May 2019-Montrose/Delta

MONTROSE-DELTA

MAY 2019

Volume: 5 | Issue: 5

Montrose & Delta’s Magazine for Adults 50+ with over 16,250 Readers

WORLD’S BEST MOMS

They may not be perfect, but we love them all the same!

A big BEACON thank you to the sponsors, vendors, entertainers and readers that made April’s BeaconFest a success!

7

Buddy poppies still a way to honor veterans Poppy sales are based on a simple premise: Honoring the dead by helping the living.

17

Colorado Mesa’s pioneer educator Mary Rait’s vision for Colorado Mesa University was a key factor in its development and growth.

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

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J U N C T I O N

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M O N T R O S E

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

Dementia and Alzheimer’s Care, Support and Information.

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

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EDITORIAL COLUMN

Riding the Facebook fence?

F

acebook celebrated its 15th anniversary in February.

It astounds me that it’s been around that long since I’ve been a Facebook user for at least 10 of those years.

I grew up in the internet age, so technology trends and social media have always been like a second language to me. I have apps for Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn on my smartphone, even though I use them considerably less often than Facebook. While I don’t believe I spend an inordinate amount of time on Facebook, my handy Screen Time feature on my iPhone disagrees.

This led my co-worker and me to give up social media for 10 days.

It was hard at first—not because of separation anxiety, or FOMO (fear of missing out)—but mainly just because it was a habit. I’d wake up in the morning and open Facebook without thinking. Once I was awake enough to realize what I was doing, I’d close the app immediately. It’s also hard to avoid Facebook when you’re searching for information about an event, or a restaurant’s hours, or when you work for a senior

news magazine.

Recently, one of our writers sought out to find what baby boomers think of social media, specifically Facebook. We’ll publish her findings in next month’s issue. While some see the benefit for businesses or reconnecting with old friends, others called it addictive, considered it a privacy threat or a complete waste of time.

I’d say all of the above are true.

I’m happy to say that I didn’t really miss Facebook and I can easily survive without it, but I still haven’t really kicked the habit.

BEACONFEST THANK YOU

The Grand Junction BeaconFest was a huge hit! Thank you to all of our readers, sponsors, volunteers, entertainers, seminar speakers and door prize donors for making this year’s fair a success. We loved seeing all your smiles!

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

My mom is one of my favorite people in the world. Where would we be without moms?

Give your mom a hug and thank them for loving you and never giving up—no matter how difficult you made it for them! ■

Cloie Sandlin, Managing Editor

On the cover

Jamie Schnepfe, middle, and her mom, Cindy, left, are best friends. Schnepfe said her mom is a strong support system for her family, especially when it comes to raising her two daughters, Lily and Daisy.

National & Regional Award-Winning Publication Publisher............................................................................................................................... Kevin K. VanGundy Founding Publisher...................................................................................................................Susan Capps Managing Editor...........................................................................................................................Cloie Sandlin Creative Director..................................................................................................................Melissa Trottier Graphic Designers......................................................................................... Chrissy Martin, B. Bigler Office Manager...........................................................................................................................Stacey Splude Advertising Assistant....................................................................................................Siggie Carpenter Advertising Executives .............................................................. Sue Bowen, Debra Romaniec Proofreader............................................................................................................................................Jan Weeks Delivery........................................................................Cora Gentry, Lauren VanGundy, JR Milner

Office: 210 E. Main St., Montrose, CO 81401 Phone: 970.243.8829 • Email: Beacon@PendantPublishing.com Website: www.BeaconSeniorNews.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 2019 • All Rights Reserved

MONTROSE

NEWCOMER

TOUR

BE A TOURIST IN YOUR OWN TOWN Are you new to Montrose? Join us for an exclusive tour of all the hidden gems in your new community with Montrose’s city manager, Bill Bell. Call, email, or stop by the Visitor Center to save your spot on the bus. Limited space available.

JUNE 14, 2019 Bus Tour: 12 - 4PM

Reception with City Council to follow 107 S Cascade 970.497.0558 info@visitmontrose.com WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM |

MAY 2019 | EDITORIAL COLUMN | 3

COVER STORY

Moms, you're imperfect, and it's okay!

Your value is immeasurable all the same “I realized when you look at your mother, you are looking at the purest love you will ever know.”

- Mitch Albom

By Kimberly Blaker s moms, we all know Albom's statement is unequivocally true. We feel it through and through from the moment our children are born until we take our dying breath. Our love for and devotion to our kids shone through in daily selfless acts of caring for and raising our kids and in most of our interactions with them. Even now that they've grown, our deep love and concern for our kids endures.

A

We don't always recognize or give ourselves credit for it (and our kids don’t always either), but many of the mistakes we made along the way were the result of loving, honorable intentions. Admittedly, we sometimes faltered—after all, we're only human. But when we did err with our kids, particularly in ways we knew better, we were often our own harshest critics.

“I assure you there are no areas of perfection here in this mama,” said Cindy Martin, a Cedaredge resident and mother of four. “Just a lot of love, grace and trust. Love covers all our shortcomings. It covers my failures and fills in the gaps. I love my kids more than I love me, and it’s always been that way.”

ENACTING THE ROLE

Despite the depth of our love for our kids, the answers to raising them weren't always so black and white. Every mom has her own

4 | COVER STORY | MAY 2019 |

The lessons author Kimberly Blaker, right, learned from her mother, middle, helped guide her in parenting her own kids like her daughter, Cassie, left.

unique combination of life experiences, temperament and personality, along with other factors that affect her decisions and behaviors in parenting.

Brooke Alire talks to her mother, Lana Middleton, every day. She turns to her regularly for advice, especially during these formative years of raising her daughters, Lily and Autumn.

“You don’t often appreciate your mom until you become a mom, and being a mom is so hard—it’s like the hardest job on the planet,” said Alire, who lives in Grand Junction with her daughters and her husband, Anthony.

While she’s pleased to have inherited some of her mom's noble characteristics—honesty, trustworthiness and a strong work ethic—Alire said there a few things she and her husband choose to do differently WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

when it comes to raising their own kids.

“I was the baby of the family, and I pretty much got away with a lot,” Alire said. “With my own children, I’m probably the exact opposite.”

All moms have strengths and weaknesses. In most ways, we totally rocked at being a mom. In some areas, we had to work a little harder.

All this makes me think back to playing house as a kid. From this, we can glimpse how we as kids began to formulate ideas on how to be a mom, or dad. We've probably all watched our own children in awe over what tender, loving little moms (or dads) they are to their baby dolls. It's inspiring and tells you what a great job you've done, but then, the completely unexpected happens. Your child slips in one of your less than proud moments of being a mom. Ouch!

“I’ve had many conversations with our children about the choices we make and their consequences. I’ve allowed them to live out consequences—the good ones and notso-pleasant ones—and have helped them to push on, finish strong and march on," said Martin. "I’ve believed in their hearts, knowing that even though they may not get it on the first try, they will land exactly where they set their sights.”

LEARNING FROM MOM

As we all grow, we develop more independent ideas on the best ways to mom, based on our own experiences, what we've seen in other families or on television, and our personalities. So we formulate what the perfect mom looks like.

Perfection, admittedly, is something Martin’s daughter and second-born, Jamie Schnepfe, sometimes struggles with while raising her own two

COVER STORY daughters, Lily and Daisy. But with time, help from her mom and her faith in God, she’s found a better balance.

Brooke Alire said she wouldn't be the mom today if it weren't for the influence of her mother, Lana, (pictured left), and mother-in-law, Rosie (pictured below).

“I can definitely be a perfectionist with certain things,” she said. “My mom always kept a clean house, so I’m a little OCD about cleanliness, which I’ve had to let slide over time because kids are just messy.”

Another example that came to mind was how she used to make all of her first-born’s baby food from scratch.

“My mom would get out a jar of baby food and she’d tell me, ‘You ate food out of a jar and you're just fine.’ Now, with Daisy, I do pretty much everything my mom did. Her suggestions have caught on a little bit more,” she said.

My own mom played a big role in the formation of my own mom style. She was very involved and provided my sisters and me with plenty of enrichment and fun.

We did crafts, played games, had parties and sleepovers, took trips to the library, went for walks and bike rides, and so much more. She also taught me about money, responsibility, generosity, kindness and so many other valuable lessons, skills and traits.

Still, like any other mom, she wasn't perfect. I knew the ways I wanted to be different, or better. When my

kids were born, I let these lessons guide me in parenting my own kids.

When it comes to his mom, Rosie, Alire's husband, Anthony, said, "My mom always made sure we had everything we needed and things that we wanted, no matter how hard she had to work. I think I got a lot of that from her because I'm always trying to give our kids what they want, but sometimes I think I spoil them a little too much."

If it weren’t for Rosie and her mom, Alire said she wouldn’t be the mom she is today.

“I’m a mix of both of them,” she said. “My mom taught me to be a strong-willed person, and my girls are also very strong willed.”

BEING THE BEST YOU CAN BE Throughout my kids' childhood, I strove to be the best mom I could be. But despite all this, I still fell far short of being perfect.

Thankfully, now that my kids are grown, my mom has set me straight. She often points out what a great mom I've been. She's always amazed by my patience with my kids (though admittedly, there were times it ran thin), but as I mentioned, moms are particularly good at noticing in others the areas where they lack.

“Jamie is every bit the mom I’d hoped she’d be, and my oldest son, Christopher, is every bit the daddy,” said Martin. “They both have their points of purpose with their kids.

Those points may not be exactly like mine all the time, but I love to see them embrace the most important responsibility they will ever have with enthusiasm and excellence.”

Jamie Schnepfe, right, with her mother, Cindy, and mother-in-law, Sharon.

This makes me think about what I notice in my own daughter who's now raising two young kids. I always admire how much time she spends

just cuddling with them. I've always wished I’d done better with that.

Not that I never cuddled them. I've just always had trouble sitting still.

The point I'm trying to make is that each and every mom is wonderful in her own ways.

Am I saying we shouldn't have tried to be better moms? Of course not.

What I'm getting at is moms need to recognize their own strengths and value themselves for who they are.

Practice self-forgiveness and self-acceptance for being an imperfect mom, and know you were the best mom you could be.

"My mom is always the first person I ask to pray for me," said Schnepfe.

"She taught me to make friends that can support that and influenced me to reach for my goals and not give up on things."

Despite the imperfections of every mom, two things have and will always remain constant: a mother's deep love and unfailing devotion to her kids, and the insurmountable value of moms to their kids throughout their lives. ■

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM |

MAY 2019 | COVER STORY | 5

BEACON GUIDE HIGHLIGHT

Silver linings in Olathe: Dream Catcher Therapy focuses on seniors’ healing

By Carole Ann McKelvey. Photos by Michael Lawton. ream Catcher Therapy Center (DCTC) assists the elderly by offering therapy programs for those living with physical difficulties, and engaging many of them to volunteer with horses.

D

Silver Linings, a relatively new program at the therapy center, located just off Highway 348 in Olathe, is designed to further assist seniors and families coping with dementia and early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

This unique program harnesses the healing power of older horses, along with a skilled therapist to improve seniors’ quality of life. Recent studies show tremendous promise for seniors and their families struggling with mind-altering diseases through such programs. “[Silver Linings] will give older horses and older humans a chance at friendship, companionship, understanding, purpose, connection and

healing,” said DCTC founder Kathy Hamms.

Caregivers or spouses can participate with their loved one, or they can take some time to sit under the giant willow tree and relax in the shade while enjoying some iced tea or a good book in a peaceful setting.

“Horses are incredibly intuitive,” Hamm said, “especially the rescued horses. They know what pain and suffering is.”

At DCTC, the impossible happens daily, and volunteers work side by side with people of all ages who are challenged by mental health issues or disabilities.

DCTC also offers hippotherapy, a physical, occupational or speech and language therapy treatment strategy for all ages that utilizes equine movement. Their equine assisted therapy (EAP) program uses horses as a tool for emotional growth and learning.

Hamm started the 501(c)3 nonprof-

6 | BEACON GUIDE HIGHLIGHT | MAY 2019 |

it in 1999 with the vision of finding programs and resources that would help her daughter, who was born with Down syndrome, as well as other children with disabilities.

the beginning, Hamm was receiving donated horses, when a veterinarian approached her to see if she would also consider taking in rescues.

“There was nothing in the community for people with disabilities,” she said.

“He told me these horses have no place to go. They understand pain and suffering, having endured that themselves,” she said.

Hamm started with a speech therapist, Beth, whose husband was the president of Rotary at the time. She ran across an article in Rotary International’s magazine and suggested that Hamm write a grant to start a hippotherapy program.

Hamm went to Denver to do research and wrote her first grant proposal. A $17,500 grant followed, which got her started on the road to establishing DCTC in 1999.

With grant money, she started her equine therapy enterprise on her 36-acre farm in Olathe and obtained horses, helmets, feed and tack.

The program’s 52 rescue horses are key to many of their programs. At

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

Now the rescued horses live out their days in DCTC’s End of the Trail Horse Rescue/Sanctuary, where they are rehabilitated and used in the programs or adopted by approved homes.

DCTC relies heavily on community support to continue rescuing horses and providing services.

Volunteers are always welcome to brush and walk horses, clean pens and more. Community members can also sponsor a horse or make a donation to the center.

DCTC is located at 5814 Hwy 348, Olathe. For more information or to donate, call 323-5400 or visit dctc. org. ■

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

Poppies still a way to honor veterans Y

By James Marsh ears ago, while shopping on Memorial Day weekend, an older gentleman wearing a veteran's cap, held out his hand offering to sell me a bright red fabric flower.

I averted my eyes and shuffled past him. Just someone else looking for a handout, I thought to myself.

Driving home, my conscience began to toy with me. I remembered my grandfather walking me along a downtown sidewalk in the late 1940s. We came upon a veteran offering a similar red paper flower, and grandfather produced a coin and bought me one from the vet.

He tucked it in a buttonhole in my shirt and told me it was a veteran's poppy.

“It's for the soldiers who fought for us,” he said simply, as if a 7-year-old knew all about the big war we'd just anguished through years before.

Tales of World War II were still pretty fresh then. Even in my youthful naiveté, I think I knew it was just a way of saying thanks. Here I was, now in my 70s, and I'd forgotten how to say thanks to an old soldier.

Now, nearly three-quarters of a century past World War II, most people who pass the old soldiers by have no idea what's behind those little fabric flowers.

The poppy movement was inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” written by Col. John McCrae, of the Canadian armed forces, before the United States entered World War I. The bright red common poppy

flowers grow wild throughout Europe, brightening the fields and roadsides from May into July.

The poem presented images of the flowers blooming among rows of white crosses marking the graves of the war dead in Belgium. Selling replicas of the original Flanders poppy originated in some of the allied countries after the Armistice for the benefit of children in devastated areas of France and Belgium.

During the early 1920s, the Veterans of Foreign Wars evolved the idea that resulted in the VFW “Buddy Poppy.” The poppies were fashioned by disabled and needy veterans, who were paid for their work as a practical means of providing financial assistance. The VFW registered the name with the U.S. Patent Office in 1924.

The practice spread across the country. The American Legion also adopted the poppy as its official flower, and has been selling them since 1923.

Poppy sales are based on a simple premise: Honoring the dead by helping the living. Proceeds go to veteran assistance programs, especially for vets who became disabled fighting for our country.

Call for more information!

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This Memorial Day I plan to go looking for a vet selling poppies. I hope to make up my moment of ingratitude that day outside the store, and buy a poppy from him or her. Or, at least go up and say, “Thank you for going over there and for coming back.” ■ (970) 242-2843 2454 Hwy 6 & 50, #116 Grand Junction, CO 81505

MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL

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Send your jokes, quotes and gloats to BEACON Senior News P.O. Box 3895, GJ 81502 or Beacon@PendantPublishing.com WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MAY 2019 |

7

TALKING DIGITAL

Recognize the red flags of internet scams

I

’ve had a lot of friends who’ve lost money by falling for scams.

There are countless ways to become a victim of a financial scam, but the most common scams require use of the internet.

This month, I’ll explain some red flags and clear indicators that you are being solicited by a scammer.

Many scams may use more than one of these tactics, tools or processes.

Don’t ever wire money to a stranger in a foreign country.

Wiring money involves sending money directly from your bank account to another entity without the use of a credit card. These transactions often involve a third party, such as Western Union.

No matter how safe or guaranteed you feel the process is, once you wire money to a stranger, you are at the mercy of the fine print involved

in the transaction.

“entity” is the government.

Anytime you deal with an overseas entity, you may be waving the protections ensured and insured by domestic banks and money transfer companies.

No company or government organization will ever threaten you with a non-negotiable 24-hour time limit to pay a fine or penalty on first notice, nor will they require you to pay via wire transaction or PayPal. They will always accept a debit card payment.

ALWAYS use a credit card online.

If you’re one of those people who never use a credit card (or debit card endorsed by a credit card company) online, you may be forfeiting one of your greatest guarantees on a financial transaction.

All major credit card companies guarantee each transaction. This means you can file a complaint with the credit card company soon after you discover a transaction is shady and you’ll get your money back.

Never panic over a phone call or email. If you receive an email or phone call from an entity claiming that you owe money, relax. It’s likely a scam. This is especially true if the

Colorow Care Center is the only Eden Alternative® Certified Community on the Western Slope.

Never call the number or click on the link provided by the party asking for money. Most people know to call the entity or log in to the company that is asking for payment before they send payment. However, many people check the validity of the website or phone

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

Bored, sad and lonely is no way to spend a summer.

Send your grandkids to camp!

register today! www.grandmesa baptistcamp.org Call 242-5645

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No one will ever call or email you because you have a virus or other computer problem. If you receive a phone call or email telling you that you have a virus on your computer, ignore it. ■

BY ADAM COCHRAN

Colorow is a skilled nursing facility that believes in healthy living, person-centered care and nontraditional approaches in meeting everyday needs.

www.vivage.com/Colorow

Don’t fall for it! Bad guys often set up fake websites, emails, and phone numbers connected to the scam.

The back of your credit card has the phone number to call if you suspect a scam.

TALKING DIGITAL

Dedicated to creating quality of life for Elders and their care partners

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number by following the information provided in the email, phone call or letter.

ALL CHRISTIAN FAMILIES ARE WELCOME!

Camps for all ages!

Family Camp ................. June 14 – 16 The Trailhead Elementary School ............... June 27 – 30 The Ascent Middle School ..................... June 22 – 27 The Alpine Zone High School ..................... June 16 – 22

ASK THE OLD BAG

Don’t let road trips ruin friendships

Providing the BEST hearing help for over 21 years.

Dear Old Bag: My friend of many years seems to be isolating herself. I am in my 60s and she is in her 70s. We’ve both been very active socially—exercising, and going to plays, movies, ball games, etc. For the last month I see that she is withdrawing. When I call her to go out, she will say things like “I’m not feeling well,” “I’m too tired,” or “I have a program I want to watch on TV.” I feel something is going on, but I don’t know how to help her. Signed, Concerned Dear Concerned: There are many reasons people might isolate themselves. It could be that she is depressed, or she is an alcoholic and wants to drink alone, or she may have some physical condition that makes her feel tired and not like socializing. If it were my friend, I would say, “What’s up, friend? Are you tired of my company?” That should open up the conversation and you can offer to help her if she needs to seek out professional help. If that does not work, perhaps you could share this info with a child or close relative of hers, in the interest of her health. I am usually a mind-your-own-business kind of gal, but not when health or safety is an issue. Good luck. OB Dear Old Bag: Why is dating again after becoming a widower so awkward? I have finally decided to join one of these dating sites after five years of loneliness, and I cannot bring myself to ask anyone for a date. Is something wrong with me? I only remember slight uneasiness as a teenager beginning to date. This is much more difficult. I feel so foolish. I need advice! TE Dear TE: For one thing, you are out of practice. Another thing, you have it in your head that it is unnatural and foolish to be doing this at your age (whatever age that is). Put that thought out of your head. It is only difficult the first time. Coffee is always a good first date in a public place. There are other places to meet people: church and church functions, the gym, singles events, and even grocery stores on Saturday nights (supposedly lonely singles with nothing to do go grocery shopping to avoid the loneliness). OB Dear Old Bag: Vacation time is coming, so I thought I’d write in hopes of keeping a few people from making the mistakes we did.

My husband and I and another couple, who were good friends of ours, decided to take a car trip to see the fall leaves. This was to be a six-day trip in our van, and the guys would work in a little golf along the way. It started out fine, but after about two days the bickering began. There were two easy-going spouses and two “It’s my way or the highway” types. By the third night we chose not to eat together, and by the fourth day, we decided we had seen all the leaves we needed to see and headed home. It was too much togetherness that almost ruined our friendship. I’m happy to say we can laugh about it now, but it was not a pleasant vacation! Signed, BW Dear BW: I have been there and tried that, and mine did not work any better than yours. Ours was a two-week trip with a 10-day stay with relatives, and we even had separate cars. Never again!

Thanks for writing! OB ■

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ADVICE COLUMN FOR THE OVER 50 CROWD Send your questions to the Old Bag in care of the BEACON, or email her directly at lagmancreswick@gmail.com

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9

LAUGHING MATTERS

LAUGHING MATTERS

We child-proofed our home three years ago and they’re still getting in!

KIDS SHOULD HAVE KIDS BECAUSE

GOVERNMENT BULL

Real mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.

You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next 16 telling them to sit down and shut up.

Many years ago there was a state senator in Texas who liked to participate in rodeo events. One time he got bucked off a bull and was injured.

Real mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.

Grandchildren are God’s reward for not killing your children.

Real mothers know that dried Play Doh doesn’t come out of carpets.

Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like clearing the driveway before it’s stopped snowing.

REAL MOTHERS

Submitted by Cara Goodrich

Submitted by Renee Lawrence

Real mothers don’t eat quiche; they don’t have time to make it.

Real mothers don’t want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.

There is only one pretty child in the world and every mother has one.

Real mothers sometimes ask, “Why me?” and get their answer when a little voice says, “Because I love you best.”

Mothers of teens know why animals eat their young.

I asked Mom if I was a gifted child and she said they certainly wouldn’t have paid for me.

Real mothers know that a child’s growth is not measured by height or years or grade. It is marked by the progression of “Mama” to “Mommy” to “Mom.”

Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn’t have said.

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Submitted by Bob Breazeale

The reporter who covered the rodeo asked his editor, “Don’t you think it’s kind of ironic what happened to that guy?”

“In what way?” asked the editor.

The reporter said, “It’s kind of a man-bites-dog story. My headline is going to read, ‘Bull Throws Senator.’”

AUTO MAINTENANCE Submitted by Dan Dutton

I was changing a flat tire on the side of the road when a passersby stopped to ask, “Did you have a flat?”

“No, dumb ass,” I answered coldly.

“I rotate my tires every 3,000 miles regardless of where I am.”

WOMEN CAN BE SO INSENSITIVE Submitted by Hap Jordan

Ralph returns from the doctor and tells his wife that the doctor has told him he only has 24 hours to live. Given this prognosis, Ralph asks his wife for sex. Naturally, she agrees, and they make love.

About six hours later, he goes to his wife and says, “Honey, you know I now have only 18 hours to live.

Could we please do it one more time?”

His wife agrees and they do it again.

Later, Ralph gets into bed, looks at his watch and realizes he now has only eight hours left. He touches his wife’s shoulder and asks, “Honey, please, just one more time before I die?”

She says, “Of course, dear.” And they make love for the third time.

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LAUGHING MATTERS After this session, the wife rolls over and falls asleep. Ralph, however, worried about his impending death, tosses and turns until he’s down to four more hours.

He taps his wife, and she rouses.

Driver: Yes sir. That’s where I put it after I shot and killed the woman who owns this car and stuffed her in the trunk.

Officer: There’s a body in the trunk?!

Driver: Yes, sir.

“Honey, I have only four more hours. Do you think we could…”

His wife rolls over and says, “Listen, Ralph, I have to get up in the morning, you don’t.”

MYSTIC ENGLISH

Hearing this, the officer immediately called his captain. Police quickly surrounded the car, and the captain approached the driver to handle the tense situation: Captain: Sir, can I see your license?

Submitted by Josephine Marshall If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn’t it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked and drycleaners depressed?

NO SPEEDING TICKET FOR HIM Submitted by Paul Bush

A police officer pulls a guy over for speeding.

Officer: May I see your driver’s license?

Driver: I don’t have one. I had it suspended when I got my fifth DUI.

Driver: Sure. Here it is.

It was valid.

Captain: Who’s car is this?

Driver: It’s mine, officer. Here’s the owner’s card.

The driver owned the car.

Captain: Could you slowly open your glove box so I can see if there’s a gun in it?

Driver: Yes, sir, but there’s no gun in it.

Sure enough, there was nothing in the glove box.

Captain: Would you mind opening your trunk? I was told you said there’s a body in it.

Officer: May I see the owner’s card for this vehicle?

Driver: No problem.

Driver: It’s not my car. I stole it.

Captain: I don’t understand it. The officer who stopped you said you told him you didn’t have a license, stole the car, had a gun in the glove box, and that there was a dead body in the trunk.

Officer: The car is stolen?

Driver: That’s right. But come to think of it, I think I saw the owner’s card in the glove box when I was putting my gun in there.

Officer: There’s a gun in the glove box?

The trunk is opened; no body.

Driver: Yeah, I’ll bet he told you I was speeding, too! ■

Hahaha

s U e k a M

! h g u a L

Send your JOKES to

Beacon@pendantpublishing.com or

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Seniors and Retirees have Different Real Estate Needs We help buyers and sellers transition into the next phase of life. The Real Estate Store has the highest number of certified Senior Specialists in one office in Western Colorado.

Business is a Bloo

Dayzee Duke Floral is one of t 317 S 2ND ST FE ATURED BUSINESSES

Dayzee Duke Floral

219 N. First St., Montrose 316-1260 ..........................................................

Do you like fresh flowers?

Sign up with Dayzee Duke for a bi-weekly subscription.

This convenient option ensures customers get fresh flowers delivered every two weeks and are billed monthly.

On top of flowers and plants, you can also find great gifts.

To learn more about Dayzee Duke Floral and to see a sample of the arrangements they offer, call 316-1260 or visit www.dayzeedukefloral.com

Brandon Costello and Jeff Valasquez started Dayzee Duke Floral (219 N. First St.) online in September last year. After getting some great Facebook response and orders over the phone, they decided it was time to take Dayzee Duke to the next level with a brick and mortar shop, which they opened just before Valentine’s Day. “We originally wanted to open up an Edible Arrangements franchise but it was a bit out of our reach,” Costello said. “We still wanted to do floral arrangements and delivering, so one night we came up with the idea of Dayzee Dukes while we were sitting on our back porch. The next day we were ordering fridges.

Within a month we started to do our online ordering.”

Velasquez grew up in Montrose, but Costello moved here about seven years ago after driving through. Before he knew it, he packed his bags, left Salt Lake City and moved here.

“We chose downtown because it was centrally located, especially when it comes to deliveries,” Costello said. “Dayzee Duke Floral offers a shop space where customers can come in and purchase floral arrangements along with other gifts.”

There is also a back room where some vendors have come together to offer a well-curated “antique alley.”

He said the shop front has helped.

Leslie Gore

Michelle Klippert

Peg Evanoika

Senior Real Estate Specialist

Senior Real Estate Specialist

Senior Real Estate Specialist

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realtor@ pegevanoika.com

(970) 275-3195

(970) 275-3016

(970) 249-7653 500 E. Main St. Montrose, CO 81401 www.the-res.com Personal, Professional, Property Brokers

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(970) 209-3934

“Since we’ve been open, we’ve gotten a lot of walk-ins,” Costello said. “We also have a lot of repeat business and clients that do biweekly subscriptions through us.”

The bi-weekly subscription is a convenient option to ensure customers get fresh flowers delivered every two weeks and be billed monthly.

The interior of Dayzee Duke Floral is bright and charming.

BEACON SENIOR NEWS

E L C O M E

T O

OWN MONTROSE

omin’ in Montrose Downtown

the newest additions to take up residence downtown “I’m a big color person,” Costello said. “We just wanted to brighten it up a little bit.”

On top of flowers and plants, you can also find great gifts. Costello and Velasquez have made a real effort to make their shop feel welcoming.

What’s in store for the future for Dayzee Duke Floral?

“It’s grown a lot since we’ve been here,” Costello said. “Currently, we only deliver to the Montrose area, but we are hoping to expand to Olathe and Ridgway in the near

future.”

Many online flower delivery services use local stores to fulfill their orders. While Dayzee Duke is happy to fulfill those orders, once customers experience Costello and Velasquez’ customer service and stop by the shop, they’re likely to go directly to the source.

Dayzee Duke Floral is already booked for their first wedding in Montrose this summer.

Downtown’s other long-time floral shop is Alpine Floral located at 434 E. Main St.

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Dayzee Duke co-owner Brandon Costello stands next to a display of flower arrangements and colorful gifts.

e b i r c s Sub . . . e h t to

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 Mesa County subscription  Montrose/Delta subscription Having a storefront in downtown Montrose has helped grow Dayzee Duke's walk-in business.

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

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HOME & GARDEN

Time for tomatoes!

T

here’s something about growing tomatoes that gardeners adore.

I love the way Sara Tymczyszyn, director of Highwater Farm Project in Garfield County, put it.

“What I love about growing tomatoes is that they’re such a great analogy for farming itself,” she said. “They require so much work upfront, and their reward isn’t felt until the peak of summer. I love the sweet, tangy taste and the way they start to ripen suddenly, when nature allows, marking the height of summer’s abundance.”

Paola Legarre, owner of Sage Creations Organic Farm, has her own reasons.

“They’re the ultimate sign of summer and a great source of vitamins,” said Legarre. “Growing them means I get to eat fresh Caprese salads all summer long.”

herbs

Section 1

Section 2

tomatoes

onions

carrots

INTO THE GARDEN

Last month, we sowed a foundation for our biodiverse garden. (Feel free to catch up by direct sowing last month’s seeds now!)

This month, we’re laying warm season crops on top of the sections we covered with fast-growing buckwheat and peas.

Save your tomato and pepper plantings for after Mother’s Day. It may be hard, but it’s better to wait until we’re clear of frosts and let your happy plants catch up than to lose your plants and have to start over.

HOW TO PLANT TOMATOES INTO A BED OF BUCKWHEAT

stakes

arugula

Like reader Crystal Mars said, “They taste better than any other tomatoes anywhere.”

Buckwheat’s a nitrogen fixer, pulling nitrogen from the air into the soil where bugs can turn it into something that can be potatoes absorbed by other plants.

The flowering crop also poppies attracts beneficial insects and is incredibly easy to spinach lettuce kale work with, which is why I love to plant it along with peppers tomatoes. You can cut all the buckwheat back, aisle or keep some along buckwheat the edges of the bed.

Simply cut the buckwheat at its base; you can use the clippings aisle to mulch around the tomatoes after you’re squash finished planting. beets

bush beans

Section 3

For me, it’s simply the fact that nothing tastes like a fresh tomato. I can no longer buy tomatoes outside of tomato season. Instead,

I can and dry tomatoes to enjoy them year-round, and growing them means I have a beautiful bounty to preserve.

corn pole beans

14 | HOME & GARDEN | MAY 2019 |

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In this 12-foot row, place three stakes firmly in the ground, each 6 feet apart.

Between each stake, we’ll plant four tomato plants (eight total).

Start by digging eight deep holes, evenly spaced apart. The holes should be almost deep enough to bury the plant (of course, we’ll want to situate the plant so that a few branching stems remain above ground).

Azomite is a natural trace mineral that helps plants absorb calcium; add about 1 teaspoon to each hole.

Fill holes with water then prepare your plant starts.

Pinch off any suckers that may be starting to pop out from between stems. Pull plants out of their pots, loosen the roots with your hands, and remove all lower stems.

When you bury the stem, roots will emerge from that lower stem, giving your plant more capacity to root itself firmly in the soil.

Fill any remaining gaps with soil and tamp down on the soil surrounding each plant so that the roots can make good contact with the soil.

If you’re using drip lines, now’s the time to set them in place. Either way, tomatoes prefer to be watered from below.

Finally, create a trellis by tying a strong twine to the end stake, just a few inches off the ground. Pull the twine across one side of the plants; the twine should sit nicely alongside the plants, below the first branching stem. You can remove the lowest stem if necessary. Wrap it all the way around the middle stake, then continue on towards the stake on the other end; wrap it twice around, then pull the twine back toward the middle stake along the other side of the plants. Wrap it around the middle stake, then pull it towards the stake you started with, again hugging the opposite sides of the plants, and secure it tightly.

The end result is a line of twine that’s wrapped around your entire row of tomatoes. Go ahead pull the branching stems up and over the twine so that the plants’ lowest stems are supported by this line of twine. If your starts are tall, add another line of twine a few inches above this bottom one.

HOME & GARDEN Repeat this process as your plants grow taller, continuing to pull the branching stems above the twine so that the plants are fully supported. Cut or pull out encroaching buckwheat as both crops continue to grow and your tomatoes need more room or sunlight.

THREE SISTERS

This companion planting has been practiced for thousands of years: maize, beans and squash.

Corn is the “big sister,” providing support for climbing nitrogen-fixing pole beans. The large leaves of squash act as living mulch that keep soil cool and moist and help suppress weeds.

up. Once sprouts are 4 inches tall, sow a row of pole beans around the perimeter of your grid.

Finally, around the edge of your bed, create small mounds of soil, 18 inches apart, and sow three squash seeds in each mound. Later, if all three sprouts come up, you can thin your mounds so that one strong plant comes up from each mound.

The squash plants will spread outward and you’ll need room for weeding and harvesting; opt for bush beans in place of squash anywhere you’re limited on space.

PEPPERS AND HERBS

In Section 3, we’ll consolidate our greens to make room for peppers and herbs. Take a few weeks in the beginning of May to harvest from the row of greens closest to your aisle.

I like to sow a few sunflower seeds in with the corn, and plant in some nasturtium starts among the squash. Flowers attract beneficial insects and aromatic nasturtium deter I’d really love squash bugs. to see how

You can leave a few greens planted between peppers while the pepper plants are still small. If you have spaces in your beds of greens, plant in another succession of lettuce so that you’ll continue to have tasty greens throughout summer.

your garden is Soak corn seeds in coming along! water for a few hours Share pictures before you plant them. and stories on In choosing corn, conFacebook and sider growing an ortag BEACON ganic, heirloom variety Senior News. of sweet corn, popping corn or flour corn; this crop is heavily industrialized, and Transplant peppers so that they’re we gardeners can each do our part 1 foot apart and staggered. Use the to preserve and perpetuate some remaining three feet in this row incredible varieties. for your favorite herbs, like basil or When you’re ready to plant, pull up cilantro. the pea shoots and turn them into the soil. Use your finger to make 3- to 4-inch holes, six inches apart.

Leave at least a foot of spacing around the outside of your corn “grid;” this is where you’ll plant the other sisters.

Wait for your corn to start coming

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REMEMBER TO PLAY

Adjust anything and everything as you see fit. To me, the most important piece of gardening is exploring, experimenting and enhancing our relationship with nature and the food we eat. ■

ALIVE & DIGGING

BY PAIGE SLAUGHTER Send your questions to Paige in care of the BEACON, or email her directly at paige@fruitionstudio.com WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MAY 2019 | HOME & GARDEN |

15

FUN & GAMES

Sudoku

Crossword Puzzle

Turn to page 21 for your puzzle answers 16 | FUN & GAMES | MAY 2019 |

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Across 1. Ottoman title 6. Very funny!

10. Play opener 14. Extra-terrestrial being 15. Biol. branch 16. 554, in stone 17. Tiny amounts 18. Mob scene 19. Give an edge to 20. Haunt of Robin Hood 23. Small batteries 24. Actor Byrnes 25. Bard's before 26. Lode load 27. Tramway vehicle 32. Early late-night host 35. Dolphins' home 36. ___ rule 37. Like afterschool activities 41. On Soc. Sec. 42. Aromatic fragrance 43. Mont Blanc, par exemple 44. Excess 46. Levi's rival 48. Originally named 49. Amigo

50. Palm Pilot, e.g.

53. One purpose of a driver's license 58. Med. school class 59. Blue dye 60. Anklebone 61. Decline 62. Yield 63. Uneven 64. ___'acte (intermission) 65. Prepared to drive 66. Hinder Down 1. Monetary unit of India 2. Hawaiian greeting 3. Locations 4. Get wind of 5. Reply 6. Biblical king 7. Etcher's need 8. Foot of a horse 9. Choir member 10. Stick (to) 11. Narrow escape 12. Windshield feature 13. ___ Got a Secret 21. Poetic paean 22. Memento

26. Bruin legend 27. About 28. Swiss river 29. ASCAP alternative 30. Quickly, quickly 31. Describes a gently cooked steak 32. Cop's collar 33. Skater's jump 34. Servant 35. The Ghost and Mrs. ___ 38. White as a ghost 39. USN rank 40. Abu Dhabi's fed.

45. Wobble 46. Fond du ___, Wisconsin 47. On cloud nine 49. Heaped 50. Guide 51. Drench 52. Goose genus 53. ___ uproar 54. Mediator's skill 55. Arrow poison 56. Bona ___ 57. Shipping deduction 58. Admiration

LOCAL LORE

Mary Rait:

Colorado Mesa University’s pioneer educator

By Priscilla Walker ary Rait was teaching at Grand Junction High School when she was named one of the six original faculty members at Grand Junction State Junior College.

M

The first day of classes began at 8 a.m. on Monday, September 21, 1925 with 39 students in the former Lowell School building at Fifth Street and Rood Avenue.

“We had more pigeons than students the first year,” Rait remarked years later. “The attic was full of them.”

It wasn’t until 1931 that the college had more than 100 students.

Rait’s 35-year tenure at the institution now known as Colorado Mesa University was full of unprecedented achievements. Starting as an instructor of Economic History of England, Modern Europe, and U.S. History, she later became the Dean of Women and was named vice president in 1937, a position that had never been held by a woman before.

She became one of the most respected educators in the state and her vision for the college was a key factor in its success.

At first, the college was an extension of the state university in Boulder, but Rait advocated increasing academic standards so it could be independent and evolve into a fouryear university. By 1965, there were 1,300 students, and Mesa College, as it was known then, became a four-year school in 1975.

BUILDING A LEGACY

Rait was the youngest of Alexander Clark Rait and Charlotte Harvey Cutter’s five children. The family moved to Palisade from Junction City, Kansas in 1908, following Charlotte’s three siblings who were

Rait's 35-year tenure was full of unprecedented achievements. She became one of the most respected educators in the state and her vision for the college was a key factor in its success. pioneers in the Palisade district’s fruit industry.

She graduated from Mt. Lincoln School in 1912 and received a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Colorado (CU). She taught both high school and college classes until 1933, when she began working full time at the college.

During the Great Depression, she found jobs for many women students who worked in exchange for room and board. Students recognized her as a superior academician who influenced the career decisions for generations of Mesa College students. She advised the International Relations Club and inspired students to travel the world.

She retired in 1960 and became a world traveler herself, visiting Europe five times and spending one year in England. She helped organize the World Friendship Council in 1961 to develop worldwide friendships and foster awareness of world conditions.

Her thesis, “Development of Grand Junction and the Colorado River Valley to Palisade from 1881 to 1931,” is a widely used resource for Western Slope history. It was also published in two issues of Mesa State College’s 1988 “Journal of the Western Slope.” She took additional coursework at CU and the University of Michigan following her MA, and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters in May 1983 by Mesa College.

HER NAME LIVES ON

Though she died in 1988, Rait’s

name lives on in many ways at Colorado Mesa University, which continues to be a major influence and asset to Grand Junction with more than 11,000 students.

The first women’s residence hall was named after her in 1948.

She was still on the faculty then, and later said the college board made an exception to the usual rule of naming buildings for “the wealthy, retired, or dead.”

The structure was razed in 1985 to make room for the $8 million, 68,793-square foot library, but the college dedicated another residence hall in her honor in February 1986.

Rait was given a teacher award by the Colorado Federation of Women’s Clubs in 1939, and received the Mesa College student body’s annual recognition award.

Since 1923, she was an active member of the Grand Junction branch of the American Association of University Women, and in March 1981, the chapter began awarding scholarships to Mesa College in her name.

Recently, on April 16, the Mount Garfield Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution honored her for its 2019 Woman in American History Award.

COLORADO WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME NOMINATION

Rait’s legacy is one of determination and hard work. Her passion from the beginning was teaching and education, and she was a wom-

› Mary Rait was instrumental in the development of Colorado Mesa University. Her legacy lives on on campus and in the community.

an making advances in education at a time when equal rights wasn’t even a household term. She proved that highly responsible positions were not out of reach for women.

These are reasons why the Palisade Historical Society is nominating her for the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame (CWHF) class of 2020. The CWHF recognizes extraordinary women with significant ties to Colorado who have made enduring and exemplary contributions to their fields, elevated the status of women, and helped open new frontiers for women and society.

Six contemporary and four historical women are inducted every other year. So far, 162 women have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

For more information and videos about past inductees, visit www. cogreatwomen.org. ■

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MAY 2019 | LOCAL LORE |

17

BEACON BITS

CALENDAR MAY 3-5

Friends of the Montrose Library Book Sale The Friends of the Montrose Library will hold its spring used book sale in the library meeting room. Members-only hours are Friday from 8 a.m. to noon. Public hours are noon to 6 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday; and noon until 4 p.m. on Sunday. On Sunday from 2-4 pm, customers can fill a reusable bag with books for $5. For information, call the library at 249-9656.

MAY 6

Sons of Serendip concert These four friends, who through a series of serendipitous events, came together in graduate school at Boston University and formed a musical quartet, will perform at the Delta Performing Arts Center, 822 Grand Ave., at 7 p.m. as part of the Delta-Montrose Community

Concert Association’s season. Their concert program focuses on fairly contemporary music—some with a fresh twist, and some familiar pop tunes from Motown. Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for students.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Buy a season ticket for the next season for $45 per adult, or $95 per family (living in same house) and get admitted for free! For more information, call 249-3735.

MAY 7

“Shark Tank’s” Kevin O’Leary event Kevin O’Leary of ABC’s “Shark Tank” and his event sponsors are putting on this free event from 7-10 p.m. at Holiday Inn Express in Montrose.

While Kevin won’t be there personally, his team will show you how to create the attitudes, behaviors and ways of thinking that deliver wealth.

This fun and informative event is

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guaranteed to get you thinking about money like never before. Find seat availability now. Get your free ticket at www.eventbrite.com.

MAY 9

Lions’ Carnival Come one, come all to the Lions Club’s annual carnival from 5-10 p.m. at Montrose County Fairgrounds & Event Center. Tickets are $25 in advance and can be purchased from Safeway, Coffee Trader and Murdoch’s.

MAY 10

Hazel Miller Band & Chris Daniels Senior CommUnity Care PACE presents “Age Out Loud” featuring the Hazel Miller Band and Chris Daniels at 7 p.m. at the Montrose Pavilion.

This fundraiser concert benefits Senior CommUnity Care PACE’s One Simple Wish and Outdoor Adventure programs. Starting at 5:30 p.m., Donny Morales will entertain at a pre-concert in the Pavilion lobby while concertgoers shop the silent auction. The One Simple Wish program allows chronically ill and financially disadvantaged older adults to request funding for experiences that will enhance their lives. In 2018, eleven wishes were granted in Montrose and Delta counties and several more are scheduled. The Outdoor Adventure program allowed older adults to stay actively engaged socially while they enjoy the outdoors.

For details, call 275-1220.

MAY 18 byby Ben Ben Hecht Hecht && Charles Charles MacArthur MacArthur Based Based onon a play a play byby Charles Charles Bruce Bruce Millholland Millholland Directed Directed byby Scott Scott Pollak Pollak

November November2,2,3,3,9,9,10, 10,16 16&&17 17@@7:30pm 7:30pm Sunday SundayMatinées MatinéesNovember November44&&11 11@@2pm 2pm Montrose Montrose Centre Centre forfor thethe Arts, Arts, in collaboration in collaboration with with Magic Magic Circle Circle Players Players is pleased is pleased to to present present anan artart show show during during Twentieth Twentieth Century.

Century.

ArtArt may may bebe viewed viewed during during box box office office hours hours and and performance performance dates dates and and will will bebe available available forfor purchase. purchase.

San Juan SanConstruction, Juan Construction, Inc. Inc.

18 | BEACON BITS | MAY 2019 |

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Black Canyon Ascent The Black Canyon Ascent Run and Challenge Walk features a tough, scenic 6-mile course starting at an elevation of 6,500 feet and climbing almost 2,000 feet to the rim of the Black Canyon National Park. After the race, participants and their family and friends can enjoy visiting the spectacular Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. All participants will receive high-quality tech shirts with distinctive Black Canyon

imagery. All participants will be entered in the raffle to take place during and after the awards ceremony. The race is also the San Juan Mountain Runners’ primary fundraiser for several local non-profits. Race fee is $40 if bought before May 16.

Buy tickets at www.runningguru. com. Race starts at 7:30 a.m. for walkers and 8 a.m. for runners.

MAY 18

Montrose Wine & Food Festival This fun event celebrates local Colorado food and beverages, complete with more than 30 food vendors, 30 beverage vendors, live music by Neon Sky, over 30 silent auction gifts, and a great view of the San Juans. All proceeds benefit the Black Canyon Boys & Girls Club. Event takes place from 1-5 p.m. at The Bridges of Montrose. General admission tickets are $50. Buy tickets online at www.blackcanyontickets. com. For details, visit www.montrosewinefestival.com.

MAY 23

Eagle Rock Shelter with Colorado Canyons Association Eagle Rock Shelter, on Bureau of Land Management land at the north end of the Gunnison Gorge, is not well known to the public but it is the earliest site of human occupation in Colorado. The site was first found by looters in the 1980s and efforts are now underway to preserve it.

Join the Ute Indian Museum and the Colorado Canyon Association for a trip into the past. Enjoy a guided tour through the museum and a hike through Gunnison Gorge as we explore Colorado’s archaeological past.

This hike is graded moderate but has some steep sections. Hiking shoes and water-bottles are required. Hike begins at 9 a.m. Contact the Ute Indian Museum at 249-3098 for reservations. Cost for nonmembers is $70. ■

FUN AFTER 50

MAY 16

Paleo Camp Meet professional paleontologists and learn about the excavation process along with the dos and don’ts of collecting fossils on public lands.

Colorado Canyons Association Paleontologist and Education Director Rob Gay will be your guide. Meeting time TBD. Cost is $25; bring money for lunch.

FUN AFTER 50

Activities offered by the Montrose Recreation District To register for these programs, call the Montrose Recreation District at 249-7705 or visit www.montroserec.com.

SPECIAL EVENTS MAY 20 Magical Musical Mystery Dance Fundraiser Enjoy free BBQ and a magical mystery raffle to benefit the senior lunch program from 4-5 p.m. Bring your dancin’ shoes for a lively mix of songs from The Scones from 5-7:30 p.m.

TRIPS & TOURS MAY 10 Local business tours Tour Borden Farms at Pea Green and Gateway Auto Museum. Meet at the Senior Center at 7:45 a.m. Cost is $32; bring money for lunch.

MAY 21

Hike Curecanti Creek Trail After descending from the high rim of the Upper Black Canyon, the trail follows Curecanti Creek as it falls toward Morrow Point Reservoir. The Curecanti Needle, a 700-foot granite spire, towers above at the trail’s end.

This is a moderate to strenuous hike lasting 4 miles with a 900-foot elevation change. Meet at the Senior Center at 8 a.m. Cost is $19; bring a sack lunch.

MAY 28

North Fork rafting Enjoy whitewater rafting and mountain views while floating through the breathtaking North Fork Valley.

The action starts at School Lunch in Paonia (class III) and lasts until we conquer The Ledges. Meet at the Senior Center at 8 a.m. Cost is $68.

CLASSES & CLINICS JUNE 8

Boomer Bicycling 101 You are never too old to ride a bicycle or get back on one! This threehour class will increase your confidence and competence on the road.

Class features an indoor discussion on bicycle safety and rules of the road, tips for selecting the right gear, and practice bicycle handling and balance skills. Bring a bicycle and helmet. Class is from 9 a.m. noon at the MRD Field House.

MUSIC & DANCE SATURDAY NIGHT DANCES Dance along to live music at the Senior Center from 7:30-11 p.m. May 11 and 25. Cost is $5.

LATIN DANCING

Latin dance is from 6:14-8 p.m. on the third Monday of the month at the Senior Center crafts room.

JAM SESSION/SING ALONG

Join us in the Senior Center crafts room from 4-6 p.m. Mondays if you play an instrument or sing! Each person gets a turn to lead a song and others play along.

EDUCATION Have lunch at noon and listen to educational presentations at 1 p.m. at the Montrose Senior Center. Cost for lunch is $5. Call 964-3419 the day before to make lunch reservations.

MAY 7

History of Ouray through Photography Gail Saunders presents on Ouray’s rich development around mining, transportation and community living through photographs.

MAY 13

History of the Bachelor Syracuse Mine Kathryn Burke leads you on a picture tour into the mine that saved Ouray.

MAY 14 & 28

Free Smart Phone Help Q&A session with Marck Hitchcox.

GAMES GAMES AT THE SENIOR CENTER

Play Cribbage, Bunco, Billiards, Poker, Bingo, Bridge and more all month long. Games cost $1 to play. For schedule, call 252-4884. ■

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MAY 2019 | FUN AFTER 50 |

19

BEACON BITS To my friends at the BEACON: just a childhood memory I wanted to share with you:

Breath of Life

By Leonard Braun

I walked into the ocean, wading in until the water was over my head.

Deeper and deeper I swam, until out of air.

For an extended time I remained in the dark water, twisting and turning, slowly in the current.

All was black and very quiet, until time stopped.

Gradually the bottom rose and the water became shallow and warm.

There was a glimmer of light from the sun.

Feeling something stirring within me, I realized I was still alive.

I began to swim towards the surface, to the light.

Ever upward, at first feebly, gradually stronger, until with powerful strokes of my arms I burst into the sunlight.

Shimmering droplets of water cascaded down my back as I rose into the air, finally free from the dark abyss.

To hell and back I have journeyed; I have returned.

Something is very different now; where before I walked on the earth, now I feel like I fly in the wind, soaring and gliding with ease.

Faster and faster, I fly with a passion and joy that knows no bounds.

Look over your shoulder, see me silhouetted against the sun.

BEACON BITS

Montrose Chamber to close after 130 years On April 22, the Montrose Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted unanimously to permanently end operations as the Montrose Chamber of Commerce, effective May 24, 2019. This decision came after a meeting, where the board discussed the challenges facing the organization, which included the dissolution of Montrose ACT (Association of Commerce and Tourism) in 2013 and its supporting revenue structure, leading to a dramatic reduction in revenue that the chamber was never able to fully recreate with a membership model. A series of four executive directors in four years also created the dynamic of shifting priorities that made it difficult to grow the membership base and to retain talent. As a result of these and other challenges, the financial models made it impossible to carry on its services. The board desires recognizes the extraordinary talents and efforts put forth by the chamber’s current director, Juliet Carr, and it’s their desire for the chamber’s mission and vision to live on in other community organizations, businesses and nonprofits. In the future, they intend to continue 970Studio and Montrose U, although the organization of these programs will change as the chamber disbands. For details, call 249-5000 or email information@ montrosechamber.com.

Artists’ Alpine Holiday calls for entries Tell all your artist and photographer friends that online registration for the 59th Artists’ Alpine Holiday Art Show is open April 25-June 24. The show will take place in Ouray from August 1-10. Go to www.ourayarts. org for details and to register.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES • Senior CommUnity Meals needs volunteer delivery drivers and dining room helpers to help

20 | BEACON BITS | MAY 2019 |

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM

elderly citizens in Delta and Montrose counties. For details, visit www.seniorcommunitymeals.org or call 874-7662.

• Volunteer drivers are needed to deliver meals to low-income and frail seniors. Drivers’ backgrounds are checked and they need to provide references. Call 249-8804.

• Help clean up Rollans Park in Ridgway with the Adopt-A-Park program from 9 a.m. to noon on May 4. Bring work gloves, rakes and clippers, sunscreen and sunglasses. Snacks and water will be provided. For details, call 3253010.

• The Friends of Montrose Library is looking for volunteers to fill several open board positions. Meetings are held once a month for an hour and include evaluating program funding, planning book sales and attending to other business matters related to the organization. For details, call 846-5287.

• Sharing Ministries Food Bank is looking for volunteers to help with their mission of providing nutritious food to those in need. For more information, call 240-8385.

CLUBS & ACTIVITIES Alpine Photography Club meets monthly at Colorado Mesa University’s Montrose Campus. For details, email apcmontroseco@gmail.com Black Canyon Barbershop Chorus is looking for those who want to sing four-part in an a cappella barbershop music style. Practices are from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Olathe United Methodist Church.

Call 216-3800.

Black Canyon Classics Car Club meets monthly on the first Tuesday. The club is open to all ages interested in classic cars, street rods, trucks and other vehicles. For

details, call 249-6051.

Citizens Climate Lobby meets at 6:30 p.m. May 8 at the Montrose Library’s meeting room. For more information, call 240-9146 or email montrose@citizensclimatelobby.org.

Crafternoon members knit and crochet projects, which they donate to various charities, from 2:30-4:30 p.m. on the first, second and third Wednesdays of the month in the Montrose library meeting room.

Supplies are provided, but yarn donations are always welcome. Experienced crafters will help beginners.

Call 964-2546.

Delta Hubwheelers Square Dance Club celebrates Cinco de Mayo from 7-9 p.m. on May 4 in the Bill Heddles Recreation Center aerobics room. Bring a potluck dish to share.

Next dance will be June 1. Admission is $6 for dancers. For details, call 773-4495 or 835-3771.

Montrose Amateur Radio Club meets monthly at 7 p.m. on the third Friday at the Olathe Community Center. Call 417-6142.

Montrose Area Woodturners meets monthly from 9 a.m. to noon on the second Saturday at 520 Collins Way in Montrose. Call 986-2550 or email lvcribbs@charter.net.

Montrose Elks Bingo takes place at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the Montrose Elks Lodge, 801 S. Hillcrest Dr. Giving Club of Montrose meets quarterly at 5:30 p.m. at The Bridges of Montrose. Members donate $100 at each meeting and are invited to nominate a local charity to receive the evening’s total contributions.

For membership information, email givingclubofmontrose@gmail.com.

Guys Giving Club of Montrose meets quarterly. Members donate $100 at each meeting and are invited to nominate a local charity to receive the evening’s total contributions. For membership information, email guysgivingclubmontrose@ gmail.com.

BEACON BITS Montrose Pavilion Dance Club hosts dances monthly from 7:3011 p.m. on the second and fourth Saturdays at the Montrose Pavilion.

Dancers of all ages are welcome.

Bring a snack to share. Cost is $5.

Call 252-7172.

Montrose Women’s Club meets for monthly luncheons at noon on the third Monday, September through May. All Montrose area women are invited to attend. For location, call 275-3336.

San Juan Dance Club meets from 6:45-9:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Lions Clubhouse in Montrose. Call 708-8333.

Sons of Norway, Vestafjell Lodge, meets at 1:30 p.m. on May 11 at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. Enjoy a Scandinavian spring lunch. Call 245-5649 or visit www. vestafjelllodge.org.

Western Slope 4 Wheelers meets monthly at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesdays at the Montrose Rod & Gun Club’s indoor range, 1211 6450 Road in Montrose. Call 209-5326. ■

Tickets available for concert with Herb Alpert and Lani Hall at the Avalon Theatre Don't miss this uplifting concert with Herb Alpert and Lani Hall at the Avalon Theatre in Grand Junction on September 24 at 7:30 p.m. Boasting 11 Grammy Awards between them, Alpert and Hall are partners in music, giving and life. They’ve been touring together since 2006, but their story dates back to the 1960s. Alpert made his name starting in 1962 when Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass struck gold with "The Lonely Bull.”

Lani Hall has a voice that helped define an era as lead singer with Sérgio Mendes & Brazil ’66. The couple bring their joyous creativity and musical memories to their performances with Bill Cantos on piano, Hussain Jiffry on six-string bass and Michael Shapiro on drums. Tickets are available at the Avalon’s box office, by calling 263-5757 or through www.ticketmaster.com.

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*purchase must be greater than $3000 WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MAY 2019 | BEACON BITS |

21

CLASSIFIEDS

CLASSIFIEDS HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL OR A SERVICE TO OFFER? List it here—pricing starts at just $29 per month!

Call Stacey at 243-8829, ext.102 to reserve your space in next month’s issue.

HELP WANTED

WE’RE HIRING! The BEACON Senior News is growing and we’re looking for talented folks who want to grow with us!

We’re hiring for the following positions: FREELANCE WRITERS ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES PHOTO JOURNALISTS Send your letter and resume to Beacon@PendantPublishing.com

Creative folks, don’t forget to send samples of your work!

EVENTS Montrose Elks Bingo - Tuesday Nights 6:30 p.m.

Main bingo packs include five regular games and three progressive games worth up to $500, $1,199 and $15,000. For a great time filled with smiles and laughter, be sure to join us every Tuesday at the Elks, 801 S. Hillcrest Dr., Montrose, CO 81401.

Funds raised support local charities.

HOME SERVICES Custom Draperies, Blinds & Solar Shades. Floor coverings and design services. Interior Monologues, Inc. 234-0040.

HEALTH & WELLNESS Medical Marijuana Doctor Days in Montrose & Grand Junction Got pain? Find out if medical marijuana is right for you. Doctor evaluation and education on cannabis use in a professional HIPAA-compliant setting. Call for appointment times and days 720-443-2420 or visit www. healthychoicesunltd.com.

Medical Cannabis Certification Cannabis treats arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraines, Parkinson’s, MS, cancer, glaucoma, PTSD, etc.

GJ - Thursday 5/16 Rifle - Wednesday 5/15 Wendy Zaharko, MD, 970-319-0652, z@alumni.princeton.edu. Your local Western Slope cannabis physician since 2009.

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BEACON SENIOR NEWS

Headline

TRUST IS KNOWING SOMEONE IS THERE TO HOLD ON AND NOT LET GO

By Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx hen we moved from the city to the suburbs many years ago, our children were toddlers and we were young. Our neighbors were the old people— empty nesters, retirees, grandparents—who had lived in the same home for more than 25 years.

Imagine that! ■

W

You Can Count On Us To Be There, Always If you are unsure about options to care for yourself or your loved ones, be assured we are here to help.

Our network of services work together to meet you at the level of care you need: • Home Health, RN Care • Independent & Assisted Living • Injury or Post-Surgery Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy • Long-term, Skilled Nursing Care • Secure Memory Care • Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) • Community Dining and Homebound Meal Delivery

www.taylorfuneralservice.com

Contact one of our care navigators to explore all community services and resources or for a benefits checkup.

1-844-862-4968 | 1-844-VOA-4YOU | advantage@voa.org | voa4you.org

Delta • 874-9988 | Cedaredge • 856-3232 Hotchkiss • 872-3151 | Paonia • 527-3836

Storage Challenges and Solutions in Western Colorado Thad Porter of New Castle was determined to find a safer way to store items after his close friend contracted the dangerous hantavirus after cleaning out his storage shed. This serious virus is found in the urine, saliva and droppings of infected deer mice and other wild rodents and gets stirred up while cleaning—a common hazard on the Western Slope.

That’s where Porter’s Hogback Storage Containers come in.

Hogback Storage Containers provides: • Steel, air-tight Conex containers for homeowners, business owners, ranchers, contractors and builders • Durable and versatile storage units that are element-proof, rodent-proof, easily accessible and moveable • Personal delivery to your site • Extra storage space for household items, supplies, feed, tack equipment and can even be converted into a shop.

An average 20’x 8’ container rents for about $100 per month. Larger containers are available.

Hogback Storage Containers is locally owned and serves customers from Eagle to Aspen, down to Grand Junction, east and north of Meeker.

Rent or own Call for pricing

970-366-6106 porter_thad @yahoo.com www.hogbackstorage.com

WWW.BEACONSENIORNEWS.COM | MAY 2019 |

23

DONATIONS BENEFIT THE

Senior Center Lunch Program

FREE

BBQ

Magic Show, Live Music, Dancing, & Door Prizes!

For info or to donate, please contact Marilynn Huseby, 970-901-9914