “We are artists who have worked a long time to play live music.” ■

Season and individual tickets are now available. For tickets and details, visit the VSA on Facebook and at ValleySymphony.net

September 9

Pops in the Park - FREE concert with the Montrose Community Band

November 11 & 12

Classic Drama: Feel the Music

December 15 & 16

Christmas by Candlelight

Accompanied by a dramatic reading of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Magic Circle Players

February 24 & 25

A Night at the Movies: Hollywood Favorites

March 30 & 31

Heaven & Bluegrass: Singing the Sacred

April 20 & 21

Rites of Spring: Rhythms of Nature

STAAY AWHHILLE

“THERE IS NO AI IN WHAT WE DO. WE ARE ARTISTS WHO HAVE WORKED A LONG TIME TO PLAY LIVE MUSIC.”

We This

plants that can reach maturity within 50 days or less. I’ve had great luck growing romaine, oakleaf and butterhead lettuces; arugula; space and auroch spinach varieties; and lacinato and red Russian kale. I’ve

Many seed companies offer winter-specific

also found the traditional red and white stemmed chard to be very cold hardy, but other varieties don’t produce nearly as well in the fall.

Green onions, radishes and kohlrabi produce a crop fairly quickly. Asian greens like pak choi and tatsoi are quick maturing, as either individual leaves or whole heads, and are cold hardy. The red varieties gain more intense color as the nights get colder.

Short-season peas are another viable option. The tendrils are delicious and nutritious, and they may even produce pods depending on the temperatures.

SPRING-BLOOMING BULBS

Garden centers and hardware stores will soon offer end-of-theseason pricing on bulbs, so now is a great time to stock up.

Some bulbs grow best after experiencing a cold period of dormancy in the ground, so planting them now can make for a stronger and more showy plant this spring. Bulbs are perennials, which means your planting efforts will pay off with blooms for years to come.

Most bulbs are planted twice as deep as the height of the bulb, with the pointy end up, if there is one.

Irises and daffodils grow quite

TULIPS, IRISES AND DAFFODILS GROW QUITE WELL IN OUR CLIMATE, AND ADD COLOR AND DIVERSITY TO OUR YARDS IN THE SPRING.

well in our climate, and add color and diversity to our yards in the spring. Tulips, lilies and crocus come in a range of colors as well. If planted now, hyacinth will establish roots before the first frost and you’ll be rewarded with its wonderful scent in spring.

GARLIC, THE FALL KING

As autumn approaches, garlic is king! Not only is it the most useful health-promoting crop, but it’s easy to grow and stores well.

I prefer to plant garlic in late

HOW TO PLANT GARLIC

• Break apart the garlic bulb and plant the individual cloves with the paper still on them.

• Plant about 2 inches deep, pointy end up.

• The best garlic grows where there’s a good supply of nutrients. Compost, bone meal and fishmeal are popular fertilizers to use. Any 5-10-10 formula will help, but sulfur is important for full-flavored bulbs to develop as it promotes allicin, the health-promoting compound that makes garlic so special.

• Most well-made compost has sulfur but I would add Sul-Po-Mag (a blend of sulfur, potassium and magnesium) to the hole of each planted clove. Epsom salt is 13% sulfur so 1 teaspoon per clove or a couple of tablespoons spread over a planted square yard will help your crop.

• Plant cloves 6-8 inches apart. A single 10-foot row can yield about 5 pounds of garlic, depending on the variety.

September, but any time between September 15 to October 31 falls within the window of opportunity. It’s still a good idea to mulch garlic with straw or leaves to keep the soil from freezing too deep. I don’t recommend planting store-bought garlic as it has likely been sprayed with a sprouting inhibitor. Even organic garlic was probably grown in a mild climate like California and may not be suited to produce well here.

Hardneck varieties are the pre -

GROW WILD

BY BRYAN REED

ferred choice of growers in northern climates. They grow big cloves around a hard stem and produce scapes in the spring, which are good for cooking. Elephant garlic also grows well.

Use seed garlic from your local garden center to ensure a good crop next summer, Then save some bulbs from the harvest for next year’s planting and you can maintain the genetics you paid for. ■

Send your gardening questions to Bryan in care of the BEACON, or email him at BCReed@ColoradoMesa.edu

For those planting by the biodynamic calendar, September 6-20 is the most favorable time for planting seeds and bulbs. This is the period when germination in the soil is optimal and the waxing moon increases its gravitational pull to aid in new seedling development.

Keep ’Em Flying

Commemorative Air Force shares local plane’s historical claim to fame

Story and photos by Diana Barnett

“Thewar to end all wars,”

World War II was fought from 1939 to 1945. The action began in Europe, but the U.S. was thrust into the conflict when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

“The Japanese had a quality air force and the American fleet was not especially strong in planes that could land and take off from ocean carriers,” explained Keith Swinehart, 84, a member of the Rocky Mountain Wing (RMW), the local branch of the Commemorative Air Force.

The push was on for American companies to develop more efficient planes. That’s when the Grumman company out of New York produced the first five new

torpedo bombers, which arrived on December 7, 1942. The planes were aptly named the “Avenger” because they were designed to avenge the destruction caused by Japanese flyers.

Once deployed, these planes changed the course of the war against Japan. Big, noisy and powerful, the Avenger flew from carrier decks and traveled long Pacific distances. The aircraft had wings that folded upward, so when it landed on an ocean carrier, several could be tethered and lined up.

“The Avenger was the biggest single-engine plane built for World War II,” said RMW Executive Officer Kent Taylor, 72. “Fully loaded, the aircraft weighed 18,000 pounds, including a three-man crew with a

Volunteer your time and talents at St. Mary’s

pilot, gunner and radio operator; a 2,000-pound torpedo; lots of 50 caliber ammunition, 325 gallons of gas and 30 gallons of oil.”

The torpedo bomber (TBM/ TBF) gained the reputation as one of most iconic aircraft of the era. Former president George H. W. Bush flew an Avenger while in the Navy. While bombing a Japanese radio tower, his plane was shot down and he was forced to jump into the ocean. Fortunately, he was rescued by an American submarine.

The Avenger has an impactful and colorful history. That’s why a small group of pilots banded together in 1957 and started the Commemorative Air Force (CAF)

to protect historic aircraft from extinction. The group aims to keep these historic planes in viewable —and flying condition—thereby sharing the history and spirit of the Greatest Generation with future generations.

The local CAF chapter made its debut in 1981, with a small squadron working to bring historic aircraft to the western slope. Four years later, the group proudly welcomed the TBM N53503 Avenger to reside in the hanger at the Grand Junction airport.

CLAIMS TO FAME

Produced near the end of the war, the local plane did not see com -

The Avenger had a three-man crew including the pilot, gunner and radio operator. Photo by Cloie Sandlin

The Avenger is big, noisy and powerful, and flew from carrier decks traveling long Pacific distances. On the carrier, the wings folded upward, saving space.

THE LOCAL CAF CHAPTER MADE ITS DEBUT IN 1981, WITH A SMALL SQUADRON WORKING TO BRING HISTORIC AIRCRAFT TO THE WESTERN SLOPE.

bat, but it was placed in duty on American aircraft carriers. Later, it was provided to the Royal Canadian Navy on a lend-lease program, where it served with the HMCS Magnificent carrier searching for submarines.

In 1953, the plane was selected to lead the formation flyover of Queen Elizabeth’s coronation Review of the Fleet. It was then transferred into Canadian firefighting service, its torpedo cavity filled with fire retardant.

in Boulder in 2019. The group even received a letter from Queen Elizabeth’s personal secretary thanking the group for their efforts.

The Avenger was also requested to appear in Steven Spielberg’s film, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” as well as some episodes of the TV series “Gold Rush.”

EDUCATE, INSPIRE, HONOR

At its Grand Junction hangar, RMW also maintains a 1946 J3 Piper Cub, which was used to train aspiring pilots.

Members also do outreach to local schools, inviting students and teachers to their onsite museum to learn about World War II and the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, and to view artifacts and memorabilia including magazines, photographs, autographed items, uniforms and artwork.

In 1970, the plane was donated to a CAF branch in Harlingen, Texas, where it flew with the Ghost Squadron. After sitting outside for a few years in Mesa, Arizona, the plane was acquired by the Grand Junction Rocky Mountain Wing. The plane required about $300,000 to bring it up to speed. Several local CAF members contributed personal resources to make it happen.

“Our Avenger has several other claims to fame,” Taylor added. “It is the only aircraft to have been inducted into the Colorwado National Register of Historic Properties, and the seventh aircraft to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and only one of three that still flies.”

Not only did the plane lead the flyover formation for the royal coronation, but it participated in the 65th anniversary reenactment

RMW relies on memberships, donations and funds raised from living history plane rides and air shows to help support their projects, none of which would be possible without its dedicated members and volunteers. ■

HANGAR DANCE

On September 30, RMW brings back its first Keep ’Em Flying 1940s Hangar Dance since COVID. Costumes are encouraged as attendees dance to 1940s swing music by Swing City Express. There will also be a “best dressed” contest and swing dance lessons outside the RMW aircraft hangar at the Grand Junction Regional Airport, Navigators Way, Gate 10. Buy tickets online at bit.ly/ hangar_dance or call 970-2560693. See the back cover ad for more information.

Rocky Mountain Wing Executive Officer Kent Taylor, left, and member Keith Swinehart, right.

Community Concerts of the Grand Valley Concert Series

Let the good times roll!

Hollywood’s hottest little big band comes to the Avalon

Phat Cat Swinger

October 3 • 7:30 p.m.

By Jan Weeks

If you long for those musical days of yesteryear, when big bands, jazz and smooth singers like Sinatra and Bennet ruled the airwaves, get ready to trip down Memory Lane with Phat Cat Swinger, taking the Avalon stage for the second concert in Community Concerts of the Grand Valley’s 79th season.

The 11-member group was founded in part by members Marco Palos, who plays alto sax, and baritone sax player William Pattison. Influenced by Bobby Darin, Louis

Prima and more, their current setlist also includes music from new bands such as Bruno Mars, Royal Crown Review and Brian Stetzer, making Phat Cat one of the hottest swing bands in the country.

Two of the members also perform intermittently with Louis Prima, Jr., and the Witnesses, who appeared at the Avalon in 2022.

Showmanship is the name of the game when the group surges onto the stage, bringing to life re-imagined musical arrangements from timeless eras, ranging from Frank Sinatra to Michael Bublé, Disney and everything in between.

The band effortlessly channels the rockstar energy of Freddie

Mercury and the flamboyant styles of Elton John while bringing laughter to audiences with their spontaneity in their choreography.

Besides touring the U.S., where they often appeared on the Disney Resort stages, they’ve rocked Europe and made videos with Christina Aguilera and the Jonas Brothers. Phat Cat Swinger will continue on with the mission to bring smiles, laughter and great classic and new music with a high energy twist to

audiences for years to come. It’s the band’s own way of passing along the torch to generations that lie ahead of them.

Join in the high-energy fun on Tuesday, October 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Avalon Theatre, 645 Main St. in Grand Junction. The theater has elevator service, handicapped seating, a drop-off area in front of the theaters, plus downtown dining and parking options. Doors open one hour before the show. ■

WIN TICKETS FROM THE BEACON!

Which big band was part of Disneyland’s inaugural Cavalcade of Bands in 1962 and became a fan favorite in the Magic Kingdom, particularly when performing his versions of “One O’clock Jump” and “April in Paris?”

A) Count Basie

B) Benny Goodman

C) Glenn Miller

Name:

Phone:

Email:

Send in your answer by Friday, September 15 to be entered into a drawing for two tickets to see Phat Cat Swinger perform at the Avalon Theatre in Grand Junction.

Email your answer to: Contact@BeaconSeniorNews.com

Or mail this entry form to:

BEACON Senior News, PO Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502

See them all! 6 concerts for only $80

Folk Legacy Trio

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

7:30 pm

Phat Cat Swingers

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

7:30 pm

Sounds of Silence Tribute

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

7:30 pm

The Suits

Thursday, March 14, 2024 7:30 pm

Abbacadabra

Thursday, April 4, 2024 7:30 pm

7000 Miles of Broadway

Thursday, May 9, 2024 7:30 p.m.

By Sally Breslin

WhatI’m about to say usually elicits gasps of disbelief whenever I mention it, but I swear it’s the truth: I never owned a clothes dryer until 2010.

I’ve always loved the smell of laundry dried out in the fresh Colorado air, especially bedding. So for over 35 years I used one of those spiffy umbrella-type aluminum clotheslines.

When my husband first set it up in our yard, he made sure it would last forever. He dug a deep hole, stuck the pole in it and then filled it with enough concrete to pave a parking lot. Unfortunately, a tree landed on the clothesline a couple years later and bent the umbrella part into what looked like a lopsided, abstract aluminum sculpture. But the pole was still solidly stuck in the ground.

I hung many loads of laundry on my bent, broken clothesline over the years. I learned to hang the long items (sheets, nightgowns, etc.) on the high side, and the short items

(socks, washcloths, etc.) on the low side. I also had to walk around the clothesline when hanging things because the top of it was too disfigured to turn.

I think not owning a clothes dryer for so many years was hereditary. My mother never owned one and never wanted one. In fact, she, being somewhat of a clothes-drying expert, taught me everything I know about hanging clothes outside.

First and foremost, she taught me that it’s very important to hang sheets or towels in front of any “unmentionables” to conceal them and avoid attracting unsavory characters.

Although I always strictly followed that rule, the strategic placement of my unmentionables on the line was never a big concern of mine. My underwear was so big, I figured the only unsavory character it might attract would be a pirate looking for a new sail for his ship.

My mother also taught me that hanging wet clothes outside in be -

Dryers are more convenient than clotheslines, but…

low-freezing temperatures resulted in a condition known as “clothes-sicles,” where clothes quickly froze into solid sheets of ice and could stand up by themselves. The worst thing about clothes-sicles was that when you brought them indoors to thaw, they usually were just as wet as when you first hung them out… only colder.

But the most important rule my mother taught me about hanging laundry outdoors was to vigorously shake all of the clothes before

a fire sale…with a hint of garlic and oregano thrown in.

“Why am I suddenly craving spare ribs?” I asked as I slipped into my freshly dried nightgown one night.

Alas, one of the casualties of a particularly heavy snowfall one winter was my beloved clothesline. It ended up in such bad shape, with the pole nearly bent in half, I could no longer hang even a pair of socks on it.

“So what do I do now?” I asked my husband one night as I stood holding a laundry basket heaped with wet clothes.

bringing them back inside. Anyone who’s ever found a wasp in her bra will not question this rule.

I learned the hard way that clothes will not dry outdoors when the humidity is high and the breeze is low. I once left a load of laundry hanging outside for so long during a humid spell that it grew mold and made everything look tie-dyed. When my husband complained, I reminded him that nothing beat the fresh-air smell of clothes dried outdoors.

“Try to get THAT from a clothes dryer!” I told him.

Unfortunately, the people who moved in next door to us all but ruined that defense when they decided to set up their barbecue grill about 20 feet from my clothesline. I swear they must have cooked three meals a day on that grill, which smoked worse than a pile of burning tires.

As luck would have it, the wind never failed to carry their barbecue smoke directly toward my laundry, where it permeated every fiber. My husband and I ended up smelling as if we’d bought all of our clothes at

He looked thoughtful for a moment, then said, “Well, I can’t put up a new clothesline until the ground thaws, but I could string up a clothesline indoors for you from one bathroom wall to the other. In fact, I could put it right over the bathtub so you won’t have to worry if the clothes drip.”

I frowned at him. “Yeah, and then we can buy a couple live chickens and a goat, and let them run around the house, too, to complete the look!”

It got to the point where, especially in the winter, I had laundry drying over the shower rod and on so many folding racks near furnace grates, my husband finally insisted we buy a dryer.

“I think I’m getting diaper rash,” he complained one night after he’d been forced to wear a pair of damp, black dress slacks that hadn’t quite dried in time for his big meeting at work that day. “It’s time to get a dryer.”

So I reluctantly gave in.

I must confess the dryer has made my life much easier, but I do miss the “fresh air” smell of my bed sheets. And now that I’m not using solar energy to dry the clothes, the electric bill has gone up.

However, I can’t say that I miss finding elm bugs in my jeans. ■

I HUNG MANY LOADS OF LAUNDRY ON MY BENT, BROKEN CLOTHESLINE OVER THE YEARS.

IS WHY WE WALK

My walk down Pennsylvania Avenue on September 11, 2001

Grand Junction

Oct. 14

Colorado Mesa University act.alz.org/westslope

By James Patterson

Iwasgetting ready to leave my office three blocks from the White House when a Washington, DC, radio morning presenter reported that a plane had hit the World Trade Center in New York.

My first thought was that a small plane had unintentionally crashed into the internationally famous financial building in downtown Manhattan. As a former New York resident and frequent business traveler, I knew it was not uncommon for small planes to hit tall buildings.

jet hitting the Pentagon in nearby Arlington, Virginia. My office faced the Potomac River. I heard an explosion in the distance.

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I continued to pack up my things, a small plane being part of the image in my mind. Then the radio presenter said it was a jet. Now wait a minute! How could that be? Jets don’t fly low enough to hit the World Trade Center!

I began to wonder if the radio report was a hoax. But then I turned on the TV and watched in horror as a second commercial jet hit the South Tower. I sat speechless at my desk.

The next thing I remember is my office windows rattling—it was the rattle of another commercial

The radio presenters on the morning of September 11, 2001, practiced irresponsible broadcast journalism by reporting information from unidentified callers to the station. Such reports contributed to the hysteria in Washington 22 years ago. Radio presenters allowed these hoax callers to “report” onair that the White House had been attacked. If this had happened, I likely would have been among the dead or missing due to my proximity to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Sometimes we all need a little help caring for a loved one.

Firefighters work to contain the fire after the terrorist attack at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. U.S. Air Force photo by Jim Garamone

Author James Patterson and a mural of newspaper articles from September 11 in New York City.

These hoax callers also claimed that the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress had all been attacked. The Library of Congress? Perhaps a disgruntled congressional librarian phoned that “report” to the radio station.

As frightening—and annoying— as these reports were, in hindsight, I’m glad they were fake news.

Washington’s mayor declared a state of emergency. He ordered Washingtonians to stay in their homes, but instead, I decided to take a leisurely walk down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the White House.

I saw no police that morning. Only a lone military convoy with U.S. troops sitting in the back. One troop was adjusting her listening device for her Walkman. I wondered if she was listening to the hoax reports I’d heard on the radio or a Michael Jackson tune. “Thriller,” maybe.

Washington’s streets are nor-

mally busy on a weekday morning, but the empty roads and shuttered shops gave me an eerie feeling that more horror and devastation was to come.

That morning, the silence was deceiving, just like the terrorists who boarded the jets with boxcutters and the intent to kill thousands of innocent hardworking Americans.

Many of the first responders who went to the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, 2001, answered a heroic call. Many met their untimely deaths or soon faced disabling health conditions. All who responded were heroes trying to save the lives of their fellow Americans.

As for all of the people who never came home that day, their names are forever etched in memorials for their fellow citizens to honor and remember. My relationships with friends lost on September 11, 2001, did not end that morning 22 years ago. They never will. ■

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11 unexpected destinations with the most beautiful fall colors

Whenpeople think of taking in Mother Nature’s annual fall technicolor display in the U.S., they usually picture dramatic hues in the northern areas of the country.

But surprise, surprise! Those in the know realize that nature’s paintbrush is also busy in some unexpected places, and there are unusual ways to enjoy its handiwork.

While most folks do their leaf peeping from inside a car, others float down rivers, take to the sky and speed through colorful canopies during amusement park thrill rides.

WATER TOURS

Louisiana isn’t known for the beautiful fall color displays further north, but it does have its share of bright foliage. Renting a boat or taking a guided tour on the Tchefuncte River, which empties into Lake Pontchartrain, offers scenic views of the surrounding forests.

If you’d prefer to sail through some of the Northeast’s kaleidoscope of hues, consider a Hudson River Fall Foliage trip with American Cruise Lines. Its small ship itinerary includes stunning landscapes with waterfront mansions, Manhattan’s

famous skyline and a close-up pass by the Statue of Liberty.

AmericanCruiseLines.com | 800-460-4518

ROMP & ROAM

Some people who prefer dry land would rather stroll across the Kinzua Sky Walk in northwestern Pennsylvania. When it was constructed in 1882 as a train bridge, it was the highest and longest viaduct in the world. The remaining

portion extends 225 feet above a deep gorge and ends at a glass-bottom observation deck that offers breathtaking panoramic views. This opportunity to “walk the tracks across the sky” has been recognized as one of the world’s most beautiful skywalks.

VisitANF.com/kinzua-sky-walk | 814-778-5467

Those who prefer a slow ride along a route that Native Americans

By Victor Block

and early pioneers followed attend the Buena Vista Fall Festival held in Minnesota. This year’s festival takes place September 16 & 17, 2023. Horse-drawn covered wagons roll along a high ridge known as “Top of the World” to view nature reflected in nine lakes. Other activities include music and demonstrations by craftsmen.

BVSkiArea.com | 218-243-2231

RAIL-RELATED ADVENTURES

If horses are too slow, how about horse power? The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad operates in mountainous landscapes surrounding the tracks that run between Cumberland and Frostburg. Passengers enjoy a surprisingly vibrant color show as they’re pulled by a restored steam engine.

WMSR.com | 301-759-4400

Pedal power also enables those who wish to combine exercise with enjoyment as they roll along railroad tracks in pedal-propelled vehicles dating back to the mid-19th century. Patrons of Tracks and Yaks propel their mini-trains alongside the Great Allegheny Passage corridor,

Hudson River Fall Foliage trip with American Cruise Lines includes stunning landscapes with waterfront mansions.

which stretches 150 miles between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Cumberland, Maryland. The mountain ridge along the way blossoms into full color each fall. Pedals at each seat move the car along the tracks, sometimes augmented by an auxiliary motor, and passengers have their hands free to take photographs and video of the passing fall foliage.

TracksAndYaks.com | 301-349-3699

An even more spectacular setting greets rail vehicle riders to the foothills of the northern Catskill Mountains of New York. The village of Cooperstown and its surrounding area are known for a stunning display of fall color and those traveling through it with Rail Explorers USA cross historic trestle bridges, pass farmlands and traverse beautiful woodlands.

RailExplorers.net | 877-833-8588

THEME PARKS

A very different rail ride is provided by the Runaway Mountain Coaster in Branson, Missouri. The track dips, turns and corkscrews as it follows the lay of the land, using elevation changes to deliver an adrenaline-boosting experience. Riders may choose to pass by the fall foliage of the Ozark woods at breakneck speed or use the brake to slow the descent. This is one of a number of rides and experiences at theme parks that make Branson an entertainment town and magnet for vacationers of all ages.

BransonAlpineMountain Coaster.com | 417-334-7337

Vying with that Missouri setting in terms of entertainment is Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Its theme park, water park, dinner shows and other attractions have something-for-everyone appeal. In fall, foliage fans may “ride a bear” along Big Bear Mountain, the park’s longest coaster as it follows nearly 4,000 feet of track and offers

sweeping views of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Dollywood.com | 800-365-5996

HIGH THRILLS

Daredevils willing to venture even higher to get a birds-eye view of fall colors have a number of alternatives. The most gentle of these is a hot air balloon ride above the rolling hills of western Connecticut, with views of colonial homes, traditional New England barns and old stone walls. Flights at sunrise and sunset provide added highlights to the already colorful setting. Several companies offer balloon tours. Anyone brave enough to follow in the footsteps or, rather, wing beats of Icarus might wish to check out Aspen Paragliding. Its experienced pilots take one passenger at

a time aloft, suspended beneath a non-powered inflated wing, over the color-rich Colorado mountains. While in Greek mythology Icarus flew so close to the sun that the beeswax holding his flimsy wings melted, Aspen’s gliders are limited by prevailing air currents to a maximum of 18,000 feet. That’s not too close to the sun but far enough up to provide dramatic views of the landscape below.

AspenParagliding.com | 970-925-6975

This sampling of different ways to enjoy fall foliage may tempt you to try something new. Or you might prefer to climb into the family car and stick with the old. ■

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It’s time to grow up

By John Vieths

Ephesians 4:14: “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.”

o you ever look through pictures or home movies from your childhood? Chances are, you were so cute as a kid. Maybe you tried to help your mom do some baking and ended up with flour all over yourself. Maybe you tried to help dad in the garage and you ended up with grease on your face like it was war paint.

Even though the pictures you drew were little more than scribbles, they ended up on the refrigerator anyway. When you started writing, you mixed up your capital and lower case letters, and your words didn’t follow the lines. Some were even turned backwards. When you started walking and lost your balance, you would sit down right on your bottom without even bending your knees. It was cute and your parents loved you for it.

None of that would look cute at our age now, would it? That’s because our parents raised us and our schools trained us so that we would grow up. They loved us when we were little, but they didn’t want us to stay that way.

That is also true of our churches and of our Savior. God gives us people who preach and teach so that we will grow up.

Not everything about being children in the faith is bad. When Paul writes, “Then you will no longer be infants,” he isn’t necessarily criticizing us for going through that stage of life. Jesus even praises little children for their faith and holds them up as examples.

“Unless you change, and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven,” he

once told his disciples.

The point Jesus was trying to get across is that as children, we tend to know our place with adults, especially our parents. My parents tell me that I used to throw some real screaming tantrums when I was little and didn’t get my way. But I never thought that I should take my parents’ place and run the family. When my parents told me something, I believed them without question.

The childlike faith that trusts God without question will serve us long after we have become great-grandparents. When he tells us he takes our sins away, we can be sure he does. When he promises eternal life, we don’t need to doubt.

But there are other voices we can’t trust so much. Some churches promise something more, but we get something less. That’s why we need a thorough education in the basic teachings of the Bible. That’s why we need to keep coming to worship and attend Bible classes so we can dig deeper into the Scriptures—so that we will grow up. Then we will no longer be infants. And unlike our physical bodies, our heart of faith can keep on growing and maturing as long as we live. ■

Nourish your faith in between Sundays by reading more of John’s writings at BitsOfBread.org.

Visiting Angels makes every day heavenly

By Heidi Pool

In 2018, when Mary Lou Rottman was ready to return home after a surgical procedure, her son Randy felt strongly they should hire a caregiver on a temporary basis to assist with the transition. Having been independent her entire life, Rottman was reluctant to accept help, but agreed to give it a chance under one condition: the caregiver must love dogs, as Rottman’s Shih Tzu, Tuli, means the world to her.

Randy contacted Visiting Angels, who paired Rottman with animal-loving caregiver Holly Tumas. Five years later, Tumas spends three hours per day, five days a week, with 92-yearold Rottman, who said during a recent visit, “I can’t live without her!”

Part of a worldwide franchise, the local Visiting Angels is overseen by Care Director Jeanne Hicks, who purchased the 14-year-old business in March of last year along with partner Chris Smith.

Their team of 50 “angels,” who range in age from 18 to 88, provides non-medical home care for 91 clients in Mesa, Delta and Montrose counties, 38 of whom are veterans. In addition to helping seniors safely age in place, Visiting Angels also offers care in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Caregiver services range from basic companionship to bathing and personal grooming assistance to Alzheimer’s and dementia support. Clients and their families choose the days, times and duration of visits. Affordable care is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day. And Visiting Angels isn’t just for those who’ve reached their golden years—anyone who needs assistance with activities of daily living may take advantage of their array of non-medical services.

“Holly walks Tuli and takes him to the vet and groomer, drives me to my doctor and hair appointments,

and does my grocery shopping and other errands,” Rottman said.

But friendship is the most important service Tumas provides.

“I don’t have a lot of friends,” said Rottman, noting that she’s outlived most of them, “and Holly will sit and patiently listen to me for as long as I wish.”

Tumas even helped her assemble a “tribe” of other helpers: a house cleaner, gardener and pest control specialist.

“We’re very discerning about who we have perform services here,” Tumas said. “It has to be just the right fit.”

Likewise, ensuring the “right fit” between client and caregiver is also a job one for Hicks and her staff.

“When a prospective client contacts us, we perform a thorough, in-person assessment,” she said.

“From there, we develop a care plan for that client’s specific needs. We then select the staff member we think is the best match for the client’s personality and interests. If it’s not a good fit, it takes just a simple phone call to request a different caregiver. We’ll go through every caregiver if we have to [in search of] that perfect [combination].”

Besides companionship, another aspect of Tumas’ care that Rottman particularly appreciates is meal preparation.

“Holly always has my special breakfast cereal ready for me,” she said.

She also mixes protein drinks, so Rottman has something nutritious to consume after Tumas leaves for the day.

“Before Holly, I’d never had anyone make something for me [to eat],” said Rottman.

Visiting Angels’ caregivers undergo rigorous training, are home health aide certified and must complete 13 hours of continuing

education each year. New angels pass background and refence checks and a drug screening prior to being invited into training.

“We want our caregivers to be ready for anything they might encounter [at a client’s house],” said Hicks.

Family caregivers can also hire Visiting Angels for respite care. When you’re a primary caregiver it’s important, and rather challenging, to balance your own life with the needs of your loved one. An angel can give you a needed break so you can go shopping, out to lunch with friends, to appointments, or even take a short trip.

Although Rottman was initially hesitant, she now enthusiastically endorses Visiting Angels.

“[Going along with my son’s insistence to hire a caregiver] has been the best decision I’ve ever made,”

she said. “It’s fantastic—the best part of my life!”

For more information, call Visiting Angels at 970-254-8888 or go to visitingangels.com/grandjunction. The local office is located at 2809 Bunting Ave., Grand Junction. ■

Experienced

Mary Lou Rottman and her visiting angels: Holly Tumas, left, and Jeanne Hicks, right.

Your mobility should NEVER BE LIMITED by your ability!

Twomonths ago, I decided to use this column to write about the fundamentals of artificial intelligence. I knew the topic was too big to cover in a single column, so I broke it down into three columns.

In July, I described what AI is and what it is not. In August, I wrote about the myths and realities of how AI is replacing humans in some jobs and processes.

This month, I will conclude by explaining, on a fundamental level, how AI works and how it can be used as a tool in day-to-day life.

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Or, if I ask for a candid photo of a group of male and female people over 50 reading the BEACON at the top of Mt. Garfield, I get something like this:

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No. Tools used for AI-assisted content generation hardly use any power from the computer used to make the request. Instead, the request is sent to a network of computers that work together to compile the image, music, prose or formula based on the variables provided.

AI does not create anything from scratch. It does not have an imagination or skills. Computers can only do three things: remember, calculate and organize stuff. The power comes from the speed of calculation, the amount of data it can hold, and how quickly it can

COMPUTERS DON’T HAVE THE ABILITY TO BREAK THE RULES AND THEY CAN’T INTERPRET AN ORIGINAL PROBLEM. THEY HAVE TO BE TOLD WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

I will use one of my favorite AI creative tools, Midjourney, as an example. Midjourney creates images based on prompts.

access that data.

Serving Western Colorado and Eastern Utah, as well as clients outside that area with specific project needs.

If I ask Midjourney to generate a realistic 1940s photo of a stampede of giant octopi running down the road of the Colorado National Monument, I get something like this:

If I were to ask a human artist to create similar images, they would gather source photos, apply learned concepts and techniques of their given craft, and compile an image using all available resources. However, he or she would be limited by whatever knowledge and resources they had acquired over their lifetime.

AI uses the same process. Only, instead of using the knowledge acquired over a lifetime from a limited array of sources, AI can essentially access all of the world’s data and convert, organize it, compute common formulas and create something new using what it “learns.”

By the way, a Midjourney subscription starts at $10 per month.

AI is smart, but here’s why it can’t survive without humans

CONTENT CREATION

There are two big differences between human and AI content creation. Computers don’t have the ability to break the rules and they can’t interpret an original problem. They have to be told what the problem is.

In order for a human to use AI effectively, he or she must know how to break the problem down into something the computer can convert to a formula and produce a result that addresses that formula.

For example, asking AI to produce a beautiful tree in a field of flowers will result in something like this:

creasing efficiency and increasing productivity. AI doesn’t generally create final drafts or end results. It creates working conceptualized drafts of human suggestions which will be adjusted, corrected and refined using human creativity and flexibility.

Since September is Healthy Aging Month, now is a good time to reflect upon our habits and behaviors that have or have not worked, decide what we’d like our future to look like and start adjusting our daily routine to achieve our health goals.

IS

Asking it to produce a green and yellow logo for a landscaping business produces something like this:

While AI is going to replace a lot of jobs currently filled by humans who have mastered the fundamentals of the given craft (writing, art, document creation, etc.), it will not replace jobs or specialists who understand the subjective aspect of creativity and ingenuity.

Humans and AI each produce original work by combining finite derivatives of content that already exists. Illustrators work from reference photos, photographers use posing and lighting charts, and writers use every written work they have ever read as a reference.

Our dietary, social, mental and emotional needs change as we age. Remember that Medicare covers annual wellness exams, where you can discuss lifestyle concerns with your physician, prioritize areas that will help improve your health and plan for next steps. Nutrition, physical activity, social engagement, purpose, rest and cognitive/mental stimulation are factors to consider. Some Medicare plans include benefits like gym memberships and stipends for healthy foods and supplements.

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There is a popular argument that AI is taking over jobs and human ingenuity. But in most cases, AI is augmenting imagination, in -

TALKING DIGITAL

BY ADAM COCHRAN

The difference between AI and human conceptual work is that AI will always have to be told by a human what is acceptable, beautiful or essential in meeting the specific need that it is being used to resolve. ■

Send your technology questions to Adam in care of the BEACON, or email him at AdamC@TalkingDigital.org

AI DOES NOT CREATE ANYTHING FROM SCRATCH. IT DOES NOT HAVE AN IMAGINATION OR SKILLS. COMPUTERS CAN ONLY DO THREE THINGS: REMEMBER, CALCULATE AND ORGANIZE STUFF.

Save money by paying sooner

By Arthur Vidro

Sometimesyou can save money by paying your bills quickly.

Most of us know that if we make larger payments on our loans or credit card bills, we’ll end up sending less money to the lender/card issuer. It is a simple matter of limiting the interest that grows on the debt. The longer you let the past-due amount build, the greater the interest owed.

But there are other, smaller ways to save by paying quickly.

When we lived on the East Coast, our heating-oil company gave a discount (10 cents a gallon) if payment was made within 10 days of the oil delivery. So we paid it promptly. Our hospital sends out bills with two prices—one for the total due and the other for a reduced total due if payment is made within a month. It amounts to a 15% discount, no matter how large or small the bill. I pay promptly whenever it means a discount.

You can also sometimes save via pre-payment.

After many years of using the same pest company to make quarterly visits and respond to pest emergencies, I inquired about a pre-payment option. They

knock off about 5% of the price when I pay for a year’s worth of services in advance.

Earlier this year I received a notice from my trash-collecting company announcing that it too offered an option to pre-pay for a full year and save 10%.

Now 5-10 percent might not sound like much, but a savings is a savings. And if you’re happy with the service a company provides, it makes sense to take advantage of the option.

Nowadays, it’s hard enough to get 1% interest from a bank, so if you can save 5-10% by pre-paying, that’s not so bad.

Of course, if you’re living paycheck to paycheck, this probably won’t happen. You need money

tucked away in savings. The reward for pre-paying is saving some money, plus no longer receiving monthly or quarterly bills for the period in question.

However, there are risks to consider. First, you’re locking yourself into service with a company for the long-term, so you should be confident they will continue to provide good service. Do not pre-pay for services from a company that is a stranger to you or whose service has left you less than fully satisfied. Another risk is if the company goes bankrupt before providing all

the services you’ve paid for, you will be one of many creditors seeking repayment. There is a chance you will lose everything you’ve spent without receiving the paid-for service.

Plus you need to be vigilant and be sure the promised discounts are actually applied. It’s important to open your bills and statements and make sure the amount reflected is correct.

More recently, our trash company raised its rates, but because we’ve pre-paid, the newer rates don’t apply to us—at least not yet. Pre-paying delays when rate increases apply.

Yes, paying quickly or in advance certainly has its advantages. ■

IT’S HARD ENOUGH TO GET 1% INTEREST FROM A BANK, SO IF YOU CAN SAVE 5-10% BY PRE-PAYING, THAT’S NOT SO BAD.

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Editor’s note: Jan Weeks has been a dedicated BEACON contributor for over 13 years. Follow her three-part series as this widowed septuagenarian writes about uprooting, navigating change and preparing for an even better next chapter. Read part 1 in the July issue at BeaconSeniorNews.com

Thehouse is sold. Inspections, appraisals and all the legalities are finally finished. The new owners are young and eager to move into their first home. Best of all, they love the yard and garden that I spent 21 years digging, planting and maintaining.

Fruit and shade trees replaced dead apple trees on my one-third of an acre. A cold frame and raised beds keep vegetables coming year round, and wildflowers and “tame”

By Jan Weeks

ones blooming abundantly. Pecans, peaches and apples will continue to feed the new owners—soon-tobe newlyweds—while the shade trees grow and turn the patio into a private nook.

What remained of my furniture, plus boxes and more boxes of books, tools, clothes and basically anything that wouldn’t be able to fit in my car on the final drive over, are now in my 11-by-11-foot bedroom in San Rafael, California. Just a couple of weeks ago, a friend and I drove a 16-foot rental truck for two days, making me realize that maybe, just maybe, I’m a little over the hill—or a lot of them—for such a long drive.

The third morning, I hopped on a plane in San Francisco to come back to a mostly empty house to water and maintain the yard, and

to say my final farewells to friends. A lawn chair mimicked a sofa, a TV tray pretended to be a desk and an air mattress faked being a bed.

I alternated between memories of joy, security, sorrow and pain in the house where my late husband invited our toddler great-nephew to “Get over here, boy, and let me whup you!”—and

Jax flung himself on his great-uncle, pretending to be a WWF hero. Where friends came for cocktails and conversations. Where I learned to use swamp coolers, irrigation pumps and power tools. Where cancer took my husband Rocky away from suffering and away from me.

The peaceful home I created and a yard transformed from weeds and dead trees into a gardener’s dream is now a memory, too.

My sister Joyce and I will spend our remaining years together, filled with new experiences. I’ve “inherited” another yard to transform and a kitchen where I can cook for two or more, not just for me. There

are more hikes, movie theaters, art galleries and museums to explore.

The final two weeks of waiting let me gradually say goodbye to the peaceful home I made mine so many years ago, and to all the friends whom I’ll miss and who will miss me.

Now a Californian, I stand hands on hips, surveying boxes stacked as tall as I am, wondering where to start. Pick a box, any box, I think, and reach for one labeled “sweaters.” Tape rips, flaps open and drawers begin to fill.

I must have left my crystal ball behind, because I have no clue what will happen next. I’ll take one step, then another one—steps that take me into the future. The only thing I know for sure is that we all will remember the times alone and the times together, the good times and the bad, and that life always leads us to endings and beginnings. And that we all will laugh, mourn, survive and relish whatever comes our way. ■

Keep an eye out for part 3 in November’s BEACON.

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King ’n Trio hosts concerts for worthy local causes

By Terri Benson

The King ’n Trio was founded 23 years ago by a group of local Rotarians. Several members have come and gone over the years, but current members Chris Unfug, Merritt Kinsey, Russ Williams and Kelly Anderson are still belting out standards and original songs inspired by ’50s artists like the Kingston Trio and Elvis Presley.

These two music pioneers, according to bassist Kinsey, are also partly responsible for the band’s name. David Durham, one of the group’s founders, was very fond of Elvis Presley’s music and earned the nickname “The King.” When Durham was rounding up other musically inclined Rotarians, they came up with King ’n Trio as a homage to the Kingston Trio, which was collectively one of their favorite bands.

The band’s repertoire of

songs is accompanied by upbeat folk sounds similar to Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan, with harmonizing vocals reminiscent of a barbershop quartet.

During performances, audiences are treated to witty repartee between members dressed in their trademark Hawaiian shirts and khakis. Unfug may switch out his guitar for a banjo or mandolin, and his bandmates may incorporate congas or the harmonica. Sometimes the band welcomes its part-time members Charles Latshaw on ukulele and Amanda Chipchase on violin.

TO DATE, THE BAND HAS RAISED AND DONATED OVER $300,000 TO WORTHY CAUSES

THEY CAME UP WITH KING ’N TRIO AS A HOMAGE TO THE KINGSTON TRIO, WHICH WAS COLLECTIVELY ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE BANDS.

The King ’n Trio didn’t start out being such an in-demand group, but word spread when they were asked to perform by another rotary club. At the end of that performance, the club passed around a hat and suddenly the group was holding money they hadn’t expected.

“We just like to play music,” Kinsey said.

“The rest just came as a result,” Unfug added.

It didn’t take them long to decide to donate the money—a tradition they’ve carried on for more than 20 years. To date, the band has raised and donated over $300,000 to worthy causes, including the American Diabetes Association, Avalon Theatre, Mesa County Libraries, Kids Aid, Red Cross and Museums of Western Colorado.

Kinsey was part of the band in 2005 when they played for more than 30,000 Rotarians at Rotary International’s 100th anniversary convention.

“That stage was huge, with 40foot speakers, sound crews, driv-

ers to get us to the show on time and a jumbotron blowing us up to king size,” Kinsey said. “It was a real hoot to see the audience reach up and turn down their hearing aids all at the same time.”

That led to even more performances at Rotary Conferences, including one at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Once they found themselves in a green room with cable news pioneer Ted Turner.

SEE THEM LIVE

The group has released five CDs, which can be purchased at the band’s October 5 concert at the Avalon Theatre in Grand Junction.

This concert begins at 7 p.m. and benefits the local PEO Chapter DY (Philanthropic Educational Organization), which celebrates the advancement of women by providing scholarships, grants and education funding opportunities to local students.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the Avalon Box Office Tuesday through Saturday, 12-6 p.m. or on Ticketmaster.com. Call the box office at 970-263-5757.

For more information about the local PEO chapter, visit PEOInter national.org or contact Norma West at njwest14@charter.net or 970-589-9236. ■

King ‘n Trio

Thursday

Oct. 5, 2023

King ‘n Trio’s signature 4-part harmonies and traditional folk sounds are uplifting and loved by fans of all ages all over the world.

Come join band members Chris Unfug, Merritt Kinsey, Russ Williams and GJSO Executive Director Kelly Anderson, along with special guest performers GJSO Conductor Charles Latshaw and GJSO Violinist Amanda Chipchase, on this special evening in support of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) Chapter DY in providing scholarships to women seeking education.

Tickets

$20 each and available online at

King ’n Trio are always popular at the annual BeaconFest Expo in Grand Junction.

BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | SEPTEMBER 2023 | 43 BEACON SENIOR NEWS

CALENDAR MeSa County

September 1

Brothers Osborne

Don’t miss this duo’s appearance at the Amphitheater at Las Colonias Park!

Brothers John and T.J. used to play in their father’s shed for friends and family. Now they perform for crowds with one of the freshest sounds—equal parts country and rock—to come out of Nashville recently.

8-11 p.m. | 925 Struthers Ave. | $40$176 | theampgj.com

September 5

Seed Saving in the Garden

Join longtime Master Gardener Merilee Shields at the Mesa County Libraries Discovery Garden to hear about creating food security, heirloom varieties and stellar crops for years without buying seeds! Learn the techniques, then gain hands-on experience by collecting seeds from different plant varieties. Register online.

6-7:30 p.m. | 517 Chipeta Ave. | Free | mesacountylibraries.org | 970-243-4442

September 5

Writer’s Night: Social Media for Writers

Stop typing and head to The Art Center to learn why social media is an important tool in your author’s marketing and branding toolbox. Whether you’re already published or working toward that goal, this session is for you. Learn how to get started, how to keep going, and why you’re on social media anyway.

6 p.m. | 1803 N. 7th St. | Free | westerncoloradowriters.org | 970-822-7373

September 6

New-to-Medicare 101

Learn when and how to sign up for Medicare, what Parts A and B cover, how to choose the best health and drug plan and more in this free seminar at Mesa County RSVP SHIP. Call to reserve your seat.

10 a.m.-12 p.m. | 422 White Ave. | Free | mesacountyrsvp.org | 970-243-9839

September 6

Music in the Grapevines

Unwind with wine, dinner and live bluegrass by Stray Grass on the lawn of Two Rivers Winery. Bring lawn chairs and a picnic, and purchase wine by the glass or bottle. Proceeds benefit the Art Center.

7-9 p.m. | 2087 Broadway | $15-$20 | artcenterguild.org | 970-549-0439

September 8

History Alive Chautauqua

Celebrated novelist Ernest “Papa” Hemingway springs to life through John Dennis Anderson’s portrayal of this talented, turbulent man at Fruita Community Center. Anderson, Professor Emeritus at Emerson College, has received grants toward developing performances as various authors.

3-4 p.m. | 324 N. Coulson St., Fruita | Free | mesacountylibraries.org | 970-858-7703

September 9

Reach Out and Play Board Game Event

Bring your family and friends to play reimagined classic board games at Fruita Community Center, courtesy

September 9-10

September 9-10

Lírios String Quartet

Luxuriate in the rich sound as Lírios, the resident string quartet at CU Boulder, fills the Moss Performing Arts Center with captivating classical music: the timeless brilliance of Beethoven, the evocative charm of Debussy and the groundbreaking composi-

of AARP. Easy-to-grasp game pieces, increased font size and intergenerational trivia ensure that all have a place at the gaming table. Please register.

3:30-5:30 p.m. | 324 N. Coulson St., Fruita | Free | local.aarp.org/grand junction-co

September 9

Wine & Whiskers Gala Animal lovers, come sip local wine at Two Rivers Winery, enjoy heavy appetizers from The Cowboy and The Rose, browse the pet-themed silent auction, bid on trips and treasures in the live auction and meet pets! All proceeds benefit Roice-Hurst Humane Society.

6:30-9 p.m. | 2087 Broadway | $65$115 | rhhumanesociety.org/gala | 970-434-7337

September 10

Three Dog Night

It’s “Joy to the World” when the Avalon Theatre rings with the sound of this ’70s rock band! Together for five decades, they’re still bringin’ it with hits like “Black and White,” “Sham-

tions of contemporary artist Gabriella Lena Frank.

3-5 p.m. | 1221 N. 12th St. | $17 | westernslopeconcertseries.org

bala” and “One.”

7-9:30 p.m. | 645 Main St. | $37-$97+ | avalontheatregj.com | 970-263-5700

September 14

Chinle Cactus & Succulent Society Presentation

“Do seeds produced in climates similar to Western Colorado result in superior performance and taste?”

Hear the results of this recent vegetable field trial conducted at the CSU Western Colorado Research Center.

6:30-8:30 p.m. | 536 Ouray Ave. | Free | chinlecactusclub.org | 970-773-7637

September 15

AARP State Tour

AARP Colorado is stopping by Food Bank of the Rockies to hear about your health security and financial resilience and how to ensure that communities are age-friendly. Social Security, fraud prevention, drivers’ safety, Tax-Aide and more will be covered. Registration is required.

9-11 a.m. | 698 Long Acre Drive | Free | local.aarp.org/grand-junc tion-co | coaarp@aarp.org

Do you feel invisible?

September 16

Fall Arts & Crafts Show

Get an early start on your Christmas/ hostess gifts with this show at Village at Country Creek’s Clubhouse. Meet talented artists, and stay for demos, refreshments, door prizes and more!

9 a.m.-1 p.m. | 1136 Periwinkle Ln., Fruita | vcc.artscrafts@yahoo.com

September 16

Downtown Car Show

Main Street will rumble with the sound of motors as participants pour into downtown Grand Junction for the Downtown Car Show. Proud owners will display their antique, muscle, classic and electric cars—and motorcycles, too. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Main Street, Grand Junction | Free | downtowngj.org

September 16

Comic Con

Celebrate the world of comics at the Grand Junction Convention Center. An expo hall of artists, panel presentations, fandom meetups and cosplay unites fans and creators in celebrating stories and fandoms that connect and enrich our lives.

10 a.m.-6 p.m. | 159 Main St. | Free with library card or $5 at door | 970-243-4442

September 16-17

Passion for Classical

It’s the first Classics Concert of the season by the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra (GJSO) at the Avalon Theatre. Bedrich Smetana’s “The Moldau” takes you on a winding journey through the countryside of Bohemia. The performance closes with Rachmaninoff’s gorgeously lush “Symphony No. 2.”

7:30 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday | 645 Main St. | $17-$50 | gjso.org | 970-243-6787

September 20

Folk Legacy Trio

Head to the Avalon Theatre, where this throwback group will transport you to the era of bell-bottoms and love beads— when the Kingston Trio, Judy Collins and Bob Dylan ruled the airwaves. This is the first of the 2023-24 Community Concerts of the Grand Valley.

7:30 p.m. | 645 Main St. | Season tickets $80-$100, single ticket $35 (if not sold out) | commun ityconcertsgrandvalley.org | 970-263-5757

September 22-23

Fruita Fall Festival

As the leaves change and the air turns crisp, downtown Fruita comes alive at the 108th annual festival with a range of colorful activities and events. Find local vendors, food trucks, live music, handcrafted goods and more.

3-10 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday | Downtown Fruita | Free | fruitachamber.org | 970-858-3894

September 23

National Public Lands Day Celebration

Recognize this special day with biologist Joel Berger at James M. Robb - Colorado River State Park and learn about our backyard neighbor, the bighorn sheep!

7-8:30 p.m. | 595 Highway 340, Fruita | Entrance fee to State Park | coloradocanyonsassociation.org

September 23

FamilySearch Center Grand Reopening

Are you interested in genealogy? Then come to the grand reopening celebration of the FamilySearch Center at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There will be displays, friendly people to answer questions and refreshments.

10 a.m.-3 p.m. | 2881 Orchard Ave. | Free | churchofjesuschrist.org | 808-218-3267

September 23-24

Gem & Mineral Show

Hey, rock hounds, don’t miss one of the largest shows in Western Colorado and Easter Utah at the Mesa County Fairgrounds—and bring the grandkids! There are jewelry, interactive exhibits, fossils and more.

9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday | $4-$5 | 2785 Hwy 50 | grandjunctionrockclub.org/shows

September 30

LOCAL

It features swing music from the ’40s by Swing City Express, along with World War II-era planes, cars, dress and attitude. Tickets may be purchased online.

7-10 p.m. | Grand Junction Regional Airport, Gate 10 | $30-$50 | rockymountainwingcaf.org ■

CLUBS MeSa County

American Association of University Women programs advocate for women and girls.

2nd Saturday | 11:30 a.m. | 970-241-9684

Art Quilt Association meets at Redlands Community Center.

3rd Saturdays | 9:30-11 a.m. | theartquiltassociation.com

Bookcliff Barbershop Chorus welcomes men of all ages to sing at First Baptist Church, 720 Grand Ave. Tuesdays | 7-9 p.m. | 970-257-7664

Bookcliff Duplicate Bridge Club plays at 636 31 Road. Call ahead. Fridays | 12:30 p.m. | 970-244-9989

Chatfield Country Kickers meets for square and round dancing at VFW #3981, 503 Florence Road.

1st & 3rd Saturdays | 7-10 p.m. | 970-434-0868

Chinle Cactus Club meets at Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 536 Ouray Ave.

2nd Thursdays | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | chinlecactusclub.org

Citizens’ Climate Lobby advocates for climate change solutions. 970-250-4832 | grandjunction@ citizensclimatelobby.org

Clifton Book Club discusses book selections at Clifton Library, 590 32 Road.

2nd Tuesday | 10-11 a.m. | mesa countylibraries.org

Colorado Archaeological Society meets monthly. Call for location.

4th Wednesday | 4:30 p.m. | 970-250-7402

Colorado West Quilters’ Guild meets at First Christian Church, 1326 N. 1st St.

2nd Wednesday | 7 p.m. | 970-2452522

Commemorative Air Force, Rocky Mountain Wing, honors military aviation at air shows and its museum at 780 Heritage Way, Gate 10. Call ahead.

2nd Saturday | 10 a.m. | 970-2560693 | rmwcaf.org

Community Bible Study meets at First Presbyterian Church, 3940 27 1/2 Road, starting September 7. Thursdays | 9:30-11:30 a.m. | 303263-4391 | grandjunction.cbsclass. org

Crafting Club meets at Clifton Library, 590 32 Road.

3rd Tuesday | 2-3 p.m. | 970-434-6936

Cribbage Lite plays at IHOP near Mesa Mall, 2420 Hwy 6 & 50. Tuesdays | 5:30 p.m. | 970-201-7823

Daughters of the American Revolution, Mount Garfield Chapter, celebrates patriotism and champions education. Club meets monthly. 970-250-7401

Desert Vista Garden Club is open to all women. Call for location.

1st Wednesday | 1 p.m. | 303-6531941

Embroiderers’ Guild of America, Desert West Chapter, meets at Appleton Christian Church.

1st Tuesdays | 9:30 a.m. | 970-8582002

Explorer’s Bible Study, open to all women, meets at Redlands Community Church, 2327 S. Broadway.

Wednesdays | 9:30-11:15 a.m. | 970-260-0880

Fleet Reserve Association meets at VFW #3981, 503 Florence Road. Former, retired and active sea service, Navy, Marines or Coast Guard welcome.

2nd Wednesday | 1 p.m. | 970-4340868

Friendship Force promotes travel and cultural understanding through home stays. Club meets at New Covenant Baptist Church, 3196 F Road.

3rd Saturday | 2 p.m. | 214-5362250 | ffwcolo.com

Grand Junction Brush & Palette meets at The Art Center, 1803 N. 7th St.

3rd Thursday | 1 p.m. | brushand paletteclub.org

Grand Junction Gem & Mineral Club meets at 2328 Monument Road.

2nd Thursday & 4th Thursday | 7 p.m. | grandjunctionrockclub.org

4th Friday | 9:30 a.m. | sheri@mei. net

Grand Junction Toastmasters promotes communication and leadership skills.

Tuesdays at 6:45 a.m. | Thursdays at 12 p.m. | 970-241-1900

Grand Slam Bridge Club plays at Redlands Community Center. Beginners welcome.

Mondays | 12:15 p.m. | 970-2168807 | sharon7nt@gmail.com

Grand Valley Kennel Club meets at Pawsitive Directions, 571 32 Road, Clifton.

3rd Monday | 6:30 p.m. | grand valleykennelclub.org | 970-256-1938

Grand Valley Pets Alive reduces the homeless population of dogs and cats. Volunteers meet at Church of the Nativity, 2175 Broadway.

3rd Wednesday | 2-3:30 p.m. | 970-462-7554 | grandvalleypets alive.org

Grand Valley Valor Quilters meets at the Eagles Lodge, 1674 Hwy 50.

3rd Monday | 9:30 a.m. | 970-2700804 | valorquilters@gmail.com

Grand Valley Woodcarvers meets at Redlands United Methodist Church, 527 Village Way.

4th Wednesday | 1 p.m. | 970-2458817 or 970-257-1549

Grand Valley Woodturners meets at Redlands United Methodist Church, 527 Village Way.

Grand Junction Modeleers flying club meets at 427 Sherman Drive.

2nd Tuesday | 6 p.m. | gjmodeleers. com

Grand Junction Petroleum & Mining Club meets at Grand Junction Convention Center.

3rd Thursday | 6:30 p.m. | grandjunctionpmc.com

Grand Junction Stamp Club meets at White Star Electric, 803 Winters Ave.

2nd Wednesday | 7 p.m. | 970-9861502

Grand Junction Symphony Guild meets at First Presbyterian Church, 3940 271/2 Road.

2nd Tuesday | 7 p.m. | 970-245-8817 or 970-856-3632

Great Old Broads for Wilderness inspires activism to preserve and protect wilderness and wild lands. 970-986-8129 | marymccutchan4@ gmail.com

Guitar Club meets at First Christian Church, 1326 N. 1st St. Mondays | 6 p.m. | revkevgj@gmail. com | 970-778-5473

Guys’ Giving Club meets at Springhill Suites, 236 Main St. 1st Tuesday in February, May, August, November | 5:15 p.m. | 970-361-7478 or 970-270-6184

Humanists Doing Good focuses on good deeds and establishing com-

munity for the nonreligious. View activities on Facebook or MeetUp.com meetup.com/humanists-doing-good | jessebond008@gmail.com

Kiwanis Club of Grand Junction meets at the Warehouse, 2565 American Way.

Thursdays | 12 p.m. | 970-260-8664

Knights of Columbus #1062 meets at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 230 N. 3rd St.

2nd Thursday | 6:30 p.m. | 970-2706162

Knights of Columbus #13621 meets at Immaculate Heart of Mary, 790 261/2 Road.

1st Tuesday | 7 p.m. | 970-640-3263

Mesa County Genealogical Society meets at various locations. 303-549-4398 | mesacounty genealogy.org

Mesa Fiber Arts Guild meets monthly at First Congregational Church, 1425 N. 5th St. 4th Saturday | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | mesafiberartsguild.org

Military Officers Association of America meets quarterly at DoubleTree by Hilton, 743 Horizon Dr. 970-241-8714

Native American Cultural Program meets at First United Methodist Church, 522 White Ave.

2nd Tuesdays | 3:30 p.m. | 970-4334763

Newcomers Club welcomes locals both old and new with friendship and fun activities at Grand Valley Event Center, 2400 Consistory Ct.

2nd Wednesday | 9:30 a.m. | 419450-9438 | gjnewcomers@gmail. com

Not Going Quietly, a space of empowerment and grace for adults 60+, meets at Koinonia, 730 25 Road.

2nd & 4th Tuesday | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | 970-433-7799 | cslgj.org

Orchard Mesa Lions Club meets at the Eagles Lodge, 1674 Hwy 50. 1st & 3rd Monday | 7 p.m. | 970-208-7228

Questers, Grand Mesa Peaches, hosts speakers on collecting and restoring antiques. 970-256-9580

River City Singles meets at the Moose Lodge, 567 25 1/2 Road, with fun activities for singles over 50. Fridays | 4:30 p.m. | 970-261-2232

Rotary Club of Grand Junction meets at Bookcliff Country Club, 2730 G Road.

Wednesdays | 12-1:15 p.m. | 970-234-5030

SOS: Singles Over 65 is a gender-balanced social club for single seniors! Must join online. meetup.com/singles-over-65

Sunset Slope Quilters meets at American Lutheran Church, 631 261/2 Road.

2nd Wednesday | 9 a.m. | 612-2373491 | sunsetslopequilters.com

Sweet Adelines, Grand Mesa A Capella Chorus, rehearses at Redlands United Methodist Church, 527 Village Way.

Mondays | 6:30-9 p.m. | 970-245-1837 | grandmesaacappella.com

Thunder Mountain Camera Club meets at Western Colorado Community College, Building B. 4th Tuesday | 7 p.m. | thunder mountaincameraclub.org

Two Rivers Cribbage Club meets at Grand Valley Events Center, 2400 Consistory Ct. Thursdays | 6 p.m. | 970-261-1670

Veterans Coffee Club meets at Western Region One Source, 482 28 Road.

Wednesdays | 8:30-10:30 a.m. | 970-257-3760

Church, 1326 N. 1st St.

2nd Saturday | 9:30 a.m. | w0rrz.org

Western Colorado Astronomy Club meets at the Central Library, 443 N. 6th St.

1st Tuesday | 6 p.m. | 970-201-2865 | wcacastronomy.org

Western Colorado Artists Guild meets at First Congregational Church, 1425 N. 5th St. 2nd Saturday | 9 a.m. | 970-640-2751

Western Slope Coin Club meets at VFW #1247, 1404 Ute Ave. 4th Tuesday | 6:30 p.m. | 970-640-3765

Western Slope Model Yacht Club meets at Canyon View Park. Saturdays (April-October) | 10 a.m. | 303-503-3978

Veterans of Foreign Wars #1247 Auxiliary meets at 1404 Ute Ave. 3rd Sunday | 2 p.m. | 970-242-9940

Veterans of Foreign Wars #3981 meets at 503 Florence Road. 1st Wednesday | 5:30 p.m. | 970-778-8242

Women’s Giving Club meets at Springhill Suites, 236 Main St. 1st Monday in February, May, August, November | 5:15 p.m. | 970-260-6140

Western Colorado Amateur Radio Club meets at First Christian

Western Slope Pickleball Club meets regularly. Call for details. 970-241-8561 | westernslope pickleballclub.com

Wheels West Car Club meets at the Moose Lodge, 567 251/2 Road. 1st Saturday | 9 a.m. | www.wheels westcarclub.org

Writer Chicks Coffee Club, a ladies-only writers club, meets at Main Street Bagels, 559 Main St. Wednesdays | 9-10 a.m. | melody jones@melodyjonesauthor.com ■

Western Slope Concert Series begins 24th season

Entering its 24th season, Western Slope Concert Series invites you to join in its thrilling performances and to become a crucial part of this vibrant concert series. Season tickets are $55, which provides access to four fantastic concerts at Colorado Mesa University, including:

• Sept. 9 - Liriós String Quartet

• Oct. 21 - Concert Pianist Anna Arzumanyan

• Jan. 13 - Reverie Harp Trio

• April 13 - Patterson/Sutton Cello & Guitar Duo

For details, call 970-234-5661 or visit westernslopeconcertseries.org

Mind Springs services agreement with St. Mary’s Mind Springs and Intermountain Health have agreed on a third-party management services contract to

BEACON BITS

Volunteers needed on National Public Lands Day

Every year, volunteers come together around National Public Lands Day to help restore and improve public lands in their backyard. Join Colorado Canyons Association and the Bureau of Land Management from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on September 16 to help restore critical habitat for the threatened Gunnison sage grouse in Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (NCA) and give back to

support West Springs Hospital’s operational oversight in Grand Junction. By pulling together the knowledge, skills and resources of two hospitals, the contract aims to create a more comprehensive and efficient approach to addressing the conditional license requirement for West Springs Hospital by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).

your public land. Volunteers will be using loppers and hand saws to cut down juniper and pinion saplings that would otherwise become perches for predators, scaring away the sage-grouse. The felled trees help retain soil moisture and provide habitat for small animals, improving the landscape for Gunnison sage grouse habitat. Bring food, water, work gloves, eye protection, long pants and

For details, contact Megan Terlecky Fieldler at St. Mary’s Medical Center at megan.terlecky@imail.org or 970-298-2196.

AARP Driver Safety Course in Grand Junction and Fruita

Become a safe and more confident driver, plus save money on insurance after taking the course in Fruita on September 13 and Grand Junction

Grieving the death of your spouse?

Loss of Spouse potlucks are open to all who are looking for connection after experiencing the loss of a spouse or partner. Our potlucks are designed around gathering together and providing comfort through sharing experiences, food and beverages. Plates, napkins and utensils will be provided. Guests are invited to bring an appetizer, main dish, salad, side or dessert to share.

We look forward to welcoming you as we come together in love and support!

WHEN: 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m.

Upcoming Dates: September 20 and October 8

WHERE: Brown's Funeral and Cremation Service

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

Please register by scanning the QR Code, or contact:

Heartlight Center Community Liason

Carrie Bauer at cbauer@heartlightcenter.org or call her at: 720-748-9908

Registration is required in order to ensure there is enough food for all.

close-toe shoes. Tools, orange vests and T-shirts will be provided. Contact Morgan with questions at morgan@canyonsassociation.org or 970-263-7902.

on September 21. Cost is $20 for AARP members and $25 for nonmembers. Registration is required. Call 970-433-0384 to register.

Is curling the new pickleball?

Pickleball may be the most talkedabout sport for the over-50 crowd, but curling can keep you active and provide long-term enjoyment no matter your age or athletic ability.

For just $15, see how fun curling can be from 5-7 p.m. on October 1 at River City Sportplex, 2515 Riverside Pkwy. in Grand Junction. Learn the rules, put them into practice and even play a few ends, then sign up for the league on Sundays, starting October 22. To learn more or to sign up for the league, call Deb Menger at 970-931-2242.

HopeWest recognizes emergency responders for granting patient’s “last wish”

Robert Lesko passed away peacefully during a non-emergent transport to the Ferris Care Center with a team of emergency responders who went above and beyond expectations to grant him one last “wish.” Due to a stroke two years prior, Lesko was nonverbal and unable to communicate if he had any last wishes in the weeks leading to his death. His daughter, Stephanie Tong, observed that “He loved

road trips more than anything.” So when three emergency responders arrived to take Lesko and his wife, Queen, from their home to the HopeWest Ferris Care Center for additional treatment, Tong asked the driver if he would take an extra five minutes to travel down a country road, allowing her dad one last road trip. To his family’s surprise, the team of responders not only took additional time to drive Lesko through the countryside, but they also described to him in detail the sights that they spotted along the way. A few minutes later, Lesko’s heart stopped beating. Tong and her mother were grateful for the emergency responders’ compassion. By taking time to give Lesko one last time to enjoy his favorite pastime, the emergency responders helped to profoundly impact his final journey.

Local author revises acclaimed book for women on the cusp of retirement

Approximately 10,000 women born between 1955 and 1964 are approaching retirement. These women have gained respect and equality, partially due to the work of earlier Boomer women (those born right after the end of World War II), but society still believes older women do not contribute, despite being of the wealthiest segments in the country, said local author Elizabeth Wheeler. There are few resources for these women, Wheeler pointed out, as most retirement books are written by men. That’s why Wheeler updated her book, “Paths - A Primer for Ladies-

of-a-Certain-Age: A Workbook for the Road Ahead.” Wheeler recommends women go through this workbook in a group setting. The book examines the two time periods of the Boomer generation and the significance they played on women’s values and perceptions today. It also includes advice on finding your purpose in life, possibly moving to a new community, as well as health and finances. Wheeler wrote the book after retiring to Grand Junction in 2016. For more information, visit LadiesOfACertainAge.com. The book is also available on Amazon and at Palisade’s Craig Gallery. ■

Carefree inspired living.

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When you choose Hilltop Senior Living Communities, your money stays right here in our community, supporting a nonprofit that has provided Western Colorado with compassionate and comprehensive human services for over 70 years.

INDEPENDENT LIVING | ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE

Tuesdays | 10:30 a.m. |

801-369-8995

SUPPORTCALENDARGROUPS MeSa SUPPORT GROUPS MeSa

County

Montrose & MeDelta Sa County

A Course in Miracles, a spiritual self-study program, meets virtually. Call for Zoom link.

Alzheimer’s Association’s Persons with Dementia group meets virtually. Contact for Zoom link.

2nd Tuesday | 10-11 a.m. |

970-714-2875

Caregiver Support Group meets at Aspen Ridge, 622 28 1/4 Road.

2nd Tuesday | 1:30-3 p.m. |

970-640-7416

Compassionate Friends offers friendship to bereaved families at Messiah Lutheran Church, 840 N. 11th St.

1st Tuesday | 7-8:30 p.m. |

970-434-3822

Dementia Caregiver Support Group meets at the Alzheimer’s Association, 2232 N. 7th St.

4th Wednesday | 1-2 p.m. |

970-714-2875

Dementia Support Group meets

at Aspen Ridge, 622 281/4 Road.

2nd Tuesday | 1:30-3 p.m. | 970-640-7416

Gamblers Anonymous meets at The Meeting Hall.

Tuesdays | 7-8 p.m. | 917-363-3719

Guitars 4 Vets meets at Western Region One Source, 482 28 Road.

Tuesdays | 9:30-11:30 a.m. | 970-257-3760

Head & Neck Cancer Support Group meets at Colorado West Otolaryngologists, 2515 Foresight Circle.

1st Tuesday | 6:30-8 p.m. | 970-245-2400

Healing Hands Hour meets in St. Mary’s Hospital’s Reflection Room.

Thursdays | 12-1 p.m. | 970-298- 2351

Hearing Loss of America meets at Center for Independence, 740 Gunnison Ave.

2nd Saturday | 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | 970-241-0315 ext. 29

HEARTBEAT/Survivors After Suicide meets at First Congregational Church, 1425 N. 5th St.

3rd Tuesday | 7-9 p.m. | 970-778-9274

Leukemia, Lymphoma & Myeloma Support Group meets in St. Mary’s Hospital’s Reflection Room.

3rd Monday | 4-5 p.m. | 970-298-2351

Loss of Spouse Potlucks are open to all who’ve experienced the loss of a spouse/partner. Guests are invited to bring a dish to share in a meal together at Brown’s Funeral & Cremation, 904 N. 7th St. Registration is required to ensure there’s enough food for all.

3rd Wednesday | 6 p.m. | 720-7489908

MACHO Men cancer support group meets at the VA Medical Center, 2121 North Ave.

1st Thursday | 2 p.m. | 970-298-2351

Memory Café, a welcoming place for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia, meets at Cappella, 628 26 1/2 Road.

1st Tuesday | 4:30-6 p.m. | 970-822-7070

Mending Hearts is for any adult who has experienced the death of a loved one. Call for location. Thursdays | 2-3:30 p.m. | 970-257-2390

Mens Health Group for Veterans meets at Western Region One Source, 482 28 Road

1st Mondays | 9:30-11 a.m. | 970- 257-3760

Moms Group for Veterans meets at Western Region One Source, 482 28 Road.

1st and 4th Tuesdays | 1-3 p.m. | 970-257-3760

National Alliance on Mental Illness meets at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1210 17 1/2 Road in Fruita.

4th Tuesday | 6-7:30 p.m. | www. NAMIWS.org | 970-462-3989

Parents of Addicted Loved Ones meets in the downstairs conference room at the Freedom Institute, 930 Main St.

Thursdays | 6:30-8 p.m. | 970-2162232 | tammytway@gmail.com

Overeaters Anonymous for people with compulsive eating and food behaviors, meets at Unity Church, 3205 N. 12th St.

Saturdays | 9-10 a.m. | 970-250-8435

S.M.A.R.T. Addiction Recovery meets via Zoom. Call for details. 801-369-8995 | smartrecovery.org

St. Mary’s Stroke Support Group meets virtually and in person.

3rd Friday | 1-2:30 p.m. |

970-298-1980

Tai Chi for Veterans meets at Western Region One Source, 482 28 Road.

Wednesdays | 1-2 p.m. |

970-257-3760

Thyroid Support Group meets at Grand Valley Wellness, 605 281/4 Road

4th Mondays | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | 970-263-2661

TOPS for weight loss meets at Grace Point Church, 606 28 1/4 Road. Wednesdays | 9 a.m. | 970-523-0241

TOPS 458 for weight loss meets at Community of Christ Church, 2880 B ½ Road.

Tuesdays | 1 p.m. | 970-628-4981 | 970-852-5880

Veteran Spouses Grief and Loss ladies-only meets at Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2830 Riverside Pkwy. Wednesdays | 9-10:30 a.m. | 970-263-8986

Vets 4 Vets meets at Western Region One Source, 482 28 Road. Fridays | 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. |

970-257-3760

Woman to Woman cancer support group meets in St. Mary’s Hospital’s Reflection Room.

3rd Thursday | 4:30-5:30 p.m. | 970-298-2351

Women Veterans Tai Chi meets at Western Region One Source.

Fridays | 9:30-11:30 a.m. | 970-257-3760 ■

FUN AFTER 50 Senior Center Activities

FUN AFTER 50 Senior Center Activities

Senior Recreation Center activities

550 Ouray Ave., Grand Junct. 970-243-7408

Registration is required for all activities. To register for programs, call 970-858-0360 or visit Fruita.org/parksrec/page/seniors

Games with Grandparents

Celebrate National Grandparents Month by playing board games with your grandkids in the FCC meeting rooms. Register at events.aarp.org/ROAPGame Fruita

3:30-5:30 p.m. | Sept. 9 |

Free

FOOD

Meals on Wheels

Adults 60+ can enjoy a quality nutritious meal in the Cherry Room. Call 970298-9844 to reserve your meal by 4 p.m. the previous business day. No walk-ins.

12 p.m. | Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays

Senior Potluck

Bring a shareable dish to accompany the main course or pay just $3! RSVP by noon the Monday before.

12 p.m. | Sept. 14 & 28 | $3 if no dish

Food for Thought

Bring your favorite summer harvesT recipe to share.

1 p.m. | Sept. 25 | Free

Taco Social Feast on tacos while watching a movie.

4-7 p.m. | Sept. 29

HIKES & TRIPS

Meeker Sheep Dog Trials

Spend the day in Meeker watching one of the

country’s most challenging sheepdog trials. Golf cartlike shuttles are available from the parking lot to the viewing stands but may be limited. Bring your own chair and money for food and snacks. Register by September 1. 8 a.m. | Sept. 8 | $85

Lower Valley History Room Tour

Meet at the Senior Center and walk to the Fruita Civic Center where the Lower Valley History Museum is located. Bring a topic to research (some suggestions: Beard Family Sheep Ranch, Civilian Conservation Corp or Mike the Headless Chicken). If you are a long time Fruita resident, you may even find records of your own family!

1 p.m. | Sept. 12 | Free

Hole in The Rock Trip

Take a guided tour of a home that was carved out of a huge rock near Utah’s Canyonlands, then go to a petting zoo and trading post with locally made native American pottery and jewelry. Bring money to purchase souvenirs. Register by September 6.

9 a.m. | Sept. 13 | $85

GAMES

Play Scrabble, pinochle, board games and more all month long at the Senior Center.

To register for these programs, call the Grand Junction Parks and Recreation Department at 970-254-3866 or visit GJParksAndRec.org

SPECIAL EVENTS

Take Part in Art

Explore local creative arts and culture organizations while enjoying live performances and art demonstrations.

10 a.m.-12 p.m. | September 9 | Rocket Park | Free Theatre in the Park

See Geek Parties of the Grand Valley’s adaptation of “Queen Lear.” Bring a blanket or low-back chair.

3-5 p.m. | September 16 | Lincoln Park | Free

Hispanic Heritage Celebration

Celebrate the vibrancy of Hispanic culture with vendors, a muralist with on-site painting, live music, dancing, food and more!

4-9 p.m. | September 23 | Las Colonias | Free

FITNESS

10-punch passes are $60 and interchangeable for Gentle Yoga, Tai Chi or Yoga in the Park.

Latin Salsa Dance (English & Español)

This class will build upon skills throughout the month-long sessions.

6-7 p.m. | Tuesdays & Thursdays | Lincoln Park Barn | $6 (discounted fee for session)

Gentle Yoga

Develop flexibility of mind and body in a fun, supportive environment.

8-9 a.m. | Tuesdays & Fridays | Lincoln Park Barn | $8

Yoga in the Park

This low-impact yoga class allows you to improve flexibility, balance and strength. Bring a mat.

10-11 a.m. | 2nd, 3rd, 4th Wednesdays | Rocket Park | $8

Tai Chi

Slow movements, breath control and relaxation techniques help reduce stress and anxiety.

8:30-9:30 a.m. Wednesdays | 9-10 a.m. Thursdays | Lincoln Park Barn | $8

SPLASH Aqua Aerobics

Moderate intensity activities incorporate pool noodles, hand paddles and water weights.

8:30-9:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday |

5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday & Thursday | Orchard Mesa Pool | $5

Open to adults 50 and older 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

MONDAY

TUESDAY 8:00 a.m. Pinochle (DD) 9:00 a.m. Pool Tournament & Games 11:00 a.m. Darts 1:30 p.m. Bingo

WEDNESDAY

9:00 a.m. Games

9:30 a.m. Pool 1:00 p.m. Pinochle Call 970-243-7408 before 9 a.m. to play Pinochle

THURSDAY

a.m. Craft Share

FRIDAY 9:00 a.m. Pool Tournament & Games 12:00 p.m. Canasta 12:45 p.m. Bridge

SATURDAY 9:00 a.m. Games 10:00 a.m. Tai Chi 1:00 p.m. Bingo

The Fruita Community Center will be closed for maintenance September 18-24.

September 4 & 23

True Grit Walking Tour

Re-live the days when Ridgway was transformed into Fort Smith, Arkansas and John Wayne, Henry Hathaway, Robert Duval and Glen Campbell came for the filming of “True Grit.” A guide will escort you to downtown filming locations and share insights about Ridgway’s film history and little known facts and anecdotes about the Duke.

11 a.m. Sept. 4, 12 p.m. & 2 p.m. Sept. 23 | Hartwell Park Gazebo, Ridgway | Free | 469-682-9710

September 9

Pops in the Park

Start at the Montrose Rotary Amphitheater for a journey across the country’s rich heritage of culture and music, “From Sea to Shining Sea.” The Montrose Community Band opens, followed by the Valley Symphony Association at 7 p.m. Round up your friends, bring a chair, sample from the food trucks and enjoy the great outdoors.

6-8 p.m. | Shanes Way, Montrose | Free | valleysymphony.net | 970-765-8321

September 9

Party in the Park

Cedaredge’s Town Park is the place to be for this annual musical get-together! Groovy band C-Los Belos, featuring local husband-wife team DEan and Elizabeth Bonzani, performs. Wear comfy shoes for dancing, or let your tootsies enjoy the plush lawn!

5:30-7:30 p.m. | 350 SW 2nd Ave., Cedaredge | Free | deanbonzani. com

September 9

Dinner & Square Dance

Delta and Montrose’s mayors will sign a proclamation declaring September as Square Dance Month at the Circle 3 Cowboy Fellowship, followed by stick horse races with trophies and prizes for the kids and a demonstration of square dancing on horseback. Enjoy a spaghetti dinner at 5:30 p.m., then swing your partner at the Black Canyon Twirlers 64th Anniversary Dance.

4-9 p.m. | 62885 Lasalle Road, Montrose | $8 for dancers, free for spectators | 970-874-2199

September 10

Lírios String Quartet

Luxuriate in the rich sound as Lírios, the resident string quartet at CU Boulder, fills the Montrose Pavilion auditorium with captivating classical music: the timeless brilliance of Beethoven, the evocative charm of Debussy and the groundbreaking compositions of contemporary artist Gabriella Lena Frank.

3-5 p.m. | 1800 Pavilion Drive | $17 | westernslopeconcertseries.org

September 11

Western History: Bachelor Syracuse Mine

Learn about the gold mine that saved Ouray with this powerpoint presentation at the Golden Circle Senior Center. Historic photographs, maps, geological surveys and fascinating tidbits from Ouray’s old newspapers will tell the tale. Jane Bennett’s book, “Tales of the Bachelor Mine,” will be for sale.

1 p.m. | 1800 Pavilion Drive, Montrose | Free | 970-252-4884

September 11

Pysanky Egg Decorating

Discover the age-old art of Pysanky and learn the traditional Ukrainian technique of decorating eggs with vibrant colors and intricate designs at Weehawken Creative Arts. Pysanky artist Marilyn will guide you through the process of completing 1-2 designs, revealing the secrets of wax-resist and dyeing methods. All materials provided.

6-9 p.m. | 145 N Cora St, Ridgway | $70 | weehawkenarts.org | 970-318-0150

September 14

Montrose-Delta BeaconFest

September 15

Car Show & Delta Cruise Night

Bring your family and friends and watch over 100 classic cars cruise up and down Main Street in Delta. There will be activities, live music, street dancing, food trucks, a beer and wine garden, prizes (including a Go-Kart prize for the kids’ coloring contest) and so much more!

5 p.m. | Main Street, Delta | Free | cityofdelta.net | 970-874-7973

September 15-17

Telluride Blues and Brews Festival

Take a road trip to this scenic music festival offering live blues, funk, indie, rock, jam-band, gospel and soul. Enjoy late-night shows, local food and craft brews, yoga, craft vendors and outdoor activities. See website for times.

500 E. Colorado Ave., Telluride | $35-$115 | tellurideblues.com | 970-318-0892

September 16-17

Colorado Tribute to Aviation

Montrose and Delta County’s largest and funnest annual celebration for seniors, baby boomers and their families features live music, food samples, educational seminars and prize giveaways every half hour. Treat yourself to a fun-filled day of learning and entertainment at the Montrose Pavilion—all for free!

9 a.m.-2 p.m. | 1800 Pavilion Drive, Montrose | Free | beaconfest.beaconseniornews.com | 970-243-8829

Keep your eyes on the skies! Aircraft from around the country will land at Montrose Regional Airport with a great static display of military, vintage and general aviation aircraft. Tour the aircraft and interact with pilots and crews. Enjoy food trucks and kids’ activities.

All day | 2100 Airport Road, Montrose | tributetoaviation.com | 970-249-3203

September 22

in Paonia! Enjoy the free live music, browse local arts and crafts and participate in a chili cookoff, farm tours, a pub crawl and more.

Downtown Paonia | Free | mount ainharvestfestival.org

September 23

Culture Fest

Learn about the diverse cultures that make up the community at the Ute Indian Museum in Montrose. You’ll find food, art, music, dance performances and more!

10 a.m.-4 p.m. | 17253 Chipeta Road, Montrose | Free | historycolorado. org/ute-indian-museum | 970-249-4115

September 23

Seed Saving 101

The MAGIC of Live Theatre SINCE 1959

Montrose Car Show

Calling all car enthusiasts!Culver’s has more than delicious frozen custard. Their parking lot will feature classic cars, hot rods and show-stoppers, and the air will be filled with killer Southern rock tunes from Neon Sky Band. Please park in the Target parking lot next door.

4-7 p.m. | 3481 Wolverine Drive, Montrose | Free | 970-208-7134

September 22

Folk Legacy Trio

Head to Delta Performing Arts Center, where this throwback group will transport you to the era of bell-bottoms and love beads–when the Kingston Trio, Judy Collins and Bob Dylan ruled the airwaves. This is the first of the 2023-24 Delta-Montrose Community Concert Association. 7 p.m. | 822 Grand Ave., Delta | Season tickets $55, single ticket $25 (if not sold out) | deltamontrose concerts.com | 970-249-4308

September 22-24

Mountain Harvest Festival

It’s small-town Americanaat its best for this annual celebration of local music, art, farms, food and spirits

Gardeners, learn to save money and encourage diversity. Elizabeth Buckingham tells you the what, why and how of saving seeds at the Cedaredge Library. It’s easier than you might think! You’ll learn more about your garden, plants and the natural world, as well as how to be part of the Delta County Seed Library. Please register.

10:30 a.m. | 180 SW 6th Ave., Cedaredge | Free | deltalibraries.org | 970-399-7674

September 30

Black Canyon Triathlon

Runners, take your mark! This 22nd annual sprint-distance-triathlon at the Montrose Recreation Center attracts around 200 athletes and their families to Montrose. There are individual age divisions, plus adult, family and youth teams. The proceeds benefit community groups. See the website for entry fees.

8 a.m.-1 p.m. | 16350 Woodgate Road, Montrose | bctri.com

| blackcanyontri@ yahoo.com ■

COME Pl a y Play WITH US

Alpine Photography Club meets in Class 100 at Colorado Mesa University, 245 S. Cascade, Montrose.

2nd Tuesday | 7-9 p.m. | apcmontroseco@gmail.com

Black Canyon Barbershop Chorus welcomes men of all ages to sing at Olathe United Methodist Church, 518 Hersum Ave.

Thursdays | 7-8:30 p.m. | 970-2101793

Black Canyon Woodcarvers meets at Montrose Senior Center, 1800 Pavilion Dr.

Thursdays | 1-3 p.m. | 970-323-5860

Citizen’s Climate Lobby advocates for climate change solutions and meets at Montrose Regional Library. 970-765-9095 | chapmanjanet@ yahoo.com

Crafternoon members knit and crochet projects at Montrose Regional Library to donate to charities. Thursdays | 11 a.m-1 p.m. | 970-249-9656

Crafty Chatty members work on craft projects at the Montrose Senior Center, 1800 Pavilion Dr. Bring your own materials.

Tuesdays | 9:45-11:30 a.m. | 970-249-7198

Columbine Quilters gather monthly at 4 Hilcrest Plaza Way, Montrose. 1st Saturday | 9 a.m. | 970-4623849 | paulalakecity@gmail.com

Delta Hub-Wheelers Square Dance Club seeks new dancers! 970-773-4495 | deltawriter47@ gmail.com

Digging Your Roots Genealogy Group meets at Cedaredge Library, 180 SW 6th Ave.

Last Friday | 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. | 970-399-7674 | deltalibraries.org

Friendship Quilters meets at Montrose County Events Center, 1036 N. 7th St.

4th Thursday | 9 a.m. | 970-4174842

Fore-Kin Trails Genealogical Society can help you research your family history at the Montrose Genealogy Center, 700 E. Main.

Wednesdays & Thursdays | 1-4 p.m.

| 970-240-1755

Gold Prospectors of America meets at Olathe Community Center, 115 Main St.

3rd Thursday | 7 p.m. | 970-5969184 | wcgpaa.org

Golden Circle of Friends meets at Montrose Senior Center, 1800 Pavilion Dr. Bring lunch and socialize.

Tuesdays & Fridays | 12 p.m. | 970-252-4888

Montrose Area Woodturners meets at 17800 6400 Road.

2nd Saturday | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | 970209-0981 | aheadaviation@outlook. com

Montrose Amateur Radio Club meets at Olathe Community Center.

3rd Friday | 7 p.m. | 970-417-6142

Montrose Historical Society meets at Montrose Events Center, 1036 N. 7th St.

1st Wednesday | 7 p.m. | 970-2492085 | montrosehistory.org

Montrose Elks hosts Bingo at the Elks Lodge, 801 S. Hillcrest Dr. Tuesdays | 6:30 p.m. | 970-249-4852

Montrose Library Book Club meets in the library’s meeting room, 320 S. 2nd St.

1st Saturday | 9-10 a.m. | 970-2499656 | lmclean@montroselibrary.org

Montrose Model Aircraft Association fly remote-control planes every weekend. Beginners welcome. mmaa-modelairplanes.org | 970-7650599 | mmaaflyer@gmail.com

Montrose Newcomers & Neighbors meets at the Montrose Pavilion Senior Center, 1800 Pavilion Dr., September through May.

1st Wednesdays | 10 a.m. | bethcav25@gmail.com

Montrose Pavilion Dance Club hosts dances at the Montrose Pavilion. All ages welcome.

2nd & 4th Saturdays | 7:30-10:30 p.m. | $10 | sanjuandanceclub@ gmail.com

Montrose Woman’s Club meets at Lions Park Clubhouse, 602 N. Nevada Ave., August-May. Bring lunch.

3rd Mondays | 11:30 a.m. | 970-9018743

SUPPORT GROUPS

HopeWest Bereavement Book Club members heal through discussions about death and grief from various literature at Delta Library, 211 W. 6th St.

3rd Thursday | 2-4 p.m. | 970-8749630 | deltalibraries.org

Caregivers Support Group meets at Montrose United Methodist Church, 19 S. Park Ave.

2nd & 4th Mondays | 1-2 p.m. | 970-240-3714

Caregiver Support Group

Montrose meets at US Bank.

1 & 3 p.m. | 2nd & 4th Tuesdays | 970-275-2138

Caregiver Support Group Delta meets at Delta County Memorial Hospital, meeting room A.

1 p.m. | 1st & 3rd Fridays | 970275-2138

Caregiver Support Group Virtual meets on Zoom. For link, contact Laird@Family-Caregiver.org.

10:30-11:30 a.m. | 2nd & 4th Fridays | 970-275-2138

COVID-19 Grief Group meets at Touch of Care, 1100 E. Main St., Montrose. 2nd & Last Tuesday | 12 p.m. | 970-787-9988

Dementia Caregivers Delta meets at Crossroads Senior Living, 1380 Aspen Way. Thursdays | 1:30-3 p.m. | 970-5100724

Morningstar Therapy Dogs is a non-profit club promoting therapy dog programs and visits in Montrose. 2nd Tuesday | 6 p.m. | 970-5969343 | morningstartherapydogs. weebly.com

SOS: Singles Over 65 is a gender-balanced club for single seniors! Must join online. meetup.com/montrose-singlesover-65

Uncompahgre Treasure Club

Dementia Caregivers Cedareddge meets at Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center, 195 W. Main St. 1st & 3rd Wednesdays | 1:30-3 p.m. | 970-510-0724

Dementia Caregivers Hotchkiss meets at Town Hall, 276 Main St. 2nd & 4th Wednesday | 1:30-3 p.m. | 970-510-0724

Delta Diabetes Support Group meets at Grand Mesa Oncology’s Crag Crest room, 1501 E. 3rd St. 2nd Tuesdays | 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Essential Tremor Support Group meets bimonthly at Montrose Regional Health’s conference room, 800 S. 3rd St. Call 405-205-9397

GriefShare is a safe place where people understand the difficult emotions of grief in this 13-week group that starts August 1 at Rosemont Baptist Church, 1598 E. Niagara Road, Montrose.

Tuesdays | 6-8 p.m. | 970-2494887

Parkinson’s Support Group meets at Montrose Regional Health, 800 S. 3rd St.

Last Monday | 1-2:30 p.m. | 970252-2996

Stroke Support Group meets at Warrior Resource Center, 4 Hillcrest Plaza Way, Montrose.

1 p.m. | 2nd & 4th Thursdays | 970-765-2210

meets at Lions Park Clubhouse in Montrose, 602 N. Nevada.

7 p.m. | 2nd Monday | 970-258-1955 | uncompahgretreasureclub.com

Veterans Coffee Cedaredge meets at The Pondy, 220 W. Main St. 3rd Tuesday | 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Veterans Coffee Montrose meets at the Warrior Resource Center, 4 Hillcrest Plaza Way.

Thursdays | 8-10 a.m. | 970-7562210 | whafv.orgv ■

FUN AFTER 50 Senior Center Activities

Ridgway’s film history along with anecdotes about the Duke. Bring money for lunch and shopping.

11:15 a.m. | Sept. 1 | $31

Bird Banding

To register for programs, call 970-252-4884 or visit MontroseRec.com

EDUCATION

Presentations are free. Call to reserve a seat.

My Neighbor’s Voice Life Coach Corinna Stoeffl introduces a fun way to practice the art of listening with a game. This game will be available at the Senior Center after this introduction.

1 p.m. | Sept. 6

Free Chautauqua Performance

History comes alive when Katie Knutson comes to the Senior Center as Rachel Carson, an American biologist known for her writings on environmental issues.

1 p.m. | Sept. 7

Ouray’s Goldfields & The Bachelor Syracuse Mine

Kate Burke’s history series burrows into Ouray’s gold mining history with tales of the men, mules, madams and mines.

1 p.m. | Sept. 11

Premier World Discovery Tours: Greece & NYC

Learn about trips to Athens, Santorini and Mykonos, and holiday adventures in New York City.

1 p.m. | Sept. 25

TRIPS & TOURS

Most trips meet at the Senior Center. Get on the waiting list if a tour is full in case another is scheduled.

True Grit Walking Tour & Shopping

Re-live the exciting days in 1968 when Ridgway was transformed into Fort Smith, Arkansas, and John Wayne came to town. This guided tour takes you to downtown filming locations and shares insights into

Learn about birds, their habitat and migration patterns through the bird banding program at Ridgway State Park. Bring money for breakfast.

6:15 a.m. | Sept. 7 | $21

Walk and Dinner in Montrose

Socialize and meet new friends while taking a leisurely stroll in Montrose (2 miles or less) and meeting for dinner (bring money). If the walk isn’t for you, you can just meet us at Pomona Brewing for dinner.

4:30 p.m. | Sept. 14 | $5

Local Business Tours

TEI Rock Drills is the leading manufacturer of excavator drill attachments, rock drill components and limited access drill rigs. Wild Horse Wine and Whiskey is an upscale saloon featuring wines and whiskeys that are primarily sourced from Colorado businesses. Bring money for an optional lunch.

9:30 a.m. | Sept. 12 | $21

Hike: Rim View Trail

This moderate four-mile roundtrip hike takes you through forest and meadows to the rim of Grand Mesa with views of Mesa Creek. Bring a sack lunch.

7:45 a.m. | Sept. 28 | $21

FITNESS

Tai Chi for Health & Energy

Tai Chi brings peace to the body, using controlled movements, weight transference, mental resistance and quietness of mind.

10-10:30 a.m. | Mondays | Donation

ART & MUSIC

Open Line Dancing

Learn steps with formal instruction.

3:30-4:30 p.m. (beginners), 4:30-

5:45 p.m. (improvers) | Mondays | $2

To register for programs, call 970-874-0923 or visit CityofDelta.net/parksrecgolf

GAMES

Pinochle

12:30-3:30 p.m. | Tuesdays | $15

Tuesday Needlers

10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Tuesdays

FITNESS

Dance Fit

Burn energy, shake stress and show off your dance moves!

4:30 p.m. | Thursdays

Pilates

Low-impact movements that improve flexibility, muscular strength and endurance.

12 p.m. Mondays | 9 a.m. Fridays

Senior Circuit

Circuit training for seniors with flexibility exercises.

9 a.m. | Monday through Friday

Yoga Fusion

This vinyasa-style class blends yoga, Pilates and barre.

4:30 p.m. | Wednesdays

Healthy Body Strong Bones

Use simple hand weights to help increase flexibility, balance and bone strength.

9 a.m. | Tuesdays & Thursdays

Silver Sneakers Classic

Strengthen muscles and increase range of movement.

10 a.m. | Tuesdays & Thursdays

Body Blitz

Cross-train with this quick-paced muscle conditioning class.

9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays | 9 a.m. Thursdays

Body Bar

Get an entire body workout using a weighted fitness bar.

6 a.m. | Wednesdays

POOL FITNESS

Aqua Movers

Jump start your week with a mid- to high-intensity cardio and strength training water class.

5:30 p.m. | Thursdays

Pool Power

Workout in shallow water to focus and tone problem areas.

9:30 a.m. | Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

Body & Health

Enjoy a combination of aerobic and full-body workout in the pool.

10:30 a.m. | Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

Light-n-Lively

Build endurance and strength, designed for beginners.

10 a.m. | Tuesdays and Thursdays

Full Body Cardio

A full-body workout with water jogging, river running, jumping jacks and lunges.

5:30 p.m. | Tuesdays

Silver Sneakers Splash

A fun shallow-water exercise class that uses a signature splash-board to increase movement. Suitable for non-swimmers.

8:30 a.m. | Mondays & Wednesdays

BEACON BITS

Free Caregiver Summit aims to ease “the hardest job”

The Caregivers Support Foundation, a Montrose-based non-profit whose mission is to improve the lives of caregivers, and the Region 10 Area Agency for Aging are teaming up to provide the Family Caregiver Summit from 1-4:30 p.m. on October 6 at the Montrose Pavilion. The summit will be a safe haven for caregivers and their loved ones who are able to attend, and will offer a slate of speakers, including Region 10 Ombudsman Sandy Walker, Montrose physician Dr. Michael Hehmann and Caregiver Support Foundation Chair Laird Landon. The summit will also include a number of vendors and caregiver support professionals who will answer questions and direct caregivers in their journey. The event is free and open to anyone, but registration is recommended at region10.net. If you would like to contact the Caregiver Support Foundation, visit family-caregiver.org, or contact laird@family-caregiver.org or call 970-787-2343. For more information on Region 10 Area Agency on Aging, visit region10.net or call 970-249-2436.

Western Slope Concert Series begins 24th season

Entering its 24th season, Western Slope Concert Series invites you to join in its thrilling performances and to become a crucial part of this vibrant concert series that creates unforgettable experiences for music lovers throughout the Western Slope. Season tickets are $55, which provides access to four fantastic concerts at the Montrose Pavilion, including:

• September 10 at 3 p.m.Liriós String Quartet

• October 22 at 3 p.m.Concert Pianist Anna Arzumanyan

• January 14 at 3 p.m.Reverie Harp Trio

• April 14 at 3 p.m.Patterson/Sutton Cello & Guitar Duo

For more information, call 970-2345661 or visit westernslope concertseries.org.

Black Canyon and Curecanti seek public comment on proposed fee changes

The National Park Service is seeking the public’s comment on changes to campground and boating fee increases under consideration for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti

National Recreation Area. The proposed changes would take effect in January 2024. The proposed pricing structure would bring the parks into closer alignment with nearby and comparable campground and boating services. The increased fees would provide additional revenue to fund operations and deferred maintenance projects. Comments regarding these fee-increase proposals may be submitted electronically at parkplanning.nps.

gov/BLCACUREFEES2023 through September 16. Written comments may be sent to: Superintendent, Curecanti National Recreation Area, 102 Elk Creek, Gunnison, CO 81230.

Delta County Jail's JBBS Program leads the way in mental health support

Delta County Jail's Jail Based Behavior Services (JBBS) program has achieved national recognition for its pioneering role in providing comprehensive mental health support to incarcerated individuals. The JBBS program offers a broad spectrum of services as outlined in the JBBS grant. These services encompass medication-assisted therapy (MAT), in-custody counseling, case management, Medicaid navigation and collaboration with

parole and probation departments. Additionally, the program manages referrals to rehabilitation facilities across the state. JBBS's approach to care extends beyond the jail's walls, creating a comprehensive and person-centered assistance framework for individuals grappling with competency issues. JBBS's strategic approach has positioned it as a leading model for mental health support and harm reduction initiatives within correctional facilities. The program's efforts have been nationally recognized and further boosted by an $86,000 federal grant to establish and operate a MAT program within the jail. This initiative aligns with Colorado's new Harm Reduction Movement, further demonstrating Delta Jail's commitment to innovation and the welfare of those in custody. ■

OF THE

Compiled by Linda Munson-Haley

What’s your favorite saying or expression?

“Life

Susan Ducept

John

Kaser

“One thing at a time—I worked with a fellow who was from New Orleans and that was his favorite expression. I thought, you know, there’s some wisdom in that. It helps you focus.”

Bill

Ball

“Where

“Slipperier than owl poop— I like it because in the wintertime in Colorado everything is slippery from being frozen. And, there are people out there who are really slippery, and they are slipperier than owl poop.”

Marcia Coman

“Just pull up your socks and get going—My mother always told us that when things were tough, we should just pull up our socks and get going. I have used that saying with my children and they use it with their children. It’s a good one!”

48. Questionable 49. Bruin legend Bobby 50. Size up

53. Inflammation of bone

58. Henry VIII’s last wife

12. Able was ___...

13. ___ were (so

CLASSES

FREE WOMEN’S SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTION. Because “NO MEANS NO!” Simple and effective methods to escape assault taught by a nationally certified black belt instructor with 4 decades of experience. Call Bob (no texts please) 970-261-2445. Leave your name and number and I’ll return your call.

FOR SALE

Use ItchNoMore® shampoo for heat relief on dogs, cats & horses. Promote healing, stop scratching without steroids!!! At Tractor Supply® (www.happyjackinc.com)

RETIRING: Selling doll molds and all supplies. Would take down payment and payment plan. 970-778-8075.

FOR RENT

Redlands Duplex. Perfect for senior lady! Sunny, large 2BD 1BA 1 car garage, W/D hookup, beautiful yard, lawn maintenance included, monument views in quiet, mostly senior neighborhood. Small pet? 1 year. 970-241-4129.

HOME SERVICES

10 ACRES HANDYMAN SERVICES

Home Improvements, Remodeling, Fencing, Flooring, Carpentry, Hauling, Land Clearing, Painting, Landscaping, and Much More! Licensed & Insured. Senior Discounts Available. 970-3125650

HOME SERVICES

ABSTRACT WINDOWS LLC, 970-3124717 Need your windows cleaned? give us a call or text. Residential and Commercial Window Cleaning. Serving Mesa County. Quality Work. Reasonable Rates. Free Estimates. Licensed and Insured. Senior and Veteran Discounts Available

THE CLEANING LADY, LLC. Let’s clean out the clutter! Competitive rates on downsizing, reorganizing & cleaning—weekly, biweekly, monthly or just once. Airbnb’s, RV, and moveout cleaning also! Linda K. 720-8417505 or 970-263-7364.

KETTLE ELECTRIC New construction, remodeling, inspections, and troubleshooting. Reasonable prices. 970-241-4825.

REAL ESTATE

POWDERHORN. 3-bedroom timeshare for sale. Floating week. 2023 fees paid. 970-462-1979.

We buy houses, any condition, any situation. 970-316-2488.

SERVICES

Carpet • Hardwood Floors

Tile & Grout • Linoleum Upholstery • Area Rugs Auto, Boat & RV

Proudly Serving Mesa, Delta, Montrose, and Garfield Counties Since 2003

970-523-1800

www.StanleySteemer.com

SENIOR BEAUTY SPECIAL. First-time clients receive $10 off single service, $15 off cut and color packages. Regan’s Regal Beauty, 2500 North Ave., #2, Grand Junction. Call Regan to schedule: 719-425-0543

SERVICES

Puzzle

Shampoo Sets, Blow Drys, Hair Cuts

Great Prices on Perms Senior Discounts

970-778-8075

ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES INC. Your needs Delivered. Join the many other Grand Junction area business owners who are utilizing our efficient restocking services. Rags, floor care, hand care, packing material, paper products, respiratory, gloves, eye protection, ear protections, and head gear, restocking all bathroom needs. Most everything you need for safety, cleaning and bathroom. Bi-weekly or Monthly restocking 970-434-9440

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Medical Marijuana Doctor Days in Montrose and Grand Junction. Got pain? Find out if medical marijuana is right for you. Doctor evaluation and education on cannabis use in a professional HIPAA-compliant setting. Call for appointment times and days. 720-443-2420 or visit www. healthychoicesunltd.com.

MESA COUNTY

ADRC - SOS: Provide rides to homebound seniors. Apply at htop.org/ volunteer or call 970-248-2746.

A Little Help: Help older adults with home projects. Apply at alittlehelp. org/volunteering; call 970-404-1923.

Ariel Clinical Services: Be a host home for adults with intellectual disabilities. Call 970-245-1616.

Community Hospital: Support the hospital in varying positions. Contact codell@gjhosp.org or 970-644-3541.

Food Bank of the Rockies has volunteer shifts available. Contact foodbankrockies.org/westernslope-volunteer or 970-464-1138.

Grand Junction Visitor Center: Welcome guests to the Grand Junction area. Contact matthewh@gjcity.org or 970-256-4054.

Hilltop’s Senior Life Options: Help enrich the lives of senior residents. Apply at htop.org/volunteer or call 970-244-0659.

Lower Valley Heritage Room: Help preserve Fruita history. Call 970-8583868.

Master Gardeners: Teach landscape and gardening at CSU Extension. Apply at tra.extension.colostate.edu or call 970-244-1834.

Meals on Wheels: Deliver lunch to homebound seniors or serve lunch at local dining sites. Call 970-298-9844.

Mesa County RSVP connects individuals 55+ to volunteer positions in its member agencies. View available positions and apply at mesacountyrsvp. org or call 970-243-9839.

Operation Interdependence: Hand write notes for deployed U.S. military men and women. Contact carley@ oidelivers.org or 970-523-4217.

Palisade Historical Society: Share Palisade history and work on committees. Call 970-464-2177.

Roice-Hurst Humane Society: Walk dogs, socialize cats, transport pets, help with events and more. Apply at rhhumanesociety.org/volunteer.

MONTROSE/DELTA

Montrose Library: Sort donated books and run book sales. Apply at montroselibrary.org/support-mrld or call 970-249-9656.

Golden Circle Seniors: Help seniors at the Montrose Senior Center. Call 970-252-4888.

Morningstar Therapy Dogs: Registered dog handlers and their pets visit nursing and retirement homes, hospitals and schools. Call 970-5969343 to learn more.

Museum of the Mountain West: Tour guides bring the past to life for visitors. Contact 970-240-3400.

Region 10 - RSVP connects individuals age 55 and older to volunteer positions in Delta and Montrose counties. Contact jwalker@region10. net or 970-765-3147.

Region 10 - SHIP Help other seniors navigate Medicare. Training provided. Contact jwalker@region10.net or 970-765-3147.

Senior CommUnity Meals: Help sort and deliver meals to homebound seniors. Call 970-874-7661.

Sharing Ministries Food Bank: Greet clients, pick up/drop off food, stock shelves and help in the office and at events. Apply at sharingministries. com/help/volunteer or 970-240-8385.

Time Bank of the Rockies helps people through a system of exchanged services. Apply at timebankofthe rockies.com/membership.html or call 970-209-6886.

Valley Symphony Association: Support local musicians who bring classical music to life. Contact info@ valleysymphony.net or 970-765-8323.

Welcome Home Alliance: Support local veterans. See current needs at whafv.org/volunteer.html or call 970765-2210.

Medicaid enrollment is set to plummet

Here’s what beneficiaries need to know

By Janet Trautwein

Millionsof Americans will soon lose Medicaid coverage, as some pandemic-era provisions that kept people continuously enrolled in the program expire.

But those who find themselves newly ineligible for Medicaid have plenty of other options for affordable coverage. Licensed, professional agents and brokers can ensure they secure health plans that meet their needs and budget.

The looming exodus from Medicaid is a product of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which Congress passed in March 2020. It offered additional federal funding for Medicaid as long as states did not disenroll anyone from the program for the duration of the public

health emergency.

This continuous coverage provision and the enhanced federal funding swelled Medicaid’s rolls.

Total enrollment in December 2022 was 85 million—up from approximately 64 million in February 2020.

This past December, Congress gave states the green light to review the eligibility status of people enrolled in their Medicaid programs beginning in April. States have 12 months to return to pre-pandemic eligibility and enrollment rules.

The federal government will gradually scale back the extra Medicaid dollars it has been sending to the states until that enhanced match disappears entirely at the end of this year.

As a result, millions of people may

have to find new health plans. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that up to 15 million people may lose Medicaid and CHIP coverage. About 45% of this group will likely remain eligible for Medicaid. They’ll just need to reconfirm their eligibility for the program with their state Medicaid agency.

Many beneficiaries are unaware of this requirement. They may ignore phone calls or letters from the state seeking to verify their eligibility. Or they may have moved and neglected to update their address. In the end, they can be purged from Medicaid without knowing.

About 8.2 million Medicaid enrollees will need to find replacement coverage. HHS projects that about 5 million will migrate from Medicaid to employer-sponsored insurance.

Another 2.7 million will likely be able to get subsidized coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges. More than 60% of that group, HHS estimates, could qualify

for zero-premium plans.

Of course, it can be difficult to wade through all the insurance options on the exchanges, or to figure out how to confirm eligibility for Medicaid. Licensed, professional agents and brokers can help these millions of folks weigh their health insurance options. They have the knowledge and expertise to assist people with re-enrolling in Medicaid, if eligible, or to claim all the subsidies to which they may be entitled through the exchanges. Better yet, their services are generally free for consumers.

As states begin to cull their Medicaid rolls, it’s critical that those who have relied on the program over the last few years understand all the affordable health insurance options that remain available to them. Agents and brokers can ensure that they do. ■

Janet Trautwein is CEO of the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (nabip.org). This piece originally ran in the South Florida Sun Sentinel.