MC Beacon February 2018

FEBRUARY 2018

Vol. 32

No. 2

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

23 FEBRUARY 2018

www.BeaconS eniorNews.co

MESA

COUN

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BEACON BEST

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BEST L OCAL

LOVE

Readers’ most loved locales revealed

D

2018

FREE INS IDE

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FEBRUARY 2018

EDITORIAL

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

3

That crazy little thing called love

T

he stories in this month’s BEACON prompted a few of us in the office to take a break from putting together the February issue and reminisce about some of our early love stories—our first kiss, the day we met our significant other and the first thing we noticed about them. We’ve all been with our beaus for several years, but what’s crazy is how these moments seem to have happened just yesterday.

I’m sure most of the couples featured in this issue can relate, and they’ve been in relationships much longer than I have. What’s their advice to a long and happy marriage?

Their secrets range from honesty and mutual respect to sharing a Tempur-pedic mattress and having separate bathrooms. Whatever their secrets, these couples have it figured out. The stories of finding each other also show that it’s never too late for love and it can come around when you least expect it.

Love happens at the Valentine’s Dance Get ready to put on your dancing shoes and save the date for the area’s best Valentine’s Dance for boomers and seniors. This semi-formal affair, hosted by the BEACON and Hilltop Senior Living Communities, will be from 7-10 p.m. on February 10 in the Garden Room at the Commons of Hilltop, 625 27 1/2 Road. Tickets are available for only $20—a sweet deal, especially since each ticket includes two drinks from the bar. Dancers

will be able to glide across the area’s largest portable wooden dance floor (even bigger this year), led by the big band melodies of Clark Gault’s Swing City Express. Hilltop’s finest chefs will be cooking up a delectable assortment of hors d’oeuvres and sweet indulgences. Call Stacey at 243-8829 to get your tickets!

BEACON Best results Seniors favor quality product and services that make their lives easier and more enjoyable. This month, we’ve found out what seniors love as we reveal the winners of the 2018 BEACON Best Awards—a list of the most loved locales, activities and businesses voted on by BEACON readers. Read the results starting on page 23.

Volunteer of the Year Do you work alongside an outstanding volunteer, or has your life been touched by the efforts of one? Local organizations can show their appreciation by nominating exceptional volunteers for the BEACON’s Volunteer of the Year award. All nominees will be recognized in the March Create a Legacy insert and at BeaconFest Boomer & Senior Fair on Thursday, April 19. Find the nomination form on page 15 of this month’s BEACON or visit www.BeaconSeniorNews. com.

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

How Will the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act Affect Your Will, Trust, or Current Tax Plan? v Grand Junction: February 22nd, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

(Held in our office at 1250 E. Sherwood Drive) $11,200,000 of estate tax exemption from estate taxes per person? Oh my!! Does this mean you don’t need to review or even have an estate plan? Sorry, there is still work to do! We will review what the new tax law means to you and your estate. We will look at the “cliff” when the tax cuts expire and go over other important issues each person needs to address in their wills, trusts and other estate planning documents. Planning the transfer of wealth, both big and small, involves many issues other than taxes. Join us in exploring the new law and perhaps the new focus each person should consider in planning for the transfer of their wealth to their heirs. Sign up today!

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

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BeaconFest Our annual boomer and senior fair and reader appreciation party is a whole lot of fun (and FREE!) This year’s BeaconFest will be from 9 a.m.3 p.m. on Thursday, April 19 at Two Rivers Convention Center in Grand Junction. For information about being a vendor or speaker, call 243-8829 or email Beacon@Pendant Publishing.com. ■

Cloie Sandlin Editor, BEACON Senior News

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4

COVER STORY

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

FEBRUARY 2018

What’s your secret?

By Melanie Wiseman

T

erry and Ruth Leever were married on Valentine’s Day 48 years ago. Ruth said they chose February 14 as their wedding date because it was romantic and fun.

Terry claimed they wed on Valentine’s Day so he would never forget their anniversary.

The couple met on a blind date and has now spent a lifetime together. So what’s their secret?

“There’s no magic formula to happy relationships,” said Terry. “Trust your inner voice for knowing when the right person comes along, and always respect each other.”

Ruth said sharing the same values and having a positive outlook on the relationship is important.

Perhaps it was divine intervention that brought Dave and Karen Jensen together. They first met at church when Dave was happily married and Karen was blissfully single. Karen moved to Boston to pursue her master’s degree while Dave found himself single and raising two kids after losing his wife to cancer. Upon completing school, Karen relocated to Boulder, and Dave received a spiritual nudge to reach out to her. They dated long distance for six months before Dave proposed and Karen moved back to Grand Junction.

At 46, it was Karen’s first marriage, and they’ve been married for 14 years.

He said: “Praying and sharing outdoor exercise adventures together enhances our closeness. Not sweating the small stuff, making the most of each precious day while encouraging each other’s God-given gifts, serving others and growing in our faith together.”

She said: “Our shared faith gives us a common bond and solid foundation in riding out the storms and sharing the joys of life together. Marrying a widower is not easy. I was given wise advice—never try to fill her shoes, but respect her memory.”

“I believe couples should always have a goal that you’re working toward together,” she said.

I married my best friend 18 years ago. Dan and I met at church, but we really connected through bike riding with friends.

At 42, it was my first marriage and my first time living with a man since I moved out of my parents’ house. I love living with Dan, but I’ve discovered a few helpful tips that help keep our marriage healthy and happy—they include earplugs, a Tempur-Pedic mattress and Google Maps.

Dan has some advice of his own.

“Share household duties and chores, not necessarily keeping with traditional roles.

But men,” he warned, “stay away from the laundry.”

Relationships aren’t about how much love you have for each other at the beginning, but how much you build until the end. These happy couples shared their advice for making love last. ■

Ralph and Wilma Baumbach met in 1948 while traveling on a college choir bus tour. They stayed up talking one night and have held hands through their 68-year marriage. At 92 and 87, they appreciate how lucky they are to still have one another.

Bob and Sharon Vogel’s love story stretches back to their college years in Minneapolis. Though they attended different schools, they both caught a ride home with a mutual friend one day. They fell for each other, and have been married 57 years.

He said: “Fall in love every day.

Trust, care and share.”

He said: “Honesty and compromise.

Listen to your spouse and understand her feelings.”

She said: “In times of misunderstanding, always listen when one says, ‘But this is how I feel.’”

She said: “Through rough times and good times, our faith has kept us strong on our journey together.”

Shirley Jess worked at Campus Drug on North Avenue when she met her husband, Bob, who worked at a neighboring drugstore. The Jesses have spent 52 years of married life traveling and visiting family. Though they’re retired, they work two days a week at the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce.

He said: “It’s not about me, it’s about us.

In pre-marriage counseling years ago, I’ll never forget being told the percent you give and take is not 50 percent. Both have to give 60 percent.”

She said: “Sharing so many common interests like food, friends and social outings.”

FEBRUARY 2018

COVER STORY

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

5

National & Regional Award-Winning Publication Publisher ..............................Kevin K. VanGundy Founding Publisher....................... Susan Capps Editor............................................. Cloie Sandlin Creative Director........................Melissa Trottier Graphic Designer......................... Chrissy Martin Office Manager............................ Stacey Splude Office Assistant........................ Olivia VanGundy Sales Assistant........................ Caroline Skinner

Mike and Barb Oliver met on a double date in Pittsburg, Kansas.

Barb’s date asked her if she could find a date for his friend, Mike, and the two young couples spent the evening at the drive-in—but it was Mike and Barb who hit it off. In their 55 years of marriage, they’ve shared many experiences and special moments, from traveling to volunteering.

He said: “Love, forgiveness [and] don’t argue. We’ve become more like best friends as we’ve gotten older.”

She said: “A happy relationship is give and take. Put their needs before yours. We may not always like each other, but we always love each other.”

Account Representative................... Sue Bowen

Doug and Maureen Beyer met on a blind date—an unusual one at that. Doug was actually set up with Maureen’s roommate, but fate intervened and Maureen went on the date instead. They’ve spent 41 married years traveling, reading and playing pickleball.

He said: “A wonderful sense of humor and being game for adventure.”

She said: “Teamwork and talking things over are the first things that come to mind after running a business together, living together and raising a special needs child.”

Sparks flew for Dennis and Mary Eichinger from their first online connection. When they met on Match.com, she lived in Denver while he lived nearly five hours away in Pagosa Springs.

They dated long distance and compromised on moving to Grand Junction so they could spend the rest of their lives together. They’ve been married 11 years.

He said: “Acceptance, forgiveness and a lot of laughing.”

She said: “Separate bathrooms are absolutely the key! I keep a saying on my mirror by Peter Ustinov as a reminder: ‘Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit.’”

Account Representative........... Debra Romaniec Account Representative............. Valeree Seiferd Digital Media Manager......... Stephanie Summar Proofreader...................................... Jan Weeks Delivery...........................................Cora Gentry Delivery ................................. Lauren VanGundy Delivery...............................................JR Milner

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

Publication of advertising does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Columns are opinions of the writers, not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. Display advertising rates are available upon request. Deadline for advertising and announcements is the 20th of the month preceding publication. © Copyright 2018 • All Rights Reserved

In good times and in bad

How do happy couples keep their love alive? Make note of these relationship musts: • Expect your relationship to change. The crazy infatuation of a new romance develops into a deeper, richer relationship, which should still include romance. Expecting relationships to always be sunny and easy is unrealistic.

• Acknowledge when you’ve made a mistake to resolve problems and build trust in your relationship.

• Invest time, energy and effort into your relationship.

Good relationships need to be tended to on a regular basis and will be worth the investment.

• Listen to each other openly and without judgment.

• Don’t take your partner for granted. Treating your spouse with respect earns respect in return. Express your appreciation for the things your partner does every day to strengthen your relationship.

• Laugh. Challenges are easier to overcome when you keep your sense of humor.

• Celebrate your differences. You and your partner may express affection differently. Discover what love looks like to your partner and be sensitive to those needs.

• Forgive. Holding grudges leads to unhappiness.

• Be loyal and honest. Say what you mean and mean what you say.

• Settle disagreements peacefully. Heated arguments are a waste of time, as not much is worth fighting about. Calm down, then discuss.

Cover Photo: When it comes to their 14-year marriage, Dave and Karen Jensen don’t sweat the small stuff. Their faith and thirst for outdoor adventure are just some of the “secrets” to a lasting and fulfilling relationship.

6

FEATURE STORY

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

FEBRUARY 2018

Love is always the answer Story and photo by Susan Elenz

A

re you racist? Most people nowadays cringe at the thought.

But to my mind, therein lies the problem: denial.

I’ve looked at racism from both sides now, and I think I finally understand it.

I was born into a white, racist, fundamentalist Christian family in Louisiana in the 1950s. I grew up hearing jokes and lots of negative talk about ethnicities and virtually anyone who was different from us.

My family employed black housekeepers, nannies and yard workers, as both my parents worked full time during the week. My parents paid fair wages, provided transportation, used respectful language in their presence and set reasonable expectations at our home.

Even though our employees were treated well, segregation was in full swing. I was reprimanded by my parents for playing with a black child once. My grandmother told me that some people were cursed by God and that’s why they were black.

I believed what I was taught and did my best to stay away from “those” people, thinking they were bad or inferior in some way. I was a racist.

A catalyst for change In the ’60s, I watched the drama of the civil rights movement unfold.

People say music was a catalyst for change. I fondly remember listening, watching, dancing and singing along to the black musicians of the day on TV, radio, records and at concerts (attended by an all-white audience).

I recall a busload of black students being brought to our school for integration purposes. How brave they were.

Our high school mascot was the Rebels, and Civil War sentiments were alive and well. I studied the Civil War in history class and didn’t realize I was being lied to about the reasons that started the war. Slavery

was downplayed, Dixie flags were everywhere and Yankees were viewed with suspicion.

Some people at school and throughout Louisiana were questioning the status quo, but I was not one of them.

My best friend’s dad was an elementary school principal. Although he collected Confederate money, he began acknowledging the black kitchen and janitorial staff for their contributions to the school, which was unheard of at the time.

I also briefly dated a guy who, I later learned, was a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

Colorado culture shock After I graduated in 1969, I chose to attend college in Colorado—my favorite vacation state. I attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley so I could be near Estes Park.

I recall having one black student in my freshman dorm.

College was a culture shock. We discussed civil rights in class, and I read books and watched movies that empathized with the plight of people of color. My fellow students began to question my heritage and my beliefs.

One night on a double date, I was asked to quit talking. The other female in the car was irritated by my Southern accent and by me being a Southerner. She was so disgusted that she refused to be in the car with me, and asked to be taken home. I was offended, of course, but this little taste of discrimination that was directed at me for a change eventually led to an epiphany.

I realized I was wrong. My family was wrong. My state was wrong.

Racism was not something I wanted to be part of any longer.

It was an emotional time for me. I loved my family and knew them to be good people, but they were wrong in teaching me to dislike diversity. I felt a lot of self-loathing and sadness.

I tried to understand what makes people hate those who are different from them. I finally came to that

A protestor’s sign at the National March for Science in Grand Junction last year. realization when I graduated with a teaching degree in 1973.

My first job and all subsequent jobs involved working in low-income public schools with families of all colors.

I learned a lot from the preschoolers and kindergartners I taught over the years. Little children are innocent and love each other, given the chance. They don’t see color and diversity as a bad thing. Children have to be taught to hate others.

Racism is a form of self-preservation. There is an inherent human need to feel that we are better than someone else. In order to feel good about ourselves and maintain the status quo, some of us feel the need to put others down. I think of my grandmother, working and living right alongside poor blacks in the cotton fields of Mississippi. She always thought that no matter how bad things were, at least she wasn’t black.

Racism still exists Some people argue that racism is a thing of the past. While progress has

been made, racism is still around. Today, some people of color are denied jobs, schools, good neighborhoods, housing, loans, justice and human rights that others enjoy. Even poor, white people enjoy privileges that many people of color don’t.

Most whites don’t even realize they’re racist. Many are unaware of the privilege the color of their skin grants them, and deny feelings of dominance or supremacy. Acknowledging it increases feelings of guilt, which trigger defensive responses and worries that they will have to change.

But maintaining the status quo allows hatred and discrimination to continue.

In order to make the world a better place, we must acknowledge that racism and white privilege exist.

We must teach our children to love people, even if they’re different. Take a moment to observe their happiness and love for one another.

Because love is the answer, and it’s the right thing to do. ■

FEBRUARY 2018

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www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Love at first “flirt”: finding

love online in your golden years

By Jan Weeks

R

emember the “good old days” when girls sat around waiting for boys to ask them out? And the boys would rather eat dirt than face rejection?

Things have changed a lot since then. Internet dating sites have proliferated, as have the horror stories of scams, bad dates and more rejection than anyone should face.

Five years after I was widowed, I decided to dip my toes into the brave new world of eHarmony.com and OurTime.com. Since a woman of a certain age is no longer considered hot, I was willing to pay their onemonth fees, figuring at least I’d get an article out of the experience.

I answered a lot of questions for my profiles. My parameters were pretty strict as to religious and political leanings, facial hair was not my cuppa and a smoker was nowhere on my list of attractive qualities. I wondered if revealing my true age might have been a harebrained move, but since I wanted a relationship based on honesty, I decided to go with it. I may be 70 but I hardly ever act it.

My kind of guy It turned out that a lot of guys were looking for that special someone.

It was like being a kid in a candy store. I sent smiles and flirts—the first level of communication on these sites—to a lot of them, then waited.

And waited. Then one morning I got a message in my email that “Stoney” wanted to get to know me better.

Michael “Stoney” Merriman’s subscription to Our Time was about to expire and he wasn’t going to renew.

Then he received a flirt from guess who?

I checked out his profile. Local, nice smile, no scruffy beard, similar belief systems. So I replied.

We exchanged a few messages, then he gave me his phone number.

We met for coffee at Main Street Bagels and talked for over an hour. I left

thinking he was a pretty nice guy: smart, had common interests, retired but busy with his own groups and hobbies. Could be my kind of guy.

We walked the trail around Connected Lakes on New Year’s Day, getting to know each other. He had some of the same issues with online dating that I’d had. He said, “Sometimes you have to decide if you’re interested just from their pictures. A lot of women were frowning and not well groomed.”

He also found scams.

“Women under 40 showed a lot of interest in a man over 70 and asked for my email, a real red flag,” he said.

A stroke couldn’t stop her from helping others heal.

Life’s golden We’ve known each other for a month now. We’ve gone dancing, fixed dinners together and laughed as we reminisced about foods we grew up with and the TV shows we watched. We both grew up in the Midwest, which is one of many things we have in common.

We’ve both agreed to be in the moment, without expectations, no games because our golden years should be about fun and not require that our partner be a mind reader.

Is Stoney my forever mate? Sorry. I never kiss and tell. However, we both canceled our online dating subscriptions two weeks ago, and that’s good enough for now. ■

Safety tips for internet dating from eHarmony

• Never share financial or personal information, such as your Social Security number or mother’s maiden name.

• Be cautious about sharing your phone number or email.

• Research. Type your match’s name into a search engine, or contact your state or local government to obtain public information.

• Take your time. Don’t be in a hurry to become too intimate too soon.

• Meet in public for the first time, let one trusted friend know where you’re going and use your own transportation.

Sharon cared for stroke patients earlier in life, as a Registered Nurse. So, when she had a stroke, she knew she needed to get help fast. Her stroke team immediately began treatment.

Thanks to the personal encouragement and comprehensive therapy she received, Sharon regained the ability to drive, walk and speak. Today, she’s connecting with other stroke survivors, teaching Sunday school, and caring for her community in other rewarding ways.

Find out how our 24/7 stroke program helps you recover to your full potential. Visit stmarygj.org/stroke.

8

RECIPES

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

FEBRUARY 2018

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Chopped pepperoncinis

Diced tomatoes

Shredded lettuce

Chopped green onions

Crumbled feta cheese

Chopped zucchini (1/4-inch chunks)

Grilled chicken

Chopped Greek olives

Pita chips

Assemble hummus, tomatoes, green onions, zucchini, olives, pepperoncinis, lettuce, cheese and chicken in buffet format.

Serve with pita chips.

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Hot Roast Beef Sandwich

3 tablespoons Sabra Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

2 cups arugula

1 flatbread

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup desired vegetables, chopped (olives, roasted peppers, peppadew or artichokes)

½ teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon pepper

3 miniature mozzarella balls, sliced

With mashed potatoes, gravy and vegetables

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Olive Bar Flatbread

Heat oven to 400 F. Place hummus on flatbread. Top with desired vegetables and mozzarella.

Bake on lower rack 10-12 minutes, or until crispy and browned.

Toss arugula with lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Place on flatbread and serve.

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Find more recipes at www.sabra.com.

FEBRUARY 2018

ASK THE OLD BAG

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Considering selling?

ASK THE OLD BAG

By Gayle Lagman-Creswick

A senior real estate specialist (SRES) can help.

ADVICE COLUMN FOR THE OVER 50 CROWD

Don’t mess with this old bag!

Dear Old Bag: In the past month, I’ve had several retailers take advantage of me. A propane company promised $1.30 a gallon, then reneged and charged me $2.10 a gallon. A shoe store quoted me a price of $30 to replace heels on my shoes and charged me $40. A jewelry store charged me $30 to replace a watch battery, and then the business owner got mad at me when I took it back a week later because it wasn’t running. I also left a chain to be fixed for $30, which I put on a credit card. The chain was still lopsided, so I returned and he charged me an additional $15. When I received my credit card statement a week later, I saw that he overcharged me. When I went in to talk with him, he went ballistic—he got in my face and said he couldn’t please me, and told me to get out and never come back. I left stunned and humiliated. Is it just me, or are other customers treated so poorly?

Is it because I’m old and single? Is it because I’m Mexican-American? Is it all of the above, or are today’s business owners just jerks? Sincerely, R Dear R: I am at a loss for words. I have had occasional problems with promises not kept, especially with car repairs; however, I, too, am shocked at your misfortunes. I would have never stood for some of these cases.

Please report the guy who went ballistic to the state attorney general’s consumer protection division. You can file a complaint at www.coag.gov/ file-complaint or call 720-508-6000.

I do think seniors are at risk for being

taken advantage of. When I am dealing with auto repairs, I try to take my son or another knowledgeable individual with me. Readers, are you having these kinds of problems? Do you have any suggestions on how to deal with them? I’d love to hear from you. OB Dear Old Bag: My husband has Alzheimer’s disease and has lived in a nursing home for five years. The care has been excellent, but now we’re at a crossroads. My husband won’t eat and the doctor asked me if I want to insert a feeding tube. Part of me says I should do it, but part of me says no. Please advise. Sincerely, MAT Dear MAT: Please know that I do not tell people what to do. I only share what I would do based on my experiences over the years. Personally, I would not put in a feeding tube and prolong his agony. When they stop eating, it is because their body is beginning to shut down. When this happens, the body does not want food. I believe it desires to be kept comfortable and die with dignity.

There are some religions that believe you are starving them if you do not put in a feeding tube. I do not believe they understand the dying process. I say follow your instincts. You know what this person would like if they could speak to you. Bless you. OB Dear Readers: Since February is heart month, I feel compelled to wish you peace in your heart, peace in your family, peace in our government and peace in the world. Thank you for all your letters and readership. OB ■

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

Price: A senior real estate specialist (SRES) can help you find the best price for your home by doing a analysis of homes like yours that have recently sold and those currently on the market.

Staging: Staging takes place before the house goes on the market so it’s ready to show right away. In addition to advice for a thorough cleaning and cosmetic repairs, a SRES can provide tips for each room to look its best.

Rooms look smaller when there’s clutter. Storing unneeded items creates an impression of more space. If the home is unoccupied, we can add furniture and minimal décor to make it more inviting.

Showings: Now your home is ready to show. It’s best that the owner is not at home when the home is being shown. Be sure to keep medications and valuables out of sight while your home is on the market.

Negotiating: Your agent understands the local market and can look at factors to indicate whether an offer should be seriously considered.

Remember, the negotiation process usually requires give and take. Once an offer is accepted, the buyer will hire a home inspector to thoroughly inspect the home. If the inspection comes back with issues and the buyer and seller can’t agree on a solution, the buyer may walk away. Sometimes sellers have a pre-inspection before they put their home on the market so they know what to expect.

Packing and moving: Moving can be overwhelming if you’ve been in the home a long time and have many fond memories. Sometimes hiring a third party or having an estate sale is the best option. A SRES can also recommend senior moving specialists to help.

Contact me for your free market analysis.

Martha Newman Senior Real Estate Specialist | 970-260-8747 martha.l.newman@gmail.com.

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9

10

THE HEALTHY GEEZER

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HEALTHY

focus on people

GEEZER

our residents

their lives

their families

FEBRUARY 2018

By Fred Cicetti

If the cane fits...

F

or some of us, mobility aids have become the icons of aging. Canes are some of the oldest and simplest tools for keeping us mobile, but they’ve come a long way over the years. With today’s options available, finding the right cane can make all the difference in your level of mobility and safety.

First, make sure your cane fits by letting your arm hang at your side.

The top of your cane should line up with your wrist. Cane in hand, the bend in your elbow should be about 30 degrees. You can get an adjustable cane that can be expanded in 1-inch increments from about 31 to 40 inches.

When you walk with a cane, hold it in the hand opposite the side that needs support. The cane and your “bad” leg should hit the ground at the same time.

Choosing the right cane Canes come in different styles.

• Crook canes are reliable and still very popular.

• Offset canes place your weight more directly over the shaft and are usually adjustable.

• Folding canes are easy to store.

• Broad-base canes with three or four legs have greater stability and are good for people with balance problems.

• Some canes even come with folding seats.

Decide upon the material. Wood canes are light, resilient and inexpensive. Aluminum canes are durable, adjustable and foldable. Graphite and fiberglass canes are light and strong, but they’re also more expensive.

Choose a handle that feels good. You might like a foam grip or one that’s molded to fit your hand. If you experience any numbness or pain in your hand, choose a different grip.

Check the weight limit. Most canes can hold about 250 pounds, while slimmer canes are limited to about 175 pounds. There are even canes that will bear up to 500 pounds.

You don’t want a cane with wornout tips. The tip(s) of your cane should give you traction wherever you go.

Walking with a cane that doesn’t grip the road is like driving a car with bald tires.

Preventing falls and injury If you begin to use a cane, here are some tips to prevent injuries around the house: • Keep the items you need handy and everything else out of the way.

• Remove scatter rugs and tuck away electrical cords.

• Place non-slip bath mats and install grab bars in your bathroom.

• Wear rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes.

• Hold onto handrails on stairways.

• Turn on nightlights and have light switches close to your bed.

• Keep a telephone nearby.

• Use a shoulder bag, fanny pack or backpack to keep hands free.

• Check curb heights before stepping down.

• Look for differences in floor levels when entering rooms. ■

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

FEBRUARY 2018

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

DEAR PHARMACIST

HEALTH & WELLNESS 11

CHECK OUT OUR SEAT LIFT CHAIRS

By Suzy Cohen, RPH

The 6 best foods for arthritis sufferers

I

f you have arthritis, you know what to expect when you get up in the morning: trying to find a comfortable way to sit; grocery shopping, one painful step in front of the other; difficulty buttoning your shirt. Wouldn’t it be nice to be flexible?

Eating certain foods reduces inflammation and pain. But first, here are three food groups you should avoid, since they harm your brain, joints and cartilage: • Anything with artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners • Genetically modified (GMO) foods— they are so hardy that they pierce the gut, leaching toxins into your body and poisoning your bloodstream • Pesticides (organic is better, especially if you have a PON1 gene SNP) Now let’s look at six of the best foods to include in your diet if you have arthritis pain: 1. Organic ginger Ginger is highly anti-inflammatory. One study found that it relieved pain in 63 percent of participants with osteoarthritis. Another study found that ginger blocks the manufacture of inflammatory cytokines in the body. Make tea or grate it into meals.

2. Tart cherries Cherries are rich in a compound called anthocyanin, which gives them their deep blue-red hue. A 2013 study found that patients who drink tart cherry juice had decreased levels of pain and stiffness from arthritis. It’s known to

MANY STYLES, COLORS & FABRICS TO CHOOSE FROM

help with gouty arthritis, too.

3. Garlic Garlic has many health-promoting effects in the body—it’s cancer-preventive and a potent anti-inflammatory food. In one study of 1,082 twins, researchers found that those who ate the most garlic experienced the fewest symptoms from osteoarthritis.

4. Fennel Fennel was used as medicine in ancient Rome and Greece. It’s a delicious way to spice up a salad, making your meal virtually cancer preventive and drastically reducing inflammation in the joints and tissues.

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5. Beet Greens Dark, leafy greens like beet greens are full of phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals that reduce inflammation all over the body. Beet greens (not beets) are extremely high in vitamin K, another potent anti-inflammatory. Two cups renders about 4,700 mg of potassium, which can help regulate blood pressure.

6. Spinach.

A 2017 study showed how kaempferol, found in spinach, reduces inflammation and prevents the progression of osteoarthritis. Kaempferol also decreases the effects of inflammatory cytokines associated with rheumatoid arthritis, the autoimmune form that affects bone marrow.

If you want to be more flexible, eat clean, green, organic, non-nitrate and natural foods whenever you can. If you set your mind to it, you’ll notice changes within a month. ■

Send your questions to Suzy in care of the BEACON, or via her website, www.suzycohen.com

Outpatient Procedure Center

plan. 12

l n.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

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FEBRUARY 2018

St. Mary’s Life Center:

a one-stop shop for recovery

By Melinda Mawdsley

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• Retirement Planning • Investment Strategies • Estate Planning Meet Kent Shettler. He’s here to help you reach your financial independence and will be happy to speak with you in person.

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Make a difference, become a patient support volunteer.

Call (970)257-2378 today.

HopeWestCO.org

W

hether it’s a woman walking gingerly between two parallel bars, seeking to regain mobility after a stroke, or a man standing in front of a touch screen that offers tests to strengthen reflexes and vision, the St. Mary’s Life Center offers people of all ages—children to seniors—the opportunity to rehabilitate from any number of conditions, diseases, illnesses or falls.

“All of the services here at the Life Center are focused on getting people back to work and play,” said Karl Zander, administrative director of rehabilitation and bariatric services.

“Whether you have an injury or a disability, we are focused on giving you the tools and treatment you need to get back to your daily living.”

Located at 2686 Patterson Road, the Life Center is a one-stop haven for occupational, physical, speech and language therapy for all ages.

Zander estimated as many as 150 people walk through the center’s doors daily to receive supervised treatment.

Still in the workforce? The Life Center staff will help you recover from almost all types of injuries through occupational therapy.

Victim of a stroke? The neuro-rehabilitation program can help you regain skills lost from the episode.

Arthritis sufferer? The pain management service offers tools to help you live with the condition.

“There isn’t anything we don’t do when it comes to rehab services under this roof,” Zander said.

The center’s therapy gym is an expansive, open space with dozens of different types of exercise equipment. Each is within sight and earshot of licensed therapists. Smaller areas for individual work are also available.

Recently, the Life Center acquired new equipment and offered more staff training to enhance its rehabili-

tation services for those with Parkinson’s or lower back issues, Zander said.

Although the Life Center is part of St. Mary’s umbrella of care in the Grand Valley, it’s open to anyone referred there by a physician. Treatment from St. Mary’s Hospital is not required.

“If you feel like you’d benefit from these services, contact your physician,” Zander said.

Life Center staff will determine an individual’s eligibility and covered benefits prior to starting any program offered.

Typically, clients visit the Life Center an average of seven to 10 times before treatment is complete, Zander said.

Although the center’s rehabilitation services are by physician referral only, the center also offers continued education to the public on such topics as diabetes and prediabetes, fall prevention and nutrition.

For a complete list of all the services the Life Center offers, call 298-6100. ■

The services at St. Mary’s Life Center are focused on getting people back to work and play.

FEBRUARY 2018

HEALTH & WELLNESS 13

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Your road map to an active, healthier life

By Paula Reece

you enjoy it, you’ll keep doing it.

iving a healthy lifestyle is about more than staying physically fit— it keeps your mind active, gives you a sense of purpose and promotes a strong zest for life. How do you get started on the journey to healthier living? First, you’ll need a road map to get you going in the right direction.

Here are a few ideas to get you on the road to a more active lifestyle.

Keep a routine.

L

Start off slow.

Beginners might want to take the road with a lower speed limit. Learn how to exercise by educating yourself on the tools available and the proper way to use them.

Do things you enjoy.

Going down a bumpy road with dull scenery is no fun. Make fitness enjoyable with exercise classes. Most gyms have a full schedule of classes to choose from. By trying a variety of exercises, you’re sure to find a class that interests you—and if

Sometimes life gets in the way of our best-laid plans, but committing to something as simple as a class or walk each day will keep you on the road, even if you didn’t make as good of time on this trip as you would’ve liked. Obstacles will come along your route and you may have to change your routine. If you go on vacation, try to find a hotel with a fitness center. Walk and see the sights whenever possible. If you get sick, take time to rest and take care of yourself.

When you start feeling better, get back on the road!

Ask for help.

Choose a health club that employs knowledgeable people who are trained and passionate about helping people attain a healthy lifestyle. You don’t have to travel this path alone.

Teaming up with an exercise buddy will help you stay accountable. Consider them your travel guide. ■

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FEBRUARY 2018

Ed Asner presents:

A Man and his Prostate

By Jan Weeks

P

lanning a Valentine’s theater date based around a man undergoing prostate cancer surgery may seem like an odd way to celebrate love, but well-known actor Ed Asner’s talent turns a tragic circumstance into sidesplitting comedy as he performs Ed. Weinberger’s play, “A Man and His Prostate,” at the Avalon Theatre on February 14.

The play revolves around Weinberger’s experience in Italy when he was rushed to the hospital for emergency cancer surgery.

“It’s beautifully comedic, 90 minutes of laughter and liniment,” Asner said. “I do it as a public service to encourage men to get examined now.”

He cited statistics that show a man dies of prostate cancer every 16 minutes in the U.S. “There’s a lot of ignorance and fear out there,” he added and calls the play the male response to “The Vagina Monologues.”

Asner said that Weinberger found the humor—and the anger—in his situation.

“Anger can be funny,” Asner said, adding that he’s a good physical candidate for the role. Though the play focuses on one man, Asner said women resonate with it.

“They’re the best laughers. They get it, and they like seeing a male being put on the spot,” he said.

He doesn’t see a great difference in appreciation between the older and the younger generations, though.

“The younger ones seem eager to bring the problem to light,” he said. “And prostate cancer survivors express pleasure and gratitude for it, though they’re not laughing as hard as others. They seem more appreciative.”

“Don’t ignore the signs or symptoms of cancer,” he said. “Take note of what’s worthwhile in the medications your doctor offers and what sorts of practices the doctor is employing on you.”

Asner, 88, has been acting since he was 19. You may remember him as crusty Lou Grant in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and the spin-off series, “Lou Grant.” He racked up over 100 televisions acting credits and earned seven Emmys. On Broadway and on tour, his depiction of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his one-man show, “FDR,” earned raves around the country. He also turned in unforgettable performances in the movies “JFK,” “Elf” and “Pacific Edge.” And who didn’t tear up at his voice-over portrayal of the contentious, cantankerous Mr. Fredricksen in the Pixar animated production of “Up”?

Don’t miss Asner’s one-night presentation of “A Man and His Prostate” at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 14, at the Avalon Theatre in downtown Grand Junction. Tickets are available at the Avalon box office, from noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, by phone at 800-626-8497 or online at www.monu mentalevents. com. Tickets start at $29. ■

FEBRUARY 2018

15

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Readers to choose Volunteer of the Year

GRAND JUNCTION

I

t’s that time of year again! BeaconFest is just around the corner, which means we need readers’ help in finding the 2018 BEACON Volunteer of the Year.

Nominate a volunteer This month, we’re seeking nominations for a volunteer who has gone above and beyond his or her usual duties and responsibilities. Do you know such a volunteer? Please complete and return the nomination form on this page no later than February 16 to include them in this event.

Nominees will be featured in the March issue of the BEACON, at which time our readers will choose the winner. All nominated volunteers will be presented with awards at our BeaconFest Boomer & Senior Fair at Two Rivers Convention Center on Thursday, April 19, where the winner will be announced.

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

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

Volunteer of the Year Awards 2018 NOMINATION FORM Honor an outstanding volunteer by nominating them for the BEACON’s Volunteer of the Year award.

Use this form to tell us a little about your organization’s volunteer and how they go above and beyond their usual duties and responsibilities.

Your nomination and a headshot of your volunteer will be published in the BEACON’s March issue, at which time our readers will choose the winner.

Please notify your volunteer of their nomination. The winner will be announced and all nominees will be recognized in a brief ceremony at 12:50 p.m. at BeaconFest Boomer & Senior Fair on Thursday, April 19 at Two Rivers Convention Center, 159 Main St., Grand Junction.

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

Complete and return this form, and include a headshot of your nominated volunteer, no later than February 16, 2018 to: • E-mail (best): Cloie@PendantPublishing.com • Fax: 800-536-7516 • Mail: P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502

WINNE R

will b chosen e by

BEACO N r eaders !

Step 1: Once you receive your March

Name of Volunteer:________________________________________ Their phone #__________________________

BEACON, go to www.BeaconSenior News.com.

Nominated by: ___________________________________________ Your phone #__________________________

Step 2: Click the link at the top right of the page that says, “Vote for Volunteer of the Year.”

You’ll be directed to the ballot form.

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

Organization name: ____________________________________________________________________________ Qualifications: _______________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Step 4: Click “Submit”

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

You can also mail in your ballot, which will be included in the March BEACON. Mail it to:

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

BEACON Senior Newspaper P.O. Box 3895 Grand Junction, CO 81502 ■

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

16

LAUGHING MATTERS

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

LAUGHING MATTERS Skydiving

Submitted by Bob Breazeale

A skydiver jumped out of a plane on his first solo jump. At the appropriate time, he pulled the ripcord.

Nothing happened. He pulled the cord for his reserve chute. Nothing happened.

As he dropped like a rock, he saw a man dressed in orange zooming up at him from the ground.

As they passed each other, the skydiver yelled, “Do you know anything about parachutes?”

“No!” yelled the other guy. “Do you know anything about Coleman stoves?”

The hamster Submitted by D. Pierzina

Seven-year-old Sherry had a male

hamster in a cage in her bedroom. She took care of him for nearly two years.

One morning before Sherry awoke, her dad found the pet dead in its cage.

He disposed of the animal and returned to Sherry’s room to tell her of its passing. She didn’t get upset, nor did she show any tears of sadness. Her dad was a bit confused but decided to give her some time to comprehend what he’d just told her.

Later that morning, Sherry joined the rest of her family at the breakfast table.

“Do you want to have a funeral for your furry friend?” her dad asked.

“No!” she replied emphatically. “He stunk and he never gave me any babies.”

The living will Submitted by Stephen Sperry

A man and his wife sat in their living

FEBRUARY 2018

room and he turned to her and said, “Just so you know, I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine. If that ever happens, pull the plug.”

all our lives from cats, dogs and even people with brooms. If we had some little roller skates, we would not have to run again.”

His wife got up and unplugged the TV.

About a week later, God decided to check on the cat. He found her sound asleep on her fluffy pillow.

Anything for a cat Submitted by Gloria Slaker

A cat died and went to heaven. God met her at the pearly gates and said, “You have been a good cat all these years. Anything you ask for is yours.”

And it was done.

God gently woke the cat and asked, “How have you been doing? Are you happy?”

The cat thought for a minute and said, “All my life, I lived on a farm and slept on hard, wooden floors. I would like a real fluffy pillow to sit on.”

The cat said, “Oh, it’s wonderful! I have never been so happy in my life.

This pillow is so fluffy and those little meals on wheels you have been sending are delicious!”

And it was done.

The camel

A few days late, six mice were killed in an accident and they all went to heaven together. God met the mice at the gates with the same offer he made to the cat.

Submitted by William Iiams

The mice said, “Well, we had to run

Your Lung Care Team.

A man came into a bar. He held a rope that looped over his shoulder in his left hand. In his right, he held a small tin pail, which he set on the bar.

“Give me a mug of whatever’s on

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FEBRUARY 2018

LAUGHING MATTERS 17

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tap, and pour three mugs in the pail,” he said to the bartender.

When he’d been served, he set the pail on the floor.

“What’s with the rope?” the bartender asked.

“It keeps my camel from wandering off,” said the man.

“I don’t see any camel,” said the barkeep.

“That’s what my psychiatrist said this morning,” replied the man.

After a time the man ordered another beer for himself and asked for the bucket to be refilled, too.

“Why do you need the buckets of beer?” asked the barkeep.

“Well,” said the man, “I asked my psychiatrist what it would take to make my camel visible, and he told me about six mugs of beer.”

When the man finished his mug, he picked up the bucket and headed for the door.

Then he turned to the bartender and said, “You might need a mop. It looks like my camel peed on your floor.”

Self-respect Submitted by Liane Abrams

A Bengal tiger was walking down a jungle path when he saw another tiger on the opposite side of a clearing. To his dismay, the second tiger appeared to be eating elephant dung. Totally repulsed, the first tiger stomped across the clearing to con-

front his fellow cat.

“What are you doing?” he cried.

“This is disgusting! What is the matter with you? You are a Bengal tiger for heaven’s sake—lord of the jungle! Have you no pride? Have you no dignity? Why in the world would you ever eat elephant dung?”

“Yes, yes, I know,” sputtered the second tiger while gagging and choking.

“I feel terrible and I am so sorry. You see, I just ate a lawyer and I can’t get the taste out of my mouth.”

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At the pearly gates Submitted by Stephanie Summar

A small, quiet man appeared before St. Peter at the Pearly Gates.

“Have you ever done anything of particular merit?” Peter asked.

“Well, I can think of one thing,” the man said. “Once, on a trip to a scarier section of town, I came across a biker gang threatening a young woman.

I told them to leaver her alone, but they wouldn’t listen. So I approached the largest and most heavily tattooed biker and slapped his face, kicked his bike over and ripped out his nose ring and threw it on the ground. I yelled, ‘Back off or I’ll beat the living daylights out of you!’”

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18

HOME & GARDEN

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

FEBRUARY 2018

Garden planning for all: 4 ways to make gardening more rewarding

Alive & Digging

By Paige Slaughter

G

ardening is one of the few areas of life in which we get to build upon labors of the past and start anew.

In last month’s column, we reimagined our gardens as little Utopias—spaces for us to manifest our deepest values and desires. Now that our catalogs are dog-eared and our imaginations ignited, it’s time to put our pens to paper and decide what turning our values into harvests might actually look like.

Simplifying the task I find the best things in life are both profound and simple. For example, facilitating life is a profound endeavor, but it’s easy to forget that growing food is also incredibly simple.

If planning your garden means choosing seeds based solely on the pretty pictures from your catalogs—great!

There’s no rule that says you need to know what you’re doing. And if randomly tossing seeds on the ground is what gets you into the garden for the first time (I’m speaking from experience here), then I’m all for it.

Detailed garden planning helps us maximize resources, optimize space and helps us learn and grow as gardeners.

There are no rules as long as your plan works for you.

But if you like rules…

Consider your space. Understand the possibilities and limits of the space available to you. Work with your environment, not against it. Accept the shady spots as a place to grow greens and tender herbs, the rocky soils to plant lavender or columbines and the cement as a home for potted plants.

Understand your needs. If raised beds will make gardening more enjoyable for you, incorporate them into your plans. By prioritizing your joy and wellbeing, your garden will likely be more bountiful and rewarding.

Succession. Optimize your space by choosing a diverse mix of crops.

Choose cold-season and quick-growing plants to extend the season, fill in gaps and keep soils covered and productive. Sow small amounts of quick-growing crops regularly to enjoy harvests throughout the season. Think about the vertical space as much as the ground area, and consider pairing different plants that will grow together harmoniously.

Trust your intuition. There’s so much to gardening that’s intuitive. The more we trust our intuition, the better gardeners we become. A little research can help us turn our inklings into solid plans and our tiny curiosities into big discoveries. ■

There are many great resources to manifest our desires into a garden. Here are a few foundational guidelines:

Send your questions to Paige in care of the BEACON, or email her directly at paige@fruitionstudio.com

FEBRUARY 2018

19

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Mom’s Believe It or Not Recipe Book: a nontraditional account of southern Colorado history Story and photo by Susan Elenz “Mom’s Believe It or Not Recipe Book” is more than a cookbook.

Author, artist and retired teacher Connie Martinez, 78, set out to write a tribute to her family using recipes and stories of her experiences as a child. The result is a keepsake full of Spanish and Chicano culture and history from Colorado’s San Luis Valley.

Each recipe is accompanied by a story and a memory from Martinez’s childhood. The “believe it or not” in the title is not hyperbole—some of the recipes call for every part of farm animals, including eyeballs and innards, and are cooked in ways unimaginable in today’s kitchen.

Hardscrabble origins “I was thinking about Mom, and what she used to cook and the process she used, and how it is not done or eaten today,” she said. “I had to get things down on paper so our grandchildren and great-grandchildren could know how different it was back then.”

Martinez’s family farm had no electricity or running water. They pumped their water by hand or used water from the Culebra River in Chama. Nothing came easily.

“Everything was made from scratch and everyone pulled their weight— even the kids,” she said. “We had to work at our grandparents’ farm in the bolita bean fields so that our family could have food all winter.”

A welcome reception The book stemmed from a cookbook Martinez made for a family reunion. It was such a hit that she decided to enhance it. A former student of hers edited the manuscript.

“I was encouraged by family and friends, like local poet Luis Lopez, to publish it,” she said.

Full of fascinating recipes and surprising history, what really comes

through is Martinez’s love for the life and family she had back then.

The book’s appeal is wide-ranging.

A California man purchased it and recently called to thank her for writing it. He told her he’d never read a cookbook before, but said that hers took him back home to the San Luis Valley for a few hours.

Martinez is a lifelong artist. She had to be creative growing up on the farm, even making her own toys.

These days, she crafts; draws; paints; sews needlework, embroidery and applique; uses pastels; creates art with mixed media; and upholsters and refinishes furniture. She gives her work away as gifts and participates in local art shows, including the Mesa County Fair.

More of her artwork will be on display at the Art Center’s Members Exhibit February 2-24.

A picture of one of her embroidery and applique pieces adorns the front of her book, depicting life on her grandmother’s farm in Chama. It’s displayed beside other art pieces in her Grand Junction home.

Martinez said she enjoyed writing the book, despite the emotions it brought forth.

“It brought back so many memories—good and bad—and made me laugh and cry while writing it,” she said. “I think everybody has a book in them.

Everyone has a story to tell.” ■

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20 TRAVEL

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The carefree lifestyle you want...

Charlottesville, Virginia: Mother of Presidents

By Victor Block

T

In a tranquil neighborhood all your own.

The Cottages let you live independently while giving you the freedom to make the most of your retirement. Our single-level patio homes offer privacy and luxury with open living plans featuring two bedrooms, two baths, vaulted ceilings, contemporary kitchens, gas fireplace, covered patio and a one-car garage. All nestled in a quiet neighborhood with beautifully landscaped outdoor spaces and walking trails. Enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle with paid utilities, weekly housekeeping, snow removal, lawn maintenance and a flexible meal plan at our Commons or Fountains N dining rooms. Plus you and your loved ones get Hom ew e peace of mind with a 24-hour emergency response Avai s Now lable system. Call or visit today for a tour and free lunch.

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he gracious mansion is a perfect example of an 18th-century gentleman’s country estate. Its 33 rooms are filled with elegant furniture and architectural touches imported from Europe. In its heyday, a virtual Who’s Who of early American history dropped by to visit, including James Monroe and James Madison, the latter accompanied by Dolley.

About 10 miles away stands a much simpler, wood-frame cottage. It was built without a stove, well or bathroom facilities, and would have fit almost twice in the parlor of the much larger mansion. A newspaper article written at the time described its “meager complement of furniture.”

These two houses couldn’t be more different, nor could the men who once stayed in them: Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt. This diversity, which says much about the character of the two presidents, extends throughout Charlottesville, Virginia, and the countryside that surrounds it.

Agriculture, arts, history Part college town, part living history museum, Charlottesville adds life and color to important chapters of the nation’s past. The small city is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, surrounded by rugged Appalachian Range peaks and pastoral landscapes.

Agriculture has long been a staple of the area’s economy, and small farms, orchards and vineyards lie just

beyond Charlottesville’s borders.

In that rural setting, the city of about 44,000 residents is an enclave of arts, culture and history. A good way to experience and enjoy all three is to stroll along the Historic Downtown Mall. The brick-paved pedestrian walkway combines the nostalgia of renovated historic buildings reminiscent of small-town Americana with more than 130 trendy shops and 30 restaurants, many with an outdoor cafe.

The street follows a route that connected Richmond with the Shenandoah Valley during Colonial times.

It was called Three Notch’d Road, which referred to three nicks made in tree trunks to mark it.

Education and architecture One of two places that make Charlottesville synonymous with its most famous son, Thomas Jefferson, lies just a short stroll from the mall.

His many accomplishments included stints as governor, ambassador to France, secretary of state and the third president. Yet one of his proudest achievements was founding the University of Virginia, an “academical village” available to qualified students “regardless of wealth, birth or other accidental condition or circumstances.”

Campus visitors see it much as it appeared when it opened for classes in 1825, with a faculty of eight and 68 students. Pavilions that skirt the expansive lawn still house rooms

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Monticello, the plantation home that once belonged to Thomas Jefferson.

FEBRUARY 2018

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occupied by scholars and faculty. The rotunda that overlooks the setting is a scaled-down version of the Pantheon in Rome.

Jefferson’s interest and genius in architecture is even more evident at Monticello, the plantation home that occupied much of his interest and activity over decades. Work began on the mansion in 1768, when Jefferson was 26 years old, and remodeling continued until his death in 1826.

Design features included ideas gathered during Jefferson’s years living in Europe: dumbwaiters, which he saw in a Parisian cafe; skylights; French doors that open in tandem automatically; and a seven-day wall clock which still chimes.

It contrasts with the tiny, modest cottage where Theodore Roosevelt decompressed from the pressures of official life while serving as president. The small house was purchased by his wife Edith, who like Teddy, cherished simple pleasures derived from nature.

The rustic retreat has been described as “the most unpretentious habitation ever owned by a president,” which says a lot about Roosevelt. Among personal touches are a chart listing birds that Roosevelt spotted during his stays at the cabin, and letters he wrote to his children decorated with sketches of cartoon-like figures.

Two other presidential homes in the Charlottesville area support Virginia’s nickname as “The Mother of Presidents.” Four of the first five presidents—and eight in total—were born in the state.

Living history Guides leading tours of Montpelier, the home of James Madison, note his prominent place in history as, among other accomplishments, a member of the House of Representatives, delegate to the Continental Congress, secretary of state and fourth president. He also played an instrumental role in drafting both the Constitution and its first 10 amendments, and the fact that he authored important documents in the rooms where I was standing.

Madison’s prominence was equaled

by that of his famous wife, Dolley.

She was known for her social graces and hospitality, which boosted her husband’s popularity. Dolley did much to define the proper role of the president’s wife, which led to the term “First Lady.” When he left the White House in 1817, he and Dolley returned to Montpelier, where they lived out their final years.

The Ash Lawn-Highland plantation, which borders Monticello, was home to the fifth president. While serving as secretary of state, James Monroe negotiated the Louisiana Purchase, and the Monroe Doctrine that he established formed the cornerstone of America’s foreign policy for over a century.

Monroe purchased the estate at the urging of his close friend, Thomas Jefferson. He referred to the small house, which was added to by later owners, as his “cabin castle.” Visitors are immersed in the atmosphere of a working farm, with demonstrations of spinning, weaving, open-hearth cooking and other early American pursuits.

No trip to the Charlottesville area would be complete without at least one stop at a winery, and even here the influence of Thomas Jefferson is felt or, rather, tasted. He began planting vineyards close to Monticello, and dreamed of producing wines equal to those of the Old World. However, a series of mishaps and misfortunes doomed his effort, and for some 200 years Virginia’s infant wine industry did not achieve distinction.

That changed recently as a new generation of winemakers began to produce improved vintages. Virginia now has at least 230 wineries and Jefferson would be proud to know that his beloved native state is the fifth largest producer in the country.

Jefferson’s unusual failure as a winemaker pales in comparison to his achievements, and those of his famous neighbors, who were among the founders of our country. A visit to Charlottesville brings their and other stories to life in a setting as varied as were those early leaders.

For details, call 877-386-1103 or visit www.visitcharlottesville.org. ■

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Do you remember your first kiss?

By Sally Breslin “I’ll never watch another soap opera again as long as I live!” my friend huffed over the phone. “I’m so disgusted, I may lose my lunch!”

I sighed before I asked, “Did Nikki find out that her real father is an alien from the planet Zebulon?”

“No, it’s the way they kiss!” she said. “Whatever happened to gentle, romantic kissing—the kind that used to make young women swoon when they watched Paul Newman or Clark Gable movies? When did everyone stop touching their lips together and start looking as if they’re two fish out of water? Is that supposed to be romantic? Maybe to a mackerel, but not to me!”

I laughed, but after we hung up, I found myself thinking about how much kissing really has changed. My thoughts drifted back to my first kiss over 50 years ago.

Prior to the big event, I had read every article about kissing I could find in every teen magazine on the market. Back then, the hot topic in those magazines was whether or not a girl should allow a boy to kiss her on the first date.

According to the magazines, any girl who kissed on the first date risked being labeled “easy.” They advised young ladies to wait

until at least the fourth date to kiss— but only a peck on the cheek. A peck on the lips was acceptable on the sixth date, but a full-lipped kiss wasn’t permissible until the eighth or ninth date.

Another magazine even offered a helpful, step-by-step “how-to” article.

I must have read it a dozen times.

It instructed the “kissee” to tilt her head to the right, slightly part her lips and to close her eyes just as the boy’s lips met hers. The article also emphasized remembering to breathe during the kiss, to avoid turning blue.

I practiced the technique on my teddy bear, pillow and even the back of my hand. The fact that I didn’t have a boyfriend at the time didn’t matter. I wanted to be fully prepared for that eighth or ninth date, whenever it finally did arrive.

As it turned out, my first kiss came unexpectedly in the summer of 1963—my freshman

year in high school. A few of the neighborhood kids and I had gathered in my basement one steamy summer night because it was about 15 degrees cooler down there. My friend Mike brought a new kid with him that night.

That kid’s name was Don, and he was really cute—long brown hair, blue eyes and dimples. He played the guitar, and even though he went to a strict parochial school, he had a reputation for being quite the ladies’ man (according to Mike anyway).

You might say Don was a 14-year-old version of Fonzie.

That fateful night, my friend Dee suggested we play a game of “Truth or Dare.” Everyone opted for “truth” the first few rounds, but when it was Mike’s turn, he issued a dare to Don. “I dare you to kiss Sally,” he said, “and I don’t mean a peck!”

FEBRUARY 2018

My head snapped up and my eyes widened. I felt my pulse increase to about 1,000 beats per minute.

Don stared at me for a few seconds, distinctly amused, then he stood and held out his hand.

“Come on,” he said. “We’ll go behind that wall over there.”

I don’t remember taking his hand or following him. I do, however, remember feeling the beads of perspiration popping out on my forehead as I frantically tried to remember the first steps of the “how to kiss” article.

Finally, Don stopped walking and turned to face me. I froze.

As he leaned in to kiss me, I forgot every single thing I’d read. I didn’t tilt my head. I didn’t part my lips or close my eyes. I didn’t even remember to breathe. Don, however, did everything perfectly. It was as if he’d written those articles himself.

By the time the kiss finally ended, I gasped for air. My eyes, still wide, were bulging like a bullfrog’s. Don opened his eyes, smiled at me and walked off. Too embarrassed to face him or my friends, I bolted upstairs.

According to Mike, Don later told him he couldn’t really tell if he’d actually kissed me or had missed and kissed the wall.

At least those “informative” teen magazines made great fireplace kindling. ■

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Y T N U O MESA C

T S E B L OCAL

LOVE

2018

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BEACON BEST

Readers’ most loved locales revealed

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And the

WINNERS are...

A Robin’s Nest of Antiques & Treasures Best Antique Store___________________________________________ Brown Cycles Best Bike Shop______________________________________________ Kohl’s Best Clothing Store__________________________________________ Benges Shoe Store Best Shoe Store_____________________________________________ Enstrom Candies Best Place to Buy Gifts________________________________________ Fisher’s Liquor Barn Best Liquor Store____________________________________________ Heirlooms for Hospice Best Second Hand Store______________________________________ The Optical Center Best Optical Store___________________________________________ Chow Down Pet Supplies Best Pet Supply Store_________________________________________ Edward Jones - Ryan Mizushima Best Financial Planner________________________________________ Western Slope Auto Best Auto Dealership_________________________________________ Antonelli’s Advanced Automotive Best Auto Repair____________________________________________ Discount Tire Best Tire Store______________________________________________ Good Shepherd Best Carpet Cleaner_________________________________________ Bookcliff Gardens Best Garden/Nursery_________________________________________ Avalanche Heating Cooling Plumbing Best Heating & Cooling Service________________________________ T & S Curbing & Landscape Best Landscaping/Lawn Care Service____________________________ Airstream Plumbing & Heating Best Plumber_______________________________________________ Randy’s Southside Diner Best Place for Breakfast_______________________________________ Café Sol Best Place for Lunch_________________________________________ Bin 707 Best Place for Dinner_________________________________________ Mesa Murder Mysteries Best Date Night Location_____________________________________ Main Street Bagels Best Coffee Shop____________________________________________ Carlson Vineyards Best Winery________________________________________________ Devils Canyon Best Hiking Trail_____________________________________________ Bananas Fun Park

Best Place to Take the Grandkids_______________________________

Tiara Rado Golf Course Best Place to Golf____________________________________________

Introducing the BEACON Best

T

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

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

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

“Many of our readers grew up in an age where service came with everything you bought,” VanGundy said.

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

“Seniors appreciate our commitment to customer service—the fact that we show up when we say we’re going to show up and take care of any issues they have,” said Jim Ostrander of Avalanche Heating Cooling Plumbing, the BEACON Best winner in the best heating and cooling services category.

“They’re more involved in taking care of their house, instead of waiting until something breaks before they give us a call.”

MESA CO UNT

BEST L OCA

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LOVED

2018 The staff at Lois’ Place, a little diner located at 241 Grand Ave., go out of their way to make customers feel welcome, even if it means substituting menu items at no extra charge.

“We care about our customers and we try to take care of them however we can,” said owner Lois McGary. “A lot of the girls know our regular customers by name. We just love them and want them to know that we care.”

BEACON reader Michele Wiginton, who won a $50 gift card to Chow Down Pet Supplies for participating in this year’s contest, said this kind of customer-first attitude went a long way in securing her vote.

“The people at Chow Down are helpful and friendly,” she said. “They’re more than just employees—they’re really knowledgeable about pets and the products they sell.”

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

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

ARY 2018

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BEST PLACE FOR BREAKFAST

BEST BIKE SHOP “We’re honored to get this award for a second year.

Boomers and seniors are always fun to work with.”

“Being a senior myself, I try to keep the prices low so everyone can afford to eat out. We’re a little diner with a nice, relaxed atmosphere, and our customers enjoy the fact that it feels like home.”

- Chris Brown, Brown Cycles

- Lois McGary, Lois’ Place

D BEST SHOE STORE

BEST LIQUOR STORE

“It’s always nice to be recognized. We strive to be the best.”

“It’s fantastic that seniors chose us as the best liquor store. They’re the generation that built this store for us.

I think it’s great that they still like us and continue coming back.”

- Bruce Benge, Benges Shoe Store

- Josh Matteson, Fisher’s Liquor Barn

BEST DATE NIGHT LOCATION

BEST HEATING & COOLING SERVICE

“Winning the award was surprising and thrilling. Mesa Murder Mysteries shows are fun, light-hearted and family friendly. Most of the shows have seniors in them and a couple of senior audience members have joined the cast for at least one show.”

“It’s a big honor for us because it recognizes the commitment and hard work we put in to be the best provider in town.”

- Jim Ostrander & Matt Peiffer, Avalanche Heating & Cooling

- Kathy Applebee, Mesa Murder Mysteries

BEST SECOND HAND STORE

BEST AUTO REPAIR

“It’s a great honor to receive this award because a lot of seniors in the community have really helped this place move along. A majority of our volunteers are seniors, and we get a lot of our donations from them as well. They like to know where their money is going and they know their purchases help patients at HopeWest.”

“We’d like to thank our strong customer base.

We are proud of the community we serve, and we strive to exceed our customers’ expectations.”

- Justin Brun, Heirlooms for Hospice

- Jessica Isley, Antonelli’s Advanced Automotive

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

S FEBRUARY A C O U N T2018 Y

BEST L OCA

L

LOVED

2018 BEST PLACE TO BUY TIRES “Our first consideration is the safety of our customers. We want to keep the community safe.”

- Tim Brandy, Discount Tires

BEST PLACE FOR LUNCH “Thank you for all of your support. We look forward to continuing to serve the community.”

- Nick Santos, Café Sol

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A few lucky readers won $50 gift cards just for letting us know their most loved locales!

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(Left) Beverly Windscheffel, $50 winner to Benges Shoe Store (Right) Michele Wiginton, $50 winner to Chow Down Pet Supplies (Not pictured) Woody Walchen, $50 winner to Lois’ Place

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TALKING

DIGITAL

By Adam Cochran

Technology to control your world

T

he Las Vegas strip is designed by commercial psychologists to mesmerize its visitors, forcing them to lose track of time and enticing them to act on their inhibitions. When 65,000 electronics vendors descend on the strip to present their wares to buyers, media and other industry professionals, adding their own flashing lights, celebrity appearances and seductive visuals, the effect can be overwhelming.

This was my eighth trip to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which takes place every January. I used to have a weekly radio talk show about technology and visiting CES was the highlight of my year. This year, I went specifically looking for tech that would appeal to BEACON readers.

In the coming months, I’ll write about specific products and technologies I saw at the show. But this month, I’d like to talk about two words that kept coming to mind as I wandered the show floor and talked to countless strangers about the future of technology.

Tech of the future “Dirty Jobs” host Mike Rowe gave a TED talk in which he explained how a classics professor he once had used to hammer the words “anagnorisis” and “peripeteia” into the noggins of his class. Anagnorisis is the wonder and process of discovery. Peripeteia, or peripety, is the sudden jarring awareness that often comes when your brain starts putting the pieces together—the Bruce-Willis-has-been-dead-this-wholetime moments.

Those are the two words I found jammed into my own brain as I looked at drones, 360 cameras, artificial intelligence technology and too many wonders to count.

Each year I’ve attended CES, I’ve left with a good sense of what the next 5-10 years will be like. While there are always new things to see, the trends are generally the same—bigger TVs, smaller microchips, more powerful computers, etc. This year was different.

Technology has always been a tool for increasing efficiency for both work and play, but the new trend is to increase efficiency of living. Instead of building technology that allows you to remotely control your world, the industry now creates systems that control your world without you being involved at all.

The new objective is to augment every task you perform on a regular basis, such as driving, buying groceries, setting your thermostat, going to the doctor, standing in line and even sleeping.

Should you be scared?

No. There will be a few unsettling moments of peripety along this road of anagnorisis, but innovation is disruptive by both nature and design.

Rather than worry, it’s probably best to take a cybernetic nap while your washing machine orders your next box of Tide, your humidifier begins to prepare for the moisture that’s coming in two days, and your furniture arranges itself for your company that’s coming this weekend. ■

Send your technology questions to Adam in care of the BEACON, or email him directly at adamc@talkingdigital.org

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Key elements of the tax reform bill may affect seniors

By Teresa Ambord

T

he long-awaited and hotly debated tax reform bill was finally signed into law on December 22. During months of debate between the House and Senate versions of the bill, there was a lot of confusion about what was proposed, what was eliminated and what made the final cut.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) affects most everyone. Here are several parts of the final bill that will affect everyone who files tax returns, and some that will affect seniors more than most.

Personal and dependency exemptions and standard deductions As of 2018, there is no such thing as a personal and dependency exemption. (In 2017, these exemptions were $4,050.) Standard deductions nearly doubled. They are: • $12,000 for singles (up from $6,350 in 2017) • $24,000 for married couples (up from $12,700 in 2017) • $18,000 for heads of household (up from $9,350 in 2017) There is still an additional amount of standard deduction allowed for the blind and elderly. The amount of the additional deduction is expected to be: • $1,300 for individuals who are age 65 and over or blind (and married).

So a married couple where both are at least 65 can claim an extra $2,600.

• $1,600 for those who are age 65 and over or blind (and single).

The estate tax exemption You may have heard that the federal estate tax exemption would rise to $5.6 million and the estate tax rate would remain at 40 percent. The estate tax rate remained, but after the dust settled, the estate tax exemption

rose to a whopping $11.2 million (this is the expected exemption, but still not finalized, as it is based on inflation).

That’s great news for family farms and other businesses that are property and equipment rich, but cash poor.

Critics say this benefits the wealthy, but too often, these businesses are forced to sell everything, including the family home, just to pay the punishing death taxes on already-taxed assets. And of course, when businesses are sold, jobs may be lost. A higher estate exemption protects those jobs and keeps the wheels of commerce running.

But charities could be a loser in the estate tax changes because many people who use charitable contributions, including charitable trusts, to minimize the possibly of being hit with estate tax won’t need to do that.

There’s also a disincentive to itemize deductions (of which charitable donations is one), since the standard deduction nearly doubled. By some estimates, charitable donations could decline between $4.9 billion and $13.1 billion. Of course, most people donate to charities that touch their hearts, so let’s hope donations remain high.

Some politicians warned that our ability to deduct charitable contributions would disappear or be limited.

That didn’t happen. Instead, donations that were previously limited to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income (AGI) can now be made up to 60 percent of AGI.

Medical expense deduction Here’s good news for many seniors who have high out-of-pocket medical expenses. Again, some fretted that the medical expense deduction was going away, but it actually got better. You may know that you can

FEBRUARY 2018

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only take a deduction for the amount of medical expenses that exceed a certain percentage of your adjustable gross income (AGI). For decades, that percentage was 7.5 percent, which is a high hurdle for many taxpayers.

Then in 2013, it became an even higher hurdle, rising to 10 percent for younger taxpayers. For 2017, it rose to 10 percent for all taxpayers, regardless of age. Thanks to the TCJA, this deduction reverts back to 7.5 percent for all taxpayers in 2017 and 2018.

Alimony loses its tax effect It’s tax deductible if you pay alimony under a legal order. If you receive alimony, you must claim that amount as taxable income. However, the rules are about to change. For divorce settlements that occur after 2018, or for existing settlements that are substantially modified after January 1, 2018, those who pay alimony can no longer deduct the amounts paid, and those who receive alimony

do not have to claim those amounts as taxable income.

State and local taxes There’s been a lot of talk about losing your ability to deduct state and local and property tax. It’s true to some extent if your state and local and property taxes combined exceed $10,000, which is the new limit ($5,000 if you are married and file separately). Previously, you could deduct an unlimited amount of personal state and local income and property taxes, or state and local general sales taxes if that benefited you more. The option to claim general sales tax is still available, subject to the $10,000 limit.

Consult with your CPA or tax preparer about more changes in the TCJA that may affect you. With all the changes rolling in, your advisors are going to be busier than ever. Call early to get an appointment. ■

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FEBRUARY 2018

Cappella: senior living that sings to the soul Story and photo by Jan Weeks

A

s we grow older, we face the possibility of moving into an assisted living facility. For a lot of seniors, that move signals the beginning of the end. Sarah Winnefeld, executive director of Cappella Assisted Living & Memory Care, wants to dispel that myth once and for all.

“Assisted living isn’t like going into a nursing home. We care for seniors who need a little help, such as those whose sight has deteriorated, who have Parkinson’s, or who need help keeping track of daily medication,” Winnefeld said. “We help them live a meaningful and purposeful lifestyle and become part of our community while providing care without taking away too much independence.”

She wants residents to focus on the next five years, not the end.

The staff of Cappella, 628 26 ½

Road, is dedicated to that goal. All rooms are equipped with a keyless entry system that tracks whenever someone, such as a housekeeper or maintenance person, enters the apartment. Each room includes a locked drawer to store medication, as well as a bathroom, full-sized refrigerator and microwave. There are 26 studio apartments in the memory care unit and 40 apartments upstairs ranging from studios to two-bedrooms. Rents range from $4,190 per month to $6,500 a month. All meals are included for residents, and a snack bar at the front of the dining room allows residents and family to help themselves to coffee, fruit-infused water, chips and other snacks at no charge.

Meals are served in the dining room from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. under the supervision of chef Jason Conforti, and

The team at Cappella is dedicated to helping residents live purposeful lives. Pictured, from left: Chuck Gregory; Sarah Winnefeld; Shawna Rapp, RN; and Jason Conforti.

residents can order any time from the “always available” menu.

Cappella expects to get its secured license in February, allowing those with memory problems to live safely on the first floor. An inside hallway encircles the courtyard, so residents can get plenty of exercise without going outside.

Other amenities include weekly laundry service, a spa, a gym and a beauty salon. Residents can also wash their own clothes in the laundry rooms on each floor.

Social areas on both floors provide activities for residents, ranging from bingo to karaoke.

Daily engagement in familiar routines keeps residents involved, and they also give input to staff on what they would like to do. Residents are also transported to and from church and even the golf course.

“We don’t want residents to just sit around,” Winnefeld said. “We want them to get back into life.”

It’s apparent that a lot of planning has gone into creating a beautiful space that’s welcoming and safe. But as Winnefeld stated, “It’s a beautiful building but what’s inside the building is the most important thing.”

For more information and to schedule a private tour, call 847-5444. ■

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Flags for honoring service: Lions Club spreads patriotism in the Redlands Story and photo by Polly Kennedy

O

n nine patriotic holidays throughout the year, American flags take over Redlands neighborhoods, showing residents’ support for our veterans.

Flags are placed by homes and mailboxes by members of the Redlands Lion’s Club, who set up flags at dawn and return at dusk to take them back down. The project has been going strong for 20 years.

“It was started as a way to support veterans and show a little patriotism on the Redlands,” said club member Tom Kalenian. “It started off small and just grew. People love to see the flags in their neighborhoods.”

Each holiday, the club follows seven different routes that include Tiara Rado, Seasons, Monument Village, Panorama, Village Way, the Monument Valley Shopping Center, Wells Fargo, the Redlands Canyon View Car Wash and Independence Ranch’s entrance.

It takes three club members to tackle each route. Between the groups, the members raise and then lower 700 flags on nine holidays— Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Patriots’ Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day and Presidents Day. Residents can sign up for a flag— placed where they request—for $35 a year. All the money goes back to the community by supporting the Lions Club’s involvement in vision exams for children, Colorado DiscoverAbility, Kid’s Aid, Boy and Girl Scout programs, Salvation Army, the Redlands Community Center and more.

Some locals are ardent supporters of the project.

“There is one gentleman that lives in the Redlands who gets a flag for every new resident that moves in, and then talks them into continuing

Your guide to aging well in Mesa, Montrose & Delta Counties

The

Guide

the tradition,” said Dave McIlnay, the club’s treasurer.

The gentleman doesn’t do it for credit. In fact, he prefers to remain anonymous.

“It’s his way of giving back,” McIlnay said.

Local World War II veteran Gene Kaehler started the fundraiser.

Though Kaehler died several years ago, club members carry on his legacy.

“It fills us all with a great sense of pride,” club member Reg Sanderson said.

Kalenian said the club would love to cover more neighborhoods with help from new members.

To join the Redlands Lions Club or to request a flag in time for Presidents Day on February 19, call McIlnay at 433-7961. ■

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Redlands Lions Club members Tom Kalenian, left, and Randy Rehwoldt, right, place flags near a Tiara Rado residence on Patriots’ Day.

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FEBRUARY 2018

Living alone, but not lonely Story and photos by Jan Weeks

L

osing a spouse or long-time companion to death or divorce can be a nightmare. Some people may jump into a new relationship just to have someone around; others may become depressed, even deciding that life isn’t worth living. It’s human nature to want to bond with another, and when that bond is terminated, it’s hard to know what to do.

Studies show that loneliness can adversely affect health. Lonely people tend to drink more, exercise less and become less trusting of others.

However, loneliness and living alone are not the same thing. Many people survive, and even thrive, after a death or a bad breakup, even though it may take a while.

My own space Barb Cotting, 76, lost her fiancé 26 years ago and never remarried.

Though she now has a significant other, they both agreed that living together wasn’t in the picture.

“We get along great because we each have our own space,” Cotting said.

Cotting likes the freedom to do what she wants when she wants and having no one to tell her what to do or how to do it.

“At first I was terrified of living alone,” she said. “I moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, bought a condo, and

T Soup kitchen volunteers Byran Benally, Barb Cotting and Duane Carr

“Life is for living with no regrets.” got a job with a legislator. I’d go to Juneau when the legislature was in session…and I roomed with my [female] boss. I looked forward to getting back to Fairbanks and learned to enjoy being alone to recover from the intense activity.”

Perhaps the biggest downside to living alone for older people is the fear of something happening and no one being there to help. Cotting and her sister call to check on each other frequently.

Seniors choosing to live alone have developed ways to cope with loneliness.

Cotting is active in Rotary, volunteers at the soup kitchen and sings in the Grand Mesa chapter of Sweet Adelines.

“I also have a couple of pets I adore,” she added.

She is also an accomplished watercolor artist and plays the piano.

Living with no regrets Wayne Michaels, 71, has lived alone for 10 years, first through divorce and now by choice.

“I do the same things living alone as I did when I lived with someone,” he said. “I enjoy my alone time and I enjoy my shared time with friends.”

Working with Mesa County Search and Rescue with his ham radio keeps him busy. He also belongs to a wood Barb Cotting avoids loneliness by volunteering with local organizations like Grand Valley Catholic Outreach’s soup kitchen.

FEBRUARY 2018

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carvers’ group and spends time in his shop creating carved statues.

“I don’t like cooking for just one,” Michaels said, “and not sharing adventures with a woman who is a great friend, intimate confidante and great lover.”

Loneliness isn’t an issue for him. He schedules time for spiritual immersion—seeing a bigger picture of how much love there is in the world— which doesn’t leave room for loneliness.

“For me, loneliness would be about living in the past and wishing for something that won’t be,” he added.

“Life is for living with no regrets.”

In fact, Michaels said people who have been single for a long time are the hardest to love.

“They have become so used to being single, independent and self-sufficient that it takes something extraordinary to convince them that they need you in their life,” he said.

Michaels said marriage, or even living with a woman, isn’t in his future, although he has met someone, who fortunately, also likes her own space.

For them, a relationship is not a tightly enmeshed enterprise.

“We come together for fun, companionship and shared interests,” he said. “Then we’re able to separate to our own hobbies and pursuits without any jealousy or guilt. Then we come together again.”

If you’re suddenly left without a partner, give yourself time to grieve and adjust to being alone. No one can tell you how long that might be, but when the pain has diminished, make the effort to move out of your isolation andFall into Member the world, Drive even if it’s only a leisurely stroll through the supermarket. Small steps bring you back into a world that has shifted, but you may discover a whole new one just waiting to welcome you. ■

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ating is not just a young people’s game. One thing about human nature never changes, no matter your age: Nobody likes feeling lonely. Plenty of older men and women are out there looking for companionship.

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Appearance is still important, although it takes a much lower precedence. Adults are wise enough to know that looks have little to do with someone’s personality, or whether or not they will be a kind and loving companion.

• Dates for young adults usually center on drinks. Older adults appreciate a dinner date, as dinner is when we feel most alone.

• Don’t assume every senior who’s dating is looking for love and marriage. Many people simply seek companionship for travel, activities or dinner and nothing more.

Be prepared—some have multiple companions as the solution to their social needs.

• Forget texting. Seniors prefer to talk on the phone or in person to make a truly trustworthy connection. ■

FEBRUARY 2018

FUN AFTER 50 35

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FUN AFTER 50

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

FEBRUARY 8 Valentine’s Day Party Dance and potluck from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Senior Recreation Center, 550 Ouray Ave. Potluck is $3. Stop by to register, or call 243-7408.

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

MONDAY-FRIDAY Aqua Aerobics These classes are for beginner or novice individuals. Class is 8:15-9:15 a.m.

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Orchard Mesa Pool. Drop in for $4.50 or purchase a 12-punch pass for $46.50.

DANCE MONDAYS Line Dance Experience the fun of line dancing to a wide variety of music. No partner needed. Drop in for $5 at Lincoln Park Barn from 12:15-2 p.m. Cost for the February 26-April 9 session is $18.

THURSDAYS Senior Dances with Live Music Dance from 8 p.m.-11 p.m. at the Senior Recreation Center. Cost is $3.

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

Cost is $6 to drop in or purchase a 10-punch card for $40. Schedule is subject to change. Call to confirm.

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

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

Thursdays: 8:30-11:30 a.m. & 5-8 p.m.

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

SAVE THE DATE APRIL 21 Southwest Arbor Fest Enjoy live music, arts and crafts booths, beer tasting, and a mac and cheese cook-off at the 16th annual Southwest Arbor Fest from noon to 5 p.m. at Lincoln Park Barn.

AUGUST 20-26 Western Colorado Senior Games Registration forms available next month.

VOLUNTEER BE A TRAIL HOST! Spend time outside and have fun assisting folks on the Riverfront Trail.

Applications are being accepted. Training starts March 1. For details, call Lorie at 254-3876.

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

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

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

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36 MESA COUNTY

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FEBRUARY 2018

Calendar

own drinks and a snack to share. This event takes place at 3:30 p.m. at the Fruita Senior Center, 324 N. Coulson.

JANUARY 30 Toastmasters Open House Gain confidence and find your voice by joining Grand Junction Toastmasters.

Introduce yourself and find out more about this public speaking organization at its open house on the second floor of St. Mary’s Life Center, 2686 Patterson Road. The event begins at 7:10 a.m. For more information, call 3145328 or visit www.toastmasters.org.

FEBRUARY 6 Self-publishing: Could it be for you?

Do you have a manuscript or a collection of poems you would like to see in print? Have you written a memoir or family history you would like to share?

Self-publishing might be the answer.

Find out what it takes to publish your own book from Phyllis Moorman, author of “Self-Publishing: Sharing the Secrets,” at 5:30 p.m. at the Mesa County Libraries Central Library.

FEBRUARY 1 Saving Tropical Birds in Mesa County presentation Local birding expert Nic Korte will present “No Boundaries for Wildlife: Saving Tropical Birds in Mesa County” at 6:30 p.m. at the Mesa County Libraries Central Library, 443 N. Sixth St. in Grand Junction. Korte’s presentation will discuss ways that Mesa County residents can help conserve bird species in the region as well as internationally. Korte is a 40-year resident of Grand Junction whose strong interest in wildlife conservation won him the Richard J. Levad Award from the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies. The presentation is open to the public at no charge.

FEBRUARY 3 Community dance at Moose lodge Dance the night away from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Moose Family Center, 567 25 ½ Road. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Music will be provided by Tom Keogh. Cost is $5.

FEBRUARY 3 Fruita Lions Chili Supper Get a bowl of Muchies’ chili or Judy’s famous chicken noodle soup from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Independence Village Hall, 225 N. Coulson in Fruita.

Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children age 6-12. Children under 6 are free. There will also be a cake raffle.

FEBRUARY 4 Fruita Senior Center Superbowl Party Cheer on your team, and bring your

FEBRUARY 6 Guys’ Giving Club meeting The Guys’ Giving Club meets at 5:15 p.m. at Springhill Suites, 236 Main St. in Grand Junction. Members donate $100 at each meeting and are invited to nominate a local charity to receive the evening’s total contributions. They need six more members in order to donate $10,000 to a local charity at their next meeting. For membership information, call 243-8829 or 270-6184.

FEBRUARY 6 Peripheral Neuropathy presentation Beth Brown, RN, discusses care goals and managing symptoms for those with peripheral neuropathy, with open discussion to follow. Presentation takes place from 1-2 p.m. at Church of the Nativity, 2175 Broadway. Call 245-9606 for details.

FEBRUARY 7 Medicare 101 Are you new to Medicare? Learn when and how to sign up, what Parts A and B cover, how to choose the best health and drug plan and more at this free seminar from 10 a.m. to noon at Mesa County RSVP, 422 White Ave., suite 090. Seating is limited. Reserve your spot by calling 243-9839.

FEBRUARY 10 Valentine’s Dance Grand Junction’s best Valentine’s Dance, hosted by the BEACON Senior Newspaper and Hilltop Senior Living

FEBRUARY 2018

MESA COUNTY 37

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Communities, will be from 7-10 p.m. in the Garden Room at the Commons of Hilltop, 625 27 1/2 Road. Tickets are available for only $20—a sweet deal, especially since each ticket includes two drinks from the bar. Dancers will be able to glide across the area’s largest portable wooden dance floor, led by the big band melodies of Clark Gault’s Swing City Express. Hilltop’s finest chefs will be cooking up a delectable assortment of hors d’oeuvres and sweet indulgences. Call Stacey at 243-8829 to get your tickets.

FEBRUARY 13-14 Fudge Sale by Friends of St. Mary’s Hospital Fudge—the perfect gift for your Valentine! Get some for your sweetie or for yourself and help support St. Mary’s Hospital. Fudge will be sold in the hospital’s main lobby and the Pavilion lobby from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

FEBRUARY 14 Ed Asner at The Avalon Seven-time Emmy Award-winning television icon Ed Asner comes to the Avalon Theatre at 7 p.m. “A Man and His Prostate” is based on Ed. Weinberger’s true-life experience while vacationing in Italy and being rushed to a hospital for prostate cancer surgery. According to Weinberger, Asner was born to play this role of an old codger who won’t take any of life’s injustices sitting down, as he prepares himself for surgery. Tickets are available at the Avalon box office, from noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, by phone at 800-626-8497 or online at www.monumentalevents.com.

Tickets start at $29.

FEBRUARY 17 Sweet Heart Run To align with National Heart Health Month, the City of Fruita and Family Health West promote healthy hearts with the 11th annual Sweet Heart Run. The run begins at 10 a.m. at the Fruita Community Center. Early registration for the 5K is $25 and the 10K is $30. The best-dressed couple will win a 32-inch flat-screen TV donated

by Rocky Mountain Orthopedic Asso-

ciates. Participants receive free entry to the Fruita Community Center for the day, a run T-shirt (guaranteed to first 400 registered participants) and refreshments. Register by February 13 at www.sweetheartrun.com or visit the Fruita Community Center. Race day registration is from 8-9:45 a.m.

FEBRUARY 17-18 Grand Mesa Summit Dog Sled Race This race, which takes place at the Mesa Top Trail parking lot atop Grand Mesa, is the highest dog sled race in North America at an elevation of 10,500 feet. Races begin at 8 a.m. and the last race finishes at about 2 p.m.

For details, call 201-9577 or visit www. rmsdc.org.

FEBRUARY 20 AARP Driver Safety class Colorado Christian University will host the next AARP Driver Safety class from 1-5 p.m. at 2452 Patterson Road.

Save money on insurance and keep up on newer traffic laws. Cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonmembers. Preregistration is required. To register, call Frank at 312-4967.

FEBRUARY 24 Employment Readiness Bootcamp Need to update a resume, do some job searching, or perfect your interviewing skills? Attend “Landing that Job: Employment Readiness Bootcamp” from 9 a.m. to noon at Western Colorado Community College. For more information, call 255-2800.

MARCH 3-4 Violet Club Show & Sale The Violet Club will host demonstrations on caring for violets and will have violets for sale from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Bookcliff Gardens.

MARCH 6 AARP Driver Safety class The AARP Driver Safety class will be offered at the Colorado State Patrol office in Fruita from 1-5 p.m. Cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonmembers. Preregistration is required. To register, call Roy at 858-1514. ■

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38 MESA COUNTY

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Beacon Bits

Our home is full of love stories At Colorado Veterans Community Living Center, our veterans tell of a time when life was young, hearts were free and love was inspired.

Many don’t remember dates or names, but when the music of Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight” or Billie Holiday’s “Blue Moon” starts to play, their eyes light up and they begin to sway.

Music becomes a greater part of our memory and triggers recollections of love—a moment in time or an opportunity on the dance floor. These fond

memories can replace the horrors of war with true love stories, which surpass the losses of memory. Some of our veterans recall these exciting moments so clearly, it’s as if they happened just yesterday.

The best of these stories are shared with us right here at Colorado Veterans Community Living Center.

We celebrate these love stories all day long, and are honored to serve our nation’s heroes by lending an ear to listen, giving them a sense of security and offering touching moments of care.

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Museum specimen named the oldest dinosaur fossil from Utah A small fossil sacrum from the Museums of Western Colorado collection has been named the oldest identifiable dinosaur fossil bone ever found in Utah. The collaborative efforts of three paleontologists—Xavier Jenkins with Arizona State University’s College of Liberal Arts and Science, Dr. John Foster with the Museum of Moab, and Robert Gay with Colorado Canyons Association—have resulted in an article published in the Utah Geological Association’s journal, “Geology of the Intermountain West,” which identifies this fossil from the late Triassic Period (220-200 million years ago) as belonging to a small meat-eating dinosaur that roamed the area known as Utah.

While it was assumed that Utah had these coyote-sized dinosaurs running around, evidence of their existence was not available until this specimen was found. The sacrum fossil is currently housed at Dinosaur Journey in Fruita.

For more information, contact Dr. Julia McHugh, the museum’s curator of paleontology, at 858-7282 or visit www. museumsofwesternco.com.

Nuclear Care Partners receives accreditation from ACHC Nuclear Care Partners (NCP) received accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC), making it the only provider in the U.S. exclusively serving former atomic workers to achieve the accreditation, which reflects an organization’s dedication and commitment to meeting standards that demonstrate a higher level of performance and patient care.

NCP underwent the rigorous process consisting of on-site surveys, visits in patient homes to assess their care, interviews with staff members about their practices, and reviews of medical records, policies and procedures. Many of these atomic workers paid a high price for their service, developing debilitating and sometimes fatal illnesses due to radiation and toxic chemical exposure. NCP offers these workers no-cost benefits guidance and in-home care.

For more information, call 244-0900 or visit www.nuclearcarepartners.com.

FEBRUARY 2018

Junior Service League presents $25,000 check to Community Hospital The Junior Service League (JSL) of Grand Junction recently awarded a $25,000 grant to the Community Hospital Foundation for implementation of a new cancer rehabilitation program at Grand Valley Oncology. GVO Let’s Go! is a program designed to provide cancer rehabilitation and education for patients in the Grand Valley. The funding provided by JSL will go toward purchasing Pilates equipment and instruction, cognition assessment and management tools for patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments, patient education materials and resource documents, staff training and more. Grand Valley Oncology provides full-spectrum medical and radiation oncology services and proudly partners with the Huntsman Cancer Institute to provide world-class cancer treatment right here at home.

To learn more, call 254-3180 or visit www.grandvalleyoncology.com.

Toastmasters Speechcraft Workshop Boost your self-confidence and develop your public speaking skills at this six-week workshop presented by Grand Junction Toastmasters. Workshop takes place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdays, February 1 through March 8 at 2754 Compass Dr., suite 370. Seating is limited. Cost is $50. For more information, call 812-7949 or email russmeans73@ gmail.com.

Free tax preparation by AARP Tax-Aide AARP Tax-Aide volunteers prepare your 2017 federal and state tax returns at no cost to you from February 1 through April 17. Volunteer preparers are trained in tax law, then tested and certified each year through the IRS. Taxes are done on a first-come, first-served basis—walk ins only. Patrons should be equipped with a social security card and picture ID for each individual on the return; W-2s, 1099s, receipts to be itemized and other pertinent tax documents; and last year’s return, if possible. Slots fill up quickly, so come early!

For more information, call 589-3789.

Volunteers will be present to help walkins at the following times and locations:

FEBRUARY 2018

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• Wells Fargo Bank, 359 Main St. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays • Wells Fargo Bank (downstairs), 2808 North Ave. - 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays

Center for Spiritual Living events Activities take place at Center for Spiritual Living, 251 Colorado Ave. in Grand Junction.

• Meditation is one of the five pillars of spiritual practice. Practice a different form from 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesdays through March 28.

• Be BRAVE Women’s Circle is an opportunity to create a community of healing around shame and fear, and to develop courage, compassion and connection in a safe environment.

This group meets monthly from 10 a.m. to noon on the second Saturdays. For details, call 303-358-0069 or email revcarlaryan@gmail.com.

• Healthy Living Circle is free discussion and support surrounding nutritious eating and healthy lifestyles. The group meets monthly from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on the third Tuesdays.

• Book Study of “Radical Forgiveness”

by Collin Tipping from 6:30-8 p.m. monthly on the fourth Tuesdays.

Piano Salon Trilogy at The Art Center Pianist and composer Frank French returns to The Art Center, 1803 N. Seventh St. in Grand Junction, with his massive repertoire of piano literature, stretching from the 18th century to present day. This series covers the ascendency of instrumental music, from the early days of the piano to advances in instrument building to composers’ demand for greater expression. In addition to performing live, French will also share his knowledge of music theory, composers’ biographies and cultural events that shaped the sounds of each era, providing the audience with historical context that enriches the listening experience. Presentations are at 2 p.m. on February 17, March 17 and April 21.

Tickets are $15 each or $30 for all three performances. For more information, call 243-7337.

Flu hospitalizations increase in Mesa County Mesa County saw an increase in influenza hospitalizations following the holiday season. Twenty-six hospitalizations were reported between October 1 through December 23, and 49 were reported between December 24 and January 4. Data from local health care facilities show the percentage of visits for influenza-like illness have increased during that same time period.

• Residents older than 65 years of age are most affected, totaling 68 percent of hospitalized cases.

• No deaths due to influenza have been reported so far this season in Mesa County.

• The best way to protect against influenza is to get immunized.

• Flu season runs through May, so it isn’t too late to get immunized.

• Immunization also lessens the severity of symptoms should a person get sick with influenza.

• Good handwashing and staying home when you’re sick will also help prevent the spread of influenza and other respiratory illnesses.

Mesa County Public Health offers influenza immunization to all residents regardless of ability to pay. Call 2486900 to make an appointment or contact your health care provider.

Rocky Mountain PBS premieres historic series about great Colorado women The Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame (CWHF) and Rocky Mountain PBS will debut a new broadcast series focusing on historic and contemporary Colorado women and their little-known, underreported achievements on Thursday, February 1 at 8 p.m. The program is titled, “Great Colorado Women” and was produced by the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame. The multi-season series will feature more than 100 women inducted into the Hall. These stories provide role models to remind women and girls, men and boys, that they can aspire higher to reach their dreams.

Here’s the on-air line-up: • February 1, 8-8:30 p.m. - “Marion Downs: Mother of Pediatric Audiology” • February 8, 8-8:30 p.m. - “Dana Crawford: Saving the Soul of Denver”

• February 15, 8-8:30 p.m. - “Penny Hamilton: Penny the Pilot” • February 22, 8-8:30 p.m. - “Jill Tietjen: Engineering Women Back Into History” • March 1, 8-9 p.m. - “Marilyn Van Derbur Atler: An Incest Survivor’s Odyssey”

Museum exhibit on “The Colorado Cannibal” provides answers to historical mystery The Western Investigations Team, led

by Dave Bailey, curator of history at the Museum of Western Colorado, has revealed how it recently cracked the infamous 1874 case of “The Colorado Cannibal” Alferd Packer. Findings from the investigation are currently being presented to the public via the museum’s special exhibit, “Alferd Packer: Solving One of the West’s Great Murder Mysteries.” The team’s work is notable in how it changed the method for investigating historical mysteries, utilizing state-of-the-art scientific equipment and methods to solve the Packer mystery. The Packer exhibition runs through October 1 and features Jack Murray’s paintings of the criminal investigation, forensic evidence never before available to the public, and one-of-a-kind western relics. For more information, contact Bailey at 2420971, x 2215.

Community Hospital’s infection prevention specialist earns infection control credential The Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (CBIC) has announced that Community Hospital Infection Prevention Specialist Jenny Cisneros has earned the Certified in Infection Control (CIC) credential. The purpose of the certification is to protect the public by providing standardized measurement of current basic knowledge needed for persons practicing infection control; encouraging individual growth and study, thereby promoting professionalism among infection prevention and control professionals; and formally recognizing infection prevention and control professionals who fulfill the requirements for certification.

For more information about CBIC, visit www.cbic.org. ■

$

150 OFF

40 MESA COUNTY

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Support Groups Breast Friends, a breast cancer support group, meets monthly from 5-6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday in St. Mary’s Reflection Room.

Caregiver Connections meets from 10-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays at the Miller Homestead at HopeWest. Call 2608931.

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

COPD Support Group meets monthly at 1 p.m. on the fourth Friday at 581 Grand Valley Dr. in Grand Junction. Call 317-7556 or email Jimcampbell3@aol.com.

Divorce Support Group meets at 6:30 p.m. Saturdays at 103 S. Fifth St. in Palisade. Call 200-1191.

GriefShare is aDnondenominational GRAN JUNCTIO Christ-based support group for those mourning the death of a loved one.

This group meets from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays. For location and details, call 628-1453.

Head & Neck Cancer Support Group meets monthly from 6:30-8 p.m. on the first Tuesday at Colorado West Otolaryngologists, 426 Patterson Road. Call 245-2400.

Healing Hands Hour involves the belief that the body has energy fields that can be used for healing and wellness. It complements traditional medical care, and does not require touch. Attendees meet from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays in St. Mary’s Reflection Room.

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

Leukemia, Lymphoma & Myeloma Support Group meets monthly from 4-5 p.m. on the third Monday in St. Mary’s Reflection Room.

Look N Good, Feel Better meets monthly from 3-5 p.m. on the last Wednesday. Beauty professionals provide tips to help women defy the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment. Call 800-227-2345 to register.

GRAND JUNCTION

MACHO Men cancer support group meets monthly at 2 p.m. on the first Thursday at the VA Medical Center In-Patient Dining Room. Call 2982351.

Mending Hearts is for any adult who has experienced the death of a loved one. This group meets from 2-3:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Miller Homestead at HopeWest. Call 2488844.

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

MS Breakfast Group meets monthly at 9 a.m. on the first Tuesday at Village Inn, 757 Horizon Dr. Call 2418975.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers support groups for family members of adults who have a serious mental illness and connection groups for adults living with a mental illness. Groups meet at various times and locations in Mesa County.

For details, visit www.NAMIWS.org or call 462-3989.

WINE TOURS • WEDDINGS • EVENT VENUE

Nativity, 2175 Broadway.

Call 245-9606.

Tinnitus Support Group meets monthly at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday at Community Hospital, 2351 G Road, Legacy Room 1. Call 589-0305.

Western Colorado Post-Polio Group educates polio survivors and caregivers about post-polio, connects post-polio people and promotes independent living for people struck with the virus many years ago. Call 241-7825 for details.

Western Slope Visionaries, a low-vision support group, meets monthly from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday at Center for Independence. Transportation is available. Call 241-0315.

Yoga for Life meets from 5:30-6:45 p.m. Tuesdays at Life Center Aerobics Room, 2686 Patterson Road. Classes practice basic yoga stretches and gentle movements with attention to breathing and are designed for cancer patients of all abilities. ■

Peripheral Neuropathy Support Group meets monthly from 1-2 p.m. on the first Tuesday at Church of the

r Vendohs boot ble... availagoing but t. fas

Cal now to bok your nd dinner special a r u o t e n !

Wi 970-858-8500

FEBRUARY 2018

April 19, 2018 9:00 a.m - 3:00 p.m.

Two Rivers Convention Center, Grand Junction For information call 243-8829

Specializing in Helping Seniors Downsize and Relocate Carol Gerber

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

FEBRUARY 2018

MESA COUNTY 41

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

Visit www.theartquiltassociation.com.

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

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

Grand Junction Petroleum & Mining Club meets monthly at 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday at Two Rivers Convention Center. Visit www.grandjunctionpmc.com.

Cribbage Lite meets at 5:30 p.m.

Tuesdays at IHOP. Call 201-7823.

Colorado Archaeological Society Grand Junction meets monthly from 6:30-9 p.m. on the second Monday.

Call 433-4312 or visit www.meetup. com/CAS-GJ/events.

Daughters of the American Revolution, Mt. Garfield Chapter, meets on February 17 to celebrate the chapter’s 108th anniversary with a lunch buffet and presentation on “Facts About DAR.” For membership information, call 596-4870.

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

Call 434-0868.

Friendship Force meets monthly at 6:15 p.m. on the third Thursday at First Baptist Church. Call 260-4653 or visit www.thefriendshipforce.org.

Golden K Kiwanis Club meets from 9-10 a.m. Wednesdays at the Redlands Community Center. Visit www. gjgoldenk.com.

Grand Junction Chess Club meets from 6:30-11:30 p.m. Mondays in the Safeway Starbucks, 2901 F Road. We loan chess sets out at no charge. Visit www.jctchess.com.

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

Grand Junction Toastmasters meets at St. Mary’s Life Center in the second-floor conference room every Tuesday at 7:10 a.m.

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

Grand Valley Pets Alive meets monthly from 4:30-6 p.m. on the third Wednesday at Church of the Nativity. Call 462-7554.

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

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

Guys’ Giving Club meets quarterly at the Springhill Suites, 236 Main St. in Grand Junction. Members donate $100 at each meeting and are invited to nominate a local charity to receive the evening’s total contributions.

The next meeting is at 5:15 p.m. February 6. For membership information, call 243-8829 or 270-6184.

Knitting Club meets monthly from 6:30-8 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday at Community of Christ Church, 2880 B 1/2 Road. Call 623-1455.

Mesa County Genealogical Society meets monthly at 7 p.m. on the

second Thursday at The Commons of Hilltop and at noon on the fourth Wednesday at the Museum of Western Colorado. Help sessions are at 1 p.m. on the first Friday at a library branch. Call 640-2388.

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

Orchard Mesa Lions Club meets monthly at 7 p.m. on the first and third Mondays at the VFW. Call 216-2919.

Outing Club meets quarterly but hosts activities weekly. Call 812-6759 or 243-7645.

Talk of the Town Toastmasters meets at noon on Thursdays at Hilltop, 1129 Colorado Ave., room 215.

Call 250-3969.

Thunder Mountain Camera Club meets from 7-9 p.m. on February 27 at Western Colorado Community College. Visit www.thundermountain cameraclub.org or call 216-9311.

Two Rivers Cribbage Club meets Thursdays at the Masonic Center.

Call 261-1670.

Two River Sams/Good Sam RV Club meets at 11:30 a.m. on February 10. For location, call 523-5625.

Vestafjell Lodge, Sons of Norway meets at 11:30 a.m. on February 12 at The Egg & I. Call 245-5649 or visit www.vestafjelllodge.org.

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) #3981 meets monthly at 5:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday for a family style dinner and meeting at the Post Hall, 503 1/2 Florence Road in Grand Junction. Call 778-8242.

Western Colorado Amateur Radio Club meets monthly at 9:30 a.m. on the second Saturday at the Civil Patrol Hangar, 2868 Aviators Way. Visit www.w0rrz.org.

Western Colorado Astronomy Club meets monthly at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday at Colorado Mesa University’s Wubben Hall, room 161. Call 812-3661 or visit www.wcacastronomy.org.

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

Western Slope Coin Club meets monthly at 6:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday at VFW #1247. Get a free coin/currency evaluation at 5:30 p.m.

Visit www.gjcoinshow.com. ■

RIVER CITY SINGLES

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

Annual membership is $20.

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

Meet new friends at Friday Afternoon Club (FAC) in the Hideaway Lounge at the Travelodge on Horizon Drive. Call Beverly at 210-2722 for details.s.

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

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

Monday, February 12 at 5 p.m. - Socialize with friends at The Goat & Clover Tavern, 336 Main St. RSVP to Judie at 639-2197 or sign up at the FAC. Wednesday, February 21 at 2 p.m. - Game Day. RSVP to Mary at 2420630. Bring a snack.

42 FUN & GAMES

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

FEBRUARY 2018

For the puzzle answers see page 46

FUN & GAMES

FEBRUARY 2018

1 6 4 7 2 9 4 2 1 9 4 2 3 8 3 2 6 6 4 8 2 6 9 2 4 7 1 2

Across 1 Kennedy and Turner 5 Clothed, as a judge 10 Word after ready, self, or man 14 Medicinal plant 15 Call forth 16 Sunday utterance 17 Brocaded fabric 18 Radium ­discoverer 19 Boot ­bottom 20 A Jackson 23 Animal pouch 24 Like old Paree 25 Philippine volcano 28 Fling to the mat 31 Beef eaters 36 Angie Dickinson’s big, bad role 38 Notable times 40 Kind of oil or branch 41 A Jackson 44 Not bogus 45 At the ­summit of 46 Japanese money 47 Rubber ­rubber 49 Meeting with an M.D. 51 Piggery 52 Play to the camera 54 Financial terms abbr.

56 A Jackson 64 “The Forsyte ___” (Galsworthy) 65 Tiger’s favorite color?

FUN & GAMES 43

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

6 3

1 5

Puzzle by websudoku.com

66 Live shot 67 A Baldwin 68 He saw the new “Star Wars” flick for sure 69 Tell imaginative tales 70 Wall Street ___ 71 Actors want them 72 Noble Italian name Down 1 Soapstone 2 Israeli ­airline 3 Capitol ­feature 4 Nostra­damus and Elijah 5 Used, and used again 6 Being-to-be 7 When repeated, one of the Society Islands 8 Making do 9 Disc ­spinner 10 Father’s concern?

11 Famous cookie man 12 Take out of context?

13 Needle point?

21 You may step on it or burn it 22 Keep an ___ (watch) 25 Good-sized 26 Whittler 27 Alpha to ___ 29 High-pressure ___ 30 Sea ray 32 Auto ­pioneer

33 Sticks 34 Occurrence 35 Informative, informally 37 Used car caveat 39 Traffic sign word 42 List components 43 Assigns 48 Actor Hauer 50 Center X? 53 Pinup great Greta 55 SNL original 56 White as a sheet 57 Double curve 58 Prepare for an overseas vacation 59 Stagger 60 “A ___ f­ormality.”

61 Fuse measurements 62 Give off, as light 63 Like a ­certain wolf or eagle 64 Tool shed item

Turn to page 46 for your puzzle answers

Crossword Puzzle

44 CLASSIFIEDS

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

To Place a Classified Ad...

4 EASY STEPS!



WRITE YOUR AD

FEBRUARY 2018

EVENTS

writers wanted

TINNITUS Constant ringing in your ears? Tinnitus support group has new meeting place and time: Every third Wednesday, 7 p.m., at Community Hospital, 2351 G Road, Legacy Room 1. More info, call Elaine 589-0305.

The Beacon Senior Newspaper is looking for writers in Mesa, Delta and Montrose counties.

Send your letter and resume to beacon@pendantpublishing.com

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

MEDICAL CANNABIS CERTIFICATION Cannabis treats arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraines, Parkinson’s, MS, cancer, glaucoma, PTSD. GJ, Thursdays, 2/1, 2/15, 3/1 Rifle, Wednesdays, 2/14, 2/28 Wendy Zaharko, MD, 970-319-0652, z@alumni.princeton.edu.

Your local Western Slope Cannabis Physician since 2009.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

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HELP WANTED

PART-TIME POSITION Salesperson wanted for Grand Junction. Sell only 14 ad spaces to local businesses. Working directly with the owner, this is truly a great opportunity to earn easy money— starting at $25K a year! Ideal for a senior wanting good, reliable, supplemental income at a leisurely pace. Call Eric at 520-907-7767 and visit www.lunderfullocaldeals.com.

See your ad online.

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# ____________________________________ name on card ___________________________________ exp. date ____________ cvc ______ zip ____________ credit card

RETIRED/NEED EXTRA INCOME? Part-time medical delivery position available. Shift starts at 2:45 a.m.

Good driving record and ability to drive manual transmission. Flexibility and dependability essential. Call for details 254-2897.

SEND IT IN

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

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

Send your letter and resume to beacon@pendantpublishing.com

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QUESTIONS? Call us, 970 243-8829 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

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name

HOME SERVICES

CUSTOM DRAPERIES, BLINDS AND SOLAR SHADES Floor coverings and design services.

Interior Monologues, Inc. 234-0040.

COMPUTER LADY, LLC In-home repair. 15 years serving Mesa County. Windows, Internet, Wi-Fi, Android, tablets, Netflix, Roku. Virus removal, installation and instruction. Dependable, reasonable, qualified. 255-1216.

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

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

References and free consultations provided. Tom Peters: 261-4303, tompetersconstruction.com.

ROOFING Don Fowler Roofing, LLC. Over 30 years’ experience. Licensed and insured. All types of roofs and repairs, including wind damage.

Honest, reliable and fair prices. Call 623-1045.

FEBRUARY 2018

CLASSIFIEDS 45

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RENTALS

TOWNHOME 2 bedroom, 2 bath townhome, 2 car garage. Single level, deluxe finishes with private patio. Views, quiet adult neighborhood, HOA maintains landscaping.

Landlord pays sewer, water and trash. $1250/mo. 970-904-1286 or frank@beckbuilds.com.

LOOKING TO RENT

CLEANING LADY Competitive rates, reliable transportation, will travel. Weekly/biweekly/monthly cleaning, downsizing, reorganizing. Just call to see how I may help you get a fresh start in the new year! Get the house organized!

Linda, 263-7364 or 720-841-7505.

Subscribe to the...

IN-HOME CARE Private in-home health care, bucket list-enabler, personal and professional home care. CNA, QMAP, experience and references. Accepting clients for 2018 calendar year. Call 216-9872 for free consultation.

WANTED TO BUY

ROOM WANTED TO RENT Tired of paying to get your lawn mowed, your toiled unstopped, your snow shoveled and more?

“Young Senior,” DAV, financially secure, single, non-smoker, non-drinker, healthy, honest and a prepper needing permanent room. Will pay $400/mo., plus my share of meals and light handyman jobs, including mowing lawn, planting garden, etc.—all part of monthly rent.

Let’s meet, have coffee and discuss possible two-week trial…rules, guidelines, money, etc. References required. Serious inquires only. Call John 250-7189.

SERVICES

LEARN HOW CBDs CAN HELP YOU Are you a healthcare professional or patient that’s interested in learning about the benefits of CBDs? Call M&M Consulting at 589-2863 for your free consultation.

CNA CNA available for in-home care.

References provided. For more info, call 261-9863.

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

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

YES! I want to subscribe. name address city

REAL ESTATE GRAND JUNCTION

state

phone number credit card exp. date

cvc

 Mesa County subscription  Montrose/Delta subscription

2647 El Corona • Ranch style in quiet 55+ neighborhood • 3 bed, 2.5 bath • Large bedrooms and office • Custom-built home with all the bells and whistles • Maintenance-free living

$345,190 Keller Williams Colorado West Realty Mountain Coast Group

Samuel Hall, 970-623-6051 samuel@mountaincoastgroup.com

zip

 1 year $20.00  2 years $30.00

YES! I want to share with a friend. name address city

state

 Mesa County subscription  Montrose/Delta subscription

zip

 1 year $20.00  2 years $30.00

$15.00 $25.00

Mail form with check to: The BEACON, P.O. Box 3895, Grand Junction, CO 81502

46 KUDOS & KVETCH

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Taking care of the

GREATEST

generation: YOURS! Live life your way in your home Tailored in-home care plans to fit your lifestyle Senior, recuperative and long-term care available Experienced caregivers with ongoing training Direct Link personal emergency response system

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®

FUN & GAMES Game answers from page 43

9 2 8 7 4 3 6 5 1

3 4 7 1 5 6 9 2 8

5 6 1 2 8 9 7 3 4

8 3 9 6 1 7 5 4 2

1 5 2 9 3 4 8 7 6

6 7 4 8 2 5 1 9 3

7 1 5 4 6 2 3 8 9

4 8 3 5 9 1 2 6 7

2 9 6 3 7 8 4 1 5

Puzzle by websudoku.com

Random acts of kindness

By Leslie Handler

W

hen I was a kid, it wasn’t exactly newsworthy to pick up a piece of trash I saw lying around. No one alerted the authorities if someone helped a lady carry her groceries to her car or stopped to help a stranded driver change a tire. But today, it seems that common courtesy is newsworthy.

Most evenings, I watch the national news. On one particular network, I notice they save a few minutes at the end of every show to show us a feel-good story that almost always includes some act of kindness.

Some of these segments show some amazing feats, such as groups raising tens of thousands of dollars for someone in need. I seem to remember having rallies to raise money for various charitable causes on a regular basis, yet I never made it into a national news story.

Last week there was a story about a family who adopted a troubled dog from a shelter.

It was a lovely story, but I kept wondering why this would make the national news.

I’ve had shelter dogs my whole life.

I have two of them sitting next to me right now, but no one called the local press.

There are all types of news stories on anti-bullying campaigns. When I was bullied as a kid, no one ever started a campaign over it. It was just part of growing up. I agree that it shouldn’t be, but we all have to learn to deal with the realities of life at some point. Perhaps, it’s just that bullying has gotten worse with social media.

There are people writing blogs committing to doing at least one

“random act of kindness” a day for 365 days and telling us all about them. I’ve even discovered that February 17 is National Random Act of Kindness Day. This is all very lovely. I’m just wondering when being kind became so unique that we have to pay this much attention to it.

I’ve got to tell you, for selfish reasons, I’m kind to others most of the time. Inside, I may be tense and angry, but I remain outwardly calm and kind on the outside. Maybe it’s because I was raised a nice Southern girl or maybe it’s because I’m a natural people pleaser, but to be honest, I really do believe you can catch more flies with honey.

When I’m kind, two things almost always happen: 1) I get my way.

2) I feel better about myself and the kindness I shared with someone else.

FEBRUARY 2018

kudos \ ku·dos  “Thank you for the great story [CJ Payton] wrote about our Healing Hands group [“Therapeutic touch connects patients to a higher source” in January’s BEACON]. You shared our hearts very well and helped more people understand complementary healing.”

- Debra Hesse, St. Mary’s Cancer Services Resource Manager  “I saw our Ketamine ad and the article that Cloie wrote [“Ketamine therapy: a promising option for treating depression and pain” in January’s BEACON]. I thought she did an outstanding job with it and wanted to thank her for all of her hard work and [Sue Bowen] as well. It’s a pleasure working with you all at the BEACON.” - Rich Mantlo, Colorado Injury & Pain Specialists  “Beautiful job on your new BEACON Guide! Very slick. You do good work!

The article on women and heart attacks [“Heart attacks in women: Gender-specific knowledge could save your life”

by Cecily Whiteside] was good stuff to know. Thanks so much!”

- Sue C.  “My wife Kathy and I got to tour the machine shop at John Billing’s place. As the only voting member of the Recording Academy here, it was quite a thrill to see where the [Grammy] awards are made.”

- Gary S.

Perhaps you would call these random acts of kindness, but I call it good old selfishness—I usually get my way and I like feeling good.

So please alert the media! They need to do an expose on me because my kindness is not random. I still like to do unto others as I want them to do unto me.

It’s selfish, I tell ya. Just plain selfish! ■

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The Beacon & Hilltop Senior Living Communities

Age 55 and Better! New Larger Dance Floor!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10 THE COMMONS OF HILLTOP GARDEN ROOM 625 27 1/2 ROAD, GRAND JUNCTION

7:00 - 10:00 pm

CASH BAR & APPETIZERS MUSIC BY CLARK GAULT’S SWING CITY EXPRESS

FOR TICKETS CALL 243-8829 A D VA N C E T I C K E T S $ 2 0 P E R P E R S O N / $ 4 0 C O U P L E

AT T H E D O O R $ 2 5 P E R P E R S O N / $ 5 0 C O U P L E