Beacon Mesa County 062017

JUNE 2017

Vol. 31

No. 6

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

Summer Travel & FeSTivalS

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2017 Summer Travel & Festivals Your Guide tothe BEACON’s Advertising Team Produced by

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GOOD THINGS COME IN TINY SPACES Photo by Cloie Sandlin

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JUNE 2017

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JUNE 2017

I’d move in if they’d let me

I

recently attended a meeting at The Highlands, Grand Junction Housing Authority’s newest senior apartment complex. We published a story about its grand opening in April’s BEACON, so I knew the facility sounded nice, but I had no idea how nice.

Its sleek, modern design and amenities reminded me of staying in a bigcity hotel. But as I toured the facility and spoke to some of its residents, I discovered it’s more like a small community. The residents I ran into all had positive things to say about living in The Highlands, even though they’d only lived there for 10 days at most.

The Highlands has five different floor plans for apartments, which start at 600 square feet. This may not seem like a lot of room, but the design’s use of space is so efficient that it will surprise you. If I were 62, I would love living there. Heck, I’d move in now if they’d let me.

Travel & Festivals insert is your guide to uncovering Colorado’s hidden gems, festivals big and small, exotic summer brews and Colorado wine country. Some of my favorite featured travel destinations are only a couple hours away. Whether you go for the day or the week, don’t be afraid to venture off the beaten path and let us know what you find there.

Good things come in tiny spaces

I’m one of those people who constantly shares photos and videos of my dog, Skye, on social media, even if she’s doing the most mundane things. Pets are important to BEACON readers, which makes our August issue—centered on pets and their people—our most popular issue of the year. We want to hear about your furry (or scaly or feathered) friends! Tell us about your pet and send a photo by July 15 to Beacon@ PendantPublishing.com or P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502. ■

This month’s cover story features several individuals who sacrificed space to live more fulfilling lives. We explore the tiny house phenomenon, examine the benefits and downsides of living in smaller spaces for boomers and seniors and explain Mesa County’s current zoning and building regulations for these trendy homes.

We even talked to one gal who downsized and now lives in a tepee.

Everyone we interviewed shared one pastime they now have more freedom to take part in: travel.

Got game?

The Western Colorado Senior Games gives you another reason to get active and enjoy the outdoors, and the 2017 games are right around the corner. Choose from more than 55 competitive events, ranging from pickleball to bocce ball, swimming to track and field, pinochle to cards, and golf to dance, then register using the official program in next month’s BEACON. The fee is nominal and it’s great fun for anyone age 50 or older.

Pets on parade

Summer Travel & Festivals Maybe I’m biased, but I think we live in one of the most beautiful places in the U.S. Isn’t it worth exploring? Our Summer

EDITORIAL

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Cloie Sandlin Editor, BEACON Senior News

Learn about Estate Planning and more at our Free Educational Workshops!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! - Now available on the home page of our website, you will find the Second Edition of our book, Understanding Long Term Care: Avoid Being Unprepared and Overwhelmed, for 2017 in PDF form to either view or print. Simply visit us at www.brownandbrownpc.com. With the cost of long term care rising it is imperative each and every one of us have a plan to pay for such care should the need arise. The book is intended to be a ready reference to help guide people through the maze of very complex issues surrounding payment for long term care, including Medicaid. We hope you enjoy it and find it to be a valuable resource!

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With millions of cases of elder abuse & exploitation happening every year to people ages 60+, knowing ways to avoid it and what to do if you suspect it can be priceless. During this free workshop we’ll discuss how having a good estate plan can help prevent financial exploitations; what you can do if someone is taking advantage of you or a relative (especially if that person is the agent under a power of attorney); what if there is no estate plan? who can step in?; & when someone has lost capacity - things to watch out for. Learn the ways to protect yourself and loved ones from this growing problem. Sign up today!

Registration is Required for Workshops: Sign up by calling (970) 243-8250, or by going to our website: www.brownandbrownpc.com, where you can also view the full schedule with location information for upcoming workshops & presentations.

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COVER STORY

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Good things come in tiny spaces

By Jan Weeks

I

f you ever wanted a playhouse, tree house or fort when you were a kid, the tiny house movement will thrill you. Living in a home less than 400 square feet is exactly like those childhood hideouts, only scaled for grownups, with grownup interests and needs.

Evolution of home Tiny homes are nothing new. Our forebears lived in caves, cabins, tepees, dugouts and soddies as they moved from place to place or de-

cided to settle in an area and homestead. Most of them had little money and wanted to make the most of what they had.

Settlers used whatever materials were at hand, including logs, sod and sometimes just plain dirt to make bricks. Native tribes established in an area used hogans and wickiups as homes, while the plains tribes took their homes with them as they followed the seasons and the bison herds. If you’ve read the “Little House” books, you know that the Ingalls’ homes rarely contained more than two rooms and maybe a loft for the kids.

We’ve come a long way from using hides and adobe, but the urge to be mobile or to live more simply still lies in our cultural memory.

These days, some tiny houses are stick built, while others are made of aluminum and

have wheels under them for those who don’t want to be tied down. Still others hearken back to more old-style materials. What they have in common is their functionality and limited space.

Tiny houses Mary and Tom Garland, owners of Junction West RV Park on 22 Road, have just opened two tiny houses in the park—one only 399 square feet and the other slightly smaller—that they plan to rent by the night or week.

“When a local television station ran a story on the tiny homes, the phone started ringing off the hook before the story even finished airing,” Tom said. “There’s definitely interest in them.”

Each tiny house comes with a full kitchen, a full-sized bathroom and either bedrooms, sleeping lofts or both. The lofts are great getaways for grandkids who love the tree house feel of the space.

“Millennials and seniors both love the tiny spaces,” Tom said, “and the younger people don’t mind sleeping in a loft.”

The Garlands believe that renting a tiny house for a few nights is a great way to find out if you want to downsize permanently.

Despite what cable TV shows would have you believe, tiny houses have drawbacks.

Darrell Bay, the Mesa County Building Department’s chief building official, said most have not been inspected, and even though they’re built on trailers, they aren’t meant to be moved like a camp trailer.

“Most have steep staircases or ladders and tiny loft bedrooms with no way out in case of an emergency,” he said. “Plus, state regulations require

JUNE 2017

that, because they’re classified as [recreational vehicles], there needs to be a separate public shower and restroom.”

There are also minimum size and space requirements. Kay Simonson, of the Mesa County Planning Department, recommends checking for land covenants, hookups for sewer, water and power, and making sure that the dwelling is safe, sanitary and doesn’t impact the surrounding area.

“They are considered ancillary dwelling units and require a toilet, sink and shower or bathtub in the bathroom,” she said. “There also have to be cooking facilities, a refrigerator and a sink, or some other way to wash dishes.”

Home on wheels Tiny Houses aren’t the only downsizing option.

Kim Baum, 70, and her husband, Tom, 62, downsized from a 2,500 square-foot home on five acres to a fifth wheel camper five years ago when Tom was laid off. Kim loves it.

“It’s easy to keep clean, and we’ve weeded out all but the essentials,” she said, pointing to pictures of her sons, their wives and their granddaughter. “It’s allowed us to focus on what’s really important.”

There are no property taxes to pay and no exterior upkeep. Tom built a small porch under the retractable awning, and Kim makes their small yard bright with vines, potted petunias and primroses. A patio table and chairs round off the yard.

Kim works at the RV park, so rent and utilities are free and they can modify their space to fit their personalities and needs. She estimated that about 80 percent of the park’s guests are people who have chosen to live in RVs permanently.

There are a few drawbacks, Kim conceded.

“Where do you store your seasonal clothes? And it’s harder to make the

LEFT: Tom and Mary Garland opened two tiny houses to give visitors a taste of living with less.

RIGHT: Betty Tanksley gave up a two-bedroom house on a large lot for a 22-foot tepee, which she plans to live in during the warmer months.

JUNE 2017

COVER STORY

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National & Regional Award-Winning Publication Publisher ..............................Kevin K. VanGundy Founding Publisher....................... Susan Capps Editor............................................. Cloie Sandlin Editorial Assistant................ Stephanie Summar Creative Director........................Melissa Trottier Graphic Design.............................. Valerie Sears Graphic Design.............................. Karen Jones Office Manager............................ Stacey Splude Account Representative................... Sue Bowen

Tom and Kim Baum, left, downsized from a 2,500 square-foot home on five acres to a fifth wheel camper five years ago. They’ve added a small porch and yard, which Kim brightens with vines and potted flowers. bed than in a house,” she said.

But there are benefits, too.

“You can wake up to a new front yard every morning,” she said.

Life in a tepee Betty Tanksley, 75, gave up a two-bedroom house on a large lot with a mother-in-law cottage and a garage for a 22-foot tepee, which she painted with symbols from her Native American heritage and some that

represent her family members.

Of course, downsizing so drastically isn’t easy.

“I have over 100 years’ worth of family mementos and documents that I have to sort,” she said, pointing to plastic bins bearing her children’s names. “I’m taking care of it so my children don’t have to later.”

Tanksley heats her tepee with a large chiminea and has built-in seating and a sleeping platform around the circle.

She’s in the process of sorting, discarding and gifting a lifetime’s accumulation of stuff.

“The worst part of moving has been not knowing what to do with it all and what might be of value to

my kids and grandkids,” she said. “I’ll get it sorted pretty soon, yet I have to honor the artifacts. The sorrow of looking back has been far outweighed by the joys of my life.”

Tanksley plans to live in the tepee during the spring, summer and fall, and then travel for the winter, visiting her kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The best part of letting go of possessions is that she now has a sense of freedom, peace and serenity.

“I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night,” she sang, “and it’s real.”

It may seem foolish for adults who’ve had it all, so to speak, to give up most of what they’ve worked all their lives to amass, yet those who have learned to let go and find what’s really important have no regrets.

They can be who they want to be instead of just being Grammy and Grampa. They are able to explore, travel and do the things they’ve put off. They’ve become free. ■ For more information on staying in a tiny home, contact the Garlands at 245-8531 for a tour or to book a house for a couple of nights. For information about rules and regulations for tiny houses, call the planning and building departments in the jurisdiction where you plan to set one.

Account Representative............... Trina Molacek Account Representative........... Debra Romaniec Account Representative............... Heidi Gofforth Proofreader...................................... Jan Weeks Delivery...........................................Cora Gentry Delivery ................................. Lauren VanGundy Delivery...............................................JR Milner

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

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

Cover Photo: Tom and Mary Garland sit inside a 399-square-foot tiny house for rent at Junction West RV Park. They believe that renting a tiny house for a few nights is a great way to find out if you want to downsize permanently.

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FEATURE STORY

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JUNE 2017

Finding magic on the Appalachian Trail

By Melanie Wiseman

S

u Joffrion celebrated her 61st birthday in the middle of a life-changing, 2,185-mile journey on the Appalachian Trail.

“One of the reasons I wanted to do this hike was my disenchantment with people. I wasn’t happy living in Baton Rouge with the skyrocketing gangs, crime and population,” said Joffrion, who moved to Grand Junction two years ago. “When I started the hike, I wasn’t looking for anything spiritual, but it certainly turned

out that way in the end. It restored my faith in humanity.”

With a passion for adventure and the outdoors, but no backpacking and little camping experience, Joffrion admitted she had a lot to learn.

“It took me a year and a half to prepare and plan,” she said. “I read everything there was out there about the trail.”

dren and an abusive husband, and one day told her family that she was going for “a walk.” In 1955, she was the first woman to hike the Appalachian Trail solo.

From February 22, 2014, through September 17, 2014, Joffrion followed in her footsteps.

Finding inspiration

“No one on the trail goes by their real name, but by a trail name,” said Joffrion. “Mine was ‘Dallas,’ after a fictional character in a book series I read.”

She said that if she hadn’t picked her own name, fellow hikers probably would have called her “Falls-aLot.” “I fell a lot. All the time—in streams, on concrete, slick rock, scree, over roots and down steep slopes,” she said. “I got bruises and scrapes but no major injuries.”

Joffrion even experienced “turtling,” falling backwards on her backpack with her arms and legs flailing.

Although she completed the journey solo, she briefly hiked beside others with names like Peace Seeker, Red Leg, Left Turn, Cambodia, Plan B, Tank and Time-to-Eat. Her closest relationship was with the 19-yearold Money Maker, who was raising research funds for a rare disease he inherited. She said they made an

Benton MacKaye, a pioneer in preservation and recreation, conceived the idea for the Appalachian Trail in 1921.

Starting with the trailhead at Georgia’s Springer Mountain, it runs through 14 states and five national parks, ending at Mount Katahdin in Maine. The trail is managed by the National Park Service with the help of many trail clubs and nonprofits.

Since its completion in 1937, only 12,000 people have hiked the entire Appalachian Trail. Joffrion is one of them.

“The idea of long-distance hiking had always intrigued me, but I had too many responsibilities,” said Joffrion.

Joffrion was motivated by long-distance hiker Cheryl Strayed and her book, “Wild,” which recounted her experience hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. A woman known as Grandma Gatewood served as another source of inspiration.

Grandma Gatewood had 11 chil-

What’s in a name?

odd couple, but he was clumsy, too, and they reached the final marker in Maine together.

The journey “It was a real fun feeling, having my husband and dog drive away from the Georgia trailhead, and thinking, ‘Oh, I’ve really done it now!’” said Joffrion. “I was a little pudgy, and the next time they saw me I had lost 30 pounds.”

Dehydrating most of her food, Joffrion had supporters send more than 20 re-supply boxes to her in small towns along the route. She fine tuned her backpack, whittling her load down from 50 pounds to just 35.

White blazes on the trees marked the trail, but Joffrion still got lost a few times. On one such misadventure, a herd of cattle began following her before she turned around.

She hiked in rain, snow, mud, wind and over challenging rocks.

She hiked by Dismal Falls, Slaughter Creek and Blood Mountain. She opened one privy door only to have a snake fall out, and quickly headed for a bush.

Time, dates and the day of the week meant nothing. The milestones Joffrion checked off weren’t miles at all, but state lines. Hiking an average of 12-14 miles a day (on her longest

JUNE 2017

FEATURE STORY

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It took almost seven months for Su Joffrion to hike all 2,185 miles of the Appalachian Trail, which spans from Georgia to Maine. jaunt, she hiked 22 miles), she went through 11 pairs of shoes. The trail became so technical at one point that it took her and Money Maker four hours to go one mile.

“I ate like you could not believe,” said Joffrion. “You get ravenous.”

She camped in a tent throughout most of the trip, but stayed in the occasional hostel or hotel to wait out weather, or for extra rest and a shower.

Part of the trail went through a historical building, and another section wound through a zoo. The sunrises, scenery, nature and wildlife were breathtaking.

“There were good days and bad days, but you just keep walking,” said Joffrion. “It becomes a mental challenge more than a physical challenge.”

Making friends Distinguishing a “through hiker” from a day hiker was fairly easy. Day hikers still had the smell of soap on them. Through hikers were pretty ripe.

“The best part was that I made so many good friends that I’m still in touch with and will be friends with forever,” said Joffrion. “There was a true trail community, so I was never afraid. The young people out there were great. More than once, when I didn’t think I could hike to a destination, they said ‘I think you can,’ and I did.”

Unexpected acts of kind-

ness along the hike are called “trail magic,” which extended from a bag of snacks or candy bars in a tree to a small-town spaghetti dinner to jugs of fresh water where it was scarce.

The extraordinary people who extend helping hands to hikers are known as “trail angels.”

Joffrion’s favorite trail magic moment was an amazing cultural exchange with four Mennonite women who had followed her journal postings online. They took her into their home for the night, fed her and did her laundry.

“I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything,” said Joffrion, who now has her sights on the Colorado Trail and Pacific Crest Trail. “I would do it again in a heartbeat!” ■

Slithering in at 48 feet long and weighing more than a ton, the world’s largest snake has returned.

On exhibit through August 5

Museums of Western Colorado

Dinosaur Journey Museum 550 Jurassic Ct., Fruita museumofwesternco.org

Titanoboa is a collaboration of the Smithsonian Institution, the Florida Museum of Natural History, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. © 2012 SNI/SI Network, LLC. All rights reserved

We would like to thank our local sponsors.

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JUNE 2017

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Pea Salad Recipe by: Michelle De La Cerda, www.thecompletesavorist.com A humble yet delicious spring-tasting salad with cheese, pepperoni and corn in a simple spiced mayo dressing

2541 HWY 6&50 GRAND JUNCTION

970.241.4545 • RIMROCKTC.COM

focus on people

our residents

their lives

their families

Ingredients: 1-16 oz bag frozen peas, thawed

1 cup frozen corn; thawed

3 oz pepperoni, diced

Salt/pepper to taste

6 oz cheddar cheese, small cubes

1/4 tsp paprika

1 stalk celery, finely diced

1/4 cup mayonnaise

Instructions: 1. Completely thaw both the peas and the corn, making sure they are both dry, as any water will thin the dressing and eventually separate.

2. When dicing and cubing the pepperoni and cheese, make sure they are all separated, as they tend to clump. Trying to de-clump them after mixing is a big pain.

3. In a large bowl, add the peas, corn, cheese, pepperoni, celery, salt and pepper. Mix gently. Slowly fold the mayonnaise in and once it is smooth, add the paprika.

4. Taste for seasoning and add more salt/pepper if needed.

5. Serve immediately or cover and chill.

JUNE 2017

ASK THE OLD BAG

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

ASK THE OLD BAG

to get up in the morning. I have no children. I enjoy your common sense approach to things—I could certainly use some. Signed, JH

By Gayle Lagman-Creswick

Dear JH: First of all, I can’t imagine not having anything to do. When I first retired, I took it easy for a couple months—I slept in, had lunch with friends, stayed up until midnight and did as little work as possible. I called that recovery time, and for me, it was necessary. Then I got busy. I signed up for classes, started volunteering and began writing my book. Now I’m so active that I have to make sure to save time for family. If you recall, you were probably never ready for the “next step” in your life. Were you ready for that first gray hair or baldness? Were you ready to become a widower? Were you scared when you first left home? I think it’s a good idea to make a plan before you jump into retirement. Please read my advice to the reader above, which may be good advice for you, too. OB

Advice Column for the Over 50 Crowd Dear Old Bag: I am a widow in my 60s and have no family nearby. I have a chronic pulmonary disease and I have a terrible fear of dying in a nursing home.

It terrifies me so much that I lie awake at night thinking about it. I know you have experience in working with aging people. Please give me some advice on how to handle these fears. Signed, Worried Sick Dear Worried: Believe me when I say there are good nursing homes. If you have access to a computer, visit the website for your state’s department of health and look at the inspection reports for each licensed home. (If you’re looking at nursing homes in Colorado, visit www.colorado.gov/ pacific/cdphe/nursing-homes.) Face your fears head on by visiting the ones you’re interested in, and consider

volunteering if you are able. There are many easy volunteer jobs, such as visiting with residents or reading to them. Think about moving to a retirement community that offers all levels of care. You will get to know other residents and they may become like family to you. So if the day comes when you need skilled care, you won’t be alone. In this type of community, the independent residents become the quality assurance department for their nursing home because they know that they or their loved one may someday need it, and they want to be sure it’s good!

Thanks and good luck. OB Dear Old Bag: I am a 59-year-old widower and still working. I have enough money to retire, but I fear I’ll have nothing to do and no reason

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Dear Old Bag: I am a 55-year-old daughter of a very cantankerous father.

He has been this way all his life, and now that he’s 80, it’s getting worse.

His health isn’t great and he calls my siblings and me for help. But when we try to help him, he gets nasty with us.

We don’t feel equipped to handle him.

Help, please! Signed, BW Dear BW: As you know by now, this is a complex problem! Your father may have had small strokes or is experiencing the onset of dementia.

Sometimes it’s better to hire someone who isn’t related to him to help out.

Be sure his doctor is aware of the problem and that your father has a checkup. He may do well with medication or other treatment. There are also classes for caregivers that may be able to help. Remember, you can’t deal with an irrational person in a rational way. If he argues that white is black, you may have to agree with him. Good luck! OB ■

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

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THE HEALTHY GEEZER

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

JUNE 2017

Attack of the gallstones Healthy Geezer, By Fred Cicetti

G

allstones can be, well, galling.

This is especially true for people over the age of 60, who are more likely to develop them than younger people. Other risk factors include obesity, excess estrogen, cholesterol-lowering drugs, diabetes, rapid weight loss and fasting.

What are gallstones?

Services provided by

No one cares for you like Family.

The gallbladder is a blue-green organ, about three inches long on the underside of the liver. The liver produces bile in a dilute form, which is then stored and concentrated in the gallbladder. The bile is then secreted from the gallbladder into the small intestine where it aids digestion.

You can live without a gallbladder. After it is removed, bile flows out of the liver through ducts into the small intestine. However, because the bile isn’t stored in the gallbladder, it flows into the small intestine more frequently.

Bile is made up of fatty substances such as cholesterol. When excessive amounts of fat are present, gallstones can form. The stones can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. About 90 percent of gallstones are composed of cholesterol.

Treatment A majority of people with gallstones have no symptoms. They have what are called “silent stones” that don’t need treatment. But some gallstones block

the normal flow of bile, causing inflammation. If the blockage persists, it can damage organs and be fatal.

An abdominal ultrasound is the safest and simplest test for gallstones. Sonar waves from a probe are passed over the abdomen to detect their presence.

Gallstones are usually treated by removing the gallbladder in a surgery called a cholecystectomy. The most common removal method today employs a laparoscope—a thin tube with a scope on the end of it.

The laparoscope is inserted through a small incision below the navel, enabling the surgeon to see inside the abdomen.

The other surgical tools are inserted with three other small incisions. The gallbladder is removed through one of these cuts.

Have you had an attack?

Symptoms of gallstones often present themselves suddenly. If you have an attack, you may suffer pain in the upper abdomen, between the shoulder blades and under the right shoulder. An attack, which often comes after a fatty meal, can last from a half-hour to several hours.

Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, indigestion, abdominal bloating and recurring intolerance of fatty foods. You should get to a doctor immediately if you have an attack with chills, fever, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes or clay-colored stools. ■

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

HEALTH & WELLNESS 11

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

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Here’s what happens when you cry

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JUNE 2017

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By Suzy Cohen, RPH

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hen we think of crying, we usually relate it to grief, pain (emotional or physical), shame and sometimes even guilt. We cry for a lot of reasons.

you can feel yourself start to settle down almost instantly after shedding some tears. As an added effect, our emotional pain tolerance increases after we have cried.

Sometimes we cry because “I’ll never let go, Jack” happens in a movie. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I remember crying at some totally inappropriate moment during the whale movie, “Orca.” It was so odd, but to this day I recall how good it felt to let those tears out and blow my nose.

Why cry?

Personally, I’m not a crier. It takes a lot to get me to do it, but I have, and on occasion it’s provoked by normal things such as grief, or the fear of losing someone I love or when I really, really hurt myself. I once started crying after pain induced by cutting open my finger while chopping an onion.

Emotional tears Any type of emotional surge, positive or negative, can trigger tears. When we’ve finished crying, we feel so much better! That feeling of relief you experience after crying comes from “feel-good” hormones and neurotransmitters that are released during the episode.

Emotional crying contains “leucine-enkephalin,” an endorphin that improves mood and reduces pain. Your tears contain endorphins, so when you cry,

Stress crying releases toxins that assist the body in ridding itself of chemicals that are known to raise cortisol levels.

Cortisol is the hormone that puts fat around your belly, and so controlling that could contribute to weight loss and help you cope with stress. Do not allow your stress or emotions to remain bottled up inside you.

Tears are also antibacterial. An article published by “Medical Daily” found that tears (which contain lysozyme) can kill up to 95 percent of bacteria in under 10 minutes.

Crying improves communication, too.

Babies cannot speak, so they let you know about their discomfort by crying.

As for adults, seeing another person’s tears quickly sums up the extreme level of anger, frustration or sadness that words fail to convey.

However you cry, it would be a disservice to yourself, your mental health and your body to prevent the occasional vulnerable state (and euphoria) that emotional crying provides. Restore balance to both your body and mind by embracing the lacrimation. ■

Kush Gardens would like to give a big, Warm

“Thank You!”

To The Town Board of De Beque, The De Beque Marshall’s Office, the Entire Community Of De Beque, Colorado and to All of our Fabulous Customers.

Thank you all for The support you have given us!

Please join us this July 4th for the 3rd Annual Scott Elliot Fireworks Display in Downtown De Beque (20% off for our Seniors and Veterans Every Sunday)

for more information check us out on:

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JUNE 2017

Advice from a former sun worshipper

By Melanie Wiseman

D

ebra Hesse, 63, was a lifelong sun worshipper until June 1999, when she noticed an unusual mole on her right rib cage.

After procrastinating for months, she finally went to her primary physician, who took a biopsy and called her with the news: It was malignant melanoma, the worst type of skin cancer. Two days later, she was in surgery for “deep and wide” removal, as well as the removal of many other questionable moles.

“My kids were just 11 and 13. The first thing you think of is, ‘Am I going to die?’ The second is, ‘Get this thing out of me,’” said Hesse, who is now an 18-year melanoma survivor.

After her initial surgery, her physicians took no chances and began quarterly mole screenings. Hesse had 11 surgeries and 31 moles removed.

“After one year they found a basal cell carcinoma, so two skin cancer diagnoses in one year,” Hesse said.

“Every surgery was very scary. What are they going to find this time? I was clean 10 years when they found another basal cell. Now I get an annual full body exam for early detection.”

ing mole, have your physician check it out,” Hesse advised.

False advertising According to Hesse, sunscreen advertising often misleads consumers.

Colorado has the highest ultraviolet index in the country. Because of the elevation, we are right up against the sun, Hesse said. That’s all the more reason for us to get the facts right.

“Up until about two years ago, sunscreen manufacturers were able to promote their products as ‘sunblock’ versus sunscreen, and ‘waterproof’ versus water resistant. A hat is sunblock, lotion is sunscreen,” said Hesse. “‘All-day protection’ is false advertising. A hat is all-day protection; sunscreen is gone in two hours. It’s a lotion, it’s not magic!”

Hesse advised applying sunscreen 30 minutes before being exposed to the sun, allowing it to absorb into your skin while it’s cool.

If you’re paying more for sun protection factor (SPF) numbers higher than 30, save your money. Anything higher doesn’t increase protection.

Buy new sunscreen each year, as the SPF protection decreases over time.

Look for sunscreens that have both ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B protection. A Skin Cancer Foundation logo on the bottle means it has been inspected by an objective group for sun protection effectiveness.

“There is no healthy tan—brown skin is damaged skin,” said Hesse. “Tanning beds cause skin cancer. The risk of developing melanoma rises 75 percent if you start indoor tanning before age 30.” ■

An advocate for prevention “Treating cancer is good, but giving people the understanding of cancer prevention is my priority,” she said.

Hesse is now a leading Grand Valley advocate for skin cancer prevention. Her cancer diagnosis led her to volunteer for five years at the Pavilion Cancer Center, followed by 11 years working as St. Mary’s Cancer Survivorship Program Coordinator.

She is also on the Colorado Skin Cancer Task Force Coalition.

“Part of my presentation is to let people know that skin cancer is preventable,” said Hesse. “Sunscreen is your last defense against sunburn and sun damage. Wear a hat, long sleeves, pants and sunglasses, even on cloudy days.”

Hesse educates City of Grand Junction lifeguards and firefighters, UPS drivers, JUCO fans, skiers or “whoever invites me,” she said.

“If you see an abnormal or chang-

Tips for protecting yourself from the sun From Mesa County Public Health • Wear a broad spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15 and UVA and UVB protection when spending time outside, even if it’s a cloudy day. Be sure to check the expiration date before use.

• Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before spending time in the sun and reapply it often.

• Shake the bottle well before applying it thickly and thoroughly to all parts of your skin that are exposed to the sun, including your ears, back, shoulders and the back of your knees and legs.

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever possible to protect against UV rays. Darker colors may offer more protection than lighter colors.

• Wear hats with a brim all the way around to shade your face, ears and the back of your neck. Avoid straw hats that let the sun shine through.

• Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and the tender skin around your eyes.

• Seek shade under an umbrella, tree or shelter to reduce the amount of time spent in the sun.

JUNE 2017

HEALTH & WELLNESS 13

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Just for the health of it

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hen St. Mary’s Life Center closed its doors, it left many members high and dry and without a place to go. Just for the Health of It, a group that’s been operating for more than 20 years, was in danger of disbanding.

Fortunately, Crossroads Fitness offered the group a place to continue if enough people showed up. That’s when Verda (her full legal name) decided to take charge.

“If folks just showed up randomly, they wouldn’t know where to go or what to do,” she said. “If you want a group, it has to be organized before people start showing up, so I decided to step up to the task because I wanted Just For the Health of It to continue.”

Crossroads Fitness’ airport location made room for the group on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7:30-8:30 a.m.

After warming up in the Mind and Body room, the group disperses to the machines in the exercise room for a 40-minute workout. Then it gathers again for 10 minutes of cooldown exercises.

Get in shape and have fun doing it Just for the Health of It has no age, ability or health restrictions. It welcomes anyone who wants to join.

The group’s goals are simple: Enjoy the camaraderie, stress the impor-

Open 7 days a week tance of good health practices and have fun while improving health and flexibility.

Betty Smith, 77, has participated in the group for 17 years.

“It helps me stay flexible and keep moving,” she said. “And it’s a good social group.”

Twenty-year member Jack Hill, 82, chimed in.

“I’m here because my wife dragged me here,” he said.

His wife, Marilyn, 81, chuckled and rolled her eyes.

“I’ve belonged for 25 years. It makes us feel good and stay limber,” she said. “The difference in how we feel if we don’t come is amazing.”

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More than a workout The camaraderie that makes Just for the Health of It so special is evident during the 10-minute warmup, which consists of deep breaths, stretching, bending, twisting and squats.

“They told me to wear loose-fitting clothing,” said a wiseacre. “If I had loose-fitting clothes, I wouldn’t need to come.”

Having fun is just as important as getting in shape, as are the relationships members form.

“We look after each other and care about each other’s welfare,” Verda said. “We keep up on all our personal goings-on, enjoy hearing what’s happening with our friends and keeping them abreast of what’s new in our lives.”

First-timers to Just for the Health of It can enjoy a free visit coupon.

For more information, call Verda at 243-1143. ■

Senior Menu

Silver & Fit

14

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2017 Glade Park Movies Under the Stars schedule June 3 – “Over the Hedge” June 9 - “The BFG” June 16 - “The Jungle Book” June 23 - “The Secret Life of Pets” June 30 - “The Wizard of Oz” July 7 - “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” July 14 - “Moana” July 21 - “Zootopia” July 28 - “Sing” August 4 - “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” August 11 - “Finding Dory” August 18 - “Doctor Strange” How to get there: Take Monument Road to the Glade Park Store, and continue straight for a quarter-mile.

Specializing in Helping Seniors Downsize and Relocate Carol Gerber

Senior Real Estate Specialist Cell: 970.234.2037 Office: 970.242.3647 carolgerber@brayandco.com www.carol.brayandcosearch.com

JUNE 2017

Seeing stars: Movies at Glade Park

By Diana Barnett

W

atch the sun go down and enjoy a 360-degree view of a spectacularly starlit sky as you snuggle next to the grandkids during a movie on Glade Park.

Movies Under the Stars is a summer-long event that rallies the Glade Park community and provides free entertainment to valley residents while supporting the Glade Park Volunteer Fire Department.

A slow start The local volunteer fire department was officially organized in 1982 after one couple’s home caught fire for the second time.

“The sheriff just couldn’t get the fire truck up the road quickly enough,” said Steve Miller, one of the department’s organizers.

At the time, there were 82 families living in Glade Park, and they all volunteered to be part of a local fire department.

Its founders opted not to take tax money, but they needed a creative way to fund the department. Glade Park resident Sue Summers suggested showing movies and selling popcorn for 10 cents a bag. Bobbi Miller found the community could rent movies from the Denver Public Library for $10 since it was a nonprofit organization. Richard Brown, who owned a local audio-visual business, obtained a 16 mm projector to show reel-toreel movies. He’s still the projectionist and a vital part of a 36-year evolution that has brought Movies Under the Stars into the digital age.

The first movie was not well attended. At the time, there was no fire department building, so the group hung a sheet on the back of the community center.

“The first movie we showed was ‘At War with the Army,’ with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis,” Miller recalled. “That night it rained so hard, the sheet came off the building. We

hurried and took everything inside and showed the movie there.”

But the few people that showed up really liked it and word spread quickly. Eventually, families came and donations began to filter in and Glade Park community members worked to obtain grants for equipment. The Grand Junction Fire Department donated an old truck without an engine. Its tank was turned into a barbeque grill that is still used during the movies.

A larger legacy Since then, the Glade Park Volunteer Fire Department has formed partnerships with the local Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.

Resident nurses serve as members of a rescue squad, and volunteer firemen are trained as emergency responders.

Glade Park firefighters respond to emergencies in the Colorado National Monument, Miracle Rock and even in Utah, as their department is the only one between Grand Junction and Moab. Movies Under the Stars plays a big part in making it all possible.

Movies Under the Stars takes place on Friday nights during the summer, starting with a barbeque and activities at 6 p.m. Burgers, hot dogs, nachos, salads, chili and a variety of homemade baked goods are available for an affordable price (it’s the cheapest Friday evening dinner in the area). There are games for kids, a sand volleyball pit, live entertainment and even a hayride.

Don’t forget your blankets and lawn chairs. The movies are free, but donations are appreciated. ■

JUNE 2017

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Death of a fisherman

By Sam Beeson

I

was standing on the banks of a small stream in the White Mountains of Arizona. My father was kneeling in front of me, baiting my hook. I was young, bored and restless.

“Hold still,” my father admonished.

That worked for an eternity in kid’s time—about five seconds in real time—but then I started swinging my hook like a wrecking ball as my father dug through his tackle box.

He turned at precisely the wrong moment, and my hook caught him in the eyelid.

“Don’t…. move….a muscle,” he said with quiet urgency.

Truth is, he needn’t have bothered. The only thing on me that wasn’t rigid at that point was my bladder. How I didn’t soil myself, my father and our bait remains a mystery. With characteristic calm, he reached up to his eye and deftly unhooked the barb from his eyelid.

“Next time I tell you to stand still, you will do it,” he proclaimed.

I neither nodded, smiled nor otherwise confirmed that I understood him. That would have required movement, and those functions were still off-line in my young brain.

My father loved to fish. It was a pastime that wasn’t shared by his sons.

We would go along, but it was more out of obligation than enjoyment. To this day, neither my brother nor I will eat anything that has more than four legs or less than two.

But my father loved it all.

He had a crew of migrant farm workers that would travel around the country to wherever crops needed to be harvested. He was often away from home for months at a time. We only saw him as he was traveling between one location to another.

During summer vacations, however, we traveled to wherever he was. My father would take us fishing with him after work or on the weekends.

Dad loved his job, but a lifetime of working in the elements, surrounded by pesticides and freshly crop-dusted fields, took its toll on his health.

He developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema.

His heart was severely damaged from chronic asthma as well. During the last few years of his life, he was in and out of the hospital.

The last hospital stay was one of the shortest. That very night, we were told he was going to die.

My father dropped in and out of consciousness. Sometimes he was lucid, but other times he seemed like he was remembering something else. During one of these times, we had a conversation that shook me to my core.

My father started pointing at the wall.

“It’s a boat,” he said.

“A boat, huh? You going to do some fishing, Dad?” “It’s not that kind of boat,” he said.

“It’s a rescue ship.”

Like a kid who had just stuck his father in the eye with a fish hook, I was stunned. A few moments later, my father became restless.

“I’ve got to get on the boat,” he said.

We assured him that he was. Within minutes, he sailed away.

I won’t pretend to know what happens to a person in their final moments, but I can say that for my father, it was a beautiful thing. And I’m willing to bet that the skipper of that boat let him drop a line into the water one last time. ■

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LAUGHING MATTERS

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LAUGHING MATTERS The coffee Submitted by Bob Breazeale

A captain is on the bridge of his ship and calls down to the galley for someone to bring him a cup of coffee.

Soon a sailor arrives on the bridge and hands the captain a mug.

The captain takes a sip, and then a bigger sip, and says, “That sure hits the spot.”

Then he gets a kind of puzzled look on his face and says, “Wait a minute, sailor. Every other time I’ve ordered coffee, it has gotten up here half full.

This cup was completely full. I want to know how you did that. I mean, when a man has to climb ladders and go through hatches some of the coffee is bound to spill.”

The sailor turns red in the face and starts to stutter and stammer.

The captain says, “I asked you a question and I want an answer.”

The sailor says, “Well, sir, after I

poured the coffee, I took as big a sip as I could and held it in my mouth until I got up here, and then I spit it back into your cup.”

What not to name your dog Submitted by Pat Craze

Everybody who has a dog calls him Rover or Boy. I call mine Sex. This dog has been very embarrassing to me.

When I went to City Hall to renew his dog license, I told the clerk I would like to have a license for Sex. He said, “I’d like to have one, too.”

I said, “But this is a dog.”

He said he didn’t care what she looked like.

Then I said, “You don’t understand.

I’ve had Sex since I was 9 years old.”

He said I must have been quite a kid.

When I got married and went on my honeymoon, I took the dog with me.

I told the motel clerk that I wanted a room for my wife and me and a special room for Sex. He said that every

room in the place was for sex.

I said, “You don’t understand.

Sex keeps me awake at night.”

He said, “Me too!”

One day I entered Sex in a contest, but before the competition began, he ran away. Another contestant asked me why I was just standing there looking around. I told him that I had planned to have Sex in the contest. He told me that I should have sold my own tickets.

“But you don’t understand,” I said. “I had hoped to have Sex on TV.” He called me a showoff.

When my wife and I separated, we went to court to fight over custody of the dog.

I said, “Your Honor, I had Sex before we got married.”

The judge said, “Me too!”

Then I told him that after I was married, Sex left me.

He said, “Me too!”

Last night, Sex ran off again. I spent hours looking around town for him.

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JUNE 2017

A cop came over to me and asked, “What are you doing in this alley at 4 a.m.?”

I said, “I’m looking for Sex.” My case comes up on Friday.

Horse feathers Submitted by Gary Robertson

“Grandpa,” said a little boy to his grandfather. “You’re always saying ‘horse feathers.’ What does that mean?”

“Well, let me tell me what my grandfather told me,” his grandpa replied.

“You know that birds have feathers?”

“Yes.” “And birds are called fowl?”

“Of course, Grandpa.”

“And baby horses are either colts or fillies, but if you don’t know which they are, they are called foals?”

“Yeah.”

“You see our little colt out there? He’s been out in the corral lying in the mud and getting stinky dirty. Pretty foul, wouldn’t you say?”

“Yes,” said the boy.

JUNE 2017

LAUGHING MATTERS 17

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“Well, there you have the answer to your question about where horse feathers come from. Foul foals.”

Geology Submitted by Gary Robertson

Submitted by Ted Boothroyd

Anyone who has spent dark nights in Utah’s desert can relate to this quandary: Who do the hoodoo do when the hoodoo don’t do you?

A butcher, a taxidermist and a firefighter went out on a duck hunting trip.

Texting for seniors

The hunting trip

On arrival at their favorite duck blind, the butcher said, “Hey, y’all ain’t gonna believe what I taught my dog to do.”

He took a pot shot at a duck and downed it. His dog immediately took to the water to retrieve it. Back on shore, the dog stripped it of all feathers, bit off the legs and head, and removed the gizzard, leaving it perfect for butchering.

“Wow!” the men exclaimed.

Then the taxidermist said, “Shoot, that’s nothin’. Watch this!”

He immediately shot down another duck. His dog took off like a rocket and brought the duck back to shore, bit an access hole to remove the gut from the duck’s tummy, licked and fluffed all the feathers in preparation for a perfect taxidermy project.

The firefighter snickered and said, “Hellfire, dudes, if you want a show, check this out.”

He brings down his duck as his dog is already halfway out to get it. Back ashore, the dog devours both of the other ducks, makes sweet love to the other dogs, then jumps in the truck for a nap and takes the next four days off.

Retirement living with the emphasis on living

Submitted by Ralph Bickel

More and more seniors are texting and tweeting, so there appears to be a need for a Senior Texting Code. Be sure to pass this onto your children and grandchildren so they can understand your texts.

ATD: At the doctors BFF: Best friend fainted BTW: Bring the wheelchair BYOT: Bring your own teeth CBM: Covered by Medicare CGU: Can’t get up CUATSC: See you at the senior center DWI: Driving while incontinent FWBB: Friend with beta blockers FWIW: Forgot where I was FYI: Found your insulin GHA: Got heartburn again FWIPMK: Forgot where I put my keys HGBM: Had good bowel movement IMHAO: Is my hearing aid on LMDO: Laughing my dentures out LOL: Living on Lipitor LWO: Lawrence Welk’s on OMMR: On my massage recliner TTYL: Talk to you louder WAITT: Who am I talking to?

WAP: Where are the prunes?

WWNO: Walker wheels need oil ■

Hahaha

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Conserving water so we’re not left high and dry

By Paige Slaughter

F

or many years, I thought of lawns as nothing more than waste—a waste of space; a waste of potential; a waste of time, imagination and foresight; and most of all, a waste of water.

I’ve since softened my heart to lawns and have even learned to appreciate what they have to offer. But if we’re going to be lawn caretakers, we might as well do it mindfully and with consideration of the vast world beyond the lawn’s edge.

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Nature’s water cycle is arguably flawless. Water falls from the sky and is stored on mountaintops, underground and in countless places in between until it returns to the atmosphere, perpetuating the cycle.

We live in deserts, pave roads that channel rainwater, flush our toilets, grow food, wash our dishes and water our lawns.

Being mindful about water usage reduces the amount of pressure we put on the water cycle. The more clean water we redirect into the natural system, the more we get to participate in a healthy, closed-loop, natural water recycling system.

Nature does it well. Let’s join her!

As with managing lawns, harnessing the power of water is not inherently wrong or evil. We have a

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JUNE 2017

choice whether to use water mindfully, or to just use it.

Conserving water at home There are so many ways to utilize our water more efficiently. In Colorado, it’s legal to reuse some gray water, defined by the state as “a portion of the water used in a residential, commercial or industrial building that may be collected after the first use and put to a second beneficial use.”

Legislation allows gray water discharged from bathroom and laundry room sinks, bathtubs, showers and laundry machines to be reused for nondrinking purposes. Recent laws also enable homeowners to collect rainwater runoff and put it to use. Together, these allowances greatly open up opportunities to better utilize the water coming through our plumbing and falling onto our roofs.

Small habits like taking shorter showers, not letting faucets run excessively and hand washing dishes in a water wise way add up over time.

More importantly, these small habits remind us that water is a precious resource.

Now back to the lawn. Consider xeriscaping and gardens as lawn alternatives. But if at the end of the day your lawn brings you joy, it’s worth keeping.

You can still incorporate watersaving principles into your lawn care.

Water in mornings and evenings when less water will evaporate from the heat. Water deeply and less often so that your lawn grows deeper, healthier roots. Let grass grow longer between mowing, and never cut more than one-third of the total grass height. Leave clippings on the lawn to recycle nutrients back to the roots, or spread a thin layer of compost on your lawn each year; doing either or both will keep your lawn healthier and better able to store water belowground. ■

JUNE 2017

HOME & GARDEN 19

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Summer’s on her way: playing with heat and inviting shade Alive and Digging,

M

By Paige Slaughter

y grandmother recently asked me over the phone, “Can you believe we’re nearly halfway through this year?” She’s in California, where season-to-season changes are discreet.

Lucky for us, we know it’s June because we feel it. We played in snow and cozied up under blankets as the New Year rang in. We breathed the dry air of early spring, then gratefully noticed the subtle humidity that came in May. That said, we know it’s June because we’re bracing ourselves for the intense heat of another high-desert summer, which means days on the river, weekends on the Mesa and afternoons in air-conditioned movie theaters. Grab your friends and family, and head to where it’s cool.

But let’s not forget about our leafier loved ones.

Inviting shade Some plants enjoy full sun, even our mid-summer full sun. Hyssop, lavender and yarrow, with their beautiful blooms, will soak up the sun and invite beneficials into the garden. Tomatoes, corn and squash thrive in full sun, and fruit trees love our hot days and cool summer nights.

But some plants are happier in partial shade. Leafy greens, tender herbs and brassicas will appreciate some shade during these weeks of intense heat. A bit of shade slows broccoli’s flowering and encourages tighter heads, as is the case with cabbage and cauliflower.

Salad greens will

scorch and bolt quickly in our hot summer sun, and cool season greens like spinach and kale thrive in partial shade.

Annual crops including peas, beans, leeks and onions—as well as many annual and perennial herbs—don’t mind a bit of shade. We can utilize plants like these to create a robust garden with varying degrees of light, moisture and warmth.

Inviting shade into the garden creates a dynamic garden ecosystem that’s welcoming to delicate and cool-season crops, and beneficial critters and humans alike.

Succession plantings and little ponds One other way to work with the heat of the summer is to plant tender herbs and greens in succession. Mark your calendar to direct sow every two to three weeks. Lettuce, cilantro, green onions, spinach, dill and basil become bitter in the heat. Direct sowing these throughout the summer will lend to tastier, continual harvests.

Finally, remember our insect-eating friends as the weather heats up. Make toad houses out of broken pots, rocks, straw or wood logs—anything that will keep toads moist and cool during the heat of the day. They’ll especially love a water source, as will birds, bees and other garden visitors.

Dig out a small hole that you can fill with irrigation water or clean gray water. Our clay soil does a decent job of holding water long enough for critters to enjoy it. ■

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JUNE GARDEN CHECKLIST ❒ Invite shade using trellises; sheer fabrics; tall annual plants; new trees and shrubs; hanging baskets; canopies; climbing vines, cucumbers and mini melons; hops and pole beans

❒ Direct sow succession plants: lettuce, cilantro, green onions, spinach, dill and basil

❒ Direct sow beans, beets, carrots, corn, peas and radish ❒ Direct sow or transplant celery, cucumber, melons, okra, onion, parsnip, potatoes, pumpkins, summer squash, sweet potatoes, Swiss chard and herbs

❒ Hardneck garlic plants will be sending up scapes this month, up from the center of the plant. Harvest the scapes when they’re curly to use in stir-fries and pesto. Cutting the scapes will help the bulbs to grow bigger.

❒ Bring houseplants outside for a good soak and sunshine.

❒ Deadhead annuals.

Send your questions and comments to Paige in care of the BEACON, or email paige@fruitionstudio.com.

20

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JUNE 2017

How to handle the manifestations of loss

By Susan Alpert

L

oss is part of life. We all suffer from it at some point and in some way. Death and divorce are among the most obvious, but we also can experience loss of hope, approval, aspirations, friendship, social standing and trust.

Like the ensuing grief it brings, loss is unique to the person who is experiencing it, and is handled differently by everyone. There is no right or wrong to the method or timing involved.

Since loss is inevitable, the key is coping and eventual acceptance.

To accomplish that, you must first acknowledge and recognize that you have a true loss. Some losses are obvious and heartbreaking; others are not as clear. Glossing over a situation will eventually bring deeper pain than necessary. Avoidance is equally as destructive.

Be realistic about the significance of loss and the subsequent impact on your life. The absence of a loved one can greatly influence your way of life—all intense feelings that can’t be minimized.

On the other hand, some losses that are painful and disappointing at the time may become nothing more than a bad memory, and you move on. You wanted so badly to win that game or to get first prize in the dance contest and it hurt to lose. Will it be important 10 years later? Probably not.

You’ve undoubtedly heard people tell you to work through it. Wonderful words, but just how do you accomplish that, especially when the pain is raw and intense?

Talk about it Share your feelings. Talk to the people who love you and who care about you. You don’t need advice from them, even if they have the best of intentions. Tell them you just need to talk and let them listen. People generally find it awkward in that situation and want to be there for you.

Talking can also include specialized therapists, religious leaders and groups. Just make certain to avoid toxic people and situations.

Even though people mean well, words such as “you’ll get over it” or “just move on with your life” or “I understand how you feel” are empty.

The pain is yours and it’s real. Grieve in whatever way you need.

Honor your emotions If you want to have a tear storm, do so. If you want to hit a pillow, it’s available. If you feel anger, you’re justified. If the ocean is calling you, take a walk on the beach. The caveat here, however, is unless your doctor prescribes medication for you, do not take drugs to numb yourself.

Excessive alcohol won’t solve the problem either. You can’t prolong the process. In fact, grief is very patient.

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you it will come back when you least expect it or want it.

The above is sound advice, but it will be useless if you don’t first take care of yourself all along. Pain often breeds stress, wearing down your immune system and, leaving you vulnerable to sickness, which in turn aggravates your sadness.

Practice simple daily habits Exercise, even if it’s a 10-minute walk. Try to follow a healthy eating plan, but don’t deprive yourself in the process. Take time every day to remove yourself from stressful activities. Read, take a bath, meditate or call a friend. Human contact is extremely important. Get outside every day—even going to the supermarket counts. Be as kind to yourself as you would be to someone you love.

When experiencing loss, you can feel that there will never be life for you again, but just look around. The universe continues, and so will you, only differently. As hard as it is to comprehend, you will survive and probably flourish. This is the time when you have to trust that you’ll be okay, but maybe not right now.

Be patient, even though it sounds impossible.

You’ll move on when you’re ready.

It’s important that you spend time with your loss and it’s equally important that you don’t reside there.

Don’t settle for a life without joy.

You deserve happiness again and you have to take the initiative to make it happen.

Keep Community Radio

Accept invitations from friends and family Invite others to your home, but see the outside world, too. Go to a movie (it’s okay to go alone), call others to participate in an activity, go to lectures, start or continue a hobby, take a class, get outdoors, check your bucket list. What you do is not so important; it’s that you do something.

Fallis the Member Drive Your attitude key here.

It’s not possible to turn on the happiness button and instantly change, but try to walk on the positive side at your own pace. When you wake up in the morning and before you got to bed makes the at night,Support remind yourself of theall good for theaGrand things indifference your life and expect betValley’s only... ter day than yesterday.

Finally,Solar don’t beat yourselfCommuup if Powered you slidenity backRadio into sadness or even depression.

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Medicare reform: No, the sky is not falling

O

ver the past several weeks, I have read numerous articles about Medicare reform. Most of them are long on speculation and short on facts—and no, the Republicans are not going to toss Granny off the cliff.

The following information is directly from Paul Ryan’s website. These are facts, not speculation from people who have an agenda. I have no agenda; I am just interested in providing my clients and interested seniors with facts— not rumors and conjecture.

First, the bad news: Medicare is broken and needs to be fixed. The good news is that while there are a few minor changes in the works, none of the major changes being proposed will affect those of us who are currently on Medicare or about to turn 65.

Why are they tampering with Medicare? There are not enough people paying into the system to make it sustainable. If Congress keeps kicking the can down the road, the system will collapse and everyone will lose.

In 1966, there were 19.1 million people enrolled in Medicare. On July 28, 2015, the 50th anniversary of Medicare, there were over 55 million. That’s a 188% increase. Furthermore, there are 10,000 people a day turning 65, which will continue until 2030.

What has Paul Ryan proposed to fix Medicare? Beginning in 2024, people joining Medicare for the first time will have the option to choose between private plans or traditional Medicare. Beneficiaries can choose the health plan that best suits their needs. There will be premium support provided by the federal government for direct payments to the selected health plan to subsidize its cost. Individuals with serious health conditions, as well as lowincome Americans, will be eligible for higher premium support payments.

For those of us already on Medicare, nothing will change except that we will have the option of going on the privatized system.

Can things change between what is being proposed and what will be in the final bill? Absolutely, but nothing radical has been proposed for those of us currently on Medicare, and nothing will take effect for at least eight years.

If Medicare isn’t fixed, we’ll all suffer. Congress’ challenge is to fix what is broken without breaking what is currently working.

So what can you do to make your voice heard? Get involved! Write your senators and representatives, write letters to the editor, and most importantly, get together with other like-minded seniors.

To stay informed of the proposed changes to Medicare, like me on Facebook or check out the Articles page on my website.

Lew Barr is an independent insurance agent specializing in Medicare products for seniors.

970-773-0220 info@yourmedicareguy.com www.YourMedicareGuy.com www.facebook.com/GrandValleySeniorBenefits

JUNE 2017

Staring in the face of danger: a ride-along with Mesa County deputies

By Kathy Applebee

I

had mixed feelings as I waited for a deputy from the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) to pick me up for a ride-along.

If the night ahead was exciting, it would mean bad things were happening around the county, and I didn’t wish that for anyone. On the other hand, if nothing happened during the 11-hour shift, I was likely to nod off before 5 a.m.

As it turned out, the ride-along was more than I’d bargained for—both heart-stopping and heart-breaking.

By the end of the night, I was deeply impressed with the deputy, Brandon Barry, a seven-year veteran of the force. He kept a cool head when my stress level would have been off the charts, yet maintained a warm, caring heart toward the people he served.

The night begins The first thing Deputy Barry did was acquaint me with the features of the vehicle and equipment onboard, from the practical to tactical, including weapons and stuffed animals. We needed the mobile drug testing lab at our first stop, where a parole officer doing a home check had noticed a suspicious baggie filled with white crystals in the driveway.

After we’d located the stash and called for backup, on-site testing revealed that the crystals were not meth, but Epsom salts. We were back on patrol within minutes, far more quickly than if the baggie had needed to go to a lab for processing.

A taste of danger A domestic dispute, a possible break-in by armed assailants and a report of someone sleeping in a storage unit were interesting but routine.

My first taste of danger occurred late into the night as officers checked

into a 911 hang-up. Why was the woman in tears when dispatch called back? Was she coerced into saying she was fine?

I was locked in the vehicle for my own protection while deputies conducted a house-to-house search based on a rough estimate of her cell phone’s location. I monitored the situation via the radio, all sleepiness erased as I watched car after car of backup officers arrive on scene.

They found the caller, but she wasn’t alone. Her male companion doused the lights inside their trailer, screaming that if she went outside to speak to law enforcement, the officers would shoot her.

I listened as long periods of radio silence were punctuated with deployment directions and concerns that children might be inside the trailer.

The man pulled his shirt over his face in case of a gas attack. A female officer tried coaxing the woman outside.

No shots were fired. No arrests were made. The shift commander had officers stand down so they could answer the calls stacking up, instructing the team that any further calls originating from this location should be given priority.

An onboard computer kept deputies informed of the calls coming in throughout Mesa County. With the tap of a finger, Barry could get additional details as needed. If something else happened at the trailer, we’d know.

We went back on the road.

Preventing tragedy Nearing midnight, Barry pulled over a vehicle headed onto I-70. I’d missed the danger signs: no turn signal, making a left from a non-turning lane, slightly crossing the lines.

The driver exited his car for a sobriety test, and Barry had to steady him

JUNE 2017

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to keep him from staggering into traffic. He was unable to follow simple directions to stand on one foot.

The chilly air swirled around me, and I remembered nearly dying in 2008 because of another driver who shouldn’t have been on the road. I recalled bleeding into broken glass, trapped in my Miata, which had been hurled into a wooded median between six lanes of traffic.

I wondered how far this underage driver would have gotten before crashing—possibly ending innocent lives in the process—if Barry’s sharp eyes and keen instincts hadn’t stopped a tragedy in the making.

Next, we joined the search for a missing elderly man with compromised health and possible confusion.

He’d stepped out of the house to take out the trash and didn’t return. His family, desperate to find him after their own unsuccessful search, called dispatch for help.

Using high-powered search lights in the area that pings from his cell phone indicated, three MCSO vehicles combed the darkness on the edge of town. Half an hour later, we still had nothing. One by one, deputies had to abandon the search to respond to the calls piling up.

With only six sheriff’s office vehicles to cover more than 3,000 square miles, hard choices sometimes have to be made. My heart ached, and I wondered if more manpower would have returned the missing man to his family.

The chase The calls kept coming in: a burglary, a diabetic DUI requiring assistance and a request for backup.

“Are you ready to move?” Barry asked.

Before I could finish nodding, we joined the chase for a muddy truck that was speeding erratically down North Avenue with no lights.

We flew, my back pressed into the seat’s upholstery. I had signed a waiver acknowledging that I could end up in a dangerous situation and be injured or die. I had the feeling this was one of those situations.

I was wide awake now, but could not follow the staccato radio conversations except to learn that whoever was driving the truck would rather crash than be stopped. We followed it into a self-storage lot, partially

blocking one of the alleys between units. Another vehicle scooted in to finish sealing the lot off.

My heart was hammering. Time slowed to a crawl. Flashing blue and red lights bounced off the white fencing at the other end of the alley. Then the mud-splattered truck roared around the corner, impossibly fast in such a tight space.

It was obvious the driver could not stop before hitting us, even if he wanted to.

Reacting faster than I could think, Barry expertly backed up a couple of yards. The truck careened around, missing both MCSO vehicles by centimeters. It recklessly bolted onto 29 1/2 Road.

“Call off the chase,” someone said.

“He’ll kill somebody before he lets us stop him.”

A dicey evening “It’s been pretty dicey out there,” said the shift commander during the mid-shift briefing at 4 a.m.

That was saying a lot, since a gang-related murder had taken place

the night before.

When I finally climbed into bed, I couldn’t fall asleep. Did the missing man make it home? Was the woman in the trailer okay?

I marveled at how deputies like Barry kept serving our county, despite the danger and the ambiguity of unresolved conflicts. With the knowledge that officers like him were protecting the county, I knew I’d sleep better at night… once all the unanswered questions stopped haunting me. ■

Safety suggestions from Deputy Barry: • Lock the doors of your house, garage, cars and shed. “Fifty percent of all crime in Mesa County is a crime of opportunity,” Barry said.

• At night, walk in well-lit areas with a dog or in pairs.

• A pile of newspapers in front of your door serves as an invitation to burglars. Have mail and newspapers held or picked up by a neighbor or house sitter. Keep lights and a TV or radio on a timer when you leave town.

24 LOCAL LORE

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

JUNE

Faith, fellowship and fun: 100 years of Christian camping on the Grand Mesa

By Kevin K. VanGundy

N

ot much today is the same as it was 100 years ago. But at the Grand Mesa Christian Camp, three things have stayed constant for over a century: God’s love for His children, the beauty of the Grand Mesa and the perpetually cute chipmunks. (Thus the chipmunk in the camp’s 100-year celebration logo.)

“I attended Grand Mesa Camp in the mid-1960s,” said Montrose resident Connie Pittenger. “I went to be closer to God through nature. Being at 10,000 feet, a person just feels closer to God physically. Looking at God’s wonderful creation from that vantage point gives you a special

sense of awe.”

At camp, my son and his girlfriend found an orphaned chipmunk and nursed it back to health. Perhaps it was this bonding experience that led them to getting married several years later. I wonder if they’ll send their kids to camp.

They’re certainly not the first match made on the Mesa. Harry Talbott met his wife, Bonnie, there, at a young age.

“I was 16 years old and thought that I better get a good wife before they were all taken,” he said.

Fond memories I went to camp every summer as a child. It was the highlight of my

Youth Camp, 1958

year. Each of those summers I grew closer to God. By the time I was in high school, I started to bring my friends—some even invited Jesus Christ into their lives to be their lord and savior.

But it wasn’t all just church. We had plenty of fun engaging in water fights on the lake and flour wars (my kids tell me that now it’s a color war), and pranks like capturing frogs at the lily pond and setting them loose during chapel. One time, a friend and I snuck into the dean’s room late at night, snatched his clothes off the floor and hoisted his clothes up the flagpole for the next morning’s flag ceremony.

My children have fond memories of Grand Mesa Christian Camp, too.

“Camp has always been a special time of the year,” said my daughter, Olivia. “It’s a chance to refocus on what’s really important in life: God and having fellowship with others.

When you’re up at church camp, it’s all about living life to the fullest and celebrating the one who created it.”

A building spree

Youth Camp, 1958

It’s hard to imagine that anything I have laid my hand to do in this life will still be standing 100 years from now. I doubt the folks who first pitched their tents on the shores of Baron Lake in 1917 had any reason to believe their efforts would be carried on by future generations leading to this 100-year celebration. But that’s the beauty of life—it’s hard to predict the future.

In the late ’20s, tents gave way to some rudimentary buildings, starting with a mess hall and then sleeping quarters for the girls. Early on, drinking water was hauled in by truck and a hand pump was used to siphon water from the lake for showers. Back then, you could register for a week’s camp for just $1 and each meal was a reasonable 35 cents.

Margaret Haldane and her husband, William, maintained a family cabin

near Baron Lake for years and had always thought of it as the most special of places.

Her bequest, made midway in the last century, made it possible to build the camp’s most special place: Christ’s Chapel.

It’s there on bended knee that many have prayed to their creator, and on bended knee that men have proposed to their wives. Indeed, Christ’s Chapel has become a popular wedding venue.

Soon after the chapel was dedicated, McQuery Hall—a spacious new dining room and kitchen—was built.

(Although the original was later damaged by a heavy snow, it has subsequently been rebuilt.) The following years saw a dozen girls’ and boys’ cabins added, as well as an administrative hall, a community building, a caretaker’s lodge and a much-needed maintenance shed. Today, the camp can house 150 happy campers.

The future While the campers are happy in the here and now, all is not rosy for the camp itself. It takes a tremendous amount of time and money just to keep up with the maintenance needs of the camp, and although its high school groups are mostly full, its grade school camps are running below half capacity. Parents just aren’t sending their kids to camp like they used to.

Grandparents can help.

Today’s Grand Mesa Christian Association is ran by a board of trustees made up of Methodist and Baptist volunteers. During summer, each denomination holds a series of camps, although you don’t need to be a member to attend. For more information on sending your grandkids to Baptist camp, contact Dawn Currier

E 2017

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You’re invited to join a celebration

100 years in the making

Saturday JULY 8, 2017

Christ’s Chapel

Open House

10:00 A.M. to Campfire Come enjoy chapel service at 10:00 A.M. Have a hamburger and a look around Visit the Memory Cabin and see camp photos of when you attended.

6269 Old Grand Mesa Road Cedaredge, CO at 487-3032 or visit www.grandmesa baptistcamp.org. For Methodist camp call Anna Marie Gorman at 261-1360 or visit www.grandmesa camp.com.

The camp welcomes volunteers and financial donations. Scholarships enable students to attend camp, contributions to the camp’s endowment fund are invested, and the interest generated helps cover the costs of programs. The Permanent Improvement Fund is dedicated to the construction of new cabins and buildings, and to the upkeep of existing buildings.

“Camp has been a special place for several generations of both sides of my family,” said Illene Roggensack of Grand Junction. “When my mom passed away 13 years ago, an endowed scholarship was set up to make sure other families can send their kids without concern for financial circumstance. My sisters and I are now living our childhood fantasies by being camp cooks! So continues our love for and commitment to the camp and the way that God’s beauty and love manifest there.” ■

For info call: 242-5645 or 249-4308

What are your grandkids

doing this summer? r registe! today a andmes www.grtcamp.org baptis

Left to Right: Campers Olivia VanGundy, Kaleb Bandimere and Emily Talbott

Consider a camp that is all about making new friends, being outdoors, and connecting with God.

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26 FAITH MOVES

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JUNE 2017

God loves a good story

By Melanie Wiseman

A

Experience God's love in a traditional setting.

uthor Donald Miller faced a dilemma when two filmmakers approached him about turning the memoir he wrote into a movie.

He realized that his life memories had been a series of random experiences, and that a movie about him would look more like a documentary.

This led him to start thinking differently about his life and what it all means, and he intentionally began creating and living “a better story.” As a result of this process, he wrote the inspiring book “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.”

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“I wonder when people say life is meaningless, if they really mean their lives are meaningless,” said Miller.

“There is still time to edit your life— time to reconnect with relationships taken for granted, time to forgive, time to write a new story.”

Miller found he needed to live a real story with real action. It caused him to find his father, who he hadn’t seen since he was a little boy.

“If I have hope, it’s that God sat over the dark nothing and wrote you and me specifically into His story, and put us in with the sunsets and the rainstorms as though to say, ‘Enjoy your place in my story,’” said Miller.

Michael Gallegos, 65, is living a good story. Twenty years into a 35-year career with Xcel Energy, he began praying for direction, wanting to do something more worthwhile.

“God impressed on me my love of children,” said Gallegos. “I think Christ wants me to be a role model for Him, and what better place than the classroom? I want to show them characteristics of a believer—being loving, kind and thoughtful.”

While working full time, it took this dedicated lifelong learner four years to earn his teaching certificate.

Michael Gallegos After retiring from Xcel at 59, Gallegos taught full-time grade school for two years and has been substitute teaching ever since.

“I’ve been on two mission trips to Africa, and now I see my days at school as my mission field,” said Gallegos. “My prayer each day is for God to work through me to make a difference in the life of even just one child.”

How to live a better story To follow in Gallegos’ footsteps and live a life that’s anything but meaningless, Miller recommends taking risks and not always playing it safe.

Go on a mission trip, be a mentor, volunteer. Invite others into your story, create memories or make a stranger laugh. Challenge yourself, make someone else’s dream come true and don’t plan everything—the best things happen by chance.

“I don’t wonder anymore what I’ll tell God when I go to heaven,” said Miller. “I’ll ask Him if he remembers different parts of my story, and He’ll laugh, I think, and He’ll remind me of the parts I forgot, the parts that were His favorites. Then He’ll put his arms around me and say, ‘Well done,’ and that He liked my story.” ■

“There is still time to edit your life—time to reconnect with relationships taken for granted, time to forgive, time to write a new story.”

JUNE 2017

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Is your cell service provider the best fit for you?

TALKING DIGITAL 27

Our Name & Address have Changed!

Talking Digital, By Adam Cochran

I

bought my first cellphone in 2001, the same year I started my computer business. Since that time, I’ve upgraded my phone and changed my plan at least a dozen times. But I’ve always stayed with the same service provider.

I recently began shopping around to ensure that this provider was still the right fit for my family. We have four teenagers, and arming everyone with smartphones—namely iPhones—makes our lives much easier. They enable us to know where our kids are, coordinate schedules and share texts, photos and videos whenever we experience something interesting.

The problem with being a tech-savvy family is that smartphones aren’t cheap and neither are the plans, insurance and cases, charging cords, headphones, etc., that go along with them.

I don’t make it a habit of trying to talk people into adopting any specific technology, but I’m always happy to help guide someone into a new realm of technology. Whether you’re brand new to cellphones or just looking for a change, the process of investing in a phone and committing to an agreement can be intimidating.

There is not a one-size-fits-all option when it comes to cellphone companies or the devices themselves—the plans are extremely custom. Before you go shopping, you’ll want to consider a few things.

Questions to ask yourself: • Do I want a smartphone? (Do you need access to the internet, maps or the ability to send and receive photos?)

• What is your monthly budget?

• Do you travel? If so, do you occasionally leave North America?

Questions for the cellphone company:

• How much will the phone cost me each month? Most companies have ditched contracts, so you finance the phone at zero percent over two years (spending roughly $25 per month for a fancy phone).

• How much will the plan cost me each month? This is the cost of service before the cost of the phone is tacked on.

• Does the cost include data (internet)?

If so, how much? (For reference, two gigabytes is not much). If you’re told it’s unlimited, ask for details. There is no such thing as a truly unlimited plan.

• How much will be added to each bill for taxes and fees? These fees can sometimes be $30-$40.

• What is the total cost that I will be billed for each month?

Know before you go

• There are only four cellphone companies: Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile. In the U.S., all other service providers are subsidiaries of these four. If you know the coverage and details of these four providers, you’ll know what you are in for with a smaller provider.

• Almost all plans offer unlimited voice and text. All providers advertise unlimited data, but they often throttle the speed or charge extra if you use more than a certain number of gigabytes.

• You’ll probably get the best answers at a corporate store, but you’ll get the most objective answers at a store that sells phones for all carriers like Best Buy and Walmart. This can make shopping quite maddening, but asking questions is key to finding the best deal. ■

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Secrets to saving on your summer city vacation

By Nathaniel Sillin

C

ities attract people for different reasons, which is partly why they’re such popular vacation destinations. Summer is one of the best times to visit, as the long days give you extra hours of sunlight for exploration and many cities host a variety of free activities. The busy season can mean rising prices, but there are a few city-specific savings tactics that can take some of the strain off your budget.

Look for insiders’ knowledge

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Many major cities are covered by bloggers who write about enjoying the city on the cheap. Start your planning online by searching the keywords “free” or “cheap” and the city’s name. Some of the betterorganized websites will even let you filter events by date, cost and your interests.

Check the city’s local newspaper sites for lists of free or cheap events.

During the summer, many cities have free outdoor concerts and movie screenings. Pack a picnic dinner and enjoy the warm weather and show.

Get around like a local

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It might make sense to take an occasional cab, but some cities have robust public transportation systems.

Take a few minutes to study the city’s layout before arriving and don’t be afraid to ask locals for advice or directions.

If you’re in town for more than a few days, look into time-based public transportation passes. For example, you can get a seven-day Unlimited Ride MetroCard for subway and bus rides in New York City for $32. You can even use it on the crosstown buses to get quickly from one side of Central Park to the other.

Explore new cuisine One of my favorite parts about visiting a city is trying the restaurants.

Whether you save up and enjoy one

of the city’s finest eateries or find a hole-in-the-wall hidden gem, there’s something for everyone.

Luckily, many cities’ must-try foods are on the inexpensive side. Chicago’s hot dogs, Portland’s doughnuts and Austin’s tacos often cost less than $5. You can also look for lists of cheap and delicious eats alongside the entertainment tips from frugal bloggers and local papers.

High-end restaurants will inevitably be pricey, but if they’re on your “must-do” list, there are ways to save.

Some restaurants offer less expensive brunches or early evening tasting menus. You might be able to grab a small bite and a drink at the bar rather than a full meal.

Find shopping deals Cities are often home to chains’ flagship stores, boutiques and specialty shops. The wide variety of options could tempt you to overspend, but there are plenty of opportunities to save.

Look for large retailers’ clearance sales, particularly if you’re visiting when stores are clearing seasonal items off their shelves.

Think outside the lodging box Most people know that hotels in the heart of tourist areas are often the most expensive, and many turn to home-sharing sites as cheaper alternatives.

Another trick is to look for availability in the city’s financial district.

Holidays and weekends can bring vacancies at these hotels, which may mean lower rates. Hotels right outside the main city, accessible by public transportation, can also cost less.

Whether you’re interested in museums, shows, food, historic sites or all of the above, there are ways to save and make the most out of your summer in the city. ■

JUNE 2017

SENIOR SCAMS 29

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Dirty tricks: How to protect yourself from scams

By April Martinez

F

inancial scams against seniors are common and hard to prosecute.

They affect thousands of older adults each year, and the problem is so prevalent that multiple organizations are working to raise awareness and stop scammers. Unfortunately, despite these attempts, the number of seniors affected by fraud is increasing.

According to the U.S. Senate’s Special Committee on Aging, the number of senior scams reported doubled from 2015 to 2016.

The Granny scam Carol Vela, of Eckert, has been targeted by three scammers over the last few years. A scammer once called her claiming to be her grandson, George. The caller said he was hospitalized in Florida after an accident and begged Vela to send money to help him get back home. He said he didn’t want his parents to know what happened, and encouraged Vela

not to speak to anyone else before sending money.

This is known as a Granny scam.

Scammers find family data online and use it to convince their victims that a loved one is in need. The senate committee found that it’s the sixth most common scam affecting older adults.

“It’s upsetting when you get a call saying something bad has happened,” Vela said. “You want to help, but you need to stop and think first.

[Scammers] pick on people our age because they feel like we’re going to be vulnerable if one of our family members is in trouble.”

Thankfully, Vela listened to her instincts and followed two scam-stopping tactics.

First, she refused to make a decision right away. She told the caller she’d have to round up the money.

Second, she checked the facts. She called her daughter and found that George was in town at work, not in a Florida hospital.

Vela also suggested asking the caller trick questions that they couldn’t answer through online stalking.

“Like if George didn’t have a son, I could have said, ‘Oh, is your son there with you?’ and the answer would have let me know if it was really George,” she said.

Find help Seniors need to act defensively to ward off scams. Thankfully, organizations like AARP have resources to help. AARP Foundation ElderWatch Colorado was created after a study by the attorney general brought the issue of senior fraud to light. Volunteers operate a fraud reporting hotline. To date, it has received more than 20,000 calls.

Help make a difference by reporting scams to agencies like ElderWatch and the Special Committee on Aging. They work to educate seniors on fraud prevention and effect change.

Look what you did.

Carol and other seniors like her don’t have to face life alone. Your generous donations to St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation helped fund programs like the Senior Companion Program, which provides seniors with support and friendship and allows them to live independent of a nursing home.

Read her story at facebook.com/StMarysHospitalFoundation

Stay vigilant Scammers attack regularly by phone, by mail and online. Seniors must be on alert to the possibility of scams in order to avoid them.

Vela sympathized with seniors who fall victim to scams. She said that she understood how easily someone could believe a loved one was in trouble or that they were the winner of a large monetary prize.

Instead, Vela put her own spin on some good old fashioned advice, and she follows it.

“If it sounds too good to be true,” she said, “be very, very suspicious.” ■

Report a scam or learn more ElderWatch’s reporting hotline:

1-800-222-4444, opt. 2 US Senate Special Committee on Aging hotline:

1-855-303-9470

30 BUSINESS PROFILE

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

August 26 – 29, 2017 – Colorado Rockies & Disney’s Frozen

See Disney’s “Frozen” before it goes to Broadway  Watch the Rockies vs. Detroit from the comfort of a deluxe “Party Suite”  Enjoy a Candlelight Dinner Playhouse show  Tour the Colorado State Capitol &  The U. S. Mint  3 nights in downtown Denver

CoMing Soon! By Popular Demand

Alaska Cruise & Tour - May 2018

All About Travel organizes trips without all the baggage

By Jan Weeks

C Terry Eakle

Escorting Custom Tours from Grand Junction Since 1985.

751 Horizon Court, Suite 249 Grand Junction, CO 81506 • 434-6494

(Skyline Building behind WW Peppers)

JUNE 2017

indy Loeb is always on the move, sending people around the globe or traveling herself. The master cruise counselor at All About Travel, she makes traveling much safer and easier for seniors (and young whippersnappers, too.)

Travel agencies are not obsolete Why not save money and book travel online?

“You may think you’re getting a bargain, but often the price quoted does not include taxes or other hidden fees,” Loeb said. “Also, what’s included in a tour? Meals? Transportation? Other amenities?”

Booking through All About Travel costs about the same as doing it yourself, and clients don’t have to spend hours sifting through sites and prices.

No matter who is coordinating travel plans, the agents at All About Travel always ask about travelers’ expectations.

“When on vacation, people should stay somewhere nicer than their own home,” Loeb explained. “I work to get the best, lowest price for the trip they want.”

Loeb also encourages her clients to purchase trip insurance. If travelers become ill or have an accident, they could be in a bad position without it.

“Medicare does not cover anyone out of the country,” Loeb said. “And what if you have to be airlifted to a hospital to be treated? That’s expensive! I don’t let anyone go to Europe without travel insurance.”

Travel comfortably All About Travel specializes in cruise vacations, group travel, escorted tours and independent travel.

It works with most international

Cindy Loeb companies, including Viking River, Zegrahm Expeditions, Windstar, Princess, Cunard & Holland America Cruise Lines and Collette Vacations.

“Our in-house Escorted Tour program features tours departing from Grand Junction and is well known throughout the area and beyond as a quality product,” said Loeb.

These tours focus on comfortable, safe, worry-free and hassle-free travel.

“In today’s travel environment, clients want someone knowledgeable to talk to face to face who will listen to their concerns and pay attention to what they want and expect,” Loeb said.

Terry Eakle, who escorts the tours, has taken seniors (some who were well into their 90s) to every state, through Canada’s provinces and to more than 50 countries. Her tours include full-service hotels so that guests don’t have to tote their own luggage and may enjoy in-house dining. She lost count of the total number of tours she’s escorted about 17 years ago, but knows it’s more than 200.

Up-to-the minute assistance Although the agency specializes in tours and group travel, clients may utilize the agents’ expertise merely to book a flight. The agency computers connect directly to the airlines that service Grand Junction, allowing them to get up-to-the-minute prices and availability.

With a resource like this so close at hand, it’s easy to continue exploring and adventuring. It’s what keeps us young.

Visit All About Travel in the Skyline Building, 751 Horizon Ct., (just east of W.W. Peppers) or call 434-6494. ■

JUNE 2017

BEACON GUIDE HIGHLIGHT 31

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Community performances that hit the right note

By Kaylyn Wold

DIAMOND SECURE ACCOUNT

F

or 73 years, Community Concerts of the Grand Valley has been dedicated to making exceptional live music accessible to local concertgoers. And not just concerts—the organization also sponsors dance acts, acrobats and more.

“We try to provide a variety of acts,” said Publicity Chair Wynne Bouley. “We’ve had acrobats, we’ve had little plays. We’ve had everything from Dixieland to Motown.”

Bouley has attended the concerts since she moved to the area in 1999 and was a fan long before she became a board member. She’s even sold tickets for the shows, a task she found easy, thanks to her enthusiasm for the concerts.

“I think what we have is awesome.

I can’t sell anything that I don’t believe in,” she said.

The concerts are conveniently located, with all acts performing at Grand Junction High School, and have all the quality one would expect in a metropolitan setting.

“It’s open seating, free parking and it’s a wonderful night out,” Bouley said.

And performances are about to get even more convenient for seniors who don’t want to drive at night. The Commons of Hilltop, a Grand Junction senior assisted living community, already provides transportation to the concerts and purchases tickets for residents, and plans to provide rides for other older concertgoers are in the works.

Single show tickets are $25 for adults, and season tickets offer a greater value. An annual adult membership costs $60, which usually covers six concerts, but this year’s tickets offer an even better bargain— there are seven concerts planned for 2017. That’s less than $10 per performance.

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Bobbi Alpha and Shawn Klush, the “Ultimate Elvis” and one of CCGV’s past performers. coming up,” said Bouley.

This year’s performers include Mandy Barnett, a Patsy Cline tribute act; 3 Redneck Tenors; Caribbean-jazz musician Paul McDermand; Rocky Mountain Christmas, John Denver’s Christmas music performed by Jim Curry; Lezginka Dance Company; the Glenn Miller Orchestra; and Grammy-nominated gospel singers The Nelons. The lineup represents a variety of genres and performances, and Bouley said the board wants to expand it even more.

The board chooses the acts for the season and works with two concert promotion companies to bring performers to Grand Junction.

“We vote,” Bouley said. “It’s a democratic process. Basically being a board member is more than being a figurehead. We make policy, and we actually get to choose the acts, so it’s really exciting.”

Watch trailers for all the upcoming acts and purchase tickets at www. communityconcertsgrandvalley.org.

But hurry, season tickets sell out early! The next concert season kicks off September 9. ■

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M O N T R O 11/14/16 S E 12:25 PM

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

Dementia and Alzheimer’s Care, Support and Information.

Hilltop’s Senior Daybreak is a unique day program that keeps seniors with memory loss safe and secure 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.

(970) 241-7798

www.seniordaybreak.org L O C A L L Y

O W N E D

A N D

O P E R A T E D

B Y

H I L L T O P

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JUNE 2017

Name That Tune

By Jan Weeks

R

emember the television show called “Name That Tune” that ran in the 1950s? The orchestra played a song and when contestants recognized it, they raced across the stage and rang a bell, then had to name that tune. Are you ready to strut your musical stuff? Come with us now to the thrilling tunes of yesteryear and see if you can name these hits from the 1930s through the 1970s.

1. “In olden days a glimpse of stocking was looked on as something shocking. Now heaven knows...”

8. “I got my gal. Who could ask for anything more?”

9. “Dinner in the diner, nothing could be finer than to have your ham and eggs in Carolina.”

14. “Hello darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to talk with you again…”

23. “For love may come and tap you on the shoulder some starless night…”

10. “Then fly to her side and make her your own, or all through your life you may dream all alone…”

15. “Give him two lips like roses in clover.

Then tell him that his lonesome nights are over….”

24. “You got mud on your face, you big disgrace, kickin’ your can all over the place…”

5. “Ooh you know a man ain’t supposed to cry, but these tears I can’t hold inside…”

11. “Well, since my baby left me, I found a new place to dwell. It’s down at the end of Lonely Street…”

16. “Put your glad rags on, join me, hon, we’ll have some fun when the clock strikes one…”

6. “Don’t know why there’s no sun up in the sky…”

12. “St. Peter, don’t you call me ’cause I can’t go. I owe my soul to the company store.”

7. “Waltzing in the wonder of why we’re here.

Time hurries by, we’re here, then gone.”

13. “They asked me how I knew my true love was true. I of course replied, ‘Something here inside cannot be denied’…”

17. “And when I touch you I feel happy inside. It’s such a feelin’ that my love I can’t hide…”

2. “Like a dog without a bone, an actor out on loan…”

3. “But February made me shiver with every paper I’d deliver…”

4. “I wanna ride to the ridge where the west commences…”

18. “Don’t turn your back on me, baby. Don’t turn your back on me, baby. Yes, don’t turn your back on me, baby, you’re messin’ around with your tricks…”

19. “Regrets? I’ve had a few, but then again too few to mention….”

20. “And you want to travel with her and you want to travel blind…”

21. “You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave…”

25. “I remember when rock was young, me and Suzie had so much fun…”

Scoring

How many correct answers did you have?

22-25: Meet the latest inductee into the Musical Knowledge Hall of Fame!

17-21: You can sing along to almost any song on the radio.

13-16: Your fallback positions are la-dee-dahs and humming.

9-12: Maybe you need a refresher course in musical memories 6-9: Music just isn’t your thing.

0-5: You’re too young to be reading The BEACON!

22. “So many nights I’d sit by my window, waiting for someone to sing me his song…”

1/4 page

Answers 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

“Anything Goes” by Frank Sinatra “Riders on the Storm” by The Doors “American Pie” by Don McLean “Don’t Fence Me In” by Bing Crosby “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye “Stormy Weather” by Billie Holiday “Dancing in the Dark” by Barry Manilow “I Got Rhythm” by Louis Armstrong “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” by Glenn Miller Orchestra “Some Enchanted Evening” by Bob Dylan “Heartbreak Hotel” by Billy Joel “Sixteen Tons” by Johnny Cash

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

“Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” by The Platters “Sounds of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel “Mr. Sandman” by The Chordettes “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles “Black Magic Woman” by Fleetwood Mac “My Way” by Frank Sinatra “Suzanne” by Leonard Cohen “Hotel California” by The Eagles “You Light Up My Life” by Debby Boone “Catch a Falling Star” by Perry Como “We Will Rock You” by Queen “Crocodile Rock” by Elton John

EXCEPTIONAL CARE Two great locations

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■ ■ ■ ■

Rehabilitation to return home after hospitalization

Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy Skilled nursing care 24/7

Respite care & short-term stays

Memory care-Alzheimer’s & Dementia

LifeStyle 360 Activities Program focusing on your:

Intellectual, social, physical, emotional & spiritual well being

Exceptional Care —Two great locations

970-242-7356 2825 Patterson Road Grand Junction

970-245-1211 2501 Little Bookcliff Drive Grand Junction

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INDEPENDENT LIVING | ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE

Mesa County CattleWomen honor Errol R. Raley as Father of the Year

We’ve taken the art of aging T gracefully to a whole new level

By Patty Vaughn Miller

Hilltop’s premier senior communities offer a world of gracious living, personalized care and unsurpassed amenities. n Luxurious apartments featuring great views, spacious floorplans, and paid utilities n Quality restaurant-style dining n Lushly landscaped outdoor spaces and walking trails n Social activities and trips

The Commons (970) 243-3333 625 27 1/2 Road

www.TheCommonsGJ.org

n 24-hour emergency response system n Flexible care options to meet your current and future needs n Customized wellness program to help you “Stay Fit for Life!” n Temporary assisted living stays

The Fountains (970) 243-8800 3203 N. 15th Street

www.TheFountainsGJ.org

NOW RENTING STUDIO, ONE AND TWO BEDROOM APARTMENTS

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED BY HILLTOP - PROVIDING COMPASSIONATE CARE FOR OVER 65 YEARS

JUNE 2017

he Mesa County CattleWomen are honored to award Father of the Year to Errol Raley, a 31-year veteran brand inspector who has contributed immensely to the local livestock industry.

Raley was born in Rifle in 1938 to Rufus and Goldina Raley. The youngest of five children, he grew up on various farms and ranches in Garfield County.

After graduating from Rifle High School, Raley took a job stacking hay on Piceance Creek. He met his future wife, Patty Pickens, at a picnic in Utah.

Later that year, Raley got a job hauling a load of Christmas trees to Texas to sell. He wound up having to burn the trees because he couldn’t sell them, but he found another job in Brownsville, Texas. That winter, he received a Christmas card from Patty and he decided to return to Colorado. They married on July 3, 1965 in Rifle.

In 1974, Raley went to work as a brand inspector at the Denver stockyards. After eight years, he left Denver to work for Earl Haller in Mesa County. Though the hours were long and the weather could be bad, he loved his job—especially at shipping time in the fall.

Raley retired in 2005 after

“Though the hours were long and the weather could be bad, he loved his job—especially at shipping time in the fall.”

31 years as a brand inspector. The Stockmen honored him as Stockman of the Year in 2014. They also gave him a belt buckle with his brand on it.

These days, he and Patty stay busy near Fruita, feeding their cattle in the winter and taking them to summer on Pinyon Mesa when the weather improves. They will celebrate their 52nd wedding anniversary this summer. They have two sons, Keene and Kord, and two grandchildren, Kaylin and Kilen, who live nearby.

The cattlewomen awarded Raley with a gift certificate to Texas Roadhouse and tickets to the Mesa County Fair BBQ. The Father of the Year usually receives a top round roast, but since Raley raises his own beef, he asked the cattlewomen to donate it to a family in need.

Treat the special dads in your life to a delicious precooked 5-pound top round roast sold by the Mesa County CattleWomen in the Sportsman’s Warehouse parking lot from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, June 17. Roasts are $35.

Reserve yours in advance by calling 589-1419. ■

JUNE 2017

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Hitting it big later in life

Keep goals and dreams at any age

By Arnold Bornstein

M

y friend, a psychiatrist, once told me that I have “goalitis.” I wasn’t one of his patients and I asked indignantly if having goals is an illness. He jokingly (I assumed) said yes because at my age I still had goals and dreams of wanting to “hit it big.”

I recalled this incident when my wife and I went to Atlantic City for a couple of days.

I told her, “I have a feeling that this time I am really going to hit it big,” meaning that I am going to pull the slot machine handle and hit a huge jackpot—the kind for which they put your picture on the wall by the casino entrance.

But that wasn’t what my psychiatrist friend had in mind. He implied that seniors shouldn’t dwell on goals; instead they should enjoy the everyday aspects of life. Substantial goals and dreams are for younger persons and their churning ambition to achieve major accomplishments in their fields.

I respectfully disagree. History has repeated itself often with stories of persons who achieved greatness later in their lives. But for me and many others, accomplishing goals doesn’t have to involve greatness.

Not everyone is destined to be great Harry S. Truman was a political machine politician in Missouri, selected as President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s running mate for political reasons.

When Roosevelt died in office, Truman went on to become an outstanding president.

“Late bloomers” throughout the world have achieved greatness in many fields.

Goals and dreams are not necessarily related to great achievements, nor is the pursuit of goalitis, which can involve learning to walk again after a stroke or accident, losing a certain amount of weight, getting into

college, getting the job you wanted or hitting a game-winning home run in the last inning of the final game of the World Series.

It can also simply mean overcoming disappointment or reversing regret.

Disappointment vs. regret Psychologist Joyce Brothers once wrote: “Disappointment is an unfulfilled dream, a result of working hard and not achieving our goal. Regret, on the other hand, stems from having failed to work hard or maybe even to notice that we want something.

Although the emotions are similar, regret is usually about something we didn’t do. Disappointment is about something we didn’t get.”

As a senior, you have had your share of disappointments and regrets.

However, count the blessings in your life, particularly when you look back at loved ones, relatives and friends who are no longer with us.

I like what comedian Groucho Marx once wrote: “I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead; tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I just have one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.”

Hitting a slot machine jackpot or winning big at a casino gaming table isn’t like the everyday dreams and goals that we’ve had since childhood.

They may reflect the elements of chance, luck or fate, but failure or disappointment or regret in gambling are substantially different from what they are in our everyday lives.

For the record, I didn’t hit it big in Atlantic City. To me, “hitting it big” wasn’t primarily about money. It was more about succeeding in an undertaking that I had a dream and/or goal about. I have a wonderful wife, filled with children, grandchildren, and happiness, and that is really hitting it big. ■

Summer Reading 2017: Magic, Music, and More!

Sign up for Summer Reading at Mesa County Libraries! May 25 – August 5. All ages welcome!

Register online at mesacountylibraries.org/srp or in person at any Mesa County Libraries location

Call 970-243-4442 for more information

Experience Our Patio after Dark with waited tables and the perfect atmosphere.

Salmon Portabella Mushrooms Baked Halibut Filet Mignon and more!

After Dark Hours: Monday - Saturday • 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

3090 North 12th Street SpoonsBistroAndBakery.com

After Dark

36 FUN AFTER 50

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

JUNE 2017

FUN AFTER 50

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

HEALTH

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

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

Senior Recreation Center Monthly Calendar of Events MONDAY THURSDAY 9:00 am 9:30 am 10:30 am 12:00 pm 1:00 pm 5:30 pm

Cribbage Cards Computer Classes Gray Gourmet Lunch Card Bingo & Dominoes Singles Pinochle (1st & 3rd Monday)

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

TUESDAY

FRIDAY

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

9:00 am

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

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

12:00 pm 1:00 pm

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

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

SATURDAY 9:00 am Bridge 1:00 pm Bingo

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

JUNE 1 & JULY 20 Get Great in 8 This eight-week fitness challenge is designed with the 50+ crowd in mind.

Learn how to use fitness equipment, get a personalized fitness workout and perform a baseline fitness test in the first class, then work out on your own over the next eight weeks. Then reassess your fitness level and receive a new personalized workout in the final class. Assessments and classes take place at the Canyon View Park Playground. Each participant receives a visor. Cost is $44.

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

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

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

MONDAYS Line Dance Learn the basics of line dance and slowly build on those steps. Class is from 12:15-2 p.m. Mondays, June 5-19, at Lincoln Park Barn. Cost is $9.

SPORTS AUGUST 21-27 Western Colorado Senior Games Choose from over 55 different events to compete in. There’s something for everyone age 50 and older. Registration forms are now available at the Grand Junction Parks & Recreation office.

ART JUNE 17 Take Part in Art Explore the many creative organizations, guilds, clubs and societies that you can be a part of at this free club fair from 9 a.m. to noon at Lincoln Park Barn. There will be information, demonstrations and live performances.

VOLUNTEER New volunteer opportunity!

Downtown Ambassadors welcome visitors, answer questions about the downtown area and inform the police department of safety concerns from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Volunteers are needed to work between 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and will be rewarded with downtown gift cards for hours worked.

For more information, call Lorie at 254-3876.

JUNE 2017

MESA COUNTY 37

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Mesa County Club Activities Art Quilt Association (AQuA) meets monthly at 9:30 a.m. on the third Saturday in Grand Junction.

Location varies. Updates at www. theartquiltassociation.com.

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

Bookcliff Duplicate Bridge Club plays at 1 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 6:30 p.m.

Thursdays at 2923 North Ave. Call 243-7874.

Cribbage Lite meets at 5:30 p.m.

Tuesdays at IHOP. Call 201-7823.

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

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

Golden K Kiwanis Club meets each Wednesday from 9-10 a.m. at the Redlands Community Center. Visit www.gjgoldenk.com to learn more.

Grand Junction Chess Club meets from 6:30-11:30 p.m. every Monday in the Safeway Starbucks, 2901 F Road. If you don’t have a chess set, we loan sets out at no charge. For details, visit www.jctchess.com.

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

Grand Junction Newcomers Club meets monthly at 9:30 a.m. the second Wednesday at First Christian Church. Call 549-0439 for details.

Grand Mesa Chorus, Sweet Adelines International, rehearses from 6:30-9 p.m. every Tuesday at the Redlands United Methodist Church.

Call 255-9419 or 523-3464 or visit www.grandmesachorus.org for details.

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

Call 462-7557 for details.

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

Call 424-0499 for details.

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

Not Going Quietly meets from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at Centers for Spiritual Living Grand Junction. This group is intended to create a space of empowerment, grace, community and wisdom for individuals age 60 and older. Call 433-7799.

Swedes of the Grand Valley hosts its Midsummer Celebration on June 11 from 4-7 p.m at Hawthorne Park’s south shelter. Bring a dish to share. Lemonade and water will be provided. RSVP to Jeanette at 2412945.

Thunder Mountain Camera Club meets monthly from 7-9 p.m. on the third Tuesday at Western Colorado Community College. Visit www. thundermountaincameraclub.org.

Two River Sams/Good Sam RV Club will meet at 1 p.m. on June 24.

For location, call 523-5625.

Vestafjell Lodge, Sons of Norway celebrates its 27th anniversary at 11:30 a.m. on June 12 at The Egg

& I. Guests are welcome. For more details, call 245-5649 or 858-6702, or visit www.vestafjelllodge.org.

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

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

Western Slope Rovers RV Club meets monthly for breakfast on the first Thursday. Call 985-9004 for time and details.

Western Slope Adventurers meet monthly at 6 p.m. on the second Monday for a potluck and speaker presentation in the Garden Room at the Commons at Hilltop. Call 4334312 for details. ■

RIVER CITY SINGLES

“Young-at-heart adults getting together for fun and friendship” Fridays at 5 p.m. - Calling all singles over 50!

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

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

Sundays at 12:30 p.m. - Bowling Sunday at Orchard Mesa Lanes, 295 27 Road. RSVP to Bob at 263-8462.

Friday, June 2 at 10 a.m. - Tour the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens’ Butterfly House, 641 Struthers Ave. Admission is only $1.

Thursday, June 8 at 11:30 a.m. - The Fun Lunch Bunch meets at EC’s Asian Station, 200 W. Grand Ave. RSVP to Penny at 712-2588.

Thursday, June 15 - Learn to play Frisbee golf. Call Joe G. at 257-9556 for details.

Thursday, June 22 at 6 p.m. - The Grand Junction Rockies’ home game at Suplizio Field starts at 6:40 p.m. Cost is $9. Pay Chuck at the FAC on June 16.

RSVP to Chuck at 242-5252.

38 MESA COUNTY

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JUNE 2017

Mesa County Calendar MAY 31 Cold War Patriots town hall meetings Uranium and nuclear workers are invited to learn about government compensation and health care benefits at free town hall meetings at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton.

JUNE 2 Piano recital The Western Slope Concert Series presents Kathryn Mientka’s debut solo piano recital on the small keyboard.

The performance is at the Avalon Theatre’s Encore Hall at 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets at Roper Music.

$5

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JUNE 3 Tea for female vets The Department of Colorado American Legion, Female Veterans’ Action Committee, the Palisade American Legion Auxiliary and the Grand Junction Veterans’ Healthcare System will host a Female Veterans Tea from 9 a.m. to noon. Free lunch will be provided to all female veterans’ at Palisade’s Veterans’ Memorial Community Center, 120 W. Eighth St. Cowboy poetry festival The sixth annual Glade Park Cowboy Poetry Festival is a fundraiser for Glade Park Community Services featuring cowboys and musicians. Come to the Glade Park Community Center at 5 p.m. to purchase food from an onsite vendor. Performances take place from 6-8 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults.

Palisade Gran Fondo Cyclists have a choice of two classic western Colorado road rides—the 72mile, chip-timed Palisade Gran Fondo or the untimed 40-mile Palisade Piccolo Fondo. The Peach Bowl Park will be the headquarters for the event. Learn more at www.palisadegranfondo.com.

JUNE 5 Evil Editor Tells All Award-winning writer and journal-

ist Jan Weeks discusses what makes editors reject a manuscript and how to avoid those mistakes in this class.

Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, make your writing the best it can be. The class is held at Western Colorado Community College from 6-8:30 p.m. For more information or to register, contact 255-2800.

JUNE 7 Employment readiness bootcamp Landing That Job, an employment readiness bootcamp that runs from 5:30-8:30 p.m., will take you through the basics of preparing a resume and cover letter, developing a job search strategy and readying yourself for an interview. Participants are encouraged to bring copies of their resume and/or cover letters. For more information or to register, contact Western Colorado Community College at 255-2800.

JUNE 8 Wefty Fabric Weaving Learn to use a Wefty fabric weaving needle to create your own unique textile using fabric strips. Materials are supplied. This workshop will be held in the Mesa County Central Library’s community room at 6:30 p.m. Space is limited, and registration is required at www.mesacountylibraries.org or by calling 243-4442.

JUNE 9-11 Special Olympics Colorado comes to town Special Olympics Colorado returns to Grand Junction for its annual Summer Games. The opening ceremonies kick off on Friday night at Lincoln Park Stadium. Athletic events will be held on at Colorado Mesa University and Lincoln Park. More than 1,200 athletes with disabilities from all over the state will compete in track and field, gymnastics, swimming, power lifting, and soccer over the course of two days. Visit www.specialolympicsco.org for more information.

JUNE 2017

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JUNE 10 Funfest and pancake breakfast Raise money for Mesa County children’s programs and enjoy a pancake breakfast, entertainment, a silent auction, activity booths and games.

Admission to this Kiwanis Club event at the Two Rivers Convention Center is $6. The Funfest runs from 8 a.m.- 1 p.m.

JUNE 10-11 Colorado West Pride Fest Grand Junction’s pride festival returns for its fifth year! With vendors, performers, speakers and beer garden, the whole family can join the thousands of LGBTQ and advocates from the entire Western Slope. There is a suggested donation of $1 for admission. See the full schedule of events at www.colora dowestpride.org.

JUNE 17 Night sky viewing The Western Colorado Astronomy Club will hold a free public night sky viewing session at Rifle Gap State Park starting after sundown. See Jupiter, Saturn and the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules.

JUNE 17 Father’s Day beef The Mesa County Cattlewomen will be selling pre-cooked, five-pound top round roasts for $35 in the Sportsman’s Warehouse parking lot from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.

JUNE 17-18 Midland Rail Vintage Bicycle Ride Join a recreation of an 1899-1915 bicycle ride from Grand Junction to Glenwood Springs. Organizers researched the history of the Midland Road Race and have included as many of the original elements of the race as possible.

Points will be awarded not for finishing, but for authenticity based on the technology of the bike and the attire worn. Learn more at www.midlandrail. blogspot.com.

JUNE 19 How to Submit Your Manuscript Award-winning writer and journalist

Jan Weeks teaches students how to write and format query letters and synopses, and how to format your manuscript. Come prepared to write.

The class is held at Western Colorado Community College from 6-8:30 p.m.

For more information or to register, contact 255-2800.

JUNE 21 Business Connect Stop into the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce from 2-4 p.m. to meet with a Mesa County librarian and chamber marketing representative who will help you compile a targeted marketing list for your business. There is no cost, but registration is required by calling 263-2912.

JUNE 24 Night sky viewing The Western Colorado Astronomy Club will hold a free public night sky viewing session at the Colorado National Monument’s Saddlehorn picnic area.

See Jupiter, Saturn, star clusters and the Moon.

The McMullin Murder Mystery Former District Attorney Sam McMullin was poisoned, but despite a plethora of suspects, arrests and a trial, no one was ever convicted of his murder.

Now it’s up to the audience to bring a cold-blooded killer to justice in this mystery dinner theatre at A Taste of Heaven Catering. Presented by Mesa Murder Mystery, the show starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $29.99 and available at www.cateringatasteof heaven.com.

Head shaving to support cancer research Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease of children and adolescents in the US. Join St. Baldrick’s and Community Hospital for the sixth annual Head Shaving Fundraiser at the Lincoln Park Barn. Many participants and supporters are needed. Donate or register at www.stbaldricks.org/events/gj2017. ■

MESA COUNTY 39

Senior Homecare by Angels

40 MESA COUNTY

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JUNE 2017

Open 6am-8pm 3247 F Rd, Clifton • 434-0777 555 Raptor Dr., Fruita • 858-8444

CEO receives lifetime achievement award Dale Reigle, the recently-retired CEO of Rocky Mountain Orthopaedic Associates, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Alliance of Orthopaedic Executives (AAOE) in April. The award saluted Reigle for his dedication to orthopaedic practice management and the association itself. The award is presented each year to a past AAOE president who has continued to dedicate time and energy to the association even after his or her term has ended. Reigle served as resident of the national organization from 2008 to 2009.

Local oral history files saved for posterity

Through a partnership with the Mesa County Libraries, the Museums of Western Colorado is in the process of digitally saving more than 3,000 local oral history files originally recorded via cassette tape. While many of the tapes are in good condition, there is concern about their delicacy. Digitizing will enable them to be distributed and used for research. The converted audio will be uploaded to the library’s Marmot search system for ease of location and research. For further information or to locate a specific oral history record, call 242-0971.

Top ranking not something Mesa County can cheer about Mesa County consistently ranks as one of the top areas in the state for death by suicide. Recognizing this disturbing trend, members of the Guys’ Giving Club voted to award the club’s quarterly contributions—totaling $9,700—to Western Colorado Suicide Prevention Foundation (WCSPF). Club member Doug Simons, Jr., said the club recognized that if the donation helped the foundation get its message of hope

to just one person, it would be worth it. New members are welcome; the club hopes to reach 100 men so they can give away $10,000 at the next meeting. The next meeting will be held at 5:15 p.m. on August 1 at the Springhill Suites in downtown Grand Junction. For more information, contact Kevin VanGundy at 243-8829. To contribute directly to WCSPF, contact Jennifer Clark at 683-6626.

Artist in Residence explores fabric and fiber arts Longtime Grand Junction resident Ruth Ann Feild is the new Mesa County Libraries 970West Studio Artist in Residence, and she has scheduled a series of events and open studio hours to share her artistry with the public. Feild works in fabrics and fiber, creating detailed and unique pieces that tell stories of their own. Her fiber art displays her fascination with maps and history, and she considers a needle, thread and textiles to be powerful tools for sharing stories. During her residency, Feild will host open studio hours at the 970West Studio from 9 a.m. to noon each Monday through August 14 (except for May 29 and July 3, when the library is closed).

The public is invited to stop in and visit with Feild about her art.

New community program supports victims of violence and crimes Hilltop’s Latimer House and Domestic Violence Services was one of eight programs chosen as a Housing for Crime Victims Special Project site, a project of the Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Division of Criminal Justice Office for Victims Programs. Victims of crime are routinely met with discrimination and difficulty when finding new housing. This 20-month project helps victims obtain and retain safe, long-term housing and provides

JUNE 2017

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

some of the supports they need to rebuild their lives. Hilltop’s Latimer House and Domestic Violence Services will receive an $188,002 grant for the program.

Nashville quartet starts a regional tour The Blackwood Legacy Quartet, direct from Nashville, will be in concert at several area churches in June.

The popular group blends the best of traditional Southern gospel with today’s newer country gospel for a unique mix that pleases audiences of all ages. The group performs on June 3 at 7 p.m. at Palisade’s Grace Baptist Church. The quartet will also appear at 9 a.m. the next morning at Crossroads United Methodist Church. The last area concert will be June 4 at 6 p.m. at Rocky Mountain Baptist Church in Rifle. Admission is free. For more information, please call the local church or visit www. blackwoodlegacy.com.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES • Family Health West is looking for volunteers to act as greeters at Colorado Canyons Hospital & Medical Center or to assist with our activities in our assisted living facilities. To learn more, call 8582211 or email nwatchman@fhw. org.

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

• Riverside Educational Center is looking for volunteers from 4:10 p.m.-5:30 p.m. one night a week to tutor disadvantaged elementary school students. No experience necessary and training is provided.

Call or text Leslie Eslava at 4622901.

SUPPORT GROUPS • Mending Hearts is for any adult who has experienced the death of a loved one. Grand Junction

groups meets from 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Miller Homestead at HopeWest. Call 248-8844.

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers support groups for family members of adults who have a serious mental illness and connection groups for adults living with a mental illness.

Groups meet at various times and locations in Mesa County. For additional information, please visit www.NAMIWS.org or call 4623989.

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

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

• MACHO Men cancer support group meets monthly at 5-6:30 p.m. on the second Wednesdays at St. Mary’s Hospital’s Java City Café. Call 298-2351 for details.

• MS and Men, a support group for men living with MS, meets monthly on the third Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon at the Artful Cup. Call 241-8975.

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

• GriefShare is a nondenominational Christ-based support group for those mourning the death of a loved one. This no-cost group meets from 1-3 p.m.

Mondays. For location and details, call Vicci at 628-1453.

• Men’s Prostate Cancer support group meets at the Mesa County Library every second Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. For information, call 769-0668. ■

MESA COUNTY 41

42 FUN & GAMES

Remember when

an E-book was the encyclopedia volume between ‘D’ and ‘F’.

Remember when

a crop circle was a bunch of farmers standing around a pot-bellied stove.

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

JUNE 2017

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FUN & GAMES

JUNE 2017

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

For the puzzle answers see page 46

Across 1 French 101 verb 5 Dey TV series 10 Fly like Lindy 14 Perjured oneself 15 Open-air rooms 16 “The Lost Boys” star Corey 17 “___ Wonderful Life” 18 Ohm or Solti 19 Pistolet, e.g.

20 It can be over your head 21 Garden-variety Canadian sprinter?

23 Always the same 25 ___-Day vitamins 26 Says “yes” without saying a word 27 Place for sports writers 31 “Baa Baa Black Sheep” writer Gregory ___ Boyington 33 Senate assistants 34 Naval off.

35 Top cards 36 Bygone Renault auto 37 Cruising to Hawaii 38 Parseghian of Notre Dame 39 Late astronomer Carl 40 Good buddies with handles

FUN & GAMES 43

Turn to page 46 for your puzzle answers 21 Type of builder 22 Pianist Myra 24 Beau Brummells 27 Type sizes 28 Garden-variety pay rate?

29 River to the Baltic 30 Present time 31 Early late-night personality 32 Bat head?

33 Arm of the Mediter-ranean 36 Certain Baltic natives 37 Somewhat 39 Culinary potpourri 40 Robert with the blues 42 Canine coat?

43 Fragrant resins Down 45 A deadly sin 1 Yale’s Yale 46 Syrian leader 2 Certain -missile 47 Of value 3 Garden-variety tomb48 Norwegian saint stone inscription?

49 1995 earthquake site 4 Writer LeShan 50 Physics Nobelist Isidor 5 Some brews 51 Emulate a Mr. Universe 6 Mr. T’s worn outfit? contestant 7 Scientologist Hubbard 8 Noted nickname in hoops 55 Play-___ 9 Former Jeep model 10 Journalist Alexander, et al.

11 Dinghy directors 12 It can move a star 13 Serious sign 41 Ornamental ribbons 43 Playwright Bogosian 44 River to the Gulf of Finland 45 It’s on the level 48 Garden-variety talk show hostess?

52 D-Day troop carrier 53 Moistened clay 54 Winner by ___ margin 55 He loved Lucy 56 Singer Lane 57 “___ say more?”

58 Evangelist Roberts 59 Wedding wear 60 Altos and tenors 61 F.D.R.’s park

Crossword Puzzle

44 CLASSIFIEDS

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To Place a Classified Ad...

4 EASY STEPS!



WRITE YOUR AD

FOR SALE

INVERSION TABLE: Emer deluxe foldable gravity inversion table for back therapy exercise and fitness.

Long handle used to strap in ankles makes it easy to strap in. Like new. $70 OBO. 640-1483.

ELECTRIC WHEEL CHAIR: Jet 7, excellent condition, good batteries and charger. $500. Call 520-7208516.

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JUNE 2017

CLOCK REPAIR In-home service, 35 years’ experience, free estimates. Art’s Clock Shop 270-7619 ESTATE SALES MASTERS “More Than An Estate Sale.” Free Consultation, on-site estate sales.

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JANITORIAL DUTIES Evenings and weekends, competitive wages. Management supervisory experience a plus. 255-0525.

$49 value for FREE!

Priced for 30 words or less. Additional Words $1 each.

sales person wanted

Start running my ad in the month of __________________ for _____ months.

The Beacon Senior newspaper is growing and we’re looking for a mature, loving sales person to grow with us.

Send your letter and resume to beacon@pendantpublishing.com

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Mail: BEACON, P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502 Fax: 1 800-536-7516 Email: beacon@pendantpublishing.com

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

name

The Beacon Senior newspaper is looking for writers in Mesa, Delta, Montrose and Garfield counties. Please send your cover letter and resume to beacon@pendantpublishing.com.

SCENE CLEARLY, LLC Window cleaners specializing in making your day a little brighter!

Grand Junction area. Call Frank Cordova at 242-1264.

CUSTOM DRAPERIES, BLINDS, AND SOLAR SHADES Floor coverings and design services Interior Monologues, Inc. 234-0040 COMPUTER LADY, LLC In-home repair. 15 years serving Mesa County. Windows, internet, Wi-Fi, Android, tablets, Netflix, Roku. Virus removal, installation and instruction. Dependable, reasonable, qualified. 255-1216.

ANTIQUES, APPRAISALS, ESTATE SALES With over 40 years in the antique, appraisal and estate sale business, Great American Estate Sales is the valley’s leader in appraisals and estate liquidation. Settling an estate, moving into a smaller home or just simplifying your lifestyle? Great American Estate Sales can provide a worry-free and quick solution. Free consultation. 216-0048.

DO LITTLE SERVICES, LLC Helping seniors, singles or anyone maintain home/property with swamp coolers, garden tilling, leaf, yard, chimney, gutter cleaning and general repairs. Free estimates. Jeff 773-6337.

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

Tom Peters: 261-4303, tompetersconstruction.com.

JUNE 2017

CLASSIFIEDS 45

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THE WINDOW CLEANING COMPANY. Quality work at a fair price. Free estimates. 245-2993 / 261-0131.

HAIR ON WHEELS, service at your door. Hair services: perms, cuts, color and styles for men and women. We’re here to serve you! Melody: 201-0267.

SERVICES

HOME CARE PROVIDER Licensed CNA offering companionship, guidance, healthy cooking, light housekeeping, help with shopping, errands, exercise, and fun activities. Great references.

Brenda 623-0649 “Caregiving is my Passion!”

CLEANING LADY Competitive rates, reliable transportation, will travel. Weekly/Bi-weekly/Monthly CLEANING, Real Estate Prep, Downsizing, Deep & Light Cleaning, Re-organizing. Just call to see how I may help you, Linda 2637364 or 720-841-7505.

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

Member # cc1546ue, password #1115. Travel agents at 855-259-1155.

Call Susan at 462-1115 before booking a trip so I can call the organization with pre-approval. Free to BEACON readers to use this membership.

BUY, SELL OR TRADE Gently used books on hundreds of subjects. Westerns, romance, mysteries, suspense, kids, young adult, inspirational and many others. Large print. Special orders.

242-3911. Twice Upon a Time Bookshop, 2885 North Ave., Ste. B. Located in front of North Ave. Walmart and next to Subway. 10-6 Mon-Sat, 11-4 Sunday. **Bring this ad in for $10 Trade Credit**

VENDORS WANTED A Robin’s Nest is looking for antique and collectible vendors. This is a great time to earn extra income from your hobby. Space is limited.

Stop by 602 Main St. GJ, for an application to join our family of over 90 vendors.

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Rocky Mountain Baptist Church

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46 KUDOS & KVETCH

kudos \ ku·dos

“Thank you SO MUCH! Your publication is well respected and appreciated in the Montrose area!”

- Norval S. “As a new reader of the BEACON, ‘Where have you been all my life?’

I love the stories!”- Jeanette R.

Wanna give a shout out?

Pass out a compliment?

Write us at:

Beacon@PendantPublishing.com

FUN & GAMES Game answers from page 43

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Automobile travel trumps airplane travel

By John C. Liburdi

I

t’s now common knowledge that traveling relatively short distances by airplane these days has become an expensive and arduous experience— maybe even horrific for victims of airline overbooking! On the other hand, the automobile has evolved to the point where it now makes darn good sense to drive a few hundred miles instead of taking a short-duration flight.

The cost of flying has become exorbitant. Ticket prices keep rising for no apparent reason. Cleverly invented fees are added for things like checked baggage and window seats, and you often have to take an expensive taxi to the airport or pay for parking while you’re gone. Travel by car costs less by far: gas is pretty cheap, new cars get great gas mileage, most interstate highways have no tolls, and my car’s trunk holds a ton of luggage.

Flight safety is obviously a serious concern. The skies are increasingly more crowded, and yet, most of our nation’s air traffic control systems are outdated. Commercial airliners now have air marshals on board to keep maniacs and terrorists in check. On the other hand, my new car has blind spot warning, lane-keeping assist and an automatic braking system for collision avoidance. Plus, I only allow nice people in my car—thus, I feel pretty safe and secure when I drive.

Flying is hardly convenient. You have to leave home at least two hours prior to flight departure time. Airline personnel have largely vanished from the airport terminal sopassengers must struggle with computers to get

boarding passes and baggage stickers.

Then there’s the long line at the security checkpoint and a stop at an overcrowded airport snack bar to preclude in-flight starvation. Boarding the plane is an agonizingly slow process. But in my car, I’m already halfway to my destination, even after a quick stop for fast food.

Comfort is another big consideration. More plane seats are being squeezed into a given size plane, hardly leaving any legroom. Ear pressure at high altitudes is painful, and you have to climb over adjacent passengers and then stand in line to use the lavatory. In a car, there’s plenty of legroom and timely rest area potty breaks.

Since I don’t have to remove my shoes at an airport security checkpoint, I’m not embarrassed about the hole in my sock. I sometimes utter profanity when I’m frustrated, which is perfectly acceptable in the privacy of my car. I also have complete privacy during intimate conversations on my car’s hands-free cell phone system. Once I’m at my destination, I’ve already got my luggage and have my own car to use—no long waits at baggage claim and no rip-off rental car contracts.

My attitude about flying changd for the worse when Trans World Airlines and Pan Am went away. Back when air travel was a pleasant luxury, attractive young stewardesses would smile and say, “Fly me” as they gracefully served my gourmet meal with real china, glassware and silverware.

Now that’s all changed. ■

JUNE 2017

kvetch \ kfech  “I had fun at BeaconFest, but while I was going around and looking at all the booths, I thought to myself, ‘All they want to do is take care of me.’ That’s great, but I’d like to see more fun booths with ways for seniors to get involved and go on trips and such.”- Yvonne P. Kevin: I understand and I feel your pain. I’m glad there are businesses out there to help me care for my parents, but like you, I’ve got a whole lot of living to do in the decades to come. (As do my parents.)

Publishing a senior newspaper, I run head-on into the stereotypes that our society has about older people. One doesn’t simply dry up and blow away when they turn 60.

I was reminded it of it again after reading this month’s feature story about Su Joffrion, who celebrated her 61st birthday while hiking the Appalachian Trail—all 2,185 miles of it. If you’d like to see more diverse advertisers in the BEACON or at BeaconFest (like we do), please tell them the next time you shop there. Let them know that “senior” is not a four-letter word, and we’ll do our best to keep finding and writing about the best of getting older.  “What will be the name of the new town forming in the desert north of Grand Junction? Garfield? North Clifton? Broken Dreams?”

- Steve A.

Wanna give a shout out?

Pass out a compliment?

Write us at:

Beacon@PendantPublishing.com

IT’S THE CHALLENGE OF SOMETHING NEW THAT KEEPS U S YO U N G Cindy and John Thomas have been loving life on the Western Slope since 1980. Whether pedaling or paddling, they’re always trying a new activity, so they need a Medicare plan that has the same endurance they do.

And, since Rocky Mountain Health Plans has been here for over 40 years, we’re certain we’re up to the job.

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

RMHP is a Medicare-approved Cost plan. Enrollment in RMHP depends on contract renewal. This information is available for free in other languages.

Please call Customer Service at 888-282-1420 (TTY dial 711). Hours are 8am - 8pm, 7 days/week, Oct.1–Feb.14, and 8am - 8pm, M-F, Feb.15–Sept.30.

Esta información está disponible gratuitamente en otros idiomas. Por favor llame a la línea de Atención a Clientes, al 888-282-1420 (TTY marque 711).

Horario de 8am - 8pm, 7 días a la semana, del 1 de octubre al 14 de febrero; y dev 8am - 8pm, de lunes a viernes, del 15 de febrero al 30 de septiembre.

RMHP complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-888-282-1420(TTY: 711). CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-888-282-1420 (TTY: 711). H0602_MS_MC243A_10032016 Accepted

The presentations are free…the information is priceless Cappella of Grand Junction

Assisted Living & Memory Support at an Elevated Level

June Speaker Series

Starting every Tuesday in June at 10 a.m., Cappella of Grand Junction is giving Grand Valley seniors the 411 to stay active and healthy.

June 6

June 13

BETH CASTELLINI, PT

KRISSY TRUJILLO

Myths & Facts About Older Adults & Exercise

Adult Education Opportunities at the Community Education Center

June 20

June 27

STACY DAVIS

ANDREW GABRIELE

Should I Stay or Should I Go?— The Art of Downsizing

Super Fun with Super Foods

Location: St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church - 632 26 ½ Rd., Grand Junction

Seating is limited—Please RSVP at 970.822.2195

Opening September 2017 Now Taking Reservations!

Visit CappellaGrandJunction.com or call us at 970.847.5444

Cappella of Grand Junction, 628 26 ½ Road, Grand Junction, CO 81506