APRIL 2016
Vol. 30 No. 4
Mesa County’s Monthly Newspaper for Adults 50+. Over 28,350 Readers.
fair... mer & senior a’s largest boo Enjoy the are FREE
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RIDE ON!
Bicycling options for healthy fun
Photo by Melanie Wiseman.
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www.BeaconSeniorNews.com S E R V I N G
G R A N D
J U N C T I O N
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APRIL 2016
M O N T R O S E
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
950 North Avenue, #106, Grand Junction www.valleyvisioncenter.com
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
The PARC (Post Acute Rehab Center) at Larchwood Inns has listened to families, physicians and our community to design a Rehabilitation Center that provides physical, occupational, and speech therapies for your post surgical and post hospital therapy needs. We have private rooms that include a television, telephone and WIFI. Larchwood Inns continues to provide a loving long term care environment for those who need 24-hour skilled nursing care. We accept Medicare, Medicaid, Insurance and Private pay. Come take a tour and you feel the difference the moment you walk through our doors.
APRIL 2016
EDITORIAL
www.BeaconSeniorNews.com
What’s your lie? By Kevin K. VanGundy
U
ntil Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile in 1954, it was considered humanly impossible. Within a decade of his achievement, all of the top runners were doing it. Did the human race suddenly get faster? Or, did we finally just realize that we could do it? (My bets are on the latter.)
We all tell ourselves lies that we believe. For example: • I’m too old to ride a bike! Perhaps a traditional bike. But have you considered a recumbent bicycle? This month’s cover story will introduce you to those who are still finding a way to enjoy the great outdoors on a bicycle. • Adults don’t want to go back to school! Someone may have said that to Jan Henwood, but she didn’t let that stop her from building New Dimensions into a fast-growing and popular adult learning program at Colorado Mesa University. • Senior fairs are boring! Not ours. Not BeaconFest. You’ll be surprised at just how much fun you’ll have at this year’s biggest event for those age 50 and older. My uncle, a manly man, refused to attend BeaconFest until he “dropped by” last year and discovered something he didn’t know was possible. BeaconFest is a celebration of everything related to boomers and seniors. This year’s senior fair will be from 9 am - 3 pm on Thursday, April 21 at the Two Rivers Convention Center in downtown Grand Junction.
Why attend BeaconFest? This year’s BeaconFest will feature nearly a dozen entertainers, including the ever-popular King ‘N’ Trio and, new this year, Javier de los Santos. In addition to entertainment, free seminars will be offered on topics as
wide ranging as planning your estate to protecting yourself on Facebook. Well-known restaurants such as the Olive Garden, Buffalo Wild Wings, Mi Mexico and Rib City Grill will be giving away free samples of their food.
Feeling lucky? Thousands of dollars worth of valuable prizes and cash will be given away in free door prize drawings throughout the day. And at 2:30 p.m. we’ll be giving our Grand Prize trip for two and all the remaining door prizes, during our hilarious game show, “Let’s Make A Squeal!”
Vendors galore Vendor booths from over 100 senior-related businesses and agencies will be set up to provide current and prospective seniors with information about products and services available to help them successfully navigate the aging process. We have home improvement services, health and nutrition information, real estate experts and senior living reps, government offices and resource info, beauty products and even a dentist or two!
Thank you! The main reason to attend BeaconFest is because it’s fun and it’s our way of saying thank you for reading the BEACON Senior Newspaper. Come and let us give you a happy hug or a hearty handshake. And please thank our vendors and our sponsors.
Summer travel and festivals In June, the BEACON will present you with myriad suggestions on places to go and things to do. What we’d really like to know from you is what to include and what not to include. Also, we’d like to publish some of your older vacation photos. You know, the ones with your Brady Bunch station wagon or you at Niagara Falls in your coonskin cap. ■
Send your comments and photos to: Beacon@PendantPublishing.com or BEACON Senior Newspaper, P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502
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Learn about Estate Planning at our Free Educational Workshops! Experienced & Compassionate Estate, Trust & Tax Planning Attorneys We’ll be at
on April 21st! Make sure to stop by our booth and say hello!
Avoid Being Unprepared & Overwhelmed: Understanding Long Term Care Planning
Montrose: Monday, April 11th 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Grand Junction: Wednesday, April 13th 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
New Location! Delta: Monday, April 18th 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Later Time! Grand Junction: Tuesday, April 26th 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Don’t wait until there is a crisis to learn about your options. Nearly 70% of people over the age of 65 will need long-term care at some point during their lifetime. Join us to learn about payment sources, including private pay, long-term care insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and more! Guest speakers Phyllis Hoffman & Scharee Atchison from Long Term Care Planning Solutions will be joining us at the Montrose & Delta workshops! Registration is Required: The Grand Junction workshops are held at our office, 1250 E. Sherwood Drive. Montrose workshops are held at Region 10 Area Agency on Aging - 300 N. Cascade. New Delta workshops will be held at1501 E. 3rd St. in the Mesa Lakes Room, the Oncology Center at the Delta Hospital. Sign up by calling (970) 243-8250 or on our website at: www.brownandbrownpc.com
Phone: (970) 243-8250
1250 E. Sherwood Drive, Grand Junction, CO 81501 1317 Grand Avenue, #224B, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
Baird B. Brown u Clara Brown Shaffer u Jamie J. Roth u Paul M. Smith u Shauna C. Clemmer
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COVER STORY
Mesa County Bicycle Shops Colorado Backcountry Biker 150 S. Park Square, Fruita 858-3917
LTR Multisport 2387 River Road #130, Grand Junction 257-7678
Colorado E Bikes 561 25 Road, Grand Junction 242-3126
The Bike Shop 950 North Avenue, Grand Junction 243-0807
Brown Cycles 549 Main Street, Grand Junction 245-7939
Ruby Canyon Cycles 301 Main Street, Grand Junction 241-0141
Bicycle Outfitters 537 N. 1st Street, Grand Junction 245-2699
Over the Edge Sports 202 E. Aspen Avenue, Fruita 858-7220
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APRIL 2016
Bicycling options for lifelong health By Melanie Wiseman
I
lona Wiesiolek has never had a driver’s license in her life, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t covered thousands of miles on her set of wheels—her recumbent bike wheels, that is. She came to Grand Junction from Poland in 1988 and walked or rode public transportation. Wiesiolek, 78, had never even ridden a bike until seven years ago when Brown Cycles helped set her up with a Sun recumbent. “Now I’m an advocate for these bikes. They are so comfortable and stable. I go through a couple sets of tires a year because of all the miles I put on. It’s my transportation yearround and I go literally everywhere,” said Wiesiolek. “I don’t want to be dependent on anyone. I want to die standing up or sitting in my bike.” Wiesiolek believes it’s never too late to start biking and recommends checking out alternatives to traditional bikes if they don’t work for you anymore. “Keep moving,” said Wiesiolek. “Stop creating pollution and get out and ride!”
Why bike? Bryan Miick of The Bike Shop on North Avenue and Chris Brown of Brown Cycles on Main Street both grew up with bikes at the center of their childhoods, taking them on myriad adventures. Both worked at bikes shops in their teens and have 49 combined years of bike shop management. Biking is definitely something they share a passion for, as well as their belief in biking benefits.
Miick and Brown agree that the single most important advantage of bicycling is that it is a low-impact sport. “It’s great physical therapy for people who have had hip or knee replacements,” said Miick. “Bicycling is also great for people who have balance issues or difficulty walking.” “Runners have a life span,” said Brown. “When they stop running, they start riding bicycles. Same with football and baseball players. Later in life, they turn to bicycles.” Ladonna Ishida road her mountain bike 12-15 miles a day on the River Front Trail until 2011. “I started having neck and back pain, my feet fell asleep and my wrists hurt,” said Ishida, 63. Then she fell in love with the Catrike recumbent. “It’s like riding a lawn chair,” said Ishida. “It really cut down on the strain on my back, neck, wrists and feet. It’s so comfortable and enjoyable I don’t want to come home. It’s a sweet ride. A rolling wonder. With the huge boomer population, it really amazes me there aren’t more recumbents around here.” “Riding should not be painful,” said Miick. “We have 100 different seat options, comfort bikes, even electric peddle-assist bikes. Bikes are a great transportation option instead of cars.” “As people get older, they may lose their ability to drive or may just not get around well anymore,” said Brown. “You can put them on a bicycle and they can go crazy and get around town doing normal things. It is really efficient and gives them
freedom.” The great majority of Brown’s customers are 50 and older. “To peddle a bicycle takes about a fifth of the energy it takes to walk or run, and you can go five times farther,” said Brown. “If it takes a fifth of the energy, it has a fifth of the impact on your body.” Brown says people who ride bikes a lot look 20 years younger. “They really do,” said Brown. “Their bodies and their skin are healthier and toned. It’s a big cardio. Their knees aren’t all torn up and they’re not limping or hobbling. It’s good for the heart and good for the joints.” He feels the youth of this generation are missing out. “They don’t ride bicycles like we did because they’re into gizmos,” said Brown. “Bicycles used to be the number-one Christmas or birthday present, and everyone has stories about their first bike.” According to Brown, bicycle technology hasn’t changed in the last 110 years—just the materials and the number of options have changed. Among trikes, recumbents, hybrids, electric, tandems, step-throughs and special order and custom adaptables, there is a bicycle out there for every individual. Both Miick and Brown have helped a range of people, from those with severe handicaps or missing limbs to those with back, joint, or balance challenges. With all the options available, they are confident in their ability to help get anyone on a bicycle, and make it their goal for that bicycling experience to be a great one.
APRIL 2016
COVER STORY
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Bicycling advantages Cycling is low-impact exercise that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Regular cycling has many physical and mental health benefits. It is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of health problems such as stroke, heart attack, some cancers, depression, diabetes, obesity and arthritis. An estimated one billion people ride bicycles every day for transport, recreation and sport.
National & Regional Award-Winning Publication Publisher ..............................Kevin K. VanGundy Founding Publisher....................... Susan Capps Editor............................................. Nancy Ruspil Editor at Large............................... Cloie Sandlin Senior Graphic Designer............ Melissa Trottier Graphic Design/Photography....Katherine Lopez Graphic Design.............................. Karen Jones Office Manager............................... Kim Latham Account Representative................... Sue Bowen Account Representative................ Sidney Jayne Account Representative...............Carolyn Takos Proofreader...................................... Jan Weeks Cheerleader................................... Genevra Shal Delivery...........................................Cora Gentry Delivery ................................. Lauren VanGundy
Improve overall fitness level Bicycling is mainly an aerobic activity, which means that your heart, blood vessels and lungs all get a workout. You will breathe deeper, perspire and experience increased body temperature, which will improve your overall fitness level. Studies have shown that regular cycling can cut your risk of heart disease by 50 percent. There is plenty of evidence that any exercise is useful in warding off cancer, but some studies have shown that cycling is specifically good for keeping your cells in working order.
Save your joints Biking tones your whole body by engaging all muscles, while putting much less stress on knees, ankles and the spine than walking or running.
More energy and deeper sleep Studies found that bike riding improved energy levels by 20 percent and decreased fatigue by 65 percent. People who cycle for 20-30 minutes
every other day required half the time to fall asleep and sleep time increased by almost an hour.
Increase brain power Illinois University found that fitness through cycling led to an improvement of up to 15 percent in mental tests. Cycling helps build new brain cells in the region responsible for memory, which deteriorates from the age of 30.
Look younger, live longer Scientists have found that bicycling regularly can protect your skin against the harmful effects of UV radiation and reduces the signs of aging. The body becomes much more efficient at defending itself against disease and regenerating new cells.
Boost your insides According to experts from Bristol University, the benefits of cycling
extend deep into your core. Cycling accelerates your breathing and heart rate, which helps to stimulate the contraction of intestinal muscles, and helps protect you against intestinal cancer.
Lose weight Many people think that jogging is the best way to start slimming down. Although it does burn fat, two to three times your body weight crashing down on your feet and joints is a lot of force. Bicycling allows most of your weight to be taken by the saddle so your skeleton doesn’t get battered.
Social time
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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 & 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 2016 • All Rights Reserved
Bicycling is great social time with family and friends. You can even enjoy doing it with your grandchildren.
Good for the planet A bike produces zero pollution. Bicycling is great for your sense of freedom and, above all, for fun. It’s an activity you can do for the rest of your life. ■
Cover Photo: Ladonna Ishida calls her Catrike recumbent a rolling wonder and a sweet ride.
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FEATURE STORY
www.BeaconSeniorNews.com
APRIL 2016
Repurposing breathes new life into “old” items By Melanie Wiseman “Because it’s fun, creative, I save a lot of money, and simply put, it’s just the right thing to do,” I tell people. The question? Why recycle, reuse, repurpose, rekindle, refresh and relove items which would otherwise be discarded and considered useless? This has been a passion of mine for many years, so it’s hard for me to imagine living any other lifestyle. It’s part of my being. I frequent thrift stores, stop at the occasional yard sale, donate rather than toss, repair, recycle and use the library. In the past I’ve been called cheap by someone who didn’t get the big picture, but I consider it being smart and doing my part for the environment and our community. The Grand Valley has my back. Hundreds of responsible repurposing opportunities, and missed opportunities, are available out there for our closets, yards, homes and businesses. Let’s take a look at just a few.
Manager. “Charmed is focused on re-loving, refreshing and rekindling items that the community donates to us that we would otherwise be unable to sell. It’s a whole new way to look at donations.” Thanks to volunteers, hats become light fixtures, men’s shirts become aprons, yarn becomes seasonal decorations, fabric swatches become purses, and furniture gets a facelift. “With Chalk Paint (by Annie Sloan) we’re able to redo all kinds of furniture right in the store,” said Whittington. “No priming, sanding or stripping.” Charmed is proud of the success of their efforts. “We’ve been able to offer a new category which appeals to a new customer and inspires people to redo what they already have at home,” said Whittington. “Update or refresh your furniture so you don’t necessarily have to get rid of pieces that have a story, a history, or memories associated with it.”
Reloved, rekindled, refreshed
One man’s junk is another man’s treasure
Heirlooms for Hospice on Main Street believes so much in giving new life to old items, it has dedicated a third of its space to its sister store, Charmed by Heirlooms. “The idea is how to make the community’s donations go further,” said Trisha Whittington, Creative Design
We’ve all heard this saying, but Joe Lance lives it every day. “What other people see as junk, I have vision and creativity to see what things could be made into,” said Lance of Grand Junction. “I’ve always had the mindset of reusing and repurposing from a history of composting, building a solar house, and growing up with people who went through the Great Depression.” Even as a teenager, Lance tinkered with making things out of odds and ends. For the past 10 years, it has become his passion. “When crowds at estate sales flock to the front room, I immediately go to the garage to see what I can find,” said Lance. His treasures become unique lamps, birds, bugs and other decorative art. Old grass clippers deemed worthless make great bird beaks; sugar tongs and BBQ tools become bird feet and legs; cabinet handles, door stops and Jell-O molds take the shape of various bugs; old lanterns, bike parts
and yard tools transform into floor lamps. Lance even makes beautiful wooden bowls out of dead trees that would otherwise be hauled off. “Most everything can have another life,” said Lance. “There are very few things that I just pitch.”
Pinterest Pinterest is a creative website that’s had everyone buzzing since 2010. The site is packed full of inspirational ideas and images related to clothing, home decor and repair, recipes, crafts and so much more. It’s exciting that the focus in many categories is giving new life to things you already have through repurposing and “upcycling.” Old bike wheels become clocks, plastic hangers take the shape of a room divider, an old TV transforms into an aquarium, wine bottles become a light fixture, old tennis racquets become mirrors and bottle caps turn into tea lights. Take a look, and discover the possibilities! Pictured here you’ll see the adorable shelves in our daughter’s dining room, made from wood pallets. Who would have thought?
Mesa Magic compost Instead of sending your grass clippings, tree limbs and leaves to the landfill, consider taking them free of charge to the Organic Materials Composting Facility. The County’s Solid Waste Management turns these donations into top-quality compost and wood mulches, high in organic material and nutrients, low in salt and free of weed seed. Mesa Magic compost is sold to the public at a reasonable price by the bag or by the yard. Due to the volume of requests for more recycling opportunities, Mesa County Solid Waste Management has increased the number of materials accepted for recycling. For more information on Mesa Magic and composting, call 263-9319. For more information on recycling, call 241-6846. ■
What you can do If none of these ideas appeal to you, here are some other simple alternatives. • Take part in the Grand Junction Spring Clean-Up. Much of what is put curbside doesn’t make it to the landfill, as others find a use for what you are discarding. • Take reusable grocery bags with you when you shop vs. using plastic bags – or choose not to accept a plastic bag when doing simple shopping for clothing, etc. • Recycle electronics. • Donate old cell phones to the Latimer House or Cell Phones for Soldiers. • Refill used ink cartridges vs. buying new. • Before automatically tossing something, consider a possible repurpose for it. Challenge yourself to have a new outlook. • Donate home and yard items to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, books to the Friends of the Library, clothing to Salvation Army, Catholic Outreach, Goodwill or other charitable causes. • Be a role model for your grandchildren. Work on recycling and repurposing projects together and let their creative ideas flow. It will be one of the best gifts you can give them; quality time and a lesson for a lifetime. ■
APRIL 2016
FEATURE STORY
www.BeaconSeniorNews.com
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A fresh start for spring Full service bike shop
By Dani Martin
S
pring is a time for renewal. Whether that’s your wardrobe, home or garden it’s the perfect time of year to start fresh. Heirlooms for Hospice makes that fresh start easy – it’s a place to find new treasures and at the same time make a donation. Clare duPont, longtime HopeWest Volunteer, helped Heirlooms get its start in the Grand Valley, as she was on the original committee that helped open the store in 2000. Even 16 years ago when Heirlooms celebrated its grand opening, the store was already creatively repurposing generous donations from the community. “Oh, we had so much fun! We all donated items from our own home and they took on new life. I remember using antique tea pots as flower vases to make the store look beautiful. We all believed in the mission and wanted to share our treasures with the community,” said duPont. Heirlooms for Hospice, staffed primarily by volunteers, is a resale store with locations on Main Street in Grand Junction, Delta and Montrose. Volunteers buff, polish, clean and repair treasures donated by the community and all proceeds support the mission of HopeWest, which provides support for those facing serious illness and grief. The store features gently worn clothing, antiques, furniture, books and home décor. “Whether you are spring cleaning, remodeling, downsizing, closing a business or moving, Heirlooms is the place for you,” said Wendy Hayduk, director of retail and design. “Too often people don’t know what to do with items they no longer want or need – Heirlooms puts their treasures to good use and the benefits of donating are endless: great tax incentives, more room in your closet, and most of all, the programs of HopeWest support those in our community facing some of life’s most difficult challenges.” With spring cleaning on the horizon, Heirlooms is accepting donations of gently used items. “I call it the spring clean sweep,” said duPont. “I do fun things like get new throw pillows for my couch to freshen up my space. Then I can donate my old ones and really feel good about supporting HopeWest. Plus, it helps me declutter my home and my donation takes on a higher purpose at Heirlooms and that’s what really propels me to give.” To find inspiration on recreating your space with the new season, Heirlooms volunteers have created vignettes that can be duplicated at home. Past creations have included old books reimagined as a table, garden hoses transformed into wreaths and beautifully designed floral arrangements that bring springtime into your home. Heirlooms recently opened a sister store right next door, called Charmed by Heirlooms. The boutique sells Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan – the bestselling chalk paint on the market, which helps rejuvenate furniture that has lost its luster. This shop defines the word repurposing, as many of the items are reimagined by talented volunteers and sold, with proceeds also supporting HopeWest. Whether you’re looking to declutter your space this spring, add a splash of color with new throw pillows, shop for a new spring look for yourself or your home, think of Heirlooms for Hospice. It’s a win-win!
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To learn more about using compost in your next landscaping project call (970) 263-9319
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The ancient shiitake By Wendell Fowler
S
hiitake (shih-TAH-kee), used medicinally by the Chinese for more than 6,000 years, is a symbol of longevity in Asia for its health-promoting properties. Ancient Egyptians treasured mushrooms as the sons of gods, sent to earth riding thunderbolts. Medieval English lore claimed mushrooms were umbrellas for the leprechauns and had to be gathered under the full moon. Fundamentally, shiitakes are a decomposing fungus. Also called Chinese black forest mushrooms,
“shiitake” means mushrooms from the Shii tree, since shiitake were originally cultivated on the Japanese evergreen oak called Shii. For thousands of years, shiitake has been coveted as the finest edible mushroom in Asia. America’s taste buds have caught on to this healing nutritional fungus’ rich, smoky flavor, even though many associate fungi with something unpleasantly itchy, requiring a salve. Exotic, hearty shiitake can be purchased in local farmers markets and grocery stores across the U.S. Consciously or unconsciously, most everyone has eaten one. Those dark
brown slivers in Chinese carry-out? That’s what we’re discussing. The mushrooming popularity of this tasty fungus is partially due to the distinctive, woodsy flavor and firm, meaty texture of oak mushrooms, which make them a delectable addition to any recipe. Combine them with mushroom soy sauce procured from your local Asian grocery for an addictive, deep earthy mushroom flavor. Shiitakes have significantly more flavor than the standard button mushroom. Mushrooms are erroneously assumed to possess no significant nutrition. Au contraire. For thousands of years, the Chinese believed shiitake dispelled hunger, treated colds and nourished the circulatory system, and have employed shiitakes as the mainstay of their medicine. Whereas shiitake are 83 percent water, they’re loaded with potassium, manganese, iron, copper, niacin, and vitamins C, B1, B2, D, A and E. The fungus possesses essential amino acids just as meat, milk and eggs without damaging fatty calories. Four average-size shiitakes contain around 10.3g carbohydrates, 1.5g fiber, 1.12g protein, 40 calories, and a whopping 17.8 mcg selenium. Mushrooms contain the naturally occurring antioxidant, ergothioneine, which helps protect your holy temple’s cells. Mushroom experts at Garuda International Inc. share, “Shiitake and other mushrooms have no green pigments (chlorophyll), they cannot make food from sunlight as do other plants, but must live by eating plants or animals. Shiitakes’ favorite entree is a dead hardwood tree.” Garuda continues, “It is the shiitake’s medicinal possibilities that are getting worldwide attention. Science has isolated substances from shiitake that may play a role in the cure and prevention of modern civilization’s dreaded illnesses of heart disease, cancer, viruses, bacteria and AIDS. The therapeutic mushroom also promotes
APRIL 2016
strong immune function, reduces inflammation, combats allergies, helps balance sugar levels and supports our temple’s detoxification mechanisms. At the least: good food. At the most: brilliant medicine from God’s celestial apothecary.” Wash any mushroom genus with care; remove the inedible stem and dirt, and then sliver them rather thinly with a chef’s knife. When purchasing dried versions, reconstitute them in hot water, vegetable or meat stock, or wine. Shiitakes are a perfect pairing for beans and grain dishes, stir-fries, pasta entrees, or sauces for fish and chicken. Toss them into an omelet or your next batch of homemade soup. When purchasing fresh shiitakes, select ones with firm, spongy caps and small stems. They’ll survive about 14 days when kept around 36-40 degrees. Store the fungus in a brown paper bag rather than plastic. Oxygen-deprived air within the plastic bag turns them slimy. You could be making your family sick by allowing food to get funky in a too-warm refrigerator. As with most food, cooking releases flavor, so saute these precious delicacies over medium-low heat in extra virgin olive oil, unrefined coconut oil or non-hydrogenated peanut oil. You can steam them in scant amount of liquid in a tightly covered pan for 15 minutes. Dr. Andrew Weil advises, “Cook your mushrooms. Raw mushrooms contain small amounts of toxins, including some compounds that are considered carcinogens. These are destroyed by cooking them thoroughly. Broiling or grilling is best.” Mushrooms are for everyone. Taste, savor and then benefit from the ambrosial, earthy, magical mystery and healing powers of the ancient, asexual shiitake mushroom from Gaia’s celestial apothecary. ■
APRIL 2016
ASK THE OLD BAG
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ASK THE OLD BAG Advice Column for the Over 50 Crowd By Gayle Lagman-Creswick Dear Old Bag: I live in a retirement community, which has all levels of care. I did not want to move here, but my dear husband kept after me until I consented. I was pretty stubborn about the whole thing and was determined not to like it. He promised me if I did not like it after one year, we would move out. In three months he was gone with a heart attack. I want to tell you that the people here have been absolutely wonderful to me, like family. They hardly knew me in such a short time, but it did not matter. They took me under their wing, as if they had known me all their lives. My husband gave me this gift of moving here. It was as if he knew he was going to die and wanted to be sure I was cared for. Now I do not have to sell a home, get rid of years of “stuff,” and make a decision about where I would live. Please tell your readers: “If you have been dragging your feet about moving into a caring community, take the plunge. You will not regret it.” Thank you, Saved by my Hubbie Dear Saved: Thank you for writing. You said it well! Dear Old Bag: I am in an unusual situation. After several years of being a widow, I finally started dating. It felt strange to be dating like a teenager at 65 years old! What was even stranger was that I felt alive again. I cared how I looked, bought new clothes, had a lilt to my walk. Now my situation: There are now two men vying for my attention, and I like them both! They know about each other and even go to the
same church. I do not discuss one with the other, of course, but they drop hints about wanting to know which one is my favorite. I always say, “I like you both.” I’m afraid the day will come when I may have to make a choice. What do you think? Signed, Seenager
Dear Seenager: I am so tempted to say, “I understand your situation, but what is the problem?” It sounds like what most older singles dream about! I say, just enjoy it while you can. Don’t let your worry about tomorrow cloud your joy of today. Life is short. When and if the time comes, you will know what to do. The problem may never even come up. Dear Old Bag: A few months ago, you had a person write in who had a discussion with a neighbor about spirituality vs. religion. I looked for your answer but could not find it. I have a friend that swears you cannot be a spiritual person without going to church. Please repeat what you said about that. Thanks, Spirit Dear Spirit: This is my belief and experience: I have seen persons who go to church every Sunday, but I would not say they are spiritual because of the way they treat others. I have seen others who do not go to church, but seem very spiritual to me because of the kindnesses they show. It does not seem to me that church is a very good measurement of spirituality. It is how God-like one lives. Just my opinion! ■
Send your questions to the Old Bag in care of the BEACON, or email lagmancreswick@cox.net
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The hands that tell life’s stories in stone
We believe that a memorial should be a reflection of a life lived. This is why Dan Carlson, artist and owner, has been customizing memorials since 1976. Every memorial is designed, engraved and installed by our craftsmen to ensure the highest quality from start to completion. It is our commitment to assist you and your family during this difficult time and hope to ease the experience with kind, compassionate professionalism.
Phone: 970.242.7264 • Fax: 970.256.1667 237 South Ave., Grand Junction, CO
(East of Amtrak Station in Downtown Grand Junction) engraving@carlsonmemorials.com • www.carlsonmemorials.com
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 pm.
For your convenience available evening and weekends by appointment.
For the best buy on a New or Used vehicle, check out our
10
THE HEALTHY GEEZER
www.BeaconSeniorNews.com
BETTER HEARING
STARTS HERE SALES
•
SERVICE
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R E PA I R
Grand Junction’s #1 Choice Superior service and superior results at a fair price.
Purchase a pair of Hearing Aids during the month of April and receive...
FREE
3 year warranty, 3 year supply of batteries & TV streamer included! ($600 Value)
242-1111 2139 N. 12th Street #9 12th Street Plaza (Between Community Hospital and Patterson Road)
What is a “charley horse” and why do I get them in my legs at night? Healthy Geezer, By Fred Cicetti
A
ccording to the American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms, the term “charley horse” was first used in the 1880s by baseball players to describe a muscle cramp. No one knows the true origin, but the dictionary says: “Among the more likely theories proposed is that it alludes to the name of either a horse or an afflicted ball player who limped like one of the elderly draft horses formerly employed to drag the infield.” Geezers are more likely to get charley horses because of muscle loss that starts in our 40s. And your remaining muscles don’t work as efficiently as they used to. Studies show that about 70 percent of adults older than 50 experience nocturnal leg cramps. A cramp is an involuntary contracted muscle that does not relax. The common locations for muscle cramps are the calves, thighs, feet, hands, arms and the rib cage. Cramps can be very painful. Muscles can cramp for just seconds, but they can continue for many minutes. Almost all of us have had muscle cramps, but no one knows for sure why they happen. However, many healthcare professionals attribute cramping to tired muscles and poor stretching. Other suspected causes are dehydration, exerting yourself when it’s hot, flat feet, standing on concrete, prolonged sitting and some leg positions while sedentary.
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APRIL 2016
Muscle cramps are usually harmless. However, they can also be symptoms of problems with circulation, nerves, metabolism and hormones. Less common causes of muscle cramps include
diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, hypoglycemia, anemia, thyroid and endocrine disorders. If you experience frequent and severe muscle cramps, see your doctor. The use of some medications can cause muscle cramps. For example, some diuretic medications prescribed for high blood pressure can deplete potassium. Too little potassium, calcium or magnesium in your diet can contribute to cramps. Here are some pointers for treating a cramp yourself: Stop whatever you were doing when you got the cramp, massage the muscle, stretch it slowly and then apply a cold pack to relax tense muscles. To prevent cramps, do stretching exercises, especially for those muscles that tend to cramp – and drink water regularly. If you are exerting yourself in heat or sweating for more than an hour, you should drink fruit juice or a sports beverage. For recurrent cramps that disturb your sleep, your doctor may prescribe a medication to relax your muscles. If you have nocturnal leg cramping, ride a stationary bicycle for a few minutes before bedtime. The following stretching exercise is good, too. You should do it in the morning, before dinner and before going to bed every night. Stand about 30 inches from a wall. Keep your heels on the floor, lean forward and put your hands on the wall. Then, move your hands slowly up the wall as far as you can reach comfortably. Hold the stretched position for 30 seconds. Release. Repeat twice. ■
Send your general health questions to the Healthy Geezer in care of the BEACON, or email fred@healthygeezer.com.
APRIL 2016
HEALTH & WELLNESS 11
www.BeaconSeniorNews.com
How statins cause diabetes
Palisade Dental 125 West 3rd Street, Palisade, CO 81526
Brian E. Day, D.M.D., P.C. • 464-5123
Dear Pharmacist
Hours 8am -5 pm Mon-Thurs
GENERAL AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY
By Suzy Cohen, RPH
W
hen you’re told that you have high cholesterol, you assume it comes from eating too much fat, right? After all, cholesterol is a lipid or “fat” and that seems like normal reasoning. If you think high cholesterol is due to a high-fat diet, you’re wrong. Very little fat from foods becomes cholesterol. What creates high cholesterol is consumption of sugar and carbohydrates, such as soda, candy, cake, potato chips, bread, pasta and other carbohydrates. To make this clear, high cholesterol and triglycerides almost always occur as a result of eating too many sweets – not butter or eggs. If your body turns excess sugar into cholesterol, and statins reduce the cholesterol formation, then where does all the sugar go when you take a statin drug? It’s a good question, and I need to give you an answer so you can get well! If you tell your liver to “knock it off and stop making cholesterol,” it’s going to push all the sugar (glucose) back out of the liver and into your blood stream rather than turn it into cholesterol. It’s just going to lock the door and tell the sugar, “Get out!” You probably know this already, but when a doctor finds excess sugar in your blood, you’re told you have diabetes. Then you start driving in the fast lane of a multibillion-dollar business, one complete with shots, drugs and scary complications (amputations, blindness). If we personally met and you told me you had diabetes, I wouldn’t even take a breath before I asked, “Are you by chance taking a statin?”
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Please make sure you have diabetes, the real disorder, and not a manmade disease induced by a medication you needed for high cholesterol. The treatment plan differs dramatically if you have diabetes versus drug-induced hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Statins block endogenous production of cholesterol, meaning your internal production, the cholesterol you make, not the cholesterol you eat. Many of you still think statins block the fat (cholesterol) you get when you eat a bacon cheeseburger. That’s not true. Statins don’t reduce cholesterol from exogenous (external) sources. That bacon cheeseburger is going straight to your arteries even if you take a statin. So is the cherry croissant you eat for dessert. You can’t negate a greasy snack with one tiny pill. Because statins block your own endogenous cholesterol production in the liver, they force your liver to “spit out” the glucose that comes from eating sugary, starchy foods. Normally your liver would turn that PB & J sandwich into cholesterol, but instead the glucose gets pushed back into your bloodstream. In your relentless quest to lower cholesterol, you may be giving yourself diabetes. I recommend reducing cholesterol with diet, exercise and healthy EFAs (essential fatty acids like fish oil, chia seed oil, etc.). Can you lower cholesterol without a statin? “Surprise, surprise, surprise,” like Gomer Pyle used to say … of course you can! And avoiding statins is much better for your blood sugar levels. ■
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12
HEALTH & WELLNESS
www.BeaconSeniorNews.com
APRIL 2016
Lifelong learning through New Dimensions By Melanie Wiseman
S
Alone I’m just a hearing aid. But in the hands of an expert, I’m the key to a better way of life. JOIN US FOR OUR IMPROVE YOUR HEARING WEEK CALL TODAY TO LEARN MORE! BOOKCLIFF
New Dimensions evolves with purpose Dr. Ryan Crawford Audiologist
970.464.3062
Grand Junction • 120 W Park Dr, Ste 111
www.HearingRehabCenter.com
WESTERN SLOPE DENTAL CENTER BRANDON S. BERGUIN D.D.S. AND ASSOCIATES 514 28 Road • Grand Junction, CO 81501
241-3483
GENERAL & COSMETIC DENTISTRY
DENTURES, CROWNS, VENEERS, BRIDGES, FILLINGS, ROOT CANALS, EXTRACTIONS, IMPLANTS • • • • •
Brandon S. Berguin D.D.S. SENIOR DISCOUNTS
chool is in session, and it’s not just for kids anymore! New Dimensions Lifelong Learning Institute is an exciting new educational experience offered to adults over 50 across the Grand Valley. Now in its third term, New Dimensions has nearly tripled in size as curious seniors take the opportunity to expand their knowledge in a plethora of classes. Seniors are signing up for classes such as Birding, Navigating the Medical System, Travel, Snowshoeing, Walking Tour of Historic Downtown, Legal Issues Facing Seniors, Astronomy, Colorado History, Climate Change, Marijuana in Colorado, Literature, Writing, Media Issues and more.
ALL FEES QUOTED BEFORE TREATMENT INSURANCE PLANS ACCEPTED DENTURE REPAIRS & RELINES EMERGENCIES WELCOME NO INTEREST PAYMENT PLANS
The driver behind New Dimensions is a 32-year educator. Jan Henwood, 71, raised her family in Grand Junction and worked for District 51 before she and her husband took on other educational opportunities in Atlanta and Denver. While in Denver, they took classes, such as economics and literature, through a senior education program called OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute), associated with University of Denver. “So when we moved back to Grand Junction the fall of 2014, I really missed that,” said Henwood. “I didn’t want to sit in classes with traditional students, I wanted to learn and connect with others in my own age group.” Henwood set things in motion with the help of Jean Gauley and Judy Herr, and a network of friends from education including parents of former students. “My sense was to use OLLI as the model because it works,” said Henwood.
Henwood shared her passion and ideas with CMU President Tim Foster. “He was very supportive and said, ‘We’ll help you in any way we can.’” The 2015 spring term kicked off with 16 classes and 65 members. By the 2015 fall term, there were 104 members and 27 classes. Currently the 2016 spring term offers 37 classes to 165 members. As the membership grows, so do the number and variety of classes. Classes offer a stimulating array of topics such as history, science, philosophy, ethics, political science, art, literature, economics, current issues, nature study, performing arts and more. New Dimensions members are encouraged to make suggestions for potential class subjects and/or instructors. Participants can enroll in any combination of classes with a term membership fee of only $50. The fall term runs mid-September through mid-November. The spring term runs mid-February through mid-April. Classes may meet once or several times during the term, are located at various sites, have diverse formats (some require limits on class size) and the majority meet during the daytime. Best of all, they are informative, enjoyable and stress free. New Dimensions means no tests or papers to write! New Dimensions instructors are community members with advanced expertise in the subject they teach. They maintain a balance of opinion, and approach controversial subjects with a neutral perspective. Courses are designed to encourage participation and to challenge one’s thinking. “It’s a wonderful gift, as a teacher, to share what you love with people who are really interested in it,” said Henwood. “Like me, I love film and teach a film class. I give an introduction and background to a film, we watch the film and then discuss it.” As a 501(c)(3) with no paid staff,
APRIL 2016
HEALTH & WELLNESS 13
www.BeaconSeniorNews.com
volunteers are needed to help recruit instructors, maintain membership, conduct registration, manage the webpage, plan marketing/promotions and manage operations. “New Dimensions has been extremely successful and we need more people helping us out,” said Henwood. “We want to involve more people with teaching and assisting with the classes.” New Dimensions has grown with the help of in-kind sponsors such as Alpine Bank, Paragon and Colorado Mesa University. Word of mouth is the primary source of new members, and adults are even helping their parents get signed up. “Without the community support we’ve received, we would really be struggling,” said Henwood. “The two primary reasons for New Dimensions are providing opportunities for people 50 and older to go on with learning focused on academics, and the chance to meet people with common interests and form new relationships,” said Henwood. “The bridge class just keeps expanding with new people, and that’s exciting to me. Birding and meditation are repeated each term because there is always a waiting list.”
Firsthand experience Dennis and Mary Young have lived in Grand Junction since 1998. Just before the 2015 fall term, a friend told them about New Dimensions and
they signed right up. “The cost was very reasonable, especially since you are able to sign up for as many classes as your schedule will allow for the flat fee,” said Dennis, 73. “There is a wide range of topics and we look forward to each and every session.” “Most classes are limited to a modest size and conducive to group discussion,” said Mary, 72. I met Dennis and Mary during a fascinating presentation by Dr. Phil Mohler on the placebo effect. “It was interesting to hear about this from a physician’s perspective, supported by his review of scientific analysis,” said Mary. “Even if one had heard of the placebo effect, it helped to hear information firsthand,” said Dennis. “This is much of what the program is about; there is always something to be learned and interesting people to meet.” The Youngs have also thoroughly enjoyed participating in classes on Rock Art, Meditation, Western Slope Habitat and Hiking, and Getting Our Ducks in a Row (Living Wills, etc.). “I think I would encourage people to look into each class and pick the ones that interest you—but to also try something really new, challenging, or a subject you don’t think you would be interested in,” said Dennis. “You might be surprised.” “It’s difficult to limit the number of classes we take,” said Mary. “We’ve found value in every offering.” Dennis and Mary echoed the same sentiment. “New Dimensions is a great way to keep us exploring and learning new things, as well as keeping us active in the community and meeting new people.” Interested adults can sign up to receive class descriptions and registration information by email at newdimensionsgj@gmail.com or view their website at newdimensionsgj.org For questions, to volunteer, or to make course and instructor recommendations, contact Jan Henwood at 314-9911. ■
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Reasonably Priced, Creatively Disguised as Expensive
14
HEALTH & WELLNESS
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Get to the root cause with functional medicine By Scott Rollins, MD
E
ach disease has a cause and a treatment, or so we are taught in medical school. Identify the disease, then prescribe the drug or perform the surgery. This approach works well for many things, such as an acute infection or appendicitis, and indeed Western medicine has done wonders in the areas of infectious disease, surgery and trauma. But for the rest of it, the bulk of it, are we not merely putting on “bandages” to slow the disease process or simply treating the symptoms? The emerging field of “functional medicine” is changing that paradigm by analyzing the core systems that allow the body to function properly. This means looking closely at foundation blocks for good health,
including hormones, digestive health, immune function, nutrient status and genetics. We may check for allergies, chronic infections or biotoxins, build-up of environmental toxins or heavy metals, clogged detoxification, or cellular energy pathways. Getting to the “root cause” of disease is not for the faint of heart. It’s a process that takes time and often involves advanced laboratory testing, which is sometimes expensive or not covered by insurance. But getting to the bottom of a problem leads to less cost in the long run—and a healthier, happier patient.
Functional medicine in action “Idiopathic” means the idiots can’t figure out the pathology—that’s an old joke probably every doctor has heard.
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But seriously, most people don’t realize how many things in medicine have no known cause. Because we can’t identify a cause, or never even look for the cause, then it becomes idiopathic and we proceed to treat symptoms as best we can, usually with drugs. To illustrate how functional medicine often looks at root cause elements that explain a multitude of idiopathic complaints, I’ll share a real patient story. John (not his real name) was a 63-year-old gentleman referred to me by his wife, for evaluation of fatigue. She was thinking he might have low testosterone, which he did, but his functional medicine story proved much more interesting, involving six medications and four doctors. John had a long history of irritable bowel syndrome and acid reflux, and he had undergone scopes, CT scans, and blood tests without any relief. His gastroenterologist had him on two medications. The cause of his symptoms was idiopathic. He also had problems with intermittent racing heart and palpitations. A cardiology workup, including sonograms and stress tests, did not reveal any problems. He was on a medication to slow his heart rate and diagnosed with idiopathic tachycardia. The neurologist saw John for the tingling and pins-and-needles sensation in his hands and feet. The usual blood tests, MRI and nerve conduction studies did not turn up a cause. John had idiopathic sensory neuropathy and was on a seizure drug to help manage the symptoms. With all these concerning medical issues and medications, John was a
APRIL 2016
bit of a wreck. He was prone to anxiety and insomnia. For this, his family doctor had him taking a sleeping pill and a sedative as needed for panic attacks. Functional medicine testing quickly found that John had “leaky gut,” delayed allergies to dairy and wheat, along with adrenal fatigue. With healing the gut, elimination of food allergens, and adrenal support, all of his symptoms resolved. He now has two doctors and takes no medications. Often there are single or multiple reasons for myriad symptoms. Finding the root cause is at the heart of functional medicine. If you would like to discover the underlying source of symptoms, or reverse the course of disease, consider taking a functional medicine approach. ■
Scott Rollins, MD, is board certified with the American Board of Family Practice and the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. He specializes in bioidentical hormone replacement for men and women, thyroid and adrenal disorders, fibromyalgia, weight loss and other complex medical conditions. He is founder and medical director of the Integrative Medicine Center of Western Colorado and Bellezza Laser Aesthetics.
APRIL 2016
HEALTH & WELLNESS 15
www.BeaconSeniorNews.com
Are you a slave to sugar? By Wendell Fowler “I gotta have something sweet.” Does that sound like you? Can’t say no and doggedly justify eating sugar? You can’t stop, no matter how much you try. That’s because sugar causes massive dopamine release in your brain. Eating high-sugar foods lights up your brain like a Times Square billboard. Research shows that the part of the brain that lights up is the same part that’s triggered by cocaine or heroin. Highly addictive sugar hitting your brain like a drug is an insidious, albeit successful business model used by food cartels to get you “hooked” on their food-like nonsense. That’s why food manufacturers aggressively market sugary food and beverages since it is so addictively profitable—much like statins and narcotic drugs. Until 100 years ago, processed sugar was nearly absent from the human diet. Cancer, heart disease, obesity and diabetes were almost unheard of. Sugar became ubiquitous, and chronic disease rates simultaneously appeared and began to increase. I am armed with personal experience. November 2015 marked one year of my not eating processed sugar. Not only did this allow me to get off statins, but I lost 15 pounds, my dentist remarked that I was cavity-free, I had more energy, my inflammation subsided and toe fungus died of starvation. My immune system rocks. I learned that sugar raises cholesterol, gives you heart disease, and incubates acidic internal inflammation, the silent killer. When I learned that sugar feeds cancer cells like plant fertilizer, I was motivated to starve any in me. Researchers report that fructose may also “make you dumb.” UCLA neuroscientists discovered that sweet
drinks scrambled the memories and stunted learning in lab rats, leading to high concern over what sugary diets may do to people. If you don’t want to believe me, at least consider some shocking, scientifically supported conclusions from an impressive list of health authorities and news outlets—the NIH, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, CNN’s Sanjay Gupta, Fox, and Mayo and Cleveland Clinics to name a few: Sugar can cause insulin resistance, a steppingstone towards metabolic syndrome and diabetes; overloading your liver with fructose can cause non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; sugar is the leading contributor to obesity in children and adults due to its effects on hormones and brain; and sugar has unique fat-promoting effects. I’ve witnessed a man injecting insulin while eating doughnuts. A 70-something lady, supported by a tripod walker, her body wracked with crippling physical disabilities, angrily walked out on my lecture on the perils of sugar. People get angry with me for sullying their best buddy. Like a junkie hooked on Vicodin, nothing will stop the craving except another hit. Zoom, crash and burn! The American Heart Association advises cutting back on sugar in any form, such as beet or inverted sugar and anything ending in “ose.” Are you ready to be a grateful horse and drink deeply? I sincerely hope so. ■
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16
LAUGHING MATTERS
www.BeaconSeniorNews.com
APRIL 2016
LAUGHING MATTERS COMPLEXITY, MEET SIMPLICITY. When retirement can stretch on for decades, even the most educated among us can find themselves lost in planning for it. That’s where I come in. With a client-first commitment and the resources of a leading independent financial services firm behind me, I can help bring order to your financial life so you’re free to focus on what matters most. See what a Raymond James advisor can do for you. LIFE WELL PLANNED.
I am a “Seenager” (Senior Teenager) Written and submitted by Barbara Cotting
Financial Advisor 200 Grand Avenue // Grand Junction, CO 81501 T 970.245.1600 // F 970.245.9538 kent.shettler@raymondjames.com // raymondjames.com/kentshettler ©2016 Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Raymond James is a registered trademark of Raymond James Financial, Inc. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, and are • NOT Deposits • NOT Insured by FDIC/NCUA or any other government agency • NOT GUARANTEED by the financial institution • Subject to risk and may lose value • Raymond James is not affiliated with the financial institution or the investment center. 16-BR4EE04-0002 JPR 2/1
My life is so much calmer now and often free of tension. My dreams of 60 years ago have mostly been achieved
I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.
And I’ve accomplished more than I could ever have believed.
The only reason I would take up walking is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.
I get out of bed each morning just when I’m so inspired. I still have an allowance, only now it’s called a pension.
Plus that ID gets me legally into every bar! I have my own house by myself, no curfew to obey, So I can stay out late or not, it’s my choice either way.
Home Care Beyond the Expected
We women have no worry we’ll get “knocked up” any more, Nor do our men have worries it’s our father at their door. I still have fun and feel just like a teen most of the time; (Until I try to hike that “easy” trail I used to climb!) Puberty and acne are just distant memories now. Being an old Seenager is truly great – and how!
Hilltop - the name you trust At Hilltop Home Care we know remaining safe, secure and independent in your own home can be a primary worry as you age. Aging well in your home may require a wide-range of personalized services to help you achieve your optimal independence. At Hilltop Home Care we offer: n Post-hospitalization and surgery care n IV therapy, medication management and injections n Physical, occupational and speech therapists
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n Transportation and errands n Meal preparation n Emergency Response Monitors n All caregivers screened and insured
Ask about our Geriatric Care Managers and how they can help you navigate the complex issues of aging at home
(970) 208-1345 • HilltopHomeCareGJ.org
Submitted by Angela Sharpe-Gumbert
Walking can add minutes to your life. This enables you at 85 years old to spend an additional five months in a nursing home at $7,000 per month. My grandpa started walking five miles a day when he was 60. Now he’s 97 years old and we don’t know where he is.
I don’t have to go to school or work, because I’m now retired.
I have a driver’s license and my very own sweet car,
KENT SHETTLER
Exercise chuckles
I have to walk early in the morning, before my brain figures out what I’m doing. I joined a health club last year and spent about 400 bucks. Haven’t lost a pound. Apparently you have to go there. Every time I hear the dirty word “exercise,” I wash my mouth out with chocolate. If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country. I got a lot of exercise the last few years, just getting over the hill. We all get heavier as we get older because there’s a lot more information in our heads. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Radio
Every time I start thinking too much about how I look, I just find a Happy Hour. By the time I leave, I look just
Submitted by Pat Card
fine.
Why do radio announcers have small hands? Answer: “Wee paws” for station identification.
Irish Submitted by Pat Card
Wherever you find four Irishmen, you’ll find a Fifth.
APRIL 2016
LAUGHING MATTERS 17
www.BeaconSeniorNews.com
One-liners
focus on people
Submitted by Ralph Bickel
• The seven ages of humans are spills, drills, thrills, bills, ills, pills and wills.
our residents
their lives
• Forget about jets, race cars, dragsters and speed boats. Nothing goes as fast as middle age.
their families
• Seniors: We have control over our destinies – our bladders not so much.
Nine Important Facts To Remember As We Grow Older Submitted by Sherry Harmon
9. Death is the #1 killer in the world. 8. Life is sexually transmitted. 7. Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.
Text me Submitted by Dave Linke
Young people have their texting codes, and now Seniors have their own: ATD - At the Doctor BFF - Best Friend’s Funeral
6. Men have two motivations: hunger and hanky panky, and they can’t tell them apart. If you see a gleam in his eyes, make him a sandwich.
BTW - Bring the Wheelchair
5. Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day. Teach a person to use the Internet and they won’t bother you for weeks, months, maybe years.
CUATSC - See You at the Senior Center
4. Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in the hospital, dying of nothing. 3. All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism. 2. In the ‘60s, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird, and people take Prozac to make it normal.
BYOT - Bring Your Own Teeth CBM - Covered by Medicare
$5
S L A I C E P S T S A F K A BRE
GHA - Got Heartburn Again
MON: Sausage & Eggs Breakfast TUES: Pancakes, Eggs & Bacon WED: Biscuit & Gravy, Eggs & Hash Browns $5 Sausage & Eggs THUR: Biscuit Supreme m Special served 6-8a FRI: French Toast 7 days a week
HGBM - Had Good Bowel Movement
Breakfast Served All Day!
DWI - Driving While Incontinent FWIW - Forgot Where I Was GGPBL - Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low
LMDO - Laughing My Dentures Out LOL - Living on Lipitor OMSG - Oh My! Sorry, Gas TOT - Texting on Toilet WAITT - Who Am I Talking To? ■
1. Life is like a jar of jalapeño peppers. What you do today may be a burning issue tomorrow.
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Buying for CASH! • Coins & Coin Collections • Gold & Silver Coins • Old Currency • Foreign Coins & Currency • Pocket Watches • Sterling silver • Gold & Silver Jewelry • Antiques • Guns and Ammunition • Military Items • Cowboy Spurs • Native American Items
Check with US before you sell! We Have Over 40 Years Experience Buying and Selling Professionally. Paying $14 per gram and up for Scrap Gold! Open: Monday-Friday, 10-5
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EXIT 75
Exit 75 • Parachute, CO
Right on Cardinal Way
104 Cardinal Way
Under the pedestrian walk bridge
Website Coming Soon
Buds
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APRIL 2016
“Being Mortal”
Cindi Brower’s journey and inspiration By Melanie Wiseman
E
veryone has life-changing milestones in their lives. Cindi Brower, 59, has had more than her share. Her courage and willingness to share her personal journey, and universal message to all adults, is admirable. At the age of 41, Cindi was diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine mammogram. After chemo, radiation and a lumpectomy she was free and clear. For 16 years, that is. Out of the blue in May of 2014, she began experiencing a cough, difficulty breathing and a racing heart. A trip to the ER and a biopsy revealed a tumor in her lung, which was metastasized breast cancer. She was facing stage-four cancer. “Not curable, but highly treatable. Surgery was not an option,” said Cindi. “A year later, after several treatment attempts did not work, the cancer spread to my lymph nodes, spine, pelvis and femur.” That’s when a friend recommended she read the book, “Being Mortal” by Dr. Atul Gawande. At the same time, she was overwhelmed with other concerned friends recommending a variety of pills and natural cures, so the book went unread. “The title ‘Being Mortal’ really turned me off,” said Cindi. “I know I’m mortal, but I don’t want to think about that!” In May of 2015, two liters of fluid in her lungs collapsed on her heart. By July, fluid was back around her heart. “I said I would never do chemo again, but I was so sick,” said Cindi. “I knew I had to make some decisions.” Her supportive friend again insisted that she read “Being Mortal.” “A second opinion confirmed that, without chemo, I was looking at six months,” said Cindi. “I started chemo and read the book.” Reading “Being Mortal” was another milestone in Cindi’s life – this time a positive one. “The book empowered me to make
the tough choices,” said Cindi. “What did I want my quality of life to look like? It was a real turning point. It reminded me that I’m in charge, not the doctor.” The personal stories shared in the book really touched Cindi. One man told his daughter that as long as he could eat ice cream and watch baseball, that meant quality of life to him. “The following also hit home with me,” said Cindi. At least two kinds of courage are required in aging and sickness. The first is the courage to confront the reality of mortality – the courage to seek out the truth of what is to be feared and what is to be hoped. But even more daunting is the second kind of courage – the courage to act on the truth we find. One has to decide whether one’s fears or one’s hopes are what should matter most. “Every person who reads the book will have different takeaways,” said Cindi. “This isn’t a book just for you to give to your parents. This is a book for YOU. Don’t wait until you are ill and at the point I was at. It helps you put your life priorities in place. Many of us spend all of our time working. What about your family? You assume they are always going to be there after you retire. That became a no-go for me. I don’t know if I’ll make it to that point, so I need to spend my time with them now. Bottom line, my priority is travel. I want to see my kids and grandkids. That will determine what treatment I do or don’t seek in the future.” “Being Mortal” gave Cindi peace in knowing the decisions for herself were on her shoulders and not on her husband and three children. “If I left it to them, there would be four different decisions,” said Cindi. “This way they will just be carrying out my wishes and they support that.” Cindi believes that “Being Mortal” should be read by the entire medical community and be part of medical school training.
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Retirement living with the emphasis on living
“Whatever the limits and travails we face, we want to retain the autonomy—the freedom—to be the authors of our lives. This is the very marrow of being human.” Late, great philosopher Ronald Dworkin “This book made me a little angry at the doctors who still continue to play God and don’t say, read this book, or let’s have this conversation,” said Cindi. She believes they should encourage you to take an active interest, learn about your illness, ask questions and be involved, rather than treat you like a number. “I’m not afraid of dying,” said Cindi. “Like most people, it’s the process that’s fearful. I want to be in charge of that process.”
“Being Mortal” The book, “Being Mortal,” is the result of surgeon Atul Gawande using his own father’s powerful story to explore the idea that the ideal modern doctor should focus on well being and quality of life, rather than treatment at all costs. He writes that medical professionals, including himself, have been short-sighted as to what their job is. Gawande is a gifted storyteller, writing stories that give a dignified voice to people in the process of losing their independence. It allows us to see the world from their perspective, not just those of their physicians and stressed family members. He believes individuals want to live a meaningful life and keep shaping
their story, even as they age or are sick. Gawande uses his father’s story to explore the idea that the ideal modern doctor should be interpretive, helping patients determine their life priorities and achieve them. He does not identify any perfect solutions to the natural life cycle and problems inherent in bodily decline, but asks us to commit ourselves to creating better options and making choices with the goal of a purposeful life in mind. “Medical professionals concentrate on repair of the health and not the sustenance of the soul, making life meaningful,” said Gawande. “The job of any doctor should be to support quality of life, which means as much freedom from the grip of disease as possible, and the retention of function for active engagement in the world.”
HopeWest’s View “The management team at Hope West have all read ‘Being Mortal’ and discussed it,” said Brian Whitmore, Director of Admissions, LCSW. “We run across many people who haven’t had the conversation and they find themselves in hospice care. This is what we do and the book supports that. We encourage others in the medical field and families to read it, too.” ■
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Growing summer savings in the garden By Nathaniel Sillin
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ave you ever thought about growing your own fruits and vegetables at home? For experienced gardeners, the cold months are when their imaginations get fired up; seed catalogs seem to blow in with the arctic blast, accompanied by companion mailings from gardening accessories and equipment retailers. But where can amateurs start? To maintain a garden as a legitimate financial alternative to store-bought food, it’s important to understand the underlying costs involved. Some gardeners spend substantial bucks on fancy tools, equipment, gardening clothes, deluxe fertilizers or supplies, which sounds counterintuitive to a money-saving alternative. Investing in home gardening requires frugal spending and a desire to learn—very few people wipe out their entire produce bill without a little preparation, knowledge and most important, trial and error. There are plenty of studies (www. garden.org) on how much people are investing in home-based and community-based gardens, but very few reliable guidelines on how much money you can actually save by gardening. That’s because it’s tough to generalize results based on geography, climate and skill sets. Nevertheless, if you still want to get your hands dirty, here are some general steps to take before you dig in: Harvest as much local gardening knowledge as you can. The word “local” is very important. Planting a home-based edible garden in a sunny coast backyard is very different than planting a series of clay pots on a midwestern terrace. Start with a close look at your climate and growing conditions before buying anything. Plant only what you’ll eat. If you want a salad garden, stick to lettuce
that can be planted and harvested repeatedly in one season. Maybe you’ll also want to plant a tomato plant or two. If you generally buy a lot of a particular vegetable, try and grow that first. The more you want to eat the food you’re planting, the more interest you’ll take in making it a success. Keep your first effort as inexpensive as possible. Generally, the cheapest way to grow plants is from seed you start growing indoors. Some people have special lights and shelving for indoor seed starting, but if you’re planning on only a few plants, it’s best to start modestly. Consult experts about the most effective and frugal way to start your desired plants from seed at home and set a growing schedule that culminates in actual planting outdoors. Sometimes it’s better to stick with a few borrowed or garage sale hand tools and recycled containers that will work just fine for seeding and drainage. Keep learning as you go. When you start gardening, even if it’s only a pot or two where you’re growing from seed, start an annual garden journal that details what you’ve purchased (with prices), what’s worked well and all questions and answers you’ve gathered along the way. You might even discover new plants you’d like to grow next year. Re-reading your journal before you start your gardening planning in winter is a great way to shape your growing and cooking priorities for the coming year. Bottom line: Homegrown food usually tastes better for two reasons – it’s fresher than anything you can buy and you have the pride of growing it yourself. However, making an economical home garden takes knowhow, knowledge and as minimal initial investment as possible. ■
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Early spring garden care Garden Smarts, By Kathy Kimbrough Q. I have noticed dead spots in the middle of my ornamental grasses. What should I do? This is a normal part of the life cycle of most ornamental grasses, like maidenhair grass, feather reed grass and hardy pampas grass. The best thing to do is to dig up the entire plant if possible and divide the clump into sections with a sharp-edged shovel. Remove the dead parts and replant the other clumps in your garden or share the extra clumps with friends and neighbors. It is best to do this after you cut down last year’s growth and before it starts actively growing in the middle of spring.
Q. When is a good time to move my coneflowers and black-eyed susans? Shade has taken over where I planted them and they are stretching for the sun. Now, before they break dormancy and start growing, is a great time to trans-
plant most of your perennial plants. Determine where you want your plants to go, dig a hole and amend the hole with organic matter such as compost or Soil Pep. Then dig out as much of the root ball as possible of your perennials and place into the newly prepared hole. Gently tamp down the soil around the crown and water in thoroughly.
Q. My crabapple has so much fruit that it has become hard to justify keeping it in my yard. The birds love the fruit, but it makes such a mess. Is there anything I can do to eliminate the fruit and keep the tree? I love the blossoms and a little bit of fruit is ok. I had the same problem in my front yard – fruit all over my driveway and front walkway. I spray Florel, a growth regulator, on the blossoms once or twice each year and the fruit is reduced by about 90 percent. Just enough fruit left for the birds and a lot less mess for
PLANT OF THE MONTH
Fragrant Persian Stonecress (Aethionema schistosum) I’m always on the lookout for “scentsational” plants to add to my landscape and fragrant Persian Stonecress is a real winner. Place this alpine or rock garden beauty where you can enjoy the fragrance and beauty of the small pink flowers with deep green evergreen foliage. Bloom time is early spring to midspring in our area. Fragrant Persian Stonecress is xeric and prefers well-draining soils and full sun. Attention, mountain gardeners—this beauty is also suitable for landscapes above 7,000 feet in elevation. Mature size is 10” tall x 15” wide.
GARDEN CHECKLIST: Irrigation
water is coming this month. It’s a great time to give your sprinkler system a thorough check up.
me. ■ Aerate your lawn after the first
deep soaking. Be sure to use a core aerator and not spikes, which will compact your soil. Turn
your compost pile and start a new batch with debris from spring clean up.
Plant
an extra row of vegetables for our community food banks. You can take your extra produce to the CSU Extension in Grand Junction and they will get your donation to people who need it. Contact Susan Honea for more information: 244-1841.
Celebrate
Arbor Day (April 29th) by planting a tree. Visit the Grand Junction Parks and Recreation page for a list of suitable trees for our area: gjcity.org/Forestry. Also check out these fact sheets from CSU Extension for more choices: 7.403, 7.418, 7.419 and 7.421. You can download them from their website (extension. colostate.edu) or pick them up at your local CSU Extension office.
Welcome Spr ing
Coolloorraaddoo G Haarrddyy C Grroow wnn wiitthh H w Trees & Shrubs Evergreen Trees & Shrubs Annuals & Perennials Roses & Vines Grasses & Herbs Gift Certificates
680 24 ½ Road (¾ mile north of Mesa Mall) •
245-2634
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Restaurant memories By Priscilla Mangnall
D
id you ever have something to eat that you never forgot, and you wished you could have it all over again? I have my fantasies and have tried to recreate this one in so many ways. It was a grilled mozzarella cheese sandwich from Pantuso’s Italian Restaurant and most likely prepared by Ann Pantuso, the original owner and cook. Granted, dining out was a rarity for our family 50 years ago, so the sandwich was consumed with lots of wonder and delight. I’ll never forget the soft, stretchy mozzarella that oozed from the crispy, buttery, grilled Italian bread, with a cherry pepper on the side. As a family, we didn’t really go out to eat that much. It just wasn’t something the Brown family could afford. Dinner at home ranged from my brother’s occasional favorite, round steak with mashed potatoes and gravy to fried bologna sandwiches where you had to cut little slits in the side so
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the bologna didn’t curl up too much so you could get it on your white bread with catsup. Pantuso’s was one of the places that we would go. I’m sure one of the reasons Louie liked it was that the family could sit on the dining side to the north and Daddy could hang at the bar with Auggie Pantuso and the boys. Pantuso’s sat at the corner of First and Main, where Charlie Dwellington’s is now. The original restaurant was torn down years ago. The other place we would occasionally dine was Mark’s Cork ‘n Embers. That was an elegant atmosphere with plush red interior and fine dining, and prime rib was a specialty. They had live entertainment in the Macongan Lounge and my dad would play jazz on his big bass fiddle there once in a while. Louie was a renowned excellent dancer and in great demand with the ladies. Daddy taught me to dance at the Cork n’ Embers. That was a special night and I’ll never forget him telling me, “It’s all in the knees, honey, it’s all in the knees.” Each time I slow dance, I hear him saying that to me. I can’t really remember eating at the Café Caravan, but I do remember being at the Jungle Bar with my dad and feeling sorry
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As we got older, “lunch out” was an order of french fries and a vanilla Coke at Mesa Drug, where Il Bistro is now, at 4th and Main. for those poor monkeys behind the bar. Those were the days when it was okay to take your kid to the bar if you had no other choice. In the ’60s, the Holiday Inn buffet was a popular place, as was Dick Pond’s Aeroplane Restaurant at Walker Field and Tony’s at the Ramada Inn. Anything out on Horizon Drive seemed worldly. Gay Johnson’s was your ’round-theclock kind of restaurant. I only went there with Melanie Johnson Doody. We’d ride her horses all the way down First Street from her house on Second and Fruitridge to the restaurant. Then we tied the horses up at the back door, where the dishwashers would keep their eye on them. We’d go in and have lunch with Gay and his then-wife Lucille. We ate that golden brown fried chicken, compliments of Gay Johnson and Rosco the Rooster. We never ordered off the menu; we’d just be served whatever Gay wanted, family style. Gay often dined at Bar X, which was owned by his friend, Skip Nelson. The Nelsons also owned the popular Ivanhoe Inn, another one of my father’s hangouts, where he played jazz with Bert Dahlander and Walt Smith. Both of those places were some of the swankiest in their day. West of Bar X was the original location of the Taco Shop. As we got older, “lunch out” was an order of french fries and a vanilla Coke at Mesa Drug, where Il Bistro is now, at 4th and Main. Woolworth’s had too many other things to spend our money on besides lunch—like real goldfish, 10-cent ceramic horses for my collection, or four poses for a quarter in the photo booth. Older folks will remember the Hotel ‘D’ Café at 118 Main Street – Home of the Tic Toc Lounge. At the time, they boasted being western Colorado’s finest café and lounge. That business later became the Dream Café with its “dream food” and cocktails in the Cloud 7 bar. I wish I could remember eating at Santy’s at
335 Main, with their French, Italian and American dishes. The Manhattan Café and Lounge sat next to the US Bank Building at 345 Main Street. An old advertisement reads, “There are no finer steaks than those prepared by Carl Swenson, Chef and Owner” and they featured men’s luncheons. I bet more than one or two martinis were thrown back during those lunch hours. The Royal Grill with its Pagoda Room and exotic oriental dishes occupied 209-215 Colorado Avenue. I do remember when the Saturday Sale was in the lot next to it and I marveled at their marvelous and mysteriously Far Eastern, hand-painted billboard on the side of the brick building. The Flamingo was on the corner, of course, but they served up a different kind of “dish.” The Beefeaters across the street from that, at 2nd and Colorado, later became ‘The Office.’ Clever place to tell your wife you had to go. We remember the magnificent Hotel La Court; The Bamboo Restaurant and Lounge in the old YMCA where Alpine Bank is now, later to be called the Uranium Building; the Finger Lickin’ Chicken; the Far East; the Rainbow Grill; the Quincy; the Blue Crane; a plethora of cafés; the Alpine; the Oasis Grill; the Pony Express; the Western Café; the Chuck Wagon; and what about all those drive-ins? That’s a whole other story. My past is your past. Call or email me at 260-5226 or Priscilla.Mangnall@gmail.com. ■
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Godm to wild
Mar
By Pat Martin
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ittle did Marty Felix know that reading an article on wild horses in “Colorado Magazine” in 1969 would change her life forever. But four years later, the upstate New York native found herself in Coal Canyon northeast of Grand Junction, viewing wild horses in the flesh for the first time. From that moment on, her life would never be the same. She has become the “godmother” and best friend of the Little Book Cliff mustangs, which number well over 100 animals.
Their “playground” that she monitors consists of harrowing networks of steep, rocky canyons, vast expanses of sagebrush and thousands of acres of pinyon and juniper forests. Ranging over a rugged 36,114 acres in the high desert of the Little Book Cliff Wild Horse Area above De Beque, the wild horse herd is made up of approximately 30 separate bands. Most are harem or family bands, with a dominant stallion in charge of two or three mares and their offspring. The rest are made up of young studs that have been run off by the older stallions they threaten. The outcasts gather in small groups, like gangs of juvenile delinquents, harassing the stallions, honing their skills and always hoping for a chance to steal a mare or two. In 1971 the U.S. Congress recognized that mustangs and free-roaming burros “are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West, which continue to contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people.” For the past 43 years, Marty Felix has made it her life’s work to observe, research, and photograph these roving bands of wild mustangs, first as a
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) volunteer, and later as a paid, parttime employee of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Biological Research Division. Between 1982 and 2003, she racked up 6,000 hours of volunteer service, earning her the President’s Volunteer Service Award and presented to her by Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton. In 1997 she earned a trip to Washington, D.C., where she was awarded the BLM National Volunteer Award. In the meantime, Marty was instrumental in organizing the Friends of the Mustangs club, a local group of people who love the wild horses and volunteer their services to the BLM to help with the management of the mustangs and their range. The personnel of the BLM admit they could not do it without the invaluable assistance of this local group, which now numbers over 100 members. A schoolteacher by profession, Marty taught for 30 years in Grand Junction, Clifton and Fruita, all the while pursuing her passion for the wild horses. She retired in 1999 and now devotes 100 percent of her time to the mustangs. She has written numerous magazine and newspaper articles about the wild horses of the Little Book Cliffs, and her magnificent photos have appeared in books, magazines, newspapers, brochures, and on postcards. She also has put together wonderful slide presentations, which she has given in schools
and for various organizations to promote understanding of the wild mustangs and the role of the government in their care. Between 1997 and 2002, Marty helped the BLM implement WHIMS, the Wild Horse Identification Management System, collecting demographic information on each horse, such as sex, color, markings, range, relationships, etc. Each wild horse has a name and its own page in her three-ring binder, with photos and all pertinent information that has to
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mother o the d horses
rty Felix
be updated continually, as horses change bands, die off, get rounded up and adopted, or disappear. At one gather, a horse showed up that had been missing for six years! It was resurrected from the “dead list” and added back in with the living. No one knows where the horse had been all that time, but it’s indicative of the challenges presented to humans by the animals’ inaccessible habitat. With the aid of another equally passionate volunteer, Billie Hutchings, this information is now also incorporated into a computer program for the BLM. All of this research entails many, many days of living up in the Book Cliffs with the
horses and observing them as they go about their daily lives. Marty says she used to average about 75 days per year up on the range, but it now averages about 50. She loves it, and anyone who has seen her in action up there can see that she’s truly in her element. The demographic information Marty accumulated was invaluable when she went to work part-time for the USGS Biological Research Division in 2002 to help with the Fertility Control Project being conducted in the Book Cliffs. With the wild horse and burro population in 10 western states numbering approximately 58,000—a more manageable number of 26,000 is the goal—a plan had to be developed to stem the tide of new foals being born each year into the wild herds. Resources in the arid west are limited, and unchecked numbers soon find themselves with no forage or water and facing a slow death. Thanks to the invention of PZP, the safe and effective contraceptive dart that prevents pregnancy, many of the mares can now get time off from foaling every year, allowing them to improve their body
condition and increase their longevity; otherwise, their life span can be relatively short compared to domestic horses. Also, the end result is fewer newborns competing for scarce resources. Marty Felix has been instrumental in the administering of the PZP program in the Little Book Cliffs since its inception, and the number of foals born each year has dropped dramatically. This has reduced the need for frequent gathers here in the Little Book Cliffs, in which the horses are captured and put up for public adoption. Since slaughter is no longer an option, those that aren’t adopted after various gathers are kept in holding facilities all over the country, some owned by government and some privately owned. The latest estimate of wild horses and burros in captivity is 47,000, which costs the U.S. taxpayers some $50 million per year. Marty is not quite as active as she once was; five other members of the Friends of the Mustangs organization (Laurie Briden, John Boughton, Scott and Joni Gross, and Jim Dollerschell, the BLM Wild Horse Specialist) have taken over the darting of the mares, but Marty is still the “go to” person for anything happening on the range. She is a walking encyclopedia of information on the horses and the range they inhabit, and she has become an unsurpassed mentor for the team. She not only knows all the horses, she can usually relate their whole history and lineage. Not since the days of “Wild Horse
Annie,” whose legislative efforts in the early 1970s saved the mustang from cruel decimation, have the wild horses had such a devoted champion as Marty Felix. With this woman looking out for their welfare, the Little Book Cliff mustangs will continue to grace the landscape with their wild and untamed beauty, an invaluable legacy for the generations to come. ■
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Alaska Discovery Land & Cruise TRAVEL SLIDE PRESENTATION
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Roasted Broccoli & Sausage Pasta By Michelle DeLaCerda – www.thecompletesavorist.com
Ingredients: • 1 lb pasta cooked according to package directions plus some pasta water
• ½ medium onion
• 2 heads of broccoli, cut into florets
• 1-18 oz package Italian sausage
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• ½ cup Romano cheese, grated
• ¼ tsp salt
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• Red pepper flakes as an optional garnish
• ¼ tsp granulated garlic
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Instructions:
1. Clean and cut broccoli into florets, place in a zip seal bag. 2. Add the olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic, seal and shake. 3. Place broccoli on a baking sheet and roast in a pre-heated 400° oven for about 30 minutes, but begin checking and watching it after 20 minutes. 4. Bring a pot of water to boil, salt it and cook the pasta according to package directions. 5. In a large pan or skillet, add the olive oil and sauté the onions for 2-3 minutes or until they begin to soften. 6. Remove the casings from the sausage and crumble into the cooking onions; cook about 5 minutes or until the sausage is cooked through. 7. Once the pasta is done, add it by spoonfuls, mostly drained to the sausage. Mix well. 8. Add ¼ of the cheese. Mix well. 9. If needed, add some pasta water, then add the remaining cheese. 10. If the pan will accommodate, stir in the roasted broccoli. If not, transfer to a large bowl and toss the pasta, sausage, and broccoli together. 11. Taste, add salt and pepper as needed for taste. Add red pepper flakes if using. 12. Serve and enjoy.
APRIL 2016
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Your decisions matter By Alyssa Hampson
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ave you considered what might happen if you were too ill, injured, or in a coma and could not share what healthcare decisions you would like to be made? How would your family and friends feel having to make a decision for you, not knowing what you would like and not having the option to ask you?
This is where advance directives can help. Advance directives are legal documents that allow you to record your decisions about healthcare preferences as well as end-of-life care ahead of time. They give you a way to share your wishes to avoid confusion, anxiety and stress for your loved ones later on. People of all ages benefit from having advance directives in place. “It makes it easier for your family and loved ones when you have advance directives so they don’t have to guess what you might want,” said Brian Whitmore, LCSW, Director of Access at HopeWest and Advance Care Planning Task Force Member. “Sometimes families disagree on what decisions to make, which creates a lot of turmoil between family members and anxiety about what decisions are the right ones. To avoid this, get information on advance directives and have them in place. National Healthcare Decisions Day is a great way to learn about advance directives and get the tools that you need.” National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) exists to inspire, educate and empower community members and healthcare providers to learn about the importance of advance care planning. The Mesa County Advance Care Planning Task Force, along with other national, state and community organizations, are leading a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making—an effort that has culminated
in the formal designation of April 16 as National Healthcare Decisions Day. Dr. David Kopacz will be the keynote presenter at this year’s NHDD conference and will give a presentation on creativity, spirituality, and the whole person approach to making healthcare decisions, as well as self-care. His presentation will reference his book, “Re-humanizing Medicine: A Holistic Framework for Transforming Your Self, Your Practice, and the Culture of Medicine,” in which he calls for a “compassion revolution” in health care. After the presentation, stay for a workshop where community members can receive their own copies of advance directive documents and have someone walk them through how to fill them out. These presentations are open to the community and are offered for the low cost of just $10. Register through Western Colorado 2-1-1 by simply dialing 211 or 2448400. Limited seating is available. Refreshments will be provided. “As a result of the awareness NHDD brings to advance care planning, more people in our community will have thoughtful conversations about their healthcare decisions and complete reliable advance directives to make their wishes known,” said Mary Watson, Community Project Coordinator at HopeWest and committee chair of the Mesa County Advance Care Planning Task Force. “Having your advance directives in place is a gift,” said Mary Watson. “It’s a gift to your loved ones. They won’t have to be stressed about what to do in healthcare situations because they will already know what you want and they will feel good knowing they are honoring your wishes.” Your decisions matter. Attend the events to learn more about advance directives and make your wishes known. ■
Dedicated to profoundly changing the way our community experiences serious illness and grief – one family at a time.
As a non-profit, we care most about the heart of our mission – you and your family. PALLIATIVE CARE | HOSPICE |GRIEF SUPPORT Delta • Grand Junction • Montrose • Meeker • Plateau Valley (970) 241-2212 | HopeWestCO.org
The following educational opportunities will take place the week preceding NHDD and are open to all members of the community: Consider the Conversation: A Documentary on a Taboo Subject Documentary screening and expert panel discussion
Monday, April 11, 6 pm - 7:30 pm Mesa County Central Library This documentary examines perspectives on end-of-life care and includes helpful information and life experiences. This event is open to the community and free to attend.
Holistic Decision Making: Creating a Good Ending to Life Interactive presentation
Wednesday, April 13, 6:30 - 7:30 pm Saccomanno Education Center at St. Mary’s Hospital Meet Dr. David Kopacz, author of Re-Humanizing Medicine and learn more about his philosophy of self-care and approach to making holistic healthcare decisions. The event is open to the community and free to attend. Please register to attend the event at www.HopeWestCO.org.
Creating a Good Ending: Your Decisions Matter Interactive presentation and advance care planning workshop
Thursday, April 14, 8:30 - 11:30 am or 1:30 - 3:30 pm Saccomanno Education Center at St. Mary’s Hospital
28 FAITH MOVES
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APRIL 2016
Depression:
A misunderstood word–Part 1 23-24; Psa. 40:1-3 and Psa. 42:5 are just a few examples) Other great epression—a word we hear a followers of Christ had periods of lot, but often do not fully under- depression. Elijah displayed signs stand. Some people go so far as to of depression in I Kings 19:35. Job, say, “Aw, it’s all in your head; just although courageous, had periods get over it.” Over 42.5 million Amer- of depression during the testing by icans suffer from some form of clin- Satan. (Job 3:1) Hannah was deical depression. Depression affects pressed to the point of not eating. (I the way that you perform at work, Sam.1: 7-10). your relationships with friends and I suggest to you that even Jesus family, and sometimes, your physihimself had the experience. When cal health. Worst of all, it can break in the garden, he struggled greatyour spirit. ly to the point of There is a broad sweating blood and Being judgmental spectrum of causasked to have “this es for depression. cup removed.” Being about depression The major causes human, I suggest he of depression inhas no place in the felt all of the emotions clude: biological, that we would, problife of a Christian. learned helplessably for days, maybe ness, rejection, even weeks, prior to abuse, negativity, his crucifixion. Jesus experienced stress, anger, guilt, some prescrip- what it felt like to feel totally mistion medicines, loss and genetics. understood and truly alone. Clinical Likely, it is a combination of these. depression has that same effect on Depression can be especially us. difficult for a Christian. Christians Depression is described in Provtend to feel guilt and/or see depreserbs 18:14 as having a crushed spirsion as a lack of faith. Sometimes it. Those words accurately describe other Christians are highly critical a life overcome by depression. Yet, of someone struggling with deas we search the scriptures, we pression, believing that the person find many examples of people who is just feeling sorry for himself or fought this battle and became vicherself. Being judgmental about detorious. If we could converse with pression has no place in the life of a them, I suspect none would tell us it Christian. We need to show compas- was a battle quickly or easily won. sion and offer support, not criticism, Fighting depression takes courto those who are struggling. age, determination, hard work and, What does the Bible say about often, medical intervention. There depression? The word itself does is an old adage, “If you think you not appear in the Bible, but there can, then you can. If you think you are numerous descriptions of can’t, then you can’t. Either way, someone in the Good Book who you are right.” So, where do we find had symptoms of depression. In the this courage and determination? Scriptures you will find words like The answers are in the same place sad, wailing, faint of heart, instead great people of old found them—in of the word depression. If you read the Scriptures. the Psalms you will see that even (Look for Part 2 in next month’s issue) ■ the great man David had bouts of depression. (Psa.38 6-5; Psa. 37:
By Barbara Ward
D Experience God's love in a traditional setting.
APRIL 2016
Grand Mesa Medical Supply By Jan Weeks
I
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n 1981, Poppy Woody, a registered nurse, had a vision: Provide quality medical equipment and supplies to the Grand Valley’s people who needed them, either temporarily or permanently. She founded Grand Mesa Medical Supply, and the business now has the finest selection on the Western Slope, as well as the largest service department for durable medical equipment. Woody, along with daughter Kahnie Johnson and staff, work with physicians and other health professionals to address individuals’ needs. “We consider our reputation an asset and strive to set the standard for providing equipment, education, selection and service,” Woody says. “Our team members are trained and certified to fit custom support garments, support hose, and mastectomy products.” If you or someone you love needs equipment to stay at home safely, the folks at Grand Mesa Medical Supply can provide walkers, wheelchairs, bath accoutrements such as railings and shower stools, beds and accessories such as therapeutic pillows and wedges, and chairs that allow patients to sit comfortably and that even lift up to allow sitters to stand without having to hoist themselves up and risk falling. Professionally trained service technicians repair scooters, chairs, and other equipment, and there is never a charge to fix items purchased from the store. Although prescriptions aren’t required to buy or lease equipment, insurance companies may require one before paying for it. Woody explains, “Our billing team is familiar with the insurance prior approval and claim submission process. We promote solid relationships with the insurance community and we are happy
to invoice any insurance company for you.” Grand Mesa Medical Supply will also provide and install straight or customized multi-level stair glides, vehicle lifts, and other equipment to make moving around easier for those who can’t get around under their own power. Bad back? Wonky knee? Weak wrist? Woody stocks a large selection of braces and wraps to keep joints steady. Compression garments, such as stockings, sleeves, and other garments are available. Mastectomy patients will find breast forms and pretty bras to enhance their confidence. New mothers can rent or buy breast pumps. Those needing special equipment for urinary and ostomy essentials will find it at Grand Mesa Medical Supply. If it’s not in stock, they can order it. They also offer delivery of products they sell or rent. Woody concludes, “We understand clients have choices in the products and services they receive. We are committed to serving their immediate and long-term needs. We know their names and care about them. We are honored to provide service to them.” Grand Mesa Medical Supply is located at 1708 North Avenue, across from the Lincoln Park Golf Course. The business is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. You can call them at 241-0833 or send an email through the contact tab on the website, grandmesamedical.com. While you’re on the site, check out the Video Center clips that showcase products, including recumbent hand-powered bicycles and scooters that really zip along. ■
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May 27 – 29 Northern Colorado Weekend Gala Join us for 3 fabulous musical shows! Performances by the world-famous Irish Group CELTIC WOMAN, Debby Boone in “Into the Woods,” and meet charming con-man Professor Harold Hill in “The Music Man”! A ugust 12 – 18 Utah/Arizona National Parks Theatre Celebrate 100 years of National Parks! Visit Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Zion and Arches National Parks, Plus 5 live theatre performances!
Tour
Call for details on our 2016 Escorted Tours! April - Salt Lake Tulip Festival September - Canadian Rockies by Train & Coach Autumn Tour November - Encore! A Colorado Christmas
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)
APRIL 2016
What are your chances of needing long-term care? And then, how will you pay for it? By Teresa Ambord
T
he good news is, overall, we’re living longer. But the bad news is, many of us will live longer but only with the assistance of a nursing home or at a minimum, home health aides. What’s the likelihood that you or someone you love will require long-term care? According to the government website, www.longtermcare.gov: Adults who are 65 years old today have nearly a 70 percent chance of needing some type of long-term care (LTC) services and support in their remaining years. Men average 2.2 years in long-term care, while women spend an average of 3.7 years there. A full 20 percent of people who enter LTC will need it for five years or more. Of course, you don’t have to be in your sixth decade to need LTC. About 40 percent of people who are currently receiving LTC are under 65 years old. Strokes, accidents, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, and Parkinson’s disease render many people helpless long before they reach retirement age. The costs associated with this care can be exorbitant, and Medicare pays only a small amount, and only under specific conditions (see sidebar). How much could that cost, you may ask?
Here are national median figures from the Genworth Financial 2016 survey. • $3,600 per month for an assisted living facility: $43,200 for a year. • $250 per day for a private room in a nursing home: $91,250 for a year. • $220 per day for a semi-private room in a nursing home: $80,300 for a year.
• $20 per hour for a non-Medicare home health aide, for “hands on” personal care, but not medical care, or for homemaker services, defined as “hands off” care, like cleaning, cooking, errands. • $69 a day for adult day health care (ADC). This is a safe environment for seniors who cannot stay alone during the day while their kids or spouses work. Some ADCs also provide personal care, transportation, medical management and meals. Remember, these are only averages. Some states are less, but some are shockingly higher. It probably will not surprise you to learn that the cost of purchasing LTC insurance rises dramatically as you age. At some point you may not be able to get it at all. In fact, some insurers have stopped offering it because the payout can be enormous. However, given the likelihood of needing LTC at some time in your life, it’s something to consider. To help defray the cost a little bit, there is a tax break associated with LTC insurance.
How much can you deduct? When tax time rolls around, the amounts you pay as premiums for LTC insurance may yield a deduction on your federal taxes, to a point. The deductible amount depends on your age on the last day of the year. The maximum amount you can deduct on your 2016 tax return is: • $390 if you are age 40 or under. • $730 if you are age 41 to 50. • $1,460 if you are age 51 to 60. • $3,900 if you are age 61 to 70. • $4,870 if you are over age 70.
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There may also be a state deduction available.
If you shop for a policy… If you’ve decided to buy LTC insurance, here is some guidance you need to consider. Because this is an insurance that you may have for decades before using it, it’s critical to choose an insurer with a reputation for stability and strength.
In addition, ask these questions: • How will inflation affect your coverage at the time you need it? • How long is the waiting period between initiating the policy and your ability to be covered? In other words, if you buy a policy today and have a car accident next month that renders you helpless, will the policy pay? • Does the policy pay actual costs, or “customary and reasonable?” • What documentation will you have to provide to prove your need? Some companies require you to see their doctors, not yours. • Can the policy be shared between spouses? Are riders available to allow one spouse to use the unused benefits of the other?
Grand Junction cost of care overview (figures from 2015 data source: www.genworth.com )
Home Health Care Annual Cost Homemaker services............ $45,760 Home health aide................. $45,760 Adult Day Health Care Annual cost.......................... $16,120 Assisted Living Facility Annual cost..........................$37,200 Nursing Home Care Annual Cost Semi-private room................ $79,023 Private room........................ $88,330
The purchase of LTC insurance can give you great peace of mind about your future. So shop carefully, but don’t wait too long. Nobody is guaranteed a healthy tomorrow. ■
What will Medicare cover if you need long-term care? The largest part of long-term care is not covered by Medicare. However, a short stay in a skilled nursing facility or for hospice care or home health care may be covered, if you meet these conditions: • You have had a recent prior hospital stay of at least three days. • You are admitted to a Medicare-certified nursing facility within 30 days of your prior hospital stay. • You need skilled care, such as skilled nursing services, physical therapy, or other types of therapy. If all of these conditions are met, Medicare will generally pay some of your costs for up to 100 days. For the first 20 days, 100 percent will be covered. For the remaining days, 21-100, you will pay your own expenses up to $140 per day and Medicare pays the balance. After day 100, you must pay 100 percent of the cost of your stay in a skilled nursing facility. Source: www.longtermcare.gov/medicare-medicaid-more/medicare/
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A Great Place to Call Home!
APRIL 2016
Your secret power tool Talking Digital By Adam Cochran
W Quiet 55+ Adult Community New & Pre-Owned Homes Free RV Storage On-Site Manager Resident Club House
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hile standing high atop my soapbox, I frequently tell people that I believe that education and schooling are not synonyms. Mark Twain advised, “Don’t let school interfere with your education.” Few things can change a person’s life more than learning a new skill or becoming an expert in an important field. Knowledge truly is power over your world.
most useful and most powerful tool on the Internet. I would even go so far as to guarantee that this site will change your life for the better. Do you want to learn how to change the oil in your car, or explore the theories of the Voynich manuscript, or even learn an entire semester’s worth of Psychology 101 in a few hours without reading a single line of text?
In 2013, someone posted the following comment on the Internet bulletin board system, Reddit: “I possess a device, in my pocket, that is capable of accessing the entirety of information known to man. I use it to look at pictures of cats and get in arguments with strangers.” Of course, this observation is funny because of its honesty and relevance. I find it intriguing how many people who laugh at the comment, as though they can relate to it, don’t even own such a device themselves.
You are probably already using this site often without realizing it is the Internet’s second largest search engine. YouTube.com is this magical education platform, but it is often considered to be little more than dramatic testimonials of teen angst, klutzy cats and beautiful skateboarding failures.
What’s great is that you don’t need an expensive smartphone to benefit from the resources available through technology and the Internet. The chances are that you have used Google to zoom in on pictures of your house taken from space. Perhaps you have looked up an important person or event on Wikipedia, or looked up a synonym at Thesaurus.com.
In addition to being the greatest time-suck on the Internet, it is also the preferred resource for mechanics, doctors, researchers and graduate students who use it to access multimedia explanations and demonstrations of the most complex concepts through efficient presentation style. Give it a shot. The next time you have a do-it-yourself project, want to find out whether you have Trypophobia, or need to show your kids or grandkids why electricity and water don’t mix, look it up on YouTube and prepare to be efficiently educated. ■
As useful as all these sites are, there is one site that I consider to be the
phone number credit card exp. date
Mesa County subscription Montrose/Delta subscription
Adam Cochran is a technology professional and an instructor at cvc
1 year $20.00 2 years $30.00
Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado. You can email your technology questions to Adam at adamc@talkingdigital.org.
APRIL 2016
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Here are just a few YouTube channels that will likely change your life and your opinion about traditional methods of education:
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• youtube.com/user/crash course - Short YouTube lessons that pack everything in using humor and animated illustrations. • youtube.com/user/ AlexESLvid - English lessons with a guy named Alex • youtube.com/user/GeographyNow - Geography Now is a channel that uses goofy humor to explain why geography matters to modern humans • youtube.com/user/1veritasium - Veritasium is one of the most popular channels on YouTube among teens and it has nothing to do with boy bands, dangerous stunts or video games. It’s about physics and it’s amazing! • youtube.com/user/PragerUniversity - PragerU takes an unapologetically objective approach to explaining topics in politics, religion, history and philosophy.
TED talks expand your mind Try to think of an industry that doesn’t require technology, entertainment or design to be viable. While the predominant trend in education is to focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), this approach often ignores essential concepts of art, design, tools and creativity. TED is an annual conference where individuals who are changing the world give 15-minute presentations on their latest research, artistic contributions, philosophies and mind-expanding discoveries. When the conference is over, videos of the lectures are posted on TED.com for the whole world to enjoy. If you have 15 minutes, head over to TED.com and watch one of these popular videos that has already changed the world – or at least the presenter’s part of it. These videos are so popular that they will appear near the top when you do a Google search.
• Ken Robinson: “Do schools kill creativity?” – This is the most popular TED video ever. • Sugata Mitra: “Build a school in the cloud” – What happens when you put a lone computer where kids can reach it, in the slums of India? • Aimee Mullins: “My 12 pairs of legs” – As a child, Mullins had both of her legs amputated below the knee. Now she is a long-distance runner who openly discusses the physical and mental limitations, or lack thereof, of the disabled. • Amber Case: “We are all cyborgs now” – Case is a cyborg anthropologist, meaning that she studies where technology and humans connect. • Rory Sutherland: “Life lessons from an ad man” – Sutherland explains how the psychology of advertising relates to everyday decision-making. If you think I missed one, email me your favorite at adamc@talkingdigital.org
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APRIL 2016
Travel fun with grandkids By Amy Abbott
W
henever you visit with your grandchildren, from Southern California to the Atlantic, here are some tips to stay healthy.
Grand Junction native american arts auction & appraisal clinic Grand Vista Hotel
by the R.B. Burnham & Co. Trading Post
2790 Crossroads Blvd. Grand Junction
April 8-9 A fundraiser for the Museums of Western Colorado
Rugs, Pottery, Katsina Dolls, Baskets, Jewelry, Art, and More
No Entry Fee to the Auction, No Bidder Fee, 10% Buyers premium Reservation required for appraisal clinic $10/item for informal verbal evaluation Other Native American artist vendors will be available. Reservations: 970.242.0971, ext. 212 Schedule at: www.museumofwesternco.org
Discovering – Preserving – Sharing
SPRING DAY on the FARM Cross Orchards Historic Site • 3073 F Road
May 7 • 9 am - 3 pm $5/Adults • $4/Seniors • $3.50/kids (3-12 yrs) • $15/family Museum Members admitted free!
1. Take comfortable shoes. Walking on a rocky beach or hiking in a wooded state park, you’ll need decent shoes with support—no more “grandma” shoes. Thankfully, there are multiple colorful and standard options for walking, running, hiking, or any activity you choose. Experts tell us to break in our shoes; going on that three-mile walk with shoes right out of the box isn’t a good idea. 2. Put your feet up when you can. This helps blood circulate. If your feet bother you after a long day of keeping up with the grandkids, try a warm foot bath. 3. Wear sunglasses. Sun exposure to your eyes can heighten the risk of certain cancers, reports the Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF). Eyelid tumors on the lower lid account for 5 to 10 percent of all skin cancers. Ten percent of cataract cases come directly from UV exposure. The SCF also highlights macular degeneration: “Macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss in the U.S. for people over age 60. Research is required, some studies point to UVA and HEV light as potential causes of macular degeneration.” 4. Stay hydrated. Nutritional Review studied the impact of hydration on our bodies. If you are on the golf course for the first time in three months and it’s a warm 88 degrees in the shade, be careful! Keep water on hand. Dress in layers so you can remove pieces of clothing as the weather warms. Cut down on drinks that deplete fluids, like alcohol or caffeinated drinks. 5. Use sunscreen. This is a no-brainer. The American Academy
of Dermatology recommends using a broad-spectrum agent SPF 30 or higher that protects against UVA and UVB rays. Use enough sunscreen to fill a shot glass each time and recoat every two hours. Wear a hat—you’ve earned the right to be goofy in front of your grandchildren. 6. Avoid fatigue by planning ahead. Plan your big days with lots of activity in the morning and a break for lunch. Return to the activity in late afternoon. The best time to hit the theme parks and other attractions is when all the people with day passes are leaving. 7. Be mindful of the critters and other wild things. When you are out of your element, be mindful of critters that may be out of theirs. Also, be wary of red tide if you’re at a beach. Red tide gets a lot of press from Florida, but it blooms all over the world. Red tide is actually algae that can harm some types of fish, as well as turn the water a reddish-brown. People who choose to swim in red tide or breathe in its gasses may experience eye, nose, and throat irritation as well as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Take my advice. Stay in your beach chair and away from the algae blooms.
8. Have a first-aid bag. Take a few simple items, including antibiotic cream, Band-Aids, aspirin (or an acceptable pain reliever), your own meds (in their bottles, in case you have to get emergency care), and your physician’s phone number. There’s nothing worse than the tourist who comes into the emergency room with no contact numbers and no family around. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend or a week, you want to make precious memories with your grandkids, not memories of hospital visits. ■
APRIL 2016
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THE ART CENTER
$
April workshops & classes
To register for a class or workshop, please call 243-7337 ext. 2 or go to gjartcenter.org.
All Levels Handbuilding Ceramics Instructor: Nina Williams Date: Mondays 1-4 pm, April 4 – May 23 Cost: $195 member / $235 non-member Not all beautiful ceramic work is thrown on a wheel. We will join slabs of clay into beautiful works of art using a variety of techniques and surface patterns. We will focus primarily on decorative and ornamental work this session. In addition to slab-built work, there will also be coiling and extrusion projects throughout the class.
Instructor: Mark Posey
Metal Clay
Date: Mondays 1-2pm, April 4 – May 23
Instructor: Jes Park Date: Saturday, April 9 (9 am-12 pm and 4-6 pm) and April 16 (10 am-12 pm)
Cost: $110 member / $150 non-member
Cost: $115 member / $155 non-member
Note: Wear clothing that is comfortable to move in.
Note: All materials provided; $30 paid to instructor on first dayor class Join Jes Park, a jewelry designer and metal clay artist based in western Colorado, for a workshop designed to teach you the basics of working with metal clay. These metal creations are a wonderful addition to your own jewelry designs and can be added to charm bracelets or used to make lovely, handcrafted gift items. In this workshop you will learn how to create pendants, charms and jewelry-design components using metal clay. You will learn basic techniques for working with metal clay, which include rolling out, texturing, shaping and then prepping for kiln firing. Jes will provide all the supplies for this workshop, but you are welcome to bring your own stamps and textures to use on your creations.
Tai Chi
Watercolor 101 Instructor: Diane Saulnier Date: Tuesdays 1-4pm, April 5 – May 24 Cost: $140 member / $180 non-member In this introductory class, students will learn the basics of watercolor washes, wet-on-wet painting and how to effectively layer color. Most importantly, Diane will show students how to have fun with watercolor.
This class is intended for all levels of fitness and body awareness. Tai Chi is a system of movement designed to reduce your stress level, boost your immune system and promote optimal functioning of your body and mind. Learn valuable methods for aiding in relaxation so that you can enjoy the season, and your life, more. The movements of Tai Chi improve your balance, joint function and range of motion. They make it easier to move, help prevent and heal injuries, and generally help you to stay active longer and with more comfort and energy. Instructor Mark Posey has been teaching Tai Chi for twenty years.
150 OFF
36 FUN AFTER 50
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 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)
TUESDAY 9:00 am Cribbage & Pool Tourney 12:00 pm Gray Gourmet Lunch 1:30 pm Bingo 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
THURSDAY 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 FRIDAY 9:00 am 12:00 pm 12:30 pm 12:45 pm 1:00 pm
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. $3.50
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APRIL 2016
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.
SPECIAL EVENT APRIL 7 Easter Party at Senior Recreation Center 10 am – 1 pm Live music and dancing. $4.00, potluck, bring a dish to share! APRIL 23 Southwest Arbor Fest Noon – 5 pm, Lincoln Park The 15th annual Southwest Arbor Fest offers something for everyone! Colorado Craft brew tasting, a mac and cheese cook-off and tasting, jalapeno eating contest, live music, earth day vendors, food, arborists, tree giveaway, touch-a-truck and kid’s activities including bump and jump. Nearly $1,000 in prize money! Find us on Facebook or visit www.gjparksandrec.org.
HEALTH APRIL 8 Facts and Tracks: Coconut Products Noon - 1 pm, Botanical Gardens Learn about the various coconut products on the market as well as the truth in their nutritional claims. 30-minute health lecture by CSU Extension Agent Ann Duncan, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and 30-minute walk on the Riverfront Trail. Cost is $5. TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS Gentle Active Yoga 8 am - 9 am, Lincoln Park Barn $7 drop in, $50 for 10-punch pass This class is designed for an active beginner and above, teaching flexibility of mind and body in a fun and supportive environment. Students must be able to get up and down from the floor unassisted. Drop in for $7 or get a 10-punch pass for $50.
DAILY Aqua Aerobics Mon/Wed/Fri: 8:15 am – 9:15 am Tues/Thurs: 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm Orchard Mesa Pool These novice to intermediate aqua aerobic classes are for individuals introducing themselves to water exercise or those who have enjoyed our previous classes. Moderate intensity activities incorporate noodles, hand paddles, water weights, and more. Drop in for $4.50 or pay $46.50 for a 12-punch pass.
DANCE MONDAYS Beginning Line Dance 12:15 – 1 pm, Lincoln Park Barn Learn choreographed dance steps to a variety of music while improving your balance, coordination, memory, and overall health. This is fun for everyone and no partner or previous dance skills are needed. Cost is $24. MONDAYS Intermediate Line Dance for Kids 50+ 1 pm – 2 pm, Lincoln Park Barn Build on your line dancing skills and have fun! No partner is needed. Drop in for $5 or purchase a 10-punch pass for $32. THURSDAYS Senior Dances with Live Music 8 – 11 pm, Senior Recreation Center Dance the night away and enjoy your favorite music performed live! Cost is $3.
GARDENING GARDEN TALK: Discover Wildflowers Noon – 1 pm, Botanical Gardens Wildflowers abound in Colorado and it’s fun to know what you are enjoy-
ing. This is an introduction to the CSU Extension Native Plant Masters Class taught by Horticulture Agent Susan Carter. Cost is $5.
SPORTS APRIL 20 Lincoln Park Open Track Meet 5:30 pm, Lincoln Park Stocker Stadium This meet is designed for track stars of all ages and abilities, from diaper dashers to one-mile thrashers! Registration begins at 5:00 pm. Cost is $5. APRIL 28 – MAY 19 Adult Tennis – Level 1 6:30-7:30 pm, Lincoln Park Tennis Courts Learn grip, forehand, body position, follow-through, hand-eye coordination, serving, backhand, scoring, singles and doubles format, and etiquette. Racquets are available for use during class. MAY 21-22 Western Slope Regional Pickleball Tournament Lincoln Park and Pine Ridge Courts Offering levels of play from 3.0 – 4.5, men’s, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Get registered now!
ART APRIL Public Art Exhibits/all local artists CITY HALL: Kathy Pabst, mixed media (Roice Hurst adoptions) Katherine Lopez, photographer Terry Shepherd, sculptor THE PASTEL SOCIETY: Tiara Rado: Need For Speed Two Rivers: Hot Air Balloons
APRIL 2016
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Mesa County Club Activities • Thunder Mountain Camera Club meets the fourth Tuesday from 7-9 pm at Western Colorado Community College, 2520 Blichmann Avenue, Building B, Room 171 (double-door entrance from Parking Lot # 4) in Grand Junction. Membership is open to anyone interested in learning more about photography and all skill levels are welcome. Visit www.thundermountaincameraclub.org. • Grand Junction Chess Club meets every Monday night from 6:30-11:30 pm in the Starbucks at Safeway on 29th and Patterson. Novice to rated players. All are welcome, free of charge. If you don’t have a chess set, we loan sets out at no charge. Hope to see you soon. For details visit our website at www.jctchess.com. • Not Going Quietly meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays from 1-3 pm. This gathering is intended to create a space of empowerment, energy, grace, community and wisdom for individuals who are 60+ years. The group was inspired by the book, “Do Not Go Quietly: A Guide to Living Consciously and Aging Wisely for People Who Weren’t Born Yesterday” by George and Sedena Cappannelli. This ongoing group meets at Two Rivers Center for Spiritual Living, 251 Colorado Ave., Grand Junction. Just show up to join in the fun! For questions, call the office at 433-7799. • Art Quilt Association meets monthly at 9:30 am on the third Saturday in Grand Junction. Always looking for new members. Locations vary but are posted at www.theartquiltas sociation.com. • Great Old Broads for Wilderness meets the last Monday from 4:30-6 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 536 Ouray. Call 255-9900 for information. • Friendship Force meets monthly at 6:15 pm on the second Thursday at Community Hospital. Call 260-4653 or visit thefriendshipforce.org. • Western Slope Coin Club meets monthly at 6:30 pm the second
Wednesday at the VFW Post #1247. Get a free coin/currency evaluation at 5:30 pm Call 241-1770 or visit www.gjcoinshow.com. • Two River Sam’s/Good Sam RV Club meets the second Saturday at 11:30 am. For details and location call 523-5625. • Mesa County Genealogical Society meets monthly at 7 pm on the second Thursday at The Commons of Hilltop and at noon on the fourth Wednesday at the Museum of Western Colorado. Help sessions are at 1 pm on the first Friday at a library branch. Call 640-2388. • Two Rivers Cribbage Club meets from 6-9 pm Thursdays at the Masonic Center. Call 261-1670. • Grand Valley Woodcarvers meets monthly at 6 pm on the first and third Wednesdays and at 1 pm on the second and fourth Wednesdays at Redlands United Methodist Church. Call 245-8817 or 523-5965. • Grand Valley Woodturners meets the second Tuesday at 7 pm at Redlands United Methodist Church. Call 245-8817 or 856-3632. • High Desert Diamonds, plus-level square dancing with Naaman Moorehouse, caller. 1st and 3rd Fridays from 7- 9 pm, at the Masonic Center, 2400 Consistory Court, Grand Junction. For more information, call Sue at 241-7457. • Mesa Fiber Arts Guild meets monthly at 6 pm the first Thursday of April, at Color Creek Fiber Art, 1150 N. 25th St. Unit B in Grand Junction. Call 243-3598 or visit www.mesafiberartsguild.org. • Blue Lodge Masons meets the first Saturday at 10 am at the Masonic Center. Call 245-5312. • Bookcliff Duplicate Bridge Club plays at 1 pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 6:30 pm Thursdays at 2923 North Ave. Call 243-7874. • Western Colorado Decorative Artists meets the second Saturday at 9 am at First Congregational Church. Call 640-2751.
• Grand Valley Valor Quilters, sewing with the mission to “Cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.” 1st and 3rd Saturdays at the Ed Bozarth’s conference room in Grand Junction. To learn about the national Quilts of Valor Foundation or to get more information about this sewing group, call Sue at 241-7457. • Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) Branch 244 meets monthly at 7 pm on the second Wednesdays at the VFW Post #3981. All former, retired and active sea service, U.S. Navy, Marines or Coast Guard are welcome. Call 434-0868. • Grand Junction Toastmasters meets at 7:10 am Tuesdays at St. Mary’s Life Center. Call 242-4863. • Talk of the Town Toastmasters meets at noon Thursdays at the Mesa County Public Library, downstairs, Study Room B, 443 N. 6th Street. Call 250-3969.
• Western Slope Rovers RV Club meets monthly for breakfast on the first Thursday of each month. Call 858-3907 for time and details. • High Desert Diamonds is a plus-level square dance club that dances from 7-9 pm on the first and third Fridays of the month at the Masonic Center. Call 241-7457. • Cribbage Lite meets at 6 pm every Tuesday at International House of Pancakes, 2420 Highway 6 & 50, Mesa Mall. Call 270-2433. • Vestafjell, Sons of Norway Lodge invites those interested in Scandinavian heritage and culture to join Lodge members at their lunch meetings. For details, call 245-5649. • Grand Valley Pets Alive meets from 4:30-6:30 pm on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Church of the Nativity, 2175 Broadway. For information call 256-1851. Working to reduce pet overpopulation by funding spay/neuter of pet cats and dogs and community cats. New volunteers welcome! ■
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Mesa County Calendar APRIL 2 & 6 “Madame Butterfly” Opera from the Metropolitan Opera in HD, 10:55 am at Regal Cinemas 14, 648 Market St. Encore April 6, 6:30 pm. $24 adults, $22 seniors, $18 children. fathomevents.com APRIL 3 Edesia – fundraiser for the Marillac Clinic A Palisade Culinary Wine & Spirits Adventure! Join us at the Wine Country Inn for an exquisite Edesia celebration. All proceeds benefit the Marillac Clinic. Restaurants, wineries, distilleries and other local food and beverage artisans will offer samplings of their finest during the event. While sampling the feast, enjoy live entertainment, time with friends and a stroll through Colorado’s Wine Country.
APRIL 10 “Don Quixote” Ballet from the Bolshoi Ballet in HD, 12:55 pm at Regal Cinemas 14, 648 Market St. $18 adult, $15 seniors and children. fathomevents.com APRIL 11 Sons of Norway Lunch Meeting Vestafjell, Colorado Western Slope Sons of Norway Lodge, invites those interested in Scandinavian heritage and culture to join lodge members at the lunch meeting at the Golden Corral, 1100 Independent Avenue in Grand Junction. Gather in the west meeting room after 1:30 pm. For more details call Barb at 245-5649 or Annette at 858-6702, or visit the website at vestafjelllodge.org.
APRIL 6 Medicare 101 – Educational Seminar The Senior Health Insurance Assistance Project (SHIP) will present a free educational seminar for NEW Medicare beneficiaries from 10 am - noon at the RSVP office, 422 White Ave., Suite 090 (lower level of the US Bank Building). This seminar is designed to help NEW Medicare beneficiaries understand their health options. Seating is limited. Call 243-9839 to reserve your spot now.
APRIL 13 Understanding long-term care planning: Avoid being unprepared and overwhelmed Don’t wait until there is a crisis to learn about your options. Nearly 70 percent of people over the age of 65 will need long-term care at some point during their lifetime. Join us to learn about payment sources, including private pay, long-term care insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and more. 4:30-5:30 pm at the office of Brown & Brown, P.C., 1250 E. Sherwood Drive. Registration is required.
APRIL 7 Jive Aces Band Having performed for her Majesty The Queen and having filled the Royal Albert Hall, UK’s top live jive & swing band, renowned for their hot swing music and high-energy stage shows, will perform as part of the Community Concerts of the Grand Valley series. Concerts begin at 7:30 pm in the Grand Junction High School Auditorium. Adults: $25, Students: $15. For details call 243-1979 or visit communityconcertsgrandvalley.com.
APRIL 14 The Charlie Daniels Band Kick back and enjoy the Charlie Daniels Band, live at the Avalon. Doors open at 6:30pm and the show starts at 7:30pm. Charlie Daniels is partly Western and partly Southern. Avalon Theatre, 645 Main St. Doors open at 6:30 pm; concert begins at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $39.50 - $59.50 plus applicable service fees. Purchase tickets at TicketsWest.com or charge by phone at 243-TIXS (8497).
APRIL 16 & 20 “Robert Devereux” Opera from the Metropolitan Opera in HD, 10:55 am at Regal Cinemas 14, 648 Market St. Encore April 20, 6:30 pm. $24 adults, $22 seniors, $18 children. fathomevents.com APRIL 16 - 24 Be Our Guest at the Colorado National Monument Enjoy fee-free days (Saturday through Sunday) as the National Park Service celebrates National Parks Week. APRIL 19 A Grand Finale - GJSO Classics Series Conductor Kirk Gustafson’s final performance after serving the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra as music director for 28 years. 7:30 pm at Grand Junction High School Auditorium. APRIL 21 BEACONFest 2016 The BEACON Senior Newspaper is having a party and you’re invited. The 16th annual BeaconFest Boomer & Senior Fair will be held from 9 am-3 pm at Two Rivers Convention Center, 159 Main St. in Grand Junction. This year’s BeaconFest features an exciting line-up of entertainment, free food, lively seminars and informational booths from
APRIL 2016
senior-related agencies and businesses. Admission is free. Thousands of dollars worth of door prizes will be given away. A special ceremony will be held at 12:50 p.m. announcing the winner for this year’s Volunteer of the Year award and honoring nominees. For more information, call 243-8829.
APRIL 21 “Renoir” Art film, 7 pm at Regal Cinemas 14, 648 Market St. $15 general admission. fathomevents.com APRIL 22 & 23 Spring into Dance Concert CMU’s annual Spring into Dance concerts are exciting blends of dance styles. From high-energy hip-hop and tap dance to thought-provoking modern and contemporary work, alongside beautiful lyrical and ballet choreography, you will always be inspired at a CMU dance concert. April 22 and 23 at 7:30 pm and a matinee performance April 23 at 2 pm at Moss Performing Arts Center, Robinson Theatre. $12 adults, $8 seniors, $6 students. APRIL 22 Healing Horses Change Lives - Dinner and “Pack Your Bag Event” By purchasing a ticket to this special event, your name will be entered into a drawing for a weekend at Red Cliffs Lodge in Moab, Utah. Winners will leave from the event in an Absolute Prestige Limo, so come with your bags packed! All proceeds benefit the Grand Valley Equine Assisted Learning Center. Event is from 5 9 pm at the Courtyard by Marriott. Includes panel discussion, live music and live/silent auctions. $50 per person, $90 per couple. Tickets can be purchased at The Cowboy Mercantile in Fruita, Crawford’s Boots & Western Wear on Orchard Mesa, or by emailing gvealc@gmail.com. For more details, visit their website at gvequineassistedlearningcenter.org or call Jay Muller at 216-8723.
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APRIL 23 Grand Junction Area Family History Fair Spend a day “Celebrating Families Across Generations.” Classes and workshops throughout the day will help you discover, and get better acquainted with, your family ancestry and their story. Sessions begin at 8 am at the Grand Junction Family History Center at 2881 Orchard Avenue, Grand Junction. Free registration online at lds. org/familyhistoryday. APRIL 23 Spring Yard Sale to support GJ Vets Golden Age Games Team Join us for the biggest fundraising event for this year’s Grand Junction Veterans Golden Age Games Team. A huge spring yard sale will be held from 8 am - 2:30 pm in the Veterans Hospital parking lot. Big bargains for everyone can be found. Beginning at 7 am you can bring items to be donated for the sale. Either way, your support will be appreciated. Team members must pay for transportation and housing at the games. This year’s event will be held in Detroit, Michigan. The National Veterans Golden Age Games is always a special trip for our local team members, not only for participating with hundreds of other veterans from all over the US, but for the camaraderie and friendships reinforced. Bringing home a few medals is always fun too! The Team sponsors other fundraisers during the year, such as a bowling tournament and a silent auction. For details call Emma at 245-6175. APRIL 26 Understanding long-term care planning: Avoid being unprepared and overwhelmed Don’t wait until there is a crisis to learn about your options. Nearly 70 percent of people over the age of 65 will need long-term care at some point during their lifetime. Join us to learn about payment sources, including private pay, long-term care insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and more. 5-6 pm at the office of Brown & Brown, P.C., 1250 Sherwood Drive. Registration is required.
APRIL 30 Grand Valley Community Contra Dance Come join us for a great night of fun dancing, with or without a partner! The band is Fifth Reel and the caller is Ron Young. Beginner’s walk-through begins at 7 pm, with the dance from 7:30-10:30 pm. Grand Junction DanceSport, 421 Colorado Avenue in Grand Junction. Ticket prices: $8 for adults, $5 for students, $4 for youth aged 10-17. Casual dress. For information call Connie at 260-5852. APRIL 30 “Elektra”
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Opera from the Metropolitan Opera in HD, 10:55 am at Regal Cinemas14, 648 Market St. $24 adults, $22 seniors, $18 children. fathomevents.com
APRIL 30 Rockin’ Elegance – Family Health West Family Health West healthcare organization presents Rockin’ Elegance, featuring The Drifters. Black-tie event benefits the Courtyard Care Center. Guests will enjoy a social, silent auction, presentation, live auction and the Drifters concert. 5 pm-midnight at the Avalon Theatre, Grand Junction. Tickets are $100-$150. Exclusive event at
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10 pm (open only to main event ticket holders): Rooftop dance featuring life music by the Williams Brothers Band. Tickets sold separately $25 per person. Visit fhw.org for more details.
APRIL 30 Viva el Vino Enjoy a fantastic wine-tasting fundraiser featuring great wines, food and a silent auction. All money raised stays in the Grand Valley. 6-9 pm, in the Colorado Mesa University Ballroom. General admission: $60 in advance, $70 at the door; V.I.P. $90 in advance, $100 at the door. ■
APRIL 2016 Activity Schedule
“Young-at-heart adults getting together for fun and friendship!”
Calling all singles over 55! Come meet new friends and join us at 5 pm Fridays at the Travelodge on Horizon Drive. You’re sure to find people who are young at heart with like interests. Yearly dues are only $20. April 2 Enjoy pool games (special rates) at Bank 8 Billiards, 2460 Patterson Road at Noon. Lunch available. For details call Mary at 255-7370. April 7 Fun Lunch Bunch, 11 am, Dragon Treasure, 2740 Hwy 50 (Orchard Mesa). RSVP to Penny at 712-2588. April 20 Game Day, Wednesday, 2 pm, Game Day at Mary’s, 727 Birdie Drive RSVP to Mary at 242-0630. April 21 Restaurant ROVE Thursday, 6 pm, Sergio’s, 1224 N 25th Street RSVP to John at 241-3171. April 23 Great Outdoor Breakfast Saturday, 9 am, Devil’s Kitchen, Colorado National Monument RSVP to Jan at 201-3090. April 28 Hobo Happening, Thursday, 4 pm, Rocket Park, 26th Street & Orchard Avenue, RSVP to Melva at 263-7898 or 433-8731. Breakfast Tuesdays Early Start Breakfast every Tuesday with RCS members at 9:30 am, Denny’s on Horizon Drive. Call Debbie at 245-4995 for details. Visitors welcome. Friday Afternoon Clubs The Friday Afternoon Club (FAC) meets every Friday at Travelodge at 5 pm, 718 Horizon Drive in the Hide-A-Way lounge (north end). Stay for cards after the meeting. Bowling Sundays Bowling Sunday and Card Games, 12:30 pm, Orchard Mesa Lanes, 295 27 Road, RSVP Bob 263-8462.
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Mesa County Beacon Bits Tile Meister earns Super Service Award from Angie’s List Tile Meister has earned the service industry’s coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award for the second year in a row. This award reflects an exemplary year of service provided to members of the local services marketplace and consumer review site during 2016. “Tile Meister’s goal is to consistently provide the best products and service. This award reflects our commitment,” said Randy DiDonato, Tile Meister owner. “Only about 5 percent of the kitchen and bathroom re-
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modeling companies in Western Colorado have performed so consistently well enough to earn our Super Service Award,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “It’s a really high standard.” Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List. Companies are graded on an A through F scale, in areas ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality. Help with prom dress giveaway The 6th Annual Prom Dress Giveaway will be held at the Elks Club, 249 S. 4th St., Grand Junction. The dates are April 2 from noon-4 pm and April 3 from noon-3 pm. All girls in the valley are invited. We also have free alterations available to make sure that the dresses fit perfectly. If you can donate jewelry, dresses, or shoes, or if you would like to volunteer your time or services, please contact us. We hope to make this the best giveaway year yet. Contact Carla Purcella at
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260-4222 or Cheryl Whitehurst at 424-8868, or contact us through our Facebook page (2016 Grand Junction Area Annual Prom Dress Giveaway). Support groups • Mending Hearts Support Group is for any adult who has experienced the death of a loved one. Grand Junction group meets from 2 - 3:30 pm Thursdays at the Miller Homestead at HopeWest. Fruita group meets at the Fruita Civic Center. 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 who are living with a mental illness. Groups meet at various times and locations in Mesa County. For additional information, please visit the NAMI Western Slope website at NAMIWS.org or call the NAMI office at 462-3989. • Western Slope Visionaries, a low-vision support group, meets from 9:30 am - 1:30 pm, Wednesdays. Call 241-0315.
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• Compassionate Friends offers friendship and understanding to bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents. The group meets monthly at 7- 8:30 pm on the first Tuesdays at Unity Church, 3205 N. 12th St. Call 434-3822. • MACHO Men cancer support group meets monthly at 5 pm - 6:30 pm 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 am to noon at the Artful Cup. Call 2418975. • MS Breakfast Group meets monthly at 9 am on the first Wednesdays at The Egg & I. Call 241-8975. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Colorado National Monument is seeking new volunteers to assist the staff in a variety of ways. Opportunities include visitor services, trail ambassador, environmental educa-
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tion, facility or trail maintenance and many others. For more information, please contact Lindsay Compton at 858-3617 ext. 364. Family Health West is looking for volunteers! Do you play a musical instrument, sing, or love to entertain? Are you looking for more ways to become involved in your community? Family Health West is looking for volunteers to show off their musical talents or to assist with our activities with our residents in our assisted living and nursing home facilities. Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Nathan Watchman, at 970-858-2211 or nwatchman@fhw.org to learn more.
Mesa County RSVP connects individuals 55 and older to volunteer positions in any of our member agencies. For more information on the available positions below, call 243-9839 or visit rsvpgrandjunction.org. American Cancer Society – Visit patients Child and Migrant Services – Administrative assistant Community Food Bank – Packer/interview clients Eagle Ridge of Grand Valley – Provide entertainment or companionship for seniors Fruita Thrift Shop – Retail, cashier, warehouse ■
“The Road Less Traveled” Art show by oil painter Mary Kollman
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oin renowned oil painter Mary Kollman as she opens her solo show, “The Road Less Traveled,” which runs from April 1 – 30 at the Main Street Gallery, 412 Main Street in Grand Junction. You can meet Kollman during an artist reception at the gallery, April 1 from 5 - 9 pm. Kollman is an internationally collected painter who moved back to Colorado from the east coast. Her paintings have been viewed in galleries from coast to coast, including Virginia, Maryland, Denver, Vail, Breckenridge, Santa Fe, Sedona, Palm Desert, Seattle and Portland, Oregon. “I am so excited to be back in Colorado,” said Kollman. “My studio is being built in Grand Junction, right outside of the Colorado National Monument. The views are stunning! I’m most known for my big sky and abstract landscape paintings. Recently I added a new method using a squeegee with a fair amount of oil medium and citrus thinner, as seen in the painting, ‘The Road Less Traveled.’ The result is stunning, more abstract and really interesting,” she said. As Kollman paints in her studio, she feels wholeness and peace. “I try to get out of the way and let the painting unfold,” she says. “It’s like learning to ride a bike and trusting gravity. I have sustained courage as I try to bring the magic to what I’m creating.” Recently one of Kollman’s paintings was commissioned for the new Community Hospital, and St. Mary’s Hospital bought two of her paintings for its Century Project buildout. To view Kollman’s paintings online, visit marykollman.com. “I look forward to meeting many new patrons during my April show. I love to receive feedback as it’s so inspiring for new paintings,” Kollman said. “Please drop by. I’d love to meet you.”
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Across 1 Per unit 5 Several Norwegian kings 10 WAC school 14 Mother Hubbard’s quest 15 Like some bulls 16 New York night spot 17 Ready for customers 18 Project Gemini rocket 19 Gael, for one 20 1955 Astaire musical 23 Use the unsharpened end 24 Apply bread to gravy 25 Mighty Joe Young, for one 28 Oink-filled pen? 29 ___, skip and jump away 33 Repairman’s reading 35 Log-on requirement, often 37 “Alice’s Restaurant” name 38 Asks to marry 43 Teheran V.I.P. 44 Arcane 45 Computer programming -language 48 Bygone pump name 49 Product of 48 Across 52 Nixon’s start and finish
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53 Wine descriptor 55 Cardiolo-gist’s -concern 57 Margaux’s grandfather 62 Blow, as bucks 64 Scaler’s spike 65 Fam. -members 66 Snooty -attitude 67 180, so to speak 68 Director Kazan 69 Letter’s number 70 Huffs and puffs 71 Jalousie unit Down 1 Dwelling places 2 Gift for 62 Down? 3 Eventually 4 Hangs in the balance 5 Milky gem 6 ___ di Como, city in 50 Down 7 With the stroke of ___ 8 Poison administrants 9 Zigzag downhill 10 Shore defense grp. 11 Books of synonyms 12 Scaleless fish 13 Mastered perfectly 21 Baker’s supply 22 MPG raters 26 ___ Alto, CA 27 United Church of Christ college
30 Sneaky laugh sound 31 Loads from lodes 32 Sharp -irritation 34 Hoops Hall-of-Famer Thurmond 35 Quantico initials 36 Makes tracks? 38 Water transporter 39 Arab -sultanate 40 Traveler’s document 41 Popular ’80’s dolls 42 “Backyards, Greenwich Village” artist 46 Dreaded snake 47 Ascend 49 “1984” author 50 Napoli locale 51 ___ one’s feet 54 Dancer Rivera 56 Frightful giants 58 Place for a vault 59 Vingt-___ (twenty-one, in cards) 60 Cartoonist Walker 61 Pay-to-stay places 62 Subject of this puzzle 63 Narrow inlet
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HELP WANTED WANTED: The Trustees for the Grand Mesa Christian Camp, located on the south shore of Baron Lake, are looking to hire a camp manager for this next summer. Work should begin mid-June through mid-August and weekends the latter part of August through most of September. Please call Jim Mackley at 242-4794 or Max Stites at 256-7797. WENDY’S NOW HIRING! Shift supervisors and crew members. We are looking for smiling faces and positive attitudes. We offer competitive pay, discounts and a great working environment. Full-time and part-time employment available. Please apply at your nearest location in Grand Junction.
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MAYFIELD SENIOR CARE, LLC Two openings for private pay clients. Professional, exceptional and compassionate home care including cooking (from scratch), light housekeeping, laundry, assistance to appointments, shopping, office administration, pet care. Insured. Local references. 683-1414. jenniferjane@mayfieldse niorcare.com YOU DESERVE A BREAK TODAY! Thoughtful in-home companionship for you or your loved ones. Walking, shopping, recreational activities and fun outings. Short-term respite care. References. Call Mary 254-1787. Please leave message. PERSONAL CAREGIVER To do light housecleaning; run errands; cook; and assist with bathing, personal care and laundry. References available. Contact Shona at 208-5890.
HOME SERVICES
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APRIL 2016
COMPUTER LADY, LLC In-home repair. 15 years serving Mesa County! Windows, Internet, WiFi, Android, Tablets, NefFlix, Roku. Virus removal, installation and instruction. Dependable, reasonable. Qualified. 255-1216
APRIL 2016
CLASSIFIEDS 45
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COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL CLEANING BY By KayDee the Cleaning Lady. Dependable, Efficient & Insured. Please call for references! KayDee at 623-4722 (cell) or 241-1270 (office). PO Box 394, Grand Junction, CO 81502. SCENE CLEARLY, LLC Window cleaners specializing in making your day a little brighter! Grand Junction area. Call Frank Cordova at 242-1264. RELIABLE ESTATE SALES Are you in the midst of a stressful relocation or passing of a loved one? Let us handle the burden of personal property liquidation from start to finish. Contact Mark Bluhm at 260-2327, cash4@bresnan.net or www.reliableestatesales.net. ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES Up to two FREE Grab bars with purchase of walk-in tub or showers. Licensed plumber/handyman. Serving Western Colorado since 1989. Free estimates. Compare and save! 985-1403. ANTIQUES, APPRAISALS, ESTATE SALES With over 30 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. 216-8236.
TREE SERVICE Get ready for summer – Tree trimming, tree removal, stump grinding. FREE hauling, boom truck to 85 feet, FREE estimates. Licensed and insured. Chris 260-0222.
PET SERVICES Poochnannies.com In your home professional pet sitters. Licensed, bonded and insured. References. Call us today. Judy Mathews 210-6944 or Linda and Jim Nieman 683-0068.
WANTED TO BUY CASH Paid for Old Stuff Wind-up men’s wrist/pocket watches, gold and silver jewelry, pocket/ hunting knives, antique firearms, fishing gear, toys, BB guns, old Colorado bottles, old motorcycles, radios and amps, railroad, military, mining items. www.cash4oldstuff. net. Mark 260-2327. USED BOOKS BUY, SELL OR TRADE Gently used books on hundreds of subjects. Westerns, Romance, Mysteries, Suspense, Kids, Young Adult, Inspirational, and many others. Large print. Special orders. 242-3911. Twice Upon a Time Bookshop, 2885 North Ave., Ste. B. Located in front of North Ave. Walmart and next to Subway. 10-6 Mon-Sat, 11-4 Sunday. **Bring this ad in for $10 Trade Credit**
NATIONAL CLASSIFIEDS APRIL 2016 TRAVEL ALL INCLUSIVE CRUISE package on the Norwegian Sky out of Miami to the Bahamas. Pricing as low as $299 pp for 3 Day or $349 pp for 4 Day (double occupancy) - ALL beverages included! For more info. call 877-270-7260 or go to NCPtravel.com AUTO SALES OR AUTO DONATIONS Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398 AUTO’S WANTED CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!! 2002 and Newer! Any Condition. Running or Not. Competitive Offer! Free Towing! We’re Nationwide! Call For Quote: 1-888-416-2330. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Get $500-$5000+ Daily! Return Phone Calls and Get Daily Cash Flow! Not MLM. No Investments, No Risk, No selling. SHORT OVERVIEW: 1-888-812-1214 EDUCATION/CAREER TRAINING 25 DRIVER TRAINEES NEEDED! Become a driver for Stevens Transport! NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! New drivers earn $800+ per week! PAID CDL TRAINING! Stevens covers all costs! 1-888-734-6714 drive4stevens.com ACCOUNTING & PAYROLL TRAINING PROGRAM! Online career training can get you job ready now! TRAIN AT HOME NOW! Financial aid if qualified! HS Diploma/GED required. 1-877-253-6495 MEDICAL BILLING TRAINEES NEEDED! Train at home to process Medical Billing & Insurance! NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! Online training at Bryan University! HS Diploma/GED & Computer/Internet needed. 1-888-734-6711 AIRLINE CAREERS. Get FAA approved maintenance training at campuses coast to coast. Job placement assistance. Financial Aid for qualifying students. Military friendly. Call AIM 888-686-1704 EMPLOYMENT Make $1,000 Weekly! Paid in Advance! Mailing Brochures at Home. East Pleasant work. Begin Immediately. Age Unimportant. www.MyHomeIncomeNow55.com FOR SALE $90 Laptops, $30 TV’s, $8 Smart Phones, $4 Jeans, $1 DVD’s. Brand Name Electronics, Apparel, Furniture, Toys, Cosmetics from over 200 leading liquidators. Visit: Webcloseout.com HEALTH & MEDICAL WOW! 10-60% OFF Dental Procedures. $7 month 15% off any Plan + 1 FREE Month. 1-844-694-0252 Promo DENTAL642. Dentalplans.com for details. HOME RENTALS STOP RENTING! Option To Buy! Rent To Own. No Money Down! No Credit Check! Call Now 1-877-395-1291
MISCELLANEOUS CASH FOR CARS: All Cars/Trucks Wanted. Running or Not! Top Dollar Paid. We Come To You! Any Make/Model. Call For Instant Offer: 1-800-864-5960 Get the IRS off your back! They do not give up until you pay. Tax Solutions Now will get you the best deal. Call 1-800-764-3066 Lower Your TV, Internet & Phone Bill!!! Fast Internet from $15/mo - qualifying service. Limited Time Offer. Plus, FREE $300 GiftCard. Call 855-693-1333 EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISES - the ultimate vacation! See Europe from the comfort of a Viking or Avalon luxury cruise ship. For the experience of a lifetime, call 877270-7260 or go to NCPtravel.com for more information CASH PAID for unexpired, sealed DIABETIC TEST STRIPS! 1 DAY PAYMENT & PREPAID shipping. HIGHEST PRICES! Call 1-888-776-7771. www.Cash4DiabeticSupplies.com CHILDREN’S BOOK – Looking for some wholesome reading material for your young reader? Check out Richard the Donkey and His LOUD, LOUD Voice at www. RichardTheDonkey.com Lower Your TV, Internet & Phone Bill!!! Get Fast Internet from $15/mo - qualifying service. Limited Time Offer. Plus, get a FREE $300 Gift Card. Call 855-693-1333 Today! Make a Connection. Real People, Flirty Chat. Meet singles right now! Call LiveLinks. Try it FREE. Call NOW: Call 1-877-737-9447 18+ Struggling with DRUGS or ALCOHOL? Addicted to PILLS? Talk to someone who cares. Call The Addiction Hope & Help Line for a free assessment. (800) 768-9180 TOP CASH PAID FOR OLD GUITARS! 1920’s thru 1980’s. Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D’Angelico, Stromberg. And Gibson Mandolins/Banjos. 1-800-401-0440 WANTED OLD JAPANESE MOTORCYCLES KAWASAKI Z1-900 (1972-75), KZ900, KZ1000 (1976-1982), Z1R, KZ 1000MK2 (1979,80), W1-650, H1-500 (1969-72), H2-750 (1972-1975), S1-250, S2-350, S3-400, KH250, KH400, SUZUKI-GS400, GT380, HONDA-CB750K (19691976), CBX1000 (1979,80) CASH!! 1-800-772-1142 1-310-721-0726 usa@classicrunners.com WANTED TO BUY EXTRA DIABETIC STRIPS? Sell with us! DTSbuyers.com 1-866-446-3009 Most brands accepted! Cash for unexpired DIABETIC TEST STRIPS or STOP SMOKING PRODUCTS! Free Shipping, Best Prices & 24 hr payment! Call 1-855-440-4001 www.TestStripSearch.com. Habla Espanol. WANT CASH FOR EXTRA DIABETIC TEST STRIPS? I Pay Top Dollar Since 2005! 1-Day Fast Payment Guaranteed Up To $60 Per Box! FREE Shipping www.CashNowOffer. com 1-888-210-5233. Get Extra $10 Use Offer Code: CashNOW!
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“Peace Officer”
FUN & GAMES Game answers from page 43
Former sheriff’s search for truth raises questions about increased police militarization
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ndie Lens Pop Up, presented by the Independent Television Service (ITVS), Independent Lens, Rocky Mountain PBS and Mesa County Libraries, announces a free screening of “Peace Officer,” a film by Scott Christopherson and Brad Barber. The documentary will screen on Wednesday, April 20 at 6:30 pm in the Community Room of the Grand Junction Central Library, 443 N. 6th Street. Winner of both the Grand Jury and Audience Awards for Best Documentary at the 2015 SXSW Film Festival, “Peace Officer” is the story of William “Dub” Lawrence, a former sheriff who established and trained Utah’s first SWAT team – only to watch in horror as that same unit killed his son-in-law Brian Wood in a controversial standoff years later. Driven by an obsessive sense of mission, Lawrence uses his investigative skills to uncover the truth about that incident and other officer-involved shootings in his community, while tackling larger questions about the changing face of peace officers nationwide.
In the film, Lawrence’s long-term obsession with bringing to light the truth behind Wood’s killing is intertwined with his investigations of other recent officer-involved shootings and SWAT team raids in quiet neighborhoods just miles from where his son-in-law was killed. Several of these cases are related to aggressive, no-knock search warrant laws, which are typical across the country; these are contextualized within the growing problem of violent SWAT raids and governmental immunity laws established as part of the War on Drugs. “Peace Officer” follows Dub as he doggedly picks apart these cases with the zeal of a rule-of-law detective combined with the grief of a victim. The Grand Junction screening of “Peace Officer” is free of charge and will begin with wine and appetizers at 6 pm. The film will begin at 6:30 pm and the evening will conclude with a panel discussion. Visit www.rmpbs.org/cinema or itvs.org/films/peace-officer for more information. ■
Free Screening: Peace Officer
The increasingly tense relationship between law enforcement and the public is seen through the eyes of someone who’s been on both sides: a former sheriff who established Utah’s first SWAT team, only to see the same unit kill his son-in-law in a controversial standoff 30 years later.
Wednesday, April 20 at 6pm Mesa County Central Library 5th and Grand, Grand Junction, CO 81501, (970)245-1818 Free food and wine provided by Talon Wine Brands and No Coast Sushi
970-640-3908
APRIL 2016
grandvalleyinsulation.com
APRIL 2016
KUDOS & KVETCH 47
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kudos \ ku·dos
Thank you all so much for the most beautiful Valentine’s Dance. My girlfriends and I enjoyed the opportunity to get dressed up and have a reason to have our hair and nails done. There are so few of these kinds of occasions anymore. It was a perfect evening. –G.G. Bird I, literally, ran into one of your newspaper stands for the BEACON. Fortunately it’s as tough as I am so, we’re both okay. By the way, it stood out plenty fine, I just wasn’t paying attention. –Barbara M. Kevin’s reply: I’m glad that you are both okay.
Kvetch \ kfech I read in the paper that Toby Quick has been charged with burglary. It would appear to me that he was not quick enough. – Hap J. Good news, the City of Grand Junction has hired a new city manager – Greg Caton. Better news, he has stated that he intends to work here the rest of his career. Will he be able to resist the temptation of cashing out early? The city has a history of lavishing large sums of money on those managers who perform poorly and leave quickly. What incentive is there for him to stay and work? –Donovan D. Got stocks? Another reason to buy funds rather than individual stocks is exemplified by my owing shares in Chipotle. What a debacle! First, they’re making people sick. Then they mismanage the whole affair and now they’re giving away food because people don’t want to pay for it. Yeah, sell stuff for free. That’ll work. –Tyler F.
Wanna give a shout out? Pass out a compliment? Write us at:
Beacon@PendantPublishing.com.
Are you afraid of retirement? By Billy and Akaisha Kaderli
A
ll of your ducks are in a row. You have saved and carefully invested for years, and the personal discipline is about to pay off. So why is there apprehension in the bottom of your belly? Let’s be honest. There is risk involved, and the future no longer seems certain or familiar. “What if I forgot about something?” you think, and you start going over every plan you have made. No one likes to admit straight out that they are afraid of retirement. Why, that sounds silly. But changing your life from one of being focused on work duties, raising a family, paying bills and receiving that dependable paycheck every week to one of the virtually unknown has its own set of stresses. You’re being dishonest if you say it’s not a big leap mentally, emotionally, or financially. Lack of confidence often underlies questions disguised as logistics on how to retire. Sometimes, one must simply take the leap of faith, making a companion of the ever-present question, “What if?” If you have spent your whole life building security and providing that security the best you could for your family, then stepping into the unknown world of retirement is like jumping off a cliff – even if you’re as prepared as you think you are. Sure, we can distract ourselves with dreams of endless golf, or margaritas on an exotic beach somewhere, but when it’s quiet, we find ourselves looking over our shoulders, wondering whether some forgotten component is lurking just out of sight. “What if I run out of money?” you whisper to yourself. Perhaps your personal fear-mongering nemesis is health care in retirement, your portfolio balance, or
even something as simple as boredom. There can be great comfort gained from all of one’s time being planned out months in advance. To expect retirement to be free of hitches or snags is unreasonable. There are no guarantees in life. None of us knows what the future will bring, and this is true whether you’re working or retired.
He re WE G ROW!
(again)
“What if ... ?” The “What if” syndrome is all-pervasive. It attaches itself to every aspect of life. However, living life through the eyes of fear only amplifies that uncertainty. If you wait for that perfect time to do something, you may discover that it never arrives. Looking back over your life, you might see all of the missed opportunities for great adventures and memory making that you set aside in your pursuit of that ever-elusive feeling of security. So what do you do? Fear never leaves us, but the fortifying of our confidence helps us cope. Find ways to transfer your talents and abilities to your new life. If you must, make a list of your strongest traits. Enumerate your interests and the ways you can best satisfy them. Check out the BEACON Guide, the local library, or the BEACON Senior Newspaper for groups to join, ongoing education classes being given, or chances to volunteer somewhere that let you offer your expertise in something. Exercise. Stay connected to society. Try something new. Following these suggestions will bring strength to your new life, expand your mind and build up your spirit. From here, you will gain self-assurance, making it easier to surmount any obstacles you may encounter in your retirement. ■
NOVEMBER 2014 •
• 2014 Holiday events you don’t want to miss
page 6 & 12
Produced by the BEACON’s Advertising Team
Your Guide to a Happy Holiday
Now on the web at www.BeaconSeniorNews.com
Vol. 28 No. 11
Western Colorado’s Monthly Newspaper for Adults 50+. Over 34,020 Readers.
Celebrate the holidays with gift-giving ideas galore from our area’s finest merchants.
Healing with Art The Veterans’ Art Center is a place where veterans can heal their emotional wounds through music and art. Page 6. Elks’ Lodge It was no easy task establishing a lodge in both Delta and Montrose, but perseverance and creativity prevailed. Page 20. Museum honors Ute heritage The Ute Indian Museum helps share the stories and livelihoods of the native Utes. Page 30.
Our annual salute to local veterans
Photo courtesy of Veterans Committee of Photo the Western by Xxxx Slope Xxxx.
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