March 2022 - Beacon Senior News

The Voice of Adults 50+ in Western Colorado

MARCH 2022

Origami in everyday life

Local artist shares the art of origami

(And how to fold your own)

Tax season is here! Check out these 2022 tax season filing tips You choose the Volunteer of the Year!

Ballot inside, or go vote online!

24

Worker shortage? Make it easier for seniors to apply!

It’s not too late to find out…

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I N T HI S I S S U E

The Voice of Adults 50+ in Western Colorado March 2022 | Volume 35 | Issue 3

Publisher Kevin K. VanGundy Founding Publisher Susan Capps Editor in Chief Cloie Sandlin Graphic Designers B. Bigler Michael L. Madsen Customer Service Manager Stacey Splude

8 COVER STORY

Origami in everyday life

This local artist teaches the art of origami

10 Worker shortage? Make it easier for seniors to apply

Advertising Director Kevin K. VanGundy Advertising Executive Debra Romaniec

Even in stores that are begging for help, you can’t apply for a job unless you apply electronically, which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea

Advertising & Marketing Assistant Kayla Pool Proofreader Jan Weeks Delivery Lauren VanGundy Brittney Bade Cathy Shepperd

P.O. Box 3895 Grand Junction, CO 81502 Phone: 970-243-8829 Website:

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Email:

Beacon@PendantPublishing.com The BEACON brings hope and help to western Colorado seniors and those who serve them.

The BEACON is published at the beginning of the month and is distributed at more than 300 locations throughout 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. Deadline for advertising and announcements is the 15th of the month.

Display advertising rates are available upon request. © Copyright 2022 • All Rights Reserved

24

How old is old?

Survey says American’s views on aging are changing

15 Getting to the root of hair loss

Hair loss and hair growth are two separate issues. Here are three common causes of hair loss that often go overlooked

28 History tucked into the suburban present

Take an easy excursion to Littleton, Colorado

31

Read up on the nominees and cast your vote. The winner will be revealed at BeaconFest on April 28!

16 To better sex!

Low libido? Examine your diet and lifestyle

20 A fun alternative to pet ownership

When a long-time commitment isn’t fair to a furry friend, fostering can be a fun, short-term alternative

21 Live long and prosper

Star Trek boldly went where no show had gone before

22

Vote for Volunteer of the Year

30 Win Community Concert tickets!

That new black magic will have you in its spell when Louis Prima, Jr. swings on stage at the Avalon Theatre

35 Look beyond the stars

Tips for reading online reviews before making your next purchase

36 2022 tax season filing tips

Whether you’re working or adjusting to retirement, this tax expert answers your pertinent tax questions

Biodynamic gardening On the Cover

Local artist Dawn Morrow holds an origami crane in the palm of her hands. Photo by Cloie Sandlin

Turning into the moon’s phases is a practical way of acknowledging the forces of nature on our plants

44 MESA COUNTY 44 Calendar 52 MONTROSE & DELTA 52 Calendar 60 Classifieds

GRAND JUNCTION

E N T E RTA I N M E N T

FOOD • INFO

COLORADO’S LARGEST BOOMER & SENIOR FAIR

2022

GRAND JUNCTION

APRIL 28 | 9am- 3pm

GRAND JUNCTION CONVENTION CENTER

FREE ADMISSION! THANK YOU TO OUR 2022 SPONSORS!

CALL 970-243-8829 FOR INFO • WWW.BEACONFEST.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

Honor our community’s amazing volunteers!

L

ocal nonprofits rely on volunteers to help carry out their missions—especially during the pandemic. Over the last couple years, many volunteers have willingly and graciously donated more of their time to take on additional responsibilities in support of the causes they care about.

And what age group makes up the majority of our community’s volunteers?

Seniors!

The BEACON’s Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes some of these exceptional volunteers and honors them at Grand Junction BeaconFest on Thursday, April 28.

Thirteen volunteers were nominated by local organizations. While all of them will be honored at BeaconFest, there can only be one Volunteer of the Year. With so many wonderful volunteers to choose from we’re asking for your help!

1. Read up on each nominated volunteer on pages 31-33 2. Select your choice for this year’s Mesa County winner (we’ll be taking nominations for Montrose and Delta volunteers in July).

3. Vote online at www.BeaconSeniorNews. com or mail in the ballot on pages 33.

The last day to vote is Friday, April 22.

MUSIC, PRIZES AND FUN AT BEACONFEST Join us in honoring these dedicated volunteers during a mid-day ceremony at BeaconFest at Grand Junction Convention Center, and get ready for an exciting lineup of entertainment, educational seminars, prize giveaways and more.

EDITOR'S COLUMN

LETTERS

from our readers I’m from Michigan and I have a sister in Grand Junction. When I visit her, I enjoy reading the BEACON. The articles are so true to life and often touch my heart to the point of tears. Your humorous tales and jokes uplift me. I look forward to health information and share it with my weight loss group. Thank you for printing such an enjoyable magazine!

- Cookie H., Michigan I do enjoy reading your magazine.

- Ed M., Montrose Thank you for the time and work to make a wonderful paper that is anticipated every month.

- Reid Thank you for highlighting Community Concerts of the Grand Valley concerts so thoroughly! We, the board, really appreciate the energy you bring to your audience via your articles, and especially for our concerts. We truly enjoy our partnership with the BEACON. - Kauai Alpha Fitt, Community Concerts of the Grand Valley RE: Looking for love in all the online places? (February)

Between exciting raffles, peruse nearly 100 booths staffed by health care providers, housing representatives, advocacy organizations, home improvement experts, real estate professionals, financial advisors, local clubs, nonprofit organizations and more. Plus, admission is FREE! For details, visit www.BeaconFest.BeaconSeniorNews.com.

WANT A BOOTH AT BEACONFEST? Reserve your spot today! This show always sells out. Call 970-243-8829 or email Beacon@PendantPublishing.com

The online dating article left out one of the most important safety tips: Tell a friend specifically when, where and whom you are meeting; when you expect to be home; and any contact information you have on this stranger. If you are the friend, be sure to call her/him if you do not hear from your friend soon after the scheduled meeting should be over. Meet in a busy location if possible— even a busy hiking trail. Have your friend’s car info also, just in case.

- Beth We asked our Facebook followers February’s Question of the Month: If you were a candy heart, what would your message be?

“Respect” - Traci Allen “Jesus saves” - David Clarke

Cloie Sandlin, Editor in Chief Cloie@BeaconSeniorNews.com

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Email: Cloie@BeaconSeniorNews.com Mail: P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MARCH 2022 | EDITOR'S COLUMN |

7

Origami in everyday life

O

rigami is a centuries-old Japanese art form that involves folding paper into intricate shapes. Local artist Dawn Morrow taught herself to fold and now it keeps her busy.

She shared the true story of Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese girl who contracted leukemia from the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. In an attempt to persuade the gods to make her well, she pledged to fold a thousand paper cranes, but she passed away before she met that goal.

“I’ve gone way beyond that,” said Morrow, who’s made closer to 30,000 origami cranes.”

That feat isn’t unreasonable since she’s been folding for more than 25 years.

Origami played a large part in her wedding.

Morrow met concert pianist Doug Morrow online, in the days of chat room infancy. They seemed to have a lot in common, and he drove from his home in Cedaredge to meet her. The relationship blossomed between the two artistic people.

While dating, the paper strips used in restaurants to bundle silverware and napkins gave her an opportunity to keep her hands busy while chatting with Doug, so she began folding cranes.

Unbeknownst to her, Doug saved all of them.

She kept on folding during their year-long courtship, and when they set a wedding date, they decided to bring a thousand cranes and string them to display at the reception. However, things didn’t go according to plan, and the bags of cranes never got strung.

8 | MARCH 2022 |

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

Local artist shares the art of origami

By Jan Weeks

Friends who knew of the plan decided the cranes shouldn’t go to waste, so when the newlyweds came out to start their married life together, they found the car filled with paper cranes.

“We found cranes for a year afterward, between the seats, in the ashtray, under the seats,” said Morrow.

ORIGAMI FOR EVERYONE Morrow worked as a certified nursing assistant, medical records secretary, and ward secretary in long-term care facilities for almost 30 years, until COVID sidelined her last November. That, along with her rare lung disease and a permanent back injury, required her to quit her job and to be on oxygen 24 hours a day. Now she spends time at home crafting origami pieces, creating macrame wall hangings, and painting with acrylics, among many other crafts.

Dawn Morrow is a talented local artist who has folded more than 30,000 origami cranes.

SHE KEPT ON FOLDING DURING THEIR YEAR-LONG COURTSHIP, AND WHEN THEY SET A WEDDING DATE, THEY DECIDED TO BRING A THOUSAND CRANES AND STRING THEM TO DISPLAY AT THE RECEPTION.

BEACON SENIOR NEWS Be precise when folding Morrow stressed that the crease must be exact. Folding a crane, she demonstrated how she uses her fingernails to make sure the crease stays. Each piece requires multiple folding and unfolding to make the final piece.

One of her most impressive creations, she said, was a 2-foot by 3-foot Christmas tree made of origami cranes.

“I attached the cranes to a floral foam cone and wrapped it in Christmas lights. Then I folded translucent paper cranes that I put over the lights so they glowed,” she said.

The piece sold quickly.

One of the things she likes to do is fold bills into shapes as tips for servers. She also attaches origami pieces to canvases and fine strings to make designs. Hearts are a recurring theme in all her art.

She said origami occurs in daily life. Think paper airplanes and those fancy napkins shaped into fans, swans, and even neckties in fine restaurants.

Art classes from Morrow

Use the right paper Since so much emphasis is placed on folding, you’ll want to use paper that’s easy to work with.

Morrow suggests buying special paper that’s used specially for origami. She described it as thicker than tissue paper and thinner than copy paper.

Typically, she orders it online or stocks up when she goes to Denver. Locally, her go-to shop is Clubb’s Variety Store in Delta. Sometimes you can find it at Michael’s and Hobby Lobby, although the selection is often limited.

HOW TO MAKE AN ORIGAMI CRANE In Japanese lore, cranes were thought to live for 1,000 years. These special migratory birds symbolize health and long life and are believed to bring luck and good fortune. Below are the directions so you can make your own!

For best results, Morrow offers a few tips:

Continue to learn origami Since the art has evolved over centuries, there are tons of designs that you can try. Morrow suggested checking books out of the library, where she teaches classes in artistic folding. ■

Up there with origami, photography is another one of Morrow’s passions. She is also the president of the Thunder Mountain Camera Club.

To view Morrow’s art, visit www.2MorrowsMuse.com. To contact her, email Morrow@2MorrowsMuse.com.

WATCH THE VIDEO

For a video demonstration of Dawn Morrow folding an origami crane, visit:

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Step-by-step instructions to create your own paper art 1

Start with a square piece of paper, colored side up.

Fold in half cornerto-corner and open, then fold in half corner -to-corner the other way.

5

Fold the top of the paper downward, crease well and unfold.

2

6

Turn the paper over to the white side. Fold the paper in half horizontally, crease well and open, then fold in half again vertically.

3

Using the creases you’ve made, bring the top 3 corners down to the bottom corner, then flatten the paper.

Open the uppermost flap of the paper bringing it upwards and pressing the sides inward at the same time.

7

Turn the paper over and repeat steps 4-6 on the reverse side.

4

8

Fold the top triangular flaps into the center and unfold.

Fold the top flaps in to the center.

Flatten down, creasing well.

9

Repeat step 8 on the other side.

10 Fold both

“legs” of the paper upward, creasing well, then unfold.

11 Inside reverse fold the

“legs” along the creases you just made.

12 Inside reverse fold one

side to make the head, then fold down the wings.

13 Finished

Crane

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MARCH 2022 |

9

How old is old?

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

By Bonnie McCune

W

hen I was in my 20s and 30s, I figured by the time I reached 60, I’d be decrepit and barely able to take care of myself.

To my surprise, once I turned 60, I felt no different on the inside than I did when I was much younger. Turns out, I realized mature adults are quite capable of dancing, running political campaigns, debating issues, climbing mountains and writing books (That’s what I’m doing post-retirement).

But what about the people around me? How do they view me?

What about my contemporaries?

According to the 2019 Aging in America Survey by Parker Health Group, a New Jersey company that provides aging services, younger people continue to define old age at a much younger time than we do.

The survey found that baby boomers and the silent generation were far less likely to perceive people to be old by their 70s than Gen Xers

10 | MARCH 2022 |

(born 1955-1980) and millennials (born 1981-1996).

So the younger the individual judging us well-seasoned folks, the more they might be thinking, “That guy’s too old to be doing that.”

HOLD YOUR TONGUE! Another survey segment had to do with aging and ability. Even though younger folks think 70 is old, it doesn’t mean they think we shouldn’t be active and participating. Well over a majority of Americans felt 80 is not too old to engage in spirited activities that involve risk-taking, including falling in love (88 percent), running a marathon (72 percent), starting a business (69 percent), getting a tattoo (68 percent), even riding a motorcycle (62 percent).

Survey says Americans’ views on aging are changing

Baby boomers and the silent generation were a bit more realistic about their ability to do these things at 80, but they all seemed eager not to eliminate the possibilities.

More good news: Over onethird of Americans identify gaining experience and wisdom as upsides of aging, while 30 percent credit time spent with family and friends as benefits. Embracing a new life chapter ranks a distant third on the list (12 percent), followed by getting close to retirement (10 percent). Finally, Americans seem willing to loosen their death grip on gaining wealth and consumer goods (only 1 percent). Maybe they figure if they haven’t become rich by the time they’re old, they might as well give up.

EVEN THOUGH YOUNGER FOLKS THINK 70 IS OLD, IT DOESN’T MEAN THEY THINK WE SHOULDN’T BE ACTIVE AND PARTICIPATING.

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

A few surprises percolated at the top.

The vast majority (88 percent) of respondents expressed at least one age-related fear.

When asked to choose the top three fears, physical health issues (66 percent) ranked highest among respondents, trailed by mental health issues (59 percent). Running out of money was a top three fear for two in five adults (40 percent), while roughly half as many worry about being lonely (22 percent), being bored (21 percent), or not having the lifestyle they expected (19 percent). Just 13 percent rank losing their physical attractiveness among their three greatest fears related to aging.

IDENTIFYING AGEISM We hear plenty these days about how racism and sexism can subtly influence people’s thinking, actions, laws and policies. Seniors aren’t exempt, and examples of ageism

BEACON SENIOR NEWS current photos of people to older ones (24 percent), birthday cards that joke about aging (19 percent), and dressing children as centenarians on the 100th day of school (14 percent). Women tend to be more sensitive to these forms of ageism than men.

WILL CHANGE CONTINUE?

WILL AN INCREASINGLY AGING POPULATION CHANGE OUR USUAL PERCEPTIONS ABOUT STAYING YOUNG AT HEART? abound in newspapers, television, movies and social media.

Americans are evenly split in their views of how the media portrays older people, with 38 percent believing they’re portrayed positively while 36 percent perceive the opposite. This leaves nearly 25 percent with neutral views.

About one-third of respondents have experienced ageism in some form. Discrimination in the workplace has affected more than one in four, but nearly 19 percent say it was because they were too young, while 11 percent referenced being too old. Outside the workplace, one in five has faced harassment or discrimination based on age, which divided into too young (15 percent) and too old (10 percent).

Is every possible example truly ageism?

Two-thirds of respondents were able to choose at least one example from a list of five as a type of age discrimination. Topping the selections was “Describing minor forgetfulness as a senior moment.”

I hear my aging contemporaries use this as an excuse for their behavior quite often.

Nods were also given to social media campaigns that compare

Now that many are aware of the subtleties of ageism, will those who took the surveys change the way they think and act in the future?

One in five responded yes, but millennials and Gen Xers were more inclined than boomers and silents to expect a change in themselves.

It will be interesting to see what occurs as the world around us alters. No doubt the pandemic will impact the results, but will it dampen our satisfaction with life as we grow older? Will an increasingly aging population change our usual perceptions about staying young at heart? Will we begin thinking there are definite age limits to activities we find appropriate? Let’s not forget that views from the old and the young have always been dynamic and viewed from opposite ends of life’s spectrum.

Lewis Carroll surely knew this 165 years ago when he composed his master inquiry about ageism. It contains insights that are still applicable today.

“You are old, father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head — Do you think, at your age, it is right?”

“In my youth,” father William replied to his son, “I feared it would injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, Why, I do it again and again.”

- Lewis Carroll, “Alice’s Advetures in Wonderland” ■

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11

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w/Mashed Potatoes & Gravy and Vegetables

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One-Pan Japanese Salmon with Sweet Potato Recipe courtesy of www.NewWaytoSeafood.com

Servings: 2

Ingredients

|

1 2 1 8 2

sweet potato, cut into rounds tablespoons coconut oil, divided tablespoon sesame seeds sea salt spears broccolini salmon fillets (4 ounces each) brown rice, for serving

For Marinade:

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12 | RECIPES | MARCH 2022 |

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

1 tablespoon sesame oil 1/4 cup tamarind sauce 1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons sesame seeds 1 tablespoon honey In bowl, whisk sesame oil, tamarind sauce, Dijon mustard, sesame seeds and honey until combined.

Directions: Preheat oven to 400° F. Line tray with baking paper.

Place sweet potato on baking tray and drizzle with 1 tablespoon coconut oil. Toss to coat. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and sea salt. Roast 25 minutes.

Remove tray from oven and add broccolini. Drizzle with remaining coconut oil and sea salt. Place salmon fillets in middle of tray and drizzle with marinade. Bake 12-15 minutes, or until cooked to desired doneness. Serve with brown rice. ■

See more recipes at www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

I can...I think

By Terri Kaiser

D

id you ever watch someone perform a song, paint a picture, quilt a cozy blanket, or carve a masterpiece out of wood, and think, “I could do that”? I think we all have.

The artist creates or performs with such grace that it appears to be effortless, lulling us into that false sense of thinking we can.

Our over-inflated opinion of what we are capable of can serve to inflate our egos quite handily until, that is, we actually try that which we think we can do. At times, we surprise ourselves. Other times, we gain another life lesson in humility.

And who among us can't use more life lessons?

ONCE UPON A TIME, I JOINED A SINGING GROUP ONLY TO FIND THAT THE WAY I SOUND IN MY CAR DOES NOT RIVAL THE REAL DEAL. I like to sing. Sometimes, I think I'm rather good at it, but every once in a while, I hit a clunker of a note and my ego balloon pops like a pimple on a teenager. But there are so many things I like to tell myself that I can do if only I had the time to do it, the resources to make it, and the knowledge to understand how.

Once upon a time, I joined a singing group only to find that the way I sound in my car does not rival the real deal. I could blame it on the accompanist and say she used a key too high for me, but honestly, it was probably a giant case of the nerves. Yes, that was probably it.

I can sing just fine in my car or my living room, but in front of others?

Most times, that nasty thing called fear robs of much of what we could accomplish.

I might be able to paint a pretty picture if I practice long enough. I

enjoyed it in high school. Art class was the highlight of my day back then. I haven't really tried since, other than to paint some flowers on our mailbox, which turned out rather well.

Not too long ago, I went to one of those painting parties. It was great fun and I'd love to do it again, but I found I was no Picasso. I'm more into landscapes.

Growing up, my mom sewed a lot of our outfits. In high school I tried—truly I did—to make some of my own clothes, but my taste in pattern was questionable. The most memorable piece was a maxi dress with peace and love signs all over it in a plethora of colors. Good grief, I was a geek!

I am fairly good in the kitchen.

The smoke alarm rarely goes off these days. I can make a mean strawberry-rhubarb cream pie or a pumpkin dump cake, and my pork and dumplings is to die for! There's no better way to beat stress than putting on some music, pouring a glass of wine, and creating something yummy.

I will say my downfall is that if there's a lot of steps to a recipe or too many ingredients, I’ll likely turn the page. I guess I'm a great cook if I don't have to work too hard.

Please don't be deterred from trying something new. Stepping out of our comfort zone is definitely worthwhile. You never know when you may uncover hidden talents.

The important thing is, we try.

And if you don't, it's really the journey that counts. Try that recipe, sing that song, paint that picture, sew a new wardrobe, and create to your heart’s content. If we take pleasure in the process, it's worth every second. There's no success without failure, and there's nothing wrong with trial and error. That's how we navigate through this life and find our place. ■

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WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MARCH 2022 |

13

HEALTHY GEEZER

The best way to treat nosebleeds

W

hen treating a nosebleed, it’s important to resist the instinct to tilt your head back or lie down. You have to keep your head higher than your heart to cut down on bleeding. And, if you lean back, you can swallow blood, which can produce vomiting and diarrhea.

The best technique is to sit down and lean slightly forward so the blood will drain out of your nose.

Then, using your thumb and index finger, squeeze the soft portion of your nose together until the bleeding stops. Don’t let go for at least 5 minutes. Repeat as necessary. Placing an ice pack across the bridge of your nose may also help.

Nosebleeds usually start just inside the nose at the septum that separates the nostrils. The septum contains many fragile blood vessels that can become easily damaged.

SELF-TREATMENT CAN STOP ALMOST ALL NOSEBLEEDS. IF BLEEDING PERSISTS FOR LONGER THAN 30 MINUTES, GET IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION. In older adults, a nosebleed may also begin deeper inside the nose where there are larger blood vessels. This type of nosebleed may be caused by hardened arteries or high blood pressure. They usually happen spontaneously and often require medical treatment.

The most common cause is dryness, but they can also be caused by injuries, colds, allergies, oxygen use, an object lodged in your nostril (typical for grandkids), and nasal sprays. Running a humidifier inside your home can help. You might also consider lubricating the inside of your nostrils with petroleum jelly

ointment, especially during the winter months.

Self-treatment can stop almost all nosebleeds. If bleeding persists for longer than 30 minutes, get immediate medical attention.

Frequent nosebleeds can indicate serious illness. It could be an early sign of leukemia, blood clotting disorders and nasal tumors.

To prevent recurrence of a nosebleed, follow these tips: • Avoid bending over or blowing your nose for several hours.

• Rest with your head elevated to 45 degrees.

• Don’t lift anything heavy.

• Don’t smoke.

• Avoid drinking hot liquids for at least 24 hours.

• Don’t take blood thinners, aspirin and ibuprofen. However, if you are on a prescribed blood-thinner such as Coumadin, consult your physician. ■

HEALTHY GEEZER

BY FRED CICETTI Send your general health questions to Healthy Geezer in care of the BEACON, or email him at Fred@HealthyGeezer.com

Introducing

Nursing and Rehabilitation at its finest!

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Getting to the root of hair loss

T

he average person sheds an estimated 100 hairs every day!

That’s hard to believe, but it’s true.

Hair loss and hair growth are two separate issues. You can’t stop the shedding because it’s natural. But if you’re not growing new hairs, then hair loss becomes more evident.

After trying numerous expensive shampoos and color treatments, you may have given up hope for restoration and accepted it as another sign of getting older. But if you’re dealing with a thinning head of hair, the cause may not always be aging-related.

You do have some control over new hair growth, once you identify the problem. Here are three common causes of hair loss that often go overlooked.

STATIN USE People with elevated cholesterol sometimes take statin medications, such as atorvastatin, to help improve their ratios. A well-documented side effect of statins is reduced production of the thyroid hormone, which leads to hair loss.

Through their drug mugging effect, statins lead to reduced hair growth and extra shedding.

This fix is simple. Talk to your physician about getting a prescription for a thyroid hormone medication. You could also try a good supplement to support thyroid hormone synthesis.

ANTIBIOTICS AND ANTIFUNGALS Many people today are being treated for mold illness or other infections such as Lyme disease, H. pylori, SIBO, or even acne. These

antibiotic and antifungal medications that “kill” organisms are also known to cause hair loss, which often begins about two to four months into drug therapy. It’s often overlooked by doctors who have one goal in mind—to treat your infection.

Talk to your doctor about replacing these drugs using a combination of some high-quality probiotics and prebiotics, as well as patience. Upon discontinuing the offending drug, your hair should slowly begin to grow back.

AUTOIMMUNE CONDITIONS Many people suffer with autoimmune disease and don’t even know it. That’s because the symptoms get treated one by one, with one medication at a time. For example, if you have joint pain, you get celecoxib. If you have fatigue or night sweats, you’re given an antidepressant or estrogen drug.

If you have neuropathy, you’re prescribed gabapentin.

All of these symptoms could actually be autoimmune driven.

Joint pain could mean you have rheumatoid arthritis. Fatigue or night sweats may be sarcoidosis.

Hair loss is very common with these conditions. Make sure you’ve been diagnosed properly because if you have any one of these autoimmune disorders, you could also have antibodies against your own hair follicles. If you think your hair loss is being driven by an autoimmune process, you can look into new, appropriate methods of treatment. ■

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15

HEALTH & WELLNESS

To better sex!

Low libido? Examine your diet and lifestyle

By Wendell Fowler

S

exual intimacy among older adults is a subject people don’t talk about much. Especially around the grandkids. There’s a widespread misconception that seniors lose interest. Ooh-la-la, au contraire.

Unclench, please! We’re all adults. Don’t get uptight and mentally censor, or deem sinful, urges that come naturally.

A survey by the University of Michigan and AARP found 40 percent of people ages 65-80 are sexually active. Nearly 72 percent of individuals in that age range have a

romantic partner and of those, 54 percent are sexually active. More than half of those surveyed also reported that sex and intimacy is important to their quality of life.

“Sex and sexual health among older adults doesn’t get much attention, but is linked closely to quality of life, health and wellbeing,” said Erica Solway, University of Michigan’s co-associate director of the poll.

While some seniors may give up strenuous sports, sex is a physical pleasure many older people readily enjoy.

LOOK INTO YOUR LIBIDO “There’s no age limit on sexuality and sexual activity,” reported Stephanie A. Sanders, PhD, associate director of the Kinsey Institute Sexual Research Group. “However, sex hormones testosterone and estrogen decline with age, but these changes affect everyone differently.”

Other than faded love or physical infirmities, there’s mixed information why sex drive decreases as we age. Both biological and psychological factors affect sexuality.

According to the National Institute on Aging, naturally occurring

changes in body shape and size may change some people’s desire for sexual relations, as can medication side effects. Having chronic health conditions doesn’t help matters either. If you don’t feel well, you’re not going to be thinking about sex. Talk to a doctor about it. Many causes for decreased libido are treatable.

Most sexual health hitches can be improved through plant-based nutrition, regular exercise and medical help. Foods high in omega-3 help the body’s nervous system, neurological functioning and enhance circulation which aids sexual function. Salmon, tuna, trout, walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, pecans, chia and flax seed are wonderful for overall health and sex life.

Foods rich in L-Arginine: sugar-free granola, oatmeal (not instant), dairy, green vegetables, root vegetables, garlic, ginseng, chickpeas, onions, whole grains, eggs, dark chocolate and beans, also increase circulation. Avocados are sexually potent foods high in antioxidants, potassium, and vitamin B6, which promotes blood flow.

Additionally, excessive alcohol

FORKING OVER BIG BUCKS FOR A PILL IS LIKE PAYING FOR SEX.

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POST-COVID RECOVERY TEAM Looking at recovery from every perspective can dull sexual desire, decrease arousal and sensitivity, and may lower inhibitions leading to unsafe decisions and deceive some into thinking they’re Casanova doppelgangers.

STDS ARE ON THE RISE When it comes to sexually transmitted disease (STDs), age doesn’t protect anyone.

“We assume seniors know about safe sex, but many don’t,” said Jennifer FitzPatrick, MSW, LCSW-C. “Seniors who are sexually active outside of a committed relationship should use condoms.”

Recent data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that among all age groups, rates of STDs are going up, and the greatest rise appears to be among seniors. An analysis by Athenahealth showed in-office treatments for chlamydia, herpes simplex, hepatitis- B, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea and syphilis were up 23 percent from 2014 to 2017. Treatment for these same diseases rose by 11 percent in younger age groups.

KEEP LOVE ALIVE A Duke University study showed that some 20 percent of people over 65 have sex lives that are better than ever before.

Geriatrics expert Walter M. Bortz, author of three books on healthy aging as well as several studies on seniors’ sexuality said, “If you stay interested, stay healthy, stay off medications, and have a good mate, then you can have good sex all the way to the end of life.”

Rather than assuming desire is lost, examine diet and lifestyle.

Forking over big bucks for a pill is like paying for sex.

Prepare a quixotic supper at home where you can create a romantic setting with music, flickering candles, and mindfully prepared, easy-to-digest food using healthy ingredients. Perhaps, consider intimacy before dining.

Regardless, keep love alive from wedding day to everyday with healthy intimacy from the fountain of love, sweet love—the ultimate aphrodisiac. ■

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17

LAST HARLEY RIDE

and scrapes.”

Well, she was very persuasive. Instead of taking me home, she took me to her place because it was close by. After bandaging my wounds and sharing a couple of cold beers with her, I thanked her and said, “I feel a lot better now, but I know my wife is going to be really upset with me. I’d better go now.”

“Don’t be silly,” she responded.

“Stay awhile. She won’t know anything. By the way, where is she?”

I replied, “Still in the ditch with the Harley, I suppose.”

Submitted by Ben Kuckel While riding my Harley, I swerved to avoid hitting a deer, lost control and landed in a ditch, severely banging my head. Dazed and confused, I crawled out of the ditch to the edge of the road.

A shiny new convertible pulled up and a beautiful young woman asked, “Are you okay?” As I looked up, I couldn’t help but notice she was wearing a low-cut blouse.

“I’m okay, I think,” I said as I pulled myself up to lean on her car.

She said, “Get in. I’ll take you home and help clean and bandage up the cuts and that nasty scrape on your head.”

“That’s nice of you,” I answered.

“But I don’t think my wife will like that.”

“Oh, come now, I’m a nurse,” she said. “I’m glad to help with your cuts

THE OTHER WOMAN Submitted by Ben Kuckel A wife asks her husband, “When I die, will you partner with another woman?”

Her husband replies, “I suppose so, but why are you asking such a

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silly question?”

She asks, “Do you think she’ll wear my clothes?”

He says, “I don’t know, she might. They’re beautiful clothes.”

She asks, “Do you think she’ll drive my car?”

He responds, “I don’t know; I guess so.”

“How about my jewelry? Will she wear my jewelry?” she asks.

He says, “I don’t know. Probably.”

The she asks, “Will she use my golf clubs?”

Her husband replies, “Definitely not. She’s left-handed.”

THE FLY

Submitted by Bill Carol A Scotsman, an Englishman and an Irishman were at a bar and had just started drinking their first round when a fly landed in each of their drinks.

The Englishman refused to drink his and ordered another.

The Irishman blew away his fly in a cloud of froth and carried on drinking.

But the Scotsman carefully lifted

How to make a delicious St. Patrick's Day Sweet Treat from our own Chef Kristeen

e i n w o Br e l f f u Tr t Min

the fly out by its wings and held it over his glass.

“Go on,” he said to the fly, “Spit it oot ya wee bastard!”

NO PRAYERS NEEDED

Submitted by Harry Davis The Sunday school teacher asks, “Now, Johnny, do you say prayers before eating?”

“No, ma’am,” little Johnny replies. “I don’t have to. My mom is a good cook.”

PIGS FOR SALE

Submitted by J. Dominguez A farmer had five female pigs that he decided to sell at the county fair since times were hard.

At the fair, he met another farmer who owned five male pigs. They decided to mate the pigs and split everything evenly. The farmers lived 60 miles away from one another so they agreed to each drive 30 miles to a field in which to mate their pigs.

The first morning, the farmer with the female pigs got up early, loaded the pigs into the family sta-

INGREDIENTS: 1 box Brownie Mix 1 3.4oz. box Instant Vanilla Pudding 1 tub Cool Whip 1 bag Mini Oreo’s (crushed) 1-2 tsp Mint Extract Green Food Coloring Green Sprinkles DIRECTIONS: Cook brownies according to box, adding in the Mint Extract.

Make vanilla pudding according to box directions.

Once the pudding is cooked, add the green food coloring to obtain the color desired.

Crush half the bag of mini Oreo’s with a rolling pin in a Ziploc sandwich baggie.

Once the brownies are cooled, break up into small pieces. I used approximately 3/4 of the brownies.

Assemble the trifle by layering crushed Oreo, with broken up brownies, clouds of pudding and a dollop of Whip Cream.

Repeat laying process until the Trifle cup is filled.

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LAUGHING MATTERS tion wagon and drove the 30 miles.

While the pigs were mating, he asked the other farmer, “How will I know if they are pregnant?”

“If they’re grazing in the morning, they’re pregnant,” he replied.

“If they’re in the mud, they’re not.”

The next morning, the farmer woke up to find the pigs rolling in the mud. He hosed them off, loaded them into the family station wagon, met the other farmer in the field and proceeded to try again.

The following morning, he found them in the mud again.

The same thing happened every day for a week. One morning, the farmer was so tired that he couldn’t get out of bed.

“Honey,” the farmer asked his wife, “please look outside and tell me if the pigs are in the mud or in the field.”

“Neither,” his wife said. “They’re in the station wagon and one of them is honking the horn.”

MINOR PROCEDURE

Submitted by Bob Breazeale A guy goes to the doctor for a minor procedure. The doctor says, “My fee is $100 now and $75 per week for 52 weeks.”

“That’s an unusual way to pay,” says the patient.

The doctor replies, “Not really— I’m buying a used car.”

MARRIAGE ADDS UP

Submitted by Edward Anderson A little boy was attending his first wedding.

After the service, his cousin asked him, “How many women can a man marry?”

OPEN FOR DINE-IN

“Sixteen,” the boy responded.

His cousin was amazed. “How do you know that?”

“It’s easy,” the little boy said.

“All you have to do is add it up like the Bishop said: four better, four worse, four richer, four poorer.”

THE TRUTH ABOUT KIDS

Submitted by Dawn Murray Q. Should I have a baby after 35?

No, 35 children is enough.

Q. I’m two months pregnant. When will my baby move?

With any luck, right after he finishes college.

Q. What is the most reliable method to determine a baby’s sex?

Childbirth.

Q. My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she’s borderline irrational.

So what’s your question?

Q. My childbirth instructor says it’s not pain that I’ll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right?

Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.

Q. Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labor?

Not unless the word “alimony” means anything to you.

Q. Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?

Yes, pregnancy.

Q. Do I have to have a baby shower?

Not if you change the baby’s diaper very quickly.

Q. Our baby was born last week.

When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?

When the kids are in college. ■

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19

PET PAGE

Fostering: a fun alternative to permanent pet ownership

By Jenna Kretschman, Roice-Hurst Humane Society

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ne of life’s greatest joys is the companionship we share with our pets: a dog’s unconditional love, a cat’s comforting familiarity, and the bond you form as they entrust you with a lifetime of compassionate responsibility. But when a 15-year commitment into the future isn’t feasible or fair to promise to a furry friend, fostering through a local animal shelter is a fun, shortterm alternative to permanent pet ownership.

Pet foster care is a temporary arrangement in which a shelter pet is cared for in a volunteer’s home prior to adoption. Foster stays typically range from one week to two months, depending on the pet, and you choose when and which pet to bring home!

Foster volunteers sign up for a variety of reasons. Some are retired and value their freedom to travel while others simply want the company of a dog or cat without the lifelong commitment. They are a crucial part of keeping the pets of our community safe and cared for.

When a pet leaves a shelter kennel and moves into the comfort of a foster home, that kennel becomes available for another pet to find safety. Some pets, like newborn kittens and puppies or pets with certain medical needs, can’t stay inside the shelter and rely on foster homes for survival.

Adoptable dogs and cats also benefit from foster care. Despite our best efforts, any animal shelter is inherently stressful to pets on some level—full of new smells, unfamiliar people and other animals—so spending time in your home while they await adoption is an incredible gift. Plus, shelter staff can more accurately sense a pet’s personality in a home environment, which allows for more

Lacey, a 1-year-old blue heeler, is one of our “poster pups” available for foster care. successful matchmaking.

Lacey, a 1-year-old blue heeler who was found lost on the side of the road last fall, is one of our “poster pups” for foster care at Roice-Hurst Humane Society. In the shelter, Lacey was fearful and wouldn’t even allow staff to touch her. But once an incredible foster volunteer took Lacey home, her playful personality emerged. We learned that Lacey loves to chase toys and go hiking! Soon after, Lacey was adopted into her forever family, who are immensely grateful for the confidence that Lacey’s foster family gave her.

If you have a dog- or cat-sized void in your life but are unable to commit to adopting, give RoiceHurst Humane Society a call at 970-434-7337 or visit www.rh humanesociety.org/foster to learn more about fostering shelter pets.

We would love to match you with a foster pet who could use your help on their journey to happily ever after. ■

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

Star Trek went where no show had gone before

By Randal C. Hill

W

hen “Star Trek” premiered on NBC in September 1966, creator Gene Roddenberry was knocked for a loop when his much-anticipated show tanked. It never rose above 52 in the ratings during the first season, which normally would’ve caused a big network like NBC to cancel it.

Some of the network’s honchos were initially lukewarm about “Star Trek” being a cerebral show, meaning it probably wouldn’t generate much sponsor money. Other overly cautious executives objected to Spock’s pointy ears, claiming they looked diabolical and satanic.

But Roddenberry worked hard to sell his show and it paid off. Even though the original series only ran for three seasons, “Star Trek” has become one of the most successful TV series of all time.

A NEW KIND OF SCI-FI In 1964, Roddenberry, the Hollywood scriptwriter of “Highway Patrol” and “Have Gun – Will Travel” fame, set out to create something unique for television—a sci-fi series different from the usual doom-andgloom rocket operas of the day.

“Star Trek” was set in the Milky Way galaxy in the 23rd century, in a utopian future where divisions of race, gender and nationality have been cast aside. The stories take place aboard the starship Enterprise as it journeys on a five-year mission of scientific exploration and intergalactic diplomacy, zooming to distant planets in response to distress calls and confronting warmongering aliens.

The show’s spotlight fell primarily on Canadian actor William Shatner.

He had trained as a Shakespearean actor but was willing to take whatever work came his way, including a stint on “The Canadian Howdy Doody Show.” When Shatner moved to

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Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner got their big break on Star Trek.

Hollywood, Roddenberry cast him as Captain James T. Kirk, the takecharge commander who guided the Enterprise and its crew.

As emotionless and logically minded Mr. Spock on “Star Trek,” Boston-born actor Leonard Nimoy’s character became almost as popular as Shatner’s. Second in command on Enterprise, Spock was half-human and half-Vulcan (the first extraterrestrial species to make contact with humans). His split-finger salute became iconic, with most viewers unaware that the gesture was a Hebrew blessing that Nimoy conjured from his synagogue youth.

Nimoy spent years struggling for a breakout role in Hollywood, where he once delivered newspapers and drove a cab to make ends meet. By the time he joined the “Star Trek” cast, he had acted in more than 50 B movies and in minor roles on numerous TV shows.

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A LASTING LEGACY The series featured a groundbreaking, racially diverse cast, as well as American television’s first interracial kiss between Captain Kirk and Lieutenant Uhura (played by Nichelle Nichols).

“Star Trek” never downplayed its “message” motifs concerning war, sex, religion, politics and racism, yet the show’s ongoing theme seemed to consistently be that in the end, good will triumph over evil. ■

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Biodynamic gardening How nature’s forces benefit our plants

L

phases is also a practical way of acknowledging the forces of nature on our plants.

STARTING SEEDS According to the lunar calendar at www.rhythmofnature.net, March 9-22 are optimal planting dates.

When starting seeds, it’s important to have viable seeds that will germinate. Refer to last month’s article for instructions on how to conduct a germination test on existing seed stock.

Your seed packet will tell you how deep to plant the seeds, but if you’re like me and most of your seeds are saved or bartered, a general rule of thumb is to plant seeds at a depth of two to three times their diameter. I figure this by placing a seed on a flat surface (you can also use your hand) next to the tip of a wooden chopstick. I roll the seed two to three times and mark

ast month, the topic of gardening with the moon sparked some interest.

Planting seeds by the phases of the moon is a technique that growers have used for thousands of years. I once worked alongside a nursery manager whose lunar approach to planting consistently produced better germination rates, better top growth and better root systems compared to plants grown according to my production calendar.

Beyond the Mayans, both National Geographic and the Old Farmer’s Almanac have vouched for successful planting and harvests according to the lunar cycle.

We know the moon affects tides and weather patterns. The highest amounts of rainfall correlate with full and new moons. Knowing the importance of moisture for germinating seeds, it makes sense to plant when the moon pulls on ocean tides and there is Plant seeds at a depth of two to three times more moisture in the soil. their diameter. A chopstick works well for Tuning into the moon’s marking seed depth.

GROW WILD

Inexpensive, adjustable-dial seed sowers make it easier to plant small seeds such as carrots, lettuce and arugula.

WHEN STARTING INDOOR SEEDS, I USE A PROPER GERMINATION MIX. A COMBINATION OF PEAT MOSS OR COCONUT COIR AND PERLITE WORKS GREAT AND HAS A HIGH MOISTURE-HOLDING CAPACITY. the chopstick accordingly. Then I use the chopstick to poke a hole in the soil until it reaches the mark.

When starting indoor seeds, I use a proper germination mix.

A combination of peat moss or coconut coir and perlite has a high moisture-holding capacity and the fine particles stay in good contact with the seeds to keep them moist.

I use a clear plastic humidity dome, as I want the moisture to stay A piece of moist cardboard keeps the ambient air from drying out the soil and also acts like a giant sponge to keep the seeds moist.

at 75 percent—not dried out but also not soaking wet. Plastic wrap is too restrictive for air flow and can promote mold growth. Lastly, I use a heat mat with a thermostat to keep the seed trays warm. I used to place my seed starts on top of the hot water heater (one at a time) or I would use a sunny south-facing window.

Each plant family has a desired seed germination temperature, but most veggies germinate between 65 and 80 degrees F.

METHODS FOR MOISTURE For outdoor planting, be sure to check the soil temperature before plunking down seeds. Small seeds don’t get planted deep, so they are more prone to drying out. Carrots, lettuces and arugula are good examples.

One option is to water them two to three times per day. Another is to cut some corrugated cardboard and cover the area that contains the small seeds. Water the soil where the seeds are, then soak both sides of the cardboard and place it over the seeded area, anchored with rocks or bricks.

The moist cardboard keeps the ambient air from drying out the soil and also acts like a giant sponge to keep the seeds moist. Watering can be done once per day by soaking

the cardboard in place. Assuming your seeds germinate in seven to 10 days, lift the cardboard on Day 7 and look for sprouts. If none are found, check again on Day 8. When 50 to 75 percent of the seeds have come up, remove the cardboard to let them see sunlight.

The cardboard technique works beautifully in our arid climate and can cool the soil in July and August for better germination of fall crops. Our summer heat can diminish sprouting rates if the soil is too hot. ■

WATCH THE VIDEO

For an entertaining seed starting demonstration, visit www.BeaconSeniorNews.com to watch Bryan’s video, “Rock On Seeding and Transplanting.”

To learn more about biodynamic principles and practices, check out www.biodynamics.com

GROW WILD

BY BRYAN REED

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

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24 | MARCH 2022 |

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Worker shortage?

Make it easier for seniors to apply

By Arthur Vidro

H

elp wanted signs have sprouted up all over. Without enough workers, businesses can’t stay open.

On Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when all chain stores start clamoring for everyone’s gift-buying dough, I stopped at the nearest dollar store for some paper towels. The store was closed…on consumerism’s biggest day of the year!

Why? The sign on the door vaguely cited staffing shortages.

When I went back later that week, the supervisor explained that a lot of workers had been out sick.

Wanting to understand the hiring process nowadays, I asked for a job application to take home. I was refused.

“You do that online,” I was told dismissively.

So there you have it. Even in stores that are practically begging for help, the supervisors won’t let you apply for a job unless you apply electronically, which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Not everyone has a home computer. Not everyone has a telephone with an Internet connection. Still, I’m willing to wager that a lot of people would fill out job applications if they could do so on paper.

To their credit, some of the stores that require you to apply online have set aside a computer inside the store to make it easier for

the applicant. But most haven’t.

JOB SEEKERS vs. COMPUTERS Job applications vary from user-friendly to impossible.

If you want to work for the post office, you have to apply online.

The website warns you the process will likely take several hours, so don’t begin until you have time to complete it.

No wonder they’re not getting enough applications! One recently retired postal worker confided, “If I had to apply by computer today, I wouldn’t. It’s too difficult.”

Many applications ask for way too much information. One local supermarket requires all applicants to go online, where the applica-

Too often, applicants are rejected simply because they don’t have all the information that online applications require.

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

I ASKED FOR A JOB APPLICATION TO TAKE HOME. I WAS REFUSED. “YOU DO THAT ONLINE,” I WAS TOLD DISMISSIVELY. tion requires a Social Security number. If you leave that line blank, you can’t apply.

I advise not divulging your Social Security number on an application that might eventually be hacked. If you want my Social Security number, first make me a job offer.

One local bank I applied to using a computer on site required not just the name of my college and graduation year, but the school’s address and phone number. After more than 35 years, I don’t remember the school’s phone number!

Without that, the application stalled, and I wasn’t going to put down a false answer.

If the application were on paper, I would have written, “I’ll find out for you by the time you interview me.” But that’s not how things are done in the computer age. Too often, I’ve been rejected simply because I don’t have all the information that computer demands from me.

I’m also stumped by applications

Seniors and Retirees have Different Real Estate Needs We help buyers and sellers transition into their next home.

that ask for phone numbers of all my former supervisors. Most of my former supervisors are probably long since retired or deceased. But the computers don’t care.

Would these prospective employers even have telephoned my school or former supervisors if I provided the numbers? I doubt it.

HOW TO ATTRACT LONG-TERM WORKERS Some businesses are raising wages to attract workers. But look carefully. The local fast food joint may have a sign out front trumpeting they are hiring for $16 an hour, but you have to sidle up close to read the “up to” section.

Hey, all you stores that are shortstaffed, we customers and workers have some compassion. If you want to attract or retain workers for the long term, try something bold—like offering health insurance. If that’s too rich for your budget, then at least allow for paper applications. ■

Leslie Gore

Senior Real Estate Specialist

(970) 275-3195

lesliegorerealtor@gmail.com

Michelle Klippert

Senior Real Estate Specialist

(970) 275-3016

michelleklippertrealtor@gmail.com

The

Real Estate Store

970-249-7653 500 E. Main St. Montrose, CO 81401 www.the-res.com

JOB HUNTING?

Polish up your resume with these tips from AARP Whether you’re beginning the hunt for work, or were fortunate to get through the job application process and land an interview, consider these tips for polishing up your resume.

Stick to one or two pages, max • “It doesn’t dilute your experience,” said Katie Birkelo, senior vice president at staffing firm Randstad US. “It just keeps it relevant.”

• Use an 11- or 12-point simple font like Arial, Calibri or Verdana.

Avoid serif fonts like Times New Roman.

Include only your recent, relevant work • Focus on experience from the past 10-15 years, and include keywords from the job listing so your resume makes it past screenings by computerized systems. Look at the company’s website as well.

Remove elements that age your resume • You don’t need to include your address, graduation dates and outdated software. But if you completed a degree, make that clear.

Discover all the volunteer opportunities at HopeWest by visiting HopeWestCO.org.

HopeWest is a nonprofit organization dedicated to profoundly changing the way our communities experience aging, serious illness, and grief – one family at a time.

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MARCH 2022 |

25

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

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By Elaine Marze

O

ne of my friends recently found out she is going to be a grandmother, and she's not very happy about it.

She wasn't ready to let go of her adult daughter when she got married. Competing with a son-in-law for her daughter's time stressed her out, and thinking about contending with a baby really upset her.

I tried to reassure her by saying that while a baby WILL cut in on private time with her daughter, she will likely get extra bonding time with her new grandchild if she's lucky and willing—which is a blessing in itself.

Remember when our young children eagerly followed us around, begging us to play with them? Or the times they tried to help us with whatever we were doing but were complete nuisances? Those years when our babies picked us flowers and gave enthusiastic hugs without being embarrassed are engraved

on a momma's heart. Not only did they need us—they wanted us with them.

As young parents, we didn't see what was ahead. We showered them with love, thinking that such mutual feelings would last forever.

Then these babies grew up, left us, probably married and established their own lives, separate from ours.

One day we were a busy, growing family, and the next, we had an empty nest. Time snuck up on us, and the whole parenting dynamic changed.

Parents go from a life devoted to their children to being emotionally, if not physically, distanced. No matter how happy we are that they’ve grown into successful, independent adults, we can't help but miss what used to be. We are on different paths now, willing or not. We have to change with the cycles or suffer the consequences.

Our beloved offspring are making their own rules, trying to

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

OUR BELOVED OFFSPRING ARE MAKING THEIR OWN RULES, TRYING TO ESTABLISH THAT THEY DON'T NEED MOM AND DAD'S ADVICE ANYMORE. establish that they don't need mom and dad's advice anymore. This is where some parents have to resort to asking—maybe even begging— their adult kids to come home for a visit, dinner, or a holiday. Once they’re married, it’s even harder to compete with their friends, activities, spousal demands and work schedules.

While older parents understand all that, they still deal with feelings of loneliness and abandonment.

Some baby boomers complain about how their adult children don't have time for them, but they watch on social media as they make time for friends, vacations and parties that don’t include them. This may seem an unjust recompense for all the years of love and sacrifice spent raising these beloved children who no longer need Mom and Dad. But, then comes grandchildren!

Here is an opportunity to once again see love and even hero worship in the eyes of a child who asks nothing more than to hang out with us and is excited to help us garden, or ride in a golf cart or wheelchair.

The hugs and kisses, the fascination with our wrinkles, turkey waddles and softer laps is our second chance at the special kind of love that only comes from a child. Grandkids can, and should, help fill the void left by their parents, depending on distance, accessibility and willingness of young parents to share their

children with grandparents.

Every parent has to learn that the fellowship we have with our young kids will not be the same relationship we have with them as teenagers when they are pushing boundaries and struggling for independence, which sometimes causes serious riffs in the parent/ child relationship. We let them go while hoping and praying they'll come back home where Momma and Daddy will be waiting anxiously.

Then when you find your way through all the rough waters of early adulthood, and establish more of a parent-child friendship, along comes grandbabies and the cycle begins again.

Grandparents have to submit to their kids’ rules and authority where grandkids are concerned. To have the opportunity to spend time with the precious offspring of our offspring, most of us strive to pull in our parenting claws and opinions and just wallow in the joys and adventures of grandchildren.

Boomers have been the sandwich generation for a while, and it's disturbing to realize that we are now on the bottom of the sandwich. We're stepping aside while our kids take up our responsibilities.

Our kids are dealing with helping to care for us now. How and when did that happen? It’s just another twist in a parent's life cycle. ■

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27

TRAVEL

History tucked into the suburban present Look no further than Littleton, Colorado

Story and photos by Victor Block

S

tepping off the train after a short ride from a modern metropolis, I was immediately introduced to a world that no longer exists.

More than 50 houses, businesses, churches and other buildings provide an introduction to smalltown America during the 19th and early 20th centuries. A tiny log home built in 1861 is dwarfed by a larger dairy spread. A general store which operated in the late 1800s stands near a depot where trains of the fabled Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway once stopped.

This setting greets passengers disembarking from light rail trains connecting Denver with Littleton,

28 | TRAVEL | MARCH 2022 |

Colorado—20 minutes away in time, but more than a century removed in atmosphere. The setting is akin to entering a Norman Rockwell painting of life as it used to be, and in some ways still is.

WHY WALK? The first view of Littleton that people arriving by train encounter is displayed on a 40-foot-wide mural on a wall of the railroad station platform. The colorful composition depicts historic structures, some long gone and others still standing.

The seeds of the settlement were planted in 1859, when the Pikes Peak gold rush attracted miners to the community, along with merchants and farmers who came to

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

supply and feed them. Since that modest birth, Littleton has expanded into a suburban community. The action is centered around a stretch of Main Street.

A walking tour is a good way to take in historic buildings and get a feel for the setting.

Begin at the light rail depot, a Victorian-style stone building constructed in 1875. Another train station and a vintage caboose parked next door serve as an art gallery.

The tower of the Columbine Mill, built in 1901 as a grain elevator, looks out over the town. The charming Louthan House (circa 1905-1909), named for its builder, is home to the Café Terracotta, one of a number of restaurants that

THE FAVORITE ATTRACTIONS FOR MANY VISITORS ARE TWO LIVING HISTORY SETTINGS THAT RECREATE FARM LIFE IN THE 1860S AND 1890S.

TRAVEL

The charming Louthan House is home to the Café Terracotta. make Littleton a mini-magnet for foodies.

Shopping also has a local focus.

One example is Reinke Bros., a Halloween superstore with a focus on ghosts, goblins and ghouls.

Strolling through the twisted tangle of aisles brings shoppers face to face with skulls, skeletons and other merchandise that ranges from fun to frightening.

Walking provides an introduction to a virtual outdoor art museum.

Some three dozen sculptures, plus friezes, paintings and other works adorn sidewalks, buildings and parks.

HIGH-RANKED HISTORY Not to be outdone by art aficionados, theatergoers are drawn to the Town Hall Arts Center. Over time that elaborately decorated Italian Renaissance building has housed the town offices, volunteer fire department, court and jail. It’s now the site of theatre productions, concerts and other cultural offerings.

A very different aspect of the past is explored at the Littleton Museum. In keeping with its name, that institution has permanent exhibits which trace the area’s history from the time when Arapaho, Cheyenne and Ute Native Americans passed through to the pioneer era to more recent days. Its role as an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, along with the attractions of two living history farms, are part of the reason why it’s ranked among the most outstanding history museums

in the country.

The favorite attractions for many visitors are two living history settings that re-create farm life in the 1860s and 1890s. The older spread represents a pioneer homestead during the area’s settlement period. Wandering from a modestly furnished cabin to a reconstructed log barn, sitting at a desk in a oneroom schoolhouse and chatting with a blacksmith as he toils at his trade increased my appreciation for modern-day amenities that are often taken for granted.

Adding to the realistic setting are costumed interpreters who demonstrate quilting, plowing, cooking over a fire and other chores. A virtual zoo of farm animals, including oxen, mules, sheep, chickens and honeybees enhance the experience.

Also adding authenticity are livestock, crops and plants that were common during the time period represented.

The Hudson Gardens boasts a collection of beehives that held as much interest for me as its extensive plantings. Not that areas devoted to roses, herbs, fragrance and nearly two dozen other floral themes aren’t eye-catching and aromatic, or that signs identifying displays with names like Balloon Flower and Fat Albert don’t elicit a smile.

It’s just that when a town resident is on hand to tend to one of the hives that locals are allowed to place in the garden, visitors are likely to learn more than they thought possible about the lifestyle of bees. The hierarchy of live bees, their assignment of tasks and other tidbits left me bee-lieving that those little insects live in one of the most structured societies of any creature.

If learning that there are nearly 20,000 species of bees isn’t your cup of honey, perhaps reliving farm life from a bygone area will grab your attention. Whatever your interests, you’re likely to find enough to fulfill them in this easy excursion.

For more information, visit www. littleton.org. ■

Discover a tranquil neighborhood all your own.

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

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MARCH 2022 | TRAVEL |

29

Community Concerts of the Grand Valley Concer t Series

That old Prima magic shines again Louis Prima, Jr. carries on his father’s musical legacy

By Jan Weeks

T

hat new black magic will have you in its spell when Louis Prima, Jr. swings on stage at Grand Junction’s Avalon Theatre on Thursday, April 28, as part of Community Concerts of the Grand Valley’s 77th season.

Son of Louis Prima, the singing sensation of the 1930s through the 1950s, Prima, Jr. and his band, The Witnesses, bring back some of his father’s hits in addition to their own compositions.

“We know what song we’ll start with and what we’ll end with. What happens in between is me and the crowd,” said Prima, Jr. “That’s the way Dad operated—cater to the ones you’re standing in front of.”

FOLLOWING DAD’S FOOTSTEPS Prima, Jr. became a musician at age 5 when his mom taught him how to play the drums. Piano lessons followed, and though he experi-

Louis Prima, Jr. April 28 • 7:30 p.m. • Avalon Theatre mented with different instruments through his school years, he knew he’d never reach his dad’s level of expertise on instruments.

Then in high school, he began sitting in with bands, and once was called up on stage to sing. He knew he’d found his passion.

“I loved singing in the shower, and when I got that mic in my hand, I realized I was good at entertaining the crowd and being a front man,” said Prima, Jr. His first band started playing rock and roll, and then transitioned into his father’s swing style. The current band is called The Witnesses because, Prima Jr. said, “That was the moniker for Dad in 1950s.

There were other band names along the way, but I went with that

one partly for the recognition factor, and also to protect the copyright on the name.”

Prima, Jr. was very close to his dad.

“I spent summers with him on the road and every moment with him when he was in town,” he said.

Then heartbreak struck in 1975 when Prima, Sr. was diagnosed with a brain stem tumor. Prima, Jr. was 9. Three years later, Prima, Sr. suffered a cerebral hemorrhage during surgery and never came out of a coma.

PRIMA ON STAGE Prima, Jr. is the front man, singing and playing trumpet at times. He hand-picked the rest of the band, which includes female lead singer

Kate Curran, Marco Palos on tenor saxophone, Jarrett Wingfield on baritone sax, Philip Clevenger on trombone, A.D. Adams on drums, Aj Dicharry on bass, Glenn McCallum on guitar, and keyboardist Jenny Jarnagin.

Prima, Jr. and the band are working on the third studio album, which will be released soon.

“Writing and recording music is a creative process. I love that, but I’m a live music guy. I love being on stage. I find my home when the lights go on,” he said.

Prima Jr. cherishes the people he plays with, and they all play off each other. No two performances are exactly the same.

The audience also has a firm hold on his heart.

“My joy is seeing the face of a person who may or may not be having a good day, and watching them have a good time,” he said.

And there’s always a meet and greet after each concert. ■

WIN TICKETS FROM THE BEACON!

Finish the lyrics: “Round and round I go in a spin, loving the spin that I’m in...” ________________________________________________ Name____________________________________________ Phone___________________________________________ Email____________________________________________ Send in your answer by Friday, March 11 to be entered into a drawing for two tickets to see Louis Prima, Jr. and The Witnesses perform live at the Avalon Theatre in Grand Junction.

Email: Beacon@PendantPublishing.com Mail: BEACON Senior News PO Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81504 For the rest of this season’s lineup, visit www.communityconcertsgrandvalley.org.

30 | MARCH 2022 |

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VOTE FOR OUR 2022

Volunteer of the Year The Mesa County Volunteer of the Year award recognizes exceptional volunteers in our community.

Vote online

Mail-in ballot

Step 1: Go to www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Help us choose by voting for your favorite volunteer! The last day to vote is Friday, April 22.

Step 2: Click “Vote for Volunteer of the Year”

Cast your vote by mailing in the official ballot (on page 32). Mail to:

Step 3: Fill out the ballot along with your name and email address, then choose your favorite volunteer.

All nominees are invited to join us for a mid-day ceremony at Grand Junction BeaconFest on Thursday, April 28, where the winner will be announced.

Step 4: Click “Submit” Online voting closes on April 22 at 4 p.m. MST.

BEACON Senior News P.O. Box 3895 Grand Junction, CO 81502 Ballots must be received by April 22.

Mesa County Nominees

All volunteers will be recognized at Grand Junction BeaconFest on Thursday, April 28

Dawn & Bill Buckovic

Nominated by Jenna Kretschman, Roice-Hurst Humane Society Since 2018, Dawn and Bill Buckovic have dedicated over 3,263 volunteer hours fostering more than 60 of Roice-Hurst Humane Society’s most vulnerable animals. They specialize in caring for orphaned newborn kittens and puppies, bottle feeding them around the clock and caring for them until they are old enough to be adopted into their forever families. Dawn and Bill are warm, kind, long-time friends of Roice-Hurst whose compassionate, emotional work has comforted and saved countless lives.

Fred Burmeister

Nominated by Alisha Wenger, Community Food Bank Fred Burmeister has been volunteering with the Community Food Bank (CFB) for nearly 44 years.

After taking a short break during the peak of COVID-19, Fred is back in action, always dedicated to our mission of providing nutritious foods to anyone experiencing need in Mesa County. Since the pandemic, CFB has more than doubled our service volume, changed facilities and altered our pantry model, but Fred hasn’t missed a beat. He shows up every Tuesday as a client shopping greeter and helps every person who walks through our doors feel at ease with a welcoming smile, friendly banter and great jokes!

Romona Clinton

Nominated by Dusty Lightfoot, Food Bank of the Rockies Romona Clinton started volunteering with Mesa County RSVP on February 24, 1999. Over the last 23 years, she has generously contributed more than 700 hours of service. She has a heart for meeting the needs of others. In her spare time, she enjoys quilting, creating recipes for the Palisade Peach Festival, and playing her accordion or cornet. She has volunteered with Child and Migrant Services, Grand Junction Symphony, Kiwanis Club, Marilliac Clinic, Mesa County Fair, Project Linus, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, BeaconFest, United Way and Roice-Hurst Humane Society. In February 2020, Romona began volunteering with Food Bank of the Rockies. Since then, she has logged in 126 volunteer hours with a smile and great enthusiasm. Without Romona and volunteers like her, Food Bank of the Rockies could not provide nourishing food to the children, families, and older adults facing food insecurity throughout Western Colorado and beyond.

Carolyn DeBusk

Nominated by Adrienne Carlo, Meals on Wheels Carolyn has volunteered for Meals on Wheels for over 11 years. She drives twice a week and fills in on other routes as needed. She goes more than the extra mile. She worked with her quilting group to produce hundreds of placemats that were given to our customers for Christmas. On holidays, she WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MARCH 2022 |

31

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

Vote for Mesa County Volunteer of the Year!

Here’s how to vote:

Bob & Lisa Eakle

Nominated by Suzie Hammond, HopeWest Hospice

1) Read about each volunteer 2) Select your favorite:

❒ ❒ ❒ ❒ ❒ ❒ ❒

Dawn & Bill Buckovic Fred Burmeister Romona Clinton Carolyn DeBusk Bob & Lisa Eakle Carolyn Holmgren Linda Johnston

brings extra goodies to the people on her routes. She spends time speaking to our clients and knows about their lives. For one of our customers, she has been helping him clean out years of accumulated belongings. When he needed medical care recently, she took him to the emergency room and has stayed to care for him in his home. We are blessed to have someone volunteer for us who truly cares deeply for others in her community.

❒ ❒ ❒ ❒ ❒ ❒

Roy Karo Len Ladue Gail Meyer Lil Poling Geri Prochnow Sue Tuffin

3) Cast your vote

Vote online at www.BeaconSeniorNews.com Or, mail this official ballot to: PO Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502 The last day to vote is Friday, April 22.

Online voting closes at 4 p.m.. Mail-in ballots must be received by 4 p.m.

All nominees are invited to a special ceremony at Grand Junction BeaconFest, where they will be presented with awards and the Volunteer of the Year will be announced (details below).

Questions? Contact us at 970-243-8829, or email Cloie@BeaconSeniorNews.com

Bob and Lisa volunteer weekly at the HopeWest Ferris Care Center as a team. They are so very compassionate and willing to go the extra distance with any and all tasks.

They’re incredible with patients!

Carolyn Holmgren

Nominated by Sheryl Click & Shelby Laird, Hilltop Community Resources Carolyn Holmgren has volunteered with Hilltop’s Senior Daybreak since August 2017. She is great with our participants and takes time to get to know them personally. Carolyn is always willing to help, whether it’s helping staff in the dining room or helping with crafts and afternoon activities. We’ve had a few crazy days during the pandemic where our staff have said, “Thank goodness Carolyn is going to be here today!” She keeps everyone engaged with trivia and sing-alongs. She sits with our people and is so patient with them while she helps them with projects.

Even though the population served at Daybreak may not always remember who you are, they do remember how you make them feel. Carolyn always makes our participants feel happy, listened to and like they have a friend. Her kindness is felt by everyone in the room, and we appreciate everything that she does for us and for our participants.

Linda Johnston

GRAND JUNCTION

Enjoy the area’s largest boomer and senior fair!

FREE admission, entertainment, seminars, food

GRAND JUNCTION

Thursday, April 28, 2022 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Grand Junction Convention Center, For information call 243-8829

32 | MARCH 2022 |

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

Nominated by Caitlin Wicklund, HopeWest Linda is one of the most inspiring, helpful and compassionate volunteers at HopeWest. She does it all—she works at Heirlooms; folds, organizes, and puts away the massive amounts of laundry our inpatient unit generates; provides hands-on patient care; mans our front desk; creates and distributes floral arrangements, and happily fills whatever needs arise! She’s a jack of all trades and so far, we haven’t come up with a single task she’s not met head on with grace and positivity. Our patients see Linda as an angel and helping hand, our volunteers consider her a team player and steady support, and our staff know she’s solid gold.

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

Roy Karo

Nominated by Megan Behrens, HopeWest Roy has been a HopeWest volunteer since 2016.

He volunteers in many capacities, from patient support to gala support and desk support. He is always willing to help out wherever he is needed.

We so appreciate him and his compassion to our organization!

Len Ladue

Nominated by Tami Bunch, VA Western Colorado Health Care System Len Ladue tirelessly serves others! During the pandemic, the VA and VFW partnered with Aspen Elks to provide food and hygiene care packages to veterans. Len and his wife Judy drove many miles to deliver these care boxes to isolated veterans, visiting with them and letting them know they were not forgotten. They were able to provide comfort and love to many who were hurting during the pandemic. They also provided holiday food boxes with turkeys and hams along with gifts for children. Len serves veterans through his VFW post by providing donated items to veterans and recruiting people to assist with moving, yard work and other needs. Len is always the first one to say yes and leads by example. Len has also been a greeter at the VA for over eight years, giving over 1,000 hours connecting with veterans and helping them navigate through the hospital and answering questions. Len has a heart for serving others that is genuine, humble and compassionate.

Gail Meyer

Nominated by Katie Skalla, Fruita Community Center Gail Meyer is one of the upmost amazing volunteers. She pours her heart and soul into everything she does and into her community. She has been a St. Mary’s Senior Companion for over four years now. She ensures that her sweet companion, Dorothy, is taken care of and gets to enjoy experiences and outings with Gail, including seeing petroglyphs, weekly swimming, potlucks and more. Gail also heads up senior potlucks at the Fruita Community Center. Recently, she arranged for Fruita Thrift Store to donate funds to keep the weekly potlucks up and running for Fruita seniors. She spends countless hours, gas and energy to make these potlucks a success every week. She is an active member in her church and Bible studies, where she makes everyone feel welcomed and part of something special. Meanwhile, she is battling breast cancer and kicking its butt! I’m only scratching the surface. Gail is one of the most selfless, generous, kind and loving people out there!

Lil Poling

Nominated by Eric Myers, American Red Cross of Western Colorado Lil has been a volunteer with American Red Cross of Western Colorado for nearly a decade! She fills many different roles with our organization and is a critical member of our Mesa County leadership team. Lil is a Disaster Action Team captain, a volunteer position responsible for responding to local house fires and other emergencies. She meets with families who have been displaced from their homes (regardless of time of day) to determine their immediate needs and how the Red Cross can help. Lil brings a calming, compassionate presence to a very stressful situation and always ensures that families have a place to stay, food to eat and a plan to get back on their feet. Lil is also lead for our Mesa County Home Fire Campaign, an effort to educate families about home fire safety and to install free brand-new smoke alarms in their homes. For the last seven years, she has been responsible for setting up appointments with clients, educating them on home fire risks and making sure they have a home fire safety plan.

Geri Prochnow

Nominated by Christina O’Dell, Community Hospital Geri Prochnow has volunteered at Community Hospital for four years. Geri is a vital part of the pre-op and surgery team and works two shifts per week. She greets patients and their families and escorts them to and from the surgery unit. She is also invaluable when it comes to connecting patients’ families and the surgeons for post-surgery consultations. Geri’s gentleness and humor put both patients and families at ease. She is reassuring, kind, caring and works hard to ensure a positive patient experience. The scope of Geri’s volunteer work has broadened as she identifies other areas of need and takes on additional responsibilities such as helping clean rooms, sanitizing, making up beds, restocking and taking items to the lab. Geri is always on the lookout for ways to support the patients and their families, the nurses, surgeons and the rest of the surgery staff.

The surgery team relies on Geri and is grateful to have her as part of their family.

Sue Tuffin

Nominated by Carole Chowen, Grand Valley Pets Alive “Super Sue” does it all to help animals and their people. TNR (trap-neuter-return), fostering, shuttling cats to the vet for spay/neuter. Not enough room here to tell how valuable she is!

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MARCH 2022 |

33

FAITH

ShareFest partners with A Little Help

SHAREFEST WEEKEND

Volunteers can help seniors this spring and year-round

April 24&25, 2010

APRIL 30 - MAY 1, 2022 -

VOLUNTEER TO SERVE YOUR NEIGHBORS. Deadline to submit a project request is April 18.

ShareFest is an annual event bringing the churches in the greater Mesa County area together to visibly demonstrate the love of Christ through united prayer, a day of serving in the community, sharing service projects, food, and celebrating together God’s goodness.

A CITY WIDE EVENT TO SUBMIT A PROJECT OR VOLUNTEER:

Call: 970-778-4880 Email: gjsharefest@gmail.com Demonstrating the Love of Christ to Our Community Website: www.gjsharefest.com

970-778-4880

www.g jsharefest.com

What can we do for you?

34 | FAITH | MARCH 2022 |

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

By Dominic Jones

O

n ShareFest weekend, local churches and organizations come together to show Christ’s love in tangible ways through service. Each year, hundreds of volunteers handle between 250 and 300 projects in one weekend, cleaning up yards, picking up trash, washing windows and hooking up swamp coolers for disabled persons and seniors in Mesa County.

More than 30 churches are expected to participate in this year’s ShareFest on Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1. Community members can submit project requests starting March 18 through April 18.

By doing work for those in need, ShareFest organizers and volunteers hope that residents will see the work being done in their neighborhood and recognize needs they can help with year-round.

“It’s an awareness to be kind,” said HOPE of the Grand Valley President Vicki McGee, who’s headed up ShareFest with Debe Colby since its local beginnings 15 years ago.

This year, ShareFest has partnered with A Little Help, a nonprofit that recruits volunteers to meet the recurring needs of older adults—needs that go hand in hand with those taken on by ShareFest volunteers but that require more than a weekend to accomplish. McGee and Colby hope the partnership shares the good that ShareFest does in the community with year-

round implications.

“We have people who do ShareFest for the weekend and who are willing to do more but they don’t know what more to do,” said Colby.

Signing up with A Little Help gives these volunteers the opportunity to do more good deeds for older adults throughout the year.

“At some point down the road, the person that ShareFest helps may need respite, or a care call, so it just makes sense to us to work together,” said Rick Smith, Western Slope coordinator for A Little Help.

SUBMIT A NEED AND VOLUNTEER If you would like to submit a request for a project, or would like to volunteer, call McGee at 970-7784880 or sign up at www.gjshare fest.com.

ShareFest organizers are taking extra health precautions to ensure safety and comfort for both volunteers and work recipients.

“If you want us to come inside and wash your windows, we will,” said Colby. “If volunteers look at a project that says windows need to be washed inside and out and they aren’t comfortable going inside, please don’t sign up for that project.”

For more information on A Little Help, call 970-404-1923 or visit www.alittlehelp.org. ■

TALKING DIGITAL

Look beyond the stars Tips for reading online reviews

O

ne of my Saturday chores is to mop the kitchen floor. My home’s previous owners chose to install solid white 1-by-1 tile in the entryway and kitchen. That’s right— bright white tile throughout our kitchen. We hate it. But not enough to spend the money to re-floor it.

Because I believe that purchasing tools that increase efficiency is money well spent, I decided to shop for a multi-surface vacuum mop.

Purchasing a new tool is something I take very seriously. I spend days reading online reviews and watching comparison videos before deciding on which tool best fits my needs.

This month, I’ll provide a few tips for reading online reviews to ensure that you can make an objective and informed decision before buying anything new.

Don’t solely rely on stars - Not all five-star reviews are the same. The number of stars is an average rating of all reviews the item has received.

For an item that has hundreds of reviews, five stars are fantastic, but if an item has only received a handful of reviews, five stars can be deceiving. You always have to assume the manufacturer and accomplices likely wrote the first reviews.

Consider sample size - I alluded to this above, but any rating with less than 100 reviews is probably not worth considering. Shady com-

panies can easily pay for positive reviews. Large retailers try to monitor for artificial reviews, but it can be difficult to prove.

Look for confirmed purchase reviews - Anyone can leave a product review on Amazon or most other shopping sites, but the best sites will note which reviews came from people who actually purchased the product through their site. These aren’t always reliable, but they can be trusted more than reviews by anonymous contributors.

Read reviews carefully - It’s surprising how many people will leave one or two stars because the device was shipped slowly or arrived broken.

These types of reviews are not reflective of the product itself. When I was shopping for a 55-inch TV, I was surprised to find out that all of the one and two-star reviews came from people who had the item shipped and it arrived with a cracked screen.

Such reviews say more about the shipping service than they do about the product itself.

Consider the time of ownership Disregard any positive reviews that include sentences like, “I’ve been using the item for several days and it works great!” Almost all items work well out of the box. It takes a few weeks or months to get a feel of the pros and cons of anything you buy.

Watch for brand loyalists - Consider whether the reviewer is

loyal to the given product brand or possibly loyal to a competitor’s brand. If you are shopping for Nike shoes, you will most likely find that a large percentage of the five-star reviews will state that they always buy Nike. Conversely, a large percentage of negative reviews will likely say something like, “I’m going back to Adidas.” Or, “I decided to give Adidas a chance, even though I usually buy Nike.” Either end of the spectrum can be influenced by unobjective brand loyalty.

Make sure the review is for your exact product - Amazon and similar sites will often bundle reviews of similar products without considering the given model you are considering. For example, make sure that you are looking at reviews for the 2022 Toyota Corolla and not general reviews for all Toyota Corollas. Something as simple as a faulty part or an important option can make a big difference in whether the product is reliable or not.

Be aware of sponsored placement - This advice isn’t necessarily related to reviews, but it’s important. Amazon, eBay and even

★★★★★ Walmart allow vendors to pay extra for placement at the top of a search. That usually leads to those products having more reviews and even higher reviews than similar products on the site. For the best price and better selection, look past the sponsored results and browse the items lower in the search. They may not have as many reviews, but you may find a better price or a better product farther down.

Avoid review-only sites and apps Sites like Angie’s List, Yelp, and HomeAdvisor make money by sending customers to local businesses that pay for referrals. Reliable businesses with great services often get overlooked because they don’t pay for referrals. Companies that pay these sites often have more sway with the service over how to handle negative reviews as well.

Hopefully, these tips will help you become a more informed decision-maker the next time you search for the perfect product to fit your needs. ■

TALKING DIGITAL

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WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MARCH 2022 | TALKING DIGITAL |

35

MONEY & SCAMS

2022 tax season filing tips for seniors

By Marianne Hering

Y

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ou may be working in the same career, switching to a different job or adjusting to retirement, but regardless of your employment status, it’s tax season. Unlike last year, we will not get extra time to file—so it’s time to gather your documents and get to it! To help you prepare, tax expert Kate Bell answered some pertinent tax questions.

Q: What should I know about the Recovery Rebate Credit for 2021 filing?

A: Did you receive the third economic impact payment (also called the recovery rebate credit that arrived between March 2021 and December 2021) of $1,400 per eligible household member? The IRS is sending out Letter 6475 to taxpayers who may not have received the proper amount. The IRS could have this amount wrong, so verify the amount you and your family received before entering it in your tax return.

Q: What life events may affect my taxes?

A: Did you buy or sell a house, move, retire, start a business, take care of a dependent, become dependent, change banks or close a brokerage account? All these events can affect your filing or the amount you owe.

Q: What is the best way to file?

A: E-filing and direct deposit are still the fastest way to get your taxes filed and receive your refund.

Because the IRS has a backlog of around 6 million paper returns from last year, filing on paper will cause delays with your refund. Note: There are many “free” sites for e-filing federal returns, but you may be charged a fee for state filing.

36 | MONEY & SCAMS | MARCH 2022 |

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

Q: When are taxes due?

A: Here’s that info direct from IRS. gov: “For the 2021 tax return, the due date is April 18, 2022, because of the Emancipation Day holiday in Washington, DC. Taxpayers in Maine and Massachusetts have until April 19, 2022 because of the Patriots’ Day holiday in those states.”

Extensions can be requested, but you still need to estimate what you owe and pay it by the April deadline for your state.

Q: I started my own business in 2021. What do I need to know?

A: Depending on the type of business, you’ll most likely need to fill out a schedule C. In general, you should track expenses and income, and then pay estimated taxes. You would do best to consult with an enrolled agent for specifics on which expenses you should be tracking. For example, if you began as an Uber driver, you should track mileage, fuel, mechanical expenses and parking fees. You will need to decide during the first year a car is put into service if you will take standard mileage, or if all the expenses of the vehicle are for work.

Q: What tax benefits are retirees entitled to?

A: Colorado allows a pension/annuity subtraction for two groups: • Taxpayers who are at least 55 years of age as of the last day of the tax year.

• Beneficiaries of any age (such as a widowed spouse or orphan child) who are receiving a pension or annuity because of the death of the person who earned the pension.

What are those subtraction amounts?

• Qualified taxpayers who are

MONEY & SCAMS under age 65 as of the last day of the tax year can subtract the smaller of $20,000 or the taxable pension/annuity income included in federal taxable income.

• Taxpayers who are 65 years of age or older as of the last day of the tax year can subtract the smaller of $24,000 or the taxable pension/annuity income included in federal taxable income.

For more information, review the FYI Income 25 guidance publication at https://tax.colorado.gov.

Q: What tax benefits are retired military service members entitled to?

A: A retired service member may claim one of two subtractions for all or part of the military retirement benefits that are included in their federal taxable income. The subtraction that may be claimed depends on the retired service member’s age at the end of the tax year. For more information on these subtractions, visit the Retired Servicemembers web page and review guidance publication FYI Income 21 publication at https://tax. colorado.gov.

Q: I’m a retired railroad employee. What should I know about my taxes?

A: Here’s an answer straight from the state tax code: “Federal law exempts railroad retirement benefits from state income taxes. The railroad retirement benefits subtraction is allowed on the Subtractions from Income Schedule (DR 0104AD) for any railroad retirement benefits reported on Form RRB-1099 or Form RRB-1099-R and included in a taxpayer’s federal taxable income.” For more information, review FYI Income 25.

Q: What can I do to ensure accuracy?

A: Save a copy of all your tax returns and the supporting documents. These can help you review for next year and correct any discrepancies. The IRS has three

years to let you know if they found any issues.

PAIN?

Q: I have a complex return.

Where can I find help?

A: Taxpayers with more complex tax returns should contact an enrolled agent, which means this provider has been tested by the IRS for certification.

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The list is organized by state and then by alphabetical last name of the agent. ■

Free tax help for qualifying seniors Free tax preparation AARP Tax Aide provides free tax assistance. Appointments are required. Bring picture IDs, Social Security/ITIN cards, last year’s tax return and all documents to accurately complete your return, including letters from the IRS if you had identity theft, receipt of the economic impact funds, or the letter 6419 if you received Advanced Child Tax Credit payments.

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Mesa County Call 970-589-3789 or 970-2105705 or go to www.cotaxaide. org/appt to schedule online.

All taxes are prepared at Wells Fargo, 359 Main St. in Grand Junction, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Monday through Saturday.

Montrose Call the Montrose Pavilion Senior Center at 970-252-4889 to make an appointment. All taxes will be prepared at the Montrose Senior Center, 1800 Pavilion Drive.

Dementia & Alzheimer’s Care Hilltop’s Senior Daybreak is a unique day program that keeps seniors with memory loss safe and active while providing their caregivers the flexibility and support they need to care for their loved ones at home. We also offer valuable information and support groups specifically designed for those caring for someone affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s.

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WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MARCH 2022 | MONEY & SCAMS |

37

BEACON GUIDE FEATURE

Sunset Slope Quilters spread love and comfort

By Jan Weeks

I

n an age of high tech and throwaway thinking, there are people who still craft the old-fashioned way. Sunset Slope Quilters encourages members to stitch for pleasure, for heritage, for charity, and for the upcoming Mesas to Monuments quilt show April 8-9 at Grand Junction Convention Center.

“The quilt show provides an opportunity for our members to show their work to the community and to inspire fellow quilters,” said Judy Allerheiligen, the show’s co-chair.

Sunset Slope Quilters is a 501(c)4 organization that has been stitching since 1986. Members provide comfort and warmth to the community by donating their creations to St Mary’s and Community Hospital’s oncology centers, Latimer House, Western Slope Center for Children, Homeward Bound, and more. The fire department has received quilts to give to victims of house fires, and each house that Habitat for Humanity builds receives a housewarming quilt. Shelter pets receive beds as well.

Once a year, quilters host a “sew-in” to make quilts for charities.

Members bring their own sewing machines and materials, and stitch away. Most of the projects have been started at home, and this meeting is a chance to show and sew

in an atmosphere of camaraderie.

Sonia Sanderson began quilting 50 years ago when she became intrigued with “stained glass” quilts, in which each block is separated by a black strip that imitates the leading in a stained glass window.

Debbie Wolfe, 72, brought her project, a quilt made of tiny hearts using the English paper piecing method in which fabric is shaped around paper hearts. Wolfe started the Healing Hearts quilt on Valentine’s Day 2021 to commemorate Americans who had died of COVID. She intended to make one heart for every victim but when the death toll moved past 800,000, she realized she couldn’t hand stitch quickly enough, so now each heart represents 200. She plans to exhibit the finished quilt at this year’s show, then display it at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum in Golden.

Wolfe said, “It was never intended to be my quilt. It belongs to the people.”

When COVID hit, Sunset Slope Quilters rose to the occasion and sewed and donated thousands of masks and other PPEs. The quilt show’s co-chair Judy Allerheiligen said that in addition to the local and on-going charity work, the group responds to onetime needs.

“We donated not only quilts but

Sunset Slope Quilters sew and donate 250 Christmas stockings each year, which are filled by Social Services, for foster children in Mesa County. fabric, tools and sewing machines to the victims of the Paradise fire in California,” she said. “We sent quilt blocks for a project in Australia to make quilts for their wildfire victims.”

And the Marshall fire victims will be receiving new quilts, too.

Sunset Slope Quilters meet at Canyon View Vineyards Church’s South Chapel, 736 24 1/2 Road, on the second Wednesday of the month. Visitors are always welcome.

For more information, visit www. sunsetslopequilters.com or contact Allerheiligen at 970-201-6212 or

Janet Wheeler at 970-216-6865.

You can also find pages for the club and the show on Facebook. ■

Mesas to Monuments

Quilt Show April 8, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

April 9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Grand Junction Convention Center

The upcoming show brings 22 vendors from five states to show their fabrics, tools, and notions for sale in one location. Admission to the show is $5. Children under 12 are free.

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970-243-8829

Town & Country Finance Local mortgage experts save you time and money

By Tom Ryan

O

ne of the hallmarks of our current culture is how quickly new products come on the market.

Home financing options are no different. It’s difficult to keep track of the many types of home loans and how they differ.

Because of the vast and sometimes complicated differences, it’s important to deal with a local broker who can help you determine the loan that’s the best fit for your situation.

Plus, local loan officers are attuned to the local market and prices.

When it comes to mortgage loans, Shelly Smith and the team at Town & Country Finance in Fruita combine local know-how with personalized service.

Smith, owner of the Fruita-based mortgage company, believes that an

Shelly Smith

Owner & Loan Originator NMLS # 273372 shelly@tcfinance.net

important decision like a home loan should not be rushed. She puts her 27 years of knowledge and experience to work for Grand Valley residents, assisting them with all of their mortgage endeavors and providing them with an experience that’s both personal and professional.

Whether you’re consolidating your debt, refinancing your home, or buying your first house, Smith and her staff have the expertise to make the process fast, easy and painless.

Smith is especially attuned to the needs of seniors, being that she is one herself. She especially loves hearing their stories.

“I love hearing about their lives— what they did in their careers, the children they had, the spouses they’ve laid to rest,” she said.

BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT One loan program that Town & Country’s older clients often find attractive is a reverse mortgage. A reverse mortgage is a great option for homeowners age 62 and older who want to leverage the equity they’ve built up in their home without selling, refinancing, or taking out a home equity loan and therefore incurring another monthly payment.

For those who don’t want to or are unable to make an additional payment because of limited cash flow or poor credit, a reverse mortgage may be your only option.

Unlike a typical mortgage, a reverse mortgage doesn’t require the homeowner to make any loan payments. It can provide a lump sum or line of credit that can be accessed as needed, based on how much of the home has been paid off and its market value. A reverse mortgage allows homeowners can stay in their homes as long as they keep up with property taxes, maintenance and insurance.

Town & Country Finance owner Shelly Smith

SMITH IS ESPECIALLY ATTUNED TO THE NEEDS OF SENIORS, BEING THAT SHE IS ONE HERSELF. For more information about reverse mortgages and other loan programs, stop by Town and Country Finance, 122 E. Aspen Ave. in Fruita, or call 970-858-4752 and schedule a free consultation. ■

Can I afford to sell my house???

I receive many calls from seniors who are struggling with the decision of whether to sell their current home or not. Typically this is because it is too large, too much lawn care or too many stairs. It’s crazy how all these things were wonderful 20 years ago! Time certainly has a way of catching us by surprise. In our market today, many seniors are finding that even if they have a lot of equity and thus a great down payment, they are faced with purchasing a home that is priced higher than they want to spend. Most don’t want a payment higher than what they currently have especially if they have no payment at all.

So, give this some thought. What about purchasing that new home with a reverse mortgage? The process is simple and will allow you to nearly double your buying power.

For example: Let’s say you own a home valued at $450,000. You have a mortgage of $200,000, payments of $1,200 and equity of $250,000 (for simplicity we will leave out closing costs and commissions, etc.) You were hoping to purchase a home and pay cash, but everything you are seeing costs at least as much as the home you are

selling. And certainly there is a very limited inventory at $250,000.

With a reverse, you could purchase a new home with a purchase price of $450,000, put $225,000 down (approximate numbers), not have a principal and interest payment and put $25,000 in the bank! This means you increased your buying power from $250,000 to $450,000, have no mortgage payment AND put money in the bank!

It can be a great solution and an exciting new adventure!

The amount of reverse loan you qualify for is dependent on your age and some other factors, so it’s always a good idea to call if you are contemplating this type of financing.

And remember, the bank does not take the title to your home! This is the objection I hear more than any other!

A reverse is a loan with your home as collateral. You are free to sell it at any time and will it to your heirs at which time they will sell and retain the equity.

The weather is getting warmer and everyone is looking forward to getting outside! See you in April!

970-858-4752 122 E. Aspen Avenue tcfinance.net |

|

Fruita, CO 81521

#299128

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MARCH 2022 | BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT |

39

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE! OF GRAND JUNCTION

What kind of a rundown joint is this?

By Denise Thiery

Hassle-free Home Ownership for Active Adults (62+)

Community, Security, & Value!

The Village Cooperative of Grand Junction is coming soon and designed specifically for active adults (62+) who want the benefits of home ownership but without the hassles of maintenance, repair bills or worries.. See why there is no better value with all the amenities in the entire area!

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- Judy Robertson, Village Cooperative member

Call Lisa today at

(970) 628-3628 to learn more about your best 62+ home ownership option in the Grand Junction area!

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OF GRAND JUNCTION

F

rom somewhere in the midst of a heartfelt bear hug came a loud pop!

“Was that you or me, and which aged joint was it?” I asked my husband.

“Beats me,” he said, “but nothing seems to have fallen off, so I guess we’re okay.”

My husband has had surgical repairs on both knees, followed by replacements of both, then a re-do of one replacement which failed. Then his cervical spine issues required the implanting of metal screws and plates in his neck. It’s like being married to the bionic man.

In fact, he has so much metal in his body that I came up with a plan.

I would buy a huge magnet and force him to accompany me against his will to every mall and craft show. That plan failed when I found out that metal joint replacements are made of titanium, which is not magnetic. Drat!

Then my own joints began to fail me. The rotator cuff in my shoulder tore and the bicep detached, requiring surgery and months of therapy. When I filled out the orthopedic surgeon’s survey, one of the questions was, “Can you throw a softball overhand with the affected arm?”

“Well, no,” I answered, “but that has more to do with my lifelong complete lack of athletic ability than the torn shoulder. Let me alter that answer a bit. I can throw a softball overhand, but it will slam into the ground about 18 inches in front of me, and it will not matter which arm I use. It’s like asking me if I can roll a bowling ball down the al-

ley with the affected arm. I can, but it still will be a gutter ball regardless of which arm I use.”

He should have asked me something more relevant to me personally, like, “With the affected arm, are you able to scoop ice cream from a pint that’s been buried in the back of the freezer for at least six months?”

My answer would be, “Yes, I will make that happen, even if it causes the affected arm to snap off at the shoulder. Tape the spoon to my stump. Let’s be honest, though. No pint of ice cream has ever lasted six months in my freezer. Sometimes it doesn’t even make it home from the store, which is why there is a spoon in the glove compartment of my car.”

My shoulder surgery was followed by months of painful physical

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

MY OWN ARTHRITIC NECK HAS BEGUN TO PAINFULLY SNAP, CRACKLE AND POP LIKE BREAKFAST CEREAL, AND CAUSES MY HUSBAND TO PEER INTO THE ROOM AND ASK, “ARE YOU MAKING POPCORN? I’LL TAKE A BAG OF THAT.” therapy. I needed lots of help bathing and dressing. This prompted me to ask my husband why he could get a bra off me in mere seconds when we were young, but it now took him at least 10 minutes of fumbling frustration and hilarity to put one on me.

Then one of my knees needed surgical repair. If you’re doing the math, that’s six knee surgeries between us, even though we have the standard issue of two legs each. I am worried that I will have to carry my husband around (now that my shoulder has healed) by hopping on my one good leg until it too fails.

When I was young and all my joints were functional and pain-free, I used to wonder why seniors often backed out of parking spaces without even turning their heads to look first. Now I get it. It’s because their

arthritic necks have seized up like the motor on my old Buick when I ignored the “low oil level” warning light.

My own arthritic neck has begun to painfully snap, crackle and pop like breakfast cereal, and causes my husband to peer into the room and ask, “Are you making popcorn? I’ll take a bag of that.”

I’d throw my head back and laugh if each movement of my head didn’t feel like being stabbed in the neck with an ice pick. I flipped him off instead, but due to the arthritic, swollen joint in my middle finger, which makes an abrupt turn at about a 30-degree angle, it just looked like I was pointing out the nearest window.

“What?” he asked, peering out the window. “Do we have company?” I threw the nearest pillow at him, and I distinctly felt something pop in my other shoulder. ■

Want to Give A Little Help?

Then call A Little Help.

970-404-1923 We connect neighbors across ages to enhance lives and strengthen communities.

Neighbors Can Help: • Provide rides for appointments and errands • Friendly visits • Light yard work

• Handy services • Snow shoveling • Technology help

Find out how A Little Help volunteers help older adults in the community. www.alittlehelp.org or call 970-404-1923

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MARCH 2022 |

41

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

Self-love can be tricky Try this daily practice to love your body well as it ages

By Margaret Dulaney

M

y friend Hayden suggests that as we age and grow less cute, we might be wise to compensate for the loss of good looks with good cheer.

Emerson writes, “There is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior like the wish to scatter joy and not pain around us.”

My friend Patty, who has made it into her 60s with a congenital kidney disease, likes to tell her body every day how proud she is of it. How grateful she is that it has bravely fought to give her a long life on the planet.

I am beginning to suspect that for those of us who have been graced with long life, the attainment of self-love could be our last challenge to enlightenment. I am not talking about ego, or pride, but a certain grateful recognition for the bodies that have carried us through our years on the earth, and will hopefully carry us far into old age.

Our bodies might be viewed as a sort of mobile home—temporary housing. These vehicles undoubtedly benefit from our care and attention to maintenance, but eventually they will break down. They weren’t built to last forever.

To criticize them when they begin to show the inevitable signs of age seems rather small-spirited of us.

“Oh look at that rust spot on the passenger door—unsightly!” we might say. “My roof looks like hell, my tires are all bald, there are pebble cracks in

42 | MARCH 2022 |

every window, and my wiper blades fell apart years ago. This old beater is a piece of junk. The poor thing!”

Wouldn’t it be kinder to say, “Oh, this grand old tank of mine has carried me through so much: through days of blistering heat, nights of frigidity, through wild storms, and traffic jams so backed up we thought we’d never move again. What a blessing this dear old jalopy has been.”

Patty’s husband Chris gave her one of his kidneys several years ago. I’d say he’s pretty well set for an eternity of Christmas gifts. This organ, twice the size of either of Patty’s original kidneys, works like a bear. This isn’t the only calamity Patty’s mobile home has suffered.

She’s had breast cancer, twice.

She’s had car accidents, horse accidents, dog accidents (that’s when you trip over a dog and break your bones). Her body has been carved up, patched together and rearranged, but she’s still rolling—and with enormous good cheer.

Patty likes to say to her body, “I love you, you are enough. You are enough for me.” After which she might take the dear old thing out for some fresh air and fruit.

Some, when faced with living out a life in a compromised body, will suggest, “Well, consider the alternative,” by which, of course, they mean death.

But death, the transition out of our earthly suits and into our heavenly suits, is not only inevitable but, I presume, a welcome change—like going on a long

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MY FRIEND PATTY, WHO HAS MADE IT INTO HER 60S WITH A CONGENITAL KIDNEY DISEASE, LIKES TO TELL HER BODY EVERY DAY HOW PROUD SHE IS OF IT. HOW GRATEFUL SHE IS THAT IT HAS BRAVELY FOUGHT TO GIVE HER A LONG LIFE ON THE PLANET. camping trip and finally returning home to take a hot bath and put on fresh clothes.

My friend Sarah refers to any uncomplimentary, old age rumination as “Methuselah thinking.”

This is when one sees oneself as an ancient ruin, of no more use to society than an old phone booth.

If the criticism that we sometimes place on our aging selves came from someone else, we would consider it heartless.

“Look at that thing? It can hardly climb a hill these days without sputtering. And that paint job!

Pathetic!”

Sarah tells me that she will perform certain tasks, such as thoroughly cleaning her kitchen after her evening meal, as an exercise in self-love.

“Let’s do this for Sarah,” she says to herself. “She will be so happy in the morning to wake to a sparkling kitchen as she dashes to get ready for the day.”

I’m considering adopting this practice. “Oh dear, Margaret seems to be having an ancient day, today,” I might say to myself, “Maybe she needs a lift? Let’s take her out for a spin, give her a little shot of sunshine.”

BEACON SENIOR NEWS to a stretch class and make you feel better.”

I suspect the best fuel on which we could run our mobile homes is simple appreciation. No matter the make or model, the finest, most energy-efficient food for our bodies is probably gratitude.

I’m thinking of a new daily practice.

“Good morning, you dear old thing,” I might say to my body.

“What a fine job you’ve been doing all these years. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise, and especially don’t take any grief from that person who lives in your head. You are enough, dear, you are enough.”

After this reassuring pep talk, I might offer it an outing of some sort.

“Today, my good friend, I’m going to fill your tank with love, and roll around the neighborhood, waving a cheerful hand.” I might offer. “Let’s go, shall we? We’ll toot around with the windows open, blowing kisses to the world.”

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Self-love is a tricky assignment, made more interesting as our bodies age.

It appears that the most dreadful thing that could be said of the aging is, “Oh, she’s let herself go, poor thing.” Or, “Look at that guy. He’s a shadow of his former self.”

I was just on vacation with an 83-year-old friend who asked where she might find a scale to weigh herself every day. She didn’t want to put on a pound. Good gravy! When do we get to let go of that crazy gym teacher in our heads?

This tight grip on our youth can be so limiting. Every age offers us its gifts. Perhaps we should be flattered when someone suggests we have “let ourselves go.” “Hooray!” we might counter, “I’ve been working toward that goal my entire life.”

“Youth is wasted on the young,” they say, but perhaps we could say the same of aging. “Age is wasted on the aging.” It is certainly wasted when we grumble about our mobile homes, when we refuse to let go of the way we rolled in our younger years, when we fuss about our paint job, our tire pressure, our power steering…

Patty, in order to thank her body for its resilience, will take it out to a yoga class. “Let me do you a favor,” she will offer. “Let me take you out

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Margaret Dulaney is an author, playwright and essayist, and founder of the spoken word website www. listenwell.org. Her book, “The Parables of Sunlight,” is about leaving New York City and finding hope in the country. ■

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43

MeSa County

CALENDAR March 12

reading, listening to or watching.

10-11 a.m. | 200 Glenwood Ave. | Free | www.mesacountylibraries. org

March 1 Writer’s Night

How do writers turn a moment of awe or a flicker of thought into a poem that resonates strongly with others? Join poet Beth Paulson at the Art Center as she shows you ways to make the light of your own words shine brighter.

6-7:30 p.m. | 1803 N. 7th St. | Free | www.westerncoloradowriters. org/events

March 2

Medicare 101

Learn when to sign up for Medicare, what each part covers, and how to choose the best plan in this free presentation hosted by a certified SHIP counselor at Mesa County RSVP. Please wear a mask.

10 a.m.-12 p.m. | 422 White Ave. (inside US Bank) | Free | www.mesa countyrsvp.org | 970-243-9839

March 3-12

March 4

Metamorphoses First Friday Reception

This new exhibit at Confluence Studios features art that moves through (and beyond) forms. The show runs through April 29.

6-9 p.m. | 634 Main St. | Free | www. imconfluencestudios.com | 970-314-2584

March 4

March 5-6

With a “killer” karaoke setup, thrilling silent and live auction, this Clue-themed banquet celebrating local businesses is sure to keep you on the edge of your seats.

5:30-11:30 p.m. | 159 Main St. | $95 | www.gjchamber.org | 970-242-3214

Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra presents Jean Sibelius' “Finlandia,” Aram Khachaturian's “Violin Concerto” featuring concertmaster Brian Krinke on violin, and Alexander Borodin's “Symphony No 2” at the Avalon Theatre.

7:30 p.m. Saturday/3 p.m. Sunday | 645 Main St. | $10-$45 | www.gjso.org

Grand Junction Chamber Banquet

March 4, 11, 18 & 25 Lenten Fish Fry

The SpongeBob Musical

As SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom face the total annihilation of their undersea world, chaos erupts and the power of optimism struggles to prevail. While based on the animated series, the musical, performed at CMU’s Robinson Theatre, is recommended for families and seasoned theatre-goers alike. See website for times.

1299 N. 12th St. | $22 ($8 for youth) | coloradomesa.universitytickets. com | 800-410-6287

Speakeasy Fundraiser

Knights of Columbus hosts a Lenten Fish Fry every Friday during Lent at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.

4:30-7 p.m. | 790 26 ½ Road | $12 (age 6-12 free, under 6 free)

March 4

Steps & Stories

If you enjoy walking and talking, join Mesa County Libraries at Sherwood Park for Steps & Stories! Get in your steps while walking around Sherwood Park and share what you’ve been

Finlandia & Violin

March 10

Robert Earl Keen with Roger Clyne

Have some debaucherous fun while helping raise funds for Museums of Western Colorado. Buy tickets to learn the special knock and be admitted to the exhibit hall-turned1920s speakeasy. Dance to live music and rub elbows with some of Grand Junction’s historical figures— guess their identity to win free drinks. Tickets include appetizers and two cocktails.

7-10 p.m. | 462 Ute Ave. | $100 each or $180 per couple | www.museumofwesternco.com/speakeasy

March 13

March 13

Bow Wow Film Festival

With 21 records to his name, a band of stellar musicians, and thousands of shows under his belt, there is no end in sight to the road ahead for Robert Earl Keen, who takes the stage at the Avalon Theatre with Roger Clyne.

6:30-9:30 p.m. | 645 Main St. | $29$49 | www.avalontheatregj.com | 970-263-5700

Get your tickets and enjoy an afternoon or evening of short films that will make you laugh, cry, cheer and hug your dog! All proceeds benefit Roice-Hurst Humane Society.

1 & 4 p.m. | 645 Main St. | $15-$20 (kids $8-$10) | www. rhhumanesociety.org/event/ bow-wow-film-festival | 970-434-7337

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2 8 9 9

CALENDAR

ing seeds in bulk, please provide envelopes.

12-4 p.m. | 517 Chipeta Ave. | Free | www.mesacountylibraries.org | 970-243-4442

March 15 The Wild, Wild NCAS

Today's National Conservation Areas provide a peaceful place to recreate and reflect. But it was not always so calm. Colorado Canyons Association reveals the stories of murder and mayhem that happened on what are now popular trails in McInnis Canyons and the Dominguez-Escalante NCAs. 5:30-6:30 p.m. | 543 Main St. | Free | www.coloradocanyonsassociation. org | 970-263-7902

March 23

Swan Lake

Experience the thrill of the Russian Ballet Theatre at the Avalon Theatre!

This famous classical 1877 ballet with a glorious score by Tchaikovsky tells the love story of a hunter who encounters a flock of swans and falls in love with their queen.

7:30-9:30 p.m. | 645 Main St. | $39$69 | www.avalontheatregj.com | 970-263-5700

March 18

March 19

Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra presents Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado with soloists at First Presbyterian Church. Proof of vaccine, negative test and masks are required.

7:30 p.m. | 3940 27 1/2 Road | $35 | www.gjso.org | 970-243-6787

Gardeners of all skill levels are invited to the Central Library’s Discovery Garden to take seeds, give seeds, swap seeds and talk gardening.

Please come prepared with your seeds divided into individual packets and clearly labeled with common name, variety or color, and date of purchase if possible. If you’re bring-

Chamber Series: Coffee Cantata

Spring Seed Exchange

March 19 World Quilting Day

March 26

Finishing Touches

This class at Confluence Studios will cover the use of resin and different varnish options along with techniques for applying both. Students are encouraged to bring one or two unvarnished/resined painting (either acrylic or oil) that is fully dried and cured, but the instructor will provide one if you don't have one. All materials are supplied.

10 a.m.-1 p.m. | 634 Main St. | $65 | www.imconfluencestudios.com | 970-314-2584

get. Join AARP for this free webinar and learn how to make Social Security decisions that meet you and your family’s needs.

5 p.m. | local.aarp.org/montrose-co/ events | Free | aarpprograms@aarp. org

March 30 Disability resources seminar

Learn about resources available for people who have disabilities or age-related limitations at this free seminar at Mesa County Workforce Center. Julie Reiskin and Mona Vyas with Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition also tell you how you can have family members or friends paid to help you with personal care and homemaking. A light breakfast will be served. Call or email before March 23 to RSVP or request accommodations.

10-11:30 a.m. | 512 29 ½ Road | Free | mvyas@ccdconline.org | 303-357-6430 ■

March 29

Celebrate Quilters Inspiration's 2-year anniversary with special offers and a demonstration by the Mesa County Search & Rescue Team.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. | 200 W. Grand Ave. | www.quilters-inspiration. com | 970-549-4482

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United Methodist Church

9:00 am Contemporary Praise Service 11:00 am Traditional Service with Choir

Live stream services at fumcgj.org First United Methodist Church | 5th St. & White Ave. (downtown) | 970-242-4850 | www.fumcgj.org WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MARCH 2022 | CALENDAR |

45

MeSa County American Association of University Women meets monthly.

Call for location.

2nd Saturday | 11:30 a.m. | 970-261-2112 Bookcliff Barbershop Chorus welcomes men of all ages to First Baptist Church, Grand Junction.

Tuesdays | 7-9 p.m. | 970-257-7664 Bookcliff Duplicate Bridge Club plays at Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Grand Junction.

Wednesdays & Fridays | 12:45 p.m. | 970-244-9989 Chatfield Country Kickers meets for square and round dancing at VFW #3981 in Grand Junction.

1st & 3rd Saturdays | 7-10 p.m. | 970-434-0868 Citizens’ Climate Lobby meets monthly online via Zoom. Check Facebook page for details.

970-250-4832 | grandjunction@ citizensclimatelobby.org | facebook.com/ CCLGJ Clifton Book Club meets to discuss “The Lady in Gold” by Anne-Marie O'Connor at the Clifton Branch Library.

2nd Tuesday | 10-11 a.m. | www.mesacountylibraries.org Colorado Archaeological Society meets monthly. Call for details.

2nd Monday | 970-250-7402 | www.CAS-GJ.org Crafting Club meets at Clifton Library.

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

CLUBS

Cribbage Lite meets at IHOP. Tuesdays | 5:30 p.m. | 970-201-7823 Cups Club meets at The Artful Cup, Grand Junction. Make friends through cards, games, talk and tea.

Wednesdays | 2 p.m. | 970-2572390 Daughters of the American Revolution, Mount Garfield Chapter, meets monthly. Call for location.

970-250-7401 Desert Vista Garden Club is open to all women. Call for location.

1st Wednesday | 1 p.m. | 303-6531941 Explorer’s Bible Study, open to all women, studies the book of Genesis at Redlands Community Church.

Wednesdays | 9:30-11:15 a.m. | 970-260-0880 Fleet Reserve Association meets at VFW #3981 in Grand Junction.

Former, retired and active sea service, Navy, Marines or Coast Guard welcome.

2nd Wednesday | 7 p.m. | 970-434-0868 Friendship Force, a nonprofit cultural club that promotes travel and cultural understanding through homestays, meets at New Covenant Baptist Church in Grand Junction.

3rd Saturday | 12 p.m. | 214-5362250 | www.ffwcolo.com Gem & Mineral Club meets at 2328 Monument Road in Grand Junction.

2nd Thursday, 7 p.m. | 4th Thursday, 6:30 p.m. | grandjunctionrock club@gmail.com

Grand Junction Brush & Palette Club meets at The Art Center.

3rd Thursday | 1 p.m. | www.gjbrushandpalette.org Grand Junction Petroleum & Mining Club meets at Grand Junction Convention Center.

3rd Thursday | 6:30 p.m. | www.grandjunctionpmc.com Grand Junction Toastmasters meets at The Commons of Hilltop Garden Room in Grand Junction.

Tuesdays | 6:45 a.m. | 970-361-1806 Grand Valley Pets Alive meets at Church of the Nativity in Grand Junction.

3rd Wednesday | 2-3:30 p.m. | 970-462-7554 Grand Valley Valor Quilters meets monthly at Quilters Inspiration, 200 W. Grand Ave. 3rd Monday | 10 a.m. | Facebook: Grand Valley Valor Quilters Grand Valley Woodcarvers meets at Redlands Methodist Church.

1st & 3rd Wednesday, 6 p.m. | 2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 1 p.m. | 970-245-8817 or 970-257-1549 Grand Valley Woodturners meets at Redlands Methodist Church.

2nd Tuesday | 7 p.m. | 970-245-8817 Great Old Broads for Wilderness meets monthly. Call for details.

970-596-8510 Guys’ Giving Club meets quarterly at Springhill Suites, Grand Junction.

1st Tuesday in February, May,

August, November | 5:15 p.m. | 970-243-8829 or 970-270-6184 Kiwanis Club of Grand Junction meets at Warehouse 25sixty-five in Grand Junction Thursdays | 12 p.m. | 970-260-8664 Knights of Columbus #1062 meets at St. Joseph Catholic Church Parish Hall in Grand Junction.

2nd Thursday | 6:30 p.m. | 970-261-1952 Knitting Club meets at Community of Christ Church in Grand Junction.

4th Tuesday | 6:30-8 p.m. | 970-623-1455 Mesa County Genealogical Society meets at various locations. www.mesacountygenealogy.org Newcomers Club meets at Grand Valley Event Center, 2400 Consistory Court, Grand Junction 2nd Wednesday | 9:30 a.m. | 970549-0440 | www.gjnewcomers.org Not Going Quietly, a space of empowerment, community and grace for adults 60+, meets at Koinonia, 730 25 Road, Grand Junction.

2nd & 4th Tuesday | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | 970-433-7799 | www.cslgj.org Orchard Mesa Lions Club meets at the Eagles Lodge in Grand Junction.

1st & 3rd Monday | 7 p.m. | 970-208-9228 Questers, Grand Mesa Peaches, hosts speakers on collecting and restoring antiques. Call for details.

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River City Singles meet weekly at the Moose Lodge in Grand Junction.

Fridays | 4:30 p.m. | 970-210-2390 Rotary Club of Grand Junction meets weekly at Bookcliff Country Club in Grand Junction.

Wednesdays | 12-1:15 p.m. | 970-234-5030 SOS: Singles over 65 is an active, hip social club for single seniors! www.meetup.com/singles-over-65 Sunset Slope Quilters meets at Canyon View Vineyards Church’s South Chapel.

2nd Wednesday | 9 a.m. | www.sun setslopequilters.com Sweet Adelines, Grand Mesa A Capella Chorus, sings four-part barbershop harmony and rehearses at Redlands United Methodist Church.

Mondays | 6:30-9 p.m. | 970-2451837 | www.grandmesaacappella. com Talk of the Town Toastmasters meets weekly. Call for location.

Thursdays | 12 p.m. | 970-361-1806 Thunder Mountain Camera Club meets at Western Colorado Community College, Building B. 4th Tuesday | 7 p.m. | www.thunder mountaincameraclub.org Two Rivers Cribbage Club meets at Grand Junction Masonic Center.

Thursdays | 970-261-1670 Veterans Coffee Club meets weekly at Western Region One Source in Grand Junction.

Tuesdays | 8:30-10:30 a.m. | 970-257-3760 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) #3981 meets at the Post Hall, 503 Florence Road, in Grand Junction.

1st Wednesday | 5:30 p.m. | 970-778-8242

Western Colorado Amateur Radio Club meets at First Christian Church in Grand Junction.

2nd Saturday | 9:30 a.m. | www.w0rrz.org Western Colorado Astronomy Club meets at Mesa County Libraries’ Central Branch.

1st Tuesday | 6 p.m. | 970-2012865 | www.wcacastronomy.org Western Colorado Decorative Artists meets at First Congregational Church in Grand Junction.

2nd Saturday | 9 a.m. | 970-6402751 Western Slope Coin Club meets at VFW #1247 in Grand Junction.

4th Tuesday | Meeting at 6:30 p.m. | 970-250-7036 Western Slope Model Yacht Club meets at Canyon View Park’s north pond.

Saturdays | 10 a.m. | 970-243-2957 Western Slope Pickleball Club meets regularly. Visit website for details.

970-241-8561 | www.western slopepickleballclub.com Wheels West Car Club meets at Grand Junction Moose Lodge.

1st Saturday | 9 a.m. | www.wheelswestcarclub.org Writer Chicks Coffee Club, a ladies-only meeting for local writers, meets at Main Street Bagels.

Wednesdays | 9-10 a.m. | melodyjones@melodyjonesauthor.com Yoga for Military Members, at Western Region One Source, offers a free yoga class for military members and their families.

Wednesdays | 2:30-3:30 p.m. | 970-257-3760 ■

Grow Your Club’s Membership List your club meetings in our monthly magazine for free!

EMAIL TO: Beacon@PendantPublishing.com OR CALL: 970-243-8829

Question

OF THE

Month

Compiled by Jan Weeks

How did you meet your best friend?

Sheryl Rogers - Grand Junction “I met my best friend, Cheryl, with a ‘C’, at a woodworking class at Central High School. We really connected. Then she moved to the Denver area. In the early 2000s, I went to a Wells Fargo Christmas party and Cheryl was there. She had moved to Montrose. We reconnected and were best friends until she passed away in 2017.”

Carroll Multz - Grand Junction “I was a defense attorney in my own firm and had a lot of dealings with the district attorney’s office, so I knew Judy. When my wife died, I asked her if she could recommend someone to transcribe my handwritten manuscripts. She volunteered, we began collaborating, and now we’re best friends.”

Jeff Stephens - Grand Junction “I met Bob Rice at work when we both worked the night shift at a manufacturing facility. We’d go for coffee after work and became best friends. In fact, we moved into a house together. He, his wife, and child lived on the ground floor, and my wife Candy and I took the upstairs. When the landlord sold the house, we all moved to Colorado.”

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47

MeSa County LEAP applications available to help with heating costs

Mesa County residents can now apply for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP), designed to help individuals and families with winter heating costs. Applications will be taken through April 30. LEAP is not intended to pay the entire cost of home heating and applicants must meet eligibility requirements.

Apply online at www.colorado.gov/ PEAK or by phone: 1-866-432-8435.

Paper applications can be picked up at Mesa County Department of Human Services, or by calling 970241-8480.

AARP TaxAide prepares taxes for free

Appointments are required. Call 970-589-3789 or 970-210-5705 to make an appointment or go to www.cotaxaide.org/appt to schedule online. All taxes will be prepared at Wells Fargo, 359 Main St. in Grand Junction, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Bring picture IDs, Social Security/ITIN cards, last year’s tax return and all documents to accurately complete your return, including letters from the IRS if you had identity theft, receipt of the economic impact funds, or the letter 6419 if you received Advanced Child

BEACON BITS

Tax Credit payments.

Kiwanis recognizes outstanding community members

Kiwanis Club of Grand Junction seeks nominations for the 2022 Kiwanis Citizen of the Year Award and Educator of the Year Award, which are given annually to Mesa County residents who contribute to the community with an emphasis on projects that benefit children.

Nominees don’t have to be members of Kiwanis. Nomination forms are available at www.kiwanis-gj.org and can be e-mailed to Ed Baltzer at ebaltzer@avantenvironmental.com

by April 7, 2022.

Parks & Recreation Advisory Board seeks new members

The seven-member board assists in the planning of recreation activities and helps promote a long-range program for the development of the City's park system. The board is accepting applications through March 30. For more information, visit www.gjparksandrec.org, call 970254-3866 or stop by the office at 1340 Gunnison Ave. Grand Junction.

Writers Forum changes donation structure

Western Colorado Writers’ Forum (WCWF) is committed to fostering

48 | BEACON BITS | MARCH 2022 |

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

Colorado Canyons Association announces 2022 lecture series Curious about the wonders in your backyard? Join local experts and scientists to learn something new about Colorado’s National Conservation Areas. Lectures are free and open to the public. All lectures will be held virtually on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. Upcoming dates and topics: a rich and diverse writing community that invites participation from diverse cultures, customs and life experiences. In years past, WCWF has solicited donations on a membership basis. COVID has significantly hampered the breadth of benefits traditionally offered. Additionally, the group recognizes the economic hardship some writers have faced as a result of the pandemic. Moving forward, WCWF plans to expand programs and tools offered in a more accessible and equitable way to empower as many writers as possible to rise to the challenges of our time. To that end, WCWF is ending its traditional membership program and seeking donations based on what one can give or feels moved to

• February 15, 5:30 p.m. - The Desert Bighorn Sheep of Black Ridge with Genevieve Fuller, terrestrial biologist with Colorado Parks & Wildlife • March 1, 5:30 p.m. - Rare and Endemic Plants of the NCAS with Ken Holsigner, ecologist with the Bureau of Land Management • March 15, 5:30 p.m. - The Wild, Wild NCAS with local historian Zebulon Miracle give to enhance local literary events.

To donate and for more information, call 970-822-7373 or visit www. westerncoloradowriters.org.

Support troops at OI’s Hawaiian fundraiser

Help Operation Interdependence support our deployed military at its Hawaiian Days fundraiser at VFW Post 1247, 1404 Ute Ave. on April 2.

Come have fun with lunch, games, silent auction and more. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Lunch is served at noon. Adults are $12 and children are $7. RSVP by March 25. Call 970523-4217 for details.

Grand Valley Pets Alive awarded grant by City of Fruita The City of Fruita has awarded

BEACON BITS

VOLUNTEERS WANTED used to spay/neuter cats—both pets and community cats—in the area of Fruita bounded by 16, 19 and L Roads and the Colorado River, plus Kingsview Estates subdivision. All cats will receive rabies vaccines.

The health and safety of animals in Fruita has been identified as a serious concern in the community.

GVPA volunteers have worked for many years in the city to reduce the number of kittens being born to cats that stood little chance of finding a home. To request a voucher, call 970-462-7554.

Guys Giving Club awards $9,000 to Riverside Educational Center

Riverside Educational Center was awarded a check for over $9,000 from the Guys Giving Club. Guys Giving Club meets just four times a year. At each meeting, members are invited to nominate a local charity.

Three of those nominees are chosen by random. The person who placed the nomination will then speak briefly about why they chose the non-profit, a vote is taken and a winner is chosen. Each Guys Giving Club member is asked to write a $100 check to that non-profit. No administrative fees, no strings attached, no tickets to sell, no cookies to deliver.

For more information, call Kevin VanGundy at 970-243-8829 or Frank Lindemann at 970-216-3879.

Palisade Historical Society presents on railroad history

Palisade Historical Society’s next history talk features Matt Darling, a fourth generation railfan presenting the “Railroad History of Palisade.” It begins at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 24 at The Ordinary Fellow Winery, 202 Peach Ave., Palisade. For details, visit www.historicpalisade.org or call 970-464-2177. ■

Send news and announcements to

Beacon@PendantPublishing.com

d o w n t o w n

202 2

G r a n d

j c t

Ariel Clinical Services is looking for volunteer host homes. Get paid to support adults with intellectual disabilities.

Call 970-245-1616 A Little Help volunteers to help older adults with home services, errands and more.

970-404-1923 Colorado Master Gardeners teach landscape and gardening at CSU Extension.

970-244-1834 | https://tra. extension.colostate.edu Food Bank of the Rockies volunteers serve in various positions. www.foodbankrockies.org/west ern-slope-volunteer | 970-464-1138 Foster Grandparents 55+ help in school classrooms.

Call 970-298-9092 Grand Junction Visitor Center tourism ambassadors welcome visitors to the Grand Valley. www.visitgrandjunction.com | 970-256-4054 Mesa County RSVP connects individuals 55+ to volunteer positions in its member agencies. www.rsvpgrandjunction.com | 970-243-9839 MOPS Kids volunteers watch children during MOPS meetings at Canyon View Vineyard Church.

Call 970-549-6637 Museum of Western Colorado has a variety of opportunities. www.museumofwesternco.com | info@westcomuseum.org Operation Interdependence volunteers hand-write notes sent to U.S. military men and women. carley@oidelivers.org | 970-523-4217 Palisade Historical Society volunteers share Palisade’s history or work on committees/projects. historicpalisade@outlook.com Senior Companions 55+ provide friendship and drive homebound seniors to errands/appointments.

Call 970-298-9092

01

APRIL

10

We’re feelin’ Sandra, Amber, Christie, Katie and

to serve you!

Eden.

You are the pot of gold at the end of our rainbow!

SAMS

Senior Assistance for Materials and Services

ADRC has funding available to assist and maintain the health and independence of adults over 60 and adults over 18 with a disability.

Possible assistance can include but is not limited to: Ramps • Glasses • Hearing Aids Dentures and Dental Work Low-Vision Equipment • Medical Equipment

Aging and Disability Resources for Colorado

970-248-2746

(Option 1)

www.mcadrc.org WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MARCH 2022 | BEACON BITS |

49

SUPPORT GROUPS CALENDAR

MeSa Montrose County & Delta Caregiver Connections meets on Zoom.

Tuesdays | 10-11:30 a.m. | 970-257-2390 Caregiver Support Group meets at Cappella Grand Junction. Call to RSVP. 1st Thursday | 1:30-3 p.m. | 970-822-7070 Caregiver Support Group meets at Aspen Ridge Care Center.

2nd Tuesday | 1:30-3 p.m. | 970-640-7416 Compassionate Friends offers friendship and understanding to bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents at Messiah Lutheran Church, 840 N. 11th St., Grand Junction.

1st Tuesday | 7-8:30 p.m. | 970-434-3822 Gamblers Anonymous’ 12-step meeting is held at The Meeting Hall, 1938 N. First St. in Grand Junction.

Tuesdays | 7-8 p.m. | 917-363-3719 GriefShare, a nondenominational Christ-based support group for those mourning the death of a loved one, meets at Clifton Christian Church, 3241 F 1⁄4 Road.

Mondays | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | 970-628-1453 Grief Group for Pets meets at Roice-Hurst Humane Society, 362 28 Road.

2nd Wednesday, bi-monthly | 6-7 p.m. | 970-434-7337, ext. 103 Guitars 4 Vets meets at Western Slope One Source.

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

Head & Neck Cancer Support Group meets at Colorado West Otolaryngologists (St. Mary’s Hospital).

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

Mens Health Group (veterans) meets at Western Slope One Source.

1st Mondays | 9:30-11 a.m. | 970257-3760

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

Thursdays | 12-1 p.m. | 970-2982351

Mindful Pain Management meets at Western Region One Source, 428 28 Road.

Fridays | 1 p.m. | 970-257-3764

Hearing Loss of America, Western Colorado Chapter, meets at the Center for Independence, 740 Gunnison Ave. 2nd Saturday | 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | 970-241-0315 ext. 29

Moms Group (veterans) meets at Western Slope One Source.

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

HEARTBEAT/Survivors After Suicide meets at First Congregational Church, 1425 N. Fifth St. 3rd Tuesday | 7-9 p.m. | 970-778-9274 Job Searching After 50 meets at Mesa County Workforce Center.

You must register as a job seeker at www.connectingcolorado.com.

1st & 3rd Thursdays | 8:30-10 a.m. | 970-248-7560 Leukemia, Lymphoma & Myeloma Support Group meets in St. Mary’s Hospital’s Reflection Room.

3rd Monday | 4-5 p.m. | 970-298-2351 MACHO Men cancer support group meets at the VA Medical Center In-Patient Dining, 2121 North Ave. 1st Thursday | 2 p.m. | 970-298-2351 Mending Hearts is for any adult who has experienced the death of a loved one. Call for location.

Thursdays | 2-3:30 p.m. | 970-257-2390

MS Breakfast Group meets at Village Inn, 757 Horizon Drive.

1st Tuesday | 9 a.m. | 970-985-4935 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) meets at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fruita.

4th Tuesday | 6-7:30 p.m. | www.NAMIWS.org | 970-462-3989 Parents (Family) of Addicted Loved Ones meets at Four Winds, 1235 Bookcliff Ave. Thursdays | 6:30-8 p.m. | 970-216-2232 St. Mary’s Stroke support group meets monthly virtually and in person.

3rd Friday | 1-2:30 p.m. | 970-298-1980

TOPS Colorado 458 weight-loss support group meets at Community of Christ Church, 2880 B 1/2 Road.

Tuesdays | 5 p.m. | 970-628-4981 Veteran Coffee Club meets at Western Region One Source.

Wednesdays | 8:00-10:30 a.m. | 970-257-3764 Veteran Spouses Grief and Loss ladies-only support group meets at the Grand Junction Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

Wednesdays | 9-10:30 a.m. | 970-263-8986 Vets 4 Vets meets at Western Slope One Source.

Fridays | 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | 970-257-3760 Woman to Woman cancer support group meets in St. Mary’s Hospital’s Reflection Room.

3rd Thursday | 4:30-5:30 p.m. | 970-298-2351 Women Veterans Tai Chi at Western Slope One Source.

Fridays | 9:30-11:30 a.m. | 970-257-3760 Women Veterans Yoga meets at Western Slope One Source.

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

Tai Chi for Veterans at Western Slope One Source.

Wednesdays | 1-2 p.m. | 970-257-3760

Yoga For Life meets at the St. Mary’s Life Center Aerobics Room.

Tuesdays | 5:30-6:45 p.m. | 970-298-2351

TOPS Club weight-loss support group meets at Grace Point Church, 606 28 3⁄4 Road.

Wednesdays | 9 a.m. | 970-523-0241

Yoga for Veterans at Western Slope One Source.

Thursdays | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | 970-257-3760 ■

List your support group for FREE Let our readers know you’re here to help by listing your support group in our monthly magazine Your group’s name: _________________________________ Where do you meet? ________________________________ When do you meet? _________________________________ Contact number: ___________________________________ Email: __________________________________________ Website (if applicable): _______________________________

50 | SUPPORT GROUPS | MARCH 2022 |

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

The Voice of Adults 50+ in Western Colorado

Email:

Beacon@PendantPublishing.com

Call: 970-243-8829 *Subject to space availability

FUN AFTER 50

Senior Center Activities

FUN AFTER 50

Senior Recreation Center activities

To register for programs, call the Fruita Community Center at 970-858-0360 or visit www.fruita.org/parksrec/page/seniors

SPECIAL EVENTS All activities start or take place at Fruita Senior Center unless noted otherwise.

Senior Potluck

Bring a dish to share, otherwise the cost is $3 at the door. There will be Corned Beef on Thursday, March 17 for St. Paddy’s Day. 12 p.m. | 1st, 3rd, 5th Thursdays | $3

Mary’s Loop Hike

Explore this 3-mile moderate hike in the Kokopelli area.

12:30 p.m. | March 9 | $5

Food for Thought: Green

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, let’s talk, eat and discuss your green recipes.

1 p.m. | March 14 | Free

Independence Monument Hike

This moderate 4.5-mile hike in Colorado National Monument.

12:30 p.m. | March 22 | $5

GAMES Bingo

Play Bingo with friends at the Senior Center.

1:30 p.m. | March 11 | Free

Pinochle

Play pinochle with friends at the Senior Center.

10 a.m. | Tuesdays & Fridays

Game Night

Play dominoes, Mexican train and many other games at the Senior Center.

5 p.m. | 2nd & 4th Tuesdays

FITNESS Contact the Fruita Community Center for more classes!

SilverSneakers Yoga

Perform a variety of postures designed to increase flexibility, balance and range of movement. A chair can be used for support.

11:30 a.m. | Mondays & Fridays

SilverSneakers Classic

Strengthen muscles and increase range of movement for daily life activities.

A chair can be used for support.

11:30 a.m. | Tuesdays

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

SPECIAL EVENTS Mystery Party: Bullets ‘n’ Barbecue

Mystery party with dinner and dessert at the Senior Center. Seating is limited, so RSVP today.

Reservations required.

11 a.m. | March 17 | $5 for Senior Center members, $10 for non-members

Southwest Arbor Fest

Get your taste buds involved with amazing craft beer and delicious food while you roam around visiting booths and listening to live music. Take home a free tree seedling or containerized tree for your yard. There will also be a notable tree tour, a silent auction for urban wood pieces milled from recently lost park trees, tree identification workshop, and more.

12-5 p.m. | April 23 | Lincoln Park

Western Colorado Pickleball Tournament Men’s, women’s, and mixed all levels 3.0 -4.5+.

Saturday is doubles and Sunday is mixed. Start times will be designated once registration closes at 5 p.m. on April 20. One fee covers all play for the weekend. Tournament dates subject to change based on court availability.

April 30 - May 1 | Register at gjpr.org/pickleball tour22

FITNESS

SilverSneakers Circuit

Increase your cardiovascular and muscular endurance with a standing circuit workout. Upper body strength work with handheld weights, elastic tubing with handles and a ball is alternated with non-impact aerobic choreography.

11:30 a.m. | Wednesdays & Thursdays

Gentle Yoga

Practice flexibility of your mind and body.

8-9 a.m. | Tuesdays & Fridays | Lincoln Park Barn | $7 drop-in, $50 10-punch pass

NEWS & PROGRAMS Hiring Part-Time/Seasonal

Are you a retiree looking for a part time or seasonal job with flexible hours?

Visit www.gjcity.org/jobs for details

Renew Active now available

Qualifying individuals get access to a free membership to many parks and recreation facilities and programs! Check your eligibility at www. uhcrenewactive.com/home or call 970-254-3866.

550 Ouray Ave., Grand Junct.

970-243-7408 Open to adults 50 and older 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

MONDAY 9:00 am 12:00 p.m.

1:00 pm 6:00 pm

Cribbage & Games Canasta Card Bingo Pinochle (DD)

TUESDAY 8:00 am 9:00 am

1:00 pm

Pinochle (DD) Pool Tournament & Games Bingo

WEDNESDAY 9:00 am Games 9:30 am Pool 1:00 pm Pinochle

THURSDAY 10:00 am 12:00 pm 1:00 pm 6:00 pm

1st Thursday Dance Potluck Lunch Pokeno & Rummikub Bunco

2nd & 4th Thursdays 9:00 am Games 10:00 am Cribbage 12:00 pm Pokeno 1:00 pm Rummikub & Poker 6:00 pm Bunco 9:00 am 10:00 am 1:00 pm 6:00 pm

3rd Thursday Games Cribbage Pokeno & Rummikub Bunco

FRIDAY 9:00 a.m.

12:45 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

Pool Tournament & Games Bridge Canasta

SATURDAY 9:00 am Canasta 10:00 am Tai Chi 1:00 pm Bingo

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MARCH 2022 | FUN AFTER 50 |

51

Montrose & Delta March 4

Classic Nashville Live

Relive the glory days of Country Western music on the radio with classic Opry-style comedy. This show at Delta County Performing Arts Center is led by Jason Petty, Obie-award winner for the off-Broadway show, Hank Williams’ “Lost Highway.”

7-9 p.m. | 822 Grand Ave., Delta | $20 (annual memberships available) | www.concertassociation. net/DeltaCO | 970-249-4308

CALENDAR

or call to learn more.

10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | 195 W. Main St., Cedaredge | $60 (includes materials) | www.grandmesaarts center.com/art-classes | 970-856-9195

March 11

Myths & Masks

Come to Montrose Center for the Arts for the opening reception of its community art show. Light appetizers, live music, beer and wine will be available.

5-7 p.m. | 11 S. Park Ave., Montrose | www.mc4arts.com | 970-787-9428

Join internationally renowned poet, percussionist, storyteller, maskmaker, performing artist and seven-time GRAMMY® Nominee Will Clipman at Ridgway’s iconic Sherbino Theater for an entertaining and inspirational evening of mythopoetic storytelling, multicultural mask art and original world music. Presented in partnership with Ouray County Performing Arts Guild. Doors and bar open at 6:30 p.m.

7 p.m. | 604 Clinton St., Ridgway | $20+ | www.sherbino.org | 970-318-0892

March 4-6

March 11

March 4

Open Expressions!

Gun Show

Montrose Rod and Gun Club’s Gun Show will be held at the Montrose County Event Center.

8 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday/9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Saturday/9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday | 1001 N. 2nd St., Montrose | 970-249-9008

March 5

Nature Monoprinting

Print making without a press. Create beautiful prints from nature with instructor Ouida Touchon at Grand Mesa Arts and Event Center. Participants will need to bring a few household supplies. Register online

52 | CALENDAR | MARCH 2022 |

Ute Indian Night Sky Storytelling

Join Colorado Canyons Association and Montrose Public Library at the Ute Indian Museum for an evening of storytelling on the patio and s’mores. Learn about the significance of dark skies and hear ancestral stories from the area at this free, family-friendly, outdoor event! RSVP recommended.

6-8 p.m. | 17253 Chipeta Rd., Montrose | Free | www.coloradocanyons association.org/events | 970-2493098

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

March 16 MarchFourth

This joy-inducing force of entertainment is a colorful explosion of brassy funk, rock and jazz. This largerthan-life group of marching band musicians and acrobats tours the country year-round, bringing a spirit of celebration wherever they go. Doors and bar open at 7:30 p.m.

8 p.m. | 604 Clinton St., Ridgway | $40 | www.sherbino.org | 970-318-0892

March 18

Brian Krinke & Bill Aikens Concert

Classical oboe and piano await as classical artists and professors Brian Krinke and Bill Aikens take the stage at The Blue Sage’s Curtis Hall.

7-9 p.m. | 226 Grand Ave., Paonia | $20 | www.bluesage.org | 970-527-7243

March 18-19

No Limits Monster Truck Show See the biggest, baddest, wildest event on dirt invade the Montrose County Event Center. This show has a long list of teams including Bigfoot and many other trucks seen on TV! 7 p.m. Friday & Saturday / 1 p.m.

Saturday | 1036 N. 7th St., Montrose | $27.50+ (kids are $14.50+) | https:// tickets.nolimitsmonstertrucks.com | 970-683-4742

March 18 Hope West Gala: Moonstruck in Manhattan

This vintage evening affair supports the programs of HopeWest in Montrose. Enjoy a champagne reception, silent auction, dinner, and dancing to the music of The Brown Family Band. This is a mask-friendly event. Seating is limited.

6-11 p.m. | 1800 E. Pavilion Drive, Montrose | $125 | www.hope westco.org/montrose-gala | 970-497-5206

CALENDAR

March 18-20

March 23

Come see stunning displays of quilts and quilted items, including Brazilian embroidery by Della Collins, at S&B Quilters Guild’s show at Delta County Fairgrounds’ Heritage Hall. There will be demonstrations and vendors, and a blue pineapple quilt will be raffled off. Raffle tickets are $1 each.

Refreshments will be available at Calico Cafe.

9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday & Saturday / 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday | 403 S. 4th St., Hotchkiss | Free | sbquilters1989@ gmail.com | www.sandbquiltersguild.com

Stop by Friendship Hall at the Montrose County Fairgrounds to chat with veteran-centric community organizations, including VA enrollment and benefit specialists, Vet Center specialists and more.

11 a.m.-4 p.m. | 1036 N. 7th St., Montrose | 970-242-0731

Cabin Fever Quilt Show

March 18April 2 Magic Circle Players’ “Macbeth”

In William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” a Scottish general receives a prophecy that one day he will be King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and usurps the Scottish throne. The bloodbath and consequent civil war swiftly take Macbeth and Lady Macbeth into the realms of madness and death.

7:30 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays/2 p.m. Sundays | 420 S. 12th St., Montrose | $15+ | www.magic circleplayers.com | 970-249-7838

Veterans Resource Tour

Schedule Your Screening (970) 252-2893

March 26

The Queen Bees

Listen to female-fueled music for the heart and soul at Upstairs at Precedence. The Queen Bees is a powerhouse trio that weaves together new interpretations of classic covers with stunning harmonies, inspiring melodies, and the perfect feminine touch.

6-8 p.m. | 511 E. Main St., Montrose | $10 | www.precedence productions.com | 970-209-0298

 

MAGIC CIRCLE PLAYERS EST. 1959

The Magic of Live Theatre

March 27

FOR 62 YEARS

Flashback to the ’70s!

Celebrate Valley Symphony Association’s 50th anniversary with a musical journey highlighting the best of American-born rock and pop during one of the most diverse musical decades of all times. From hits by James Taylor to Queen and the Doobie Brothers to Paul Simon, this concert is full of songs everyone will know and love.

3-5 p.m. | 1800 Pavilion Drive, Montrose | $20 | www.valley symphony.net | 970-275-8676

March 29

MAGIC CIRCLE PLAYERS EST. 1959

The Magic of Live Theatre FOR 62 YEARS

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S

Social Security Mistakes That Can Be Costly

March 21

Uptown Girls

This powerhouse female vocal trio create an irresistible, feel-good celebration of friendship, fervor and fun with pop hits of the ’70s and ’80s, including “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “I’m Still Standing” and more.

7-9 p.m. | 822 Grand Ave., Delta | $20 (annual memberships available) | www.concertassociation. net/DeltaCO | 970-249-4308

For many of us, Social Security is the only guaranteed income we’ll ever get. Join AARP for this free webinar and learn how to make Social Security decisions that meet you and your family’s needs.

5 p.m. | Free | local.aarp.org/ montrose-co/events | aarp programs@aarp.org

Directed by Tiffany McNeil

FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 25 & APRIL 1 @ 7:30PM SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 26 & APRIL 2 @ 7:30PM SUNDAY, MARCH 20 & 27 @ 2PM Shakespeare’s thrilling tale of magic, murder and madness.

COME

SEE MORE EVENTS AT:

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Play WITH US

MagicCirclePlayers.com • 420 S. 12th • Montrose, CO • 970-249-7838 • mcp@montrose.net

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MARCH 2022 | CALENDAR |

53

Montrose & Delta Alpine Photography Club meets in classroom 100 at Colorado Mesa University’s Montrose campus, 320 S. Second St. 2nd Tuesday | 7-9 p.m. | apcmontroseco@gmail.com Black Canyon Barbershop Chorus sings four-part a cappella at Olathe United Methodist Church.

Thursdays | 7-8:30 p.m.

Black Canyon Woodcarvers meets weekly at Montrose Senior Center.

Thursdays | 1-3 p.m. | 970-323-5860 Book Club meets virtually through Montrose Regional Library.

1st Saturday | 9-10 a.m. | lmclean@montroselibrary.org Citizen’s Climate Lobby meets at the Montrose Library.

1st Monday | 5:30 p.m. | 970-765-9095 Crafternoon meets in Montrose Library’s meeting room. Members knit and crochet projects to donate to charities. Supplies provided.

1st, 2nd & 3rd Wednesdays | 2:30- 4:30 p.m. | 970-249-9656 Crafty Chatty members socialize and work on craft projects. Bring your own materials. Call for details.

970-249-7198 Columbine Quilters gather monthly for fellowship, show-and-tell and refreshments at 4 Hilcrest Plaza Way, Montrose.

1st Saturday | 9 a.m. | 970-4623849 | paulalakecity@gmail.com Delta Hub-Wheelers Square Dance Club seeks new dancers!

CLUBS

970-773-4495 | deltawriter47@ gmail.com

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

Friendship Quilters meet at Montrose County Fairgrounds’ Friendship Hall 4th Thursday | 9 a.m. | 970-417-4842

Montrose Elks hosts Bingo at the Elks Lodge, 801 S. Hillcrest Drive.

Tuesdays | 6:30 p.m. | 970-249-4852

Fore-Kin Trails Genealogical Society offers free help and resources with family history research at the Montrose Genealogy Center.

Wednesdays & Thursdays | 1-4 p.m. | 970-240-1755 Gold Prospectors of America, Western Colorado Chapter, meets monthly at Olathe Community Center.

3rd Thursday | 7 p.m. | 970-596-9184 | www.wcgpaa.org Golden Circle of Friends meets for lunch at Montrose Senior Center.

Bring your own lunch and socialize.

Everyone is welcome!

Fridays | 12 p.m. | 970-252-4888 Kiwanis Club of Delta meets at Daveto’s for lunch.

2nd & 4th Tuesdays | 12 p.m. | 970-985-8413 Montrose Area Woodturners meets at 520 Collins Way, Montrose.

2nd Saturday | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | 970986-2550 | lvcribbs@charter.net Montrose Amateur Radio Club meets at Olathe Community Center.

3rd Friday | 7 p.m. | 970-417-6142 Montrose County Historical Society meets monthly in the Pioneer Room at Friendship Hall, 1001 N. Second St.

Anciano Tower is an affordable, older adult community (62+) with several apartments equipped to accommodate those who are mobility impaired.

Free WiFi Elevator Landscaped Grounds Ample Parking On-Site Management & Maintenance ■ Service Coordinator

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

San Juan Dance Club offers eight styles of dance lessons at Precedence Dance Academy in Montrose.

Singles welcome.

Thursdays | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | 970-252-9600 | patdouglas213@ yahoo.com Veterans Coffee Cedaredge meets at The Pondy, 220 W. Main St. 3rd Tuesday | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | 970-756-2210 | www.whafv.org Veterans Coffee Montrose meets at the Warrior Resource Center.

Thursdays | 8-10 a.m. | 970-756-2210 | www.whafv.org

SUPPORT GROUPS COVID-19 Grief Group meets at Touch of Care, 1100 E. Main St., Montrose.

Last Tuesday | 12 p.m. | 970-7879988 Delta Diabetes Support Group meets at Grand Mesa Oncology’s Crag Crest room.

2nd Tuesdays | 2:30-3:30 p.m. | 970-874-6410 NAMI Family Support Group meets at the PIC Place, 87 Merchant Drive, Montrose.

3rd Wednesday | 5:30-7 p.m. | 970-520-282-9060 TOPS Montrose weight-loss support group meets weekly at Hillcrest Congregational Church, 611 S. Hillcrest Drive.

Mondays | 5 p.m. | 970-901-8697

Email your Club and Support Group meeting information to

Beacon@PendantPublishing.com

For more information, please call

970-249-8844 or email us at:

ancianotower@rhf.org

Where Passion Where Passion for God and for God and for People meet….

Compassion Compassion for People meet….

Visit our website for an application: www.rhf.org/location/anciano-tower

54 | CLUBS | MARCH 2022 |

Montrose Pavilion Dance Club hosts dances at Montrose Pavilion.

Dancers of all ages are welcome.

2nd & 4th Saturdays | 7:30-11 p.m. | $5 | 970-252-7172

Western Slope 4 Wheelers meets at Montrose Rod & Gun Club’s indoor range, 1211 6450 Road.

1st Tuesday | 7 p.m. | 970-209-5326 ■

Service Times Service Times Celebration Celebration Service Service am Sunday 10:00 am10:00 Sunday Family Family Night Night pm Wednesday 6:30 pm 6:30 Wednesday

Your place to call Amenities Include: ■ On-Site Laundry Room ■ Individual Indoor Mailboxes ■ Locked Entry Access System ■ Large Community Room

Montrose Model Aircraft Association fly remote-control planes every weekend. Beginners welcome. www.mmaa-modelairplanes.org | 970-765-0599 | mmaaflyer@gmail. com

Veterans Coffee Westend meets at the Nucla Airport.

2nd Wednesday | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | 970-756-2210 | www.whafv.org

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

515 S. Dr. Hillcrest Dr 515 S. Hillcrest Montrose, Montrose, CO 81401CO 8140 970-249-4319 970-249-4319

FUN AFTER 50

Senior Center Activities

Phelanies

To register for programs, call 970-252-4884 or visit www.montroserec.com Did you know that Montrose Recreation District offers scholarships for adults 55 and older? You can get a 20-punch pass for $49.50 or get half-price trips. Call 970-2497705 for details.

LECTURES Call to reserve your seat: 970-252-4884

Naming the peaks

Discover the history behind the namesakes of the mountain peaks in the Sneffels Range, the Cimarrons, and those south of Ouray and west of Ridgway.

1 p.m. | March 8 | Senior Center

Native American History through Art and Artifacts

This presentation includes material from the Ute Museum in Montrose, which tells the story of the only Native Americans indigenous to Colorado. Presentation includes maps and photographs.

1 p.m. | March 14 | Senior Center

Fort Uncompahgre and the Old Spanish Trails

Learn about the first Anglo settlements in this region from Chris Miller, director of the Interpretive Center of Western Colorado and Fort Uncompahgre.

1 p.m. | March 21 | Senior Center

TRIPS & TOURS Snowshoe: Ridgway

Break trail at Ridgway State Park.

Location may change depending on snow levels. Bring money or a sack lunch.

9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | March 3 | $20 | Meet at Senior Center

This local speakeasy features high-quality hand-crafted cocktails and requires a password for entry.

Ladies will receive a flapper headband and gentlemen will receive a felt fedora hat to wear. Cost includes appetizers and costumes.

Bring money for drinks.

4:45-7 p.m. | March 10 | $15 | Meet at Senior Center

Local tours

Tour local government buildings and hear from Montrose County Manager Jon Waschbusch. We will be among the first to tour the new police station while it’s still under construction. We’ll also tour the upper levels of the old court house and the county buildings off of LaSalle. Bring money for lunch.

9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | March 18 | $15 | Meet at Senior Center

Shopping in Grand Junction

Explore the new stores at Mesa Mall. We will also stop at the shopping center with Bed, Bath & Beyond, Michaels, Great Harvest Bread, etc. Feel free to request a stop. Bring money for lunch.

8:15 a.m.-5 p.m. | March 21 | $21 | Meet at Senior Center

Hike Wombat Arch

This trip takes you to secluded views and a seldom-seen arch.

3.2 miles with moderate difficulty.

Elevation is 4,650-5,050 feet.

8:15 a.m.-3 p.m. | March 31 | $20 | Meet at Senior Center

ACTIVITIES Jam Session/Sing Along

Takes turns picking and leading a song. Spectators welcome.

3:45-5:45 p.m. | Mondays | Senior Center

FITNESS Line Dancing

Learn line dancing steps with formal instruction.

3:30-4:30 p.m. (beginners), 4:305:45 p.m. (improvers) | Mondays | $2 | Senior Center

Silver Sneakers Classic

Strengthen muscles and increase range of movement.

10 a.m. | Tuesdays & Thursdays

Body Blitz

To register for programs, call 970-874-0923 or visit www.cityofdelta.net/parksrecgolf

CLASSES Tuesday Needlers

10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Tuesdays | $15

Pinochle

1-4 p.m. | Tuesdays | $15

Dominoes

1-3 p.m. | Wednesdays | $15

Party Bridge Club

1-4 p.m. | Thursdays | $15

Chess Club

5:30-8 p.m. | Tuesdays | Free

FITNESS Indoor Pickleball

Play this fun sport with an even funnier name.

7:30-11 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays | 12:30-3 p.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays

Pilates

Low-impact movements that improve flexibility, muscular strength and endurance.

12 p.m. Mondays | 9 a.m. Fridays

Senior Circuit

Circuit training for seniors with flexibility exercises.

9 a.m. | Monday through Friday

Body Bar

Cross-train with this quick-paced muscle conditioning class.

9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays | 9 a.m.

Thursdays

Yoga Fusion

This vinyasa flow style class blends yoga, Pilates and barre elements.

12 p.m. | Tuesdays

POOL FITNESS Monday Movers

Jumpstart your week with a mid to high-intensity cardio and strength training water class.

5:30 p.m. | Mondays

Pool Power

Workout in shallow water to focus and tone problem areas.

9:30 a.m. | Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

Body & Health

Enjoy a combination of aerobic and full-body workout in the pool.

10:30 a.m. | Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

Light-n-Lively

Build endurance and strength, designed for beginners.

10 a.m. | Tuesdays and Thursdays

Full Body Cardio

Tone those muscles, pump up that heart, and get an overall good workout with water jogging, river running, jumping jacks and lunges.

5:30 p.m. | Tuesdays and Thursdays

Silver Sneakers Splash

Get an entire body workout using a weighted fitness bar.

9 a.m. Mondays | 6 a.m. Wednesdays

A fun shallow-water exercise class that uses a signature splash-board to increase movement. Suitable for non-swimmers.

8:30 a.m. | Mondays & Wednesdays

Healthy Body Strong Bones

Water Zumba

Use simple hand weights to help increase flexibility, balance and bone strength.

9 a.m. | Tuesdays & Thursdays

Enjoy a dance party in the pool, fun for all fitness levels.

5:30 p.m. | Wednesdays ■

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MARCH 2022 | FUN AFTER 50 |

55

Montrose & Delta AARP TaxAide prepares taxes for free – appointments required

AARP TaxAide prepares taxes by appointment only. Call the Montrose Pavilion Senior Center at 970-2524889 to schedule. All taxes will be prepared at the Montrose Senior Center, 1800 Pavilion Drive. Bring picture IDs, Social Security/ITIN cards, last year’s tax re-turn and all documents to accurately complete your return, including letters from the IRS if you had identity theft, receipt of the economic impact

UNITS AVAILABLE

1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom Mo-to-Mo Lease Small Pets Allowed Meal Options Housekeeping Options

CONTACT US TO SCHEDULE A TOUR: 1819 Pavilion Drive Montrose, CO 81401 970-964-3400 homesteadatmontrose.org

BEACON BITS

funds, or the letter 6419 if you received Advanced Child Tax Credit payments.

Handy Helper Program helps seniors with small home maintenance

Habitat for Humanity of Delta County has joined forces with Region 10 RSVP to provide much needed services to Delta County seniors. The Handy Helper program recruits volunteers to help seniors with tasks such as changing lightbulbs, replacing batteries in smoke detectors or installing grab bars.

INDEPENDENT LIVING APARTMENT HOMES WITH CONVENIENCE SERVICES FOR AGES 55+ At The Homestead at Montrose, we’re a welcoming community – a comfortable, cheerful place you’ll be happy to call home. Located across from the Montrose Pavilion Events Center, the Senior Center and the Montrose Botanical Gardens, The Homestead at Montrose is near all the things you love to do.

56 | BEACON BITS | MARCH 2022 |

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

Remembering Michael J. Lawton Michael Lawton, world traveler and photographer, said his goodbyes to family and friends on December 14 and quietly passed away in his sleep. The world-known, 360-degree photographer pioneer and frequent contributor to the BEACON, spent 50-plus years of his life taking photographs—12 of those years for National Geographic. He also took photographs for NASA, shot images for the United States Information Agency (now the State Department), accompanied the Catholic Church on world-wide peace missions and more. He is survived by his son, Russ, and his life partner, Carole McKelvey of Montrose. A celebration of LawThere is a large need for handy persons in Delta County to assist seniors with small home maintenance projects. If you can help and are 55 or older, contact Kylynn Wilson at 970-765-3135 or at kylynn@region10.net. RSVP members receive the benefits of meal allowance, mileage reimbursement, and supplemental insurance.

Senior lunches

The Stone House caters lunches at the Montrose Pavilion Senior Center. Cost is $6-$9 per person or whatever you can afford. Bring a container with you in the event there are leftovers. Call 970-2524889 or stop by the center for a menu and to make a reservation.

Fly Fishing Film Tour: a Benefit for the Uncompahgre River Come out to Ouray County Event Center, 22739 Highway 550 in Ridgway, from 6:30-9 p.m. on March 19 for fun and inspiring films about outdoor adventure and conservation through the love of fly fishing, and support projects that protect and restore your local river. All proceeds go to the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership for mainte-

ton’s life will be held in Santa Fe, New Mexico in March 2022. For details, email mckelveycarole@ gmail.com. nance and improvement of riparian areas, fish habitat and recreation areas. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance; $30 at the door. For tickets, visit www. uncompahgrewatershed.org/events or call 970-325-3010.

City of Delta receives grant for downtown reservations The City of Delta was awarded a $100,000 grant from the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) to support revitalization of downtown. In response, the City has implemented a Façade Improvements & Alley Activation program and is contributing an additional $75,000. Applications from downtown businesses and property owners were accepted through December 31, 2021 for grants up to $10,000. Each awarded business will be required to match at least 25 percent of the grant. Guidelines for eligibility can be found at www. cityofdelta.net.

Montrose Regional Health and Delta Health Collaborate for gynecology services Montrose Regional Health and Delta Health announced a col-

laboration to continue providing gynecology services to Delta and the surrounding communities. The Montrose Regional Health Alpine Women’s Centre will serve gynecology patients at the Delta Health Pain Center Clinic, 236 Cottonwood Street in Delta. Gynecological services at this location will include annual exams, birth control services, and more. The clinic will be open to patients from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Monday through Wednesday. For appointments, call 970-249-6737.

Obstetric patients in Delta can continue to utilize Delta Health’s primary care clinics. Delta Health Family Medicine, 555 Meeker St. in Delta, is open five days a week.

The Delta Health West Elk Hotchkiss Clinic, 230 E. Hotchkiss Ave. is open six days a week. The Delta Health Pain Clinic will continue to serve patients during their regular business hours, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Monday through Thursday. Patients looking to schedule Delta Health Pain Center appointments can call 970-546-4010.

Magic Circle Players announced $1 million capital campaign to renovate historical theater

Magic Circle Players (MCP) announced the Building Toward Our Future Campaign, a $1 million fundraising campaign that will renovate the exterior and interior of the 62-year-old theater. The theater’s leadership has imagined a wellappointed, thoughtfully designed interior that caters to the needs of patrons, including upgraded and expanded men's and women's restrooms; a larger and more efficient concessions area; additional seating and more. For more information, call 970-249-7838.

Montrose Arts Center presents ART IN MOTION

Art in Motion is a rotating program that provides Montrose Center for the Arts (MCA) members the op-

portunity to display original artwork in Montrose businesses that support and promote artists and their work. To purchase an art work, please contact the artist directly.

For more information and a list of participating businesses, call Helen Pemberton at 970-275-2963. ■

VOLUNTEERS WANTED Ariel Clinical Services is looking for volunteer host homes.

Get paid to support adults with intellectual disabilities.

Call 970-245-1616 Friends of Montrose Library volunteers sort donated books, run book sales and more. www.montroselibrary.org | Call 970-249-9656 Golden Circle Seniors volunteers needed to greet and serve lunch Monday through Friday for 2-4 hours.

Call 970-252-4888 Habitat for Humanity of the San Juans seeks volunteers to help at its ReStore. www.buildinglives.org | 970-252-9303 Museum of the Mountain West volunteer tour guides to bring the past to life for visitors. www.museumofthemountain west.org | 970-240-3400 Senior CommUnity Meals volunteer delivery drivers to help seniors in Delta and Montrose counties. www.seniorcommunitymeals. org | 970-874-7661 Sharing Ministries Food Bank in Montrose seeks volunteers for three hours, one day a week. www.sharingministries.com | 970-240-8385 Time Bank of the Rockies helps people through a system of exchanged services. www.timebankoftherockies. com | 970-209-6886

Question

OF THE

Month

Compiled by Siggie Carpenter

How did you meet your best friend?

Sharon Hayes - Montrose “My husband is my best friend and we’ve been married for 32 years. We met at ‘An Unlikely Dinner,’ a church event in Page, Arizona. Our women pastors saw a need and invited only single members of our church to this event. For us, it was an evening that changed our lives.”

Margaret Lanam & Alice McCoid Montrose “Sisters, best friends and volunteers! Alice has been mothering Margaret since the day she was born. Now, the sisters take care of each other; they spend many hours together volunteering for the Golden Circle Seniors by serving lunches and working the front desk at the Senior Center.”

Susana Sorensen - Delta “I met my two best friends, Linda Hollingshead and Sue Wade Lorimer, 30 years ago when my children were on the Delta Barracuda’s swim team. I was a bit bored just watching my kids practice, so I got involved. Linda was the coach and Sue was an official, and eventually, I became an official. Our friendships continue to thrive. We’ve been through a lot together and I’m so grateful.”

Phyllis Harrison & Shirley Nutter Montrose “We met through bowling many years ago. Every Wednesday morning, we bowl on a team together at the Rose Bowl and then we’ll go to lunch or some adventure.

Being on a bowling team is a terrific way to meet people, form friendships, get some exercise and have fun.”

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MARCH 2022 | BEACON BITS |

57

FUN & GAMES

Free Crayola Oil Pastels for Adults Free Crayola Oil Pastels with every

CRAYOLA SUBSCRIPTION name

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NEW BEACON SUBSCRIPTION! Color your Beacon Coloring Page with all the colors of the rainbow!

970-818-8984 *Offer available while supplies last. Must request free Crayolas when calling or subscribing online. May not be combined with any other offers or discounts.

Subscribe online at: BeaconSeniorNews.com/pages/subscribe 58 | FUN & GAMES | MARCH 2022 |

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state ____ zip

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credit card

Mail this completed form (along with check, if applicable) to: Beacon Senior News, PO Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502

FUN & GAMES

CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1.

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Dirty Harry’s org.

Hook’s henchman Business card abbr.

In ___ of Bit of wisdom Bar ___ Work units King of CNN Golden rule word Remove spots Nuns Crooked “Miss Saigon” setting, briefly Clothing Remove the lard Device with 88 keys Colombian city Out of sight Indy 500 sponsor Refuge Seminary subj.

Zeno’s home Mayberry moppet Lauder of cosmetics Having a notched edge In the direction of ___-jongg

Indian princess Wear Tangle up Walked Oohed and ___ Obligation Parks on a bus Drench Bottom of the barrel 64. Enzyme suffix 65. Plant part 66. Aside from that

22.

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DOWN

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1. Arctic transport 2. Process of

combustion 3. Clothes-pins 4. Garbage can 5. Slat 6. Signified 7. Listening device 8. Goofs 9. Accent 10. ___’acte (intermission) 11. Tolstoy and Gorcey 14. Confinement 15. Spice 20. Dynamic beginning

29.

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Mediterranean isl.

Church areas Championship Reduce gradually Second king of Israel Gen. Robert ___ Blood line Scoff Caught congers Superhero fashion must?

Short-tempered person Philip II’s fleet Years and years Cheat Swiss river Bicycle built for two Ebbets Field hero Name on a razor Career golfers Model’s stance Asian country “The Clan of the Cave Bear” author AAA recommendations Dissolve, as cells Simple shelter

SUDOKU

Turn to next spread for puzzle answers WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MARCH 2022 | FUN & GAMES |

59

CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS RATES

Private Party $29 | Commercial $49 | CAREGIVERS

Host home providers needed. Get paid to support an adult with intellectual disabilities live their best lives. Call 970-245-1616 for more information.

HELP WANTED

WE’RE HIRING!

CLASSES MAKE A PORCELAIN DOLL classes, supplies & sales. Make a doll from start to finish! Fun Hobby * Bring a Friend * CERAMIC CLASSES also.

Call for class times. 970778-8075.

Always Free Women’s Self Defense classes for Ladies 18 and older for groups of 2 to 24. No athleticism required with safety for all. Simple yet effective methods to escape assault.

Offered by nationally certified Black Belt with over 35 years of experience.

Please call (not text) Bob at 970261-2445 and leave your name and number.

FREELANCE

WRITERS WANTED Please send your letter and resume to:

Cloie@BeaconSeniorNews.com

To place your classified, call:

To place your classified, call -243-8829 970

970-243-8829

or submit online at

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

or submit at www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

30 words or less per ad

+$1 per word

Deadline is the

15th of Each Month

HOME SERVICES

HOME SERVICES

SCENE CLEARLY, LLC. Window cleaners specializing in making your day a little brighter! Grand Junction area. Call Frank Cordova at 970-2421264.

KETTLE ELECTRIC New construction, remodeling, inspections, and troubleshooting. Reasonable prices.

970-241-4825.

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. 970-216-0048.

20% SENIOR DISCOUNT. Call Dragon Heating & A/C, Inc. Serving the Western Slope since 2006. Your Comfort is Our Business. Call to schedule services and for a free estimate: 970-858-4775. www. dragonhvac.com.

FELICIANO’S L.L.C. Affordable Lawn Care, Trimming, Pruning, Brush Removal and Weed Services. Send pictures of your yard for a fast, free estimate, or give me a call 970-8522941.

THE CLEANING LADY. Spring Cleaning time is here, let’s clean out the clutter!

Competitive rates on downsizing, reorganizing & cleaning—weekly, biweekly, monthly or just once. Linda K. 720-841-7505 or 970-263-7364.

SMITH’S HANDYMAN SERVICES, LLC Locally owned business, providing your home care needs. No job to small, licensed, and insured. 970309-9338

No Phone Calls Please

Advertising Account Executives Part-Time & Full-Time Available $15-$20 per hour + Commissions and Bonuses, which can double your pay!

Each month, the BEACON Senior News touches the lives of over 50,000 seniors, bringing them hope, help and happiness through engaging stories and resources.

We are looking for a reliable and goal-oriented Advertising Account Executive with a strong growth mindset to identify and secure new business and build long-term relationships with our clients and the community. Advertising Account Executives are the liaison between our company and our clients. In this position, you can expect to handle multiple accounts at once and communicate directly with clients and prospects.

REQUIREMENTS RESPONSIBILITIES • Excellent verbal and written communication skills • Prospect for new clients via cold calling, emails, networking and referrals • Excellent organization, interpersonal skills and attention • Arrange meetings with prospects, share knowledge about our market, promote our audience, to detail and recommend our products • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and G Suite • Secure new business by being helpful and persuasive, listening to clients and recommending solutions • Ability to take direction, work under tight deadlines and on multiple projects at once • Collaborate with our Advertising Team to plan, develop and execute sales strategies to meet personal and team goals • High school diploma or equivalent. Some college or comparable experience preferred • Follow up with prospects and clients, providing support as needed • Professional appearance and attitude • Handle client objections and negotiations • Reliable transportation • Work with Creative Team to develop effective advertisements, supervise the production of advertisements and proofread them for accuracy Email cover letter and resume to: Beacon@PendantPublishing.com • Track account activities; maintain records, history and reports • Suggest innovative ideas to target new customers • Perform other duties as assigned

60 | CLASSIFIEDS | MARCH 2022 |

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SERVICES

SERVICES

air Salon Pat's HSERVICES slon ic m a er C & a S ir a H t's a P & Ceramics

Professional Tax Services with TaxPros at the Mesa Mall next to Cabela’s.

SERVICES Come in or give us a call for an Professional Taxconsultation Services with TaxPros obligation free today! at the Mesa Mall next to Cabela’s.

970-340-8166.

Come in or give us a call for an obligation free consultation SENIOR BEAUTY SPECIAL. today!

First-time 970-340-8166. clients receive $10 off single service, $15 off cut and color packages.

SENIOR BEAUTY SPECIAL. Regan’s Regal Beauty, 2500 First-time North clients receive off single Ave., #2, Grand$10 Junction.

Callservice, Regan $15 off cut and color packages. to schedule: 719-425-0543 Regan’s Regal Beauty, 2500 North Ave., #2, Grand Junction.

Call Regan HEALTH & WELLNESS to schedule: 719-425-0543 MEDICAL MARIJUANA DOCTOR DAYS IN MONTROSE AND GRAND HEALTH & WELLNESS JUNCTION. Got pain? Find out if MEDICAL MARIJUANA DOCTOR medical marijuana is right for you.

DAYS MONTROSE GRAND DoctorINevaluation andAND education JUNCTION. Got pain?

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970-778-8075 Hair on Wheels970-778-8075 at your door.

Barbering, haircuts, color, all your hair needs. Senior Discounts. Call Hair on Wheels at your door.

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Barbering, haircuts, color, all your hair needs. Senior Discounts.

Call COMPUTER LADY, LLC. In-home Melodie repair.

20970-201-0267. years serving Mesa County. Windows, Internet, Wi-Fi, COMPUTER LADY, LLC. In-home Android, tablets, Netflix, Roku. Virus repair.

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Wi-Fi, Dependable, reasonable, Android, tablets, Netflix, Roku.

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CLUTTERservices BE GONE GJ Home CompLady.com or 970-255-1216.

Organizer. Feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? I can CLUTTER BE GONEand GJreorganize Home help you declutter to Organizer.

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61

OPINION

Medical care: American dream or nightmare?

By Dr. Glenn Mollette

FINANCIAL DEVASTATION IS LURKING AROUND THE CORNER FOR ANY AMERICAN WHO DOES NOT HAVE A GOOD MEDICAL CARE SAFETY NET.

U

ntil recently my wife and I paid over $2,000 a month for medical insurance. We each had a $6,000 deductible. One year we both had procedures, which meant we had $12,000 in out-of-pocket expenses. There were also some other “uncovered” medical costs throughout the year, which resulted in over $40,000 in medical insurance and out-of-pocket costs.

The procedures themselves, of course, cost far and above what our out-of-pocket expenses were.

Most likely, if we had not had health insurance the doctors and medical facilities would not have performed them. In America, you must have medical insurance, or the means to cover the costs of your health care.

For the average American, $40,000 in medical costs in one year means an eternity of debt. The prospects of such makes average

Americans shy away from medical care they need. Unaffordable medical care is not an American dream.

Honestly, for too many Americans, it’s a nightmare.

A business owner recently told me, “I pay for insurance for my employees, but it’s barely enough insurance to meet the legal requirements for our business. It’s terrible insurance. It pays for almost nothing, and no one with our insurance would ever want to go to the hospital.”

This is tragic, as all Americans need good medical care. However, the insurance companies in America are making billions in profit. The way they make a profit is by denying to pay for something you need.

The health insurance industry had a net profit of $22 billion in 2019.

Businesses need to make profit, but Americans need medical care, not medical debt that leads only to serious anxiety and possibly more medical problems.

If you are buying an Affordable Care Act plan as non-subsidized health insurance for a family of four, you can expect to pay about $25,000 for the year in premiums and deductibles. That breaks down to an average of $17,244 in annual premium cost for health insurance for a family of four and $7,767 in deductible expenses. If you qualify for a subsidy, this will certainly help, but just the out-of-pocket deductible can make health care daunting for most.

Health care is a major component of financial security. Financial devastation is lurking around the corner for any American who does not have a good medical care safety net. Any hospital stay today amounts to tens of thousands of dollars.

You must make medical insurance a priority for you and your family. Also, our government is still a long way from solving our medical insurance dilemma. We must have access to good and affordable medical care in this country, and we must not give up on making it good for all Americans.

Dr. Glenn Mollette is the author of 13 books including “Uncommon Sense.” His column is published weekly in over 600 publications nationwide. Contact him at gmollette@aol.com, or learn more at www.glennmollette.com. ■

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CHRISTIAN LIVING COMMUNITIES

62 | OPINION | MARCH 2022 |

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Because they were

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pzapf@humana.com A more human way to healthcare™

pzapf@humana.com

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Humana, it is important you are treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable Federal Civil Rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ancestry, marital status or religion. English: ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, languageHMO, assistance free of charge, are available Humana is a Medicare Advantage PPO andservices, PFFS organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal. At Humana, it is important you to you.

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