Beacon 022017 web

FEBRUARY 2017

Vol. 31

No. 2

Mesa County’s Monthly Newspaper for Adults 50+. Over 28,350 Readers.

MESA COUNTY

BEST

SEE

LOVED

L OCAL

2017

INS IDE

BEACON BEST

Readers’ most loved locales revealed

VALENTINE’S DANCE Fancy, flirty and FUN

Photos by Jeff Stoddart Photography

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FEBRUARY 2017

Thank You Grand Junction!

Cappella of Grand Junction Opens Summer 2017 We’re honored to provide Assisted Living &

Memory Support for senior adults in Grand Junction.

At Cappella, you’ll find a vibrant community where relationships are celebrated, ideas are ignited and possibilities are embraced.

Everything here – from the architecture to the amenities to our person-directed philosophy of care and support – is focused on creating a true community where people grow and thrive.

We’re adding harmony to life at Cappella. And we invite you to join in our song.

Together Life Sings

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FEBRUARY 2017

EDITORIAL

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What do seniors love?

Learn about Estate Planning at our Free Educational Workshops!

BEACON Best Awards tell all Nominate a worthy volunteer

By Kevin K. VanGundy

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MESA COUNTY EACON readers are an active Do you work alongbunch. They enjoy side an outstanding shopping, tending volunteer, or has your to their garlife been touched by the dens, playefforts of one? ing golf, Local organizadining out tions can show and spoiltheir appreciation L OCAL LOVED ing their by nominating pets and grandkids exceptional volunteers 2017 with toys and activities. for the BEACON’s Volunteer Even if they aren’t so active, of the Year award. All nominees seniors favor quality products will be recognized in the March Creand services that make their lives eas- ate a Legacy insert and at BeaconFest ier and more enjoyable. This month, Boomer & Senior Fair on Thursday, we’ve taken this idea of finding out April 20. Find the nomination form what seniors love even farther by on page 15 of this month’s BEACON. revealing the winners of the 2017 BeaconFest 2017 BEACON Best Awards—a list of the Our annual boomer and senior fair, most loved locales, activities and reader appreciation party and enterbusinesses voted on by BEACON tainment extravaganza is a whole lot readers. If you didn’t vote or didn’t of free fun. This year’s BeaconFest win, don’t fret, as you’ll get another will be from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thurschance next November. Read the day, April 20, 2017 at Two Rivers results starting on page 24.

Convention Center in Grand JuncValentine’s Dance tion. For vendor, speaker and sponsor Grand Junction’s best Valentine’s information, call 243-8829 or email Dance, hosted by the BEACON Senior kevin@pendantpublishing.com.

Newspaper and Hilltop Senior Living Communities, will be February 11 GRAND JUNCTION from 7:30-10:30 p.m. in the Garden Room at the Commons of Hilltop, 625 27 1/2 Road. Tickets are available for only $20—a sweet deal, especially since each ticket includes two NEW! April Home & Garden drinks from the bar. Dancers will be able to glide across the area’s larginsert est wooden dance floor, led by the Seniors love working in their big band melodies of Clark Gault’s gardens and making improvements Swing City Express. Hilltop’s finest to their homes. That’s why we’re inchefs will be cooking up a delectable troducing a new April insert with stoassortment of hors d’oeuvres and ries and advertising focusing on just sweet indulgences, and the room will that. Do you have a story idea? Would be enveloped in an art deco theme. you like to advertise your business?

Call Stacey at 243-8829 to get your Call us at 243-8829. ■ tickets.

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We’ll discuss important issues in the estate administration process, and common mistakes that catch people off-guard. Some highlights we’ll be covering include: s Probate vs. Non-Probate assets s How and when to distribute assets s What taxes may be owed? What about creditor claims? s What if they didn’t have a Will? What if there is a will? s What happens if the family starts fighting? s Does the court need to be involved? Sign up today!

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COVER STORY

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FEBRUARY 2017

Valentine’s Dance: flirty, fancy and fun

By Cloie Sandlin

G

et ready to put on your dancing shoes and save the date for the area’s best Valentine’s dance for boomers and seniors.

This semi-formal affair, hosted by the BEACON Senior Newspaper and Hilltop Senior Living Communities, will be on Saturday, February 11, from 7:30-10:30 p.m. in the Garden Room at The Commons of Hilltop, 625 27 1/2 Road in Grand Junction.

An evening with friends, food, drinks, a photo booth and live dance music from an authentic big band, it’s no wonder that the Valentine’s Dance is the top choice for the area’s mature adults to celebrate love in all forms.

An unforgettable evening The dance was conceptualized more than four years ago by BEACON Publisher Kevin VanGundy after years of listening to BEACON readers commenting about how difficult it was to meet people and find love as they grew older. He

Photos by Jeff Stoddart Photography

also knew of other senior publications that held dances in bigger cities across the country and wondered if they could be replicated in Grand Junction.

“In Arizona and Florida, these dances were well attended, so I wanted to put on a similar event for our readers to see if it would receive the same admiration in Grand Junction,” VanGundy said.

Around that time, he was approached by Mike Green, Hilltop’s marketing and communications director, who mentioned that Hilltop’s senior living communities were looking to create an event that would appeal to community seniors and that could be hosted at The Commons.

“I thought it would be difficult for the BEACON to put on an event of this size by ourselves, so partnering with Hilltop and hosting it at The Commons has turned out to be better than I could have imagined,” VanGundy said.

With Valentine’s Day only a few months away, it was the perfect occasion to host a dance. Over the next few months, VanGundy sought the perfect big band to play—only he wasn’t sure if one existed in the area. It wasn’t long before a mutual

acquaintance put him in touch with Clark Gault, a local musician and leader of the Swing City Express, a 12-piece big band that plays jazz and dance music.

More than 200 people attended the dance in its first year and attendance has been consistent since.

“What has surprised me is seeing how much fun people have,” VanGundy said. “People enjoy the food and drink, they dance, they socialize—and the fact that we have a big band that plays dance music is really the icing on the cake.”

A dance for all!

The Valentine’s Dance is intended for people 55 and older, but younger folks are welcome to attend as well.

Dancers of all ages can be seen gliding across a real wooden dance floor.

“People love the music, food and dancing,” Green said. “The dance floor is full from the band’s first number to its last.”

Even if you don’t dance, this event makes fellowship with other seniors easy, with plenty of tables and chairs to sit and visit while sipping on a cold drink from the bar or dining on hors d’oeuvres, sweet treats and other culinary creations made by The Commons’ staff.

FEBRUARY 2017

COVER STORY

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National & Regional Award-Winning Publication Publisher ..............................Kevin K. VanGundy Founding Publisher....................... Susan Capps Editor............................................. Cloie Sandlin Editorial Assistant................ Stephanie Summar Creative Director........................Melissa Trottier Graphic Design.............................. Valerie Sears Graphic Design............................... Karen Jones Account Representative................... Sue Bowen Account Representative............... Heidi Gofforth Office/Sales Assistant..................Stacey Splude Proofreader...................................... Jan Weeks Delivery...........................................Cora Gentry Delivery ................................. Lauren VanGundy Delivery...............................................JR Milner

“Hosting the dance gives us a chance to reach out to the community and provide an event that is unique,” Green said. “It’s a chance for seniors to socialize and celebrate love at any age and it gives us an opportunity to show off our senior living facility and the amazing food from our kitchens.”

Attendees will be able to check out the newly decorated dining room and lobby at The Commons, which Green said will offer an even more elegant space at this year’s dance.

Celebrating love You don’t have to have a spouse or a date to celebrate love or attend the Valentine’s Dance.

“Bring a date, bring a friend or just bring yourself,” VanGundy said. “It’s a great place to meet people.”

Sylvia Morrison and Darlene Kelley return year after year with a group of friends from their senior apartment complex.

“The hors d’oeuvres are fantastic, the music is great and it’s a ton of fun!” Morrison said. “I love how it’s on Valentine’s Day and I can go out celebrating. It’s the best deal in town.”

Although Kelley isn’t able to dance like she used to, she said she likes to socialize and listen to the music.

“It’s also fun to watch the people and the professional dancers on the

“You don’t need a date to have fun! The hors d’oeuvres are fantastic, the music is great and it’s a ton of fun!” dance floor,” she said.

Morrison dances every chance she gets.

“You don’t need a date to have fun!” she said. “If push comes to shove, you can always ask someone to dance.”

Big band melodies “The music is my favorite part of the evening,” Green said. “Clark Gault’s Swing City Express is a firstclass orchestra that keeps everyone dancing throughout the evening.”

The Swing City Express has played in many venues across the Western Slope since 1996, and has played at numerous community events, including symphony galas, summer concerts and festivals. The band is comprised of local musicians who also perform for the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, Rockestra, Western Colorado Jazz Orchestra and musicals at Colorado Mesa University.

Gault writes the music and has arranged more than 500 pieces for eight musicians. Then he adds the other four parts as needed, so the band can entertain for any occasion, including the Valentine’s Dance.

“The Valentine’s Dance allows us to present the best version [of the band]

we have,” Gault said, noting that the band will be performing with all 12 parts.

New this year For its fourth year, the dance will feature new cuisine, fresh musical arrangements and new faces, including Scott and Alice Betts, a competitive dancing duo who will give a special tango performance on the dance floor.

“Scott is also an amazing vocalist and accomplished musician. He’ll be playing along with the Swing City Express throughout the night,” VanGundy said. “We’ll also have several dance hosts on hand to help the shyat-heart get their groove on.”

Green said the event proves to be successful every year and it has become very popular in the community.

“There’s nothing else like it in the valley,” he said. “It has become something people talk about and look forward to each year.”

Tickets are available in advance for only $20 per person—a sweet deal, especially since each ticket includes two drinks from the bar. Call the BEACON Senior Newspaper at 970243-8829 to get your tickets today. ■

P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502 ph: 970.243.8829 fax: 800.536.7516 Website: www.BeaconSeniorNews.com E-mail: Beacon@PendantPublishing.com The BEACON is published at the beginning of the month. Our goal is to inform and inspire the 50+ community in Mesa, Delta and Montrose counties.

Publication of advertising does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Columns are opinions of the writers, not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. Display advertising rates are available upon request. Deadline for advertising and announcements is the 20th of the month preceding publication. © Copyright 2017 • All Rights Reserved

Cover Photo: A group of friends attending a past Valentine’s Dance hosted by the BEACON and Hilltop’s Senior Living Communities. This year’s dance will be on Saturday, February 11.

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FEATURE STORY

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FEBRUARY 2017

READY TO JUMP? Betty Teegarden’s skydiving adventure

By Jan Weeks

Betty Teegarden is at it again. Not content to become a biker babe for a week during the 75th Sturgis motorcycle rally, this nonagenarian recently decided to jump out of a perfectly good airplane just for kicks.

Teegarden’s original plan was to hang glide in tandem with a professional, but she couldn’t find anyone to do it. Even her son, a professional trick hang glider from Houston who has performed in Austria, France and other European venues, wasn’t optimistic about her finding such a person. She decided that skydiving was the next best choice.

Teegarden has had a jump in mind for years, but her late husband, who had a heart condition, dissuaded her. Teegarden agreed to put off that particular escapade, at least for a while.

But last summer, she was ready to go.

“I contacted Skydive Moab and set up an appointment,” Teegarden said.

Her instructor was Jack Lane, who appears in commercials for Red Bull and has an excellent safety record.

“I wasn’t afraid,” she said. “I figured he doesn’t have a death wish. Besides, he’s making too much money on those commercials to take chances.”

Teegarden’s good friend Vic Smiles, who had been her partner in the Sturgis run, drove her to Moab on a cloudless summer morning. Smiles has been sky-

FEBRUARY 2017

FEATURE STORY

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

diving since he was 17. Now he is 72.

“It’s more addictive than the strongest drug,” he said of the sport. “I told her she’d be hooked.”

Teegarden had to watch a video on the process, then sign paperwork releasing Skydive Moab from liability.

Even the slight possibility of disaster didn’t deter her. She was kitted out with harnesses, goggles and other paraphernalia. Then they were off to the small plane that would carry them aloft to 10,000 feet.

Thermals kept bouncing the plane up and down, but eventually they reached their target altitude.

“Jack told me to step out onto a platform after he hooked us together. I had a heck of a time reaching it because my legs are so short,” said Teegarden.

They perched for a moment on the step. Then Lane leaned forward and they were in free-fall. He wore a wrist camera so he could record the entire adventure from Teegarden’s perspective. The video shows her grinning, her short blonde hair blown out of its curls, her grin fluttering from the force of the air pushing against her.

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Retirement living with the emphasis on living

The grin only got bigger as the paraplane chute released and Lane handed the control straps over to her. Canyons and spires spread out beneath them as they cruised toward earth.

“We soared and turned over Canyonlands,” Teegarden said. “It was absolutely fantastic!”

When they neared the landing site, Lane instructed her to hold her legs straight out and parallel to the ground so he could take the force of the landing himself.

After a bump and a step or two, Teegarden’s awesome adventure was over.

She’s already talking about hooking up with a newly formed skydiving enterprise here in the Grand Valley. She would still like to hang glide in tandem, but for now, she’ll get her kicks with a paraplane and free-fall.

To watch Betty in action, visit www.BeaconSeniorNews.com. ■

The Cottages of Hilltop gives you the independence and freedom to make the most of your retirement INDEPENDENT LIVING Our single-level patio homes offer

privacy and luxury. The open living plans feature two bedrooms, two baths, vaulted ceilings, contemporary kitchens, gas fireplace, covered patio and one-car garage.

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L O C A L LY O W N E D A N D O P E R A T E D B Y H I L LT O P - M A K I N G A D I F F E R E N C E F O R P E O P L E O F A L L A G E S

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RECIPES

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

FEBRUARY 2017

Triple Citrus Bars Recipe courtesy of Michelle DeLaCerda, www.thecompletesavorist.com

Ingredients: (Servings: 6 to 8) CRUST: 3/4 pound unsalted butter; cold 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 cups flour 1/4 teaspoon salt

FILLING: 3 ounces cream cheese, room temp.

2 teaspoons grated lime zest, minced

2 teaspoons grated lemon zest, minced 2 teaspoons grated orange zest, minced Pinch table salt 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk 2 egg yolks 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice 2 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice 2 tablespoon fresh squeezed orange juice

Instructions: Crust Preheat the oven to 350° F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch pan with butter.

Stir together the flour, sugar and salt.

Add the butter that has been cut into pats to the bowl and use a pastry fork to mix it all together until the mixture resembles sand or fine crumbs.

Press into the prepared pan that has been lined with parchment. Use another piece of parchment to press the crust into the plan.

Bake until golden around the edges, about 20 minutes. Keep the oven on.

Filling While crust cools, in a medium-sized bowl, thoroughly combine the cream cheese, zests and salt with rubber spatula until softened and creamy.

Add sweetened condensed milk until no lumps of cream cheese remain; whisk in egg yolks. Take care all is mixed well.

Add juices and gently whisk until combined (mixture will thicken slightly).

Pour filling into crust; spread evenly to corners and smooth with rubber spatula.

Bake until set and edges begin to pull away slightly from sides, 15 to 20 minutes.

Cool on wire rack to room temperature, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Cover and refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 2 hours.

Lift bars from baking pan using the parchment edges; cut bars into squares.

Let bars stand at room temperature about 15 minutes before cutting.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if using, and serve.

Leftovers can be refrigerated up to 2 days; crust will soften slightly.

FEBRUARY 2017

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ASK THE OLD BAG Advice Column for the Over 50 Crowd

By Gayle Lagman-Creswick Dear Old Bag: Well, here goes. I can’t talk to my doctor about this. I can’t talk to my kids about this. Who can I talk to? The Old Bag. I feel like I am the only one in the world with this problem. I am a widow of seven years and am 60 years old. I have met a man that I really, really like and it’s getting romantic. But I’m afraid he will want to have sexual relations and that scares me to death.

You see, my husband died from prostate cancer and we had no relations for the last 10 years of his life. I’m not sure I can perform. I have heard that if you don’t use it, you lose it! The whole idea unnerves me. Please help me. Signed, Scared Silly Dear Scared: If you can’t talk to your doctor about this, you need a new one. Go to a gynecologist to make sure all is well. While I am not Dr. Ruth, there is probably nothing to fear. If you love this guy, I suggest you let nature take its course. Older people should be able to enjoy sex all their lives unless health interferes, and even then, there is help from the medical field with drugs, devices, counseling, etc. “There is nothing to fear but fear itself.” Good luck. O.B. Dear Old Bag: I told my mother the other day that she needs to downsize her home and belongings, and she was insulted. She is something of a hoarder—or maybe she is just a collector of everything under the sun. When this subject was brought up a couple years ago, she said she was saving the collections for her kids. There are five of us and none of us want those things. When she passes, we will have a real mess on our hands. She is 82 and in good health. What do you suggest?

She reads your column and is always quoting you. Signed, Frustrated Daughter

Dear Daughter: I would bet that many mothers who read this are going to think one of their children wrote this, because this is a universal problem. First, I would like to explain why I think older people behave this way. We have lost a lot that we had in our younger lives—spouses, jobs, sometimes our children, other loved ones and friends. So we often cling to what’s left—our things. I’m not saying it’s right, but it happens.

I recently downsized myself, so my kids won’t have to get rid of my stuff. It almost did me in. It’s not easy. With that said, I say to my peers: Try to remember what is important in your life. It’s not the stuff; it’s the people. You will be amazed when you feel that burden being lifted after parting with the stuff. You can do it! O.B. Dear Old Bag: I recently retired at age 65. I couldn’t wait to retire, but now that I have, it has hit me that I am getting old, and that thought gives me the creeps. It scares me. I don’t know why I didn’t give more thought to this retiring business. I should have kept working. What do I do now?

Signed, Old Dear Old (I had trouble writing “Old” because you are not old): I am a bit surprised to find someone your age who feels old! First off, old is not bad, it’s gold. You have some wonderful years ahead of you. If you want, you can get a part-time job, volunteer, take up something you never had time to do when working, or join a dating site, if you’re single.

You need to get involved! Retirement does not mean you should stop living.

“Re-tire” is to put on new tires and get going. O.B. ■

Send your questions to the Old Bag in care of the BEACON, or email lagmancreswick@cox.net

ASK THE OLD BAG

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THE HEALTHY GEEZER

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The dangers of cocaine use Healthy Geezer, By Fred Cicetti

M

any of us are grandparents who worry about the drug culture of our grandchildren. We also wonder if there’s anything we can do to prevent kids from getting into a drug habit.

The first step we can take is to educate ourselves.

One drug occasionally used by the younger generation is cocaine. But how dangerous is it?

What is cocaine?

Providers for

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FEBRUARY 2017

The strongest natural stimulant, cocaine is an addictive drug—you can be hooked with a single use. It causes a short-lived high that is immediately followed by depression, edginess and a craving for more. Cocaine interferes with the way your brain creates feelings of pleasure, so you need more of the drug to feel normal. In 1970, Congress classified cocaine as a Schedule II substance, which means it may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.

Cocaine is extracted from the leaves of the coca plant. It comes in the form of a white powder that is snorted. It can be converted to a liquid form for injection. Crack is cocaine processed into a crystal form for smoking. Crack, also called “rock,” looks like small chunks of soap. Cocaine is illegal in any form.

The drug was first used in the 19th century in surgery as an anesthetic and to reduce bleeding, as it constricts blood vessels. Safer drugs came along to replace it.

Nevertheless, cocaine is a common drug. According to a National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 33.7 million Americans over the age of 12 reported trying cocaine at least once.

Among students surveyed, 3.7 percent of eighth graders, 5.2 percent of 10th graders, and 8 percent of 12th graders reported using cocaine at least once.

It is the most frequently mentioned

illicit substance reported to the Drug Abuse Warning Network by hospital emergency departments throughout the nation. That’s because cocaine is lethal. It can cause strokes, heart attacks and respiratory failure. In addition, it can cause irregular heartbeat, depression, violent actions and loss of sexual function.

Signs of addiction According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the following are the signs that someone may be addicted to cocaine: • Periods of severe depression • Weight loss • Decline in personal hygiene or appearance • Constant runny nose • Frequent upper respiratory infections • Changes in sleep patterns • Loss of interest in friends, family and social activities • Loss of interest in food, sex or other pleasures • Hearing voices when nobody has spoken, or feeling paranoid • Expressing more anger, becoming more impatient or nervous • Hallucinations • Intense euphoria • Bloodshot eyes • Dilated pupils • Hyper-alertness • Panic • Seizures • Increase in body temperature, respiration and pulse • Grinding of teeth • Obsessive touching or picking at various objects and parts of the body ■

TREATMENT OPTIONS For referral to treatment programs, call the Colorado Crisis Line at 844-493-8255.

Send your general health questions to the Healthy Geezer in care of the BEACON, or email fred@healthygeezer.com.

FEBRUARY 2017

HEALTH & WELLNESS 11

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Iodine is to be revered not feared!

Dear Pharmacist

By Suzy Cohen, RPH

T

here is mass confusion on the use of iodine in the body that I’d like to clear up. Iodine is not just for your thyroid—it’s used all over your body, in all of your organs—especially in the breasts and prostate. The truth is trillions of cells have a receptor site for iodine and need it. Sadly, many people are starving themselves of iodine because they assume it is radioactive.

Natural iodine is not radioactive. It’s as natural (and necessary) as other minerals like magnesium, lithium, potassium and selenium. Natural iodine is not the same as radioactive iodine, which is used in Graves’ disease and is also found near nuclear facilities. The body cannot thrive without natural iodine.

Iodine has well-documented research when it comes to healthy breast tissue, and women often claim that iodine alleviated fibrocystic breast pain or breast lumps. Iodine may also help shrink uterine fibroids. In fact, one of the very first conventional treatments for severe fibroids was to paint a woman’s uterus with iodine.

There’s a correlation between reduced iodine and lower mental IQ and iodine deficiency is a risk factor for thyroid cancer. The right amount of iodine is crucial—too little or too much will harm your thyroid, which sucks up iodine like a sponge. Low levels of iodine are known to cause or contribute to hypothyroidism, goiters and autoimmune thyroid disorders like Hashimoto’s.

Iodine supports testicular and prostate health, too, so it’s important for

Initiatives to fortify foods with iodine have been ongoing in countries where iodine is revered instead of feared. men to get their levels tested and supplement if needed. There is a lot of research done on breast, endometrial and ovarian cancer and natural iodine.

Common drug muggers of iodine include fluoroquinolone antibiotics, cholesterol medicine and some antidepressants. Swimming pools may deplete levels.

Fortified “iodized” salt contains only iodide. The body needs iodine and iodide, and supplemental forms may be more useful. The U.S. recommended dietary allowance for iodine is 150 micrograms. In my opinion, that’s not enough to support good health, and you can test your own levels with a urine iodine test.

A developing fetus is particularly susceptible to brain damage if the pregnant mother is severely iodine deficient, so much so that there are initiatives all over the world to fortify pregnant and lactating mothers with iodine to ensure healthy brain development. Initiatives to fortify foods with iodine have been ongoing in New Zealand, Denmark, the UK and other countries where iodine is actually revered instead of feared. ■

Grand Junction’s

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

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FEBRUARY 2017

Advice to improve the look and health of your skin

By Scott Rollins, MD

S

kin is the largest organ in the body and has considerable influence on our wellbeing. Therefore, it’s important to address the outer and inner health of your skin. One of the biggest things you can do to improve the health and look of your skin is to address internal factors, such as hormones, inflammation, toxins, blood flow, lymph drainage and cellular energy.

Is it hormonal?

“I volunteer because I wanted one-on-one interaction with patients. The way I think of it is if this were my mom, I hope someone would be kind enough to visit her.”

Hormones exert a powerful influence on skin. At menopause, many women note their skin becoming dry and pale. Estrogen stimulates the hydration and elasticity of skin, while testosterone increases collagen and oil production. Low thyroid may cause dry, lifeless and puffy appearing skin. High cortisol, caused by stress or inflammation, may cause acne and thin, overly oily skin.

Many patients consult with me for acne treatment, thinking the cause might be hormone imbalance.

Sometimes that is the case but most of the time, underlying inflammation is the main culprit. Stemming from impaired gut health, infections or immune response to environmental toxins, inflammation will wreak havoc throughout the body, and sometimes acne is part of the syndrome.

Skin rashes are often just the tip of the iceberg and indicative of another underlying health condition.

~ Susie Rochon

Is it age?

HopeWest Patient & Family Support Volunteer

Aging brings a normal decline in the fundamental systems that help keep skin vibrant. Decreased blood flow to the skin leads to less nutrient delivery, while impaired cellular energy leads to less skin turnover—the normal shedding and rebuilding of the layers of the skin. Clogged lym-

Make a difference, become a patient & family support volunteer.

Call (970)257-2378 today.

HopeWestCO.org

phatic drainage will cause puffiness and build up of toxins.

Consider the sun Protecting the skin from the damage of the sun is arguably the most important thing one can do to maintain good skin health. Ultraviolet type B (UVB) rays cause sunburn, while ultraviolet type A rays (UVA) lead to deeper damage, skin cancer and aging appearance. UVB is mostly a concern during summer months and peak daylight hours, while UVA is harmful year-round and all day long, even penetrating through glass.

Avoid excess sun and use a sunscreen with zinc or titanium to truly block both UVA and UVB rays. I do not recommend chemical sunscreens, as they are toxic and less effective.

Products and procedures Skin products can be a friend or foe. Many are chock full of toxic chemicals that harm the skin and internal organs. Do your research and look for products to avoid. A certified esthetician should be able to list these toxic skincare products and guide you to various products that are proven to actually help the skin.

Consider products that add moisture, increase the elasticity and thickness, increase normal skin cell turnover and blood flow. There are also ingredients that increase the cellular energy of skin cells, making them more resistant to aging.

Procedures such as facials, microdermabrasion and peels, are designed to help pull off old, outer, unhealthy layers of skin, infuse products into the deeper layers and stimulate the factors that lead to healthier skin.

These easy, inexpensive treatments should be done at least monthly and considered a basic, essential part of overall skincare. ■

Scott Rollins, MD, is founder and medical director of the Integrative Medicine Center of Western Colorado and Bellezza Laser Aesthetics.

FEBRUARY 2017

HEALTH & WELLNESS 13

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Heart attacks in women: Gender-specific knowledge could save your life

By Cecily Whiteside

A

ccording to the Center for Disease Control, heart disease is the leading cause of death in women in the U.S. One in four women will die of coronary disease, and almost twothirds of these deaths happen with no previous warnings or symptoms.

Many subtle symptoms can persist for days or weeks before a heart attack.

Would you know if you were having one?

Because of their capacity for pain tolerance, women will often ignore the early warning signs, calling it an anxiety attack or indigestion. This means they can miss the opportunity to stop it before it becomes life-threatening.

Recognize the warning signs “Women have a higher tolerance for visceral [internal organ] pain because of childbirth,” said Dr. Caroline Dorman of St. Mary’s Family Medicine Center. “Men think ‘I’m having a heart attack.’ Women tend to downplay it.”

Additionally, people with diabetes and the elderly may have mild symptoms even when a heart attack is in process, which makes them even more prone to overlook warning signs.

“I once had a woman present to me with pain in her thumb,” said Dorman.

There was no sign of anything wrong with it, so Dorman asked her to describe her pain.

“She pointed with her finger, running it from her thumb up her arm to her chest. ‘It goes all the way up here, and it’s kind of crushing.’ So she was having a heart attack and calling it pain in her thumb!”

Another common heart attack story is of pain in the back. Many women, especially those with chronic low back pain, will dismiss pain that is

just a bit higher along the spine. This is a mistake, as it may be your only warning.

“I also have women who will tell me they are having an anxiety attack,” Dorman said. “I ask if they’ve ever had one before, and they’ll say no, this is the first. That’s usually a sign that is not an anxiety attack.”

When you suspect it’s a heart attack Call 911. You may have only minutes before you lose consciousness.

The Mayo Clinic guidelines suggest chewing and swallowing an aspirin if you are not allergic. Take nitroglycerin, but only if it has been previously prescribed by a physician. If you have someone drive you to the emergency room, have them stay as your advocate and insist that you are seen within 10 minutes of arrival. Tell the emergency room staff, “I think I’m having a heart attack.” Don’t be afraid to be a bother.

The long-term outcome after a heart attack, according to Pittsburgh cardiologist Dr. Richard Fogoros, largely depends on how quickly you get medical care. A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, stops blood flow to the heart, causing death of the heart muscle. The first few hours after a heart attack are crucial. Increasing blood flow to the heart minimizes the amount of heart muscle affected by the heart attack, which in turn increases the probability of recovery and the extent of long-term implications.

Even with early recognition and expert medical care, having a heart attack means that there has been some damage to your heart. Adding healthy choices into your life like eating well and exercising can add to your quality of life after a heart attack. Doing these before a heart attack may be an even better idea. ■

Risk factors for heart disease

• Unhealthy diet • Being overweight or obese • Sedentary lifestyle • Smoking • Being age 55 or older • High blood pressure • High blood cholesterol • Diabetes • Family history of early heart disease • History of preeclampsia during pregnancy

Warning signs

• Pain or discomfort in the back, shoulders or jaw, which may come and go • Shortness of breath, causing you to pant • Anxiety, feelings of panic • Abdominal pain or “heartburn” • Nausea or vomiting • Fainting or lightheadedness • Sudden sweating, with cold clammy skin • Unusual or unexplained fatigue, possibly for days

What to do

• Call 911 • Unlock the door to afford access to emergency personnel • Lay on the floor as still as possible to minimize exertion • Focus on slow calming breaths.

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A different kind of love story

By Melanie Wiseman

E

d and Phyliss Patton came to Grand Junction from their home on Glade Park every other Sunday for groceries. Their first stop was always breakfast at IHOP, where they looked forward to seeing their waitress, Talia Stark.

“She reminds me of me—smiling all the time and perky,” Phyliss, 62, said.

“From the moment we met her, we knew she cared about people. She has a heart of gold and would give anyone the shirt off her back.”

The story of this exceptional bond began four years ago when Talia was having a particularly rough morning.

“Phyliss picked up on that and tried to relieve my stress by encouraging me to share what was going on,” Talia, 35, said. “She said, ‘A mama knows when something’s wrong.’”

Their relationship blossomed and soon their visits were filled with laughing, joking and teasing. It wasn’t long before she started calling the

Pattons “Mom” and “Dad.” “I would buy their breakfast for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, but they always left me a big tip to cover it,” Talia said.

For Phyliss, “Mom” quickly became more than a term of endearment as her relationship with Talia grew. The two women say “my mom” and “my daughter” as if they’ve said it all their lives. They’ve been through a lot together in a short time, and they’ve supported each other through their hardships.

Being there for each other When a difficult divorce left Talia the single mom of five children, Phyliss was there every step of the way. With two grown children of her own, she was able to give Talia plenty of advice as her children grew into teenagers.

Phyliss reduced Talia’s financial stress by occasionally paying a few of the critical bills she couldn’t cover

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on her limited income. Ed helped her son get into little league when she couldn’t afford it.

Talia and her children were essential in helping Phyliss when she went in for a colonoscopy and was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer two years ago.

“I started crying and said I’d be there for her and we’d go through it together,” Talia said.

Weekly radiation and chemotherapy followed surgery. Since Ed still works, her appointments were all made on Tuesdays—Talia’s day off.

“Ed and I have been married 45 years,” Phyliss said. “He’s been a huge support for me and Talia has filled in, which has been a blessing.”

Talia has taken Phyliss to every appointment over the past two years, except for the few times when her children were sick. If Talia wasn’t able to drive Phyliss, her 17-year-old son Jason did.

“If it wasn’t for Talia and her children, I don’t know where I’d be,” Phyliss said, adding that she could have driven herself to appointments, but it was important to Talia that she wasn’t alone.

Their experiences together have led Phyliss to form relationships with four of Talia’s kids—especially her 14-year-old daughter Desirae. They all call her “Grandma Phyliss.”

“I love her (Phyliss),” Desirae said.

“She shows me that things can be bad, but they’ll get better because there are people who love you.”

Both she and Talia wear necklaces with crosses on them, which used to belong to Phyliss.

Talia said her children’s love for Phyliss is a reflection of their relationship with each other.

“My kids are very loving and nurturing despite the challenges our family has been through,” she said.

What love looks like Talia never had a relationship with her biological father. Her stepfather— the man who raised her and whom she calls “Dad”—is still a part of her life and is a loving grandparent to her

FEBRUARY 2017

From left: Talia, Phyliss and Desirae Photo by Melanie Wiseman

children.

Though the same goes for her mother, Talia said they don’t have the kind of relationship that she shares with Phyliss, where she can openly seek advice and support.

“But what I got from my mom was her heart,” Talia said.

Although Phyliss’ last scan shows she is cancer free, chemo has done its damage. She lives with a great deal of pain, uses a walker and can’t drive. If she doesn’t feel well enough for the bimonthly IHOP trip, Ed still visits Talia and sits at the Pattons’ regular booth.

“It’s not fair to see her suffer with this,” Talia said. “I’ve seen her go from a vivacious person to someone who can hardly walk and it breaks my heart.”

Talia has supported Ed by talking with him about Phyliss’ situation and trying to cheer him up.

“I know he loves me and would do anything for me,” she said.

Even though Phyliss’ Tuesday chemo appointments are coming to an end, Talia said she’ll still visit once a week just to be with her.

Having Talia and her family nearby is important to Phyliss, since her condition makes it difficult for her and Ed to see their children and grandchildren, who live on the Front Range.

“As far as I’m concerned, she is my daughter,” Phyliss said.

Outside of family, Phyliss’ doctor is the only one who knows she and Talia aren’t biological mother and daughter.

“You never know what will happen when you help someone,” Talia said.

“I love her with all my heart. She’s my mom.” ■

FEBRUARY 2017

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Readers to choose Volunteer of the Year

I

GRAND JUNCTION

t’s that time of year again! BeaconFest is just around the corner, which means we need readers’ help in finding the 2017 BEACON Volunteer of the Year.

Nominate a volunteer This month, we’re seeking nominations for a volunteer who has gone above and beyond his or her usual duties and responsibilities. Do you know such a volunteer? Please complete and return the nomination form on this page no later than February 17 to include them in this event.

Nominees will be featured in the March issue of the BEACON, at which time our readers will choose the winner. All nominated volunteers will be presented with awards at our BeaconFest Boomer & Senior Fair at Two Rivers Convention Center on Thursday, April 20, where the winner will be announced.

How to vote Our readers are passionate about local volunteers. We know this because each year, we received thousands of votes for the Volunteer of the Year.

Here’s how to make your vote count when it’s time to vote next month:

Volunteer of the Year Awards 2017 NOMINATION FORM We are pleased to give your organization the opportunity to honor your most outstanding volunteer—that individual who has gone above and beyond his or her usual duties and responsibilities.

Nominated volunteers will be featured in the March issue of the BEACON Senior Newspaper. The winner will be chosen by BEACON readers.

All nominated volunteers will be called to the stage and presented with awards at BeaconFest on Thursday, April 20, at 12:50 p.m., at Two Rivers Convention Center, 159 Main St., Grand Junction.

(Note: This is NOT a luncheon—the ceremony will last approximately 20 minutes.)

Only one nomination per agency please. Nominated volunteers must be 50 years old or older.

Complete and return this form, and include a head shot of your nominated volunteer (to include in March’s BEACON), no later than February 17, 2017, to: • E-mail (best): Cloie@PendantPublishing.com • Fax: 800-536-7516 • Mail: P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502

WINNE R

will b chosen e by

BEACO N r eaders !

Step 1: Once you receive your

Organization name: ____________________________________________________________________________

March BEACON, go to www.BeaconSeniorNews.com.

Nominated by: ___________________________________________ Your phone #__________________________

Step 2: Click the link at the top

Name of volunteer: ________________________________________ Their phone #__________________________

right of the page that says, “Vote for Volunteer of the Year.” You’ll be directed to the ballot form.

Step 3: Fill out the ballot by providing your first name and email address, then pick your favorite volunteer. (We will never send you unwanted emails or pass your information along to a third party.)

Step 4: Click “Submit” You can also mail in your ballot, which will be included in the March BEACON. Mail it to: BEACON Senior Newspaper P.O. Box 3895 Grand Junction, CO 81502 ■

Qualifications: _______________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you’re interested in advertising, or if you’d like a booth at this year’s BeaconFest, call 243-8829 for more information.

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LAUGHING MATTERS

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LAUGHING MATTERS Enlightenment Submitted by Bob Breazeale

Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during his root canal?

whiskey, the haughty fighter pilot asked, “And how many have you caught today?”

He wanted to transcend dental medication.

“You’re number 10” the old Marine sergeant answered. “Two Air Force, three Army and five Navy.”

Gone fishing

Senior perks

Submitted by Karen Jones

Submitted by Susan Capps

The rain was pouring and there was a big puddle in front of the bar just outside the American Legion Post. A ragged old Marine sergeant was standing near the edge with a fishing line in the puddle. A curious young Navy fighter pilot came over to him and asked what he was doing.

“Fishing,” the old sergeant simply said.

“Poor old fool,” the Navy officer thought to himself, and he invited the old Marine into the bar for a drink.

As he felt he should start some conversation while they were sipping their

My neighbor was working in his yard when he was startled by a late model car that came crashing through his hedge and ended up in his front lawn.

He rushed to help an elderly lady driver out of the car and sat her down on a lawn chair.

“You appear quite elderly to be driving,” he said, after everything had settled down.

“Well, yes, I am,” she replied. “I’ll be 97 next month, and I am now old enough that I don’t even need a driver’s license anymore.”

“You don’t need a driver’s license anymore?” he asked.

FEBRUARY 2017

The little girl said, “Well, when I get to heaven, I’ll find Jonah and ask him.”

“That’s right!” she said. “The last time I went to my doctor, he examined me and asked if I had a driver’s license. I told him, ‘Yes,’ and handed it to him. He took scissors out of the drawer, cut the license into pieces, and threw them in the waste basket, saying, ‘You won’t need this anymore.’ So I thanked him and left!”

The teacher said, “What if he went to hell?”

The debate

The first guy says, “Sorry about that.

I’m looking for my wife, and I guess I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.”

Submitted by Bob Breazeale

A first grade teacher asked her class if anyone knew about whales. One little girl raised her hand and said that in Sunday School, she learned that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.

The teacher said, “It’s impossible for a whale to swallow a human because the throat is too small.”

The little girl said, “But I learned it in Sunday School. It’s in the Bible.”

In an irritated voice, the teacher said, “I don’t care—a whale can’t swallow a person.”

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The little girl quickly replied, “Then you ask him.”

Lost in Walmart Submitted by Barbara Duff

Two old guys are pushing their carts around Walmart when they collide.

The second guy says, “That’s okay.

What a coincidence. I’m looking for my wife, too. I can’t find her and I’m getting a little desperate.”

“Well, maybe I can help you find her.

What does she look like?”

The second guy says, “Well, she is 27 years old, tall, with red hair, blue eyes, long legs, a big bust and is wearing short shorts. What does your wife look like?”

LAUGHING MATTERS 17

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The medication Submitted by Rick Keller

A distraught older lady phoned her doctor’s office and asked, “Is it true that the medication you prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life?”

“Yes, I’m afraid so,” the doctor told her.

There was a moment of silence. Then she replied, “I’m wondering, then, just how serious is my condition? Because this prescription is marked ‘No refills.’”

On the operating table Submitted by Gerald Moncy

An older gentleman was on the operating table awaiting surgery. He had insisted that his son, a surgeon, perform the operation. As he was about to get the anesthesia, he asked to speak to his son.

“Don’t be nervous, son. Do your best and just remember, if it doesn’t go well and something happens to me—your mother is going to come and live with you and your wife.”

Don’t get mad Submitted by Marjorie Pratte

Two elderly ladies had been friends for many decades. Over the years they shared all kinds of activities and adventures. As the years went on, their activities became limited to meeting a few times a week to play cards.

For at least three minutes her friend just stared and glared at her.

Finally, she said, “How soon do you need to know?”

The hearing aid Submitted by Ned Stubler

Two elderly women were eating at a restaurant one morning.

Ethel noticed something funny about Mabel’s ear and she said, “Mabel, did you know you’ve got a suppository in your left ear?”

“Ethel, I’m so glad you mentioned that.

Now I think I know where my hearing aid is.”

Th

“Yes, Dad, what is it?”

One day they were playing cards when one looked at the other and said, “Now, don’t get mad at me. I know we’ve been friends for a long time, but I just can’t think of your name!

I’ve thought and thought, but I can’t remember it. Please tell me what your name is.”

e

The elderly gentleman Submitted by Judy Williams

An elderly gentleman in his mid-90s walks into an upscale cocktail lounge.

He’s very well dressed, his hair is groomed, he’s wearing a great-looking suit, there’s a flower in his lapel and he smells slightly of a good aftershave. He sits down at the bar beside an elderly woman in her mid-80s.

The gentleman orders a drink, takes a sip, turns to her and says, “So, tell me, do I come here often?” ■

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Old love, new beginnings

focus on people

our residents

By Cecily Whiteside

W

their lives

their families

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hen I first re-connected with Ray Martino via social media, it was a simple renewal of an old friendship from my college days. Ray was my cousin Will’s best friend, and the three of us would hang out in my hometown near Philadelphia during the summers. I was close to Will, and felt flattered that these two guys, older and more worldly than me, would let me be part of their summertime shenanigans.

Little did I know that Ray had fallen in love with me—almost at first sight.

But he never said a word. During the course of our friendship, I attended college in Chicago and Ray finished up his engineering degree in Philadelphia, moving across the country to settle in San Jose, California.

We had one moment when everything could have changed. Ray invited me to visit him during my senior year of college. He flew me out to California, where we stayed with yet another cousin of mine. It was a funfilled weekend spent exploring Ray’s new stomping grounds.

What Ray never let on was that before I arrived, he had gone ring shopping. At the end of the weekend, the question remained unasked and the moment passed. I went back to

1985

Chicago, then home to Philly after graduation. Ray quit his job, traveled around Europe for a time, then came back and married someone else. We saw each other one more time at Will’s wedding. I was also married by then. Our lives had moved in different directions.

More than 25 years after Will had committed suicide, a dream I had about him prompted me to reach out to Ray to reconnect and reminisce.

Although my marriage of 22 years had ended, what I really wanted was to hear that Ray was happy and fulfilled, and, of course, to talk about old times. But Ray was also in the process of becoming single again, and it didn’t take long before he told me he loved me. Everything in me responded with such strength, that it has continued to surprise me over the five years since.

I thought I was alone in this phenomenon of old love and given a new opportunity. But in talking with others, I find that my story echoes in many others’ lives as well.

Early roots build a strong foundation Claire Mellman helped plan her 30year high school reunion. During the course of the evening, she chatted with her former classmate, Mac.

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After their lives went in separate directions, childhood friends Ray Martino and Cecily Whiteside reconnected decades after college.

FEBRUARY 2017

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ABOVE: Claire Mellman, left, and Mac reunited at their high school reunion.

RIGHT: A photo of Mac in high school.

“We didn’t run in the same circles back in high school,” said Claire, “but we knew each other.”

There was a quickening of interest, but another several years passed before sparks flew.

“I took my middle daughter to visit a college near where Mac lived and saw him again. As I walked up I thought, ‘I love this guy!’” Claire said. “We visited my brother the next day, who asked us how long we’d been dating. I looked at Mac and said, ‘Since yesterday.’”

That was a year ago. Since then, Claire and Mac travel to visit each other every other weekend.

What’s causing this phenomenon?

The rates of divorce after age 50 have doubled since 1990, according to a study conducted by sociologists Susan Brown and I-Fen Lin. Abby Rodman, psychotherapist and author, conducted a survey and found that over half of older women who responded cited emotional or psychological abuse as the reason they left their marriage.

Social media also makes reconnecting with old friends and old flames easier.

A cynic could argue that people like Claire, Mac, Ray and myself are trying to regain lost youth. But as I’ve discussed with numerous others who share my story, another possibility seems more likely: There is safety in knowing someone’s history.

It’s my theory that there is a confidence in the quality and character of

a romantic partner that comes from having known them in youth, and then seeing them as they are living their life now—the choices they’ve made, the way they parent, even the way they conducted their divorce— all these add to the deep-seated knowledge of who they are.

There is also a comfort in not having to explain yourself. Common origins create strong bonds.

Patience is a virtue While Mac and Claire would like to be closer to each other, they each have teenagers so they are waiting to relocate. They enjoy the budding romance and their time together.

I resonate with this pattern. Ray is in California, parenting his preteens.

I am in Colorado doing the same.

We see each other every month and spend hours on the phone. Someday we hope to be together, but for now we wait—patiently.

There is something that seems inevitable about my being with Ray. There is no striving, no questioning.

It’s peaceful and calm, while simultaneously thrilling. I seem to be more of who I am when I’m around him, which may be linked to rediscovering youthful interests, but it’s melded with maturity and lessons learned over a lifetime. All is tied up in enjoying the new beginnings of old love. ■

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FEBRUARY 2017

Proud to be an American

By Melanie Wiseman

W

ho doesn’t enjoy a thrilling tale filled with suspense, young love, dramatic escapes, survival, heartache, faith and freedom?

When Maria Pervesco recounts such a story, though, it isn’t fiction.

It’s the story of her life.

Maria, a spitfire 91-year-old selfdescribed as “4-foot 10-inches and shrinking,” is a courageous woman who’s dodged death on more than one occasion—and she’s not finished yet.

“I was hospitalized twice in the fall of 2015,” Maria said. “They sent me home to die and I fooled them!”

But Maria’s near-death encounters go back to her childhood in the Ukraine. When she was 5, Communists took over her family’s farm. Her father was punished for butchering a cow to feed his family and was sent to a Siberian labor camp for four years. Maria, her mother and older

sister were forced to move into a two-room apartment with eight others, where she slept on a straw floor.

“I remember going to school and bringing a piece of bread, but most of the time it was stolen by a bully and I went hungry all day,” she said. “Life in the Ukraine was not good when the Communists took over.”

Her father returned when she was 9 but his imprisonment had changed him. He was around just long enough to tell her mother he was leaving the family for another woman.

In 1941, the Germans invaded Ukraine. Maria was 15 and living in an apartment with her mother.

Bombs hit as close as the building next door.

“I remember hearing the train whistle going by,” said Maria. “I used to dream of going on that train to somewhere better. That is still a sound of comfort to me today.”

Above: Maria, age 10 Right: Maria with daughter Nadia, 9, in Chicago, 1956.

Love amidst war The same year, Maria met young German soldier Hans Kastner, who changed the course of her life forever.

“Without him I would most likely still be in Ukraine now, or dead,” Maria said.

At that time, Ukrainian youth were rounded up for deportation to Germany to work in factories or on farms.

“In the yard at night as we waited

for the train, Hans decided to help me escape by throwing me over the wall, where his friend caught me,” Maria said. “We would have all been shot if caught.”

The two lived secretly as husband and wife, and Maria’s son, Aleksander, was born in 1943 at her mother’s house. Maria was just 16.

When the Russians returned to the Ukraine, Maria was determined not

FEBRUARY 2017

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to live under Communism, despite the fact that it would mean leaving her mother and sister behind. Once again, Kastner saved not only Maria, but their son as well.

He had her papers changed to a false German identity and their escape began. With Aleksander still a nursing infant, they traveled via Kastner’s combat truck and a U-boat to Romania. They flew via cargo plane to Austria and spent two days on a train to his mother’s home in Germany.

“There were so many things I had to learn, including German,” said Maria. “After all, I was just 17 at that point and Aleksander was 9 months old.”

She saw her young husband twice more on furloughs. He was killed in Yugoslavia, and she became a widow at 18 years old.

The American dream After the end of World War II, Americans organized camps in Germany for displaced Ukrainians, Yugoslavians, Polish and Russians. In one of the many camps where she lived, she met Nikolay Pervesco in 1945, who was 11 years her senior.

They married, and their daughter Nadeschda (meaning “hope”) was born in 1947.

“Now I had a family—a husband, son and daughter,” Maria said. “I looked forward to a normal life.”

They lived in a displacement camp until a Polish-Ukrainian woman that Maria had previously met in a camp relocated to America and sent them visas. In 1950, the family moved to Chicago, where an apartment and jobs awaited them.

“Now we had to learn English,” she said. “My first sentence was ‘Please, speak slowly; I cannot understand.’”

Their son Michael was born in a Chicago hospital. Eventually the family saved enough to buy a house and a new car. They were living the American dream—but it wasn’t meant to last.

“We had five good years,” Maria said. “Then he became addicted to alcohol.”

Maria said she and her children endured abuse from her husband, but

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Maria, 91, poses in front of various framed paintings she made herself.

Maria stayed, not knowing how to support her children on her own.

Months turned into years, and the Pervescos moved to Dallas, then Grand Junction, where her oldest son lived. She attended Alcoholics Anonymous for 12 years and finally, after 43 years of marriage, she mustered the courage to leave Nikolay.

“I found out it is never too late to have the luxury of becoming your own person,” said Maria. “I don’t know where I got my courage.”

Remembering the past, finding joy in the present Maria has kept a daily journal since 1975. Writing has allowed her to remember the past, but also to let go of the torments in her mind.

“I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about all the Jewish people and where they were taken while we were going to displacement camps,” said Maria. “I was young and didn’t know what was happening until I came to America.”

Today, Maria’s life is joyful and simple. She enjoys her church, family, painting, knitting and watching “The Andy Griffith Show” each night before she goes to bed.

“I’m proud to be a free American,” she said. “Americans shouldn’t complain, but be thankful—not just each day, but in every minute.” ■

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FEBRUARY 2017

My grandmothers’ heirlooms treasured 100 years later

By Pat Martin

I

was thrilled recently to come into possession of two antique washstands, one belonging to each of my grandmothers. Both grandmothers had died in the 1960s, and the washstands had been passed around through the family, but had never been together at any given time. To have them both was wonderful, and I decided to restore the two pieces and give them a place of honor in my home. Although the washstands are of the same vintage—the 1890s—like the two women who had owned them, they are quite different in character.

Mary, my maternal grandmother, was orphaned at age 8 and taken by her aunt and uncle to their home-

This oak washstand was possibly a wedding gift presented to the author’s maternal grandmother by her new husband in 1898.

stead on the plains of Kansas to live a hardscrabble existence of unimaginable challenges. When she left her birthplace of Ohio behind, she also left behind her formal education, which ended at the third grade. This Spartan upbringing is reflected in the straight, practical design of her piece of furniture, which is made of sturdy oak, with one drawer above and two doors below. The towel rack that was once above it has long since disappeared, but the fluted brass handles and knobs are still in place.

I try to picture my grandmother as a young bride in Oklahoma in 1898, choosing this piece to go into her lovely home. Or was this item a gift from her handsome new husband?

He was an energetic entrepreneur with his own transfer and storage business, who would someday become fire chief of El Reno, Oklahoma. My own mother was the last of their four children, a precocious little redhead who came along late in the marriage and was over-indulged by her parents and older siblings. Could the teeth marks of a toddler on one corner of the washstand be hers?

I am not as knowledgeable about the acquisition of the other piece belonging to my paternal grandmother, Mattie.

She was born in Missouri, was better educated than most in her generation and

began teaching school at age 16. Coincidentally, she was teaching school in the same Oklahoma town at the time my other grandmother lived on a nearby farm, but the two of them wouldn’t meet until many years later.

When Mattie married in 1905, it was to a widower with three small children. Besides helping her husband run a small grocery store, she found the time to raise four children of her own, as well as to pursue her interest in art and literature.

Crafted of cherry wood, Mattie’s washstand is slightly taller and presents a more regal appearance, while still remaining plain and functional, with three drawers and one door.

The edges of the top are gracefully curved instead of straight, and its knobs are carved of wood rather than brass. Its towel bar is also missing.

There is a perfectly round stain on the top—from a cracked and leaking washbowl perhaps? In an era before indoor plumbing, the bowls and pitchers that sat upon these washstands were an indispensable part of daily life. Each person would pour a little water into the bowl, wash up and, if they were conscientious, empty the bowl and leave it clean for the next person to use.

Of course, emptying the bowl and refilling the pitcher meant a trip

Remember When...

Grandpa was the DJ at our wedding?

outside to the pump, unless you were fortunate enough to have a sink with a hand pump in the kitchen. Towels were hung neatly on the towel bar across the back, and there was usually a comb or brush on hand for the gentlemen to use.

The bowls and pitchers must have been too fragile to endure such frequent use, for none have survived to be passed down in our family, although some members recall bathing babies in the large washbowls as late as the 1930s. I think I may have been one of those babies!

These two washstands will probably still be around long after the rest of us are gone, sturdy reminders of the two amazing ladies who owned them, and reminders also of a more innocent time in America’s past. I just hope whoever possesses them in the future will treasure them as much as I do. ■ This cherry wood piece was acquired by the author’s paternal grandmother 100 years ago.

Funerals can celebrate life.

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MESA COUNTY

BEST L OCAL

LOVED

2017

BEACON BEST Readers’ most loved locales revealed

24

And the

WINNERS are...

A Robin’s Nest Best Antique Store___________________________________________ Brown Cycles Best Bike Shop______________________________________________ Kohl’s Best Clothing Store__________________________________________ Brown’s Shoe F it Best Shoe Store_____________________________________________ Alida’s Fruits Best Place to Buy Gifts________________________________________ F isher’s Liquor Barn Best Liquor Store____________________________________________ Heirlooms for Hospice Best Second Hand Store______________________________________ Best Optical Store___________________________________________ Eyemart Express

Petsmart Best Pet Supply Store_________________________________________ Merrill Lynch Best Financial Planner________________________________________ Western Slope Auto Best Auto Dealership_________________________________________ Coe’s Automotive Best Auto Repair____________________________________________ Big O Tires Best Tire Store______________________________________________ Good Shepherd Best Carpet Cleaner_________________________________________ Bookcliff Gardens Best Garden/Nursery_________________________________________ Airstream Plumbing & Heating Best Heating & Cooling Service________________________________ WD Yards Best Landscaping/Lawn Care Service____________________________ Haining Plumbing Best Plumber_______________________________________________ Randy’s Southside Diner Best Place for Breakfast_______________________________________ McAlister’s Deli Best Place for Lunch_________________________________________ Texas Roadhouse Best Place for Dinner_________________________________________ WW Peppers Best Date Night Location_____________________________________ Einstein Bagels Best Coffee Shop____________________________________________ Old Chicago Best Place to Get a Stiff Drink_________________________________ Carlson Vineyards Best Winery________________________________________________ Mt. Garfield Best Hiking Trail_____________________________________________ Bananas Best Place to Take the Grandkids_______________________________ Tiara Rado Best Place to Golf____________________________________________

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Introducing the BEACON Best

By Stephanie Summar

T

he nominations are in and the results have been tallied. BEACON Senior Newspaper readers spent the last two months nominating their favorite local hot spots. Now, we’re excited to reveal the BEACON Best—nearly 30 restaurants, shops, service providers and more who rise above the rest for Mesa County boomers and seniors.

“There are other, similar contests, but none specifically from the viewpoint of boomers and seniors,” said BEACON Publisher Kevin VanGundy. “Nothing else focuses on the businesses and services that they particularly like.”

For reader Judy Allerheiligen, participating in this year’s contest was a way to let her voice be heard.

“I’m a strong proponent of shopping local,” Allerheiligen said. “This was a way to recognize the smaller businesses that are doing things right.”

Although this year’s winners span many different industries, they all have something in common—each provides a high-quality experience in a welcoming, friendly environment. One huge component of that is a dedication to superior customer service.

“Many of our readers grew up in an

FEBRUA

MESA COU

BES L OCAL

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age where service came with everything you bought,” VanGundy said.

Unfortunately, some businesses treat customer service as if it’s old-fashioned and out of style. The winners of this year’s BEACON Best Awards do not feel the same way.

“We live by the philosophy that we shop here and see our customers around town, and it’s easier to wave and say, ‘Hi,’ than it is to duck and take cover,” said Neil Bumgardner of Airstream Plumbing and Heating, the BEACON Best winner in the best heating and cooling services category. “We wear floor savers to keep from tracking messes in your home and try to keep a tight schedule because customers appreciate that and we know time is money.”

Dennis Hill, co-owner of Bookcliff

2017

TOP graciously

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(Far left) Ch (Left) Judy (Not pictur

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Gardens, which won the award for best garden/ nursery, said friendly customer service—along with quality products, a curated selection and a knowledgeable staff—is a cornerstone of his business.

“I thought about that 20 years ago, trying to figure out what makes people come here over other stores,” Hill said. “People love visiting. If you come in regularly, we greet you by name. You always want to go where everybody knows your name, just like in ‘Cheers.’”

BEACON reader Chuck Carlson, who participated in this year’s contest, said this kind of customer-first attitude went a long way in securing his vote.

“The people I voted for are all special

ST

LOVED

people, and I try to support them,” he said. “I’m loyal to the people who are good to me, and if you let people know they’re doing a good job, that builds a better bond.”

While VanGundy hopes that other businesses will take note of the BEACON Best Awards and think about ways to make their establishments more senior friendly, he said the idea of the contest is to recognize the businesses and services that seniors love.

For Shane Allerheiligen, co-owner of A Robin’s Nest of Antiques and Treasures, winning the award for best antique store is not going to change the way he does business.

“We set high expectations for ourselves,” he said. “We’ll continue to do so as we move into the future and grow.”

It’s this kind of attitude that sets the BEACON Best apart. ■

Best Coffee Shop “To have BEACON readers choose us as the best coffee shop is humbling. Thank you! I’m also thankful to our team here at the store. We love our seniors and it shows.”

– Trevor Laro, General Manager, Einstein Bagels

Best Place to Get a Stiff Drink “Old Chicago is a place to come as you are and enjoy a drink with friends.

We certainly appreciate winning this award. Our staff is friendly and fun and they’ll never steer you wrong on recommending a beer to drink.”

– Lazer Garza, General Manager, Old Chicago

Best Bike Shop “We are honored to receive this recognition. Whether the local shops believe it or not, this generation has been our life blood for decades.”

– Chris Brown, Owner, Brown Cycle

P: Texas Roadhouse Managing Partner Mark Tilley and crew y accept their BEACON Best award for Best Place for Dinner.

RIGHT: Randy’s Southside Diner Manager Brooke Martinez ccepts the BEACON Best award for Best Place for Breakfast.

nks for voting!

cky readers won $50 gift cards just for s know their most loved locales!

huck Carlson, $50 winner to W.W. Peppers Allerheiligen, $50 winner to Randy’s Southside Diner red) Richard Hunt, $50 winner to Texas Roadhouse

Best Shoe Store “Good shoes know no age. Chacos started out in Paonia as a sandal for outdoor enthusiasts. I remember selling my first pair to an elderly woman looking for something more comfortable to wear.”

– Gregg Palmer, Owner, Brown’s Shoe Fit

26

2017 M E SFEBRUARY A COUNTY

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

CHANCE. C H O I C E.

BEACON BEST The most loved locales among boomers and seniors in Mesa County.

BEST L OCA

L

LOVED

2017 Best Liquor Store “Thank you for shopping at Fisher’s for 36 years and counting. It’s been interesting to see how much our older clientele’s tastes have evolved over the years. These days they’re more willing to embrace the new wines and spirits that are coming out.”

– Josh Matteson, Manager, Fishers Liquor Barn

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Best Antique Store “We sell memories—and we have a lot of memories here. We have over 90 vendors in the store and 90 percent of them are 50 and older.”

– Shane Allerheiligen, A Robin’s Nest

Best Auto Repair “This will make my wife very happy. She loves reading the BEACON. This is our 28th year in business. I think people know me from when I worked at Eisenhauer Dodge and Les Shellebarger Chevrolet. Thank you.”

– Mike Coe (with Big Sam), Owner, Coe’s Automotive

Learn more at stmarygj.org/stroke

Support these local and loved businesses.

FEBRUARY 2017

TALKING DIGITAL 27

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Moving memories to DVD Talking Digital,

accepting

new patients

By Adam Cochran

R

ecently, a reader named Bob reached out to me. He wrote:

“I read your latest column in The BEACON and you mentioned editing home movies. I have a lot of old home movies I would like to put onto a DVD. What is the process for doing this??”

Note the two question marks. Obviously this is an important issue to Bob, so he deserves an entire column as an answer.

This topic comes up regularly when I find myself conducting impromptu Q&A sessions at parties. (I’m not a very fun person to party with, but people often invite me anyway because they can get answers to their computer problems for the price of a soda and a few slices of pizza.)

First of all, Bob, I recommend converting your old movies to a digital format, but not to DVDs. In fewer than 10 years, DVD and Blu-ray players will be as obsolete as VHS players are today. Creating DVDs and Blu-ray video disks is also a cumbersome and glitchy process.

The better alternative is to transfer your old videos to a digital file (usually called an MP4 or MOV file). These files can be duplicated, shared, stored on any media or even uploaded to a service like YouTube so that the entire family can view the videos without needing to snail mail disks.

If your old movies are on 8 or 16 mm film (not videotape), using a service is the only practical option, but don’t pay to transfer the movies to DVD. Just ask them to save the video files to a USB flash drive.

If your movies are on videotape and you want to do the project yourself, you will need the following hardware:

Comprehensive Medical Care Jeri White, D.O. Charlotte Chance, F.N.P.

Windows users: • A device that will play your tapes • A computer powerful enough to handle the process—Windows 7 or higher, 8GB RAM, 500GB hard drive • An interface box/cable (Roxio VHSto-DVD is a popular model sold at Best Buy for under $50) • Software that lets you edit the film (the cable usually comes with basic software) • 32 GB or larger flash drive or any external hard drive (they start at 250GB)

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• A device that will play your tapes • OSX, 4GB RAM, 500GB hard drive • An interface box/cable (Look for the Mac logo on the box) • iMovie (which comes installed on all Macs) If you buy one of the devices labeled “VHS-to-DVD,” ignore the DVD part.

You will simply copy the videos to your computer and then save the files to the external drive.

Once you have the above equipment, you will use the transfer cable/box to connect the video player or camcorder to the computer. The transfer cable/box comes with instructions that will lead you step by step through the process.

I hope this helps, Bob. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy the process. It’s a great hobby and it will preserve memories that otherwise would be lost in obsolescence. ■

Adam Cochran is a technology instructor at Colorado Mesa University.

You can email your technology questions to Adam at adamc@talkingdigital.org.

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By Nathaniel Sillin

F

ood shopping can quickly take over your budget despite your best intentions. Perhaps it’s due to impulse purchases, unplanned shopping trips, food going bad or a combination of all three. If you’re looking for ways to save money while enjoying nutritious and delicious meals, consider these money-saving tactics.

Stick to your budget

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Figure out your overall budget and food costs with a simple budget worksheet that you can find online.

(Just type in “grocery budget worksheet” into Google.) Knowing how much you want to spend and what you actually spent can help you make informed decisions.

Plan out the week’s meals with your budget in mind. If you make dishes that rely on the same staples, you can save money by using leftovers to create a new dish. But mix things up to avoid boredom.

Make your trip to the grocery store even easier with a shopping list. Sticking to a list can help limit food waste and make it easy to get in and out of the grocery store.

Rack up savings with discounts and deals You can also often save money at grocery stores by joining the store’s loyalty program. Members get exclusive discounts, and some programs offer additional savings at partner stores. Check your membership account online or with the app before checking out, as some programs have electronic coupons that you need to use to get the savings.

One way to increase your grocery budget is to use one, or several, of the apps that give you cash back when you buy groceries. Sometimes you can even earn cash back on general purchases like a loaf of

bread or a gallon of milk. Depending on the app and food, you may need to verify the purchase by scanning the barcode and sending a picture of your receipt.

Plan your shopping route Planning your grocery shopping after reviewing your local stores’ weekly sales and coupons can help you determine what to buy where.

Take the time to explore your neighborhood stores, as one grocer may frequently have high-quality yet inexpensive produce while another might have a great butcher.

No matter where you shop, be mindful of how the store’s design can entice you to make purchases.

The outside ring is often where you’ll find the fewest processed foods, however you might notice that you need to walk to the back of the store to grab milk or eggs. The store hopes you’ll be tempted by something you see along the way.

Sticking to your list, refraining from walking through aisles unnecessarily and remembering that the eye-level products aren’t necessarily the best bang for your buck can help you avoid these traps.

Stick to inexpensive foods Consider choosing store-brand rather than name-brand products, as they’re often cheaper but not necessarily lower quality. You may also consider changing what you buy. Filet mignon is delicious, but cheaper cuts of meat can be, too, and there’s a lot of advice online on how to best prepare them. Staples such as rice, beans and canned or frozen goods are also a low-cost way to supplement meals.

You don’t have to overspend to keep a well-stocked fridge and pantry. By planning your meals and grocery trips, using the money-saving tactics above and carefully choosing where you shop, you can save time and money—and cook up something delicious. ■

FEBRUARY 2017

29

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Lick at your own risk

Home is where the heart is...

By Sharon Kennedy

W

hen we were young, one of our favorite winter rituals was licking something icy cold and waiting to see what happened. The first time we licked a metal pole, we were probably surprised. Being unsophisticated country kids, I suppose it didn’t occur to us that a warm tongue would immediately stick to a cold pole. My memory isn’t clear on which one of us attempted the experiment first, but I’m fairly certain it wasn’t ’fraidy cat me. It was most likely my sister Jude, the oldest, who took the lead.

At times my sister could be sneaky. She probably put a piece of waxed paper over her tongue prior to licking the pole. Of course her tongue easily released. When I saw there was nothing to it, I did the same.

Getting a tongue unstuck from a metal clothesline pole wasn’t as easy as getting it unstuck from a Fudgsicle, something I realized too late.

I convinced myself I could outwit a frozen pole and show my sister I was just as smart as her. I was fairly clever in school and figured it didn’t take a genius to outfox a piece of metal. Maybe all I needed was an abundance of spit on my tongue, or to cool it first with a handful of snow. Then I, too, would have bragging rights that my tongue didn’t stick to an icy pole.

On my way back from the well house one cold winter morning, holding two pails of water destined for the kitchen, I decided to stick my tongue on a metal post. It was one of those rash decisions kids often make without taking time to think about the consequences. I said I was fairly smart in school—I didn’t say I had an abundance of common sense. Of course, my tongue stuck the moment it hit the pole.

I was terrified of our Herefords, and with my tongue stuck to the pole I realized Dad was letting them out for their morning drink. Our Herefords were as tame as house cats, but imagination always bests logic. So there I stood, stuck to the pole and as scared as a chicken when a weasel invades the henhouse.

I was convinced Mom’s favorite cow, Broken Horn, would gore me with her one good horn. As she approached, I wasn’t sure if I should drop the pails and let the water freeze my feet while I tried to pry my tongue loose or just wait to be killed. My heart was beating like it wanted to escape from my chest.

I said every prayer I could remember and asked God to forgive me for eating all the black licorice and blaming it on my sister.

Like every liar caught in a jam, I promised I would never again tell another fib.

Broken Horn drank her fill but instead of returning to the barn, she meandered my way. I started to cry.

I thought about all my orphaned dolls I would never see again. I knew my brother would have fun pulling the head off each of them.

My tears froze on my cheeks.

Broken Horn nudged me. As I waited to feel her good horn puncture my side, I felt my tongue loosen. The second it released, I dropped the pails and ran for the porch as fast as lightning.

I have no idea what explanation I gave Mom as to the whereabouts of the water pails. I probably threw off my heavy things and raced upstairs.

The room above the kitchen was my domain. I’m sure I hugged every doll and told each one of my near death encounter.

Did I ever again lick another frozen pole? Did I ever again try to outsmart Jude? Not a chance. ■

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30 BEACON GUIDE HIGHLIGHT

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FEBRUARY 2017

A Great Place to Call Home! AARP volunteers make tax season less taxing

By Ryan Cook

F

 Quiet 55+ Adult Community  New & Pre-Owned Homes  Free RV Storage  On-Site Manager  Resident Club House

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ALL FEES QUOTED BEFORE TREATMENT INSURANCE PLANS ACCEPTED DENTURE REPAIRS & RELINES EMERGENCIES WELCOME NO INTEREST PAYMENT PLANS

or nearly 40 years, the AARP Tax Aide program has provided western Colorado taxpayers with comprehensive tax preparation services at no charge. Though administered through AARP, this program is open to members of the public of any age.

“If you have earned income, we will do your taxes for free,” Volunteer District Coordinator Marie Walz said.

Walz is a CPA in Grand Junction, and has been the program’s district coordinator for more than 10 years.

More than 20 dedicated volunteers make the program possible.

All are certified tax preparers, coming from different backgrounds and professions.

Joe Carrol, a former chemical engineer, has volunteered with the program for 28 years after he and his wife retired to Grand Junction.

Not only do the volunteers dedicate their time to meet with people and prepare their returns, but they also must spend several days in class and taking tests in order to get recertified each year.

Walz and her husband, Bob, have built the program up over the last decade. In 2002, the organization filed approximately 1,200 annual tax returns in Mesa County. In 2016, it prepared more than 4,700 free tax returns. Since the average

commercial preparation cost is $300, the program saved tax filers approximately $1.4 million last year.

“We are the only free tax preparers in town,” Walz said. “The IRS and AARP pick up the bill and we supply the labor.”

Walz and her team of volunteers do everything from simple taxes to more complicated returns, including some small businesses as well.

“It’s rewarding,” Walz said. “Sometimes people will try to give us a tip, but we get lots of cookies, donuts and hugs. We develop a bond with these people. Money isn’t everything.”

Carrol said volunteering with the program is a worthwhile activity.

“They come back many times just to thank us,” he said. “What I really appreciate are the people who run it. I have never bothered to count the hours I volunteer for the program but the time I’ve spent is peanuts compared to the time they do.”

Volunteers meet with filers to understand their personal tax situations, make copies of pertinent documents, and then prepare and e-file the completed tax forms at no charge. A quality reviewer will also ensure accuracy. According to a recent survey, the AARP Tax Aide program returned less than 2 percent errors, besting all other commercial tax preparation services. ■

For help filing your taxes

This year, the AARP Tax Aide program runs February 1 through April 17. Patrons are served on a first-come, first-served basis and should be equipped with all pertinent tax information, including W-2s, 1099s, receipts to be itemized, Social Security cards, a valid ID and last year’s tax return if possible. Volunteers will be present to help walkins at the following times and locations: Wells Fargo Bank, 2808 North Ave. Open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Wells Fargo Bank, 359 Main St. Open Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

FEBRUARY 2017

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Brown & Brown attorneys offer peace of mind

By Melinda Mawdsley

A

ging and mortality are life certainties but that doesn’t make it easier to talk about death or deal with the legal ramifications of getting older. The realization of being a senior is a truth The Law Office of Brown & Brown, PC, has specialized in for nearly 10 years.

Today, three lawyers, three legal assistants and two support staff serve Grand Junction and Montrose area seniors in such matters as estate and long-term care planning, trust and estate litigation and powers of attorney.

All can be complex matters to understand but Baird Brown, a practicing lawyer since 1975, said Brown & Brown will talk clients through decisions such as will versus trust, skilled nursing facilities versus inhome care and, ultimately, how is it all going to get paid for and by whom.

“Everybody gets to go through death’s door, but very few people are willing to acknowledge that,” Brown said.

Instead of making decisions about the latter years when they are in their 50s or early 60s, most seniors react when health has started to deteriorate or make potentially damaging decisions about their assets without seeking professional counsel.

By then, “it’s a lot more complicated,” Brown said.

The firm emphasizes the need to plan during personalized meetings and free monthly workshops offered in Grand Junction, Montrose and Delta.

“I know some people don’t think they have enough money for a will, but there’s so much more to estate planning than money,” said Clara Brown Shaffer, a lawyer at the firm since its founding. “There is capacity planning, medical and financial planning. People with $500 in the bank need to have plans in place or it’s a lengthy, expensive court process.”

Individual meetings often involve estate planning—an umbrella term for setting up a will or trust and advance directives like living wills and medical or financial power of attorney—and plans for long-term care, particularly for those age 60 and older.

If 60 seems young to be thinking about assisted living facilities, that’s because it sometimes is. However, life doesn’t always go as planned, and when it comes to long-term care, certain decisions made when an individual is in his or her 50s or 60s can affect options decades later.

“Getting old is the pits. I have clients tell me that all the time,” Shaffer said. “It can also be very scary. Not only are there legal issues at play but family dynamics at play. Giving people peace of mind is enjoyable to me.” ■

Brown & Brown February Workshop “There Has Been a Death in the Family. Now What?”

• February 15, 4:30-5:30 p.m., at The Law Office of Brown & Brown, PC, 1250 E. Sherwood Drive, Grand Junction Learn about important issues in the estate administration process and common mistakes people make when a loved one dies. Registration is required. Call 243-8250 to register.

For future workshops, visit www.brownandbrownpc.com.

BUSINESS PROFILE 31

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FEBRUARY 2017

Grand Valley Pets Alive: a community resource for the love of pets

By Amanda Arnold

S

everal months ago, a kitten named Smokey was found on the side of the highway after being thrown from a moving car. The kitten was given a lot of love, but unfortunately, he didn’t survive.

Sadly, unwanted cats and dogs are often disposed of because there are too many of them and not enough homes.

Folks in the Grand Valley love their comfort-giving, four-legged friends and many think of them as part of the family. The volunteers at Grand Valley Pets Alive (GVPA) are especially fond of pets, and are ready to offer a helping hand.

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GVPA’s focus is on spaying and neutering pets in order to reduce the number of homeless cats and dogs in Mesa County. The local shelters are at maximum capacity, so the need to prevent unwanted births is high. With no place to go, many kittens and puppies are dumped and left to die. February is National Spay and Neuter Month, a perfect time to take care of animal needs.

GVPA’s Carol Chowen explained that the funds the nonprofit receives through donations and grants go towards spay or neuter vouchers for Animal Birth Control.

The organization will work alongside other veterinarians as well, if the spay or neuter service is in conjunction with a more complicated issue. For example, when a local cat needed an emergency hysterectomy, GVPA was able to help.

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GVPA aims to reduce the number of homeless cats and dogs in Mesa County.

In 2016, the organization spent more than $18,000 on spay and neuter services and shots. There were 411 spay/neuter surgeries, which included mostly cats, 23 dogs and two rabbits. Unfortunately, there was still a waiting list at the end of the year for animals in need.

While GVPA offers spay/neuter vouchers for cats, dogs and rabbits, the organization receives the most requests for cats, including feral cats. GVPA is not a catch-and-release organization, but it does have a few traps and carriers available for loan when community members come across feral cats. It’s illegal to capture feral cats and dump them somewhere, Chowen said. GVPA can help find a proper organization to assist with them.

GVPA services came to the rescue for Arloa Myers when she needed help with a community of feral cats in her barn. Years ago, a mother cat showed up on the barn with a litter of kittens, and those kittens had a litter. From there, the cats multiplied. Myers took care of the cats as much as she could, but there were too many of them.

“They were hungry, and I couldn’t take care of them all,” she said.

GVPA helped with the traps and releases. Since then, the cat colony has been stabilized without any new kittens joining the mix.

“They do a great job. We haven’t had any kittens all summer,” Myers said.

A connection to resources While not a fostering organization, GVPA can connect people with the proper resources. Pet fostering is a great way for an animal to stay in a home until a permanent home can be secured. It also helps socialize the animal, and provides humans with a furry friend to keep around.

“Fostering is the way to go if you don’t want a long-term commitment,” Chowen said.

Besides spaying and neutering help, GVPA also provides assistance with vaccines. Thanks to a $500 grant from the Western Colorado Community Foundation, GVPA will soon host a pet food bank for seniors and people with disabilities.

Those interested in helping the GVPA cause are welcome to attend meetings from 4:30-6 p.m. on the third Wednesdays of the month at Church of Nativity, 2175 Broadway. For more information, call 462-7554 or visit www.grand valleypetsalive.org. ■

Drink beer to support GVPA Support GVPA by purchasing a pint of Kannah Creek Brewing Company’s special firkin brew at the brewery, 1960 N. 12th St., on February 6. The firkin is tapped at 5 p.m. All proceeds benefit GVPA.

FEBRUARY 2017

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Powderhorn’s senior instructors make skiing fun for all ages

By Melinda Mawdsley

I

t seems crazy now, but when George Rau moved to Grand Junction in 2000 he didn’t bother going to Powderhorn Mountain Resort.

The lifelong skier didn’t think the small mountain would be worth his time.

Rau grew up skiing, eventually becoming a ski racer and then a coach in his mid-50s. He traveled the world, skiing at dozens of prestigious resorts on several continents.

He doubted the small Grand Mesa ski area had anything to offer.

“I was shocked,” Rau said of his reaction the first time he made his way up to Powderhorn. “It’s a gem.

I was embarrassed because it’s a really wonderful ski area.”

Now 77, Rau is Powderhorn’s oldest ski instructor, one of more than a dozen instructors age 50 or older who teach at the resort’s ski and snowboard school.

“They are seasoned and experienced,” said Stephanie Reynolds, Powderhorn’s ski and snowboard school manager. The senior instructors represent “an important demographic of our ski school,” she said.

Whether it’s the free season pass, the discounts on meals and gear at the resort’s ski shop or simply getting paid to ski, instructors at Powderhorn enjoy plenty of perks. But those pale in comparison to the joy several long-time skiers-turned-instructors get from sharing their love of the sport with others.

“My passion is skiing, and I truly do enjoy teaching people how to ski,” said Lori Bowers, now in her 18th season as an instructor.

The senior instructors at Powderhorn work with skiers of all ages and ability levels, including people the same age or older than them. It’s a wonderful sight to see a fellow senior enjoying a day on the slopes, said Jim Cox, a skier for 53

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years who is now in his 10th season teaching at Powderhorn. The oldest skier he has taught was 84.

“If people are in good health and fit, they can learn to ski” well into their senior years, Rau said.

Cox said he has met quite a few seniors who are hesitant to get on skis for whatever reason, and those fears can be difficult to overcome.

That’s why lessons with experienced instructors can help, particularly instructors at a smaller mountain like Powderhorn, Bowers said.

“Older people are generally more fearful of falling down,” she said.

“I cheer them on. There are precautions you take and if you follow them, people won’t fall.”

Powderhorn boasts more than experienced instructors. The mountain further caters to senior skiers (ages 50 and older) with the Young at Heart program, which takes place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. every Thursday. Participants with intermediate to advanced skills divide into small groups for fun on the mountain. Guides teach classes, there’s a break for lunch and an après ski event.

A discounted single-day lift ticket is available for $42. Consider it a bonus after successfully learning to ski.

For information, call 268-5700 or visit www.powderhorn.com. ■

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FEBRUARY 2017

hen February rolls around, visions of flowers, candy and intimate candlelit dinners send couples into frenzies of delight. People not partnered are pitied, as if they are missing out on the great joy of being paired.

Well, don’t invite me to the pity party! I’m way too busy to come.

In my four years alone, I’ve learned to dance ballroom style, made a nodding acquaintance with four other languages, taught college writing classes and made tons of new friends. And I’m not the only one who loves being single.

Sheryl Rogers, 66, has been divorced for 16 years.

“I don’t have to answer to anyone—to tell them where I am going or have them tell me when I should be back,” she said. “I can eat when, and where, and what I want. The same goes for watching TV, reading, going online and most of all going to sleep and getting up the next morning.”

Cliff Kramer, 71, concurs. He spends his time riding his Harley and taking pictures as an accomplished amateur photographer. He’s also a metal- and woodworker.

“I’m in charge of the TV remote,” he said. “My time is my own and I decide how to spend it.”

Christine Dailey, 62, has been divorced since 2001.

“I think when you learn how to create peace and happiness in your life, being single becomes very easy,” Dailey said. “I just love knowing my day will be filled with all the things that make me happy and content. I can visit my grandchildren or friends. I can golf five days a week or shop till I drop.”

Sure, singlehood has some drawbacks, but nothing that convinces any of us happy people to jump into a relationship to avoid being alone.

“Some days it would be nice to

have a female mate to do things with,” Kramer said. “And I’m certainly not dead when it comes to sex!”

For Dailey, lonely times are rare, and she is able to move past them easily.

Would any of them trade singlehood for a live-in relationship?

Rogers said she would—if the right man came along. But she’d take it slowly, wanting to take time to get to know the person before taking the relationship to the live-in level.

“I learned a long time ago to never say never,” Dailey said.

She might embrace a relationship with the right person, but finds it highly unlikely because she’s so happy being single.

“I have been single for some time now and I am really happy,” she said. “I think I might be the one!”

Kramer might be interested in a new relationship, but marriage, he said, is not in the cards.

So what do singles do on those special days associated with couples? Kramer hangs out with friends or goes on a bike trip. Rogers treats herself, either alone or with friends.

“On holidays I never get my feelings hurt because my significant other let me down, or forgot to notice me,” Dailey said.

Since I’ve never been particularly sentimental, a day designed for couples is just another day to take a long walk, sit in the sun and meditate or brighten up the waning days of winter with a store-bought or homegrown bouquet.

“Happily single” is not the oxymoron that the majority of Americans seem to think it is. We have chosen to be alone, knowing that true happiness is found within, and that we are whole and complete as we are. Now that’s a party I’ll write the invitations to! ■

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36 FUN AFTER 50

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

FEBRUARY 2017

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550 Ouray Avenue - 970 243-7408 The Senior Recreation Center offers activities for seniors age 50 and older.

The center is open Monday–Saturday from 8 am–4 pm. Annual membership is $15.

Senior Recreation Center Monthly Calendar of Events MONDAY THURSDAY Cribbage Cards Computer Classes Gray Gourmet Lunch Card Bingo & Dominoes Singles Pinochle (1st & 3rd Monday)

9:00 am Cribbage & Dominoes 10:00 am Dance w/Music (1st Thursday) 10:30 am Loka Hatha Yoga 12:00 pm Pokeno (Starts at 1 p.m. on 1st Thursday) 7:30 pm Dance

TUESDAY

FRIDAY

9:00 am Cribbage & Pool Tourney 12:00 pm Gray Gourmet Lunch 1:30 pm Bingo

9:00 am

12:00 pm 12:30 pm 12:45 pm 1:00 pm

WEDNESDAY 9:00 am 9:30 am 10:00 am

12:00 pm 1:00 pm

Ladies Pool & Cribbage Jack & Jill Pool Tourney Free Blood Pressure Clinic (3rd Wed) Gray Gourmet Lunch Pinochle & Canasta

The public is invited to enjoy artwork on display at City Hall, Tiara Rado Golf Course, Two Rivers Convention Center and the Avalon Theatre. These exhibits feature local artists and most exhibits last for three months.

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Senior Recreation Center

9:00 am 9:30 am 10:30 am 12:00 pm 1:00 pm 5:30 pm

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

Painting Class & Pool Tourney Gray Gourmet Lunch Bible Study Bridge Canasta

SATURDAY 9:00 am Bridge 1:00 pm Bingo

To make Gray Gourmet lunch reservations, call 243-9844. Cost $3.50

TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS Gentle Active Yoga This class is designed for an active beginner and above. Class is 8-9 a.m. at Lincoln Park Barn. Cost is $7 to drop in or purchase a 10-punch pass for $50.

MONDAY-FRIDAY Aqua Aerobics These aqua aerobic classes are for beginner or novice individuals. Class is 8:15-9:15 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Orchard Mesa Pool. Drop in for $4.50 or purchase a 12-punch pass for $46.50.

DANCE MONDAYS Line Dance The first 45 minutes will focus on beginning steps and the last hour will build on those steps to create more challenging dances to a wide variety of music. No partner needed. Classes are 12:15-2 p.m. Mondays through February 13 at Lincoln Park Barn. Cost is $15.

THURSDAYS Senior Dances with Live Music Dance from 8-10 p.m. at the Senior Recreation Center. Cost is $3.

SPORTS DROP-IN PICKLEBALL Play pickleball at Lincoln Park Barn.

Cost is $5 to drop-in or purchase a punch card for $30.

Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 8:30 -11:30 a.m.

Tuesday & Friday - 9:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. & 5-8 p.m.

Saturday - 9 a.m. to noon Sunday - 1-4 p.m.

VOLUNTEER Be a trail host!

Spend time outside and have fun volunteering helping out on the Riverfront Trail. Get your application in now.

Training and meetings start March 1.

Call Lorie at 254-3876.

SPECIAL EVENT FEBRUARY 9 Valentine’s Day Party Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Senior Recreation Center, 550 Ouray Ave., from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Register at the Senior Recreation Center. Cost is $3.

Bring a potluck dish.

FEBRUARY 2017

MESA COUNTY 37

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Mesa County Club Activities Art Quilt Association (AQuA) meets monthly at 9:30 a.m. on the third Saturday in Grand Junction. Location varies. Updates at www.theartquilt association.com.

Blue Lodge Masons meets monthly at 10 a.m. the first Saturday at the Masonic Center. Call 245-5312 for details.

Bookcliff Duplicate Bridge Club plays at 1 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at 2923 North Ave. Call 243-7874.

Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) Branch 244 meets monthly at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday at the VFW Post #3981. All former, retired and active sea service, U.S. Navy, Marines or Coast Guard are welcome. Call 434-0868 for details.

Friendship Force meets monthly at 6:15 p.m. on the second Thursday at the Red Cross Training Center. Call 260-4653 or visit www.thefriendship force.org for details.

Grand Junction Chess Club meets from 6:30-11:30 p.m. every Monday in the Safeway Starbucks, 2901 F Road.

If you don’t have a chess set, we loan sets out at no charge. For details, visit www.jctchess.com.

Grand Junction Gem and Mineral Club meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday and 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month at 2328 Monument Road. Email grandjunctionrock club@gmail.com for details.

Grand Junction Newcomers Club meets monthly at 9:30 a.m. the second Wednesday at First Christian Church.

Call 549-0439 for details.

Grand Junction Petroleum & Mining Club meets monthly on the third Thursday. Visit www.grand junctionpmc.com for details.

Grand Junction Toastmasters meets at 7:10 a.m. Tuesdays at St. Mary’s Life Center. Call 241-1900 for details.

Grand Mesa Chorus, Sweet Adelines International, rehearses from 6:30-9 p.m. every Tuesday at the Redlands United Methodist Church. Call 255-9419 or 523-3464 or visit www. grandmesachorus.org for details.

Grand Valley Pets Alive meets monthly from 4:30-6 p.m. on the third Wednesday at Church of the Nativity.

New volunteers welcome. Call 4627557 for details.

Grand Valley Woodcarvers meets at 6 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday and at 1 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at Redlands United Methodist Church. Call 245-8817 or 523-5965 for details.

Grand Valley Woodturners meets the second Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Redlands United Methodist Church. Call 245-8817 or 856-3632.

Great Old Broads for Wilderness will meet at 4:30 p.m. on February 27, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 536 Ouray Ave. Call 255-9900 for information.

Help Heal Veterans’ Craft Center, 1670 North Ave., supplies hundreds of free therapeutic craft kits each week to military service members and veterans receiving medical care. Call 424-0499 for details.

Knitting Club meets monthly from 6:30-8 p.m. on the fourth Tuesdays at Community of Christ Church, 2880 B ½ Road. Call 623-1455 for details.

Mesa County Genealogical Society meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month at The Commons of Hilltop and at noon on the fourth Wednesday of the month at the Museum of Western Colorado. Help sessions are at 1 p.m. on the first Friday at a library branch. Call 640-2388 for details.

Mesa County Republican Women will meet on February 6 for lunch and a conversation with Mesa County Senior Deputy District Attorney Bo Zeerip at

Two Rivers Convention Center. Tickets are $15 per person. Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m., the meeting is 12-1 p.m.

RSVP to mesacountyrepublican women@gmail.com or 549-8570.

Mt. Garfield Daughters of the American Revolution will hold a luncheon at noon on February 18 at the Wine Country Inn. Gary Parrott will present “Ancestors’ Letters.” The cost is $20. Submit reservations to Kathy at 858-1617.

Not Going Quietly meets from 1:303:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at Two Rivers Center for Spiritual Living Grand Junction. This group is intended to create a space of empowerment, grace, community and wisdom for individuals age 60 and older. Call 433-7799.

Orchard Mesa Lions Club meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of the month at A Taste of Heaven Catering. Call 424-4980 for details.

Talk of the Town Toastmasters meets at noon Thursdays downstairs at the Mesa County Public Library. Call 250-3969 for details.

River City Singles

Thunder Mountain Camera Club meets monthly from 7-9 p.m. on the fourth Tuesdays at Western Colorado Community College. Visit www.thun dermountaincameraclub.org.

Two Rivers Cribbage Club meets from 6-9 p.m. Thursdays at the Masonic Center. Call 261-1670.

Two River Sams/Good Sam RV Club will meet on February 18 at 11:30 a.m.

For location, call 523-5625.

Vestafjell Lodge, Sons of Norway, meets at 1:30 p.m. on February 13 in the west meeting room at Golden Corral. Call 245-5649 or 858-6702, or visit www.vestafjelllodge.org for details.

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) #3981 meets monthly at 5:30 p.m. on the first Wednesdays for a family style dinner and meeting at the Post Hall, 503 ½ Florence Road in Grand Junction. Call 778-8242 for details.

Western Colorado Astronomy Club meets the first Tuesday of every month at Colorado Mesa University’s Wubben Hall, room 161.

Western Colorado Decorative Artists meets monthly on the second Saturday at 9 a.m. at First Congregational Church. Call 640-2751. ■

FEBRUARY 2017 Activity Schedule

“Young-at-heart adults getting together for fun and friendship!”

Fridays at 5 p.m. - Calling all singles over 50!

Meet new friends and play games at Friday Afternoon Club (FAC) in the Hideaway Lounge at the Travelodge, 718 Horizon Drive. You’re sure to find people who are young at heart with like interests. Membership in RCS is only $20 per year.

Sundays at 12:30 p.m. - Bowling Sunday at Orchard Mesa Lanes, 295 27 Road.

RSVP to Bob at 263-8462.

Tuesdays at 9 a.m. - Early Start Breakfast at Denny’s on Horizon Drive. Visitors welcome. Call Debbie at 245-4995 for details.

Thursday, February 9 at 11:30 a.m. - The Fun Lunch Bunch have lunch at Olive Garden by Mesa Mall. RSVP to Penny at 712-2588.

Wednesday, February 15 at 2 p.m. - Game day at Mary’s. Play pinochle, rummikub, dominoes, hand and foot and more. RSVP to Mary at 242-0630.

38 MESA COUNTY

The Truth About REVERSE MORTGAGES Yes, it is a big decision, and it’s not for everyone, but it might be right for you!

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www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Val Begalle NMLS #267890

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Copyright© 2016 Cherry Creek Mortgage Co., Inc., NMLS #3001. This material is not from HUD or FHA and the document is not approved by the Department of HUD or any Government Agency. HUD does not approve the material presented. Cherry Creek Mortgage Company, is not endorsed by nor acting on behalf of or at the direction of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Housing Administration, the US Department of Agriculture or the Federal Government. To check the license status of your mortgage broker, visit www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org.

FEBRUARY 2017

Mesa County Calendar FEBRUARY 1 Getting started with backyard chickens Getting started with backyard chickens can seem intimidating, but with these tips you’ll be able to plan for your own poultry flock. Learn to choose the right chickens for your situation and to provide for their basic necessities. This free presentation by Erin McIntyre will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Mesa County Libraries’ Central Branch. For more information, call 243-4442.

FEBRUARY 3 An Evening with Judy Collins Singer-songwriter Judy Collins came to fame in the folk revival of the early ’60s and she’s still going strong. More than 50 years later, Collins is still loving her work and singing with as much soulful intimacy and beauty as ever. On February 3, “Judy Blue Eyes” will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Avalon Theatre. Tickets are $39-$49 and can be purchased online at www.singerandsimpson.com or call 406-250-5527.

FEBRUARY 4 “Caring Is a Work of Heart” Join a culinary brunch event in honor of American Heart Month at 10 a.m. at Grand Villa, 2680 N. 15th St. Lions chili supper fundraiser Support the Grand Junction Lion’s Club and Fruita Monument High School (FMHS) with this chili supper fundraiser from 4-8 p.m. at Independence Village, 225 N. Coulson St. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 6-12.

Children under 6 may attend for free.

Proceeds support FMHS scholarships.

FEBRUARY 5 “Swan Lake” at the Regal Theater The Regal Theater presents “Swan Lake” by the Bolshoi Ballet at 10:55 a.m. Ballet tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for seniors and children.

FEBRUARY 6 Grand Valley Pets Alive fundraiser Support GVPA by purchasing a pint of Kannah Creek Brewing Company’s special firkin brew at the brewery, 1960 N. 12th St. The firkin is tapped at 5 p.m.

All proceeds benefit GVPA. FEBRUARY 7 “Writing and Selling the Short Story” Local author James Van Pelt will teach attendees how to write and sell a short story in the Monument Room at the Mesa County Central Library from 5:30-7:30 p.m. More writing workshops take place at the same time on the first Tuesdays of the month. For more information, visit www.mesa countylibraries.org.

FEBRUARY 10 “Bee Movie” mystery dinner theater Audience members become suspects and investigators in the murder of a screen queen in this interactive mystery dinner theater. The evening, presented

by Mesa Murder Mysteries, begins at 6:30 p.m. and includes a three-course Valentine’s Day buffet and a prize for the top deputy. Tickets are $40 and available at www.cateringatasteof heaven.com.

FEBRUARY 11 Valentine’s Dance Grand Junction’s best Valentine’s Dance, hosted by the BEACON Senior Newspaper and Hilltop Senior Living Communities, will be from 7:3010:30 p.m. in the Garden Room at the Commons of Hilltop, 625 27 1/2 Road. Tickets are available for only $20—a sweet deal, especially since each ticket includes two drinks from the bar. Dancers will be able to glide across the area’s largest wooden dance floor, led by the big band melodies of Clark Gault’s Swing City Express.

Hilltop’s finest chefs will be cooking up a delectable assortment of hors d’oeu-

FEBRUARY 2017

MESA COUNTY 39

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

vres and sweet indulgences, and the room will be enveloped in an art deco theme. Call Stacey at 243-8829 to get your tickets.

Fruita Chamber awards banquet The Fruita Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Awards Banquet will be held at 5 p.m. at the Fruita Community Center.

Individual tickets are $50 until February 3 and $60 after that.

Jan Weeks conducts this writing class at Western Colorado Community College at 6 p.m. Learn to create scenes from narrative, write effective descriptions, use action tags in dialogue and create authentic characters in both fiction and nonfiction. Come ready to write. For more information, contact 255-2800 or cec@coloradomesa.edu.

An Evening at the Avalon Harmony Acres Equestrian Center will host an Evening at the Avalon at 5 p.m. to benefit their healing, equine-assisted therapy programs. The event includes dinner, live music by blues musician Alycia Vince, live and silent auctions and cowboy poetry and music by local artists. A cash bar will be available.

Tickets are $50 per person and available by visiting www.HarmonyAcresEC. org or calling 231-7956.

FEBRUARY 15 Estate planning with Brown & Brown The Law Offices of Brown & Brown, P.C., present a workshop on managing the estates of recently deceased loved ones. Topics include probate versus non-probate assets, how and when to distribute assets, what to do in the case of no will, what to do if the family starts fighting and more. The workshop will be held at 1250 E. Sherwood Dr. from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

FEBRUARY 13 “Show, Don’t Tell: How Do They Do That?”

Award-winning writer and journalist

FEBRUARY 18 Lions Club Carnival and Parade Join the Grand Junction Lions Club for its annual carnival fundraiser. The

parade begins at 1 p.m. in downtown Grand Junction. The carnival kicks off at 5 p.m. For ticket information, visit www.gjlions.org.

Sweet Heart Run and Health Expo In honor of National Heart Month, the City of Fruita is sponsoring the 10th annual Sweet Heart Run and Health Expo. The 5k and 10k runs begin at 10 a.m. at the Fruita Community Center.

A free community health expo will also be held in the Community Center’s gym from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The expo will feature free screenings and education from local health-related businesses, and is open to the entire community. Sign up at the Fruita Community Center.

FEBRUARY 21 AARP Smart Drivers course Save money and stay current on traffic laws with the AARP Smart Drivers course to be held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Fruita Community Center. The cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonmembers. Registration is required.

Call 639-2433.

FEBRUARY 24 & 25 Shorts & Sweets Enjoy a night of student-produced oneact scenes, monologues and cabaret at 7 p.m. at the Kamas Auditorium at Palisade High School. Performances are followed by a delicious dessert ($5 suggested donation).

FEBRUARY 25 “Rusalka” at Regal Theater Regal Theater presents “Rusalka” by the Metropolitan Opera at 10:55 a.m.

A second showing is at 6:30 p.m. on March 1. Tickets for the opera are $24 for adults, $22 for seniors and $18 for children.

FEBRUARY 27 “How to Start a Critique Group” Award-winning writer and journalist Jan Weeks conducts this writing class at Western Colorado Community College at 6 p.m. This class covers the types of critique groups, what a critique group does, how to comment effectively, scheduling and submissions.

For more information, contact 2552800 or cec@coloradomesa.edu. ■

40 MESA COUNTY

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Mesa County Beacon Bits Western Slope Veterans Art Festival Join the Mesa County Public Library on February 4 and 5 for the 20th anniversary of the Western Slope Veterans Creative Arts Festival.

Local veterans share their creativity through photography presentations, poetry readings and music performances. The festival will be at the Central Library on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1-3 p.m.

Valentine’s Day fundraiser for Friends of St. Mary’s Hospital Satisfy your sweet tooth at this fundraiser for St. Mary’s Hospital.

Fudge and chocolate roses will be on sale from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. February 9 and 10 in the hospital lobby and the Pavilion lobby. For details, call Judy at 434-4829.

Piano Salon Series at the Art Center On Saturdays this winter and spring, the Grand Junction Art Center presents a different genre of turn-ofthe-century American music every month. Pianist Frank French will provide historical background and perform beside contextual images of time, place and conditions. Performances are at 2 p.m. and focus on Black Composers in America on February 11, Romantic Traditions on March 11 and The Latin Tinge on April 8. Single tickets are $15 and may be purchased by calling 2437337, ext. 2, or at the door.

Hoffman Eye Care moves locations, updates name Hoffman Eye Care has moved to an upgraded clinic location and is now known as ICON Eyecare. The clinic, previously located at St Mary’s Hospital, is now located at 1000 Wellington Ave. The same team of doctors, surgeons and support staff will see and treat patients at the

new location. The staff performed all surgeries in the adjoining Day Surgery Center of Grand Junction, and will continue to do so. Patients will benefit from easier access and closer parking, as well as a newly upgraded facility that includes the latest diagnostic and treatment technology. A second phase of renovations is currently under way to open a LASIK suite as part of the clinical facility. Once complete in spring 2017, the ICON LASIK office currently located at 120 West Park Drive will move into the space.

“My Fair Lady” at CMU Colorado Mesa University’s Department of Theatre Arts presents “My Fair Lady,” running weekends from February 23-March 4. For dates and performance times, visit www. coloradomesa.edu/arts/theatre.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $16 for seniors.

Making Writing Real On Saturday, February 14, join award-winning author, essayist and poet Aaron Abeyta to explore how to use voice to capture and convey emotions in your work from 2-5 p.m. at the Center for Independence, 740 Gunnison Ave. Cost is $10 for Western Colorado Writers Forum members and $20 for nonmembers. Register by calling 2564662 or email wcwritersforum@ gmail.com.

Go Red for Women dinner This event begins at 4 p.m. on Friday, February 17 in the Meyer Ballroom at Colorado Mesa University. There will be free screenings, health and wellness resources, and educational booths for stroke, smoking cessation, CPR and more.

In addition to a cocktail hour and a heart-healthy dinner, heart attack survivor and actress Tracy Conway will be the keynote speaker.

FEBRUARY 2017

MESA COUNTY 41

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Banff Mountain Film Festival tour The Banff Mountain Film Festival is coming to the Avalon Theatre on February 25 and 26, thanks to the Grand Junction Rotary Club. Featuring the best action, environmental and adventure films, the festival has a new lineup each night. Single day tickets are $20; two-day tickets are $35. Tickets are available at www. coloradocanyonsassociation.org. The doors open at 6 p.m.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES • Mesa County RSVP connects individuals 55 and older to volunteer positions in any of our member agencies. For a list of volunteer opportunities and to register, call 243-9839.

• Mesa County Spellbinders is looking for volunteers to learn a few story-telling skills and make a difference in children’s lives. Spellbinders tell stories to students in kindergarten through fifth grade once a month during the school year. To join, call 462-7346.

SUPPORT GROUPS • Mending Hearts is for any adult who has experienced the death of a loved one. Grand Junction group meets from 2-3:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Miller Homestead at HopeWest. Call 248-8844.

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers support groups for family members of adults who

have a serious mental illness and connection groups for adults living with a mental illness. Groups meet at various times and locations in Mesa County. For additional information, please visit www.NAMIWS. org or call 462-3989.

I CAN REPAIR* those home hair color botch jobs!

I CAN FIX* those 12 minute-$12 quickie hair cuts! *In most cases

• Western Slope Visionaries, a low-vision support group, meets from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 241-0315.

Thirty Years Experience Former Hair Color Educator and Advanced Hair Cutting Trainer

• Compassionate Friends offers friendship and understanding to bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents. The group meets monthly at 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. on the first Tuesdays at Unity Church, 3205 N. 12th St. Call 434-3822.

Services Performed at Residence Salon by Appointment

2949 Sunset Drive - 970-241-4181

(2 blocks south of Patterson at Sunset Drive and 291/2 Road)

www.pomponioshair.net

• MACHO Men cancer support group meets monthly at 5-6:30 p.m. on the second Wednesdays at St. Mary’s Hospital’s Java City Café.

Call 298-2351 for details.

• MS and Men, a support group for men living with MS, meets monthly on the third Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon at the Artful Cup. Call 2418975.

LA VILLA GRANDE

• MS Breakfast Group meets monthly at 9 a.m. on the first Tuesdays at Village Inn, 757 Horizon Drive. Call 241-8975.

• GriefShare is a nondenominational Christ-based support group for those mourning the death of a loved one. This no-cost group meets from 1-3 p.m. Mondays. For location and details, call Vicci at 628-1453. ■

CARE CENTER

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42 FUN & GAMES1

FUN & GAMES

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FEBRUARY 2017

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FUN & GAMES

FEBRUARY 2017

- Mini Implants to Stabilize Dentures and Partials - 0% Financing Options - Open Fridays - Laughing Gas Available For Relaxation - Friendly, Kind, Experienced Staff - Find Courage And Trust - We’re Here To Help

For the puzzle answers see page 46

Across 1 Noted chef Graham 5 Halted 11 Classified items 14 CSA Gen. Robert 15 Not in its original form 16 Surname ascribed to an unknown 17 He went “Back to the Future” 19 Author Beattie 20 Spanish cabbage?

21 Coin-operated cafeteria 23 Polish off 24 Boxer’s warning 25 He went “where no man has gone before” 33 Took place 34 “Grumpier Old Men” star 35 Tibet city 36 River flowing to the Rennes 38 Canonical hour 40 Industrial city on the Ural River 41 Informal talk?

43 Stuck in the mud 45 Kind of clamp 46 One-time “Baywatch” babe 49 “La ___” (Debussy) 50 Half a colon

FUN & GAMES 43

Turn to page 46 for your puzzle answers 51 Perform on stage 55 It can be social or natural 59 Brit. ref. book 60 “You’re Still the One” singer 62 Put down the first card 63 NHL team in the city of 17 Across 64 Opposite of exo65 Endorses 66 Oder’s -partner 67 Father’s and Mother’s, for two Down 1 Dole’s 1996 running mate 2 1986 Nobelist Wiesel 3 45’s and 78’s, briefly 4 Cobble again 5 Dress designed by Oleg, for example 6 Morays 7 Dictionary abbreviation 8 Parlor seat 9 “Eight is ___” (classic TV show) 10 Right-handed 11 Genesis gentleman 12 Spanish lady’s title 13 Dropped in the mail 18 ___ costs 22 Big garden products brand

25 Half a Washington city 26 The Five Pillars of ___ 27 Dieter’s temptation 28 “___ Black” (Smith movie) 29 Wooden-headed Mortimer 30 Pusher’s pursuer 31 Where Big Bertha was “born” 32 Croupier’s tool 33 Small tuft 37 Hostile force 39 Pea pod, for one 42 Kramden portrayer 44 Legal claim 47 Meathead’s father-inlaw 48 Like some tomatoes 51 Word with shirt or pony 52 Onion -relative 53 Follows a recipe direction 54 Anklebones 55 Word often followed by a colon 56 Zola -courtesan 57 Slicker’s home 58 TV deputy from Hazzard 61 Nintendo’s Super ___

Crossword Puzzle

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COMPUTER LADY, LLC In-home repair. 15 years serving Mesa County. Windows, internet, Wi-Fi, Android, tablets, Netflix, Roku. Virus removal, installation and instruction. Dependable, reasonable, qualified.

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DO LITTLE SERVICES, LLC Helping seniors, singles or anyone maintain home/property with swamp coolers, garden tilling, leaf, yard, chimney, gutter cleaning, snow removal and general repairs. Free estimates.

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FEBRUARY 2017

ANTIQUES, APPRAISALS, ESTATE SALES With over 40 years in the antique, appraisal and estate sale business, Great American Estate Sales is the valley’s leader in appraisals and estate liquidation.

Settling an estate, moving into a smaller home or just simplifying your lifestyle? Great American Estate Sales can provide a worry-free and quick solution. Free consultation. 216-0048.

REMODELING & FOUNDATION REPAIR. Three generations of quality construction, additions and remodels. Residential/insured.

References and free consultations provided. Tom Peters: 2614303, tompetersconstruction. com.

FEBRUARY SPECIAL FOR SENIORS: $35 Perms & $10 haircuts! Hair services: perms, cuts and styles for men and women. We’re here to serve you! Melody: 201-0267.

SERVICES

Need a Personal Driver? 2-4 hours a day, 1 day a week or every other week. Doctors’ appointments, grocery shopping, errands. Must be mobile. Starting at $10/hr min. 2 hours, rate goes down from there. Not a taxi service.

Experienced. 216-2327. Leave message.

ASSISTANCE TO ANYONE. Do you need help? Grocery shopping, errands, appointments, dog or adult sitting, sewing, house cleaning, laundry, dishes. 1-3 hours to help you. I am trustworthy, compassionate and thoughtful, references. Kristin 361-0811.

FEBRUARY 2017

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$AVE MONEY ON TRAVEL! Travel Club membership offering discount cruises, travel packages and decreased condo rates. Checkout www.coconutclubvacations.com. Member # cc1546ue, password #1115.

Travel agents at 855-259-1155.

Call Susan at 462-1115 before booking a trip so I can call the organization with pre-approval.

Free to BEACON readers to use this membership.

USED BOOKS BUY, SELL OR TRADE Gently used books on hundreds of subjects. Westerns, romance, mysteries, suspense, kids, young adult, inspirational and many others. Large print. Special orders. 242-3911. Twice Upon a Time Bookshop, 2885 North Ave., Ste. B. Located in front of North Ave. Walmart and next to Subway. 10-6 Mon-Sat, 11-4 Sunday. **Bring this ad in for $10 Trade Credit**

April 27 – May 2, 2017 – Great Smoky Mountain Spring Nashville & the Opryland Hotel • Grand Ole Opry Pigeon Forge & Dollywood • Smoky Mountain National Park Gatlinburg • Biltmore Mansion • 5 Musical Shows!

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Disney’s FROZEN World Stage Premier • U.S. Mint Tour IMAX • Root for the Rockies vs. Detroit Tigers in “1st Base Super Suite !”

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Escorting Custom Tours from Grand Junction Since 1985.

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Question

FEBRUARY 2017

Month

What is your favorite romantic movie? ➤ Hillary Hall “‘Sense and Sensibility’ and ‘Pride and Prejudice’ because they are based on two of my favorite books. I also love ‘Notting Hill’ and ‘French Kiss’ because they are just ridiculously adorable.”

Geno Salaz

➤

“‘West Side Story’ because it was the start of interracial love between a man and a woman.”

FUN & GAMES Game answers from page 39 ➤ Kimberly Jessup “‘The Way We Were’ because of how deeply the characters loved each other. Even though it didn’t have a happy ending, it seemed like a real love story.”

Sharon Sears “‘The Notebook’ because it shows how true love lasts.”

➤

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KUDOS & KVETCH 47

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kudos \ ku·dos  “Western Colorado Writers’ Forum wants to thank you for the excellent coverage and article The BEACON did on our workshop with Neltje. The workshop was much enjoyed and your article certainly expressed that well.

Thank you so much!”

- Jane Miller, Western Colorado Writers’ Forum

 “Melanie Wiseman did a fantastic job on her article ‘Farming is in his blood: Jim Bernal passes traditions on to growing family’ about my mom and dad (Jim and Helen Bernal). I know how long she spent with them and how extensive the interview was. So I wondered how she would tell the story after a four-hour interview. She did an excellent job on the article. Thank you, Melanie. You made our day.”

- Cindy Fry

 “I love the BEACON! I enjoy the jokes and ‘Ask the Old Bag.’ I read them first. If you wanna be rich just count all the things you have that money can’t buy. The BEACON is one of mine.”

- Lewis A.

 “My sister is a tour guide in Texas.

I always send her the jokes from the BEACON. On the bus her clients always ask, ‘Do you have any more of those jokes from your sister in Colorado?’

Thank you, BEACON.” - Sharon W.

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How to complain the right way

By Jan Weeks

W

ouldn’t it be nice to live in a perfect world, where nothing ever went wrong and all our needs were met quickly and efficiently?

Unfortunately, even in the best-run lives, there are times when our legitimate complaints are ignored or settled unsatisfactorily. Here are some ways to solve situations without raising your blood pressure or resorting to inviting someone to step into the alley.

Restaurants get their share of complaints, either about service or food, and most are very willing to work with their guests to resolve such problems. Il Bistro Italiano Manager Lori Smith works hand-inhand with owner and chef Brunella Gualerzi to make dining a pleasant experience for guests. Although the entire staff works diligently to please all customers, sometimes Smith fields complaints about food not coming out of the kitchen quickly enough or not being to customers’ liking, or servers not being attentive enough. Smith said the first person guests should complain to is the server, then the manager if the situation still isn’t resolved.

“They should communicate with their server first, and courtesy goes a long way,” she said. “It also helps to have an idea of what action they would like the staff to take, such as replacing a dish, not charging for the meal or receiving a free dessert or drink.”

Being rude or loud is not the best way to get your problem fixed, Smith said.

“Service is not servitude. Staff are here to serve but there is no reason to treat them rudely,” she said.

“Give us a chance to make it right by expressing your complaint as soon as possible.”

Bruce Benge, owner of Benge’s

Shoes, the longest operating shoe store in Grand Junction, has worked under the skylight at the shop for more than 40 years and always wants to know if there’s a problem with his products or service.

“I have tried to empower my entire staff to deal with complaints because the goal is to keep customers happy. If something out of the norm comes up, though, I am the person to handle it,” he said.

To get the best results, he advised that customers be honest and calm rather than loud or demanding.

Probably no one gets as many complaints as the person who represents a public entity. Sam Rainguet, the communications manager for the City of Grand Junction, has her own take on how to get problems resolved quickly.

“The topics run the gamut from anything relevant to services and programs provided by the City of Grand Junction to questions or issues with other government organizations, the school district and any number of other organizations,” Rainguet said.

She often refers people to the correct organization, and although she doesn’t speak on behalf of other organizations, she does her best to make sure the caller is connected with the right person.

There are behaviors and attitudes that are not particularly effective in registering a complaint. In order to help, Rainguet needs detailed information, which requires a rational conversation.

“While I understand that people become frustrated with certain situations, yelling at me or making disparaging comments does nothing to improve the situation,” Rainguet said.

Mastering the art of successful complaining means life will be easier and you’ll get what you want. It’s worth learning and practicing! ■

kvetch \ kfech  “We love the Valentine’s Dance but the dance floor is just too small! Please invest in a few more of the panels they put down to create the dance floor. It is too crowded and sometimes you almost need a helmet and pads to venture out.”

- Anonymous Kevin: “Unfortunately, that’s the biggest portable wooden dance floor in Western Colorado. I agree that it seems a bit small, considering that over 200 people attend the Valentine’s Dance. But I hope it helps that we have reconfigured the room’s layout to open up the band and dance area this year. I have noticed that the crowded dance floor helps conceal my bad dancing.”

 “New rec center? Good. New senior center? Better. New events center? Bad. Just one humble voter’s opinion.”

- Gil M.  “I never did vote at election time, I’m sure I’d just be wasting your time and mine.

Whoever is elected I’ll be sure is a goon, So I’ll just sit back and howl at the moon.”

- Louis Farmer

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I H AV E M A N Y MILES BEHIND ME AND STILL A LOT MORE TO GO For forty years, Dave Knutson has been enjoying trail running and all its ups and downs. He might not be doing as many miles as he did in his twenties, but he is still going strong. For Dave, there is no over the hill, just the race to the top, and Rocky Mountain Health Plans Medicare will be with him for the long haul.

Find a Medicare plan that fits your Colorado lifestyle at www.rmhpMedicare.org or call 888-251-1330 (TTY: 711)

RMHP is a Medicare-approved Cost plan. Enrollment in RMHP depends on contract renewal. This information is available for free in other languages. Please call Customer Service at 888-282-1420 (TTY dial 711). Hours are 8am - 8pm, 7 days/week, Oct.1–Feb.14, and 8am - 8pm, M-F, Feb.15–Sept.30. Esta información está disponible gratuitamente en otros idiomas. Por favor llame a la línea de Atención a Clientes, al 888-282-1420 (TTY marque 711). Horario de 8am - 8pm, 7 días a la semana, del 1 de octubre al 14 de febrero; y de 8am - 8pm, de lunes a viernes, del 15 de febrero al 30 de septiembre. RMHP complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-888-282-1420(TTY: 711). CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-888-282-1420 (TTY: 711). H0602_MS_MC242A_10032016 Accepted