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You may find the benefit you’re looking for in a Humana Medicare Advantage plan. Ask your agent. You may still be able to enroll if:
You may find the benefit you’re looking for in a Humana Medicare Advantage plan. Ask your agent. You may still be able to enroll if:
You may find the benefit you’re looking for in a Humana Medicare Advantage plan. Ask your agent. You may still be able to enroll if:
• You’ve moved out of your plan service area
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• You’re newly eligible for Medicare
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• You have other qualifying circumstances
• You have other qualifying circumstances
• You have other qualifying circumstances
Humana has a broad selection of Medicare Advantage plans. And Humana is here to help members, from finding a doctor to arranging a ride for those whose plans include transportation benefits. That’s human care.
Humana has a broad selection of Medicare Advantage plans. And Humana is here to help members, from finding a doctor to arranging a ride for those whose plans include transportation benefits. That’s human care.
Humana has a broad selection of Medicare Advantage plans. And Humana is here to help members, from finding a doctor to arranging a ride for those whose plans include transportation benefits. That’s human care.
Humana MarketPoint® office
719-532-7700 (TTY: 711)
Come visit me at:
Humana MarketPoint® office
Humana MarketPoint® office
Humana MarketPoint® office
719-532-7700 (TTY: 711)
719-532-7700 (TTY: 711)
5310 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Come visit me at:
Come visit me at:
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Humana MarketPoint® office
Humana MarketPoint® office
5310 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80918
5310 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
A more human way to healtcare™
A more human way to healtcare™
Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO and PFFS organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal At Humana, it is important you are treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ancestry, ethnicity, marital status, religion or language. English: ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 877-320-1235 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 877-320-1235 (TTY: 711). 繁體中文 (Chinese): 注意：如果您使用繁體中文 ，您可以免費獲得語
言援助服務 。請致電 877-320-1235（聽障專線：711）。
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comply with applicable federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin,
Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO and PFFS organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal At Humana, it is important you are treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin,
June 18-25, 2023
$3,195 PER PERSON*
Day 1: Depart Colorado Springs for Portland, OR. Meet your tour manager and fellow travelers.
Day 2: Today you tour Mount Hood and Timberline Lodge. Once back in Portland enjoy a guided tour of the city.
Day 3: Depart Portland for the spectacular Columbia River Gorge to visit Vista House and stop at beautiful Multnomah Falls. Arrive at Pendleton and enjoy dinner at Hamley Steakhouse.
Day 4: Tour Pendleton Woolen Mills and Fort Walla Walla.
Day 5: Full-day jet boat trip on the Snake River in Hells Canyon, the deepest river gorge in North America.
Day 6: Historic Rider Ranch and Lake Coeur d’Alene dinner cruise.
Day 7: Wallace Silver Mine tour and Native American cultural dinner.
Day 8: After breakfast, depart Spokane for Colorado Springs.
August 5, 2023
$5,858 PER PERSON*
Day1: Depart Colorado Springs for Chicago. Enjoy your complimentary stay at the pre-cruise hotel. The evening is yours to become acquainted with the city.
Day 2: Today will be spent exploring Chicago. Bold, brazen, and distinctly American, Chicago has the personality to spare. From our embarkation point at Navy Pier to towering skyscrapers to regional cuisine and a quirky dialect, this city represents the heart and soul of the Midwest.
Day 3: Spend the day relaxing and enjoying the view on your own time on this peaceful lake cruising day.
Day 4: Cruise along Mackinac Island. These cruises take you to beautiful Mackinac Island, where you can spend time among nature or stroll the downtown area.
Day 5: Explore Sault Ste. Marie or “the Sault.” Located in Michigan and Ontario. Sault Ste. Marie is home to historical sites, lighthouses, pristine nature preserves, and the spectacular Tahquamenon Falls.
Day 6: Spend the day at Little Current (Manitoulin Island) in Ontario. Recognized as one of the best freshwater boating regions in the world, an evening stroll along the boardwalk will reveal boats from all over the Great Lakes Basin and the east coast of Canada, as well as the U.S.
Day 7: Relax and enjoy the view on your own time on this peaceful lake cruising day.
Day 8: Our Detroit, Michigan, cruises take you along the Detroit River to top destinations throughout Canada and the U.S. Join us on cruises to Detroit, Michigan, which make stops in cities such as Chicago and Toronto. Along the way, you can explore various cities and locations via exciting excursions, such as a tour of Niagara Falls.
Day 9: Step off the ship onto what some call America’s “North Coast” and discover why Clevelanders are so fiercely proud of their home. The reinvented city reverberates with vitality and a cool new atmosphere.
$5,355*
Switzerland by Rail is the perfect way to see Switzerland’s breathtaking mountains, charming mountain resorts, fascinating old towns and beautiful lakes—all while you relax in first-class aboard Switzerland’s famous trains. You’ll overnight in Zurich, the Lucerne area, Lausanne, Zermatt and St. Moritz.
One of the highlights of this Switzerland train tour is the journey aboard the Glacier Express from Zermatt, a picturesque cluster of rustic chalets beneath the majestic Matterhorn, to glitzy St. Moritz, one of the world’s most famous resorts. Another highlight is the journey aboard the Bernina Express from St. Moritz to Tirano, Italy. Traveling on the highest railway across the Alps, you’ll witness glistening glaciers, stunning mountain streams, alpine scenery, and tunnels and bridges that are engineering masterpieces. Stunning scenery and thrilling train rides... there’s no better way to see scenic Switzerland! So grab your camera and get ready for an amazing vacation!
*Based on double occupancy; single supplement is $450. Price includes fully escorted tour, roundtrip airfare from Colorado Springs to Denver, lovely accommodations, baggage handling, breakfast each morning, 4 dinners, all transfers, first class seats on the trains, excursion in Lucerne, all taxes and surcharges. Deposit of $400 per person is due to secure booking; final payment due 5/15/23.
October
$3,698 PER PERSON*
Day 1: Depart Colorado Springs for Boston, MA. Meet your tour manager in the hotel lobby for a welcome dinner.
Day 2: Begin the day with a sightseeing tour of historic Boston then travel up the coast to Kennebunkport, one of Maine’s coastal jewels then continue to Portland, Maine which boasts a vibrant waterfront.
Day 3: Start at the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum. Take a 1.5 mile long ride along the Eastern Promenade of Casco Bay followed by a scenic cruise of the bay.
Day 4: Travel west into New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Experience towering peaks, stunning scenery, quaint towns and villages before boarding the Mount Washington Cog Railway.
Day 5: Begin the day aboard the North Conway Scenic Railroad then travel the Kancamagus Scenic Byway as it follows a beautiful path through the White Mountains. Cross into Vermont to view the spectacular scenery of the area.
Day 6: Travel to the town of Stockbridge in the culturally rich Berkshires region. Visit the Norman Rockwell Museum then enjoy some free time before continuing to the incredible Foxwoods Resort Casino.
Day 7: Board the Essex Steam Train as you pass through some of the most beautiful country in the state. Later board the riverboat Becky Thatcher for a relaxing trip up the Connecticut River.
Day 8: Pass through the state of Rhode Island to Plymouth, MA climb aboard your sea-going vessel for a whale watching excursion. Pay a visit to Plymouth Rock where our forefathers first settled on American soil.
Day 9: After breakfast, depart Boston for Colorado Springs.
Day 10: We dock at Port Colborne, located on Lake Erie. The city features live theatre, golfing, trails, fishing, beaches, restaurants, recreation, a marina, and shopping districts along the Welland Canal.
Day 11: As your American Queen Voyages journey concludes, there are other opportunities for you to take in the town, whether it’s an optional premier post-cruise experience or a quick transfer to the airport for your final trip home, your AQV team can pre-arrange everything for you.
Sept. 22-28, 2023 $3,399 PER PERSON*
DAY 1: Depart Colorado Springs and arrive in beautiful Charleston, South Carolina with a transfer to your hotel. Tonight, get to know your Tour Manager and fellow traveling companions during a welcome dinner at 6:00 p.m. in the hotel.
DAY 2: Through the stories of those who founded Charleston, the local guide makes history come alive along these antebellum homelined streets. See the Old Market and Exchange and the famous “Battery at the Harbor,” which overlooks Fort Sumter. At Boone Hall Plantation enjoy a taste of the Old South with a traditional Low Country Plantation lunch before a tour of the grounds. One of America’s oldest working plantations, Boone Hall has been continually growing crops for over 320 years and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
DAY 3: Depart Charleston for one of Georgia’s “Golden Isles’” Jekyll Island. En route, a stop is made at charming Beaufort, one of only a handful of towns in the nation that has had its entire downtown designated an historic district by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Beaufort is known for its southern hospitality, scenic waterfront charm, quaint shops and historic homes. Later, arrive at the romantic Victorian-style Jekyll Island Club Hotel, originally built as an exclusive island getaway for the Rockefeller and Vanderbilt families.
DAY 4: Begin the day with a narrated tram tour of Jekyll Island’s National Landmark Historic District and hear the fascinating stories of the island’s beginnings and development by the “rich and famous” of the late 1800s. In the afternoon, visit the largest of the Golden Isles, St. Simons, where Spanish moss-draped oaks line the island’s charming streets See St. Simons Lighthouse, in operation since 1872, and Bloody Marsh, where British and Scottish soldiers defeated the Spanish. The balance of the day is free to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the Jekyll Island Club.
DAY 5: Travel to Savannah, the “Belle of the South” and discover why General Sherman found this city much too beautiful to burn during the Civil War. On a narrated trolley tour your driver-guide recounts the tales and secrets of the stately mansions of the lovely squares of Savannah’s Historic District. Pass the 1820 birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts, the squares and streets where movies such as Forrest Gump and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil were filmed.
DAY 6: This morning it’s off to Tybee Island to visit the lighthouse that has been the guardian of the Savannah River since 1736. Visit the museum that features exhibits of early life on the island, and if you are feeling adventurous, take the exhilarating walk up the 154-foottall lighthouse. Later, feel free to discover the many shops along River Street and enjoy the beauty of the quaint squares perfect for relaxing. Tonight, dinner is served familystyle at Mrs. Wilkes’ Boarding House, a Savannah legend.
DAY 7: Bid a fond farewell to Savannah and leave with wonderful memories of the South’s most beautiful cities.
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8 COVER STORY
Pysanka: Easter Eggs for Grown-Ups
Local artist creates ornate eggs with this ancient Ukrainian art
Growing up with four older brothers and no sisters meant I had to be tough enough to hang in there
12 Recipe: Feta Roasted Salmon and Tomatoes
Enjoying this healthy meal with loved ones will nourish the body and soul
13 “But I Promised to Never Put Mom in a Nursing Home”
We make lots of promises in life, but as a caregiver, it’s not your job to be perfect
14 Which Magnesium Supplements are Right for You?
Adequate levels of magnesium ensure good attention span and focus, but choosing the right supplement can be difficult
15 Ask Ms. Kitty: With a Litter Luck
Deciding which litter is best is just as important for you as it is your cat
18
Save Your Seeds!
Saving your seeds can help preserve the genetic health of your plants and produce better crops
Egypt:
Standing at the base of the Egyptian pyramids adds to the appreciation of what men using primitive tools created a long time ago
22 Spotlight: Breathe with Ease! Planet Duct gives your ducts a cleaning that’s out of this world! Here’s why you should clean your vents more regularly
23 Stream for Less: How to Make the Most of Your Streaming Services
Streaming media is the access to entertainment we dreamed of as kids. Here’s how to make the most of it while saving money
24 CALENDARS
28 Clubs
29 Question of the Month
30 News Bits
32 Fun After 50 Senior Center Activities
34 Fun & Games
36 Classifieds
38 Opinion: Confused about Medicare? Hollywood might be to blame Medicare’s annual enrollment period just ended, and it was all but impossible to miss the commercials featuring celebrities pitching Medicare Advantage plans to seniors
My kitchen experimenting began when I was barely in double digits. When I think back, not that many years elapsed between playing with plastic food in the little kitchen my grandpa built to trying my hand at it for real. Like many experiences in life, I learned from my failures— my recipes for disasters.
I ruined Mom’s cookbooks with regularity from my early attempts at whipping up something special. Pages got dusted with flour or splattered with vanilla. (Hey, it made finding our favorites easier!) She vowed to buy pristine replacement copies of those spiral-bound church cookbooks but never did, and now she graciously says they bring back memories—some of them very likely burnt to a crisp but others sweet. Cookbooks often sit on the shelf these days while home chefs peruse online cooking blogs or AllRecipes.com.
I love the creative aspect of cooking and reading, so you’d think I’d be thrilled that online cooks tend to write a novel before the recipe even appears. Nope! I just want to get ’er done, not read what inspired the recipe, how much they love it, how it tastes, the comments of everyone who has tried it, helpful tips, close-up photos of every single step, which appliances were used and how much they love said appliances, and on and on. By that point I’m just “hangry”—all stirred up and needing to simmer down.
I prefer Life After 50’s “Dragnet”-style recipes: just the facts. (See page 12 for Feta Roasted Salmon and Tomatoes.)
The specified length of time the recipe should take to make? Wrong. Always. Who starts with bowls of precut ingredients like they do on cooking shows? Who doesn’t get interrupted? Who else can’t find that elusive spice in the cupboard?
Storage in my kitchen is limited, so I don’t have many gadgets. I never had a bread ma -
chine when that was the thing. (It is possible to bake bread without one!) I’ve never had a food processor—just a collection of knives in desperate need of sharpening at any given moment. Current gadgets not in my kitchen include an Instant Pot and an air fryer. As comedian Steven Wright once intoned in his deadpan style, “You can’t have it all. Where would you put it?”
Like many of you, I’ve experienced the quantity crisis of cooking family-sized amounts for years, but now for two. While I’d frequently double recipes in the past, I’m currently more likely to cut them in half. Sometimes I’ll make the whole crock pot of soup. That way we can share and still have extra, since we are a leftover-lunching household.
While I usually feel compelled to use triedand-true dishes when hosting, my brave friend Laurie regularly tries out new recipes at social gatherings. Maybe she’s on to something. While her dishes always turn out, if ever one didn’t, she could always shrug it off and play the new recipe card.
When the shredding, sautéing and seasoning all comes together in savory goodness, it’s so satisfying. But then there’s the chaotic aftermath of crusty pots and pans. Remember the ’60s TV show, “Bewitched”? Samantha used her magic facial twitch to instantaneously restore all messes to perfection. What if someone could invent a self-cleaning kitchen? Now, that would really be a piece of cake. ■
issues until Life After 50 becomes the
More info at LaFifty.com
Thank you for adding the Black Forest Post Office back on your distribution list. I know quite a few people who will be glad to see it here again.
- LindaEditor’s Column (February)
Thank you, Rhonda, for your thoughtful and nostalgic article about our back yards. I love watching sparrows and other birds at our back yard bird feeder and their tenacity to forage, no matter the weather!
- Lawrence S.
“The Fight for Freedom” (February)
I read with interest your article describing various civil rights sites. However, on the description of Little Rock High School, President Eisenhower authorized troops from the 101st Airborne from Ft. Campbell to restore order and the children were allowed to enter the school under their protection. Please correct this oversight as you see fit.
- Kathleen P.Life After 50 wins national awards (January)
Topics in the January edition are like belated holiday gifts—just when I was feeling more wrinkled, sore and old, along came January’s uplifting and informative issue. The new magazine name and new caregiver columnist, Dr. Landon, will certainly be very positive additions.
- Sharon W.YOU’D THINK I’D BE THRILLED THAT ONLINE COOKS TEND TO WRITE A NOVEL BEFORE THE RECIPE EVEN APPEARS. NOPE!
Above:
hen spring is in the air and Easter is near, you might gather your grandkids and dip hard-boiled eggs into dye baths with packaged tablets that turn light blue, green, pink and yellow. Voila! Easter eggs.
While these pastel eggs are fine for Easter baskets, egg hunts and even snacking, Marilyn Cain, 84, elevates eggs to astonishing next-level artistry with pysanka, the Ukrainian tradition of decorating and dyeing eggs.
A multitude of elaborate designs and a rainbow of vibrant hues characterize this art form, which is thought to have originated in the prehistoric Trypillian culture with territories encompassing parts of present-day Moldova, Ukraine and Romania. Although the art predates the written word, “pysanka” comes from the verb “pysaty,” which means “to write,” and is reflected in the way designs are drawn on the eggs with beeswax, rather than painted on.
“There is absolutely no painting involved,” Cain emphasized.
Cain has always been happiest when she’s engaged in some form of handiwork, whether it’s crocheting, sewing, painting or beadwork.
But an elbow injury in the ’80s forced her to pause these pursuits, and a fortuitous encoun -
By Lisa Lowdermilk
ter introduced her to the art form that would change her life.
Cain and her husband were at a gun show in Denver when she met the woman who introduced her to pysanka. She pulled out an egg carton and some jars containing colored water, which Cain initially thought was Kool-Aid.
“I finally mustered up the courage to ask her what she was doing,” said Cain.
She exchanged numbers with Linda, the artist, and they kept in touch. Cain soon realized that pysanka didn’t strain her elbow.
“I would send Linda pictures of the eggs I was working on and she gave me feedback. I got addicted to it,” Cain said.
Linda acted as both teacher and mentor, helping Cain reach her full artistic potential. Most of all, she helped Cain believe in herself, gifting her
Cain holds eggs on both ends of the size spectrum: an extra-large ostrich egg and a diminutive finch egg. Right: The straight lines of the Star of David are difficult to achieve on the curved surface of the egg. Far Right: Cain appreciates the complexity of this egg’s overlapping pattern and movement.with the best compliment any artist could ask for.
“She told me, ‘The student has surpassed the teacher,’” Cain said, with tears shining in her eyes. “It was the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
It wasn’t long before others took notice of Cain’s talent and started purchasing her decorative eggs. She exhibited them at multiple fine art shows in Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado. These shows are notoriously competitive, yet she has won multiple awards.
Cain has worked on tiny finch eggs less than 1-inch in length to 6-inch ostrich eggs. One of her most striking creations is an ostrich egg adorned with hummingbirds. But picking a favored egg is impossible.
“It’s like trying to choose a favorite child,” Cain said.
Rather than selecting individual colors and designs ahead of time, Cain lets the act of creation itself dictate the egg’s ultimate form.
“I don’t have any idea what I’m going to do ahead of time,” she said. “None of them are really planned.”
She starts by cleaning the outside of an egg and emptying it by poking a small hole on the bottom. Occasionally, the yolk will dry up, rattling around inside. She doesn’t try to remove it, as that would break the egg.
Next, she draws her design on lightly and carefully with a pencil.
“Erasing isn’t an option,” Cain cautioned. “If you make a mistake, the egg is shot.”
She then traces over it with molten wax using a pen-like stylus called a kistka. The wax protects specific areas from the dye. When the egg is dipped in dye again, the wax is applied over the parts that should retain the dye color just used. By repeating this process with different colors of dye, a multicolored pattern emerges. All wax is removed in the end.
Cain has decorated over 2,000 eggs and no two are alike. Amazingly, she has never broken one! With careful storage, pysanka or pysanky (plural) may be preserved indefinitely. The oldest excavated shell fragments date back to the 17th century.
Cain has researched the traditional meanings of the colors used with pysanka. Eggs with a white background, for example, are placed on children’s graves, as white is associated with the purity and innocence of children. Black is Cain’s favorite color to use because of its symbolism.
“It means I don’t want you to go through a harder time than you’ve already been through,” she said.
Many artists incorporate patriotic symbols, especially in the wake of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Tridents, which are featured prominently on the Ukrainian coat of arms, and the Vasylkiv maiolica rooster, a ceramic rooster that survived a bombing raid last April, are two such symbols of patriotism and resilience.
Other pysanky feature religious symbols, including crosses, white doves and traditional Ukrainian churches with their characteristic onion-domed architecture. Some less obvious Christian motifs include dots symbolizing Mary’s tears for her son as he was crucified and wheat representing God’s love for his children. Even the egg itself represents the tomb from which Jesus rose, with both the egg and Christ’s tomb being vessels for new life.
For Cain, the eggs’ connection to Christianity is near and dear to her heart, especially considering how it has helped her in her own healing from her elbow injury.
“I had my arm in a sling for a while. The doctors told me I would never use my arm again,” she said.
Cain is more than willing to share her knowledge of pysanka with others.
“I would love to teach someone how to do it. It’s not difficult. I want to share it with others who can appreciate its ties to Christianity,” she said.
Though the Ukrainian Easter eggs keep the holy day tradition alive, many, like Cain, create them year-round. The incredible, inedible eggs’ vivid jewel tones and intricate mosaic-type designs inspire wonder, awe and even a sense of hope.
“They’re something really special,” Cain enthused. “They’re all made with love.” ■
In traditional Ukranian pysanka, dyes are rich in symbolism. Colors are chosen as much for their meaning as their appearance.
Black (Marilyn’s favorite): Constancy, eternity, the darkest time before dawn
White: Purity, birth
Yellow: Light and purity, plus recognition and reward in the Christian realm
Orange: Staying strong, enduring, ambition
Pink: Contentment and success
Green: New growth (as in spring), hope, life after death
Red: Love, taking action, spiritual awakening
Blue: Good health and trust
Purple: Faith and patience
Brown: The earth and harvest
Amos McCoy. The old man with the limp and the cackle of a laugh. Many of you will remember Walter Brennan in his iconic role as the grandfather in “The Real McCoys,” a classic TV show of the late ’50s and early ’60s.
My brothers and I used to watch that show. Without question we knew that Brennan had to be about the oldest guy we’d ever seen. Except that it turns out he was just 63 years old when the show started and 69 when it ended. No way!
My four brothers and I are now 84, 79, 75, 75 and 72. Who are the ancient ones now? At least I’m the young pup of the family, although you’re not much of a young pup when you’re older than Grandpa McCoy!
Life has a way of doing that to you. It just won’t slow down. The years pile up and before you know it, you’ve got a lot more years behind you than years left ahead of you.
There’s at least one good thing about that, though. Enjoying old memories has a way of giving perspective to life now while also bringing some much-needed laughs from looking back.
Growing up with four older brothers and no sisters meant I had to be tough enough to hang in there. My life consisted of handme-downs: clothes, shoes, toys,
bikes, bats, balls, gloves, food…. okay, maybe not food, but it felt that way at times.
Since my mom worked full-time helping my dad run their small grocery store, the de facto person in charge at home was the oldest brother who happened to be present. Of course, that was never me.
That led to some interesting times (and memories) for me.
When I was 5, my oldest brother left home for the Navy. Whenever he was back on leave, he would employ his military training by posting a duty roster on the kitchen wall each morning for the rest of us. As the youngest, my duties would normally start with taking out the garbage and end with cleaning up the cellar.
That brother had a unique method for determining which of us was at fault whenever one of us had broken his rules, which happened regularly. He would take five-pound lead weights and have us hold them straight out at arm’s length. The first one whose arm dropped was determined to be the guilty party. I think you can guess how that judicial proceeding went for me. The last-in-line little brother ended up with an unusually long rap sheet.
They teased and tested me, but my brothers have always had my back
Fighting was a weekly, if not daily, part of home life, but we had one standing rule: no hitting in the face. However, one of my brothers had a temper that bypassed any rules. When he would start grinding his teeth in anger, that was my signal to bolt out the door as fast as I could!
One of my brothers taught me how to ride a bike. His method was simple: put me on the bike, push
my brothers showed their love and concern. I was a somewhat picky eater. No problem—my brothers knew what to do. They saw to it that I ate what was put in front of me, whether I wanted to or not.
I remember gagging on a piece of steak with more fat and gristle than meat. They wouldn’t let me leave the table until I’d swallowed it. They would take the peas that I de -
ONE OF MY BROTHERS TAUGHT ME HOW TO RIDE A BIKE. HIS METHOD WAS SIMPLE: PUT ME ON THE BIKE, PUSH ME DOWNHILL AND STAND BACK TO WATCH.
me onto the downhill street we lived on and stand back to watch. Just 100 yards down the hill, the street took a sharp right turn—so what he saw was a monumental crash! He hadn’t thought to show me how to use the brakes.
Fast-forward some years, and it was time for me to learn to drive a car. Stick shift was the only option back then. One of my brothers would take me to the steepest street around, aptly named Crest Road. He’d have me stop halfway up the hill, tell me to shift back into first and then see if I could avoid stalling and rolling backward down the hill. It was a do-or-die system, which was the norm for much of my brothers’ training. How I managed to make it into my teen years and through them is anyone’s guess!
But there was one area where
tested and hide them in the mashed potatoes as their method of making sure I ate my vegetables. Come to think of it, that was the last time I ever ate peas!
All this time later, with 385 years of life among us, we’re spread out around the country. We have oc casional get-togethers, sometimes
Stories change, often embellished or remembered differently, but the laughter flows. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade those growing-up years for anything.
There’s no stopping time. But it’s those early years of good times and bad that provide our memories, and those memories give perspective to everything life brings now. ■
Recipe courtesy of MilkMeansMore.org
Servings: 4
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray
3 cups halved cherry tomatoes
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano or dried dill weed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, divided 11/2 pounds salmon or halibut fillets, cut into four serving-size pieces
1 cup (4 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425º F. Line 18-by-13-by-1-inch baking pan with foil. Lightly spray foil with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
In medium bowl, toss tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, oregano or dill weed, salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
Place fish pieces, skin side down, on one side of prepared pan. Sprinkle with remaining pepper. Lightly press feta cheese on top of fish. Pour tomato mixture on other side of prepared pan. Bake, uncovered, 12-15 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with fork.
Place salmon on serving plates. Spoon tomato mixture over top. ■
Dear Laird: Mom never liked the idea that her own mother was in a nursing home late in her life. When my grandmother ended up dying, Mom was extremely distraught. She said the nursing home was a cold, lonely and terrible place to spend your last days. One day she came to me and said, “Don’t ever put me in a home.” I thought nothing of it at the time and promised to follow her wishes. Now, her doctor says she is nearing end-stage dementia and needs a lot of support. My brother and I are doing everything we can, but we both have jobs and don’t have the time to do everything she needs. We agree she needs to be in a nursing home, but are haunted by our promise to never place her. Is there a way out for us? Signed, Fred
Dear Fred: We make lots of promises throughout life. Situations change. A neurologist once told me it’s hard on families to resolve medical decisions for their parents. When a patient is being supported artificially and has no hope, some family members want to end the suffering and some want to continue life as long as possible. To help the family decide, he gave them this advice: “Remember who your mother was when she was 50. What did she like to do? How did you enjoy your time with her? Now imagine her at 50 looking at the woman in the hospital bed. What would your mother say you should do? Almost all of us would guess she would say, ‘Let me go.’”
Let’s apply that approach to your mother and the promise to never place her in a facility. Ask yourself, “Would she hold me to it, or would she say, ‘You have lovingly taken care of me. You can’t do it anymore. Keeping me at home is a burden to you I can’t stand.”
ASK
As caregivers, we often misunderstand our job. It’s not to be perfect. It’s not to do everything ourselves. It is not to find a cure for the incurable. It is three things: keep your mom safe, keep your mom comfortable and create moments of joy. You can do that even if she is under care somewhere other than home. If you place your mom, you can spend your time with her remembering the joys of her life and telling her what she means to you. Caregivers do what is right in the situation, not what they said they would do when the future is unknown. ■
Could you use a little extra money each month?
• Do you love children and enjoy spending time with them?
• Are able to volunteer 15-40 hours per week helping children learn and succeed?
• Are you 55 years old or older? Do you live in El Paso County?
• Is your income under $27,180 for a single person household, or under $36,620 for a two-person household?
Send your questions to Laird in care of Life After 50, or email him at Laird@Family-Caregiver.org
• Could you use an extra $200 - $400+ per month, plus travel reimbursement? If you answered YES to these questions, call (719) 632-1448 todayto get involved in the Foster Grandparent Program.
YOURSELF, “WOULD SHE HOLD ME TO IT, OR WOULD SHE SAY, ‘YOU HAVE LOVINGLY TAKEN CARE OF ME. YOU CAN’T DO IT ANYMORE.’”
Magnesium is an essential mineral required for strong bones and teeth, and it plays a crucial role in mood, brain health and cognition. Having adequate levels of magnesium ensures good attention span and focus. However, low magnesium (relative to calcium) will lead to long-lasting cramps and spasms. Severe hypomagnesemia will lead to cardiac irregularities and palpitations, as well as migraines and hypertension.
You can get magnesium from eating foods such as leafy greens, nuts and yogurt. However, with the acidification of soil, our crops are becoming magnesium deficient—
meaning you may not get enough simply through diet. That is why supplements are incredibly useful for giving your body the necessary nutrients it needs. Unfortunately, people often buy the wrong kind of supplements after they’re told that “any will do.” But not all supplements are created equal. This quick guide may help you find the one that’s right for you.
■ Magnesium Oxide - This type of magnesium may cause stomach aches, bloating, diarrhea and a lot of gas. The magnesium breaks off from the oxide, but not enough to be impactful. In other words, your body doesn’t absorb as much magnesium.
■ Magnesium Citrate - Magnesium citrate is sold in tablets and liquid. This form is often called “saline” laxatives since it helps
with digestion issues and bowel movements. Some research shows, however, that it may not absorb into the bones and brain as much. Magnesium citrate and oxide forms are perfect if you want to relieve constipation, but not for treating magnesium deficiency.
■ Chelated Magnesium - This slightly more expensive form of magnesium is bound to another thing (usually glycinate). Its formula is easily absorbed by the body. It reaches the brain and bones with more ease, making it a good supplement for magnesium deficiency.
For more articles and advice, sign up for Suzy’s newsletter at SuzyCohen.com
■ Magnesium L-Threonate - This chelated magnesium is found in high-quality formulas. It transports itself out of the gut and goes where it’s needed, especially the brain to help with attention span, relaxation and mood.
Make sure you know which magnesium supplements target what issues. Not all of them solve important problems like hypomagnesemia or chronic conditions that require more potent forms of magnesium. Talk to your doctor about which supplements are most beneficial for you. ■
Putting a parent in assisted living is such a hard decision, and I never expected my mom to be a true part of the community. 6 months ago you would never have convinced me she would participate in music, bingo, exercises, activities - and she’s now fully engaging in it all! When I visit I can always find her in the community areas having fun and thriving, and I can’t thank the Winslow Court staff enough.
We would like to thank you, our community family, for over 25 years of loyalty and voting us “Best of the Springs” 2010-2022
With many thanks to God and you, we hope to serve you for many years to come.
~Jim and Paula Cappadona
is a Must, But Cost is a Factor”
Dear Ms. Kitty: I’ve used clay litter for years for my cat Rosco. I see so many different types of litter in the store now. Is there something better that I could be giving him?
Dear Looking: Thanks for thinking of your kitty when considering his litter! While Rosco’s litter and box choices obviously affect your lifestyle, imagine how important it is in his life, where inside cats are forced to go where we tell them.
Research confirms what most cat guardians know (or have learned the hard way): cats prefer sand-like litter. Pellets and other shapes are not what cats are drawn to.
Despite all the scented cat litter at stores, research also tells us that cats simply don’t like it. Just like air fresheners and scented sprays, their ingredients have not been proven safe for humans, let alone animals.
Additionally, cats rely on their sense of smell to negotiate the world, and these strong odors corrupt that instinctual process.
The best way to prevent litterbox odors is simple: scoop the box every day.
No matter the ingredient, you can find clumping and scoopable litter with most brands. Non-clumping litter is dustier, so you and Rosco would both breathe in more particles than you would
with the clumping variety.
Clay is one of the cheaper ingredients in cat litter. It’s obtained by mining, however, so it is less sustainable than litter made from wheat or corn, or recycled paper or wood. It is also much heavier, which can be a concern for older cat guardians.
Most renewable litters have sand-like textures, so they meet the needs of most cats. They are also usually less dusty than their clay counterparts, both during digging and in tracking. They also have more natural additives for clumping.
Another advantage for plant-based litter is that many are flushable.
This makes disposal much easier, especially for senior guardians.
If you decide to try a different litter for Rosco, he will always appreciate choices. Never move suddenly from one litter to another, or you could force him to go outside the box. (This advice holds for switching litter boxes too.) Offer the new litter in another familiar box to give him time to adjust.
Monitor him daily. If it seems like he’s not using the box like he did before, go back to using the old litter. Just like us, cats have preferences. That’s his only way of telling you he doesn’t like yours.
Your job, as always, is to find the place where his preferences overlap with yours. Buy the best litter that he likes and you can afford. ■
This free helpline is offered by Happy Cats Haven and Colorado Cats Boarding. Submit questions at HappyCatsHaven.org
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– Mr. Winston
Submitted by L. Hunley
A man who was having lunch with a co-worker said he had to make a big decision.
He said, “Every spring for 25 years, my wife complained every weekend until I mowed and weeded the lawn and trimmed the shrubs. It was getting tougher and more time consuming as I was getting older, so last April, I hired a young guy named Jim to come over one day a week and do all the landscaping. Things seemed to be going well until last week, when my neighbor called me and asked if I was aware Jim was now coming over two or three days a week while I am at work. At first, I thought that was good news since he never increased the price, but it made me a little bit
suspicious. I gave it a lot of thought and decided I had to do something. Even after considering the price, and the fact that my wife seems happier and no longer nags me— and I do have the nicest lawn in the neighborhood—I decided Jim had to go. I definitely am going to fire him—probably in mid-October! Problem solved! For now, everyone is happy and I have time to play golf this weekend.”
Submitted by Yvonne Ruth
A doctor was addressing a large audience saying, “The material we put into our stomachs is enough to have killed most of us sitting here years ago. Red meat is awful. Soft drinks corrode your stomach lining. Chinese food is loaded with MSG. High-fat diets can be disastrous,
and none of us realizes the longterm harm caused by the germs in our drinking water. But there is one thing that is the most dangerous of all and we all have, or will, eat it. Can anyone tell me what food it is that causes the most grief and suffering for years after eating it?”
After several seconds of quiet, one man raised his hand, and softly said, “Wedding cake?”
Submitted by Joanne Butler
Three friends from the local congregation were asked, “When you are placed in a casket and your friends and church members are mourning over you, what would you like them to say about you?”
The first fellow said: “I would like them to say I was a wonderful husband, a fine Rotary Club member and a terrific family man.”
The second fellow commented: “I would like them to say I was a wonderful teacher, a faithful servant of the church and someone who made a huge difference in
The last fellow said, “I’d like them to say, ‘Look, he’s moving!’”
Submitted by Bob Breazeale
A man is applying for a job. The boss asks where he worked before.
“For the last 30 years, I drove an 18-wheeler. The 10 before that, I was the best lumberjack in the Sahara Forest,” he replied.
“The Sahara is a desert,” the boss said. “There aren’t any trees there.”
“Not anymore there aren’t,” the man said.
Submitted by Ben Kuckel
A cowboy comes back to the ranch riding his horse. Behind him is a riderless horse. The ranch hands who come out to greet him ask, “What’s with the riderless horse? Where’s your wife?”
The cowboy turns his head around and sees the riderless horse, then he exclaims, “Oh, thank
God! For a while there I thought I had gone deaf!”
Submitted by Nathan Williams
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid. Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig, huh? Yaeh, and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt.
Submitted by Tim Menger
A man gets up on the morning of his 60th birthday, walks outside, pounds his chest and exclaims, “60 is the new 40!” It actually reveals a lot about himself.
He has worked at a desk job for the last 25 years.
He has a brand new unused pair of hiking boots in his closet.
He has a dresser drawer full of mail-order Viagra pills.
He has never been on a snowboard.
He has a lot of speeding tickets.
Submitted by Rachel Houston
The computer swallowed Grandma. Yes, honestly it’s true.
She pressed “Control” and “Enter”
And disappeared from view. It devoured her completely, The thought just makes me squirm.
She must have caught a virus Or been eaten by a worm.
I’ve searched through the recycle bin
And files of every kind; I’ve even used the Internet, But nothing did I find. In desperation, I asked Jeeves My searches to refine.
The reply from him was negative, Not a thing was found online.
So, if inside your inbox, My grandma you should see, Please “Copy,” “Scan” and “Paste” her And send her back to me!
Submitted by Bob Breazeale
Recently, a mother and her young daughter were eating soup at an outdoor restaurant in Los Angeles. The little girl was dawdling, so her mother said, “Eat your soup, honey, before it gets dirty.”
Submitted by Christine McCoy
A Colorado State Trooper pulled over a pickup on I-77.
The trooper asked, “Got any ID?” The driver replied, “’Bout whut?”
Submitted by Bob Breazeale
A poor woman gave birth to identical twins and put them up for adoption. One boy was adopted by a family in Egypt, and they named him Amal. The other was adopted by a family in Spain; they named him Juan.
Many years passed and Juan eventually tracked down his birth mother and sent her his photo. Overjoyed, the woman told her sister, “Isn’t Juan a handsome boy? I only wish I had a picture of his brother!”
“For crying out loud!” Her sister exclaimed. “They’re identical twins. If you’ve seen Juan, you’ve seen Amal!” ■
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Sustainability outlines a practice that does not deplete, pollute or destroy a natural resource. Closed loop gardening overlaps that philosophy with a desire to create your own resources and utilize products from one season to the next.
We do this with composting, and we can do it by saving our seeds. This option saves money, keeps genetic lines pure and provides consistent varieties of seeds.
It was only a couple generations ago that gardeners saved their own seed because they didn’t have garden centers, supermarkets and seed websites. They traded them with their neighbors, and in the process, grew varieties of crops year after year that naturalized to their specific climate.
Growing the same varieties will make our crops and seeds stronger and more resilient with each generation. Here are some ways
to preserve heirloom seeds.
For thousands of years, seed savers have been the stewards of genetic heritage. There have been concerns of losing those proven varieties and the crop nutrients they contain, which is why it is important to save seeds that grow heirloom crops.
Heirloom seeds have been around for generations and provide the true genetic characteris-
tics of vigor, nutrients and viability. They tend to taste better and be better for your body too.
Though there are many seed suppliers, we need to look for original genetic varieties.
Too often crops are hybridized for their disease resistance, uniform maturation or ease of use in a restaurant food slicer. Each genetic modification breeds a trait and simultaneously removes a previous trait. We risk ending up with crops that lack the vitamins and enzymes they once had.
Keep the pollen isolated so that the seeds we harvest are not crosspollinated by other varieties nearby.
Many of us have had the experience of growing a bell pepper next to a jalapeño and eating a really spicy bell pepper.
There are three strategies to isolating pollen:
• Provide distance. Do some research to verify how much distance your crops need. Windbreaks or physical structures (like a house) can help. When I managed a seed farm, we couldn’t grow corn because its pollen could drift up to two miles and we had neighbors growing it just down the road! John Navazio’s book “The Organic Seed Grower” has comprehensive details on isolation distances.
• Use physical barriers. Professionals use fine mesh netting that pollen can’t get through but sunlight does. Paper bags are a good option for small seed crops. After the plant blooms and is pollinated, the bag can also catch the seeds before they release onto the ground and disappear.
• Time the blossoms. Timing the blossom set can allow for multiple plants to be grown side by side. A short season crop like lettuce is ideal. Spacing each variety three weeks apart allows for each to bloom freely without cross-pollinating the others.
For seed saving, select the plants with the best traits. Plants exhibiting any unusual growth patterns, odd fruit set or diseases should be pulled out so they don’t cross-pollinate. We want the seed from the strongest, best plants.
After harvesting the seeds, be sure to dry them out thoroughly. Professional growers will dip the
seeds in a bleach solution after harvest to kill any surface pathogens that may be present. Then dry the seeds, which is easy to do, especially in our climate.
I always do a germination test and label the storage container with which crop, what variety, where I grew it and the date produced.
Then be sure to store your seeds between 50-80 degrees. Never store seeds in a shed or garage, as the temperature swings are far too great and can harm the viability of the seeds. Under the bed or in a closet inside the house are great spots. ■
BY BRYAN REEDSend
MYfirst impression on the ride from the airport to my hotel was: big city.
Cars and motorcycles battled for space, their horns raising a din. Signs for McDonald’s, Burger King and other familiar fast-food restaurants vied for attention with billboards touting women’s fashions.
Street vendors maneuvered pushcarts laden with foods that were new to my eye. Towering minarets pierced the skyline. Ramshackle apartment buildings decorated with laundry drying in the sun stood next to modern hotels.
Welcome to Egypt, land of pyramids and pharaohs, with a rich millennium-long history and present-day life with one foot planted firmly in the past.
Many people travel to this ancient land to see the pyramids, Sphinx and other storied monuments. Ancient Greeks and Romans started the trend, coming to goggle at the manmade monuments. Later, Napoleon showed up and looted artifacts that were transported back to France.
Following the two-week itinerary that my wife Fyllis and I took with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT), we returned home with a sense of awe at Egypt’s iconic attractions and an appreciation of its people and their fascinating culture.
It’s clear why the pyramids were included among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Great Pyramid, one of more than 100 throughout the country, is the largest of three at Giza just outside Cairo, the country’s capital. It was built over 4,000 years ago to serve as the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops).
In his role as Medical Director for PPHPC, Dr. Miller will provide clinical oversight and direction for more than 140 hospice patients and nearly 100 palliative care patients on a daily basis. Dr. Miller will lead a hospice and palliative team of specially trained clinical staff including Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Social Workers, Chaplains and Certified Nurses Aides, all of whom are experts in the care of patients with advanced and terminal illnesses.
Pikes Peak Hospice and Palliative Care is here for you, your patients and their family any time of day, evening or middle of the night, all year long, even on holidays and weekends.
Story and photos by Victor Block
The massive structure soars to the height of a 48-story building. Standing at its base adds to the appreciation of what men using primitive tools created long ago. Workers cut 2.3 million enormous stones, moved them to the site and elevated them up the sides of the pyramid as it grew.
In the shadow of the Giza pyramids is another treasure. The Great Sphinx, a mythological creature carved from a single piece of limestone, dates back at least to 2,500 BC. The 240-foot-long figure features a lion’s body and human head, which some Egyptologists claim
and papyrus to life-size statues and sarcophagi, the outside containers of coffins.
Speaking of coffins, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization is the final resting place for 22 mummies. They include 18 kings and four queens, whose preserved bodies rest in repose. My imagination pictured them coming to life after the museum closes to reminisce about their days as leaders of a great civilization.
“I love restoring smiles and oral health. I believe healthy teeth and gums are critical for the overall health of the individual. I want all of our patients to be healthy and enjoy a full life. I count it a privilege to help my patients be restored to dental health.”
resembles the Pharaoh Khafre.
While Egypt’s pyramids and Giza Sphinx get much of the attention, temples dedicated to the worship of gods and commemoration of the pharaohs compete with them in size, beauty and wonder.
The temple complex of Karnak encompasses shrines and monuments dedicated to a series of rulers. Walls are covered by hieroglyphics that are as deeply etched as when they were carved, and paintings at temples and burial crypts are as bright as when they were created.
The temple at Luxor was a center of power for a number pharaohs, including Ramses II, whose reign lasted 67 years, and Tutankhamen (“the boy king”) who took the throne around age 8 and died nine years later.
A wealth of information about everything Egyptian awaits discovery at two outstanding museums in Cairo. Displays at the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities range from coins
Many of Egypt’s monuments to the past lie along the Nile River, and we traveled to some of them during a week-long boat trip.
Our visit to Egypt with OAT enabled us to pack as many experiences as possible into every hour of every day. From interactions with locals and frank discussions of “controversial” topics to our voyage along the Nile, every detail enhanced our enjoyment and education.
My wife and I have visited several of our bucket list destinations with OAT, which offers small group adventures on the road less traveled to 80 countries around the world. For information about traveling with OAT, call 800-221-0814 or visit OatTravel.com. For information about Egypt, visit Egypt.Travel.com ■
STANDING AT THE PYRAMID’S BASE ADDS TO THE APPRECIATION OF WHAT MEN USING PRIMITIVE TOOLS CREATED LONG AGO.
Would you know what to do if an animal got trapped in one of your air ducts? According to Brandon Kirk of Planet Duct, the best thing to do is to shut off your furnace, open it up and take out the filter. Placing a pillow on the return drop will provide a soft landing in case the critter falls through. After that, call Planet Duct!
Kirk, 52, started the business in March 2019. With 15 trained employees, Planet Duct proudly serves customers as far east as La Junta and Rocky Ford, west to Salida and north to Boulder. Powerful equipment, combined with their certification and high standards for excellence, make them the local goto duct cleaning company.
Depending on the size of the home and project scope, professional air duct cleaning typically takes about three to five hours. Planet Duct works on residential housing as well as bigger spaces, from mansions to commercial businesses.
Crew members give your air ducts a cleaning that is “out of this world,” said Kirk.
Planet Duct’s ventilation system blows dust and other particulate matter through a vacuum hose and out of your home. Each side of a house’s duct system is isolated to
achieve the best possible airflow and suction.
After the duct system has been cleaned and resealed, they run a carbon monoxide check. If necessary, the customer is referred to a trusted HVAC company.
Heating ducts installed before the 1980s used insulation containing asbestos that is now known to cause cancer. Kirk said those who own an older home containing
asbestos should completely replace the ducts rather than clean them out.
“People will call complaining of a weird smell or odor in their homes, and we will send our cameras down to investigate,” Kirk said.
His crew has found live and dead animals, such as birds, snakes, hamsters and woodpeckers that come through the fresh intake vents and try to climb or fly into the home to get warm.
Other unusual objects show up as well.
“I’ve found a nice collection of matchbox cars and other small toys, along with six wedding rings and many cell phones,” Kirk said. But not every find is sought after or valuable.
“One family we work for has a child who is a magician—he makes stuff disappear. We found a whole
bunch of diapers in their ducts!” Kirk said with a laugh.
In the wake of the 2021 Marshall Fire, Planet Duct was summoned to Louisville and Superior to clean soot and ash out of damaged homes’ air ducts. They worked on over 100 contaminated homes, cooperating with various mitigation companies.
Planet Duct recommends getting your dryer vents cleaned out once a year, to prevent a fire in your home. Lint-clogged dryer vents are the number-one cause of home fires in the U.S. A thorough dryer vent cleaning also prolongs the life of a dryer and shaves minutes off drying time.
HVAC systems also need maintenance. Planet Duct’s equipment collects all the dust, debris and microbial growth when they clean the coils. This restores lost airflow and unit efficiency and improves the longevity of your system. And the air quality dramatically improves!
“[Seniors] will often complain of sniffles and allergens from the air, dust particles and unknown odors that they’re breathing in their homes, and we want to help them,” said Kirk. “We don’t just want to make HVAC more efficient, but we want to give our customers better air to breathe.”
To get your ducts cleaned, call Planet Duct at 719-728-5111 or visit PlanetDuct.com. ■
Everyteacher, student, parent and most grandparents are about to enter what is referred to in education as “The February Doldrums.” The holidays are over, there’s a gap in sports, the weather is cold, and Top 40 radio only plays break-up songs (that’s just my opinion). As a result, the whole world slows down because our kids are in emotional hibernation.
As much as I would love to tell you that technology has the solution, it doesn’t. However, how we use technology can give us just enough energy to remember that spring is less than two months away. We can fight the doldrums by shifting the media and messages we consume in our vegetative off-hours.
There is a world beyond scrolling through the dissipating variety of movies on Netflix or mindlessly flicking through our social media feeds. Streaming media is the access to entertainment we dreamed of as kids. Here’s how to make the most of it:
Go beyond your Smart TV. Some low-end TVs have Roku built in. But for everyone else, I suggest investing in a Roku box. These small devices cost $20-$100 but will open up the number of free and premium streaming options significantly.
Unlike Apple, Google, Amazon or your smart TV’s built-in options, Roku gets along with all other streaming services, and there are a variety of developers that offer streaming content on Roku that isn’t available anywhere else. Much of it is free.
Rotate through services. Streaming services don’t require you to sign a contract, and you can easily cancel and resubscribe with a simple toggle switch.
I like to rotate through services. I
am currently subscribing to Peacock and Discovery Plus. In the spring, I will likely cancel either or both and subscribe to Paramount Plus or Criterion Channel. There is no reason to stack up multiple subscriptions for content you don’t have time to watch.
You may be eligible for a free account. Cell phone carriers, Walmart, credit cards and many other companies use streaming services as a perk. Walmart+ subscribers get Paramount Plus for free. T-Mobile users get free Netflix, and AT&T subscribers get free HBO Max with some plans. Some services even give major discounts to students. Don’t forget music. I’ve always found it interesting that people will pay $15 per month for Hulu without commercials, but they won’t spend $5-$10 per month on a music streaming service. I can only watch so much TV, but I can stream music almost anywhere.
Music is portable and, unlike video streaming services, I can find almost any song or artist that I am in the mood for. If a person has eclectic music tastes and a vast collection of albums, a music subscription service is more essential than owning a TV, not to mention paying for any particular streaming video service.
Some people argue that stream -
ing music isn’t as high of quality as CDs or albums. Generally, these people are just being pretentious. The music on streaming services
will sound as good as your device will allow it to sound.
Watch or listen to something new. New content is being produced and released faster than we can possibly discover it. Don’t feel compelled to watch what everyone else is watching. Try watching a Korean horror movie or an Australian home renovation reality show.
There’s also no penalty for starting with episode six of season four and watching 10 minutes of a show you’ve never seen just so you can decide whether to start from the beginning. There are no rules. ■
BY ADAM COCHRANMarch 2
Rocky Mountain Conference on Dementia
Join this virtual conference that addresses how Alzheimer’s and dementias interfere with daily living. Learn to recognize common signs, how to approach someone about memory concerns, the importance of early detection, assessments for the diagnostic process and more.
8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | Free | www.bit. ly/2023RMCD | 800-272-3900
March 2
Play to Remember: Creating Connections
Caregivers, families and their loved ones can explore materials and play together at the Colorado Springs Senior Center. You’ll discover how to use simple games and activities to connect with adults with dementia. This month’s theme is table games.
10-11 a.m. | 1514 N. Hancock Ave. | Free | www.playtoremember.com | 719-344-5877
March 2
Lupus Support Luncheon
There is help and hope after an autoimmune disease diagnosis. All with these challenges are invited to lunch and learn as Dr. Margo Gasta tells how nutrition can protect and strengthen your immune system. Please call to RSVP.
11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | 5550 N. Union Blvd. | Free | 719-380-8330
March 2, 9, 16 & 23
Dining with Diabetes
Learn to enjoy yet manage your diabetes through menu planning, carbohydrate counting, portion control and label reading in this series at the CSU Extension, El Paso County. See firsthand how healthy foods are prepared and enjoy a meal!
11 a.m.-2 p.m. | 17 N. Spruce St., Room 226 | $20 | epcextension. eventbrite.com | 719-520-7690
March 2-30
“In the Heights”
Don’t miss out on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s (“Hamilton”) first Tony Award-winning musical! It’s the story of a vibrant Hispanic community in
New York, corner bodega and all, set to a hip hop/salsa beat. Runs Wednesdays through Sundays until April 2.
See website for times | 30 W. Dale St. | $20-$48 | www.fac.colorado college.edu | 719-634-5583
March 3
Harry Chapin & John Prine Tribute
Hear local musicians recreate songs that tell stories at Stargazers, such as Chapin’s “Cat’s in the Cradle” and Prine’s “Paradise.”
7 p.m. | 10 S. Parkside Drive | $15 | www.stargazerstheatre.com | 719-476-2200
March 3-5
Jurassic Quest
Is there a little dinosaur fan in your life? Colorado Springs Event Center becomes a prehistoric playground where you can play with baby dinos, excavate fossils, enjoy rides or train a raptor amid an animatronic sky-scraping Tyrannosaurus rex!
3-8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday | 3960 Palmer Park Blvd. | $19-$22 | www. jurassicquest.com | 719-637-3960
March 4
International Women’s Day Brunch
Learn how gender equality impacts our world’s sustainability at The Pinery at the Hill. Hear about “The Great Shesession” and the most polluted national zip code (unfortunately it’s in Colorado), with a smoked salmon board and other brunch delights.
9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | 775 W. Bijou St. | $50 | www.iwd-coloradosprings.org
March 4
Patriotism In America, Past and Present
Come to the Rockrimmon Library as local author Becky Van Vleet shares from her new book “Unintended Hero,” about her father’s battles on the USS Denver in World War II in the Pacific Theater. Books may be purchased and signed.
11 a.m. | 832 Village Center Drive | Free | www.ppld.org | 719-531-6333
March 4
Locate the Leprechaun
Grab a grandkid and look for sneaky Lenny and all the trinkets he left behind! Start at Tony’s Bar and get your T-shirt, map and clue scroll. There are ten stops, ending with ice cream at Josh and John’s.
1-3 p.m. | 326 N. Tejon St. | $15 | www.csstpats.com | 719-228-6566
March 11
St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast
Enjoy a delicious catered breakfast at Blondie’s and view the St. Patrick’s Day Parade from the upper deck overlooking the parade route at noon. All proceeds benefit the Empty Stocking Fund and Mt. Carmel.
10 a.m. -2 p.m. | 24 N. Tejon St. | $30/6 & under free | www.blondie scs.com | 719-772-7000
March 11
5K for St. Patrick’s Day
Come downtown ready to run wearing green or even a kilt! Stay afterward for the kids’ Leprechaun Fun Run and the parade. Pick up your packet at the St. Patty’s Sports Expo at 119 E. Pikes Peak Ave. on March 10, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 10 a.m. | 711 S. Tejon St., Unit 201 | $35 | www.csstpats.com
March 11
Pedalin’ St. Pats Bike Ride
This family ride starts at Trails End Taproom (note new location). You’ll ride downtown, join the St. Patrick’s Parade, then cycle back to Trails End. Pick up your packet at the St. Patty’s Sports Expo at the MX Marketplace (119 E. Pikes Peak Ave.) on March 10, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 10:30 a.m. | 2925 W. Colorado Ave. | $35 | www.csstpats.com
March 11
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Wear green (but dress for the weather) and cheer on all things Irish at the 39th annual parade! Booths sell food and beverages
along the route. Additional events take place over three weeks. See website for details.
12 p.m. | Tejon St. & E. St. Vrain | Free | www.csstpats.com
March 11
Bowl for the Green
Don your green for this annual Bowl-A-Thon at King Pin Lanes! It includes two games, shoe rental, prizes and goodie bags. Proceeds support adults with disabilities and their families through Special Kids Special Families.
2:30-4:30 p.m. | 3410 N. Academy Blvd. | $30, $15 child | www.sksf colorado.org | 719-447-8983
March 17 & 18
Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Crawl Irish or not, come out to Jack Quinn’s! Your ticket buys you two days of adventures, with some complimentary drinks, a custom cup, food specials, a photographer and more!
4 p.m. | 21 S. Tejon St. | $15 | www. crawlwithus.com | 719-385-0766
March 11 & 15
Concerts with Skean Dubh
Don’t miss this highly sought-after acoustic Celtic band with unforgettable vocals, uilleann bagpiping and fiddle. There are two performances: one at the High Prairie Library and one at the Old Colorado City Library 10:30 a.m., 7035 Old Meridian Road, Peyton (11th) | 5:30 p.m., 2418 W. Pikes Peak Ave. (15th) | Free | www.ppld.org | 719-531-6333
March 18
Shamrock Stroll
Calling lucky leprechaun crawlers to a St. Patrick’s bar crawl, starting at Oskar Blues Grill & Brew. Get your green on and search for golden taps at the end of the rainbow, with drink specials and live music too!
1-8 p.m. | 118 N. Tejon St. | $11 | www.oskarbluesfooderie.com | 719-375-1925
March 4
Winter Concert
Talented young musicians from the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony will serenade you at the Ent Center. This concert features its Ascent Big Band and Amadeus, Allegro and Vivace String Orchestras.
2 p.m. | 5225 N. Nevada Ave. | Call for pricing | www.csysa.com | 719-633-3901
March 4 & 5
Dvorak 8
The gorgeous sound of the Philharmonic awaits you at the Pikes Peak Center, with American master Ives’ sonic ode, Schumann’s marvelous showpiece for four French horns and Dvorak’s Symphony No.
With the price of eggs zooming upward, are backyard chickens right for you? Allison of Buckley’s Homestead Supply discusses city codes, coop design, nutrition, basic ailments and other things to consider before jumping in. 1-2:30 p.m. | 4965 Austin Bluffs Pkwy. | $10 | www.phelangardens.com | 719-574-8058
8, resplendent in folk melodies and pastoral scenes.
7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday | 190 S. Cascade Ave. | $28-$84 | www.pikespeakcenter.com | 719-477-2100
March 4, 11 & 18
“Into the Breach” Family Discussion Series
Men, this 12-episode video series at Holy Apostles Catholic Church is for you, but feel free to bring your family! Enjoy breakfast snacks as you watch topical videos on spirituality and family with well-known Catholic speakers and personal vignettes.
9 a.m.-12 p.m. | 4925 N. Carefree Circle | Free | watch.formed.org | 719-597-4249
March 4, 11, 18 & 25
History Stroll: Women’s Voices, Women’s Lives
On this 1-mile downtown stroll, learn what suffrage meant to women in the Pikes Peak Region. By examining the historic working-class neighborhood of south downtown, you’ll discover women’s stories of work, activism and philanthropy.
10-11:30 a.m. | 408 S. Nevada Ave. | $5 | bit.ly/history-stroll-womensvoices | 719-385-5633
March 6
March 6 & 18
Genealogy Basics (Virtual) Learn strategies, including how to get started, organizing research and selecting and searching for records. Registration is required.
10 a.m. Monday, 2 p.m. Saturday | Free | www.ppld.org | 719-531-6333
March 9
Dance Songs by Lawrence!
Dance your heart out to the live music of guitarist, singer and trombonist Lawrence Yoshito Shiroma at the Colorado Springs Senior Center with big band numbers from the ’40s and pop songs from the ’60s and ’70s. 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. | 1514 N. Hancock Ave. | Free | www.csseniorcen ter.com | 719- 955-3400
March 10
STEM Take and Make
Your grandkids aged 5-12 will have a blast creating a rainbow gravity spinner and letting it fly while exploring Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion. Drop in anytime at the High Prairie Library.
9 a.m.-6 p.m. | 7035 Meridian Road, Peyton | Free | www.ppld.org | 719-531-6333, ext. 7003
March 10
Curiosity Unlimited Monthly Meeting
Put on your comfy shoes and tour the William J. Hybl Sports Medicine & Performance Center. Visitors are welcome.
10 a.m. | 4925 N. Nevada Ave. | Free | www.uccs.edu/curiosity | 719-755-5082
March 10
Spinphony
From AC/DC to Vivaldi, this all-female string quartet dabbles in classical, rock and pop, with choreography too! It’s a high-energy, eclectic mix of rockin’ faves with trademark genre mashups.
7 p.m. | 10 S. Parkside Drive | $20 | www.stargazerstheatre.com | 719-476-2200
March 10
Paint & Sip
Pick a painting to work on together the second Friday of each month. Refreshments (non-alcoholic) will be provided. Please call or email to RSVP due to limited seating.
11 a.m.-1 p.m. | 5310 N. Nevada Ave. | Free | bgrider1@humana.com | 719-851-0313
March 10 & 11
Beyond Imagination: The Music of John Williams
You’ll be swept away by the Philharmonic’s performance of this otherworldly music that has sparked imagination for decades. Williams’ compositions stand the test of time in this unforgettable concert at the Pikes Peak Center.
7:30-9 p.m. | 190 S. Cascade Ave. | $28-$263 | www.csphilharmonic.org | 719-575-9632
March 10-12
L & L Remodeling Expo
Got a home improvement project but don’t know where to begin?
Speak directly with local and national renovation professionals at Norris Penrose Event Center. This is your one-stop center for information on every aspect of home remodeling.
2-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday | 1045 Lower Gold Camp Road | $3 | www. homeshowcenter.com | 800-374-6463
March 11
New to Colorado Gardening Newcomers, this is for you! Mark Phelan helps you navigate gardens and yards in our semi-arid climate. You can succeed despite extremes in temperature and precipitation. Guard your garden, save your salvia and protect your prickly pear!
10-11 a.m. | 4965 Austin Bluffs Pkwy. | $10 | www.phelangardens. com | 719-574-8058
March 11
Legendary Ladies
Commemorate Women’s History
Month as you hear from six historical reenactors who portray actual courageous women who helped shape the West. There are two performances: one at Penrose Library and one at Library 21c.
11-12 a.m., 20 N. Cascade Ave. | 2-3 p.m., 1175 Chapel Hills Drive | Free | www.legendaryladies.org | 720-335-7852
March 11
Scrap Exchange with Who
Gives a Scrap?
Swap your unwanted craft materials for new-to-you supplies at the Old Colorado City Library.
1-4 p.m. | 2418 W. Pikes Peak Ave. | Free | www.ppld.org | 719-531-6333
March 11
Boots in the Park Casino games, music and dancing, an appetizer and dessert buffet, silent auction and whiskey pull await you at the El Paso County Fair & Events Center. Tickets include $100 in chips. Proceeds benefit the fairgrounds. Please email to RSVP.
6:30 p.m. | 366 10th St., Calhan | $40, $75 per couple | www.elpaso countyfair.com | 719-520-7880 | andshanaaljets@elpasoco.com
the Mediterranean lifestyle and how its fresh foods contribute to health. You’ll learn how to make homemade hummus and try a delicious sample. Preregistration is required.
5:30-7 p.m. | 17 N. Spruce St., Suite 226 | $10 | epcextension.eventbrite. com | 719-520-7690
March 14 or 28
Lunch & Learn Medicare 101 Come to the Fountain IHOP where Brittany from Humana will share what’s important to know about Medicare. Lunch is provided. Please call or email to RSVP.
11 a.m.-1 p.m. | 6450 S. Highway 85/87, Fountain | Free | bgrider1@ humana.com | 719-851-0313
Stargazers and rock out to 25 songs of other musicians who have inspired them: Ambrosia, The Beatles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Styx, the Doobie Brothers—who knows? Expect the unexpected!
7 p.m. | 10 S. Parkside Drive | $25 | www.stargazerstheatre.com | 719-476-2200
March 17-19
Shen Yun
Hear about these groundbreaking women who ferried airplanes and freed male pilots for combat roles at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. Online preregistration is required.
2-2:45 p.m. | 215 S. Tejon St. | Free | www.cspm.org/lectureseries | 719-385-5990
March 11
My Blue Sky
The memory of the Allman Brothers Band is alive and well in the capable hands of this band that represents the brothers’ music with authenticity, respect and their own flavor at Stargazers.
7 p.m. | 10 S. Parkside Drive | $20 | www.stargazerstheatre.com | 719-476-2200
March 12
Friends of PPLD Book Sale
Bookworms, head to the East Library and scoop up a bag of gently used books. Happy reading! Proceeds benefit the Pikes Peak Library District.
11 a.m.-3 p.m. | 5550 N. Union Blvd. | Free | www.ppld.org | 719-531-6333, ext. 7014
March 13
Mediterranean Diet Workshop
“Eat healthier” tops many lists of New Year’s resolutions! Learn about
March 15
Aging Well Without Injury (Pt 2)
Staying safe as the years tick by is so vital! The second part of this twopart workshop at Library 21c covers what increases your risk of falling and how to keep yourself injury free.
1 p.m. | 1175 Chapel Hills Blvd. | Free | www.ppld.org | 719-531-6333
March 16
KidsMake: Porcupine Pets
Your grandchild aged 5-12 can create a prickly pet porcupine using hammers, nails and googly eyes at the Sand Creek Library under your hands-on and attentive presence. Registration is required.
4-5 p.m. | 1821 S. Academy Blvd. | Free | www.ppld.org | 719-531-6333, ext. 6207
March 16-19
Just Between Friends
Save 60-90% on everything growing grandkids need at the Colorado Springs Event Center! There are clothes (infant through teen sizes), bedroom décor and furniture, sports equipment, video games, toys, books, arts & crafts and so much more.
9 a.m.-7 p.m. (-2 p.m. Sunday) | 3960 Palmer Park Blvd. | $2-$5 | www.jbfsale.com
March 17
The Long Run
They’re normally an Eagles tribute band—but not tonight! Come to
You’ll be mesmerized by the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company’s beautiful costumes and lush orchestration against digital backdrops at the Pikes Peak Center. See cultural history preserved and presented in a kaleidoscope of color, patterns and exquisite movement. 7:30 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday & Sunday | 190 S. Cascade Ave. | $80-$180 | www.pikespeak center.com | 719-477-2100
March 18
Songs by Lawrence!
Listen to live folk, ballads and pop songs from solo guitarist and trombonist Lawrence Yoshito Shiroma. Same day, two locations: Mission Coffee Roasters in the morning and Third Space Coffee in the afternoon. 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | 11641
Ridgeline Dr. #170 | Free
3-4:30 p.m. | 5670 N. Academy Blvd. | Free
March 18
Back To Eden Gardening & Rainwater Gathering
Learn about this method of gardening, edible flowers and how to gather rain at the High Prairie Library. 2 p.m. | 7035 Old Meridian Road, Peyton | Free | www.ppld.org | 719-531-6333
March 18
Barn Dance
Bring the family and dance in the dirt at Mark Reyner Stables! Local country band Exit West plays live. Proceeds benefit Colorado Springs Therapeutic Riding Center’s scholarship program and horses. There’s a food truck and auction items too!
6 p.m. | 3254 Paseo Road | $25 | www.cstrc.org | 719-634-4173
March 18
ing beloved characters to life, including Disney princesses and stars of “Frozen,” “Aladdin” and “Finding Dory,” and all the accompanying favorite songs! Choose from seven performances.
See website for times | 3185 Venetucci Blvd. | $26-$96 | www. broadmoorworldarena.com | 719-477-2100
March 24
Collective Groove
Fly Fishing Film Tour
Watch films that capture the beauty of nature and the frustration of trying to land the big one in “Bleed Water,” “The Holy Well,” “Cape York” and others. Buy tickets at event sponsor Angler’s Covey in Manitou, online or by phone.
6:30 p.m. | 10 S. Parkside Drive | $22 | www.flyfilmtour.com | 719-471-2984
March 19-31
“The Half-Life of Marie Curie” Women’s friendship and the hidden costs of progress come alive at the Ent Center. Despite two Nobel prizes, scandal finds Marie Curie, who turns to a fellow scientist to deal with public opinion and self-doubt. Join local scholars to unpack the play’s historical context on March 19, 2:30-4 p.m. (free).
7:30 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, 2 p.m. Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday | 5225 N. Nevada Ave. | $27 | www.entcenter forthearts.org | 719-255-3232
March 23
Life-size Battleship
Take a tween grandkid to the East Library to play Battleship like they’ve never played it before—in big, bold life size! For ages 9-12.
4-5 p.m. | 5550 N. Union Blvd. | Free | www.ppld.org | 719-531-6333, ext. 7014
March 23-26
Disney On Ice presents Let’s Celebrate
A fun grandchild splurge awaits at the World Arena with skaters bring-
Warning: you may not be able to sit still when this 9-piece funk/soul horn band takes the stage at Stargazers! Their contagious mix of dance tunes spans the ’60s to now, including The Temptations, Chicago, Prince, Daft Punk and others.
7 p.m. | 10 S. Parkside Drive | $17 | www.stargazerstheatre.com | 719-476-2200
March 25
Echo in a Winter’s Heart
Revel in the sounds of traditional songs and stories from Ireland and Scotland at the Manitou Springs Library with Willson & McKee’s vocals accompanied by Celtic harp, accordion, Irish bouzouki, guitars, banjo, dulcimers, bodhran and harmonium.
1 p.m. | 515 Manitou Ave. | Free | www.ppld.org | 719-531-6333
March 25
Family Movie
Got the grandkids over spring break? Bring them to Library 21c for a Saturday afternoon kids’ movie with snacks.
3-5 p.m. | 1175 Chapel Hills Drive | Free | www.ppld.org | 719-531-6333, ext. 7012
March 25
Live Music at JAKs Taproom! Enjoy oldies but goodies from the ’60s and ’70s from the acoustic guitar of Lawrence Yoshito Shiroma.
6 p.m.-8 p.m. | 7715 Dublin Blvd. #160 | Free | http://www.jaksbrew ing.com/ | 719-375-8202
March 25
Jake Loggins Band
Blues musician Loggins is a true natural. You’ll be extremely entertained by his onstage antics! Musically influ-
enced by his father, Lobo Loggins, Jake brings a presence all his own to the Stargazers stage.
7 p.m. | 10 S. Parkside Dr. | $20 | www.stargazerstheatre.com | 719-476-2200
March 29-31
NOCO Hemp Expo
The world’s largest hemp exposition and trade show comes to The Broadmoor, connecting business and government leaders, academia, nonprofits and the public to collaborate on the future of this crop.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. | 1 Lake Ave. | $549-$799, 10% off for vets | www.nocohempexpo.com | 970-541-0448
March 29-31
Colorado RV Show
Summer camping season isn’t far away! See what’s new in recreational vehicles at the Colorado Springs Event Center. Free admission, free parking and free fun through April 2!
10 a.m.-6 p.m. | 3960 Palmer Park Blvd. | Free | www.coloradospringseventcenter.com | 719-637-3960
March 30
MercyMe
The band that brought you the iconic song “I Can Only Imagine” brings their energetic rock and faith-filled lyrics to the World Arena.
7-11 p.m. | 3185 Venetucci Blvd. | $27-$165 | www.broadmoor worldarena.com | 719-477-2100
March 31
Cody Qualls & the New Ancients
Come hear this high-energy performer at Stargazers! He was Colorado Vocalist of the Year in 2016 and 2019, and his “Focus on Your Rap Game” received first place in the Great American Songwriting Contest.
7 p.m. | 10 S. Parkside Drive | $15 | www.stargazerstheatre.com | 719-476-2200 ■
21st Century Toastmasters meets weekly at Library 21c.
Fridays | 1 p.m. | 719-591-8045
ACC Grass Roots 307 Cribbage meets at the Colorado Springs Elks Lodge.
Wednesdays | 5:30 p.m. | 719-3311200
ACLU defends civil rights and liberties. Call for details. 303-777-5482
Austin Bluffs Sertoma, a community service organization, meets twice monthly for breakfast at Embassy Suites.
2nd & 4th Wednesdays | 7:30 a.m. |
719-460-5561
Austrian-American Enzian Club is a German-speaking culture club that meets at VFW Post #101.
2nd Wednesday | 2-4 p.m. |
719-380-1163
Black Forest AARP meets for a potluck at Black Forest Lutheran Church.
2nd Wednesday | 12 p.m. | 719-596-6787
Black Forest Trails Association meetings are open to the public at Black Forest Community Club.
2nd Wednesday | 6:30 p.m. | black foresttrails.org
Blazer Ski Club meets year round with organized ski trips, golf, hiking and more. Wednesdays | blazerskiclub.org
Monday-Friday at 12:30 p.m. | Tuesdays at 9 a.m. | Saturdays at 6 p.m. | 719-634-7250
Broadmoor Rotary Club meets for lunch with a speaker at DoubleTree by Hilton. Please RSVP.
1st and 3rd Thursdays | 12 p.m. | 740-707-3022 | rotarybroadmoor. com
Bulldog Club meets monthly at Westside Community Center.
4th Monday | 6-8 p.m. | chloed howard@yahoo.com
Carnelian Coffee Book Club meets at Carnelian Coffee.
1st Sunday | 1 p.m. | jpaisley@ppld.org
Cheyenne Mountain Hooked on Crochet meets virtually to crochet or knit.
1st & 3rd Thursdays | 10 a.m. | PPLD.org | 719-389-8968
Cheyenne Mountain Newcomers Club for women meets at Broadmoor Community Church.
2nd Wednesday | 9:30 a.m. | cmncos.org
Colorado Springs Chess Club meets at Acacia Apartments ballroom.
Tuesdays | 6 p.m.
Colorado Springs Coin Club meets at Fraternal Order of Eagles #143.
4th Tuesday | 6:30 p.m. | 719-632-4260
Colorado Springs Numismatic Society meets at Gold Hill Police Station’s community room.
2nd Sunday | 2 p.m. | 719-632-4260
Colorado Springs Scrabble Club meets virtually for three games on Woogles.io.
Mondays | 5:45-9 p.m. | 719-3325141
Breakfast Club for Singles 50+ meets for breakfast at Patty Jewett Golf Course. Cost is $20 (cash or check). Must RSVP.
1st Saturday | 9:00 a.m. | 719-2600651 | tbc50plus.org
Bridge Players Duplicate plays daily at the Bridge Center.
Colorado Springs Stamp Club meets at Vista Grande Baptist Church.
1st Tuesday | 7 p.m.
Curiosity Unlimited offers continuous learning opportunities with UCCS professor lectures at Ent Center for the Arts, Chapman Foundations Recital Hall. Visitors welcome!
2nd Friday | 10 a.m. | uccs.edu/ curiosity | 719-755-5082
DAV Knob Hill holds a bingo fundraiser at 6880 Palmer Park Blvd. to help aid local veterans.
Sundays | 5:30-9 p.m. | 719-591-8787
Evening Adult Fiction Book Club for daytime workers meets at Woodland Park Library.
1st Wednesday | 5 p.m.
Falcon Adult Group meets at High Prairie Library.
1st Wednesday | 11 a.m.
Falcon Garden Club meets at High Prairie Library.
3rd Saturday | 10 a.m. | falcon gardenclub.org
Florissant Bookworms meets monthly at Florissant Library.
2nd Wednesday | 10:30 a.m. | 719748-3939
Falcon Wanderers Volkssport Club meets for regular walks. Membership dues are $10 per person and $16 per couple. 719-597-4307 | falconwanderers.org
Friends at the Table Cooking Club meets at Florissant Library.
3rd Friday | 11:30 a.m. | 719-7483939
trum Loop.
1st & 3rd Wednesdays | 11:30 a.m. | 719-331-1212
Gold Camp Victorian Society meets at Cripple Creek Heritage Center.
4th Saturday | 2 p.m. | info@gold campvictoriansociety.org
Hi-Country Newcomers is a social group open to all women in Colorado Springs. Activities include hiking, book club, games, lunches and tours. Call for membership.
2nd Monday | 10 a.m. | 719-464-7633
International Dance Club hosts weekly dances. Live bands, variety of styles, family friendly. Cost is $12. Saturdays | 7-10 p.m. | international danceclub.org | 719-633-0195
Maxi’s Dance Group meets at Eagles Club #143 with music for ages 40+ and food and drinks for purchase. Cover is $5 members, $8 non-members.
Thursdays | 6-9 p.m. | 719-660-1358. Open Book Club meets at Woodland Park Library.
3rd Saturday | 11 a.m. | 719-6879281
Paralyzed Vets of America plays weekly at Bingo World.
Tuesdays | 12 p.m. | 719-578-1441
Pikes Peak Camera Club meets at Living Hope Church, 640 Manitou Blvd. 2nd Wednesday | 7 p.m. | 719-6342376 | pikespeakcameraclub.com
Ford Mustang Club for Mustang owners/enthusiasts meets monthly at Phil Long Ford Motor City.
3rd Saturday | 4:30 p.m. | mustang ers.com
Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship meets for breakfast at IHOP, 6005 Constitution Ave.
2nd Saturday | 7:30 a.m. | 719-2293317
Gleneagle Sertoma, a community service organization, meets for lunch at Beast and Brews, 7 Spec-
Pikes Peak Computer Application Society meets at Springs Community Church, 7290 Lexington Dr. 1st Saturday | 9 a.m. | asdtitus@ gmail.com
Pikes Peak Genealogical Society meets virtually.
2nd Wednesday | 6 p.m. | ppgs.org
Pikes Peak Over the Hill Gang meets monthly for dinner. This club is for active adults 50+ who enjoy skiing, biking, hiking, golfing, camping, etc. Membership required.
2nd Wednesday | ppothg.com.
Pikes Peak Pastel Society meets
five times yearly. All levels welcome. 719-338-5548 | pikespeakpastel.org
Pikes Peak Posse of the Westerners meets for dinner and a program at the Masonic Center. Please RSVP.
2nd Monday | 6 p.m. | 719-473-0330
Pikes Peak Water Garden Society meets at Mountain View Church of Christ (April through October).
2nd Thursday | 7 p.m. | 719-6480740 | ppwgs.org
Rampart Range Blue Star Mothers meets at Falcon Police Department.
1st Sunday | 2 p.m. | 719-651-8038
Read Amok Book Club meets at Florissant Library.
2nd Monday | 11 a.m. | 719-7483939
Reader’s Circle Book Club meets at Woodland Park Library.
2nd Thursday | 10:30 a.m. | 719-6879281
Red Hat Ladies meets at Fountain Valley Senior Center.
1st & 3rd Fridays | 1 p.m. | 719-6002644
Rotary Club meets weekly for lunch and a speaker at the DoubleTree Hotel. Visit website for Zoom link and to RSVP.
Fridays | 12:15 p.m. | 719-338-3239 | portal.clubrunner.ca/3250
Silicon Mountain Mac User Group meets virtually. Visit website for link.
2nd Monday | 6 p.m. | smmug.org
Sno-Jets Ski & Adventure Club meets monthly at The Public House at The Alexander. See website for ski trips, biking, hiking, dinners and other social activities.
1st Wednesday | 6:30 p.m. | snojets.org
Socrates Cafe meets weekly for discussion at the Monument Library. Tuesdays | 1-3 p.m. | 719-531-6333
Sons and Daughters of Italy meets monthly for dinner and a meeting at VFW Post #101.
1st Tuesday | 5:30 p.m. | 719-2102025
Sons of Norway meets monthly at Viking Hall.
2nd Wednesday | 6:30 p.m. | 719574-3717
Spanish Conversation Group meets weekly at the East Library, Room F1. Intermediate-advanced Spanish learners and native speakers discuss a variety of topics.
Thursdays | 1:30-3 p.m. | 719-2445902
Veterans of Korean Service (wartime or peace) meets at BPOE Elks 304, 3400 N. Nevada Ave. Lunch and speaker are $13. Call to RSVP.
3rd Saturday | 11:30 a.m. | 719-2146121
Gail Wahl
“I miss the Agia Sophia Orthodox coffee shop and bookstore on the West Side. It was so peaceful. I still have my mug from there.”
Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 1075, meets at Skills Academy, 1575 Garden of the Gods Road.
Last Saturday | 9 a.m. | 719-2358162 | vva1075.com
Women’s Army Corps Veterans Association meets at Sand Creek Police Station.
4th Saturday | 10 a.m. | peakwac vets@yahoo.com
Women’s Army United, Chapter 75 for women veterans, meets at Sand Creek Police Department.
4th Saturday | 10 a.m. | 719-6603641
Woodland Park Book Club meets at Woodland Park Library.
1st Tuesday | 10:30 a.m. | 719-687-9281
Yarnia! Knitting & Crochet Club meets at Florissant Library.
2nd Thursday | 10 a.m. | 719-748-3939 ■
Marianne: “I really liked Giuseppe’s Restaurant in the Old Depot on Sierra Madre, with their good Italian food and train memorabilia. Their salad bar was on a baggage cart!” Chuck: “Classics Hamburgers. Any of their locations was a good place to get a freshly made burger.”
“I used to go to the abaTina Boutique on 8th Street. It was such a good place to find unique gifts. I also miss the British Home Shoppe.”
Anne: “When we moved from Nebraska, I was glad there was a Beauty Brands store here. They had good prices on shampoos and other hair products. Unfortunately, they closed a short time later.” Will: “I was disappointed when the baseball stadium moved downtown. We lived nearby when it was out east, and I enjoyed going to games. It’s no longer convenient.”
Toni Kaufman Anne and Will Sanborn Marianne and Chuck StovallThe TABOR Amendment requires governments in Colorado to refund tax revenue collected above the TABOR limit for a given fiscal year or seek voter approval to retain the revenue. In 2021, El Paso County received approximately $30.7 million in revenue above the TABOR revenue limit. As a result, the county will refund those funds back to property taxpayers. This refund represents 41% of the overall property taxes
El Paso County will collect in 2023. All property taxpayers, including homeowners and business owners, will receive an equitable share of the $30.7 million refund. On a $500K home, homeowners should expect a $113 refund.
Are you 65 years old or older?
Own your home and pay property taxes? Lived there as your primary residence for 10 years or more?
A surviving spouse meeting the preceding requirements? A disabled veteran? Want to save some money on your property taxes? You may be eligible for the state’s Senior Property Tax Exemption, which is administered by the county you reside in. Reach out to your county’s tax or treasury department to apply and learn more. The state has recently updated the Property Tax Deferral Program.
This winter, don’t neglect maintenance of your fireplace, kerosene or gas stove or gas appliances. Fireplaces must be properly vented, cleaned and used. If they are not, they can leak dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide. More than 400 people die yearly from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas that you can’t see or smell, but there are
The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (DHCPF) is close to making it possible for Coloradans to access savings on drug costs by getting imported pharmaceuticals from Canada—as much as 65% on average.
DHCPF estimates that the Colorado Importation Program may be operational by mid 2023. Drug manufacturers approved by the FDA will sell the eligible prescriptions to Colorado’s foreign seller, AdiraMedica, which is located in Canada. AdiraMedica will export the eligible prescription drugs to Colorado’s Importer, Premier Pharmaceuticals, a U.S. wholesaler based in Idaho who will test, relabel and distribute to Colorado pharmacies. Colorado’s list of 112 medications include those that treat conditions such as respiratory diseases, cancer, HIV and more. DHCPF projects savings as high as 91% for antipsychotics, 80% for smoking cessation, 78% for Type 2 diabetes, 73% for blood thinners and 60-70% for multiple sclerosis, respiratory and women’s health. Consumers, including Medicare beneficiaries, will want to check to see which pharmacies are participating in the program and whether their health plan covers imported drugs. Check for registered pharmacies in Colorado at dpo.colorado. gov/pharmacy.
symptoms you can watch out for, including nausea, dizziness, blurred vision and loss of consciousness. Consider these precautions: get your chimneys and heating systems inspected each year, open a window slightly when operating kerosene or gas-fueled appliances, ensure your carbon monoxide detectors have working batteries and do not attempt to heat your house with a gas stove, grill or any other appliance not specific for heating. If your alarm sounds, get outside your house immediately and call 911.
In these winter months, ice and snow require extreme caution when navigating on foot. One in three older adults will fall in a year’s time, and one in six of those falls will require an emergency room visit. Falls can cause fractured bones, head injuries and abrasions, and they’re the leading cause of injury-related deaths for older adults. Hearing and sight changes, decreased muscle tone, some health condi-
tions and even certain medications can contribute to taking a tumble. Don’t hesitate to ask for help for tasks like clearing your sidewalks and driveway or requesting an errand-running buddy on snowy days. An exercise plan to improve your balance would be a great help. (Consult your doctor first.) Always choose footwear with non-skid soles. And if you walk with a cane, swap its rubber tip with a new one if needed, or use the ice pick attachment for better traction.
We are used to taking action if our temperature rises above 98.6°F, but a body temperature that is too low can also be harmful. Normal aging changes in your body can make it harder for you to be aware of feeling cold, and you could be experiencing hypothermia. For an older adult, a body temperature of 95°F or lower can cause health problems, such as heart attack,
kidney problems, liver damage or worse. It’s even possible for older adults to experience hypothermia inside. Make sure the furnace is set at 68–70°F. Early hypothermia symptoms include pale skin, a swollen face, slower or slurred speech, sleepiness, anger or confusion. Later signs include clumsiness, stiff limb movements, slow heartbeat, shallow breathing or blacking out. There are steps you can take to prevent hypothermia. Dress in layers even at home, and keep blinds and curtains closed so heat will not leak out. Keep your weight up, for body fat keeps you warm. Always drink in moderation, as alcohol can make you lose body heat.
Does winter weather keep you alone and stuck at home? The winter months are particularly challenging for those living alone. Isolation is a danger to those who don’t prepare for power outages and other winter hazards. If you live in an area where the winter weather is unpredictable, prepare by stockpiling food, water, blankets, extra medications and other necessities in case of a blizzard. But even if your physical needs are met, winter isolation can cause depression and loneliness.
A significant 43% report regularly feeling lonely, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Loneliness can lead to exhaustion, irritability and sadness, as well as an increased risk for all-cause mortality, dementia and falls. Reach out however you can. Phone or video calls can be scheduled with family or friends. Invite a friend or neighbor over for coffee. Join a class at your nearest senior center. Or host a potluck or book group at your home. Your mental and physical health will thank you for it. ■
Alzheimer’s Association offers free caregiver support, in person and virtually. Call 24/7 to register.
800-272-3900
Amputee Support Group meets at Encompass Rehab Hospital.
1st Tuesdays | 5-6:30 p.m. |
719-632-5075
Community Reinforcement And Family Training (CRAFT) has support for families and friends of loved ones struggling with substance use at Springs Recovery Connection. English, Spanish, virtual and in-person options are available.
719-377-2161 | aneeley@srchope.org
Daddy’s Little Girls brings hope to abuse survivors through the love of Jesus Christ.
719-649-9054 | daddyslittlegirls.net
Dementia Support Group meets at Fountain Valley Senior Center.
3rd Wednesday | 2-3:30 p.m. | 719600-2644
Depression and Bipolar Support has support for those living with or affected by mood disorders.
719-477-1515 | dbsacolorado springs.org
El Paso County Colorado Progressive Veterans is available 365 days a year to help veterans, active duty military and their families with VA health care and disability, homelessness, emergency needs, PTSD and mental health support.
719-488-8351 | epccpv.org | info@epccpv.org
Emotions Anonymous, a program for unsolved emotional problems, meets at First Lutheran Church, 1515 N. Cascade Ave. Mondays | 6 p.m. | 719-235-1798
Falcon Senior Services meets at Patriot High School in Falcon.
2nd Wednesday | 11 a.m. | 719-494-0353
Gamblers Anonymous meets virtually and in person at the Dwelling Place, 508 N. Tejon St. Virtual | Check website
In-person: Mondays | 6 p.m. | Saturdays | 9 a.m. | coloradoga.org
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren supports those parenting grandkids. Call for details.
719-578-8007
Grief Share helps attendees find healing after losing a loved one.
4th Tuesday | 10 a.m. | 719-330-0241 | sue@monumentalfitness.com
Headway Brain Injury & Stroke Support Group meets at Fargo’s Pizza, 2910 E. Platte Ave.
1st & 3rd Wednesdays | 11:30 a.m.-
1:30 p.m. | 719-459-0901
Hearing Loss Association of America meets virtually. hlaacoloradosprings.org
Keeping in Balance with the Life Tree meets weekly at Ambrose Family Health. Sessions are $5. Thursdays | 2-3 p.m. | 719-203-5340.
Low-Vision Support Group meets at Fountain Valley Senior Center.
3rd Wednesday | 1 p.m. | 719-600-2644
Multiple Sclerosis Alliance meets virtually and in-person. Visit website for schedule.
719-633-4603 | msasoco.org
NAMI Support Groups meet virtually and in person at First United Methodist Church, 420 N. Nevada Ave. Registration required: 719-4738477, namicoloradosprings.org
• Connection Support Group is for those living with mental health conditions.
Virtual: Tuesdays | 7-8:30 p.m.
In-person: Thursdays | 7-8:30 p.m. | Room 235
• Family Support Group is for family members of people living with mental health conditions.
Virtual: Wednesdays | 7-8:30 p.m.
In-person: Thursdays | 7-8:30 p.m. | Room 234
Overeaters Anonymous meets daily over Zoom (except Sundays) and in person on Thursdays at Peak Vista Community Health Center.
In person: Thursdays | 9-10:15 a.m. | 719-205-9080 | oasouthern colorado.org
Parkinson’s Support Group meets at First United Methodist Church,
420 N. Nevada Ave. 2nd Saturday | 10 a.m.
PEARLS Connect for people over 60 who feel overwhelmed by life’s issues meets monthly at the Colorado Springs Senior Center. It is available to anyone who has participated in the PEARLS programs anywhere in the U.S.
2nd Tuesdays | 3-4:40 p.m. | 719459-2017
Polio Survivors Support Group meets regularly. Call for details. 303-212-0017
Prison Support Group for those with incarcerated loved ones meets weekly in the prayer room at Woodmen Valley Chapel for sharing and prayers.
Thursdays | 1 p.m. | 602-762-0900
Proactive Living Series meets at the Colorado Springs Senior Center
to share tips on aging and resources.
3rd Thursday | 12-2 p.m.
Project Angel Heart delivers free, nutritious meals to those living with life-threatening illness.
719-323-0084
Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group meets virtually through The Independence Center.
2nd & 4th Wednesdays | 1:30-3 p.m. | 719-471-8181
Vital Times is for those wanting to grow spiritually and meet new friends. Group meets at Sacred Heart Parish Center.
2nd & 4th Wednesdays | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | 719-633-8711
Widowed Persons Grief Support Group meets twice monthly at the Colorado Springs Senior Center.
2nd & 4th Fridays | 1-2 p.m. | 719955-3400 ■
prove lung function.
9:30-11 a.m. | March 10, 17 & 24 | Free Nurse Chats: PCP, Urgent Care or ER?
Assess your symptoms and decide where you should seek care.
1514
To register for classes, call 719-955-3400 or visit www.CSSeniorCenter.com
Coffee with a Cop
9:30-10:30 a.m. | March 10 | Free
Bagpipes and Cocoa on the Patio
1:30-2:30 p.m. | March 16 | $3
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
Celebrate by watching local dance troupe Celtic Steps, followed by a game, prizes and refreshments.
1:30-2:30 p.m. | March 17 | $3
Tunes on Tuesday: Guz Meza performs gospel to Spanish love songs, Motown to Johnny Cash, Elvis to Frank Sinatra.
1:30 p.m. | March 21 | Free
Thursday Dances
1:30-3 p.m. | March 9 & 23
Improvising Our Stories
These creative, imaginative games can improve seniors’ mental health.
1:30-2:30 p.m. | March 6-27 | Free
Understanding Annuities
10-11:30 a.m. | March 8 | Free
Planning Your Legacy
Well-prepared retirees have a will and maybe even a trust.
1-2:30 p.m. | March 8 | Free
Macrame! Rainbow
9-11 a.m. | March 14 | $16
Work Less & Enjoy Your Outdoor Space More!
1-2:30 p.m. | March 22 | $3
Health & Fitness Education as You Age
Our lifespan exceeds our health span. Here’s how to close the gap.
11 a.m.-12 p.m. | March 6 | Free
Living with COPD
Learn breathing exercises to im-
1-2 p.m. | March 15 | Free Supporting Your Back/Spine Health
Learn spine anatomy, risk factors, minimizing injury and exercises.
1-2 p.m. | March 21 | Free Nutrition & Life Coaching
Learn nutrition basics, nutrient timing and metabolism considerations.
11-12 p.m. | March 28 | Free
Tap Dance
1-2 p.m. | March 7-April 18 | $35
Posture, Balance & Core
Chair-based and standing work may be adapted to various fitness levels.
2:45-3:45 p.m. | March 6-April 17 | $35
Breathwork, Meditation & Chair Yoga
10-11 a.m. | March 7-April 18 | $35
Flyswatter Volleyball
Volleyball is just as fun with balloons and flyswatters!
1:30-2:30 p.m. | March 28 | Free
Cartooning
This requested class covers storytelling and techniques in different styles and media.
1-3 p.m. | March 2-April 20 | $53
Approaching Oil Painting
Strengthen your skillset with simplified modern methods.
9-11 a.m. | March 6-April 3 | $55
3D Textile Sculpturing
Learn to use a sewing machine to make succulents out of scrap fabric.
1-4 p.m. | March 15-April 5 | $33
Gemstone Faceting
Cut and polish transparent gemstones into a variety of beautiful shapes.
1-3:30 p.m. | March 7-April 18 | $47
Contact the senior center for a schedule of computer classes and other technology help
66 Jefferson St., Monument
To register for classes, call 719-464-6873 or visit www.SilverKey.org/trilakes
Advisory Meeting
Open to all. Bring ideas and suggestions.
March 6 | 10:30 a.m.
Book Club
March 10 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Connections Café
Enjoy hot, nutritious meals and socialize with others.
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays
Bunco
Bring $3 and a snack to share.
1-3 p.m. | March 10
Bingo
Play for fun and prizes! Must RSVP.
12:30 p.m. | March 15 | 719-3300241 | sue@monumentalfitness.com
Chess 12 p.m. | Mondays
Pinochle
A classic combination of bidding, melding and trick-taking in one card game.
12-4 p.m. | Tuesdays
Hand & Foot
Be the first to get rid of your cards
“hand first,” then foot in this Canasta-style game.
1-4 p.m. | Tuesdays & Wednesdays
Mahjong
Play others in this solitaire matching puzzle game.
1-4 p.m. | Fridays
Class fee: $50 per month (unlimited), $60 for 10-class punch card, or $8 drop-in
Lean & Fit
Build strength and endurance in this muscle conditioning class.
9-10 a.m. | Mondays
Yoga
Vinyasa is an energetic form of yoga designed to connect your breathing to your movements.
10:15 -11 a.m. | Mondays
Tai Chi Fusion
Reduce stress and promote serenity through gentle, flowing movements.
12-1 p.m. | Mondays
Strong for Life
This circuit-style workout incorporates cardio and simple weight training.
1:30 p.m. | Mondays
Essentrics
Strengthen your core and improve balance and mobility.
9-10 a.m. Tuesdays | 12-1 p.m.
Thursdays
Pilates
Low-impact movements aim to strengthen muscles while improving posture and flexibility.
12 p.m. | Sunday
Gentle Yoga
A slow, gentle class focusing on strength and alignment.
10:15-11 a.m. | Tuesdays & Fridays
Mind-eroize
Exercise your brain!
12-1 p.m. | Tuesdays
Line Dancing
1:30 p.m. | Tuesdays
Mix It Up!
Low-impact aerobics, simple weight training and stretching.
8-9 a.m. | Wednesdays
Mind Matters
Gentle stretching, meditation and visualization work.
10-11 a.m. | Wednesdays
Tai Chi Gong
9 a.m. Wednesdays | 11 a.m. Thursdays
Chair Yoga
Seated poses improve circulation and reduce stress.
12-1 p.m. | Wednesdays
Active Bodies
Circuit-style workout for all levels.
9-10 a.m. | Wednesdays
Zumba Gold
Cardio workout to Latin-inspired dances.
9-10 a.m. | Thursdays
5745 Southmoor Dr., Colorado Springs
To register for classes, call 719-600-2644 or visit www.FVSCenter.org
Leprechaun Hat Day
All day | March 14
Mr. Tim, Crooner
Extraordinaire
Donations are welcome.
12:30 p.m. | March 15
Barb Bragdon
Lunch Performance
Donations are welcome.
11:30 p.m. | March 16
Vendors Fair
Held in the conference room.
2-3:30 p.m. | March 16
Mystery Trip
9 a.m. | March 24 | $10
ART
Interpretive Dance
10:30-11:30 a.m. | Mondays
Knitting/Crocheting
1-2 p.m. | Mondays
Tap Dance
10:15 a.m. | Tuesdays
Porcelain
9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.; 12:30-3 p.m. |
Quilters 8:30-11 a.m. | Wednesdays Oil Painting
| Wednesdays Harmonizers
Card Making Gold
p.m. | 2nd & 4th Fridays
LEGAL
Legal Assistance
1:30 p.m. | 2nd Wednesday
HEALTH
Chair Yoga
2:30-3:30 p.m. Mondays | 9-10 a.m. Fridays
Zumba Gold
9-10 a.m. | Tuesdays
Blood Pressure Checks 10:15 a.m. | 1st & 3rd Tuesdays
Cardio Drumming
2:30-3:30 p.m. | Tuesdays
Tai Chi 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Wednesdays
Low Vision Support
1 p.m. | 3rd Wednesday
Zumba Basics 2:30 p.m. | 4th Thursday Active Minds 2:30 p.m. | 3rd Thursday
321 N. Pine St., Woodland Park
To register for classes, call 719-687-3877 or visit www.WoodlandParkSeniors.com
Your Legacy Letter Course
1-3 p.m. | March 1, 15 & 29 | Free Johnston Model Trains Visit
Tour the impressive model railroad setup of the manager of the Cog Railway.
12:30-3:30 | March 10
Quilters
Bring a project to work on and socialize.
9 a.m. | Mondays
Dominos, Cribbage & Euchre
Choose to play any of these domino games—or all three!
9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Monday-Friday
Bingo
Play for fun and prizes!
10:30-11:30 a.m. | Thursdays
Low-Impact Cardio
Tone muscle and pump up the heart in this low-impact exercise program.
9 a.m. | Tuesdays & Thursdays
Chair Yoga
Seated yoga poses improve circulation and range of motion and reduces stress.
9 a.m. | Wednesdays
Chair Tai Chi
Gentle, flowing movements alleviate stress, improve balance and reduce fall risk.
9 a.m. | Fridays
Zumba Gold
Cardio workout to Latin-inspired dances geared toward beginners.
10:30 a.m. | Fridays
Bingo (and cash prizes)
Chili Cookoff
Enter your favorite chili for $20. Registration forms are at the front desk. Cash prizes go to the top three and the People’s Choice. All are welcome to eat chili, cornbread, dessert and drinks.
11 a.m.-1 p.m. | March 18 | $5
Manitou Heritage Center & Lunch
10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | March. 24
Winter Photo Contest
There are prizes for the top three photographs. Pick up registration and contest rules at the front desk.
Deadline: March 24
Crochet & Knitting
Bring a project to work on and socialize.
Making
a.m. | Thursdays
Neighborhood Walk
11 a.m.-12 p.m. | March 18
Silver Key Lunch
Make a reservation 24 hours in advance.
11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | MondayFriday | $3.50
Potluck Lunch
Dr. James Wiley presents on core development. Bring a dish to share.
11:45 a.m. | March 14
Catered Meal & Program
Program: state health – free Covid and flu shots. RSVP by March. 24 for meal.
11:45 a.m. | March 28 | $7
10 a.m. | Wednesdays
Nondenominational
Sundays at 10 a.m.
• Pastor Dr. Chad Wight
Hymns
For more than 100 years, Better Business Bureau® has been helping people find businesses, brands, and charities they can trust.
At BBB.org You Can:
•Find free reports on BBB ® accredited and non-accredited businesses.
•Submit a review on a business
•File a complaint on a business
•Report a scam
• Bible Teaching Bible Study, Sundays 8:30-9:30am
• Contemporary Music
3815 N. Academy Blvd.
heart-song-church.org
• Adjacent to Harmony Bowl
•Research wise donor decisions at Give.org
Better Business Bureau with offices in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, CO. | 719.636-1155
21. Israel’s Barak
Food and water
Potpourri
Luges
“up,” exasperated
minister
As an older adult, being independent has always been a source of pride for you. Sometimes you need assistance with your health care, transportation, meals, or even medications. This is where Rocky Mountain PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) can help.
RM
allows senior citizens who would otherwise require nursing home care to live in their homes as long as possible by providing:
FLAT RATE COMPUTER REPAIR.
Starting at $60. Free pickup & delivery or up to 2 hours of on-site tune-up, virus removal and/or training. Call Richard with SOBE I.T. 719-470-1910.
Affordable One-Bedroom Apartments for Seniors 50+. 3933 East San Miguel St. Colorado Springs, CO 80909. $875/$900 per month includes gas and water. $500 deposit. One year lease. No Pets. No Smoking. Call Penny at 720-3739330.
Portable Indoor Shower by Shower Bay. Like new. Easy to assemble. Requires a faucet, drain and electrical outlet. Asking $2K obo but paid $3,500. Will deliver if local. Call 719499-2737.
Maxi’s Dance Group is back! Dance party every Thursday 6-9pm, Eagles Club 1050 S. 21st St. Music for ages 40+, food and drink available for purchase. $8 cover; $5 members. 719-660-1358.
HELP WANTED
VOLUNTEER AT SILVER KEY to help provide seniors with meals, rides, client support, food pantry support, and veterans support. Office staff and materials support also needed. Please apply online at: silverkey.org/volunteer
HOME REPAIR
HANDYMAN SERVICES. ODD JOBS Plumbing, Carpentry, Fences, Decks, Doors, and more. (Mowing or yardwork in the spring and summer.) John 719-471-7471.
MORE THAN A HANDYMAN. Home Maintenance, Repairs, Yard Work, Projects. 15% Senior Discount (62+). Call Mike - a Senior and Veteran. 719-338-4279. Voice mail answered same day.
Volunteer brass players for The Salvation Army Colorado Springs Corps Band. 908 Yuma St. 80909. Band plays every first Sunday of the month. 10:15am to 11:15am. Contact: Lawrence Shiroma, Bandmaster. lawrence.shiroma@usw. salvationarmy.org Cell: 424-247-3109
Cruises to museums, horses to rodeos, interests are varied. 73-yearold Caucasian female looking for 68–74 year-old Caucasian male with similar interests. 719-660-7110
words or less per ad. Additional words +$1.00/word. Bonus features available at an additional charge.
Select the category you want the ad to appear under:
BEN IS BUYING HOUSES. If you would like a quick, no-hassle cash sale for your home in “as-is” condition and for a fair price, please text or call me so we can talk. Ben 719-492-1671
S.C.S.E. SANDYS CARE SERVICE
EXPRESS Specializing in same day, last minute, when available. Mail –bank – babysitting – shower – meals - dog feeding etc. 9am-4pm, MondayFriday. 719-203-8898.
SENIORS LOVE HELPERS that arrive at the door! If you do heavy lifting, climb ladders, painting, cleaning, cooking, or hair care, place an ad in Life After 50. Readers are hunting for your services! 719-900-7664.
1950S-1960S LP’S, 78’S AND 45’S. Blues, jazz, rock ‘n roll, country, Broadway, movie soundtracks, TV, R&B, soul, children’s, spoken word, etc. I’m a collector, not a business. Call me first - I pay the most for your records. 719-633-5848 or 719-440-9288
FASTRACK MOVING. 3 MEN/TRUCK $155 HR. 719-822-8964. www. FasTracMovingandDelivery.com
DAILY LABOR: Gutter cleaning, yard cleaning, house cleaning, snow removal by size, truck and driver available. Painting $25 per hour. 719310-5247.
TREE REMOVAL, TREE TRIMMING and stump grinding. 24/7 Emergency Service available. Text or Call Ben’s
CASH FOR OLD BANKS AND TOYS, presidential pin back buttons, Simpich dolls, military insignia and memorabilia. Will buy single items or entire collections. 719-632-9904.
VINTAGE ITEMS WANTED. TOYS, comic books, children’s books, dolls, movie and music posters, Halloween, guitars and amplifiers, and plastic model kits. I’m a collector, not a business. 719-633-5848 or 719-4409288.
Medicare’s annual enrollment period just ended, and it was all but impossible to miss the commercials featuring celebrities pitching Medicare Advantage plans to seniors.
Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath told seniors they can get extra Medicare benefits by calling a 1-800 number. Actor Jimmie Walker advised them to “call now” to check whether they’re eligible for plans that could be “Dyn-O-Mite.” William Shatner implored them to get the benefits they deserve.
The ads are enticing—and sometimes misleading. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) received over 41,000 consumer complaints about misleading Medicare marketing tactics last year, a 165% increase from 2020.
In response to complaints, CMS recently issued more stringent requirements for companies advertising on behalf of Advantage, the privately administered plans that are an alternative to traditional Medicare, and Part D prescription drug plans.
But more oversight is sorely needed. The new CMS marketing rule may end up depriving seniors of access to licensed to “third party” Medicare-certified independent agents and brokers who can help with enrollment.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must press pause on the new rule.
Persuading seniors to sign up for Medicare Advantage and Part D is big business. Seniors have understandably grown frustrated, as some don’t realize until after they’ve enrolled that their current doctor isn’t in their new insurance plan’s network, or that the extra “benefits they deserve” aren’t actually available in their region.
That CMS reforms are all well-intentioned, but part of the rule could swiftly undo any progress in the fight against unscrupulous marketing tactics by bad actors.
The rule expands the definition of third-party marketing organizations to include local agents and brokers. There’s been little clear guidance from HHS about what actually constitutes an enrollment call. So many agents and brokers, who often spend hours exploring a beneficiary’s unique circumstances and combing through potential plans for the best fit, are preparing to record every conversation they have with clients.
That requires equipment that can record and store hours-long audio files for years at a time and do so securely, to comply with federal privacy laws.
That’s cost-prohibitive for many small agencies and brokerages. Further, some seniors don’t want their enrollment calls recorded, given that they touch on personal information.
Seniors who have relied on agents and brokers for decades now face the prospect of having to sign up for Medicare without their expert counsel.
Federal officials can stop that from happening by pausing implementation of the rule and developing new reforms that protect seniors from bad actors without jeopardizing access to agents and brokers.
Medicare’s annual enrollment is October 15-December 7, but those approaching 65 have a window to sign up around their birthday. HHS can ensure seniors have the ability to enroll in plans that best fit their needs and budget. But it has to act NOW! ■
See how Humana helps find the right care for you
Oak Street Health is in the Humana Medicare network in your area and can actively help you make the most of your Medicare plan. With providers in Humana's network, you can find doctors who have time to listen—and an entire team dedicated to coordinating your care to serve your whole self.
Oak Street Health is in the Humana Medicare network in your area and can actively help you make the most of your Medicare plan. With providers in Humana's network, you can find doctors who have time to listen—and an entire team dedicated to coordinating your care to serve your whole self.
A network of providers like this is just one way Humana is making healthcare more human.
A network of providers like this is just one way Humana is making healthcare more human.
Oak Street Health Commerce City 5996 E. 64th Ave. Commerce City, CO 80022
Oak Street Health Pikes Peak 2877 E. Fountain Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80910
Street Health Del Mar 740 Periora St. Aurora, CO 80011
Oak Street Health Vista Grande 4380 Austin Bluffs Pkwy. Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Other Providers are available in our network. Provider may also contract with other plan sponsors. Important! At Humana, it is important you are treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable Federal Civil Rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ancestry, marital status or religion. ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1-855-205-7829 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingü.stica. Llame al 1-844-346-2176 (TTY: 711). 繁體中文 (Chinese): 注意：如果您使用繁體中文， 您可以
。請致電 1-855-205-7829 (TTY: 711) 。
Other Providers are available in our network. Provider may also contract with other plan sponsors. Important! At Humana, it is important you are treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable Federal Civil Rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ancestry, marital status or religion. ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1-855-205-7829 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish):
a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingü.stica.
