BCCA Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Dear Friends,

What were you doing 50 years ago? Maybe you were graduating from high school or college, raising your children & headlong into your careers. For me it marked the beginning of my elementary school years. Major news events in 1973 included the United States ending its involvement in the Vietnam War after the signing of the Paris Peace Accords. Watergate hearings began & President Nixon maintained, “I am not a crook.” Secretariat won the Triple Crown. Inflation was also having a significant impact, running at 6.16%. Popular movies included The Exorcist, The Sting & American Graffiti. On the radio you could hear “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree,” “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” & “Killing Me Softly with His Song.” You could find “All in the Family,” “The Waltons,” and “Sanford and Son” on the television.

In the 1970s, Boone County Council on Aging (BCCA) was just getting its start. From the information that I can find, the early 1970s brought discussions about the needs of seniors in the Boone County area. A group called The Golden Agers met once a month at First Baptist Church. There was also support from the Salvation Army. Additionally, in the 1970s Northern Illinois Area Agency on Aging & Belvidere Township met with other local officials. Seed moneys for what became BCCA were provided by Belvidere Township, along with matching funds through the Older Americans Act. A needs assessment was completed & development of the BCCA Board took place.

October 1973 was the opening of a Drop-In Center for the purpose of meeting the educational, social, recreational, nutritional & transportation needs of Senior Citizens in the area. The mid 1970s also brought the first congregate meal site “Meet ‘n Eat.” Margaret Paulson is pictured in this photo serving meals for this program. Also in the 1970s, transportation expanded beyond Belvidere & into the County through funds received from Boone County. A needs assessment for chore & housekeeping services was completed.

We look forward to you joining us for a celebration in October 2023 to mark the 50th Anniversary of BCCA. Look for more information as we continue to plan. If you can help me out with additional information from this time, or have memories & photos from over the years, I would love to hear from you. Please contact me at (779) 5527249 or khillan@keenage.org.

BCCA Celebrating 50 Years - Together We Are Golden!

Kelly Hillan, Executive Director

Retirement is an opportunity to wave goodbye to the daily grind. Retirees may focus on rest & relaxation, and many make travel a major component of their lifestyle. According to a 2022 Gallup poll, Americans expect to retire at an average age of 66, up from 62 in 2022. However, most do not hold out that long; the average actual retirement age is 61. Upon retiring, many retirees discover that they sorely miss getting out of the house & being productive through some sort of employment. Others may find it necessary to supplement their retirement incomes. There are a few things to know about working during retirement, particularly if a person is collecting government benefits.

• According to the Social Security Administration, those falling under full retirement age for the entire year (which was raised to age 67 for those born in 1960 or later) will be subjected to an SSA deduction of $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. For 2022, that limit is $19,560. In the year you reach full retirement age, SSA deducts $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above a different limit, but they only count earnings before the month you reach your full retirement age. For full retirement age reached in 2022 your limit on earnings for the months before full retirement age is $51,960. After full retirement age, there is no limit on earnings.

• Keep in mind that if you are on Medicare, extra income could potentially trigger surcharges for parts B & D. It’s beneficial to speak with a financial consultant to weigh the pros & cons of part-time work during retirement.

• Part-time work does not need to be daily work. Many retirees work according to how they feel. Some options include seasonal jobs, such as driving shuttles in national parks or working during the holidays in retail stores. Or you may use your expertise to consult or start a business.

• A number of people work part-time during retirement simply to get out of the house. Jobs that help you interact with a number of people can be beneficial, as socialization has been shown to benefit mental health Working during retirement can supplement savings & provide structure that some retirees may be missing.

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Eileen Wilkes

Eileen Wilkes, 91, of Belvidere, passed away January 30, 2023. A funeral service will be Monday, February 6, at 11 am at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Belvidere. Located at 1045 Belvidere Rd., Belvidere, IL 61008. A visitation will take place at 10 am until the time of service. To read complete obituary visit https:// www.andersonfcs.com/

Antonio (Tony) Lopez Castro

February 21, 1932 - January 25, 2023

Born in Coupland, Texas to Apolinar Castro & Natalia Lopez Castro. Antonio was the youngest son of eleven children - eight brothers & three sisters.

Antonio attended school in Thrall, Texas & was called to join the Army in January of 1952. Antonio began basic training then was sent to the Korean War in 1953. He came back home on Thanksgiving Day, November of 1954.

Antonio then married & settled down in Colorado working for Halliburton Oil Co. While residing there he had the first and second of his three sons, Carlos and Conrad.

Antonio & his family then moved to Wichita Falls to attend school with the GI Bill. There he was employed with Levi Strauss & Co. for ten years and had three more children - Lydia, Linda & Liza. Afterward, Antonio moved his family to Indiana & worked for Inland Steel Co. for two years. He then learned about Chrysler in Belvidere, Illinois & moved his family to Illinois to begin working for Chrysler from 1968 - 1995. Antonio remarried & had another son, Fernando Castro. After his retirement he purchased & moved to his family’s homestead where he passed away peacefully at the age of 90.

Antonio is survived by his wife, Josie Castro & son, Fernando Castro; former wife Anselma (Ann) Hernandez Castro; children, Conrad (Patricia) Castro, Lydia (Edward) Gonzalez, Linda Castro Sebena, Liza (Marshall) Wolfe; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; & two great-great grandchildren & numerous nephews & nieces.

Antonio is predeceased by his parents; all of his brothers; one sister; his beloved eldest son, Carlos Antonio Casto; & son-in-law, George Sebena.

Visitation is to be held from 6-8 PM with the recitation of the Holy Rosary beginning at 7 PM on Thursday, February 2, 2023 at Providence Funeral Home, 807 Carlos G. Parker Blvd., N.W. Taylor, TX. Mass of Christian burial will begin at 10 AM, Friday, February 3, 2023 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 111 W. Rio Grande St., Taylor, TX. Burial to follow at Our Lady of Guadalupe Cemetery.

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We want to thank all the people that helped out with caring for Lois Hyser. We also thank all of you for your thoughts & prayers during these last few months. We appreciate all of your support during our time of loss. Thank you to everyone that attended the visitation, the memorial service, sent cards, said a prayer, gave us a phone call, brought food, or cooked a meal.

Lois will be missed, but we take comfort in knowing she is at rest & that we have such great friends & family to help us in these difficult times. We also want to thank Pastor David Smith & the members of Belvidere First Assembly of God. Their help with the luncheon was greatly appreciated & his leadership of the memorial service was wonderful.

Lois Hyser Family