SENIOR BEACON APRIL, 2020 by BeaconNewsGroup

Senior Beacon SB Eldest & Locally-Owned Senior Newspaper in Southern Colorado

APRIL 2020

Vol. 39:3

Established February 1982

459 Consecutive Months!

Committed To Southern Colorado Seniors For 39 Years And Counting!!

coronavirus-caused

RECESSION WOULD INCREASE NUMBER CLAIMING SOCIAL SECURITY

AN EMERGENCY Social Security and Medicare payroll tax cut could weaken program financing at the same time a Coronavirus caused recession would significantly increase the number of people claiming Social Security, warns The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). “Although many older adults today are putting off claiming benefits to allow their Social Security payouts to grow, they are unlikely

to be able to afford to wait if they lose their jobs, or when the value of retirement account investments are significantly impacted,” says Mary Johnson, a Social Security and Medicare policy analyst for The Senior Citizens League. “Social Security and Medicare need to be adequately financed if a recession would occur,” Johnson says. “When unemployment is high,

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there’s less payroll taxes flowing into Social Security and Medicare,” she notes. “Providing a complete payroll tax break to stimulate the economy would only exacerbate financing issues and would be unlikely to make a big enough emergency impact when needed, especially for people who aren’t working,” Johnson points out. For retirees with a 401(k) or retirement savings, a recession would make those lucky enough to have savings more dependent on Social Security, because big changes in equity prices reduce the distributions from those accounts perhaps for several years.

To make matters worse older Americans are at the highest health risk from the coronavirus. “Congress needs to ensure that any big emergency financial stimulus to address a coronavirus caused economic recession, doesn’t put Social Security and Medicare benefits at risk as well,” says Johnson. Safeguarding the health of Americans is of primary importance now. The Senior Citizens League is working for legislation that would help strengthen and boost Social Security and lower out-of-pocket Medicare costs. To learn more, visit www.SeniorsLeague.org.

Covid 19: Salute to Seniors Rescheduled; Services On Hold OLDER ADULTS AS in 1986, the Pueblo County Commissioners established the Department of Housing and Human Services and it became the administrator of the Pueblo County Food Surplus Food Distribution or the Commodity Program as known by most people in Pueblo. Previously the program was under the non-profit agency call Pueblo Action. Older adults as we have all seen are the most susceptible target of Coronavirus or Covid 19. Therefore, the Colorado Gerontological Society is doing our part to prevent the spread of the disease. First and foremost, we have rescheduled the Salute to Seniors to August 22, 2020 at the Colorado Convention Center. We have the

same entertainment line-up. All the vendors will be joining us and we look forward to bringing you a senior expo that exceeds all our expectations. Governor Polis has taken action to keep all residents in nursing homes and assisted living residences safe. All visitors are prohibited unless the individual needs end-oflife compassion care. All essential health care workers are being tested routinely. All essential individuals responsible for deliveries of food, health services, and medicine are dropping items on the door step and being brought into the building by screened staff. If you have questions or need help, please feel free to call 303333-3482 or 1-855-293-6911.

Page 2 - Senior Beacon - April 2020

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JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE RACES

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE CAVE JAMES R. GRASSO Former Chief Cook & Bottle Washer

I REMEMBER MOVING from my hometown of Rome, NY to Colorado Springs in the late Spring of 1976 and I thought I died and went to heaven especially when I espied the first snow of the fall which fell on Pikes Peak and its foothills. We had about $4,000 in the bank. So I found an apartment and sent for my 7 month pregnant wife and began our journey through life together. Colorado Springs was much smaller in 1976 than it is now plus there were no mosquitoes, no humidity, wide open spaces, those terrific views and very little snow. My son was born two months later and our family was percolating. About two years later, we were struggling for footing in Paradise, but an opportunity came about for us to move to Pueblo. The rest is history; 42 years worth. Lots of ups and downs. Many times while driving around Pueblo in the ensuing years I often wondered, "how the heck did I get here" but Pueblo was home and had been for about 22 years and two daughters, and loads and loads of friends, good friends, and acquaintances; a good solid God-fearing town. Then about 23 years ago my wife and I found a nice little spot in Pueblo West and we've been here ever since. So much different from my hometown and especially different from my wife's who called Jamaica, Queens home. The views here are still Lordly. The winters are easy peasy as the kids used to say but my mosquito friends have found

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me and occasionally we have miller moth infestations. Living on the edge of the prairie we have signs and sights of the denizens that live here. I don't like the snakes or the field rats but I wouldn't trade this life for anything supposedly comparable. Not even heavenly Colorado Springs at this point in my travels. "What the heck is he talking about?" they ask. I was trying to established my bona fides before I came to the point. I'm not going to participate and haven't participated in the overhyped hysteria of the latest flu that will send the sky crashing down. Our Lord is shepherding all of us spiritually and frankly, and I never thought I'd say this, we have President Trump. I know, I know, this is democrat territory but I'm so fed up with the Nancys, Chucks, Barracks, Bernies, and Old Joes who have an aggregate of over 150 years experience in politics telling us how they are going to fix everything. How come they haven't fixed it by now? Their ilk and the media have remained constant. The media is the Left and the Left is the democrat party. "$1.8 trillion dollars isn't enough for a stimulus," they say. "We can't try to get back to normal, what's he crazy? It's too soon!" they cackle. I watched what DJT did to Saudi Arabia who tried to put us all on our knees with their oil price surprise. They were going to hammer Russia which is never a good idea because they don't mind going to war over such things as ruining their economy. I'm getting a little bit off-track. DJT has done what only a guy who has been in politics for such a short period of time would try to do. He not only has shepherded us through this tough covid-19 flu pandemic he also shrewdly bought up all that cheap $10 a barrel crude and put it in the reserves that BHO had rudely siphoned off during his 8 years of nothing. What a coup. I remain vigilantly but rarely do I follow the hype. The daily body count and total sickness count is listened to every 3-4 days. The rest of it falls on deaf ears. Scaring people through chaos is what the Big Time Media does. And the Nancys et al follow suit just to get face time! Since we are all coming together why are so many hording toilet paper, hamburger and the like... harrumph! Disgusting. Condolences to anyone who has lost a loved one to covid-19 or is, or knows someone battling this latest flu. I know there are other flus out there, too. Has the media said anything about them? This to shall pass. Godspeed to you and yours.

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April 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 3

FINANCE

How to Handle the Bear Market ALRIGHT. WE'VE HAD a global pandemic. Bad market days, weeks and month. A bear market. Then a new bull market. Yes, we’ve actually had a new bull market. We’ve even had hoarding of toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Just when you thought you’d seen it all.

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FROM RECORD HIGHS TO RECORD-FAST BEAR MARKET This has all happened so quick and the information rolls in hourly. It’s very dizzying. We’re not just on the roller coaster but a rollercoaster on a merry go round. Turn off the t.v. and the cell phone. Relax. Go for a walk. Ignore your brokerage statement. Follow this guide.

2. OBVIOUS ADVICE: BUY I’m very lucky to have incredible clients. Most have braced for

impact and many have even bought or are ready to buy. I’m darned proud of them for having the right attitude. This is when we make money. That old advice to buy “when there’s blood in the streets” can create huge gains. Think of the depths of the Great Recession. Wasn’t the Dow Jones at around 6,500 a great buy?! Well, now we’re bigger and better and the market is affordable again.

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for clients is unreal. And happens more often now. So even more options income. On the personal side, there’s an energy-transport mutual fund that I’ve recommended for years. It’s been paying 8-10 percent annual income. Now it’s paying over 17 percent. And now I’m loading up for my personal account. Of course, dividends (and yields)

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Now’s also the time to try new strategies or crank up working strategies. For example, were you buying dividend stocks during the expansion? Now’s an even better time to search for those stable-paying companies. Look for sustainable dividends and you’ll probably be buying much higher yields on cheaper stocks. Right now, I’ve also cranked up options selling. Options love volatility. The current income generated

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1. KEEP THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE Now’s the time to have a level head. We have to remember that before this black swan the U.S. economy was doing really good. Record earnings, record GDP, a handful of trillion dollar companies, record-low unemployment, record bull market, record expansion. So please remember, we’re slowing down every part of our economy by choice for important health reasons. When we turn on that tap again—watch out.

Page 4 - Senior Beacon - April 2020

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DUE TO THE COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS), SILVER KEY IS LIMITING TO TAKE OUT AND MEALS ON WHEELS ONLY April 1: Jerk chicken sandwich with lettuce and tomato, cream of potato soup, coleslaw, apple April 2: Pork pot roast with onion, celery, carrots, potato medley, orange April 3: Crab cakes, broccoli cheddar rice, green bean almandine, applesauce, raising nut cup April 4: Beef stew, lima beans, ww roll, pineapple orange compote April 5: Southwestern chicken, peas and carrots, 3 bean salad, ww roll, orange April 6: Mushroom ravioli with marina, broccoli, salad with avg. dressage, diced pears, raising nut cup April 7: Pepper steak, brown rice, lima beans, dinner roll, strawberries April 8: Bratwurst, cabbage and carrots, potato salad, ww bread, banana, ww M&M cookies April 9: Slow roasted beef, mashed potatoes, peas, carrots raisin salad, apple April 10: Cod piccata, wild and brown rice, broccoli, mandarin orange, high fiber cookie April 11: Pork pot roast with onion, celery, carrots, potato medley, orange April 12: Crab cakes, broccoli cheddar rice, green bean almandine, applesauce, raisin nut cup April 13: Sloppy Joe, carrots, coleslaw, pineapple, sugar cookie April 14: BLT, black bean lentil soup, pasta vegetable salad, spiced peaches, sugar cookie April 15: Breaded catfish, wild and brown rice, peas, spinach mandarin salad, banana April 16: Meatloaf with gravy, mashed potato, peas and car-

rots, three bean salad, orange April 17: Chicken chow mein, brown rice, Asian vegetables, pear, chocolate chip cookie, raisin nut cup April 18: Slow roasted beef, mashed potatoes, carrots raisin salad, apple, milk April 19: Mushroom ravioli with marinara, broccoli salad with avg. dressage, diced pears, raisin nut cup April 20: Chicken stir fry, peas, brown rice, Asian cabbage slaw, apple April 21: Meatballs with marinara, pasta, broccoli, ww roll, strawberries April 22: Chicken salad sandwich on croissant, tomato basil bisque, high fiber cookie, orange April 23: Pork carnitas with pepper, onion, cheese, sour cream, salsa, tortillas, Mexican corn, sw black beans, peaches April 24: Chicken cacciatore pasta, green beans, ww roll, diced pears April 25: Meatloaf with gravy, mashed potato, peas and carrots, three-bean salad, orange April 26: Chicken stir fry, peas, brown rice, Asian cabbage slaw, apple April 27: Taco salad with lettuce, tomato, salsa, sour cream, and avocado, tortilla chips, corn chowder, apple April 28: Baked ham, sweet potatoes, broccoli, ww bread, peaches April 29: Tuna salad, croissant, chickpea soup, sunflower broccoli, salad, apple April 30: Chicken pot pie with buttermilk biscuit, lima beans, tossed salad with red wine vinaigrette dressing, pear

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Everybody has a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in Pueblo by: Do not go to the emergency room unless medically necessary. Wash your hands with soap regularly. Cough or sneeze into elbow or tissue. Stay home when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re sick. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. Avoid close contact with sick people. Clean surfaces frequently touched. Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment encourages residents to seek out credible, reliable sources of information on COVID-19: www.puebloemergency. info Call CO HELP at 1-877462-2911 or email COHELP@RMPDC.org Puebloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s COVID-19 Hotline 719-583-4444.

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April 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 5

SRDA APRIL 2020 CALENDAR Special information from Pueblo’s SRDA (Plus)

DUE TO THE COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS), ALL EVENTS AT SRDA ARE CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Senior's Shopping Time Scheduled MANY STORES IN the area

are offering a separate time for senior only shopping to assist in keeping one of the most vulnerable populations protected from the spread of COVID-19. At this time, information for senior only shopping is as follows: Albertson’s Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7 – 9 AM Dollar General, 1245 Spruce Every day, 8 – 9 AM Dollar General, W. 18th Street Sundays, 8 – 9 AM Dollar General, 1502 Troy Every day, 8 –9 AM Dollar General, 609 Pueblo Boulevard Thursdays, 12 – 1 PM; All other days, 8 –9 AM Dollar General, 1610 Santa Fe Every day, 8 – 9 AM Dollar General, 2417 Prairie Every day, 8 –9 AM King Soopers North and South

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Everybody has a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in Pueblo Every day, 7 – 8 AM Target Every day, 8 – 9 AM Walmart; South, North, Pueblo West, Neighborhood Market Every day 6 -7 AM All public and media inquiries in Pueblo are answered through the local hotline at Pueblo’s Joint Information Center. Pueblo COVID-19 Hotline is answering questions 8 AM – 5 PM, Monday – Friday, 719-583-4444.   Everybody has a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in Pueblo by: ■ Minimize social activities and being physically close to other people.

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■ Do not go to the emergency room unless medically necessary. ■ Wash your hands with soap regularly. ■ Cough or sneeze into elbow or tissue. ■ Stay home when you’re sick. ■ Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. Avoid close contact with sick people. ■ Clean surfaces frequently touched. Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment encourages residents to seek out credible, reliable sources of information on COVID-19: www.puebloemergency.info Pueblo’s COVID-19 Hotline 719-583-4444. EATING FOR HEALTH Eating for health means increasing whole foods while cutting back on processed foods high in sugar, salt, and saturated fats. People are cautioned not to look for a single “super food” to prevent illness, but rather, start eating a balanced diet to build a strong immune system over time.The Dietary Guidelines for Americans promotes the “My Plate” method of eating for health: •½ of your plate: Colorful fruits and non-starchy vegetables •¼ of your plate: Lean protein •¼ of your plate: Whole grains or starch •Low-fat dairy is also encouraged at each meal for those who tolerate lactose. Consistently building your plate this way prepares the body to fight illness and stress. Eating for health is a longgame; popping a few berries in your mouth when you start to feel a cold coming on will have limited effect.

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Page 6 - Senior Beacon - April 2020

‘LIGHT FOR THE JOURNEY’

JAN MCLAUGHLIN

Director of Prayer for Prisoners International

BE AVAILABLE — SHOW UP

he e-mail and invitation to lunch took me by surprise. Social interaction and my relationship with Beth had faded over the years. Months earlier she mailed me a public opinion article I didn’t remember writing. The yellowed clipping was over 20 years old. Most people tell me they think I am too busy to leave work to meet for lunch or coffee, so I don’t get many invitations. Besides, I’d have fun catching up and renewing our friendship. We planned to meet on the

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Monday before my eye surgery. Winter settled over our small Colorado city that Monday morning. Frigid air chilled to the bone. Forecasters warned of winter storms moving across the Front Range. My surgery was scheduled for early Tuesday morning and the surgery center is an hour drive. Possible blizzard conditions and treacherous roads prompted Rick, my husband, to reserve a room near the surgery center that evening so we wouldn’t have to drive in the early morning storm. Missing the surgery appointment wasn’t an option. I considered cancelling lunch with Beth so we could leave town earlier and beat the storm. Rick had several things to take care of before we could leave, so I kept the appointment. When Beth walked into the restaurant, I smile from a corner booth. Although she was smiling, I saw a deep sadness in her eyes. After we placed our order, Beth opened up. “Jan, for years I have read your column in the Senior Beacon every month. You write about Rick being a Christian and about things like his decorating your house. My husband is not a believer. I rushed into the marriage too soon after my divorce, after only a year. I was desperate and knew that without two incomes

Oakshire Commons

I couldn’t make it. I know I was wrong.” Beth poured out her heart. The pain, verbal abuse and her feeling of being trapped brought memories of my own abusive first marriage. I could sincerely empathize. I had walked in her shoes, lived with the pain, felt like a piece of equipment to be turned off and on at his whim, to be used at his bidding. As I listened intently, I remembered, and compassion flooded my heart. Beth’s next words caught me off guard. Without wavering or emotion, she laid out her plan. “Jan, I wouldn’t use a knife. That would be too messy. I wouldn’t jump off the Royal Gorge Bridge, but I would use carbon monoxide.” Although stunned, I maintained composure and simply listened, the thing she needed most from me at this moment. With two failed attempts in my past I completely understood her desperation. She had gone so far as to arrange for someone to take her dogs after she died. We talked at length. I encouraged her to speak with a pastor. We prayed and wept and prayed some more. Looking across the table into Beth’s eyes, I posed a question, “Beth, do you know the Bible says you can’t commit suicide?” Her eyes widened. “I can’t?” “No. You can’t. The Bible tells

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that our days are numbered, and God has power over life and death. We don’t have that power. You can try to commit suicide and become brain-dead or handicapped the rest of your life, but you can’t kill yourself. You won’t die until your date shows up on God’s calendar.” “Oh, I never thought about that.” She promised she would speak with a pastor and she e-mailed me later to say she was 85% better, not yet100%, but better. She has since visited at length with a pastor and is doing much better. She is no longer suicidal and has a positive attitude about her marriage. When Beth gave permission to share this story she said, “Be sure to mention how critical and important it is to find someone they can trust. What you said that really made me think and put me on a different path was, ‘what if it doesn’t work.’ If a friend needs you, it is critical to be available. I don’t know what would have happened if you would have cancelled our lunch.” Be available. Even if it is an inconvenience. Show up. You may be a lifeline for a hurting soul who desperately needs someone to listen. Someone to care. “You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer” (Job 14:5 NLT). “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16 NIV). “And it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement . . .” (Hebrews 9:27). The name has been changed for my friend’s safety and to protect her confidence. UPDATE ON THE SCAM! Walmart did not refund my money. It showed on my account as a credit until Capital One “investigated” and determined it was not a scam. It WAS a scam and an expensive lesson on my part. Learn from my mistake, please. Hang up on scammers. © 2020 Jan McLaughlin, all rights reserved. Jan McLaughlin is Director of Prayer For Prisoners International and can be reached by e-mail – Jan@ PrayerForPrisoners.org. or by phone 719-275-6971

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April 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 7

ANCIENT FAERIE LORE: CHAPTER THREE, ENCHANTED WOODS

GLEN VOLLMECKE Author: "Intermission a Place in Time."

Living in a multitude of habitats hovering on the edges of our human world faeries defend, and idolize their woodland domains. Often weary travelers lost and afraid of the dark somber forest, remain confused, and fearful, with good reason. Fearing darkness, and mentally aware of dangers, they withdraw from accustomed beliefs, while being the immediate target of one thousand eyes of the mystical guardians of the trees and other vegetation. Maori and Aztec lore believe that the soul returns to earth after death in the form of butterflies. Blackfoot Native Americans believe that butterflies bring sleep and dreams. From the same word in English, German and Czech evolves the word 'butter.' In faerie lore the word is associated with cow's milk and cream. Butterflies are creatures of magical transformation. As a caterpillar she grovels in the earth, not unlike mortals. Then at the time of a death as a cocoon she emerges in full beauty free to soar to unimaginable heights. Dragon fly wings are also symbolic of these capabilities, thus they're also

associated with a 'rebirth.' Occasionally a faerie aura is experienced as a blue candle flame with a distinct presence of perfume, a sign of the divine. Scottish sea faeries or demons are called Nuchleavees and exposed by a nasty smell of old fish, and rotten eggs. If you ever experience this phenomena beware! Malicious intent abounds! They wait on the sidelines in order to confuse, and to harm you. These horrific creatures are commonly described as the 'devils of the sea.' They are responsible for crop failures, droughts and epidemics, and many more evils. Scots so afraid to verbalize the name, immediately followed it with soulful prayer. This creature became incensed when smelling burning seaweed, a practice by farmers to fertilize

their crops. Concerning auras, they are subtly seen surrounding human forms, usually only noticed by a psychic or other enlightened individual. The 1920 Spiritualist Movement in North America and Europe had (and continue to have) many sĂŠances, where spirits were called. The Ouija board used today is not for the weak a heart. After a playful (game) session with one's colleagues, the spirits who materialize can torment, torture and remain present in this particular building for months to come. Exorcism by a priest is usually performed to eliminate these entities. Otherwise we don't know how to eject them from our lives.

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Page 8 - Senior Beacon - April 2020

NEWS OF THE WEIRD

SPECIAL TO THE SENIOR BEACON FROM THE EDITORS OF ANDREWS MCMEEL Florida Police in Pinellas County, Florida, responded to the Clearwater Mall late on March 22, where witnesses had reported a woman screaming in a parked car. According to an arrest affidavit, the officers discovered the woman and Robert Janisch, 21, "wrestling with each other" in their birthday suits. The couple told police that after they had intercourse, the woman went to urinate outside the car, using a napkin to wipe herself, which she then accidentally threw on Janisch, prompting an argument. The affidavit stated the argument escalated to the point that Janisch choked his girlfriend, but he contended the marks on her neck occurred earlier at the beach. WFLA reported Janisch was arrested for domestic battery. [WFLA, 3/26/2020]

Signs of the Apocalypse (As If We Needed More) Steward Gatt, also known as Stewy the Snake Catcher, was summoned to a yard in Ardeer, Victoria, Australia, in mid-March, where he bagged up a female tiger snake in order to relocate it in the wild. But when Gatt opened the bag a short time later, he discovered the snake had given birth to several offspring -- one of which had two heads. According to United Press International, Gatt took the snakes to Direct Vet Services and had them checked over. The usual one-headed babies were fine, but the two-headed specimen had to be euthanized; "... these animals are not generally viable so it was euthanized on humane grounds," the clinic posted on its Facebook page. Mom and babies were returned to the wild according to plan. [United

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Press International, 3/20/2020] Oops Vicar Simon Beach, 61, of St. Budeaux Parish Church in Plymouth, England, was uncomfortable enough as he launched into his first virtual church service on March 22, calling it "surreal." But as he leaned into the camera to deliver the final portion of his sermon, he looked to his left and calmly deadpanned, "Oh dear, I've just caught fire." Beach had leaned a bit too close to one of several nearby candles and ignited his sleeve. "I just felt my arm getting a bit hot," he told Metro News. The flame damaged his sweater and shirt, but did not burn his skin. Beach was teased a bit by fellow vicars, who razzed him for being "on fire for Jesus." "People have laughed and laughed, really," Beach said. [Metro News, 3/22/2020] Crafting During the Coronavirus Steve Walton of Shotley Bridge, England, took a bad spill in 2018 and, after a series of surgeries, had to have the lower part of his leg amputated in January. He was scheduled to be fitted with a prosthetic leg in mid-March, but his appointment was delayed because of the coronavirus crisis. That was when his wife, Atchari, went to work, making a leg for him using a bucket, fiberglass resin and wood. The first attempt kept falling off ("It was more akin to something Long John Silver would wear," Walton said), but Ms. Walton refined her project using a moon boot, and it

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worked. "My wife is very practical. She can turn her hand to anything," Walton told the BBC. "I am not going to use this regularly, but it will be good for getting around the house for the next three to six months. There are people far worse off than me at the minute." [BBC, 3/24/2020] Least Competent Criminal Kenneth Braden, 65, filled his shopping cart at a Nashville-area Kroger store with essentials -- five cases of beer and two packages of toilet paper -- on March 11, then bypassed the checkout lanes, according to court documents. As he attempted to leave the store, he tripped the alarm sensors at the door and the wheels on his cart locked up. After several unsuccessful attempts to move the cart, he fled the store. WZTV reported Metro Police later picked him up and charged him with theft of merchandise and driving on a suspended license. [WZTV, 3/12/2020] Lesson Learned Taiwan has strictly cracked down on its citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic, using GPS on phones to monitor the movement of those in quarantine. One man got a particularly costly lesson when he violated the quarantine to go clubbing, AFP reported. The unnamed man, who was required to self-quarantine for 14 days after returning from Southeast Asia, was charged $1 million Taiwanese (about $33,000 US) after he was found at a Taipei nightclub on March 22. Authorities deemed his night out "malicious," and the New Taipei mayor, Hou Yu-ih, warned, "I will not be soft-handed." [AFP, 3/23/2020] Neighbors Helping Neighbors In Richfield, Wisconsin, neighbors Eric Trzcinski and Trevor Reinke have missed sharing a beer while they are socially isolating. So Trzcinski came up with a novel idea: He's a car guy, and happened to have a spare exhaust tip that was the perfect size to hold a bottle of beer. Using zip ties, he strapped the tip to a remote control car, then dropped a bottle of Corona (yes, on purpose) into the pipe. He called Reinke, told him to start videotaping, and Reinke caught the little delivery as it zoomed across a busy street and up his driveway, delivering the cold brew into his hands. Trzcinski's Facebook post featuring the video racked up more than 5 million views, he told FOX6 News on March 24. [FOX6 News, 3/24/2020]

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April 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 9

NEWS OF THE WEIRD

SPECIAL TO THE SENIOR BEACON FROM THE EDITORS OF ANDREWS MCMEEL Not Funny Joe Fasula, co-owner of Gerrity's Supermarket in Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, had "a very challenging day" on March 25. A woman who claimed she had the coronavirus, later identified by police as Margaret Chirko, "came into the store and proceeded to purposely cough on our fresh produce, and a small section of our bakery, meat case and grocery," he wrote on Facebook. While the staff "did the best they could to get the woman out of the store as fast as possible," he said, the health department had to help disinfect the store, and the "twisted prank" resulted in the loss of $35,000 worth of food. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports the Luzerne County District Attorney's Office has charged Chirko with threatening to use weapons of mass

destruction and making terroristic threats. It is not known whether the woman has COVID-19. [The Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/26/2020] Wishful Thinking Police in Las Cruces, New Mexico, who approached a woman driving a stolen car on March 7 were surprised when she identified herself as pop singer Beyonce Knowles, according to police documents. The Las Cruces Sun News reported officers had to use a fingerprint scanner to properly identify Surena Henry, 48. Henry at first ignored police when they tried to pull her over, according to court documents, but they followed her to her home, where she got out of the car but refused to give them her name. She was charged with stealing the vehicle, concealing her identity

SRDA MONTHLY MENU APRIL LUNCH MENU ● Wed. Apr. 1 - Honey Mustard Chicken, Au Gratin Potatoes, Carrots, Minestrone Soup, Pineapple Cabbage Slaw, Cranberry Apple Crumble, Crackers. ● Thurs. Apr. 2 – Turkey Tetrazzini, Baked Sweet Potato, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Cottage Cheese Crunch, Diced Pears. ● Fri. Apr. 3 – Roast Beef w/Beef Gravy, Lyonnaise Potatoes, Peas & Mushrooms, Cream of Broccoli Soup/Crackers, Dinner Roll w/ Margarine, Orange. ● Mon. Apr. 6 – Beef Tomato Mac, Oregon Mixed Vegetables, Seasoned Spinach, Minestrone Soup/Crackers, Strawberries & Peaches. ● Tues. Apr. 7 – Chicken Parmesan, Herbed Pasta, Brussel Sprouts, Chicken Barley Soup/ Breadstick, Fresh Apple. 10 ● Wed. Apr. 8 – Chili Relleno Casserole, Seasoned Pinto Beans, Capri Mixed Vegetables, Navy Bean Soup/Crackers, Pineapple Tidbits/ Banana Chocolate Bar. ● Thurs. Apr. 9 – Penne & Meat Sauce, Italian Mixed Vegetables, Yellow Squash, Carrot Raisin Salad, Apricots, Garlic Bread. ● Fri. Apr. 10 - Citrus & Herb Fish, Rosemary Potatoes, Seasoned Mixed Vegetables, Garden Vegetable Soup/Crackers, Cab-

and resisting arrest. [Las Cruces Sun News, 3/10/2020] Update News of the Weird reported in July 2017 about Jeff Reitz of Huntington Beach, California, who at that time had just achieved his 2,000th visit to Disneyland in Anaheim. Since then, Reitz, 47, has continued his daily visits -- until March 13, when Disney closed its theme parks in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Reitz was just short of 3,000 visits, the Orange County Register reported, at 2,995. "The streak's been ended," Reitz said. He does not plan to continue his consecutive streak when the park reopens. "On the negative side, I didn't get to choose the end," he said. "But on the positive side, I didn't have to choose the end." While

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Oranges, Banana ● Thurs. Apr. 16 – Macaroni & Cheese, Winter Mixed Vegetables, Seasoned Asparagus, Navy Bean Soup/Crackers Pineapple Tidbits. ● Fri. Apr. 17 – Fish w/ Sauce, Vegetable Couscous, Stewed Tomatoes, Seafood Gumbo/Crackers, Fresh Orange. ● Mon. Apr. 20 – Chicken Enchiladas, Seasoned Black Beans, Orange Glazed Carrots, Fresh

BELMONT SENIOR CARE... IS THIS SRDA MENU

People Are Good Just a few hours after Harris County, Texas, declared that all bars and nightclubs would have to close on March 16, an anonymous diner at Irma's Southwest restaurant in downtown Houston did their best to help out. The customer, who left a $9,400 tip, wrote on the receipt: "Hold tip to pay your guys over the next few weeks." United Press International said Irma's will split the tip among the employees, giving them each about $300. [United Press International, 3/17/2020]

Call SRDA at 545-8900 for congregate meal sites and Meals-on-Wheels info!

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bage Apple Slaw, Orange. ● Mon, Apr. 13 – Brunswick Stew, Mashed Potatoes, Scandinavian Mixed Vegetables, Raisin Nut Cup/Crackers, Chilled Apricots. ● Tue. Apr. 14 – Chicken Sesame, Fried Rice, Lima Beans & Carrots, Lentil Soup/Crackers, Fresh Orange. ● Wed. Apr. 15 – Corn Tamale, Seasoned Pinto Beans, Capri Mixed Vegetables Mandarin

he's practicing social isolation, Reitz plans to watch some movies on ... you guessed it, Disney Plus. [Orange County Register, 3/17/2020]

Orange, 4oz. Yogurt w/Granola. ● Tues. Apr. 21 – Macaroni & Cheese, Winter Mix Vegetables, Seasoned Asparagus, Black Lentil Soup/Crackers, Pineapple Tidbits, ● Wed. Apr. 22 – Meatloaf w/ Mushroom Gravy, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Almandine, Beef Vegetable Soup, Raisin Nut cup. ● Thurs. Apr. 23 – Hamburger, Broccoli Walnut Parmesan, Calabacitas, Chicken Gumbo Soup/ Crackers, Lettuce Garnish, Hamburger Bun, Apple Fruit-Cup. ● Fri. Apr. 24 – Vegetable Pasta Primavera, Chuckwagon Corn, Sugar Snap Peas, Cream OF Broccoli/ Crackers, Carrot Raisin Salad, Blueberry Fruit-Cup. ● Mon. Apr. 27 – Italian Chicken Orzo, Cheesy Cauliflower, Italian Mixed Vegetables, Chicken Noodle Soup/Crackers, Fruit. ● Tues. Apr. 28 – Chicken Fajita/ Tortilla, Seasoned Mixed Beans, Stewed Tomatoes, Carrot & Sweet Potato Soup/Crackers, Mandarin Oranges. ● Wed. Apr. 28 – Salisbury Steak, Parslied Potatoes, Peas & Carrots, Peach Crisp, Orange. ● Thurs. Apr. 30 – Pork Green Chili, Mexican Corn, Seasoned Yellow Squash, Tortilla, Raisin Nut Cup, Coconut/Nut Fruit Salad Pea Salad.

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Page 10 - Senior Beacon - April 2020

OPINION-EDITORIAL

ANN COULTER

Columnist, author and lawyer

HOW DO WE FLATTEN THE CURVE ON PANIC? IF, AS THE evidence

suggests, the Chinese virus is enormously dangerous to people with certain medical conditions and those over 70 years old, but a much smaller danger to those under 70, then shutting down the entire country indefinitely is probably a bad idea. But even when the time is right -- by Easter, June or the fall -- there will be no one to stop the quarantine because the media will continue to hype every coronavirus death, as if these are the only deaths that count and the only deaths that were preventable. What mayor, governor or president will be willing to take the blame for causing a

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coronavirus death? We’ll get no BREAKING NEWS alerts for the regular flu deaths (so far this season, more than 23,000, compared to 533 from the coronavirus). Nor for the more than 3,000 people who die every day of heart disease or cancer. No alerts for the hundreds who die each day from car accidents, illegal aliens and suicide. Only coronavirus deaths are considered newsworthy. We’re told by the “Quarantine Everybody” crowd: Listen to the scientists! Unfortunately, most of the “scientists” they present to us are lawyers. (How did Robert Reich, Donna Shalala and Ron Klain become medical professionals?) Also, the scientists disagree. Just as, I assume, they did in 1976, when epidemiologists warned of another 1918 Spanish flu pandemic after a few young Army recruits died of swine flu at Fort Dix in New Jersey. Eight months later, the federal government launched a mandatory swine flu vaccination program. About a quarter of the country was vaccinated before the program was abruptly shut down. No pandemic had materialized. The virus infected a few people, then vanished. But directly as a result of receiving the vaccine, dozens

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of Americans died and several hundred acquired Guillain-Barre syndrome. The scientists also disagreed in the 1980s, when the media and government went into overdrive to scare us all about AIDS. (1985 Life magazine cover: "NOW, NO ONE IS SAFE FROM AIDS.”) Surgeon General C. Everett Koop -- as revered by the media then as Anthony Fauci is today -- lied about the disease, insisting that “[h]eterosexual persons are increasingly at risk.” Speaking of which, here’s liberal sex symbol Fauci on AIDS back in 1983, when he was with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, but not yet its director: "As the months go by, we see more and more groups. AIDS is creeping out of well-defined epidemiological confines.” (It didn’t.) In 1987, Fauci warned that French kissing might transmit the AIDS virus, saying, “Health officials have to presume that it is possible to transmit the virus by exchange of saliva in deep kissing. That presumption is made to be extra safe." By 1992, after a decade-long epidemic with more than a million infections, the Centers for Disease Control could find only 2,391 cases of AIDS transmission by white heterosexuals -- and that included hemophiliacs and blood transfusion patients. (“White” because AIDS cases among Haitian and African immigrants had a variety of causes.) But teenagers and sorority girls had to spend years being frightened of kissing lest they catch the AIDS virus, just as today they’re afraid of leaving their homes to avoid a virus that, in Italy, has killed no one under 30 years old and precious few under 50. We have to be “extra safe.” Both the No French Kissing rule and Quarantine Everybody rule are perfectly

rational positions for an epidemiologist to take. That’s why we need to listen to people other than epidemiologists. How about the doctors who keep pointing out that the coronavirus is mainly a problem for people over 70 and those with specific health problems? See here: slate.com/technology/2020/03/coronavirus-mortality-rate-lower-than-we-think.html Here: haaretz.com/israel-news/. premium.MAGAZINE-israeli-expert-trump-is-rightabout-covid-19-who-is-wrong1.8691031?v=CDBFACA5662E8174BA824BAD929EA12B And here: wsj.com/amp/articles/ is-the-coronavirus-as-deadly-asthey-say-11585088464 The president should listen to experts in other fields, too. A country is more than an economy, but it’s also more than a virus. If we listened only to emergency room doctors, we might come away convinced that we have to completely ban cars, alcohol and gummy bears. (Don’t ask.) While taking a torts class in law school, I was afraid to sit under a chandelier, order a flaming dessert or stand at a train stop. Playwright Arthur Miller once told a story about a geologist who remarked that life was possible even in the vast American desert. All you needed was water, he said, and the largest reservoir on the globe was located right under the Rockies. But how would he get it? Simple -- drop a couple of atomic bombs. But what about the fallout? "Oh," said the geologist, "that's not my field." Today, the epidemiologists are prepared to nuke the entire American economy to kill a virus.

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April 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 11

SENIOR SERVICE DIRECTORY These are some of the top service providers in your community! Please mention the paper and receive a discount from most!

◀ FROM BEAR, PAGE 3 during a crisis can change downward pretty easily. But they should rebound with the economy overall. WHEN TO BUY: LOWER Take a look at the chart with this article. It’s a six-month chart and we’re looking at the the month of March. Here we see the obvious downtrend and then it bottoms at around 18,000 for the Dow Jones. This is called support. My hope is that the markets won’t go lower than this support level. Usually during a crisis we’ll see these lows again and that’s when I’d buy. As close to that low support point as possible. Could it get lower? Sure, but you’d now be in lower than today’s prices. So you’ve locked in a relative discount. 3. OF COURSE: HANG IN THERE Stay the course. Do you think the U.S. economy will be bigger ten years from now? I do and you probably do, too. So buy the economy on sale. This worked during the last downturn, didn’t it? The powers-that-be will turn on the tap and we will grow again. Written on 03-29-2020 Ronald S. Phillips is a Pueblo native and an independent financial advisor. Order a free copy of his book Investing To Win by leaving a message at (719) 220-3005. Visit RetireIQ.com or email RonPhillipsAdvisor@gmail.com

My hope is that the markets won’t go lower than this support level. Usually during a crisis we’ll see these lows again and that’s when I’d buy. As close to that low support point as possible.

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Page 12 - Senior Beacon - April 2020

REELING

MYSTERY TURNS OUT TO BE MORE THAN GOOD AGATHA CHRISTIE WOULD ENJOY 'KNIVES OUT' BETTY JO TUCKER Pueblo award winning film critic

t’s encouraging to watch Jamie Foxx and Michael B. Jordan bring their star power to an important film like “Just Mercy.” Foxx portrays Walter McMillan, an innocent black man sent to death row for the murder of a white woman in Alabama back in 1987.

Jordan plays Bryan Stevenson, a young black lawyer from Delaware who becomes involved in the McMillan case. The movie boasts a couple of suspenseful courtroom scenes, but most of the drama relates to hard work and a dedication to making sure equal justice prevails no matter race or class. Although I’ve been impressed with both of the film’s key actors before, they surpassed my expectations in this compelling offering based on true events. In many scenes, Oscar-winner Foxx (“Ray”) projects a heartbreaking hopelessness that makes us care deeply about what happens to him. And Jordan’s (“Black Panther”) splendid performance convinces us that Stevenson can maintain considerable persistence under pressure, especially in one scene where he must consent to an unnecessary strip search before even being permitted to talk with

his client. Oscar-winner Brie Larson (“The Room”), Rob Morgan (“Mudbound”), and Tim Blake Nelson (“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”) also deserve praise for their contributions to “Just Mercy.” Losing almost every physical resemblance to Captain Marvel, Larson stands out as a dedicated Equal Justice Initiative worker. And Morgan earns our compassion in the role of Herb, an elderly death row resident who should be in a mental hospital instead of a prison. It’s difficult not to get teary eyed just thinking about him. The always excellent Nelson is practically unrecognizable as the key witness who gave false testimony that led to McMillan’s murder conviction. Directed and co-written (with Andrew Lanham) by Destin Daniel Cretton, this motion picture is a screen

adaptation of Stevenson’s book “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption,” so sometimes the story seems one-sided. However, the facts speak for themselves. On death row, an innocent man has lost faith that anyone can help him prove he is not guilty. All he wants now is just mercy. From out of town, a lawyer new studies his case and finds a clue. Still, prejudice stands in the way. Racial attitudes hard to sway. Foxx and Jordan become those two. Splendid acting these men both do. “Just Mercy” tells a true story. It matters, folks. Be sure to see. WARNING: This film contains a gruesome execution sequence. While watching it, ask yourself if the man going to his death deserved the electric chair. But it’s important to note that by 2016, Stevenson had saved 125 Innocent men from the death penalty. The opposite of poverty is not wealth. I actually think the opposite of poverty is justice. --Bryan Stevenson (Released by Warner Bros. and rated “PG-13” by MPAA. DVD available beginning April 14, 2020.)

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April 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 13

FOR A HEALTHIER YOU 7 Myths Believed About Long-Term Care AS YOU DEVELOP your retirement plans and think about how a potential need for long-term care may impact those plans and your loved ones, certain misconceptions may prevent you from taking action. So—let’s dispel these seven common long-term care myths: Myth #1: I’ll never need longterm care. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, almost 70 percent of Americans turning 65 today will need some type of long-term care in their remaining years.1 Myth #2: Government programs will cover all of my long-term care expenses. Medicare pays for nursing home care, but only a portion of the costs for a maximum of 100 days and only if the three-day hospital stay requirement has been met. And, while Medicaid covers certain long-term care costs, it’s intended to be a safety net for those with

limited or minimal income and assets. To qualify for benefits, you must spend nearly all of your savings and reduce most of your assets before the government will step in to help. Myth #3: My family will take care of me. The financial, physical, and emotional stress that full-time caregiving may place on families can be overwhelming. Sometimes the best way to take care of a loved one needing long-term care is to ensure they have access to professional care. With advances in home care services, many people needing long-term care are actually able to stay at home, with or near family, and still receive the professional care they need. Myth #4: I can pay for my longterm care out-of-pocket. In 2018, nursing home costs averaged more than $91,000 a year nationally.2 The majority of Americans would quickly deplete their retirement savings if they

You Could Be Part Of The 33 Percent LOOK AROUND THE time you’re in a

crowd. One-third of everyone in there with you is at risk of developing dangerous kidney disease. Kidney Disease Facts In the United States, 37 million adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease—and more than 90% aren’t aware of it. Often there are no symptoms; they won’t find out until their kidney’s fail. Kidneys are vital organs—as important as your heart, liver or lungs—that work 24/7 to clean toxins from your body. No one can live without functioning kidneys. When kidneys fail, only immediate dialysis or a transplant can save you. A Solution The National Kidney Foundation (NKF)—the largest, most comprehensive, and longstanding patient-centric organization dedicated to the awareness, prevention, and treatment of kidney disease in the U.S.—wants to change the odds. Every adult in the United States needs to know the risk and can find out with a simple, one-minute online quiz rolled out for National Kidney Month in March that can let you know if you’re in the 33 percent—and what to do about it.

needed care for an extended period of time. Even if you can afford to cover long-term care services outof-pocket, consider the benefits of sharing the risk and costs using a long-term care planning solution such as insurance. Myth #5: I am better off waiting until I am closer to retirement to obtain long-term care coverage. Generally, it is best to plan for long-term care in your 40s or 50s when you are younger and more likely to be healthier and insurable (underwriting is required). Also: premiums are generally lower when you are younger. Your insurability can change any time and a need for care can arise at any age, so purchasing coverage earlier can be a wise decision. Myth #6: Long-term care coverage is just too expensive. Long-term care coverage options have evolved to meet most any need, with some options starting at $100-$150 per month per person. Plans can be personalized to suit

your budget and discounts may be available to partners and spouses. Even a small policy can help reduce the financial and emotional burden of a long-term care event and provide access to valuable benefits. Myth #7: Long-term care policies only cover nursing homes. Long-term care solutions may offer valuable benefits that allow you to stay in your home for as long as possible. Some even reimburse family members for providing care. Long-term care solutions can also help cover the cost of adult day care centers, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes as care needs evolve. Some of these misconceptions may have prevented you or a loved one from creating a plan to address future long-term care needs. It’s important to take a step back, consider your financial plan and desired future care, and how you want to address it with you and your loved ones in mind.

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Page 14 - Senior Beacon - April 2020

FREMONT COUNTY/SALIDA MENUS

Penrose (719) 372-3872 Florence (719) 784-6493

Canon City (719) 345-4112 Salida (719) 539-3351

DUE TO THE COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS), THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING MENU OPTIONS ARE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE BUSINESS

Open For Business IF COMMUNITY members are searching for a way to help each other, one organization is open for business. Shop Pueblo Proud is a new website created to support local service providers that have no means of generating online revenue and whose store fronts have been closed due to government mandates. The site operated by EasySocial and Active Media Professionals is a joint effort to support small businesses in our community. Service providers can go to www. PuebloProud.shop/business-signup upload a logo with a small setup fee and the site will create a custom 2-color t-shirt that the business can then sell online through the puebloproud.shop website. Service providers will get the weekly profits from each sale electronically deposited into their bank account. Local printer Embroidery Plus and Quick Print will be fulfillment entity of the t-shirt orders. Shirts will be distributed to participating businesses and will be available for pick-up once businesses are allowed to reopen. If businesses remain closed for longer than expected, curbside pickup will

The idea hopes to encourage others to look at their specialty skills and see how every resident can use their own talents to support the community during these ever-changing times. be announced if needed. “As we watched the news announcements continue to close more and more businesses, we asked ourselves what can we do to support our community. Our skills include web development and marketing so an ecommerce website made sense,” commented Lori Lovato, owner of Active Media Professionals. The idea hopes to encourage others to look at their specialty skills and see how every resident can use their own talents to support the community during these ever-changing times. “Days like these require us to innovate. Lori and I have been doing that with our customers for years. This allowed us one way to give back,” added Timothy Zercher owner of EasySocial.

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The pair, who also are behind the Pueblo Proud Facebook initiative and among team members of the PuebloShares project, are no strangers to community support initiatives. “Many of our clients are small businesses and we know the value of being local. In the end, we are all responsible for how we weather the storms of days like these,” replied Lovato. “Finding ways to lift each other up is something we have control over, even in a world that seems to be in ongoing flux.” Keeping business local is one of the main goals of the Pueblo Proud initiative. “The team that built the site is local, our shirt designers are local, and our printer is local ensuring we keep money circulating in our community for a stronger economic recovery. This

pandemic will subside, and when it does we want Pueblo to be ready and stronger than ever,” continued Zercher. To sign-up to be a participant in the Pueblo Proud Apparel project businesses can follow this process: 1. Fill out a form online at http:// puebloproud.shop/business-signup 2. Upload a high res two-color logo. 3. Pay a small setup fee. 4. Send customers to the site to buy a t-shirt or hoodie with your logo and #PuebloProud on it. http://puebloproud.shop/shop 5. Receive profits from every purchase completed electronically deposited into your bank account weekly. 6. When notified pick up printed t-shirts from Embroidery Plus and Quick Print. 7. Celebrate with customers by distributing shirts at your location when you reopen to welcome customers back into your shop. It’s easy, fast, and simple. Plus, it helps demonstrate how Pueblo takes care of each other. Help your local small business owners and spread the word.

Online Resources Aid Homebound Alzheimer’s Caregivers FOR 332,000 Coloradans affected by Alzheimer’s disease (76,000 living with the disease and 256,000 unpaid caregivers), the coronavirus (COVID-19) has created new challenges. The Alzheimer’s Association can help. While Alzheimer’s Association staff is working from home in accordance with public health guidelines, most of the Association’s services are available online or by telephone. Following are links to programs and services – all offered at no charge – that caregivers may find valuable: Classes and training: training. alz.org Online tools: alz.org/help-support/resources/online-tools Caregivers’ forum and message

board: alzconnected.org Your roadmap for approaching Alzheimer’s: alzheimersnavigator. org Alzheimer’s library and resource center: alz.org/help-support/resources/virtual_library Helpline: our free Helpline is staffed 24/7 by trained professionals: 800-272-3900 Alzheimer’s Association The Alzheimer’s Association Colorado Chapter is the premier source of information and support for the more than 76,000 Coloradans with Alzheimer’s disease, their families and caregivers. The Alzheimer’s Association offers education, counseling, support groups and a 24-hour Helpline at no charge to families.

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April 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 15

SENIOR SAFETY

National ‘Slam the Scam’ Day Named ANDREW SAUL, Commis-

sioner of Social Security, and the agency continue raising public awareness about telephone impersonation schemes during the Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) national ‘Slam the Scam’ Day on March 5. Social Security and OIG have made concerted efforts to educate the public about these scams – in which fraudulent callers mislead victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for purported Social Security number problems. As Commissioner Saul testified to Congress, the agency has taken swift actions, including helping OIG create a dedicated online reporting tool at oig.ssa.gov, providing people who call the agency with updated information on the scams and how to report them, increasing employee and public outreach and education, and establishing a Social Security/OIG workgroup to maximize resources and ensure a cohesive response. “It is appalling that scammers are playing on emotions like fear to get people to act without thinking,” Commissioner Saul said. “Everyone should just hang up, and never give out their personal information. People should go online to oig.ssa. gov to report these Social Security scams.”

This month’s Senior Safety Page is Proudly Sponsored by AMERICAN VEIN INSTITUTE. Give them a call right away! And thank them for sponsoring this valuable addition to the Senior Beacon!! Scammers are sophisticated and there are many variations to this fraud. For example, a caller may say he is from Social Security and that the person’s Social Security number is suspended or has been used in a crime. The caller identification may be spoofed to appear to originate from a government number. Fraudsters may text or email fake documents in attempts to get people to comply with their demands. These scams have become the #1 type of fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission and Social Security. Social Security will never tell you that your Social Security number has been suspended, contact you to demand an immediate payment, ask for your credit or debit card numbers over the phone, ask for gift cards or cash, or promise a Social Security benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information or money. Social Security employees do occasionally contact people--generally those who have ongoing business with the agency--by telephone for business purposes.

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Typically, the agency calls people who have recently applied for a Social Security benefit, someone who is already receiving payments and

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Page 16 - Senior Beacon - April 2020

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April 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 17

THE WELL-DRESSED GARDEN

Hand-Me-Down Gardens SECOND-HAND GARDENS

aren't necessarily second rate. In a hand-me-down garden that becomes yours when you move into a new home, there's often a lot to build on, but there's also MARTY ROSS Freelance garden plenty of room journalist and for your own syndicated gardening columnist ideas to take root and grow. While you're inside unpacking the dishes, arranging furniture and hanging pictures, take time to study the views of your landscape from the windows and try to imagine yourself in the new garden. Don't be in too much of a hurry. When you've just moved into a new house, especially in the winter, you don't really know what may be hidden in the soil, such as spring bulbs or perennial flowers. It makes sense to allow yourself time to get to know your property, observing the patterns of sunlight and shade through the days -- and the seasons. You might want to buy a garden bench and try it out in different spots to encourage yourself to spend time outdoors, where you can keep an eye on how the garden develops through the year. There may not be much of interest, or you may have hit the horticultural jackpot. In the meantime, you could grow some of your own favorite plants in flower pots or in a community garden plot in your neighborhood. Joining a community garden is a great way to get a feel for local conditions: People love to share what they know with a newcomer. If you brought plants with you from your previous garden but are not sure where to put them, establish a nursery area on your new property, so your plants can be settling in while you decide where they will flourish. This is also a great time to visit nearby botanic gardens to look for inspiring design ideas, get to know local plants and check on interesting plant combinations. Working with a professional designer -- especially if you have moved to a climate you are unfamiliar with -- will help you make a smooth transition from a handme-down garden that's not entirely pleasing to a satisfying landscape that reflects your tastes and interests. Designers are good at recognizing the bones of a good old

In the meantime, you could grow some of your own favorite plants in flower pots or in a community garden plot in your neighborhood. garden, and they can also help you avoid common mistakes, such as investing in plants that you may be familiar with but that just aren't right for the climate into which you have relocated. Inheriting a landscape designed to please someone else can raise a lot of questions, but don't feel guilty if a previous owner's dream garden simply isn't your thing, says Laurin Lindsey, a garden designer and the owner of Ravenscourt Landscaping and Design in Houston. "Sometimes people just don't go out there -- they don't feel connected" to the landscaping around a home if they didn't have anything to do with its design or development, Lindsey says. "If they have just moved into a house, it may take them a year or so to decide if they want to personalize it." Lindsey's clients are asked to fill out an extensive questionnaire to help her interpret their needs. She asks clients about their favorite plants and colors, and she wants to know whether they're interested in a vegetable garden, flower beds, a patio or an attractive naturalistic habitat. Their responses to questions about specific details and more general gardening and lifestyle attitudes form the foundation for a successful design collaboration, she says. (Her robust questionnaire is available on her company's website.) Some of the existing plants in your new garden may prove to be long past their prime. "People get worried about ripping old plants out, but it's fine," Lindsey says. Others may be a little overgrown, neglected or the victims of enthusiastic but unfortunate pruning jobs, and they just need time and care to recover. Often, small plants will benefit from being moved into more sun or more shelter. With this kind of editing, you can do a lot to freshen things up and make the garden your own. Existing trees are another matter. If she can, Lindsey always tries to save mature trees. An arborist should be brought in

to do some professional trimming work, if necessary. "It's hard to get a mature tree; you have to wait a long time," she says. "Trees provide shade, and birds live there. You can't re-create that just by putting in another tree." No two projects are alike. Some clients decide they'd just as soon get rid of every trace of a previous owner's garden and start from scratch, Lindsey says, even if the existing landscape has been well maintained. Others are eager to reinvigorate and re-imagine their hand-medown gardens without stripping away the foundation of a strong design. Regardless of which approach is taken, a good designer will have

the same ultimate goal: "It is really important that your client be able to have a garden they love and connect with," Lindsey says. Even working with a designer, it takes time to achieve the results you're after. But while taking the first careful steps -- getting your bearings in your new landscape, gathering ideas, distilling your thoughts -the satisfaction of turning someone else's garden into your own can be enjoyed immediately. Settle in, study the possibilities, check out the neighborhood, ask a designer for help: The threads of your new garden will start to come together out of the old.

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Page 18 - Senior Beacon - April 2020 NEWS

Shelter In Place? Tips for Caregivers THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) is requiring many adjustments in people’s lifestyles. For the 256,000 Coloradans providing care for loved ones living with Alzheimer’s disease, the need to observe appropriate social distancing means that many of the day-to-day activities they might participate in with their loved ones – the 76,000 Coloradans living with the disease – must be adapted for the time being. Until conditions allow for more travel outside the home, the Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado offers 38 meaningful and fun ways to spend time with a family member or friend in the middle or late stages of Alzheimer’s. The first tip: take your cue from the person. What do they like to do? What are they able to do? What are they in the mood for today?

It doesn’t matter if the activity needs to be done or if it is done well. If it doesn’t work, you can always try something else. Be patient and you will figure out what works. Here are a few ideas to get started: Do something inside Listen to the person’s favorite music Look at family photo albums Prepare afternoon tea Model with play dough Play checkers or dominos Name the presidents Look at photos in a photography book or magazine Identify states on a U.S. map Complete a puzzle together Read from one of their favorite books Watch a favorite movie or sitcom Ask the person about his or her childhood, siblings, school, pets or first car Read the newspaper together or

read it to them Play a card game Do something outside Take a walk Plant flowers Water plants Feed the birds Rake leaves Go to the park Sit on a bench or a swing Watch dogs at a dog park Play catch or toss a ball Play horseshoes Sweep the porch or patio Set up a picnic on the lawn or in the backyard Sit on the porch and drink coffee, hot chocolate or lemonade Do something personal Give the person a hand massage with lotion Brush his or her hair Give the person a manicure Take photos of the person and make a collage Encourage the person to talk more about subjects they enjoy Make a family tree posterboard Do something in the kitchen Bake cookies or bread Set the table Make the person's favorite lunch or snack

Wash and dry dishes Put silverware away # # # Alzheimer’s Association The Alzheimer’s Association Colorado Chapter is the premier source of information and support for the more than 76,000 Coloradans with Alzheimer’s disease, their families and caregivers. Through its statewide network of offices, the Alzheimer’s Association offers education, counseling, support groups and a 24-hour Helpline at no charge to families. In addition, contributions help fund advancements in research to prevent, treat and eventually conquer this disease. The Alzheimer’s Association advocates for those living with Alzheimer’s and their families on related legislative issues, and with health and long-term care providers. For information call the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 bilingual Helpline at 800-272-3900, or visit www.alz.org/co.

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April 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 19

SOCIAL SECURITY & YOU

JOSH WELLER, PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST-SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION - PUEBLO COUNTY, FREMONT COUNTY AND EL PASO COUNTY

Stay Informed With Social Security SOCIAL SECURITY AND

its

Office of the Inspector General continue to receive reports about fraudulent phone calls from people claiming to be Social Security employees. These scammers try to trick people into providing personal information or money, and often threaten their victims with arrest. Don’t be fooled. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money. Real Social Security employees also will not: • Tell you that your Social Security number has been suspended. • Contact you to demand an immediate payment. • Ask you for credit or debit card numbers over the phone. • Require a specific means of debt repayment, like a prepaid debit card, a retail gift card, or cash. • Demand that you pay a Social Security debt without the ability to appeal the amount you owe. • Promise a Social Security benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information or money. If you receive a suspicious call or

are unsure of the identity of someone who claims to be from Social Security: • Hang up. • Do not give money or personal information. • Report the scam to our Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa. gov.

WE STRIVE TO keep you informed with accurate and helpful information. In addition to information we provide on our website at www.ssa.gov, we also engage regularly on social media. We invite you to read our posts and share items of interest with your family and friends. You can subscribe to our blog, Social Security Matters. We post up-to-date columns about programs, policy, current topics, and new online services. Read more and subscribe at blog.socialsecurity.gov. You can follow us on Facebook and repost our articles at www. facebook.com/socialsecurity.

We have a number of informative videos on YouTube. Our diverse collection of videos covers online services, applying for retirement and disability benefits, Social Security scams, and much more. We offer some of our videos in Spanish as well. You can view and easily share our videos at www.youtube. com/SocialSecurity. You can join our many Twitter followers at www.twitter.com/socialsecurity. There, we announce new my Social Security features and other service or program changes. Our newest social media outlet is our Instagram account. We share stories and resources that can help you and your loved ones. Check out our Instagram page at www. instagram.com/SocialSecurity. Connect with us on social media to learn helpful information. Follow along and share our pages with a friend, neighbor, or loved one

today. Take a look at all our social media channels at www.socialsecurity.gov/socialmedia. To update your Social Security card, you need to: Show the required documents, including proof of your identity. Sometimes you may also need to prove your current U.S. citizenship or lawful noncitizen status. See what documents you need at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber/ ss5doc.htm. Under the heading, “Type of Card,” select “Corrected” for a list of the documents you need. Fill out and print the Application for a Social Security Card at www. socialsecurity.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf. Take or mail your application and documents to your local Social Security office. You can use our field office locator at www.socialsecurity.gov/locator

Page 20 - Senior Beacon - April 2020

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SOCIAL SECURITY & YOU Question: My father gets Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for a disability. He is now legally blind and wants to receive information from Social Security in an alternative format. How do I help him? Answer: Social Security is dedicated to providing vital information in the most effective way for every recipient. There are several ways to receive information from us if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re blind or have a visual impairment. You can choose to receive Braille notices and a standard print notice by first-class mail; a Microsoft Word file on a data compact disc (CD) and a print standard notice by first-class mail; an audio CD and a standard print notice by first-class mail; or a large print (18-point size) notice and a standard print notice by first-class mail. You can request these special notice options by visiting www. socialsecurity.gov/people/blind.

Social Security yet. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the easiest way to do that? Answer: It is very important that Social Security has your fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most up-to-date information, including any change in income, resources, or living arrangements. This will guarantee that he is getting the benefit amount to which he is entitled. You can learn more about the rights and responsibilities of Supplemental Security Income recipients at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssi.

Question: I have an appointment to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). What kind of information will I need to take with me? Answer: To help make the application process go quickly and smoothly, you should bring â&#x20AC;˘ Your Social Security card or Social Security Number; â&#x20AC;˘ Your birth certificate or other proof of your age; Question: â&#x20AC;˘ The name, Social Security number My father receives Supplemental Security Income. He recently moved, but and date of birth or age of your current spouse and any former spouse. he hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t reported his new address to

You should also know the dates and places of marriage and dates of divorce or death (if appropriate); â&#x20AC;˘ Information about the home where you live, such as your mortgage or your lease and landlordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name; â&#x20AC;˘ Payroll slips, bank books, insurance policies, burial fund records, and other information about your income and the things you own; â&#x20AC;˘ Proof of U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status; and â&#x20AC;˘ If you are applying for SSI because you are disabled or blind, we will need to know detailed information about your medical illnesses, injuries or conditions â&#x20AC;˘ Names, addresses, phone numbers, patient ID numbers and dates of treatment for all doctors, hospitals and clinics; â&#x20AC;˘ Names of medicines you are taking and who prescribed them; and â&#x20AC;˘ Names and dates of medical tests you have had and who sent you for them. Learn more by reading our publication, You May Be Able To Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) at www. socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

Question: Can a noncitizen get Supplemental Security Income (SSI)? Answer: The laws and regulations concerning noncitizens differ for the Social Security and SSI programs. The Social Security administers both, even though they have different eligibility requirements. Some noncitizens do qualify for SSI. See Supplemental Security Income (SSI) For Noncitizens at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs for more information. Question: I saw a poster that advised people 65 or over with limited income and resources to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Next month I'll turn 65, and I thought I'd be eligible for SSI. I planned to apply until my neighbor told me I probably would be turned down because I have children who could help support me. Is this true? Answer: Whether your children are capable of helping to support you does not affect your eligibility. SSI eligibility depends solely on your income and resources (the things you own). If you have low income and few resources, you may be able to get SSI. However, if you are receiving support from your children or from anyone living inside or outside of your home, it may affect your eligibility or the amount you can receive. Support includes any food or shelter that is given to you, or is received by you because someone else pays for it. Learn more about SSI at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssi.

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April 2020 - Senior Beacon - Page 21

OPINION-EDITORIAL

DAVID SHRIBMAN

Post-Gazette emeritus executive editor and a nationally syndicated columnist.

HISTORY'S CRISES LEND US GUIDANCE AND PERSPECTIVE IT TURNS OUT that the Greatest Generation left us the greatest example of how to proceed in the greatest health threat of our time. The Greatest Generation is the one that conquered the Great Depression and then won the Second World War. It created the strongest consumer culture that ever existed. It set the United States on its path to world power and unprecedented prosperity. It did so with ingenuity and intelligence, to be sure, but it also did it with courage, grit, sacrifice and hope. Now, 362 World War II veterans die every day, a toll far greater than that extracted by the coronavirus. About 2% of them remain alive, many of them ill or frail. They and their home-front fellow combatants -- who built history’s most formidable industrial offensive and then shared in the very good years that followed -- left us a great legacy. Now it is time to follow their example and to redeem their hopes about America. “This is a biological war on a global basis requiring the same unified esprit as a shooting war," Tom Brokaw, the veteran NBC newscaster, whose 1998 book "The Greatest Generation" put that label on the wartime generation, told me the other day. "It is time to set aside cheap partisan divisions and develop an approach that rewards real accomplishment, [with] the president and the speaker, side by side, empowering the experts to go bold NOW, without worrying who gets the credit." In this war, the home front is the front line. This war may have begun with an insidious germ invasion from abroad, but it will be won or lost at home. The phrase "social distancing" is the Victory Garden of today. America’s 19411945 war was won by men and women going to the battlefield or to the factory floor. Ameri-

ca’s current war will be won by men, women and children staying home -- staying out of the daily fray while experts, researchers, medical professionals and others toil selflessly. This is a different country than the United States of 1941, when there were only 133 million Americans, when Joe DiMaggio hit in 56 consecutive games, Ted Williams batted .406 and “Dumbo” played in the nation’s movie palaces. Today there are 327 million of us, we generally are wealthier, we communicate in ways inconceivable more than three-quarters of a century ago -- and we are far less familiar with, and congenial to, sacrifice. But we know what to do, if only we measure ourselves to our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. They conserved fuel by driving more slowly. They used ration coupons to buy food, clothing and gasoline. They limited their consumption of meat, sugar, fat and butter. When new ration books were introduced in October 1943, an announcer on Boston’s WHDH radio station made this comment: "Today thousands of Massachusetts citizens stand ready to accept any inconvenience or make any sacrifice that will help to bring victory one hour sooner or save one more American life." This time we cannot take succor in major-league baseball. Shortly after the war began, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt told commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis to assure that baseball continue its summer domination of the country’s sports attention; he believed baseball essential to the country’s morale. That can’t happen this time. Ballparks would

be breeding grounds for communal transmission -- another phrase that has become an instant part of our national lexicon -- and the players themselves would be endangered. But while radio provided a formidable distraction from the woes of the world -- and here Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong and others performed a patriotic duty -- today Netflix and various online amusements can ease the burden of staying at home. This period will impose enormous social change. We simply do not know what it will be. World War II encouraged the mass migration of blacks to industrial centers, mostly in the North. There won’t be migration this time, but powerful social changes will be unleashed. Perhaps some will rival the impact of “Rosie the Riveter," the movement of women into wartime industrial plants, one of the principal forces in the transformation of the role of women in our society. "We’ve been through many crises before," Robert Dallek, a leading historian and author of books about FDR and his wartime years, said in an interview. "We pulled the nation together in the Great Depression and in World War II, and then we stood

together in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Even the Civil War, which drove us apart, put pressure on the Union to come together. It’s never 100%; FDR faced dissent. But generally there is enormous coordination and support. Right now it will have to do with the fact that the country is so well off and there is such a relatively large middle class that people fear losing their comfort." But it is more than the travails of the mid-20th century that can be our guideposts. Three and a half centuries ago, London suffered through the Great Plague of 1665-66. The famous diarist Samuel Pepys walked the streets of the English capital and saw that the once-teeming byways were "mighty thin of people." As time passed, he reported that only "poor wretches" were circulating. There was almost nothing good about the plague, which might have claimed more than a fifth of the population of London -- a toll no one even wants to contemplate today. Even at this distance of time, it is difficult if not indecent to find a bright spot in that epidemic, but consider this passage from Stephen Porter’s 2000 account titled "The Great Plague."

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SENIOR CLASSIFIEDS

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MEDICARE AND YOU

1-800-MEDICARE | 1-800-MEDICARE | General Medicare information, ordering Medicare booklets, and information about health plans | Toll free: 800-633-4227 | Medicare.gov

Capping Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs? SEVENTY-EIGHT percent of

retirees think Congress should cap what Medicare beneficiaries must spend out-of-pocket on prescription drugs, according to new survey by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). Unlike other types of insurance, Medicare Part D has no annual outof-pocket maximum. This leaves the sickest retirees spending hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars in pharmacy costs for prescription medications every year. Capping the Part D out-of-pocket spending requirement is a key provision of the bi-partisan Senate drug bill, “Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2019” (S.2543). “Several of the provisions of this bill appear to have broad support with Medicare beneficiaries,” notes Mary Johnson, a Medicare and Social Security policy analyst for The Senior Citizens League. The new survey found widespread support among survey participants for capping Medicare Part D outof-pocket requirements at no more than $250 per month ($3,000) per year. About 36 percent of survey participants reported spending up to $250 per month on prescriptions in 2019, and another 21 percent spent more than that. The bill would limit price increases in drugs covered by Medicare Part D plans to the rate of inflation or drug makers would be forced to pay a penalty in the form of a rebate. “Since Social Security benefits only grow at the rate of inflation, it would help level the playing field if the cost of prescription medications were required to be adjusted in like fashion,” Johnson notes. Research on typical retiree costs conducted by Johnson has found that from 2000 to 2019, annual cost – of – living adjustments (COLAs) increased Social Security benefits by 50 percent but spending on prescription drugs grew five times faster — 253 percent — over the same period. Reducing prescription drug prices is a top issue for older voters. Seventy – two percent of survey participants support a proposal to

tie Medicare Part D drugs prices to those paid in other industrialized nations, through the use of an “international drug pricing index” — an approach similar to prescription drug legislation passed by the House (H.R. 3). The Senior Citizens League encourages older Americans to contact their Senators now to ask for their support in passing this legislation. To learn more, visit www.SeniorsLeague.org.

analyst for The Senior Citizens League. “Social Security and Medicare need to be adequately financed if a recession would occur,” Johnson says. “When unemployment is high, there’s less payroll taxes flowing into Social Security and Medicare,” she notes. “Providing a complete payroll tax break to stimulate the economy would only exacerbate financing issues and would be unlikely to make a big enough emergency impact when needed, especially for people who aren’t Also .... An emergency Social working,” Johnson points out. Security and Medicare payroll tax For retirees with a 401(k) or recut could weaken program financtirement savings, a recession would ing at the same time a Coronavirus caused recession would significant- make those lucky enough to have savings more dependent on Social ly increase the number of people claiming Social Security, warns The Security, because big changes in eqSenior Citizens League (TSCL). “Al- uity prices reduce the distributions though many older adults today are from those accounts perhaps for several years. putting off claiming benefits to alTo make matters worse older low their Social Security payouts to grow, they are unlikely to be able to Americans are at the highest health risk from the coronavirus. “Conafford to wait if they lose their jobs, gress needs to ensure that any big or when the value of retirement account investments are significant- emergency financial stimulus to address a coronavirus - caused ecoly impacted,” says Mary Johnson, a Social Security and Medicare policy nomic recession, doesn’t put Social

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Security and Medicare benefits at risk as well,” says Johnson. Safeguarding the health of Americans is of primary importance now. The Senior Citizens League is working for legislation that would help strengthen and boost Social Security and lower out-of-pocket Medicare costs. To learn more, visit www.SeniorsLeague.org.

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